The Battle of Minden 1759: The Miraculous Victory of the Seven Years War

by Stuart Reid

The fighting in Europe during the Seven Years War hung in the balance. After initial successes the Austro-French forces had been driven back across the Rhine. With the opposing sides reinforcing their armies, the campaign of 1759 was going to prove decisive. Britain and her German allies met the French at Minden in Germany. Due to a misunderstanding of orders the British infantry actually attacked and dispersed the French cavalry. That action is still commemorated on 1 August each year with the wearing of roses by the infantry and artillery regiments whose predecessors picked flowers and put them in their coats as they passed through German gardens on the way to the battle. By contrast Lord Sackville, who commanded the British cavalry, was accused of ignoring orders to charge the retreating French which could have turned defeat into rout. He was court-martialled and cashiered. The victory at Minden was just one in a number of British successes that years against French forces and overseas territories across the globe. This led to 1759 being described by the British as the Annus Mirabilis - the year of miracles.

Genres: Military History, History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2016

Reviews

[Cropredy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Miraculous Victory" ? How could I resist with a title like this? Was this some Rorke's Drift-like epic on the mid 18th century I didn't know anything about? I quickly parted with my sterling during a recent visit to Foyles.

Well, what can I say.

A readable book with a maddening lack of maps to help follow the narrative. One will learn something of the continental war waged between King George II's Hanoverian allies (with a smallish British land contingent) against the French during the Seven Years War.

Definitely a book for the specialist (although, as I said, it was readable). Chock-o-block with appendices including the full list of uniform colors of every unit (an homage to tabletop wargaming?). Thrill to the transcript of the inquiry into the alleged disgraceful performance of the British commander and his mishandling of the cavalry. Read yet another account of bungled British raids on France in an attempt to distract the French from invading.

And that "miraculous victory"? Well, at Minden, the British advanced, the French attacked, slaughter ensued, and the French withdrew. Hanover saved! It is all over in a handful of pages and you almost don't even realize it has even happened. The actual battle of Minden doesn't occur until late in the book as the story is really about the period 1757-59.

You can tell it is a specialist book as the book jacket blurbs all come from actual battle participants.

Read this to enhance your curiosity about wars of the Enlightenment told from a point of view other than Prussia or Austria. And be sure to have some other reference with better maps (unless you are au fait with central German geography/ town placement or the immediate environs of St. Malo) - Suggestion : His Britannic Majesty's Army In Germany During the Seven Year's War

[Blake Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed history of the battle of Minden, 1759 by Stuart Reid. Lots of interesting tidbits about the side battles leading up to Minden itself. The author claimed George Washington started the Seven Years War??? Outside of that rash statement, The Battle of Minden 1759 is a fast, good read.

Recommended.