The Last Thing
Editorial
by Dave Watkins
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The last book by Edward Ryan to come my way was the excellent Napoleon's Elite Cavalry, featuring the Lucien Rousselot plates, one of which appears
by kind permission of Greenhill books on the front cover.
Edward Ryan’s new book, Napoleon's Shield and Guardian - The Unconquerable General Daumesnil, produced with the collaboration of Henri de Cheval, shows that he has spent the last four years rather well! This is an absolute must have read. It is action packed, well researched and gives enthralling detail of the major Napoleonic campaigns. Well who was Daumesnil? He was the man Napoleon wanted around when he found himself in the thick of the action. He usually commanded the Chasseurs a Cheval escort squadron -- so successfully that Napoleon only felt safe when he was around.
Daumesnil acquired nineteen battlefield wounds prior to losing his left leg at Wagram, even then berating Larrey, when faced with the amputation that would end his charging days, that he was being deprived of the chance to make it twenty-four!
He remaining inactive until the Campaign of France, when he was recalled by Napoleon to become Governor of Vincennes. It was here that Daumesnil’s legend became cemented in history -- asked to surrender by the surrounding Allied forces -- he tapped his wooden leg and basically told them to spin on it! This could be the best £19.99 you will spend on book! (And its available now!) As you can tell I’m a big fan of it and if you feel your enthusiasm for the period needs a boost then this is the one to get down off the shelf in future years.
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