Powder Wars: The Supergrass who Brought Down Britain's Biggest Drug Dealers

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Most European armies of the Napoleonic period relied on semi-trained conscripts, and these soldiers were not the well-drilled veterans of previous wars. They were unable to deliver effective musketry volleys that could make a firefight decisive, but still, the stalemate had to be broken. The Assault Column Heavy cavalry formations were some of the most valuable assets in the army and were not used until absolutely necessary. Cuirassiers and carabiniers were found in most European armies, whilst the British had heavy dragoons. The Landwehr consisted of over sixty battalions and were equipped and trained as time and money allowed. A cheap but warm coat, comfortable cap and a musket were considered uniform enough to get thousands of troops out into the field for the restricted Prussian army of the time. These exceptional miniatures are oozing character and cast in finest Warlord Resin are a must for any self-respecting (and those not quite so self-respecting) Napoleonic British wargamer. The Landwehr fought bravely in the later wars of the period, fighting hard in the 1813 campaigns and ultimately at the climax of the Hundred Days campaign that was Ligny and Waterloo.

Who knew that baking powder has such a complex history, one full of political intrigue, gender wars, health scares, and race relations? In this meticulously researched and entertainingly told book, Linda Civitello chronicles the evolution of home baking in America, along the way highlighting the roles of figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln Steffens in abetting baking powder’s successful rise."--Darra Goldstein, founding editor of Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture Artillery was split into two categories, foot and horse, with both seeing a great deal of improvement in the 18th Century to make guns much more manoeuvrable. However, all artillery was inaccurate and had to be re-laid after every shot. A provocative and gripping story of industrial espionage, nineteenth century business barons, and baking powder. Linda Civitello has a rare talent for pitch-perfect storytelling. This is not just a food lover's book, but will also appeal to anyone interested in economics and history. Foodies, meanwhile, will savor the fascinating facts, tantalizing trivia, and action and intrigue sprinkled throughout. You'll savor every crumb!"--Francine Segan, author of Dolci: Italy's Sweets In between those two extremes, there were numerous other types, the six to nine pounders. In most armies, six pounders were used as horse artillery to good effect. Medium (sometimes known as a line) cavalry had a similar role to that of their heavier cousins. They also provided tactical flexibility, being capable of the pursuit of a defeated enemy or providing rearguard support during a retreat. Dragoons, in the main, fitted this role and were more numerous than the truly heavy cavalry.

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A thrilling tale of food business, especially the wonderful chapter seven, about the shenanigans of corrupt businessmen and politicians.”--Bruce Kraig, coeditor of The Chicago Food Encyclopedia In that same collection are remnants of the ugly wars fought within the growing baking powder industry around the turn of the 20th century. As alum baking powder companies like Calumet's and Clabber Girl's captured more and more of the baking powder market, Royal Baking Powder in particular fought to discredit them. In advertisements, Royal touted the "purity" of its more expensive product, while claiming that other baking powders were "injurious" to one’s health. Food historian Civitello tells a complicated and sordid tale of corporate mischief that will surprise many readers."-- Booklist

Artillery, whatever the weight, delivered death on an unprecedented scale during the Napoleonic wars. Assemble your Armies Beginning with British The first product resembling baking powder was created by English chemist Alfred Bird in the late 1840s. Bird combined cream of tartar (an acidic powder composed of potassium bitartrate) and baking soda, keeping the two apart until they were to be used so they wouldn't react too early. Unfortunately, cream of tartar was an expensive byproduct of winemaking that had to be imported from Europe, meaning that it was out of reach for many poorer Americans. In battle the British usually fought on the defensive, Wellington took great care to shelter his lads out of sight Baking powder is a pretty simple mixture: baking soda (a base), an acid, and a buffering material to keep the two from reacting before use. The buffer is usually cornstarch or flour; the acid can vary. At the time of Ziegler’s extradition hearing in 1903, Royal used cream of tartar, but almost everyone else used the cheaper and more potent sodium aluminum sulfate, or alum. Royal tried for years to besmirch alum’s good name, calling it unnatural and poisonous compared with Royal’s own “natural” recipe. (Cream of tartar is a by-product of the wine-making process and could be marketed as “from the grape.”) Yet consumers still preferred alum baking powders despite their “unnatural” origins. If Royal could get alum baking powders outlawed, then its more expensive cream-of-tartar baking powder would be the only product left on store shelves. It was a drastic measure, but all’s fair in love and war, and this was surely war. Readers interested in food and business will appreciate this well-researched book. . . . Highly recommended."-- Choice

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Each regiment was not only numbered but also had a provincial identification, for example, the 12th Brandenburg infantry and each battalion was identified by number, so the first battalion of our Brandenburg regiment would be the 1/12 Brandenburg. The well-trained and disciplined Prussian horse during the Hundred Days campaign formed regiments of cuirassiers, dragoons, hussars and lancers on the whole with the lighter cavalry intended for raiding and skirmishing, but in reality, took their place in the main battle lines during set-piece battles.