Chapter I: Preface

Much has been written concerning Wellington and his famous Peninsular Army in the way of formal history: this volume, however, will I think contain somewhat that is new to most students concerning its organization, its day by day life, and its psychology. To understand the exploits of Wellington’s men, it does not suffice to read a mere chronicle of their marches and battles. I have endeavoured to collect in these pages notices of those aspects of their life with which no strategical or tactical work can deal, though tactics and even strategy will not be found unnoticed.

My special thanks are due to my friend Mr. C. T. Atkinson, Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, for allowing me to use the admirable list of the brigade and divisional organization of the Peninsular Army which forms Appendix II. It is largely expanded from the article on the same topic which he printed eight years ago in the _Historical Review_, and enables the reader to find out the precise composition of every one of Wellington’s units at any moment between April, 1808 and April, 1814. I have also to express my gratitude to the Hon. John Fortescue, the author of the great _History of the British Army_, for answering a good many queries which I should have found hard to solve without his aid. The index is by the same loving hand which has worked on so many of my earlier volumes.

C. OMAN.

OXFORD,
_September, 1912_.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTORY—THE OLD PENINSULAR ARMY 1

II. SOURCES OF INFORMATION—THE LITERATURE OF THE PENINSULAR
WAR 9

III. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON—THE MAN AND THE STRATEGIST 39

IV. WELLINGTON’S INFANTRY TACTICS—LINE _VERSUS_ COLUMN 61

V. WELLINGTON’S TACTICS—THE CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY 94

VI. WELLINGTON’S LIEUTENANTS—HILL, BERESFORD, GRAHAM 115

VII. WELLINGTON’S LIEUTENANTS—PICTON, CRAUFURD, AND OTHERS 129

VIII. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY: HEADQUARTERS 153

IX. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY: BRIGADES AND DIVISIONS 163

X. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY: THE REGIMENTS 178

XI. INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT: THE OFFICERS 195

XII. INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT: THE RANK AND FILE 208

XIII. THE AUXILIARIES: THE GERMANS AND THE PORTUGUESE 220

XIV. DISCIPLINE AND COURT-MARTIALS 237

XV. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH 255

XVI. IMPEDIMENTA: THE BAGGAGE: LADIES AT THE FRONT 268

XVII. A NOTE ON SIEGES 279

XVIII. UNIFORMS AND WEAPONS 292

XIX. THE COMMISSARIAT 307

XX. A NOTE ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE 320

APPENDIX I. ESTABLISHMENT AND STATIONS OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN
1809 333

APPENDIX II. THE DIVISIONS AND BRIGADES OF THE PENINSULAR ARMY,
1809–1814, BY C. T. ATKINSON, M.A., FELLOW OF
EXETER COLLEGE, OXFORD 343