The National Register.
London, England, 1808-09-11 00:00:00

AN ACCOUNT OF THE
BATTLE OF VIMIERA •
MILTING AS AST IMPLANTATION TO TNT raArr.

ill be an Hiportant era in our Illisto-
*.ve occurrences which not only ter-
, and annihilate the resources of the enemy in
produce a decided superiority in the subse-
If the stars. In this it bears a strong rescm-
Marengo, Ulm, and Jena. It has
haracter of the war. The French,
ears in the habit of carrying fire
of their enemies, and of subsisting
will now be reduced to the ne-
, frontiers against an invading force.
Sir Arthur Wellesley is so clear,
,westimption to add tiny thing to it.
stands in a valley, through which runs
back, and to the Westward and
is a mountain, the western point of
he eastern is separated by a deep
. which passes the road which leads
Northward, to Vimiera. The greater
2d, 3d, 4th, .sth, and Eth brigades
1, with eight pieces of artillery ;
ing on the right ; Major-Gen. Fer-
one battalion on the heights, sepa-
in the eastern and southern side of
entirely commanded, particularly on
to the westward of the town, and
in the neighbourhood to the South-
ich Brig.-Gen. Fame was posted with
regiment, and Brig.-Gen. Anstruther
a brigade of six-pounders and half
The ground over which passes
commanded the left of this height.
-we of artillery were in the valley,
the infantry stood; both flanking
r-General Fane*s advanced guard.
at eight o'clock in the morning, in
our left upon the heights on .he road
obvious that the attack would he
I'd, and the left of our position ;
,on's brigade was immediately moved
heights, on the road to Lottrinha, with
was followed successively by Brig.-
1 brigade, and three pieces of ran-
d:tad with his brigade, and Briga-
his
brigade. These troops were
l
4's brigade in the first liner'
's in the second; and Brigadier.'
.'s, in commits in the rear) on those:
ton the valley which leads into Vl-
he other Ravine, which separates
which terminates at the landing-
Aese last-mentioned heights, the Por-
' been in the bottom, near Vioniera,
amid they were supported by
.'s brigade.
s attack began in several columns upon the whole.
_ :troops on this height ; on the left they advanced, notwith-
Standiug the fire of the riflemen, close to the both regiment, and
were checked and driven back only by the bayonets of that
Warps. The 24 battalion, 43d regiment, were likewise closely
swaged with them in the road which leads into Vimiera ; a
pieta that corps having been ordered into the church-yard to
prevent them from penetrating into the town. On the right of
she position they were repulsed by the bayonets of the 97th regi-
r
eon. which corps was successfully supported by the 2d batta-
aze. regiment, which, by au advance in column, took the
y in lank.
Nearly at the same time the enemy's attack commenced upon
the jtcights on the road to Lourialia. This attack was support-
ed by a large body of cavalry, and was made with the usual im-
petuosity of the French troops. It was received with steadineur
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 supported by the 82d, one of the corps of
Brigadier-General Nightingale's brigade, which, as the ground
extended, afterwards formed a part of the first line; by the 29th
TgSzscot, and by Brigadier-General Bowes's and Ackland's hri-
vbile Brigtitlier-Generat Craufurd's Brigade, and_ tbs.
.

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THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

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:..

SEPTEMBER 11.

Portuguese troops, in two lines,. advanced along the height on
the left. In the advance of Myor-General Ferguson's brigade
six pieces of cannon were taken from the enemy, with many pri.
soners, and vast numbers were killed and wounded.
The enemy afterwards made an attempt to recover a part of
his artillery by attacking the 71st and 82d regiments, which
were halted in a valley in which it bad been taken. These re-
giments 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 thus obliged him again to retire with great loss.
In this action, in which the whole of the French force in
Portugal was employed under the command of the Duke
D'Abrantes in persist), 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 ammunition
waggons, with powder, shells, stores of all descriptions, and
20,000 rounds of musket ammunition. One general officer (Be-
niere) has been wounded and taken prisoner, and a great man)
officers and soldiers have been killed, wounded, and taken.

