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Osprey Elite 108
Spanish Guerillas in the Peninsular War 1808-14
By Rene Chartrand Illustrated by Richard Hook
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This volume in the inestimable Osprey series of publications is long overdue. Perhaps the most romantic element of the Penisular War (well pre-Sharpe anyway) is the part played in the conflict by the various guerilla groups operating against the French. And despite their undoubted importance to the conflict, and the compimentary comments of the iron Duke himself (which from such a taciturn source is praise indeed) there is damned little information available on these units.
Maybe from a wargamers point of view this is understandable, after all they were not line of battle
troops, and are unlikely to feature alongside our treasured redcoats. Indeed we know from such contemporary sources as
Napier that these fellows were little less than brigands who would simply fade away in the face of organised French resistance.
Well thank God that this little volume seeks to set the record straight. By tracing the origins of these patriotic bands to the tough seasoned remnants of the badly led and organised Spanish Regular forces, and to the almost tribal communities of hardy mountain men who lived a life ruled by personal honour, the flash of a musket shot or whisper of a knife in the sunlight, we are given an insight into the reality behind these fighters.
I was not aware to the extent that the guerillas, provided with uniforms and arms by the British, formed
regular divisions that fought alongside the Allied troops in the later Peninsular battlefields. The chapters also include some fascinating details about the guerilla commanders. I was already familiar with Don Julian Sanchez, who operated on the Portugese border in the region around Cuidad Rodrigo and whose cavalry participated in a number of actions alongside the British regulars. However I was less aware of the exploits of Fransisco Espoz Y Mina or Juan Martin Diaz.
Also covered, though somewhat briefly, are the French tactics for dealing with the guerilla threat, and the pro-French Spanish troops that were formed into "Contra" companies.
I loved this book, and highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in the Peninsular War or the Napoleonic Wars in general.
Format: Softback
ISBN: 1-84176-629-1
Osprey Direct UK
PO Box 140
Wellingborough
Northants
NN8 2FA
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