[705] The defence of Seville seems mainly to have been by the French 63rd Ligne, which lost eight officers in the fight.
[706] For a curious story of the contents of a captured carriage, which turned out to be stuffed with silver plate, see the Memoirs of Harley of the 47th, ii. p. 24.
[707] ‘Confound all spiritless and dilatory generals,’ writes Swabey of the R.A. in his diary, ‘... Sir W. E. actually halted while four squadrons and 400 infantry were doing what they liked in Ribera, though he had the Hussars, the 9th and 13th Light Dragoons, the 3rd Dragoon Guards and our guns, and he might have had the 71st regiment also, though it did not arrive till all was over. The transaction was calculated to dispirit the soldier, to discontent the officers, and to take away all confidence in the general.’
[708] Swabey’s diary, p. 307. There is an interesting account of Strenowitz’s capture and release in Espinchal’s Mémoires, ii. pp. 36-40, as also of the long skirmish of this day.
[709] Schepeler says that he scared the French rearguard out of Cordova on September 3 by lighting fires along the mountain slopes, and giving out that Hill was behind him with his army. See p. 666 of his history.
[710] Napier, iv. p. 371.
[711] Soult suggested that the less efficient of Joseph’s troops should go on garrison duty, and set free a corresponding number of his own best battalions.
[712] See above, [pp. 340-1].
[713] In and about Santander, 2 battalions of the 130th, 2 squadrons of gendarmes, &c. In Santoña, 93 officers and 1,382 men of the 28th, 75th, and 34th. In Burgos, 2 battalions of 34th Line.
[714] See vol. iii. pp. 486-7.