Famous Horses in History…Copenhagen with Giveaway by Donna Schlachter

By John Steell. From Wikipedia.

Copenhagen was the Duke of Wellington’s war horse, which he rode at the Battle of Waterloo for 17 hours straight. Bred by General Grosvenor, his sire, Meteor, placed second in the 1786 Epsom Derby, then went on to win his next 21 races. He retired to stud at the ripe old age of eight, and Copenhagen was born 17 years later in 1808. His dam, Lady Catherine, had mixed parentage, and in Copenhagen’s honor, is the only “half-bred” mare listed in the General Stud Book.

Depending on the source, the details of Copenhagen’s birth differ. General Grosvenor allegedly took Lady Catherine, in foal with Copenhagen, to Denmark as his mount during the siege of that city. Copenhagen was either foaled after the second battle and named in honor of the British victory, or, if you listen to other sources, Lady Catherine was returned to England before his birth where he was foaled at Eton Hall in 1808. The General Stud Book does not record that he was born overseas.

Regardless of his murky beginnings, there is no doubt that a magnificent horse was born.

By Matthew Cotes Wyatt. From Wikipedia.

 

 

 

He was tall, standing at about 15 hands high (60 inches at the top of his shoulders), Paintings and reports of the day say he was muscular with a compact frame. Never raced as a two-year-old, he raced until he was four years old for General Grosvenor, retiring in May 1812. Modestly successful, he won two races during his short career.

In his three-year-old season, 1811, he came in third. A few days later, he won a match race and was then beaten by the filly in another match race. A match race pits two horses against each other, with winner taking the entire pot. This type of race is often used to settle which horse is best. Over the next few months of racing, he won several match races, lost some, took third in a Gold Cup Race, third in a County Purse race, and second or third in other miscellaneous appearances.

In 1812, as a four-year-old, Copenhagen started three times, finishing third in two and fourth in one. Not seeing much opportunity to take the big cups, General Grosvenor retired him in May.

General Grosvenor sold him as a saddle horse to Charles Stewart, and Copenhagen was sent to Lisbon in 1813 with a stable of other horses. When Stewart left Spain, Colonel Charles Wood purchased him for the Duke of Wellington for 200 or 250 guineas (about $1,000 USD in 1820, which would be worth around $25,000 USD today). 

 

By Thomas Lawrence. From Wikipedia

 

 

When the Duke of Wellington purchased him in 1813 as a five-year-old, his papers described him as “a dark chestnut with two white heels…hollow-backed, powerful…with bad shoulders.” He loved his corn, but preferred eating while lying down. The Duke said, “There may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom (stamina) and endurance, I never saw his fellow (equal).” His Arabian blood was often cited as the reason for these enduring qualities.

The Duke of Wellington and Copenhagen. From The War Horse Memorial

 

The Duke of Wellington rode Copenhagen into several battles and on a number of treacherous journeys, including his ride to Wavre. But perhaps he is most famous for riding him for 17 hours continuously during the Battle of Waterloo. Both emerged from the fray uninjured. Legend says that when the Duke dismounted, he patted his horse on the flank. Copenhagen kicked at the Duke’s head, which the Duke avoided. Copenhagen loved the chaos of battle, but when not on duty, he was cantankerous, giving many grooms and exercise boys nightmares. 

The Duke of Wellington, from The War Horse Memorial

 

 

While his war days were now over, the Duke continued to ride Copenhagen in parades and other events. Hair from his mane and tail was collected and braided into bracelets. When the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister in 1828, he rode Copenhagen up Downing Street to Number 10 to take up his new residency.

Copenhagen in retirement, by Samuel Spode

 

 

Following his formal retirement, Copenhagen enjoyed when visitors noticed him, and particularly when they offered his apples and sweets such as sponge cakes, Bath buns (a bready bun with raisins and frosting), and chocolate creams. All of these sweets must have mellowed him, because friends and children rode him regularly. He died on February 12, 1836, at the age of 28. He was buried the next day with full military honors, and the Duke flew into a rage when he noticed one of the hoofs was missing, apparently taken as a souvenir. As with most details surrounding this horse, several stories emerged, including that a farmer bought the hoof and returned it to the Duke. Another version said that a servant confessed many years later to taking the hoof, not expecting that the Duke cared one way or the other. However, the Duke exhumed the body a few months after burial to remove the remaining three hooves to keep as souvenirs and to prevent grave-diggers from profiting from his loss; however, “his three remaining hoofs had rotted away.”

