British versus French Peninsula

[DLombardy]

Hey Guys,

We are all familiar with "the French came on in the old way, and we drove them
off in the usual manner" accounts of Peninsular combat.

Does anyone know of any French tactical successes in the Peninsula, where a
French battalion came up the hill and drove back the first line of the British
(or part of that line)? I am trying to collect some examples.

Thanks,

Matt DeLaMater
Military History Press
www.military-history-press.com

[Martin Rapier]

"DLombardy" <dlom...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030507021536...@mb-m27.aol.com...

> We are all familiar with "the French came on in the old way, and we drove
them
> off in the usual manner" accounts of Peninsular combat.
>
> Does anyone know of any French tactical successes in the Peninsula, where
a
> French battalion came up the hill and drove back the first line of the
British
> (or part of that line)? I am trying to collect some examples.

Pagets 'Wellington in the Peninsular' has a comprehesive series of accounts
of the major engagements. The short answer is 'yes, there were occasions
when the French obtained tactical successes'. Off the top of my head the
only ones I can think of are at Busaco where some French battalions did
successfully crest the ridge before being forced off again & there were
obviously some fairly sticky moments at both Talavera & Fuentes de Onoro.

There are some brief descriptions here:

http://www.napoleonguide.com/hotelclubcodes_spain_old.htm

which might give you something to go on.

Cheers
Martin

[Sam Mustafa]

The second day (May 5) of Fuentes comes to mind. That was a "near
run thing," and Wellington had to reform his line at a right angle to
his first line.

[NJH]

dlom...@aol.com (DLombardy) wrote in message news:<20030507021536...@mb-m27.aol.com>...

> Hey Guys,
>
> We are all familiar with "the French came on in the old way, and we drove them
> off in the usual manner" accounts of Peninsular combat.
>
> Does anyone know of any French tactical successes in the Peninsula, where a
> French battalion came up the hill and drove back the first line of the British
> (or part of that line)? I am trying to collect some examples.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Matt DeLaMater

*NJH: Depends upon what you mean by the "first line." The first line
was often a fairly hefty screen of skirmishers. Somewhere I read that
the line of skirmishers was often so dense the French probably thought
they had broken through the first main line of British defenders. (If
this is really important, I can try to find a specific reference.)
Imagine the French surprise when they discovered it was only the
skirmish line.
Examine campaigns of other British Commanders, not just those of
Wellington.
Cheers
NJH