The History Book Club discussion
NAPOLEONIC WARS
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GETTING ACQUAINTED - NAPOLEONIC WARS
I have just received my long-awaited for copy of "Thunder on the Danube: Wagram and Znaim, Napoleon's Defeat of the Hanbsburgs" by Jack Gill.
by Jack H. GillPublishers blurb:
In this third volume John H. Gill brings to a close his magisterial study of the 1809 war between Napoleonic France and Habsburg Austria. This final volume begins with the principal armies of both antagonists recuperating on the Danube's banks. As they prepared for the next encounter, important actions were taking place in distant theaters of war: Eugene brought his army into Hungary and won a crucial victory over Johann on the anniversary of Marengo, Prince Poniatowski's Poles outflanked another Austrian archduke along the Vistula, and future marshal Marmont drove an Austrian force out of Dalmatia to join Napoleon at Vienna.
These subsidiary campaigns all set the stage for the clash that would decide the war: the titanic Battle of Wagram. Second only in scale to the three-day slaughter at Leipzig in 1813, Wagram saw more than 320,000 men and 900 guns locked in two days of fury that ended with Austrian retreat. The defeat, however, was not entirely complete and Napoleon had to force yet another major engagement on the Austrians before Charles would accept a ceasefire. This under-appreciated battle at Znaim introduced an extended armistice that finally ended with a peace treaty signed in Vienna in October.
Gill makes use of an impressive array of sources to present a lively account that covers the conflict from the diplomacy of emperors to the common soldiers suffering the privations of campaigning and the horrors of battle as they attempt to carry out their duties. Enriched with uncommon illustrations, more than 40 specially prepared maps, and extraordinary order of battle detail, this work concludes an unprecedented English language study of Napoleon's last victorious war.
Hi all. I mentioned this in my Introduction, and I hope it's okay to do this here, but I wanted to throw out a recommendation for a Napoleon podcast I've been listening to the past few weeks. It's called Napoleon 101 and can be found on The Podcast Network at:http://napoleon.thepodcastnetwork.com/
It's put out by an Aussie podcast entrepreneur and a noted Napoleon scholar and author by the name of J David Markham. It has actually been "on air" for a couple of years now and has over 50 episodes (most over an hour long), but I just recently discovered it so I am really enjoying getting caught up - one of the few advantages of having a long commute to work.
The two gentlemen are very pro-Napoleon, but I think they make a really good case for their positions. I didn't know much about Napoleon before coming across this podcast, but they have me convinced! Anyway, it's a great history podcast, and if anyone else has checked it out, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Between that podcast, and now this thread, I have a lot of Napoleon books to add to my to-read pile. These are the two I'm looking at the most at the moment:
by David G. Chandler (looks like a great overview)and
by Adam Zamoyski (for some reason, I'm particularly fascinated by the Russian Campaign).
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If it were self promotion, we would have deleted it. We have a zero spam policy but you are OK.
I was going to ask you what podcast it was; you must have been reading my mind.
Hi Don, I can highly recommend Adam Zamoyski's book; "1812: Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow" and if you really enjoy that you could follow on with his next book covering the Napoleonic period; "Rites of Peace: The Fall of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna". Both are excellent accounts and very easy to read.
and
by Adam ZamoyskiOne of the best books covering Napoleon and Russia is; " Napoleon and Russia" by Michael Adams, another well worth book to read if your interested.
by Michael AdamsPublishers blurb:
"Napoleon and Russia" tells, for the first time, the full story of Napoleon and his crucial relationship with Russia, from the 1790s and Bonaparte's rise to power, through the period of Austerlitz, Tilsit and the Russian invasion, to the Emperor's fall and its aftermath. In doing so, it not only puts the critical events of 1812 in their proper context as part of an even greater tale - of peace as well as war, friendship as well as enmity - but also provides fresh insight into the Napoleonic period as a whole, questioning many of the assumptions about the era prevalent in the English-speaking world. The tale boasts a cast of fascinating characters to rival any novel: the rulers, Napoleon himself, Catherine the Great, 'Mad' Tsar Paul and the enigmatic Alexander I; generals such as Ney, Murat, Davout, Suvorov, Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly; statesmen like Talleyrand, Caulaincourt, Czartoryski and Rumiantsev; and, of course, the ordinary soldiers who fought some of the most intriguing, bloody and important campaigns in history. This is an enthralling story of fundamental importance in the history of Europe and, indeed, the world.
