History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France: From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814, Volume 2 |
Contents
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History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, from the ... William Francis Patrick Napier No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
Abrantes Albuquerque Alemtejo allies Almeida Andalusia Areizaga arms arrived artillery attack Badajoz Ballesteros bank Barosa battalions batteries battle Beresford bridge brigade British army Cadiz Catalonia cavalry Ciudad Rodrigo Coimbra Colonel columns command commenced Cradock Cuesta defeat defence detachment Duke eighth corps enemy enemy's English Estremadura fifth corps fire flank force French army front frontier garrison Général Gerona Guadiana guard guns hill Horses hundred infantry junta latter Lerida light division Lisbon Lord Castlereagh Lord Wellington Madrid Maréchal Marshal Massena Meanwhile miles military militia Mondego Morena Mortier mountains movement officers operations Oporto orders passed Placencia Portugal Portuguese position Prince province re-enforced rear regency regiments Regnier retired retreat river road Romana Santarem second corps sent Seville side siege Sierra Sir Arthur Wellesley sixth corps skirmishers soldiers Soult Spain Spaniards Spanish army squadrons Suchet Tagus Talavera thousand town troops valley Venegas village whole
Popular passages
Page 331 - Such a gallant line, issuing from the midst of the smoke, and rapidly separating itself from the confused and broken multitude, startled the enemy's heavy masses, which were increasing and pressing onwards as to an assured victory : they wavered, hesitated, and then vomiting forth a storm of fire, hastily endeavoured to enlarge their front, while a fearful discharge of grape from their artillery whistled through the British ranks.
Page 332 - No sudden burst of undisciplined valour, no nervous enthusiasm weakened the stability of their order, their flashing eyes were bent on the dark columns in their front, their measured tread shook the ground, their dreadful volleys swept away the head of every formation, their deafening shouts overpowered the dissonant cries that broke from all parts of the tumultuous crowd, as slowly and with a horrid carnage it was pushed by the incessant vigour of the attack to the farthest edge of the hill.
Page 331 - But suddenly and sternly recovering, they closed on their terrible enemies, and then was seen with what a strength and majesty the British soldier fights. In vain did Soult, by voice and gesture, animate his Frenchmen ; in vain did the hardiest veterans, extricating themselves from the crowded columns...
Page 227 - Craufurd, standing alone on one of the rocks, had been intently watching the progress of this attack, and now with a shrill tone ordered the two regiments in reserve to charge ! the next moment a horrid shout startled the French column and eighteen hundred British bayonets went sparkling over the brow of the hilL...
Page 226 - ... ground to pass in a narrow column before he could mingle in the fight. Keeping the royals in reserve, he directed the thirty-eighth to turn the right of the French, and as the precipice prevented this, Colonel Cameron of...
Page 330 - Hartman's artillery was now in full play, and the enemy's infantry recoiled, but soon recovering, renewed the fight with greater violence than before. The cannon on both sides discharged showers of grape at half range...
Page 332 - ... like a loosened cliff went headlong down the steep ; the rain flowed after in streams discoloured with blood, and eighteen hundred unwounded men, the remnant of six thousand unconquerable British soldiers, stood triumphant on the fatal hill.
Page 322 - The officers of the army may depend upon it that the enemy to whom they are opposed are not less prudent than they are powerful. Notwithstanding what has been printed in gazettes and newspapers, we have never seen small bodies unsupported successfully opposed to large ; nor has the experience of any officer realized...
Page 410 - Portuguese government, in more than one despatch, the difficulties and risks which attended any attack upon the enemy's position in this country; and the probable success, not only to ourselves, but to our allies, of our perseverance in the plan which I had adopted, and had hitherto followed so far successfully, as that the allies have literally sustained no loss of any description; and...
Page 197 - ... and wet, and the extremes of cold and heat with incredible vigour. When completely disciplined, and three years are required to accomplish this, his port is lofty and his movements free, the whole world cannot produce a nobler specimen of military bearing, nor is the mind unworthy of the outward man. He does not indeed possess that presumptuous vivacity which would lead him. to dictate to his commanders, or even to censure real errors although he may perceive them; but he is observant and quick...