Special Campaigns

The Franco-War of 1870 marked an absolute watershed: France had been the military and cultural centre-point of mainland Europe for some centuries, its fashion copied, its armies feared and its language the language of diplomacy and the highest circles. Growing in power, prestige and ambition, the states of Germany stood in opposition to this hegemony, a newborn power with much to prove. Its dominant driving force was Prussia, under the determined statesman Bismarck. The French goaded the Germans into action, provoking war. The Germans had been preparing for the conflict for some years and sprung into action, and the ensuing action would be a debacle for the French and a might victory for the Germans. This book is part of the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. They were intended principally for use by British officers seeking a wider knowledge of military history.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Includes Civil War Map and Illustrations Pack – 224 battle plans, campaign maps, and detailed analyses of actions spanning the entire period of hostilities. Major Redway picks up his analysis of the actions in the Eastern theatre of the Civil War with his widely acclaimed book on the Fredericksburg campaign of 1862. Goaded by his political master Lincoln, Major-General Burnside assumed the offensive with the Union army in late 1862, planning to use speed and surprise to enable him to defeat the Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee. His plan started to fall apart almost immediately as he failed to move with the requisite speed and, faced with choices between vaciliation and bold action, assumed the former. What had started badly was to end disastrously for the Union forces at the Battle of Fredericksburg, as bloody frontal assaults were delivered against entrenched Confederate troops. This book is part of the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. They were intended principally for use by British officers seeking a wider knowledge of military history.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Waterloo Illustration Pack – 14 maps/battle plans, 18 portraits of the personalities engaged, 10 illustrations. Almost 200 years after the battles were fought, the Waterloo Campaign of 1815 still remains a contentious issue. It was to be Napoleon's last charge at the head of his formidable armies that had marched into nearly every capital in Europe over the past 10 years. How could it be that he would be defeated by a rag-tag Anglo-Dutch army under the Duke of Wellington and the more heterogeneous but inexperienced Prussian army? Some might say Napoleon's orders were miscommunicated, misunderstood or even ignored; others would say that the formerly all-powerful Emperor's powers were on the wane and he was eventually outmanoeuvred by his enemies. Historians have ranged up on either side of the debate for decades, and cast their opinions into the mix with some verve and often much partisan feeling. From such muddied water, Lt.-Col Pratt provides a clear account of the campaign, sifting through the evidence with an expert military eye; dealing with the varied opinions of previous historians and the evidence of all the belligerent powers. He weighs the eye-witness accounts against the events with clarity without slipping into jingoistic bias, all the while providing a refreshingly detailed but lucid work. Another excellent volume from the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. Lt.-Col. Pratt served as in the officer in the Royal Engineers for many years, seeing much service throughout the British Empire, during which time he authored and co-authored a number of books, principally on military law, and strategy. His first volume in the Special Campaigns series "From Saarbrück to Paris" chronicled the 1870-71 war between France and Prussia, and is also well worth reading.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Following the destruction of Napoleon's huge armies of 1812 in the wintry wastes of European Russia, his hegemony of Europe was teetering on the abyss. He set about re-establishing his dominance with his vast abilities of organisation, combing depots and previous drafts and deserters for further manpower, and juggling his resources from the draining war in Spain, to create a new Grande Armée. His enemies were not idle: the Russians pushed the remaining French units back from successive river lines into Eastern Prussia, freeing that power from the yoke of French dominance. The Prussians in their turn activated reservists and reformed their army from the restrictions of the treaty following the disasters of 1806. The Austrians in the south itched to revenge themselves against the French and stood waiting for an opportune time to intervene. Napoleon carried out his campaigning in the manner of old, attempting to use the superior mobility of the French to bring the main enemy army to battle and destroy them therefore ensuring peace; however, hamstrung by his lack of cavalry, he might beat his opponents but could not destroy them. His sub-ordinate generals, who could not match him for strategy or his ability to get the best out of the raw troops, were beaten when away from their master. As the net closes on Napoleon, he finds himself at Leipzig, at the Battle of Nations, and so to fight the defining battle of his first reign. The Special Campaigns series was written in the early years of the turn of the twentieth century to provide detailed assessments of the historic campaigns of the past for the benefit of the officers of the British Army. They were all written by surviving or recently retired officers of the Army who shared their wealth of experience and insight to a new generation, each officer having had a specialist area of expertise. Colonel Maude was an authority on the campaigns of Napoleon, and wrote three volumes for the series.