The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes
Page 40
The don saw himself as a professional soldier, trying to bring order and discipline to his band. Some British officers, however, were uneasy with them and the methods they used to obtain intelligence, one describing them as a ‘verminous set of fellows’.
THE FRENCH
MARSHAL NICOLAS SOULT, DUKE OF DALMATIA
The son of a notary from southern France, Soult enlisted in the ranks under the old royal army, before the Revolution. After the overthrow of that system, he rose quickly through the ranks and commanded French troops during Napoleon’s early campaigns in northern Italy. He was made one of the first marshals of the newly created empire in 1804 and the following year played a key role in the Austerlitz campaign, considered by many to be the zenith of Napoleon’s power. Ruthlessly selfish, Soult exemplified the military ‘self-made man’ of the Napoleonic period. He wanted wealth, titles, accolades and the continued trust of his imperial master.
KING JOSEPH OF SPAIN
Napoleon’s elder brother shared the Bonaparte childhood in Corsica and was a lawyer by education. As the French conquered surrounding territories, Napoleon installed his relations on their thrones. Joseph was initially given Naples, but went to Spain in 1808 at his brother’s behest. It became apparent within weeks that the vast majority of Spaniards wanted nothing to do with the usurper. Joseph alternated between despair at the hopelessness of his position in this rebellious country and optimism that progress might be made in winning over his subjects, beginning with the professional classes who had most to gain from the liberalization of society.
Physically slight, Joseph shared some of his brother’s physical features (the shape of his face, his hair). His personal presence, however, proved uninspiring.
MARSHAL AUGUSTE-FREDERIC MARMONT, DUKE OF RAGUSA
When he was sent to Spain in 1811, Marmont was just thirty-six but had acquired all the honours and glory Napoleon’s empire could heap upon him. He was an artillery officer, from bourgeois origins, whose early career brought him close to Bonaparte. During the Egyptian campaign (1798–9), he served as aide-de-camp and was one of the chosen handful who went with Napoleon when he left the army to its fate and returned to Paris to seize power.
Handsome, intelligent and well connected, it was natural that Marmont should excite envy. When he arrived in Spain, many were waiting for the emperor’s favourite to come unstuck.
Index
Abrantes encampment at 1, 2
GS trains his men 1
Admiralty 1
afrancesados (collaborators) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Agueda River 1, 2, 3
Alava, General 1, 2
Albuera, Battle of (1811) 1, 2, 3, 4
Alentejo plain 1, 2
Almaraz 1
Almaraz bridge operation (1812) 1, 2, 3
Almeida fortress, Portugal 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Alten, Baron 1
American Revolution 1, 2
Andalucia 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Anger military school 1
Angouleme 1
Apsley House, London 1
Arlanzon River 1
Army of Catalonia (French) 1, 2, 3, 4
Army of Dalmatia (French) 1
Army List 1
Army of Occupation 1
Army of Portugal (French) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Marmont replaces Massena 1
Marmont reorganizes 1
cipher 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
joined by Army of the North force 1
annoys King Joseph 1
and the siege of Valencia 1, 2
moves away from the Portuguese frontier 1, 2
defence of Badajoz 1
southerly deployments 1
and Wellington’s proposed attack on Soult 1
Jourdan on 1
the Salamanca forts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Marmont a popular leader 1
pulls back to the Duero line 1, 2
cavalry deficit resolved 1, 2
manoeuvres outwit Wellington 1
in Battle of Salamanca 1, 2, 3, 4
Taupin’s Division 1
command devolves to Clausel 1
offensive against guerrillas 1, 2
the Vitoria campaign 1, 2
Army of the Centre (French) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Army of the North (French) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Army of the South (French) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Arroyo de Molinos 1, 2
Aspern-Essling, Battle of 1
Astariz, Spain 1
Asturias 1, 2
Atlantic Ocean 1, 2, 3
Austen, Jane 1
Austerlitz campaign: Soult’s key role 1, 2
Austria at war with France 1
French defeat of 1
Austrian Army 1
Avila 1
Azan ridge 1, 2, 3
Badajoz fortress, Spain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Headquarters at 1, 2
Wellington plans to besiege 1, 2
the storm of (1812) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Governor of 1
Badcock, Major 1, 2
Bailen, Battle of (1808) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Balkans 1, 2
Ballasteros, General 1, 2, 3
Bath 1