Hi again Don, I checked out your podcast link and I found that one of their references/talkers is Dr Philip Dwyer. A few years ago he published the first volume of a biography on Napoleon (part of a two volume set).
The book is titled "Napoleon: The Path To Power" which I think was a great book, I can't wait for the second volume to be published.
by Philip DwyerReviews:
"This life of his hero in two volumes is the work that Dwyer was placed on earth to write ... We are clearly in the presence of what will be a monumental work ... meticulously researched and well-written first volume, which leaves the reader keenly anticipating the second." - Andrew Roberts, Literary Review
"Remarkable ... a satisfying, psychologically convincing account of Napoleon's early years and ascent to power. Even-handed and authoritative, this fascinating and highly enjoyable book will be an eye opener even to those who think they know the subject well." - Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times
"Bonaparte's staggering ambition and penchant for blaming others for his mistakes are apparent throughout." - Financial Times Summer Books
"An extraordinary story ... Dwyer has his own way of telling the story and this makes his book more than just a canter across familiar terrain ... an attractive addition to the literature on one of the most controversial figures in modern European history." - Thomas Munch-Petersen, BBC History Magazine
Thanks, A.R.! I am always on the look-out for a good bio on Napoleon. And it is in a Kindle edition.I read
by Alan SchomIt was pretty good, but I don't know, I felt it could have been better.
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lol-I did, it is the parenting thing. No, it is James Garfield. I was playing around with my profile, accidentally deleted my photo, so here we are.
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Bring the old photo back (smile).
Hi Bryan, You might find a big difference between Alan Schom's book and Dr Philip Dwyer's. Many in the Napoleonic community (if you want to call it that) believe that Schom basically did a hatchet job on Napoleon's reputation. It will be interesting to see if you read another bio on Napoleon what you think.
Thanks for the recommendations on the Michael Adams book Rick. What little I know of the relationship between Napoleon and Russia (Alexander in particular), it seems very colorful and worthy of more study. I have added this book to my growing History Wishlist on Amazon :)
by Michael Adams
Hi Don, I know the feeling about a back-log of good books! If you do get a copy I think you will enjoy the experience of reading about Napoleon and Alexander, it's a very well written book and quite easy to read, lots of fun.
I found this book by chance the other day and I have mentioned it in the British History thread but in case of those only interested in Napoleonic topics I have placed it here as well; "Defying Napoleon: How Britain Bombarded Copenhagen and Seized the Danish Fleet in 1807".
by Thomas Munch-PetersenPublishers blurb:
The events surrounding the British bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807 are an engrossing story full of high drama. They involve some of the most fascinating military and political personalities of the period, including the future Duke of Wellington. In the three weeks between 16 August and 5 September 1807, the British landed, assaulted and captured the city of Copenhagen before making off with the Danish fleet. The expedition to Zealand in 1807 to seize the Danish Navy must rank as one of the most successful combined military operations in history - swift, ruthless and effective. It is also the first example in modern history of terror bombardment used against a major European city. The expedition was prompted by fears that Napolean would seize the Danish fleet and turn it against Britain, since although Denmark was neutral, she was thought to be susceptible to pressure from a new alliance between France and Russia. Britain's decision to launch her pre-emptive attack was based largely on inaccurate intelligence reports, and some parallels can be drawn with the American-led Coalition's invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Here is another recent addition to Napoleonic books:
by Colonel VacheePublishers blurb:
First translated into English in 1914, "Napoleon at Work" is a detailed, step-by-step analysis of the military tactics and methods adopted by Napoleon Bonaparte in the time leading up to, and during, the Jena Campaign of 1806. Written by the distinguished French tactician and strategist, Colonel Vachee, this book aimed to examine and illustrate the military genius of Napoleon as it was at the very height of his career, as well as the lessons in warfare which could be learnt from him for the 'battles of the future'. This fascinating study explores the many elements that contributed to his success; from the organisation and movements of staff, to Napoleon's own strategic decision-making, and, most importantly, the recognition of the necessity of a formidable leadership to achieve victory in warfare.
