Jim, I have mostly quoted articles and essays available on line.
It saves me transcribing long passages, and anyone can verify the accuracy and see it in context.

I have transcribed from books in my possession too.
You Jim can not quote anything written by any historian for decades!!

You reject even what Hastings (your prize historian) says when it doesn't suit your case

Completely untrue! Show me an actual quote I have ever rejected.

Hastings himself rejected the quote from Crane's review. "On the contrary" he said. That means "the opposite is true."

Hasting's book is only about the start of the war.
The army was given no time to prepare for war, and was sent into the path of an army vastly superior in men and weapons.
Of course its "achievements" were limited, and made worse because it was commanded by French who was indeed incompetent and soon sacked.