Bathurst, Earl 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Bay of Cadiz 1
Bayonne 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Beaufort, Duke of 1, 2
Beira, province of, Portugal 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Belgium 1
Benavente, Battle of 1
Bentinck, General Lord William 1, 2
Beresford, Marshal William 1, 2, 3, 4 commands the Portuguese army 1, 2, 3
River Plate expedition 1
and the Cavado valley 1
sends Warre to stop Soult 1
retrains the Portuguese 1
Albuera battle 1
the storm of Badajoz 1
in Battle of Salamanca 1, 2, 3
Berthier, Marshal Louis, Prince of Neufchatel 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 lack of news from field commanders 1
Napoleon’s right-hand man 1
grand chiffre episode 1
troops for the siege of Valencia 1
and Joseph’s new code 1, 2
the fall of Rodrigo 1
the Jardet letter 1, 2, 3
Joseph’s command of the armies in Spain 1, 2
variant instructions to Joseph and Dorsenne 1
Bilbao 1
Biscay coast, northern Spain 1, 2
Bishop’s seminary, Oporto 1, 2, 3
Black Watch (42nd Highlanders) 1, 2, 3
Bock, General 1, 2
Bonaparte, Joseph see Joseph, King of Spain
Bonaparte family 1
Bonnet, General 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Bourbons 1
Bourck, Count 1
Bowden, George 1, 2
Braga, Portugal 1, 2
Brenier, General 1, 2, 3, 4
Brighton 1, 2
Britain invasion threat 1, 2
enthusiasm for the Spanish patriotic cause 1
Anglo-Spanish alliance 1
British Army slaughter of the horses 1
initial success in Spain 1
return of the survivors 1
promotion 1
in Oporto (1809) 1
Wellington’s General Orders 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
reform 1, 2
returns to Oporto 1, 2
need for more cavalry in Iberia 1
vulnerability 1
marches 1, 2
adoption of divisions 1
advances into eastern Spain 1
supply difficulties in Spain 1
Portuguese brigades 1
‘exploring officers’ 1, 2, 3
desertions after Burgos 1
behaviour 1, 2
size of 1
units: 1st Division 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 2nd Division 1, 2;
3rd Division (Fighting Division) 1, 2
, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10;
4th Division 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15;
5th Division 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
6th Division 1, 2, 3, 4;
7th Division 1, 2, 3;
3rd Dragoons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5;
4th Dragoons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12;
5th Dragoon Guards 1, 2, 3;
7th Dragoon Guards 1;
3rd Foot (the Buffs) 1, 2;
11th Foot 1;
50th Foot 1, 2;
57th Foot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6;
7th Fusiliers 1;
Guards Brigade 1;
42nd Highlanders (Black Watch) 1, 2, 3;
50th Highlanders 1;
68th Highlanders 1;
71st Highlanders 1, 2;
79th Highlanders 1, 2;
92nd Highlanders 1, 2;
Household Cavalry 1, 2, 3, 4;
1st Hussars 1;
7th Hussars 1;
15th Hussars 1;
10th Hussars 1, 2, 3;
18th Hussars 1, 2;
Life Guards 1;
Light Brigade 1;
Light Division 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27;
14th Light Dragoons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7;
16th Light Dragoons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
22nd Regiment 1, 2;
95th Rifles 1, 2, 3, 4n, 5, 6
British Army Headquarters at Badajoz 1, 2
Wellington’s ‘Stewart method’ 1
mealtimes 1
in El Escorial 1
British Fleet arrival at Corunna 1, 2, 3
embarkation of Army at Corunna 1
arrival on the English south coast 1
see also Royal Navy
British Military Police 1
Brotherton, Captain 1, 2, 3, 4
Brownrigg, Lieutenant-General 1
Burgos 1, 2, 3, 4 march on 1, 2
Headquarters 1
Joseph’s proposal 1, 2
retreat from 1, 2
Burgoyne, Major John 1, 2, 3
Busaco, Battle of (1810) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Cabrerizos 1
Cadiz 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Caffarelli, General Louis Marie 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Campbell, Colonel 1, 2
Castile 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount 1, 2, 3, 4 and the Spanish campaign 1
tribute to Moore 1
and Vimiero 1
Castrejon 1, 2
Catalonia 1
Cavado River 1
Cavado Valley 1, 2
Charles I, King 1
Chasseurs à Cheval, Imperial Guard 1
chevaux de frises (wooden trestles with blades) 1, 2, 3
ciphers petit chiffre (small cipher) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
grand chiffre (great cipher) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Army of Portugal cipher 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Great Paris Cipher 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
common cipher for Wellington’s armies 1
Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 described 1
agents in 1
Governor of 1, 2, 3
French allowed to leave 1
Wellington’s spy 1, 2
fall of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
repairs of defences 1, 2
Curtis seeks refuge 1
