 Having opened up the route to Cádiz , la Peña instructed Graham to move his troops forward to Bermeja . However , on Graham 's strenuous objections to vacating a position that would result in both an exposed flank and rear , a force of five Spanish battalions and Browne 's battalion was left to hold the Barrosa Ridge . In addition , three Spanish and two King 's German Legion ( KGL ) squadrons of cavalry , under the command of Colonel Samuel Whittingham , were sent to flank this rearguard force on the coast track . Graham 's division then moved north as ordered — instead of descending from the heights on the coast road , they followed a path through a pine wood to the west of the ridge . This route was shorter and more practical for artillery , but the trees restricted visibility in all directions , meaning that they were effectively marching blind . 
