Specific wars and military campaigns Books

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Book SynopsisAs early as 1865, survivors of the Civil War were acutely aware that people were purposefully shaping what would be remembered about the war and what would be omitted from the historical record. In Remembering the Civil War, Caroline E. Janney examines how the war generation crafted and protected their memories of the US's greatest conflict.

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Book SynopsisFrom battlefields, boxcars, and forgotten warehouses to notorious prison camps, prisoners seemed to be everywhere during the American Civil War. Living by Inches is the first book to examine how imprisoned men in the Civil War perceived captivity through the basic building blocks of human experience - their five senses.

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Book SynopsisIn this rich study of Union governors and their role in the Civil War, Stephen Engle examines how these politicians were pivotal in securing victory. In a time of limited federal authority, governors were an essential part of the machine that maintained the Union while it mobilized and sustained the war effort.Trade ReviewEngle has done more than anyone previously to survey the Union governors and make the case for their centrality." - Journal of the Civil War Era"Engle offers a convincingly argued and well-researched volume that supplants Hesseltine's to become the definitive work on the subject." - The Lincoln Herald"An amazingly well-weaved and balanced book, allowing the reader to appreciate the efforts 'back home' by the proactive governors, to first fill the early regimental ranks, but to support the Union soldiers through the fighting. I enjoyed it immensely!" - Civil War Talk"Will stand for years as the book on Lincoln's relationship with the Union governors. . . . Essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how the North mobilized to win the Civil War." - Journal of American History"Will long stand as the authoritative account on Lincoln's wartime relationship with the governors and is essential to understanding how the North mobilized its society on the unprecedented scale necessary to defeat the Confederacy." - North Carolina Historical Review"Offers a valuable and convincing corrective to a long-standing thesis on the war president and the war governors." - Indiana Magazine of History"In a thorough and well-written study on a topic not covered in almost 70 years, Engle presents a much-needed reexamination of the relationship between Lincoln and the Union governors during the Civil War. Highly recommended." - Choice"Will assuredly become the standard work on the subject of Lincoln and the Union war governors for generations to come." - Civil War Book Review"Mr. Engle thoroughly covers a subject that has been analyzed in a piecemeal manner by prior historians, and in the process accomplishes the rare feat of adding something new to discussions of the Civil War." - Weston Democrat"The definitive monograph on the relationship between federal and state government during the Civil War." - Journal of Southern History"Should be read by anyone interested in the growth of federal authority, as well as political historians of the Civil War Era." - Civil War Monitor"Engle's study is rich and deep, thorough and convincing. . . . Explores the changes that occurred as the war lengthened with care and complexity." - Emerging Civil War"This book will be very useful for scholars interested in Lincoln, politics during U.S. Civil War, mobilization, and the relationship between the states and the federal government." - The Lincoln Herald"Engle's book will be the indispensable source on Union governors for a long time to come." - The Annals of Iowa

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Book SynopsisDuring the years of the Vietnam War, U.S. forces used three major types of equipment sets, with numerous modifications for particular circumstances. Different equipment was also used by Special Forces, the South Vietnamese, and other allied ground troops.Vietnam War US & Allied Combat Equipments offers a comprehensive examination of the gear that U.S. and allied soldiers carried strapped around their bodies, what the gear contained, and what those items were used for. Fully illustrated with photographs and artwork detailing how each piece of equipment was used, and written by a Special Forces veteran of the conflict, this book will fascinate enthusiasts of military equipment and will be an ideal reference guide for reenactors, modelers, and collectors of Vietnam War memorabilia.Table of ContentsIntroduction: the Vietnamese environment, as it affected personal LBE – listing of 'Free World' (allied) forces which used US equipment in Vietnam. /Development: background and development of the US Army M1956 LBE. /M1956 Load Bearing Equipment – description and use of this most widely seen pattern. /M1967 Modernized Load Bearing Equipment, developed specifically in response to experience in Vietnam. /US Marine M1961 Load Carrying Equipment. /ANZAC web equipment - description of British and M1956 LBE copies used by Australian and New Zealand forces. /Special reconnaissance equipment – description and use of specialized equipment by MACV-SOG, Special Forces, and Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol units. /World War II & Korean War vintage equipment – as used mostly by South Vietnamese forces, but in some use by US forces. /Indigenous equipment – description and use of low-cost equipment for Vietnamese forces, provided by the CIA's Counterintelligence Support Office. /Life in the Boonies - use of the equipments in the field, as shaped by differing terrain, climate, evolving weapons and procedures, and personal preferences (covering, e.g., procedures for movement, bivouacking, preparing food, perimeter defense and security, outposts, ambushes, etc.) /Conclusion. /Select Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisOutremer: Faith and Blood is a 28mm skirmish wargame featuring small groups of warriors fighting in Outremer during the Crusades. While suitable for one-off skirmish encounters the focus of the game is a structured and progressive campaign setting in which they are able to watch their force grow and develop over a series of scenarios and encounters from a small party of five or so soldiers into a powerful warband a score strong. Character development is key, and a wide range of troop options and factions allows a high degree of individuality and personalization. Players will also be able to recruit mercenaries and agents such as Hashashin and Varangian survivors to bolster their forces--potent but expensive additions that will add a distinct flavor to each encounter.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Rules Building a Warband The Campaign Scenarios

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Book SynopsisAfter China''s November 1950 intervention in the war and the subsequent battle of the Chosin Reservoir, UN forces faced a new onslaught in the spring of 1951, with over 350,000 veteran troops attacking along the Imjin River. The US 3rd Infantry Division took the brunt of the attack along with the attached British 29th Infantry Brigade (officially styled the 29th British Independent Infantry Brigade Group), which included the Gloucestershire Regiment (the Glosters). The heroic defense of the American and British forces would pass into legend, most especially the doomed effort of the Glosters, as they sought to buy time for the rest of the UN forces to regroup and organize an effective defense of Seoul, the South Korean capital city. Featuring full color commissioned artwork, maps, and first-hand accounts, this is the compelling story of one of the most epic clashes of the Korean War.Table of ContentsOrigins of the campaign /Chronology /Opposing commanders /Opposing armies /Orders of battle /Opposing plans /The campaign /Aftermath /The battlefields today /Further reading /Index

