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"I have reason to believe that his force consisted of at least 6000 men, of which about 500 were cavalry, with five pieces of cannon; and there was some reason to believe that General Loison, who was at Rio Major yesterday, would join General Laborde by his right in the course of the night. The plan of attack was formed accordingly, and the army, having broken up from Caldas his morn ing, was formed into three columns; the right, consisting of 1200 Portugueze infantry, and 50 Portugueze cavalry, destined to turn the enemy's left, and penetrate into the mountains in his rear; the left, consisting of Major-General Ferguson's and Brigadier-Gen.; Bowes's brigades of infantry, three companies of riflemen, a brigade of light artillery, and 20 British and 20 Portugueze cavalry, was destined, under the command of Maj. General Ferguson, to ascend the hills at bidos, to turn all the enemy's posts on the left of the valley, as well as the right of his post at Roleia; this corps was also destined to watch the motions of General Loison, on the enemy's right, who I had heard had moved from Rio Major towards Alcoentre last night. The centre column, consisting of Major Gen. Hill's, Brigadier General Nightingale's, Brig. Gen. Craufurd's, and Brigadier Gen. Fane's brigades (with the exception of the riflemen detached with Major-Gen. Ferguson,) and 400 Portugueze light infantry, the British and Portugueze cavalry, a brigade of 9pounders, and a brigade of 6-pounders, were destined to attack General Laborde's position in front.

"The columns being formed, the troops moved from Œbidos about seven o'clock in the morning. Brigadier-General Fane's riflemen were immediately detached into the hills on the left of the valley, to keep up the communication between the centre and left columns, and to protect the march of the former along the valley; and the enemy's posts were successively driven in. Major General Hill's brigade, formed in three columns of battalions, moved on the right of the valley, supported by the cavalry, in order to attack the enemy's left; d Brigadier Gens. Nightingale and Craufurd moved with the ar illery along the high road, until at length the former formed in the plain immediately in the enemy's front, supported by the

light infantry companies, and the 45th regiment of Brigadier-Gen. Craufurd's brigade, while the two other regiments of this brigade (the 50th and 91st,) and half of the 9-pounder brigade, were kept

as a reserve in the rear.

"Major-Gen. Hill and Brig.-General Nightingale advanced upon the enemy's position, and, at the same moment, Brig Gen. Fane's riflemen were on the hills on his right; the Portugueze infantry in a village upon his left; and MajorGen. Ferguson's column was descending from the heights into the plain. From this situation the enemy retired by the passes into the mountain with the utmost regularity and the greatest celerity; and notwithstanding the rapid advance of the British infantry, the want of a suffi cient body of cavalry was the cause of his suffering but little loss in the plain.

"It was then necessary to make a disposition to attack the formidable position which he had taken up. Brig.Gen. Fane's riflemen were already in the mountains on his right, and no time was lost in attacking the different passes, as well to support the riflemen as to defeat the enemy completely.

"The Portugueze infantry were ordered to move up a pass on the right of the whole; the light companies of Major Gen. Hill's brigade and the 5th regiment moved up a pass next on the right; and the 29th regiment, support. ea by the 9th regt. under Brig. General Nightingale, a third pass; and the 45th and 82d regiments, passes on the left. These passes were all difficult of access, and some of them were well defended by the enemy, particularly that which was attacked by the 29th and 9th regi ments. These regiments attacked with the greatest impetuosity, and reached the enemy before those whose attacks were to be made on their flanks; the defence of the enemy was desperate, and it was in this attack principally that we sustained the loss which we have to lament, particularly of that gallant officer the Hop. Lieutenant Col. Lake, who distinguished hims If upon this occasion.

