Battle of Vimeiro
On the 21st of August 1808, General Arthur Wellesley stood near the village of Vimeiro with 20,000 men. His force included eight independent infantry brigades led by Rowland Hill and Ronald Craufurd Ferguson. The British position covered a beachhead at Maceira Bay to the west while holding ridges to the north. Most reinforcements had arrived by the 20th of August, allowing Wellesley to plan an advance south toward Lisbon. French forces under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot numbered only 14,000 men. They organized their troops into two infantry divisions and a cavalry division commanded by Pierre Margaron. Henri François Delaborde's division contained brigades under Antoine François Brenier and Jean Guillaume Barthélemy Thomières. Louis Henri Loison's division included brigades commanded by Jean-Baptiste Solignac and Hugues Charlot. A reserve of 2,100 grenadiers formed four battalions under François Étienne de Kellermann. The French brought 23 cannons into battle compared to the British 17.
Thomières' brigade approached the British position with 2,100 men in a column of companies. The first company held 120 men in a three-deep line 40 men wide. All other companies formed behind this front rank, creating a formation 48 ranks deep. Fane detached four companies of riflemen from the 60th Regiment of Foot and 95th Rifles to counter French skirmishers. These riflemen outnumbered and outfought the French skirmers who fell back to the sides of the column. At 11:00 AM, the British opened fire with 945 men of the 50th Regiment. Several companies wheeling inward toward both flanks caused the hapless French column to bolt to the rear. They left their three cannons to be captured by the advancing British. Charlot's brigade suffered a similar fate when it struck one battalion of Anstruther's brigade hidden behind a crest. Before they could deploy, the French were taken in flank by a second battalion. Unable to reply to the devastating British volley fire, Charlot's men ran away. Kellermann swung his final two grenadier battalions wide to the right but broke into Vimeiro only to be counterattacked by units from Anstruther and Acland.
Wellesley urged pursuit after routing Brenier's men but Sir Harry Burrard declined to interfere with the subsequent French retreat. Burrard had arrived during the battle while Sir Hew Dalrymple arrived soon after. The British horsemen under Colonel Taylor charged out of control after easy success against retreating grenadiers. They came up against Margaron's French cavalry division and were routed in their turn. Taylor was killed and the British horsemen lost about one man in four. General Brenier was wounded in this attack and captured by the 71st Highlanders. Despite Wellesley's objections, the senior officers refused to pursue the fleeing enemy. This decision allowed Junot to retreat toward Torres Vedras without further engagement. The loss of momentum became a critical factor in the political fallout that followed. Burrard and Dalrymple would face severe criticism for their refusal to exploit the victory.
Under the terms of the Convention of Cintra, the defeated French army was transported back to France by the British navy. The convention included complete transport of loot, guns and equipment. Dalrymple gave the French more generous terms than they could have hoped for. The agreement caused an outcry in Britain among both military establishment and public opinion. An official enquiry exonerated all three men but both Burrard and Dalrymple faced blame. Both men were given administrative posts and neither had a field command again. Wellesley, who had bitterly opposed the agreement, was returned to active command in Spain and Portugal. The treaty effectively ended the first French invasion of Portugal while allowing the French forces to escape intact. Critics argued that the terms violated standard military practice regarding defeated armies.
An official enquiry examined the controversial peace terms following the Battle of Vimeiro. Public opinion blamed Dalrymple and Burrard despite the inquiry's findings. The controversy centered on why the French army retained its equipment during evacuation. Political pressure mounted on the British government to explain the decision. Wellesley's bitter opposition to the agreement became a focal point of the debate. The scandal damaged reputations within the military establishment even as careers continued in administrative roles. No pursuit was attempted because Wellesley was superseded by Sir Harry Burrard and then Sir Hew Dalrymple. The aftermath demonstrated how battlefield victories could be undermined by political decisions made far from the front lines. The Peninsular War would continue with renewed intensity after this diplomatic failure.
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Common questions
When did the Battle of Vimeiro take place?
The Battle of Vimeiro took place on the 21st of August 1808. General Arthur Wellesley commanded British forces near the village of Vimeiro with 20,000 men against French troops under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot.
Who led the British army at the Battle of Vimeiro?
General Arthur Wellesley commanded the British army during the Battle of Vimeiro. His force included eight independent infantry brigades led by Rowland Hill and Ronald Craufurd Ferguson. Sir Harry Burrard and Sir Hew Dalrymple later arrived to supersede Wellesley's command.
How many soldiers fought in the Battle of Vimeiro?
British forces numbered 20,000 men while French forces under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot totaled only 14,000 men. The French brought 23 cannons into battle compared to the British 17 artillery pieces.
What happened after the Battle of Vimeiro ended?
Under the terms of the Convention of Cintra signed shortly after the battle, the defeated French army was transported back to France by the British navy. The agreement allowed the French to retain their equipment and escape intact despite the military victory.
Why did the British not pursue the retreating French army?
Sir Harry Burrard declined to interfere with the subsequent French retreat and Sir Hew Dalrymple arrived soon after to take command. Senior officers refused to pursue the fleeing enemy despite General Arthur Wellesley urging pursuit because they were superseded by these commanders.