Battle of Fuentes de Onoro - Peninsular War - Duke of Wellington

Battle of Fuentes de Onoro - Peninsular War - Duke of Wellington The Battle of Fuentes de Oà ±oro was fought May 3-5, 1811, during the Peninsular War which was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars. Armies and Commanders Allies Viscount Wellingtonapprox. 38,000 men French Marshal Andre Massenaapprox. 46,000 men Buildup to Battle Having been stopped before the Lines of Torres Vedras in late 1810, Marshal Andre Massena began withdrawing French forces from Portugal the following spring. Emerging from their defenses, British and Portuguese troops, led by Viscount Wellington, began moving towards the border in pursuit. As part of this effort, Wellington laid siege to the border cities of Badajoz, Ciudad Rodrigo, and Almeida. Seeking to regain the initiative, Massena regrouped and began marching to relieve Almeida. Concerned about the French movements, Wellington shifted his forces to cover the city and defend its approaches. Receiving reports regarding Massenas route to Almeida, he deployed the bulk of his army near the village of Fuentes de Oà ±oro. The British Defenses Located to the southeast of Almeida, Fuentes de Oà ±oro sat on the west bank of the Rio Don Casas and was backed by a long ridge to the west and north. After barricading the village, Wellington formed his troops along the heights with the intention of fighting a defensive battle against Massenas slightly larger army. Directing the 1st Division to hold the village, Wellington placed the 5th, 6th, 3rd, and Light Divisions on the ridge to the north, while the 7th Division was in reserve. To cover his right, a force of guerillas, led by Julian Sanchez, was positioned on a hill to the south. On May 3, Massena approached Fuentes de Oà ±oro with four army corps and a cavalry reserve numbering around 46,000 men. These were supported a force of 800 Imperial Guard cavalry led by Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessià ¨res. Massena Attacks After reconnoitering Wellingtons position, Massena pushed troops across the Don Casas and launched a frontal attack against Fuentes de Oà ±oro. This was supported by an artillery bombardment of the Allied position. Surging into the village, troops from General Louis Loisins VI Corps clashed with troops from Major General Miles Nightingalls 1st Division and Major General Thomas Pictons 3rd Division. As the afternoon progressed, the French slowly pushed British forces back until a determined counterattack saw them thrown from the village. With night approaching, Massena recalled his forces. Unwilling to directly attack the village again, Massena spent most of May 4 scouting the enemys lines. Shifting South These efforts led to Massena discovering that Wellingtons right was largely exposed and only covered by Sanchezs men near the village of Poco Velho. Seeking to exploit this weakness, Massena began shifting forces south with the goal of attacking the next day. Spotting the French movements, Wellington directed Major General John Houston to form his 7th Division on the plain south of Fuentes de Oà ±oro to extend the line towards Poco Velho. Around dawn on May 5, French cavalry led by General Louis-Pierre Montbrun as well as infantry from the divisions of Generals Jean Marchand, Julien Mermet, and Jean Solignac crossed the Don Casas and moved against the Allied right. Sweeping the guerillas aside, this force soon fell on Houstons men (Map). Preventing a Collapse Coming under intense pressure, the 7th Division faced being overwhelmed. Reacting to the crisis, Wellington ordered Houston to fall back to the ridge and dispatched cavalry and Brigadier General Robert Craufurds Light Division to their aid. Falling into line, Craufurds men, along with artillery and cavalry support, provided cover for the 7th Division as it conducted a fighting withdrawal. As the 7th Division fell back, the British cavalry harried the enemy artillery and engaged the French horsemen. With the battle reaching a critical moment, Montbrun requested reinforcement from Massena to turn the tide. Dispatching an aide to bring up Bessià ¨res cavalry, Massena was furious when the Imperial Guard cavalry failed to respond. As a result, the 7th Division was able to escape and reach the safety of the ridge. There it formed a new line, along with the 1st and Light Divisions, which extended west from Fuentes de Oà ±oro. Recognizing the strength of this position, Massena elected not to press the attack further. To support the effort against the Allied right, Massena also launched as series of attacks against Fuentes de Oà ±oro. These were conducted by men from General Claude Fereys division as well as General Jean-Baptiste Drouets IX Corps. Largely striking the 74th and 79th Foot, these efforts nearly succeeded in driving the defenders from the village. While a counterattack threw Fereys men back, Wellington was forced to commit reinforcements to break Drouets assault. Fighting continued through the afternoon with the French resorting to bayonet attacks. As the infantry assault on Fuentes de Oà ±oro faltered, Massenas artillery opened with another bombardment of the Allied lines. This had little effect and by nightfall the French withdrew from the village. In the darkness, Wellington ordered his army to entrench on the heights. Faced with a strengthened enemy position, Massena elected to retreat to Ciudad Rodrigo three days later. The Aftermath In the fighting at the Battle of Fuentes de Oà ±oro, Wellington sustained 235 killed, 1,234 wounded, and 317 captured. French losses numbered 308 killed, 2,147 wounded, and 201 captured. Though Wellington did not consider the battle to be a great victory, the action at Fuentes de Oà ±oro allowed him to continue the siege of Almeida. The city fell to Allied forces on May 11, though its garrison successfully escaped. In the wake of the fighting, Massena was recalled by Napoleon and replaced by Marshal Auguste Marmont. On May 16, Allied forces under Marshal William Beresford clashed with the French at Albuera. After a lull in the fighting, Wellington resumed his advance into Spain in January 1812 and later won victories at Badajoz, Salamanca, and Vitoria. Sources British Battles: Battle of Fuentes de OnoroPeninsular War: Battle of Fuentes de OnoroHistory of War: Battle of Fuentes de Onoro

