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INTRODUCTION
 This was the second
battle in our Peninsular War Campaign. Following the fall of
Almeida, the French pushed on towards Coimbra via the route Tondella-Mortagon-Sula.
By 2 September 1810, a British screening force composed of the Light
Division led by Robert Craufurd was pushed back to the village of Sula,
at the foot of the Serra de Busaco, by a superior French force
estimated at corps strength. Their exact strength unknown, the
British lay in wait on the reverse slope of Busaco ridge.
[Click on any of
the images to get a full-sized pic.]
THE BATTLE
 As
morning dawned on 3 September, the French opened their thrust with
their cavalry and a division of infantry on the Mortagon-Sula
road.  The Light Division holding Sula was charged by a brigade
of French cavalry. The charge was repelled. This was
followed up by a French infantry assault, which was also beaten back
with ease. A third attempt with combined infantry and cavalry
finally forced the Lights to retire. It was here that Craufurd
fell, in a desperate attempt to rally his troops. Picton rushed
down from his position on the ridge to steady the Lights. Meanwhile,
British scouts on the ridge spotted a French advance up the subsidiary
road - Mortagon-Palheiros - to the south of Sula.
 The French next
formed their artillery into a Grand Battery facing Sula. The
effect was devastating! In 2 volleys, the French artillery
reduced the Light Division to half strength. Picton was hit by a
piece of flying shrapnel. In the face of such devastating fire,
the Lights had no choice but to retire up Busaco ridge, with 3rd
Division in support and RHA covering their left flank.
The dust cloud on
the Palheiros road resolved itself into a cavalry brigade and 2 French
infantry divisions. Seeing their flank threatened, the British
Heavy Cavalry charged and sent the French cavalry flying. But
the French were dangerous at bay, and though caught by the heavies in
the rear, the British horses were winded and made easy meat for the
more nimble French mounts. The British charge was repulsed, but
it bought them time to move 2 divisions into place on the ridge.
 Back on the Sula
road, the French cavalry charged the RHA batteries covering the
retreat of the Lights.  Sweeping through shot and shell, the
French Dragoons destroy the leading RHA battery, but are blown to bits
by the next RHA battery further up the ridge.
Daunted by the
prospect of having to assault at least three British divisions on top
of Busaco ridge, the French decide to pull back.
The battle was
inconclusive. The French retired in good order and suffered
minimal casualties. Although the British held the ridge and
prevented a breakthrough to Coimbra, they suffered relatively heavy
casualties - losing Craufurd, a large proportion of the Lights and a
significant number of heavy cavalry.
 
British
and French command teams - Wahj (Wellington) and Arjun (Ney) are not
shown.
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