Chapter XI: Battle Honours for Services in the Peninsular War, 1808-1814 (1)

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Roleia--Vimiera--Sahagun--Corunna--The Douro--Talavera--Busaco--Barrosa--Fuentes d'Onor--Albuera--Almaraz--Arroyos dos Molinos--Tarifa--Ciudad Rodrigo--Badajos--Salamanca--Vittoria--Pyrenees--San Sebastian--Nivelle--Nive--Orthes--Toulouse.

The campaign was entered upon with a view of preventing the Iberian Peninsula from falling under the domination of Napoleon, who, prior to the landing of our troops in Portugal in August, 1808, had brought about the abdication of the King of Spain, and placed his brother Joseph on the throne of Madrid. Portugal had been invaded also by the French. The King, taking refuge on an English squadron, had sailed to Brazil, and Lisbon was at the moment in possession of the French Army, commanded by Marshal Junot.

The honour "Peninsula" was granted to all regiments which served under the Duke of Wellington from the date of his first landing in Figueras Bay in August, 1808, to the Battle of Toulouse, in April, 1804. Regiments which served under Sir John Moore and were present at Corunna in January, 1809, but were not fortunate enough to return to Spain, were debarred from this "distinction," the 14th Foot (now the West Yorks) and the 26th Cameronians being cases in point.[15] Gold medals and crosses were conferred on field and general officers during the operations, but it was not until the year 1847 that the Duke of Richmond was enabled to carry out the project of inducing Her Majesty Queen Victoria to grant to the few remaining survivors a silver medal with clasps for the various actions, as below:

Roleia.
Vimiera.
Sahagun.
Benevente.
Corunna.
Talavera.
Busaco.
Barrosa.
Fuentes d'Onor.
Albuera.
Ciudad Rodrigo.
Badajoz.
Salamanca.
Vittoria.
Pyrenees.
San Sebastian.
Nivelle.
Nive.
Orthes.
Toulouse.

ROLEIA, AUGUST 17, 1808.

This was the opening action of the Peninsular War, which, commencing with Roleia in August, 1808, lasted until the final defeat of Soult by the Duke of Wellington at Toulouse in March, 1814.

The following regiments have been authorized at different times to carry the word "Roleia" on their colours and appointments, and the Land General Service Medal, with clasp "Roleia," was granted to all survivors on June 1, 1847:

Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwick.
Norfolk.
Worcester.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Stafford.
South Lancashire.
Sherwood Foresters.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.

They were brigaded as under, the chief command being held by Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Arthur Wellesley:

First Brigade--Hill:
5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) 990
1st Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 833
38th (South Staffords) 957
---- 2,780

Second Brigade--Fergusson:
36th (Worcester) 591
40th (South Lancashire) 926
71st (Highland Light Infantry) 903
---- 2,420

Third Brigade--Nightingale:
29th (Worcester) 806
82nd (South Lancashire) 929
---- 1,735

Fourth Brigade--Bowes:
6th (Royal Warwick) 946
32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) 874
---- 1,820

Fifth Brigade--C. Crawford:
50th (West Kent) 948
91st (Argyll Highlanders) 917
---- 1,865

Sixth Brigade--Fane:
45th (Sherwood Foresters) 670
5th Batt. King's Royal Rifles 936
2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade 400
---- 2,060
------
12,626

20th Light Dragoons 240
Royal Artillery 226

Opposed to these, the French had, under General Delaborde, not more than 6,000 men. The odds, therefore, were considerably in our favour; but the opposition was nowhere very determined, and our casualties were slight. Three regiments, it will be seen from the accompanying return, suffered no loss.

CASUALTIES AT ROLEIA.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|20th Hussars | - | - | - | 3 |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | - | 1 | - |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | 2 | 3 | 41 |
|6th R. Warwick | - | 1 | - | 2 |
|29th Worcester | - | 7 | 33 | 111 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | - | 1 | 3 |
|36th Worcester | - | - | - | - |
|38th S. Stafford | - | - | 4 | - |
|40th S. Lancs | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 1 | 1 | - | 9 |
|50th West Kent | - | - | 2 | 1 |
|60th K.R.R | - | 2 | 8 | 39 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | - | 1 | 1 |
|82nd S. Lancs | - | 1 | 6 | 18 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 2 | 17 | 30 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--The riflemen of the 60th and 95th (Rifle Brigade) had been
engaged on August 15, when the latter regiment lost one officer
killed and another wounded.

VIMIERA, AUGUST 21, 1808.

Four days after Roleia, Sir Arthur Wellesley, at the head of the following regiments, inflicted a second defeat on the French army under Junot, capturing three guns and many prisoners. The following regiments bear the honour:

20th Hussars.
Queen's.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Norfolk.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Worcesters.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Stafford.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
West Kent.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.

