1 F 88 1809. January. THE TRANSPORTS ARRIVE FROM VIGO. CHAP. I. had been brought from England some months before, and, by an unpardonable negligence, had been suffered to remain in store, while the Spanish armies were without ammunition! A few hundred barrels had, on the preceding day, been removed to Corunna-the remainder was diNapier. rected to be blown up. The explosion was tremendous. Corunna shook as if convulsed by an earthquake. Huge masses of rock were cast from their pedestals. The calm waters in the bay became furiously agitated. A vast column of smoke and dust arose perpendicularly and slowly to a great height, and then bursting with a roaring sound, a shower of stones, and fragments of all kinds, reverted to the earth, killing several persons who incautiously had remained too near to the scene of peril. A stillness, only interrupted by the lashing of the waves on the shore, succeeded—and the business of war went on. On the arrival of the transports, preparations were immediately made for the embarkation of the army. With the exception of eight British, and four Spanish guns, the artillery was sent on board-the ground being considered unfavourable for its use. The dismounted cavalry and a ་ POSITION OF THE FRENCH ARMY. 89 few horses were likewise embarked,-the re- CHAP. I. mainder were shot. 1809. January. The bridge of El Burgo having been repaired, two divisions of infantry, and one of cavalry, passed the Mero, and, driving back the British outposts, marched into position. On the fifteenth, Delaborde's division followed, Jan. 15. and took post on the height of Portoso, forming the right of the army. The ground thus chosen by the enemy, was the ridge of rocky and irregular heights by which the British position was nearly encompassed. Their right was placed on the Betanzos and St. Jago roads, and their left rested on a hill covered with wood, overlooking the British line, of which, after some resistance from the light troops, they succeeded in gaining possession. In the evening Colonel Mackenzie of the fifth, perceived two of the enemy's guns not far distant, and imagined that by a sudden attack he might surprise them. The attempt failed. Colonel Mackenzie was killed during the advance, and his party were driven back with loss. During the night of the fifteenth, Marshal Soult succeeded in establishing a battery of eleven guns, on the wooded hill at the extremity of his BATTLE OF CORUNNA. CHAP. I. left. This was an operation of great difficulty. The ground was rugged; the French were in pos1809. January. session of no road, and the horses were weak and exhausted. By great exertion, however, the object was accomplished; and the French thus acquired a decided superiority in point of artillery. The preparations for embarking were comJan. 16. pleted on the morning of the sixteenth, and Sir John Moore gave notice, that, in case the enemy should not move during the day, the embarkation of the reserve should commence at four o'clock. The tranquillity of the armies remained undisturbed till noon, when the General, mounting his horse, rode off to visit the outposts. He had not proceeded far, when he received a report from General Hope, stating that the enemy's line were getting under arms; and a deserter who came in at the same moment confirmed the intelligence. He spurred forward. The piquets had already opened fire on the enemy's light troops, which were pouring rapidly down on the right wing. A heavy fire was shortly opened from the French battery on the height; the piquets were driven rapidly back; and four strong columns of the enemy, supported |