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Subaltern: Chronicle of the Peninsular War
Lieutenants, or "subalterns" as they were called, were very young in the British Army of the Napoleonic Wars, so George Gleig was not unique when he joined the 85th Light Infantry at the age of 17. Thrown into action in Spain against invading French forces in the summer of 1813, Gleig fought continuously for 18 months. The unique quality of Gleig's personal account was recognized immediately, and his narrative was praised by the Duke of Wellington himself. Although not always readily available to the general public. Gleig's account has been extensively drawn on by later historians and historical novelists. Gleig left behind a unique account of Wellington's victories, the primitive conditions endured by both soldiers and civilians, and the mood of the times.
George Robert Gleig had a distinguished career with the British Army. His classic narrative has now been edited with an introduction and chapter notes by Ian Robertson. Robertson has been writing on the Peninsular War for 40 years. His most recent work was Wellington at War in the Peninsula.
George Robert Gleig had a distinguished career with the British Army. His classic narrative has now been edited with an introduction and chapter notes by Ian Robertson. Robertson has been writing on the Peninsular War for 40 years. His most recent work was Wellington at War in the Peninsula.
- GenresHistory
208 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2008
About the author
George Robert Gleig
182 booksGeorge Robert Gleig was born in Stirling, Scotland. His parents were George Gleig (1753–1840, Bishop of Brechin from October 1808) and Janet, née Hamilton, youngest daughter of Robert Hamilton of Kilbrackmont.
Gleig received his initial education at Stirling Grammar school. On 21 June 1813, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington had his first victory in Spain over the French, at the battle of Vitoria. One month later a young student of divinity, George Robert Gleig, gave up a scholarship to Balliol College to join Wellington’s army as an Ensign in the 85th Light Infantry. His father, by then Bishop of Brechin, furnished him with £20, a substantial sum, though he notes that the rate at which he could buy readily exchangeable gold coins was poor — he had to pay 6s for every gold dollar, and £5 for a doubloon. On 7 October, Wellington crossed into France for the first time.
On 6 April 1814, Napoleon abdicated, though Wellington did not find out until 12 April. By then, on 10 April he had fought and won the decisive battle of the war at Toulouse. The young divinity student was then sent to the war against the United States, where he fought in five battles (Bladensburg, Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington and Fort Bayo) and was three times wounded; after peace broke out he resumed his scholarship at Magdalen Hall, Oxford in 1816.
Gleig married Sarah Cameron in 1819, while at Oxford. She was a daughter of Captain Cameron the younger of Kinlochleven. Having taken his B.A. and M.A., the young Gleig took holy orders in 1820. He became curate of Westwell, Kent, and was later appointed to two additional parishes, as curate of Ash and as Rector of Ivychurch.
He wrote a series of articles for Blackwood's Magazine on his Peninsular War experiences; they were collected into a book, published in 1825 as The Subaltern. In 1821 he authored an account of his experiences in the USA as The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans under Generals Ross, Pakenham and Lambert. In 1829 he was invited to meet Wellington, and became a regular house-guest of the Duke. Gleig also wrote 'The Life of the Duke of Wellington'; a revised edition was published by Longmans, Green & Co of London in 1890.
In 1832 George Robert Gleig, by then Chaplain to the Chelsea Hospital—the Chelsea pensioners—and a well-known author, mainly on military matters,[2] publicly opposed the Reform Bill before Parliament.
Gleig had excellent relations with the Duke of Wellington, but that did not stop the Iron Duke from issuing a public reprimand in 1840 to Gleig for his plan to educate NCOs and private soldiers:
'By Jove! If there is a mutiny in the army – and in all probability we shall have one – you’ll see that these new-fangled schoolmasters will be at the bottom of it.'
Gleig was appointed Chaplain-General of the Forces in 1844, resigned 1875; from 1846 to 1857 he was Inspector-General of Military Schools. From 27 March 1848, he was a member of the Canterbury Association and joined the management committee, but resigned again on 25 November 1851.
Gleig was a frequent contributor to reviews and magazines, especially Blackwood's Magazine, in which his best-known novel, 'The Subaltern', appeared in instalments. He was also the author of Lives of Warren Hastings, Robert Clive, and Wellington, Military Commanders, Chelsea pensioners, and other works. He died at Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire in 1888.
Gleig received his initial education at Stirling Grammar school. On 21 June 1813, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington had his first victory in Spain over the French, at the battle of Vitoria. One month later a young student of divinity, George Robert Gleig, gave up a scholarship to Balliol College to join Wellington’s army as an Ensign in the 85th Light Infantry. His father, by then Bishop of Brechin, furnished him with £20, a substantial sum, though he notes that the rate at which he could buy readily exchangeable gold coins was poor — he had to pay 6s for every gold dollar, and £5 for a doubloon. On 7 October, Wellington crossed into France for the first time.
On 6 April 1814, Napoleon abdicated, though Wellington did not find out until 12 April. By then, on 10 April he had fought and won the decisive battle of the war at Toulouse. The young divinity student was then sent to the war against the United States, where he fought in five battles (Bladensburg, Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington and Fort Bayo) and was three times wounded; after peace broke out he resumed his scholarship at Magdalen Hall, Oxford in 1816.
Gleig married Sarah Cameron in 1819, while at Oxford. She was a daughter of Captain Cameron the younger of Kinlochleven. Having taken his B.A. and M.A., the young Gleig took holy orders in 1820. He became curate of Westwell, Kent, and was later appointed to two additional parishes, as curate of Ash and as Rector of Ivychurch.
He wrote a series of articles for Blackwood's Magazine on his Peninsular War experiences; they were collected into a book, published in 1825 as The Subaltern. In 1821 he authored an account of his experiences in the USA as The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans under Generals Ross, Pakenham and Lambert. In 1829 he was invited to meet Wellington, and became a regular house-guest of the Duke. Gleig also wrote 'The Life of the Duke of Wellington'; a revised edition was published by Longmans, Green & Co of London in 1890.
In 1832 George Robert Gleig, by then Chaplain to the Chelsea Hospital—the Chelsea pensioners—and a well-known author, mainly on military matters,[2] publicly opposed the Reform Bill before Parliament.
Gleig had excellent relations with the Duke of Wellington, but that did not stop the Iron Duke from issuing a public reprimand in 1840 to Gleig for his plan to educate NCOs and private soldiers:
'By Jove! If there is a mutiny in the army – and in all probability we shall have one – you’ll see that these new-fangled schoolmasters will be at the bottom of it.'
Gleig was appointed Chaplain-General of the Forces in 1844, resigned 1875; from 1846 to 1857 he was Inspector-General of Military Schools. From 27 March 1848, he was a member of the Canterbury Association and joined the management committee, but resigned again on 25 November 1851.
Gleig was a frequent contributor to reviews and magazines, especially Blackwood's Magazine, in which his best-known novel, 'The Subaltern', appeared in instalments. He was also the author of Lives of Warren Hastings, Robert Clive, and Wellington, Military Commanders, Chelsea pensioners, and other works. He died at Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire in 1888.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 17, 2019
The true spirit of being a Scot and a British soldier.
To learn how the Peninsular war was fought in great detail from a Junior officer's standpoint. A really excellent recount of the behaviour of the British in that war.
To learn how the Peninsular war was fought in great detail from a Junior officer's standpoint. A really excellent recount of the behaviour of the British in that war.
Displaying 1 of 1 review