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

heitt - The village of Vimiera stands in a valley, through which runs ' the river Alaceira ; at the back, and to the Westrard and northward of this village, is a mountain, the western point of which touches the sea, and the eastern is separated by a deep rtvine from the heights, over which passes the road which leads lon Lourinha and the Northward, to Vimiera. The greater part of the infantry, the let, 2d, Sd, 4th, sth, and Sth brigades were posted on this mountain, with eight pieces of artillery ; Major-Gen, Hill's brigade being on the right 4. Major-Gen. Fer guson's on the left, having one battalion on the heights, sepa rated from the mountain. On the eastern and soqtbern 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 neighbourhood to the South irard and Eastward, on which Brig.-Gen. Faue was posted with his riflemen, and the 50th regiment. and Brig.-(ten. Anstruther With his brigade, with half a brig ade of six-pounders and half a brigade of nine-pounders, whic had been ordered to the po sition in the course of last night.' The ground over which passes t road from Lourinha commanded the left of this height, and it had not been occupied, excepting by 4 piquet, as the camp hid 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 find supporting Brigadier-General rants's advanced guard. The enemy first appeared at eight o'clock in the morning, in large bodies of cavalry on our left upon the heights on the road to Lourinha; and it was soon obvious that the attack would he Made upon ttur advanced guard, and the left of oar position ; and Major-General 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 Brg.- General Nightingale with his brigade, and three pieces of can atm ; Brigadier-General Ackland with his brigade, and Briga dier-General Bones with his brigade. These troops were formed (Major-General Ferguson's brigade in the fißt line ; Brigadier-General Nightingale's in the second; and Brigadier- General Bowes's and Ackland's, in columns in the rear) on those heights ? with their right upon the valley which leads into Vi tniera t •and their left upon the other Ravine, which separates these heights from the range which terminates at the landing tlace at Marceira. Qq these last-mentioned heights, the Pos. u gnese troops which had been in the bottom, near Vimiera, ere Posted 'in the first instance, and they were supported by pri g rulier-Ceneral Craufurd's brigade. The troops of the advanced guard an the height to the santias ' ward and eastward of the town were deemed sufficient for its defence, and Major-General Hill was moved to the centre of the Woutitain on which the great holy of the infantry had been isosted, as a support' to these tromps, and ;;s 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 em.my's attack began in several columns upon the whole of the troliis on this height ; on the left they advanced, notes lilt- Mantling the fire of the riflemen, :14 , •e to the 50th regirnent, and were'cliecked and driven lack oil by the ths%onets of that Corps. The 4 2ti battalion. 41t1 regimen', here likeiviJe closel 1 singap-d with them in the road which leads into V imiera ; a part or that corps having been ordered into the church=yard to prevent thent front Penetrating into the tovrh . do the right of the position they wets repulsed by the ttayunets of the 97th regi ment, which corps was successfully supported by . the 2d batta- Pon sid regiment, which, by tier advance is column, took the enetw, in flank. • Besides this opposition given to the attnA of the enemy on ace advanced gairri by their own exettions, they were attacked In tloik by Brigadier-General Ackland's bri-ade in its advance to its position on the hekhtt on the left, and a cannonade was ken tip On the flauk of the enemy's columns by the artillesy on those heights. At length, ttf.er a moo desperate contest, the enemy were dni,.en back in confusion front thi , 4 attack with the loss of seven pieces of cannon, many prisoners, and a ;rent entnlter of officers and soldiers killed and wounded. lie 'was pursued by the de ti..lin.eut of the 2(1111 light dragoons, hut the t neitiy';': cavalry ) were . sc. Ithich superior in numbers that this detachment has suf fered mush; anti Lieutenant-Calunel Taylor was unfortunately killed. " '• . . - , • the enemy's attack :omracnced upon taitiriesha. This attack was support lry, and was made with the usital ins troops. It sr as received with Attadircas . • I THE NATIONAL ItEGISTEII. SEPTEMBER 4:- _ 4 by Major-General 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 