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A history of the Peninsular War, Vol. 5, Oct. 1811-Aug. 31, 1812 cover

A history of the Peninsular War, Vol. 5, Oct. 1811-Aug. 31, 1812

Chapter 32: I
By Charles Oman
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About This Book

The volume offers a detailed narrative of a concentrated year of campaigning in the Iberian Peninsula, recounting sieges, pitched engagements, and extended maneuvers while examining how operational choices, communication, and local irregular warfare shaped outcomes. It interleaves topographical analysis of key battlefields, contemporary dispatches and decoded cipher material, and commentary on the decisions and coordination among opposing commanders. Drawn from archival documents, campaign diaries, and on-the-ground study, the text balances tactical description with strategic context and includes maps, illustrations, and specialized appendices.

APPENDICES

I

SUCHET’S ARMY IN VALENCIA. MORNING STATE OF OCT. 1, 1811

        Officers. Men. Total.    
1st Division (Musnier):
  Robert’s Brigade   114th Line (3 batts.) 58 1,579 1,637    
  1st of the Vistula (2 batts.) 27 836 863    
  Ficatier’s Brigade   121st Line (3 batts.) 44 1,156 1,200    
  2nd of the Vistula (2 batts.) 26 1,103 1,129 = 4,829
2nd Division (Harispe):
  Paris’s Brigade   7th Line (4 batts.) 55 1,584 1,639    
  116th Line (3 batts.) 42 1,105 1,147    
  Chlopiski’s Brigade   44th Line (2 batts.) 35 1,191 1,226    
  3rd of the Vistula (2 batts.) 26 724 750 = 4,762
3rd Division (Habert):
  Montmarie’s Brigade   5th Line (2 batts.) 31 771 802    
  16th Line (3 batts.) 56 1,261 1,317    
  Bronikowski’s Brigade   117th Line (3 batts.) 49 1,291 1,340 = 3,459
Palombini’s Italian Division:
  Saint Paul’s Brigade   2nd Léger (3 batts.) 59 2,141 2,200    
  4th Line (3 batts.) 57 1,603 1,660    
  Balathier’s Brigade   5th Line (2 batts.) 37 893 930    
  6th Line (3 batts.). 51 1,378 1,429 = 6,219
Compère’s Neapolitan Division:
  1st Léger (1 batt.) 27 419 446    
  1st Line (1 batt.) 24 536 560    
  2nd Line (1 batt.) 27 358 385 = 1,391
Cavalry (General Boussard):
  4th Hussars (4 squadrons) 30 720 750    
  24th Dragoons (2 squadrons) 17 419 436    
  13th Cuirassiers (4 squadrons) 27 557 584    
  Italian ‘Dragoons of Napoleon’ 24 442 466    
  Neapolitan Chasseurs 13 156 169 = 2,405
Artillery (General Vallée) 48 1,757 1,805    
Engineers (General Rogniat) 16 584 600    
Équipages Militaires and Gendarmerie 10 653 663 = 3,068
  916 25,217 26,133 26,133

N.B.—Ficatier’s Brigade, 3 battalions of Palombini’s division, and two squadrons of 4th Hussars were not present at the battle of Saguntum, being on the line of communications, and blockading Peniscola and Oropesa.

This return, lent me by Mr. Fortescue who found it in the Paris Archives, differs by over 2,000 men from Suchet’s figures given in his Mémoires, p. 436 of vol. ii. The Marshal has left out the 3 battalions and 2 squadrons on the line of communications, mentioned above.