The Sun.
London, England, 1809-08-22 00:00:00

BATTLE OF TALAPERA.

For the following very interesting account of this
memorable achievement of British 'valour and disci_
pline we are indebted to an Officer who was a prin-
cipal ailor in the glorious scene.

On the 25th the French army had retired in every
direetion. On the 26th they faced about, and at-
tacked the-vanguard of the Spanish army. On the
.evening of the 26th they were skirmishing with the
advanced posts of the British. On the morning of
the 27th they advanced in strong columns on the
road to Talavera. General Sherbrooke commanded
the advance at Casas Leguas. The advance consist-
ed of General Sherbrooke's division, General
Mackenzie's ditto, and General Anson's Cavalry.
General Sherbrooke drew out his force on the high
ground above that town, Casas Leguas,) with a
-view to give them battle, and check their advance.
He received an order from Sir Arthur Wellesley to
retire, and take post about two miles in the rear.
He did so, covering his retreat with the Brigade of
Light Cavalry, Colonel Dorkin's Brigade of Infan-
try, and the Sharp Shooters. This was executed in
the most masterly manner.

After taking up' his position, perceiving the Bri-
tish army was not advancing to support him, (for it
was lying encamped at six miles distance,) he de-
termined to retire further behind the river Alberche.

The Cavalry, in toto, passed over the river to sup-
por. Anson's Brigade, and cover the-retreat of the
division of infantry.

The enemy continued to advance. The British
continued to retire, and crossed the river at two dif-
ferent fords. The enemy passed rapidly forwards,
and followed close. General Mackenzie's division,
posted in a wood on the back of the river, was at-
tacked, and a desperate action ensued—our brave
fellows were compelled to give way to numbers.—
They retired to a pldin, where the other troops en-
deavoured tb cover and support them. The enemy's
artillery adi anc.ng rapidly, compelled the whole to
retreat. This being ettetied, the enemy followed
rapidly to the town, in front of which the Spaniards
were placed—they gave way.
Part of the enemy entered the town, pell-mell,
with the Spaniards, baggage, Ste.

It was getting dusk. The retreat of the baggage,

&c. through close vineyards and olive-grounds was
confused and horrible. At this moment the enemy

commenced a furious attack on the left. Ti:: left
was posted oil a very h‘gh hi►l, in a ,line with the
town of Talavera. Between these two points our

es.'ende,t.

'l'u..; attAck was more forious than ihe oldest soh
die! e. er re oembered ; tor a moment it suceet ded
Ho,ever the exertion and gallantry of every indivi-
dual in. ti•,e position., succeeded in repulsing the
enemy. They lett the peak of the hill covered with
their slain. . .

The eight came on, and the firing ceased. A
most tearful night was passed by the British under
arils. Our outposts driven in—the enemy at the
point of our hayonets7—almost within our position,
welt acqudinted with every inch of the ground—the
town of Talat era, on our right, in his possession, as
xte believed, though afterwards we found he had

left it in the night. ' '
There was a valley on our left, under the high
hill of our position, beyond its heights, alternately in
possession of ours and ,the 'enemy's riflemen.
Day-break at length appeared. Five minutes after a
tremendous fire of cannon and musketry succeeded,
and continued without intermission. - It ceased, and
immediately came an order for the Cavalry to advance
along the valley, to charge the scattered columns of
the enemy who had been repulsed. This was im-
mediately attempted, but the enemy had got off.
Our lois in these two attacks was so great,
that we could do no more than maintain our
position, which the providence of Almighty God had

left in our possession.
About three in the afternoon the enemy again.ad-~
vanced to the attack--he brought (Omar* his'whole
force. He was determined to storm the glorious,
height which had successfully defied his attempt.—
He passed three strong columns into the entrance of
the valley which flanked our ,position. He advanced
to the hill, and upon the centre, with enormous
masses of men. All was still, except the enem)'s
guns in the valley, and a few of ours upon the hill.
The whole army remained in the most awful sus-
pense. The enemy advanced with unparalleled
steadiness. At this most tremendous moment an
order arrived for Anson's brigade to advance, and
charge the solid columns of the enemy. The order
was promptly obeyed. The brigade moved forward
in sight of both armies, in the finest order ! Gene-
rals Payne, Anson, and' their Staff, were at their
head. Loud shouts from both armies rent the air !

When the charge was sounded, Done- but tho,e
who were present can conceive the interest of ,this
scene ! Tremendous vollies of cannon ,and mus;-
ketry were poured among our ranks. A deep un-
seen ditch crOssed bur front, into which ntunbers.of

men and horses, who ha I not fed for two dts)-4, f
Nothing.could daunt the transcendent valour of our
brave 23d. They passed all obstacles! rode noLly
up—made a most desperate charge at a solid square,

and double close coluain of infantry, and u•as almost
annihilated; except a very few, whom the Almighty
permitted to return, all gloriously fell 75r were taken,

The heavy brigade advanced to the support of their
brave comrades, and assisted in bringing off the rem-
nant of this gallant regiment, who, upon mustering
them, appeared only to amount to 1 19 men and
horses. Such was the glorious conduti of the 23d
Dragoons ! the British army which witnessed its ex-
ploits, will ever bear testimony of its glory ! and
history will record the achievement in the brightest
page of the annals of the English army !
Though this noble charge failed in breaking the
enemy's columns, it produced this advantageous ef-,
fea, that seeing himself attacked and threatened by
a large body of Cavalry on his left, and experimentally
feeling what sort of stuff that Cavally was composed
of, he was afraid to form his line, so that the
heights which were now covered with dead, dying,
wounded, and completely worn out troops, 1A- ere
left untouched, and the enemy confined his attack to
the centre, where they were vigorously repulsed,
and after cannonading us for some time, they
retired as completely beaten as ever was a French
army in the world, leaving in our possession the field
of battle, 13 pieces of cannon (8 having been taken
the preceding night), some eagles, and all his dead and
wounded, he' retired 'in the night behind the Al•
—berche, over which he will neter again pass ! ! !

