The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-07-16
Hamil.oa formed the seeondiiae Of the Brii.

oamItoo furMeu the Secondiin OF the BrSs
tish and Portuguese Army. Z. s-..A3
The enemy On the morning of The l6>h
was not tard} in making the attack 1t 8
o'clock l,e was in motion, and his cavalry
was seen TO pass the brook of Albuhera con-
sid-saoly above our right shortly after
wards he sent ont OF the wood which was in
front OF US, a great force of cavalry, and
two heavy columns of infantry, which march
ed towards our front, as il intending to attack
the village aud bridge of Albuhera, during
this time, under the protection of his very
superiof cavalry, he Caused the principal
corps of ms iniantry To defle near the ri.
yer. beyond our right. shortly after which il
appeared to DC his Intention to turn us on
that side and Gu, US Oft from Valverde.
ordered in consequence Major Gen. Coles
division to form aa oblique line 80 the rear
OF our right, and its right to be throwi
back; aud it becoming evident that the e.
nemy's intention was TO attack our right. l
requested Gen. Blake to inrm part OF his
LIST line. and the whole of his second in the
same way, which he did. The enemy com
menced his attack at o'clock. continuing
at the same time TO threaten our left: *
after strong and brave resistance from
the Spanish troops, he gained the heights
upon which they were formed. In the
mean time the division Of the Hon Major
General w. Stewart was brought un to
support them; & that OF Maj Gen. Hamilton
brought up towa ard the left OF the Spanish linz.
and formed into battaiions with contagious
open columns, so as to be able to move in
any direction.
The Portuguese brigade Of cavalry. COM
handed by Brig, Gen Otway, renamed at
some distance upon the LETT. IN order to CD
pose any attempt of the enemy below the
village.
AS the heights which the enemy had
gained overlooked, and completely comman.
ded the whole OF our position, il became ne
cessary to use every effort to retake and
keep them and very noble one was
made by the divisions OF Gen. Stewart. with
that brave officer at their head. From al
most the commencement of the enemy's at.
tack it began to rain hard, which, With the
smose, rendered it impossible to discern A.
ny thing distinctly; which circumstance,
together with the nature Of the grouhd, was
very favorable to the enemy in forming his
columns, and in his subsequent attack
The trigade on the right OF Gen. Stewar,'s
division, commanded by Lieut.. Col. Col.
borne, was first in action, aud behaved in
the bravest manner and finding that the
enemy's could not be tlislodged by firing
proceeded to attack 1t with the bayoDet; and
|
lance men Cavalry whom the obscuritv NJ
the atmosphere and this nature of the ground
had concealed (and besides when seen. were
mistaken by the brigade for Spanish cayaI
ry, and consequently not fred on] turned
it: and being thus unexpectedly attacked
in the rear, was unfortunately brokAn 3,
suffered greatly. The 3lst rcet. form;np
to the Left Of the brigade, alone e.cape3
this charge, and under the orders of Mai.
L 'Estrange, maintained its ground until the
arrival Of the third'brigade. under the or.
ders Of Maj. Gen. Houghton the conduet
Of this brigade was evidently very brave !:
nor was that of the I'd brigade, under com
mahd of the Hon. Lieut.. Col. Abercrombie
inferior.
Maj. Gen. Hough.on. while exciting his
brigade to charge. fell covered with
wounds. Though the principal attack of the
enemy was upon this part of the right he
also made a continued attempt upon that
part of our original front in the village and
bridge, which were defended in the braves
manner by Major General Baron Alien and
the brigade of light infantry of the German
Legion, whose conduct was in every point of
view, evidently good. This point'now form
ed our left and Major General Kamilton,s
division had been sent thither. and was left
to direct the defence of that point. while
The attack OF the enemy continued UPON our
right.
A considerable proportion of the Spanish
troops defending this place, the enemy's ca.
valry attempting to force our right, had en-
deavoured to turn it but by the able ma
nGuvres of Major General the hon. w. Lum.
ley. commanding the allied cavalry, though
greatly inferior in number to that of the e.
nemy. their attempts were frustrated.
Major General Cole, seeing the attack of
the enemy, very judiciously changed the
position OF his left a little. marched in line
to attack the enemy left, and arrived very
opportunely to contribute with the charges
OF the brigade of General Stewards diyisi-
on, to force the enemy to abandon their az
iuation, retreat precipitately and take shei-
ter behind their reserve. Here the brigade
of fusieers particularly distinguished It.
self. The enemy was pursued by the al
lies to considerable distance, and as far az
judged prudent, considering their immense
superiority in cavalry, and contented nv.
self with seeing them driven beyond AIbn
hera.
have every reason to speak very favora-
bly, OF the manner in which our artillery
was served and fought and Major Harry
man, commander of the English, and Ma.
jor Dixon, commander of the Portuguese
and the officers and soldiers are entitled to
my thanks The four pieces of horse artiI-
lsry. commanded by Captain Lrfebure, made
great havoc among the enemy's cavalry.
and brigade Of Spanish artillery. 1.-THE onIy
one IN the fieldj Showed equal good con