[Illustration: Illustration of a commemorative medal with two circular
sides connected side-by-side. Left side shows a profile portrait of King
George III wearing a laurel wreath, labeled “Georgivs Tertivs Rex.”
Right side depicts the goddess Britannia with spear and shield,
accompanied by a winged figure holding a wreath, with the inscription
“Mai Da IV MDCCCVI” and a fallen enemy figure below.]
In commemoration of this victory a gold medal was struck, and conferred
upon all the superior officers who were present. On the obverse is the
lauriated head of the Sovereign, inscribed GEORGIUS TERTIUS REX. The
reverse has Britannia brandishing a spear with her right hand, and on
her left a shield charged with the crosses of the Union banner. A flying
figure of Victory is crowning her with a wreath of laurel; behind
Britannia is the triquetra, or trinacria, the ancient symbol of Sicily,
and before her is inscribed MAIDA IVL. IV. MDCCCVI. Round the edge the
name and rank of the officers were engraved. There was only one size of
this medal, which was worn both by General and Field officers from the
button-hole of their uniform, to a red ribbon, with blue edges, and a
gold buckle. The issue was limited to the Commander of the Forces
engaged, officers in command of brigades, battalions, or of corps
equivalent to a battalion, or the officer who succeeded on the removal
from the field of the original commander, and the Deputy
Quartermaster-General. As a general rule, no officer below the rank of
Major was considered eligible, unless he succeeded to the command of a
battalion during the action. Only seventeen officers received this
medal.
BATTLES OF ROLEIA AND VIMIERA.
17TH. AND 21ST. AUGUST, 1808.
At this period the Peninsula was the centre of political interest.
Portugal, deserted by her government, and Spain betrayed, the people of
each of those countries rose in arms to recover the national
independence. Dissensions had arisen in the royal family of Spain,
occasioned by the sway of Manuel Godoy, who bore the title of the Prince
of Peace. This minister was dismissed, but the court was unable to
restore tranquillity. In this emergency the French Emperor was solicited
to be umpire, and Napoleon eventually placed the crown of Spain on his
brother Joseph, who was transferred from the throne of Naples. The
Spaniards at once flew to arms, and the British government resolved to
aid the Spanish and Portuguese patriots. A British army was accordingly
ordered to proceed to the Peninsula under the command of
Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley. After a favourable passage the
troops destined for this service anchored in Mondego Bay, in the
beginning of August, and a landing was effected in the vicinity of the
village of Frejus. The division under Major-General (afterwards Sir
Brent) Spencer, K.B., from Cadiz, consisting of about four thousand men,
joined on the 8th. of August; and after a short halt, the army was put
in motion to occupy a more forward position, where it remained for some
days. Sir Arthur marched from Leiria on the 13th., and arrived at
Alcobaça on the 19th., which place the enemy abandoned in the preceding
night. The French, about four thousand in number, were posted at Roliça,
or Roleia, (the latter mode of spelling having been inaccurately adopted
from the despatch for the colours,) and Brilos was occupied by their
advanced posts. The possession of this latter village being important to
future operations, it was determined to occupy it, and as soon as the
British infantry arrived upon the ground, a detachment, consisting of
four companies of riflemen of the 60th. and 95th. regiments, was ordered
to effect this duty. A trifling resistance was offered by a small picket
of the enemy’s infantry and a few cavalry, after which they retired,
being followed by a detachment of riflemen to the distance of three
miles from Brilos. The riflemen were then attacked by a superior body of
the enemy, who attempted to cut them off from the main body of the
detachment to which they belonged. Large bodies of the enemy appeared on
both the flanks of the detachment, which had advanced in support of the
riflemen, and it was with difficulty that Major-General Spencer was
enabled to effect a retreat to Obidos, which village it remained in
possession of.
Two days afterwards was fought the Battle of Roleia, or Roliça. General
Laborde continued in his position at this place, and Sir Arthur
Wellesley determined to attack him in it on the morning of the 17th. of
August. Roliça is situated on an eminence, having a plain in its front,
at the end of a valley, which commences at Caldas, and is closed to the
southwards by the mountains, which join the hills, forming a valley on
the left, looking towards Caldas. In the centre of the valley, and about
eight miles from Roliça, is the town and old Moorish fort of Obidos,
from whence the enemy’s pickets had been driven on the 15th., and from
that time he had posts in the hills on both sides of the valley, as well
as in the plain in front of his army, which was posted on the heights in
front of Roliça; its right resting upon the hills, its left upon an
eminence, on which was a windmill, and the whole covering four or five
passes into the mountains in his rear.
