Wellington. Repr (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 Excerpt: ...as soon as possible." How did Wellington look on the same situation 1 "The enemy ought to make the possession of Portugal their first object when their reinforcements will arrive in Spain," he wrote to Lord Liverpool, November 19th, penetrating Napoleon's design. "I do not think they will succeed with an army of seventy or even eighty thousand men if they do not make their attack for two or three months, which I believe is now impossible. I conceive not only that they may, but that they will make the attack before they will subdue the north of Spain." It was to parry this foreseen onset that he created the Lines of Torres Vedras, and managed to keep his great project secret, not only from the enemy, but from his own army It was towards the end of his long sojourn on the Guadiana that the Spanish Junta, against his advice, once more sent forward their soldiers to defeat--Areizaga's army was routed at Ocana and Del Parque was worsted at Alba de Tormes--and thus Andalusia was laid open to the French. Wellington held his ground as long as he deemed it prudent, but towards the end of November, when the Spanish authorities were bent on following their own course, and even trying to force him into a dependent position, he transferred his main body from the Guadiana to the Mondego, and left the trusty Hill at Abrantes to watch the Tagus valley. Then followed the invasion of Andalusia by Joseph and Soult, and the speedy capture of everything K up to the walls of Cadiz, which, saved by Albuquerque's rapid march, was now reinforced by British troops drawn from Wellington's army--troops he could ill spare, yet did spare, so ready was he to subordinate his own interests to the common cause. During the spring and summer of 1810 even his steadfas...