Unit 2: Britain and the French Wars (1793 - 1815)

What did Wellington say about Waterloo?

“I don’t think it would have been done if I wasn’t there“

What year did Wellington join the Army?

1787

What year did Wellington become a Tory MP?

1806

How does Dan Snow Wellington?

“Liberator of Europe“

Why was Wellington a controversial figure?

• Arch conservative

• Against army reforms such as flogging

What type of person was Wellington?

Unashamed snob and aristocrat

Would be more willing to help you if you were talented with a title instead of just talent

What was Wellingtons flaws?

• micromanager

• arrogant

How many soldiers did the Militia have in 1793?

40k

What did GB not use that F did in terms of recruitment?

Conscription: this meant F actually had no problems in recruiting officers but GB viewed it as an impediment to liberties of a Briton

How many time was flogging average as a punishment? What was the ‘maximum’?

Average: 700

Max: 1,250

What was ‘paying commission’?

• able to pay for title

• successive promotions arrive with vacancies such as death

• fastest way to promotion

Why was paying commission such a problem?

• Unknowledgeable people run a country without experience

• Detrimental but arguably Wellington an exception and he was great..?

How does Dan Snow describe the paying of commission as a problem?

“Imbeciles“ run the country

When were commissions ended?

1870

How much could a Brown Bess shoot?

3 shots per minutes

What was Brown Bess?

• average issued musket

• slow to load

• inaccurate

What was GB formation like in battle?

• Fought in a straight line

• Shoulder to shoulder

• 2 ranks deep

What were GB strengths about formation?

Every man could fire in comparison to the French

What did F formation look in battle?

Columns: 170 wide and 24 ranks deep, 340/3000 could effectively fire

What was Light Infantry used for?

Weaken opposing line before approach

In 1808 how many unit of cavalry were there? How many in each unit?

20 units containing around 900 men

What was a GB battery?

• 6 guns

• 5 cannons

• 1 howitzer

Who was the Duke of York?

King George III’s brother

What did the Duke of York reform in 1808?

• Purchase of rank stopped at Lieutenant - Colonel

• Promotion above this is strictly about seniority/skill

What did the Duke of York reform in 1802?

• This unit became light infantry

Where were the Peninsula wars fought?

Spain, Portugal and South France

Which country does Napoleon secure peace with in 1807?

Russia, Tilsit

Napoleon is unable to invade GB, so what does he do instead?

Closes all ports on European mainland to GB ships

How does Dan Snow describe Napoleons plan to lure GB out?

“grandiose scheme“

Which countries has Napoleon defeated, which means the most go along with his plan to bring British to heel?

Austrians, Prussians and Russians all major powers of Europe crushed meaning small countries don’t stand a chance

Which country refuses to go along with Napoleons plan? Why?

Portugal not allied with Napoleon and has a long trading association with GB

What does Napoleon do in response? What is the outcome by the end of 1807?

Moves army through Spain to scare them

When agreed to close ports he still invades forcing the Portuguese Royalty to flee to Turkey

Why is there a crisis in 1808, Spain? Who is it between?

The King Charles 4th and his son Ferdinand have an argument and Napoleon advises them to come to Paris to sort it out

What does Napoleon do about the Spanish crisis?

Arrests King Charles 4th and Ferdinand in Paris and send Joseph Napoleon to Spain as the new king

How does Spain respond to Napoleon’s plan to end the Spanish crisis?

Revolt in Madrid involved killing every French representative on sight

Who does Spain go to for help? How do they respond?

GB pleading them for money and gunnery yet GB sends an army led by Wellesley

What are three reasons the Peninsula War began?

1. Spanish revolt/appeal to GB

2. Portugal’s invasion/ loss of trading partner

3. To continue trade in Europe (cant afford to miss out economically whilst leading an empire)

What does Secretary George Canning declare following Napoleons seize of Spain?

“Britain would proceed upon the principle that any nation in Europe which stirs up with a determination to oppose (France)…becomes immediately our ally“

When did Arthur Wellesley get dukeified to the Duke of Wellington?

May 3rd 1814

When did Wellington arrive in Portugal with how many soldiers?

• July 1808

• 5,000 commanded by Sir John Moore

What were the results/ consequences of Wellingtons confrontation with the French INITIALLY at Portugal?

