Peninsular Wars Flashcards
What was the size of the British Army in 1793 versus by Waterloo in 1815?
40,000 to 250,000
What was the French system of conscription?
Levee en Masse
What was the size of Napoleon’s Grande Armée when it entered Russia in 1812?
500,000
What was the Continental System?
Napoleon’s policy of preventing trade between Great Britain and continental Europe, intended to destroy Great Britain’s economy.
Why did France invade Portugal and why did Britain intervene?
Portugal was Britain’s oldest ally and an important trading port
Who did Napoleon place on the French throne?
His brother, Joseph Bonaparte
What was the size of the force that entered Portugal when and under who?
Wellington
14,000
August 1808
How many Portuguese troops were there in 1808 to support the British?
5000
What was the first battle of the Peninsula War?
Vimeiro (1808)
Who was the French Marshall at Vimeiro?
Junot
When did Wellington use his famous tactic and what was it?
Reverse slope on Vimeiro Hill
What did British lines defeat at Vimeiro?
2 French columns
How many French cannons were lost at Vimeiro?
13/23
What were the French and British losses at Vimeiro and what could have made it even better?
2000 to 720
if Burrard had allowed assault
Who replaced Burrard and what was his idea?
Sir Hew Dalrymple
refused to march on Lisbon
instead negotiate with Junot
What was the Convention of Sintra?
Convention that allowed the 24,000 French to return to France with their equipment on British ships.
Who was left in command after Wellesley, Burrard, and Dalrymple were recalled?
Sir John Moore
What was the size of Napoleon’s Grande Armée that entered Spain?
200,000
What was the size of the army Moore was left with to deal with Napoleon?
35,000
What is an example of rear-guard action?
95th Rifles fought with distinction as British Army marched to Corunna
What was the Battle of Corunna?
1809
Rear-guard action against French Vanguard that saw Moore perish but enabled 26,000 men to return home.
When did Wellington return to the Iberian Peninsula?
April 1809 into Portugal
Who did Wellington appoint in command of the Portuguese army and what happened?
Viscount Beresford
by the next year they were integrated into the regular force
What was the Battle of Talavera?
1809
Battle in Spain that saw a narrow British victory with Wellington mostly on defensive
earned him title Viscount Wellington
What were the sizes of the British and Spanish troops at Talavera?
20,000 and 35,000 (though of dubious quality)
What was the size of Marshal Victor’s army at Talavera?
50,000
Who pushed back Victor’s night time assault?
General Rowland ‘Daddy’ Hill
Who was the Spanish General that disagreed with Wellington’s plan at Talavera?
General Cuesta
How many Spanish troops retreated after hearing the sound of their rifles?
2,000
On what day did the Spanish refuse to fight at Talavera?
Sunday
What were the British losses at Talavera?
5,400 or 1/4
What were the French losses at Talavera?
7,300
Which regiment of cavalry went out of control and needed to be sent back to England?
23rd Light Dragoons
What were the Lines of Torres Vedras?
The lines Wellington retreated to as Marshal Massena invaded Portugal.
What is the Ordenanza?
The name for the Portuguese home guard.
Who was the commander of Royal Engineers tasked with constructing the Lines of Torres Vedras?
Colonel Richard Fletcher
What is the length and depth of the Lines of Torres Vedras?
20-30 miles and 3 defensive rings
How many refugees did the Royal Navy supply during the invasion of Portugal?
200,000
What was the Battle of Bussaco?
Victory that preceded withdrawal to Torres Vedras.
What was the casualty rate per week for Massena’s army outside Torres Vedras?
500 per week in February 1811
What was the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro?
Battle that took place near Almeida and was a Wellington victory.
What division was rescued by the Light Division during the campaign?
(untried) 7th Division
What did Wellington complain about after the campaign?
Things went wrong when he was not personally present.
What are Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz known as?
Gates of Spain
How many fatalities were taken at the siege of Badajoz?
5000
How long did it take for Ciudad Rodrigo to fall?
2 hours
Which regiment was famous for only taking orders from their own officer during the siege?
88th Connaught Rangers
How many days of looting, rape, and killing followed Badajoz?
2 days
What was the Battle of Salamanca?
Decisive victory and Wellington’s first real attacking battle of the war.
How many Frenchmen were defeated at Salamanca and in what time?
40,000 Frenchmen in 40 minutes
What is referred to as Wellington’s ‘masterstroke’?
Battle of Salamanca
What tactic did Wellington use to conceal troops?
Reverse slope
How many generals were killed and how many French eagles were captured at Salamanca?
2 and 2
What were the French losses at Salamanca compared to British losses?
14,000 vs 5000
What nationality was the division that failed to act as a blocking force at Salamanca?
Spanish division
What did General Foy label Wellington after Salamanca?
‘Master of maneuvering’
Which city did Wellington march into following Salamanca?
Madrid
What was the Battle of Vitoria?
Final main battle of the Peninsula that saw a decisive victory.
How many guns were captured from Joseph Bonaparte at Vitoria?
151 guns (all but two)
What was the amount of wagons left behind after Vitoria?
3000 convoy wagons, carriages and carts (worth £1 million)
What did Wellington say about common soldiers after the Battle?
“We have in the service the scum of the earth as common soldiers”
In what year did Wellington cross the Pyrenees and enter France?
1814
What was the Battle of Leipzig?
Battle that spelled the end for Napoleon on the continent.
What was the Battle of Toulouse?
Battle fought after Napoleon’s abdication.
What nickname was given to the Peninsula regarding its effects on France?
“The Spanish Ulcer”
What was the maximum size of the British army during the Peninsula War?
40,000
How many French troops were killed, wounded, or captured by British forces?
200,000
What were the British losses throughout the entire Peninsula War?
36,000
Where was Napoleon initially sent after the Treaty of Vienna?
Elba in the Mediterranean Sea
What was Wellington’s character like?
attention to detail
tactical eg. picking locations
strict disciplinarian
made sure men were fed and equipped using navy
What was Wellington’s affectionate name for his troops?
‘scum of the earth’
