 The Anglo @-@ Portuguese contingent — a division commanded by Lieutenant @-@ General Sir Thomas Graham — sailed from Cádiz on 21 February 1811 , somewhat later than planned . Graham 's forces were unable to land at Tarifa due to bad weather and were forced to sail on to Algeciras , where they disembarked on 23 February . Joined by a composite battalion of flank companies under Colonel Browne , the troops marched to Tarifa on 24 February , where they received a further reinforcement from the fortress garrison there . By 27 February , they were joined by la Peña 's Spanish troops , who had left Cádiz three days after Graham and , despite encountering similar weather difficulties , had succeeded in landing at Tarifa . 
