Napoleonic War - Land

Question 1

Wellington Arrival in Portugal

Answer 1

• July 1808.
• 15k Army.
• Referred to his men as the “scum of the earth”.

Question 2

Battle of Corruna

Answer 2

• 01/1809.
• First British Setback.
• Moore dead.
• 26k British troops survived.

Question 3

Battle of Vimeiro

Answer 3

• 08/1808
• Wellingtons first victory against Junot.
• Wellington sent home after.
• French lost 2k.
• British lost 720.

Question 4

Battle of Salamanca

Answer 4

• 07/1812.
• Took the French by surprise.
• Hills used to shield British troops.
• British able to enter Madrid.
• Wellington revered as a national hero.

Question 5

Reasons why Wellington brought the British Success

Answer 5

• Tactics.
• Leadership.
• Learnt from Mistakes.

Question 6

Wellington’s Tactics

Answer 6

• Reverse slope position to beat Junot (Vimero, 08/1808) and Napoleon (Waterloo, 06/1815). Troops hid from artillery fire behind slopes.
• Defensive general, only attacked with odds in his favor, limited supplies + army.
• Not afraid to retreat, aware of forces limits, withdrew troops Battle of Almaraz (05/1812).
• Bold + decisive. Took advantage of a weak flank at Battle of Salamanca (07/1812).
• Preparation + reconnaissance key.

Question 7

Wellington’s Leadership

Answer 7

• Lead from front. Waterloo, rode Copenhagen for 14hrs.
• Patient, didn’t rush into decisions. 5yrs in Portugal before huge offensive taking Portugal, Spain and part of France.
• Cared for his men’s lives, recognized importance of morale and discipline.
• Befriended guerrilla forces, paid local farmers for produce and dealt harshly with looters.

Question 8

Wellington Learnt from Mistakes

Answer 8

• Time in India, learnt importance of supply.
• Strong supply lines.
• French supply lines disrupted by guerillas, and ran through Iberian Peninsular.

Question 9

Soldiers Training was the Reason for British Success

Answer 9

• Fired 3 rounds a minute.
• Anglo-Portuguese troops officered by British officers.
• French used conscription, British used volunteers (patriotic)(army pay poor + harsh discipline).

Question 10

Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia was the Reason for British Success

Answer 10

• 1812, Napoleon’s invaded Russia with La Grande Armee, 600k men. Lost +400k men.
• Veteran troops away from Peninsular War.

Question 11

Napoleon’s Poor Health at Waterloo was the Reason for British Success

Answer 11

• Hemorrhoids.
• Unable to ride for long.
• Limited his ability to exercise command.

Question 12

Spanish Guerilla Warfare was the Reason for British Success

Answer 12

• Spanish Ulcer tied in many French forces.
• Weakened French.
• Need 500 cavalry to escort a single messenger & 1000 men to escort a General.

Question 13

Royal Navy was the Reason for British Success

Answer 13

• Supplied army.
• Maritime Supremacy.
• Expansion of Trade.

Question 14

Funding was the Reason for British Success

Answer 14

• 1793, £18m in tax.
• 1793-1815, and extra £12m added every year.

Question 15

Coalition Partners was the Reason for British Success

Answer 15

• Prussians.
• Portuguese forces commanded by British officers, by 1810, 1/2 of Wellington’s army.
• Spanish.

Question 16

Gunnery was the Reason for British Success

Answer 16

• Brown Bess musket = 4 shots per minute
• Skirmishers used Baker rifle = 2 shots per minute but more accurate
• British fought in lines to maximize firepower.
• French columns maximized momentum, but meant on front 2/24 ranks could fire.

Question 17

The Lines of Torres Vedras

Answer 17

• Three lines of fortifications North of Lisbon to protect supply lines.
• 1810, Massena probed lines, deciding they were too strong.

Question 18

Wellington’s Scorched Earth Policy

Answer 18

• British withdrew behind the Lines due to Massena’s advance.
• Destroyed food + supplies that remained in countryside.
• Locals abandoned villages and fled to Lisbon
• Massena retreated from Lisbon in 1811, 21k losses from hunger and disease.

Question 19

Wellington’s Siege Failures

Answer 19

Siege of Badajoz, 03/1812
- +40 attempts to storming fort, horrendous losses
- City taken but cost 5k men, 40% of the total force

Question 20

Battle of Waterloo

Answer 20

• 06/1815.
• Napoleon = 72k men + 25k casualties.
• Wellington = 68k + 15k casualties men.
• Blucher (Prussians) = 48k + 7k casualties.
• British strong points: Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte, Papelotte.
• Ground wet, French Grand Battery didn’t fire until 11 o’clock.
• Wellington used reverse slope tactic, French had to run up wet, muddy hills.
• Failings of Marshall Ney + Grouchy.
• Wellington returned a hero and he had transformed the image of a British Soldier

Question 21

Ney & Grouchy’s Failings at Waterloo

Answer 21

Marshall Ney:
- Left in command. Wellington moved troops out of artillery range, Ney mistook this as retreat, sending all French cavalry.Allied infantry destroyed cavalry.

Marshall Grouchy:
- Sent with 30k men to keep Prussians away, failed.