A fascinating letter from Wellington to Robert ‘Black Bob’ Craufurd (GOC #LightDivision), from Cea, #OTD210 years ago, 15 April 1810. Sheds light on how the intriguing system of command appointments worked in practice. #patronage #WellingtonWednesday #PeninsularWar 1/9
Seniority was an important principle by which command appointments were made. However, there were a number of other factors that came into play/could be used to justify key individuals remaining in posts which Wellington wanted/needed them. 2/9
He reassures Craufurd of his continued command of the #LightDivision despite two other, more senior, officers needing to fill command positions in his army. The situation ultimately lead to the creation of another Anglo-Portuguese Division. 3/9
‘Your feeling respecting your command is exactly what it ought to be, and what might be expected from you.’ 4/9
‘As long as I could make up a division of the proper strength for the service, with your brigade, and Portuguese troops and cavalry, nobody would have had reason to complain;’ 5/9
‘but a Lieut. General, and the senior Major General of the army recently arrived, are without commands, and it would not answer to throw more English troops into your division, leaving them unemployed.’ 6/9
‘You may depend upon it, however, that whatever may be the arrangement which I shall make, I wish your brigade to be in the advanced guard.’ 7/9
The Lieutenant General ‘recently arrived without command’ was probably Sir Stapleton Cotton aka ‘Lion d& #39;Or’ or ‘Lion of Gold’ who would take over command of the Cavalry Division with William Payne returning home. 8/9