This is a comprehensive study of the major changes in infantry tacticts from the time of Frederick the Great to the beginning of what many see as the era of modern war, in the 1860s. Ross lays social and political change side by side with technical change. He argues that the French revolution, due to the fervour and loyalty it inspired in its participants, led to huge citizen armies of devolved command which were able to make use of new tactics that swept the poorly paid and poorly treated professional armies of their enemies from the field. Shortly after the Napoleonic wars other European countries experienced similar social change and by the middle of the Nineteenth Century these massive conscript armies were equipped with breech-loading rifles and more powerful artillery. The battlefield of the late 1860's had become a place where close infantry formations could not survive for long in the linear formations of the past.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Buy $50 in qualifying physical textbooks, get $5 in Amazon MP3 Credit. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dated But Useful,
By
This review is from: From Flintlock to Rifle: Infantry Tactics, 1740-1866 (Hardcover)
As it was printed in the late 1970s, Steven Ross's well written book, covering from 1740 to 1866, is now somewhat dated but still interesting and useful. It is flawed in some of its conclusions, and it neglects issues of weapons effectiveness as well as the psychological features of battle in favor of an almost exclusive focus on formations and other 'nuts and bolts' issues. Use of columns for maneuver and attack are well covered as are the the use of skirmishers and changes in doctrine of various Western armies over time. The author gives many examples from battles of the era. So this book is a good introduction to tactics of the era but understandably shouldn't be taken as the 'be all end all' on the subject. It is best read in combination with Nosworthy's and Muir's more recent books for a fuller, more accurate view.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Eighteenth-century Europe's social structure and weapons technology dictated the basic organization and tactics of the armies. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
battalion assault columns, individual aimed fire, light infantry techniques, talion columns, linear combat, light infantry screen, deploying distance, open order tactics, ordre mixte, des études napoléoniennes, close order formations, deployed battalions, skirmish order, tactical reforms, les manoeuvres, battalion column, light troops, drill regulations, horse batteries, tactical system, light infantry tactics, army document, linear tactics, drill book, rifled weapons Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Old Regime, Frederick the Great, Campaigns of Napoleon, Grand Army, History of the British Army, Army of the North, Correspondance de Napoléon, Frederick William, French Army Before Napoleon, History of the Peninsular War, Ist Corps, Royal Army, Armies of Europe, Les Volontaires, Peninsular Preparation, War of the Revolution, British Military Firearms, Campagne de Prusse, Chasseur Regiment, History of Cavalry, History of Frederick, History of the War, Lieutenant Colonel Belhomme, Marshal of France New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Eighteenth-century Europe's social structure and weapons technology dictated the basic organization and tactics of the armies. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
battalion assault columns, individual aimed fire, light infantry techniques, talion columns, linear combat, light infantry screen, deploying distance, open order tactics, ordre mixte, des études napoléoniennes, close order formations, deployed battalions, skirmish order, tactical reforms, les manoeuvres, battalion column, light troops, drill regulations, horse batteries, tactical system, light infantry tactics, army document, linear tactics, drill book, rifled weapons Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Old Regime, Frederick the Great, Campaigns of Napoleon, Grand Army, History of the British Army, Army of the North, Correspondance de Napoléon, Frederick William, French Army Before Napoleon, History of the Peninsular War, Ist Corps, Royal Army, Armies of Europe, Les Volontaires, Peninsular Preparation, War of the Revolution, British Military Firearms, Campagne de Prusse, Chasseur Regiment, History of Cavalry, History of Frederick, History of the War, Lieutenant Colonel Belhomme, Marshal of France New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 59
books:
See all 59 books this book cites
24
books
cite this book:
See all 24 books citing this book
- The Campaigns of Napoleon by David Chandler on 8 pages
- British Military Firearms by Howard L. Blackmore on 4 pages
- Peninsular Preparation: Reform of the British Army, 1795-1809 by Richard Glover on page 46, page 154, and Back Matter
- History of Firearms by H. B. C. Pollard on page 184, page 185, and Back Matter
- A History of the Peninsular War, Volume VII: August 1813 to April 14, 1814: St Sebastian's Capture, Wellington's Invasion of France, Battles of Nive, Orthez, Toulouse by Sir Charles Oman on page 124, page 155, and Back Matter
See all 59 books this book cites
- The Formative Influences, Theories, and Campaigns of the Archduke Carl of Austria: (Contributions in Military Studies) by Lee W. Eysturlid on page 122, and Back Matter
- The Bayonets Of The Republic: Motivation And Tactics In The Army Of Revolutionary France, 1791-94 (History & Warfare) by John A Lynn in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- On War and Leadership: The Words of Combat Commanders from Frederick the Great to Norman Schwarzkopf by Owen Connelly in Back Matter
- Children at War by P. W. Singer in Back Matter
- Military Power: Explaining Victory and Defeat in Modern Battle by Stephen Biddle in Back Matter
See all 24 books citing this book
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
|
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > History > Military > Strategy
- Books > History > Military Science
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Social Sciences > Military Sciences
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science
- Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics
