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

Titt NATiolvAt. REGISTER.

SEPTEMBER 4.

which was posted on the heights in front of Roleia its right
resting upon the hills, its left upon an eminence on which was a
windmill, and the whole covering four or five passes into the
mountains in his rear.
I have reason to believe that his forte consisted of at least
6000 men, of which about 500 were cavalry, wish b pieces of
antion ; and there was some reason to believe that Gen. Loison,
who nas.at Rio Major yesterday, would join Gen. Laborde by
'tis right in the course of the night. The plan of attack was
'armed accordingly, and the army having broken up from Cal-
las this morning, was formed into three columns; the right,
sonsisting of .1200 Portuguese infantry and 50 Portuguese ca-
.alry, destined to turn the enemy's left, and penetrate into the
mountains in his rear; the left, consisting of Major Gem
.oson's and Brigadier-Gen. Bowes's brigades of infantry, three
aoupanies of riflemen, a brigade of light artillery, and twenty
British and twenty Portuguese cavalry, were destined, under the
-ommand of Major-Gen. Ferguson, to ascend the hills at CEbi-
'os, 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 des-
tined to watch the motious of Gen. Loison, on the enemy's right,
4 ho I had heard had moved front Rio Major towards Alcoentre
last night. The centre column, consisting of Major-Gen. Hill's,
!trig.-Gen. Nightifigale's, Brig.-Gen. Craufurd's, and Brig..
(sea. Fare's brigades (with the exception of the riflemen detach-
with Major-Gen. Ferguson), and 400 Portuguese light infan-
trv, the British and Portuguese cavalis., a brigade of nine-
p sunders, and a brigade. of six-pounders, were destined to attack
;en. Laborde'; position in front.
The colusnos brieg formed, the troops moved from CEbidos
about seven o'clock in the morning. Brig.-Gen.
,Face's riletnen
were immediately detached into the hills on the left of the val-
ley, to keep up the communication between the centre and left
columns, and to protect the march of the former along the val-
ley; and the enemy's posts were buccossively driven in. Major-
, Cien. Hill's brigade, formed in three columns of battalions, moved
on the right of the valley, supported by the cavalry, in orda. to
attack the enemy's left ; and Brigadier-Generals Nightingale and
Craufurd moved with the. artillery along the high road, until at
length the former formed in the plain immediately in the enemy's
supported by the light infantry companies, and the 45th
regiment of Brig.-hen. Craufursi's brigade, while the two other
regiments of this brigade (the 50th and 9lst), and half of the
nine-pounder brigade were kept as a reserve in the rear.
Major-hen. Hill and Brig.-Gen. Nightingale advanced upon
the enemy's position, and, at the same moment, Brig.-General
Ewe's riflemen were in the hills on his right ; the Portuguese
infantry in a village upon his left ; and Major-Gen. Ferguson's
column was descending from the heights into the plain. From
this situation the enemy retired by the passes into the mountains
with the utmost regularity and the greatest celerity ; and, tun-
w ithstandine the rapid advance of the British infantry, the want
of a sufficient body of cavalry was the cause of his sufferiug but
little loss in the plain.
It was then necessary to make a disposition to attack the for-
midable position which he had taken up. Brigadier-General
l'ane's ridemen were already in the monutains on his right, and
no time was lost in attacking the different passe, as well to sup-
port the riflemen as to defeat the enemy completely.
The Portuguese infantry were ordered to move up a pass on
the right of the whole ; the light companies of Major-General
Hill's brigade aed the sth regiment moved up a pass nest on
the right ; and the 29th regiment, supported by the 9th reo-
- under Brigadier-General Nightingale, a third pass; and
the 45th and tncl regiments, passes on the left. These passes
wOre all difficult of. arcess,aod some of them were well defended
by the enemy, particularly that which was attacked by the 29th
I and 914 regiment. These regiments attacked with the greatest
impetuosity, and reached the enemy before those whose attacks
were to he made on their flanks: time defence of the talents was
desperate, and it was in this attack principally that we sustained
the loss which we have to lament, particularly of that gallant
o:ficer, the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Lake,
who dis-
tinguished himself upon ibis occasion. '
The ene:uy was, however, driven from all the positions he
tad taken in the passes of the mountains, and our troops were
advanced in the plains ou their tope. For a considerable length
of lime the 4cltli and 9th regiments alone were stdvahrell
to ifris
;mini, with Brigadier-General Fan's riflemen at a distance hp
.1' left. amid they were after Wards supported by the sth rcg!-
neat, and Ivy the light com Patties of MAjor-Oeneval Hill's b-
;thie, which had cow es
up on their right ; and by the other
troops ordered to ascend the mountains. who came up , h' de-
;. greet. The enemy here made farce taost gallant attacks 006

