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Record Nr. |
UNINA9910164250503321 |
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Autore |
Napier K.C.B. General William Francis Patrick |
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Titolo |
History Of The War In The Peninsular And In The South Of France, From The Year 1807 To The Year 1814 - Vol. III |
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Pubbl/distr/stampa |
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San Francisco : , : Wagram Press, , 2011 |
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©2011 |
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ISBN |
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Edizione |
[1st ed.] |
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Descrizione fisica |
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1 online resource (432 pages) |
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Collana |
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History Of The War In The Peninsular And In The South Of France, From The Year 1807 To The Year 1814 ; ; v.3 |
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Soggetti |
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Peninsular War, 1807-1814 |
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815 |
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Lingua di pubblicazione |
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Formato |
Materiale a stampa |
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Livello bibliografico |
Monografia |
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Nota di contenuto |
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Intro -- TABLE OF CONTENTS -- LIST OF PLATES. -- BOOK THE ELEVENTH. -- CHAPTER V.-July 1810 to September 1810 -- Slight operations in Gallicia, Castille, the Asturias, Estremadura, and Andalusia-Reynier passes the Tagus-Hill makes a parallel movement-Romana spreads his troops over Estremadura-Lord Wellington assembles a reserve at Thomar-Critical situation of SilveiErroneous notions of Lord Wellington's views entertained by both armies -- SIEGE OF ALMEIDA -- CHAPTER VI.-September 1810 -- Third invasion of Portugal-Napoleon's prudence in military affairs vindicated-Masséna concentrates his corps-Occupies Guarda-Passes the Mondego-Marches on Viseu-Lord Wellington falls back -Secures Coimbra, passes to the right bank of the Mondego, and is jChooses the position of Busaco -- THIRD INVASION OF PORTUGAL. -- CHAPTER VII.-September 1810 -- General Pack destroys the bridges on the Criz and Dao-Remarkable panic in the light division-The second and sixth corps arrive in front of Busaco-Ney and Reynier desire to attack, but Masséna delays-The eighth corps and the cavalry arrive-Battle of BusacoObservations -- BATTLE OF BUSACO. -- OBSERVATIONS. -- CHAPTER VIII.-October 1810 -- Masséna resumes his march-The militia close upon his rear-Cavalry skirmish near Leiria-Allies retreat upon the lines-Colonel Trant |
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surprises Coimbra-The French army continues its march-Cavalry skirmish at Rio Mayor-General Craufurd is surprised at AlemqueHe is harassed on the rear and flanks by the British cavalry and the Portuguese militia -- SURPRISE OF COIMBRA. -- THE LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS. -- CHAPTER IX.-October 1810. |
State of Lisbon-Embargo on the vessels in the river-Factious conduct of the patriarch-The desponding letters from the army-Base policy of ministers-Alarm of Lord Liverpool-Lord Wellington displays the greatest firmness, vigour, and dignity of mind-He rebuThe patriarch insults Mr. Stuart and nearly ruins the common cause -- CHAPTER X.-October 1810 to December 1810 -- Masséna's pertinacity-He collects boats on the Tagus, and establishes a depôt at Santarem-Sends general Foy to Paris-Casts a bridge over the Zezere-Abandons his position in front of the lines-Is followed by Lord Wellington-Exploit of serjeant Baxter-MasséObservations -- OBSERVATIONS. -- BOOK THE TWELFTH. -- CHAPTER I.-October 1810 to December 1810 -- General sketch of the state of the war-Lord Wellington objects to maritime operations-Expedition to Fuengirola-Minor operations in Andalusia-National Cortes assemble in the Isla de Leon-Its proceedings-New regency chosen-Factions described-Violence of allUnjust treatment of the colonies -- EXPEDITION OF FUENGIROLA. -- CHAPTER II.