Fighting Napoleon : The Recollections of Lieutenant John Hildebrand 35th Foot in the Mediterranean and Waterloo Campaigns

It is often forgotten that Britain's struggle against Napoleon ranged across the continents, and the extensive operations of the Royal Navy and the British Army in the Mediterranean was a key battleground in this prolonged war of attrition. Even when Napoleon considered himself the master of Europe, he was unable to control the Mediterranean. Lieutenant John Hildebrand arrived in the Mediterranean as part of the garrison of Malta in 1810. He was then involved in the defense of the island of Sicily; the campaign to capture the Ionian Islands; the siege of Ragusa, and the Occupation of Corfu. With the war ending in 1814, John and his regiment returned home, only to be sent to Belgium when Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815. The regiment was not involved at Waterloo, but was at Hal which guarded Wellington's flank during the battle. He then marched to Paris with the army. These lively and entertaining memoirs, edited and annotated by renowned historian Gareth Glover, are certain to find a wide readership amongst Napoleonic enthusiasts, providing an intriguing counterpoint to Wellington's operations in the Iberian Peninsula. 'In a few minutes we perceived two fully armed boats - with stout rowers - dart from it, with all the energy and alacrity of making a certain capture. I was dismayed at the scrape I had got into, and could not see a possibility of escape.' Lieutenant Hildebrand at the Capture of the Ionian Islands “These lively and entertaining memoirs provide an intriguing counterpoint to Wellington's better-known operations in the Iberian Peninsula” (Julian Stockwin, author of the Thomas Kydd series). It is often forgotten that Britain's struggle against Napoleon ranged across the continents, and the extensive operations of the Royal Navy and the British Army in the Mediterranean were key battlegrounds in this prolonged war of attrition. Even when Napoleon considered himself the master of Europe, he was unable to control the Mediterranean. Lt. John Hildebrand arrived in the Mediterranean as part of the garrison of Malta in 1810. He was then involved in the defense of the island of Sicily; the campaign to capture the Ionian Islands; the siege of Ragusa; and the Occupation of Corfu. With the war ending in 1814, John and his regiment returned home, only to be sent to Belgium when Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815. The regiment was not involved at Waterloo, but was at Hal, where it guarded Wellington's flank during the battle. He then marched to Paris with the army. “Napoleonic students will enjoy this refreshingly different slant on Napoleonic warfare.” —Stuart Asquith, author of Stuart Asquith's Wargaming 18th Century Battles “Essential reading for military historians and collectors of Napoleonic War era artifacts and militaria.” —The Armourer Incorporating Classic Arms & Militaria The career of Guernsey-born Admiral James Saumarez reads like an early history of the Royal Navy. His first battle was against the American revolutionaries in 1775, but thereafter his main opponents were the French and the Spanish, and the first fighting ship he commanded, the eight-gun galley Spitfire, was involved in forty-seven engagements before being run aground.Rising through the ranks, Saumarez fought on land and at sea, and was involved in actions in the English Channel, being given command of a squadron of ships based at Guernsey. He served on HMS Victory, took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Blockade of Cadiz, and was with Nelson at the Battle of the Nile.Promoted to Rear Admiral, he led his ships at the battles of Algeciras and the Gut of Gibraltar. Saumarez was then dispatched into the Baltic, where he helped thwart Napoleons attempt at conquering Russia.So prominent was Saumarez during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, he was featured in the Hornblower novels and other fictional books, including Master and Commander. Tony Sullivan, however, tells the true story of one of the most remarkable individuals of the great days of sail, in the first biography of Saumarez for more than 170 years. The career of Guernsey-born Admiral James Saumarez reads like an early history of the Royal Navy. His first battle was against the American revolutionaries in 1775, but thereafter his main opponents were the French and the Spanish. The first fighting ship he commanded, the eight-gun galley Spitfire , was involved in forty-seven engagements before being run aground. Rising through the ranks, Saumarez fought on land and at sea, and was involved in actions in the English Channel while in command of a squadron based at Guernsey. He served on HMS Victory, took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Blockade of Cadiz, and was with Nelson at the Battle of the Nile. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he led his ships at the battles of Algeciras and Gibraltar. Saumarez was then despatched to the Baltic, where he helped thwart Napoleon's attempt to conquer Russia. So prominent was Saumarez during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, he was featured in the Hornblower novels and other works of fiction, including Master and Commander . In the first biography of Saumarez for more than 170 years, Anthony Sullivan tells the story of one of the most remarkable individuals of the great days of sail. The author of How to Cook from A-Z disproves the myth of British navy culinary misconduct in “a work of serious history that is a delight to read” (British Food in America). This celebration of the Georgian sailor's diet reveals how the navy's administrators fed a fleet of more than 150,000 men, in ships that were often at sea for months on end and that had no recourse to either refrigeration or canning. Contrary to the prevailing image of rotten meat and weevily biscuits, their diet was a surprisingly hearty mixture of beer, brandy, salt beef and pork, peas, butter, cheese, hard biscuit, and the exotic sounding lobscouse, not to mention the Malaga raisins, oranges, lemons, figs, dates, and pumpkins which were available to ships on far-distant stations. In fact, by 1800 the British fleet had largely eradicated scurvy and other dietary disorders. While this scholarly work contains much of value to the historian, the author's popular touch makes this an enthralling story for anyone with an interest in life at sea in the age of sail. “Overall this is an excellent examination of this crucial aspect of British naval power, and I'm certainly going to try out some of the recipes.” —HistoryOfWar.org Childhood And Early Career -- Lieutenant Saumarez -- Lieutenant To Post Captain -- Russell And The Battle Of The Saintes -- Half Pay In Guernsey -- Crescent Versus Reunion -- Channel Service And The Escape Of Crescent -- Orion And The Battle Of Ile De Groix -- The Mediterranean Fleet And The Battle Of Cape St Vincent -- Mutiny And Blockade -- Chasing The French -- The Battle Of The Nile -- Admiral Bruix's Cruise And The Blockade Of Brest -- The Battle Of Algeciras -- The Peace Of Amiens -- Commander-in-chief, Channel Islands -- The Baltic -- Commander-in-chief, Baltic Fleet -- Saumarez: British Diplomat Afloat -- The Prince Of Ponte Corvo -- The Carlshamn Cargoes -- Baltic Fleet: Final Season -- Final Command -- Retirement -- Summation. Anthony Sullivan. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 244-247) And Index. This is the first modern study of the process of naval provisioning. It explodes many myths about shipboard food and drink and shows how the sailor's diet was better than he was likely to enjoy ashore. During his long and distinguished career Admiral James Saumarez was in the thick of the action at several major battles; the Saintes, Cape St Vincent and the Nile. Unique memoir of a British officer in the war in the Mediterranean.