Synopses & Reviews
Cavalry was the queen of the Napoleonic battlefield. Surging squadrons of dragoons, dashing hussars, or the awesome might of heavy cuirassiers often snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and decided the fate of kingdoms. In this dramatic and spirited history of cavalry in the Napoleonic period, Digby Smith examines how battles could be decided by the skilful use of cavalry. He outlines the development of the mounted arm--describing the various types of mounted unit, their roles, and their abilities--and then sets out to describe how cavalry could turn the tide of battle. By examining such key battles as Marengo, Eylau, Albuera, the crossing of the Beresina, and Waterloo, Charge! reveals how cavalry could be deployed in an offensive and defensive capacity or how an effective and well-timed cavalry charge could overcome almost any obstacle. The scenarios have been carefully selected to reveal how leadership, training, weather, terrain, and the condition of the horses could affect the success of a charge. Replete with eyewitness accounts and tales of outstanding courage and valor, Charge! is a dramatic read as well as a fascinating insight into the role and performance of cavalry on the Napoleonic field of battle.
Review
Military Heritage, October 2007 “Throughout military history, the sound of bugles accompanying a cavalry charge has had an air of romanticism surrounding it … Charge! explains the different types of cavalry, the tactics they employed, and the care of the horses during various battles of the Napoleonic era … Author Digby Smith has included comprehensive charts at the end of the book listing the many cavalry units employed by both sides in the battles he examines meticulously in his book.”
Synopsis
In this dramatic and spirited history of cavalry in the Napoleonic period, Digby Smith examines how battles could be decided by the skillful use of cavalry.
About the Author
Digby Smith is a respected historian of the Napoleonic Wars and the author of a number of acclaimed books on the period. For Greenhill he has produced Napoleon’s Regiments, 1813: Leipzig, The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book and The Decline and Fall of Napoleon’s Empire.