Salamanca Campaign 1812

by Tim Saunders

Overview

After a gap of two years, the 1812 Salamanca Campaign saw Wellington taking the offensive in Spain against Marshal Marmont’s Army of Portugal. Marching from the border fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo which fell to the Allies in January, neither commander was willing to take the risk of a general action without a clear tactical advantage. The result were stand-offs as Wellington offered battle on the San Christóbal Heights, but once the small French-garrisoned forts left behind in Salamanca fell, Marmont withdrew to the Douro. For over a week the two armies shared cooling waters of the river before Marmont ‘humbugged’ Wellington and fell on the Allied left flank at Castrejón. Wellington rushed to the aid of the Light and 4th divisions with the heavy cavalry. Over the following days Marmont dexterously maneuvered Wellington back towards Salamanca, with both armies within cannon shot still not risking battle.

When it seemed Wellington would have to march back to the safety of Portugal, Marmont finally made a mistake on the plains south of Salamanca on 22 July 1812, by allowing his army to become over extended. Wellington saw what was happening and after weeks of marching and counter marching, the battle the soldiers earnestly hoped for was on.

In the past it has been difficult to place the fighting on the ground in the center of the Salamanca battlefield, where ‘vast clouds of smoke and dust that rolled along the basin’ obscured vision even for those fighting. Supplementing their letters, diaries and memoirs with modern geographical aids, archaeology and a stout pair of boots, it is now possible to reconcile the sequence of the battle with locations, in a way in which it was not feasible even a few years ago.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399001366
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	03/10/2022
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x (d)

About the Author

Tim Saunders served as an infantry officer with the British Army for thirty years, during which time he took the opportunity to visit campaigns far and wide, from ancient to modern. Since leaving the Army he has become a full time military historian, with this being his sixteenth book, has made nearly fifty full documentary films with Battlefield History and Pen & Sword. He is an active guide and Accredited Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Introduction vii

1 The Situation in Spring 1812 1

2 Plans and Preparations 21

3 The Opening Moves 37

4 To the Duero and Back 63

5 The Approach to Battle 93

6 Morning, 22 July 1812 107

7 The Right Wing 135

8 The Centre 169

9 End of the Battle 187

10 Pursuit and Garcihernández 211

Appendices

I Order of Battle: Salamanca 239

II Wellington's Salamanca Dispatch 243

Notes 251

Index 259