The casualties incurred were as follows:

CASUALTIES AT VIMIERA.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|20th Hussars | 1 | - | 19 | 24 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 2 | - | 2 |
|2nd Queen's | - | - | - | 7 |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | - | - | - |
|6th Royal Warwicks | - | - | - | - |
|9th Norfolk (2nd Batt.) | - | - | - | - |
|20th Lancs Fus. | 1 | 1 | - | 5 |
|29th Worcester | - | 1 | 2 | 11 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|36th Worcester | - | 5 | 7 | 36 |
|38th S. Staffs | - | - | - | - |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 2 | 6 | 30 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 3 | 27 | 51 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | - | - | - |
|50th West Kent | 1 | 4 | 19 | 63 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | 2 | 5 | 33 |
|50th K.R.R. | - | 2 | 14 | 22 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | 7 | 12 | 92 |
|82nd S. Lancs | 1 | - | 7 | 53 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 4 | 37 | 43 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

Immediately after the action negotiations were entered into with the French to secure their evacuation of Portugal. The Convention of Cintra, the result of these negotiations, raised a storm of indignation in England. The three Generals--Harry Burrard, Sir Howard Dalrymple, and Sir Arthur Wellesley--were recalled, and their conduct submitted to a Court of Inquiry held at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, under the presidency of Sir Henry Dundas. The _Times_ took a strong line against Wellesley, but the Court of Inquiry to a great extent exonerated him. Subsequently he returned to Portugal, as we know, to carry the war to a successful conclusion, thus belying his detractors.

The troops engaged at Vimiera were brigaded as under:

20th Light Dragoons 240
Royal Artillery (three batteries) 226

First Brigade--Hill:
5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) 944
1st Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 761
38th (South Staffords) 953
---- 2,658

Second Brigade--Fergusson:
36th (Worcester) 591
40th (South Lancashire) 923
71st (Highland Light Infantry) 935
---- 2,449

Third Brigade--Nightingale:
29th (Worcester) 616
82nd (South Lancashire) 904
---- 1,520

Fourth Brigade--Bowes:
6th (Royal Warwick) 943
32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) 870
---- 1,813

Fifth Brigade--C. Crawford:
45th (Sherwood Foresters) 915
91st (Argyll Highlanders) 917
---- 1,832

Sixth Brigade--Fane:
50th (West Kent) 945
5th Batt. 60th (King's Royal Rifles) 604
2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade 456
---- 2,005

Seventh Brigade--Anstruther:
2nd Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 633
43rd (Oxford Light Infantry) 721
52nd (Oxford Light Infantry) 654
97th (West Kent) 695
---- 2,703

Eighth Brigade--Acland:
2nd (Queen's) 731
20th (Lancashire Fusiliers) 401
1st Batt. Rifle Brigade 200
---- 1,332
------
Total British 16,712

To which must be added about 2,000 Portuguese troops. Of the French forces it is not so easy to speak. Wellesley estimated their strength at 14,000, inclusive of 1,500 cavalry, with 23 guns. Professor Oman's figures are 13,056, including 1,850 cavalry. Whatever their strength may have been, they made but a poor stand against Sir Arthur's troops.

MOORE'S CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN.

When the three Generals responsible for the Convention of Cintra were recalled to England, Sir John Moore was nominated to the chief command in Spain. The appointment was a popular one, for Moore had greatly distinguished himself in command of a brigade at the capture of the Island of St. Lucia, and later still at the Battle of Egmont-op-Zee and in Egypt. His masterly advance from Lisbon to the relief of Madrid, and his still more masterly retreat from Salamanca to Corunna, are ably recounted in Professor Oman's monumental work on the Peninsular War, and by General Maurice in his Life of Moore. With not more than 30,000 men Moore held at bay five times that number, and finally, at Corunna, covered the embarkation of his worn-out army in the face of 25,000 French, commanded by Marshal Soult. The one episode during that famous retreat which is emblazoned on the colours and appointments of our army is the brilliant cavalry action of Sahagun, for which, as well as for the cavalry action of Benevente a few days afterwards, the medal and clasps were granted.

SAHAGUN, DECEMBER 21, 1808.

This honour has been awarded to the 15th Hussars only, and commemorates a brilliant little engagement, when the 15th attacked and routed a far superior body of French cavalry. With the trifling loss of 2 Hussars killed and 18 wounded, they captured 13 officers and 150 men of the enemy. Sahagun and Benevente--a similar action which took place a few days subsequently, in which the 10th and 18th Hussars bore their share, but for which no battle honour was granted, though a clasp "Benevente" was added to the Peninsular medal--bore testimony to the admirable manner in which our light cavalry was handled during Moore's retreat to Corunna.

CORUNNA, JANUARY 16, 1809.

Authority to assume this battle honour was given in April, 1823, and the medal and clasp were granted June 1, 1847.

This honour has been conferred on the following regiments:

Grenadier Guards.
Royal Scots.
Queen's R.W. Surrey.
King's Own.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Norfolks.
West Yorkshires.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Cameronians.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
East Lancashire.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
West Riding.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Black Watch.
K.O. (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Oxford Light Infantry.
North Lancashire.
Royal West Kent.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Cameron Highlanders.
Argyll and Suth. Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.

The following table gives the strength of Sir John Moore's army at the commencement of the retreat. Unfortunately, no complete list of casualties exists to show the exact losses at the Battle of Corunna, but we know that on that day we had forty French guns opposed to nine English, and that the losses inflicted on the enemy were little short of 1,500, ours being about 800 only.

CAVALRY DIVISION: LORD PAGET.

7th Hussars 497
10th Hussars 514
15th Hussars 527
18th Hussars 565
---- 2,103
Royal Artillery 1,297

FIRST DIVISION: SIR DAVID BAIRD.

