References
| Spain |
The Battle of Salamanca, made famous by Tolstoy's War and Peace, which saw a hard-fought Anglo-Portuguese victory over the French in Spain took place on 22 July 1812. Among the wounded victors was Athenry’s John Eagan of the 11th foot who lost his eye in a gunpowder explosion. In total, the Allied losses were 5,000 (with 3,129 Brit-ish dead or wounded), whereas the French suffered about 13,000 dead, wounded, and captured. Thereafter, the 11th regiment became known as ‘the Bloody Eleventh’. More fortunate was Roger Mitchell from Kiltollough, one of eight Loughreamen to enlist in the 11th in 1808 alone, who survived to discharge. Pictured is the ‘Battle of Salamanca’ by William Heath.
This Chronicle was created using information originally published in the South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society Newsletter No. 27
