Recollections of a Private of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot During the Walcheren Expedition and the Peninsular War, 1806-15

An essential eyewitness account of the later battles of the Peninsular WarOriginally titled,’ Vicissitudes of a Soldier’s Life: Or a series of Occurrences from 1806 to 1815’, this book is sometimes confused with another book of ’vicissitudes’ penned by a Scottish soldier of this period. There have been, of course, several eyewitness accounts penned by soldiers from the ranks of the British Army serving during the wars against Napoleon’s French Empire that have been republished and which-for one reason or another-have been rightly well regarded. Some, including those by Morris,Wheeler, Harris and Lawrence have also become well-known. This account by John Green of the 68th regiment may not be so familiar to many readers, though it is without doubt one of the most engaging narratives of its kind. Green’s is a candid, educated and-perhaps-surprisingly modern voice as he graphically recounts his experiences and sufferings on campaign with the 68th. His first experience of war was during the disastrous Walcheren Expedition of 1809 before the regiment embarked for Spain. Green’s descriptions transport the reader in time and place ensuring that his account joins the ranks of the finest military memoirs. His descriptions of hard campaigning and his opinions of the lot of the ordinary soldier are invaluable. The battles of Salamanca and Vittoria are described from the sharp-end of the conflict, but Green’s later recollections of the fighting in borderlands with France until the time of his serious wound and beyond are essential. Contains illustrations original to this edition.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket..