Chapter I: Preface

I have endeavoured in the space at my disposal to show how the British Army has grown up. I have tried merely to tell a “story,” and therefore omitted much that might have been said regarding the noble work the Queen’s Army has done. As regards the opinions advanced, I have always, as far as possible, given the reasons for my views and the authorities which induced me to form them.

I have adhered to the principle of using the old regimental numbers, for the sake of continuity; though, after the date when these were altered, I have, in most cases, added their present territorial titles.

I wish to express my great appreciation of the courtesy of the Colonel and the Officers of the Lancashire Fusiliers (20th), South Wales Borderers (24th), and the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (14th), in allowing me to sketch the uniforms of their men from the interesting histories of their respective regiments, and to E. C. Brett, Esq., for permitting me to copy the suits of armour that I have chosen as types from his father’s magnificent volume on _Arms and Armour_.

KINGSCLEAR, CAMBERLEY,
_March 1897_.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE ARMY OF THE PEOPLE--TO 1100 1

II. THE ARMY OF THE NOBLES--TO 1500 14

III. THE PURITAN HOST 35

IV. THE ARMY OF THE KING--TO 1701 55

V. MARLBOROUGH AND HIS MEN--TO 1714 72

VI. THE EMBERS OF THE CIVIL WAR--TO 1755 87

VII. THE ARMY IN AMERICA--TO 1793 107

VIII. THE ARMY AT SEA--TO 1815 128

IX. THE PENINSULAR ARMY: (_a_) ITS MAKING--1793-1808 155

X. THE PENINSULAR ARMY: (_b_) ITS TRAINING--1808-1811 173

XI. THE PENINSULAR ARMY: (_c_) ITS REWARD--1811-1814 191

XII. THE ARMY IN THE NETHERLANDS--WATERLOO, 1815 206

XIII. THE ARMY AFTER THE LONG PEACE--THE CRIMEA, 1854 236

XIV. THE ARMY IN INDIA: (_a_) THE EAST INDIA COMPANY, ITS
RISE--1600-1825 264

XV. THE ARMY IN INDIA: (_b_) THE FALL OF THE COMPANY AND
AFTERWARDS--1825-1858 277

XVI. THE ARMY IN INDIA: (_c_) THE ARMY OF THE QUEEN-EMPRESS--
1858-1896 318

XVII. THE ARMY IN THE FAR EAST--1819-1875 336

XVIII. THE ARMY IN SOUTH AND WEST AFRICA--1834-1836 351

XIX. THE ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA--1867-1896 374

XX. THE ARMY AS IT IS 396

APPENDIX I.--THE PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES OF THE
BRITISH ARMY SINCE 1658 407

APPENDIX II.--THE LIST OF REGIMENTS WITH THEIR PRESENT
AND FORMER TITLES 411