Brigade of Guards--Ward:
1st Batt. Grenadiers 1,300
2nd Batt. Grenadiers 1,027
----- 2,327
First Brigade--Bentinck:
1st Batt. 4th (King's Own) 754
1st Batt. 42nd (Royal Highlanders) 880
1st Batt. 50th (Royal West Kent) 794
----- 2,428
Third Brigade--Manningham:
3rd Batt. Royal Scots 597
1st Batt. 26th (Cameronians) 745
2nd Batt. 81st (North Lancashire) 615
----- 1,957

SECOND DIVISION: SIR JAMES HOPE.

Third Brigade--Leith:
51st King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) 516
2nd Batt. 59th (East Lancashire) 557
2nd Batt. 76th (West Riding Regiment) 654
----- 1,727
Fourth Brigade--Hill:
2nd (Queen's) 616
1st Batt. 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) 835
2nd Batt. 14th (West Yorkshire) 550
1st Batt. 32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) 756
----- 2,757
Fifth Brigade--C. Crawford:
1st Batt. 36th (Worcester) 736
1st Batt. 71st (Highland Light Infantry) 724
1st Batt. 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) 900
----- 2,360

THIRD DIVISION: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FRASER.

Sixth Brigade--Beresford:
1st Batt. 6th (Royal Warwicks) 783
1st Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 607
2nd Batt. 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) 496
2nd Batt. 45th (Oxford Light Infantry) 411
----- 2,297
Seventh Brigade--Fane:
1st Batt. 38th (South Stafford) 823
1st Batt. 79th (Cameron Highlanders) 838
1st Batt. 82nd (South Lancashire) 812
----- 2,473

RESERVE DIVISION: MAJOR-GENERAL E. PAGET.

Eighth Brigade--Anstruther:
20th (Lancashire Fusiliers) 499
1st Batt. 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry) 828
1st Batt. Rifle Brigade 820
----- 2,147
Ninth Brigade----Disney:
1st Batt. 28th (Gloucester) 750
1st Batt. 91st (Argyll Highlanders) 698
----- 1,448
Light Brigade----R. Crawford:
1st Batt. 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry) 817
2nd Batt. 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry) 381
2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade 702
----- 1,900
------
Total British 27,221

CASUALTIES AT CORUNNA.

+------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | 1 | - | - | - |
|7th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|10th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|15th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|18th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|Grenadier Gds. (2nd Batt.) | - | - | 13 | 40 |
|1st Royal Scots | - | - | - | - |
|2nd Queen's | - | - | - | - |
|4th K.O. Lancaster Regt. | 1 | 3 | - | - |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | - | - | - |
|6th Royal Warwick | - | - | - | - |
|9th Norfolk | - | - | - | - |
|14th W. Yorks | - | - | 10 | 30 |
|20th Lancs F. | - | - | - | - |
|23rd Royal Welsh Fus. | - | - | - | - |
|26th Cameronians | - | - | - | - |
|28th Gloucester | - | - | - | - |
|32nd Corn. L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|36th Worcester | - | - | - | - |
|38th S. Stafford | - | - | - | - |
|42nd Royal Highlanders | - | 6 | 39 | 105 |
|43rd Oxfd. L.I. (two batts.) | - | - | - | - |
|50th Royal West Kent | 2 | 3 | - | - |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | - | - | 5 | 20 |
|52nd Oxf. L.I. (1st and 2nd Batts.) | - | 2 | 5 | 33 |
|59th E. Lancs | - | - | - | - |
|71st Highld. L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|76th West Riding Regiment | - | - | 1 | 6 |
|79th Cameronian Highdrs. | - | - | - | - |
|81st L. North Lancashire | 3 | 11 | 27 | 113 |
|82nd S. Lancs | - | - | - | - |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
|Rifle Brigade (1st and 2nd Batts.) | - | - | 12 | 33 |
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

It is useless disguising the fact that the French claim Corunna as a victory. Moore, who fell during the action, and who, with General Anstruther, was buried within the precincts of the work, had been compelled to destroy the greater number of his horses and to bury some of his guns prior to giving the order for embarkation, and a large number of his sick were left behind. Nothing, however, can detract from the magnificent manner in which he conducted the retirement in the face of enormous odds, nor from the gallant way in which his men pulled themselves together after the hardships endured during the retreat, and stood at bay outside Corunna. It was not a victory in the fullest sense of the word, but Corunna was a grand military achievement.

THE PENINSULAR WAR (SECOND PHASE), 1809-1814.

To give even a summary of the campaign would be beyond the limits of this work. It is the campaign which more than any other has formed the theme for countless books, and is more or less known to every schoolboy. My scheme is merely to bring before the regimental officer and those interested in the "price of blood" the losses sustained by each corps in each action, and so to bring home to the army the anomalies that exist in the system under which battle honours have been awarded.