"The enemy was, however, driven from all the positions he had taken in the passes of the mountains, and our troops were advanced in the plains on their tops. For a considerable length of ime, the 29th and 9th regiments a lone were advanced to this point, with

Brigadier General Fane's riflemen at a distance on the left, and they were afterwards supported by the 5th regiment, and by the light companies of Major General Hill's brigade, which had come up on their right; and by the other troops ordered to ascend the mountains, who came up by degrees. The enemy here made three most gallant attacks upon the 29th and 9th regiments, supported, as I have above stated, with a view to cover the retreat of his defeated army; in all of which he was, how ever, repulsed; but he succeeded in effecting his retreat in good order, owing principally to my want of cavalry, and, secondly, to the difficulty of bringing up the passes of the mountains, with celerity, a sufficient number of troops and of cannon to support those which had first ascended. The loss of the enemy has, however, been very great, and he left three pieces of cannon in our hands. "I cannot suciently applaud the conduct of the troops throughout this action. The enemy's positions were formidable, and he took them up with his usual ability and celerity, and defended them most gallantly. But I must observe, that although we had such a superiority of numbers employed in the operations of this day, the troops actually engaged in the heat of the action were, from unavoidable circumstances, only the 5th, 9th, 29th, the riflemen of the 95th and 60th, and the flank companies of Major-General Hill's brigade, being a number by no means equal to that of the enemy; their conduct, therefore, deserves the highest commenda

tion."

badly-5th Foot, Maj. Eames, slightly; Lieut. Doyle, 2 serjeants, 39 privates9th, Lieut. Col. Stuart, (since dead); Major Molle, Capt. Sankey, Ensign Nicolls, 3 serjeants, 49 privates-38th, 4 privates-29th, Majors G. Way and Tho. Egerton; Cptains P. Hodge and A. Patison; Lieuts. R. Birmingham, H. John W. Lucas, and Robert Stannus ; 6 serjeants; 105 privates-Sad, Lieut. R. Read, dangerously, 1 serjeant, 17 privates-45th, Ensign Davison, 9 privates

General Wellesley, after a warm expression of his obligations to the General and Staff Officers, gives the following return of killed, wounded, and missing:-Killed-General Staff, Capt. K. J. Bradford, 3d Foot Guards, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General-Royal Artillery, Captain H. Geary-5th Foot, 3 privates-9th, 4 privates-29th, Lieut.Col. the Hon. G. A. Lake, 2 serjeants, 31 privates-82d, 6 privates-45th, Ensign Dawson-50th, 2 privates-320, 1 private-40th, 1 private-71st, 1 pri vate-2d battalion 95th, 1 serjeant, 6 privates sth batt. 6oth, 8 privates20th Light Dragoons, 1 horse. Wounded-Royal Artillery, 1 private-Royal Engineers, Capt. Howard Elphinstone,

50th, 1 private-6th Capt. John Currey, slightly, 2 privates-32d, 3 privates 40th, 2 privates-71st, 1 private-2d batt. 95th, 3 serjeants, 25 privates-5th batt. 60th, Lieut. Kiety, Ensign Dawes, Adjutant de Gilso, all slightly, 5 serjeants, 34 privates-20th Light Dragoons, 3 privates, 2 horses. Missing--9th Foot, 12 privates-29th, Capt. George Tod, Lieutenants W. Birmingham, A, Newbold, and J. Langton, i serjeant, I drummer, and 32 privates-6th, 1 private-2d batt. 95th, 7 privates-5th batt. 60th, 16 privates.

Abstract of the Return-4 officers kil led, zo wounded, 4 missing--3 non-commissioned officers and drummers killed, 20 wounded, and 2 missing-63 rank and file killed, 295 wounded, 74 missing -1 horse killed, and 2 wounded-Total of men and horses killed, wounded, and missing, 488.

The next letter is from Gen. Wellesley, dated head quarters at Lourinha, August 18th, and states that he had heard from Gen. Anstruther of his be ing on the coast of Peniche, with the fleet of victuallers and store ships, and pars of the force detached from England under Brig. Gen. Ackland; that he had ordered Gen. Anstruther to land immediately, and had moved to Lourinha, in order to protect his landing, and facilitate his junction. "Gen. Loison," he adds, "joined Gen. Laborde in the course of last night at Torres Vedras, and I understand that both began their march towards Lisbon this morning; I hear also that Gen. Junot has arrived this day at Torres Vedras, with a small corps from Lisbon; and I conclude that the whole of the French army will be assembled between Torres Vedras and the capital in the course of a few days."

