Though decidedly dated by current standards, it was the 18 Maneuvers promulgated by Gen Sir David Dundas Bt that meant the difference between success and failure of the British Army during the Napoleonic wars. By setting up standards for battlefield maneuver and requiring all British Army units to follow the exact same regimen, commanders were able to ensure that when units arrived on the scene, they would be able to be used in the same manner as those that had just left.

Prior to this,  a regiment (the base unit for these maneuvers) may be trained differently from the one next to it. This would mean that orders to one may not be carried out the same as to the unit next to it. By standardizing maneuvers, success was more likely to happen.

In this book, the author covers in great detail the origins and use of these infantry tactics. There is more to it, of course, as there were light infantry units attached to each of the battle lines. These units were different from the standard infantry in that they were more highly trained in skirmish tactics. It was their roles to make greater use of small unit maneuvering, generally down to two man teams, to carry out their mission.

Author Haythornthwaite takes a look at how this unified system came to be, its proponents and its critics. Then on to the organization of the Batallion and a better look in detail at each of the maneuvers and how they would play on the battlefield. Then there is a section on the standard firearm of the infantry of the time, the musket and how it was used. Much like today, a lot of shot was expended to get a hit. Something like well over 400 rounds to get one hit. The book then goes into the use of light infantry, brigade tactics and special operations such as amphibious landings and storming a stronghold.

Thanks to the superb illustrations of Steve Noon, we can visualize how these formations looked and operated.  It all makes for a fascinating  look at the British army of the time and one that I am sure will be well appreciated by the wargamer and historian alike.

January 2009

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