Star.
London, England, 1809-08-23 00:00:00

•AI7"LE OPTALAVERA

on both sides. It being ten o'clock, he desistee from
any further attack during the night. •
" At twelve o'clock a sudden and brisk fire corn'.
menced through the advanced Spanish line, thotieh
no enemy appeared, which, after a few rounds, fled
in disorder, apparently dismayed at its own fire; the
second line advanced and took its place. The enen 7'
commenced his attack on oue left at five o'cleck in de
morning, and shortly after two tumbrils blew up vt i:h
a tremendous explosion, and we perceived many in. n
and horses blown up ; being unsuccessful, he then
attacked our centre and right, but did not gain an
inch of ground. Sebastiani having arrived, at ore
o'cloAc, wi:h a reinforcement of 12,000 men, and
formed his columns of attack, covered by the wood c f
olives in our front, again attacked our front and right
with the same persever;ng fury, and almost obtained
possession of a battery on our right, which sir Arthur
had ordered to be constructed the day before, and
succeeded in throwing our line into considerable con.
fusion ; but the 48th advanced in line, and supported
the broken line till it rallied and formed again, when
the enemy again retired, and our light dragoons and
some Spanish horse advanced to charge-; but the 25d
Light Dragoons having made an injudicious charge
on our left, on a solid square, and serve cavalry posted
behind a house, with a ravine and deep ditch in their
front, were either cut to pieces or taken. The enemy
then, it being about half-past eight o'clock, concluded
the niglit's entertainment, and masked his retreat
with a tremendous and almost insupportable fire of
grape-shot, and shells, which did great execution, and
rendered our situation very unpleasant. Had Cuesta
allowed the Spanish army (totally unengaged, ex-
cept some cavalry and three regiments of cassadores,
which behaved well) to make a movement to the
right, the enemy, in his retreat, would have lost a
considerable number of guns and men ; but he (Cuesta)
throws every obstacle in our way. More than twenty
j thousand of his army have dispersed, but some are
returning. The enemy's force was from 50,000 to
155,000, including 9000 fine cavalry, which did not
act, and 80 pieces of well-served artillery, from which
we sustained our chief loss. He acknowledges to have
lost 6000 ; but having been on duty, in removing the
wounded and dead, I am confident it cannot be less
j than between 11,000 and 12,000. I visited the dif.
ferent positions yesterday, and, though strung regi.
mental parties have been constantly employed in
removing the wounded and dead, the ground is still
covered with them, and the air we breathe is strongly.
tainted. Our victory has cost us 4,500 ; but, when
our country will know that we had not more than
22.000 men, including 4000 cavalry., and thirty pie.
ces of artillery (many of which light threi-pound-
ers), exclusive of the Spanish artillery, which
scarcely gave us any assistance ; that we are in
possession of 19 pieces of the enemy's, and 600
prisoners; I hope it will do us the justice to believe,
that, as patriots and soldiers, we have done our duty,
especially when it is considered, that, during the two
days tig'iting, the men had not received any bread Or
meat, nor can we procure more then one day's provi.
sion at a time—y.:sterday we had oats served out to
us. Mane regiments have no more than i5O men and
eight or nine officers left. Sir Arthur's horse was shot
under him. Generals Mackenzie and Langwerth
killed, and many Officers of the Staff t Generals Hill
and two Campbells, wounded ; and it is reported that
both Victor and Sebastiani are killed, and many
French General Officers.

The following paniculars of the battle of Talavera
are extracted from a letter from an Officer who had
a principal share in that glorious xchievemmt :
" Day•break at length appeared. Five minutes
after, a tremendous fire of cannon and muske:sy-suc-
ceeded, and continued without intermission. It ceas-
ed, 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 immediately attempted, but tie enemy had got
off.—Otir loss in these two attacks was so guru that
we could do no more than maintain our position,
which the providence of ALsnauTv GOD had left in
our possession.
•' About three in the afternoon, the enemy again
advanced to the attack—lie brought forward his whole
force. He was determined t 6 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 en,,rmous masses
of men. All was still, except the enemy's guns in
the valley, and a few of ours upon the hill.
u The whole army rem.tined in the most awful sus-
pense. The enemy advanced with grcat s!eadiness.
At this most tremenduous 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 ! Generals Payne,
Anson, and their Staff, were at their head. Loud
shouts from both armies rent the air !

44 When the charge was sounded, none but those
who were present can conceive the interest of this
scene ! Tremendous vollies of cannon and musketry
were poured among our ranks. A deep unseen ditch
crossed our front, into which numbers of men and
horses, who had not fed for two days, fell.
44 Nothing could daunt the transcendant valour of
our brave 2:3d. They passed all obstacles ! rode no-
bly up—made a most desperate charge at a solid
square and double close column of infantry • and was
almost annihilated ; except a few, whom the Almighty
permitted to return, all gloriously fell or 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 119 men and horses.
Such was the glorious conduct of the 23d dragoons !
The British army which witnessed its exploits will
ever bear testimony of its glory ! and history will re-
cord the atchievement in the brightest page of the
annals of the English army !
" Though this noble eletrge failed in breaking the
enemy's columns, it produced this advantageous ef-
fect, that seeing himself attacked an-1 threatened
by a large body of cavalry on his left, and experi-
mentally feeling what sort of stuff that cavalry was
composed of, he was afraid to form his line, s.) chat
the heights which were now covered with dead, dy-
ing, wounded, and completely worn out troops, were
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 b•-tttle,
19 pieces of cannon (eight having been taken the
preceding night), some eagles, and all his dead and
wounded ; he retired in the night behinl the Alber-
die, over which he will never pass again!"

