This is an excellent source for the later part of the Napoleonic Wars, providing a rare insight into the experiences of a private soldier.

History of War website

Walter's Journal is much quoted in works dealing with Napoleon's venture in Russia. It was last published, in Kansas, in 1938. This update comes not a moment too soon. Bob Carruthers keeps his introduction down to the minimum and lets Jakob 'do the talking'.

The selection of illustrations, most of which are watercolours by Albrecht Adam, another German who served and witnessed life in Napoleon's Grand Armee, are excellent.

Highly recommended

Clash of steel

Pen and Sword have recently begun publishing affordable, paperback editions of accounts from eyewitnesses under the series entitled “Military History From Primary Sources”. Having seen numerous quotes from Jakob Walter in the books on the 1812 campaign that I had read last year, I was keen to read his memoir in full.

It’s an engrossing, but easy read. Walter has a simple, conversational and straightforward writing style and I, who am not a fast reader, was able to read the book over a single weekend.

This is a valuable memoir of the period and particularly the 1812 campaign and it is fabulous to have a version that is easily available to enthusiasts, wargamers and other ‘students’ of Napoleonic history.

A must read.

avonnapoleonicfellowship.blogspot.com.au