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gEpilEmnit 4 ,TFIE NATIONAL REGISTER:

the 'Nth and 9th regiments, supported, ai I have 'above stated,
with a view to cover the retreat of his defeated army; in all
of which he was. however, repulsed; but he succeeded hi
ctfrcting his retreat in good order, owing, principally, to m,
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 sufficiently applaud the conduct of the troops through-
out 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 mast 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 sth, 9th, 29th, the
riflemen of the 93th and 60th, and the dank companies of Ma-
jor-General Hill's Bilgade, being a number by no means equ:d
to that of the enemy :—their conduct, therefore, deserves the
highest commendation.
I cannot avoid to take this opportunity of expressing my ac-
knowledgments for the aid and support I received from all the
general and other officers of this army. I am particularly in-
debted to Major-General Spehcer for the advice and assistance
I received from him ;—to Major-General Ferguson for the man-
ner in which he led the left column, and to Major-General Hill,
and Brigadier-Generals Nightingale and Fane for the manner iu
which they conducted the different attacks which they led. I
derived most material assistance also from Lient.-Col. Tucker
and Lieutenant-Colonel Bathurst in the Offices of Deputy-Adju-
tant and Deputy Quarter-Master General, and from the Officers
of the Staff employed under them. I must also meution that I
have every reason to be satisfied with the artillery under Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Rohe.

I have the honour to ineloq! herewith a return of killed,
wounded and missing. 1 have the honour to be, itc.
(Signed) Kral! Ilintuest.gr.
Return of the Kilted, Wounded, and Miming of the Aring under
the Command of Lieutenant-General the Right lion. Sir Ar-
thur Wellesey, K. B. u►n the 11116 of ...lynch 1608.
Ifead-Quartcrc, Lourinha, Aug. 18, 1808.
General Staff-1 captain, killed.
Royal Artillery-1 captain, killed ; 1 rank anti tile, wounded.
Royal Eugitfeerp---1 captain, wouded.
Ist Brigade—Maior-General
sth font-3 rank and file, killed ; 1 major, 1 lieutenant, 2 ser-
jeants, :39 rank and tile, wounded.
9th font--1 rank and tile, killed ; 1 lieutenant-colonel, I major,
1 captain, 1 ensign, 3 serjeants, 49 rank nod tile, w ounded ; 12
rank and file, missing.
3Sth font-4 rank and file, wounded.
3d Ileigadr—Briglidier-(anneal Nighl;ragale.
Oth foot-1 Renton:int-colonel, 2 serjeams. 31 rank and file,
killed; 1 major, 3 captains, 3 nst", ti ~arjeants, 105 rank
and file, wounded; I captain, 3 lietatemont,, 1 serjeant, 1 drutu-
uu•r, :12 rank and tile, u►issit►g.
P 4141.001-6 rank and tile, killed ; 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 17
rank sus file, wounded.

Brigade—Brigadier-General Cranford.
45th foot—l et3Sigll, killed ; 1 lieutenant, 9 rank and file,
uounded.
)oth root-2 rank and file, killed; I rank and file, wounded.
'llq foot—none killed or ‘sounded.
4th Brigade—Brigadier -n•ral Bowel.
Cott foot--1 captain, 2 rank and file. wounded ; 1 rank and
niii,•ing.
32d lout-1 rank and tile, l.iJied ; S rank and file, wounded.
'2d Brigade—Major General Ferguson.
36th font—nane killed or wounded. '
40th foot—l rank and tile, killed ; Y rank and file, wounded.
;let font-1 rank and tile, killed ; I rank and tile, Hounded.
GI h, or Light Brigade—Brigadier-G,nera! Pane.
hart. 9511, foot—l serjeant, 6 rank and hie, killed; :3 ser-
i(aos, 25 rank and tile, wounded, 7 rank and tile, missing.
51h Ivor. 60th font-8 rank and file, killed ; Y lientenants, 1
stall; 5 serjeatit4, tl& rank nod tile, wounded ; 16 rank and tile,

taralry.
20th light dragoons-1 istreso, killed; 3 rank and tile, 2 horses,
ivoim.ted.
Vovil --I lieutenant-colonel, 2 raptaiw, I en-ign, 3 tecienntQ,
6J raqk ;Ind tile, 1 ilure, ; I lieut..nant-colonti, snot-

