'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 13, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE NAPOLEONIC WARS group.

Betsy wrote: "I must admit that I know so little about the uprising in the Vendee and also about the Chouans. In my book the Chouans and the Blues have just had their first skirmish. The animosity is palpable be..."

I hope you enjoy the novel Betsy, keep us all posted.

John H. Gill has a new Napoleonic book out at the end of July 2020. I enjoyed his trilogy on Napoleon's 1809 campaign so I have pre-ordered a copy of his new book:

The Battle of Znaim: Napoleon, The Habsburgs and the End of the 1809 War by John H. Gill
Description:
The little known Battle of Znaim (10th-11th July 1809) was the last battle to be fought on the main front of the Franco-Austrian War. Cut short to make way for an armistice it effectively ended hostilities between France and Austria and is now uniquely considered to be an episode both of conflict and simultaneously of diplomacy. The battle began as a result of the Austrian decision to stage a rearguard action near Znaim, prompting the Bavarians to unsuccessfully storm a nearby town. Battle ensued with the village changing hands a number of times over the course of the two days. Jack Gill delves deep into the respective tactics of both sides as the two armies continually changed positions and strategies. His account dissects and investigates the dual aspects of the Battle of Znaim and explains the diplomatic decisions that resulted in the peace treaty which was signed at Schonbrunn Palace on 14th October 1809\. Gill's book is an unrivalled analysis of the Battle of Znaim. Accessible, highly detailed and expertly crafted, it sheds new light on this fascinating moment in Napoleonic history.

I'm still tossing and turning about whether to buy a copy, HB or PB, and which translation, maybe one day :)

Here are some observations and comments made by Representative Carrier of the Committee of Pubic Safety on some of the generals commanding the Revolutionary forces in the Vendee:

" ... 'General Chalbos is a brave patriot; he has military talent but I find in him a prudence that is too sluggish for the Vendeen War ... Marceau, Canuel, Muller, are ardent revolutionaries, pronounced and principled republicans, courageous, talented soldiers. What a pity that these Children of the Revolution should not have a thorough knowledge of military tactics and plans of campaign!'

Of Kleber he wrote:

'In battle he shows unequalled coolness and courage. He is the general who has the greatest military knowledge in the Army of the West, of Brest, and perhaps of all the republican armies. Plans of campaign, arrangements of an army, orders of march, he knows everything perfectly. he has the frankness, the speech, the habits, the sans-culottism of a true republican; on the only defect that I can see in him is that he is a little too severe on fighting days.'

Taking a selection of others he wrote:

Vimeux 'is an old soldier who deserves the greatest esteem, an excellent patriot without Kleber's knowledge.'
Haxo 'has the coolness and bravery of Kleber without his military knowledge.'
'Beaupuy is a ci-devant; but what a good and brave general! He has always led the vanguard.'
Marigny 'is a brave bastard often in the thick of action. Speaking seldom, always on duty, he executed his orders punctually and precisely.'
'The brave Rossignol ... can carry out movements very well in a given plan of attack or defence, but it must be acknowledged that he has no talent or initiative.'
'L'Echelle had no military talent, but what a fine republican he was! What an excellent sans-culotte!'

Of the Army of Mayence he noted that 'those who slander it are great scoundrels and conspirators ... our successes are due to them ... they profess the most pronounced and burning republicanism'."

Fighting the French Revolution: The Great Vendée Rising of 1793 by Rob Harper

My theme book is going to be this recent publication (2019):

Fighting the French Revolution: The Great Vendée Rising of 1793 by Rob Harper

Sounds like it will be a rip-roaring adventure Komet, keep us all posted.

Hi folks,

The June 2020 theme read page/thread is open and ready for discussion. The theme is on any book or books of your choice, including novels, that covers any aspect of Napoleonic espionage, spies, assassin’s, and Uprisings:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The June 2020 theme read is on any book or books of your choice, including novels, that covers any aspect of Napoleonic espionage, spies, assassin’s, and Uprisings.

I don't have any books covering espionage, spies and assassin’s but I have a few on the Vendée. Which of those subjects did you want to find a book on Betsy?

Here are a few suggestions:

This Dark Business: The Secret War Against Napoleon by Tim Clayton

The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes: The Story of George Scovell by Mark Urban
(This is quite a good account)

Spying for Wellington: British Military Intelligence in the Peninsular War by Huw J. Davies

Wellington's Spies by Mary McGrigor

I am going to read this book on the Vendée:

Fighting the French Revolution: The Great Vendée Rising of 1793 by Rob Harper

Don't forget that the next theme month will be June and can be any book or books of your choice, which can include novels, that covers any one of these subjects:

Napoleonic espionage, spies and assassin’s & War in the Vendée.

What book/s are you thinking of reading for this theme?

Two excellent posts from "War & Peace", thanks for sharing them.

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "Those are some nice editions and a great addition for any library about the Napoleonic Wars."

I might watch them all again pretty soon :)

A nice series of historic presentations, thanks for the links. I have a few from the Cromwell DVD History of Warfare series:

Austerlitz:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Austerlitz-1...

Borodino:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Warf...

Waterloo:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Warf...

That's a pretty good YouTube video, thanks for posting the link. You will be happy to know I am currently listening to Tchaikovsky's "1812" :)

It could almost be Russian again during Operation Barbarossa in 1941!

I will see how I go :)

I'm still tempted to get a nice HB edition one day, I will wait and see how I go.

More great posts from "War & Peace", sounds like you are quite enjoying the book except for those Kindle page issues.

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "On Alexander's staff, he had folks that spoke, French, German, Italian, and who knows where else, Tolstoy describes one scene where everyone is talking in their native language, while Prince Andrew..."

Utter confusion, that's no way to run a war!

Great posts Doubledf99.99, very descriptive indeed!