This book gives an unparalleled insight into the organisation,
day-to-day life and psychology of Wellington's army, focusing on the
characters that Wellington believed could 'go anywhere and do anything'.
Wellington's Army examines both the leaders and the led; the daily life,
manners and customs of the Peninsular Army are explored, drawing on
despatches, general orders and records of court martial, and, to a
greater extent, non-official information such as diaries, memoirs and
letters.
A great deal of literature was produced during this period, written by
both commissioned and non-commissioned soldiers. For the soldiers, the
campaign became a battle against the Revolution, a kind of crusade, and
an attempt to thwart the 'triple-headed monster of Republicanism,
Atheism and Sedition'. The soldiers of Wellington's army were fighting
for all that made life worth living - religion, morality, constitution,
laws and liberty.