|
Historical military art prints of the
Peninsula War including the Battles of Televera, Fuentos d'Onoro, Albuera,
Badajoz, San Sebastian, Salamanca and Benevente. Napoleonic art prints by
leading military artists published by Cranston Fine Arts.
[ Battle of Telavera ] [ Fuentos d'Onoro ] [ Battle of Albuera ] [ Seige at Badajoz ] [ Battle of Salamanca ] [ San Sebastion ] [ Battle of Benevente ] [ Battle of Vittoria ]
The Battle of Corunna, 1809 Sir John Moore is one of the few soldiers who have won lasting
fame by the conduct of a retreat. When he was sent to
arrest the victorious march of Napoleon through the Peninsula he
foretold failure. Despite many difficulties he succeeded
in baffling the greatest military genius that the world has
known, and in lowering the prestige of triumphant arms.
With twenty thousand fighting men he invaded a country overrun
by three hundred thousand veterans, and, meeting with no support
from the Spaniards, struck boldly at Bonaparte's
communications. The audacity of this strategy drew from
Napoleon the admission that Moore was the only foe worthy of his
steel. With characteristic energy Bonaparte abandoned his
plan of campaign and set out in pursuit, but rumour of an
alliance between Russia and Austria sent him in hot haste to
Paris. Soult was left behind to drive the British into the
sea. Undismayed by the overwhelming force with which he
was threatened, Moore prepared to meet the French. But
prudence prevailed. Madrid had capitulated without
striking a blow, and the Spanish legions had melted into
shadows. Eluding the snares set for him by the perfidy of
persons in high places and warned by the treacherous folly of
the British representative, Moore made up his mind to fall back
upon the coast. His force was so reduced that he had to
post his men on an inferior range of hills commanded by the
artillery fire of the enemy. But advantage of position and
superior numbers were of no avail against the gallantry of the
British. By a skillful move Moore managed to outflank the
left of the French columns sent to crush the infantry under
Baird. Centre and left became engaged and a furious fight
swept along the line. Hill and valley re-echoed with the
din of battle. Moore was in the forefront of the conflict
near the village of Elvina, against which the assault was
fiercest. Here a cannon shot struck him on the left
breast, shattering the shoulder to pieces, breaking the ribs
over the heart and tearing the muscles to shreds. Thrown
violently from his horse he gave no sign of the terrible nature
of his wound, but fixed his gaze steadily on the troops.
Only when he saw the thin red line advancing did he suffer
himself to be carried to the rear. The hilt of his sword
had entered the wound and an officer of his staff would have
removed it. "It is as well as it is", said the
dying soldier, "I had rather it should go out of the field
with me". Moore died as he had always wished to
die. "I hope my country will do me justice",
were among his last words. And England had reason to be
satisfied, for by his skill, his foresight, and his bravery, he
saved her army from destruction, and arrested the blow that
Napoleon aimed at the conquest of Spain. (extract
from British Battles 1898)
|
|
|
Incident on the Peninsula by Chris Collingwood.
British 15th Light dragoons (and Hussars) and 16th Light Dragoons engage the French 1st Provincial Chasseurs during the Peninsula War
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 16 inches (64cm x 41cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 16 inches (64cm x 41cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 40 inches x 30 inches (102cm x 76cm). Price £690.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 22 inches (76cm x 56cm). Price £460.00
Original painting by Chris Collingwood. Image size 40 inches x 30 inches (102cm x 76cm). Price £14500.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
**Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 25 inches x 16 inches (64cm x 41cm). Price £70.00
ITEM CODE DHM1281
|
|
|
The Worst Scrape - Retreat from Burgos October/November 1812 by Chris Collingwood.
After a major victory at Salamanca (22 July 1812) Wellington occupied Madrid and then advanced to capture Burgos - unfortunately with insufficient siege equipment he was compelled to retire and forced to experience a harrowing retreat, it was, he said The worst scrape. However, when the campaigning season ended, Spain, south of the Tagus, was free of the French.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 71cm). Price £590.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 24 inches (76cm x 61cm). Price £460.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
**Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £70.00
ITEM CODE DHM1099
|
|
|
Scouts by William Barnes Wollen.