About seven o’clock in the morning the troops moved from Obidos.
Brigadier-General Fane’s riflemen were immediately detached into the
hills on the left of the valley, to keep up the communication between
the centre and left columns, and to protect the march of the former
along the valley; the enemy’s posts were successively driven in.
Major-General Hill’s brigade moved on to attack the French left, and
Brigadier-Generals Nightingall and Craufurd advanced with the artillery
along the high road, until at length Nightingall’s formed in the plain
immediately in the enemy’s front, supported by the light infantry
companies, and the 45th. regiment of Brigadier-General Craufurd’s
brigade; while the other two regiments of his brigade, the 50th. and
91st., were kept as a reserve in the rear.
Major-General Rowland (afterwards Viscount) Hill and Brigadier-General
Nightingall advanced upon the enemy’s position, and at the same moment
Brigadier-General Fane’s riflemen were in the hills on his right; the
Portuguese infantry in a village upon his left; and Major-General
Ferguson’s column was descending from the heights into the plain. From
this situation the French retired by the passes into the mountains with
the utmost regularity and celerity; and notwithstanding the rapid
advance of the British infantry, the want of a sufficient body of
cavalry was the cause of their suffering but little loss in the plain.
It then became necessary to make a disposition to attack the formidable
position which had been taken up. Brigadier-General Fane’s riflemen were
already in the mountains on the enemy’s right, but no time was lost in
attacking the different passes, as well as in supporting the riflemen,
so as to ensure a complete victory.
The Portuguese infantry were ordered to move up a pass on the right of
the whole; the light companies of Major-General Hill’s brigade, and the
5th. Fusiliers advanced up a pass next on the right; and the 29th.
regiment, supported by the 9th. foot, under Brigadier-General
Nightingall, a third pass; and the 45th. and 82nd. regiments, passes on
the left. These were all difficult of access, and some of them were well
defended, particularly that assailed by the 9th. and 29th. Foot; both
regiments attacked with the greatest impetuosity, and reached the enemy
before those whose assaults were to be made on their flanks; the defence
was desperate, and it was in this attack that the greatest loss was
sustained, Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable George A. F. Lake being
killed at the head of his regiment, the 29th. Foot.
General Laborde was, however, driven from all the positions he had taken
in the passes of the mountains, and the British troops were advanced in
the plains on their tops. For a considerable length of time the 9th. and
29th. regiments alone were advanced to this point, with
Brigadier-General Fane’s riflemen at a distance on the left; they were
afterwards supported by the 5th., and by the light companies of
Major-General Hill’s brigade, which had arrived on their right, and by
the other troops ordered to ascend the mountains, the latter arriving by
degrees. Here three most gallant attacks were made upon the 9th. and
29th. regiments, in all of which the enemy was repulsed; but he
succeeded in effecting a retreat in good order, owing principally to Sir
Arthur’s want of cavalry, and to the difficulty of bringing up the
passes of the mountains with celerity a sufficient number of troops and
of cannon, to support those who had first ascended. The French loss was
nevertheless very great, and three pieces of cannon were captured.
Sir Arthur Wellesley, in his despatch, observed “that although we had
such a superiority of numbers employed in the operations of this day,
the troops actually engaged in the heat of the action were, from
unavoidable circumstances, only the 5th., 9th., 29th., the riflemen of
the 60th., and 95th., and the flank companies of Major-General Hill’s
brigade, being a number by no means equal to that of the enemy: their
conduct, therefore, deserves the highest commendation.”
Thus was the first victory in the Peninsula gained; and it afforded an
omen of future successes, which was afterwards fully accomplished. The
5th., 6th., 9th., 29th., 32nd., 36th., 38th., 40th., 45th., 60th.,
71st., 82nd., 91st., and Rifle Brigade, took part in this battle.
Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley did not pursue the enemy by the
high-roads, but keeping to the right, near the sea, marched to Vimiera,
to cover the landing of a brigade commanded by Major-General Anstruther,
which was effected on the 20th. of August. The following morning was to
be given up to the troops in order to prepare and repose themselves.
