Andalucia and bring his Army of the South to central Spain. Wellington
entered Valladolid on 30 July. Worried about a long supply line
stretching back to Portugal, he decided to move on Madrid; Joseph fled
to Toledo and on 12 August Wellington entered the Spanish capital. His
main fear now was that the four French armies might finally decide to
combine, for to the south of him was Soult's Army of the South en route
to Valencia, to the north was Clausel (Marmont's successor)'s Army of
Portugal and to the east, in Catalonia, Suchet's Army of Catalonia. His
concern was justified, for if the factionalist French had been able to
combine, Wellington's position would have been supremely perilous. As
it was, he decided to hit Clausel first, pursued him to Burgos and
invested the city, but found that his siege-train was inadequate and drew
off in late October.
Meanwhile Suchet and Joseph had linked up at Valencia, prior to
marching on Madrid. Outnumbered, Wellington pulled his troops out of
the capital and set up a defensive line at Salamanca, ready to engage with
Soult. Predictably Soult baulked at tackling the British in such well
prepared defences, and fell back on the now tired ploy of trying to t urn
the British right by hooking past it to Portugal. Wellington retired to his
starting place for the year - Ciudad Rodrigo - but not before his own
army had given him a few nervous moments through loud grumbling at
food shortages, indiscipline, looting, straggling and deserting. In the
snow and rain of Ciudad Rodrigo the year's Peninsular campaign petered
out. For his exploit at Salamanca Wellington was made a Marquess, but
there was criticism in London for his failure to take Burgos or retreat to
Portugal. Nevertheless, Napoleon was depressed that none of his
Peninsular marshals had yet been able to beat this 'sepoy general' and
that Wellington now held the strategic advantage through having forced
Soult out of Andalucia.
In addition to the Spanish ulcer was the Papal headache. The struggle
with the Pope had gone into abeyance during the Russian campaign but
in the summer of 1812 Napoleon ordered Pius moved from Savona to
Fontainebleau. Immediately on return from the icy nightmare the
Emperor went in person to Fontainebleau to negotiate a new Concordat,
in which Napoleon retreated from his hardline position and allowed the
Pope to have unimpeded access to his cardinals. But no sooner did the
'black cardinals' arrive in Fontainebleau than they persuaded Pius that
the new Concordat was a mistake. Pius loftily informed Napoleon that he
was withdrawing his signature. Enraged at this treachery, Napoleon
ordered a new round of arrests and conscriptions of priests and
seminarists. At this even the venal Cardinal Fesch cried Hold! Enough!
marcin
(Marcin)
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