Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/457

 Brigadier-General Porlier, in the summer of 1810, has already been stated. The following is the detail, we there promised, of the proceedings of the naval brigade, commanded by Captain Aylmer.

Early on the 5th of July, 500 Spanish patriots, and a detachment of seamen and marines from the squadron, were landed on the beach to the westward of Santona, and the allied commanders immediately pushed forward to the town, which they entered without loss, the French troops having retired across the river. The British advanced guard, under Lieutenant Desbrisay R. M., with the Spanish tirailleurs, succeeded in stopping a part of the enemy’s rear guard, killed two, wounded a few more, and took several prisoners. In the course of the day, Brigadier-General Porlier sent off some of his men on the road to St. Andero, and Mr. Hugh Pearson, first Lieutenant of the Arethusa, was detached with a party of seamen to destroy the guns in the forts, which he completely effected. The 6th was spent in examining the ground, as there was reason to expect the enemy would advance in force from St. Andero.

The following morning, Captain Aylmer directed the boats’ carronades to be placed on a hill which commanded the isthmus leading to the town; and the men were at the same time posted along the hedges and vineyards in front of the position, the main body of the Spaniards on a sand-hill to the right, and the English, with the tirailleurs, in the centre and to the left. At about 11 A.M. a firing was heard, and the advanced parties retired, in the most perfect order, closely followed by the enemy. Very shortly after, the French were observed advancing rapidly in three columns, but they were almost immediately checked by the steadiness of the reception they met with, and at length obliged to retire, leaving many killed and wounded on the field.

“The enemy’s force,” says Captain Aylmer, “appeared to consist of between 700 and 800 men, and I have only to regret that they did not advance nearer; for had they done so, I am convinced a most complete and entire destruction of their whole force would have taken place. Brigadier-General Porlier detached his sharp-shooters to harass their rear: they succeeded in killing and wounding several, and making some prisoners. OR the whole I conceive the loss of the French in killed, wounded, and prisoners, amounts to about 150 men. The whole of the guns, &c. in 