Copenhagen's headstone. From Wikipedia.

 

Copenhagen was buried without a headstone to keep grave-diggers and souvenir hunters at bay. A request from the United Services Museum to display his skeleton alongside that of Napolean’s horse Marengo was denied. Seven years after Copenhagen’s death, the Duke’s housekeeper planted a Turkey Oak that today shades the grave in recognition of her 20th year of service to the Duke.

After the Duke’s death, his son created an epitaph and placed a grave marker beside the tree.


Giveaway: Leave a comment to enter a drawing for an ebook copy of Hollenberg Hearts.

About Hollenberg Hearts: A mail order bride. A crippled stationmaster. No way out for either of them—except with each other. Can they surrender their hearts and find true love? Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Hollenberg-Hearts-Pony-Express-Book-ebook/dp/B098VZ38XY and the rest of the Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WRMTM3

About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.


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Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_(horse)

https://www.artbycrane.com/horse_history_articles_tales/copenhagen_duke_of_wellington.html

https://www.thewarhorsememorial.org/100-hero-horses/100-hero-horses/hero-horse13

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2000-05-38-1

Hospitals in Nashville During the American Civil War

By Michelle Shocklee

Like most of us, when I think of a hospital, I think of a building specifically created for the care of the sick and injured. I picture clean sheets, sterile instruments, surgical areas, and plenty of beds for all who need them. And while those images may describe some hospitals that existed in the 1860s, most "hospitals" used during the Civil War looked very different. 

Nashville newspaper article, 1863

My novel Under the Tulip Tree takes place in Nashville and includes scenes from the Battle of Nashville that took place December 15-16, 1864. While researching the book, I was surprised to discover that most of the hospitals that sprang up after this battle, as well as the Battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864), were not hospitals at all. The vast majority of injured soldiers were carried to private homes, businesses, hotels, schools, and churches where doctors, nurses, and an army of volunteers--both white and black--did their utmost to care for the gravely and mortally wounded men from both sides. 

Nashville was a Confederate-held city until Federal troops took control of it in February 1862. In March 1863, a list of Union hospitals was published in the local newspaper. Wounded or ill soldiers would have been brought to one of these reinvented businesses, depending on the soldiers' rank, color, and the level of nursing skill required to meet their particular needs. 

For more than a century, it has been estimated that about 620,000 Americans died in the conflict, with more than half of those dying off the battlefield from disease or festering wounds. That enormous number means that thousands upon thousands of men needed a hospital at some point during the years between 1861 and 1865. 

At least two Nashville hospitals were housed in former Confederate gun factories. Others took over schools where learning came to an abrupt halt and students were replaced with men suffering from dysentery, venereal diseases, infections, and fevers. If a patient was diagnosed with small pox, they were immediately taken to a hospital for that specific disease in order to prevent spreading. Separate hopsitals were also created for prisoners of war as well as black patients.  

If an officer was wounded or fell ill, he was taken to the Planter's Hotel to recuperate. The neighborhood was quiet and the hotel offered lovely grounds where the men could get some fresh air and exercise. The same was true of hospitals located in Howard high school, Hume high school, and Hynes high school. All provided excellent grounds and even views of the city. 

Hospital Number 19, Nashville, TN, 1863

But in December 1864, these hospitals would overflow with gravely injured and dying men after the Battle of Nashville. In fact, despite the seemingly large number of hospitals set up in the years prior to the battle, the number of wounded far exceeded the preparations. Approximately 10,000 casualties resulted from the two-day battle. Every bed was occupied with wounded men. Blood-soaked floors were lined with bodies. Men even had to wait outside in the bitter cold before room could be found inside, usually because another poor soul had died. 

Today, most of the buildings that once housed these makeshift hospitals are gone or have been transformed into businesses and condominiums. Several private homes that were used as hospitals remain intact, including Carnton Plantation in Franklin. I've had the privilege of spending time in an 1840s private home outside of Nashville where wounded Union soldiers were taken after the battle. As I walk the halls and climb the stairs, I can't help but wonder what sights and sounds those old brick walls witnessed.  