We have seen that the Convention of Cintra, which was the closing act of the successful campaign of Vimiera, had been received with a storm of indignation in England. When it became known that Sir Arthur Wellesley, one of the Signatories of that Convention, had been appointed to succeed the late Sir John Moore in command of the troops in Portugal, the attacks broke out afresh. The result, however, gave the lie to the arm-chair critics, for the "Sepoy General" proved a consummate master of the art of war. Landing at Lisbon on April 22, Sir Arthur struck at once. There was one French army still in Portugal, at Oporto, where Soult lay with a considerable force. Leaving a portion of his army under Beresford to watch the French main army, who were near Talavera, Wellesley moved swiftly to the north. By a masterly stroke, he threw one brigade across the Douro, and, with the loss of but 190 killed and wounded, drove Soult out of Oporto.

DOURO.

is inscribed on the colours and appointments of the

14th Hussars.
Buffs.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshires.

and commemorates this, Wellington's first victory after he had been entrusted with the supreme command in the Peninsula. In addition to the regiments which are entitled to bear this battle honour, there was a battalion of detachments engaged made up of the light companies of the 29th (Worcesters), 38th (South Staffords), 43rd and 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry), and the Rifle Brigade. The 16th Lancers, who were generally to the fore when fighting was expected, also suffered some casualties. Soult was not only surprised; he was, despite the smallness of our losses, badly beaten, and it was only Wellesley's want of cavalry which prevented his being overwhelmed with disaster. As it was, Soult only succeeded in effecting a junction with Ney by burning his baggage, throwing his guns over the mountain-side, and, by following goat-tracks, he at last escaped the English pursuit.

CASUALTIES AT THE PASSAGE OF THE DOURO, MAY 10, 11, AND 12, 1809.

+----------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|14th Hussars | - | 4 | 13 | 19 |
|16th Lancers | - | 3 | - | - |
|20th Hussars | - | - | 1 | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|3rd Buffs | - | 1 | - | - |
|29th Worcester | - | - | 2 | 7 |
|38th S. Staffs (detachment) | - | 1 | - | - |
|48th N'ampton | - | 1 | - | - |
|52nd Oxf. L.I. (detachment) | - | 1 | - | - |
|66th Berkshire | - | 3 | 9 | 26 |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--No detailed list of the casualties in the three days'
skirmishing on the Douro is appended to Sir Arthur Wellesley's
despatch. On May 11 we lost 19 men killed and 62 wounded, and on
the 12th 23 killed and 86 wounded. The despatch alludes to the
conduct of the 20th Hussars, and of the light companies of the
29th, 43rd, and 52nd, and the riflemen of the 95th Regiment. None
of these regiments have been awarded the honour. A detachment
of the 83rd (Royal Irish Rifles) was present, and lost 14 men
wounded.

Returning south after the success at the Douro, Wellesley at once took steps to attack the main French army, which, under Marshal Victor, with King Joseph himself as nominal leader, lay at Talavera, to the north-east of Lisbon, across the Spanish frontier.

This battle honour is borne by the

3rd Dragoon Guards.
4th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Buffs.
Royal Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
South Lancashire.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshires.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Connaught Rangers.

Talavera was a very different stamp of fight to anything in which our troops had been previously engaged in the Peninsula. We had but 20,000 men present, and our losses amounted to 4,000 killed and wounded, those of the French to over 7,000. The full fruits of the victory were lost owing to the failure of our Spanish allies to afford us proper support, and the British army was compelled to retire on the following day, leaving its wounded in the hands of the French. It is true that we captured 17 guns, but the fact of our retreat, coupled with the abandonment of the sick and wounded, have induced the French to claim Talavera as a French victory. Marshal Victor was created Duke of Talavera by King Joseph, while Sir Arthur Wellesley was raised to the peerage under the title of Lord Wellington,--of Wellington, in the county of Somerset, and of Talavera. The fighting was exceedingly severe, and on more than one occasion matters looked very doubtful. Sir Arthur, however, had every reason to be proud of the manner in which his men faced the tried veterans of France.

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA, JULY 27 AND 28, 1809.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|3rd Drag. Gds. | 1 | 1 | - | - |
|4th Hussars | - | 3 | - | 9 |
|14th Hussars | - | 6 | 3 | 7 |
|16th Lancers | - | 1 | 6 | 5 |
|23rd Lt. Drag. | 2 | 4 | 47 | 46 |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 2 | - | - |
|Coldstream Gds. | 2 | 9 | 33 | 253 |
|Scots Guards | 5 | 6 | 49 | 261 |
|3rd Buffs | - | 2 | 6 | 107 |
|7th Royal Fus. | 1 | 3 | 6 | 53 |
|24th S. Wales Borderers | - | 10 | 45 | 274 |
|29th Worcesters | - | 7 | 36 | 140 |
|31st E. Surrey | 1 | 7 | 34 | 190 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 1 | 17 | 90 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | 3 | 13 | 147 |
|48th N'ampton | - | 12 | 34 | 280 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | 2 | 6 | 36 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 7 | 10 | 29 |
|61st Gloucesters | 3 | 11 | 46 | 196 |
|66th R. Berks | - | 11 | 16 | 88 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | 4 | 11 | 38 | 282 |
|87th R. Irish Fus. | 1 | 13 | 35 | 170 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 3 | 3 | 19 | 85 |
|97th West Kent | - | - | 6 | 25 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--There were two battalions of detachments at Talavera. The
one composed of the flank companies of the 52nd, 79th, and 91st
lost an officer, and 74 men killed and wounded. The other, made
up from the 28th, 35th, 38th, 42nd, and 43rd, had 194 casualties.

