Wellington’s Engineers: Military Engineering on the Peninsular War 1808-1814

by Mark S. Thomson

  There is certainly evidence that the Portuguese were working on defensive positions around Lisbon in early 1809, but that is not to confirm that they were working on the proposals made by Neves Costa. However, I have to say that I think it is possible. Stephen Chapman, the Commanding Royal Engineer, reported as early as March 1809 that the Portuguese Chief Engineer had presented a proposal for the defence of Lisbon to Beresford.29 It is probable that Wellington was aware of the earlier plans of Vincent and Costa but he never acknowledged that they were the basis of his proposals in 1809.

  The Portuguese certainly believe that Neves Costa had a role in the development of the proposals for the defence of Lisbon and that his contribution has been overlooked. The memorial erected to Fletcher by the Portuguese Engineers in 1911 has two plaques on its base, one to Fletcher and one to Neves Costa.

  Who Led the Work on Building the Lines?

  Mistakenly, the credit tends to be given to John Jones (working under Fletcher) as he published the comprehensive book on the subject. But the majority of the work was overseen by Captain Stephen Remnant Chapman. He had been involved from the very start, arriving in Portugal on 4 March 1809. He was the Commanding Royal Engineer until Fletcher arrived on 2 April and was working on the defences from that time. By July 1810, when he handed over to John Jones, much of the planned work planned originally had been completed. Jones did not arrive in the Peninsula until April 1810, Fletcher having asked for him to be sent out to act as Brigade Major. Although it is fair to give credit for Jones’ effort to complete the defences in the final months before the Allied troops arrived, he was only in overall command from July to October 1810, when Fletcher arrived back at the Lines with the Allied army. Through that period Jones was in constant communication with Fletcher and indirectly with Wellington.

  Whilst Chapman’s contribution is not well understood today, it was at the time, which is why he is mentioned in Wellington’s dispatches and Jones is not: ‘We are indebted for these advantages to Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher and the officers of Royal Engineers; among whom I must particularly mention Captain Chapman who has given me great assistance upon various occasions.’30 Wellington agreed to a request to write in support of the claim for a brevet majority for Chapman in 1811. This can only have been for his work on the Lines.

  When did Construction Start and When did it Finish?

  The common view is that the work on the defence of Portugal started in October 1809 when Wellington visited Lisbon. Typical comments being:

  [Work on the] celebrated Lines commenced in Oct 1809 [and] were fully completed late in 1810.

  The lines which were to check Masséna had been thought out in the British general’s provident mind exactly twelve months before the French army appeared in front of them.

  Exactly a year had passed since Wellington had had the foresight to investigate the viability of a project that was taking shape in his mind.31

  This view is not correct, either for the Lines or for the wider defence of Portugal. The earliest work started in some of the surrounding towns. Captains Patton and Landmann of the Royal Engineers, along with Lieutenants Stanway and Williams, had been in the country since August 1808 and were employed strengthening the defences at both Setuval and Abrantes as well as making plans of the various towns and countryside including Peniche and Coimbra. In September 1808, Fletcher reported that he had seven officers working on drawings of the area around St Julian.32

  The Portuguese had started work on the defences around Lisbon in early 1809. On 22 March, Chapman reported that Portuguese plans for the defence of Lisbon had been put to Beresford and that he was planning to start work on them straight away.33 In the same letter Chapman reported that he had sent Lieutenants Jones and Stanway to investigate the feasibility of using gunboats on the Tagus as far upstream at Abrantes to protect the flank of the army, a key component of the final scheme of the Lines of Torres Vedras. Richard Fletcher, who took over command of the Royal Engineers on his arrival on 2 April 1809, wrote the next day to say that work was underway for the defence of Lisbon.34 In a separate letter of the same date, Fletcher reported ‘arrangements are being made for entrenched positions in front of Lisbon – The outer line is I fear very extensive but I have not been over the ground’. Three weeks later Fletcher was still concerned about the progress with the defences:

  The works carrying on by the Portuguese in the neighbourhood of Lisbon go forward very slowly; though I desired Lieutenant Wedekind [KGL engineer under the command of Fletcher] to make his application for working parties in writing to the Portuguese Secretary at War.35

  Fletcher was also expressing concern about the south bank of the Tagus as early as 9 April 1809, commenting that supplying Lisbon by sea would be impossible if the French held the south bank.36 When Wellington moved north from Lisbon in early May, Fletcher and Chapman accompanied him and Fletcher was very unhappy when Chapman was recalled to Lisbon by Beresford to work on the defences.

