The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-28

lef. The oder was obeyed, and farious
enea cement. which soon became general along
the Whole line. ensusd. Ruffin and Villatts
At first Obtained some advantage over the de
vision Of Hill, who was wounded during the
combat. but finally were driven down the steep
decIivity of the heights which they had as
cended with 90 much gallsniry, leaving an
immense number Of killed and wounded be-
hind them. The day was excessively hot
For few hours, the troops suspended the
work of slaughter, and many Of them leaving
the ranks, sought to slake their thirst ut the
little brook which run between them. Here
those men. who had SO lately been engaged in
attempting TO destroy each other, shook hands
over the stream, like friends who had met after
long separation. Not hostile movement
was made by either party. though they knew
that they should again, in few moments, be
engaged in the work of mutual destructon.-
During this interval, Jourdan strenuousiy re-
newed bis advice to retire behind the Aiberche
to tske up position, and there to await the
arrival of SouIt, Ney and Mortier. But the
advice of Victor was adopted and the engage
ment was renewed.
The French columns came down the heights
from their side of the river, crossed ii in some
confusion, and Immediately restoring order,
ascended to the English position with infinite
GOODNESS and intrepidity. On the left of the
English line, Sebastian, in close column, fell
with great fury on the division of General
Campbell. The latter, being in line, received
with the portion of his men Immediately in
front of the advancing column,its attack, while
that portion to the right and left of it, poured
a deadly fire upon its TANKS. Unable to sus-
tain this fire, the columns fell back, and Camp.
BELLS division, supported by several regiments
of Spanish infantry, and a regiment of Span.
ish cavalry, charged the retiring mass and
completed their disorder. driving them into the
valley, and capturing ten pieces of artillery
At this moment, Wellington perceiving that
the divisions of Ruffin and Vllaue were ad-
vancng to tuin the contested position on the
extreme left, ordered Generals Seymour and
ArentschiId to charge them with their regi-
ments of cavalry. The first passed the ra-
vine, and receiving the fire Of Villaue's divi-
sion as it passed, fell upon and routed Strolz's
brigade of chasseurs, but being charged in
turn by q regiment of Polish lancers, were
broken with prodgious slaughter, and fed,
leaving more than half their dead or wounded
upon the field.
In the meantime the battle ragged with great
fury in the centre. Under cover of fire from
forty pieces of cannon, the division of the
French General Lapisse crossed the ravine,
assembled the hill, and his movements being
concealed by the smoke, got almost in contact
with the British line before il was discovered.
Received by volley, and attacked with the
bayonets ofthe British guards who were sta.
toned here, this division was repulsed, after a
long and obstinate resistance. The guards,
following them across the ravine and up the
hill on the opposite side, in extreme confusion,
were met by showers of grape from the
French batteries. and flying from the storm,
communicated their terror to the Germans, on
their flank, and the whole British centre
seemed, for a moment, rreparably broken. In
this crisis, Wellington directed the 48lh regi-
ment against the flank Of the advancing French
who, in their turn, were thrown into disorder
by the pursuit. Advancing beyond the stream,
the 48th was so entangled by the flying masses
that it was obliged to open its ranks to let
them pass through. Closing them up, howev-
er, they poured deadly fire upon the flank Of
the advancing French. which made them halt,
and gave time to the Germans and guards to
rally. These faced to the right about, aud in
company with the 4Sth and with Cotion's cav.
airy, which had come up on the left flank,
checked the advance of the French, who then
drew off, in good order, across the Albache.
The loss of the French in this battle was
nearly 5000 men that of the English is Sc,
down at 1886. Weare disposed to think that
it was no great victory, for the English Gene.
raj entirely failed in his object, and in few
days retreated across the Tagus, not daring to
attack his enemy in his position behind the
Albache. A bloody battle had been fought
and no object gained, save the having proved
what no man doubted-that the English coulc
fight.
In few days the corps of Ney, Soult and
Mortier arrived, and united with Victor ane
King Joseph, and with other renforcements
swelled the number of the French to 10000, &
force much too powerful for Wellington Il
have withs,ood. Ii was then the time to have
struck a great blow but this powerful force
having remained together few days, to the
bitter disappointment of Napoleon, who never
ceased to complain of it, even at St. Helena
separated without having attempted anything
Had he been present in person, there exists nc
doubt as to what he would have done. But
as he himself remarks, ''the presence of the
General rs indispensable he is the head, the
embodiment of the army. 1t was not the Ro.
man army that conquered Gau!, but Cesar ;
IT was not the Carthagenian army that made
the republic remble at the gates of Rome,
but Hannibal; it was rot the Macedonian ar.
my which conquered TO the Indus, but Alex
ander; ii was not the French army Which car
" mr. tn th<ah a. he ,F