Description

In a later age he would have become a successful war correspondent We have no more human account of the Peninsular War from a participant in all its battles Vivid images of people landscapes events flows from his pen One of military historys great originals John Keegan DAILY TELEGRAPH

These letters in the form of a frank and amusing diary were written by a private in Wellingtons army who fought throughout the Napoleonic Wars Private Wheelers record covers the Peninsular Campaign keeping order during the coronation of Louis XVIII whom he called an old bloated poltroon and his later posting to Corfu

Most of all Wheelers account of the historic Battle of Waterloo written before the muskets of battle had cooled reveals him to be a master of lively anecdote and mischievous characterisation