Musket Warfare (Napolean style)

[Axeknight]

What I don't understand about Napoleonic warfare is why entrenchments were not more common on the battlefield.

Well, the Peninsular (in particular) was a war of movement. Wellesley knew his teeny British army hadn't a chance in hell of beating the massive French ones - although a large proportion of the French in Spain and Portugal were tied up guarding supply lines, messengers etc (note of interest: reports from the time suggest that a single mesenger required 40 dragoons escort) against the guerilleros. Wellesley had to maneuvre himself into positions where he could take advantage of his strengths (the British infantryman fired 4 rounds per minute, to the French 3, allowing them to deploy in 2 ranks to the French 3, and so have more firepower than the French, but the same rate of fire).

A great example of this is Busaco. Wellesley used his 'passive agression' tactic (advance, grab the high ground, and make the French counterrattack him over easily defensible terrain) to perfection here. His 50,000 British and Portuguese were then able to beat the 65,000 French under Marshal Massena very convincingly. Wellington then continued his retreat towards Lisbon, having done the French some serious harm.

Because Wellesley was constantly shifting his army around, and the sucession of Marshalls had to chase him, there simply wasn't much time for fortifying positions. The notable exception, of course, is the lines of Torres Vedras.