The next is a letter from Licut. Gen. Sir H. Burrard, enclosing the su joined report of Sir Arthur Wellesley." On

my

my landing this morning," says Sir Haring, in large bodies of cavalry, on our ry," I found that the enemy's attack had already commenced, and I was fortunate enough to reach the field of action in time to witness and approve of every disposition that had been, and was afterwards made by Sir Arthur Wellesley, his comprehensive mind furnishing a ready resource in every emergency, and rendering it quite unnecessary to direct any alteration,"

SIR,

Vimiera, August 21, 1808.

"I have the honour to report to you, that the enemy attacked us in our position at Vimiera this morning. The vil lage of Vimiera stands in a valley, thro' which runs the river Maceira; at the back, and to the westward and north ward of this village, is a mountain, the western point of which touches the sea, and the eastern is separated by a deep ravine from the heights, over which passes the road which leads from Lou. rinha and the northward to Vimiera. The greater part of the infantry, the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, and 8th brigades, were posted on this mountain, with eight pieces of artillery; Major-General Hill's brigade being on the right, Major-Gen. Ferguson's on the left, having one battalion on the heights, separated from the mountain. On the eastern and northern side of the town is a hill, which is entirely commanded, particularly on its right, by the mountain to the westward of the town, and commanding all the ground in the neigbourhood to the southward and eastward, on which Brig.-Gen. Fane was posted with his riflemen and the 50th regiment, and Brig. Gen. Anstruther with his brigade, with half a brigade of six-pounders and half a brigade of nine-pounders, which had been ordered to the position in the course of last night. The ground over which passes the road from Lourinha commanded the lea of this height, and it had not been occupied, excepting by a piquet, as the camp had been taken up only for one night, and there was no water in the neighbourhood of this height.

"The cavalry and the reserve of artillery were in the valley, between the hills, on which the infantry stood; both flanking and supporting Brig.-General Fane's advanced guard. The enemy first appeared at eight o'clock in the morn

left upon the heights on the road to Lourinha; and it was soon obvious that the attack would be made upon our advanced guard, and the left of our posi tion; and Major:Gen. Ferguson's brigade was immediately moved across the ravine to the heights, on the road to Lourinha, with three pieces of cannon; he was followed successively by Brig. Gen. Nightingale, with his brigade, and three pieces of cannon, Brig. Gen. Ackland, with his brigade, and Brig.-Gen. Bowes, with his brigade.-These troops were formed (Major-Gen. Ferguson's brigade in the first line, Brig. General Nightingale's in the second, and Brig. Gen. Bowes's and Ackland's in columns in the rear) on those heights, with their right upon the valley, which leads into Vimiera, and their left upon the other ravine, which separates these heights from the range which terminates at the landing place at Maceira. On these last-mentioned heights, the Portugueze troops, which had been in the bottom near Vimiera, were posted in the first instance, and they were supported by Brig. Gen. Craufurd's brigade.

"The troops of the advanced guard on the height to the southward and eastward of the town were deemed sufficient for its defence, and Major-General Hill was moved to the centre of the mountain on which the great body of the infantry had been posted, as a support to these troops, and as a reserve to the whole army. In addition to this support, these troops had that of the cavalry in the rear of their right. The enemy's attack began in several columns upon the whole of the troops on this height; on the left they advanced, notwithstanding the fire of the riflemen, close to the goth regiment, and were checked and driven back only by the bayonets of that corps. The ad battalion 43d regiment was likewise closely engaged with them on the road which leads into Vimiera; a part of that corps having been ordered into the church-yard to prevent them from penetrating into the town. On the right of the position they were repulsed by the bayonets of the 97th regiment, which corps was successfully supported by the 2d battalion goth regiment, which, by an advance in co lumn, took the enemy in flank. "Besides this opposition given to the

attack

attack of the enemy on our advanced guard by their own exertions, they were attacked in flank by Brigadier-General Ackland's brigade in its advance to its position of the heights on the left, and a cannonade was kept up on the flank of the enemy's columns by the artillery on those heights.

