Wellington S Brigade Commanders

Recent research into the Duke of Wellington's armies during the Peninsular War and the Waterloo campaign has enhanced our understanding of the men he led, and this new biographical guide to his brigade commanders is a valuable contribution to this growing field. Ron McGuigan and Robert Burnham have investigated the lives and careers of a group of men who performed a vital role in Wellington's chain of command. These officers were the brigadiers and major generals who, for a variety of reasons, never made the jump to become permanent division commanders. Their characters, experience and level of competence were key factors in the successes and failures of the army as a whole. Their biographies give us a fascinating insight into their individual backgrounds, their strengths and weaknesses, and the makeup of the society they came from. Each biography features a table covering essential information on the individual, his birth and death dates, the dates of his promotions and details of his major commands. This is followed by a concise account of his life and service.

Includes over 100 maps of the actions, engagements and battles of the entire Peninsular War. “The men who stood beside the Great Duke The Duke of Wellington was indisputably one of the most able military commanders in British history. He was not only a powerful intellect, but also a man of substantial character...To Wellington, delegation failed to come easily...He insisted on a knowledge of all things that might concern him and was prepared to issue directives on all matters. It is then, unsurprising that he eclipsed his immediate subordinates, senior figures and highly respected commanders in their own right, who were often given little latitude, and were regularly not fully briefed as to Wellington’s strategy and grand tactics; for example, at Waterloo, amid flying shot, the duke terrified his staff by appearing to be the only person in possession of the plan of battle. All this, however, does nothing to diminish the clear contribution many of those closest to the Great Duke made towards the success of his campaigns. While having lessons to learn from Wellington they were more than capable military men-if not actually possessed of quite the same degree of military ‘genius’ as their commander in chief. This book chronicles eight of Wellington’s lieutenants as they fought for him in the Peninsula and at Waterloo. Lord ‘Daddy’ Hill earned his nickname because of his extraordinary concern for the well-being of his soldiers; he was Wellington’s most trusted general and was, unusually, given independent command by Wellington. The fiery Craufurd, leader of the Light Division, could always be depended upon to take the fight to the enemy-sometimes whether it was prudent to do so or not. Picton, the hard swearing Welshman...Accounts of the campaigns and actions of these notable soldiers are joined in this riveting book by those of Beresford, Lynedoch, Hopetoun, Anglesey and Combermere.”-Print ed.

The career of one of Wellington's most successful generals If Napoleon could be accused of delegating too much responsibility to subordinates incapable of delivering the results he expected, then Wellington could be regarded as the opposite, in that he rarely delegated to senior officers anything that he felt he could do himself. Consequently, almost all the achievements of his officers are viewed within the context of Wellington's own commanding presence. There was only one of his generals in whom he could place absolute faith and that was Rowland Hill. Affectionately nicknamed 'Daddy' or 'Father' by his troops, for the concern he displayed for their welfare, Hill achieved the rare distinction of being given independent command during phases of the war against the French in Spain, and amply justified the faith Wellington had in his judgement. Hill's long career took him from Toulon and Egypt, through the Peninsular War to Waterloo, and ultimately to his appointment as commander in chief of the British army. This Leonaur edition includes two accounts of this remarkable military man and will be a valued addition to every library of the Napoleonic period. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.

A military historian assesses the leadership style of the man who defeated Napoleon. The Duke of Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo cemented his reputation as a great general, and much subsequent writing on his career has taken an uncritical, sometimes chauvinistic view of his talents. Little has been published that fully pins down the reality of Wellington’s leadership, clearly identifying his weaknesses as well as his strengths. George E. Jaycock, in this perceptive and thought-provoking reassessment, does not aim to undermine Wellington’s achievements, but to provide a more nuanced perspective. He clarifies some simple but fundamental truths regarding his leadership and his performance as a commander. Through an in-depth study of his actions over the war years of 1808 to 1815, the author reassesses Wellington’s effectiveness as a commander, the competence of his subordinates, and the qualities of the troops he led. His study gives a fascinating insight into Wellington’s career and abilities. Wellington’s Command is absorbing reading for both military historians and those with an interest in the Napoleonic period.

Wellington's commanders were undoubtedly a breed apart. Among these heroes were cavalry officer Henry Paget, who kept the French horses from the heels of the retreating British infantry with a dashing charge at Benavente, and Thomas Picton, who concealed his injuries from his men while commanding to his last breath. This book examines the command and staff system of Wellington's army during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815), and the background, character and war records of his commanding officers. Numerous illustrations, including eight full colour plates, depict the officers' uniforms in vivid detail.

SIR JOHN FORTESCUE was the foremost military historian of his day. Librarian at Windsor Castle from 1905 to 1926, he was the author of many notable books, including his famous History of the British Army. Among these, his life of Wellington, described by the Spectator as ‘deserving to rank with Southey’s Nelson as a national classic’, has always been held in special regard. Many biographies of Wellington have been written both before and since, but none show so clearly and concisely how Wellington became the great leader of soldiers that he undoubtedly was. Wellington’s military career can be divided roughly into three main phases. First, his command in India and his brilliant conduct of the Mahratta campaign; then the long war of attrition in the Iberian peninsular; and finally the campaign leading to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. Sir John gives the reader what The Times Literary Supplement called ‘a hilltop view’ of those years, ‘pointing out the great essential features of the landscape . . . and doing it all so clearly that we know the country better and more intimately than we have ever done before.’ This edition makes available again a book that is of interest both to students of military history and to the general reader who wishes to follow the campaigns of a military commander, who was a great patriot and English gentleman.