Masséna’s Maneuvers and Wellington’s Defensive Strategy at …

Years: 1810 - 1810
October

Masséna’s Maneuvers and Wellington’s Defensive Strategy at the Lines of Torres Vedras (October 1810–1811)

Following the Battle of Buçaco (September 27, 1810), Marshal André Masséna skillfully outmaneuvered Wellington, forcing the Anglo-Portuguese army to fall back to their prepared defensive positions—the Lines of Torres Vedras.

Wellington, anticipating Masséna’s advance, executed a strategic withdrawal, ensuring that his forces would be positioned behind the impenetrable network of fortifications north of Lisbon.


Wellington’s Defensive Strategy at the Lines of Torres Vedras

  • Upon reaching Torres Vedras, Wellington manned the fortifications with "secondary troops", ensuring that his elite forces remained mobile.
  • The garrisoning forces consisted of:
    • 25,000 Portuguese militia, trained by General Beresford.
    • 8,000 Spanish troops, reinforcing defensive positions.
    • 2,500 British marines and artillerymen, placed in key strongholds.
  • Wellington kept his main field army of British and Portuguese regulars dispersed, ready to rapidly reinforce any point of the defensive lines where the French might attempt an assault.

Masséna’s Dilemma – Facing an Impenetrable Fortress

  • When Masséna’s army arrived at the Lines of Torres Vedras, they were shocked by the scale and strength of the defenses.
  • The fortifications stretched across the Lisbon Peninsula, blocking all routes to the Portuguese capital.
  • A direct assault was impossible, and with Portuguese guerrillas and Wellington’s field army maneuvering against him, Masséna found himself in a dire situation.

The Stalemate and the French Retreat

  • The French army soon suffered from a lack of supplies, as Wellington’s scorched earth tactics had left them with nothing to forage.
  • Meanwhile, Lisbon remained fully supplied by the Royal Navy, ensuring that the Anglo-Portuguese defenders were well-provisioned.
  • After months of starvation and attrition, Masséna was forced to retreat in early 1811, marking the failure of Napoleon’s third invasion of Portugal.

Conclusion – Wellington’s Masterful Defense

Wellington’s tactical foresight and use of defensive warfare at the Lines of Torres Vedras ensured that Lisbon remained secure and that Napoleon’s Iberian ambitions suffered a critical setback. This defensive strategy not only saved Portugal but also allowed the Allies to go on the offensive, ultimately leading to the French expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula in the coming years.

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