Hospitals aren't my favorite place to go--either as a patient or a visitor--but I'm truly thankful for the modern medical facilities available to us these days. If we've learned anything during the pandemic of 2020, it's how incredibly vital fully staffed and fully equipped hospitals are!  

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels. Her work has been included in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about. Visit her online at www.michelleshocklee.com.

UNDER THE TULIP TREE

Sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland’s dreams of a rich and fulfilling life as a writer are dashed when the stock market crashes in 1929. Seven years into the Great Depression, Rena’s banker father has retreated into the bottle, her sister is married to a lazy charlatan and gambler, and Rena is an unemployed newspaper reporter. Eager for any writing job, Rena accepts a position interviewing former slaves for the Federal Writers’ Project. There, she meets Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old woman whose honest yet tragic past captivates Rena.

As Frankie recounts her life as a slave, Rena is horrified to learn of all the older woman has endured—especially because Rena’s ancestors owned slaves. While Frankie’s story challenges Rena’s preconceptions about slavery, it also connects the two women whose lives are otherwise separated by age, race, and circumstances. But will this bond of respect, admiration, and friendship be broken by a revelation neither woman sees coming?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085F4YQ11/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

The Battle of Glorieta Pass, New Mexico

By Michelle Shocklee

When I was a kid growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the American Civil War wasn't something I was interested in. I mean, it all took place back east a gazillion years ago, right?

Wrong.

Winding mountain road alongside the Pecos River. I've
traveled this road hundreds of times! Photo on Google

Turns out I lived 22 miles from a bonafide Civil War battlefield. Every time my family drove into the Pecos National Forest for a day of picnicking or camping, we passed through said battlefield. It isn't a well known battle, but the outcome may have played a huge role in the outcome of the entire war.

First, a little history.

In March 1862, New Mexico wasn't a state, it was a territory. The lower half of it as well as present-day Arizona had fallen under Confederate control and was called the Confederate Arizona Territory. The territorial capital was Mesilla, near what is now the city of Las Cruces, NM (where I went to college my freshman year!). Why would the Confederacy--and the Union Army, for that matter--want to occupy land so far away from the battles taking place back east?

The answer can be summed up in a couple of shiny words: Gold and silver. Silver and gold. (Cue a cute singing snowman!)

Apache Canyon, scene of the first phase of the Battle of Glorieta Pass; 
Photo on Google

California and Colorado were both gold and silver producing states. Whoever had control of these states and the trade routes in/out of them would have a huge advantage over the opponent. New Mexico sat right in the middle of it all. Both sides knew this and were doing everything possible to gain and keep control of the territory.

By August 1861, Union troops stationed at Fort Craig (in southern NM) had already suffered defeat by the Confederate 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles as well as another defeat nearby in September at the Battle of Canada Alamosa. This gave the Confederate generals confidence to move forward with a bold plan.

"Sharpshooters ridge" above Pigeon's Ranch where Union troops
hunkered down at one point; Photo on Google

In the cold days of early 1862, Confederate General Sibley was determined to march his army north to capture the capital city of Santa Fe. Once Santa Fe was in Confederate control, they would turn their attention towards capturing the stores of ammunition and food at Fort Union (north of Santa Fe), gain control of the Santa Fe Trail, then turn west toward the gold fields of California. Success was his in February when his army defeated Union troops in the Battle of Valverde, although both sides suffered losses. Sibley continued his northern march and took possession of Albuquerque on March 2 and Santa Fe on March 13. Supplies and ammunition, however, were running dangerously low. Although a supply wagon train was on its way to them, Sibley hoped to capture Fort Union--a fort he'd been personally acquainted with prior to the war--to replenish.

Meanwhile, the First Regiment of Colorado Volunteers marched rapidly down from Denver to reinforce the Union troops at Fort Union. Confederate scouts were captured on March 25, providing invaluable information regarding the location of Sibley's army at the far end of Glorieta Pass preparing to march north the next morning.

