Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-09-09

Beresford though occupied all the morning.,
could not in less than an hour and an half
get the Spaniards into any order. Cole came
up just as the action began. The Polish
lancemen fought well the hags they carry
at the end of their lances frightened our
horses, and made them swerye from the
charge
"When the French drove the Spaniards,
at the commencement f the action, from the
height ON the right, there was shout of tri-
umph, which was heard from one end of the
line to the other. The Si,aniards, although
driven from the height, rallied at she bottom
OF the hill, turned upon the enemy, and most
CALAMITY checked their career.
" no action in which the Spaniarts have
been engaged proves, more than the battle
OF Albuhera, how greatly it is to DC lament
ed chat they are not taught to- maneuvre by
officers or more experience i'll war than their
own. To man they evinced the most sig
nal courage, but owing TO their want of inn
provement in discipline, it was difficult and
hazardous, lest they should be thrown into
confusion, to move them from the position
which they have at first occupied. The i'm
mense loss sustained by the French chiefly
took place when the allies rcgaineo the
height from which the Spaniards had previ-
ously been driven, In forcing the enemy in
to the low grounds towards the rivulet, the
carnage caused by our musquetrv and shrap-
mel shells was immehse--whole ranks of the
enemy were moved down, SC had we possess
ed any thing like an equality in cavalry, the
greater part of the French army must have
been taken or DESTROYED.
- 1t is due to the enemy to state, that. in
the attack, during the whole battle, and in
the retreat, they manifested great skill and
signal courage. When they were at last "a
ware that the battle was irretrievably lost,
they protected their infantry by their caval-
ry and artillery, and having recovered from
the Confusion into which they were thrown
when flying from the height, they retreated
in good order, and formed upon the opposite
side of the rivulet. From two to three hun
dred OF the British, reported to be missing
had rejoined our army before the Dispatch
es we're sent off 1t was expected more
OF the missing would escape from the ene-
my.
"Our kings color was cut in two, our re-
gimental one had seventeen balls through it /:
many Companies we're without officers, and
as the light company was next to me, could
not do otherwise than take the command of
1t, which did until it was my turn to take
up the shattered colours. After an engage
ment of at least four hours (Which was the
time cur regiment was actually engaged) a
general shout passed down the lines, and I'M
mediately after cry of 4" they run, they
run" Just as we mounted the heights from
which they had fought, we saw the m running
over the plain in the greatest disorder.
Marshal Beresfoid passed us at this mo-
ment, and ordered us to halt. Of all the of
lfcers in the regiment another and myself
were the only ones who hadnot some scratch
or shot through their clothes. The Portu-
guese troops that had not yet been engaged,
were brought up in our place, and appeared
flrin and ready for any fresh attack, while
the light troops skirmished with the retreat
ing parties of the enemy. AS for us, we were
occupied in looking out for the scattered re-
mains ct our brigade. After short time we
found the 18th regiment equally reduced as
ourselves. General Stewart, though wound
ed, was still on horseback, actively employ
ed in collecting the different regiments. The
second brigade that was on our left, we found
some distance to our left where they retir-
ed after having been relieved by the Portu-
guese, and behaving as general Stewart said,
most gallantly; their loss. howe,er was by
no means so great as ours. The firing end
ed late in the afternoon, when the French
were seen to have reformed their shattere d
forces, and march back to the wood they left
in the morning. Their loss was immense,
and from some OF their wounded officers we
learnt that they came into action $4,000
strong; French generals uniform was founa
in the field of battle; Ballasteros seeing il,
cried out, though believe he knew to the
Contrary, "Soult is dead, my lads, look at
his Coat" as he rode in front the line and
held up the broidered coat. He said this in
my hearing, and it produced an admirable
effect; for both Spanish and British advan-
ced to the attack with redoubled vigor.'