Featured battle : Nashville

Part of American Civil War

Date : 15 December 1864 - 16 December 1864

Thomas, in command of 50,000 Union troops behind the stout defences of Nashville watched Hood's confederates approach after their shattering at Franklin. When he decided the time was right he attacked from Nashville, several divisions pinning down the rebel right flank while the majority of his force smashed into their left flank. Hoods men held on grimly till nightfall, when they fell back to a shorter defensive line. The following day Thomas repeated his tactics of yesterday, but this time managing to get cavalry with repeating carbines right round the Confederate left flank to attack from the rear. This was the final straw and Hoods men folded. Thousands simply gave up, the rest fled south.

Wellington's Spies

Mary McGrigor
This is a story of three men parts of which, if told as fiction, would be seen as taking things too far. Who would believe that an army officer in uniform and in their right mind, would take a journey of a few hundred miles, behind the enemy lines, accompanied by his servant and with various guides? And another who after capture and being held prisoner in Paris continues to send valuable information back to the commander in the Peninsular? The adventures of the three principals is well told against the background of the Peninsular war. The author, Mary McGrigor, has an easy, readable presentation of the facts and uses lots of extracts from the men’s journals and other official papers to support her words. Here are rich insights into the character of a certain class of men of that period. They don’t all have it easy and they don’t all survive but to say more would be to spoil the story.
This book takes a different, fascinating angle on life in the British army for three men in the Peninsular war. It can be read as a novel but it is so much more than that. We highly recommend it.

Pen & Sword Military, 2020