At length, after a desperate contest, the enemy was driven back in confusion from this attack with the loss of seven pieces of cannon, many prisoners, and a great number of officers and soldiers killed and wounded. He was pursued by the detachment of the 20th light dragoons, but the enemy's cavalry were so much superior in numbers, that this detachment has suffered much, and Lieut. Col. Taylor was unfortunately killed.

"Nearly at the same time the enemy's attack commenced upon the heights on the road to Lourinha. This attack was supported by a large body of cavalry, and was made with the usual impetuosity of the French troops. It was received with steadiness by Major. Gen. Ferguson's brigade, consisting of the 36th, 40th, and 71st regiments; and these corps charged as soon as the enemy approached them, who gave way, and they continued to advance upon him, supported by the 32d, one of the corps of Brigadier Gen. Nightingale's brigade, which, as the ground extended, afterwards formed a part of the first line, by the 29th regiment, and by Brigadier Gen. Bowes's and Ackland's brigades, while Gen. Crawford's brigade, and the Portugueze troops, in two lines advanced along the height on the left. In the advance of Maj.-Gen. Ferguson's brigade, six pieces of cannon were taken from the enemy, with many prisoners, and vast numbers were killed and wounded.

"The enemy afterwards made an attempt to recover part of his artillery, by attacking the 71st and 82d regiments, which were halted in a valley in which it had been taken. These regiments retired from the low grounds in the valley to the heights, where they halted, faced about, fired, and advanced upon the enemy, who had by that time arrived in the low ground, and they thus obliged him again to retire with greatloss. "In this action, in which the whole of the French force in Portugal was

employed, under the command of the Duke D'Abrantes in person, in which the enemy was certainly superior in cavalry and artillery, and in which not more than half of the British army was actually engaged, he has sustained a signal defeat, and has lost 13 pieces of cannon, 23 ammunition waggons, with powder, shells, stores of all descriptions, and 20,000 rounds of musket ammunition. One general officer (Bernier) has been wounded and taken prisoner, and a great many officers and soldiers have been killed, wounded and taken.

"The valour and discipline of his Majesty's troops have been conspicuous upon this occasion, as you who witnessed the greatest part of the action must have observed; but it is a justice to the following corps to draw your no. tice to them in a particular manner." Here the General particularly mentions the 50th, 2d batt. 95th, 5th batt. 6oth, 2d batt. 43d, 2d batt. 52d, 97th, 36th, 40th, 71st, and 82d; and after warmly praising the conduct of Gen. Spencer, and the other General and staff-officers, and stating that a French General Officer (supposed to be Thiebault, chief of the staff) had been found dead on the field of battle, gives the following return of the killed, wounded, and missing: Killed, Royal artillery, 2 privates

20th Light Dragoons, Lieut. Col. Taylor, 19 privates, 30 horses—39th Foot, 7 privates-40th, 6 privates71st, 12 privates-29th, 2 privates82d, Lieut. R. Donkin, and 7 privates

goth, Capt. G. A. Cooke, i serjeant, 18 privates 5th batt. 60th, 14 privates 2d batt. 95th, 1 serjeant, 5 privates --2d batt. 434, 1 serjeant, 26 privates 2d batt, 52d, 3 privates-97th, 4 privates-zoth, Lieut. Brooke. Wounded. General Staff, Capt. Hardinge. 57th Foot, Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Master-General-Royal Artillery, 2 privates, and two horses-20th light dragoons, 2 serjeants, 22 privates, 1o horses-36th, Capt. Hobart, Lieuts. Hart, Lought, and Edwards, and Ensign Bosell, all slightly, Lieut. and Adjutant Povah, severely, I serjeant, 1 drummer, and 34 privates-40th, Capt. Smith and Lieut. Frankly, slightly, a serjeants, and 28 privates-71st, Capt. A. Jones, Major M'Kenzie, Lieuts. W. Hartly, R. Dudgeon, and A. S. M'Intyre, and Ensign W. Campbell, all

slightly;

are the English, and behind them is the sea-be cool and steady, you have only to drive them into it!" The order issued by Sir Arthur Wellesley was brief

trymen! drive the French out of the passes on the road to Lisbon."