,‘ The French are again advancing, and we are
ordered to pack up our baggage, and be ready at a
moment's warning The Spaniards are retreating as
before, but the light brigade has since arrived from
Portugal, and is in advance with Sir Robert Wilson's
legion, which will make us stronger than before the '
action, and we expect seven second battalions
from Portugal ; and it is reported that General Be-
resford, with 20,000 Portuguese, had reached Sala-
naanca, so that our British hearts do not fail us."

Extract of a Letter from a Captain of his M.jcsty's 711 t Regiment
of Foot, dated from the Camp, on the Held of Baltic, near
Talavera de la Reyna, 30th July, ]SO9.

44 Sir Arthur Wellesley effected a junctioa with
Cuesta's army, consisting of 53,000. including 40
pieces of fine artillery, and 8,000 well appointed
cavalry, at Crapesa, on the 20th, and on the following
day proceeded to Talavera, which the enemy aban-
doned with little opposition, and withdrew to a strong
position, about a league from it, on the heights on the
other side of the Tagus. Sir Arthur having recon-
noitred his position, proposed to Cuesta to attack him
without delay, before he could receive his reinforce-1 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD IWOLGRAVE,
ments, which Cuesta declined, stating his wish that
FIRST LORD COMMISSIONER OF THE ADMIRALTY.
the army of Venegas, styled the army of La Mancha,
My Loao—lt has been observed, with much re-
might be sufficiently forward to attack the enemy at
the same time, on the side of Toledo, expressing his I gret,
opinion, that his own troops alone were adequate to the Iby every one perusing the late Gazette Extra-
task of defeating the enemy, and that we should act as ordinary, respecting the surrender of Flushing, that
. no notice whatever has been taken of the services of
the reserve. We, however, marched from our camp on
the morning of the 24th, before day-break, to give ; the Royal Marines, either by Sir RICHARD STRACHAN
the enemy battle, but, on arriving in sight of his po. cularly of the Royal Marine Artillery, who were so
or any of. the Naval Commander; ; and more parti-
' sition, perceived his rear division at a great distance.
l
I conspicuously employed, and who contributed to the
On account of not having our provisions, not even t reduction of that garrison.
the day's rations served out, we were obliged to I Captain COCKBURN in his letter of the 17th August,
return to our former ground, the enemy being speaks very handsomely of the .conduct of the Corn-
closely followed up by the Spanish army. Early'oz the . manders of the bomb vessels, in placing them in such
morning of the 27th, a loud cannonading was heard, ! situations, as to act with the greatest effect ; but he
and we were soon apprised, by the precipitate and dis- ' should not in common justice have omitted to observe
orderly appearance of the Spanish army, that the i that the precision in throwing the shells, was to be
French, having received a re4orcement of 12,000, t attributed -to the judgment and skill of the Officers
had resumed the offensive, on hearing of our not being ! and men of the Royal Marine Artillery, who have
in the advance ; had taken from them three pieces of the sole charge and direction of the mortars on board
cannon, and were rapidly advancing. At five o'clock . those vessels.
the drum beat to arms, and the men were obliged to i Owing to the judicious conduct of the detachment
abandon their provisions, half co:Aced (as were also the
of Royal Marine Artillery in throwing the shells from
officers) ; at seven o'clock, the enemy having moved the ETNA bomb in Basque Roads, Capt. Goorasvo
forward his numerous and heavy columns to it range
,commanding that ship, was made a Post Captain,
of hills on our left, and completely concealed by an though no credit was given to the Officer or Detach-
extensive wood of olives in our front, with his left
extended to the Taus, commenced tile battle by a meat of the Royal Marine Artillery serving in that
ship. .
furious and unremitting fire (from a battery supported t In the attack upon Flushing, the same officer and
by several lines of infantry and an innumerable train cl,.tachinent had the direction of the mortar on board
of artillery) on our left flank, with the view of pos-
sessing himself of an eminence, and thereby turning it : the ETNA, from which the shells were said to be -
thrown with such precision ; in justice to them, as
and getting into our rear, but wasrepulsed with a dread-
ful carnage, notwithstanding the galling fire we had well as every other detachment employed in the bomb.
vessels on that service, this circumstance ought to be
to sustain from his mortars and eight-pounders, which made known to the Public.
mowed us down by sections. Foiled on the left, he , __
then attacked our centre and right with the same im- : upon every occasion previous to the establiala t
petuosity and obstinacy ; but was received by our of the Royal Marine Artillery, when detachments of
troops, and repulsed, with the same cool and deter- ._
-vessethe Royal Regiment of Artillery served on board the
omb s l , their services were always particularly
mined resolution (they have not forgiven them their . D
long marches in Portugal, Ste.) On their approach, mentioned ; the present slight must therefore be se.
I
the front Spanish line, though supported by a strong , vere y felt, and depress the spirit of every gallant
battery, gave way, and fled with dismay ; but the se_ rung officer in the corps: and it is a heart-breaking
cond line advanced, and occupied its place. The. 1 circumstance, that when the services of every corps
enemy having again formed his columns, renewed
are extolled.
for their gallantry, that those of the
the attack on our left, with unabated fury and pers-- . Royal Marines (which are as essential to the country
verance, endeavouring to drive us from the eminence ; as those of any other corps) should be totally omitted ;
commanding our position, which, for a few minutes, ! and they look to your Lordship to have justice done
he effected, but was driven from it with the bayonet toe° uponthis occasion.
by General Stewart's brigade, with dreadful slaughter T I have the honour to be,:ite.

ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY.

A. Z.