Letters from the peninsula, 1808-1812

1808. May. Napoleon makes Joseph Buonaparte King of Spain. Outbreak of Spanish insurrection. June. French invade Valencia and Andalusia. Siege of Saragossa. July 14. Battle of M...

In the previous year, an expedition under General Whitelock had been despatched to invade the Spanish Colonies in America, with disastrous results. In 1808 a force of about 9000...

After long delay the expedition under Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley sailed from Cork on 12th July. Meanwhile the Government had altered its mind as to the command of the a...

After the Convention of Cintra, the French evacuated Portugal, though slowly. It was not until the second week of October that the last of them were embarked. The exasperation o...

The beginning of the year 1810 saw the army of Lord Wellington withdrawn from Spain, and awaiting in Portugal the attack of the French, which seemed the inevitable. It was desti...

During the early part of the year William Warre was at home, an invalid, under the care of his family. He gradually recovered his strength, and by the end of April was pronounce...

During the last three months of the year 1811, Wellington had been secretly preparing for the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. Almeida was put into a state of defence, and artillery and...