[428] Fririon notes that they suffered more than was necessary from being in dense masses (p. 207). These two divisions had on the 3rd and 5th May 14 officers killed and 38 wounded, according to Martinien’s lists. As the total loss of the corps on both days was 59 officers and nearly 900 men, and we have to allow for Ferey’s loss of 400 men in Fuentes village, it seems that Marchand and Mermet must have lost at least as many more.
[429] Masséna to Napoleon, Fuentes de Oñoro, May 7: the main battle-report.
[430] Save the few voltigeur companies from Mermet sent down to skirmish with the 95th rifles in the ravine of the Turon, as mentioned just above.
[431] Pelet, Appendice sur la Guerre d’Espagne, p. 341.
[432] Masséna’s orders (Archives de la Guerre) were that Reynier ‘fera pour seconder l’attaque de l’armée une démonstration générale sur la ligne, et suivra l’ennemi dans tous ses mouvements—c’est-à-dire que si les forces qu’il a devant lui se porteraient au secours du gros de l’armée ennemie, qui est dans la direction de Fuentes d’Oñoro, il les suivrait dans sa marche, pour les prendre par la gauche.’
[433] See Rogerson’s regimental history of the 53rd, p. 58.
[434] The 8th Caçadores, according to Wellington’s dispatch, partly crossed the ravine and fought on the other side. Note that he calls them the ‘2nd battalion Lusitanian Legion,’ though that had now ceased to be their official designation.
[435] Marchand’s division shows in Martinien’s lists surprisingly heavy casualties, considering that it was but partially engaged on the 3rd in support of Ferey, and on the 5th was only actively employed in storming Pozo Bello. It had 13 officers killed and 31 wounded, which ought to imply at least 600 or 700 casualties among the rank and file. Apparently there was a disproportionate loss in officers, as the whole casualties of the 6th Corps on May 5 were only 944 men, of whom at least 400 were in Ferey’s division.
[436] Only 9 hurt in the 43rd, 21 in the 52nd, 13 in the Rifles, 24 in the two Caçador battalions. And many of these were undoubtedly lost in skirmishing, not in the retreat in squares.
[437] The blockade of Almeida and the siege of Badajoz by Beresford.