FARMING SOCIETY.

CORK,' AUG. 9.—The Autumn General Plough,.
ing Match of the Farming Society, County Cork,
was held on Monday last, at a held of Mr. Jeffries,
Blarney, at 'which seven Ploughs started, and pre- ,
miums were adjudged as follow :----
Class4..—.To the hest Ploughman of any County, lohrl
Griffin, ploughman to 1-1 St. Leger, 3 guineas.
Class 2.—TO ditto; ditto, a native of the county of Cork.
Denis Regan, 3 guineas.
ClasS 3.—To ditto, diro. apprentice, John Sullivan, aP'
prentice to Edward Br; tie, W. W.
3 guineas '
Michael Coleman, ploughman to Mr. Connor; lief.
ferrnan, ditto to Mr. kttettes; 1).6o. I).t,te, ditto to Dr.
Bennet ; Bradiey, ditto to Mr. ?Jorcutt, were Adjudged
one guinea anda hat each.

The Judges regretted that there was no con-Teti-.
tion in Class ts[ an:! ihree of the candid,ites
Hvinl entered ,or t' e County of Cork Pieiniorns;
and two not complying with the 0*
watch.

Judges of the Ploughing, • RICHARD WEBB•,
kNILLIAM MAULE.
Toe field was attended by the INlArquis of Tho'
mond, and several in,ra;bers'of the society, who, to'
gether with itti immense concourie Of people,
much gratified at the pfugrcs,i►e state of unprovel. •
went width thus county exhiOited.
When the match 'was finished., the Gentlemen -
present partook of- a cold collation at Blarney Castle,
prepared by its hospitable owner, Mr: Jeffries.
the evening the S..t.iety dined together at the Btril
Tat ern, when the following toasts were drunk
The King."
" The British Empire, and may its splendour be e.y:al tv
the Sun, and its 'ounclaries to the Ocean."
•6 The Duke of Bedford, and tne Agricultural Societies of
Englana."
rhe Lord Lieutenant, and prosperity to Ireland."
" Mr. Foster, and the Farming Society of lreland."
" The Tillage Fields of Ireland."
" The Earl of Shannon."
" The Cork Institution."
" The ['tough, the Fleece, and the Pail."
" Lord Carberry."
" The occupant Farmers of the County Cork."
" Our absent Members that would be With us if 00,
could."
" The Plough and SaiL "
" I ee. ing in all its branches," &c.
Several Noblemen and Gentlemen of the 6ro
respectability attendee the meeting, at which mail
agricultural subjects were discussed—and the con'
viviality of the evening wa.. much enlivened by se"
verai catches and glees.—The company did not se,"
parate until a late hour,

Cuxhaven is at present occupied by the Danes.
There was no .Cutut of Aldermen to-day, the
LORD MAYOR, after • inipeding, the returns of the
Baker's Company and Bilealweighers, ordered it 10
continue at present prices.
. .
6 • EXTRAORDiNARYDUTCH-PINMATCH.--OnTburs'
day last was played, at the ley-house, Huston, be-.
tween Mr. MP RPEL Mr..l..HicgLEv, for IC°
guineas, I use rubber, ; lk-gan at ter, jr' 111‘'
—tridtbing,-arid ended at ten-at night ; Mt.; i`JuttFo
was the winner by twelve rubbers. ' The. contest W
viewed by a numerous body of spectators who bette".
on the occasion.
Peckham Fair Opened with a great stock yesterdaP
but the Weather was not by any means inviting."'
The nimble-fingered getvlemen were very exPerf;
and one decent man was roobed of gl. at an cal,l
honr,iiiidepetident of the smiller ones.
Ex"
ectrrioN.;--..eeAterd,ry morning, at the tl,--31
hour, the, awful sentence of the law_was put, in ex-e
cation, at the New Gaol, Horsemonger-lane, on the
person of George Donohough;who was convided,
the late Croydon Assiies, of a rape on the body ot 3
child named Susan-Rich, only ten years of age. NVoev
the unfortunate wretch ascended the fatal plattorrP:
a murmur of disgust burst from the finaiense crovo-'‘,
of spectators below, expressive, as it should scent,'" •
their, abhorrence of the crime for which he was-
.about to suthr. A clergyman of the Burnish Churchc;
attended the culprit, and he a7peared_to be wraPPe,
in unaffected del Unon. He rerna ned in fervent praYel
for about ten minutes, when. the„signal being' given;
he was launched into eternity. 'The body 106'4*
been left • for about an hour in suspension, was (1°1`:
vered deer to hi, 1, lends tor interment. • The peer`'
liar atrocity of the 'miserable wretdi's off-erne e",
cited no-visible pity in the popuiac'. ..He was a
tive of Ireland,- aged about 41, and by trade a Vic
lay et's labourer. .