Clarke, General, Duke of Feltre 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Clarke, Mary Anne 1, 2
Clausel, General Bertrand 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Clinton, Captain Lord 1
Clowes, Rev. John 1, 2
Clowes, Major Leigh 1, 2, 3, 4
Clowes, Samuel 1, 2
Clowes family 1, 2, 3
Coa River 1
Cocks, Major Edward 1, 2, 3 and Soult’s escape 1
becomes involved in intelligence work 1
on Poco Velha 1, 2
on Murray 1
and Rodrigo 1
and Napoleon’s Russian campaign 1
storms the San Miguel Hornwork 1
death of 1
code tables copies of 1, 2, 3
under Louis XIV 1
of 1750 63, 1, 2, 3, 4
involving hieroglyphics 1
Marmont’s new tables 1, 2
Soult’s 1
Coimbra 1
Cole, Lowry 1, 2
commission system 1, 2
Conradus, David Arnold: Cryptographia, or The Art of Decyphering 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Cooper, Sergeant 1
Copenhagen expedition (1807) 1
Copley family 1
Cordoba 1
Cork harbour 1
Corunna 1, 2 arrival of the Fleet 1, 2
described 1, 2
embarkation from 1, 2, 3, 4
Corunna, Battle of (1809) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Corunna Bay 1, 2, 3
Corunna lighthouse (Tower of Hercules) 1, 2, 3
Corunna peninsula 1
Costello, Rifleman Edward 1, 2, 3, 4
Cotton, Lieutenant-General Stapleton 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Crauford, Major-General Robert (‘Black Bob’) 1, 2, 3, 4
Crimean War 1
Croydon, Surrey 1, 2, 3
Cuesta, General 1, 2, 3 and the Joseph-Soult dispatch 1
Curtis, Father Patrick 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Curto, General 1, 2
Dalbiac, Lieutenant-Colonel 1, 2
Dalbiac, Susannah 1, 2
Dalmatia, Duke of see Soult, Marshal Nicolas
Danube River 1
Dardanelles 1
de la Vega, Don Andes 1
De Lancey, Lady 1
De Lancey, Lieutenant-Colonel William 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 family’s loyalty to George III 1, 2
leads reconnaissance force 1
Wellesley’s opinion of 1, 2
organizes the march to Salamanca 1
in Battle of Salamanca 1, 2
Quartermaster-General 1
death at Waterloo 1, 2
Derby 1, 2, 3
Derbyshire 1
D’Erlon, Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
D’Espagne, General Carlos 1
Desprez, Colonel François 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
dispatches interception of enemy 1, 2
Moore’s published 1
carried by Guides 1
from Soult to King Joseph 1, 2
copies 1
en clair 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
in the Army of Portugal cipher 1
Montbrun to Governor of Ciudad Rodrigo 1, 2
Marmont-Foy letter 1, 2
mention in 1
Jardet’s letter 1, 2, 3, 4
clutch of coded 1, 2
GS’s work shared with London 1, 2
Marmont’s letter on reinforcements 1
important letter from Joseph to Marmont 1, 2, 3
Wellington’s victory dispatch (Salamanca) 1
Scovell mentioned 1, 2
Saornil’s find 1, 2
from Joseph to Reille 1
GS re-examines 1
Dorsenne, General Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Douro country 1, 2
Douro gorge 1, 2
Douro River 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Dublin Castle 1
Duero line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Duguay Trouin see Implacable
Dulong, Major 1, 2
Dupont, General 1, 2
D’Urban, Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin 1 Latour Maubourg message deciphered 1, 2
at Albuera 1
on Jardet 1
and Napoleon’s Russian campaign 1
reconnaissance 1, 2
leads small Portuguese cavalry brigade 1
in Battle of Salamanca 1, 2
Ebro River 1
Egyptian campaigns 1, 2, 3
El Bodon 1, 2
El Capucino (‘the Friar’) 1
Elvas, Portugal
1, 2, 3 Headquarters in 1, 2
Elvas fortress 1, 2, 3
Elviña, Spain 1, 2, 3
Enigma 1
Esla River 1
Esla Valley 1
Estremadura, Spain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Exchequer 1
Falmouth 1
Fantin des Odoards, Captain Louis Florimond 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
fausse braie (earthen rampart) 1, 2
Fée, Antoine 1, 2
Fitzclarence, Lord 1
Flanders 1
Fletcher, Colonel 1
Fleurus, Battle of (1794) 1
Forlorn Hopes 1, 2, 3, 4
Fort Napoleon 1, 2
Foy, General Maximilien 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
France at war with Austria 1
defeats Austria 1
first attack on Portugal (1807) 1
taxation of Spanish communities 1
Army of Occupation in 1
Franceschi, General Jean Baptiste 1, 2, 3 ambushed while carrying dispatches 1, 2
maltreatment by the Spanish 1
death in captivity 1
effect of his capture 1
Frederick Augustus, Duke of York 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia 1
Frenada Headquarters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
volunteers requested 1, 2
Frenada Hunt 1
French Army nature of 1
slaughter of Moore’s regiments 1
Soult’s advance into Spain 1
corps d’armée 1
in Oporto 1
retreat over the mountains 1, 2
petits chiffres (small ciphers) 1
guides and éclaireurs 1
invasion of Portugal 1
retreat from Portugal (1811) 1
and Joseph’s cipher 1
infantry regiments 1n
bataillons de marche 1
and Napoleon’s seizure of power 1