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A PERSONAL SKETCH OF THE BATTLE OF 

 TALAVERA. 



AMONG a variety of engagements of much or little importance, 

 in which I participated during a campaign in the Peninsula, I have 

 the honour of reckoning the well-contested and glorious battle of 

 Talavera. I was at that time attached to a corps of hussars, which, 

 the night preceding the conflict of the 28th of July, was ordered up 

 from the rear to the left of the height on which the right division 

 of the British force joined the left of the Spanish, and so many 

 violent attacks were made by the enemy. The ground in front of 

 this position was open, but in many parts intercepted by deep gullies 

 formed by the rain from the mountains, and at that time dry. During 

 the night a second attempt was made. On the evening of the 27th, as 

 soon as the advanced guard was withdrawn, the enemy pushed forward, 

 and about five o'clock commenced a general action by a heavy can- 

 nonade upon the British line, and an attempt to take possession of it 

 was made on this height, of which the French obtained a momentary 

 possession ; but were again repulsed, and pursued with great 

 slaughter nearly to their own lines. In this state of alarm the night 

 was spent ; but, being placed somewhat out of the way, we were 

 comparatively quiet. Bodies of dragoons arid other cavalry were 

 in our immediate neighbourhood, and on our left was a valley run- 

 ning between the height and the mountains, which took the direction 

 of Escalona, well occupied with masses of infantry. The line of the 

 combined army extended nearly three miles, the right flank pro- 

 tected by the Tagus, and the left resting on the height above men- 

 tioned, which commanded the greater part of the field of battle. 



Night had made little difference in our dispositions ; and, when the 

 day broke, the contending parties were to be discovered drawn up 

 in order of battle, as on the preceding evening, within 600 yards of 

 each other. From the rising ground on which we stood, the well- 

 defined lines of the hostile armies were clearly to be distinguished. 

 Cavalry, artillery, and infantry, were drawn up opposite in the 

 greatest precision ; and now and then, we could perceive aides-de- 

 camp riding swiftly off to the different positions, and the glittering 

 uniforms of general officers threading the formidable array. I had 

 scarcely been off my horse during the whole night, and felt far from 

 fresh ; but my company were in fine condition, and, drawn up in close 

 column, the embroidery of their uniforms glittering in the misty 

 morning sun, and their dark feathers streaming in the breeze, cut 

 a most gallant figure. Little was said ; all hands were on our 

 bridles, and our eyes eagerly directed towards the mass of French 

 heavy infantry before us. Nearly an hour elapsed before any thing 

 was done. The vapours of early morning were clearing off, and 

 the hazy sun mounting redly in the pale sky ; but presently, out 



