People

An attempted compromise upon the affairs Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 10:57:41 +0000
He imagined that the command of theEuropean coast-line, and nothing short of this, would enable him to exhausthis enemy; and he was prepared to risk a war with Russia rather than permitit to frustrate his long-cherished hopes. Already in the Austrian marriageNapoleon had marked the severance of his interests from those of Alexander.An attempted compromise upon the affairs of Poland produced only newalienation and distrust; an open affront was offered to Alexander in theannexation of the Duchy of Oldenburg, whose sovereign was a member of hisown family.

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With Spain still unsubdued Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 11:15:26 +0000
The last event was immediately followed by the publication ofthe new Russian tariff. In the spring of 1811 Napoleon had determined uponwar. With Spain still unsubdued, he had no motive to hurry on hostilities;Alexander on his part was still less ready for action; and the forms ofdiplomatic intercourse were in consequence maintained for some time longerat Paris and St Petersburg.

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Had the Emperor himself taken up Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 11:28:19 +0000
But the true nature of the situation was shownby the immense levies that were ordered both in France and Russia; and therest of the year was spent in preparations for the campaign which wasdestined to decide the fate of Europe.We have seen that during the period of more than two years that elapsedbetween the Peace of Vienna and the outbreak of war with Russia, Napoleonhad no enemy in arms upon the Continent except in the Spanish Peninsula.Had the Emperor himself taken up the command in Spain, he would probablywithin a few months have crushed both the Spanish armies and their Englishally.

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The French forces Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 11:47:35 +0000
A fatal error in judgment made him willing to look on from a distancewhilst his generals engaged with this last foe. The disputes with the Popeand the King of Holland might well have been adjourned for another year;but Napoleon felt no suspicions that the conquest of the Spanish Peninsulawas too difficult a task for his marshals; nor perhaps would it have beenso if Wellington had been like any of the generals whom Napoleon hadhimself encountered. The French forces in the Peninsula numbered over300,000 men: in spite of the victory of Talavera, the English had beenforced to retreat into Portugal.

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Behind Lisbon arugged mountainous tract Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 11:59:16 +0000
But the warfare of Wellington was adifferent thing from that even of the best Austrian or Russian commanders.From the time of the retreat from Talavera he had foreseen that Portugalwould be invaded by an army far outnumbering his own; and he planned ascheme of defence as original, as strongly marked with true militaryinsight, as Napoleon's own most daring schemes of attack. Behind Lisbon arugged mountainous tract stretches from the Tagus to the sea: here, whilethe English army wintered in the neighbourhood of Almeida, Wellingtonemployed thousands of Portuguese labourers in turning the promontory intoone vast fortress.

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This was the barrier towhich Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 12:17:36 +0000
No rumour of the operation was allowed to reach theenemy. A double series of fortifications, known as the Lines of TorresVedras, followed the mountain-bastion on the north of Lisbon, and left nosingle point open between the Tagus and the sea. This was the barrier towhich Wellington meant in the last resort to draw his assailants, whilstthe country was swept of everything that might sustain an invading army,and the irregular troops of Portugal closed in upon its rear.

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In September, the French, 70,000strong Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 12:35:11 +0000
[167]In June, 1810, Marshal Massena, who had won the highest distinction atAspern and Wagram, arrived in Spain, and took up the command of the armydestined for the conquest of Portugal. Ciudad Rodrigo was invested:Wellington, too weak to effect its relief, too wise to jeopardise his armyfor the sake of Spanish praise, lay motionless while this great fortressfell into the hands of the invader. In September, the French, 70,000strong, entered Portugal.

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The French were defeated Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 12:45:23 +0000
Wellington retreated down the valley of theMondego, devastating the country. At length he halted at Busaco and gavebattle (September 27). The French were defeated; the victory gave thePortuguese full confidence in the English leader; but other roads were opento the invader, and Wellington continued his retreat.

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Fifty thousand English andPortuguese regular Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 13:00:48 +0000
Massena followed, andheard for the first time of the fortifications of Torres Vedras when he waswithin five days' march of them. On nearing the mountain-barrier, Massenasearched in vain for an unprotected point. Fifty thousand English andPortuguese regular troops, besides a multitude of Portuguese militia, werecollected behind the lines; with the present number of the French anassault was hopeless.

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Wellington descended from the heights, but Post Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 13:12:35 +0000
Massena waited for reinforcements. It was with theutmost difficulty that he could keep his army from starving; at length,when the country was utterly exhausted, he commenced his retreat (Nov 14).Wellington descended from the heights, but his marching force was still tooweak to risk a pitched battle.

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