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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'Or’ or ‘Lion of Gold’ who would take over command of the Cavalry Division with William Payne returning home. 8/9
The senior Major General of the army ‘recently arrived without command’ was James Leith who would command the soon to be created 5th Division from August 1810. These arrangements would all mean that Craufurd could remain in command of the Light Division. 9/9
