Product Description

For over 20 years France was the dominating, controlling and conquering power of the western world, a result not only of Napoleon's inspired leadership, but of the efforts of almost an entire generation of Frenchmen under arms. The French Revolution heralded both social change and a seismic shift in how armies were organized, trained and deployed.

This book provides an analysis of the preparation of French troops from manual regulations to the training ground, studying the changing quality of command and control within the army, which initially ensured that the French infantry were virtually unstoppable. Paddy Griffith not only explores the role of the French infantry at the apex of their powers and their actions in key battles, but also provides a detailed explanation of their eventual decline leading to defeat at Waterloo, providing a critical overview of French Napoleonic infantry tactics.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #499783 in Books
• Brand: Osprey Publishing Limited
• Published on: 2007-11-20
• Released on: 2007-11-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .0 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781846032783
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Paddy Griffith's French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815 covers the history of Bonaparte's Grande Armee, surveying tactics and using original drill manuals and writing to discuss French infantry organization and strategy." - The California Bookwatch (January 2008)

"This is superbly illustrated by Peter Dennis, who provides an excellent series of diagrams of some of the more famous battles to go along with the descriptions of these events. Period illustrations are also included as are modern day photos of the various battlefields. In all, a book that draws you in and one that I found to be especially interesting. I know you will as well. Overall another superlative Osprey book and one that is both an interesting and enjoyable read. I'm sure you will agree." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (January 2008)

About the Author
Paddy Griffith is a freelance military historian based in Manchester. His groundbreaking books on low-level tactics include Forward Into Battle (1981 and 1990), Battle Tactics of the Civil War (1986) and Battle Tactics of the Western Front (1994). He has also written extensively on wargames, and is currently active in the South Manchester Tactical Society and in the Battlefields Trust. The author lives in Manchester, England.

Customer Reviews

French Infantry Tactics 1792-1815
'French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792-1815' is an examination of infantry formations and fighting styles used from when France declared war on England in 1792 to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. But I guess you figured that much already...

This title contains numerous interesting, and sometimes poorly-known details on the Napoleonic and in general French fighting styles of the era. The debates amongst the military experts of the time (such as, what should that man in the third rank do-try to fire past his comrades, run ahead or to the side and skirmish, or just hold a pike and 'hang around'?) are dealt with, although history, rather than the opinions of the author, are allowed to answer them.

The first 28 pages of the book deal with a variety of subjects concisely yet also with detail. These include the roles and changing tactics of the skirmishers and 'light infantry', the tactics (or lack thereof) of the democratic/Revolutionary armies, rectangular defensive formations designed to ward off cavalry, and some bold offensive column formations. Some of the conflicting literary works of the contemporary military thinkers are also examined.

The next major section of the book, well-titled La Grande Armee, examines the battle tactics employed by Napoleon himself, particularly between 1805 and 1808. Two particular topics addressed here are those of firepower and the tactical flexibility of Napoleon's Army.

The next section, titled 'The Peninsular War' is for the most part an examination of the tactics used against the Brits and Spanish 1808-14. The final section, 'Corrupt Gigantism' looks at the reforms of 1808 and the unusual dilemma of the 'overcrowded battlefield'.

As with all Osprey Elite titles, this one contains eight full-color plates, which do a good job of breathing life into the text when it becomes hard to visualize. Plate 'C' illustrates the defensive square formed during the Egyptian Campaign in 1798, while Plate 'H' looks at the French deployment at Waterloo. The formations and movements of the battles of Jemappes, Wattignies, Bergen, Auerstadt, Wagram, and Sorauren are also illustrated.

The plate commentary is highly detailed; one can glean at least as much useful information from it as from the main text. The book is also full of black-and-white photos and contemporary images that illustrate many of the battles, leaders, and common soldiers of the period.

Overall, this Elite title is an excellent source on the infantry tactics employed by Napoleon and his contemporaries, and is a most worthy addition to Osprey's sizeable library on the topic.

Macro overview for the newcomer
This is a true macro overview of French infantry tactics during the Napoleonic Wars. Of course Griffith reviews the perennial issue of line vs. column -- an argument that didn't resolve itself on the field of battle as a variety of French commanders swore by and used both tactics during the war.

Griffith doesn't just discuss the issue as a maneuver theory, but also looks at how lines and column were used on the battlefield and on what type of terrain. He also reviews "l'order mixte" and skirmish tactics.

These discussions take place against the historical context of the French army during the Revolutionary period, the Grande Armee during the height of its capabilities, and during the period of the French army's qualitative slide as the original Grande Armee died off through attrition.

The book's strength is that it is an overview focused on French infantry tactics -- which makes it valuable to the novice. However, if you are already familiar with Napoleonic battles you will probably see this book as "old news."

Probably not one of my best purchases
I have been purchasing many Ospreys over the years and keep forgetting that I end up reselling most of them.

With the usual plates disconnected from the text that makes their understanding difficult - hello editor? - this little book is a lot of work to get into. Text is confusing and put together without really knowing where it is going. If you keep reading on, you will eventually get some info about the evolution of presumably the French infantry tactics in a sort of uninteresting / anecdote-less way.

It has a few nice drawings, in particular a depiction of the big squares at the battle of the Pyramids which actually was interesting, but a few good pages don't make a mandatory purchase.

Basically this book will stay on my shelves as a sad piece of no interest. Not really pleased with the purchase.