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Delving back into the world of intelligence and spies, I was delighted to see that no less than Jean Tulard has been taking an interest in the subject in this 30 min talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbxB-97npws There is not much new in it, but I am sure a wider audience would be attracted to the subject if someone like Tulard is speaking. It does bring out the importance of strategic intelligence, especially with efforts to get information about North Africa.

Then I came across this short 8 minute podcast about an Austrian intelligence operative called Redisch, who covered his tracks by trading in tea. The History of Austria: Empire, Collapse, and Reinvention — Fexingo History | Austrian Spies: The Redisch Network in Napoleonic Wars (it’s the Sept 11th edition)

https://www.podbean.com/ei/dir-wkmcm-31023048 I cannot find anything in print, so it seems to be material from the archives.

Then in a random search, I came…

Does anyone know of any French eyewitness accounts of the uprising in Madrid on 2 May 1808? Most histories seem to rely on Murat's reports. But were there any participants who left eyewitness testimonies?

I realise this is not a political board, but it seems that nothing changes in politics nor history. I noted that within four hours of Keir Starmer’s resignation as Prime Minister of the UK, some journalist was already talking about what the next PM would be doing in the first hundred days.

Now, of course, the term “the Hundred Days” was not coined by Napoleon, but by Comte Chabrol, prefect of the department of the Seine, who addressed the King in a speech that began "Sire,—One hundred days have passed away since your majesty, forced to tear yourself from your dearest affections, left your capital amidst tears and public consternation.” It had however also marked a time of great activity by Napoleon, which is probably why the term was popularised by US President FD Roosevelt in a radio speech on July 24, 1933, marking the start of his Presidency (although…

I am trying to determine the location of Major George Halford of the 59th foot in 1817. I know he fought through the Peninsular War with the 2nd Battalion, was not at Waterloo, and later joined the 1st Battalion in India. The question is: when did he go to India, and thus was he still in Britain in 1817?

Apologies if I have already asked this question on the old forum, but I don't have access to the posts from that much-lamented site.

Thanks

Paul Martinovich

What is the top of the French Imperial Guard Horse Artillery colpack / busby made of? What color is it?

Is the interior of the colpack / busby lined with cloth? If so, what color would it be?

I checked the Roussellot plates and he does not show them.

Thanks!

Bob

Can anyone help me with the shape of the valise used by Westphalian cuirassiers? The generally seem to be depicted as round but WJ Rawkins states they were square. Is there a definitive answer?

I just thought I'd let you all know what Napoleonic titles are on their way from Helion in the next few months.

Samuel MacAllister's Awash on Unfriendly Tides (https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/awash-on-unfriendly-tides-the-algeciras-campaign-and-the-daring-escape-from-the-mediterranean-in-1801.php) should be out very soon. The book looks at the campaign and two naval battles of Algeciras in 1801, and also features Sam's stylish artwork.

Volume 2 of The Russian History of the War of 1814 (https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/the-russian-history-of-the-war-of-1814-volume-2-the-war-to-depose-napoleon.php) should be released soon. This is the last of Pete Phillips' Bogdanovich translations, but we will be publishing a new series of his translations of Milyutin’s history of Russia's campaigns in 1799.

Graeme Callister's Napoleon's Conscripts (https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/napoleons-conscripts-conscription-and-the-french-army-1798-1815.php) should be published in September, and is an excellent examination of how conscription functioned under the Empire.

Jim Tildesley's The Untold Story of Nelson's Tactician, looking at the influence of John Clerk's writings on Royal Navy tactics, should also hopefully be out in September, or maybe Octobe…

Not as big as the famous Spanish flag flown at Trafalgar, but the flag worn on the bowsprit of HMS Royal Sovereign under Collingwood has been saved for the nation and will soon be on display in Newcastle. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbxK4_pFrr2/

I have been watching the show on Amazon Prime. It takes place in Paris in 1800 and it is a "biography" of Antonin Carême. . . both Talleyrand Fouche play a prominent role and there is an occasional appearance of Napoleon and Josephine.

It is entertaining and since this is an area I have only basic knowledge on, I will not comment on its accuracy.

www.bbc.com

A new Apple TV+ series explores the life of the so-called "King of Chefs and the Chef of Kings" – shown as a wild enfant terrible who blazed a trail for future generations of cooks.