The National Register.
London, England, 1809-08-20 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. •

Ps°

nner in which Major ;lenerel Mackenzie withdrew his ad-
vateed guard. Ac the cloy vleanced, the enemy appeared in
larger numbers on the rignt of the Alberche, and it was obvious
that he was advancing to a general attark upott the combined
army. General Mackenzie coleinued to fall back gradually
upon the left .of the positioe of the combined armies.,
'where he was placed in the second line, in the rear of the
gnards, Csdonel Donkin being placed in the same situation fur-
ther upon the left in the rear of the King's German Legion
The enemy immediately commence:l his attack in the dusk of
the evening, by a cannonade upon the left of our position, and
by an attempt with his cavalry to overthrew the Spanish in-
fantry, posted, as I have before stated, on the right. This at-
tempt failed entirely. Early in the night he pushed adi visien
along the valley on the left of the height occupied by Gener..l
Hill, of which he gained a momentary pessession, but Major-
General Hill attacked it instantly with the bayonet, and re-
gained it. This attack was repented in the night, but failed,
and again at day-light in the morning of the Tile, by two divi-
sions of idantry, and was repulsed by MajoreAenernl 11111, weo
bas reported to me in a particular manner the conduct of the
nth regiment nud of the lit battalion 48th regiment, in these
different affairs, as well ns that of Major-General Tilson, ane
Brigadierstieneral flicNaril Stewart. We have lost many brave
effieers and voliliers ill the defence of this important point in our
positioe ; among others I cannot avoid to mention Brigade
Ileajor Fordyce, and Brigade-Major Gardner : an.l Major-Ge
aeral Hill was himself wounded, but I nun happy to say but
slightly. The defeat of this attempt was followed about noon
by a general attack with the enemy's whole -force uptrn. the
whole of thet 'part of the position occupied by the British army.
In consequence bf the repeated attempts upon the heiAht tin
opt left by the valley, I hail pieced two brieioies of leritish
eavalry in that valley, supported in the rear by time Due d'Alhie
(epergne's division of Spat-915h cavalry. The enemy then placed
light infantry in the ritcyge of mountains on the left or the valley,
which were opposed by a division of Spanb ► infantry tiadt.r
LieutenaneGeneral De Baeecourt. The general attack bison
by the march of several columns of infantry into the valley u itim
a view to attack the height occupied by Major-General Hilt,
These columns were immeeiately charged by the Ist f:erman
Light Dragoons nod 23d Draeimus, tinder the command of (4-
acted Anson, directed by Lieutenants General Payne, mid sup
ported by General Tone's brigade of heavy cavalry ; and
although the 23d dragoons suffere considerable loss, the charge
had the effect of preventing the execution hat part of the
enemy's plan. At the same time he directed an attack upon
Brigadier-General Alexander Campbell's position in the ceetre
of the combined armies, and on the right of the British. This
attar k was most successfully repulsed by Brigadier-General
Campbell, supported by the King's Regiment of Spanish cavalry,
and two battalions of Spanish infantry ; and Brigadier-General
Campbell took. the enemy's cannon. The Brigadier General
mentions particularly -Inc conduct of the 07th, the 2d battalion
111), and of the 2d battalion b3d ie4intents, and 1 was-highly
satisfied with the manner in which this part of the position was
defended. An attack was also made at the same time upon
Lieutenant-General Slierbrooke's division, which was on the
left and centre of the Ist line of the Biitish army. 'This attack
. was most gallantly repulsed by a charge with bayonets, by the
whole division, but the brigade of Guards, which were on the
Tight, hating advanced too far, they were exposed on their let'
dlank to the bre of the enems's battery, and of their retiring(
.eolumnis; and the division gas obliged to retire towards the
original position, under cover tif the 2d line of General Cotton's
brig ide of eftvalry, which I had moved from the centre, and of
the Ist battalion of the 48th regiment. I had moved this reg
Aleut from its original position on the heights, as soon as I eb
served the advance of the Guards, and it was formed in the
plain, and advanced opoo the enemy, and covered the formation
of Lieutenant-General Sherbrooke's division. Shortly after the
repulse of teis general attack, in whice apparently all the
enemy's troops were emplo)ed, be commenced his retreat across
the Alberche, which was conducted in the.enost regular order,
and was efected during the night, leaving in our hands tweot:
eases of oilmen, ammunition, tumbrils, and s nne piisoners.
Tour Lordship will observe by the inert sed return the great loss
Whirl) we have sustained of valuable ofteers had soldiers, in tki,s
I.ug and hard-fought action, with more t ban double our number.
Ghat of the enemy has been much greater. I am informed that
satire brigades of infantry have been destroyed, and indeed the
%Wien that retreated were muck reduced an umbers. Ay all

AUG. PO.

