Note 50 — BATTLE OF SALAMANCA. 22nd. July, 1812.

The 11th. and 61st. regiments specially distinguished themselves on this occasion; evening was fast approaching, and the legions of Napoleon were retreating in much disorder, when the French division, commanded by General Maucune, made a determined stand to cover the retreat of the broken battalions; then ensued a desperate musketry action in the dark. The difficulty of the ascent gave the enemy’s division, formed on the summit, a decided advantage; but at length Maucune’s battalions were forced from the height. Of Major-General Hulse’s brigade, (the 11th., 53rd., and 61st.,) only nine officers and three hundred men remained, which were formed on the following day into one battalion. A round shot (probably fired at the colours of the 11th.,) took the heads off the two sergeants, posted between the colours, and of a black man who beat the cymbals in the band, and who was in rear of them, without injuring either of the officers carrying the colours; one of them (Ensign Scott) was afterwards killed. The colour party of the 61st. regiment, being all shot down, the colours were seized by Privates Crawford and Coulson, who carried them till the close of the battle. Crawford was made a sergeant on the field, and the same rank was offered to Coulson, who declined it, saying that he was already over rewarded by the cheers and congratulations of his comrades. The regiment went into action with 27 officers and 420 men, and at the close of the fight had only 3 officers and 78 men left.