F;'6l

,juts, 6 captains, 8 lieutenants, I ensign, I stall; 20 serjeants,
295 rank and file, 51 horses, wounded ; 1 captain, 3 lieutenants;
1 serjrant, 1 drummer, 65 rauk and file, missing.
Nantes of Offieers killed, wounded. and missing, on the reth of
Annust, 1808.
General Stalf—raptain K. J. Bradford, Id regiment foot'
guards, deputy assistant adjutant-general, killed.
Royal Artillery--Captain H. Gear.., killed.
Royal Lugineers--Captain Howard Elphinstone, badly
wounded. •
sth foot—Major Ernes, slightly wounded ; Lieutenant Da.le,
wounded.
9111 foot—Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart, severely wounded ;
Major Molle, wi.inded ; Captain Sankey, wounded ;
Nichols, wounded.
29th foot—Lieutenant-Col awl the Hon. C. A. F. Lake,
killed ; Majors G. Way and Thomas Egerson, wounded; Cap.
tairts P. Hodge and A Patison, wounded ; Lieutenants R. Bir-:
'Hingham, St. John W. Lucas, and Robert Stantot,, wounded ;
Captain George Tod, missing ; Lieutenant. W. Birmiugham;
Ambrose Newbold, and Thomas Langtoe, missing.
6th foot—Captain John Currey, slightly wounded.
45th foot—rnsign Dawson, killed ; Lieutenant Burke,
slightly wounded.
82d Foot—Lieut. R. Reid, dangerously wounded.
60th foot—Lieutenant Kiety, slightly wounded ; . Ensign
Dawes, slightly wounded; Adjutaut Dc Gilso, slightly
wounded,
95th foot—Captain Creagh, slightly wounded ; Lieutenants
fin and Cortina'', slightly wounded.
Total-4 officers, killed; '2O officers, wounded; 4 officer.,
missing : 3 non-commissioued officers and drummers, killed;
20 nou-commissioned officers and drummers, wounded ; 2 non-'
commissioned officers and drummers, missing : 63 rank and tile,
killed; 295 rank and tile, wounded; 63 rank and tile, missing :•
1 horse, killed ; 2 horses, wounded.
Total officers, non-commissioned officers, rank and tile, and
horsesskillod, wouuded, and missing, 482.
B. Tucm, Dcp. Adj. Gen.
Head Quarters at I.varinha,
Mr LORD, 18, 1309.
Since 1 wrote to you last night, I have heard from Brigadier-
General Anstruther, that he is on the costa of Pitiiche, with the
fleet of v eta:tilers and stare ships, iu charge of Captain Blight of
the Alfred, tt ith a pact tot' the force detached from Eugland
under Brigadier-General Ackland, in couseroence of the rereipt •
of orders Which 1 had left at Mondego Bay for Geaeral Ack-
land, which he had opened. 1 have ordered Brigadier-General
Austrut her to land immediately, and I have moved to this plate,:
iu order to protect his landing, and facilitate his junction.
General l.oison joined General Laborde in the course of last
night at Torres Vedras; and 1 understand that both began their
march towards Lisbon this morning : I also hear that ttieueral
Julio( has arrived this day at Tores Vedras, ssith a small cops
from Lisbon ; and I conclude that the whole of the French ar-
my will be assembled between Tures Vedras and the capital, in
the course of a few days. 1 have the honour to be, eke.
(Signed) ARTHUR WELLsistcr.
To the Host. Lord Castlereagh, iNc. 455'e.
plead-Q 'garters, Murders,
Mr Lona, Aug. kl 1808.
The report which I have the honour to Incluse to your Lord-
ship, made at my request to Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur
Welle-ley, conveys information which cannot but prove highly
gratifying to his Majesty.
On my landing this morning, I found that the enemy's attack
had already commenced. and 1 was fortunate enough to reach
the field of action in time to witness and approve of every (tilt°.
sition that had been, and was afterwards made by Sir Arthur •
Wellesley, his comprehensive mind furnishing a ready resource
in every emergency, and ;maiming it quite unueeessary to direct
any alteration.
1 am happy on this occasion to bear testimony tq the great
spirit and guod conduct displayed by all the troops composing:
this gallant army Ili this well-contested actiOn.
send this dispatch by Captstin Campbell,. Aid-do-Camp to
Sir Arthur Wellesley, no person being better oitalitild. to give
your Lordship information, 1 have the honour to be. te.
(Signed) "haus, st.r.s.ao, Lzeut.-Gar.
To the Right lion. Lord Castlereagh, Vic. 4c. c.
ra, ,111;* .4 21, .7;o5;
I have the honour to report to you. that the cacti.; a .tacke .
us. in our position at 1 imicra this taunting.