A commanding presence : Wellington in the Peninsula, 1808-1814 : logistics, strategy, survival / by Ian Robertson.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 430-441) and index.

October 1807 to September 1808 : from Junot's invasion to the "Convention of Cintra" : Roli?a, and Vimeiro -- October 1808 to February 1809 : Moore's advance into Spain, and his death at Corunna -- March to May 1809 : The Douro (or Oporto) campaign -- June to August 1809 : the Talavera campaign -- September 1809 to July 1810 : recuperation, reorganisation, and marking time -- August 1810 to March 1811 : Mass?na invades Portugal ; Busaco ; the lines of Torres Vedras ; and Barrosa -- March to May 1811 : Mass?na pursued from Santar?m to Sabugal ; and at bay at Fuentes de O?oro -- May to December 1811 : Albuera ; the first siege of Badajoz ; El Bod?n, and Arroyomolinos -- January to April 1812 : the fall of Ciudad Rodrigo, and Badajoz -- May to August 1812 : Almaraz ; the Salamanca campaign ; and occupation of Madrid -- September to November 1812 : frustration at Burgos ; withdrawal to Portugal -- December 1812 to May 1813 : rehabilitation : offensive preparations -- May and June 1813 : the Vitoria campaign -- July and August 1813 : "fair bludgeon work" in the Pyrenees : Roncesvalles, Maya, and Sorauren -- September 1813 to January 1814 : San Sebastian stormed ; Nivelle ; Nive and St. Pierre -- February to July 1814 : from Orthez to Toulouse ; the sortie from Bayonne, and dispersal.

"The many battles fought by Wellington have always excited interest and controversy. Almost all of the fighting on land between British and French troops during the Napoleonic period took place in Portugal and Spain, and so the extended struggle became known as the "Peninsular War." Few are aware that Wellington's armies were actually engaged with the enemy less than 10 per cent of the time. Much of the campaign was spent finding food and drink for man and beast, and withstanding the severe physical conditions encountered in the Peninsula. The unforgiving climate and mountainous terrain materially affected Wellington's strategy, and it was his commanding presence that enabled the many logistical problems to be over come. In this new study, Ian Robertson draws on many vivid first-hand accounts of campaigning life and places the several stubbornly fought actions in their proper context"--Publisher's description.