Back to the Napoleonic Wars

[Lt. Campers]

Found this video of some British highlanders in Denmark last year for the event.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/euBi6z2d28k&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/euBi6z2d28k&rel=1</a>

Might be some Danish soldiers somewhere.

[Claus]

Thanks for this, Camp!
Just to clarify - for other readers:
The First Battle of Copenhagen was a war carried out in 1801 by Britannia with Nelson as second-in-command to admiral Parker (who ordered Nelson to withdraw from the battle, but Nelson decided to overlook the order (hence the saying of 'putting the glass to the blind eye)). Historians still discuss who won.
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a preventative (?) war carried out in 1807 by Britannia, with a man later known as Wellington playing an active part (later on, at Waterloo he was riding a horse named 'Copenhagen'). As 80% of the Danish army was at the south border to fight-off an expected attack from Napoleon, the island of Zeeland and Copenhagen were virtually powerless. Copenhagen was bombarded, smashed, and burnt by cannon, mortar, and rocket into submission - the commandant had to surrender. But in the aftermath he was sentenced to death (not executed, though) for handing over the navy instead of burning/scuttling it.
Interesting, at the time both England and Denmark-Norway were ruled by crown-princes, as both kings were insane..

The the issue of WW numbering - I always consider 'the Seven Years War' (1756-63) the first World was, as fighting (of the same war) took place on all continents for the first time; 'the Revolutionary/Napoleonic Wars' would then be the second...

[Lt. Campers]

Thanks for the feedback Claus,
Its quite a debate in itself, looking at the rights and wrongs of the British attack on Copenhagen
to capture the Danish fleet.
The popular theory is that Napoleon put out false rumours that he intended to invade Denmark just
to provoke a British reaction. In hindsight this suited his purposes admirably as it caused
outrage in Europe by Britain attacking a nuetral country. A more potent method of persuation to
get the European powers to enforce his Continental System ( an embargo on all British goods )
than that imposed at the point of a sword.

Theirs a site devoted to the British attack on Copenhagen in 1807 on the British Embassy's
website. It has everything including the historical background, the September 2007
bicentenary events. Interview with the British Ambassador to Denmark including his apology.
Pictures, photos and tv news reports of the bicentenary events.

British embassy - Copenhagen website on the 1807 events:

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1187775603201

The danish Goldendays festival on the 1807 commemorative events:

http://www.goldendays.dk/composite-1352.htm

On top of that the British even returned some of the spoils of war - sorry no Danish war ships.
They were lost almost two centuries ago - well no one expects wooden ships to last that
long.

As for rockets, yes the British fielded the new Congreve rockets at Copenhagen. As it so
happens theirs a nice recruitment video from the British 95th Rifles featuring a battery
of rockets.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/kgCIJDs5pLY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/kgCIJDs5pLY&rel=1</a>

[Lt. Campers]

Just to give readers a flavour of what life was like on naval ships during the Napoleonic Wars.
Heres a few film clips from the popular film series Hornblower set in the royal navy.

Lt. Bush joins the Renown part1:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/McaZcCDiwE4&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/McaZcCDiwE4&rel=1</a>

Lt. Bush joins the Renown part2:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/tjLO7jf1gnM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/tjLO7jf1gnM&rel=1</a>

Gun crews preparing for Action:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/JBUfHjsU-ks&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/JBUfHjsU-ks&rel=1</a>

The trailor to the Hornblower film series:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rEEUDLr9uUw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/rEEUDLr9uUw&rel=1</a>

It was a good film series when it was on tv.

[Claus]

Yep, I also liked the TV series (even if I had to suffer it dubbed into Czech, as we lived in Prague). But really, the series did not dare to show the real harshness of a sailors life - too much sunshine, too few rats and bugs, no green stuff in the drinking water, everybody in the series having not only all their teeth but even white teeth, etc... The books are far better - have them all and re-read them every year, with pleasure and relish 

[Lt. Campers]

Well what can I say Claus, so your a Danish, Hornblower fan.     
Perhaps you have also read the Richard Sharpe books, also set during the Napoleonic Wars by Bernard
Cornwell, a ripping yarn also accompanied by a tv film series.
Again the books are far better than the film even though the film series was entertaining.
Anyway events are moving on a pace on the Russian front as troops start forming up on the Russian-
Finnish border.
Yes I have it on the highest authority that the Russo-Swedish War of 1808 to 1809 is about to
start next month with Russian napoleonic soldiers marching across the old Russian / Swedish border at
Ahvenkoski in Finland on 21st February. Readers should note the duchy? of Finland was part of
Sweden way back then.

Bit of historical background to the upcoming invasion:
http://www.ruotsinpyhtaa.fi/index.php?mid=286

Best pack your winter woolies for this event. 

[Claus]

Camp, as far as I know, Finland was an Earldom (close as I can come to translation of the Swedish term) of Sweden until 'taken over' by Russia in 1809, where Finland became a grand duchy.

[Lt. Campers]

The Napoleonic street battle in Riga, reminds me of a lesser known action that
took place when the British tried to surprise a French column escorting Napoleon
through a french town last year.
After several firefights down streets and alleyways, the British attack finally became
unstuck.