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Book SynopsisDuring the later stages of the Vietnam War, the US-made M41 Walker Bulldog light tank fought the Soviet-designed T-54 main battle tank in a series of battles in Laos and Vietnam. Fully illustrated, this engaging study investigates the origins, combat record, and legacy of these two armored fighting vehicles.Illustrated with full-color artwork as well as rare and revealing photographs from both sides, this book studies these two iconic tanks in Vietnamese service, examining how their differing designs and fighting doctrines affected their performance in this unique theater of combat.During the Vietnam War, both the United States and the Soviet Union supplied all manner of weapon systems to the opposing sides, including tanks and armored vehicles. Two tanks in particular took momentary prominence in the later years of the conflict. On the South Vietnamese side, it was the US M41 Walker Bulldog; for the communist North Vietnamese, the Soviet-supplied T-54 main baTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Design and Development /The Strategic Situation /Technical Specifications /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Conclusion /Bibliography /Index

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Book SynopsisThe Spanish Civil War was the training ground of the German military forces that struck across Europe in the Blitzkrieg of 1939-40. A detailed analysis of the German Army's vehicles, equipment, weapons and their tactical development.

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Book Synopsis The Iraqi Triangle of Death, south of Baghdad, was a raging inferno of insurgent activity in August of 2006; by November 2007, attacks had been suppressed to such an extent as to return the area to near obscurity. In the intervening months, the U.S. Army 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry (Polar Bears) employed a counterinsurgency approach that set the conditions for a landmark peace agreement that has held to the present. With a focus on counterinsurgency, this book is the first to look at the breadth of military operations in Yusifiyah, Iraq, and to analyze the methods the Polar Bears employed. It is a story not of those who fought in the Triangle of Death, but of how they fought.

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Book Synopsis In 2012, Specialist Summerfield and the 2-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment were deployed to the Kandahar province of Afghanistan. A Special Forces dropout, Summerfield was given a second chance at leadership as the head of an infantry team in one of the most IED-ridden areas in Afghanistan. With zero training and little intel, his squad navigated IED belts, leadership conflict and enemy ambushes. This book provides a thought-provoking and often humorous account of life on the front in a frontless war, all from the perspective of a low-ranking enlisted soldier.Table of ContentsPrefaceTermsBattalion Structure 1. Black Outs and Black Ops 2. With No Training and Little Intel 3. Snap-Backs and Taliban? 4. Farming for Taliban 5. IEDs for Sale or Trade 6. Kotizi 7. Unexpected Company 8. Jelly Legs 9. Seek and Defecate10. Gundi Ghar11. Gundi Ghar, Day Two12. Chapman13. The Return to Gundi Ghar14. Back to the Grind15. Deegan Cole16. The Complexities of My Emotions17. To Check or Not to Check18. Ice Cream and Lattes19. But Nobody Died, Right?20. Night on the Big Town21. Superheroes with Drinking Problems22. Now Let's Never Do That Again23. Bargaining for Your FutureIndex

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Book Synopsis Initially stationed at the U.S. Army''s counterintelligence headquarters in Saigon, David Noble was sent north to launch the army''s first covert intelligence-gathering operation in Vietnam''s Central Highlands. Living in the region of the Montagnards--Vietnam''s indigenous tribal people, deemed critical to winning the war--Noble documented strategic hamlets and Green Beret training camps, where Special Forces teams taught the Montagnards to use rifles rather than crossbows and spears. In this book, he relates the formidable challenges he confronted in the course of his work. Weaving together memoir, excerpts from letters written home, and photographs, Noble''s compelling narrative throws light on a little-known corner of the Vietnam War in its early years--before the Tonkin Gulf Resolution and the deployment of combat units--and traces his transformation from a novice intelligence agent and believer in the war to a political dissenter and active protester.Trade ReviewDavid Noble’s Vietnam memoir, including excerpts from letters written home and personal photographs, form an insightful and valuable addition to Vietnam War literature prior to the American build up."- Alexander S. Cochran, Vietnam HistorianTable of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Part I Memory Becoming an Intelligence Agent Honolulu and the Waikikian Arrival in Vietnam The Continental Palace Reporting for Duty The Case of the Purloined Penicillin Saigon Major Kumar Central Registry Rest and Relaxation in Hong Kong Part II Assignment Pleiku Intelligence Work in the Highlands Dope, Drink and Sex The Montagnards Pleiku's Missionaries Travels Beyond Pleiku A Week in Saigon Life in Pleiku Plei Mrong Is Dedicated Plei Mrong Is Attacked Bangkok Ban Me Thuot Final Months in Pleiku Part III The War at Home Epilogue Author's Service History Index

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Book SynopsisDiscover the untold story of the vital role the Irish played in the American Revolution.George Washington changed the world and saved democracy by defeating the British during the American War of Independence. The Irish role in the American Revolution, the war for the ages, has never been correctly reported. Because many of the Irish who fought were poor and illiterate and left no memoirs, their stories and role have never been told. Until now. The Irish played a huge role in the American Revolution, not just on the battlefield but also in the field hospitals and in the framing of the Declaration of Independence. Learn the story of the famous spy Hercules Mulligan, who saved George Washington’s life on two occasions and who was famously portrayed by Okieriete Onaodowan in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Hamilton. Discover the story of Edward Hoban, a carpenter from Ireland who Washington tasked with building the most famous residence in the world: the White House.Niall O’Dowd, author of Lincoln and the Irish and A New Ireland, takes readers on a journey into the unexplored contributions of the Irish in the American Revolution and behind the scenes of the relationships of some of those men and women with the first president of the United States. These unsung heroes of the American Revolution have never gotten their due, never had their story told, until now, in George Washington and the Irish.

