Читать книгу Battlefields - Michael Rayner - Страница 33

However, everything did not go Wellington’s way. Cole’s formation had been disrupted passing through Los Arapiles village, and they had been under constant artillery fire. They were understrength due to leaving one brigade to hold the Chico and they attacked in a single line of battalions. They were also deprived of their flank guard as Brigadier General Sir Denis Pack sent his Portuguese to storm the Grande. They failed. To add to Cole’s problems, Clausel had assumed command of the French army. He recalled Sarrut’s and Ferey’s divisions from the right; Sarrut’s to stem the progress of Pakenham and Leith, who now held the western end of the southern ridge, and Ferey’s to act as a reserve in woods southeast of the Grande.