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In the English-speaking world, we often view the French Army through the single lens of the Seven Years' War. We see the disaster: the loss of Canada, the retreat from India, and a reputation left in tatters.
But this is a dangerously limited view of the 18th-century French War Machine. To judge them only by their defeats is to miss how they defined the very art of war for the rest of Europe.
In this episode, Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Andrew Bamford are joined by Dr. Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).
Together, we examine the "Gold Standard" of the 18th century. We discuss how the Royal French Army actually functioned, from the complex systems used to man its ranks to the massive logistical engine that kept it moving. We explore how this institution became the aspiration for the rest of the world, influencing military doctrine from Prussia to the American colonies.
Topics Discussed:
The "Gold Standard": How the French Army became the model for the rest of Europe.
Logistics & Supply: The sophisticated systems required to feed the largest army in Europe.
Modern Application: How Dr. Abel uses 18th-century history to train modern officers at the CGSC.
In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation includes a deeper dive into the intellectual life of the officer corps, including:
Doctrine Wars: The internal debates on how to fight (Line vs. Column).
National Character: The French perspective on the "martial spirit" of their British and Prussian rivals.
Merit vs. Birth: The struggle to introduce meritocracy into an aristocratic officer corps.
Guest: Dr. Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Guibert: Father of Napoleon's Grande Armée 
By Dr. Jonathan Abel
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General Recommended Reading
The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy
Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns
*All materials are affiliated links that earn the show commission. Using these links helps support the podcast. Thank you.

How do you turn the chaos of an 18th-century battlefield into a set of rules? How do you simulate the "fog of war" that plagued commanders like the Duke of Cumberland or Marshal Saxe?
In this special episode of Prime & Load, we explore the art and science of Historical Wargaming.
We are joined by Rich Hamilton and Gary McClellan from Wargame Design Studio (WDS). We dive deep into their origin stories, how they went from history enthusiasts to professional game designers, and the incredible amount of research required to build the most historically accurate games on the market. We discuss the challenge of "translating" history into gameplay, the importance of accuracy, and how wargames serve as a tool to understand the friction of command.
Topics Discussed:
Origin Stories: How Rich and Gary turned a passion for military history into a career in game design.
The Translation Layer: The difficult process of turning historical accounts into game mechanics.
Obsessive Detail: The level of research required to map terrain, uniform colors, and unit capabilities for the War of the Austrian Succession.
Simulation vs. Game: Balancing historical realism with playability.
Exclusive Listener Offer: We have partnered with Wargame Design Studio for a special offer. Use the link below for an exclusive discount code for their War of the Austrian Succession video game. Offer good until Jan 25th.
Links: https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/game-of-the-week-january-19-25
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General Recommended Reading
The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy
Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns
*All materials are affiliated links that earn the show commission. Using these links helps support the podcast. Thank you.

The retreat from Derby was not the end of the Jacobite Rising, it was a tactical realignment. Following a highly disciplined and orderly withdrawal from England, the Jacobite Army arrives in Glasgow not as a broken force, but as a growing threat.
In this episode, we examine a Jacobite army at its peak strength: refitted, reinforced by fresh Highland reinforcements, and bolstered by the arrival of French regulars and gold. The tactical situation has never looked brighter for the Stuarts as they lay siege to Stirling Castle and prepare to meet General Hawley on the rainy moors of Falkirk.
We are joined once again by historian and author Dr. Arran Johnston to break down the final major victory of the '45.
Topics Discussed:
The Discipline of Retreat: Why the march back from Derby was a military success, not a failure.
The French Connection: The arrival of the Royal Écossais and the Irish Pickets.
The Siege of Stirling: Blunders, terrain challenges, and the failure of the artillery.
Prince Charles Edward: The shifting morale and darkening mood of the Young Pretender.
The Battle of Falkirk Muir (1746): How a blind thunderstorm and a Highland charge led to a chaotic Jacobite victory.
In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation features over 40 minutes of extra history, including:
The French Connection: A specific breakdown of the foreign troops, including the Royal Écossais and the Irish Pickets.
"Hangman" Hawley: A profile on the brutal and controversial British commander, General Henry Hawley.
The Mastermind: The story of the unsung mastermind behind Jacobite logistics who kept the army moving through the Scottish winter.
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General Recommended Reading
The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy
Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns
*All materials are affiliated links that earn the show commission. Using these links helps support the podcast. Thank you.

On New Year’s Eve 1775, in the midst of a blinding blizzard, the Continental Army launched an assault on the fortress city of Quebec. It was the climax of the first major offensive of the American Revolution, a bold attempt by Congress to seize the "14th Colony" and drive the British Empire off the continent.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Paul Knight to break down the 1775 Invasion of Canada. We analyze the strategic logic behind the invasion, the brutal operational difficulties faced by Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery (from smallpox to starvation), and the tactical reality of the street fighting in the Lower Town.
In this episode, we cover:
Why the Continental Congress authorized an invasion of Canada.
The logistical nightmare of moving an army through the Maine wilderness.
General Guy Carleton’s defense of the city.
The disastrous assault on December 31, 1775.
🔓 The Full Uncut Episode, available now in The War Room, we go even deeper. We discuss:
The Shadow of 1759: How Wolfe’s victory in the Seven Years' War affected the 1775 American battle plan.
The Canadian Militia: Who actually defended Canada? We break down the makeup of the French-Canadian irregulars.
Carleton’s Command: A profile of the British commander who saved Canada.
Become a member of The War Room to get the full story
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General Recommended Reading
The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy
Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns
*All materials are affiliated links that earn the show commission. Using these links helps support the podcast. Thank you.

December 15, 1745. In the freezing snow outside Dresden, the Second Silesian War came to a bloody conclusion. The Battle of Kesselsdorf is often overshadowed by Frederick the Great’s personal victories, but it was arguably the most decisive engagement of the war.
In this episode of Prime & Load, hosts Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Dr. Andrew Bamford break down the brutal clash between the Prussian Army and the Saxon forces defending their capital.
Drawing on the work of historian Dr. Alexander Querengässer, we analyze:
The Command Feud: The toxic relationship between Frederick the Great and his 69-year-old commander, Leopold I (The Old Dessauer), who had to win the battle to save his reputation.
The Saxon Perspective: Why this was a uniquely Saxon fight and how their supply lines forced them into a defensive corner.
The Tactical Trap: How the Prussians used as unconventional tactic to lure the Saxons out of their strong defensive positions and into a slaughter.
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Referenced Material
Kesselsdorf 1745: Decision in the Fight for Silesia 
by Alexander Querengässer 
Text the show!
Andrew asking listeners to join War Room.
Support the show
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General Recommended Reading
The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy
Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns
*All materials are affiliated links that earn the show commission. Using these links helps support the podcast. Thank you.