Sir John Moore survives La Coruna

How does this impact the Peninsular war?
  • Does Sir Arthur Wellesley return to take command in April 1809?
  • If not, would Moore have beaten Soult at Porto and won at Talavera?
  • Would Moore have constructed the Lines of Torres Vedras?
More importantly, does Wellesley gain a command in time for him to rise through the ranks enough to command at Waterloo?
 
i'm tempted to say it probably doesn't make much difference. Without his death in battle to canonise him, Moore's reputation would be severely tarnished by the Corunna campaign, which was seen as a disaster and a humiliation and prompted accusations of betrayal by the Spanish. At the absolute minimum he would be tied up in commissions of inquiry for months and not available to go to Lisbon in April and if he does get employed again in a field command it's unlikely to be for a few years and unlikely to be in Spain. (1812 looks promising - the American war could go rather differently with an officer of Moore's ability in charge rather than Ross and Packenham...).
 
You make a very interesting point about the war of 1812. If, as you say, Moore's reputation had taken a beating he would have jumped at the chance for redemption. New Orleans would not have been such a disaster, as a commander of Moore's ability probably wouldn't have fought the battle in the first place. But you could say the same about Brock I guess, another 'what if he had survived'

With regards to Corunna, do you think Moore would have done as Hope did and continued the embarkation having repulsed Soult and having the advantage in men and material? If he had decided to keep his troops in place would his reputation had been tarnished enough for him to be recalled?
 
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