Showing members of the 10th Hussars during the Peninsula War.
Open edition print. Image size 15 inches x 21 inches (38cm x 53cm). Price £43.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 50cm). Price £390.00
Card and image size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 11cm). Price £2.00
**Open edition print. (Three copies reduced to clear) Image size 15 inches x 21 inches (38cm x 53cm). Price £38.00
ITEM CODE DHM0077
|
|
|
15th Hussars 1809 by Chris Collingwood.
Signed limited edition of 1000 prints. Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £24.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £51.00
Original pencil drawing by Chris Collingwood. Paper size 18 inches x 14 inches (46cm x 36cm). Price £
ITEM CODE VAR0626
|
|
|
Portrait of Wellington by Chris Collingwood.
Arthur Wellesley is shown in his uniform of Lt. General (with the most honourable Order of the Bath) at the time of the Battle of Vimiero 21st August 1808.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 24 inches (43cm x 61cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 17 inches x 24 inches (43cm x 61cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 40 inches x 30 inches (102cm x 76cm). Price £690.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 26 inches (91cm x 66cm). Price £590.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
ITEM CODE DHM0663
|
|
|
The Rearguard by J P Beadle.
Craufurds Light Brigade, of which the 95th Rifles, the 43rd and 52nd, were part of, faces about once more to face the enemy, during the retreat from Spain of Sir John Moores Army. The Light Brigade fought a series of brilliant delaying tactics under the most adverse of conditions during the Peninsula War.
Open edition print. Image size 32 inches x 20 inches (81cm x 51cm). Price £51.00
Open edition print. Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cmx 38cm). Price £43.00
**Open edition print. (6 reduced to cleear) Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cmx 38cm). Price £25.00
ITEM CODE DHM0092
|
|
|
Passage of the Bidassoa by R Beavis.
Napoleonic art print showing the British Artillery and Horse Artillery crossing the Bidassoa as the Duke of Wellington looks on during the Peninsula War
Open edition print. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £51.00
ITEM CODE DHM0187
|
|
|
The Passage of the Bidassoa by Wellingtons Army, 7th October 1813 by J P Beadle.
Open edition print. Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £43.00
Open edition print. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £14.00
**Open edition print. (Two copies reduced to clear) Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £30.00
ITEM CODE DHM0308
|
|
|
Retreat From Corunna by R Beavis.
Open edition print. Special Promotion : This print is HALF PRICE for a limited time only! Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £7.80
ITEM CODE VAR0460
|
|
|
An Incident During the Peninsula War by Robert Hillingford.
Open edition print. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £43.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £450.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
**Open edition print. (2 copies reduced to clear) Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £28.00
ITEM CODE DHM0953
|
|
|
Bonaparte and the Survivors of the Forlorn Hope at St Jean by Richard Caton Woodville (GL)
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 gicleecanvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GIDT7716
|
|
|
Battle of Corunna, 1809 by Henry Dupray. (P)
Original antique print c.1890, mounted on card at the time. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £75.00
ITEM CODE HD0046
|
|
|
Sir John Moore at Corunna, January 16th 1809 by B Granville Baker
Antique print published 1915. Paper size 10.5 inches x 7.5 inches (26cm x 19cm). Price £25.00
ITEM CODE ANT0070
|
|
|
The Attack of the Black Watch, Battle of Corunna by Harry Payne.
