Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810
“A detailed and riveting account of the Light Division and its three regiments, 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the 95th Rifles . . . An important book.” —Firetrench

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.

How the division achieved its fame began on the border of Spain and Portugal where it served as a screen between Wellington’s Army and the French. 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—many never published before—to recount the numerous skirmishes, combats, and battles, as well as the hardships of a year of duty on the front lines. 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.

“Given the limited scope of the book, covering only one year of the Peninsular campaign, the depth of the study is truly remarkable . . . An excellent history of the Light Division ‘Warts and All.’”—The Napoleon Series
1137594088
Wellington's Light Division in the Peninsular War: The Formation, Campaigns & Battles of Wellington's Famous Fighting Force, 1810
“A detailed and riveting account of the Light Division and its three regiments, 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the 95th Rifles . . . An important book.” —Firetrench

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.

How the division achieved its fame began on the border of Spain and Portugal where it served as a screen between Wellington’s Army and the French. 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—many never published before—to recount the numerous skirmishes, combats, and battles, as well as the hardships of a year of duty on the front lines. 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.

“Given the limited scope of the book, covering only one year of the Peninsular campaign, the depth of the study is truly remarkable . . . An excellent history of the Light Division ‘Warts and All.’”—The Napoleon Series
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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

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Overview

“A detailed and riveting account of the Light Division and its three regiments, 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the 95th Rifles . . . An important book.” —Firetrench

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.

How the division achieved its fame began on the border of Spain and Portugal where it served as a screen between Wellington’s Army and the French. 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—many never published before—to recount the numerous skirmishes, combats, and battles, as well as the hardships of a year of duty on the front lines. 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.

“Given the limited scope of the book, covering only one year of the Peninsular campaign, the depth of the study is truly remarkable . . . An excellent history of the Light Division ‘Warts and All.’”—The Napoleon Series

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781526758910
Publisher: Frontline Books
Publication date: 01/04/2022
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 248
File size: 34 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

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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