3-082-277 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Battles of the British Army, No. X. - Vimiero: the Highlanders turning the captured guns on the French, 1895. 'The breaking-out of the Spanish and Portuguese insurrections was an obvious opportunity for England. It gave her the power of once more engaging in a land war, in which, while harassing Napoleon and exhausting his resources, she risked nothing but the army sent...the main body [of troops] was sent to Portugal under Sir Arthur Wellesley, a General who had distinguished himself in India...Wellesley had sixteen thousand, but hardly any horse...The British troops, with some Portuguese, were formed originally with their left across this road near the village of Vimiero...In the morning of Aug. 21 the French came in sight...Junot threw Laborde's brigade on the height in front of Vimiero, and Brennier's on the ridge where the British left was now posted...Laborde, again reinforced, dashed at the hill in front of the village. Shattered by the artillery, they were hurled down again by the fire and charge of the British infantry. A fierce fight took place hand to hand, but the 43rd won and rolled the French back in disorder. The British cavalry followed, but was almost destroyed by the superior French horse: but seven guns were abandoned'. From "Illustrated London News", 1895.