[CHAPTER XXIV.]
PAGE
Victor retreats across the Tagus[1]
Alburquerque proposed for the command in La Mancha[2]
Plan of detaching a Spanish force toward Segovia[4]
Jealousy entertained of Cuesta[5]
Sir Arthur confers with Cuesta[6]
He requires that the passages toward the north be occupied[7]
Junction of the British and Spanish armies[8]
Opportunity of attacking the French lost by Cuesta’s indecision[9]
Distress of the British army for means of transport[10]
Sir Arthur halts[12]
Cuesta advances in pursuit of the French[12]
Junction of Joseph and Sebastiani with Victor[13]
Cuesta’s vanguard attacked by the French[14]
Alburquerque saves Cuesta from defeat[15]
Cuesta retreats to the Alberche[16]
Sir Arthur prevails on him to cross that river[16]
Position of the allies in front of Talavera[17]
Sir Arthur nearly made prisoner[18]
Battle of Talavera[19]
Cuesta decimates some of his troops[29]
State of Talavera[31]
Movements of Sir Robert Wilson[32]
Movements of Soult, Ney, and Mortier[33]
Cuesta neglects to secure the passes[33]
Intelligence of Soult’s advance[34]
Soult occupies Plasencia[35]
Sir Arthur marches against him[36]
Cuesta determines to follow Sir Arthur[38]
Cuesta joins the British[39]
They retreat across the Tagus[40]
Colonel Mackinnon removes part of the wounded[41]
Defeat of the Spaniards at Arzobispo[43]
Movements of Marshal Ney[45]
Action with Sir Robert Wilson at the Puerto de Baños[46]
The French enter Talavera[48]
Victor behaves well to the English wounded[49]
Murder of the Bishop of Coria[50]
Venegas’s army kept inactive before and after the battle of Talavera[51]
His useless attempt upon Toledo[53]
He complains of Cuesta[55]
The Intruder’s movements after the battle[56]
Venegas prepares to fight at Aranjuez[57]
Aranjuez and its gardens[59]
The French repulsed there[63]
Deliberations concerning the army of La Mancha[63]
Venegas resolves to attack the enemy[65]
The French attack him[66]
Battle of Almonacid[67]
[CHAPTER XXV.]
Soult proposes to invade Portugal[71]
Sir Arthur Wellesley raised to the Peerage[74]
Marquis Wellesley arrives in Spain[75]
Distress of the army for provisions[75]
Disputes with Cuesta concerning supplies[77]
Mr. Frere requires the removal of Cuesta[80]
Cuesta resigns the command[82]
Eguia succeeds ad interim[84]
Calvo sent to see to the supplies[85]
Lord Wellington declares his intention of falling back[86]
Correspondence with Eguia and Calvo[88]
Marquis Wellesley proposes a plan for supplying the armies[91]
His ill opinion of the Spanish government[93]
Lord Wellington objects to taking a position on the Guadiana[95]
Alburquerque appointed to the command in Extremadura[96]
Lord Wellington withdraws to Badajoz[98]
Expedition to Walcheren[100]
Inquiry into the conduct of the Duke of York[101]
Changes in the British ministry[102]
Lords Grey and Grenville refuse to join it[103]
Disposition of the French and Spanish armies[105]
Neediness of the intrusive government[106]
Measures of severity[108]
Kellermann’s edict[108]
Measures of Joseph’s ministers[109]
The Central Junta announces that the Cortes will be assembled[112]
Declaration which was first proposed[114]
Objections to it by Mr. Frere[117]
Unpopularity of the Central Junta[119]
Their difficulties and errors[120]
Scheme for overthrowing them[127]
Commission appointed by the Junta[128]
Romana’s address[129]
Reply of the Junta[136]
Guerillas[144]
D. Julian Sanchez[145]
The French repulsed from Astorga[147]
Battle of Tamames[148]
The French retire from Salamanca[149]
Marshal Soult appointed Major-General[150]
The Junta resolve on risking a general action[150]
Areizaga appointed to the command[151]
State of Madrid[152]
Condition of the British army[154]
Disposition of the French troops[155]
Areizaga advances from the Sierra Morena[157]
The Austrian commissioner remonstrates against his purpose[158]
Battle of Ocaña[159]
Treatment of the prisoners[162]
Battle of Alba de Tormes[164]
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
Gerona[167]
Strength of the garrison[170]
Crusaders enrolled[170]
Company of S. Barbara[170]
St. Narcis appointed Generalissimo[171]
All mention of a capitulation forbidden[172]
St. Cyr would have reduced the city by blockade[173]
The bombardment begins[174]
St. Cyr draws nearer Gerona[176]