The Author:
Colonel Jean-Baptiste Vachee was a French tactician who wrote Napoleon at Work for the reference of 'military students', with the aim of formulating rules for future warfare by looking at the tactics employed by Napoleon. It was first translated into English, with a foreword, by G. Frederic Lees in 1914.
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My pleasure Bentley, you know I love sharing good books :)I just found these two new releases which I have ordered copies for myself:
by Peter SnowPublishers blurb:
The seven-year campaign that saved Europe from Napoleon told by those who were there. What made Arthur Duke of Wellington the military genius who was never defeated in battle? In the vivid narrative style that is his trademark, Peter Snow recalls how Wellington evolved from a backward, sensitive schoolboy into the aloof but brilliant commander. He tracks the development of Wellington's leadership and his relationship with the extraordinary band of men he led from Portugal in 1808 to their final destruction of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo seven years. Having described his soldiers as the 'scum of the earth' Wellington transformed them into the finest fighting force of their time. Digging deep into the rich treasure house of diaries and journals that make this war the first in history to be so well recorded, Snow examines how Wellington won the devotion of generals such as the irascible Thomas Picton and the starry but reckless 'Black Bob' Crauford and soldiers like Rifleman Benjamin Harris and Irishman Ned Costello. Through many first-hand accounts, Snow brings to life the horrors and all of the humanity of life in and out of battle, as well as shows the way that Wellington mastered the battlefield to outsmart the French and change the future of Europe. To War with Wellington is the gripping account of a very human story about a remarkable leader and his men.
by John FranklinPublisher blurb:
One of the most celebrated aspects of the battle of Waterloo is the defence of the château and farm complex of Hougoumont. This is the focus of a new book on the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards. scheduled for release in July 2010, the book provides a highly detailed examination of events, with evidence and contributions from each of the nations that were involved in the fighting. A detailed Order of Battle, based completely on manuscript research, also dispells many of the myths which have arisen to do with the heroic struggle.
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Hi Andre, that must have been great as a kid to listen to your father telling you stories about Napoleon and the battles of his times! Both books sound pretty good so I have ordered copies for my library.
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Well, Rick, yes and no. He also did lots of Model kit building. The French company Historex had (I heard they're still there...) the greatest series of detailed soldiers available for an affordable price (now of course there's Andrea, Pagaso, Romeo etc. - but much more expensive)
The sets he built were tremendous and very impressive but with the uniforms all colorful and everything looking perfect I slowly got the feeling that reality would have been much dirtier and also horrible beyond imagination.
After having read a few books on the subject I saw more clearly.
I also like model kit building but I want scenes that are closer to reality. Gladiators wounded and sweating, Napoleon's Russian campaign etc.etc. so my picture doesn't get blurred by romantic fantasy.
I agree that it is always best to remind yourself that although the book your reading offers great accounts of daring-do, bravery and great feats, etc that in reality people are dying and suffering. That's what history is all about and we should never loss sight of that fact. Occasionally you read a book that brings that reality home and I think we are the better for it.
I thought I might follow on with my own suggestion about what was a person's favourite military history book by mention my favourite in each thread and see if anyone else has read that book and what they thought. This period of history is one of my favourites so it was hard to select just one book however 'the' book that has remained with me long after reading it covering the Napoleonic Wars was George Blond's "La Grande Armee".
Has anyone else read this book and did or didn’t like it?
