The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-10-21

mc,ately moved across the ra,ne 10 the l,.iui,; S
o. tbs road to Lourinha, Will, pieces of Cannon
he was followed SUCCESSFULLY bv brigsd;er gen
Nightingale with his brigade and pieces ofcan-
noni brig gen Ackland with his brigade, & brig.
gen. Bowes with his brigade. These troops wcre
formed (majC gen. Fergusoa's brigade being il.
the hrst ltne brig gen. Nightingsle's in the Sc
cond; and brig gen. Bowes and Ackiantl's in Co
'umns ON rear) on those heights, wit, their RICH,
upon the valley which leads into vimicra and
tieir left upon the other ravinc which sep rate,
these heights from the range which terminates a
the landing place &, Maceira On these las,
mentioned heights, the Portuguese troops, which
had ocen IN the bottom near Vintera, wei C post
| ell IN the first instance and they were supper
ted by brig gen. Craufurd's brigade.
| Inc troops ottie advanced guard on the height
to the southwark and eastward of the town wer.
deemed sufficient for its defence, and mai. gen.
Hill was moved to the centre of tine mountain ON
which the great body of the infantry had been
posted, as support to these troops and reserve
to the whole army. In addition to this support
these troops had that Of the cavalry in the rear
oil their right The enerny's attack began in Sc
ven columns upon the whole ofths troops on this
height ION the left they advanced, notwithstand-
my the lire OF the riiemen, close to the 5Oth re-
giment, and were checked and driven back only
by the bayonets of that corps. The I'd battalion
ana 4Sd regiment were likewise closely engaged
with them III the road which leads to Vi,niera
4
church yard to prevent them from penetrating in
| To the town. On the right of the position the
were repulsed by the bayonets of the o7 IN r,.,-i
nent, winch corps successfully supported by the
"a battalion OF the SD regiment, which by an adj
vance IN column, took the enemy in flank Be-
size TINS opposition given TO the attack Of the en-
envy on our advanced guard by their own EXERT
| ons, they were attacked in flank by brig pen
Ackland's brigade i'll its advance to its position
on the heights ON the left, and cannonade was
Kept upon the flank of tie enemy's columns by the
| aruuery on those heights
| At length, after a most desperate contest tho
enemy was driven back in confusion from this at
tack with the loss Of seven pieces of cannon ma
IHy prisoners, and; great number of officers and
soidiers Killed and wounded He was pursued
tne detachment OF the Goth light Dragons
pot tne enemys cavalry was so much superior in
numbers, that this detachment has suffered much.
ana lieut. col. Taylor unfortunately killed
Nearly at the same time, the cneniys attack com
lnenced upon the heights ON the same road To
| ! onfhna: inns attack was supported by large
BODY OF cavalry, and was made with the usual
imPetuosity OF French troops. 1t was received
WIFI steadiness by mayor gen. Ferg,isen's bril-
gade, consisting pf the 36th, doth and 7Ist ree.i
lnents; and these corps charged as soon Us the
enemy approached them, who gave way, g. they
cenunued to advance upon him supported BY th.
I'D, one OF the corps OF brig. gen Nghtingaie's
brigade, which as the ground extended alter
wards formed part of the first line by tie 29th
reg and by brig gen. Raves, and Ackiand's bri-
gades, while brig. gen. Craufurd's brigade and
thc portuguese troops in two lines, advanced a.
long the height or the left In The advance IF
MAJ. gen. Ferguson's Brigade, + pieces of can
non were taken from the enemy, with MANY pri
sonefs, and vast numbers were killed {. wounded
| . The enemy afterwards made an ATTEMPT to r,.-
cover part of his artillery, by attacking the 7I.t
and S2d regiments, which were halted in ayaIlev
IN which II has been taken. These two repimenIs
retired from the low grounds in the valley to the
heights, where they halted, faced shout, feed
ana advanced upon the enemy. who had by that
tihe arrived IN the low ground, and they thus o.
DnSed nm again to retire with great loss. In
th's action, IN which TIE whole Of the Ffench
iorce IN Portugai was employed finder the COM
mand OF the Duke ID Abrantes i'm person. in
winch ue enemy was certainly superior in caval-
ny and artillery, and in which not more than half
Oh me British army was actually engaged, he has
sustained signal defeat. and has lost 1S pieces
! OF cannon, % ammunition Wagons, with pow
der, shells, sores OF all descriptions, and 90 Gao
rounos OF musket ammunition One general Off
Ger benlere} has been wounded and taken pri.
soner, and great many officers and soldiers have
been Killed, wounded and taken
The valor and discipline of his raiestv's troo,,e
nave eeen conspicuous upon this occasion as Won,
who witnessed the greater part Of the action
must have observed but it is Justice to the fol-
lowing corps to draw your notice TO them in
particular manner. viz. The Royal Artillery.
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Robe the Goth ORA.
goons which had been commanded by Lieut.. CrI
Iaylor the 50th Reg commanded bv Col.
walker; the I'd Bat. 95th. Foot commanded
| by MAJOR Travers the 9Th Bat. 6vth Rec. com
manded by Major Davy the ID Bat. A3d. com.
manded by Major Hull the ID Bat SD com
manded by Lieut.. Col Ross the 9th reg com
manded by Lieut. Col. Lyon the S6t6, com
nanded by Col. Burne the 10Th commanded
by Col. Kemms the 71st commanded by J.ieut
Col Pack and the s2d, commanded by Major
Eyre.
| In metoning Col. Burne, and the s6th Req
| TO you upon this OCCASION. cannot avoid to add
that the regularity and orderly conduct Of tbs
| corps throughout this service, and their gallan-
| try and discipline i'll action have been consn;c,,
GUS
Unjust take this opportunity Of acknowledges
my obligations to the Gen and staff q Steers Of
| the army L Was much Indebted to Mai Cen
| opehcers judgement and experience, in the de-
cision which formed with respect 70 the mum
Der @i troops allotted to each point of defence .
and Tor ms advice and assistance tl,rourhout the
action In the position taken ~ bv Mai Cen
| terguson's brIgadeeud its advance ,,fon he en-
e'ny, that officer showed equal bravery z, j,Jdpe
Incnt and much praise is due to Brig. Gen
tane, aud Brig. Cen AnstrutIicr for their Gal
liant defence OF their position in front of Y;Ini.ra
and to Brig Cen Nightingale for the inanner
IN winch ne supported the attack; upon the enemv
| made by Major Cen Ferg,ta,n c,,. ~ =.