This book is part of a series printed by Battery Press and Articles of War and was originally published in 1879. Greene, a First Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, was then the Military Attache to the United States Legation at St. Petersburg.

Greene was an eyewitness to the events described: "I was continuously with the army from this date, August, 1877, to July, 1878, remaining part of the time at the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, and part of the time with the commanders of corps or divisions engaged in action. I was present at the battle of Shipka Pass, August 23d and 24th and at the principal assualt of Plevna, September 11th; ...Taskossen, December 31st; ...Sophia December 28th and January 2d; Philippopolis, January 15th, 16th, and 17th.

When with the troops I received ample information of the progress of events, and at times copies of the field orders and dispositions of the troops for military movements... I received every possible facility for observing the course of events as they actually transpired..."

Lt. Greene was decorated twice for bravery under fire, first at the battles of Shipka and the assualt of Plevna and second during the passage of the Balkans and the battle of Philippopolis. Obviously, Greene was in the thick of the fighting and this report is from first hand accounts. Greene also used official Russian publications relating to the organization of the army and works by other observers. Finally, he had the Topographic Section of the Russian General Staff draw the maps.

The book is divided into four parts (The Russian Army, The Campaigns in Bulgaria, The Campaigns in Armenia and the Defense and Attack of Fortified Positions) and an atlas. The first part has enough worthwhile information to enable you to write a complete set of very detailed rules based on the Russian Army, unfortunately there is little on the Turkish Army. This can be amended with British accounts. While the detail of the Bulgarian Campaign isn't, fortunately, excruciating, it is more than sufficient for a good read. I was impressed with Greene's analysis of the Bulgarian campaign, the "Construction of Turkish and Russian Fortifications and their Defense", and with the Russian maps, which are every bit as good as British or French maps of the same period.

Overall, I am impressed with the book. I hope that Articles of War finds one of equal value for the Turkish side.

Available from: Articles of War, Ltd. 8806 Bronx Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077-1896

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