|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cranston Fine Arts  Military Art and Artists Napoleonic Military Art  Peninsular War |
| Navigation | |
| Page 2 of 2 | Previous .. Page 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Navigation | |
| Page 2 of 2 | Previous .. Page 2 |
| Text for the above items : |
The Battle of Vittoria by Thomas Jones Barker. The Duke of Wellington overlooks the Dragoons and Artillery moving forward at the Battle of Vittoria during the Peninsula War, surrounded by his staff officers. |
The 5th Division Storming the Ramparts of San Vincente by Harry Payne Badajoz, 6th April 1812 in North West Spain on the River Guadiana. The siege began on the 17th March and was finally captured on 6th April. The British lost more than 4,800 men, pictured here are the 5th Division attacking the bastion after a delay due to losing their ladder party. |
Storming the Heights at Badajos by Stanley Wood. (B) One of the bloodiest battles of the Napoleonic Wars was the Siege of Badajos (16 of March - 6th of April 1812). Wellingtons army faced off against a garrison of 5000 French soldiers in Badajos, Spain. The French forces were outnumbered 5 to 1 by the British, who had a force of 27,000 troops and 52 guns. However heavy fortifications and fierce fighting made the victory at Badajos, a very costly one with the British taking over 4700 casualties. |
The Charge of the 10th Hussars at Beneventi by William Barnes Wollen December 29, 1808, during the Corunna Campaign of the Peninsular War. As part of the British rear guard under Sir John Moore, the 10th Hussars charge into the French forces at Benevento in southern Italy, disrupting their positions and helping to cover the British retreat. |
Ramsays Battery of Horse Artillery at the Battle of Fuentos Onoro, May 5th 1811 by Richard Caton Woodville. No text for this item |
Ride Like the Devil - the Charge of the 13th Light Dragoons at the Battle of Vittoria by Chris Collingwood. Battle of Vittoria, June 21st 1813. Duke of Wellingtons victory over the French with an army of 79,000 British, Portuguese and rebel Spanish troops. The battle of Vittoria ended Napoleons domination of Spain. |
Siege of Pensacola by David Rowlands. Gunners of Captain W. Johnstons Company, 4th Battalion Royal Artillery, tenaciously defend the Queens Redoubt against the Spanish army. |
The Battle of Talavera, 27th-28th July 1809 by David Rowlands. The six-pounder guns of Captain C.D. Sillerys Company, 7th Battalion Royal Artillery were in the centre of the British line, firing round shot and case shot into the advancing columns of French infantry. |
Scouts by William Barnes Wollen. Showing members of the 10th Hussars during the Peninsula War. |
La Gueper Espagnol by Mark Churms. French dragoons attack a Spanish farmhouse where they believe Spanish guerillas are hiding. |
Steady the Drums and Fifes by Lady Elizabeth Butler. The drummer boys of the 57th (die-hards) drawn up under fire on the ridge of Albuera, (16th May 1811), Peninsula war. |
The 12th Light Dragoons at Salamanca, July 22nd 1812 by B Granville Baker No text for this item |
Advance of the French at Barossa by B Granville Baker No text for this item |
The Flight of King Joseph Bonaparte from Vittoria, June 21st 1813 by B Granville Baker No text for this item |
Bravery of a Piper of the 11th Highland Regiment, at the Battle of Vimiera by Clark and Dubourg after Manskirch No text for this item |
61st Foot at the Battle of Salamanca by Tom Croft. 61st Foot (South Gloucestershire) The Battle of Salamanca, 22nd July 1812. |
Battle of Vittoria, 1813 by Henry Dupray. (P) No text for this item |
Siege of Badajos, 1812 by Henry Dupray. (P) No text for this item |
Battle of Corunna, 1809 by Henry Dupray. (P) No text for this item |
Storming of Badajoz by the Sherwood Foresters painting by Mark Churms. (P) On the night of 6th April 1812 Wellingtons Army, surrounding the walled Spanish town of Badajoz (garrisoned by Napoleons soldiers under general Baron Philippon) is ready to attack! The men of the 45th regiment from Pictons 3rd Division launch themselves in a desperate and bloody assault against the north castle wall. Carrying improvised ladders, the men have their top buttons undone, overalls rolled up and are stripped for action. The castles defenders (Germans, allied to Napoleon of the Graf und Erbprinz Regiment from Hesse-Darmstadt) partroling the walls in their greatcoats are intially surprised by the bold assault from this sector but they have been preparing the strong defenses for some time. Soon the night air is full of musketry, falling masonry, burning bundles of ropes and exploding grenades or mines. Despite the horrific casualties suffered the attackers press home. As the first scaling ladders are raised near a small bell tower the young Lt. James Macpherson reaches for the top of the wall. The ladders are too short! Undaunted he cries to his men below to lift the base of the ladder closer to the wall. This rapid, vertical movement suddenly propels him to a height several feet above the Germans heads. A shot rings out as one of the defenders fires point blank into the young mans chest. Fortunately the lead ball only strikes a glancing blow, cleaving in two a button of the officers waist coat and dislocating one of his ribs. Despite his fortunate escape, the force of the impact nearly sends him tumbling from the ladder. Somehow he maintains his grasp but the ladder itself gives way under the weight of the men following. Some unfortunates are impaled on the bayonets of their comrades below. Leaping from the rungs of another ladder, Corporal Kelly is the first man over the top and gradually the 45th gain a foothold on the ramparts. The rest of the regiment is ordered to unfix bayonets. Using the few remaining ladders, others also manage to scale the walls. Through the carnage they climb, club and shoot their way into the castle itself! Maepherson now regains consciousness at the foot of the wall and revived with a cup of coco from his friend A.A. General Hercules Packenham, who was directly behind him on the ladder when it broke. Though winded by the shot he rises to his feet. This sudden movement relocates his rib and he is able to climb the ladders once more. Once over the defense he sees the old towers of Apendez and Albar-rana to his left and the cathedral illuminated by gun fire in the distance. However his objective is directly ahead. Atop the abandoned tower of Santa Maria before him still flies the French tricolour. Macplierson seizes the opportunity, mounts the spiral stairway to the top turret and pulls down the enemy flag. For want of a substitute he flies his own red jacket from the pole, signifying that the castle has fallen. In the rest of the town the fighting continues and turns into a blood lust. Badajoz is one of the bloodiest and violent sieges of the Peninsula War. On the following day Maepherson presents his trophy to the Duke of Wellington himself but his bravery is not rewarded with a promotion. |
|
Contact Details |
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
