History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France
From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814

This classic history of the Peninsular War was first published by a participant, Lieutenant-Colonel Napier, between 1828 and 1840.

William Francis Patrick Napier (Author)

9781108024235, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 February 2011

846 pages, 10 maps
21.6 x 4.8 x 14 cm, 1.06 kg

Published between 1828 and 1840, Napier's History of the War in the Peninsula was a tremendously influential, if controversial, work. Napier had been actively involved in the campaigns, turning to history in peacetime, in part to refute Southey's account of Sir John Moore. The first volume had a mixed reception, getting both high praise and bitter criticism from participants in the wars. He published several works rebutting his critics while producing the later volumes. Because of his obvious lack of impartiality, modern military historians treat the work with caution, but it remains widely read in the many editions and abridgements subsequently produced. Volume 6 deals with the aftermath of the battle of Vitoria, the withdrawal of the French from Spain and the entry of the Allied troops into France. This period culminated in the second battle of Toulouse, in April 1814, between Wellington and Soult, and the abdication of Napoleon.

Notes and justification, &c., &c.
Book XXI: 1. Lord Wellington blockades Pampeluna, besieges St. Sebastian
2. Danger of Sicily
3. Siege of Sebastian
4. Soult appointed the emperor's lieutenant
5. Soult attacks the right of the allies
Book XXII: 1. New positions of the armies
2. Storming of St. Sebastian
3. Soult's views and positions during the siege described
4. The duke of Berri proposes to invade France promising the aid of twenty thousand insurgents
5. Soult retakes the redoubt of Sarre
6. Political state of Portugal
Book XXIII: 1. War in the south of France
2. Soult occupies the entrenched camp of Bayonne, and the line of the Nive river
3. Respective situation and views of Lord Wellington and Soult
4. Political state of Portugal
5. Political state of Napoleon
6. Continuation of the war in the eastern province
Book XXIV: 1. Napoleon recalls several divisions of infantry and cavalry from Soult's army
2. Lord Wellington arrests his movements and returns in person to St. Jean de Luz to throw his bridge over the Adour
3. Soult's perilous situation
4. Wellington's and Soult's situations and forces described
5. Views of the commanders on each side
6. General observations and reflections
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]