Galloping at Everything: The British Cavalry in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo, 1808-15

by Ian Fletcher

It was the poor discipline demonstrated by the British cavalry at Maguilla in 1812 that prompted the Duke of Wellington's famous remark that the cavalry officers had a habit of "galloping at everything." Author Ian Fletcher challenges this widely held belief, asserting that this ill-deserved perception is based on a few high-profile misadventures. He sets out to rehabilitate the British cavalry's reputation in the Peninsula and at Waterloo by demonstrating the greater number of cavalry successes, many of which have been long forgotten. Ian Fletcher is the author or editor of nine books on military history, including A Guards Officer in the Peninsula, For King and Country, and The Peninsular War: Aspects of the Struggle for the Iberian Peninsula. He runs Ian Fletcher Battlefield Tours, a company specializing in pre-20th century battlefield visits and regularly escorts clients to the Iberian Peninsula.

528 pages, ebook

First published September 28, 1999

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. If you are aware of the the fighting in the Peninsula, then you probably understand that many historians are disparaging of the British cavalry in the 1808-14 period. While it is true that the cavalry had difficulties, it was not all their fault. In Ian Fletcher's book, he makes it clear that topography played a major reason that thay were not able to be used in battle, but did a more-than-adequate job in reconnaisance and picket duty. However, most of the book deals with the major battles such as Salamanca and Vitoria which are fairly well-known for their cavalry actions, and some of the lesser known actions such as Camp Mayor and Maguilla. It finishes up with the great battle of Waterloo which had some spectacular cavalry encounters in the 3-day period.

It's an interesting book, but could have used maps, especially for the lesser known battles.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great work that finally manages to restore some of the cavalry's reputation during the Peninsular war and the Waterloo campaign. I would highly recommend it.

[Tim Mcphillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining account of the British Cavalry during the Napoleonic wars.