TREATISE ON THE SCIENCE OF DEFENCE FOR SWORD, BAYONET AND PIKE IN CLOSE ACTION (1805)

ANTHONY GORDON, A.M. Captain of Invalids, Retired.

ISBN 10: 1843428512 / ISBN 13: 9781843428510

Published by Naval and Military Press, 2009

About this Item

SB 66pp,18 drawings (full page) 2004 N&MP Reprint of 1805 Original EditionPublished Price £14.50 It is interesting to note that the title of this beautifully illustrated manual, published in 1805, the year of Trafalgar and Austerlitz, still includes instruction in the use of the pike. These apparently obsolete weapons were still issued to some senior NCOs in the British Army. The book is above all about defence, which every soldier in British Army was concerned with, even though attack was the only watchword of many of their officers. To use the bladed weapons with which they were issued required training, and when facing a cavalry charge it was crucially important that the defensive square be not broken at the moment of contact between foot and mounted troops. The square offered protection by limited firepower, but once the cavalry was within sabre range only the combined efforts of the foot soldiers could prevent the mass of a horse at speed penetrating the line. If the cavalry could cut its way into the square, the formation would be destroyed piecemeal.This book emphasises the principles of such a defence, and cautions that simplicity is the best basis for action. The line drawings are superb, and complement the text. The detail in the drawings will give information to all those interested in the equipment as well as the weapons at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Seller Inventory # 8594

Bibliographic Details

• Title: TREATISE ON THE SCIENCE OF DEFENCE FOR SWORD, BAYONET AND PIKE IN CLOSE ACTION (1805)
• Publisher: Naval and Military Press
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1843428512
• ISBN 13: 9781843428510
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New
• Seller catalogs:
  • History
  • Military History

About this title

Synopsis

It is interesting to note that the title of this beautifully illustrated manual, published in 1805, the year of Trafalgar and Austerlitz, still includes instruction in the use of the pike. These apparently obsolete weapons were still issued to some senior NCOs in the British Army. The book is above all about defence, which every soldier in British Army was concerned with, even though attack was the only watchword of many of their officers. To use the bladed weapons with which they were issued required training, and when facing a cavalry charge it was crucially important that the defensive square be not broken at the moment of contact between foot and mounted troops. The square offered protection by limited firepower, but once the cavalry was within sabre range only the combined efforts of the foot soldiers could prevent the mass of a horse at speed penetrating the line. If the cavalry could cut its way into the square, the formation would be destroyed piecemeal.'This book emphasises the principles of such a defence, and cautions that simplicity is the best basis for action. The line drawings are superb, and complement the text. The detail in the drawings will give information to all those interested in the equipment as well as the weapons at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

About the Author

Anthony Gordon is the Director for Information Technology for Saginaw Public Schools, and consults widely on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) in education implementation. He has edited three books on math, science and technology integration.