-November 1810 to March 1811 -- Soult assumes the direction of the blockade of Cadiz-His flotilla-Enters the Troccadero canal-Villantroys, or cannon mortars, employed by the French-Inactivity of the Spaniards-Napoleon directs Soult to aid Masséna-Has some notion of evacuating Andalusia-Factions in Cadiz -- FIRST SIEGE OF OLIVENZA. -- FRENCH SIEGE OF BADAJOS. -- BATTLE OF THE GEBORA. -- CONTINUATION OF THE BLOCKADE OF CADIZ -- BATTLE OF BAROSA. -- CHAPTER III.-March 1811 -- Siege of Badajos continued - Imas surrenders - His cowardice and treachery - Albuquerque and Valencia d'Alcantara taken by the French-Soult returns to Andalusia-Relative state of the armies at Santarem-Retreat of the French-Masséna's able movement-SkirmisMasséna retires behind the Alva -- MASSENA'S RETREAT: -- COMBAT AT POMBAL. -- COMBAT OF REDINHA. |
COMBAT OF CASAL NOVA. -- COMBAT OF FOZ D'ARONCE. -- CHAPTER IV.-March 1811 to April 1811 -- Allies halt for provisions-State of the campaign-Passage of the Ceira -Passage of the Alva-Masséna retires to Celorico-Resolves to march upon Coria-Is prevented by Ney, who is deprived of his command and sent to France-Masséna abandons Celorico and takes Masséna abandons Portugal -- BATTLE OF SABUGAL. -- CHAPTER, V.-April 1811 to May 1811 -- Estimate of the French loss-Anecdote of colonel Waters-Lord Wellington's great conceptions explained-How impeded-Affairs in the south of Spain-Formation of the fourth and fifth Spanish armies-Siege of Campo Mayor-Place falls-Excellent conduct of major TalEvacuation of Almeida -- COMBAT OF CAMPO MAYOR. -- OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH. -- FIRST COMBAT OF FUENTES ONORO. -- BATTLE OF FUENTES ONORO. -- EVACUATION OF ALMEIDA. -- CHAPTER VI.-May 1811 to June 1811 -- Lord Wellington quits the army of Beira-Marshal Beresford's operations-Colonel Colborne beats up the French quarters in Estremadura, and intercepts their convoys-First English siege of Badajos-Captain Squire breaks ground before San Christoval-His works oBattle of Albuera -- FIRST ENGLISH SIEGE OF BADAJOS. -- SOULT'S SECOND EXPEDITION TO ESTREMADURA. -- BATTLE OF ALBUERA. -- CHAPTER VII.-May 1811 -- Continuation of the battle of Albuera-Dreadful state of both armies-Soult retreats to Solano-General Hamilton resumes the investment of Badajos-Lord Wellington reaches the field of battle-Third and seventh divisions arrive-Beresford follows Soult-The lattObservations -- |
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OBSERVATIONS. -- BOOK THE THIRTEENTH. -- CHAPTER I.-1810 to August 1810. |
Lord Wellington's sieges vindicated-Operations-in Spain-State of Gallicia-Change of commanders-Bonnet's operations in the Asturias -Activity of the partidas-Their system of operations-Mina captures a large convoy at Arlaban-Bessières contracts his positioEnters Reus and opens the communications with Suchet -- OPERATIONS IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCES OF SPAIN. -- OPERATIONS IN THE EASTERN PROVINCES. -- OPERATIONS OF THE SEVENTH CORPS. -- CHAPTER II.-September 1810 to November 1810 -- O'Donnel withdraws his troops from Falcet and surrounds the seventh corps-Macdonald retires to Lerida-Arranges a new plan with Suchet -Ravages the plains of Urgel and the higher valleys-The people become desperate-O'Donnel cuts the French communication wiHe is defeated at Uldecona -- COMBAT OF CARDONA. -- CHAPTER III.-December 1810 to March 1811 -- Tortoza-Its governor feeble-The Spaniards outside disputing and negligent-Captain Fane lands at Palamos -Is taken-O'Donnel resigns, and is succeeded by Campo Verde-Description of Tortoza-It is invested-A division of the seventh corps placed under Sachet'sThe former becomes the army of Aragon The latter the army of Catalonia -- SIEGE OF TORTOZA. -- CHAPTER IV.-March 1811 to April 1811 -- Suchet prepares to besiege Taragona-The power of the partidas described-Their actions-They are dispersed on the frontier of Aragon-The Valencians fortify Saguntum-Are defeated a second time at Uldecona-Suchet comes to Lerida-Macdonald passes with an escorOperations which follow that event -- CHAPTER V.-May 1811 to June 1811 -- Suchet's skilful conduct-His error about English finance-Outline of his arrangements for the siege of Taragona-He makes French contracts for the supply of his army-Forages the high valleys and the frontiers of Castile and Valencia-Marches to Taragona-DescThe upper town is stormed with dreadful slaughter -- SIEGE OF TARAGONA. |
