The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-08 00:00:00

/ 7ti'‹
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, 1 `-‘k. 14.
village of Aflattera, a artnt y r dina
ruins. Neaethis sir* &timid,"
.1104.3'
‘tir i
The enemy, llowever, /lordly . eineasaag this
point, crossed the Hirer about a:tnile higher up,
where its course was nearly at tight angles with
'hat which it subsequently took .in front of our :is
By this movement, movement, our right flank,
was kii„completely ..
open to Wile., a,.
1, - -d instantly 4414.- ' e the,
' s
Spaniards from the heights' they' occupie•—...,,, ..
ICo'ansistirstg of llialo? § army?
shal Soult drew up his army iri a comman. ..,
position, which completely raked the
line ,of the
Allies. Thus an immediate change of front, On
our part, became necessary ; and the 'ob;act to
which our efforts were directed, of court a, was
to dislodge the enemy from the very nnportant
heights of which he had already gainefl posses-
sion. In truth, on the success of these efforts
depended the whole issue of the battle ; for, if
the French succeeded in maintaining their posi-
tion,
ours became untenable, and no resource
was left hut a retreat, which, situated as we then
were, could not fail to be both disgraceful and
calamitous. Such were the circumstances in
which both armies stood, when the order, which
I have already mentioned, arrived for our bri-
gade to march instantly to attack the enemy on
the heights he occupied. The morning, which
had been overcast, " and heavily with clouds
brought on the day," had now changed to
one of storm and rain, so heavy, that less
than forty days of it would have sufficed for
a second deluge ; and it was with every part of
our apparel perfectly saturated with water that we
. commenced our movement. The enemy SOOll
opened on us a tremendous the of artillery,
which did considerable executionin the column,
and dashed the earth in our faces as we advanced-
One cannon ball struck close to my foot, and
bounding onwards with terrific velocity, passed.
through the body of the officer commencing the
company immediately in rear of my own, and.
killed two soldiers in its further progress. As
we approached the spot where the courage of
• both armies was about to be tested, a sight of
the most dispiriting description presented itself,
at some distance on our right. The first brigade,
in the act of forming line, was charged by a large
body of Polish lancers, and thus taken at a dis-
advantage, were thrown into disorder, which it
• was found impossible to retrieve. By this at-
tack, nearly the whole of the Buffs, and second.
battalion of the forty-eighth, were made prisoners.
We had reached the bottom of the heights, which
we were about to ascend, and for that purpose
were deploying, by an echelon march, from
column into line, when Sir William Stewart, the
Heavily rose the sun on the eventful morning second in command, rode up to us at full speed.
of the 16th of May, 1811. Dark volumes 0, His appearance arrested my attention. The day,
already said, was cold and wet, but the
clouds obscured his disc, and his rays lost more as I have
perspiration stood it large drops on his forehead,
than half their brightness in penetrating the dense
and ran
masses of vapour which on all sides overspread down his cheeks. He was always a
man of martial appearance, but at that moment
the horizon. We were under arms two hours particularly so. There was strong agitation
before day-dawn, and thousands of eyes, which visible in his countenance and manner, but there
that morning watched his rising, were destined was a striking expression of high courage in his
never to see him set. The morning, though eye, and as he spoke, his utterance was quicker,
still and dark, was not misty ; objects, even at a and his voice more animated, than I had ever
heard it. He addressed us as follows : " Men
considerable distance, were distinctly visible ;
of the third brigade, you are about to fight for
there was not wind to stir a leaf upon the smal- the honour of your country, and lam not afraid
lest spray, and the scene before us, though to tell you, that the fate of this army is in your
'gloomy, was peaceful. It was seven o'clock be- hands. I have committed a great and unfortu-
fore we ret urned to our tents, and at that time nate error with the first brigade, but I am sure
no enemy was visible. Two of my brother- you will repair all. You will crown the height,
and then charge the enemy with the bayonet. Go
officers that morning shared my breakfast ; and
on, my brave fellows, and may
of the whole party, including the three servants. God bless you f"
0
To this inspiriting address the men answered by a
,who ministered to our wants, I was, in the course loud and hearty cheer ; and General Houghton,
of two hours, the only individual alive. While waving his hat, led the way up the side of the
we were at breakfast, a few shots were fired by hill. On reaching its summit, we were instantly
our artillery, which did not at all influence oui assailed by a dreadful fire both of musketry and
meal ; but that concluded, my curiosity led me artillery, and the men fell thickly
in the ranks.
