Читать книгу Battlefields - Michael Rayner - Страница 28

Using the Grande as a pivot, the French prepared to advance along a low, east–west ridge south of the village of Los Arapiles to turn the Allied right flank and threaten their supply lines. However, Wellington, not having a significant advantage to offer battle, started to retire, marching his baggage for Ciudad Rodrigo. He shifted his hidden divisions westwards to stop his right being turned and faced them southward. He also moved Major General Sir Edward Pakenham’s division and Brigadier General Benjamin d’Urban’s cavalry, further west to Aldeatejada, to a defensive line on the Zurguen Rivers, behind which the whole army could retire if pressed. The day seemed just another phase in the campaign of manoeuvre, and Wellington ordered his traditional rearguard, Major General Sir Charles von Alten’s light division and Brigadier General Eberhardt Bock’s brigade of heavy cavalry, to take over on the ridge. However, behind it, he not only changed his line of battle to face south but redeployed his army for attack.

From the Arapil Grande, Marmont could see a lot, but not everything, and he had learnt that if he could not see most of Wellington’s army, it was usually stealing a march. He saw the Allies’ westward shift and dust on the Ciudad Rodrigo road, so, believing Wellington was withdrawing, he thought that he could pin the rearguard and turn their southern flank, enveloping and destroying them before reinforcements could return to their aid. He saw his chance and ordered his army to march.