Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-13

ihead. From almost the commencement
of the enemy's atae.ssi il began TO rain hard
which with the smoke rendered il irnros.
sibIe to discern any thingdistiuctly; which
circumstance together with the nature Of
the, ground, was favorable 10 the e,cmv
lin forming his columns, and in his suhs:-
auent attack. The brigade on the right
&c General Stewards division, COMMANDED
Inv Lieutenant Col. Colborne, was first in
action, and behaved in the bravest MAI.
|ner and finding that the enemy's column
could not be disIsIged by firing. proceed
ed to attack. it With the baycnet: and IN
the act Of attacking, a body Of Polish
lauce-men Cavalry whom the obseurity
| Of the atmosphere, and the nature Of tie
ground had concealed (and who besides
When seen, were mistaken by the bri.
pade. for Spanish cavalry and consequent.
" not fired ON turned it, and being thus
nnexpectedly attacked in the rear, was
unfortunately broken, and suffered great.
Ily. The sfst regiment forming to the
left of the brigade, alone escaped this
charge, and under the orders Of Major
|HEstrange maintained its ground, NO.
til the arrival of the Sd brigade under
the orders of Major Gen. Hoghton II.
conduct of this brigade was evidently very
brave, nor was that Of the ed brigade
commanded by the Hon. Lieut.. Col. Aber-
crombie inferior.
Major Gen. Hoghton, 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 continued attempt upon
that part of our original front in the vii
lace and bridge, which were defended in
the bravest manner by Major Gen. Barren
Alien, and the brigade Of light infantry Of
the German legion, whose conduct was in
every point of view, evidently good. This
point now formed our left, and Major
Gen. Hamilton's division had been sent
thither, and was left to direct the defence
of that point, while the attack OF the enc.
nv continued upon eur right. A consider
able proportion of the Spanish troops de-
Tending this place, the enemy's cavalry
attempting to force our right, had endea-
vored to turn it but by the able manoeu.
vres ofMajor Gen. the Hon. w. Lumley,
commanding the allied cavalry, though
greatly inferior in number to that of the
enemy, their attempts were frustrated.
Maj Gen. Cole, seeing the attack Of the
enemy, veryjudiciously changed the posi-
ton of his left a little, marched in line
to attack the enemy's left, and arrived We
~ opportunely to contribute with thu
charges Of the brigade of Gen. Stewards
division, to force the enemy to abandon
their situation, retreat precipitately. and
take shelter behind their reserve. Here
the brigade of Fusileers particularly dis
tinguished itself. The enemy was pursu-
ed by the allies to a considerable distance,
and as far as I judged prudent, consider
ing their immense superiority in cavalry,
and contented myself with seeing them
driven beyond Albuhera.
/ have every reason to speak very ia.
vorably of the manner in which our artil-
lery was served and fought; and Maj.
Hartman, commander of the English, and
Wal OlchSOHS COuiudIuCi VI tHC L Oitu-
guese, and the officers and soldiers are
entitled to my thanks. The four pieces OF
horse artillery commanded by Capt. Ie-
febvre made great havock amongthe cne-
my's cavalry, and brigade of Spanish
artillery (the only one in the field shew.
ed equal good conduct and bravery.
We lost, in the misfortune that befel
the brigade commanded by Lieut.. Col.
Colbourne, Prospecting whom Gen. Stew
art states, that he acted, and was then
acting in the most noble manner, leading
the brigade in admirable order) one how
itzep which the enemy, before the arrival
ofthe brigade of the brave Gen. Hough-
ton. had time to withdraw, with 2 or 500
prisoners of that brigade.
After he was routed in his principal at
tack, he still continued near the village,
from whence he could never make any
progress, or pass the brook; notwithstand-
inc that I had been Obliged to draw from