The National Register.
London, England, 1812-08-23 00:00:00

AUG. 9,3.

ground. and his position was well defended by cannon, gave me an
opportunity of attacking him, for which I had long been anxious.
I rear ,:reed our right w th the sth division, under Lieutenant-General
Leith, which I placed behind the village of Arapiles, on the right of
the it ; and with the 6th and 7th divisions in reserve; and
as soon as these troops had taken their stations, I ordered the Hon.
Major-General Pakenham to come fOr ward with the :At division, and
Gen-ral D'Urhan's cavalry, and two squadrons of the 11th light
dragoons, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hervey, in four columns, to-turn
the ecem,'s left on the heights, while Brigadier-General Bradford's
hripalc, the sth division, under Lieutenant-General Leith, the 4th
divisif.n, under the Hon. Lieutenant-General Cole, aiad the cavalry,
under Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, should attack them
in front, supported its reserve by the 6th division, under Major-
General Chilton, the ith division, under Major-General Hope, and
Dm Carlos D'Espana's Spanish division, and Brigadier-General Pack
should support the left of the 4ih division, by attacking that of the
Dos Arapiles, which the enemy held. The Ist and light divisions
occupied the ground on the left, and were in reserve.
The attack upon the enemy's left was made in the manner above
desciihed, awl completely succeeded. Major-General the Hon.
Edward Pakenham formed the third division across the enemy's flank,
and overthrew every thing opposed to him. These trovs were sup-
ported in the most gallant style by the Portuguese cavalry under Brig.-
D'Urban, and !Lieutenant Col. Hervey's squadrons of the 14th,
who successfully defeated every attempt mode by the enemy on the
flank of the third division.

Brigadier-General Bradford's brigade, the sth and 4th divisions,
and the cavalry under Lieutenant General Sir Stapleton Cotton, at-
tacked the ememy in front, and drove his troops before them, from one
height to another, bringing forward their right, so as to acquire
strength upon the enemy's flank, in proportion to the advance. Bri-
gadier. General Pack made a very paint attack upon the Arapiles, in
which, however, he did tat succeed, excepting in diverting the atten-
tion of the enemy's corps placed upon it, from the troops under the
command of Lit utenant-General Cole, in his advance.
The cavalry under Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton made a
most gallant and successful charge against a body of the enemy's infan-
try, which they overthew and cut to pieces. In this charge Major-
General Le Marchant was killed at the paid of his brigade ; and I

have to regret the loss of a most able officer.
After the crest of the height was carried, one division of the ene-
my's infantry made a stand against the 4th division, which, after a
severe contest, was obliged to give away, in consequence of the enemy
having thrown sonic troops on the left of the 4th division, after the fai-
lure of Brigadier-General Pack's attack upon the Arapiles, and the
Honourable Lieutenant-General Cole having been vi ounded.
nirshal Sir William Heresford, who happened to be on the spot, di-
rected Brigadier-Gencral Spry's brigade of the sth division, which was
in the second line, to chine its front, and to bring its fire on the flank
of the enemy's division ; and, I ant sorry to add, that while engaged
in this service, he received a wound, which, I am apprehensive, will
deprive me of the benc-fit of his counsel and assistance for s rue time.
Nearly about the same time, Lietenant-General Leith received a wound,
which unfortunately obliged him to quit the field. I ordered up the
6th division under Major-General Clinton, to relieve the 4th, and the
battle was soon restored to its former success.

The enemy's right, however, reinforced by the troops which I►ad fled
from his left, and by those which had now retired from the Arapiles,
still continued to resist ; and I ordered the tat and light divisions, and
Colonel Stubb's Portuguese brigade of the •4th division, which was
Fe-formed, and Major-General William Anson's brigade, likewise of
the 4th division. to turn the right, while the 6th division, supported
by the 3d and sth, attacked the front. It was dark before this point
was carried by the 6.11 division, and the enemy fled through the woods
towards the Tormes. 1 pursued them with the Ist and light divisions,
and Major-General William Anson's brigade of the 4th division, and
some squadrons of cavalry under Lieut.-General Sir Stapleton Cotton,
as long as we could find any of them together, directing our march
upon Hoerta and the fords of the 'formes, by which the enemy had pas-
sed on their advance ; IPA the darkne's of the 'light was highly advan-
tageous to the enemy, many of whom escaped under its cover, who
must otherwise have been in our hands.
I am sorry to report, that owing to this same cause. Lieut.-Gen. Sir
Stapleton Cotton was unfortunately wounded by one of our sentries
after he had halted,
We renewed our pursuit at break of day in the morning, with the
came troops, and Maj.-Gen. Anson's brigades of cavalry, which joined
during the night, and having crossed the Tormes, we came up with the
enemy's rear-guard of cavalry and infantry, near La Serna ; they were
immediately attacked by the two brigades of dragoons ; and the Ca-
valry fled, leaving the infantry to their fate. I have never witnessed a
more gallant charge than was made on the enemy's infantry, by the
heavy brigade of the king's German Legion, .under Maj.-Gen. sock,

517

which was completely successful, and the whole body of Infantry, con.
listing of three battalions of the enemy's first division, were made pri-

&mien.