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Book SynopsisIn his first four volumes on the Korean War, the author traces the war's progress from the North Korean invasion of June 1950, the desperate American defence of the Pusan Perimeter, General Douglas MacArthur's daring and highly successful amphibious offensive at Inch'?n, and his subsequent advance across the 38th Parallel to the Yalu River on the Chinese Manchurian border Communist Chinese forces, that have been secretly infiltrating North Korean territory by slipping across the Yalu from mid-October 1950, ambush a South Korean regiment in the mountains of central North Korea. This is the first of several Chinese victories over unsuspecting and overstretched South Korean and American units in the winter of 1950/1. On 27 November 1950, Chinese leader Mao Zedong, ostensibly fearful of the consequences of hostile American forces on his country's border along the Yalu River, orders 250,000 troops into Korea, with express orders to annihilate the UN forces. In the western half of the theatre, US General Walton H. Walker's Eighth Army front along the Ch'?ngch'?n axis is breached, while to the east, the US X Corps suffers a series of crushing defeats, including at the Chosin Reservoir, precipitating a massive evacuation from the North Korean port of Hungnam.

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Book SynopsisNapoleon's invasion of Russia cost the lives of hundreds of thousands and changed the course of history. Europe had never seen an army quite like the one gathering in Poland in 1812 - half a million men in brilliant uniforms, plumed shakoes and shimmering helmets. Six months later, it was the ghost of an army, frozen and miserable, that limped back to their horrified homes. While the story of this epic military disaster has often been told, it has never been described before from the viewpoint of the tens of thousands of Polish soldiers who took part, and that is why this selection of their vivid eyewitness testimony is of such value. Most of their accounts - letters, diaries and memoirs - have not been translated into English before, and they come from a variety of authors. Some of them were patriots who were keen to wage war on the Russians in order to regain independence for their country. Others were charmed by the glory of Napoleonic warfare or were professional soldiers who did their duty but had seen too much war to be seduced by it. They all tell an unrivalled tale - of muskets and drums and burning villages, of Borodino and Moscow and ruthless battles, and of the numbing hunger and biting cold. By the end the great army had been reduced to a pitiless mob and the Polish soldiers, who had set out with such hope, recalled it with horror.

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Book SynopsisAs the Battle of Waterloo reached its momentous climax, Napoleon's Imperial Guard marched towards the Duke of Wellington's thinning red line. The Imperial Guard had never tasted defeat and nothing, it seemed, could stop it smashing through the British ranks. But it was the Imperial Guard that was sent reeling back in disorder, its columns ravaged by the steady volleys of the British infantry. The credit for defeating the Imperial Guard went to the 1st Foot Guards, which was consequently honoured for its actions by being renamed the Grenadier Guards. The story did not stop there, however, as the 52nd Foot also contributed to the defeat of the Imperial Guard yet received no comparable recognition. The controversy of which corps deserved the credit for defeating the Imperial Guard has continued down the decades and has rightly become a highly contentious subject over which much ink has been spilled. But now, thanks to the uncovering of the previously unpublished journal of Charles Holman of the 52nd Foot, Gareth Glover is able to piece together the exact sequence of events in those final, fatal moments of the great battle. Along with numerous other first-hand accounts, Gareth Glover has been able to understand the most likely sequence of events, the reaction to these events immediately after the battle and how it was seen within the army in the days after the victory. Who did Wellington honour at the time? How did the Foot Guards gain much of the credit in London? Was there an establishment cover-up? Were the 52nd robbed of their glory? Do the recent much-publicised arguments stand up to impartial scrutiny? _The Great Waterloo Controversy_ is the definitive answer to these questions and will finally end this centuries-old conundrum.

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Book Synopsis“Clear out the Shenandoah Valley “clean and clear,” Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant ordered, in the late summer of 1864. His man for the job: Major General“Little Phil” Sheridan, the bandy-legged Irishman who’d proven himself just the kind of scrapper Grant loved. Grant turned Sheridan loose across Virginia’s most vital landscape, the breadbasket of the Confederacy. In the spring of 1862, a string of Confederate victories in the Valley had foiled Union plans in the state and kept Confederate armies fed and supplied. In 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia used the Valley as its avenue of invasion, culminating in the battle of Gettysburg. The Valley continued to offer Confederates an alluring backdoor to Washington D.C. But when Sheridan returned to the Valley in 1864, the stakes jumped dramatically. To lose the Valley would mean to lose the state, Stonewall Jackson had once said—and now that prediction would be put to the test as Sheridan fought with Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal Early for possession. For the North, the fragile momentum its war effort had gained by capturing Atlanta would quickly evaporate; for Abraham Lincoln, defeat in the Valley could very well mean defeat in the upcoming election. For the South, more than its breadbasket was at stake—its nascent nationhood lay on the line. Historians Daniel Davis and Philip Greenwalt, longtime students of the Civil War, have spent countless hours researching the Valley battles of‘64 and walking the ground where those battles unfolded. Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 shifts attention away from Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia to the campaign that ultimately determined the balance of power across the Eastern Theatre.