at-counts their loss is ten thousand men. Generals Lapisse and
Morlot are killed ; Generals Sebaoiani and Boolet A1)110(1(.11. I
diave particularly to lament th lois of Mai General Macken-
zie, who had distingnished himself on the t 7th ; and of Briza.
Bier General Langwerth, of th.. K log's German Legion; and of
Brigade-Major Beckett, of ti,e Guards. Yout Lirlship4
observe that the attacks of the enemy %Vele Prins palsy, iF not
entirely, directed tivtinst the British troops. Tile Spanish
Commander in Chi,4, hi' °Meer§ and troops mattifes'ed every
disposition to r;‘nder uc as-istarxe, and t ho-e of than which were
engaged did there duty ; but the ;round whit h they ocenpied
was.so important, and front at tit! same time so difficult, that I
did not think it proper to urge them to make any movement on
the left of the enemy while he tray engaged with us. 1 have
reason to he satisfied with the conduct of all the officers and •
troop!. I all much indebted to Lic it.-f;ea. Sherbrooke for the
assistance i received from hii», and for the inattnrr in which he
led on his di iAult to the charge with b tyonets. To Lieut,-Gen,
Payne and tilt. cavalry, pa tici.larl% Galeria An•tin's brigade,
to Nljor-Grmerals Hill and 'Filson, B.igalier-(:eneral.i Alex.
Catopb,•ll, Rictiard Stewart, ail Carnet on, and to the di-
v Hors and brigades of infant-% noder their commands re-
spectively, partit ul tidy the `2ll. re:Om:9n, comm; tiled h‘ Col.
White, the 1.4 Battalion 48tli. commanded by Colonel Don-
Rena!), nftertvards w!wn, that 0!9,-.r was wain 'ed., !!f a.
jor Aliddlem.tre; the 21 b ittalion e on.oan:led by Lieut.-
Colonel Sir MSerfl; the tIA laiioat 5111, commandoo by
Lieut.-Colonel Billgj!*tun ti!e 97th, commanded by Colonel
Lyon; the Ist bittalion of det.tchmentv, commanded b%
,enacts Colonel Bun:tory. and the 2d battalion 31,1. corm:mulct!
h% Major Watsons and of the 45: h, commanded by I.leutenant-
colonel Guard. and sth battalion 6:J13, commanded b% Major
Davy, on the 27th.

The advance of the hr:eale of nciarklq wag mast gallantly
eunduciett b 13rizadirsr Gene:al tainist)t 11, and, bA necest.ary,
that brig,tde retired, :lad formed again inch... bet.t

The artillery tinder Brigailier-(1:•ueral How ore, WM alio,.
throtholit these elate, of the grt-itie,i service, and I 114(1 every
rr~t~ Xll to he satisfied w ft the a.zsistaoce I i-oceive.d fr,,ei the
Chivf EnAineet. Lit'llf—CMiiel. Fletcher, the Adjutant General
Rritiadier-f'4►)er:il the I: on. (7. 14, wa rt awl t Ite Qu:irter- :11 aster-
Geuvrat Colonel Nlitrra.., and the °nicer:. of those tli•pa rt menti
re-peeikely, and from Colonel Bathurst and the yr; of Inv
personal Staff. I al-o received touch assistance flout Coloccl
O'Lavilor, of the Spanish service, and from liri,,.,a.lier-(;eneral
ing ha 11, !I') was wounded when bri.tging op the two Sp a-
hattalioas to the ai,sistance elf Brigadier-fieneral Aleander
Campbell. I send the! by Captain Lord Fitzroy Somerset,
who will give your Lordship any further information, and vrhutri
b:.•;; leave to recommend. I have the honour to be, .f e.
(Signed) ARTHUR WELLEst.ey.

Return of the numbers of killed, wounded, and mlssint;. of the •
army under the common.] of Lieu tenfmt-ficacral Sir Arthur
Wclleslo,, K. H. in action with the French army. command.
eel by Joseph lltionaparte peri.nn, in front of Talavera de
la Reyna, on the 27th July 1809.
Total-7 (Akers, 2 serjeants, 122 rank and file killed; 24 of-
ficers, 17 oedema?. 1 drummer, 465 rank and file Rounded; 3
officers, 1 erjeant, 2 drummesP, 24 rank and file missing.
Names of the Officers killed, wounded, and missing Of the Army -
under the cammand of Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Welles-
ley, K. 11. in action with the French Army, commanded by
Joseph I.lwinaparte in persms, in Irma Of the town of 'fala.
vent de la Reyna, on the 2.7111 of July 1809.
•
KILL E D.—General Staff—Captain Fordyce, 81st Regiment,
Deputy Adjutant-General.

IColdstream Guards—Lieutenant-Colonel Rots.
2d hat. 31st F•mt --Captain Lodge.
Ist bat. 88th Foot—Lieutenants Graydon and AfTarthy.
Ist hat. Detaclnsieots—Lieut. M`Dougal, 91st Regiment.
Rd bat. 87th Foot—Ensign La Serre.
WouNDED.—ht Light Dragoon', King's German Legiim-..
Lieut. Heimbruek, severely in the arm.
Royal Engineers—Captain Boothhy. severely in the thigh.
Ist bat. Coldstream Guards-. Captain and Adjutant Bryant
sady.