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

was BY the bed Of the Areya, and supported by
fourth division. TO check them on the plain, while
coiborne stiIl mantaiaed she heights with the
der MAJOR Dickson. was likewise coming fast
into action, and William Stewart. who had es-
capped the charge Of The lancsrs, was again noun.
ting the hill with General Houghion's brigade,
which he brought on with the same yehemencc.
but, instructed by his previous misfortune, in
jus;er order ofbasslc. The weather now clear.
cd, and dreaiiis fire poured into the thickest
Of the French columns convinced Soult that the
day was yet to be won.
Hougkton's regiment soon got footing on The
summit Dickerson placed the artillery in line,
the remaining brigade of the second division
came up on the left, and two Spanish corps at
last came forward. The enemy's infantry
then recoiled, yet soon recovering revived the
sight with greater violence than before the can
non on both sides discharged showers Of grape
at half range, and the peals Of musquety were
incessant and often within pistol shot; but the
close form Of action Of the French embarrassed
their battle, and the British line would not
yield them one inch of ground nor a moment OF
time TO open their ranks. Their fighting was
however, fierce and dangerous. Stewart was
twice hurt, Col Duckwor,h, Of the forty eighth
was slain, and the gallant Houghton, who had
received many wounds without shrinking, fell,
and died in the act Of cheering his men, Still
the struggle continued with undated fury. Col.
Inslis' twenty two other officers, and more than
four hundred men cut Of the five hundred and
twenty that had mounted the hill, fell in the fif
ty- seventh alone, and the other regiments were
hardly better of, not one third were standing in
any. Ammunition failed, and as the English
fire slackened, the enemy established column in
advance upon the right flank; the play Of Dicker-
sons artillery checked them for a moment, but
again the Polish lancers charging, captured six
guns. And in this desperate crisis, Beresford,
who had already withdrawn the thirteenth from
the banks of the river and brought Hanilton's
Portuguese regiment into situation TO cover re-
trograde movement wavered destruction stared
him in the face, his personal resources were
hausted, and the unhappy thought of retreat
arose in his agitated mind. Yetno order to that
effect was given, and il was urged by some about
him that The day might still be redeemed with
the fourth division. While he hesitated Colo
mel Hardinge boldly ordered General Cole 20 adj
| vance, and then riding to Colonel Ahercrombic
who commanded the remaining brigade OF the
second division, directed him also to push for
| ward into the fight. The IL being thus east, Be-
resford acquiesced, ands Is the terrible battle
was continued.
q,.ss fourth divsAsosr n ealy tsFe trisaa~s n
| the field the one Portuguese under General Har-
vey; the other commanded by Sir w. Myers.
| and composed of the seventh and twenty third
| British regiments, was called the fusileer brig
ade. General Cole directed the Portuguese to
move between Lumley's dragons and the hill,
where they were Immediately charged by some
of the French horsemcn, but beat them off with
great loss meanwhile he led the fusiieers IN
person up the height.
At this time six guns were in the encmy's
possession, the whole of Werle's reserves were
coming forward to reinforce the front column Of
| the French and the remnant Of Honghton's bri-
gadc could no longer maintain its ground; the
field was heaped with carcases, the lancers were
riding furiously about the captured artillery on
the upper part of the hill, and on the lower slope
a Spanish and an English regiment in mutual err
ror were exchanging volleys behind all, Gene
raj Hamilton's Portuguese, in Withdrawing from
the heights above the bridge appeared to be in
retreat. The conduct of few brave men soon
changed this state Of affairs.
Colonel Robert Arbuthnot, pushing between
the double fire of the mistaken troops, arrested
that mischief, while Cole with the fusleers,
fanked by battalion of the Lusitanian legion
under Colonel Hawkshawe, mounted the hill
dispersed the lancers, recovered the captured
guns and appeared on the right of Houghton'
brigade exactly as Abercrombe passed il on the
left.
Such gallant line, issuing from the midst
the smoke, and separating itself from the coniu'
sed and broken multitude, startled the enemy'i
heavy masses, which were increasing and press
inp EDWARDS as to an assured victory they wa
vered. besitated, and then vomiting forth storm
of fire, hastily endeavored TO enlarge their from
while a fearful discharge of grape from all the'
artillery whistled through the British ranks
Myers was killed; and three Colonies, Ellis
Blakeney, and Hawkshawe, fell wounded, an'
the fusileer battalion, struck by the iron tempest
reeled and staggered like sinking ships
Suddenly and sternly recovering, they close
on their terrible enemies, and then was see
with what strength and majesty the Bri''s
r soldier fights. In vain did Sonlt, by voice az
# gesture, animate the Freuchmen; IN VAIN d
: the hardest veterans, extricating thenseiv'
Il from the crowded columns, sacrifice their 1--we
+ 70 gain time for the mass TO open out on such
fair field in vain did the mass itselfbear up,
d fierccly striving, fire unfortunately up
e friends & foes while the horsemen lowering on
!, flank threatened to charge the advancing line
: No sudden burst Of undisciplined valor, no ne
l. yous enthusiasm, weakened the stability oil the
S order; their flashing eyes were bent on t
le dark columns in their front; their measur
TX tread shook the ground; their dreadful wolfe
a. swept away the head of every formation tn