Charging against Napoleon : diaries and letters of three Hussars, 1808-1815

The 18th Hussars were one of Britain's most dashing regiments of the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment fought under Wellington throughout the Peninsular campaign and were present at the final victory at Waterloo. Eric Hunt has assembled letters and diaries of three 18th Hussar officers which cover the entire Napoleonic period. Combat and daily life in the Peninsula and Waterloo campaigns are described in vivid detail, along with insights into the social attitudes of the times. "The 18th Hussars were one of Britain's most dashing regiments of the Napoleonic Wars, and their striking dark blue uniforms with sky blue facings can be seen in many paintings of the time. The regiment fought under Wellington throughout the Peninsular campaign and were present at the final victory at Waterloo. Letters and diaries of members of such a long-serving unit are an especially valuable source for this dramatic period of history. Eric Hunt, who served with the regiment's modern successor, has assembled letters and diaries of three 18th Hussar officers which cover the entire Napoleonic period. Combat and daily life in the Peninsula and Waterloo campaigns are described in vivid detail, along with insights into the social attitudes of the times (18th Hussars officers often only bothered to mention officer casualties in battle reports)"--Publisher By means of the personal diaries and letters of three officers in the 18th Hussars, the reader traces the progress of this famous cavalry Regiment through the gruelling years of campaigning in Portugal, Spain and South West France. The scene then shifts to Northern France and Belgium culminating in the decisive victory at Waterloo. The ferocity of the campaigning in the Peninsula is vividly described by these diarists. Their escapades between and during campaigning make fascinating reading and throw interesting light on military and social conditions at the time. [Elib]