• Well + Moore won

• Convention of Sintra Dalrymple agreed to a deal where French escape in British ships and keep there loot

How did Moore die and when?

• killed during evacuation of GB soldier by Navy in Corunna, Jan 1809

• canon shot died victor

When did Wellington return to the Peninsula?

April 1809 sole charge

When did Wellington make it into Madrid, Spain?

1812

What happened at this (the first) entrance into Spain?

forced to withdraw into portugal

What do Wellingtons tactics consist of?

• rea guard action

• reverse slope

• 
  

What was Wellingtons reverse slope tactic like?

• reverse side of hill is where soldiers are stationed

• rifle firing shooters pepper F columns from the side

• When the attack faltered GB infantry with bayonets/ cavalry could complete the rout

What did Wellington have in Portugal that was a huge advantage to him?

secure supply lines from Lisbon with Royal Navy support whilst F had long rugged lines that were targeted by the Spanish guerillas

What were the lines of Torres Vedras?

• three defensive rings

• peninsula of Lisbon

What did the lines of Torres Vedras ensure?

• army secure

• supplied by sea

• Well knew F couldn’t break through earthworks with siege train

What was the scorched earth policy? Why?

• destroying of removing supplies in villages/ what remained in the countryside

• Portuguese abandoned villages and fled to Lisbon

Why did Wellington crack down on his solider training?

• spent too much time in cinemas/ brothels

• required to leave and deal with personal business at home

After seeing Napoleons progress with Russia, Prussia and Austria what did Wellington do?

• Peninsula only land war zone they could fight in

• Moved into Spain to besiege Almeida lost to the French in 1810

How did the French react to the sudden besiege of Almeida?

• Massena 3rd May 1810 attack Wellington at Fuentes de Onoro (village to the south) twice once again on the 5th but both times he backed off due to lack of ammunition

What was the result at the Battle at Fuentes de Onoro?

• lasted 3 days

• Wellingtons 7th division almost caught

• Most soldiers removed (F) but Wellington left annoyed

What was a square formation?

• defence against cavalry

• all soldiers face outwards

• slow movement sideways or backwards

What did Napoleon do in Russia 1812?

• Invade with a 500k men

• pulled veterans form Spain

How did Wellington respond to the 1812 invasion of Russia?

• more aggression

• first time not outnumbered

What did Wellington do to secure acess Spain?

attacked the border fortress of Ciudad Roderigo and Badajoz on 19 - 20 Jan 1812

northern and sourthern cities often described as the gates of spain

How quickly did Wellington capture Ciudad Roderigo in 1812?

2 hours

What was the aftermath on the attacks on Ciudad Roderigo and Badajoz?

• wild/rouge soldiers

• looting

• raping

• killing innocents

What punishment were the rouge soldiers at Ciudad Roderigo and Badajoz subjected to?

Flogging

How many French troops taken prisoner after capturing Ciudad Roderigo?

2k french troops taken prisoner

What and when did Wellington attempt to capture Badajoz?

• 60k men

• 6th april towns walls breached

• quickly captured but had to return as Marmont threatened Ciudad Roderigo

At Badajoz how many men did Wellington lose? What was his response?

5k seen weeping

When was the Battle of Salamanca and what happned?

July 1812

• 230k french employed to guard Spain (exhausted from Napoleons campaign against Russia)

• Wellington advances with 48,500 men

• Marched and counter marched until 22nd of July when Wellington made an action

What was the consequence of the Battle of Salamanca?

• spearheaded attack by GB

• triumph

• GB lost 15k men but F fled

• Allied casualties 5214

When was Napoleon forced to abdicate? And to where?

March 1814

exile to Mediterranean Island Alba

When did Napoleon escape his exile? With whom?

• February 1815

• Arrived in France with 800 soldiers

What was King Louis XVIII’s response to Napoleons confrontation with France?

• fled to England

• Napoleon entered Paris as emperor thus the European powers declared war again (Britain, Sweden, Russia and Austria

How long did the Peninsula Wars last?

1808 - 1814

Where was the Peninsular War fought?

Portugal, Spain and Southern France

What did Napoleon say about the extent to which the Peninsular Wars bought him down?

the roots of his defeat tie back to the Peninsular Wars

What was imperative to British success in the Peninsular Wars? (Without it it would not have enough troops)

widespread local resistence

What was a Spanish weakness in the eyes of the British? And overall how did the Portguese also respond to GB command?

