January to 21 July 1812
Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and the Douro
In January 1812 Wellington lays siege to Ciudad Rodrigo, held by 1,800 French under General Barrié, and storms it through two breaches on the evening of 19 January, losing about 1,700 men. He then turns south to Badajoz, where 27,000 allied troops besiege 5,000 French under General Philippon from 16 March. On the night of 6 April they storm three breaches and the castle, losing some 4,800 killed and wounded in a few hours, and the troops sack the town for three days, killing or injuring 200 to 300 of its people.
Picton storming the castle of Badajoz, print by Thomas Sutherland, 1815Wikimedia Commons, Thomas Sutherland, Public domain (Portrait of Genl. Sir Thomas Picton storming the moorish Castle of Badajos. March 31st 1812 (4671793).jpg)
In May General Hill destroys the bridge over the Tagus at Almaraz, the only direct link between the armies of Soult and Marmont. On 13 June Wellington crosses the Agueda and advances on Salamanca, where the French have turned three convents into forts. They surrender on 27 June.
For several weeks Marmont’s Army of Portugal, growing with reinforcements, and Wellington’s army march close beside each other along the Douro and the Tormes, each threatening the other’s supply line. Marmont has about 50,000 men and 78 guns, Wellington 48,500 with 54 guns and a Spanish division of 3,400 under Carlos de España. Marmont then crosses to the south bank of the Tormes at Huerta to march round Wellington’s right, and Wellington follows him south of Salamanca to the two hills called the Arapiles.
Marshal Auguste de Marmont, equestrian portrait by Jacques-Luc Barbier-Walbonne, about 1810Wikimedia Commons, Jacques-Luc Barbier-Walbonne, Public domain (Portrait équestre du maréchal Marmont.jpg)
Sources
- Charles Oman, A History of the Peninsular War, vol. V (1914).
- Rory Muir, Salamanca, 1812 (2001).
- Michael Glover, The Peninsular War 1807–1814 (2001).
Prev: Bussaco and the Lines of Torres VedrasNext: Marmont’s march to the west