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Includes Civil War Map and Illustrations Pack – 224 battle plans, campaign maps, and detailed analyses of actions spanning the entire period of hostilities. The high-tide of Confederate success had passed with Pickett's charge at the battle of Gettysburg; the Union armies were re-invigorated by fresh leadership under Lieut.-General U.S. Grant, who decided upon a campaign that was to push toward the Confederate capital of Virginia through Spotsylvania. The area over which Grant intended to advance was sparsely populated, inaccessible and densely wooded, and his troops' numerical superiority could only be used in the few open areas for a general action. Grant knew that his troops would have to move in separate columns, if only to concentrate for concerted action. General Lee moved to attack the Union troops as they moved into position, before the numerical advantage in open country would spell doom to Confederate hopes. The fighting was confused and bloody; but despite the losses of the Union army, which exceeded the losses of the Confederates greatly, Grant ground onward for he knew that he could afford the casualties better than his enemy. This book is part of the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. They were intended principally for use by British officers seeking a wider knowledge of military history. Captain Vaughan-Sawyer served in the Indian army for all his adult life before falling in the opening months of the First World War. His excellent book is evidence of a life cut short.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Prussia had sat on the sidelines in 1805 whilst Napoleon hammered the Austrian and Russian armies in a dazzling series of victories culminating at the battle of Austerlitz. As the court of Frederick William III awaited a favourable moment to intervene, they looked on their army with a misplaced confidence based on the deeds of Frederick the Great, his well-drilled infantry and daring cavalry. However, the army had not kept up with the development of the French: their training suffered the constraints of financial cut-backs, their leaders were divided, vain, egocentric, incompetent or just too plain old. Frederick William was determined to cross swords with Napoleon, using a violation of territory by the French the year before as a pretext he started to mobilise his troops. His opponent was at the height of his military power. Although he did not really want to have another war so soon after crushing Austria, Napoleon was not the sort of man to back down from a challenge from the Prussians. As the troops readied themselves for the upcoming war, the Prussian generals vacilitated, abrogated responsibility, argued and split their forces. Napoleon organised his men into three mutually supporting columns as he invaded Prussian territory, unable to divine the intentions of his opponents. He was ready for all situations. Napoleon with his main army faced a sizeable portion of the Prussian forces at Jena, whilst Davout, perhaps his best subordinate, stood outnumbered but unshaken at Auerstädt. The fighting was brutal, short and bloody and would lead to Prussia being humbled for years to come, seething for revenge. This book formed part of the Special Campaigns series, which was written in the early years at the turn of the twentieth century to provide detailed assessments of the historic campaigns of the past for the benefit of the officers of the British Army. They were all written by current or recently retired officers of the Army who shared their wealth of experience and insight to a new generation, each officer having had a specialist area of expertise. Colonel Maude was an authority on the campaigns of Napoleon, and wrote three volumes for the series, the others focussing on the 1805 and 1813 campaigns. He describes the campaign in brilliant vivid detail, using material from the official archives of both France and Prussia as well as numerous eye-witness details. A fascinating book in an excellent series.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Includes Civil War Map and Illustrations Pack – 224 battle plans, campaign maps, and detailed analyses of actions spanning the entire period of hostilities. An excellent account of the first two years of the American Civil War, Major Redway sifts through the wealth of material available to give a digestible interpretation of the events. It was during these two years that the attritional nature of the War was realised and both belligerents realised that the hostilities would be both long and bloody. In the Eastern Theatre, from the Battle of Bull Run, notable for the inexperience of the troops and the emergence of Thomas Jackson as a leader of the first order who gained his nickname "Stonewall" by his inspiring performance, to the Peninsula Campaign which forced the Union troops back from their attempt to assault Richmond. In the west, much blood was spilt on both sides, but the fighting was inconclusive and hardly decisive; Ulysses S. Grant was gaining much experience and profited by planning a number of minor victories. This book is part of the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. They were intended principally for use by British officers seeking a wider knowledge of military history.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader.

