ties. Badajoz was surrendered on the 11th
of March, the garrisons becoming prisoners of war: 9000 Spaniards
surrendered to a besieging army which did not exceed 9600 infantry, and
2000 cavalry.

After the fall of Badajoz Soult put his troops in motion to cross the
Guadiana and the southern frontier of Portugal; but intelligence from
Andalusia induced him to give up the command to Mortier, and to repair
to Seville. General Graham, who commanded at Cadiz, when Soult departed
from thence, concerted a plan with the Spaniards to drive Marshal Victor
out of his lines. For this purpose 10,000 infantry, and 600 cavalry
of the allies, being embarked at Cadiz, were landed in February at
Algesiras, from which place they marched to Tarifa. At Tarifa they were
joined by a considerable British, German, and Portuguese force, and the
whole was placed under the command of the Spanish General La Peha. The
combined forces marched in the direction of Medina Sidonia, and when
within four leagues of the enemy's posts, they were re-organized: the
vanguard being given to General Lardizabal; the centre to the Prince of
Anglona; the reserve, composed of the British and two Spanish regiments,
to Graham; and the cavalry to Colonel Whittingham, an English officer
in the Spanish service. On the morning of the 5th of March the allies
arrived on the low ridge of Barossa, about four miles from the mouth of
the river Santi Petri. A successful attack on the rear of the enemy's
lines opened the communication with the Isle of Leon; after which
General Graham moved down to the Torre de Bermesa, about half-way to the
Santi Petri, to secure the communication across that river, over which a
bridge had been recently thrown. He moved on through the wood in front,
but when he had advanced into the middle of the wood, he received
notice that the enemy was advancing towards the heights of Barossa; and
considering that position as the key to Santi Petri, he instantly made
a counter-march to support the troops left for its defence. Before the
troops of Graham, however, could reach the ridge of Barossa, the troops
left for its defence were obliged to retire, and the left wing of the
enemy was rapidly ascending those heights. To retreat in the face of
a superior enemy would have exposed the allies to great danger; and,
relying on the courage of his troops, General Graham determined on an
immediate attack. He was successful: in an hour and a half the French
were in full