What was one book that you have read about in this period of history that you would consider one of the best on the subject?
by Georges Blond
Some time ago I read a great book titled; "War Drama of the Eagles" by Edward Fraser which was re-released by Naval & Military Press Ltd. I have just picked up a copy of another one of their titles; "Jena to Eylau" which I hope to be able to read sometime soon. 
by Edward Fraser"Napoleon's standard-bearers on the battlefield in victory and defeat from Austerlitz to Waterloo: a record of hard fighting, heroism and adventure."
by Freiherr von der Goltz Colmar"A Prussian military man's account of the low point of Prussia's long struggle with Napoleon at Jena - and of the beginnings of its recovery at Eylau the following year."
I recently recieved a copy of "On Campaign in the Age of Napoleon" which is a massive, well produced and presented book full of lovely art work covering the Napoleonic period. If you love great paintings then this book may well interest you but its a limited edition of 1201 books world-wide!On Campaign in the Age of Napoleon: The Art of Keith Rocco (no cover) by Matthew Delamater
Another great visually stunning book due out on the market soon is; "Napoleon's Army: 1790-1815" by Lucien Rousselot
by Lucien RousselotPublishers blurd:
Lucien Rousselot is one of the world's most important military artists, having played an integral role in establishing uniformology as a true science. He was born in France at a time when the 1871 military defeat by Prussia was still very present in the psyche of the French people. After all, it had not been long since the French army under Napoleon I had not only amazed the world, but had stood victoriously astride the whole of Europe. Indeed, triumphant armies guided by the military genius of Bonaparte had marched down the avenues of Paris to the delight of enormous crowds.
It is no surprise, therefore, that the talented young Rousselot decided to devote much of his life to recreating the martial splendor of France's greatest age. The Napoleonic period offered innumerable opportunities for his skills, as uniforms varied widely in style and color, as befitted an age when individual glory still counted for much on Europe's battlefields.
Rousselot received his artistic training at the renowned School of Decorative Arts in Paris while at the same time immersing himself in the study of the classic military illustrators. His immense talent was equaled only by his innate modesty and intense commitment to his work. This level of dedication ultimately resulted in the marvelous watercolors and exacting narrative presented in this publication.
Aside from a now-rare work published in France costing many hundreds of dollars, Napoleon's Army: 1790-1815 is the only complete collection of Rousselot's life's work on the period, here presented admirably yet affordably for the English-speaking public.
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by Lucien RousselotI just held this book in my hands. It was supposed to be a gift for a friend.
A few words on the art. It's magnificent if you're really interested in the subject. I have never seen a book with such detail on La Grande Armee, both in drawings and in writing. Every uniform, down to the buttons is described.
The drawings are good but to be honest I prefer the Funckens. They created scenes with livelier settings, soldiers resting, or having dinner but also charging cavalry or battlefield situations. Their books lack the detailed descriptions in such a way that not every regiment is depicted down to the shoelaces but the mood is better. When you feel you need to know all there is to know about Napoleon's army, go for Rousselot, if you want settings go for Funcken. If you're a complete buff, well, you obviously need to get both...
by Liliane et Fred Funcken My edition has two volumes with 156 pages each (thick paper and in color) and was brought out by Casterman in 1968 - but I can't find an ISBN
Hi Andre, I've ordered a copy :)
I've just started reading; "1812: Napoleon's Russian Campaign" by Richard Riehn.
by Richard K. RiehnReview:
"Most historians writing about Napoleon's 1812 debacle succumb to the inherent drama of the tragedy: Moscow in flames, dashing Cossacks, and lines of infantry suffering in the frigid Russian winter. Riehn takes a more hard-eyed professional approach, weighing the technical, strategic, and diplomatic factors in this serious study of the military elements of the campaign. His examination of the historiography, line tactics, and late-Napoleonic battlefield dynamics alone will make this a treatise of lasting importance. Casual readers will still do best with Curtis Cate's popular but respectable 'The War of the Two Emperors: The Confrontation Between Napoleon and Alexander' (LJ 10/1/85)." - Military Book Club selection. (Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog.)
