History Of The War In The Peninsular And In The South Of France, From The Year 1807 To The Year 1814 Series

William Napier, was born in Dublin in 1785, one of a number of brothers who entered the British army and excelled in the service although it is his History of the War in the Peninsular that he is most remembered for. A masteful, epic account of the Spanish Ulcer that drained Napoleon's resources and played a pivotal role in the end of his domination of Europe. Napier gained his first commission as an ensign in the Royal Irish Artillery in 1800. By the time of the Napoleonic Wars he had transferred to to the 52nd Regiment, which was being trained as light infantry at Shorncliffe under Sir John Moore. Napier saw his first service in the Peninsular with the 43rd Foot under Sir John Moore during the Corunna campaign. Napier would go on to be conspicuous 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. In this first volume (1807 to beginning of 1809), Napier surveys the scene in mainland Europe and particularly Spain and Portugal, the rotten state of politics in Spain, the isolation of Portugal as the only ally of Great Britain still not under Napoleon’s domination. He starts with the machinations of the French to supplant the Bourbon regime in Spain and the joint Franco-Spanish invasion of Portugal with its flood of French troops supposed friends soon to be enemies. The initial disastrous campaigns of the splintered Spanish armies are written of in great detail, battles such as Rio Seco and Ucles, and the parlous state of the Spanish government are shown in all their infamy, juxtaposed to the second defence of Sarragossa by the valorous Spaniards. Wellington’s first short-lived campaign in Portugal, including the battle of Vimiero is given due attention and much is lavished on the campaign of Sir John Moore. A Classic, deserves to be read and re-read.

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. ]Continuing on from his first volume, Napier’s second volume focuses on the period (late 1808-mid 1810). Starting in earnest with the second French invasion of Portugal, and the re-introduction of the Duke of Wellington to the Peninsular, having being called back to England to face a Court of Inquiry over the convention of Cintra [by whom he was exonerated fully, even praised]. The state of Portugal’s defence is assessed, brave soldiers but not organised into an army as yet, and the far-reaching appointment of the English general William Carr Beresford as Portuguese Marshal detailed along with the militia raised in the provinces. Thus with inauspicious beginnings Wellington, begins his first full campaign in the Peninsula. The lightning capture of Porto and the pursuit of Soult’s Army of Portugal then ensue before Wellington makes his first foray into Spain. Culminating in the battle of Talavera, although on paper won bloodily, and a somewhat dangerous retreat follow, the fruits of bad co-operation of the parts of the Allies bordering on malign behaviour. Napier goes to some trouble to cover all areas of the Peninsular, not just those that the British soldiers were directly involved in.

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.

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 fourth volume (end-1811 to December 1812), covers the major Anglo-Portuguese offensive of 1812, whilst Napoleon embarks on his disastrous campaign to Russia, Wellington struck into mainland Spain. Although hampered by numerous supply issues, not least caused by the Spanish government or lack thereof, Wellington drove through the southern corridor between Portugal and Spain, taking the key fortresses of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz. The last siege was a particularly bloody affair and cost Wellington a great many soldiers ending in an infamous orgy of lotting. Wellington manoeuvred to keep his prizes whilst Marmont with a similarly sized French army sought to cut him off from Portugal. These movement culminated in the battle of Salamanca, which was described at the time by a French officer, as the 'beating of forty thousand men in forty minutes.'. It was a masterpiece of timing and skill, and is widely regarded as Wellington’s masterpiece. Despite all of the favourable items in the Allies favour, the concentration of the French armies led to the abandonment of Madrid after a brief period of occupation by Wellington’s troops, and the futile attempt to lay siege to Burgos. The Spanish and Anglo-Sicilian attempts in the eastern provinces ended in failure and in some cases ignominy. Much further fighting lay ahead before the French would be ejected from the Peninsular.

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 fifth volume (early 1813 to December 1813), Napier follows the Allied forces in their march to the French frontier and beyond. As Napoleon attempts to recover from the shattering failure of the 1812 Russian campaign and regain the initiative in Germany, the Duke of Wellington’s army, British, Portuguese and Spanish, begins to assert a dominance over their French opponents in the Peninsular. Despite further political manoeuvring the Spanish and with the Regency in Portugal, Wellington sent his army of a brilliant series of outflanking moves, culminating in the crushing of the French armies at Vitoria. Although he was enabled by this victory to push to the French frontier, he was left with two sieges at Pamplona and St Sebastian behind his lines,and a re-organized French army under Soult to his front. Eventually defeating the French offensive designed to relieve Pamplona, despite some less than spectacular performances by some of his subordinates, Wellington was able to invade France proper. A number of battles such as St. Pierre, and the Nivelle, all allied successes, resulted in a proper push toward final victory. Napier also covers the events in other parts of Spain, where the very capable Marshal Suchet was able to fight off a number campaigns in Catalonia or aiming for Catalonia, despite the British command of the seas.

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 Napier’s concluding volume [End of 1813 – April 1814], he chronicles the last says of the first reign of Napoleon as Wellington forcefully shifts Marshal Soult from each position and passes each defensive line with great skill. Despite the successful battle of Orthez (or Orthes), Wellington is beset with problems, he has to dispense of the services of his Spanish allies, whose looting has become a liability, along with the millstone of their internal power struggle between Ferdinand, recently released by Napoleon to sow discord, and the ruling classes. Stripped of a large part of his manpower, he pushes onward, Wellington fights the controversial battle of Toulouse and in spite of mistimed attacks, and one of his best generals dis-obeying orders he pushes Soult further back into France. The timing of news of the abdication of Napoleon from Paris is the subject to much debate and is weighed by Napier in favour of Soult, and with the final action of the war, the sally from Bayonne the hostilities come to and end until the Hundred Days. Also included in this volume but missing from the earlier editions are his defences, ripostes and counters to the carping and criticism of his initial publications, much of it emanating from Marshal Beresford stung by Napier’s harsh judgement of the battle of Albuera