The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-11-23

river Alva, and CONNIE c,cd b. other mountain
Gus tracts with the Sierra de Estrelia. All
= the roads to Coimbra from the eastward,
lead over one or other of these Sierras. They
are very difficult for the passage of an army
the approach to the top OF the ridge on both
sides being mountainous.-As the enemy's
| whole army was OH the right of the Mond. :
! go. and as it was evident that he intended
TO force our position, L. General Hill eros
| sed that rI*er by a short movement to his
lett. on the morning of the S6th, leaving Cot
lie Cor. with his brigade on tn Sierra de
Marcella, to cover the right OF the army :
| and Major General Fame with his division ol
Portuguese cavalry. and the 18th light dra
| goons in front of the A]va, 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 cavalry observing
| the plain in the rear of its left. on the road
leading from Montago to Oporto, through
the mountainous tract which connects the
Sierra de Busaco with the Sierra de Caram
ula.
The 9th corps joined the enemy in front of
| .he goth, bu he did not m Ike any at ack on
that day-the light troops on both sides were
engaged throughout the line
AT SIX in The morning ofthe 9th, the en-
position, the one on the right, the other on
the left of the highest point of the Sierra
The attack upon tie right was made by two
divisions OF the Cd corps, on that part of the
Sierra occupied by the Sd division of infan-
try. One division of the French infantry
arrived at the top of the ridge, when it was
attacked in he most gallant manner by the
SS5h regiment under the command of the
hon. Lieut. Col. Wallace /; and the 45th re-
Siment under the command of the hon.
Lieut.. Col. Meade, and by the 9Th Portu-
guese regiment under the command of
Lieut. Col. Douglas, directed by Mai. Gen.
Preston.
These three corps advanced with the bav-
onet. and drove the enemy's division from
the advantageous ground which they hadob
tanned. The other division of the I'd corps
attacked further on the right, by the road
leading by St. Antonio de CANARY, also in
front of Major Gen. Picton's division. This
division was repulsed before it could reach
the top OF the ridge. by the 74th regiment
under the command ofthe Hon. Lieut. Col.
French. and the brigade of Portuguese in
tantry, under the command of Colonel Cham
peimond, directed by Col. Mackinnon, Ma
Jor General Leith also moved to his left, to
the support OF Maj Gen. Picton, and aided
IN the defeat of the enemy on this post, by
the Sd battalion of Royals, the 1st and Sd
battalions 26th regiment.
| In these attacks Major Generals Leith
and PiCton. Colonies Mackinnon and Cham
| pelmond of the Portuguese service who was
wounded. Lit Col Wallace the Hon Ii.
Col Meade, Lit. Col. Sutton of the h Por
! tuguese regiment, major Smith 45th reqi
ment who was unfortunately killed 1t. Col
douglas, and major Birmingham of the 8ch
Portuguese regiment distinguished them
| selves Major general pictop raoos,o A..
| good conduct Of the 9Th and 21st Portuguese
regiments, commanded by LIZ col Sutton and
by 1t col de Aronje Bacellar, and by Por..
tuguese artillery commanded by Lit colonel
ArentchIid. have also to mention i'm a mar
tlcular manner the conduct Of CAPTAIN Ban
| sey OF the S8th regiment. Major gen. Leith
reports the good conduct of the ROYALS. 1st
oa.. 9Th and I'd bat 58th regiment. and
beg TO assure your lordship, that Ineve,. wit
messed more gallant at ack than that mada
by the 38th, 45th and 9th Portuguese regi
nents, on the enemy's division which had
reached the ridge OF the Sierra.
On the lett, the enemy attacked with 2
divisions ofsntantry of the 9th corps. that
part OF the Sierra occupied by the left divI-
sion, commanded by brig. general Crawford,
andby the brigade of Portuguese infantry
commanded by brig. general Pack. One di
vision OF infantry only made any progress to
wards the top OF the hill, and they we're i'm
mediately charged with the hayonet by BRIG
general Crawford wi,h the l8th, SD and
9oFh regiments. and the Sd Portuguese Gao
adoreS, and driven down with IT,. mense lose
Brig. general Cleman's brigade of Portn
guese infantry, which was N reserve. was
moved up to support the right Of brio. gene
raj Crawford's division, aud a battalion of
the lSh Portuguese regiment under the
command OF LIT col. Mac5- an, made a paI
liant and successful Charge upon body of an
o'her division OF the enemy, that was endea
| NorIng openetrate IN thar quarter. Inthis
attack brig general Crawford. Licutenan-
colonel Beckwith of fhe 25th and parcIay
OF the 42d and the comm nding officers ~
the regiments engaged, distinguished them
| selves.
| Besides these attacks the light troons e
the two armies were engaged throuehout the
! 27th, and the An Portuguese Cacadores snd
the LIST and ION reg SCENTS, directed by br,g.
general Pack, and commanded by 1t col
ue Rego Banito, LIT. colonel Hill, and Major
Armstrong, Showed great steadiness and
8allantry. The loss sustained by the enemy
IN MS attack on the 9th has been enormous
| understand that the General of division
Merle and general Maucun are wounded
and general Simon was taken prisoner bv the
SD regiment. and 3 coloneis, SO officers and
$50 men. Ihe enemy left 1000 killed uuon
the held OF battle, and understand from the
prisoners apd deserters, that the loss in
wounded is immense. The enemy did not
| hie otfarE