Life of Sir John Moore: Not a Drum Was Heard

Sir John Moore is perhaps best remembered by the poem by Charles Wolfe, the first line of which provides the title for this book. And yet it largely the result of his efforts that the British Light Infantry was introduced. He was also the first to hold the view that encouragement rather than flogging would provide the best results. Roger Day sets the historical background of the Peninsula War and shows how and why the British Army owes so much to this remarkable officer who died so tragically at Corunna at the age of only 48, after his successful management of the remarkable retreat from Corunna.
 
Roger Day is also the author of Decline to Glory – a reassessment of The Life and Times of Lady Hester Stanhope, Salzburg University: 1997
 
Appreciation by Douglas Allan, President of the American Napoleonic Society
“General Sir John Moore is little known outside of students of the Peninsular War. That is regrettable as his 'savvy' leadership of the British army upended Napoleon's euro-strategy and was an important factor in the British triumph in Iberia.
John Moore was a religious minister's son from Glasgow, who in early adolescence joined the young Duke of Hamilton in a tour of the Continent. He had good Latin and became fluent in French and German, was expert with sabre and firearms, and early on focused on the military.
Moore began his career fighting the Americans outside of Boston. His adventures continued in Toulon, Corsica, and St. Lucia in the West Indies, where he became military governor, was stricken with fever, and returned to England. Combat postings in Ireland against the Irish and French followed, then on to Holland and Egypt, where the now General became de-facto commander-in-chief of the British army. His leadership was in no small part responsible for the French defeat.
Moore's war record finally resulted in his being given command of Britain's largest army in Lisbon. He decided to invade northern Spain to draw off Napoleon, who took the bait, but was forced to return to Paris to deal with Austria. Soult was left to pursue Moore, who retreated toward the coast, where the Royal Navy awaited at Corunna, 'à la Dunkirk' a century later. The climax occurred as the British lion turned to face the Napoleonic eagles.  Soult attacked at once, and Moore was killed while leading the British to victory, saving the army from certain annihilation and allowing a successful naval embarkation. 
Mr. Day contrasts Moore's outspoken character and humble origins with Wellington's political connections. Moore himself however, was exceptionally well connected with Britain's highest political/noble communities, in no small part helping his career.
There are some interesting themes in the book. One is Moore's preference of leading from the front in combat – resulting in severe wounds – and his speaking out politically – resulting in temporary career setbacks. His integrity was remarkable. For example, he declined to marry (in his forties) the beautiful 17 year old Caroline Fox. In addition to the age difference, he and his brother had vowed not to marry until the war's end.
The prose is clear, the typeface and spacing unusually readable, and Moore is one of the most likeable – as well as competent – of commanders. My only criticism of the book is the author's tendency to always justify Moore's decisions as laudable, and those of his rivals and critics as politically motivated, shortsighted, self-serving etc.  But this is minor. 
Moore's importance has long been underestimated. Roger Day does a fine job of documenting Sir John's career as one of Britain's greatest army commanders. The book left me hungry for more about Moore, and I highly recommend it.”