The Battle of Corunna, 1809: With 20,000 fighting men Sir John Moore invaded a country overrun by 300,000 veterans, and, meeting with no support from the Spaniards, struck boldly at Bonapartes communications. The audacity of this strategy drew from Napoleon that Moore was the only foe worthy of his steel. With characteristic energy Bonaparte abandoned his plan of campaign and set out in pursuit, but rumour of an alliance between Russia and Austria sent him in hot haste to Paris. Soult was left behind to drive the British into the sea. Undismayed by the overwhelming force with which he was threatened, Moore prepared to meet the French. But prudence prevailed. Madrid had capitulated without striking a blow, and the Spanish legions had melted into shadows. Moore decided to fall back upon the coast. His force was so reduced that he had to post his men on an inferior range of hills commanded by the artillery fire of the enemy. But advantage of position and superior numbers were of no avail against the gallantry of the British. By a skillful move Moore managed to outflank the left of the French columns sent to crush the infantry under Baird. Centre and left became engaged and a furious fight swept along the line. Moore was in the forefront of the conflict near the village of Elvina, against which the assault was fiercest. Here a cannon shot struck him on the left breast, shattering the shoulder to pieces, breaking the ribs over the heart and tearing the muscles to shreds. Thrown violently from his horse he gave no sign of the terrible nature of his would, but fixed his gaze steadily on his troops. Only when he saw the thin red line advancing did he suffer himself to be carried to the rear. The hilt of his sword had entered the wound and an officer of his staff would have removed it. It is as well as it is, said the dying soldier, I had rather it should go out of the field with me. I hope my country will do me justice, were among his last words. By his skill, foresight and bravery, he saved Englands army from destruction and arrested the blow that Napoleon aimed at the conquest of Spain.
Open edition print. Image size 8 inches x 12 inches (20cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original chromolithograph plate published by Raphael Tuck and Sons, 1915.Part of the Glorious Battles. Plate image size 7.5 inches x 5.5 inches (19cm x 14cm), paper size 10 inches x 7 inches (25cm x 18cm). Price £58.00
ITEM CODE VAR0605
|
|
|
Lieutenant Harry Hunt at Cassis, 18th August 1813 by Harry Payne.
Reprint from original chromolithograph. Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original chromolithograph by Harry Payne, published in 1891 by Raphael Tuck and Sons for the series On Service at Home and Abroad. Size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £80.00
**Reprint from original chromolithograph. (2 copies reduced to clear) Image size 9 inches x 12 inches (23cm x 31cm). Price £9.00
ITEM CODE VAR0014
|
|
|
Battle of Toulouse, 1814 by Henry Dupray (P)
Original antique print c.1890, with some spotting in the sky. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £75.00
ITEM CODE HD0039
|
|
|
Napoleon During the Surrender of Madrid, 4th December 1808 by Antoine-Jean Gros. (GS)
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 22 inches (76cm x 56cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GE180830
|
Incident on the Peninsula by Chris
Collingwood. British 15th Light dragoons (and Hussars) and 16th Light Dragoons
engage the French 1st Provincial Chasseurs during the Peninsula War
"The Worst Scrape" Retreat from Burgos
October/November 1812 by Chris Collingwood After a major victory at Salamanca (22 July 1812) Wellington occupied
Madrid and then advanced to capture Burgos - unfortunately with
insufficient siege equipment he was compelled to retire and forced to
experience a harrowing retreat, it was, he said "The worst
scrape". However, when the campaigning season ended, Spain, south of
the Tagus, was free of the French.
Scouts by William Barnes Wollen Showing members of the 10th Hussars during the Peninsula War.
Portrait of Wellington by Chris Collingwood
Arthur Wellesley is shown in his uniform of Lt. General
(with the most honourable Order of the Bath) at the time of the Battle
of Vimiero 21st August 1808.
The Rearguard by J.P. Beadle
Craufurds Light Brigade, of which the 95th Rifles, the 43rd and 52nd,
were part of, faces about once more to face the enemy, during the retreat
from Spain of Sir John Moores Army. The Light Brigade fought a series of
brilliant delaying tactics under the most adverse of conditions during the
Peninsula War.
