[GLEIG, George Robert]. A Narrative of the Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans under Generals Ross, Pakenham, and Lambert, in the Years 1814 and 1815; with some Account of the Countries Visited … Second Edition. London, John Murray, 1821.
8vo. Contemporary full polished calf; spine with raised bands, ornamented in gilt and with red lettering-piece; pp. [2], 377; wear to head and tail of spine, only minor spotting here and there internally; a very good copy with contemporary bookplate and signature of General A. M. K. Hamilton, who had seen action in 1812 during the Lousiana War of 1812; he had been in charge of the 5th regiment, West India (coloured) as Lieutenant-Colonel.
A moving epsitolary first-hand account of the decisive parts of the British Gulf Campaign, an attempt to take over New Orleans, Louisiana and West Florida from the US. The book had been published first in 18221, and proved to be in demand, as the last edition appeared in 1847. The West India Regiment, raised in 1795 to defend the Caribbean Colonies played an important role in the War of 1812 (1812-1815), and soldiers of Arrican origin played an important part in the campaigns. 'Gleig, a chaplain-general in the British army, was present at the battle of New Orleans. Clark lists several later editions and comments, The narrative contains much less contempt for the Americans than is found in the usual British account of this period. Gleig is often quoted and highly praised for his journal, which is an indispensable item for the study of the fighting around Washington and New Orleans' (Streeter 1079 ).
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