Note 220 — SECTION IV: CHAPTER III
Reading edition
It may be well to give Wellesley’s army at Vimiero:—
Cavalry, 20th Light Dragoons 240
Artillery, three batteries 226
1st Brigade, Hill:
5th (1st batt.) 944
9th (1st batt.) 761
38th (1st batt.) 953 = 2,658
2nd Brigade, Ferguson:
36th 591
71st (1st batt.) 935 = 2,449
3rd Brigade, Nightingale:
29th 616
82nd (1st batt.) 904 = 1,520
4th Brigade, Bowes:
6th (1st batt.) 943
32nd (1st batt.) 870 = 1,813
5th Brigade, C. Crawfurd:
45th (1st batt.) 915
91st 917 = 1,832
6th Brigade, Fane:
50th (1st batt.) 945
60th (5th batt.) 604
95th (2nd batt., four companies) 456 = 2,005
7th Brigade, Anstruther:
9th (2nd batt.) 633
43rd (2nd batt.) 721
52nd (2nd batt.) 654
97th (2nd batt.) 695 = 2,703
8th Brigade, Acland:
2nd 731
20th (seven and a half companies) 401
95th (1st batt., two companies) 200 = 1,332
Total British present 16,778
We have also to add the Portuguese of Trant, 2,000 or 2,100 men, making 18,800 for the whole force.
Napier’s estimate on p. 499 of vol. i. of his Peninsular War, is unfortunately quite inaccurate; he has—
(1) Omitted to deduct from each regiment the losses at Roliça, 474 in all.
(2) Counted the 50th Regiment twice. It had been moved from Catlin Crawfurd’s to Fane’s brigade the day after Roliça, in exchange for the 45th. Napier has inserted it, and counted it, in both places with its 945 men.
(3) Forgotten that Spencer’s artillery, 245 men, had been left behind for want of horses.
(4) Omitted (very excusably) to note that two and a half companies of the 20th Regiment were not ashore yet, having drifted away on a disabled transport, so that the regiment is given 135 too strong.
There is therefore a total excess of no less than 1,799 British troops. On the other hand, the Portuguese of Trant are probably understated by some 350 bayonets.