Passage of the Bidassoa by R Beavis
Napoleonic art print showing the British Artillery and Horse
Artillery crossing the Bidassoa as the Duke of Wellington looks on during
the Peninsula War.
|
| The Battle of Corunna, 1809: With 20,000 fighting men Sir John Moore invaded a country overrun by
300,000 veterans, and, meeting with no support from the Spaniards, struck
boldly at Bonaparte's communications. The audacity of this strategy drew
from Napoleon that Moore was the only foe worthy of his steel. With
characteristic energy Bonaparte abandoned his plan of campaign and set out
in pursuit, but rumour of an alliance between Russia and Austria sent him
in hot haste to Paris. Soult was left behind to drive the British into the
sea. Undismayed by the overwhelming force with which he was threatened,
Moore prepared to meet the French. But prudence prevailed. Madrid had
capitulated without striking a blow, and the Spanish legions had melted
into shadows. Moore decided to fall back upon the coast. His force was so
reduced that he had to post his men on an inferior range of hills
commanded by the artillery fire of the enemy. But advantage of position
and superior numbers were of no avail against the gallantry of the
British. By a skillful move Moore managed to outflank the left of the
French columns sent to crush the infantry under Baird. Centre and left
became engaged and a furious fight swept along the line. Moore was in the
forefront of the conflict near the village of Elvina, against which the
assault was fiercest. Here a cannon shot struck him on the left breast,
shattering the shoulder to pieces, breaking the ribs over the heart and
tearing the muscles to shreds. Thrown violently from his horse he gave no
sign of the terrible nature of his would, but fixed his gaze steadily on
his troops. Only when he saw the thin red line advancing did he suffer
himself to be carried to the rear. The hilt of his sword had entered the
wound and an officer of his staff would have removed it. "It is as
well as it is," said the dying soldier, "I had rather it should
go out of the field with me." "I hope my country will do me
justice," were among his last words. By his skill, foresight and
bravery, he saved England's army from destruction and arrested the blow
that Napoleon aimed at the conquest of Spain. Text by William Maxwell 1902. |
|
The Peninsula War
by Roger Parkinson
The Peninsula War was a war of contrasts; a war fought in the icy
passes of the high Pyrenees and on the burning wastes of the Sierra Morena;
a war of infinite cruelty yet remarkable courtesy; a war in which debonair
British officers fought alongside ragged Spanish partisans.
It began in 1808 with Napoleon at the height of his pwer, and ended
with his attempted suicide in 1814 - he called it his 'Spanish ulcer'. In
a series of savagely fought battles - Cuidad, Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca
and Vittoria - Wellington's 'scum' (the French opinion of his army)
avenged Corunna and swept Spain clean of France's finest troops.
Roger Parkinson's narrative vividly recaptures the horror,
excitement and drudgery of history's first guerilla war. The book's many
superb illustrations ably complement the stirring text.
Book serial number W1. Price £8.99. Fully illustrated paperback
with 208 pages. Post UK £4 Europe
£8 Rest of World £10 |
To see more books on this subject click
here
|
|
|
BARROSA,
5 March 1811
Two weeks after the
battle at Busaco Wellington's army began to enter the Lines of Torres
Vedras, a series of natural and man-made barriers which stretched across
the Lisbon peninsula between the Tagus and the Atlantic. The system
comprised mainly of three separate lines; the first, to the north, ran
inland from the Atlantic to the town of Torres Vedras and then on to the
Tagus. The second line ran almost parallel to the first but was five miles
farther south. The third lay west of Lisbon and enclosed an area from
which a re-embarkation could be carried out should it become necessary.
The system included the damming of streams and rivers to make inundations,
castles in towns were protected by earthworks and every hill along the
first two lines was crowned with a defensive work or redoubt. Coupled with
the naturally rugged terrain the Lines of Torres Vedras were an almost
impregnable system of fortifications behind which Wellington placed his
army along with as much food as could be gathered in from the outlying
countryside.
Massena and his army
were shocked when they came face to face with the lines. They were stunned
by their extent and strength and it did not take long for Massena, who had
absolutely no idea of their existence, to realise that it would be
hopeless to attack them, particularly with the recent unpleasant
experience at Busaco still fresh in his mind. He was left, therefore, with
little choice but to sit down in front of the lines and wait in the hope
that Wellington would come out and attack him. Wellington had no such
intention, however, and while his own army grew stronger and was supplied
through Lisbon by the Royal Navy, he was only too pleased to sit and wait
and starvation took a hold on Massena's army.
