The Recollections of Rifleman Harris

Rifleman Harris's autobiographical account of fighting with the Greenjackets in the peninsular campaign provides a brilliant insight into the reality of a soldier's life in this period. Whether describing the horror of battle or his amorous adventures between engagements, his sharp eye and lively st......more

Great book, a must read for anyone interested in the reality of war. The horrors and hardships of a simple private soldier of this time are unbelievable. I have read many accounts of the retreat of the British in Spain. But reading this book gives you an understanding of their trials, suffering and......more

Picked it up expecting a somewhat dry but interesting account of life as a rifleman during the Peninsula Campaign. Instead read like anecdotal fiction. Incredibly tragic to read first-hand what those experiences must have been like, but at the same time the narrator calls the experience the best tim......more

A fascinating view from the field. I had no idea so many wives and children accompanied the riflemen in those days and their stories during the retreat was not happy reading. This is better written than many other memoirs I've read. Some poignant moments and a great depiction of the hardships faced.......more

These memoirs give a rare view into the daily life of a private solder in the British army during the Napoleonic wars. Harris, drafted into the 66th Regiment of Foot from his quiet life as a shepherd's son, shares his adventures, war stories, and privations over several years of active service durin......more