The French fled with such celerity, that their headquarters, on the following night, were at Flores d’Avila, no less than forty miles from the field of battle! The English army, on the other hand, entered Madrid on the 12th of August, amidst a scene of the wildest ecstasy. “No words can express the enthusiasm which prevailed when the English standards were seen in the distance, and the scarlet uniforms began to be discerned through the crowd. Amidst a countless multitude, wrought up to the highest pitch of rapturous feeling; amidst tears of gratitude and shouts of triumph, the British army entered the Spanish capital, not as conquerors, but as friends; not as oppressors, but deliverers.” As for Wellington, “with tears and every sign of deep emotion, the multitudes crowded round his horse, hung by his stirrups, touched his clothes, and throwing themselves on their knees, blessed him aloud.” The intrusive King, with about 12,000 men, had fled out of the city a few days previous.
The Retiro, the largest arsenal which the French possessed in Spain, still had a garrison of 1700 men. But it surrendered on the 13th, and the British found in it, 180 pieces of cannon, 20,000 stand of arms, and immense stores of all kinds. Meanwhile, “the French affairs in every part of the Peninsula now exhibited that general crash and ruin which so usually follows a great military disaster, and presages the breaking up of a political power.”
Nor were the mighty results of this great battle limited to Southern Europe. At the very moment when it took place, Napoleon, at the head of 450,000, was entering the heart of the Russian empire. The news of the defeat of his forces in Spain, reached him on the evening preceding the great battle of Borodino. It doubtless reached the Emperor Alexander also; and the news must have greatly aided the Russian Monarch in forming that remarkable resolve, “I am immovable; and no terms whatever shall induce me to terminate the war, or to fail in the sacred duty of avenging our country.” And, in a general order, issued shortly after, General Kutusoff, Alexander’s chief commander, said, “The hand of God is falling heavily on Napoleon: Madrid is taken.” Still, when, in October, Wellington, from the want of battering-artillery, failed in carrying the castle of Burgos, faction again raised its head in England, and even dared to question his skill and talent as a General! It was with reference to some of these attacks that Wellington took the following review of the results of the year.
“I fear that the public will be disappointed at the results of the last campaign: and yet it is, in fact, the most important and successful campaign in which a British army has been engaged for the last century. We have taken by siege Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and Salamanca, and the Retiro has surrendered. Since January, this army has sent to England little short of 20,000 prisoners; and it has taken and destroyed, or we now possess, little short of 3000 pieces of cannon.”
More wonderful achievements, occupying a series of years, never were wrought out by a British army. Sir William Napier justly traces the triumph of Salamanca and other victories to the forethought of Wellington, in having laid such a foundation as he had provided in Torres Vedras. “This strong post was of his own planning,—he had chosen it, fortified it, defended it, and now, knowing its full value, he was availing himself of its advantages. The tree was planted to bear such fruit as was gathered at Salamanca, and the value of his combinations must be estimated from the general result. He had only 60,000 disposable troops, and 100,000 were especially appointed to watch and control him; yet he passed the frontier, defeated 45,000 men in a pitched battle, and drove 20,000 others from Madrid in confusion, without difficulty and without risk. No General was ever more entitled to the honour of victory.”
SALAMIS, BATTLE OF.—The Persians defeated by the Greeks in this great battle, October 20th, 480 B.C. Themistocles, the Greek commander, with only 310 sail defeated the whole fleet of Xerxes, consisting of 2000 sail. One of the greatest naval engagements in ancient times.
SALDANHA BAY.—Near the Cape of Good Hope.—Here a Dutch squadron was captured by Admiral St. George Keith Elphinstone, without resistance. Five men of war and nine frigates surrendered, and St. George was in consequence of this bloodless victory, which was executed with wonderful judgment, created Lord Keith, August 17th, 1796.
SANTA CRUZ.—Here, April 25th, 1657, the renowned Blake totally destroyed 16 Spanish ships, secured with great nautical skill, and protected by the castle and the forts on the shore. This was thought, at that time, one of the greatest feats ever accomplished. The Earl of Clarendon, speaking of this exploit, says, “It was so miraculous, that all who knew the place wondered that any sober man, with what courage soever endowed, would have undertaken it; and the victors could hardly persuade themselves to believe what they had done, whilst the surviving Spaniards thought that they were devils and not men who had destroyed their ships so.” Here also, in an unsuccessful attack made upon this place by Nelson, several officers and 141 men were killed, and the brave Admiral lost his right arm, July 24th, 1797. It is remarkable that Captain Freemantle, the great friend of Nelson, and a companion of his in most of his great and brilliant achievements was also wounded in the arm immediately before Nelson had received his wound in the same limb. The following laconic note addressed to the lady of Captain Freemantle, (who was on board with her husband at the time he wrote) has been preserved, as being the first letter written by the glorious hero with his left hand:
My Dear Mrs. Freemantle,
Tell me how Tom is? I hope he has saved his arm. Mine is off; but, thank God, I am as well as I hope he is.