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Book SynopsisThis work takes us beneath the veneer of the famous “Green Mountain Boys” to reveal the true story of how a hardened, quasi-commando army happened to be present in America’s northern colonies at the start of the Revolution.Under their first dynamic commander, Ethan Allen, the Green Mountain Boys indeed formed and fought against a larger, oppressive power—this was the Colony of New York, which repeatedly tried to make claim to Vermont land. Meantime Vermont itself was termed the “Hampshire Grants,” and was considered to be a part of that similarly nebulous New England territory.The Vermonters would have little of it, however, even as British Canada also extended its covetous eye, and under Ethan Allen formed their own militia to combat encroachers from either side. Allen was not an innocent in the mix, and had his own agenda, including financial or landowning ones. But the spirit he and his men showed in defense of their isolated mountains has come to epitomize America’s own spirit of independence against any untoward or unwanted regime.When the Revolution against Britain arrived, the Green Mountain Boys were one of the few organized, experienced combat units Washington could call on from the northeast. And they were immediately put to good use, seizing the British fortress at Ticonderoga and afterward helping to invade Canada. But in mid-1777 was declared the “Republic of Vermont,” sending a signal to all comers that those rustic fighters didn’t wish to be governed by anyone except themselves.Nevertheless, at the Battle of Hubbardton, and then Bennington, the Green Mountain Boys performed good service on behalf of the United Colonies. Eventually the Vermonters would be persuaded to join the new nation itself, even if, as this fascinating book proves, they never considered that path such an easy one.

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Book SynopsisElite units carried out many dangerous operations during the Vietnam War, the most secret and hazardous of which were conducted by the Studies and Observations Group, formed in 1964. In the years since the Vietnam War, the elite unit known as SOG has spawned many myths, legends and war stories. Special Forces medic Joe Parnar served with SOG during 1968 in FOB2/CCC near the tri-border area that gave them access to the forbidden areas of Laos and Cambodia. Parnar recounts his time with the recon men of this highly classified unit, as his job involved a unique combination of soldiering and lifesaving. His stories capture the extraordinary commitment made by all the men of SOG and reveal the special dedication of the medics, who put their own lives at risk to save the lives of their teammates. Parnar also discusses his medical training with the Special Forces. During his tour with SOG, Parnar served as a dispensary medic, chase medic, Hatchet Force medic and as a recon team member. This variety of roles gave him experience not only in combat but in dealing with and treating the civilians and indigenous peoples of that area. There is a graphic account of a Laotian operation involving America’s most decorated soldier, Robert Howard, during which Parnar had to treat a man with a blown-off foot alongside nearly fifty other casualties. It is a reminder of the enormous responsibility and burden that a medic carried. This new edition of SOG Medic makes this highly-praised and sought-after book available again once more, with additional photos and maps.Trade ReviewI award this book a generous 4/5. * Army Rumour Service 01/03/2019 *

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Book SynopsisFrancis Marion is certainly the stuff of which legends are made. His nickname “The Swamp Fox,” bestowed upon him by one of his fiercest enemies, captures his wily approach to battle. The embellishment of his exploits in Parson Weems’ early biography make separation of fact from fiction difficult, but certainly represents the awe, loyalty, and attraction he produced in those around him. His legacy is enshrined in the fact that more places in the United States have been named after him than any other soldier of the American Revolution, with the sole exception of George Washington. Even today’s U.S. Army Rangers include Marion as one of their formative heroes. Surely much about leadership can be learned from such an intriguing personality.Leading like the Swamp Fox: The Leadership Lessons of Francis Marion unlocks those lessons. Divided into three parts, the book first presents the historical background and context necessary to appreciate Marion’s situation. The main body of the book then examines Marion’s leadership across eight categories, with a number of vignettes demonstrating Marion’s competency. The summary then captures some conclusions about how leadership impacted the American Revolution in the South CarolinaLowcountry. An appendix provides some information about how the reader might explore those physical reminders of Marion and his exploits that exist today. Readers interested in history or leadership, or both, will all find something for them in Leading like the Swamp Fox.Trade Review[U]seful to students of leadership, or as an introduction to the Southern Campaign and to Marion… . [A] good treatise on leadership, and its overview of the Southern Campaign is an ideal introduction to the topic. * Journal of Military History 11/01/2023 *Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Part One: Understanding Francis Marion’s Revolutionary War Part Two: Leadership Lessons and Vignettes Francis Marion and a Leader’s Frame of Reference Francis Marion and the Responsibility of Leadership Francis Marion and the Interpersonal Component of Leadership Francis Marion and Communicating as a Leader Francis Marion and a Leader’s Need to Solve Problems Part Three: Summary Conclusions about Leadership During the Lowcountry Campaign Some Reminders of the Lowcountry Campaign Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis is the first full-length biography of the Civil War general who saved the Union army from catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga, and went on to play major roles in the Chattanooga and Mobile campaigns. Immediately after the war, as commander of U.S. troops in Texas, his actions sparked the "Juneteenth" celebrations of slavery's end, which continue to this day.Granger's first battle was at Wilson’s Creek, Missouri, and he soon thereafter rose through the ranks - cavalry, then infantry - in early 1863 vying with Forrest and Van Dorn for control of central Tennessee. The artillery platform he erected at Franklin, dubbed Fort Granger, would soon overlook the death knell of the main Confederate army in the west.Granger's first fame, however, came at Chickamauga, when the Rebel Army of Tennessee came within a hair’s-breadth of destroying the Union Army of the Cumberland. Without orders - even defying them - Granger marched his Reserve Corps to the scene of the hottest action, where Thomas was just barely holding on with the rump of Rosecrans' army. Bringing fresh ammunition and hurling his men against Longstreet’s oncoming legions, Granger provided just enough breathing space to prevent that Union defeat from becoming the worst open-field battle disgrace of the war.Granger was then given command of a full infantry corps, but just proved too odd a fellow to promote further. At Chattanooga he got on the nerves of U.S. Grant for going off to shoot cannon instead of commanding his troops (he’d actually indulged this impulse also at Chickamauga) and Sherman had no use for him either. So he went down to join Farragut in the conquest of Mobile, Alabama, leading land operations against the Confederate forts.This long-overdue biography sheds fascinating new light on a colourful commander who fought through the war in the West from its first major battles to its last, and even left his impact on the Reconstruction beyond.

