Featured battle : Mantua [La Favorita]

Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Date : 16 January 1797

The Austrian relief column under Provera had suffered heavily at the battle of Rivoli [14/15 Jan.] but pressed on to Mantua. A message was got through to Würmser in Mantua to arrange for a coordinated attack on La Favorita. Although the attacks were pressed vigorously Würmser was forced back into Mantua and Provera's force was surrounded. The French captured 4,700 men 22 guns and a mass of vehicles and equipment.

Marshal Ney at Quatre Bras

Paul L. Dawson
Do we need another book about Waterloo? If they are like this we most certainly do. This book is different because of the primary source material researched to create it. The usual story is not trotted out without a fresh critical analysis. Within the book one chapter stands above all others for me and that is chapter 8. The movements of 1st Corps is a tale of mismanagement and confusion and has been a source of conjecture for all who study Quatre Bras. Paul Dawson makes, as clear as possible, the events of the day carefully weighing the evidence for the ultimate actions of the key players. He makes the confusion clear while bewailing the fact that verbal exchanges which could have played an important part on the day are lost to history.
This is a book for the Waterloo 'aficionado' written in a way which is easily accessible to the general reader.
I highly recommend this book and at the time of writing look forward to, the soon to be published, Paul Dawson's 'Waterloo. The Truth at Last'.
Frontline Books. Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2017