Volume V covers the period during which the outcome of the
war was effectively decided by Wellington's great advance from Portugal into Spain. The
operations that took place at this time include the French campaigns of late 1811, with
their conquest of Valencia and the siege of Tarifa;Wellington's offensive, involving the
terrible sieges and storming of the border fortresses of
Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz; and his great victory at Salamanca, which did much to decide
the fate of the French hold on Spain. Other notable actions include that at Garcia
Hernandez, and there were also smaller operations such as those on the east coast of
Spain. Orders of battle, lists of strengths and casualties, and an account of Wellington's
intelligence officer and code-breaker Sir George Scovell,whose efforts contributed greatly
to Wellington's plans of campaign, are given in the appendices.
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