Wellington Against Massena
Page 1
First published in Great Britain in 2007 by
Pen & Sword Military
An imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Copyright © David Buttery, 2007
ISBN 1 84415 484 X
Digital Edition ISBN: 978 1 84468 361 1
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Contents
List of plates
List of maps
Chronology
Preface
Chapter 1 THE PENINSULAR WAR
Chapter 2 SON OF THE ARISTOCRACY
Chapter 3 CHILD OF VICTORY
Chapter 4 THE KEY TO PORTUGAL
Chapter 5 THE THIRD INVASION
Chapter 6 BUSAÇO RIDGE
Chapter 7 QUE DIABLE!
Chapter 8 THE RETREAT
Chapter 9 A LAST CHANCE
Chapter 10 THE MOST DANGEROUS HOUR OF THE WAR
Chapter 11 THE END OF THE OLD FOX
Chapter 12 TOURING THE PENINSULA
Notes
Bibliography
List of plates
(between pages 112 and 113)
1. Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.
2. Marshal André Massena.
3. The Convent at Mafra.
4. A typical view of the border region.
5. The western side of Ciudad Rodrigo.
6. Ciudad Rodrigo’s impressive defences.
7. A French storming party ascends the breach at Ciudad Rodrigo.
8. The gorge of the River Côa.
9. The bridge over the River Côa.
10. The devastation of the land by the Allies.
11,12 & 14. Resistance in Iberia led to a cycle of atrocity and reprisal during French occupation.
13. The French encounter difficulties maintaining lines of communication.
15. The gateway of São Francisco.
16. Marshal Michel Ney.
17. Craufurd’s Rock above Sula village.
18. Portugal’s monument to the slain at Busaço.
19. Massena’s narrow escape at the Lines of Torres Vedras.
20. A typical redoubt in the Lines of Torres Vedras.
21. Fort St. Julien.
22. The house where Wellington maintained his headquarters to monitor the Lines of Torres Vedras.
23. The Portuguese Hercules monument commemorating the lines that saved Lisbon.
24. Napoleon hears of Massena’s difficulties from General Foy.
25. A footbridge over the Dos Casas at Fuentes de Oñoro.
26. The old village of Fuentes de Oñoro.
27. The church of Fuentes de Oñoro.
28. Massena’s withdrawal from Portugal.
29. Craufurd and Houston conducted a masterful retreat across the plain.
List of maps
1. The Iberian Peninsula 1808–1814.
2. The Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.
3. The Combat on the Côa.
4. The Siege of Almeida.
5. Reynier’s Attack at Busaço.
6. Ney’s Attack at Busaço.
7. The Lines of Torres Vedras.
8. The Combat at Sabugal.
9. Fuentes de Oñoro, 4 May 1811.
10. Fuentes de Oñoro, 5 May 1811.
Map symbols
INFANTRY
British
French
Portuguese
CAVALRY
British
French
Portuguese
ARTILLERY
Chronology
1758 6 May Birth of Andrea Massena
1769 1 May Birth of Arthur Wesley
15 August Birth of Napoleon Buonaparte
1774 10 May Death of Louis XV. Accession of Louis XVI
1775 18 August Massena enlists in Régiment Royal-Italien
1777 18 April Massena is promoted to sergeant
1781 Death of Lord Mornington. Wesley enters Eton
1784 4 September Massena is promoted to Warrant Officer (Adjutant)
1787 7 March Wesley enters the army as an Ensign
25 December Wesley promoted Lieutenant
1789 17 June National Assembly assumes governmental powers
14 July The storming of the Bastille
3 August Massena discharged from Royal Army
10 August Massena marries Rosalie Lamarre
1790 30 June Wesley becomes MP for County Trim, Ireland
1791 20 June Flight of Louis XVI to Varennes
30 June Wesley promoted Captain
17 September Massena enlists in Volontaires du Var, 2nd Battalion
1792 1 February Massena is elected to command his battalion
20 April France declares war on Austria and Sardinia
19 August Prussia invades France
21 September Establishment of the National Convention
22 September French monarchy abolished
1793 21 January Louis XVI is executed
The Committee of Public Safety is established
31 May The Reign of Terror begins
25 June Birth of Prosper Massena
22 August Massena is promoted to Brigadier-General
27 August Royalists in Toulon side with the British
30 September Wesley promoted Lieutenant-Colonel (Goes to command brigade in Flanders 1794–1795)
15–16 October Jourdan and Carnot defeat the Allies at Wattignies
16 October The execution of Marie-Antoinette
18 December Toulon falls to the French
20 December Massena is promoted to Divisional General
1794 15 January Massena commands the right wing of the Army of Italy
4 March Buonaparte assumes command of the artillery in the Army of Italy
25 June Jourdan defeats the Austrians at Fleurus
27 July Coup d’état of 9 Thermidor sees the fall of Robespierre and the end of ‘the Terror’
1795 5 April Peace of Bâle between France and Prussia
4 October Coup d’état of 13 Vendémaire
Buonaparte commands the army of the Interior
1 November The Directory replaces the Convention government
1796 2 March Bonaparte (formerly Buonaparte) appointed commander of the Army of Italy
9 March Bonaparte marries Josephine Beauharnais
