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A history of the Peninsular War, Vol. 3, Sep. 1809-Dec. 1810 cover

A history of the Peninsular War, Vol. 3, Sep. 1809-Dec. 1810

Chapter 31: APPENDICES
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About This Book

The volume chronicles a critical sixteen-month phase of the Peninsular War, tracing the French advance into Portugal, the Anglo-Portuguese defensive measures—combining scorched-earth tactics, mass mobilization and construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras—and Masséna’s inability to breach those defenses leading to his retreat. It details the campaign actions around Bussaco and Torres Vedras, the logistical and partisan efforts that cut French communications, and concurrent French operations elsewhere in Spain including sieges and regional offensives. The narrative integrates official reports, private correspondence, and military papers to analyse strategy, troop dispositions and the conduct of commanders, supplemented by maps, appendices and newly published documentary material.

APPENDICES

I

THE SPANISH FORCES AT THE SIEGE OF GERONA

The original garrison under the command of Alvarez consisted of the following units. The first column gives the strength on May 6, the second the number that remained on Dec. 11, 1809, the day of the surrender.

Regiment of Ultonia (three batts.) 800 250
Regiment of Borbon (three batts.) 1,300 360
Voluntarios de Barcelona, 2nd batt. 1,125 378
1st battalion of the Miqueletes of Vich 600 250
1st & 2nd batts. of the Miqueletes of Gerona 1,120 380
Squadron of San Narciso 108 50
Regular Artillery 278 140
Men of the 2nd batt. of the Miqueletes of Gerona drafted into the artillery 240 100
Sailors drafted into the artillery 130 90
Sappers 22 10
Total of the original garrison 5,723 2,008
Reinforcements received August 17:
Miquelete battalion of Cervera 500 320
Draft for the 1st battalion of Vich 300 200
Draft for the 2nd battalion of Gerona 100 50
Reinforcements brought in by Garcia Conde on Sept. 1:
Regiment of Baza (2 batts.) 1,368 1,074
1st and 2nd Miqueletes of Talarn 900 390
2nd Miqueletes of Vich 300 100
Picked companies of Santa Fé, Iliberia, Voluntarios de Tarragona 180 106
  3,648 2,240

Add 1,100 irregulars of the ‘Crusade.’ Losses unknown.

Of 9,371 men engaged first and last in the defence, only 4,248 survived.