rangerdad  | 15 May 2012 8:12 a.m. PST |
Inspired by Pendraken's lovely Napoleonic resculpts, I've decided to take the plunge into the black powder age Being of only ancient experience, I've been researching the subject and am amazed at how many books there are out there As I'll be starting with the French and looking at the Peninsula in particular, could anyone recommend a volume that would give me orders of battle and maybe some small actions to get me started please ? |
| seldonH | 15 May 2012 8:41 a.m. PST |
I got this one recently… it is the newest book of scenarios for General de Brigade.. it is really a great product !!! Wellington's Victories, GdB Scenario book 5 link cheers Francisco |
Albino Squirrel  | 15 May 2012 8:58 a.m. PST |
If you just want gaming scenarios then this isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I would still highly recommend The Peninsular War Atlas: link There's a lot of great information in there about the battles, the forces involved, and how they played out, along with excellent maps with deployments. In addition to good information, it's also good inspiration. I wrote a review of it for my blog, if you want more information: link |
| seldonH | 15 May 2012 9:05 a.m. PST |
Ha.. I bought that book after reading your review ! :) cheers
Francisco |
| Timmo uk | 15 May 2012 9:11 a.m. PST |
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 Ogdenlulimus | 15 May 2012 9:30 a.m. PST |
Like the OP I'm from an Ancients background. I found Donald Featherstone's book, "Campaigning with the Duke of Wellington & Featherstone" a good read. Containing maps and tables on unit strengths.
The author also gives his take on wargaming each battle.
ISBN: 0-9626655-9-2 Regards,
Don |
| Cerdic | 15 May 2012 9:39 a.m. PST |
Have a read of some diaries/memoirs/letters etc of the guys involved. There are some great descriptions of small actions in a lot of these books. For example, in "Seven Years Campaigning In The Peninsula And The Netherlands 1808 – 1815" Volume One by Sir Richard D Henegan there is a passage that is just tailor made for a game of Sharpe Practice or similar. He was with a group of Spanish Guerillas who attacked a French supply convoy guarded by Hussars. It involves a village, mountains where the Spanish have the advantage, an open valley where the French have the advantage and much more! |
| Rallynow | 15 May 2012 9:49 a.m. PST |
Like you I am considering the conflict to game. I am currently reading "The Spanish Ulcer" by David Gates. I recommend it to anyone considering the period for gaming. This book is an excellent start and has appendixes which includes OBs. |
| rangerdad | 15 May 2012 1:02 p.m. PST |
There's a couple there that I'd made a note of before, and a couple more I hadn't – thanks gents
AS – thats a great write-up and top of my list now cheers |
 Gonsalvo | 15 May 2012 5:11 p.m. PST |
Thanks, AS – just added that one to the list for my next Amazon order! |
| plutarch 64 | 16 May 2012 4:12 a.m. PST |
'The Peninsular War Atlas' is very good as already noted. As a starting point, I think a good overview that ties everything together nicely in a single volume is 'The Spanish Ulcer' by David Gates. There are some army listings in the Appendix, although no detailed OOBs. Plenty of small actions are covered briefly in the text, however. Slightly more detailed is 'The Peninsular War' by Charles Esdaile, which might be a good one to pick up next. In terms of individual actions, 'Talavera' by Andrew Field, 'Albuera 1811' by Guy Dempsey and 'Salamanca 1812' by Rory Muir are in my opinion some of the best, and contain detailed OOBs of the individual actions. I thought 'Albuera 1811' in particular was a great read. You might want to work your way up to Oman, though (it will probably take you a while to hunt down all seven volumes anyway). |
