Taking a French Eagle at Barrossa

Capturing a French imperial standard during the Peninsular War.

This action-packed aquatint view shows Sergeant Patrick Masterman, 87th (The Prince of Wales’s Own Irish) Regiment of Foot, seizing the eagle standard of the 8th Regiment de Ligne at the Battle of Barossa (1811) during the Peninsular War. Considered one of the most heroic actions possible in the line of duty, Masterson was able to capture the first of Britain’s imperial French standards during the Peninsular Wars. The body of Ensign Edward Keogh is shown lying dead nearby, while another, non-descript soldier is shown prominently wearing the pack of the 87th.

Drawn by Deighton, engraved by M Dubourg, and published and in London in March of 1818 by Edward Orme as part of ‘Historic, Military and Naval anecdotes, of personal valor, bravery and particular incidents which occurred to the armies of Great Britain, 1803-15, and her allies, in the last long-contested war terminating with the Battle of Waterloo.’