S. Feliu de Guixols and Palamos taken by the French[177]
Assault of Monjuic[178]
Succours intercepted[182]
The ravelin taken[184]
Monjuic abandoned[185]
Verdier expects the town to fall[186]
Battery planted on the cathedral[187]
Distress of the city[189]
Attempt to introduce succours[189]
Garcia Conde enters with reinforcements[191]
Inadequacy of this relief[192]
Los Angeles taken and the garrison put to the sword[194]
Unsuccessful sally[195]
The French repulsed in a general assault[196]
St. Cyr resolves to reduce the city by famine[201]
O’Donnell enters the city[202]
Failure of the attempt to relieve it[203]
St. Cyr gives up the command to Augereau[204]
O’Donnell effects his retreat[205]
Magazines at Hostalrich taken by the French[207]
Augereau offers favourable terms[208]
Destruction of a French convoy by the British ships[209]
Increased distress in the city[211]
Report concerning the state of health[212]
Some of the outworks taken by the French[214]
Last sally[215]
Alvarez becomes delirious[216]
Capitulation[217]
Death of Alvarez[220]
Eroles escapes[221]
[CHAPTER XXVII.]
Buonaparte divorces the Empress Josephine[222]
Farther requisition for the armies in Spain[224]
Display of Spanish flags at Paris[225]
Address of the Central Junta to the nation[227]
State of public opinion in England[233]
Lord Wellington’s views with regard to Portugal[235]
The King’s speech[236]
Earl St. Vincent[237]
Lord Grenville[238]
Honourable Mr. Ward[239]
Mr. Ponsonby[240]
Mr. Whitbread[240]
Mr. Perceval[242]
Vote of thanks to Lord Wellington opposed by the Earl of Suffolk[244]
Earl Grosvenor[244]
Earl Grey[244]
Marquis Wellesley[244]
Lord Grenville[247]
General Tarleton[247]
Mr. Whitbread[248]
Pension voted for Lord Wellington[248]
Opposed by Sir Francis Burdett[249]
Mr. Whitbread[250]
Mr. Wilberforce[251]
Mr. Canning[251]
The Common Council petition against the pension[252]
Marquis of Lansdowne[254]
Lord Holland[255]
Marquis Wellesley[257]
[CHAPTER XXVIII.]
Supineness of the Central Junta[264]
Romana refuses the command[266]
Montijo and D. Francisco Palafox imprisoned[266]
Attempts to produce a false confidence[267]
Scheme of Count Tilly[268]
The Junta announce their intention to remove[270]
Murmurs at Seville[272]
Invasion of Andalusia[273]
The French pass the Sierra Morena[274]
False hopes held out to the people by the Central Junta[274]
Instructions to Alburquerque[275]
Insurrection at Seville against the Central Junta[277]
Saavedra takes upon himself the temporary authority[279]
The French enter Seville[279]
They overrun Andalusia[280]
They push for Cadiz[281]
Alburquerque’s movements[282]
Cadiz saved by Alburquerque[284]
He is appointed governor of Cadiz by the people[284]
A Junta elected at Cadiz[285]
Resignation of the Central Junta[286]
A Regency appointed[288]
Last address of the Central Junta[289]
The Regents[295]
Their injustice toward the members of the Central Junta[296]
Proclamation of the Intruder[299]
Language of the despondents in England[301]
The Isle of Leon[303]
Victor summons the Junta of Cadiz[306]
Ill will of the Junta towards Alburquerque[307]
The troops neglected[308]
Alburquerque applies to the Regency in their behalf[310]
The Junta publish an attack against Alburquerque[311]
He resigns the command, and is sent ambassador to England[312]
[CHAPTER XXIX.]
The Regency[314]
Schemes for delivering Ferdinand[316]
Baron de Kolli’s attempt[316]
Overtures for peace[321]
Buonaparte’s intention of establishing a Western Empire[323]
Money voted for the Portugueze army[326]
Debates upon this subject[326]
Marquis Wellesley[326]
Lord Grenville[328]
Lord Liverpool[332]
Earl Moira[333]
Lord Sidmouth[334]
Marquis of Lansdowne[334]
Lord Erskine[335]
Lord Holland[335]
Mr. Perceval[338]
Sir John Newport[339]
Mr. Villiers[339]
Mr. Curwen[340]
Mr. Leslie Foster[340]
General Ferguson[349]
Mr. Fitzgerald[350]
Lord Milton[350]
Mr. Bankes[350]
Mr. Jacob[351]
Mr. Whitbread[352]
Mr. Huskisson[354]
Mr. Bathurst[354]
Reform in the Portugueze army[356]
[CHAPTER XXX.]
O’Donnell appointed to the command in Catalonia[367]
Garcia Conde made governor of Lerida[367]
Rapid promotion in the Spanish armies[368]
Conduct of the people of Villadrau[369]
Hostalrich[371]
Commencement of the siege[372]
First success of O’Donnell[373]
Desertion from the French army[373]