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Book SynopsisOn July 31, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Maddox (DD-731) began a reconnaissance cruise off the coast of North Vietnam. On August 2, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the ship. On the night of August 4, the Maddox and another destroyer, the USS Turner Joy (DD-951), expecting to be attacked, saw what they interpreted as hostile torpedo boats on their radars and reported themselves under attack. The following day, the United States bombed North Vietnam in retaliation. Congress promptly passed, almost unanimously and with little debate, a resolution granting President Lyndon Johnson authority to take "all necessary measures" to deal with aggression in Vietnam.The incident of August 4, 1964, is at the heart of this book. The author interviewed numerous Americans who were present. Most believed in the moment that an attack was occurring. By the time they were interviewed, there were more doubters than believers, but the ones who still believed were more confident in their opinions. Factoring in degree of assurance, one could say that the witnesses were split right down the middle on this fundamental question. A careful and rigorous examination of the other forms of evidence, including intercepted North Vietnamese naval communications, interrogations of North Vietnamese torpedo boat personnel captured later in the war, and the destroyers' detailed records of the location and duration of radar contacts, lead the author to conclude that no attack occurred that night.

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Book SynopsisAirpower in the War against ISIS chronicles the planning and conduct of Operation Inherent Resolve by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from August 2014 to mid-2018, with a principal focus on the contributions of U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT). Benjamin S. Lambeth contends that the war's costly and excessive duration resulted from CENTCOM's inaccurate assessment of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), determining it was simply a resurrected Iraqi insurgency rather than recognizing it as the emerging proto-state that it actually was. This erroneous decision, Lambeth argues, saw the application of an inappropriate counterinsurgency strategy and use of rules of engagement that imposed needless restrictions on the most effective use of the precision air assets at CENTCOM's disposal. The author, through expert analysis of recent history, forcefully argues that CENTCOM erred badly by not using its ample air assets at the outset not merely for supporting Iraq's initially noncombat-ready ground troops but also in an independent and uncompromising strategic interdiction campaign against ISIS's most vital center-of-gravity targets in Syria from the effort's first moments onward.Trade ReviewNo one is better qualified than Dr. Ben Lambeth to illuminate the vital role of combat airpower in the fight against the so-called Islamic State. He brings a lifetime of vibrant and incisive analysis to the challenges of using airpower effectively and efficiently on the battlefield, and his work here is superb."—Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret.), Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, 2009-2013 and author of Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character "Benjamin Lambeth offers a passionate and play-by-play review of the constraints that hindered the air war against ISIS during its initial phase. He also highlights the benefits that would have accrued from airpower's having been used from the start in ways that later figured prominently in finally tipping the balance. The United States may henceforth have to rely ever more on airpower as a substitute for its unpopular past overuse of ground forces in two long wars--wars that Lambeth persuasively argues might have been shorter had airpower been used more decisively. In all, a really nice, solid analysis."—Anthony H. Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies"Ben Lambeth's assessment of Operation Inherent Resolve offers a well-documented history of the coalition's four-year air war to defeat the Islamic State. Its main value, however, lies in its clinical unmasking of the initial misuse of airpower that occasioned a needlessly prolonged and costly endeavour. That initial misuse, in turn, stemmed from an inappropriate land-centric focus on the part of the campaign's most senior military overseers. Political leaders, defense professionals, and especially airmen at all levels should duly ponder this eminently avoidable failure as we look to the Department of Defense to chart a successful way ahead for embracing tomorrow's challenges."—Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret.), Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, 1994-1997"Ben Lambeth is the foremost authority on air warfare throughout the past three decades. His latest work highlights the decisive role played by airpower in defeating the Islamic State. He also shows how the Obama administration imposed needless constraints on its initial response and how U.S. Central Command's most senior leaders wrongly assessed and initially countered ISIS. Once CENTCOM adopted a wiser approach that made the most of coalition airpower's asymmetric edge, the results were immediate, dramatic and overwhelming. In due course, the would-be ISIS caliphate was decisively crushed."—Phillip S. Meilinger, Dean Emeritus, USAF School of Advanced Airpower Studies and author of Limiting Risk in America's Wars: Airpower, Asymmetrics, and a New Strategic Paradigm "Airpower in the War against ISIS, written by one of the most acute observers of military affairs today, chronicles the shift away from the initial restrictive rules of engagement that ultimately made possible the fall of ISIS, as well as the doctrinal and interservice battles that have taken place behind the scenes over the past three decades. Highly recommended for any student of military history."—Francis Fukuyama, Senior Fellow, Stanford University and author of The End of History and the Last Man"In his latest book Airpower in the War against ISIS, Ben Lambeth, America's leading authority on modern air warfare, provides us an insightful, sobering and, at times, devastating assessment of U.S. and coalition air operations during the four-year war to defeat the Islamic State. Combining the detailed research, rigorous analysis and engaging writing style that are his trademarks, Lambeth takes the reader on a fascinating journey from the air war's initial halting phase to its ultimately successful conclusion. Along the way, he reveals in searing detail the Obama administration's lack of adequate planning and strategic focus. Ignoring hard-won lessons from earlier air campaigns, the White House imposed heavy restrictions on air operations, precluding their effectiveness. Nor does Lambeth spare CENTCOM's military leaders who, having waged counterinsurgency warfare for a decade, failed to see that ISIS had acquired many targetable characteristics and vulnerabilities of an emerging state. He also shows how an effective air strategy was eventually devised and successfully pursued, and--just as important--why. Our country's civilian and military leaders can read this book, or they can keep on learning the hard way."—Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute and co-author of The Last Warrior: Andrew Marshall and the Shaping of Modern American Defense Strategy

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Book SynopsisThe Iraq War is a visual record of the American-led Operation Iraqi Freedom of 2003, which resulted in the dramatic overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein. In a striking sequence of photographs Anthony Tucker-Jones shows how this was achieved by the American and British armed forces in a lightning campaign of just two weeks. But the photographs also show the disastrous aftermath when the swift victory was undermined by the outbreak of the Iraqi insurgency - in the Shia south, in Baghdad and the Sunni Triangle, and in Fallujah where two ferocious battles were fought. The author, who is an expert on the Iraqi armed forces and has written extensively on the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War, gives a fascinating insight into the Iraqi army and air force and into the multitude of weapons systems Saddam purchased from around the world. He also looks at the failures on the American and British side - the flaws in the tactics that were used, the poor performance of some of the armoured fighting vehicles - and at the reformed Iraqi armed forces who have now taken responsibility for security in the country. The Iraq War is a vivid photographic introduction to a conflict that has only just passed into history.

