The Lines of Torres Vedras 1809–11

Packed with illustrations throughout, this book describes this 30-mile-wide line and its design, creation and effectiveness in the face of French attacks.

The lines of Torres Vedras played a key role in the Peninsular War, preventing the French from driving the British out of Portugal. This title details the techniques of Napoleonic defensive warfare and features some of the key commanders of the period, such as Soult, Massena and Wellington.Following the battle of Bussaco on 27 September 1810 Wellington's heavily outnumbered troops began to withdraw towards Lisbon. By the evening of 9 October the British and Portuguese began to withdraw behind a line of defensive works that had been built to the north of Lisbon. These were not the rudimentary field works that the French anticipated, but an enormous network of forts, batteries and redoubts whose construction had been started the previous November - the Lines of Torres Vedras. This 30-mile-wide line utilised the area's natural defences, damming rivers, scarping hillsides, blocking roads and establishing forts upon almost all of the hills. This title describes its design, creation and effectiveness in the face of French attacks.