Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-09-09
Extract ola letter from an officer in Mar
shat Bere&ford's army.
ELvAs, May %, 1911.

ELvAs, May %, 1911.
al should have laughed at any person who
would suppose that more bloody battle could
be fought than that of Taiavera, but the des-
truction OF British troops at Albuhera requires
no comparison, it speaks for itself We
broke up from Badajos on the 18th, after ha-
wing broken fresh ground within four hun
dred yards OF that fortress that morning
and buried ourselves full four feet for an ex-
tent of seven hundred yards, before day light
We joined col. Colburne's brigade at Waiver
de, and marched on the following morning
tt Albuhera, where we found the enemy and
our pickets, occupying opposite banks of
small river, close to this town; on our ar
rival we piled arms, and began to amuse cur
selves, surprising that the enemy, as usual,
would Content himself with looking at us.
and decamp in the night About midnight
gen. Blake, with ten Thousand Spaniards JOIN
ed us, well armed and clothed they were
inspected by Marshal Bcresford, and took
up their ground upon the right. The line
stood then as follows: The Dons on the right
supported by the British cavalry, and Portu-
Suese on the left, and John Bull in the CEN
ire. Duringthe night a desertercame in from
the Polish regiment ct cavalry, armed with
spears--he told us his regiment was promi-
sedby Soult in person, reward of a COM
mission to each non-commissioned officer.
and three months pay in advance to every
private, If they succeeded in breaking the
English lines-that the left of the enemy was
composed OF 49, 600 infantry and 5000 caval-
~, and his rlgnt of 5000 infantry and 1000
cavalry, and that the centre was made up
with corps which he did not know and that
it was Soult's intention to attack next morn
ing but little attention was at this time paid
to this mans account. However at half past
SIX in the morning, the enemy were seen
advancing all at the same moment, breaking
from the wood IN the most regular order
his wood previously concealed hem while
our line was perfectly exposed since we left
Vaiverde. Their Columns opposite the town
halted, and were exposed to dreadful FIRE
from the artillery, which soon forced them
TO move elsewhere, while the left, composed
OF their main body, passed over the river,
and gave the Spaniards on our right little
time to form. Phe attack became very
brisk before we were well under arms. At
this moment the fusilcer brigade, under sir
WIN. Myers, arrived with general Cole, from
before BsdJos. they Immediately pushed Oh
by our rear to succOur the Spaniards OH the
the right, where they dashed into the thick :
est Of the action at once. 1t was now nine
O'Clock, and it was evident that the real At
tack was made upon our right. The fact
was, those columns Of the enemy Opposite
the town were placed there to preveht MS
from making any attack on their rear or
right, by crossing the bridge. Col Colburnc's
brigade was now ordered from defendjDgthe
pass of this bridge, and moved Off in double
quick time, after the fusieers, to the right.
where they soon got their share of the work
by the regiment Of Poles getting their right
Hank, and thereby surrounding them. am
sorry to say, that at this moment the Sd bat
talon OF the 45th, and the Goth regiment lost
their colors, and but few men escaped the
carnage. dreadful shower of rain that fell
at TINS time, prevented our seeing twenty
yards before US, and this was tie cause of So
heavya loss. All movements were now done
IN double quick time, and at that rate VIC
broke into companies, right in front. and
soon came within range Of their round shot
and shells, though we had nearly a mile 10
run, over ground so heavy from the rain that
we could hardly keep our legs. The goth
regiment being IN front Of us. first formed
line, and Immediately charged, bat were OBJ
iIged to halt. IN consequence Of the heavy
colufnsin their front: the 4Gth and 57th then
got into line, but found the Spaniards. and
part ct gen. Lumley's brigade in their trent
and instead of allowing the Spaniards to con-
tInue the action, which they were doing IN
the unncf gallant r,o,ro. IL