History of the King's German Legion, Volume 1Thomas and William Boone, 1832 - 1058 pages One of the most unusual, as well as the most heroic and distinguished Allied units in the Napoleonic Wars was the King s German Legion (KGL). Originally composed of German volunteers from King George III s Hanovarian domain, and founded out of Royal outrage at France s occupation of Hanover in 1803, the KGL, according to David Chandler, doyen of Napoleonic military historians was without a doubt amongst the very best troops commanded by Wellington in the Peninsula and at Waterloo. The KGL was a mini-army in its own right, comprising infantry, cavalry and artillery. This classic two-volume history of the Legion by N. Ludlow is one of the best accounts of the Napoleonic Wars, praised by the great historian Sir Charles Oman as a valuable and conscientious history . and largely composed of eye-witness accounts by serving soldiers. Volume 1 begins with the bungled loss of Hanover and the raising of the KGL, and its first foreign expedition - to denmark. under Lord Rosslyn. The KGL was next deployed in the Mediterranean theatre, and had its first taste of Spain under Sir John Moore and Sir Arthur Wellesley (Wellington) where the german hussars covered the disastrous retreat to Corunna. The Legion returned to Portugal and Spain with Wellington and lost heavily at the Battle of Talavera. Other KGL units took part in Sir Eyre Coote s expedition to Flushing and Walcheren. In the Peninsula War, the Legion fought under General Craufurd, helping to defeat the French at Busaco and befoire the lines of Torres Vedras, and later participating in Wellington s vistory over Marshal Massena at Fuentes d Onoro. The voilume ends with Soult s defeat at Albuera and the siege of Badajoz. Volume 2 opens with the sieges of Badajoz and Cieudad Roderigo and the great battle of Salamanca which broke the back of the French in Spain. As Wellington rolled the enemy up to the Pyrenees, the KGL wewre also present at the battle of Vittoria. Meanwhile the KGL were also operating against Marshal Davout in the noirth of their native Germany. The Allied pressure caused Napoelon to abdicate and retire to Elba in 1814. The book s final chapter deals with the Waterloo campaign in which the KGL played a heroic part in holding the strategically vital La Haye Sainte Farm in front of the British line, against fuious French assaults. |
Contents
238 | |
249 | |
262 | |
278 | |
292 | |
305 | |
314 | |
316 | |
119 | |
140 | |
159 | |
174 | |
186 | |
187 | |
200 | |
218 | |
220 | |
325 | |
334 | |
342 | |
345 | |
351 | |
355 | |
361 | |
380 | |
385 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
1st hussars Alten arrived Astorga attack August Berichti bridge British Bussche captain cavalry coast colonel von MSS column command corps Craufurd Darstel Decken defence detachment dragoons duke of Cambridge eight Elbe electorate embarked enemy enemy's England English fire flank fleet Flushing following day force four French front garrison German hussars gungen guns Hanover Hanoverian Hanoverian army Heise horses hundred infantry Journal July killed king's German legion Krauchenberg land levée en masse lieutenant lieutenant-colonel lieutenant-general light battalion light division line battalion line brigade Linsingen lord Wellington main body majesty major Rau major-general marshal Walmoden Massena ment Mondego morning Mortier Napier Narrative night o'clock obliged officers piquet prisoners rear rear-guard recruiting regiments retired retreat Robert Craufurd royal highness Scheldt sent Sergeants sir Arthur Wellesley sir John Moore skirmishers soldiers Soult Spanish squadron tenberg third hussars thousand tion transport troops Tullamore vessel Vigo whole wounded
Popular passages
Page 218 - Scheldt, having for its object the capture or destruction of the enemy's ships, either building at Antwerp or Flushing, or afloat on the Scheldt; the destruction of the arsenals and dockyards at Antwerp, Torneux, and Flushing; the reduction of the island of Walcheren, and the rendering, if possible, the Scheldt no longer navigable for ships of war.
Page 37 - Consul me charge expressément de déclarer qu'il est dans son intention que l'armée du roi d'Angleterre en Hanovre soit d'abord échangée contre tous les matelots ou soldats que les vaisseaux de SM ont fait ou sont dans le cas de faire prisonniers.
Page 37 - Le Premier Consul n'ayant eu en vue que d'obtenir des gages pour l'évacuation de Malte et de travailler à accomplir l'exécution du traité d'Amiens, n'a point voulu faire éprouver toutes les rigeurs de la guerre aux sujets de SM Britannique.
Page 83 - The camp was frequently visited by the king, the prince of Wales, and other members of the royal family.
Page 222 - A Short Narrative of the late Campaign of the British Army under the Orders of the Earl of Chatham ; with preliminary Remarks on the Topography and Channels of Zealand.
Page 41 - C'est pour éviter le renouvellement des scènes qui eurent lieu alors, que mon Gouvernement me charge de prévenir votre excellence que le refus de sa Majesté Britannique rendait nulle la convention de Suhlingen.
Page 188 - ... article of provision at a moderate price ; but the expense of supporting the army was enormous. It was calculated that the British troops alone circulated through Coimbra a sum of not less than £10,000 per day; and that the whole money spent by the allies exceeded £100,000 per week. On the 5th of May, the army being at length assembled, a grand review took place ; and a most imposing and magnificent spectacle it presented. The whole of the troops were, indeed, in the highest state of discipline...
Page 42 - ... dont la bravoure est connue de l'Europe entière ; mais il ne l'est pas moins que tout projet de défense de votre part serait illusoire, et ne ferait qu'attirer de nouveaux malheurs sur votre pays. Je charge le général fierthier, chef de l'état major-général, de vous faire part de mes propositions.
Page 40 - I request you will accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant.
Page 364 - I have the honour to remain, sir, your most obedient humble servant, W. MUDGE. Wm Blackwood, Eiq. COME ACCOUNT OF ' BOWED DAVIE, : THE SUPPOSED OniOINAL OF THE