Wellington and the British Army's Indian Campaigns, 1798–1805

Martin R. Howard

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781473894464
• eBook ISBN: 9781473894488
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

This "superb account of the British Army under Wellington in India reads like one of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels, or, better still, a Flashman novel" (Books Monthly).
The Peninsular War and the Napoleonic Wars across Europe are subjects of such enduring interest that they have prompted extensive research and writing. Yet other campaigns, in what was a global war, have been largely ignored. Such is the case for the war in India which persisted for much of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods and peaked in the years 1798-1805 with the campaigns of Arthur Wellesley—later the Duke of Wellington—and General Lake in the Deccan and Hindustan. That is why this new study by Martin Howard is so timely and important.
While it fully acknowledges Wellington's vital role, it also addresses the nature of the warring armies, the significance of the campaigns of Lake in North India, and leaves the reader with an understanding of the human experience of war in the region. For this was a brutal conflict in which British armies clashed with the formidable forces of the Sultan of Mysore and the Maratha princes. There were dramatic pitched battles at Assaye, Argaum, Delhi and Laswari, and epic sieges at Seringapatam, Gawilghur and Bhurtpore. The British success was not universal.
"An absorbing account of Wellesley/Lord Wellington which shows how his actions in India had a significant effect on the development of the British Empire and events through to the modern era.—Highly Recommended." —Firetrench
"An eye opener on the power and influence of the East India Company at this time. A jolly good read." — Clash of Steel

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• List of Maps
• Preface
• I ARMIES
• II CAMPAIGNS
• III SOLDIERS
• Epilogue: More of the Oak than the Willow
• Appendix I: General Lake’s Army at Secundra, 26 August 1803
• Appendix II: Effective Strength of his Majesty’s Regiments serving in India, taken from the latest returns, 1 April 1805
• Appendix III: Ordnance to accompany the Troops in the Field according to a Letter from Lieutenant-General Stuart of 26 November [1803] and Bullocks required to draw them
• Appendix IV: Return of Tippoo Sultaun’s Army at the Commencement of the Campaign of 1799
• Appendix V: State of the Force composing the Grand Army under the Command of Lieutenant General Harris, February 1799
• Appendix VI: Abstract Statement showing the Strength in Non Commissioned Rank and File and distribution of Forces in the Field under Lieutenant-General Stuart; Detachment with the Honourable Major-General Wellesley; The Subsidiary Force under Colonel Stevenson; the Detachment at Hyderabad commanded by Major Irton and the Troops stationed under Colonel Montresor in Malabar and Canara [August/September 1803]
• Appendix VII: Review of Perron’s Force [1803]
• Appendix VIII: Strength, in round Numbers, of the effective fighting men present with the Army [of Lake] at the above period [April 1805]
• Glossary
• Notes
• Bibliography