Burning of Confederate supply wagons

Unaware that the Colorado troops were in New Mexico, Sibley anticipated little trouble. Mistake. On March 26 and 28, the two armies clashed. Fighting took place among the craggy rocks and evergreen trees, which prevented both sides from using their cavalry. The turn for a Union victory came when the Confederate supply wagon train was captured and destroyed, including, sadly, all of the animals. Without the much needed resources, there was no way for Sibley's men to continue the fight. A flag of truce was offered by Confederate Colonel Slough and was accepted by Union Colonel Slurry.

March 29 was spent burying the dead. The Texans were forced to retreat to Santa Fe and eventually took a long, dangerous march back to Texas. By July 1862, all Confederate Troops had vacated New Mexico Territory and for the duration of the Civil War, New Mexico remained under Union control. It is said that had the Confederates taken control of the gold and silver produced in the West, they would have won the war. What a different country it would be today if that had happened.

A monument at the center of Santa Fe honors the men who fought and died in the various Civil War battles in New Mexico Territory, including Valverde and Glorieta Pass.

Glorieta Pass monument in the center of the famed Santa Fe Plaza
Photo on Google

Your turn: Have you been to Santa Fe? Did you know about New Mexico's role in the Civil War?

                                                                                                      

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels. Her work has been included in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about. Visit her online at michelleshocklee.com.

UNDER THE TULIP TREE

Releases September 8, 2020

Sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland’s dreams of a rich and fulfilling life as a writer are dashed when the stock market crashes in 1929. Seven years into the Great Depression, Rena’s banker father has retreated into the bottle, her sister is married to a lazy charlatan and gambler, and Rena is an unemployed newspaper reporter. Eager for any writing job, Rena accepts a position interviewing former slaves for the Federal Writers’ Project. There, she meets Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old woman whose honest yet tragic past captivates Rena.

As Frankie recounts her life as a slave, Rena is horrified to learn of all the older woman has endured—especially because Rena’s ancestors owned slaves. While Frankie’s story challenges Rena’s preconceptions about slavery, it also connects the two women whose lives are otherwise separated by age, race, and circumstances. But will this bond of respect, admiration, and friendship be broken by a revelation neither woman sees coming?

https://www.tyndale.com/p/under-the-tulip-tree/9781496446077

SONGS THAT HELPED WIN WWII

ANNE GREENE here: 

During WWII we Americans kept our hopes and spirits high with the new songs that blossomed during those dark years when we were losing the battle to Germany’s Hitler and Japan’s Hirohito. 

World War II was the first conflict to take place in the age when almost ninety percent of American households had radio. Never before had songs been so widely available. Never before had the number of listeners been so high. 

Overseas, American troops had access to radio in all but the most difficult combat situations. Between bouts of combat our troops listened to popular music on Armed Forces Radio. 

The song, They’re Either Too Young or Too Old took a light-hearted look at the men left for the women on the home front while our troops were away fighting the war.

Popular songs like Sentimental Journey, I’ll Be Seeing You, Moonlight Serenade, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, spoke of women’s longings for loved ones overseas and the troops yearning to be home. Those songs gave society’s blessing that it was okay to miss your man because he fought for the good of all Americans. The many patriotic songs brought smiles to faces and pride to the hearts of Americans on the home front and abroad. 

Some of the more popular was songs were: 

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrew Sisters – 1941 

Kiss The Boys Goodbye by Frank Loesser 1941 

There’ll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra. 1942 

Be Careful It’s My Heart by Irving Berlin. 1942 

Comin’ In On A Wing and A Prayer by The Song Spinners 

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 

Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me by Stept, Brown, and Tobias – 1942 

GI Jive by Johnny Mercer 

I Don’t Want To Walk Without You by Harry James & His Orchestra 1942  

I’ll Be Seeing You by Bind Crosby 

It’s Been A Long Long Time by Harry James 

I’ll Get By As Long As I Have You by Harry James & His Orchestra 

Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition by Frank Loesser 1942

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Cole Porter - 1944

Americans held the same desires as their leaders, and the government counted on popular music to reflect the same war aims that Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted. Everyone hoped for a quick victory over the Axis, and the songs about a world after the war with the boys coming home met those wishes. 

This unity gave the USA enormous energy that allowed the nation to accomplish far more, at less human cost, than the other major powers in the war. So, during the dark years of the war where almost every citizen lost a loved one, music kept spirits high. 

