The Peninsular war - Wellington lands in Portugal - The Battle of Rolica  

I spotted the monument to Colonel Lake in the ravine behind Columbeira on google Earth just now while listening. Street view gives a good view up the very ravine he ventured with his men. I live in Portugal with my wife and son, both of whom are modern day descendants of the Hill family, the brother of General Rowland Hill being my wife's Great, Great, Great Great Grandfather. My ancestors of the period were of the same place near Wem, in Shropshire, making the Hill Family coffins and working the land rather than riding all about The Continent. General Hill, 'Daddy' to his men, was an awesome figure! Hope you can talk about some of his exploits in your stories. Wellington's most trusted right hand man (?) often unleashed to harry the enemy, guerrilla-style....almost. We live not far from Coimbra, in Central Portugal. The French came through here on their way to Lisbon once or thrice in the Iberian war. The large and impressive border fortress town of Almeida isn't too far away and well worth a visit. We also visited Wellington's impressive defensive position on the Bussaco ridge to the north of Coimbra. And last summer we ventured to the battlefield at Salamanca, in Spain for a walk along the Arapile Grande hill; ground zero for that battle. The exploits of General Hill can be somewhat traced through a fascinating and lengthy book, 'The War of Wars' by Robert Harvey where the author covers everything stoutly from 1789 to 1815 regarding all matters Napoleonic. Keep up the good work: got me going....

About Moore: He was not just senior to Wellesley, but he had laid the ground works for the light division. Pity Moore died at Corunna. If Moore had lived till 1814 or 1815, there would have been several very interesting options available.

Really enjoyed this. Just started studying the Peninsular War ahead of a trip to Portugal next year. Thanks so much.

General's Freire demands were not because his troops were afraid of the French or ravaged with famine, it was because he wanted the Portuguese army to be an allied yet separate command army from the British, countering the orders Wellington brought from the UK, urging him to combine Portuguese divisions into the British army. In the end, the dispute was settled by having the Portuguese army to be a fighting force on it's own although the top chief allied commander was Wellington and his officer corp.

Another Brilliant Podcast...Thank you again Christian. I hope you and your family are keeping well during these difficult days.

A namesake of mine was the first officer through the breech at Badajoz. Despite this, and being a member of Wellington’s military family, he purchased every promotion of his career. They cost a fortune. (Correction: he purchased every promotion *but one*. I expect that was the one he received for taking part in that Forlorn Hope, I have read he commanded. He later became Governor of Ceylon, retiring to command Chatham Barracks, of which he painted a pleasant watercolour.)

Very glad to have come across this podcast! Looking forward to more redcoat history 🇬🇧

Really Enjoying your documentaries sir . Greetings from Australia.

Just been reading up on the French in this campaign. The French at Rolica weren't really the well-led crack troops most books allude to. Half of Junot's men were veterans, half were raw conscripts. They lost all their artillery and half their horses on the march to Lisbon and desertions were high from starving and exhaustion, before the partisans and militia started attacking them after the uprising in Jun 1808. Portugal was Junot's first C-in-C role, and several officers were inexperienced at battle command, plus quite a few foreign troops in French ranks (Swiss, Hanoverian, Italian, Belgian). Good job though - glad I found your channel.

Another excellent podcast well presented and informative. Also subscribed to your series on podbean. Also like the Forlorn Hope backing music though John Tams of Sharpe fame slightly edges it over the hills and far away. Hope you and your family are keeping safe. Looking forward to our next adventure in the Peninsular War and buying a copy of your new book. Ngiyabonga Christian.

I'm really enjoying your narrative, and looking forward to listening to the other episodes. Thank you.

What a great documentary, me and my brother fought rolica (morning and afternoon positions) yesterday using the command and colors system, next week we will re fight vimiero, the outcome of the battle were a victory for the British in the mornig, almost how it was historically but got a very bloody nose in the afternoon , i very much like you first hand accounts from the men who fought at these battles🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Great stuff thank you. Enjoyed your videos but first podcast I've of yours I've listened too. Thank you do much for the background as the beginning and the powerful quotes throughout. Looking forward to the next one 🇬🇧

Thankyou for producing this series!.

Very good, thanks.

Huzzzah a new podcast

I love all of your documentarys, I'd love you to do something about how the men and officers lived and maintained themselves in the lead up to most of these battles, how they slept at night, did they live in filthy condition and rough it with no sanctuary condition or latrines, did the officers have beds, tablets and chairs etc, how did they turn themselves out in their uniforms etc. Regards, David Jeeves

I enjoyed Rifleman Harris' account tremendously, but was always at a loss as to the larger strategic picture. It's good to have this clarified so concisely.

Really good beginning

excellent - my friends and i are working through the Peninsular war - and these podcasts are an excellent guide. well done Redcoat History. our thanks.

I'm really looking forward to future episodes of this series. One of my friends and I have recently (about a month prior to this first episode's release) started building tabletop wargames based upon the Peninsular campaign. Hearing the exploits of the troops that I (collecting the British army) am currently assembling and painting is greatly motivating me on in our project. We decided to start at the beginning with Rolica, so this episode has been fantastic material for me. Edit - Also thanks for the link to Forlorn Hope. Always looking for interesting bands.

An interesting number of pictures. The one, where one or more were surprised to the wounded? R. Flank, by officers wielding curved swords and rather than Bayonet against sword, it was the worthy Club against same, and nare a Sergent Spontoon in sight. I'll follow on !

