How Wellington used the reverse slope tactic to defeat the French at Vimeiro
In short: Military historian Mike Loades examines the weaponry and tactics that defined the Peninsular War. This video focuses on the Battle of Vimeiro, where Sir Arthur Wellesley successfully deployed a clever defensive formation against a larger French force.
On August 21, 1808, 39-year-old Sir Arthur Wellesley commanded an Anglo-Portuguese force of about 14,000 soldiers. Facing him was a French army led by General Jean-Andoche Junot, which held a numerical advantage of 3,000 to 6,000 men. Wellesley positioned his troops on the reverse slope of a hill, keeping them hidden from the enemy until the French crested the ridge and entered effective firing range.
This tactical maneuver, known as the reverse slope tactic, proved highly effective at Vimeiro. Wellesley, who would later become the Duke of Wellington, adopted this strategy frequently throughout the remainder of the Peninsular War. His leadership of the combined forces during this engagement is described as an accident of fate.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mike Loades Tests Iconic Weapons Of The Peninsular War!
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