pupported by the 82d, one of the th c e o g r corps Brigadier-General Nightingale's brigade, which, as extended, afterwards formed a part of the first line 1 by the 29th regiment, and by Brigadier-General Bowes's and Ackland's bd. trade, while Brigadier-General Craufurd's Brigade, and the Portuguese troops, in two lines, advanced along the height on the left. In the advance of Major-General Ferguson's brigade six pieces of cannon were taken from the enemy, with many pri. sorters, and vast numbers were killed and wounded. The enemy afterwards Made an attempt to recover a part of his artillery 10 attacking the 71st and 82d regiments, whirl; were halted in a valley in which it had been taken. These re.: ginients 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, a n d they thqs Qbliged him again to retire with great loss. In this action, in which the whole of the French force in Portugal was employed under the commit(' of the Duke D'Ahrantes in person. in which the enemy was certainly supe rior 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 nmmunition waggons, with powder, shells, stores of ail description s , and 20,000 rounds of musket ammunition. Otte general officer (Be niere) has been wouadcd and taken prisoner, and tt great many officers and soldiers have been killed, wounded, and taken. The valour and discipline of 'his Majesty's troops have been conspicuoui upon this occasion, as you, who trimmed taw greatest part of the action, must have observed ; hut it is ajus. lice to the following iforps to draw your notice to them in a par ticular manner, viz.—the royal artillery, commanded by Lieu tenant-Colonel Robe; the 20th dragoons, which had been com manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tavinr; the 50th regiment, com manded by Colonel Walker; the 241 battalion 95th foot, er,:n manded by Major Travers; the sth battalion, 60th regiment, commanded by MOrr Davy; the 2d battalion /14d, commanded by Major Hull; the 2d battalion bed, commanded by Lieute nant-Colonel Ross; the 97th reginient, commanded by Lieute nant-Colonel Lyon ; the nth regiment, commanded by Colonel Burne ;• the 40th, commanded by Colonel 11(emmais ; the'n , t, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Pack; and the tiid regiment. commanded by Major Eyre. In mentioning Colonel Burne, and the 36th regiment to you upon this occasion, I cannot avoid to add that the regular and orderly conduct of' this corps throughout this service, and their gallantry and discipline in action have been conspicuous. I must take this opportunity of acknowledging sty obligations to the General and Staff Officers of the arm',. I was rmith indebted to Major-General Spencer's judgment• and experience, in the decision which I formed with respect to the number of troops allotted to each point of defence ; and for his advice aid assktatice throughout the action. , In the position taken up forl Major-General Ferguson's brigade, and in its advance upon 11:e. enemy, that officer shelved equal bravery and Jildginent ; and much praise is due to Brigadier-General Fare, :end • Brigadier- General Anstruthcr; for their gallant defence of their position in front of V inlera, and to lit igadjer-General Nightingale, the manner in which he supported the attack. upon the enemy, made by Major-General Fergason. Lieutenant-Colonel G. Tucker, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ba thurst, and the officers in the departmenti of the' Adjutain aii.'. Quarter-Master-Gem rah and Lieutenant-Colonel Tort'en, seal the officers of my personal staff, rendered me the greatest astbt -1 ance throughout the action. I have' the honour to inclose herewith, a return of the killed, wounded, and missing. I have the hnnour to he, &e. (Signed) .Anionn FirrnLysrxr. N. B. Since writing the above, I have been informed that a French General officer, supposed to be General Thebault, the Chief of tie Staff, .has been found dead upon the field of battle. • A. W. Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the dirmy under the Colansond of Lieutenant-Gonerat the Itl4lif • Honourable Sir Arthur Wellesley, K. B. on the 21st. of Auguqi,l9oB. ifead-Qu4rel`ts, lin:hero. General Staff-1 captain, wounded. • hoyal Artillery--:-8 * rank stud Ole, killed; rack Outi Ott wounded, 2 horses, wounded. Royal taginecri--1 lieutesaut, '• • Oat same time ~, .. re ) , at 6, :. t,,.. i . nAt rna4 to I - cr / ...• 2, g i tii ..t) .:(. ,..e lr tt o l R -_,,... \c,A 'z 4 40 , ..... „ Tarr , ~. •,,, • iA , 4. - 1, • .".. _rem.- r VAIN SE ~-. 2 301 ed; le ed 2 'a ' E 51 an, tie%