Corps 2007 part 1:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/TX43zliOBQ8&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/TX43zliOBQ8&rel=1</a>

Corps 2007 part 2:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/gPsqD3HBbOw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/gPsqD3HBbOw&rel=1</a>

[Lt. Campers]

If you go down to the woods today - your sure of a big surprise, if you go down to the woods
today, you better go in disguise. 
Yes - you never know whats going on in the woods round Kiev these days which is just
as well for . . . . . . .
Inspired by news coverage of Napoleon's victories last year, we see a number of Ukrainians
signing up to join the ranks of Napoleon's french army for this years 2008 campaign
season.
Naturally the raw recruits need to learn the finer points of musket drill and here we get a
rare glimpse of Napoleons ukrainian legion receiving drill practise at a secret training
camp somewhere on the outskirts of Kiev.

http://www.visla.iatp.org.ua/trevel/film/zima2008.wmv

[Lt. Campers]

I know their are some avid fans of my 'back to the Napoleonic Wars' column amoungst you.

Therefore I'm sure you will appreciate these movie clips of last years re-enactment at Borodino, near
Moscow, one sunny weekend in september last year. Vive la Emperor !!! 

Prebattle sequence, including french delegation to Russia part1:
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v103499d007

Prebattle sequence part2:
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v106745c6f0

Very nice highlights of Borodino
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v103561d5dc

Battle of Borodino - part 1
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v100991f521

Battle of Borodino - part 2
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v10099486e0

Battle of Borodino - part 3
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v1009977e92

Battle of Borodino - part 4
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v1009998d34

Battle of Borodino - part 5
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v101002bece

Battle of Borodino - part 6
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v101007fbe2

Lots of cannon fire and smoke in this video
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v101721ae70

Cavalry attacking infantry squares
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v10222337c6
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v1239143439

Infantry falling back following cavalry attacks
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v102147183e

French attacking the russian redoubt
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v102255910c

Another view of the battle with some great distance shots
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v101721ae70

An apt reminder of the dangers of being mown down by stray cavalry horses. Don't worry
hes ok.
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v101719d1ad

French general making his address to the troops.
http://loadup.ru/video/view/?id=v102062f31b

To be honest I found this re-enactment disappointing - as the cavalry charges were a bit
tame and finally ( unless called in to respond to an emergency ), I cannot see why the
UAZ 452 russian ambulance needed to be waiting in front of the crowd.

[Lt. Campers]

Following a few comments that theirs not enough information on the Napoleonic Wars at sea
plus any re-enactments that may have taken place.
I feel its about time I corrected the inbalance and launch you all into the age of 'fighting sail'
of course those expats who never travel anywhere without their Hornblower books and the
complete DVD library of Hornblower films, starring Ioan Grufford would welcome this post.





First the Battle of Trafalgar 200 anniversary celebration's were held in Portsmouth back in
June 2005. This comprised an International Fleet review by Her majesty the Queen and the
International Festival of the Sea held over the same days in Portsmouth.
Of course one of the highlights of the event was a re-enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar
staged off Southsea, comprising a spectacular firework display with tall ships and of course
Horatio Hornblowers ship, HMS Indefatigable ( real name The Grand Turk ) taking centre stage.

Heres a typical sea shanty ( sea song ) of the british sailors, of the period:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00004UDET001001/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_001/002-8186500-5782407

BBC News website on the Trafalgar 200 events with link to the video recording of the
naval battle re-enactment - just click on 'watch the re-enactment of the battle' video.
Again you can save this video to your PC using a streaming video download manager.

This webpage also has lots of other links to goodies concerning the history of the event.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4627453.stm

Cannot find any good pics of the Battle of Trafalgar re-enactment - but I think this
Anglo-Russian sea battle off the coast of Norway in 2004 will do.



Looks good during the evening - heres another broadside.



Plus a view from the harbour.

[P-N]

Ahhhhhhhhh home sweat home    Thanks Camps but even though a Portsmouth boy, for some strange reason it is Sharpe I carry not Hornblower books 

[Lt. Campers]

Back to events as they happened 200 years ago - as today we see Russian troops march across
the old Russian/Finnish border at Ahvenkoski in Finland to start the Russo-Swedish war of 1808-9.
Their justification being to force the Swedes to accept ( their new ally Napoleon's demands )
that they ban all british goods from Swedish ports.
A side show to the bigger picture of the Napoleonic conflict, I know but theirs no smoke without
fire. 

Early reports are sketchy but the russians say they marched in unopposed.

Swedish infantrymen of 1808:


News of the event in Finland ( in Finnish )
http://www.loviisa.fi/index.php?mid=161&a=show&id=649

[Lt. Campers]

Following yesterdays dramatic invasion of Finland by Russian imperial troops. A conference is
currently being held in Finland to discuss the latest events and to look at the broader impact of
the Napoleonic conflict as it engulfs Russia, Finland and Sweden in the Russo - Swedish War of
1808-1809.

Called Europe in Upheaval - they look at the causes of the Napoleonic conflict and examine its
impact on the many European nations embroiled in the war. ( In english )

http://www.1809.fi/merkkivuosi_1809/tapahtumakalenteri/fi.jsp?oid=610

[P-N]

Camps, ever thought of writing a book?  (Or probably several in chronological or regional conflict order).  Absolutely superb thread when maintains it's historical accuracy with your correct (and occasionally satyrical) use of the language keeping us all enthrawled.  I'd buy it (or the multiple volumes  )  OUTSTANDING Sir!! 

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