Want of concert between the provinces[374]
Negligence of the Valencian government[376]
The force on the Valencian frontier dispersed[377]
Suchet advances against Valencia[378]
He retreats[380]
Conspiracy discovered in that city[381]
The French boast of success[382]
O’Donnell’s successful operations[383]
Siege of Hostalrich[387]
Retreat of the garrison[390]
Las Medas and Lerida surrendered[394]
Augereau superseded by Marshal Macdonald[395]
Fort Matagorda taken by the French[396]
Storm at Cadiz[398]
Cruel usage of the French prisoners in the bay[399]
Escape of the prison ships[400]
Insurrection and massacre of the prisoners at Majorca[402]
Prisoners sent to Cabrera[402]
Their inhuman treatment there[403]
Marshal Soult’s edict[404]
Counter edict of the Regency[405]
[CHAPTER XXXI.]
Inactivity before Cadiz[407]
The Regents send for Cuesta[407]
Badajoz secured by Romana[408]
The British take a position on the frontiers of Beira[408]
Astorga summoned by the French[410]
Siege of Astorga[411]
Its surrender[412]
Affair at Barba del Puerco[414]
Massena appointed to the army of Portugal[415]
Ciudad Rodrigo[416]
The French besiege it[417]
D. Julian Sanchez[418]
Marshal Ney summons the place[418]
Situation of Lord Wellington[420]
Spirit of the inhabitants[420]
Nunnery of S. Cruz attacked[421]
Convent of S. Domingo recovered[422]
Julian Sanchez effects his escape from the city[423]
State of the British army[425]
A practicable breach made[426]
The place capitulates[428]
Conduct of the French[429]
Speculations upon the campaign[431]
La Puebla de Sanabria occupied by the French[434]
The Portugueze retake it[436]
[CHAPTER XXXII.]
Massena’s proclamation to the Portugueze[440]
The French invest Almeida[441]
Almeida[442]
Fort Conception abandoned[444]
Affair on the Coa[445]
Desponding letters from the army[448]
Apprehensions expressed in England[450]
Ney summons the governor of Almeida[451]
Portugueze officers in Massena’s army[452]
The Portugueze ordered to retire before the enemy[454]
Siege of Almeida[455]
Surrender of the place[456]
The Portugueze prisoners enlist and desert[457]
Condemnation of their conduct[458]
Militia forced into the French service[459]
They escape and rejoin the allies[460]
Changes in the Portugueze Regency[461]
Conduct of the Portugueze government[463]
Arbitrary arrests at Lisbon[465]
Apprehensions of the British government[467]
Movements of Regnier’s corps, and of General Hill[470]
Massena advances into Portugal[471]
Ney and Regnier join him at Celorico[472]
The French army collected at Viseu[474]
Lord Wellington crosses to the Serra de Busaco[474]
Busaco[476]
Battle of Busaco[478]
Behaviour of the Portugueze troops[482]
Massena marches into the Porto road[484]
Colonel Trant’s movements[485]
The allies withdraw from Busaco[487]
Trant retreats to the Vouga[487]
The allies cross the Mondego[489]
Flight of the inhabitants from Coimbra[490]
The French enter Coimbra[490]
The Portugueze people fly before the enemy[491]
Hopes and expectations of the French[493]
Confusion at Condeixa[494]
Leiria forsaken[495]
Alcobaça forsaken by the monks[496]
Surprise at Alcoentre[497]
The French discover the lines[498]
Feelings of the British army[499]
Lines of Torres Vedras[500]
Romana joins the allies[504]
Trant surprises the French in Coimbra[504]
He escorts his prisoners to Porto[507]
Difficulties of Massena’s situation[509]
His demonstrations in front of the lines[511]
Montbrun sent against Abrantes[512]
The French army subsists by plunder[513]
Deserters form themselves into a corps of plunderers[515]
State of Lisbon[516]
Opinions of the opposition in England[517]
General La Croix killed[518]
Massena retreats from the lines[520]
Lord Wellington advances to Santarem[521]
Both armies go into cantonments[522]
The King’s illness[523]
Proceedings concerning a Regency[525]
Mr. Perceval[527]
Troops sent to Portugal[530]
Issues of money required[531]
Conduct of Lord Grenville as Auditor of the Exchequer[532]
State of the opposition[536]
Their expectations[538]
Language of the anarchists[538]
Mr. Perceval popular at this time[542]
Schemes for a new ministry[544]
The King’s opinion during an interval of amendment[545]
The Prince Regent announces his intention of making no change[546]
Mr. Perceval’s reply[547]