For a moment, the line first wavered, and then
to advance a considerable distance in front of the recoiled for a pace or two ; but General Hough
line, to observe the motions of the enemy, who ton, again waving his hat, spurred on to the
were reported to be fast approaching. The re- front, and we advanced once more, in double
port was correct. Their advancing masses cover- quick, to the charge. The other regiments of
ed the road for several miles, and their cavalry, the brigade being in rear, had not yet taken up
formed in column of squadrons on the plain, had their position in the line, and we enjoyed the
honour of leading them into action. As we ad-
already menaced an attack on the bridge of Al-
vaneed, I remember passing Marshal Beresford
buera. Fast as their infantry came up, they an the height. He was on foot, with no staff
halted in column on either side of the road, near him, and in a situation of extreme exposure;
without indicating, by any demonstration, what his look and air were those of a man perplexed
part of our position was about to become the and bewildered. Our intention of charging the
chief object of attack. I spent about half an
enemy was unfortunately defeated by the inter-
hour—it might be more--in thus
_oaratifying my vention of a small ravine, on the opposite bank
curiosity ; and when I returned, the tents of which the French were stationed, and were
were struck, the baggage sent to the rear, enabled, by the acclivity on which they stood, to
and the whole army drawn up in line of battle. ire on us eight deep. It was on the edge of
The pain I felt at this sight was excru- this ravine that we halted, and opened our fire.
,
ciating. To have been absent from my post at The carnage in our ranks was dreadful. General
such a moment, when the sound of the artillery, Houghton had been killed in the advancs , and
which had already opened. on the- advancing hullets flew like hailstones. I saw my (.:ands
enemy, showed that the battle had even now and brother-officers fall around me, an:a it seeie7d.
begun, was to incur the possibility of an impute- as if I bore a charmed life, and that I glop,
tion which I could brook no lips to utter. I moved secure and scathlesa amid the surround-
ran madly to the rear, and found, with some dif- ing havoc. Such had been our situation for
ficulty, tha place where my tent had stood. I some time, when the Serjeant-rnajor came to in-
was in dishabille, and it was necessary, ca such Form me, that die command of the regiment had
an occasion, to appear in uniform. My coat, devolved on true, all the officers senior in rank
hat, and sash, had been left on the ground ; but having been killed •or wounded. .In the rear I
in the hurry, my sword had been removed with
found the horse of the Adjutant, who had been
the baggage. 1 changed my dress as speedily as killed, and mounting him, I rode along the ranks,
possible, casting from me those I wore, for
and saw that I had indeed succeeded to a melan-
plunder either to our own soldiers or those of choly command. We had taken upwards of 700
the enemy, and having supplied the place of my men into action, of whom not a third remained;
own sword by that of a sergeant, I joined my and it was evident, if we continued much longer
regiment. My old enemy, Colonel Penleaze, in our present situation, few even of those could
ammunition,had
t' e
received
eialmost
n
. was not displeased, on the present occasion, to expect to escape the fate of their companions.
have an opportunity of venting his long sup-
situation,
front,
anbdri
The firing, which had somewhat slackened on
pressed resentment. " How does it happen, the part of the enemy, had, from the exhaustion
Captain Thornton," he exclaimed, in front o,
of
we
. the battalion, " that when the regiment has, fog yet
the last half hour, been instantly expecting to beorders to c e
ra: t ierde. on
I n ours,
this
instantlygade of aroptiellneeryd.
