When the three Generals responsible for the Convention of Cintra were recalled to England, Sir John Moore was nominated to the chief command in Spain. The appointment was a popular one, for Moore had greatly distinguished himself in command of a brigade at the capture of the Island of St. Lucia, and later still at the Battle of Egmont-op-Zee and in Egypt. His masterly advance from Lisbon to the relief of Madrid, and his still more masterly retreat from Salamanca to Corunna, are ably recounted in Professor Oman's monumental work on the Peninsular War, and by General Maurice in his Life of Moore. With not more than 30,000 men Moore held at bay five times that number, and finally, at Corunna, covered the embarkation of his worn-out army in the face of 25,000 French, commanded by Marshal Soult. The one episode during that famous retreat which is emblazoned on the colours and appointments of our army is the brilliant cavalry action of Sahagun, for which, as well as for the cavalry action of Benevente a few days afterwards, the medal and clasps were granted. SAHAGUN, DECEMBER 21, 1808. This honour has been awarded to the 15th Hussars only, and commemorates a brilliant little engagement, when the 15th attacked and routed a far superior body of French cavalry. With the trifling loss of 2 Hussars killed and 18 wounded, they captured 13 officers and 150 men of the enemy. Sahagun and Benevente--a similar action which took place a few days subsequently, in which the 10th and 18th Hussars bore their share, but for which no battle honour was granted, though a clasp "Benevente" was added to the Peninsular medal--bore testimony to the admirable manner in which our light cavalry was handled during Moore's retreat to Corunna. CORUNNA, JANUARY 16, 1809. Authority to assume this battle honour was given in April, 1823, and the medal and clasp were granted June 1, 1847. This honour has been conferred on the following regiments: Grenadier Guards. Royal Scots. Queen's R.W. Surrey. King's Own. Northumberland Fusiliers. Royal Warwicks. Norfolks. West Yorkshires. Lancashire Fusiliers. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Cameronians. Gloucesters. Worcesters. East Lancashire. Cornwall Light Infantry. West Riding. South Staffords. South Lancashire. Black Watch. K.O. (Yorkshire Light Infantry). Oxford Light Infantry. North Lancashire. Royal West Kent. Highland Light Infantry. Gordon Highlanders. Cameron Highlanders. Argyll and Suth. Highlanders. Rifle Brigade. The following table gives the strength of Sir John Moore's army at the commencement of the retreat. Unfortunately, no complete list of casualties exists to show the exact losses at the Battle of Corunna, but we know that on that day we had forty French guns opposed to nine English, and that the losses inflicted on the enemy were little short of 1,500, ours being about 800 only. CAVALRY DIVISION: LORD PAGET.