Corunna 1809

Late in 1808 Sir John Moore, virtually alone with his small British army deep inside Spain and facing the French Army led by Napoleon himself, fell back towards Corunna. The retreat became the most arduous of trials. with armies traversing mountainous terrain over appalling roads in the depths of winter. Somehow Moore held his outnumbered, exhausted men together. Finally, at Corunna his men turned to face their tormentors. The appearance of the enemy galvanised Moore's army and they beat back the French attack. Moore was mortally wounded, however, and was buried upon the ramparts of Corunna before the final evacuation.