Featured battle : Barrosa

Part of The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Date : 05 March 1811

The battle was a footnote to the Siege of Cadiz. A joint expeditionary force from Cadiz was landed on the coast about 50 miles south of Cadiz. The force initially consisted of 9,600 Spaniards, 4,900 British and 332 Portugese. A Spaniard, La Peña was in command. After an advance towards Cadiz a retreat was ordered without any attack being made. The Allied rearguard 470 men was attacked by two divisions 7,000 men of Victor's corps. Graham, commander of the British contingent, returned all his men to the fray the Portugese and some of the Spaniards supported Graham. The Allies were able to inflict severe casualties and scatter the French. A successful engagement in an abortive expedition.

Pepy's Navy. Ships, Men and Warfare 1649-1689

J D Davies
As my Grandfather used to say when finishing a meal 'Well that's filled a gap!' This excellent book will fill a gap on many bookshelves covering, as it does, a fascinating period of naval development. It is well researched, beautifully illustrated and written in an easily read manner. By all means read it from cover to cover as I did but it will be found just as enjoyable if the reader dips in at any section. For anyone following through any themes in the history of the navy there is a bonus in that the author has tried to follow the layout of Brian Lavery's seminal work Nelson's Navy in order to compare and contrast the navy in these two significant periods of its history.
This book is an impressive piece of work and is thoroughly recommended
Seaforth publishing. Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2008