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In the Battle of Vimeiro (August 20, 1808) the British under General Wellesley defeated the French under General Jean-Andoche Junot near the village of Vimeiro (pron. IPA: [vi'mɐiɾu]), Portugal during the Peninsular war.
[edit] Battle
Four days after the Battle of Roliça, Wellesley's force, now comprising 17,000 British troops, was attacked by General Junot and his French Army. Vimiero began as French battle of manouevre. Outflanking troops tried to move around the British left but Wellington was able to redeploy his army to face the assault. Meanwhile, Junot sent in two central columns but these were forced back by sustained volleys from troops in line. Soon afterwards, the flanking attack was beaten off and so Junot retreated towards Torres Vedras having lost 2000 men and 13 cannon, Wellesley's 700. No pursuit was attempted because Wellesly was superseded by Sir Hew Dalrymple and Sir Harry Burrard (One had arrived during the battle, the second just after).
[edit] Capitulation
After the battle Junot asked for a capitulation. Hew Dalrynple offered terms more generous than Junot could have hoped for (see Convention of Sintra) and the French Army was transported by the British Fleet to France complete with all his guns and equipment and the loot it had taken from Portugal. The Convention of Cintra caused a massive outcry in Britain and, following an official enquiry, both Dalrymple and Burrard were blamed. Wellesley - who had opposed the deal - was exonerated.
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