Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810
Compiled by a renowned Napoleonic historian, this is the first major study of the best-known unit in Wellington’s Army.

In February 1810, Wellington formed what became the most famous 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 is legendary. Over the next 50 months, the division would fight and win glory in almost every battle and siege of the Peninsular War.

Key to the understanding how the division achieved its fame is an understanding of their excellence and tradition that was established from its founding. It began on the border of Spain and Portugal where it served as a screen between Wellington’s Army and the French. For six months while vastly outnumbered, it manned outposts, guarded fords and bridges, and fought numerous skirmishes. When it came time pull back from the border, the division endured a harrowing retreat with a relentless enemy at their heels. It was during this eventful year it developed an esprit-de-corps and a belief in its leaders and itself that was unrivaled in Wellington’s Army.

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War uses over 100 primary sources to recount the numerous skirmishes, combats, and battles, as well as the hardships of a year of duty on the front lines. Many of these sources are from British and Portuguese archives and have never been published before. Others are from long-forgotten books published over 150 years ago. It is through the words of the officers and men who served with it that this major, and long-anticipated study of the first critical year of the Light Division is told.
1137594088
Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810
Compiled by a renowned Napoleonic historian, this is the first major study of the best-known unit in Wellington’s Army.

In February 1810, Wellington formed what became the most famous 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 is legendary. Over the next 50 months, the division would fight and win glory in almost every battle and siege of the Peninsular War.

Key to the understanding how the division achieved its fame is an understanding of their excellence and tradition that was established from its founding. It began on the border of Spain and Portugal where it served as a screen between Wellington’s Army and the French. For six months while vastly outnumbered, it manned outposts, guarded fords and bridges, and fought numerous skirmishes. When it came time pull back from the border, the division endured a harrowing retreat with a relentless enemy at their heels. It was during this eventful year it developed an esprit-de-corps and a belief in its leaders and itself that was unrivaled in Wellington’s Army.

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War uses over 100 primary sources to recount the numerous skirmishes, combats, and battles, as well as the hardships of a year of duty on the front lines. Many of these sources are from British and Portuguese archives and have never been published before. Others are from long-forgotten books published over 150 years ago. It is through the words of the officers and men who served with it that this major, and long-anticipated study of the first critical year of the Light Division is told.
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Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810

by Robert Burnham
Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810

by Robert Burnham

Hardcover

$52.95 
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Overview

Compiled by a renowned Napoleonic historian, this is the first major study of the best-known unit in Wellington’s Army.

In February 1810, Wellington formed what became the most famous 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 is legendary. Over the next 50 months, the division would fight and win glory in almost every battle and siege of the Peninsular War.

Key to the understanding how the division achieved its fame is an understanding of their excellence and tradition that was established from its founding. It began on the border of Spain and Portugal where it served as a screen between Wellington’s Army and the French. For six months while vastly outnumbered, it manned outposts, guarded fords and bridges, and fought numerous skirmishes. When it came time pull back from the border, the division endured a harrowing retreat with a relentless enemy at their heels. It was during this eventful year it developed an esprit-de-corps and a belief in its leaders and itself that was unrivaled in Wellington’s Army.

Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War uses over 100 primary sources to recount the numerous skirmishes, combats, and battles, as well as the hardships of a year of duty on the front lines. Many of these sources are from British and Portuguese archives and have never been published before. Others are from long-forgotten books published over 150 years ago. It is through the words of the officers and men who served with it that this major, and long-anticipated study of the first critical year of the Light Division is told.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526758903
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication date: 12/11/2020
Pages: 248
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Having had numerous articles published on the Peninsular War and the British Army, the renowned historian and author Robert Burnham hosts the pre-eminent Napoleonic website, the Napoleon Series. This fascinating and all-embracing website, the largest of its kind, is a ‘must’ for anyone interested in the Napoleonic era.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Acknowledgements ix

Introduction xi

Abbreviations and Key to Map Symbols xvii

List of Maps xxi

Chapter 1 The Origins of the Light Division 1

Chapter 2 The Birth of the Light Division, 1 January-18 March 1810 27

Chapter 3 Barba del Puerco, 19-31 March 1810 45

Chapter 4 23 March-30 April 1810 69

Chapter 5 May 1810 83

Chapter 6 The War of the Infantry Outposts, June 1810 101

Chapter 7 The War of the Cavalry Outposts, July 1810 143

Chapter 8 The Fight on the Côa River, 24 July 1810 195

Chapter 9 The Casualties at the Côa 225

Chapter 10 Fallout from the Action on the Côa 243

Chapter 11 25 July-25 September 1810 259

Chapter 12 The Battle of Busaco, 26-27 September 1810 273

Chapter 13 The Retreat to Lisbon, 28 September-10 October 1810 295

Chapter 14 The Lines of Torres Vedras, 11 October-14 November 1810 317

Chapter 15 The Pursuit of the French to Santarém, 15 November-31 December 1810 343

Chapter 16 What Happened to Them 365

Appendix I Strength of the Light Division, February-December 1810 385

Appendix II Gazetteer of Place Names 393

Appendix III Locations of Bridges and Fords across the Agueda and Azaba Rivers 397

Appendix IV General Craufurd's After-Action Report on the Combat at Villa de Puerco 399

Appendix V General Craufurd's Report on the Combat of the Côa 403

Bibliography 407

Name Index 415

Place Index 423

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