Includes Civil War Map and Illustrations Pack – 224 battle plans, campaign maps, and detailed analyses of actions spanning the entire period of hostilities. The American Civil War had been raging since 1861. In the eastern theatre of the war, the Confederate forces - under the brilliant leadership of Robert E. Lee - traded blows with a succession of Union commanders and inflicted some severe losses on his enemy. In the period covered by the book-1963-the next commander, to try to wrest the initiative from the Confederates and utilise the numerical superiority of the Union forces, was Maj.-General Hooker. His attempt would founder catastrophically at the battle of Chancellorsville, which in turn might be described as General Lee's most famous victory. The high-water mark of the Confederate successes was to be at the battle of Gettysburg, with the Union forces under new commander General Meade holding their own and finally gaining the initiative. Although a short book, it is a revealing look at the campaign from an "out-side" point of view free from partisan bias. This book is part of the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. They were principally intended for use by British officers seeking a wider knowledge of military history.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. The immortal words "Not tonight Josephine!" are probably apocryphal, but in 1796 Napoleon had more pressing concerns than his amorous wife: he had been handed command of the Republican forces in Italy. His men were clothed in rags, unpaid, and hungry. Napoleon set to work with a passion, bending his senior commanders to his will (despite their seniority in both age and rank), raising morale and promising the troops what they craved-the opportunity for victory and loot! Many historians regard Napoleon's first campaign to be his finest, using all his genius to outmanoeuvre his numerous opponents, by dividing them, hard marching and even harder fighting to destroy Austrian power in Northern Italy. In his wake, his forces garnered so many victories, it is hard to disagree: Mondovi, Lodi, Lonato, Montenotte, Arcole, and finally Rivoli. After an abortive expedition to Egypt, during which time the ruling powers in France had squandered their gains from previous engagement, Napoleon was appointed as head of state in the garb of First Consul. Using all of his powers of organization, he formulated a brilliant campaign plan to expel the ascendant Austrians from Italy: he swept through the Alps in the middle of winter behind the enemy forces. After a bloody engagement at Marengo, which hung in the balance until the arrival of French reinforcements, the Austrians were forced out of Italy and would sue for peace soon thereafter. Another excellent volume in the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. Brig-Gen. Burton wrote a number of books on Napoleon's campaigns for the series and was an acknowledged expert on the era, applying his expert eye to the lightning moves of the Emperor contrasted by the lumbering vacillations of his opponents.

This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. A short but very useful account of Napoleon's most brilliant campaign as Emperor, culminating in smashing the Third Coalition against France. Lt.-Col. Burton dispenses with the extraneous elements and focuses primarily on the actions of Napoleon as he guides his troops from Boulogne, where they have been training for an invasion of Britain, to face his Austrian and Russian foes across the Rhine. Another excellent volume in the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. Lt.-Col. Burton wrote a number of books on Napoleon's campaigns for the series and was an acknowledged expert on the era. He applies his expert eye to the lightning moves of the Emperor, contrasted by the lumbering vacillations of his opponents.

Napoleon's campaign in Russia began in June of 1812 and triggered the vast reversal of power away from France, which had started with his accession to power some twelve years before and would continue for decades afterwards. 600,000 men marched into Russia under Napoleon's eagles, only a fraction would march back out, most would be left frozen in the wastes of Russia. Lt.-Col Burton undertakes the task of distilling the conflict of more than a million men and many more civilians with fluency and detail. An excellent book. This book is part of the Special Campaigns series produced around the turn of the 20th century by serving or recently retired British and Indian Army officers. They were intended principally for use by British officers seeking a wider knowledge of military history.