12–21 April Battles of Montenotte, Millésimo, Dego and Mondovi between Sardinia and France
3 May Wesley made full Colonel in the army
10 May Battle of Lodi
15 May Bonaparte enters Milan
3 August Battle of Lonato
5 August Battle of Castiglione
8 September Battle of
Bassano
15–17 Nov. Battle of Árcola
1797 14 January Battle of Rivoli
2 February Surrender of Mantua
4 September Coup d’état of 18 Fructidor
17 October Treaty of Campo-Formio between France and Austria
1798 19 February Massena arrives in Rome to assume command
15 March Massena recalled in semi-disgrace
19 May Bonaparte sails for Egypt
May to August The Great Rebellion in Ireland
21 July Battle of the Pyramids
1 August French fleet destroyed at Aboukir Bay by Nelson
10 December Massena receives command of the Army of Helvetia
1799 1 March The War of the Second Coalition
25 March Austrians defeat Jourdan at Stockach
4 May Seringapatam falls to Wellesley. Death of Tippoo Sultan. Wellesley (formerly Wesley) becomes Governor of Mysore
20 May Bonaparte abandons the siege of Acre
4 June Austrians force Massena back at the first battle of Zurich
17-2 June Battle of the Trebbia. Suvórov defeats MacDonald
18 June Coup d’état of 30 Prairial
15 August Battle of Novi. Joubert killed in Russian victory
25 Sept.-10 Oct. Second battle of Zurich. Massena defeats Austro-Russians
9 October Bonaparte lands at St. Raphaël, France
9 November Coup d’état of 18 Brumaire. Bonaparte becomes First Consul
25 November Massena commands the Army of Italy
1800 5 April Austrians attack Massena at Genoa
15 May Bonaparte crosses the Great St. Bernard Pass into Italy
4 June Massena capitulates at Genoa
14 June Battle of Marengo. One of Bonaparte’s greatest victories
13 August Massena is dismissed from command of the Army of Italy
1 January Act of Union in Ireland
9 February Peace of Lunéville between France and Austria
14 March William Pitt resigns after George III refuses Catholic emancipation. Addington subsequently becomes Prime Minister
23 March Tsar Paul I dies and is succeeded by Alexander I
14 September French evacuate Egypt
14 September Camp established at Boulogne for the Invasion of England
1802 25 March Peace of Amiens between France and Great Britain
4 August Bonaparte made First Consul for life
1803 16 May Great Britain declares war on France
6 August Second Mahratta War
12 August Ahmednuggur falls
23 September Battle of Assaye
29 November Battle of Argaum
15 December Gawilghur capitulates
1804 7 April Execution of the duc d’Enghien
10 May Addington resigns as Prime Minister, replaced by Pitt
18 May Napoleon I declared Emperor of France
19 May Eighteen generals created marshals of France including Massena
1 September Wellesley awarded Order of the Bath
2 December Napoleon’s Coronation as Emperor at Nôtre Dame
1805 10 March Wellesley leaves India to return to Europe
9 August Third Coalition formed against France
23 August Massena commands Army of Italy
19 October Mack surrenders at Ulm
21 October Naval battle of Trafalgar
28–31 October Battle of Caldiero
2 December Battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon’s greatest victory
26 December Treaty of Pressburg between Austria and France
1806 23 January The death of William Pitt
13 February Massena enters Naples
1 April Joseph Bonaparte created King of Naples
1 April Wellesley becomes MP for Rye, Sussex
10 April Wellesley marries Kitty Pakenham
18 July Gaeta falls to Massena’s army
15 September Prussia joins Anglo-Russian Coalition
14 October Battles of Jena and Auerstädt
21 November Napoleon issues Berlin Decrees to blockade Great Britain
1807 3 February Birth of Arthur Richard Wellesley (firstborn)
8 February Battle of Eylau
3 April Wellesley made Chief Secretary of Ireland
March–July Massena commands V Corps of the Grande Armée in Poland
14 June Battle of Friedland
7–9 July Treaty of Tilsit between France, Russia and Prussia
7 September British capture Copenhagen and siege Danish fleet
27 November Portuguese Royal family sails for Brazil
30 November Junot occupies Lisbon
1808 March–July Massena and eleven other generals are created Dukes
25 April Wellesley promoted Lieutenant-General
2 May Spanish rebel against Murat’s occupying army
10 May Joseph Bonaparte created King of Spain
12 July Wellesley commands expeditionary force to Portugal
20 July Dupont surrenders at Bailén
1 August British land at Mondego Bay
17 August Battle of Roliça
21 August Battle of Vimeiro
30 August French evacuate Portugal after the Convention of Cintra. Wellesley recalled to England
8 November Napoleon invades Spain
4 December Napoleon enters Madrid
1809 16 January Battle of Corunna
9 March Soult invades Portugal
April Wellesley resigns as Chief Secretary of Ireland. Sails for Portugal
6 April Archduke Charles invades Bavaria – war between France and Austria
