Category: Do You Know About?

Do You Know About the Waterloo 1815 Website?

If you’re a Waterloo enthusiast (and who isn’t?) you’ll find the comprehensive Waterloo 1815 website of interest. Simply register and you can download unpublished correspondence written by those who were on the scene,whether English, French or Prussian. For instance, in an undated letter George De Lacy Evans provided a detailed description of the the charge by the British Heavy Cavalry, a bit of runs: ‘The shock was irresistible. The firng at this point ceased; the smoke cleared away; those masses, a moment before so menacing and conspicuous, and on which all eyes were turned, had disappeared; or left only the traces of a dispersed rabble, flying over the plain. Vast numbers, unable to escape the cavalry, abandoned their arms, and threw themselves on the ground. Here were seen horses trampling down whole ranks, and plunging with difficulty through the bodies; there, a crowd of French soldiers surrendering as prisoners; many defending to the last.’

In addition, there are books for sale and archives that include items relating to the French and Prussian armies, detailed returns of the killed and wounded, along with strengths of particular units prior to the campaign and items of importance from order books and journals, making hitherto unpublished records  accessible online. In the words of the immortal Duke of Wellington, all I can say is, “Wooo Hooo!”

Do You Know About Archive CD Books?

The Archive CD Books website offers rare and invaluable British research tools reproduced on CD – books that most of us would otherwise not have access to outside of county libraries and archives. Not only that, the CD’s are affordable – about $30 each. They have wide range of titles, including Pigot’s directories for all counties in England, Post Office directories and unique books such as a contemporary tourist guide entitled, “Excursions through Essex 1818.” They also offer the London 1833 Royal Blue Book, the listing for which reads: One of the most interesting directories, and a really beautiful and valuable book. The Royal Blue Book is in two parts: a complete street by street listing (with house numbers) for central London in 1833, together with a complete alphabetical listing of all heads of household, their occupation where applicable, and address. It also includes Institutions, Societies, Public Offices, Hotels, Coffee-Houses and Taverns, Army and Navy Agents, and Bankers, followed by a section containing advertisements. An 1831 street map of London has also been included on the CD. (The original book never did have a map, but this one is taken from the 1831 Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary of England).