Featured battle : Bunker Hill

Part of American War of Independence

Date : 17 June 1775

A force of militiamen under Col. Prescott were sent by the Committee of Safety to occupy and fortify Bunker Hill, on the Charlestown Heights, overlooking the besieged Boston. They arrived, and threw up a fort, but not on Bunker Hill, but on the closer, but lower Breeds Hill. General Gage, the following dawn, had the navy fire on the positions, and launched an amphibious attack under generals Howe and Pigot. Attempts to outflank the Americans failed, so the British resorted to frontal attacks, the first two of which were beaten back for great loss. On the third attempt the defenders ammunition began to run out, and the British bayonet charge reached the barricades. As the Americans were forced to fall back many were killed and wounded in a disorganised withdrawal. The heavy casualties suffered by the British regulars, however, gave heart and confidence to the fledgling American continental army.

The Light Division in the Peninsular War 1808-1811

Tim Saunders & Rob Yuill
Our opinion of this book is best summed up by imploring the authors, Tim Saunders and Bob Yuill, to let us have volume two as soon as possible. This book about the Light Division is well focused and doesn’t drift off into writing about the wider campaign more than is necessary to tell the Division’s story. Of particular interest are the many insights into the lives of the officers and ordinary infantry soldiers between the battles. The story flows easily along the timeline from the Division’s inception to its fruition.
There are a large number of maps and photographs interspersed throughout the text. Many photographs are of the locations today which would be a big help to anyone visiting the battlefields and marching routes.
We highly recommend this book and look forward to volume two.

Pen & Sword Military, 2020