Book Reviews
Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars, 1792-1815,
by Kevin F. Kiley. Greenhill Books, London, UK, and Stackpole Books,
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2004. ISBN 1 85367 583 0. 318 pp.;
6 1/2” x 9 1/2”; 26 b&w plates plus 52 line illustrations
and 17 tables; hardbound. $34.95.
Sometimes referred to as the “hammer of war,” artillery
is a truly fearsome arm, a friend to those in whose support it is used, and terrifying
to those feeling its impact. This was truly the case in the era of direct fire
field artillery, those centuries during which infantry marched and cavalry rode
literally into the cannon’s mouth.
The book examines the high-water mark of muzzle-loading field artillery, the
era of the Napoleonic Wars at the end of the 18th and early 19th century. It
presents an extremely readable and lively narrative of the wartime experiences
of artillery units of the various European combatants. However, it also includes
the often underappreciated accomplishments of the artillery of the fledgling
U.S. Army which had to face the first and (to this date) only invasion by a foreign
power of the United States during the War of 1812.
Understandably, most of the text concentrates on the evolution, development and
actions of the artillery systems of the French Army, especially Gribeauval’s.
As the author clearly establishes, this influenced not only the artillery of
France’s opponents, but also that of the United States for decades to come,
reaching its peak during the American Civil War.
The text narrative is rich in well-done charts and well-labeled graphics, although
the captions of the top two projectiles shown on page 95 are reversed. The tables
in particular provide a tremendous range of data on the equipment and accessories
of European national systems as well as comparing them against one another. For
example, the author notes that the French measured caliber by the diameter of
the shot fired, while other nations measured the diameter of the gun’s
bore (these are not necessarily the same!). There is also a very interesting
section on Congreve’s rockets. These weapons, immortalized in The Star-Spangled
Banner, had their roots in similar weaponry used against by British troops by
troops of Typoo in 18th century India. Text notes are conveniently placed at
the end of each chapter, and there are some fifteen appendices on a variety of
topics from the construction of French guns, to firing tables, to period documents
regarding the proper management of artillery in battle. The book is finished
with a bibliography and a very useful glossary of specialist terms.
