Simmons, George (COLORADO COLLEGE)

Lieutenant Simmons of the 95th (Rifles): Recollections of the Peninsula, South of France & Waterloo Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars Simmons, George (COLORADO COLLEGE)

A subalterns war in 'rifle green' against the French

George Simmons, one of a large family, came from a comparatively humble background. Like so many of his countrymen of his time, he chose a military career fighting Napoleon's French Army. He craved action and knew that the place to find it was as one of Wellington's green sharpshooters-the famous 95th-the Rifles. His experiences on campaign and on the battlefield are recounted in detail through his journal and letters to his family. Simmons, accompanied by his brother Joe, fought with the Rifles throughout the war in the Iberian peninsula and over the Pyrenees into the south of France. Another brother, Maud, fought as a red coated infantry officer. After Napoleon escaped from Elba, Simmons was once more called to the front-this time on the bloody and apocalyptic fields outside Waterloo where he was dangerously wounded. This is a story of war told by a junior officer at the sharp end of the action on many of the famous battles and assaults of the campaigns in which he took part. This Leonaur edition of Simmons' story, with the text substantially re-presented for the modern reader, is an essential book for those interested in the Rifles and a vital addition to every library of Napoleonic history.