Well done, you do not have to apology, in the current situation. You do well, your voice brings a realism to the pictures. I would recommend that Marlborough is a competitor. Regards, Patrick, Northamptonshire

Good series and well presented. I have just started going through the Peninsular series but have previously done so out of order. You will note at about 28:42 Rifleman Harris talks about being under a hail of fire - so unlike what most historians consider the French capable of - and that the group he belonged to fell back to some high ground where they formed THREE deep the front rank kneeling. The British regulations allowed for a two rank formation as did most nations, but usually only when they were understrength, as a platoon frontage had a minimum size allowable and if understrength it formed two deep to maintain the correct frontage. The British eventually determined to fight in two ranks in general although at Waterloo due to Napoleon's cavalry strength they were often formed 4 ranks deep. Also from about 31:00 Lewis is talking about how the 32nd advanced in 3 columns, this is obviously the default formation when covering bad ground, he notes how they expanded or decreased their frontage as the terrain required. It was only when they expected to actually fight that they formed line and this is what the French also used to do. When Lake's grenadier company gets annihilated at about 35:00 it wouldn't have been due to the French shooting from a column formation, it would have probably been from skirmishers and the troops behind them would have been in line unless unable to deploy. If the French didn't have training in musketry as so many commentators postulate they could not have inflicted such heavy casualties. The French did actually train in marksmanship, to say otherwise is an error and these so called "conscript" armies of the French were in actual fact often very well trained troops from the likes of the camp of Boulogne. Wellesley beat them because he was a good general - not because the French soldiers were badly trained.

Great work mate. You should visit the place it is a very pleasant journey.

Christian, I bet you very few people actually know who Sir Arthur Wellesley is....... although we do have a road named after him here in sunny Colchester. We have many many roads and streets named on military themes as its been a garrison town here since Roman times.... and still is!! 🇬🇧✌️

Love your videos. First podcast I've listened to. Sharing it now. Well done

Tirailleur: TIH-rye-urh. Great podcast.

THANK YOU THIS...HISTORY IS JUST GREAT ...LOVE TO HER BOOK FROM OTHER SIDE .Reading Heinrich von Brandt In the Legions of Napoleon ...love it ....your stuff is A plus so Greatfull Thanks Again...

Thanks for the interesting episodes ! You could however, use some dashing sideburns.

Another great history lesson, thanks 👍

Awesome. The Napoleonic time. Thank you very much🙏🏻 Please work fast and if you’re ever in Stuttgart, Germany, I’ll gladly invite you to a homemade cake.🙋🏼‍♀️

Wellington and Peninsular campaign matched only by Slim and the Burma campaign of WW2 spread over similar distance as London to Moscow and included Kohima (also featured West Kents!) and Imphal. Marlborough in Low Countries probably comes next.

Rowland Hill aka 'Daddy' Hill, and Crawford - was that 'Black Bob' or a different Crawford?

I suspect that Rifleman Harris of the Bernard Cornwell Sharpe books is named in honour of the chap mentioned here. As for pronunciation I always get confused between Spanish and Portuguese which look the same written down but are not.

As a portuguese, can confirm your pronunciation of "Roliça" is on point. What gives the "C" letter it's "S" pronunciation is the little willy hanging off of it.

Absolutely love this video.

I do love me some Forlorn Hope.

I just found this treasure keep going

It was certainly Wellington's specially tailored training which would give the redcoats their edge . He had the formula to have a different and more efficient, effective and sustained volley fire to outclass the French infantry in detail.

Top of my bucket list is go and see Assaye and the lines of Torres Vedras

40:00 You mention Wellington's flanking movements being a hold over from his India service. This is something that irks me in discussions of WW-I. Many people condemn the Generals of the era for being "unimaginative",. These were veterans of India and the Boer wars. They knew all about flanking, and mobility, but there was no flank to turn. I mention it here to show that even a century earlier the frontal assault was not the first option.

I have been to all of Wellington s battle , well done

There is a stone to Lake at the head of the cutting , rather hard to find

Wellesley clearly saw the French in the same way that Monty saw Rommel, the men they both commanded obviously had the same mindset about their opponents, they gave them an almost mythical status but both Generals would have none of it and had total confidence in their own ability.🇬🇧✌️

I'm a bit disappointed that Cornwell didn't write a Sharpe book in which he fights at Rolica and Vimeiro.

You might find The Lord Lycester Hospital with its Chapel over the Medieval West Gate of Warwick interesting per Redcoat History.They have far more history than what is show.The Brethern Brothers and Sisters provide a guided tour.But its historic connection to the British Army yets to be realy told. Its also in an area of Warwick that is also known as Blackfriars. Give it time dont think you will be disappointed.

300 yds is the max range of a baker , I have one

le tir - to shoot (tirailleur)

Personally i thank a lot Historians specially from the USA and some European disregard the impact the Peninsular war had on Napoleon and the Napoleonic war because it was long and a lot of battles were small compared to other battles in central and eastern Europe, ? what you view on this I also look too you video on the Battle of Salamanca for me the better that was beginning of end of the French in Spain

Please stop the apologies for pronunciation.......we understand and are not so concerned about it. I feel it distracts from your reading.

John Tams would be better

Sharpie was there. Says so in the scriptures.

Funny how the Spanish needed our help considering our rather checkered past......

In 1813, will have become very fine fellows!

You ramble too much sometimes on not so interesting information, try to get someone to co-host these with you, it's a natural conversation moderator factor. Propz on choosing this theme. Well done