Overview

"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 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, Smith 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, this is a dramatic read as well as a fascinating insight into the role and performance of cavalry on the Napoleonic field of battle. AUTHOR: Digby Smith, also known to Napoleonic enthusiasts as Otto von Pivka, is a British military historian. The son of a British career soldier, he was born in Hampshire, England, but spent several years in India and Pakistan as a child and youth. As a ""boy soldier,"" he entered training in the British Army at the age of 16. He was later commissioned in the Royal Corps of Signals, and held several postings with the British Army of the Rhine. After a career in the British Army Signal Corps, he retired and with a friend started a company selling body armour, followed by several years working in the telecommunications industry. 16 pages of b/w plates"

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9781848328198

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Digby Smith's new book is an interesting addition to the Napoleonic library. The book is written in easy language and reads very fast. It will provide the basic information on the major engagements of the era and will certainly prompt the reader to seek out more information. Those with intimate knowledge o f the period would probably find it lacking in details, but certainly enjoy the appendices and the maps. For the newcomers to the Napoleonic wars, this volume will be good way to start. --The Napoleon Series

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.

Author Information

DIGBY SMITH is a highly respected historian of the Napoleonic Wars and the author of a vast number of acclaimed books on the period including The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book. Also known to Napoleonic enthusiasts as Otto von Pivka, he is the son of a British career soldier. He was born in Hampshire, England, but spent several years in India and Pakistan as a child and youth. As a 'boy soldier', he entered training in the British Army at the age of 16. He was later commissioned in the Royal Corps of Signals, and held several postings with the British Army of the Rhine.

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