  Captain Chapman is ordered to Lisbon to assist the Portuguese in fortifying the positions for covering that city and to report on the practicability of defending both banks of the Tagus by detachable independent works. He is also to visit Palmela and Setuval, to give his opinions of the strength and local importance of the towns, and of the general state and utility of the works … The loss of this active and intelligent officer from the duties of the field at this moment I cannot but truly regret.37

  In the same letter, Fletcher said that Wellington wanted to establish ten to twelve permanent works.38 Wellington also refers to this decision: ‘I have sent to Lisbon two officers of Engineers with orders respecting the defence of Lisbon, the Tagus, Palmela and Setuval.’39 The other officer ordered to Lisbon was Lieutenant Anthony Emmett, who noted in his diary: ‘Ordered to attend Captain Chapman in Lisbon to examine the ground from Belem to St Julian’s for covering the embarkation of the army, should that be necessary.’40 Wellington remained concerned about the ability to embark the army if it was threatened and the defences of St Julian were repeatedly reviewed. Even though Emmett did this in May 1809, Lieutenant Rice Jones was sent to look again in October that year. The first detailed British report on the position around St Julian was written by Fletcher himself a year earlier.41 Finally, on 14 October 1809, Wellington wrote, ‘I am down here to arrange finally for the defence of Portugal’.42 This is several months if not a year after work had started on the defences of Portugal.

  Signalling

  The use of signalling stations was not new to Portugal when the Lines of Torres Vedras were built. They had been used for some time, particularly between the main cities of Lisbon, Coimbra and Oporto and also connected the border fortresses in the north and south of the country. The telegraphs used by the Portuguese were typically either a shutter or single-arm design.

  Signalling stations were part of the original design of the Lines, although their actual completion became a bit of a battle against time and circumstance as the occupation approached. The First Line had five main signal stations at Alhandra, Sobral, Pero Negro (Wellington’s headquarters), Torres Vedras and Ponte do Rol at the western end. Jones claimed that these stations were able to send a signal from end to end in about seven minutes. Modern trials have not been able to replicate this feat.

  There were two very different types of telegraph used on the Lines. The primary system was based upon signalling used in the Royal Navy with land-based masts on which to display the signals. The codebook was similarly based on Home Popham’s naval codebook with additional phrases added where necessary. The masts were operated by seamen provided by the English Fleet in Lisbon under the command of Lieutenant Leith RN. As a backup, the much simpler Portuguese single-arm telegraph was available at each signal station in case the main mast was damaged.

  On 1 June 1810, Rice Jones recorded buying eleven telescopes for use by the signal stations.43 Initial trials showed that reading the signals was very difficult. Attempts were made to improve the situation by clearing hillt
ops that were in the line of sight of the signal stations. Eventually, it was decided that the telescopes were not powerful enough and John Jones wrote on 18 July that he would purchase better telescopes if they could be found in Lisbon. Modern trials with replicas of the telegraphs have confirmed how difficult it was to read the signals.

  As well as the difficulties in reading the telegraphs, there were also problems with their construction. The first examples were not strong enough and collapsed under the weight of yards, lines and balls. Jones reported to Fletcher:

  I am sorry I cannot give you a very favourable account of the signal stations – at every post I have visited the sailors in charge say the distance between the stations is too great and that the masts are all too light for the yards – it blew rather hard on Sunday evening and two were sprung, that on Mount Socorro so badly that we were obliged to replace it. I shall endeavour to see Mr Leith the [Royal Navy] Lieutenant in charge of the signals and obtain his ideas as to a new construction and in the meantime I have ordered stronger masts and yards to be prepared for each post.44

  A page from Home Popham’s telegraph signal book.

  Jones followed this up a few days later saying he had spoken to Admiral Berkeley who stated that Lieutenant Leith had not expressed any concerns to him. Jones then wrote to Lieutenant Leith ‘offering all the means of the [Engineer] Department to perfect the stations’.45

  In the final few weeks before the Lines were occupied, the whole plan for Wellington’s vital communications was thrown in jeopardy in circumstances that could only be described as farcical today. An argument broke out about proving additional rations for the sailors manning the telegraphs. When the Navy were informed that Wellington could not authorise this, they threatened to recall the sailors to their ships. Wellington, who must have had more urgent business, was forced into writing a constant stream of letters on the subject. When on 7 September 1810 the Royal Navy reported they were planning to withdraw the sailors if the army would not provide rations, Wellington was forced to suggest that the signalling should revert to using the simpler, but less effective, Portuguese telegraph which could be operated by ‘old seamen at Lisbon’. In the days immediately before the arrival of the Allied troops in the Lines, Wellington was still asking ‘are new telegraphs complete?’ and saying ‘I am very anxious about our signal posts’. One can only assume that the situation was remedied to Wellington’s satisfaction as they were not mentioned again.46

  Was it a Secret – or Was it Not?

  The question of how secret the building of the Lines was is an interesting one. It is easy to find many examples of people who did know, but it seems puzzling that others did not appear to. The engineer George Ross commented on 28 January 1810 that guards were stopping inquisitive people approaching the works. Interestingly, Ross also said that when he mentioned the works in his previous letters ‘he was at liberty to do so … but could not repeat now being one of the confidential agents’. As he was writing almost to family, it is clear that they had been told to keep quiet. This did not last long!

