The National Register. — London, England, 1808-09-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. guard, were cut to pieces to a man. After the battle, 300 of them were found lying dead on the very spot on which they were drawn up. The battle lasted about three hours, sad the general result was the complete defeat and flight of the enemy, with the loss of near 4000 men; making their total loss in both actions amount to upwards of live thousaud men. That of the British was comparative!: small. The veteran General Ferguson was among those who led the attack. He was accompanied by his Aid-de-Camp, Captain Mellish of sporting celebrity ; and as he advanced to the charge, at the bead of his brigade, he took off his hat, waved it to encourage his men, in order that,. in the first place, they might be enabled to distinguish him throughout; and, in the second, that they might be in spirited to ,imitate his coolness and self-possession. Co!. Lake fell most nobly, as he led his grenadiers through one of the passes, the di ffi culties of which defy all description. The 96th, commanded by Colonel Burns, performed pro digies. He had enjoined his men, it seems, to with-hold their fire ; but as the enemy continued firing with great effect, one or two young soldiers discharged their muskets —Colonel Burns immediately called out, " if I knew the f •ilow who has just ftred, I would knock him down." This r mark, at a moment when so many were knocked down by the enemy's bullets, excited no sine!l degree of merriment among his inen, notwithstanding the rather serious solemnity of the scene in which they were acting. The c h arge of the 20th dragoons was most masterly s had there I.c l' a larger force of cavalry, the whole of the enemy's force must have been annihilated : as it was, the }reach generals ctnisider themselves as completely put hors de-combat. Of this General Bilitier, at least, whom we made prisoner, was so convinced, that he actually 'applied to one of the officers of the British Staff to take care of his property, (his share of the plunder,) which he told him was at Forres de la Vedras, describing the house in which it was concealed. At the conclusion of the battle of the 21st, such was the enthusiasm excited by the result among our generals, that they all, to a man, went up to Sir A. Welleslev, congratu lating him on his success, and exclaiming, " This, general; is all your work I" The men sympathised with their leaders, and loudly expressed their satisfaction that their old general, as they . called him, had won the battle. After the decisive battle, Sir Arthur proposed to send off the right wing of his army, which had been less en gaged than the other two divisions, to push its way to Lisbon, and interpose itself between'tbat city and the re treating army of the enemy. This; we understand, was adopted, and our troops took the road that leads by the sea, through Torres, Vedras, and Mafra. The negotiations for the capitulation of the French army continued at the date of Sir Arthur's dispatches. It is said, that in the terms proposed by the enemy, they wished - to stipulate for the carrying off their plunder, which they have to an immense amount but this of course, would not be granted them ; and there can be no doubt, that long ere this, the whole of the French army and the Russian fleet, are in our possession. Gen. Kellerman, who came to propose terms of capitula tion, acknowledgd, that though the French artillery had frtherto been looked upon as the first in Europe k the Bri tish artillery in the battle of the 21st, had been served with far superior skill and dexterity. It is but justice to say at the same time, that the advance in column of the French troops on that occasion, is considered as one of the finest movemer,t4 that has ever been executed. We have heard it described as a sight most sublimely awful. Junot harangued his troops in the morning, and im mediately before the battle, said to them—" Comrades, there are the English, and behind them is the sea—be cool and steady, you hive only to drive them into it I" The order issued by Sir Arthur Wellesley to his troops, was briefly and simply this :—" My brave country men drive the French out of the passes on the road to Lisbon;" and. bis order was fully and promptly executed. it was the SEPTEMBER French General Shibault who was killed, and tienerai her.. flier who was wounded and made prisoner. Loisson was missing, and supposed to be among the slain. When General Bernier was taken by one of our grena diers, he offered him his purse and watch to let him go; but the grenadier spurned the offer, brought the General to his Colonel, and was rewarded by Sir Arthur Wellesley with a purse.—The French General expressed t o th e E ng . lish Colonel much surprize at the disinterestedness of the grenadier.—" Don't be surprised," said the Colonel, 4 , w e are not come as robbers."—Bernier then addressing him. self to Sir A. Wellesley, said. " From the manner in which you have fought, 1 suppose you have gut the picked men of the army of England. "—• By no means," replied Sic Arthur, this is only a specimen of what the rest arc." • GENERAL ORDERS • ISSUED BY GENERAL SIR A-RTHUR WELLESLEY, AIMS THE BATTLES OF THE 17TH AND 21ST. 66 Head-quarters, Loirrenha Aug. It. 44 The Lieutenant-General was perfectly satisfied - with the conduct of the troops in the actinu of yes'terday, particularly with the gallantry displa,ed by the sth, 9th, 190, 60th, and 95th regiments, to whose lot it principally fell to engage the enemy. " From the specimen afforded yesterday, of their behaviour in action, the Lieutenant-General feels confident that the troops will distinguish themselves w henever the enemy may give them another occasion, and it is only necessary for him to recommend to them a steady attention to their preservation of order and regularity, and strict obedience to the commands which the Officers may give. " G. B. Ttreaso, D. " Head quarters, l'imeira, Aug. 21. " Lientenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley congratulates the army on the signal victory they have this day obtained over the enemy, and returns them his warmest thanks fur their resolnta and heroic conduct. He experienced the sincerest pleasure in witnessing various instances of the gallantry of the corps, and has in particular to notice the distinguished behaviour of the Royal Artillery ; 20th light dragoons; the 36th, 40th, 21 bat. 43d, 50th, 2d bat. 52d, 60th, 71st, 82d, 2d bat. 95th, and 97th regiments.—lt will afford the Lieutenant-General the greatest pleasure to repeat to the Commander in Chief, the bravery dis-. played by all the troops, and the high sense he entertains of their meritorious and excellent conduct throughout the day. " G. B. Tvertsit, B. A. G." As a specimen of the men with whom we have been coll.( tending, Capt. Campbell has brought home with him in the Kangaroo, about twenty of Junot's guards. Gen. Belli tier was also anxious immediately to visit. En lard, but Cen. Kellerman advised filth to stay to assist his country men in drawing up the terms of the capitulation. The Duke of Abrantes (Junot), and his Secretary, have sent home open letters to their Duchesses, that an oppor tunity may be taken of transmitting them to France. These epistles are very laconic. They only assure their Ladies, 'they are in perfect health ; and express a wish that they may be equally so. Not a word of battles, much less of defeats. BETRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER FROM VIEMORA, 22 MILES FARM LISBON, AUG. 22. " On the 17th our brave fellows forced a pass maiotained by 6000 French, which exploit none but British troops could have achieved. " Our light companies charged and rooted the French with dreadful slaughter. Not more'than two men could pass at a time. I have no time to inform you of a more glorious action Fought yesterday at this place. We marched on this ground on the 10th inst. rested the 20th, and on the 21st, about nine A. M. we saw the enemy advancing over the hills, about 12 to 15,000 men. Part of our army moved off towards the sea, and the re mainder stood in their lines, and waited the enemy's coming up , which the y did in a most determined resolute manner, driving our advanced posts before them. " At length the right of our army charged then, took 16 pieces of ordinance, waggons, horses, &c. The enemy thoug ht to cut off our left, and charged about 5000, but they were .com pletely routed with great slaughter, and lost their s e c ond tonunotua. The 824 lost tia °Seer s Lieut. Doukas. We we re ir • • '~ IP P:= ff ~~ fE g.ez taci cos sack larg Dole ed si 1100 e of di T our oity whc had thee "I ♦et th a exc CO! rev we' tur bee be mei be; the tan, . %tt• bin 1, the 1 ila