The Cameron Highlanders lost 9 killed and 28 wounded at Talavera.

BUSACO, SEPTEMBER 27, 1810.

At Talavera Wellington realized that he was too weak to cope in the field with the immense forces that France had poured into the Peninsula. His plan of campaign now was to wear the enemy down until he should have organized the Portuguese and Spanish armies. He therefore retired once more into Portugal, and commenced that systematic defence of the kingdom which ultimately led to the destruction of French pretensions in the Iberian Peninsula. By the summer of 1810 Napoleon had 300,000 men in Spain. By that time Wellington had thrown up the famous lines of Torres Vedras, behind the shelter of which the task of reorganizing the Portuguese army proceeded apace. The winter of 1809-10 was passed without any open conflict. It was not until the end of September, 1810, that the next great fight was fought, when Wellington, with 50,000 men, barred Massena's advance at the Ridge of Busaco.

This battle honour has been conferred on the

Royal Scots.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Norfolks.
South Wales Borderers.
Gloucesters.
Royal Highlanders.
South Staffords.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Cameron Highlanders.
Connaught Rangers.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Rifle Brigade.

Our losses are tabulated below. Those of the French amounted to 4,400 killed and wounded, including 5 General Officers.

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF BUSACO, SEPTEMBER 27, 1810.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|14th Hussars | - | - | - | 3 |
|16th Lancers | - | 1 | - | - |
|1st Royal Scots | - | - | - | 2 |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|7th Royal Fus. | - | 1 | 1 | 22 |
|9th Norfolk | - | 1 | 5 | 18 |
|24th S. Wales Borderers | - | 1 | - | - |
|38th S. Stafford | - | 1 | 5 | 17 |
|42nd Black Watch | - | - | - | 7 |
|43rd Oxf. L.I. | - | - | - | 7 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 3 | 4 | 25 | 109 |
|50th Royal W. Kent | - | 1 | - | - |
|52nd Oxf. L.I. | - | 2 | 3 | 10 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 5 | 3 | 16 |
|74th Highl. L.I. | 1 | 1 | 6 | 21 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | 1 | 2 | 11 | 41 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | - | 1 | - | 4 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 7 | 29 | 95 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | - | 9 | 22 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

Wellington had once more shown his men that they were more than a match for the French in the field, but he still clung to his old plan of campaign, and, retiring behind the lines of Torres Vedras, prepared to wear the enemy down. The winter was passed with the English secure within their formidable entrenchments at Torres Vedras, the French starving outside. We held the command of the sea, and, with the Tagus in his rear, Wellington was able to feed his men without difficulty, to replenish supplies, and to continue the reorganization and training of the Portuguese army. In the South of Spain the French were showing renewed activity and Wellington detached a division under General Graham to afford support to the garrison of Cadiz. This the stout old Scotsman did most effectually by attacking Victor at Barrosa.

BARROSA, MARCH 4, 1811.

This distinction is borne on the colours of the

Grenadier Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Gloucesters.
Hampshires.
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Rifle Brigade.

Here a little British division not 4,000 strong overthrew double the number of Frenchmen, capturing six guns and two eagles. The subjoined list of casualties shows that others besides the regiments which are authorized to emblazon this battle honour on their colours did their duty as Englishmen on that March day. There seems no valid reason why the Norfolks, North Lancashires, South Lancashires, and the Rifle Brigade should not be permitted to assume this honour, albeit the headquarters of those regiments were not present in the engagement.

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF BARROSA, MARCH 4, 1811.

+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Grenadier Gds. | 2 | 8 | 33 | 177 |
|Coldstream Guards | 1 | 2 | 8 | 46 |
|Scots Guards | 1 | 1 | 14 | 85 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 8 | 6 | 40 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|28th Gloucester | - | 8 | 16 | 135 |
|67th Hampshire | - | 4 | 10 | 30 |
|87th R. Irish F. | 1 | 4 | 44 | 124 |
|9th Norfolk (flank cos.) | - | 4 | 8 | 56 |
|47th N. Lancs (flank cos.) | 1 | 1 | 20 | 49 |
|82nd S. Lancs (flank cos.) | - | 2 | 8 | 89 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 1 | 3 | 14 | 48 |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--A battalion composed of the flank companies of the 9th
(Norfolk), 28th (Gloucester), and 82nd (South Lancashire) went
into action 475 bayonets; its losses were 225 non-commissioned
officers and men killed and wounded. A fellow battalion of the
flank companies of the 47th and three companies of the 95th
(Rifle Brigade) lost 130 men out of 594.

FUENTES D'ONOR, MAY 5, 1811.

In March, 1811, Massena, with his army much worn with the hard winter blockade outside Torres Vedras, fell back into Spain, closely followed by Wellington. Then ensued a number of rearguard actions which are not inscribed on our colours, but which brought out, on the one hand, the capacity of Ney as a rearguard commander, and, on the other, the admirable handling of our own Light Division of immortal fame. Pressing Massena back, Wellington endeavoured to relieve the beleaguered garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo with his own army, and detached Beresford to perform the same action with regard to Badajoz, and so it came about that within a few days of each other two general actions were fought.

