A history of the Peninsular War, Vol. 1, 1807-1809

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

53264

Title

A history of the Peninsular War, Vol. 1, 1807-1809

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Charles Oman's definitive history of the Peninsular War (1807–1809) offers a fresh perspective by utilizing previously neglected Spanish and British archives, correcting biases in Sir Charles Napier's work, and providing detailed military analysis.

Summary up to 500 words

In Volume I of *A History of the Peninsular War*, Charles Oman reconstructs the critical years from 1807 to 1809, focusing on the strategic collapse of Spanish resistance and the subsequent British retreat. Drawing extensively on suppressed official dispatches, intercepted French correspondence, and the unique papers of diplomatist Sir Charles Vaughan, Oman challenges romanticized accounts by earlier historians like Napier. He exposes inaccuracies in veteran memoirs, such as those of General Marbot regarding the Maid of Saragossa, and corrects false narratives about specific engagements. The narrative details the catastrophic defeat of the Spanish Army of Estremadura at Gamonal. Under the rash command of the Conde de Belvedere, who lacked military experience, the Spanish forces were routed by Marshal Soult's army in an open plain. The French cavalry, led by Lasalle and Milhaud, swept away the Spanish infantry, capturing all artillery and regimental standards while inflicting heavy casualties. Simultaneously, Napoleon executed massive flanking maneuvers to encircle the remaining Spanish armies. Marshal Soult intercepted General Blake's retreating Army of Galicia near Reynosa, seizing vast stores and baggage, while Marshal Ney advanced to cut off the Army of Castaños. The volume vividly portrays the chaotic retreat of Sir John Moore's British forces across the plains of Old Castile, pursued relentlessly by French cavalry. Despite being outnumbered and facing a determined enemy, Moore's army inflicted significant casualties on Soult during the fighting near Corunna. The campaign concluded with the heroic but doomed stand at Corunna, where the British were forced to evacuate by sea after suffering heavy losses. Oman emphasizes that while Napier remains unrivaled for describing the incidents of war, his political views are heavily colored by his animosity toward the Tory government and his sympathetic view of Napoleon. By rigorously cross-referencing primary sources, Oman provides a balanced, fact-based history that dispels myths and offers a clearer understanding of the strategic realities faced by both sides.

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Categories

• History