Lines of Torres Vedras
The Lines of Torres Vedras were a line of forts in Portugal.
After his troubling Spanish experience at Talavera, Wellington decided to strengthen Portugal. He first used a report of Colonel Vincent, ordered by Junot in 1807, describing the excellent defensive capacities in the region nearby Lisbo and he had topographical studies by Major Neves Costa.
Wellington commanded the construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras, delineated as an efficient system of blockhouses, redoubts, ravelins, cuts of natural relief, etc.
The supervison was entrusted to Colonel Fletcher , assisted by Major John Jones, 11 British officers, 2 KGL officers and 4 Portuguese Army engineers. The cost was down to around £100,000, one of the less expensive but more remunerating military investments in history
The human cost was great for the population, on account of the privations they supported.
Constituted by 4 lines, the Lines of Torres Vedras had forts strategically placed in the top of hills, controlling the roads to Lisbon and using the natural obstacles of the land.
The 1st line, with an extension of 46 km, binds Alhandra to the estuary of the Sizandro River. The 2nd line, 13 km to the south, has 39 km and binds the Póvoa de Santa Iria to Ribamar. The 3rd line consisted of a defensive perimeter with 3 km, from Paço de Arcos to the Tower of Junqueira, protecting a beach of embarkment (S.Julian's) about 40 km to the south of the 2nd line.
In 7 months, 108 forts and 151 redoubts were built, with revelins, detached batteries, etc. The three lines were furnished with 1.067 pieces of artillery and provided with 68.665 men, one of the most efficient system of field blockhouses in military history. Behind them was the field army of 50.000 Anglo-Portuguese regulars, able to manoeuver against tne invaders.
The 4ª line, was built south of the TAgus in the Altos of Almada to hinder an eventual invasion coming from south, with an extension of 8.000 yards: It had 17 redoubts and covered trenches, 86 pieces of artillery, defended by troops of the navy, and orderlies of Lisbon, in a total of 7500 men.
The efficiency and cohesion of the Lines had 3 main issues : 1)Redoubts of artillery with Portuguese artillerymen, commanded by major-general José António Rosa, and specialized to fire into preset zones, where the enemy attack was expected; 2)military roads to cover the rear of the lines and allowing an extraordinary mobility of forces; 3)A Signal System introduced by the British navy, a system allowing a message to be sent around the lines in 7 minutes; or from the HQ to any point in 4 minutes.
