The Peninsular Wars Flashcards
Battle of Talavera statistics?
27th June - 8th July 1809
British Commander - Arthur Wellesley.
British Strength - 20’000 infantry, 30 guns.
Spanish Strength - 35’000 infantry and 30 guns.
British Losses - 6’300 casualties.
Spanish Losses - 1’200 casualties.
French Commander - Marshal Viktor.
French Strength - 46’000 infantry, 80 guns.
French Losses - 7’400 casualties.
Battle of Talavera - Areas of depth?
- Wellington is advancing towards Madrid in an attempt to catch the French off Guard but is intercepted at Talavera.
- Spanish forces break soon after the battle starts and in turn Wellington no longer trusts them.
- First major British victory of the war but Wellington chooses to strategically withdraw after to Torres Vedras.
- There is a thick dust cloud on the Battlefield.
Battle of Fuentes de Onoro statistics?
3rd - 5th May 1811.
British Commander - Lord Wellington.
British Strength - 35’000 infantry, 2’000 cavalry, 48 guns.
British Losses - 1’800 casualties.
French Commander - Marshal Massena.
French Strength - 42’000 infantry, 4’500 cavalry.
French Losses - 2’800 casualties.
Battle of Fuentes de Onoro - Battle depth?
- The French are low on morale and have no heavy guns after Torres Vedras.
- Wellington chooses to fall back to a New Defensive line however, the 7th division are caught in the open but the light division join them and they successfully withdraw in square formation.
- Fighting continues in the village with bayonets but Wellington chooses to withdraw further showing his paternalistic nature.
Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo Statistics?
7th - 20th January 1812
British Commander - Lord Wellington.
British Strength - 20’000 infantry, 36 guns.
British Losses - 1’500 British casualties.
French Commander - Barrie.
French Strength - 2’000 infantry, 151 guns pointing in all directions.
French Losses - 2’000 French casualties.
Ciudad Rodrigo - Battle Depth?
- The siege lasted just under two weeks, initially the French walls weathered the bombardment however, using naval supremacy Wellington was able to procure heavier guns from the Government.
- The walls are breached on the 19th and Wellington chooses to carry out a night attack.
- Some British soldiers chose to sack the city over their loses with Thomas Pitt eventually restoring order.
Siege of Badajoz statistics?
6th April 1812
British Commander - Lord Wellington.
British Strength - 27’000 infantry, 52 guns.
British Losses - 4’900 casualties.
French Commander - Phillipon.
French Strength - 5’000 infantry.
French Losses - 3’600 Captured.
Siege of Badajoz Statistics?
- There were three attempts at taking Badajoz.
- Wellington aimed to send a forlorn hope into a breach made by artillery and use diversionary attacks across the nearby river to divert French attention.
- The French however, gained wind of this leading to immense casualties in the Forlorn hope, the bodies pilled up making advancing difficult.
- After the battle British soldiers became drunk and went on a rampage with some officers even dying trying to regain control.
- Wellington wept after the battle showing his paternalistic nature.
Battle of Salamanca Statistics?
22nd July 1812
British Commander - Lord Wellington.
British Strength - 48’000 soldiers.
Allied Losses - 3’100 British casualties, 2’000 Portuguese casualties.
French Commander - Marshal Marmont.
French Strengths - 46’000 soldiers.
French Losses - 15’000 casualties.
Battle of Salamanca - Battle depth?
- Wellington’s initial bombardment not only wounds Marmont but his deputy General too.
- Wellington lures the French forces forward with a feigned retreat, he uses his reverse slop strategy to lure them around the hill.
- The French flank is exposed as they advance around the hill, rather than using his usually cautious tactics Wellington chooses to send his cavalry into the flank in turn collapsing the French left wing.
- French forces see some success in Wellingtons centre but he reinforces and pushes them back.
- Wellington reaches Madrid two months after.
Battle of Vittoria Statistics?
21st July 1813
British Commander - Lord Wellington.
British Strength - 57’000 British soldiers.
Portuguese Strength - 16’000 soldiers.
Spanish Strength - 6’000 soldiers.
Total allied casualties - 840 killed, 4’000 wounded and 260 captured.
French Commander - Marshal Jourdan and Joseph the 1st.
French Strength - 60’000 French soldiers, 153 guns.
French Losses - 6’000 casualties.
Battle of Vittoria - Battle depth?
- French forces were in full retreat from Spain, Wellington wanted to cut of their escape routes.
- There French command had disputes over where the initial British attack would come from leading to chaos.
- British forces under Picton attack the French along the Zagora river and finally push them back. French forces start to retreat into France.
- The French had a caravan full of Spanish gold which British soldiers began to loot which gave the French chance to get away.
- Wellington begins his invasion of France in the aftermath.
Battle of Waterloo Statistics?
18th June 1815
British/Prussian Commanders - Lord Wellington and Blucher.
British Army Strength - 68’000 soldiers, at least 200 guns.
Prussian Army Strength - 50’000.
Allied Losses - 24’000 casualties.
French Commanders - Napoleon and Ney.
French Strength - 75’000, 252 guns.
French Losses - 27’000 casualties.
Battle of Waterloo - Battle depth?
- Wellington and his officers were at a party the night before but due to the heavy rains Napoleon’s attack is delayed by a few hours.
- The French artillery open fire at 11am officially starting the battle.
- Intense fighting breaks out at Hougamont as it is protecting the British flank from French assault, at 12:30 the doors are closed and subsequent French Attacks are defeated.
- At 1:30 in the face of a French Assault Wellington orders his soldiers to lie down and fire volleys at the French in an attempt at repulsing the assault.
- Wellington also sends the Scotts Greys to assault the advancing French infantry however, Napoleon counters with his heavy lancers.
- Prussian forces having avoided Grouchy begin to arrive at 4pm however, the French hold them off for the time being at Placenoit.
- Napoleon falls ill leaving Ney in charge of his forces, Wellington carries out a feigned retreat and hides his forces behind the reverse slope, the French cavalry under Ney charge believing the British were routing but Wellington had fooled them and had his men form square behind the Hill leading to the destruction of the French cavalry.
- More Prussians begin to arrive on the field as Napoleon’s flank is now heavily exposed meaning the battle is effectively over.
- At 7pm Napoleon’s Imperial Guard attempt a final push against the British but are defeated and French soldiers begin to surrender en-masse.
