Research Catalog

Title

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War : the formation, campaigns and battles of Wellington's famous fighting force, 1810 / Robert Burnham.

Author

Burnham, Robert

Publication

• Barnsley, S. Yorkshire : Frontline Books, 2020.
• ©2020

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xix, 429 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps; 24 cm

Summary

In February 1810, Wellington formed what became the most famous British unit in the Peninsular War: the Light Division. Formed around the 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the 95th Rifles, the exploits of these three regiments would become legendary. Over the next 50 months, the division would fight and win glory in almost every battle and siege of the Peninsular War. From its origins as a brigade of light infantry which was involved in the first clashes of the British army in Portugal - the battles of Rolica and Vimeiro - and, having proved its worth, was developed into a full division when it returned to the Peninsula in 1810. The Light Division became famous for the speed of its marching over vast distances, its unique form of discipline based upon respect for the ordinary rankers and allowing individual initiative. The men were trained to operate independently and, unlike the musket-armed infantry of the line who delivered mass volleys, the men of the Light Division, many of who carried rifles, concentrated on aimed fire at individual targets. As such, Wellington expected the Light Division to perform the most difficult and hazardous operations, often being the first into battle and the last to retire. Understandably, some of the most memorable characters of Wellington's army and many of its notable diarist and historians. It is through those eyes and words that this major, and long-anticipated study of the early years of the Light Division, is compiled.

Subject

• Wellington, Arthur Richard Wellesley, Duke of, 1807-1884
• Great Britain. Army > History
• Great Britain. Army
• 1807-1814
• Peninsular War, 1807-1814

Genre/Form

• History.
• Biographies.
• Informational works.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 407-414) and indexes.

Contents

• 1. The origins of the Light Division -- 2. The birth of the Light Division, 1 January-18 March 1810 -- 3. Barba del Puerco, 19-31 March 1810 -- 4. 23 March-30 April 1810 -- 5. May 1810 -- 6. The war of the infantry outposts, June 1810 -- 7. The war of the cavalry outposts, July 1810 -- 8. The fight on the Côa River, 24 July 1810 -- 9. The casualities at the Côa -- 10. Fallout from the action on the Côa -- 11. 25 July-25 September 1810 -- 12. The Battle of Busaco, 26-27 September 1810 -- 13. The retreat to Lisbon, 28 September-10 October 1810 -- 14. The lines of Torres Vedras, 11 October-14 November 1810 -- 15. The pursuit of the French to Santarém, 15 November-31 December 1810 -- 16. What happened to them.
• Appendix 1: Strength of the Light Dragoons, February -- December 1810 -- Appendix 2: Gazetteer of place names -- Appendix 3: Location of bridges and fords across the Agneda and Azabra Rivers -- Appendix 4: General Craufurd's after-action report on the combat at Villa de Puerco -- Appendix 5: General Craufurd's report on the combat of the Côa.

Call Number

JFE 21-1813

ISBN

• 9781526758903
• 1526758903

OCLC

1202939085

Author

Burnham, Robert, author.

Title

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War : the formation, campaigns and battles of Wellington's famous fighting force, 1810 / Robert Burnham.

Publisher

Barnsley, S. Yorkshire : Frontline Books, 2020.

Copyright Date

©2020

Type of Content

text

still image

cartographic image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 407-414) and indexes.

Chronological Term

1807-1814

Research Call Number

JFE 21-1813