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 brigade 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
prigrulier-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 42ti 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 thethceogr
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, and
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 descriptions, 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,

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