Part of the Leonaur Eyewitness to War Series, Fusilier Cooper is an account of John S. Cooper as he marches through the Peninsular Campaign and the Battle of New Orleans.
The history of the Napoleonic Wars is usually the history of Generals and Grand Armies. Partly this is because it is these armies taken as a whole that decided the war and the future of Europe, and partly because it is these Generals who wrote the histories. During the early part of the eighteenth century, most of the European population was still illiterate. Among the rank and file of the army (especially the British army) illiteracy was even more prevalent, as most of the army was drawn from the less educated parts of society. Thus, unlike later wars such as the American Civil War, first hand accounts by the regular infantry are relatively uncommon. Still, tens of thousands of soldiers fought in the Napoleonic War and a few of these accounts have survived to the present.
One such account was left by John S. Cooper, who at a young age joined the ranks of the 7th (Royal) Fusiliers. Now, thanks to the Leonaur Eyewitness to War Series, John Cooper’s account is readily available to those interested. It is a short book, at only 133 pages, but it is packed with interesting tidbits about the Peninsular War and life in the British army at that time.
John S Cooper was born in 1787, and was thus alive to see the turmoil of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. Although he never states it, he seems to have joined the army because he thought it was the right thing to do. Soon after his enlistment, he was assigned to the 7th (Royal) Fusiliers and shipped off to Portugal to join in General Arthur Wellsley’s campaign against the French in Iberia.
Although John Cooper participated in most of the major battles of the campaign (including Talavera, Busacco, Badajoz, ect.) he only reports what he heard or could see. Thus, he says nothing about the grand tactics of the battle; he speaks only of the smoke, blood, and hardship.
Although he gives an account of all the battles, the book is more about life in the army. He speaks of the long, hot marches across Spain, the harsh discipline employed to keep the soldiers in line, and the horrible living conditions. One thing that comes up again and again, is the lack of food and supplies. Very often Cooper and his fellows would have to march and fight having barely eaten. It is no suprise that so many soldiers turned to theivery just to supplement their meagre rations.
One of the more interesting aspects to the book is his description of the several times he ended up in hospital, and the horrific conditions he was exposed to that seem so unhelpful to recovery.
John Cooper served during the entire Peninsular Campaign, and though his seven year enlistment was up, the British Army refused to let him off the boat on the way home and instead shipped him to America where he was in time for the crushing British defeat at the Battle of New Orleans.
For anyone who is interested in the British Army of the Peninsular War, this book is a must read.
