Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars Book

Napoleon was an artilleryman before he was an emperor. He understood the power and effectiveness of cannon and their ability to pulverize defenses, reduce fortresses, and destroy attacks. And in return, the guns won Napoleon battles. By looking at particular battles in detail, Kevin Kiley shows just how the effective employment of artillery could tip the scales of victory. Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars reveals much on the technical aspects of gunnery during the period--how guns were placed, their range, what calibers were preferred, how artillery operated. Kiley also looks at many of the personalities involved and the difference between gunnery and mediocre artillery. Illustrated with beautiful line drawings and rare contemporary plates, this unique book reveals a whole new dimension of the Napoleonic period. Based on years of research into regulations of the period, eyewitness accounts of artillerymen, and material culled from official reports, this is a definitive account.Read More