Help support TMP


"Peninsula books" Topic


11 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

Please be courteous toward your fellow TMP members.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.


Back to the Napoleonics Scenarios Message Board

Back to the Napoleonic Discussion Message Board


Areas of Interest

Napoleonic

Featured Hobby News Article


Featured Link


Top-Rated Ruleset

La Grande Armee


Rating: gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star gold star 


Featured Showcase Article

2 Elves for Flintloque

I paint the last two figures from the Escape from the Dark Czar starter set.


Featured Workbench Article

Basing 1:700 Black Seas Brigs

A simple, low-effort technique for naval bases.


Featured Book Review


1,465 hits since 15 May 2012
©1994-2025 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

rangerdad15 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 ?

seldonH15 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 Squirrel15 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

seldonH15 May 2012 9:05 a.m. PST

Ha.. I bought that book after reading your review ! :)

cheers
Francisco

Timmo uk15 May 2012 9:11 a.m. PST

Oman

Sysiphus15 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

Cerdic15 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!

Old Contemptibles15 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.

rangerdad15 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

Gonsalvo15 May 2012 5:11 p.m. PST

Thanks, AS – just added that one to the list for my next Amazon order!

plutarch 6416 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).

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.