Warfare- Army Flashcards
Army in 1795
Absenteeism at all levels of command
‘Recruiting for rank’ put unqualified men in charge
Teens were bought commissions so they could advance from a young age
Army had around 50 thousand troops (Fr conscript army was bigger)
Impressment and Quota system needed to fill the ranks
Frederick Duke of York
Failure at Dunkirk
Duke of York’s reforms
1802 Sandhurst set up by Royal Military College to train teenagers as officers
1803 Duke of York’s school established
Army 10x bigger than in 1795 due to volunteers during invasion scare
-> 50 thousand well trained British troops available to deploy
1808 tech developments- shrapnel, rockets (area bombardment but not accurate)
Army in 1815
Long series of colonial campaigns during the peace
Napoleon’s demise
Exiled in 1814 to Elba Escaped 1815 Defeated at Waterloo Exiled in 1815 to St Helena Where he died
Events on land in the French Revolutionary war
From 1793 in the Caribbean 1795 Dutch Cape Colony 1795 Trincomalee 1793-5 Flanders and Germany 1801 Egypt
What were Wellesley’s successes in India?
1803 Assaye
1803 Argaum
Events on land in the Napoleonic War (before Peninsular war)
From 1803 in the Caribbean 1805 Hanover 1806 Sicily 1806 Dutch Cape Colony 1807 South America 1807 Denmark 1809 Walcheren
Events leading up to Peninsular War
Joseph Bonaparte imposed as ruler in Spain
Spanish Uprising
French invasion of Portugal
Battle of Vimeiro
Wellesley wants to stand and fight in Portugal when French invade
Strong position on hills
Backed by navy- in sight of sea
29th Regiment of Foot stopped French army dead
French retreat
Br don’t give chase bc Well is superseded by Burrard and Dalrymple
Battle of Talavera
July 1809
French under Soult try and fail to conquer Portugal
Well follows their retreat, plans to link up w Spanish army under General Cuesta
Outnumbered the Fr army
W places Br in strong defensive position on high ground
Troops lie down behind hill crest out of artillery line of fire
Fr assault dies down and retreats
25% of Br forces were harmed, more than Fr
Wellesley becomes viscount Wellington
Battle of Bussaco
September 1810
Massena take CR and Almeida
Welly slows his path towards Lisbon and meets him at Bussaco
W hid forces on reverse slope of a ridge, with a road to ease communication- Massena doesn’t know his advantage in numbers
Wellington had to retreat
However, French had been delayed so Torres vedras lines were now ready
Portuguese troops fully involved!
Welly has good ability to fight a defensive battle
Battle of Salamanca
July 1812
Destructive Br cavalry charge under Le Marchant
Battle of Vitoria
June 1813 W tactics of 4 columns surprise Fr, who retreat Nap rule in Spain ended! Joseph escaped France lay open to Br invasion
Factors aiding Br victory at Waterloo
Nap leaves Marshal Davout at home Rebecque ignores orders , keeping allied forces close together Fr didn't make good use of all troops Blücher Muddy weather Ney Continues wasting troops Prussians arrive
