Wellington in the Peninsula, 1808–1814

Jac Weller

The author of Wellington at Waterloo delivers an in-depth history of the military commander's tactics and strategy in the Peninsular War.
After gaining strategic and tactical experience in Colonial India, Arthur Wellesley went to battle against French forces in the Peninsular War. With his decisive victories there, he ascended to the peerage of the United Kingdom as the 1st Duke of Wellington. In this volume, historian Jac Weller delivers a complete account of Wellington's career on the Iberian Peninsula, covering all the battles in which he took part. Talavera,

The battles of Busaco, Salamanca and Vitoria are among the famous conflicts Weller brings to life in the lively chronicle, combining meticulous research with extensive visits to the historic battlefields. Supplementing his accessible narrative with photographs, Weller demonstrates how this great commander finally achieved victory after six years of battle against Napoleon's army.

INDEX

Alba de Tormes, battle of

Albuera, battle of: forces at; French attack; losses; map; opinion on; terrain; topographical observations

Almeida, siege of

Anglesey, Lord (see Paget)

Arapiles, battle of

Areizaga, Genl C

Arrogo Molinos, battle of

Artillery: Driver Corps; ratio to infantry; types used

Bacellar, Genl

Badajoz: conclusions on; fall of; forces at; map; tactics at; topographical observations

Baird, Sir David;

Baker rifle

Barrie, Genl

Barrosa, fall of

Bayonet attacks

Bentinck, Sir W: replaces Murray

Beresford, Sir W: reorganises Portuguese Armyin

Bessieres Marshal

Blake, Genl

Bourke, Col

Brilos: engagement at

British Army: discipline at Corruna; organisation and tactics; organised in Divisions;Hussars; Dragoons (Royals); Light Dragoons (LD);LD;LD; LD;LD; LD; Horse Artillery; 1st Foot;; 4th; 5th; 6th; 7th; 9th; 20th; 23rd; 24th.; 27th; 28th; 29th.; 30th; 31st; 32nd 34th; 36th; 38th; 39th; 40th; 42nd rd; 44th; 45th; 48th; 50th; 52nd 53rd; 57th;; 68th;t h; 77th; 79th; 82nd 83rd; 87th; 88th; 91st; 92nd 94th; 95th; 97th; Battalions of Detachment; Commissariat; Veteran Battalions

Brown Bess musket

Bunbury, Col

Burgos: attack on; castle blown up; cavalry blunder at; retreat from Salamance; strategy at; tactics at; topography; troops at

Burrard, Sir H

Busaco: forces at; losses at; map; ratio artillery to infantry at; tactics at; topography; use of artillery at

Castello Branco taken

Castlereagh

Casualties, comparative

Cole, Genl, wounded

Convention of Cintra

Costello, Sgt, cited

Corunna, battle of: background; losses at; morale at; result of; topographical observations

Cotton, Adm Sir C

Cotton, Sir S

Cox, Lt Col W

Cradock, Sir J

Craufurd, Genl R; at Busaco; dies; disobeys orders

Crocodile, frigate

Cuesta: competence of; retires; stubborness of

Cuidad Rodrigo: description of town; losses at; map; sieged; surrounded by French

Dalrymple, Sir H: supersedes Burrard

D’Erlon, Count

Delaborde

Discipline

Donaldson, Sgt: quoted

Drouet, J. B

Duke of York

Dupont, Genl

Erskine, Genl Sir W

Espana, Carlos de

Ferguson, Maj Genl

First engagement of war

Food, lack of

Foy, Genl

Freire, B

French Army: crosses Pyrenees; organisation and tactics; size of in 1809–10

Frere, J. H

Fuentes De Onoro: Allied morale; Casualties at; forces at; map; opinion on; terrain; topographical observations

Galician Junta

Gardanne, Genl

Gordon, J. W. (QMG)

Graham, SirT

Gwynn, Maj

Hardinge, H

Hay, Genl: killed

Herresi, Genl A

Hill, Genl Sir R

Hope, Sir J

Imaz, J

Intelligence, Wellington’s system

Irish Wagon Train

Jourdan, Marshal: takes command of French Army

Junot, Genl

Kennedy, Comm Genl

King’s German Legion

Knipe, Capt

Krause, Col

Lake, Col

Larpent, Judge Advocate Genl

Latour-Maubourg, Genl

Loison, Genl

Long, Genl

Loyal Lusitanian Legion

Mackenzie, Genl

Maitland, Genl

Marmont: succeeds Massena; wounded

Massena: advances into Portugal; at Torres Vedras; driven from Portugal; ordered to take Portugal; succeeded by Marmont