In mid-November
1810, Massena's starving army, having made no impression at all on
Wellington's lines, began to pull back and by April 1811 had recrossed the
border into Spain having lost almost 25,000 men.
Whilst Massena's
army was dragging itself back into Spain another 25,000 French troops,
under Marshal Victor, were laying siege to the important Allied port of
Cadiz which was garrisoned by an equal number of British and Spanish
troops. The Allied troops were well protected by strong fortifications and
their situation improved when French troops began to be withdrawn from in
front of Cadiz in response to Massena's appeals for reinforcements. These
requests had resulted in Soult having to pull out of Andalucia in order to
beseige Badajoz, Soult in turn drawing upon Victor's force to assist him.
This move reduced Victor's force to around 15,000 men.
The reduction in
enemy troop numbers around Cadiz, coupled with the news of Massena's
retreat towards Spain, prompted the much-encouraged defenders into
launching an attack on the French besiegers. The attack involved shipping
10,000 Spanish and 4,000 British troops some 50 miles to the south to
Tarifa, from where they would march north to attack the French from the
rear while at the same time some 4,000 Spaniards would make a sortie from
Cadiz.
Commanding the
British troops was the 62 year-old Major General Sir Thomas Graham, one of
the oldest but most spirited generals in the British Army. Graham had
received orders from Wellington that on no account was he to serve under
any Spanish general but for the sake of Anglo-Spanish relations Graham
relented an agreed to serve under the inept and very haughty General
Manuel La Peña, the choice of the Spanish junta.
Graham's force set
sail on February 21st 1811 although bad weather prevented the force from
landing at Tarifa and forced it on instead to Algeciras where it
disembarked on February 23rd. The Spanish contingent did not arrive until
February 28th but soon afterwards the whole Allied force was on the march
north towards Cadiz. The march was fraught with disagreements between
Graham and La Peña, who insisted on making night marches which usually
resulted in the troops losing their way. Nevertheless, early on the
morning of March 5th the force found itself marching along the beach near
the tower of Barrosa, the waves of the Atlantic crashing in on their left.
Later on that
morning, La Peña's advanced guard clashed with elements of Villatte's
French force although the fighting was cut short when the garrison in
Cadiz launched its sortie which forced the French to withdraw. Graham,
meanwhile, had positioned his British troops on the ridge of Barrosa which
stretches for about a mile and a half from the coast on the left to the
thick pine forest of Chiclana on the right. No sooner had Graham's men
settled down than a messenger arrived with orders from La Peña who,
flushed with his earlier success, wanted Graham to leave the ridge and
join him. It was obvious to the British commander that the ridge would be
an important strategic position in the forthcoming battle which now seemed
inevitable. Nevertheless, he ordered his men to march off but only after
having first left behind a composite battalion under Colonel Browne,
consisting of two companies each of the 1/9th, 1/28th and the 2/82nd, as
well as five Spanish battalions.
Graham and his men
had not long set off along the dusty road leading from the ridge when two
rather animated Spanish guerrillas came riding up with the news that a
French division was moving through the forest towards the ridge, just as
Graham had feared, and that another division was advancing from the south.
The French troops advancing through the forest belonged to Leval's
division whilst the other division was Ruffins's and between them they
managed to panic the five Spanish battalions into abandoning the ridge
without hardly having to fire a shot, thus leaving Browne's composite
battalion all alone.
Graham was unaware
of the flight of the Spaniards but was certainly made aware of the close
proximity of the French when a couple of round shots came bouncing in
between the trees, killing an officer of the Guards. First to turn about
was General Dilkes' Brigade of Guards who pushed their way through the
ranks of the 2/87th in order to get forward. When the 1st Foot Guards
advanced they did so in the face of heavy French musketry from the top of
the ridge, the overwhelming French numerical superiority having forced
Browne's men to retire earlier.
