Timeline
Soult in Northern Portugal
1809
January
16
Battle of Corunna. British complete their evacuation two days
later.
January
19
Governor Alcedo formerly surrenders Corunna to Soult.
January
26
The naval fortress of Ferrol also surrenders to Soult.
January
28
New instructions from the Emperor extends Soult’s deadline
to capture Oporto by 4 days.
February
2
French cavalry reach the Portuguese border.
February
8
Ney reaches Galicia to take over Corunna and Ferrol.
Soult moves his army south.
February 16
With the main body between Tuy and Vigo, Soult
attempts a crossing of the Minho R. Failing to cross, Soult heads 50 miles east
to cross upstream at Orense.
February
20
La Romana in close proximity to Orense, Soult moves
his baggage and heavy guns to Tuy before moving toward Orense. This, Soult
discovers is undefended and remains there for nine days to collect his troops.
March 4
Soult leaves Orense to march on La Romana’s
headquarters at Monterey. Intending to
support the Portuguese forces under Silveira, La Romana slips away but rear guard
is caught at La Trepa. Soult now confronted four separate Portuguese forces; at
Chaves under General Silveira, a second guarding the Minho under General
Botilho, a third force at Braga under General Freire and a fourth group at
Oporto.
March
10-11
A third of Silveira’s force refuse to leave Chaves and
are besieged. The defenders surrendered leaving Silveira to retreat south
toward Villa Real.
March 14
Soult leaves Chaves to march west to cross the
mountains and move into the Cavado valley.
March 17
Clearing the mountain passes, the French advance guard
makes contact with the Portuguese army defending Braga.
March 20
Battle of Braga ended in a crushing defeat of the
Portuguese forces losing 4,000 of its 25,000 troops.
March 25-26
Crossing the River Avé, Soult outflanks Portuguese
resistance forcing them back to Oporto.
March 27
The French approach Oporto which is defended by 30,000
troops.
March 29
Battle of Oporto ends with the defeat of the
Portuguese forces and its capture. Soult remains in Oporto to restore his
communication with Ney and his support; General Lapisse at Salamanca and Marshal
Victor at Badajoz. Soult divides his army into four sections; the garrison at
Oporto, a force south of the Douro to watch the retreating Portuguese, Heudelet’s
division left at Braga moved north to Tuy and Vigo to restore communication with Ney and a smaller force commanded by
Loison was sent east to make contact with Lapisse.
News did reach Soult; despite the victory at Medellin
Victor did not have the strength to attack Badajoz, Lapisse was kept occupied
by Sir Robert Wilson and thus could not reach the Portuguese border, Heudelet
discovers the British and Spanish have retaken Vigo and Ney was held down by an
uprising throughout Galicia.
April (?)
Portuguese guerrillas retake Braga and Heudelet is
ordered to return and retake and garrison Braga as well as Viana and Barcelos. General
Silveira rebuilds his army after his defeat at Chaves and moves to Amarante to
defend the east bank of the Tamega River. This move blocks Loison’s effort to
reach Lapisse.
April 12
Loison first attempt to force the Tamega River.
April 18
Loison is reinforced and with 6,500 men makes a second
attempt to cross and is rebuffed.
April 22
Sir Arthur Wellesley lands in Lisbon.
May 2
With additional troops, Loison succeeds and crossed
the Tamega River routing Silveira’s forces.
Notes:
The division of Soult’s forces to restore lines of
communications; Oporto, 1 ½ Divisions and two brigades of cavalry. One division
of infantry and one brigade of cavalry screened Oporto south of the Douro.
Heudelet’s division was ordered north and Loison commanded one brigade of
dragoons and one brigade of infantry.
Source:
Military Encyclopedia on the Web/Marshal Soult’s Invasion of Portugal, 1809
History of the Peninsular War, C. Oman, vol. II.
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