Memoranda Relative to the Lines Thrown Up to Cover Lisbon in 1810 |
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Memoranda Relative to the Lines Thrown Up to Cover Lisbon in 1810 John Thomas Jones No preview available - 2016 |
Memoranda Relative to the Lines Thrown Up to Cover Lisbon in 1810 John T. Jones No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
150 Redoubt abattis Abrantes Alcoentre Alemtejo Almada Alverca da Beira army Artillery mounted Aruda assailants attack batteries cannonade Capt Captain Celorico Colonel Fletcher command commenced communication consequence corps counterscarp cover DEAR SIR district ditch embarkation enclosed enemy enfilade Ericeira favourable feet fire Flèche force formed Fort St front garrisons Gradil guard guns head-quarters hill Infantry required interior invaders Julian's King's German Legion labour left flank letter Lieut Lisbon Longa Lord Wellington low ground manœuvres Marshal Massena miles militia Monte Agraça musketry object occupied Oeyras Ordinança parapet pass of Bucellas pass of Mafra Peniche pieces of artillery Places where situated Portugueze position of Alhandra posts principal Quinta range of heights rear line rendered retrenched river Runa scarps secure Serra de Serves Sobral de Monte strength strengthen strong summit Tagus thrown tion Torres Vedras trench troops whilst yards Zibriera Zizandra
Popular passages
Page 106 - I was enabled to bring the enemy to a stand, and to oblige them to retire without venturing upon any attack, it is but justice to Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher and the officers of the Royal Engineers, to draw your Lordship's attention to the ability and diligence with which they have executed the works by which these positions have been strengthened to such a degree as to render any attack upon that line occupied by the Allied Army very doubtful, if not entirely hopeless. We are indebted...
Page 117 - In the existing relative state of the Allied and French armies in the Peninsula, it does not appear probable that the enemy have it in their power to make an attack upon Portugal. They must wait for their reinforcements ; and, as the arrival of these may be expected, it remains to be considered what plan of defence shall be adopted for this country. ' The great object in Portugal is the possession of Lisbon and the Tagus, and all our measures must be directed to this object. There is another also...
Page 65 - Gretry the same ; and during the period of the French revolution, — in the short space of eight or ten years, a multitude of national songs of great musical merit...
Page 119 - Tagus, to turn the positions which might be taken up in his front on the north of that river ; to cut off from Lisbon the corps opposed to him ; and to destroy it by an attack in front and rear at the same time. This can be avoided only by the retreat of the right centre, and left of the allies, and their junction at a point at which, from the state...
Page 66 - This might be effected by means of a sunken trench, like a parallel at a siege, made to connect- a whole chain of redoubts. Such an expedient would cover infantry from the fire of guns without impeding their forward movement in line, and openings might be left for the advance of the cavalry and artillery, or they might act in masses on the flanks.
Page 106 - We are indebted for these advantages to Lieut. Colonel Fletcher and the officers of the Royal Engineers, among whom I must particularly mention Captain Chapman, who has given me great assistance upon various occasions.
Page 128 - Lieut. General Viscount Wellington, KB, to Captain , Royal Engineers. (Circular.) ' SIR, ' Rio Mayor, 6th October, 1810. ' I enclose a memorandum, by which you will see the manner in which I have divided into districts the country which has been fortified between the Tagus and the sea ; the objects for which this division has been made; and that you are appointed regulating officer of the district No. —. ' I likewise enclose a list of the redoubts and works in that district; stating the number...
Page 94 - ... the slope. In such situations, the eye will frequently attain an object which the gun on its lower level will not. PALISADES. — The palisades in the ditches were mostly young fir-trees from 4 to 5 inches in diameter, roughly pointed, and fixed 3 or 4 feet into the ground, with a riband very low down, and, when the ditches were broad, much nearer the counterscarp than the scarp. In the last campaign...
Page 128 - No. is to arrange the troops in their several stations when they will be sent into the district to occupy the redoubts, to take charge of the mines intended to blow up the roads and bridges, and to carry my orders in the district into execution till an officer to command the troops within it will be appointed. You are then to assist him in making his arrangements as one of his staff, and in the defence of his post, with your professional abilities. " (Signed) WELLINGTON. "Captain , Royal Engineers.
Page 174 - I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Cap! Lewis is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time, I have discontinued the tent in the hole the ball came out...