Fuentes d'Onor is borne on the colours or appointments of the

1st Royal Dragoons.
16th Lancers.
14th Hussars.
Scots Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Royal Highlanders.
Oxford Light Infantry.
South Wales Borderers.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Sherwood Foresters.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Cameron Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
Connaught Rangers.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Rifle Brigade.

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF FUENTES D'ONOR, MAY 3-5, 1811.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|1st Roy. Drag. | - | 4 | 1 | 36 |
|14th Hussars | - | 5 | 4 | 28 |
|16th Lancers | - | 2 | 7 | 16 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 3 | 6 | 22 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | - | - | - |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | 1 | 4 | 49 |
|Scots Guards | 1 | 1 | 5 | 52 |
|24th S. Wales B. | 1 | - | 6 | 21 |
|42nd Black Wat. | - | 1 | 3 | 29 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | - | 3 | 1 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | - | - | - | 5 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 4 | 3 | 21 |
|71st Highl. L.I. | 3 | 8 | 28 | 105 |
|74th Highl. L.I. | 1 | 3 | 3 | 63 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | 3 | 11 | 58 | 166 |
|85th Shropshire L.I. | 1 | 3 | 12 | 37 |
|83rd R. Irish R. | 1 | 1 | 6 | 36 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 2 | 12 | 53 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | 3 | 7 | 43 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The feature of the action was the marvellous gallantry of a troop of horse artillery under Norman Ramsay, which, though surrounded by the French, cut its way through the hostile hosts, and, amidst the tumultuous applause of the whole army, rejoined Wellington, with guns intact, but with the loss of half its men.

The following regiments appear in the casualty returns published in the _London Gazette_, but do not yet bear the battle honour:

+-----------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Scots | - | - | - | 9 |
|5th Northumberland Fus.| - | - | - | 7 |
|9th Norfolk | - | - | - | 4 |
|30th E. Lancs | - | - | - | 4 |
|50th West Kent | - | 2 | 3 | 24 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | - | - | - | 7 |
+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

ALBUERA, MAY 16, 1811.

Ten days after Wellington had defeated Massena at Fuentes d'Onor, Beresford, at the head of 32,000 men, of whom only 8,000 were English, repulsed a determined attack on the part of Soult at Albuera. This battle, which was one of the most severe ever fought by British troops, is recorded on the colours of the

3rd Dragoon Guards.
4th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
Buffs.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Gloucester.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
Border Regiment.
Dorsets.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshire.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.

The Allies were undoubtedly superior in numbers, but the brunt of the fighting fell on the British division, which lost 3,500 out of 8,000 engaged. The French losses amounted to upwards of 8,000 killed and wounded.

The following table, published in the _London Gazette_, shows once more that battle honours are bestowed in a very capricious fashion:

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF ALBUERA.

+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|3rd Drag. Gds. | 1 | - | 9 | 9 |
|4th Hussars | - | 2 | 3 | 17 |
|13th Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 3 | 10 |
|Roy. Engineers | 2 | 2 | - | 3 |
|Buffs | 4 | 14 | 212 | 234 |
|2nd Batt. Royal Fusiliers | 2 | 28 | 112 | 563 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 2 | 11 | 74 | 245 |
|29th Worcesters | 5 | 12 | 75 | 232 |
|31st E. Surrey | - | 7 | 29 | 119 |
|34th Border Regiment | 3 | 4 | 30 | 91 |
|39th Dorsets | 1 | 4 | 14 | 77 |
|48th N'ampton (2nd Batt.) | 7 | 23 | 116 | 276 |
|57th Middlesex | 2 | 21 | 87 | 318 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 1 | 2 | 18 |
|66th R. Berks | 3 | 12 | 52 | 104 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--In the casualties for Albuera I have included the losses
on May 15, the previous day.

The following regiments figure in the official casualty returns, but they have not as yet been authorized to assume the battle honour:

+------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|27th Inniskillgs. | - | 3 | 8 | 66 |
|28th Gloucester | - | 6 | 27 | 131 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 3 | 10 | 18 |
|97th R.W. Kent | - | - | 7 | 21 |
+------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

It will be remarked that, whereas the 13th Hussars, with the loss of one man wounded, has been awarded the distinction, the Gloucesters, which lost a total of 164 killed and wounded, has been denied it.

ALMARAZ, MAY 19, 1811.

Royal West Kent.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.

This battle honour is borne on the colours and appointments of the above regiments for their conduct in one of the many sharp little engagements under that brilliant tactician General, afterwards Viscount, Hill, who in his despatch calling special attention to the services of the 50th (West Kent) and 71st (Highland Light Infantry), added: "Nor can I avoid mentioning the steadiness of the 6th Portuguese Regiment and two companies of the 60th Rifles." Particular stress also was laid on the conduct of the 13th Hussars in capturing some of the enemy's guns. Neither the 13th Hussars nor the King's Royal Rifles have as yet been permitted to assume this distinction.

CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF ALMARAZ, MAY 19, 1811.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 3 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
|28th Gloucesters | - | - | - | 2 |
|50th West Kent | 1 | 7 | 27 | 93 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | 4 | 8 | 28 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | - | - | 2 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--Our trophies at Almaraz included the Standard of the 4th
Battalion of the "Corps Etrangères," taken by the 71st, and
eighteen guns.

ARROYOS DOS MOLINOS, OCTOBER 28, 1811.

