Subaltern

Lieutenants, or "subalterns" as they were called, were very young in the British Army of the Napoleonic Wars, so George Gleig was not unique when he joined the 85th Light Infantry at the age of 17. Thrown into action in Spain against invading French forces in the summer of 1813, Gleig fought continuously for 18 months. The unique quality of Gleig''s personal account was recognized immediately, a...