slightly; Lieut. Pratt, and acting Adjutant R. MacAlpin, severely, 6 serjeants, and 86 privates-29th, BrigadeMajor A. Creagh, 1 serjeant, 10 privates -82d, 2 serjeants, and 51 privates-ly and simply this:-" My brave coun50th, Major Charles Hill, Lieuts. John Kent, John Wilson, and Robert Way, 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 61 privates -5th batt. 6oth, Lieuts. G. Kirk, Lewis Raith, I serjeant, 21 privates-24. batt. 95th, Lieut. Pratt, Ensign W. Cox, 13 privates-2d batt. 9th, 1 serjeant, 14 privates-2d batt. 43d, Major Hearne, Capts. Ferguson, Brock, and Haverfield, Lieut. Madden, Ensign Wilson, 5 ser jeants, 2 drummers,68 privates-2d batt. 52d, Capt. Ewart, Lieut. Bell, 2 serjeants, 31 privates-97th, Major J. Wil son, Lieut. Kettlewell, 2 serjeants, 14 privates-2d or Queen's, 1 serjeant, 6 privates-20th, Lieut, Hog, 5 privates. Missing. Royal Engineers, first Lieut. Wells-20th. Light Dragons, Capt. Eustace, 1 drummer, 9 privates, 1 horse 36th Foot, I serjeant. I private-40th, 6 privates-56th, 2 privates-5th batt. 60th, 10 privates-2d batt. 96th, 3 privates-2d batt. 43d, I drummer, 12 privates-2d batt. 52d, 2 privates-20th, I private.

Abstract of the Return-4 officers killed, 37 wounded, 2 missing-3 noncommissioned officers and drummers killed, 31 wounded, 3 missing, 128 rank and file killed, 446 wounded, 46 missing-43 horses killed, wounded and missing. Total officers, non-commissioned officers and drummers, rank and file, and horses, killed, wounded and missing, 783.

Ordnance and Ammunition taken-six 1 pounder, 4 four pounders, 2 three pounders, 6 five and half-inch howitzers, 2 ammunition waggons, 21 Portugueze ammunition cars, 40 horses, 4 mules. This only the artillery received in the park; 8 more were taken. The ammunition waggons and cars contained a portion of powder, shells, and stores of all descriptions, and about 20,000 pounds of musket ammunition,

Thus far the Gazette.-The following particulars are communicated in letters from officers who were engaged in the battle of the 21st:

Junot harangued his troops in the morning, and immediately before the battle, said to them" Comrades, there

When the French General Bernier fell by his wound, the soldiers of the 71st regiment, who were immediately upon him, in the heat of their fury, were about to bayonet him, when corporal Ross interfered to restrain his comrades, and to save the fallen General. Bernier immediately offered his purse to his protector, who nobly refused it, saying, that to save a fallen enemy was a principle of feeling, as well as of duty in a British soldier. When Bernier was conveyed to Col. Pack, the commander of Ross's regiment, he expressed his admiration and gratitude for this generous conduct in the strongest terms; and at the same time evinced considerable surprise that a French General, having on his full uniform and epaulets, should not have been plundered or maltreated, Col. Pack informed him, that if such was the practice the French soldiers were accustomed to, he hoped that many of their offi. cers would, like him, have the opportunity of teaching them a better system, from the experience of the more honourable habits of Britons.

When Gen. Ferguson led his men to the attack, he advanced some distance in front, took off his hat, and waved it, that his person might be distinguished by the whole brigade. Col. Lake fell most nobly, as he led his grenadiers through one of the passes, the difficul. ties of which defy all description. The 36th, commanded by Col. Burne, performed prodigies. He had enjoined his men, it seems, to withhold their fire, but as the enemy continued firing with great effect, one or two young soldiers discharged their muskets-Col. Burne immediately called out, "If I knew the fellow who has just fired, I would knock him down." This remark, at a moment when so many were knocked down by the enemy's bullets, excited no small degree of merriment among his men, notwithstanding the awfulness of the scene. The charge of the 20th dragoons was most masterly; had there been a larger force of cavalry, the whole of the ene my's force must have been annihilated.

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