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Book SynopsisIn the wake of its 'Caliphate' declaration in 2014, the self-described Islamic State has been the focus of countless academic papers, government studies, media commentaries and documentaries. Despite all this attention, persistent myths continue to shape--and misdirect--public understanding and strategic policy decisions. A significant factor in this trend has been a strong disinclination to engage critically with Islamic State's speeches and writings--as if doing so reflects empathy with the movement's goals or, even more absurdly, may itself lead to radicalisation. Going beyond the descriptive and the sensationalist, this volume presents and analyses a series of milestone Islamic State primary source materials. Scholar-practitioners with field experience in confronting the movement explore and contextualise its approach to warfare, propaganda and governance, examining the factors behind its dramatic evolution from failed proto-state in 2010 to standard-bearer of global jihadism in 2014, to besieged insurgency in 2019. 'The ISIS Reader' will help anyone--students and journalists, military personnel, civil servants and inquisitive observers--to better understand not only the evolution of Islamic State and the dynamics of asymmetric warfare, but the importance of primary sources in doing so.Trade Review'The ISIS Reader is exceptional and not merely another title to consider for one’s personal or academic library. It presents exacting and collaborative scholarship which is, at many points, groundbreaking. A number of audiences will welcome this book, from teachers in under-graduate classrooms, to faculty holding graduate seminars on jihadism and violent non-state actors, to policy planners.' -- Special Operations Journal

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Book Synopsis'An Intimate War' tells the story of the last thirty-four years of conflict in Helmand Province, Afghanistan as seen through the eyes of the Helmandis. In the West, this period is often defined through different lenses -- the Soviet intervention, the civil war, the Taliban, and the post-2001 nation-building era. Yet, as experienced by local inhabitants, the Helmand conflict is a perennial one, involving the same individuals, families and groups, and driven by the same arguments over land, water and power. This book -- based on both military and research experience in Helmand and 150 interviews in Pashto -- offers a very different view of Helmand from those in the media. It demonstrates how outsiders have most often misunderstood the ongoing struggle in Helmand and how, in doing so, they have exacerbated the conflict, perpetuated it and made it more violent -- precisely the opposite of what was intended when their interventions were launched. Mike Martin's oral history of Helmand underscores the absolute imperative of understanding the highly local, personal, and non-ideological nature of internal conflict in much of the 'third' world.Trade Review‘The first serious effort to make sense of the war in Helmand ... 'An Intimate War' is an uncompromising, deeply thought and important contribution.’ -- Tom Coghlan, The Times‘An extraordinary book … ‘An Intimate War’ is the work of a wise and patient scholar.’ -- James Meek, London Review of Books'Brilliant.' -- Rory Stewart, The Times Literary Supplement'A brilliant book.' -- Prospect Magazine'Martin’s meticulous study, based on 150 interviews conducted over four years, and his own experience as a serving officer in Helmand, presents a view of the war that is radically different from the one the British public has been hearing ever since Tony Blair ordered British troops to deploy in Helmand in 2006. The picture that he paints is often jaw-dropping.' -- Matt Carr, The Huffington Post‘Among the best books on the Afghan crisis I have come across… immensely detailed.’ -- Robert Fox, Defence Editor of the Evening Standard, The World Today‘This is the best book ever written on Afghanistan. Martin writes what I have been feeling since the 1980s, but have not expressed in such a clear way. It is a remarkable work of political anthropology.’ -- Olivier Roy, Professor and Chair in Mediterranean Studies, European University Institute‘A must-read for anyone interested in a detailed history of the British war in Helmand province or the counter-insurgency debate...provides useful insights in the social dynamics of the province before the start of the civil war.’ -- International Affairs'Essential reading for any serious student of Britain's Fourth Afghan War. A deeply researched, clearly argued, reminder of how the West's road to Helmand was paved with good intentions, and that there, as elsewhere in Afghanistan, the West failed to understand the war it was fighting, causing them to coerce rather than to co-opt.’ -- Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO, UK Ambassador to Afghanistan 2007-9, and UK Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan 2009-10‘’An Intimate War’ is, quite simply, the book on Helmand. I sincerely wish it had been available to me when I was ISAF Commander in Afghanistan. Military, diplomatic and development professionals involved in Afghanistan - and elsewhere, for that matter - read this and take note.’ -- General Sir David Richards GCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen; Commander of International Forces in Afghanistan, 2006-7 and UK Chief of the Defence Staff, 2010-13'The proverbial complexity of civil wars is typically discounted as irrelevant or misinterpreted through orientalising. Mike Martin begs to differ: in this rich and fascinating account of thirty-four years of war in the Afghan province of Helmand, he explains how and why the private and local logics of the conflict interact with, and often subvert, the public, national, and international narratives. He exposes the failure of Western bureaucratic institutions to grasp this reality and dissects both the causes and consequences of their failure. This outstanding book is a must-read for those interested in understanding contemporary conflict.' -- Stathis Kalyvas, Arnold Wolfers Professor of Political Science, Yale University, and author of ‘The Logic of Violence in Civil War’‘This work lays the foundation for much future research, including similarly in-depth looks at the histories of, and counterinsurgencies in, other provinces in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also highlights the need for study into why institutions and militaries adopt mistaken initial premises, and more importantly why groups and individuals retain these flawed conceptions even as it becomes clear that they are failing to achieve their goals. Above all, Martin demonstrates the futility of trying to understand intrastate conflict, much less intervene in such conflicts, without grasping the implications of the local history, culture, politics and social dynamics.’ -- Jessica Jensen, Journal of Military and Strategic Studies‘By far the most detailed account of Helmand province to date, offering both historical background and a chronicle of Helmandi politics in the post-2001 setup. The in-depth analysis of the local political dynamics provided by Martin makes this book a must-read for anybody trying to understand the post-2006 British and American interventions in Helmand.’ -- Antonio Giustozzi, Visiting Professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London and editor of ‘Decoding the New Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field’‘It is impossible to do full justice in this review to the range and depth of Martin’s research, arguments, or account of the Helmand conflict.’ -- Asian Affairs‘A worthy critical evaluation of the military failure in Helmand . . . clearly demonstrates the need for a critical lessons learned approach to foster and promote deep cultural understanding in the military and above all resist the attempt to impose western values on societies in the pursuit of a western focussed outcome.’

