Taking Aim: Living and Fighting in the 95th Rifles during the Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815

Taking Aim is the first in-depth exploration of the incredible experiences of the 95th Rifles, the legendary sharpshooters that helped Britain defeat Napoleon. Drawing on a treasure trove of memoirs, letters and official records, it examines the real riflemen and officers that inspired Bernard Cornwell's famous Sharpe novels. Riflemen were the tip of the spear for the British army during the Napoleonic Wars, 'first in and last out' in most battles as one famous memoirist put it. The 95th fought across the globe, from Denmark and the Low Countries to North and South America, most famously campaigning for six gruelling years across Portugal, Spain and eventually France itself with Wellington's all-conquering Peninsular army. At Waterloo they joined Wellington one last time to inflict Napoleon's final defeat. Riflemen's experiences were often distinct from those of most infantrymen. In combat, rather than fighting in line and firing in volleys on command, they used cover, took aim at individual soldiers and decided when to fire. On the march they led the army's advanced guard, scouting ahead and skirmishing with the enemy. When halted they were the eyes and ears, manning the outposts and gathering intelligence. In retreat they fought in the rearguard, holding off pursuing enemy forces. Weaving together thrilling, moving, and at times comical eyewitness accounts, Taking Aim follows the rifleman through intensive marksmanship training to deadly battlefield sniping, leaving the reader with a deep understanding of his physical and psychological experiences. AUTHOR: Ben Taylor has been fascinated by all things military since he was old enough to wield a toy sword. Having completed a history degree at Nottingham Trent University, receiving the History Subject Prize for finishing first in his year, he went on to study a master's degree in the history of war at the University of Leeds. It was there that he began the five years of research and writing about the 95th Rifles that culminated in his first book, Taking Aim. Ben lives in York where he enjoys the historic city and beautiful surrounding area with his wife. 2-6 b/w illustrations, 18 colour illustrations, c 4 colour photos, 1 colour map, 7 tables