Note 502 — SECTION XXVI: CHAPTER V

Such as the statement that Zayas had given way before Colborne arrived at the front, which the evidence of Beresford himself, D’Urban, Schepeler, Moyle Sherer, and many other witnesses proves to be quite wrong. Also the tale (p. 167) that the Spaniards fired into the British (see Strictures, pp. 247-8, and Schepeler). Also the statement that Lumley’s cavalry diversion to help Colborne was successful—when it merely resulted in the repulse of the two squadrons that made it, with the loss of their two commanding officers (Captains Spedding and Phillips) taken prisoners.

An astonishing bit of arithmetic is the note (iii. p. 181) that on the night of the battle only 1,800 unwounded British infantry were left standing—the real figures being: Abercrombie, 1,200; Alten, 1,100; remains of Myers’s brigade, 1,000; remains of Colborne’s brigade, 600; ditto of Hoghton’s, 600. Total, 4,500. Napier had apparently forgotten Abercrombie and Alten.