20–23 April Battle of Eckmühl
12 May Battle of Oporto
13 May Napoleon enters Vienna
17 May Napoleon annexes the Papal States
20–23 May Battle of Aspern-Essling
5–6 July Battle of Wagram
6 July Pope Pius VII arrested by the French
27–28 July Battle of Talavera
4 September Wellesley created Viscount Wellington
Sept–Oct Wellesley orders the construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras
July–September British expedition to Walcheren
4 October Spencer Perceval becomes Prime Minister
14 October Treaty of Schönbrunn between France and Austria
1810 2 April Napoleon marries Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria
17 April Massena commands Army of Portugal
9 July Ciudad Rodrigo falls to Massena
24 July Combat on the Côa. Beginning of the Third Invasion
27 August Almeida capitulates to the French
27 September Battle of Busaço
3 October Massena enters Coimbra
8 October Wellington enters the Lines of Torres Vedras
10–14 October French halt before the Lines of Torres Vedras
14 November Massena withdraws to Santarém-Rio Maior
1811 5 March Massena begins the retreat
11 March Badajoz falls to the French
22 March Massena dismisses Marshal Ney from command
3 April Battle of Sabugal. French army leaves Portugal
3-5 May Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro
10 May Massena relieved of command
16 May Battle of Albuera
1812 19 January Ciudad Rodrigo falls to Wellington
6 April Badajoz falls to Wellington
11 May Perceval is assassinated in the House of Commons
24 June Napoleon’s Grande Armée invades Russia
22 July Battle of Salamanca
18 August Wellington created Generalissimo of Spanish Army
7 September Battle of Borodino
14 September Napoleon enters Moscow
27 November French retreat across the Beresina
14 December Ney commands the rearguard crossing the Niemen
1813 16 March Prussia declares war on France
14 April Massena appointed Governor of Toulon Military District
3
May Battle of Lützen
21–22 May Battle of Bautzen
21 June Battle of Vittoria
20–30 July Battle of the Pyrenees
12 August Austria declares war on France
31 August San Sebastian falls to Wellington
16–19 October Battle of Leipzig. Major defeat for Napoleon
1814 1 March Treaty of Chaumont
31 March Allies enter Paris
10 April Battle of Toulouse
11 April Napoleon abdicates. Treaty of Fontainebleau
26 April Louis XVIII proclaimed King of France
3 May Wellington created Duke
4 May Napoleon reaches Elba in exile
20 May First Treaty of Paris
5 July Wellington made Ambassador to the French Court
1 November Congress of Vienna opens
1815 26 February Napoleon escapes from Elba
1 March Napoleon lands at Golfe-Juan
20 March Napoleon enters Paris. Beginning of the ‘Hundred Days’
16 June Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras
18 June Battle of Waterloo – Napoleon’s final defeat
22 June Napoleon abdicates
7 July Allies enter Paris
5 October Napoleon reaches St. Helena and final exile
20 November Second Treaty of Paris
7 December Execution of Marshal Ney
1816 1 January Massena dismissed from command by Louis XVIII
1817 4 April Death of Massena
10 April Massena’s funeral
1821 5 May Death of Napoleon on St. Helena
1852 14 September Death of the Duke of Wellington
Preface
The Third Invasion of Portugal marked a turning point in the Peninsular War, a struggle that played a crucial part in the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte and his Empire. Fought in an isolated and hostile region, it witnessed the clash of two of Europe’s finest generals, with neither gaining the upper hand until the end of the campaign. Though Wellington’s past is well known, this work examines the background of André Massena in some detail, whose origins and character are somewhat mysterious and controversial. It also examines their clash at Fuentes de Oñoro, the relevance of which is often overlooked, being one of the closest of Wellington’s career. With the current level of interest in the Peninsular War, I feel that there is a place for a reexamination of this fascinating campaign, which played such a key role in the long Iberian conflict.
I have received considerable assistance in the research and production of this book and feel obliged to thank a number of organisations and individuals. The staff of the British Library were very helpful and many of the rare books I have used, particularly from the French side of the conflict, would have been unavailable without access to their collection. The archives of the National Army Museum have also proved useful, providing several primary sources from eyewitnesses. As a former student, the University of Leicester’s library staff were extremely helpful, especially in providing access to newspaper and journal sources. I would particularly like to thank David Charlton, whose help and advice is much appreciated.