Featured battle : Gravelotte or St Privat

Part of Franco-Prussian War

Date : 18 August 1870

After Mars-la-Tour (see entry) the French fell back east to a strong defensive position on a ridge running north from Rozerieulles to St Privat, leaving much equipment and stores behind, while von Moltke brought up the whole of the Prussian 2nd Army and 2 Corps of the 1st Army into position near Gravelotte. On the 18th they attacked and while the French held firm and fought a solid defensive battle, they failed to counter-attack which could have carved a path to Verdun and put the Prussians in a difficult position. Again, German casualties were high with the whole right wing collapsing but by nightfall, the French preferred to fall back under the guns of Metz. Von Moltke was handed an expensive but strategically important victory by Bazaine's conservatism.

Blood, Guts and Gore.

John Gordon Smith
This book is to be enjoyed as a novel although it is so much more than that. The true adventure of John Gordon Smith, an Assistant Surgeon with the 12th Light Dragoons, from pre-Waterloo, through the battle to the end of the occupation of France. Previously published in 1830 and now resurrected by Gareth Glover whose introduction and footnotes enhance the text.
This book is little more than a fascinating insight into one man’s experiences and thereby to an understanding of soldiering in that time. One can learn How to persuade a young man to have his shattered arm amputated. That the French did not serve horseradish, considered a necessity, with roast beef but it could be obtained from the apothecaries. How you find your regiment again after you’ve been left behind for three days caring for wounded. All this and much more is in John Gordon Smith’s reality and he tells it well.
We warmly recommend it to a wide range of readership.

Pen & Sword History, 2022