Brief summary of events during 1810
Battle of Guadeloupe 6th February
1810 last remaining French colony in West Indies captured by British
Battle of Busaco 27th September
1810
After the battle at Talavera in July 1809,
Wellesley acquired the titles of Baron Douro of Wellesley and Viscount
Wellington of Talavera. There then followed 14 months without a battle in the
Peninsula campaign. Wellington’s priority was to keep Portugal secure as he had
little or no faith in the Spanish army. They had suffered considerable losses
after two disastrous defeats in late 1809. Wellington in the meantime started
organising and beginning the construction work on fortifications that became
known as the Lines of Torres Vedras. Wellington withdrew his army from Spain in
December 1809. He was relying on the Portuguese to help him and Portuguese units
were now serving with each British division. The French in the meantime had been
ordered to retake Portugal and began by laying siege to the Spanish town of Astorga
in April 1810. They then moved on to the Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo, which was
surrounded and then laid siege to. Wellington despite much criticism from his own
army and taunts from the French decided not to relieve the siege as he believed
that there was no possibility of permanently relieving it as his army at the time
was one third of the strength of the seasoned French army. The town finally capitulated
on 10th July 1810. The French then moved on the Portuguese fortress of
Almeida just across the border and cut it off after a fight between the Light Infantry
under Craufurd and a whole French Corps under Ney. The light division were forced
across the river Coa in an ordered retreat. The French however tried to cross the
river in three separate attacks but failed to get anyone across. Almeida although
isolated was well garrisoned and commanded by an able British officer Lt/Col William
Cox. However due to a terrible accident he was forced to surrender. The towns’ cathedral
has been converted into a central powder magazine, because the town lacked this
facility. It was considered strong enough to withstand a direct hit from mortars.
The kegs of powder were carried from the magazine along the streets by donkey. One
of the kegs was damaged and left a trail of powder. A shell ignited the trail some
distance from the Cathedral and it burned back to the entrance were other cartridges
were waiting to be moved. After what was a small explosion the main magazine blew
up entirely demolishing the Cathedral killing 500 Portuguese soldiers and taking
the tops of house throughout the town. The outer walls were not badly damaged, but
the loss of the ammunition made a long defence impossible. The Portuguese insisted
on an immediate surrender. The town was taken on 28th August 1810. The
French then advance into Portugal with 65,000 men. Wellington gathered his army
together to meet the French who despite travelling over appalling roads, which
caused loss of guns, horses and baggage together with harassment from
Portuguese peasants, the French moral remained good. The allied army met up on the
morning of the 25th September 1810 on the summit of the Busaco ridge.
On 27th September 1810 the French and British army met. The French fought
well but the British and Portuguese troops, were able to re enforce quickly and
counter attack. The French casualties were four times as many as the British and
Portuguese army. Massena the French general eventually gave up the attack and find
a way round the ridge. Wellington then had to retreat and fell back on the prepared
lines of Torres Verdas. The French made little progress during the rest of 1810.
In the
meantime the French were also threatening Cadiz in the south of Spain and
troops were sent to strengthen the defences there.
1st Foot Guards in 1810.
On their return from the ill-fated Walcheren
Expedition the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 1st
Foot Guards returned to Chatham, weaken and much reduced in numbers. Well into 1810
deaths occurred as a result of this expedition. The Regiment spent many months recruiting
and building up their strength. On 16th
March of 1810 6 companies of the 2nd battalion sailed from
Portsmouth to Cadiz to join the Army out there. Over 350 men were recruited in 1809
and a more than 250 in 1810. The 1st and 3rd battalions
returned to London in the same month, March 1810 for the first time since 1803
to carry out guard duties on various buildings in London as well as parades and
ceremonial duties.
SOLDIER
of the MONTH
References
Regimental Archives
R154 Description
Book 1803-1823
R207 Attestation Book 1810
R401 Deceased Book 1759-1824
Updated
4th January 2010