National Army Museum

English heroism

lithograph, print

Accession Number

NAM.2010-07-22-1

Description

English heroism. Lithograph by and after Giscard, 1816 (c). Published by Francaise, 10 Radcliffe Row, City Road, London, 1816 (c). Depicts an incident in the Peninsular War when English soldiers who had been captured by the French, assisted their captors in repelling an attack by guerillas of Francisco Espoz y Mina’s rebel Spanish Army. In centre, the French officer can be seen passing a sword to his British counterpart who, in turn, places his hand over his breast, swearing on his honour to surrender it after the skirmish. With six line explanatory text below. Associated with the Peninsular War (1808-1814).

Campaigns

Peninsular War (1808-1814)

Units

British Army

French Army

People

Mina, Francisco Espoz y

Francaise

Giscard

Dimensions

Height x Width: 250 x 245 mm

Inscriptions

Inscribed lower left: ‘par Giscard.’ Inscribed lower right:’de la Lithog.te Francaise. N.10 Radcliff Row, City Road.’ Inscribed lower centre: ‘English Heroism./ In 1812 a French detachment conducting a Convoy of English prisoners, being attacked/ in the Mountains of Salinas, in Spain, by Mina's troops, the English officer generously/ offered his assistance to the French, and obtained arms for himself and his Companions in/ Captivity. The Brigands were defeated, and the English immediately complied/ with the Conditions, on which they were entrusted with the arms, by honorably Surrendering/ them to the French Commander.’