Maya: forces at; map; Soult attacks; terrain

McBean, Maj

McGrigor, Surgeon Genl

Medical arrangements

Medina de Rio Seco, battle of

Menacho, Genl

Military Police Corps

Moore, Sir J; advances to Salamanca; avenged; failure of his plan; military background; mortally wounded

Morale

Murat, marches on Madrid

Murray, Sir G

Murray, Sir J

Napoleon: abdicates; background; crowned Emperor; enters Burgoe; Joseph made King; sends Junot to Spain

Ney, Marshal

Nive, battle of; forces at; losses at; map; topographical observations

Nivelle, battle of: forces at–; losses at; topographical observations

Ocana, battle of

O’Donnell, Genl J

Orthez: attack on; forces at; losses at; map; summary; topographical observations

Paget, Genl E

Paget, Lord H

Peacock, Col

Phillipon, Governor

Picton, Genl

Portuguese Army; Bradford’s Brigade; Cacadores; Campbell’s Brigade; Champlemonde’s Brigade; Coleman’s Brigade; D’Urban’s Cavalry; Hamilton’s Brigade; Lusitanian Legion; Otway’s Cavalry; Silviera’s Brigade

Pyrenees: disposition; forces at; map; Soult’s intentions; terrain; topographical observations; Wellington’s success at

Ramsay, Capt N

Rate of march

Rettberg’s Battery

Rey, Genl

Reynier

Rifles

Rio Seco, Battle of

Rockets (Congreve’s)

Rollica, battle of; casualties at; forces at; map; significance of; summary; topographical observations

Romana, Genl

Roncesvalles: forces at; map; terrain

Sahagun, cavalry action at

St Pierre, battle of; casulaties at; map

Salamanca, battle of: British Cavalry charge; forces at; lessons from; losses; map; tactics at; topographical observations; Wellington’s preparations for

San Christobel attacked

San Sebastian: artillery at; attacked; description

Sanchez, J

Scovell, G

“Scum of the Earth” comment

Security, lack of

Semaphores

Silveira, Genl

Siniavin, Adm

Smith, Sir H, cited

Somers-Cocks, Capt J

Sorauren: forces at; losses at; map; troops confidence at

Souham, Genl, takes command of Army of Portugal

Spanish Army, inability to fight in open

Spencer, Genl

Stewart, Genl C

Stewart, Genl W

Talavera, battle of: artillery at; cavalry charge at; crisis of battle; fire power; forces at; initial losses; losses; map; tactics; topography; truce at

Thornier, Genl

Thouvenot, Genl

Tolosa, action at

Tomkins, Capt

Torres Vedras: defensive system; lines of; losses at; map; topographical observations; troops at; Wellington’s success; Wellington’s tactics

Torture

Toulouse, battle of; forces at; losses at; map; terrain; topographical observations

Trant, Col N

Val de Mula, action at

Vauban, S

Vera, attacked; map

Vimiero, battle of; casualties at; cavalry charge at; forces at; map; significance of; summary; topographical observations

Vitoria, battle of: failure to follow up; forces at; losses; map; propaganda value; strategy; tactics; terrain; topographical observations

Wallace, Col

Wellesley: early career; his Peninsular army; his staff; sails for the Peninsular and reaches Corunna; supply and transport organisation; marches to Leiria; enters Obidos; battle of Rolica; battle of Vimiero; convention of Cintra; confers with Moore; appointed to command in Portugal; leaves Lisbon; orders Beresford to march on Vizeu; reaches Oporto; crosses the Duero; marches on Braga; drives Soult from Portugal; marches ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ILLUSTRATIONS
• Dedication
• INTRODUCTION - FORTY-FOUR YEARS LATER
• PREFACE
• CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR
• I - PROLOGUE
• II - ROLICA
• III - VIMIERO
• IV - SIR JOHN MOORE AND CORUNNA
• V - MOORE AVENGED
• VI - TALAVERA
• VII - FOURTEEN MONTHS WITHOUT BATTLE
• VIII - BUSACO
• IX - THE LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS
• X - FUENTES DE ONORO
• XI - ALBUERA
• XII - CIUDAD RODRIGO AND BADAJOZ
• XIII - SALAMANCA
• XIV - BURGOS, AND RETREAT
• XV - VITORIA
• XVI - BATTLES IN THE PYRENEES: SORAUREN
• XVII - SAN SEBASTIAN FALLS: THE BORDER IS BREACHED
• XVIII - BATTLES NEAR BAYONNE
• XIX - ORTHEZ AND TOULOUSE
• XX - EPILOGUE
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX