Christopher Summerville’s forthcoming book, March of Death, looks at the British retreat to Corunna. A terrible ordeal for the ill-fated British army, the campaign nevertheless had one true moment of glory – when Moore’s men turned on the pursuing French and inflicted a sharp defeat on Marshal Soult. In this extract the battle opens. Moore has positioned his men to guard the embarkation onto the ships in Corunna harbour while the French prepare to launch their attempt to drive the British into the sea … “Meanwhile, the morning mists having cleared, Marshal Soult was presented with a fine view of the British position on the Monte Mero. From his elevated platform on the Heights of Penasquedo, he was pleased to note that his adversary’s line lay within range of his guns, and that it was outflanked in the west by his left wing (Moore’s right). Consequently, he adopted the plan anticipated by Sir John: first he would bombard the British front line, in order to soften it up; then, while containing its left and centre with the divisions of Delaborde and Merle – some 11,000 troops in total – he would send the 6,000 infantrymen of Mermet’s Division, supported by Lahoussaye’s 1,500 horsemen, to hit its exposed right flank, turn it, and roll up the remaining regiments from west to east. Thus the Marshal envisaged the annihilation of Moore’s army – or its encirclement and capture at the very least – and was simply waiting for his army to complete a difficult deployment over rough, rocky, uneven ground, before firing the first shot. Across the valley, however, Moore was feverishly checking his watch, and by 1.30 p.m. had virtually abandoned the idea of a battle. It was around this time that he began moving the regiments of the Reserve down to the harbour ready for embarkation; and even Captain Gordon of the 15th Hussars – who had lingered on shore in the hope of seeing a battle – was finally ‘obliged reluctantly to bid adieu to Corunna … and to proceed to my floating dungeon, where I was speedily driven below by violent attacks of sea-sickness.’ Meanwhile, on the ridge above Elvińa, Captain James MacCarthy of the 50th Regiment was somewhat surprised to see a woman, with a newborn babe in her arms, make her way across No Man’s Land to the British lines: ‘She was an Irish woman, the wife of a soldier of the Light Company of the 50th Regiment, had lain-in on the march, was kindly attended by doctors of the French army, supported at the expense of Marshal Soult, arrived with her baggage, and was … sent over with Soult’s compliments, that he should soon visit the 50th Regiment … The ensigns of the 50th Regiment – Moore and Stewart – unfurled the colours by order of Major Napier; who, in allusion to Marshal Soult’s message, bravely said, “Open the colours that they may see the 50th!” A deserter confirmed the Marshal’s intention to attack, and when, at around 2.00 p.m., voltigeurs were seen advancing beyond the French picket line, the redcoats ‘began to think it a signal for a general action or a “killing day” as soldier’s term it.’ Thus, according to Major Charles Napier’s youngest brother William, ‘20,000 French veterans opened this battle against 14,000 British, who, having but nine six-pounders to oppose numerous light artillery, were also galled by eleven heavy guns on the rocks: and soon that formidable battery opened the fight with a slaughtering fire, sending its bullets crashing through the English ranks from right to centre.’ Moore’s spirit was awakened by the sound of the guns. At last, after labouring for so long under the dark clouds of disappointment and despair, the storm was about to burst, bestowing upon him a final chance to silence his critics …” March of Death is a brilliant evocation of Napoleonic warfare but, more than that, it brings to life a tale replete with adventure, horror and fantastic bravery. Back to Greenhill Military Book News No. 126 Table of Contents Back to Greenhill Military Book News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by Greenhill Books This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com