Osprey Elite 108 : Spanish Guerrillas in the Peninsular War 1808-1814

Constant Spanish guerrilla activity so drained the resources and diverted the attention of the French military that Wellington was able to advance against and overcome a numerically superior enemy. So many French soldiers were being used to counter the guerrillas and the threat that they posed that less than a third of the French army could be tasked with confronting Wellington. This book brings to life, for the first time, the formation, tactics and experiences of the Spanish guerrilla forces that fought Napoleon's army. Using much previously unpublished material, it offers a vivid description of the guerrilla and his lifestyle. Text by Rene Chartrand with illustrations by Richard Hook.

Contents

• Introduction
• Insurrections in Spain from 1808
• Chronology
• The Rise and Spread of the Guerrillas
• Why become a Guerrilla?
• Guerrilla Bands and Leaders
• Weapons and Clothing
• Tactics
• Cruelty and Revenge
• The Guerrillas and the British
• The Overall Impact of the Guerrillas
• The End of the Guerrillas
• After the War