This distinction is only to be found on the colours of the Border Regiment.

Like Almaraz, it was one of the many engagements fought by Hill's division single-handed, and it has always been a matter of keen jealousy--if such a word can be used--on the part of the other regiments present that they have been denied the privilege of inscribing this battle honour on their colours. Lord Hill in his despatch laid no especial stress on the conduct of the 34th; indeed, his highest praise was reserved for the two Highland regiments, the 71st and the 92nd. Hill's division consisted of:

Howard's Brigade: The 50th (West Kent), 71st (Highland Light
Infantry), and the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders).

Wilson's Brigade: The 28th (Gloucesters), 34th (Border Regiment),
39th (Dorsets), and a Portuguese battalion.

Erskine's Brigade of Cavalry: The 9th and 16th Lancers, with a
couple of batteries of artillery.

The French occupied the town of Arroyos dos Molinos, when, to use Hill's own words, "The 71st and 92nd charged into the town with cheers, and drove the enemy out at the point of the bayonet." Wilson's brigade had been sent round to attack the enemy in the rear, and the 50th (West Kent) supporting the Highlanders, secured the prisoners, whilst the 28th (Gloucesters) and the 34th (Borderers) pursued the flying French until the arrival of the cavalry enabled them to follow up the enemy. One general and 35 other officers, with upwards of 1,000 men, were taken, our total casualties being but 65 of all ranks killed and wounded. On more than one occasion the Gordon Highlanders have applied to be permitted to assume this distinction, but whilst conceding the valuable part they played at Arroyos dos Molinos, the War Office have declined to accede to their request on the plea that the battle honour was conferred on the 34th in lieu of a particoloured pom-pom to their shako. As the present generation of soldiers apply the term "pom-pom" to a man-destroying weapon, and not to the ornament of infantry headgear, and as shakos have been relegated to museums, it might be fitting to reopen the vexed question of this battle honour.

CASUALTIES OF THE ACTION OF ARROYOS DOS MOLINOS, OCTOBER 28, 1811.

NOTE.--I have been unable to trace any record of the losses of
individual regiments, except in the case of the 92nd.

TARIFA, DECEMBER, 1811.

This distinction is borne on the colours of the North Lancashire Regiment and the Royal Irish Fusiliers, in recognition of their services in the gallant defence of the fortress of Tarifa in the month of December, 1811. General Skerrett in his despatch drew particular attention to the conduct of the companies of the Rifle Brigade which were also present. The casualty list which I append shows that this battle honour was earned without a great effusion of blood.

CASUALTIES AT TARIFA, DECEMBER, 1811.

+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Engineers | - | - | - | 1 |
|47th Loyal N. Lancashires | 1 | 2 | - | 5 |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 2 |
|87th Roy. Irish Fusiliers | - | 2 | 5 | 21 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | - | 3 | 17 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

CIUDAD RODRIGO, JANUARY, 1812.

This hardly-earned battle honour has been awarded to the

Northumberland Fusiliers.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Middlesex Regiment.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.

It will be seen from a glance at the appended casualty returns that a great many other regiments were present during the operations connected with the siege and capture of this fortress from the French, notably the Coldstream and Scots Guards. The losses of the two Battalions of Guards and of the Northamptons were far heavier than those of some of the regiments to whom the distinction of this battle honour has been granted.

CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | 2 | 1 | 19 |
|Roy. Engineers | 1 | 5 | - | 2 |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | - | 1 | 10 |
|Scots Guards | - | - | 4 | 17 |
|Northumberland Fusiliers | 1 | 8 | 35 | 58 |
|Roy. Fusiliers | - | - | 2 | 8 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | - | - | 2 | 18 |
|South Wales Borderers | - | - | 3 | 19 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | - | 3 | 19 |
|42nd Royal Highlanders | - | - | 1 | 14 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 3 | 9 | 45 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 3 | 4 | 15 | 29 |
|48th N'amptons | - | 4 | 15 | 43 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | 1 | 5 | 7 | 52 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 1 | 1 | 5 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 4 | 5 | 17 |
|77th Middlesex | - | 5 | 14 | 31 |
|83rd Roy. Irish Rifles | - | 2 | 10 | 31 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | - | 6 | 10 | 47 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 2 | 7 | 11 | 51 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 6 | 9 | 47 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--The Coldstream and Scots Guards figure in the casualty
returns for Ciudad Rodrigo, but do not bear the honour.

BADAJOZ, MARCH AND APRIL, 1812.

The losses incurred by the army under Wellington during the siege and at the assault of this fortress were most severe. The battle honour is borne by the

King's Own (Lancaster).
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
East Lancashire.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Essex.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.

In the year 1811 Wellington had made an unsuccessful attempt to seize Badajos, in which we suffered heavy loss. Now, with this fortress and Ciudad Rodrigo in his hands, the French were deprived of any rallying-point on the road to Madrid, and the English Commander-in-Chief at once opened a determined offensive campaign. The gallantry displayed by our men at the assault are graphically described by Napier and by many contemporary historians, French and English; it only remains for me to record the part played by each unit in the memorable siege.

CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND ASSAULT OF BADAJOZ.

