[299] See chapter ii above, [pp. 54, 55].
[300] Berthier to Soult, Feb. 11. The same date as the fatal dispatch sent to Marmont, who was given a copy of that to Soult as an enclosure.
[301] More probably he would have brought only two divisions from north of the mountains, as he had to leave Bonnet to look after the Asturians, and Souham’s single division would hardly have sufficed to contain the Galicians, the Portuguese, and the Guerrilleros.
[303] Infantry divisions of Cruz Murgeon (5,400 men) and the Prince of Anglona (4,300 men) and five squadrons of horse, besides irregulars.
[304] Wellington to Col. Austin from Badajoz, April 9.
[305] Napier, I know not on what authority, says that Osuna was only defended by ‘Juramentados’ who made a gallant resistance against their own countrymen. But Soult, in a letter to Berthier dated April 21 from Seville, says that Osuna was held by some companies of the 43rd Line and a detachment of the 21st Dragoons. He cannot be wrong. Moreover, the 43rd shows losses at Osuna, April 13, in Martinien’s tables.
[306] Martinien’s tables show three officers killed and nine wounded at ‘Alora near Malaga’ on this date, in the 43rd, 58th Line, and 21st Dragoons. Soult’s dispatch makes out that only Rey’s advanced guard under Maransin was cut up, and that the main body defeated the Spaniards. If so, why did they retreat on Malaga?
[307] Soult to Berthier from Seville, April 17, 1812.
[308] This officer was in command of the brigade of Anson, then absent on leave, which at this time consisted of the 12th, 14th, and 16th Light Dragoons.