HISTORY
OF THE
PENINSULAR WAR.

CHAPTER XXIV.

SIR A. WELLESLEY ENTERS SPAIN. BATTLE OF TALAVERA. RETREAT OF THE BRITISH ARMY. DEFEAT OF THE SPANIARDS AT PUENTE DEL ARZOBISPO AND ALMONACID.

♦1809.♦

♦Victor retreats beyond the Tagus.♦

The head-quarters of Marshal Victor, after he returned from his movement in favour of Soult to his former position, were at Truxillo: Cuesta was on his left flank, having his head-quarters at Fuente del Maestro, and his advance at Calemonte on the Guadiana, a league from Merida. The British General had formed a plan for cutting off the enemy’s retreat by a movement through Castello Branco and Plasencia to the bridge of Almaraz; this he relinquished, because it did not coincide with Cuesta’s opinion, and because he found it impossible to prevail upon that general to choose a secure position, or to concentrate his army, which was distributed with so little judgement in an open country, that if Victor had attacked it, an easier victory might have been obtained than that of Medellin. The French have seldom suffered such opportunities to pass, and Sir Arthur was very apprehensive that the army, which had been raised with such exertions, would be dispersed before he could effect a junction with it. But Victor was content to forego this advantage rather than risk the danger of being cut off from Madrid by such an operation as Sir Arthur had meditated; he broke up, therefore, at the beginning of June, and retreated across the Tagus at Almaraz; Cuesta followed, without obtaining any advantage over him in his retreat, and sufficiently fortunate that the French Marshal was in too much fear of a better army, to profit by the want of discipline in the Spaniards and the want of skill in their commander.

♦Alburquerque proposed for the command in La Mancha.♦