Battle of Vimeiro

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Battle of Vimeiro

Date	August 20, 1808
Location	Near the village of Vimeiro, Portugal
Result	Allied Victory, Convention of Sintra

Combatants

Commanders

Strength

20,500 men and cavalry,
18 guns

14,000 men and cavalry,
23 guns

Casualties

720 killed and wounded

2,000 kill and wounded,
13 guns captured

Peninsular War: Invasion by Stealth, 1808
El Bruc – Cabezón – 1st Gerona – 2nd Gerona – Saragossa – Rio Seco – Valencia – Bailén – Roliça – Vimeiro

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]), near Lisbon, Portugal during the Peninsular war.

[edit] Battle

Four days after the Battle of Roliça, Wellesley's forces, now comprising 17,000 British troops, were attacked by the French army under General Junot.

Vimiero began as a battle of manouevre. French troops attempted to outflank the British left, but Wellesley 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 Junot retreated towards Torres Vedras having lost 2,000 men and 13 cannon, compared to 700 British losses. No pursuit was attempted because Wellesley was superseded by Sir Hew Dalrymple and Sir Harry Burrard (one having arrived during the battle, the second soon after).

[edit] Capitulation

After the comprehensive French defeat, Junot was willing to offer complete capitulation. Nevertheless Dalrymple gave the French far more generous terms than they could have hoped for. By the Convention of Sintra, the defeated army was transported back to France by the British navy, complete with its guns and equipment and the loot it had taken from Portugal.

The Convention of Sintra caused a massive outcry in Britain and, following an official enquiry, both Dalrymple and Burrard were blamed. Wellesley, who had opposed the agreement, was exonerated.