The pursuit was afterwards continued as far as Penaranda last night,
and our troops are still bllowitig the flying enemy. Their head•
quarters were in this town, got less than ten leagues from the field .of
battle, for a few hours lest night; and they ore now considerably ad-
vanced on the road towards Valladolid by Arevalo. They were joined
yesterday on their retreat by the cavalry and artillery of the Aria; of
the North, which have arrived at too late a period, it is to be hoped, to
be of much use to them.

It is impossible to form a conjecture of the amount of the enemy's
loss in this action ; but from all reports it is very considerable. We
have taken from them eleven pieces of cannon*, several ammunition
waggons, two eagles, and six colours ; and one general, three colonels,
three lieutenant-colonels, 130 officers of inferior rank, and between six
and seven thousand soldiers are prisonerst : and our detachments are
sending in more every moment. The number of dead un the field is
very large.
I am informed that Marshal Marmont is badly wounded, and has
lost one of his arms and that four general officers have been killed,
and several wounded.
Such an advantage could not have been acquired without material
loss on our side ; but it certainly has not been of a magnitude to distress
the army, or to cripple its operations.
I have great pleasure in reporting to your Lordship, that, throughout
this trying day, of which I have related the events, I had every reason
to be satisfied with the conduct of the general officers and troops.
The relation which I have written of its events, will give a general
idea of the share which each individual had in them ; and I cannot say
too much in praise of the conduct of every individual in his station.
follows an encomium on all the Officers, Privates, and every
one concerned in this glorious achievement.]
Captain Lord Clinton will have the honour of laying at the feet of
ties Royal Highness the Prince Regent, the Eagles and c doors taken
from the enemy in this action.
I enclose a return of the killed and wounded.

Olmedo, July 28.
The army have continued their march in pursuit of the enemy siree
I addressed you on the 24th instant, and we have continued to take
many prisoners. A part of the enemy's army crossed the Douro yes-
terday near Puente de Douro, and the remainder, their left wing,
were in march towards the bridge of Tudela thik morning at nine
o'clock, when I last heard from our advanced posts.
The main body of the allied army is this day on the Adaja and
Zapardiel rivers in this neighbourhood ; the light cavalry being in front,
in pursuit of the enemy.
It appears that Joseph Bonaparte left Madrid on the 21st, with the
army of the cent' e, supposed to consist of from ten to twelve thousand
infantry, and from two to three thousand cavalry, and he di7ected his
march by the Escuriel, upon Alba de Tormes.—He arrived at Blasco
Saecho, between Avila and Arevalu, on the 251 h, where he heard of
the defeat of Marshal Marmont, and he retired M the evening—
and between that time and tte evening of the 26th, he marched through
Villa Castin to Espinar. A nen-commissioned Officer's patrole of the
14th Light Drugoons and the Ist I lussars, froiu Hrevalo, took in Blasco
Sancho on the evening of the esth, shortly after Joseph Bonaparte
had left the place, two officers and 27 men of his own cavalry, who had
been left there to follow his rear-guard.
I have reason to believe that Joel h Bonaparte had no regular ac.
count of the action of the 22d, till he passed the Puerte de Guadar-
ream yesterday, but he then returned, and .was directing his march
upon Segovia. I have not yet l.eard how far he had advanced. All
accounts concur sit regard to the great luso sustained by the army of
I'urugal.
By accounts from Licetenant-General Sir Rowland Hill to the 144 h
instant, it appears that the enemy had in some .degree reethirceo time
troops in L:tramadura. The Lieutenant-General, had
..removed to
Zaft a.
•
It is reported, that General Ballasteros bad marched. on another ex-
pedition towards Malaga, and that he was. oppusi d by a de isiou of
the Army of the South, under General Laval.
I have not.received detailed accounts of Commodore `ir Home
Popham's operations on the coast since the capture of Seitteitio, ti,t I
understand that he has taken Castro Urdiales. .

• The official retnrns only account for eleven pieces of Cantio:i ; but,
it is believed, that twenty have fallen into out hands,
t The prisoners arc supposed to ammuit to seven thqusand ; but it
has not been posblble to ascertain their numbers exactly, from the ad-
yance of the army immediately atterthe action rtut over,
- •
. .

•