  In Portugal, steps were taken to stop inquisitive people gaining access to critical places. Wellington showed his continual concern about having a secure place for embarkation by issuing instructions about the works at St Julian: ‘[You] will allow no-one into or inspect them excepting officers of engineers … or persons having orders in writing from Marshal Beresford or me.’47

  In the Allied army there clearly was some knowledge of the Lines. As early as 23 October 1809, Ensign Aitchison reported home that Wellington had been reconnoitring the area around Lisbon, and it is said that the packet had been delayed so that he could send home his opinion on defending the city,48 and Captain Duffy of the 43rd wrote about the existence of the Lines when he passed through the area in April 1810.49

  Amongst the Ordnance officers, that is the Artillery and the Engineers, there was clearly a better understanding. Alexander Dickson first mentions the lines in his diary on 16 July 1810, but he said the Engineers had been working on them for some time so we can assume that Dickson had also known about them for some time before that. Dickson was not near Lisbon during this whole period. John Burgoyne noted in his diary on 22 November 1809 that he had ‘Heard from Mulcaster at Torres Vedras. The engineers are throwing up field works at that place and Sobral.’ Burgoyne noted in a different letter that he did not know the detail of the works due to the secrecy surrounding them. Mulcaster had said ‘you will not mention this to anyone, all being a most profound secret’.50

  George Ross, writing home to Dalrymple on 25 April 1810, said:

  I have now my hands full having commenced twenty-three redoubts … Our line of redoubts commences in front of Ericeira a few miles – and continues … to the Tagus … In front of this short position Torres Vedras and Sobral have been made as strong … field works … so as to put them out of the chance of being stormed without being breached.51

  Hew Dalrymple was in the UK at this time and it is difficult to believe that this sort of information will not have been discussed with his peers. Similarly John Squire was writing home regularly to Henry Bunbury who was Under Secretary of State for War.

  There is a very noticeable lack of mention of the Lines in Wellington’s dispatches. Was he deliberately not saying much to the government because he felt that some of the leaks of confidential information appearing in the newspapers were coming from government sources? There is no real discussion in Wellington’s dispatches about the detail of the Lines. Maybe Liverpool was concerned about the security of the British force because he did not know about the lines. It is interesting to note that immediately after Wellington’s visit to Lisbon in October 1809, when he ordered the start of work on the lines, his correspondence on the subject is quite vague unless absolutely necessary. Writing to Castlereagh on 20 October, he said: ‘I came here [Lisbon] a few days ago in order to be better enabled to form a judgement on the points referred to in your Lordships dispatch on 14 September.’

  Writing to the Marquis Wellesley on 25 October 1809 and Lord Burghersh three days later, he refers to ‘business’ in Lisbon but makes no comment on the nature of the business. However, he goes into some detail in a letter to Admiral Berkeley the next day, when asking him to advise on the best embarkation point. It is surprising that Wellington, writing to the Earl of Liverpool on 14 November 1809, which is about the first opportunity after his visit to Lisbon, makes no mention of ordering construction of the Lines and just makes a general reference to being able to ‘successfully resist’ a French attack. Bearing in mind that Wellington was also writing to Liverpool at the same time complaining about the publication of confidential information in the British press, it is maybe understandable why he was being economical with the details.

  I find the most surprising comment on the Lines is in the January 1811 edition of the Royal Military Chronicle.52 It lists the number of forts and guns present in the Lines. This seems like far too early to be making such information publicly available! Masséna was still in front of the Lines at this time. It is also interesting to note that the numbers of redoubts, men and guns mentioned in the account of Masséna’s ADC, Pelet, match exactly those given in the Royal Military Chronicle, but do not match any other report I have seen.

  What I am sure of is that although there were many on the Allied side who did know about the Lines, the French did not. They had been given some warning but did not believe that the defences would be able to stop them. Pelet tried hard to justify the failure of the French to be aware of the lines, saying;

  The cruel ravages carried out by the enemy reinforced our ignorance [of the existence of the Lines], for it seemed they would not have abused a country they wanted to save. One must never lose sight of this central idea, for otherwise we could be accused, with reason, of a lack of foresight, and even stupidity.53

  Stupidity is too strong, but I think the French were guilty of arrogance, ignoring the information they were receiving. They did not consider that Welli
ngton was eventually going to stand, but at a place of his choosing, like he did at Bussaco.

  What did the Engineers Think of the Lines?

  Over a period of more than a year many engineers were involved in the construction of the Lines and the surveying and planning work that preceded construction. Their private letters often show their true feelings about the work they were involved in. What is surprising is their lack of understanding and confidence in the defences they were building.

  John Squire, writing on 27 May 1810 to the Undersecretary of State for War Henry Bunbury, said:

  I cannot however understand our defensive operations in the interior of the country, we seem to entirely abandon the defence of the frontier … we find all our strength applied to fortifying a line, which surely neither ought nor can be defended … I feel persuaded that this extraordinary line will never be defended; and … expose us to the ridicule of both our friends and enemies.54

  George Ross wrote to Hew Dalrymple in a similar vein on 25 May 1810:

  If they [the forts] should ever be named as a sin we have to answer for, I hope the military world will be kind enough to consider that we make them but do not invent them. If the twenty-seven redoubts in my neighbourhood were upon wheels and could travel quick as thought – they might by a fortunate application of them prevent a French column penetrating with impunity.55