The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-06
FIRE. the s.wa and the right. I. tie left of Cur

i
In the centre, between the two armies,
there was n commanding spo, of ground. on
which we had commenced to construct "A
redouot, with SHINE open ground in its rear
| Brigauier general Alexander Campbell
was posted ~ Ihis spot with a division of in
fantry, supported in his rear by general Cot
tons brigade OF dragons and some Spanish
cavalry.
About two o'clock on the Goth, the enemy
appeared IN strength on TIE left bank of the
hioerche, and manifested an intention to
attack general Mackenzie's division.
he attack was made before they could be
Withdrawn; but the troops, consisting of &c
neral Mackenzie's and colonel Donkin's bril-
gades, and general Aason' s brigade of cava,-
~, and supported by General Payne with the
ether tour regiments of cavalry, in the Plain
between Ialavera and the wood, withdrew
IN Soot order. but with some loss, particular
iy by the I'd battalion 9th regiment, and Cd
battalion. 3lst regiment in the wood.
| upon this occasion the steadiness and dis
cipllnc OF the 45th regiment, and of the 5th
hattaiion Goth regiment were conspicuous :;
and had particular reason for bein, Statistic,
with the manner in which major gene
Mackenzie withdrew his advanced guard
I AS he day advanced, the enemy appeared
IN larger numbers on the right Of the Alder
che, and 1t was obvious that he was atIvanc.
ing to general attack upon the combined
army.
| General Mackenzie continued to fall back
gradually upon the left OF To. position Of the
Combined armies. where he was placed in the
second line, IN the rear of the guards, cole
mel Donkin being placed in the same situation
further upon the left of the position of the
combined Armies, where he was placed il the
rear Of the kings German Legion.
/ Inc enemy immediately comnspcal hi.
attack in the dusk of the evening by cam
nonade upon the left of our position, AMI by
an attempt with his cavalry to overthrow
The Spanish infantry posted, as have before
stated, on the right. This attempt failed en-
tirey.
Early in the night he pushed Il division a
| long the valley on the left of the height eccu-
predby Cen. Hill, of which he gaineda mo-
mentary possession, but major general Hill
attacked it instantly with the baycnet and
regained it.
This attack was repeated in the night, but
failed, and again at day light u the morn
| ing OF the 2Sth, by two divisions of infantry.
and was repulsed by Major General Hill.
NlaJor general Hill has reported to me in
| a particular manner the, conduct of the 29th
regiment; and of the lst battalion 18th re.
giment. in these different affairs, as well az
that OF major general ,Tiison, and Brigadier
| SShefal hicnartl oteNart.
We have lost many brave officers and SOL
oiers IN the defence Of this important point
In our posliiC.., among others cannot avoid
to mention brigade major Gardner; and ma.
Jor general Hill was himself wounded, but
| am happy to saw but slightly.
ne defeat or this attempt was followed
aDeut noon, Icy general attack with the
enemy's whole force upon the whole of that
part OF the position occupied by the British
| army.
| In consequence of the repeated attempts
aeon the heights on our left by the valley,
| had placed two brigades of British cavai.
ry N that valley, supported in the rear by
the Duo d'Albuquerquc's division of Spanish
cavalry.
/ The enemy then placed light infantry in
the range OF mountains on the left of the val
icy, which were opposed by n division of
Spanish infantry under Lient. Gen. De Bas-
secourt.
Tho general attack began by the march
OF several columns of Infantry into the val.
/ ley with view to attack the height occu.
pied by Major general Hill. These columns
were Immediately charged by the frst Ger
man light dragons, and esd Dragons IN
der the command of Gen. Arson, directed
by Lieut.. Gen. Payne, and supported by Gen.
. tane's brigade of heavy cavalry and al
though the Esd dragons suffered considera.
bic less. the charge had the efIect-of pre-
venting the execution of that part of the Ell.
emy's plan
! At tho same time he directed an attack
upon brigadier general Alexander Camp
bells position in the centre of the combined
armies, and on the right of the British.
ms attack was most successfully repuls
ed by Brig. gen. Campbell, supported by
the kings regiment of Spanish cavalry, and
two battalions of Spanish infantry and Bri
sadier Gen. Campbell took the enemy's can.
! con.
The Brig. Gen. mention. particularly tn.
conduct OF the 97th, The Cd battalion 7.h,
and OF the I'd battalion SD regiments, and
L was highly satisfied with the manner in
-hich this part of the position was defend
| ed.
An attack was also made at the same time
upon Lieut. Gen. Sherbrookc's division,
which was on the left and centre of the lst
line of the British army.
ms attack was most gallantly repulsed
by charge with bayonets, of the whole di-
VisIon but the brigade OF Guards, which
we're on the right, having advanced too far,
tncy were exposed on :heir lef; flank to the
ire OF the enemy's battery, and of their re.
tIrIng columns and the division was obi
ged to retire towards the original position,
under cover of the 81 line of Gen Cotton's
brigade of cavalry, which had moved from
the centre, and Of the list battalion 18th re.
giment:
had moved this regiment from it. origi.
ginal position on the heights, as soon as I
observed the advance of the Guards, and it