Recollections of a Peninsular Veteran

"Recollections of a Peninsular Veteran" by Joseph Jocelyn Anderson is a memoir that captures the life of a soldier in the Peninsular Wars, written in the style of a historical narrative from the early 20th century. Beginning with the author's early days as a fifteen-year-old ensign in the 78th Regiment, the story follows his journey from his homeland of Scotland to Gibraltar, where he faces his youthful trials. The narrative reveals the camaraderie and rigor of military life in the early 1800s through personal stories, from embarrassing run-ins with a schoolmaster to first experiencing London and undergoing rigorous training, setting the stage for a life marked by military service and the harsh realities of war.