I've just ordered a copy of this new book which although isn't strictly a Napoleonic title it does carry on after Waterloo but on a different contintent:
by Ben HughesPublishers blurb:
In the aftermath of Waterloo, over 6,000 British volunteers sailed across the Atlantic to aid Simon Bolivar in his liberation of Gran Columbia from her oppressors in Madrid. The expeditions were plagued with disaster from the start, one ship sank shortly after leaving Portsmouth with the loss of almost 200 lives. Those who reached the New World faced disease, wild animals, mutiny and desertion. Conditions on campaign were appalling, massacres were commonplace, rations crude, pay infrequent and supplies insufficient. Nevertheless, those who endured made key contributions to Bolivar's success.
Here is an old publication (1909) that has just been re-published that may interest some readers who enjoy the histories of the Napoleonic period:
by W. Hyde KellyPublishers blurb:
The story of the French Army that never arrived at WaterlooAlmost everybody who is interested in the Battle of Waterloo knows that the campaign began auspiciously for Napoleon. The Prussian Army under Blucher was first engaged and it suffered a savaging at Ligny after which it retreated. After Quatre Bras Wellington's allied army retreated and took position on the ridge before Waterloo-Blucher, harassed by Grouchy retreated towards Wavre. Though thoroughly mauled, the Prussian Army embodied no spirit of defeat and so was not-as Napoleon or Grouchy believed-an army in flight but a grim, avenging and lethal force undertaking a sweeping manoeuvre which would bring it as promised-just in time-onto the momentous field of battle slamming into the right flank of the French Army to ensure victory and an end to an epoch. Most histories of this campaign concentrate on the action that took place over the fields between Genappe and Mont St. Jean. Grouchy's part in the campaign is often considered as no more than 'noises off' and a footnote about lack of resolve and lost opportunity. This book investigates Grouchy's actions and the activities of his Prussian enemy-and explains why this luckless marshal did not 'march to the sound of the guns.'
Hi! Wellington's Rifles by Mark Urban is a great account of the 95th Rifles. 
I have also wanted a good book on Stapleton Cotton, Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere, G.C.B. The only thing I have found so far is "Memoirs and Correspondence of Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere, G.C.B., Etc., From his Family Papers". Has anyone read this?
Hi Dan, Mark Urban has published some very good Napoleonic books and I enjoyed his book on the Sharpshooters followed on by his account of the Fusiliers.
&
by Mark UrbanI'm afraid that I have not read any books covering Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere, G.C.B. so I'll be interested to hear if you find any decent books on the subject.
For those who may not have any idea of who this man is you can check out his history at this link:
Viscount Combermere
I am currently halfway through "Journal of the Waterloo Campaign" by General Cavalie Mercer. The book is a decent first-hand account of the Hundred Days and although much of the narrative is taken up with detailed descriptions of towns, buildings, people and the countryside in which Cavalie Mercer and his Troop of Horse Artillery travelled through his description of the day of battle was well worth the wait. Below is his account of a French cavalry charge against his gun line, the third charge so far:“.... On they came in compact squadrons, one behind the other, so numerous that those of the rear were still below the brow when the head of the column was but at some sixty or seventy yards from our guns. Their pace was a slow but steady trot. None of your furious galloping charges was this, but a deliberate advance, at a deliberate pace, as of men resolved to carry their point. They moved in profound silence, and the only sound that could be heard from them amidst the incessant roar of battle was the low thunder-like reverberation of the ground beneath the simultaneous tread of so many horses. On our part was equal deliberation. Every man stood steadily at his post, the guns ready, loaded with a round-shot first and a case over it; the tubes were in the vents; the port-fires glared and sputtered behind the wheels; and my word alone was wanting to hurl destruction on that goodly show of gallant men and noble horses..."
by Cavalie Mercer
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I often think about the millions of animals killed during warfare. Not "just" horses, elephants, camels, donkeys, doves and others used for the campaigns, also the ones just living their lives until they're wiped out by bombs, napalm and what not.
In London they set up a monument to honor the animals killed during warfare. But the media never report on what our fighting does to the animals.
Which tells me a lot about the way most of us still see the other beings we share the planet with.
