Wellington Against Massena: The Third Invasion of Portugal 1810-1811

 
From the publishers
Wellington's clash with Massena was one of the most remarkable contests between two commanders in the Peninsular War. These two formidable generals carried on a campaign of manoeuvre, battle and attrition across Spain and Portugal in 1810 and 1811 which had a decisive impact on the outcome of the war. Wellington's reputation was enhanced, Massena's was ruined. David Buttery's […] analysis of this […] encounter offers […] insight into the personalities of these two […] soldiers. Using a variety of sources, in particular eyewitness accounts from both sides, he reassesses the […] confrontations at Ciudad Rodrigo, Almeida, Busaco, the lines of Torres Vedras and the final […] battle at Fuentes de Onoro. He sheds new light on this pivotal episode in the Napoleonic Wars and his account corrects the one-sided view of the campaign that has survived to the present day. In particular he reconsiders the true cost of the scorched earth policy that was employed against the French.