How To Write A Definition Essay Outline, with Example

How To Write A Definition Essay Outline, with Example Definition Essay Outline BAD EXAMPLE GOOD EXAMPLE A definition essay is not like any other. It requires the writer to concentrate on the explanation and meaning of a specific term. Definition essay writing can either be factual or subjective based on the writer’s opinion. Definition essay outline example (good and bad) Below are two examples of outlines. The first outline for a definition essay shows what you should not do while the second indicates the basic format. Bad Example Topic: Religion Introduction Religion is the inclination of one’s faith based on what they believe. It refers to faith in a superior being that controls the universe and makes things appear the way they are. There are many revealed religions, the known ones being; Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism. All these have their own believes and are run by a different set of rules. Thesis statement According to the recent fights in religion, I think that Islam is the main cause of terror in Islamic countries. This research looks at the trends of war in Islamic countries and aims to establish why it is relevant. I know that they are the main causes of wars. Conclusion This research has proven me right that Islam is in the forefront in propagating violence and terror. It requires no further investigation. I would recommend that they be kicked out of the country as soon as possible. Good Example Topic: Religion Introduction According to Oxford dictionary, religion (n) refers to; the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power especially gods or a personal God. Also, it refers to a certain system of faith and worship. Also, religion can be defined as a strong believe in a system that one regards as an important aspect in their life. In my opinion, religion is an individual’s beliefs of what is rights and wrong. Religion is guided by a set of rules that a person finds worthwhile and their willingness to abide by them. This paper aims to look at religion as means of worship to a superior being. Thesis statement Religion defines an individual in different circumstances. Despite it being a guideline on life, it has made people to be self-righteous in following the rules of nature. It has made people lose themselves and let their goals and character be defined by religion. People have made religion their scapegoat for anything they do. Whether right or wrong, it is likely that they will claim to be following the good book. Religion has made people to be blind followers. Most people who hung up on religion do not necessarily believe in their Bible or Islam but follow the rules to show others how lighthouse they are. Conclusion We should be taught the fundamentals of spirituality. There is a big difference between being religious and being spiritual. Our guiding anchor should be building our faith in God or Allah. The fear of knowing him is what should push us into wanting to follow the book of life. It’s important to note that religion cannot lead us to the heavenly kingdom but rather the way we live our religious life. From the above definition essay outlines, a reader can see the difference. Tips on writing the introduction Before embarking on writing a great essay, cross check the thesis statement. The thesis statement should be strong and reflect the view of the writer. You need to do a lot of research on scholarly definitions of the subject. You are required to quote a few definitions before coming up with your meaning. The definition you come up with should sound intellectual. To do this, try to relate your definition with that of different authors while remaining creative. For a good definition, if possible, avoid the use of when and where. Have a draft beforehand. The draft is important as it helps you cross check while writing the information needed. An example of a definition essay outline helps you not to leave out any information that is important to your essay. Use a wide range of examples in your draft that will later narrow down when writing the final copy. Tips on thesis writing The thesis statement carries the weight of writing assignment. The thesis should be well thought out. There are various methods of coming up with a thesis, for example, brainstorming from a broad topic and narrowing it down to a particular area you want to study. Besides, one can look at available thesis done and find a gap. The thesis should identify a substantive solvable issue that is attainable. It should not be too technical in terms of methodologies required and data analysis. It should have data that is easy to interpret and analyse. Tips on writing the body (paragraphs, lengths and transitions) When writing the body, explain to the reader why some meanings were left out. When writing, one should have decided which meanings to go with and why based on the thesis statement. Once this is done, support your definition with examples. From your draft, narrow down which examples apply to your thesis and use them as supporting material. If need be, attach relevant documents like charts or quotations to support your argument. Your paper  should not be too long. To avoid wordiness, ensure that you write in the correct language. Have a consistency in writing that is, if you decide to write in American English, use it till the end. Do not jumble up languages as they appear as errors. Be detailed in your explanations based on your research. Be keen to observe all rules of definition essay outlines. Follow the definition essay outline examples available on the internet to guide you throughout the writing. Tips on conclusion writing Once all the points have been discussed, the essay should convey a sense of being complete. It carries the implications identified but also gives room for other possibilities. You can begin your conclusion by linking the first paragraph to the last, by perhaps quoting a phrase that you used in the first paragraph. In definition essay writing this makes the reader see that you have mastered your content. Depending on what your opinion about the matter is, do not feel the need to apologize for it. Let the reader know what your final word on the topic is whether or not it fits into their ideology. Write your arguments in a manner that you believe it’s the correct one, show the reader what you are writing is the correct one. Another strategy of capturing the attention of the reader is by concluding your essay by settling your arguments into a larger context. This makes the reader aware that though unmentioned, there are other different approaches to the topic. Conclude your essay by proofreading and cross checking whether your outlining is correct.