The Lines of Torres Vedras:

The Cornerstone of Wellington's Strategy
in The Peninsular War 1809-1812

review by Paul Chamberlain

By John Grehan Spellmount (2000), £20.00 ISBN 1 86227 080 5

One of the healthier trends in the study of the Napoleonic period is to examine one aspect of a campaign in detail, and relate how that part related to the whole. This gives a greater insight into the overall strategy of a campaign. The Lines of Torres Vedras is such a study. Most works on the Peninsular Campaign concentrate on the battles and sieges and give brief space to the Lines of Torres Vedras, which played an important and significant role in Wellington's strategical plans throughout the central years (1809-12) of the campaign.

The author examines the reasons for the construction of a formidable chain of fortifications across the Lisbon peninsula, which was a perfect defensive position. Wellington recognised the importance of being close to a deep-sea port where he was assured of regular logistical support from the Royal Navy, and a suitable embarkation point if his army had to leave the country.

John Grehan studies Wellington's strategy for the defence of Portugal, which in-cluded the British Army under his command, subsidies to the Portuguese Government and the defence of the major logistical base of Lisbon. It is a very detailed look at the resources available to Wellington, such as the Portuguese Army, Militia and Ordenanza, and how these were improved, especially under the command of Beresford and other British officers assigned to this army. The massive labour force utilised to construct the Lines is examined, along with details of the fortifica-tions constructed.

Plans of each type of redoubt are included, and no aspect of their construction is ignored in the text. Their size, shape, amount of land incorporated into their construction, the labour involved, the armament and garrisons; are all examined in great detail. The new fortifications were often linked in a defensive line with natural obstacles and other solidly built structures, and the reasoning behind this is explained. Appendix II gives a detailed listing of the works and with what and whom they were armed. This book is therefore a very detailed analysis of every stage of the construction of the Lines.

While this massive undertaking was secretly in progress, the author scrutinises what the French were doing, and the measures taken to counter this, relating the battles, sieges and skirmishes as the French attempted to defeat their enemy. Wellington's main strategy was to rely on the French being unable to feed themselves while concentrated in one place, and having a field army that could attack the French in the field while leaving the Lines to be garrisoned by the Militia. This strategy is explained in detail, and here is the strength of this book, in that it comprises a highly detailed study of all the factors that went into the construction and manning of the Lines.

Over a three-year period Wellington based his strategy around these defence works, and even won the admiration of Napoleon for his achievements. The Lines were a secure base from which Wellington mounted his offensive campaign in 1812 and foiled the French invasion of Portugal. The Lines of Torres Vedras is a well-researched study of a subject that is usually mentioned only briefly in other studies of the Peninsular Campaign, those authors preferring to concentrate on the more spectacular battles and sieges. This book goes much further than any other work to explain the importance and value of the Lines, and represents a unique and valuable study.

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