STORMING OF THE OLIVO. -- STORMING OF THE LOWER TOWN. -- STORMING OF THE UPPER TOWN. -- CHAPTER VI.-June 1811 to August 1811 -- Suchet marches against Campo Verde-Seizes Villa Nueva de Sitjes and makes fifteen hundred prisoners-Campo Verde retires to Igualada-Suchet goes to Barcelona-A council of war held at Cervera by Campo Verde-It is resolved to abandon the province as a lost cOperations in Valencia and Murcia -- TAKING OF MONTSERRAT. -- OBSERVATIONS. -- OPERATIONS IN VALENCIA AND MURCIA. -- BOOK THE FOURTEENTH. -- CHAPTER I.-January 1811 to June 1811 -- State of political affairs-Situation of king Joseph-His disputes with Napoleon-He resigns his crown and quits Spain-The emperor grants him new terms and he returns-Political state of France as regards the war -- POLITICAL SITUATION OF JOSEPH -- CHAPTER II.-1811 to April 1811 -- Political state of England with reference to the war-Retrospective view of affairs-Enormous subsidies granted to Spain-The arrogance and rapacity of the juntas encouraged by Mr. Canning-His strange proceedings-Mr. Stuart's abilities and true judgment of aLetters describing the imbecility of the cabinet in 1810 and 1811 -- POLITICAL STATE OF ENGLAND WITH REFERENCE TO THE WAR. -- CHAPTER III.-1811 to September 1811 -- Political state of Spain-Disputes among the leaders-Sir J. Moore's early and just perception of the state of affairs confirmed by Lord Wellington's experience-Points of interest affecting England-The reinforcement of the military force-The claims of the pHis discernment, sagacity, and wisdom shown -- POLITICAL STATE OF SPAIN. -- CHAPTER IV.-1810 to 1811. |
Political state of Portugal-Mr. Villiers' mission expensive and inefficient -Mr. Stuart succeeds him-Finds everything in confusion.-His efforts to |
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restore order successful at first-Cortes proposed by Lord Wellesley -Opposed by the regency, by Mr. Stuart, His plan of campaign. |
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Sommario/riassunto |
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A masterful, epic account of the Spanish Ulcer that drained Napoleon's resources and played a pivotal role in the end of his domination of Europe.The author served with distinction in the actions of the Light Division, such as the epic march to Talavera, the battles of Fuentes d'Oñoro, Salamanca, Nivelle, Orthes and Toulouse. He left the service a General and Knight Commander of the Order of Bath. Napier's History would rank as the most important history to be written by an actual participant, and was as controversial with his countrymen as amoung his contemporaries on the Continent. In this third volume (Mid-1810 to Sept 1811), covers the third French invasion of Portugal under Massena, although he outnumbers his British and Portuguese opponents is beset by problems, not the least of which are his sub-ordinates who are loath to obey him. As he drives into Portugal he is given a bloody nose at the battle of Busaco, and a horrible surprise at the lines of Torres Vedras, which are impregnable. Forced to retire through devastated countryside, culminating in the battle of Fuentes D'Oñoro as he tries to relieve the garrison of Almeida, which had been left behind. All in all the French would never set foot in force again in Portugal and Wellington's strategies would be vindicated.However Napier put these events in their proper context, the seemingly inexorable march to an Allied victory is far from the reality of the situation; an expedition to Fuengirola under Lord Blayney is routed, British expeditions along the Eastern coast of Spain are foiled and in the case of Taragona, it falls in sight of the force sent to aid it. The Regency of Portugal and the court in Brazil intrigue and cause trouble and strife, the Spanish troops start to rack up some small scale victories but are handled and led badly in most cases. The detached corps of Marshal Beresford fights the bloody battle Albuera, Napier is none too kind in his criticisms of his actions. |
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