Fighting Techniques of the Napoleonic Age 1789-1815

"Fighting Techniques" features major battles to demonstrate the strengths, pitfalls and characteristics of the style of warfare.Examined are the crucial role of infantry in battle (Rivoli, Maida and Auerstadt); the importance of cavalry as both reconnaissance and shock troops, with accounts of famous actions by elite cavalry which turned the tide of the battle (Somosierra and Borodino); the command structures and tactics of the era and how the great generals were able to combine cavalry, infantry and artillery effectively on the battlefield; the use of massed artillery as a key component on the battlefield (Friedland); and the revolutionary use of horse artillery and the siege tactics employed at great sieges (Badajoz and Hamburg). The final chapter explores the role of naval warfare, examining key encounters (the Nile, Trafalgar and Lake Erie).This book analyses the tactics and techniques of the armies that struggled for supremacy in Europe from the end of the French Revolution to Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo. It examines main elements of Napoleonic warfare: infantry, cavalry, generalship, artillery and siege warfare. It features specially commissioned colour and black and white artwork of the battles, equipment and tactics. It explores the methods by which the great generals of the era - Napoleon, Wellington and Kutuzov - won battles and campaigns, and why other commanders were less successful. It is an essential companion for anyone interested in warfare in the Napoleonic era.