• non cooperative

• Poorly commanded and ill disciplined

• daring brave and cruel

How many men did Sir Arthur Wellesley have at Aug 1808?

30k

Who was General Dalrymple?

Wellingtons superior

When and what happened at the Battle of Vimero?

21 August 1808

• 20th Aug Junot advances to Wellington with 14k men

• fought defensive battle

What tactics did the French use in Vimero?

Ordre Mixte: skirmishers protect infantry deployed in columns and supported by artillery

Which generals replaced Wellesley 3 times?

Burrard to Dalrymple to Moore

What were the reasons of success at the Battle of Vimero?

• Reverse slope: F artillery fire not effective, couldn’t see target so F advance up hill and columns shot to pieces

• F fled and GB advances

What were the consequences of the Battle of Vimero?

• Burrard and Dalrymple agree that any french army who want to evacuate can get on board GB ships to be taken back to F caused outrage

• French evacuate Portugal

• Lasted 3 hours (Wellesley wanted to pursue and begged Barrard but he refused allowing JUnot to flee to Lisbon)

• F lost 2k men whilst GB lost 720

Who was Sir John Moore?

leiutentant-general

25k troops under him

led epidition to Carrión River (General Soults isolated french army)

When was the Retreat? And why?

1808-1809

• retreat to Corunna on the way to Carrión River

• Napoleon was marching with 125k spanish veterans to trap GB

• Moore halts attack and calls for retreat: extreme starvation, frostbite, and lack of boots

• Arrived at Corunna Jan but Navy delayed (weather) used to to re-quip

Who was General Soult?

most prominent military commanders

"Hand of Iron"

Why was Wellington known as a defensive general?

his army was low in numbers to wield a strategically offensive posture

How does Harvey R suggest Wellingtons brilliance in skill?

“awesome dedication“

“awe-inspiring“

“Strike lethally at the enemy’s weakest point“

What and when was the Convention of Cintra?

30 August 1808

• 24k F soldiers form Portugal should be transported back to F aboard F ships

Why was the Convention of Cintra held?

Dalrymple disdain of Wellesley’s idea to pursue Junot further in Lisbon

What was the result of the Convention of Cintra?

• December 1808 military inquiry to see if action was punishable

• Wellesley gets praise “highly honourable and successful, and such as might have been expected from a distinguished officer“

• Barrard and Dalrymple never held command again

At Corunna forced to battle with French forces under Soult, how many soldiers were present how many were lost?

15k held position

700-900 lost from both sides

Following the death of Moore how many soldiers escaped and how many were lost from the retreat?

26k escaped

7k lost

When and what were Wellingtons reforms to his army upon return?

April 1809

• infantry = division

• each infantry brigade at least one riflemen

• Battalions of Portuguese placed in one of each British brigade

What was the advantage of Wellington splitting army into division for the first time?

• miniature army under sub commanders

• more independence/ trust

What was the advantage of Wellington requiring each brigade to have at least one riflemen?

• more ability to skirmish in open order

• screen and better protect bulk of GB infantry regiments

What was the advantage of Wellington recruiting Portuguese battalions that of alongside GB brigades?

• irreg soldiers train with reg ones

• learn techniques and discipline

• a more reliable army

When and what happened at the Battle of Oporto?

12th May 1809

• Wellesley despite capturing Oporto in 29th March Marshal Victor threaten Lisbon from East with 40k men whilst Soult invades portugal north with 20k men

• Wellingotn crosses River Douro May 12 on wine barges

• Then 600 GB soldiers occupied seminary building

What were Wellingtons tactics used to defeat an insanely outnumbered army in the Battle of Oporto?

• 12k men left to defend Lisbon

• Whilst he marches north with 16k GB and 2.4k Portuguese

What was Soults mistake that cost him a loss at Battle of Oporto?

thought Wellesley couldn’t cross River Douro but Portuguese civilians quickly put anything that could float onto the river to help them across

What were the consequences of the Battle of Oporto?

• Soult’s army retreat disordered across difficult mountains into Spain

• Losing >4000 men and most of his guns/ equipment which would take weeks to recover from

• Wellesley had <200 casualties able to go and attack Victor