Portugal 1808: Wellington’s First Peninsular Campaign Tim Saunders Publisher: Pen and Sword Military (December 31, 2024)
Hardcover: 216 pages
ISBN: 9781036104382
When Napoleon overreached himself by usurping the Burbon throne of Spain in early 1808, the resulting Spanish resentment and the brutal suppression of the Dos di Mayo Rebellion in Madrid turned Spain, a long-term enemy of Britain, into an ally. Sir Arthur Wellesley’s expedition to South America was promptly cancelled and redirected to the Peninsular.Eventually landing in Portugal at the mouth of the Rio Mondego, the army found itself with little transport, but by keeping close to the coast and with logistical support from the Royal Navy, Wellesley set off south to confront Marshal Junot and liberate Lisbon. The first clash of arms was at Obidos and, days later, at the Combat of Roliça, Wellesley achieved his first victory in battle against the wily General Delaborde.With word that reinforcements were expected to arrive at Maceira Bay, the army was deployed at Vimiero to protect their landing. Meanwhile, Junot had assembled his army and decided to attack at Vimiero. In a short but hard-fought battle, Wellesley was victorious, however an opportunity for total defeat of the French was squandered in succession by generals Burrard and Dalrymple, who instead accepted an armistice. This eventually became the notorious Convention of Cintra.
Having studied in detail the 1808 campaign in Portugal, I come to the opposite conclusion regarding the Convention of Cintra.
The convention gave the British army all of Portugal, including all its fortresses, some of which were still occupied, without firing another shot. Furthermore, it was already late in August when the battle of Vimeiro was gloriously won, and the rainy season was just around the corner. It's likely the British would have had to fight at least one more battle and lay siege to one or more fortresses at a time when the only siege material available would have been that procured locally in Portugal. Their campaign would have continued for at least several more months at some cost in blood and treasure. If the campaign dragged on long enough Napoleon could have been on the border of Spain and Portugal with several army corps in December.
In my view signing the Convention was the correct action to take and it was only the braying of the press which created a stir. A government commission was duly created to take evidence and statements. The commissions came to no conclusion, as is their wont, until the Duke of York, unhelpfully noted, they did not resolve anything. They met again and absolved the defendants: Dalrymple, Burrard and Wellesely.