Appendix 1

Commanding Royal Engineers (CRE) with Wellington’s Army, 1808–14

Note 1. Fletcher was absent from the Peninsula from January to April 1809 following the Corunna campaign. The senior Engineer officer in Lisbon was Captain Peter Patton who remained there when Moore’s army advanced in October 1808. There was a temporary internal quarrel in late 1808 when George Landmann tried to claim seniority in Portugal. This was rejected by both the army commander, Sir John Craddock, and the Board of Ordnance. Landmann was part of the Gibraltar garrison and had been ordered back there. He managed to avoid doing so for several months, a skill he demonstrated several times throughout the war. Patton was superseded by Captain Stephen Chapman on 4 March 1809 on his arrival from England.

Note 2. I believe that Elphinstone was supposed to take over command from Fletcher. He should have sailed for the Peninsula in December 1812 and Fletcher did not arrive in England until the first week of January 1813. Elphinstone did not arrive in Portugal until early February and did not arrive at HQ until 4 March 1813. Fletcher returned six weeks later and Elphinstone was immediately sent back to Lisbon.

Note 3. Technically, Elphinstone was in command, but Burgoyne was with Wellington’s army until Elphinstone arrived at HQ. Wellington had effectively kept a succession of senior artillery officers in Lisbon to allow Dickson to retain command with the army.