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword by Jon Snow. In July 1936 insurgent Spanish troops organized a military coup to oust the elected Republican government in Madrid. The rebel generals expected to force a quick, clean regime change but they failed. The botched uprising turned into a bloody civil war. Hundreds of thousands died in a bitter conflict which tore the country apart and rapidly turned into the prelude for an even greater conflict yet to com--the Second World War. The siege of Madrid was the key battle of the war. The world watched and waited for the city to surrender as General Franco's Nationalist army, backed by Hitler and Mussolini, closed in on the Spanish capital. But Madrid did not fall. Madrilenos fought tooth and nail to defend their city. Helped by volunteers from fifty other countries--the International Brigades--they held out against all the odds until the end of the conflict in 1939. Despite its central role in twentieth-century history, the siege of Madrid is an episode largely hidden from today's visitor. There is no guide to the war sites and few clues for the inquisitive traveller who wants to know more. Frontline Madrid fills that gap. This unique guide book explains what life was like in the city under siege and what happened in the battlefield dramas. The simple to follow maps and diagrams make it easy to visit the frontline sites. The vividly written descriptions bring events and people compellingly to life. The role of prominent individuals, British and American--Orwell, Hemingway, John Cornford - is explored. Off the beaten track, from the University district in the city centre to the mountains of Guadarrama less than an hour away, the remains of the war in Madrid can still be found--gun emplacements, bunkers, trenches and occasional debris. Frontline Madrid retraces the footsteps of those who lived through the conflict to take the reader on a tour in time. The usual tourist traps are left far behind to enter the gripping world of a war which shaped modern European history.

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Book SynopsisBetween 1760 and 1815, British troops campaigned from Manila to Montreal, Cape Town to Copenhagen, Washington to Waterloo. The naval dimension of Britain’s expansion has been superbly covered by a number of excellent studies, but there has not been a single volume that does the same for the army and, in particular, looks at how and why it became a world-operating force, one capable of beating the Marathas as well as the French. This book will both offer a new perspective, one that concentrates on the global role of the army and its central part in imperial expansion and preservation, and as such will be a major book for military history and world history. There will be a focus on what the army brought to power equations and how this made it a world-level force. The multi-purpose character of the army emerges as the key point, one seen in particular in the career of Wellington: while referred to disparagingly by Napoleon as a ‘sepoy general,’ Wellington’s ability to operate successfully in India and Europe was not only impressive but also reflected synergies in experience and acquired skill that characterised the British army. No other army matched this. The closest capability was that of Russia able, in 1806-14, to defeat both the Turks and Napoleon, but without having the trans-oceanic capability and experience enjoyed by the British army. The experience was a matter in part of debate, including over doctrine, as in the tension between the ‘Americans’ and ‘Germans,’ a reference to fields of British campaigning concentration during the Seven Years War. This synergy proved best developed in the operations in Iberia in 1809-14, with logistical and combat skills utilised in India employed in a European context in which they were of particular value. The books aims to further to address the question of how this army was achieved despite the strong anti-army ideology/practice derived from the hostile response to Oliver Cromwell and to James II. Thus, perception and politics are both part of the story, as well as the exigencies and practicalities of conflict, including force structure, command issues, and institutional developments. At the same time, there was no inevitability about British success over this period, and it is necessary to consider developments in the context of other states and, in particular, the reasons why British forces did well and that Britain was not dependent alone on naval effectiveness.Trade Review…detailed and illuminating […] in the light of Iraq and Afghanistan, including the recent debacle in Kabul, and the Integrated Review, which has favoured the Navy and RAF at the expense of the Army, this section of the book becomes immediately pertinent for defence planners and senior officers today. * Chair of War Studies, Warwick University 31/08/2021 *...a majestic study of the British Army’s evolution from essentially a royal bodyguard in the 17th century to a formal, highly disciplined, well-trained, and militarily effective standing force by the early 19th century. […] Historians and military history enthusiasts will find this book fundamentally important for understanding the rise of the modern British Army. * Stanley D.M. Carpenter, Emeritus Professor of Strategy, U.S. Naval War College 17/05/2021 *...challenges hoary impressions of the British military while encouraging readers to dig more deeply into the origins, meanings, and consequences of Britain’s increasingly hybrid army. * NYMAS Review 02/11/2022 *One strength is a focus on the experiences of individual officers, demonstrating just how varied the experiences of individual army officers could be. This often comes across in histories of the Royal Navy, but not so often in accounts of the army. […] a useful account of the role of the British army, with a deliberate effort to focus on how the army, and the individuals within in, found themselves operating all around the world, and fighting in very different wars. * History of War 13/09/2021 *First-class, stimulating and provocative, I really do think this book is a significant addition to the literature. * Professor Emeritus Charles J. Esdaile, FRHistS 17/05/2021 *Table of ContentsAbbreviations Preface 1. Introduction 2. Winning the Home Base, 1688–1746 3. Fighting the French on the Continent, 1689–1748 4. Fighting for Empire, 1689–1753 5. Winning Empire, 1749–63 6. Fighting for America, 1763–83 7. Winning another Empire: India, 1746–1815 8. Fighting in Europe, 1793–1815 9. The Army around the World, 1793–1815 10. A Political Force 11. Culmination, 1815 12. Conclusions Selected Further Reading