ANECDOTES RESPECTING THE CAMPAIGN IN
PORTUGAL.
In the battle of the 21st. the French had in the field about
15,900 men, of which 1200 were cavalry : this latter force by
no means distinguished itself, not having once come to a charge
in the course of the day ; but its position and numbers were for-
midable, and it contributed to keep a considerable body of the
British troops in check, occupied by watching its movements.
Their uniform was green. The Shrapnel' Shells (so called from
their inventor, Colonel Shrapnel', of the artillery) in particular
made dreadful havoc among the ranks of the French. They
contained about 100 musket bullets, and ate calculated to ex-
plode at given distances, on which they instantly spread death
and devastation around. What contributed materially to the
defeat of the French, was the scientific manner in which the
Commander in Chief met their attack. The French army ad-
vanced in three, large columns, in such a manner as to bring
them alt to bear upon the British left and centre.—lnvariably
as each advanced, independently of the resistance it met with
ie
the front, it was taken on each flank by the fire of corps ad-
vanccd for that purpose, by a small change in their position; by
whiell means they lost a surprising number of men before they
cool', put it to the issue of the bayonet, In no case did the
French come to the resort of this latter weapou,.that they were
not instantly broken, not standing its push au instant.
The adVance of the enemy to the attack was impetuous, awl
even furious. As they approached. they saluted the English
with every oppruhrions rpithet in which their language is so
eminently fertile. While, on the contrary, the latter, in deri-
sion, cheered them as they approached. Their dress was sin-
gular: it was blue, with white facings; over the whole of
which was worts a white woollen surtout, somewhat like a
waggoner's smock frock; their caps square, like those of the
w !Watts; and goat skin knapsacks. Their musquetry was
roughout formidable, particularly that of two Swh.s regiment,:
in their service, who behaved most gallantly. Their Voltigeurs
were, upon the syhole, good; but far inferior in activity and
real service to the English riflemen. The proportion of forces
in the field was greatly in favour of the English, but not so of
those who were actually engaged. In short, the battle of Vi-
micra was decided by superior Generalship in the Leader, and
superior bravery in the soldier—every manceuvre was practised
in it which could arise out of the combined and various move-
ments of attack and defence—repeated change of position occur-
red on both sides. and the palm of victory was at length the,
prize of him who best deserved to wear it, after a long and ar-
duous contest of nearly four hours.
Respecting the Fiend' Generals engaged on that day, a few
words may not he uninteresting. Of the personal conduct of
J uno t, who commanded at the battle of Vimiera, little is known.
His captured Officers, and even those of high rank, spoke very
slightly, and even of reprobation, of his manoeuvres during the
action. General Loison is as little spoken of ; he has, howeyt..r,
the reputation of being an able man. General Laborde d in-
guished himself at Roleia on the 17th, when the mountain pa-
were so ably contested with the Ettglish. His reputation is that
of an experienced Officer, but he bears a most ferocious charac-
ter. General Breniere was also distinguished at the atrair.of
Roleia. He thrice led the attack which proved so destrucuie
to the 9th and 29th regiments of foot. and thus covered tliefitr:;-,
treat of Laborde with the main body of the army, and

The Battle of Virisiera will be an
ry. It is one of those decisive occur
minute a campaign, and annihilate ti
thatquarter, but produce a decided
quest operations of the victors. In I
blattee to the battles of Marengo,
changed completely the character
who had been for so many ) ears in
and devastation into the states of thei
their armies at their ex pence, will
cosily of defending their own frontie
The account transmitted by Sir A
so judicious, that it would be presum
The village of V imiera stands in
the river Maceira ; at the back,
NOthward of this village, is a um
which touches the sea, and the east
ra int from the heights. o‘er whirl'
fr Lourinha and the Northward.
of the infantry, the Ist, Yd, 3d
w posted on this mountain, wit'
M Gen. Hill's brigade being on
's on the left, having one bat
laird from the mountain. On the
town is a bill which is entirely
its right, by the mountain to the
coplamading all the ground in the t
ward tied Eastward, on which Brig,
hl4 riflemen, and the 30th regiment
with his brigade, with half a brigt
a brigade of nine-ponaders. The
the read from Lourinha commaadei
The cavalry and the reserve of a
between the hills on which the it
sail supporting Brigadier-General 1
The enemy first appeared at eigt
lat bodiesof cavalry on our left I
to; arinha; mad it was soon obvii
made upon our advanced guard, as
and Major-General Ferguson's bell
across the Ravine to the heights, of
throe pieces of cannon t he was fol
CIOMM Nightingale with his briga
anit brigadier-General Ackland
diprrGesteral Bowes with his hi
fottaed (Major-General Ferguson'
Bitgadier-General Nightingale's in
General Bowes's and Ackland's, in
heights, with their right upon the
miens ; and their left upon the of
these heights from the range w hi<
plate at Macceira. On these last
tugaese troops which had been ii
were posted in the first instance,
Brigadier-General Craufurd's brig
The enemy's attack began in sev
of the troops on this height ; on tin