G R Gleig

Gebundenes Buch

Afghanistan

the Beleaguered Brigade-An Account of Sale's Brigade During the First Afghan War

Beschreibung

In Afghanistan you own only the ground under your feet During the First Afghan War, Sale's Brigade left Kabul ahead of the disastrous retreat under Elphinstone that followed the abortive attempt to place and retain Shah Shuja on the throne of Afghanistan. Harried every step of it's way south towards British India, this little force of British and Native Infantry supported by cavalry and artillery eventually reached the comparative safety of Jellalabad where it withstood a severe and protracted siege by hostile Afghan forces. The situation was desperate with dwindling supplies of food requiring hazardous sorties outside the defences. Then a lone horseman staggered into view-the sole survivor of an annihilated British Army.

Autor

George Robert Gleig was a Scottish soldier, military writer, and clergyman who lived from 20 April 1796 to 9 July 1888. Gleig was raised in Scotland's Stirling. His parents were Janet, née Hamilton, the youngest child of Robert Hamilton of Kilbrackmont, and George Gleig (1753-1840), the Bishop of Brechin from October 1808. Stirling Grammar School was Gleig's original school. At the Battle of Vitoria in Spain on June 21, 1813, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, achieved his final significant triumph against the French. A month later, George Robert Gleig, a young divinity student, turned down a scholarship to Balliol College in order to enlist in Wellington's army and serve as an ensign in the 85th Light Infantry. Although he adds that the cost at which he could purchase easily exchangeable gold pieces was low-he had to pay 6s for every gold dollar and £5 for a doubloon-his father, who was by that time the Bishop of Brechin, gave him £20, a sizeable amount. Wellington made his first entry into France on October 7. Napoleon resigned on April 6, 1814, although Wellington was not informed until April 12. By then, he had fought and emerged victorious from Toulouse's pivotal fight on April 10.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Oakpast
• Seitenzahl: 212
• Erscheinungstermin: 19. Dezember 2008
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 222mm x 145mm x 16mm
• Gewicht: 449g
• ISBN-13: 9781846775789
• ISBN-10: 1846775787
• Artikelnr.: 25903539