With the British
situation deteriorating rapidly Graham decided that the only solution was
to drive the French from the ridge using the Brigade of Guards supported
by Wheatley's brigade. Browne's six companies, meanwhile, would attack
first in order to give the Guards time to deploy, news of which was
delivered by Browne himself to his men with the words, "Gentlemen, I
am happy to be the bearer of good news. General Graham has done you the
honour of being the first to attack these fellows. Now follow me, you
rascals." Browne's men advanced up the ridge with determination and
courage but took heavy casualties from the French artillery and musketry.
There was little cover for his men and after a few salvoes and volleys had
swept away over half his men Browne ordered them to fall back and lie
down, taking advantage of what little cover there was available to them. A
French counter-attack would have meant the end for Browne and his small
unit but just as Ruffin began to deploy, Dilkes' Brigade of Guards
appeared from the forest.
The Foot Guards
advance took them along a route which afforded them rather more cover than
had Browne's route and they were supported by the ten guns under Major
Duncan. Nonetheless, the advance proved a difficult one as the Guards had
been on the march all morning and had not had time to cook any breakfast.
Four battalions of Ruffin's infantry stood atop the ridge, ready to greet
them, but the Guards would not give way but fought like tigers and
continued their advance. The 1st Foot Guards, in the first line, were
supported by the 3rd Foot Guards with Graham himself at their head, waving
his hat in the air, cheering his men forward. Browne's men too, having
recovered from their earlier ordeal, now rejoined the fight and together
the British troops forced the French back until they were finally on top
of the ridge. Then, Graham shouted, "Now my lads, there they are.
Spare your powder, but give them steel enough," and with that his men
charged forward and drove the French from the ridge but only after a
bitter fight.
Elsewhere, the
British troops had been equally successful. On the left, Wheatley's
brigade had thrown back and defeated Laval's division. During this
struggle Sergeant Patrick Masterman, of the 87th, captured a French eagle
after a savage little fight in which no more than seven French soldiers
were killed defending it and one lieutenant severely wounded.
Soon afterwards, the
battered and bruised French withdrew from the field leaving Graham's
equally exhausted soldiers in possession of the ridge. Of 5,000 British
troops engaged some 1,238 had become casualties against 2,062 French.
Ruffin himself was wounded and one of his brigadiers, Rousseau, later died
of his wounds. Five French guns were taken also.
Graham had achieved
a remarkable victory without the aid of a single Spanish soldier, La Peña
refusing to march to his assistance. His men had also taken the first
Imperial eagle of the war which was brought home to England and laid up at
Whitehall amidst great pomp and ceremony.
We'd like to thank Ian
Fletcher, renowned military author on the Peninsula and Waterloo, for his
contribution ot our website. |
The Middlesex Regiment at the Combat
of El Bodon & Battle of Cuidad Rodrigo Excerpt
form the Navy and army Illustrated August 18th 1897 by Colonel W W Knollys Early in 1811 the regiment
embarked for the Peninsular, and before the year was out had covered
itself with glory at the action of El Bodon. In September, Marmot
determined to introduce provisions into Cuidad Rodrigo, which had been
blockaded by Wellington for some weeks. One of the results of this was the
"Combat of El Bodon", as Napier calls it. In those days the term
battle was reserved for great occasions. On the morning of 25th September
General Colville, with the 5th and 77th, and the 21st Portuguese, with two
batteries of Portuguese artillery and three squadrons of cavalry - two
squadrons 11th Light Dragoons and one squadron 1st German Hussars - under
Major-General Baron Alten, were attacked by overwhelming numbers. The
assailants consisted of between 30 and 40 squadrons of French cavalry with
12 guns, followed by 14,000 infantry with a due proportion of artillery.
