Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-11-23


tracts with the Sierra de
Estrella. All the roads TO Coim5ra !,
rom the eastward, lead over one or
other of these Sierras. They are very
difficult for tire pass of an ar oy, the
to the top of the ridge onbctn
sides being mountaincous-As the e.
nemy's whole army was oa the right
of the Mondeeo, and as it was evident
that he Intended to force our position,
lieut.. general Hill crossed the river,
by a short movement to his left, on
the morning of the 26th, leaving colo
mel LIE Cor, with his brigade on the
Sierra de Marcella, to cover the right
of the army and major general Fame,
with his division IF Portuguese caval-f
ny, and the 18th light drago 1ns in front
oil the Alva, to observe and check the
movements of the enemy's cavalry on
the Mondego. With this exception,
the whole army was collected upon the
Sierra de Busaco, with the British ca.
va!ry observing the plain in the rear OF
his left and the road leading from Nor
tagoa to Oporto, through the noun.
tsint GUS tract which connects the Sier.
RI de Busaco: with the Sierra de Cara
mula.
The eight corps joined the enemy
in front on the 26,h, but he did not
make any attack on that day, The
light troops on both sides were engag.
ed throughout the line.
AT 6 in the morning ofthe 18th, the
enemy made two desperate attacks up
on our position, the one on the right,
the other on the left of the highest
point of the Sierra. the attack upon
the right was made by two divisions
ofinfantry. One division ofthe French
infantry arrived at the top ofthe ridge,
when it was attacked in the most gall
liant manner by the 18Th Regt. under
the command OF. hs~hon. lieut.. col.
VILLAGE; and thu Ihregimcnr, un-
der the hon. lieut.. col. Meade, and by
the 9Th Portuguese regiment, under
lieut.. col. Douglas, directed by major
gen. Picton. These corps advanced
with. the b2yonet, and drove the enc.
my's division from the advantageous
ground which they had obtained. The
other division of the Cd corps attacked
further on the right, by the road lead
ing from St. Antonio de Cantara, also
IN front of major gen. Picton's divisi
on. His division was repulsed before
1T could reach the top of the ridge by
the 74rh regiment, under the hon. lieut..
col. French, and the brigade Of the
Portuguese infantry, und r col, Cham
pelmond, directed by col. Ma, kiunon.
Major gen.. Leith also moved to his
left. to the support ofmaj. gen. Picton,
* aided in The defeat OF the enemy on
this post, by the 81 bat. royals, the 1st
and I'd bat. 2sth regiment.
10 these attacks major generals Leith
and P.cton, coils. Mac kline & Cham.
pelmond, of the Posting csc service,
who was wounded, lieut.. col. Wallace,
the hon. lieut.. col. Meade, lieut.. col.
Sutton Of the 9th Portuguese reg iment,
major Smith, Ash regiment, who was
unfortunately killed, Lieut.. Gel. Doug
las and mayor B rmingham OF the sih
Portuguese regiment distinguish, d
ehemss,lvts Major gen. Picien rerorts
ct the good conduct of the 9th and els.
Por'ug Jese regiments, commanded by
lieut.. colonel sutton, and by leu col.
lie Arcujc Bacellar, and by the Portu-
guese artillery, commanded by lieut..
colonel Arentchild. l have also TO
n:ention In particular manner the
conduct of capt3i Dansey, OF the ssth
regiment. NJ ijor general Leith re.
ports the good conduct Of the ROYALS,
1st bat. 9th, and I'd bat. 38th regiment
land beg to assure your lordship,
shat never Witnessed more gallant
attack than that made by the ssth, 45th
ard 9Th, portugue Sc regimen, on the
enemy's Division which had reached
the ridge of the Sierra.
On the left, the enemy attacked with
three divisions of infan ry, of the 6 h
corps, that part OF the Sierra occupied
by the lett division, commanded by
brighter general Crawford, and by
the brigade oil Portuguese Infantry,
commanded by br gad.er gen. Pack.
One division of infantry only maze
any progress towards the top Of the
hill, and hey were Immediately charg-
ed with the hayonet by brigadier gen.
n -.