Hi Andre, I totally agree, in Australia they recently unveiled a monument at the Australian War Memorial to all animals killed and hurt during our conflicts. There has also been a spate of books coming out on the market about these poor long suffering animal and their pivotal role in warfare.
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Hi Bentley, I suppose its been about time that we realised our debt to the animals. I read somewhere about horses during battle, how they trusted their riders so much that they would normally folow then into hell but really how much choice did they have in the mud of the Western Front during WW1. I am going slightly off topic but there is that new book that I mentioned on the WW1 thread about animals and soldiers in the trenches which looks interesting.
by Richard Van EmdenPublishers blurb:
For soldiers in the Great War, going over the top was a comparatively rare event; much more frequently, they were bored and lonely and missing their families at home. Needing an outlet for their affection, many found it in the animal kingdom. "Tommy's Ark" looks at the war through the eyes of the soldiers who were there, and examines their relationship with a strange and unexpected range of animal life, from horses, dogs and cats to monkeys and birds - even in one case a golden eagle. Animals became mascots - some Welsh battalions had goats as mascots, some of the Scots had donkeys. And then there were the animals and insects that excited curiosity amongst men drawn into the army from the industrial heartlands of Britain, men who had little knowledge of, let alone daily contact with, wildlife. Civilians turned soldiers observed the natural world around them, from the smallest woodlouse to voles, mice and larger animals such as deer and rabbit. Richard van Emden explores his subject far more radically than previous attempts, revealing how, for example, a lemur was taken on combat missions in the air, a lion was allowed to pad down the front line trenches and how a monkey lost its leg during the fighting at Delville Wood on the Somme. It is illustrated with more than sixty previously unseen or rarely published photographs, drawn mainly from the author's own extraordinary collection.
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Thank you for the add.
I've tried to find a painting to show what Cavalie Mercer and his Troop of Horse Artillery faced but couldn't find what I was looking for howver I found something close although a different battle:La charge à Eylau
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The Battle of Eylau was one of Napoleon's bloodiest;"With his centre almost broken, Napoléon resorted to ordering a massive charge by Murat's 11,000-strong cavalry reserve — aside from the Guard, the last major unbloodied body of troops remaining to the French.
Thus began one of the greatest cavalry charges in history. Somewhat obscured by the weather, Murat's squadrons charged through the Russian infantry around Eylau and then divided into two groups. The group on the right charged into the flank of the Russian cavalry attacking St Hilaire's division, the other group charged into the Russian infantry in the area where Augereau's corps had made its stand. Not content with these heavy blows, the cavalry reformed and charged straight through the Russian centre, reformed, wheeled, and charged back again, cutting down the gunners who had destroyed the VIIth Corps, before retiring under the protection of the Guard cavalry. Murat had lost 1,500 well-trained troopers, but relieved the pressure on Augereau, Saint-Hilaire, and Soult and paralyzed the Russians long enough to allow Davout to deploy in strength. Rarely had French cavalry played such a pivotal part in a battle. In part this was because, for the first time, Murat's men were now mounted on the best cavalry horses in Europe, freshly requisitioned in the aftermath of the conquest of Prussia." - Wikipedia
For the full account of this terrible battle try this link:
The Battle of Eylau
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Here is a recent release covering the British campaign against Napoleon's Army of the Orient in Egypt.
by Piers MackesyPublishers blurb:
In 1800 the British army's reputation was in tatters, having experienced nothing but failure in wars across the world for forty years; at home, a divided cabinet had to face the problem of Egypt, which had been occupied by Napoleon's Army of the Orient since 1798. The task of ejecting France fell to a disparate band of soldiers led by Sir Ralph Abercromby which, against all the odds, defeated the French army on 21 March 1801, bringing Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign to a definitive and crushing end. Piers Mackesy vividly brings to life the events of the battle, revealing how Abercromby's brilliantly-executed strategy restored the honour of the British army and averted disaster for the Empire.