The British occupied a height convex towards the enemy, and covered in
front and on both flanks by bushes. It was, however, too large to be
occupied properly by the small force at General Colville's disposal. Montbrun,
at the head of over 30 squadrons of cavalry, advanced by the road through
El Bodon direct on Fuente Guinaldo, which was held by the English and
Portuguese. This distinguished cavalry commander, noting his opponents'
weakness, determined to attack before the supporting French infantry could
come up. The Portuguese guns plied the French horsemen well with shot,
but, nothing daunted, the gallant Frenchmen persisted. Crossing a ravine
they rode up the height on three sides and arrived at the top only to be
saluted with the fire of the defender's infantry and artillery and the
heroic dash of the cavalry, who charged again and again the heads of the
French columns and drove them back. Napier says the the British and German
Hussars charged them no less than 20 times. That may be a loose
expression, but it is certain that our horsemen charged the heavy masses
of the French cavalry repeatedly, each time forcing them back. Not less
gallant, however, than their opponents, the French each time rallied, and
failure was followed by a fresh effort to crown the crest of the hill. At
length Montbrun brought up his guns. A squadron of the 11th Hussars,
charging too far, became entangled in the intricacies of a ravine. The
French profited by the opportunity, and charging the Portuguese artillery,
captured two of their guns, cutting down the gunners who stuck to their
pieces manfully. Then occurred an
incident almost without example in war. The 5th Regiment actually charged
the French cavalry and recovered the guns, and the 77th on their left,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead, at the same moment charged and drove
back the French horsemen in their immediate front. By this time the French
infantry were close at hand, and Lord Wellington sent word to Colville to
retire. Then was accomplished another feat which reflects the highest
credit on the 5th and 77th regiments. These two weak battalions were
formed in one square. The 21st Portuguese formed another square, which was
also joined by the Portuguese artillery, and the three squadrons who
feared to be cut off as the French had turned our right. Thus the retreat
was effected in two echelons, the 5th and the 77th being the nearest to
the enemy. The movement to the rear had scarcely commenced when, to quote the
eloquent words of Napier, " In an instant the whole of the French
cavalry came thundering down upon them. But how vain, how fruitless, to
match the sword with the musket; to send the charging horseman against the
steadfast veteran. The multitudinous squadrons, rending the skies with
their shouts, and closing upon the glowing squares, like the falling edges
of a burning crater, were as instantaneously rejected, scorched and
scattered abroad; and the rolling peal of musketry had scarcely ceased to
echo in the hills, when bayonets glittered at the edge, and with firm and
even step, the British regiments came forth like the holy men from the
Assyrian's furnace." The French
cavalry made no more attempts to break the steadfast British square, and
though they threatened the Portuguese square, they, probably deterred by
the fact that it was supported by the Portuguese guns and our three
squadrons, made no actual charge. During the remaining portion of the day
the French contented themselves with following Colville, who had been
reinforced, with mere artillery fire.
At the
capture of Cuidad Rodrigo by assault on the 12th January 1812, the 77th
played a conspicuous part. The 3rd - Picton's - Division, to which the
regiment belonged, was told off to attack the great breach. The left
breach was stormed by the Light Division, and false attacks were made
elsewhere. The Light division showed the most astounding intrepidity under
the most desperate circumstances, and after suffering losses that may be
called, without exaggeration, appalling, eventually succeeded. The task of
the 3rd division, though arduous enough, not quite so arduous as that
of the Light Division. Picton - who as Charles Lever says in "Charles
O'Malley" was always in a heavenly humour when somebody was going to
be killed- was a general to get the utmost out of his men, and on this
occasion they fought splendidly, the 77th being among the leading
regiments. Having escaladed the Fausse Braye, the 3rd division cleared it
till they came to the foot of the great breach. This they mounted in the
face of a most destructive fire, which every second stretched an officer
or man among the ruins. The French from their entrenchments poured forth a
constant stream of bullets, and were aided by the fire of their comrades
occupying the houses in the rear of and overlooking the ramparts. Our men
had forced their way up to nearly the top of the breach, but could not
advance further in the teeth of the two guns which at only a few yards
swept the narrow passage with grape. Die, Picton's men could; go back they
would not. At length the other breach was carried, and the 43rd and the
stormers of the Light Division came down on the flank of the defenders of
the great breach. Three small expense magazines exploded about this time,
and the defence weakening, the 3rd division, by a great effort, carried
the retrenchments. The total loss of the allies in this siege was about
1,200 soldiers and 90 officers. Of these some 650 men and 60 officers were
the casualties due to the assault. |
|
