Ian Fletcher - Robert Craufurd: The Man and the Myth - The Life and Times of Wellingtons Wayward Martinet

Robert Craufurd

The Man and the Myth

In loving memory of James William Fletcher 1933-2020

The Man and the Myth

The Life and Times of Wellingtons Wayward Martinet

Ian Fletcher

General Craufurd is an opinionated, an ungracious and even ill-tempered man. But admitting this to be the case, these qualities, though not desirable, are not incompatible with great talents as a military commander.

William Cobbett

An imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Yorkshire - Philadelphia

First published in Great Britain in 2021 by

Frontline Books

imprint to Pen & Sword.

Yorkshire Philadelphia

Copyright Ian Fletcher, 2021

ISBN 978 1 52677 519 1

eISBN 978 1 52677 520 7

Mobi ISBN 978 1 52677 521 4

The right of Ian Fletcher to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Robert Craufurd, 17641812.

A miniature of Robert Craufurd in the uniform of a major general.

Mary Frances Craufurd (ne Holland), 17761842. Fanny.

Charles Craufurd, 17631821.

Another portrait of Charles Craufurd.

Sir Alexander Craufurd, c.17401797.

Lady Jane Craufurd, (ne Crokatt), c.17401794.

Bridget Holland (ne Brown), 17461823.

Henry Holland, 17451806.

Luxborough House, Chigwell, the birthplace of Robert Craufurd in 1764.

St Marys Church, Chigwell, Essex.

James Crokatt, 17011777.

No.9 The Vineyard, Richmond, Surrey.

A page from the Richmond Rate Books, 1770, showing the signatures of James Crokatt and Alexander Craufurd.

The Battle of Ballinamuck, 1798.

St Georges Church, Hanover Square, London.

Whitelocke surrenders the British force in Buenos Aires during La Defensa in July 1807.

The church of Santa Domingo, Buenos Aires.

The Rearguard, by James Princep Beadle.

You think because you are riflemen you may do as you please. Well, Ill teach you otherwise. Robert berates a group of riflemen during the retreat to Vigo.

The repulse of the French night attack at Barba del Puerco, 25 March 1810.

The same spot today.

The Combat of the Coa, 24 July 1810.

The same spot today.

Now, 52nd, revenge the death of Sir John Moore! Robert about to give the order to rise up and repel the French attack at Bussaco, 27 September 1810.

A modern photograph looking towards the rocks where Rosss two guns were placed in front of the Light Division at Bussaco.

The Battle of Fuentes de Ooro, 5 May 1811.

The storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, 19 January 1812.

The site of the Lesser Breach, Ciudad Rodrigo.

Roberts funeral in the Lesser Breach, Ciudad Rodrigo.

Roberts last letter to Fanny, written on 15 January 1812.

The plaque to Robert Craufurd inside the site of the Lesser Breach, Ciudad Rodrigo.

Your most tenderly affectionate husband... The last lines of Roberts letter to Fanny.

8 Duke Street, London, just off Manchester Square.

26, Berkeley Square.

The last resting place of Fanny Craufurd, All Saints Church, Fulham.

Thomas Gainsboroughs painting including Roberts uncle, Charles Crokatt, who committed suicide in 1769.

Picture Credits

Authors collection, 1, 8, 9, 13, 15, 20, 27, 28; Authors photograph, 11, 18, 22, 24, 26, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36; British Library, 16; Christa Hook, 21, 23, 25, 30; Crown Copyright, 10; Hackney Archives London, 38; Hampshire Records Office, 31, 33; Museo Histrico Nacional, Buenos Aires, 17; Louise Pollock, 4, 5, 12; Private Collection, 3; Richmond Local Studies, 14; Royal Green Jackets Museum, 2, 19; Tate Gallery, London, 37; Peter Wilson, 6, 7.

India. The Third Anglo-Mysore War, 179092.

Ireland. Humberts March, 23 August8 September 1798.

The Battle of Ballinamuck, 8 September 1798.

Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, 1806.

Operations in the Rio de la Plata, 180607.

Whitelockes March, 28 June3 July 1807.

La Defensa: The British Attack, 5 July 1807.

The Iberian Peninsula, 1808.

The Retreat to Corunna and Vigo, December 1808January 1809.

The Spanish-Portuguese Border, 1810.

The Action at Barquilla, 11 July 1810.

The Action on the Coa, 24 July 1810.

The Battle of Bussaco, 27 September 1810.

Bussaco: The Light Division Action.

The Battle of Fuentes de Ooro: the third day, 5 May 1811.

The Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 819 January 1812.

India. The Third Anglo-Mysore War, 179092 .

Ireland. Humberts March, 23 August8 September 1798 .

The Battle of Ballinamuck, 8 September 1798 .

Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, 1806 .

Operations in the Rio de la Plata, 180607 .

Whitelockes March, 28 June3 July 1807 .

La Defensa: The British Attack, 5 July 1807 .

The Iberian Peninsula, 1808 .