+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | 2 | 4 | 27 | 48 |
|Roy. Engineers | 3 | 7 | 5 | 21 |
|Royal Scots | - | - | - | 2 |
|K. O. Lancs | 2 | 15 | 40 | 173 |
|Northumberland Fusiliers | 1 | 4 | 20 | 55 |
|Roy. Fusiliers | 5 | 12 | 50 | 147 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 3 | 15 | 31 | 123 |
|27th Roy. Inniskilling Fus.[16]| 5 | 20 | 51 | 303 |
|30th E. Lancs | - | 6 | 38 | 88 |
|38th S. Staffs | 1 | 4 | 12 | 25 |
|40th S. Lancs[16] | 2 | 24 | 83 | 387 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | 3 | 15 | 74 | 255 |
|44th Essex | 2 | 7 | 37 | 88 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 4 | 11 | 46 | 132 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I.[16] | 1 | 3 | 26 | 75 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | 5 | 16 | 66 | 295 |
|King's Royal Rifles | 1 | 4 | 6 | 37 |
|74th Highland L.I. | 2 | 11 | 20 | 104 |
|77th Middlesex | - | 4 | 3 | 26 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | 3 | 7 | 31 | 76 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 5 | 10 | 55 | 180 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | 1 | - | - |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 3 | 14 | 77 |
|97th W. Kent[16] | - | 5 | 16 | 80 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 8 | 16 | 61 | 297 |
+-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

SALAMANCA, JULY 22, 1812.

This was the first battle on a large scale ever fought by Wellington, and its name is borne on the colours and appointments of the

5th Dragoon Guards.
3rd Hussars.
4th Hussars.
11th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
Royal Scots.
Queen's.
King's Own.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Norfolks.
Devons.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
Worcester.
East Lancashires.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Essex.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Shropshire Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
Cameron Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF SALAMANCA, JULY 22, 1812.

+----------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | 2 | 5 | - | - |
|5th Drag. Gds. | - | 2 | 9 | 42 |
|3rd Hussars | 1 | - | 6 | 11 |
|4th Hussars | - | 1 | 7 | 21 |
|12th Lancers | 1 | - | 2 | 2 |
|14th Hussars | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|16th Lancers | - | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 2 | 6 |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | 1 | 7 | 22 |
|Scots Guards | - | 1 | 1 | 20 |
|Royal Scots | - | 8 | 23 | 131 |
|Queen's | 1 | 6 | 13 | 77 |
|K.O. Lancs. | - | 1 | 2 | 40 |
|N'umberland F. | - | 8 | 11 | 131 |
|Royal Fusiliers | 1 | 10 | 19 | 168 |
|Norfolk | - | 1 | 3 | 42 |
|Devon | 1 | 15 | 44 | 281 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 1 | 6 | 9 | 90 |
|27th Inniskilling Fusiliers | - | 1 | 1 | 7 |
|30th E. Lancs | - | 1 | 3 | 22 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | 2 | 9 | 15 | 111 |
|36th Worcester | 4 | 4 | 16 | 74 |
|38th S. Staffs | 2 | 14 | 23 | 155 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 5 | 12 | 115 |
|42nd Bk. Watch | - | - | - | 3 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 1 | 1 | 15 |
|44th Essex | 2 | - | 4 | 23 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | 5 | 5 | 45 |
|48th N'ampton | - | 10 | 9 | 60 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | - | - | - | 2 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | - | - | 2 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | 11 | 26 | 105 |
|58th N'ampton | - | - | - | 3 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 3 | 6 | 24 |
|61st Gloucester | 5 | 19 | 38 | 303 |
|68th Durham L.I. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 2 | 3 | 41 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | - | - | - | 1 |
|83rd Roy. Irish Rifles | - | 2 | 13 | 30 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 2 | 4 | 11 | 110 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | - | 3 | 24 |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--It will be remarked that both the Coldstream and the Scots
Guards figure in the casualty returns, but they have not been
authorized to bear the honour.

In actual numbers the two armies were evenly matched, Wellington having some 42,000 men against an equal number of the French. There were, however, nearly 15,000 Portuguese in the allied army, and no one could assert that they were the equal of 15,000 British. The victory was complete. Our casualties, though severe, were little more than half of those sustained by the French, who lost upwards of 8,000 killed and wounded, whilst twelve cannon and two eagles remained in our hands. The road was now open to Madrid, and on August 12 Wellington entered that capital in triumph.

In the month of October came a damper in the shape of a decided reverse at Burgos, and the winter was spent by Wellington in reorganizing his forces for the final struggle in the coming summer. The French were heavily engaged in Eastern Europe, and Napoleon was unable to spare large bodies of men for the war in Spain. The stars in their courses were fighting for Wellington.

VITTORIA, JUNE 21, 1813.

This victory, which gave Wellington his baton of Field-Marshal, is borne on the colours of the

3rd Dragoon Guards.
5th Dragoon Guards.
3rd Hussars.
4th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
15th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
Royal Scots.
Queen's.
Buffs.
King's Own.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Norfolk.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
East Lancashire.
East Surrey.
Border.
South Staffords.
Dorsets.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
North Lancashire.
Royal Berkshires.
Royal West Kent.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.

CASUALTIES AT VITTORIA, JUNE 21, 1813.

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Battle Honours of the British ArmyChapter XI: Battle Honours for Services in the Peninsular War, 1808-1814 (1)

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