Have you heard any of these WWII favorites? If so, which is your favorite? 

Leave a comment and one lucky winner will win my WWII book, Angel With Steel Wings. Buy any one or all seven of Anne’s book on http://www.Amazon.com. 

Ace Collins, bestselling author of numerous books, including the WW II series, In the President’s Service, says of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS: 

A story of a woman in a man’s domain set against the dynamics of World War II is a can’t-miss scenario. Angel With Steel Wings paints a vivid picture of courageous pilots facing death in the air while struggling with love on the ground, and wraps it up in a unique twist that will challenge all you knew about the “Greatest Generation.” Steeped in history and framed by faith, this is a tale that takes readers into a world now all but forgotten, and lands in a place that touches the heart in a special way. To know how far we have come, we must understand where we started, and Angels With Steel Wings takes us back on a thrilling trip in time that informs as it entertains. I think this is one flight you won’t want to miss. 

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. Her novellas, A CHRISTMAS BELLE, and A GROOM FOR CHRISTMAS are now available. Her Women of Courage Series spotlights heroic women of World War II, with the first book ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS available. Enjoy her private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas by reading the first book, Holly Garden, PI, RED IS FOR ROOKIE. Try her award-winning Scottish historical romances, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE and MARRIAE BY ARRANGEMENT. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books on http://www.Amazon.com. Type in Anne Greene. Visit Anne at AnneGreeneAuthor.com. and at @TheAnneGreene.  

 

BOOK GIVEAWAY AND WORLD WAR 11 WEDDINGS

ANNE GREENE here:

Amid pain and suffering, the 1940s teemed with romance. During World War II many women arranged wartime weddings within a few days of receiving a proposal to accommodate a boyfriend coming home on 24 or 48 hours short leave. Then the new husband deployed to combat on some far off post.  Frequently there was no time to order a special wedding dress, and often women could not afford the clothing coupons needed for a wartime wedding dress.

Nevertheless, happy weddings took place. Family members donated small amounts of staples like sugar, flour and eggs so the war bride could bake a wedding cake.

Women borrowed hats, raided gardens for flowers and loaned wedding dresses. Bridesmaids reused dresses worn to other weddings. This gave a mix and match look to bridal group photographs of the 1940s. Most every item of clothing could be used again in a different venue. Friends and family rallied around loaning a hat, a bit of lace, or a dress.

A bride often wore her hair high on top of her head in a waved roll. Abundant hair was helpful, but lack of it did not stop women from adopting the style. Ever resourceful, they used old stockings rolled up to create foundations to be covered in their hair. This style became popular among women of the forties since the look offered glamour lacking in other areas of wartime life. The style is film star glam.

Army, Navy and Air Corps usually wore their uniforms when they wed. So the grooms looked handsome.

In 1944, an American B-29 pilot returned with his crew from a bombing raid over Yowata, Japan. The plane’s engine caught fire. The pilot used his parachute to jump from the burning aircraft. Later the chute helped him survive by providing shelter until rescue teams found him. After returning home from war to Pennsylvania, he proposed to his girlfriend. She used the life-saving parachute as material for her wedding dress. She modeled her dress on one which appeared in the movie Gone With The Wind. She used the original parachute strings to create the train effect in the back. I can think of no other wedding dress that would be as meaningful as one that saved the life of the groom.
In my World War II historical romance, ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS, you will find two romantic war time weddings. If you love weddings, you’ll adore these two.

Do you have a story about a World War II wedding from your grandmother or mother? Would you accept a proposal to marry within 48hours or even a week?

Leave a comment for a chance to win an autographed copy of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS.

A story of a woman in a man’s domain set against the dynamics of World War II is a can’t-miss scenario. Angels With Steel Wings paints a vivid picture of courageous pilots facing death in the air while struggling with love on the ground, and wraps it up in a unique twist that will challenge all you knew about the “Greatest Generation.” Steeped in history and framed by faith, this is a tale that takes readers into a world now all but forgotten, and lands in a place that touches the heart in a special way. To know how far we have come, we must understand where we started, and Angels With Steel Wings takes us back on a thrilling trip in time that informs as it entertains. I think this is one flight you won’t want to miss.

