Featured battle : The seige of York

Part of The Civil Wars of the Three Kingdoms

Date : 21 April 1644 - 15 July 1644

Following the serious defeat at Selby, the Marquis of Newcastle was able to re-garrison York but was immediately besieged by Lord Fairfax's Parliamentarians and Lord Leven's Scots. When the Earl of Manchester arrived with his forces to complete the encirclement, King Charles sent Prince Rupert to attempt to lift the seige. 2 attempts to storm the city's defences were made but both were drive off, and Rupert, by approaching from an unexpected direction (from Boroughbridge, rather than from Tadcaster as expected) bypassed the Parliamentarian forces sent to meet him and relieved the city. All would have been well but that Rupert then decided, against Newcastle's wishes, to then leave the city and meet Fairfax, Leven and Manchester in battle on Marston Moor (see entry). The completeness of the defeat of the Royalist army that day persuaded the garrison that no further help could be expected and they sued for terms.

Warships of the Napoleonic Era

Robert Gardiner
I happily confess to being a fan of Gardiner's work. His 'Frigates of the Napoleonic Wars' is a favourite of mine. This book follows the same format, a little over twelve inches square, which allows for some stunning illustrations. The content covers ships of Britain, other European powers and the U.S.A although the bulk of the text is of the Royal Navy. The writing is fluid and most readable for both the person who wants it as a reference book and a cover to cover reader like me. All through one feels the authority of the author is based on thorough research, and, for anyone who wants to go further, there is an extensive list of sources. As an aside almost all of the line drawings would allow an experienced boat modeller to create precise replicas.
This is a superb book which I cannot recommend too highly.
Seaforth Publishing, Pen & Sword Ltd., 2011