twheaisr afidrov.ancletdwatos
called into action, you were absent from your
_the
company ?" I was proceeding to answer this - charged by the French cavalry, and we had the
question, but he interrupted me. " Make tic • mortification to observe the artillerymen driven
reply, Sir, for your conduct admits of no excuse. from their posts, and the guns remain in posses-
. Nothing cam justify your absence from your duty sion of the enemy. The regiment 103 already
at a moment like the present. Had you been a - retiring when this unfortunate event took Place ;
-.. •
• minute later, Sir, I should have sent you to the• ' I
but even destitute as we were of ammunition,
rear in arrest ; and, as it is, I may yet possibly . determined to make ad effort to recover the guns,
think it proper to report your conduct to the thus disgracefully
. General." My blood boiled in my veins as he bayonet. Once more we faced the enemy; and
. spoke, and had death been the consequence, I calling on the small remains of the regiment to
',must have answered. "Colonel Penleaze, lam fll
o °wale, I led the charge, trampling, as we ad-
-I.ready to account for my conduct anywhere, or in ' vanced, on the bodies of our dead and dying
any manner, and shall repel, as becomes me, a companions. The charge was successful. The
; either in public or private, whatever charge you, or enemy was driven back, and the guns were once
'', any man, shall dare to make, affecting my honour." ' more in our possession. The fusileer brigade
Just at that moment, a heavy firing commenced was seen at that moment advancing to our sup-
'' on our right, and the Adjutant-General rode up port, and every thing seemed to indicate a happy
- with orders for our brigade instantly to advance- In I. termination of the contest. Before the al
=lv ,
order to render the subsequent account of this '' however, of this seasonable f re' in orcement, we
to me the most eventful and memorable battle ; were charged ',.by the Polish 'Lancers, who had
more clear and intelligible, I shall here take';. execution already done so much in the co"
e leave to say something of the relative situation of :mencement of the action, supported. by a heavy
the hostile armies. Our position was a chain of :column of infantry. Atthis '• e
moment I received'
eminences, along the front of which flowed the a shot in the body, but *
did not fall from my -•
',river Albuera, a shallow stream, and in many. horse. I was el. imme lately prrOunded by the,
ilplaces fordable. Through the centre of it ran ',lancers, and remember rec.& ii i a dreadful lll sabre-
the road to Badajoz and Valverde, crossing the scut on the face, and a pistols‘hot in the left arm.
'river by a bridge, which Beresford evidently ex-II fell to the
.ground, and of what, passed after-
,
pected would have been the main object of the ,wards, my memory •
' ' H.
gives inc no snteistgence.—a
ieneeny s attack. To the left of the road Jay thctiCyri/ Thornton. ,

that all doubts of his honour might be lulled. He
even went so far as to give a written promise, and
shortly afterwards accomplished his base design;
after which, all mention of marriage ceased, and no
attempt Vt, a s -made to make her any reparation. The
plaintiff, however unwillingly, was forced to put her
daughter in the box, and to make her the historian
of her own misery and disgrace. It might be said
that the written promise of marriage, as it would form
,the subject of another action, could not be insisted
on ; hut he should use it to show the means by
which the defendant was enabled to accomplish his
purpose.
Elizabeth Machin, examined by Mr. ALDERToN.
—Was 24. in July last. She always lived with her
mother, who lived on her means. Her father was
a butcher. She was entitled on her mother's death
to 2801. They live in Halifax. The defendant is
28 ; he is in good circumstances, and keeps two
hunting horses. He became acquainted with me in
June, 1825; he came to my mother's house, and
asked to be allowed to pay his addresses to me ; he is
a good-looking man ; I alloWed his addresses by con-
sent of my mother; he paid Me Visits, and I occa-
sionally walked out with him. I was willing to
marry him, and my mother was willing I shonld.—
He gave me a written promise of marriages my
mother saw it. He continued his visits afterwards
with my mother's approbation. I after that con-
sented to gratify his passion. I had a child by him.,
On the 4th of November last, I walked out with
him, when he used me very ill. I was taken ill
when I came home, .and was brought to bed on the
Tuesday following, two days afterwards. Whea
II
found myself with child, I pressed him to marry me,
and he renewed his promise. During his courtship,l
he deposited with me, on one occasion, between twcH
and three thousand pounds, which I returned to him.
Mr. Wthra.k3is tross-examined the witness, and
proved that. her sister, who was married, was delifi
vered of a child within six months after her marriage.
Mr. WILLIAMS addressed the Jury in mitigation,
dwelling forcibly on this circumstance, which, he
contended, called upon the plaintiff to use greater.
vigilance with respect to this daughter, and took
away from her all claim of damages.
The Jury gave a verdict for 3001.

THE BATTLE OF ALBUERA.