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Book SynopsisTalks about the lesser known facts and accounts of the intrusions and the war from various commanders and officers, some of whom have also served during the conflict. The book has been divided into five parts. The first part titled, ‘Blood, Guts and Glory,’ briefly discusses the actual battles fought in Dras, Mushkoh, Batalik, Kaksar and Turtuk sub-sectors, to evict the Pakistani intruders from the dominating heights in the Kargil region. The aim was to restore the LoC to its originally held positions. The second part analyses the supporting forces which synergised the effort to victory, in the true spirit of ‘Op Vijay’. In the third part, individual officers, associated with Kargil, have shared their perceptions and opinions about the Kargil conflict and the scenario after 20 years. The fourth part focuses on ‘Motivation;’ and reflects the saga of courage and valour of the Indian Armed Forces, and the junior leadership, during the summer of 1999. The fifth part, ‘Emerging Challenges and the Way Ahead’ looks at the emerging global-cum-regional scenario, the envisaged threats, our preparedness, and makes substantial recommendations to face the conflicts of the future.The forecasts provided by some of the most senior military officers of the country give a sneak peek into the emerging challenges of the future and India’s preparatory responses to them. Given the emerging world order and the revolutionary changes in technology and character of conflicts, the book restates the fundamental focus of the Indian Armed forces: to be prepared to face the envisaged threats and challenges of the future.

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Book SynopsisIn 1798, young French general Napoleon Bonaparte entered Egypt with a veteran army and a specialist group of savants—scientists, engineers, and artists—his aim being not just conquest, but the rediscovery of the lost Nile kingdom. A year later, in the ruins of an old fort in the small port of Rosetta, the savants made a startling discovery: a large, flat stone, inscribed in Greek, demotic Egyptian, and ancient hieroglyphics. This was the Rosetta Stone, key to the two-thousand-year mystery of hieroglyphs, and to Egypt itself. Two years later, French forces retreated before the English and Ottoman armies, but would not give up the stone. Caught between the opposing generals at the siege of Alexandria, British special agents went in to find the Rosetta Stone, rescue the French savants, and secure a fragile peace treaty. Discovery at Rosetta uses French, Egyptian, and English eyewitness accounts to tell the complete story of the discovery, decipherment, and capture of the Rosetta Stone, investigating the rivalries and politics of the time, and the fate of the stone today.Trade ReviewDowns tells an engrossing story full of larger-than-life and sometimes simply wacky characters. * Publishers Weekly *A real-life story of intrigue, sacrifice and distrust in a country at war—the first complete account of the stone itself. * Ancient Egypt *A cracking good read. * Professor Richard Holmes *A skillfully written, entertaining, and factual account of the stone’s origins. * Professor Zahi Hawass *

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Book SynopsisProvides a systematic examination of the American abolition movement's direct impacts on antislavery politics from colonial times to the Civil War and after. Stanley Harrold focuses on abolitionists' political tactics - petitioning, lobbying, establishing bonds with sympathetic politicians - and on their disruptions of slavery itself.

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Book SynopsisIn his fascinating, in-depth study, Bertis English analyses why Perry county, situated in the heart of a violence-prone subregion, enjoyed more peaceful race relations and less bloodshed than several neighbouring counties.Trade ReviewBertis D. English presents a treasure chest of relevant and important historical material related to Perry County, Alabama, providing information that comprehensively illuminates experiences of the area’s residents in a way that state and regional studies cannot." —Kenneth M. Hamilton, author of Booker T. Washington in American Memory"Among the understudied aspects of Reconstruction, are the places where the Klan dog didn’t bark, much, and where terrorist violence was less common. Bertis English’s book examines one of these areas, where white elites and freedpeople stepped back from the brink of all-out racial conflict. Understanding how this occurred, and what the constraints were, animates this illuminating study. This unusual approach deserves attention." —Michael W. Fitzgerald, author of Reconstruction in Alabama: From Civil War to Redemption in the Cotton SouthTable of Contents A Note about Terminology List of Illustrations Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Secession and War 2. Political Organization, Economic Reorganization, and Racial Violence in the Aftermath of War 3. Religious and Educational Development from the Antebellum through Early Postbellum Years 4. First Redemption, 1870 to 1872 5. Rousing Reconstruction: The Republican Interlude of 1872 to 1874, Part I 6. Racial Conflict, Agricultural Competition, and Political Conquest: The Republican Interlude of 1872 to 1874, Part II 7. The Onset of Second Redemption, 1874 to 1875, and Onward 8. Hope, Travail, and Reconciliation: The Importance of Perry County, Past and Present Appendix A: Black Delegates to the 1867 Alabama Constitutional Convention Appendix B: Perry County Business Licenses, 1870 and 1871 Appendix C: African Americans Who Held Major Political Offices in Alabama, 1867 to 1875 Appendix D: Historically Black American Colleges and Universities That Predate the Alabama State Lincoln Normal School and University in Marion Appendix E: Black Men in Perry County Who Voted for the 1875 State Constitution Appendix F: Selected Earned Doctorates by Alumni of the Alabama State Lincoln Normal School and University in Marion, 1884 to 1936 Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOffers a comprehensive history and analysis of Republican political life during the Spanish Civil War. Completed by Burnett Bolloten just before his death in 1987 and first published in English in 1991, The Spanish Civil War is the culmination of fifty years of dedicated and painstaking research and is the most exhaustive study on the subject in any language.

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