French Wars: Wellington

Question 1

What 2 weapons did the British army use?

Answer 1

Musket (Brown Bess), Baker Rifles

Question 2

What defensive manoeuvre did Wellington often carry out rather than risk defeat?

Answer 2

Rearguard Action

Question 3

What different types of troops was Wellington supported by?

Answer 3

Portuguese regular army, Spanish regular army, Spanish guerrillas

Question 4

What did Wellington say about the transformation of his troops over the course of the war?

Answer 4

He has turned the ‘scum of the earth’ into ‘fine fellows’

Question 5

Why were Wellington’s tactics primarily defensive in the earlier years of the war?

Answer 5

He was continually outnumbered

Question 6

What French commander did Wellington fight at the Battle of Vimeiro?

Answer 6

Junot

Question 7

How many members of the Portuguese regular army were supporting Wellington?

Answer 7

5,000

Question 8

Which military hero died at Corunna whilst Wellington was away facing an official enquiry?

Answer 8

Sir Thomas Moore

Question 9

When was Wellington’s first battle in Portugal?

Answer 9

1808 (Battle of Vimeiro)

Question 10

Why were Britain and France’s supply situations different?

Answer 10

Britain = secure line of supply from Lisbon, supported by Royal Navy
France = long supply lines across rugged terrain, at risk from Spanish guerillas.

Question 11

How many shots per minute could the Brown Bess musket fire in expert hands?

Answer 11

4 shots/min

Question 12

Where did Wellington often like to position his troops?

Answer 12

On the reverse slope of a hill

Question 13

Who did Wellington recommend to retrain the Portuguese regular army, integrating them by 1810?

Answer 13

William Carr

Question 14

Why was Wellington unable to fully exploit the narrow victory at Talavera (1809)?

Answer 14

Spanish ill-equipped, incompetent leaders

Question 15

During which winter were the lines of Torres Vedras built?

Answer 15

1809-1810

Question 16

What policy did the British take as the locals fled Lisbon?

Answer 16

scorched earth tactics

Question 17

How many French deaths were there per day whilst the British remained at Torres Vedras, despite no actual fighting?

Answer 17

100

Question 18

Which British construction were the lines of Torres Vedras based on?

Answer 18

Martello Towers

Question 19

How did the time behind the lines of Torres Vedras show that Wellington was keen on discipline?

Answer 19

Stopped men visiting brothels/theatres too often, didn’t allow home leave

Question 20

Why was the peninsular war becoming more significant by 1811?

Answer 20

French had driven Austria, Russia and Prussia from the war - Peninsular now the only land warzone where Britain could fight back

Question 21

Where did Wellington first attack when he eventually left the security of Torres Vedras in 1811?

Answer 21

Almeida (a border fortress-town)

Question 22

Which French commander was sent to relieve Almeida and where did he attack Wellington’s army?

Answer 22

Massena, Fuentes de Onoro

Question 23

What near disaster occurred in the battle at Fuentes de Onoro? How was it averted?

Answer 23

The untried 7th division was almost caught in the open

Light Division came to their rescue using square formations

Question 24

Why did Napoleon pull troops out of Spain in 1812, making Wellington no longer outnumbered?

Answer 24

Napoleon invaded Russia

Question 25

Which two border fortresses did Wellington first attack in 1812?

Answer 25

Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz

Question 26

During the sieges of which fortresses did the troops kill, rape, rob and loot the townspeople? How were they dealt with and why?

Answer 26

Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz

Perpetrators flogged, but not hanged - possibly as 5,000 losses

Question 27

When was the Battle of Salamanca?

Answer 27

July 1812

Question 28

How did French mistakes lead to their defeat at the Battle of Salamanca?

Answer 28

Marmont saw a trail of dust, assumed it was Wellington in retreat (hiding behind hill)
Actually, it was the supply train moving ahead
Attempted a wide outflanking movement - vulnerable!

Question 29

Which French general said that Wellington was a ‘master of manoeuvre and concealment’

Answer 29

General Foy

Question 30

What was the name of the town that the French had fallen back on by summer 1813? How did Wellington prevent them from retreating when he attacked?

Answer 30

Vitoria - attacked from both front and rear

Question 31

Why was the British pursuit of the French interrupted at Vitoria?

Answer 31

Troops began to loot

Question 32

When did Wellington invade southern France after finishing the war in Spain?

Answer 32

1814

Question 33

What was the Hundred Days?

Answer 33

Napoleon was forced into exile on the island of Elba - but escaped and became emperor again - war declared in 1815

Question 34

What was the name of the Prussian leader that Wellington co-operated with at the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 34

Blucher

Question 35

Why did Napoleon face problems on the morning of the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 35

Unwell and unable to sit on his horse, would be attacking uphill, ground waterlogged causing delay in moving until 11am
(had to defeat British before Prussians arrived)

Question 36

Why did Ney have to take over command from Napoleon during the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 36

Napoleon had taken ill and left the field

Question 37

What happened that led to the decimation of the French cavalry during the Battle of Trafalgar?

Answer 37

Ney thought British retreating and sent cavalry in pursuit, the allies formed squares to retaliate (Prussians about to join the battle)

Question 38

Why did Napoleon commit his elite Guards during the Battle of Trafalgar? Why were they defeated?

Answer 38

Sent Young Guard to hold up Prussians, Old Guard to break the British line - wavered and defeated by bayonet charge.

Question 39

When did the French Wars begin and when did they end?

Answer 39

1793 to 1815