My introduction to wargaming was largely the result of reading Don Featherstone's 'War Games' in 1970. Reading was one thing but how to contact others with like interests was quite another. Taking the bull by the horns, I sought out Don's telephone number and rang him. We did a deal: If I subscribed to 'Wargamer's Newsletter', he would give me details of my nearest wargames club. I won on both sides of the deal: Southend Wargames Club proved an excellent organisation and the Newsletter was a welcome delivery through the mail flap each month. I was hooked and have been pleased so to be for virtually 25 years. During this time, I have added three or four of Don's books to my shelves and enjoyed reading each one several times.

Obviously, the hobby has moved on since those (happier?) days; technology and an ever increasing wargaming fraternity have meant that figures, literature and events are much more readily accessible. I have become rather specialised in my own pursuits (Peninsular War) and enjoy research almost as much as playing. Nonetheless I still keep an eye open for anything Don Featherstone publishes so, when a copy of "Campaigning with the Duke of Wellington & Featherstone" came my way, with a request to review it, I accepted with anticipation of a good read and that's exactly what I got.

Younger wargamers in the U.K. tend to find Don's concept of wargaming somewhat out-dated and I have heard the odd derisory remark. Whilst I prefer the type of rules that derive from detailed research and an attempt to reflect the "real thing" as closely as may be, I believe Don sees this goal as next to impossible and plumps for enjoyment above "historicity". I can't argue with his point of view because no-one alive today can tell us what it was really like to fight in an early 19th Century battle. Indeed I get a great deal of fun out of " back-of-a- postcard" rules from time to time but I believe the pursuit of historical accuracy benefits the hobby and extends our knowledge of any period and its personalities. Basically what I am trying to say is that preconceptions about any aspect of wargaming injure the holder far more than anyone else.

Now, enough philosophising, I'm supposed to be reviewing a book (from here on, I shall call it 'Campaigning' for brevity). The details for ordering the book are: Publisher: Emperor's Press, Chicago, Illinois 60634, USA, ISBN no. 0-9626655-9-2, Price: £ 29.00.

Aim and Purpose

Before reviewing any item, the reviewer should first ask something about the author's objectives and the target market for which the publisher is aiming. "Campaigning" is, in the words of the preamble to the book, designed to "arouse ardour and inspiration among American comrades-in-arms so that they will not only research and wargame these battles, but be encouraged to venture forth and actually explore these fields in Portugal and Spain."

Clearly, then, the book is not primarily designed to appeal to British wargamers, who are more likely to wargame in the Napoleonic period than the majority of their American counterparts (I imagine). This should be borne in mind by any UK resident thinking about adding "Campaigns" to their shelves. Having said this, the Peninsula is not necessarily everyone's preferred theatre and Germany or Austria may occupy more wargaming attention than Spain and Portugal. As a result, "Campaigns" has definite appeal to those unfamiliar with the Iron Duke's activities between 1807 and 1814. Also, since one of the book's stated aims is to provide information to assist in "walking" the Peninsular battlefields, it has a potential for any reader in this direction.

Hors d'Oeuvre:

After the preamble, setting out the aims and purpose of the book, "Campaigns" sets the scene of the Peninsular War with a short potted-history, then moves on to relate the experiences of one or two people and organisations who have done what the book calls "Peninsular Promenading". We then are provided with some "Featherstonian" style rules for a Napoleonic wargame plus some interesting skirmish rules and scenarios. Finally, after some ideas for the entertainment of non-wargarning companions (e.g. spouses - or is it spice?) whilst on safari, we get to the meat of the book.

Main Course

Don Featherstone follows the Duke's footsteps around Spain and Portugal chronologically, giving an account of the various battles and engagements with copious maps and plans, relatively recent photographs, orders of battle, wargaming tips and some very short re-fight narratives. The content of this part of the book is largely reliant on longish extracts from historical sources (e.g. James Grant, Sir William Napier & Sir John Fortescue) with interspersed comments from the author. This treatment adds a certain period flavour to the whole thing and, to my mind, enhances the narrative.

Many of the main maps are, I am fairly certain, direct computer scans from such works as Oman's "A History of the Peninsular War" and Fortescue's "History of the British Army", although I may be doing an injustice to Yonan "Tony" Badal who is credited with the cartography. Assuming the necessary permission was received, this in no way detracts from the work quite the contrary.

The orders of battle are reasonably thorough, in that they frequently provide battalion strengths for each side and give details of commanding officers for the higher formations. Those I have checked conform with my sources pretty well. Occasionally, however, the losses at certain sieges are more detailed than the orders of battle themselves - which is a little unfortunate.

Photographs of the battlefields are once again, I believe, computer scans and sometimes the clarity suffers but overall they are useful and give a nice impression of the native vegetation and architectural styles, plus they pick out the salient features of terrain -- all very useful in laying out an accurate table.

I was more than a touch disappointed by the sections on walking the battlefields. Don's descriptions of the areas themselves are usually fine but the directions to reach them are sparse to non- existent and it would have been helpful to learn the correct method for obtaining authority, where needed, to gain access to some of them. Just as an example: I went to Madrid on business in October 1990 and decided to visit Talavera. de la Reyna. I took the train and arrived exactly at midday. This is definitely not the best time to undertake such an enterprise in a small Spanish town!

However, after trudging the scorching, deserted streets for about 30 minutes, whilst sensible Spaniards dozed in the shade, I chanced on a small book shop run by the local school master. This gentleman spoke good English and offered assistance. He obtained the services of a taxi whose driver agreed, for a fixed fee, to take me to the commemorative monument which Don says in the book he could not find in May of the same year. This happened when I found the taxi driver and I shared French as a common second language and we laughed over two "allies" conversing in the tongue of their erstwhile enemy. We ended the day drinking several toasts to various historical characters and eating tapas in a small, friendly bar.

All this serves to illustrate that fairly detailed prior plans need to be laid and arrangements made, not to mention a careful selection of the most suitable mode of travel (Spanish railways are something else!). 'Campaigns' would have benefitted from such information and, perhaps, small, local maps set beside the battle- field maps to indicate how comparitive areas look today.

Sweet

The little sections on how to wargame the various actions are great. Whatever your chosen rule style, the little ideas presented are useful and helpful or at least amusing, as in the case of Don's eccentric clock that he mentions in the refight of the Nive battles and whose hands move at three times the normal rate!

Value for Money:

At twenty-nine pounds, the book is, perhaps a little above average price and it contains several typographical errors ("filed" for "field" and "Sit" John Moore! to mention but two) that suggest an unread proof and reliance on a word processor spell-checker which detracts a little from its otherwise pleasant presentation.

However, as I mentioned earlier, it is a good read and informative for those not familiar with its subject matter. On balance I feel it hits its target and, if you don't have a shelf full of Peninsular titles but do have twenty-nine quid, go for it.