Ian Fletcher

2004 marks the 150th anniversary of the Crimean War and this volume covers the events from the complex causes of the war and the declaration of war by Turkey in 1853, through the involvement of Britain and France in 1854 and the war itself including the bloody battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkermann to the declaration of peace in 1856.

The Lines of Torres Vedras 1809-10 (Fortress #7 ) This new series takes a detailed look at fortifications and defensive systems throughout history and examines how they fared in the furnace of war.

Rehabilitates the British cavalry's reputation in the Peninsula and at Waterloo by demonstrating the greater number of cavalry successes, many of which have long been forgotten.

Not just another story of the Waterloo Campaign of 1815, 'A Desperate Business' concentrates solely on the British Army, beginning with the mustering of the army following Napoleon's escape from Elba, through to the build up to the campaign, to the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo, and continues through to the advance to and occupation of Paris.

Badajoz 1812 analyses the storming of Badajoz, which involved Wellington's infantry in some of the most savage hand-to hand fighting of the whole Peninsular War. At appalling cost in a nightmare assault during the night of the 6 April 1812, Wellington's soldiers hacked their way over the bodies of their dead and wounded and through the huge medieval walls of the town. These were held with great tenacity, skill and courage by a resolute French and German garrison. Having stormed the town the battle-crazed army went berserk and the horrors of the sacking which followed, as much as the sublime courage of the attackers, have passed into legend.

This text concerns itself with the performance of the much-maligned British Cavalry in the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo. The author reveals that their bad reputation is founded on but a few misadventures, and that greater credit should be given to this regiment.

Despite Wellington's success against Marmont's army at Salamanca in July, the year of 1812 ended in bitter disappointment for the British. After occupying Madrid Wellington's troops were repulsed at Burgos. The subsequent retreat in October and November 1812 was accompanied by all the miseries that had characterised Sir John Moore's famous retreat to Corunna in the winter of 1808-09. Those soldiers who endured both declared that the retreated from Burgos was by far the worse. Discipline collapsed and the starving soldiers looted what they could. With the army once again concentrated around Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellington issued his infamous memorandum concerning the conduct of his officers. By the spring of 1813 the army had recovered and been reinforced from England. On 20 May Wellington advanced once again into Spain. Turning in his saddle he exclaimed, 'Farewell Portugal, for I shall never see thee again'. He would never return. In a series of brilliant manoeuvres he threw the French onto the defensive on all fronts. His troops converged at Vittoria, 90,000 men and 90 guns attacking in 4 mutually supporting columns. Joseph's centre gave way and both his flanks were turned. As Wellington's left column neared the Bayonne road, the French line of communication, Joseph's army broke and fled towards Pamplona. The French lost 7,000 men and 143 guns, while Joseph's treasury of $5 million and huge amounts of loot were taken. Any hopes the French had of maintaining their position in the Peninsular were crushed forever. Napoleon replaced Joseph with Marshal Soult but he could do little. On 7 October 1813 the British crossed the Bidassoa at Funterrabia and set foot on the 'sacred soil' of Napoleon's France. Ian Fletcher details the course of this campaign, the pinnacle of Wellington's achievement in the Peninsular, from the initial invasion in May to the final crushing victory at Vittoria and the advance into France

Salamanca was the most decisive battle of the entire Peninsular War. This detailed, illustrated volume recounts its progression, alongside full-colour maps and illustrations. Wellington smashed Marmont's French Army and his pursuit of its shattered remnants led to the famous cavalry charge of the King's German Legion at Garcia Hernandez. There would be two more years of sieges and hard fighting before the Iron Duke crossed the Pyrenees into France but from Salamanca the British and their Portuguese and Spanish allies always had the upper hand. Ian Fletcher examines this important battle in detail and also discusses the campaign which led up to it.

Presents the story of the Waterloo Campaign and illustrates just how desperate the battle was, with Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army hanging on to the ridge at Mont St Jean until their Prussian allies arrived to put the seal on one of the most decisive victories in military history.

A military account of Wellington's armies from 1808 to 1815, which blazed a trail of glory across the Iberian Peninsula from Portugal to southern France, fighting a score of major battles and storming three powerfully held fortresses.