Die Hard: Dramatic Actions from the Napoleonic Wa

"Die hard, 57th, die hard!" This war cry captures the drama that unfolded on the Napoleonic battlefield. Most military history gives the impression that warfare consists largely of tactical and strategic theory, and that human courage and ingenuity play only minor roles. But often, countless small actions by obscure individuals determine whether an army emerges victorious or defeated -- as this study of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars vividly shows. These accounts were selected from some of the most desperate actions of the period, from decisive battles to sieges, as well as less important and significant episodes within a larger action. Some, such as the battle of Villers-en Cauchies, were remarkable for their unpredictable outcome through the determination showed by one side. Others, such as Napoleon's hold leadership at Marengo, changed the course of military strategy by breaking the established rules. Among the dashes covered are those at Eylau, Saragossa, Albuera, the Berezina, and Hougoumont -- 10 in all.