[72] Three battalions each of the 34th, 88th, and 100th Line.
[73] Thirteen squadrons of the 4th, 14th, and 26th Dragoons, the 2nd and 10th Hussars, the 21st and 27th Chasseurs, and the Spanish light cavalry regiment of Juramentados.
[74] See his pathetic letter in Wellington, Supplementary Disp., vii. p. 67.
[75] The statement that only a few men escaped into Badajoz is disproved by the figures of the surrender-rolls of March 11th, which show 1,108 men of La Carrera’s division, 554 of Virues’s division, and 995 of battalions of Garcia’s division which had not been told off to the regular garrison, as laying down their arms.
[76] There escaped into Portugal, beside the cavalry, the greater part of the regiments La Union from Garcia’s division, Rey and Princesa from that of Virues, Vittoria from that of La Carrera, and fragments of Zamora, and 1st of Barcelona. The whole, reorganized into new battalions, made a weak brigade of 1,800 men under Carlos de España in April.
[77] ‘Depuis la mort du Général Menacho l’ennemi avait éprouvé un certain découragement, dont l’effet se faisait connaître par l’absence de cette force morale qui fait agir les hommes et qui donne le mouvement et la vigueur. Il n’osa plus nous attaquer dans nos batteries, dans nos tranchées, afin de détruire en quelques moments l’œuvre d’un jour. Il ne profita pas des moyens de chicane et des subtilités que la nécessité et l’industrie font inventer.’ La Mare, p. 98.
[78] For all these interesting details see the verbatim report of the Council of War in the Appendix to Arteche, vii. pp. 544-7.
[79] ‘Hallarse la guarnicion en una total decadencia’ (opinion of Col. Ponce de Leon of 1st Barcelona). The garrison ‘no es de la primera classe en general’ (opinion of Col. Zamora of the Zafra regiment). ‘El soldado, cansado ya de la mucha fatiga, trataría de salvarse’ (opinion of Col. Hernandez of the Majorca regiment).
[80] See Soriano da Luz, iii. 337-8.
[81] D’Urban (Beresford’s chief of the staff) has in his diary under March 8th: ‘At 3 o’clock the Marshal crossed the river (Tagus) at Torres Novas and had an interview with Lord Wellington. The immediate relief of Badajoz, whose danger becomes imminent, has been judged desirable, this to be done with the 2nd and 4th Divisions. The Marshal returned at 8. Orders sent to Punhete to throw the bridge of boats over the Tagus at Tancos for the re-passage of General Stewart (2nd Division) and the passage of General Cole (4th Division). The troops still on the south bank of the Tagus are thrown into march upon Portalegre [near Elvas]. Orders to Mr. Ogilvie, the commissary, to take measures for supplies southward. General Menacho’s last sally, in which he is unfortunately killed, has probably saved the place by gaining of time, even if but for a few additional days.’ On the evening of the 9th March the movement was stopped, on a false rumour that Masséna was offering battle near Thomar, but news of it had been sent to General Leite at Elvas, who passed it by semaphore from Fort La Lippe to San Cristobal, which safely received it. It was not till the 12th that the 2nd Division was ordered to Crato in the Alemtejo, and Beresford reached Portalegre only on the 20th, nine days after Badajoz fell. Wellington says (Dispatches, vii. 360-1) ‘the Governor surrendered on the day after he received my assurances that he should be relieved, and my entreaty to hold out till the last moment.’ Cf. ibid., 367.