Army/Wellington

Cavalry

Horseback soldiers

Difference between Light and Heavy Brigades

Weight and size of the horse

Squares

Defence from cavalry

Infantry

Soldiers on foot

Commission system

Pay for higher ranks

Wellington quote about soldiers

We have in our service the scum of the Earth

Where were regular soldiers taken from?

Streets, pubs, prisons

Where were officers often from?

Aristocracy

Militia

Home defence operations

Shrapnel Shell - Major Henry Shrapnel

Effective up to 700 yards and exploded over enemies

Congreve Rocket - William Congreve

A range of 3000 yards but inaccurate

1 in how many operations resulted in death for regular soldiers?

9

What firing was added to muskets?

Flintlock firing

Issues with muskets

Poor sight, prone to break down and inconsistent

How did the Duke of York reform the army?

• Ensuring officers had to serve two years before purchasing a captaincy and six years before they could become a general. 

• Standardising tactical drills and manoeuvres 

• Creating light infantry regiments 

• Establishing a Military College

What group was formed in 1801?

Experimental Corps of Riflemen

Why did Britain fight the Peninsular Wars?

To protect Portugal from Napoleon to preserve British trade

Date of Vimeiro

August 21st 1808

What convention was formed after Vimeiro?

Convention of Citra

What was the issue with the Convention of Citra?

Overly favourable towards the French

Date of Talavera

July 27/28th 1809

Which Spanish general did Wellington fight beside at Talavera?

General de la Cuesta

Date of Cuidad Rodrigo.

January 7/20th 1812

Date of Badajoz

March 16th/April 6th 1812

What do the soldiers do at Badajoz after winning?

Plunder

Date of Salamanca

July 22nd 1812

What tactic did Wellington use which resulted in the French believing they had retreated?

Reverse slope made French think they retreated over the hill

Date of Vitoria

June 21st 1813

What was significant about Vitoria?

Ended Napoleon’s plans on invading Spain and Portugal

Lines of Torres Vedras

• November 1809-October 1810

• 152 forts and 3 lines of defence

• Ground scorched so unhelpful to French

• Every man ensured to have working musket

What aspects of Wellington’s background made him a skilled commander?

• Irish Parliament – ability to lead others, political experience 

• 50 military encounters before Waterloo – experience in military 

• Studied at French Royal Academy of Equitation in Angers – experience in cavalry and in French tactics 

• Purchased a commission by his brother in 1787 – step up in army 

• Given his first command in India in 1797-1805 – experience, leadership

Reverse slope

Men hidden behind crest of a hill

What about Waterloo’s terrain was perfect?

Many hills for reverse slope

Three farmhouses at Waterloo

Hogoumont, La Haye, Papelotte

What Prussian general was Wellington allied with at Waterloo?

Blücher

How many men defended Hogoumont and how many attacked?

1,500 defenders to 5,000 attackers

How many French soldiers were evrntually sent to Hogoumont?

12,500

Uxbridge Charge

Lord Uxbridge sends 2,000 cavalry men to repel 17,000 French footmen

Squares at Waterloo

Allies form squares of 500 men to defend from French commander Ney’s cavalry attack

How many squares were broken at Waterloo?

None

What trend did the size of the army follow?

After each war the size of the army would decrease

What were domestic soldiers used for after 1815?

Substitute police force