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 difficulties 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 charge 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 Europek 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 to the Eng.
lish Colonel much surprize at the disinterestedness of the
grenadier.—" Don't be surprised," said the Colonel, 4, we
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 whenever 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 they 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 thought
to cut off our left, and charged about 5000, but they were
.com-
pletely routed with great slaughter, and lost their second
tonunotua. The 824 lost tia °Seers Lieut. Doukas. We were