Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-25
BATTLE OF ALBUERA..

! During the night, Blake and Cole arrived with
above sixteen thousand men; bat so defective
was the occupation Of the grouud, that Soult had
no change TO make in his plans from this circrm-
stance, and little before nine in the morning,
Godinot's division issued from the woods in one
/ heavy column Of attack, preceded by ten guns
! He was fanked by the light cavalry aud follow
cd by Werle's division Of reserve, and, making
straight towards the bridge, commenced sharp
cannonade, attempting to force the passage, at
the same time Briche, with two regiments Of
hussars, drew further down the river to observe
| Colonel Otway's horse.
| The allies guns on the rising ground above
the village answered the fire of the French, and
ploughed through their columns, which were
crowded without judgement towards the bridge,
although the stream was passable above and be-
| low Bat Beresford observing that Werlc's di-
| vision did not follow closely, soon convinced
that the principal effort would be on the right,
and therefore sent Blake orders TO form part Of
the first and all tho second line Of the Spanish
army, the broad part Of the hills at right angles
| TO their actual front. Then drawing the Portu-
gese infantry Of the left wing to the centre, be
sent one brigade down to support Alien, and d.
rected General Hamilton to hold the remainder
in columns of battalions, ready to move to any
! part of the field. The thirteenth dragons we're
| posted near the edge Of the river, above the
bridge, and, meanwhile, the second division
marched to support Blake. The horse artillery,
the heavy dragons, apd the fourth division also,
took ground to the right, and were posted the
cavalry and guns on a small plain behind the Ar
| roya, and the fourth division in oblique bend
| about half musket shot behind them. This done,
Beresford galloped to Blake, for that general bad
refused to change his front, and with great heat
! told Colonel Hardinge, the bearer of the order,
that the real attack was at the village and bridge.
Berestord hadaseat again to entreat tina, he would
obey, but this message was as fruitless as the
former, and, when the Marshal had arrived no.
| thing had been done. The enemy's columns
were, however, now beginning to appear on the
right, and Blake, yielding to this evidence, pro-
ceeded to make the evolution, yet with such pc
dantic slowness, that Beresford, impatient OF his
folly, took the direction in person.
~. Great was the confusion and delay thus occa
4sfS66SA and ere the troops could be put in order
rnch were amongst them. For scarcely
4 had -Eodinot engaged Aliens brigade, when
w erie, leaving only battalion of grenadicrs &
fzome squadrons to utoi, thesthirteenth dragoons
B paf toconnecs the attacks, eosntrrnasoised with
The remainder Of his division and rapidly gained
the rear of the fifth corps it was mounting the
hills on the right OF the allies. At the same time
the mass of light cavalry suddenly quilted Godi-
nots column, and crossing the river Albuera
above the bridge, assembled to the left bank at a
gallop, and, sweeping round the rear OF the fifth
corps Joined Latour Manbourg who was already
in face of Lumley's squadrons. Thus half an
hour had suffced to render Beresford's position
nearly desperate. Two thirds of the French
were IN a compact order of battle on line per-
pendicular to his right, and his army, disorder
ed and composed of different nations, was still in
the difficult act Of changing its front. II was IN
vain that he underworld to form the Spanish
line sufficiently in advance to give room for the
second division to supportit the French guns
opened, their infantry threw out heavy. mus
quetry, ana the cavalry, outhankiug the front *
charging here and there, put the Spaniards into
disorder at all points; in short time the latter
gave way, and Soult. thinking the whole army
was yielding, pushed forward his columns, while
his reserves also mounted the hill and General
Ruty placed all his batteries in position
AL thIs critical moment General William
stewart arrived at the foot of the height with
Colonel Colbrne's brigade, which formed the
H. ad of the second division. The Colonel see
ing the confusion above, desired 10 form In ordel
: of battle previous to mounting the ascent, bu
/, Stewart whose boiling courage overlaid hi
judgement, led up without any delay in column
of companies, and attempted TO open out his Inns
in succession as the battalions arrived at ITS sum
1 nit Being under destructive fire, the fore
| most charged to make room, but heavy ran
| prevented any object from being distinctly seen
and four regiments of hussars and lancers, which
\ had passed the right flank in the obscure
> ty, came galloping in upon the the rear OF IN
line at the instant of its development, and slew
or took two thirds of the brigade. One battalio
only, (the thir!y ..ip;I uelng still in column es
8 caned the storm and maintained It's ground
: l while the Erencn nOfstluSA iiN''a
d everything else, penetrated to all paris III !"
$ ,nmult a lancer fell upon Beresford, but the Ma
It shall, man Of great strength, putting MS spe'
y aside cast him from his saddle, ana shh'
wind blowing aside the mist and smoke the mi
chief was perceived from the plains by Gener
: LuDley, who sent four squadfons out oil ine la
GERS and cut many of them OIL
!, During the first unhappy effort OF the secoi
- division, so great was the confusion that Il
~ snauish line continued to fire without cessaho
although the British were before them; ~her
- ,non Beresford, finding his exhortations to
vance fruitIess, seized ensign and bore him
n his colors, by main force TO the 'front.' yet
ed troops would not follow, and the man went Da
'st rain on being released. In this crisis the VIC
10 Their which had ruined Colborne's brigade a
~ nreveuted SouH from seeing the whole extent