I too am a rabid fan of yours. On occasion, though, I disagree with some of your opinions. One in particular concerns the usefulness of longbowmen in Napoleonic times. By 1800 metallurgy had improved to the point where arrow-proof armour, especially at long distances was available. Roman legions were constantly effective against archers(Carrhae was an exception. Crassus basically had his legions stand in place waiting for the Parthians to run out of arrows. They didn’t.) The legions were protected by their large plywood shields. Archers are highly vulnerable to charges where their opponents have an opportunity to charge them. At Crecy, Azincourt and Poitiers etc the French literally got bogged down in mud. Three times running. Something about them trying the same old way and we showed them out in the same old way. I believe archers would have been good in a surprise or harassing role, but wouldn’t have held their own in a line of battle. Thanks, and do love your books

Don Conrad