***Ace Collins, bestselling author of numerous books, including the WW II series, “In the President’s Service.”

BIO: ANNE GREENE delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. Her Women of Courage Series spotlights heroic women of World War II. The first book, ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS is available on Amazon. Her private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas with the first book, HOLLY GARDEN, PI, RED IS FOR ROOKIE, now available on Amazon. She and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene, have visited twenty-five countries. A visit to Scotland resulted in her award-winning Scottish historical romances, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE and MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT. A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY also won awards. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. To learn more of Anne, visit her at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com.  

Why Are We Fighting? the Napoleonic Wars

by Naomi Rawlings

War. For as long as people have inhabited the earth, war has existed. While war is always tragic and costly in many ways, there has been so much war scattered throughout history that reading through a list of them is, sadly, exhausting.

England and France were two of the two most prominently warring countries during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Like with most wars throughout history, greed, land acquisition, and strengthening the monarchy were the usual catalysts and goals. But with the advent of the French Revolution (and the American Revolution preceding it), a new mentality regarding war arose among the common people.


Before the American and French Revolutions, commoners fought in wars that served to benefit the aristocracy or monarchy. With these new revolutions, regular citizens and common people had a better reason to fight: themselves. Each man standing in France’s army believed he would have a better life if he was allowed to choose who governed his country rather than be subject to a hereditary monarch.

One thing that the British initially failed to understand about the French and Americans was WHY they wanted to fight. If you study the French Revolution, American Revolution, Napoleonic War and then the War of 1812, you’ll find this misunderstanding for every single war. With the changes in the French and American governments came a type of energy and belief that the mass of the population could fight for freedom, or for a government they wanted rather than one handed to them by a monarch. And Britain failed to grasp these ideals.

If you were to ask a Frenchman in 1793 and 1803 why he fought, he would have given an answer that involved something about freedom and thwarting tyranny. Even if you were to ask this question a decade later in 1813, after twenty years of war, the answer may well have been the same. “We want freedom. We don’t want another Bourbon king.”

Interestingly enough, if you were to ask a British subject in 1793 why he fought, he likely would have answered “because the king wants us to fight.” If you were to ask the same British soldier that question in 1803, his answer might well be the same, or he might say something to the effect of “because I don’t trust that French Consulate and Napoleon.” If you were to ask the same question again in 1813, the answer would likely be, “Because that Corsican Monster Napoleon is trying to take over Europe, and he’ll take England if we don’t stop him.”

For the first decade of war between France and England, the average British sailor and soldier didn’t have a reason to fight beyond “the government wants us to.” The average Englishman had nothing to gain by fighting against France until the English populace began to believe Napoleon Bonaparte a threat to England (part of which was came about as a result of printing intentionally untrue propaganda against Napoleon).

When I wrote my most recent novel, Falling for the Enemy, I paired a French heroine with a British hero. It was essential that I understand the conflicting mentalities toward the Napoleonic Wars so that I could accurately write both characters. This also lead to a lot of fun scenes such as:

If England won this war, France would go back to how it had been before the Révolution. No more liberty or equality for the masses. Peasants heavily taxed while aristocrats lived in excess. 

Commoners starved for bread and clamoring after only a handful of jobs while the queen ate cakes at Versailles. Papa’s first wife had taken ill and died, half from starving and half from illness, during those days. Many others would die of disease or starvation once more if King George had his way. 

’Twas why England’s tyranny had to be stopped. 

’Twas why she never should have agreed to aid Gregory.

~.~.~.~.~

Falling for the Enemy

Betrayed and stranded in France at the height of war, Lord Gregory Halston has few options. After rescuing his ailing brother from jail, they struggle to survive in hostile territory without outing themselves as Englishmen. Gregory hopes the feisty French peasant woman he meets is willing to guide them to safety.

Danielle Belanger doesn't wish to protect any man from the same country responsible for her brother's demise. But there's something about the determined Englishman that makes her willing to try. Though a match between Danielle and Gregory is impossible, their attraction can't be denied. The only thing more dangerous than aiding the enemy…is falling in love with him.

For more information about Naomi Rawlings and her novels, visit www.naomirawlings.com.