This book is due to be re-released after last being published in English in the mid 1800's; "Working With Napoleon: The Memoirs of the Emperor's Private Secretary 1802-1815" by Claude-Francois de Meneval.
by Baron Claude-François de MénevalPublishers blurb:
contemporary account of Napoleon by his own private secretary. To be employed by a towering military and political figure such as Napoleon Bonaparte during the entire period of his active life allows an astute and precise observer such as the Baron an incomparable opportunity to record history in the making. Claude- François de Méneval (1778 1850), a member of the old nobility, remained as private secretary, close confidant and trusted collaborator of the emperor from 1802 to Waterloo in 1815. He was to remain particularly close to the Empress Marie-Louise. Thanks to the author s private notes and his phenomenal memory, these memoirs were first published in Paris in 1827 and in English translation in 1894 contemporaneously in London and New York. These memoirs immediately became a key document for historians of Napoleonic period because of the detail view they provide of Napoleon, his family and the history of the period but also because of their high literary quality and historical interest. Méneval who was also a novelist and great letter writer knew most of the men and women of letters of his time and they are also very much a presence in this extraordinary book.
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I've just ordered a copy of; "Memoirs of a Polish Lancer" translated by Tim Simmons. It sounds like a very interesting book covering the Polish cavalry units that fought for Napoleon.
by Translated by Tim SimmonsPublishers blurb:
"Decorated for valor by France and Poland, and made one of Napoleon's inner circle, Dezydery Chlapowski wrote his Memoirs of a Polish Lancer to describe his thrilling life at the heart of the action. A young Polish cavalry officer, he served in the siege of Danzig in 1807 with the newly raised army of a liberated Poland. Subsequently, he served as an Aide de camp for Napoleon in the Spanish Campaign of 1808 and during the Danube Campaign of 1809. Napoleon granted Chlapowski the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Polish Lancers of the Imperial Guard for his outstanding performance on numerous confidential missions. Afterwards Chlapowski served in the terrible 1812 campaign and in the battles of the 1813 campaign with the depleted French Cavalry, well after his homeland had been overrun by the Russian army.
In his Memoirs, Chlapowski wrote partly for the education of young polish officers,and in doing so describes how to conduct a successful cavalry charge, as well as how to conduct patrols and reconnaissance duties, all details fascinating to the military historian. Politically, Chlapowski provides insights into the various intrigues of the Imperial Household that would eventually force him to leave service in favor of his homeland. This is the first time these Memoirs have been translated into English. Follow the exploits of a true hero in the Memoirs of a Polish Lancer."
Since we are talking about Polish units in Napoleon's army, another good book on the subject is; "In the Legions of Napoleon: The Memoirs of a Polish Officer in Spain and Russia, 1808-1813" by Heinrich Von Brandt.
by Heinrich Von BrandtPublishers blurb:
A superb evocation of life in Napoleons armies A classic account of the Peninsular War and the 1812 invasion of Russia These superb memoirs, never before published in English, are some of the finest to have emerged from the Napoleonic Wars. They recount the adventures of a man who, by the time he was twenty-five, had marched from Madrid to Moscow and had been severely wounded on three separate occasions. From 1808 to 1812 he was caught up in Napoleons attempt to subjugate Spain, fighting in battles, sieges (including the siege of Saragossa) and hunting and being hunted by merciless bands of guerrillas. In 1812 his unit was ordered to take part in the invasion of Russia. Crossing the Niemen 3,000 strong, his regiment and was completely destroyed in the epic retreat from Moscow.
Brandts exciting memoirs paint a startling picture of life on campaign, and the brutal face of the Napoleonic battlefield and make for gripping reading.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Battle of Waterloo (other topics)In Nelson's Wake: The Navy and the Napoleonic Wars (other topics)
Sickness, Suffering, and the Sword: The British Regiment on Campaign, 1808–1815 (Volume 37) (other topics)
Tactics and the Experience of Battle in the Age of Napoleon (other topics)
The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jeremy Black (other topics)James Davey (other topics)
Andrew Bamford (other topics)
Rory Muir (other topics)
Gunther E. Rothenberg (other topics)
More...
The account of one decisive and fateful year in the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. It details his manner of conducting a war and his political and strategic attitudes.