Whilst the men were engaged in washing and cleaning their equipments,
the approach of the enemy, was discovered at eight o’clock in the
morning, and the brigades commanded by Major-General Ferguson,
Brigadier-Generals Nightingall, Acland, and Bowes, proceeded across a
valley from the heights on the west to those on the east of Vimiera.
Marshal Junot, Duke of Abrantes, advanced to the attack of the position,
and commenced it on the British centre, where the 50th. regiment was
posted, moving along the front gradually to the left, until the whole
line became engaged. Notwithstanding the fire of the riflemen, the enemy
advanced close to the 50th., and were checked and driven back only by
the bayonets of that regiment. The second battalion of the 43rd. was
likewise closely engaged with them, in the road leading into Vimiera, a
part of that corps having been ordered into the churchyard to prevent
them from penetrating into the town. On the right of the position they
were repulsed by the bayonets of the 97th. regiment, successfully
supported by the second battalion of the 52nd., which, by an advance in
column, took the enemy in flank.
The attack upon the heights on the road to Lourinha was supported by a
large body of cavalry, and was made with the usual impetuosity of French
troops. They were received with steadiness by the brigade under
Major-General Ferguson, consisting of the 36th., 40th., and 71st.
regiments. These corps charged as soon as the enemy approached them, who
gave way, and they continued to advance upon him, supported by the
82nd., one of the corps of Brigadier-General Nightingall’s brigade,
which, as the ground extended, afterwards formed a part of the first
line; by the 29th. regiment, and by Brigadier-General’s Bowes and
Acland’s brigades; whilst Brigadier-General Craufurd’s brigade and the
Portuguese troops, in two lines, proceeded along the heights on the
left. In the advance of Major-General Ferguson’s brigade, six pieces of
cannon were taken, with many prisoners, and vast numbers were killed and
wounded.
An attempt was afterwards made by the French to recover a portion of
their artillery, by attacking the 71st. and 82nd. regiments, which were
halted in a valley in which the guns had been captured. The attempt
failed, and the enemy were compelled again to retire with great loss.
Sir Arthur Wellesley especially noticed the following corps:—The Royal
artillery, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Robe; the 20th. Dragoons,
(since disbanded,) commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, who was
killed; the 50th. regiment, commanded by Colonel Walker; the second
battalion of the 95th. regiment, (rifles,) commanded by Major Travers;
the fifth battalion 60th. regiment, commanded by Major Davy; the second
battalion 43rd., commanded by Major Hull; the second battalion 52nd.,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Ross; the 97th. regiment, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon; the 36th., commanded by Colonel Burne; the
40th., commanded by Colonel Kemmis; the 71st., commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Sir Denis) Pack; and the 82nd. regiment,
commanded by Major Eyre. The British commander, always chary of praise,
paid a special tribute to the 36th. regiment.
Thirteen pieces of cannon, twenty-three ammunition waggons, with powder,
shells, stores of all descriptions, and twenty thousand rounds of musket
ammunition, were captured. General Beniere was wounded and taken
prisoner, together with several officers. The defeat was signal, and not
more than half the British army was actually engaged. The French
casualties amounted to nearly two thousand killed, wounded, and taken
prisoners.
In this action, George Clark, one of the pipers of the 71st. Highland
Light Infantry, was wounded; and being unable to accompany his corps in
the advance against the enemy, put his pipes in order, and struck up a
favourite regimental air to the intense delight of his comrades.
Both Houses of Parliament voted their thanks to the British troops for
this victory, and the word “VIMIERA” was authorized to be borne on the
colours and appointments of the following regiments:—2nd., 5th., 6th.,
9th., 20th., 29th., 32nd., 36th., 38th., 40th., 43rd., 45th., 50th.,
52nd., 60th., 71st., 82nd., 91st., and Rifle Brigade.
Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Burrard arrived during the action, but did
not assume the command: Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple landed on
the following day, and took command of the army. The force under
Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore was also embarked during the
negociation which subsequently took place, making the British forces to
amount to thirty-two thousand men. This treaty, which was styled the
“Convention of Cintra,” was signed on the 30th. of August, and by its
provisions the French troops evacuated Portugal.
All the objects of the expedition having been effected, and the French
forces embarked for France, the British army remained for some time at
Lisbon and its vicinity. This convention excited great dissatisfaction
in England, and a Court of Enquiry was assembled to investigate the
circumstances attending it.