THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA. 365 



From this period till about mid-day, the action was chiefly main- 

 tained by the fire of artillery ; that of the enemy being considerably 

 more numerous and of heavier metal than our own. Their shells were 

 thrown with great precision, and did considerable execution. One 

 of our ammunition-waggons was blown up with a tremendous ex- 

 plosion, and we in return dismounted several of their guns, and 

 blew up two of their tumbrels. 



.Our part in the battle had as yet been next to nothing, and our 

 Colonel gave orders for our companies to retire successively into 

 securer ground. I had better opportunities now of witnessing the 

 state of the engagement. The firing ceased for a time on both sides, 

 and the wind blowing off the smoke, disclosed each of the hostile 

 armies : much destruction had been made in their advanced divi- 

 sions; dead men and horses were lying about in considerable quan- 

 tities, and I could perceive the wounded being taken off on both 

 sides to the rear. While engaged in this painful duty, the British 

 and French soldiers shook hands with each other, and expressed their 

 mutual admiration. 



A great deal of activity was to be discerned in the whole length 

 of the enemy's line. Fresh guns were hastened up, fresh bodies 

 of cavalry and infantry changing their dispositions ; generals issuing 

 their orders, and aides flying in various directions. They were 

 forming in the rear several heavy columns of infantry, and another 

 attack was soon to be looked for. 



Just at this moment, an aide gave our commander directions to 

 file off to the left, attended by some bodies of Dragoons, and face a 

 column of French, which was advancing by the valley. The time of 

 action, and danger approached. The cannon again began to thun- 

 der ; fresh clouds rolled over the field of battle, and through the 

 misty shroud, that spread like an immense canopy above and around 

 us, I could vaguely perceive, for my senses were in too much excite- 

 ment to distinguish accurately the whirling gallop of advancing 

 squadrons, the busy artillery-men, changing, pointing, and discharg- 

 ing, the rush of compact brigades, the cocked hats of field-officers,- 

 and clouds of feathered shakoes. The whole scene was one of the 

 most extraordinary activity. I saw, and knew nothing of what took 

 place at even a comparatively speaking small distance. The battle 

 was to me confined to a small space. All beyond was cloud, thun- 

 der, and uncertainty. The French were again advancing in consi- 

 derable numbers, under cover of the whole of their artillery, and 

 bodies of infantry were defiling on our left, in order to cut off that 

 flank. The firing was very hot at all points, and around me the 

 death-dealing bullets were doing full execution. 



The enemy had now pushed forward to the centre of the valley. 

 The engagement in all directions grew warmer and warmer. 

 Wounded officers were every minute being conveyed out of the 

 confusion ; and fresh troops were constantly brought up. A steady 

 and destructive fusilade was kept up by our infantry upon the ad- 

 vancing columns of French ; but so many, and so constant were the 

 charges, and so frequent were the attacks of fresh troops, that some 

 of our advanced lines gave way, and the enemy poured like torrent* 



M.M. No. 10. 3 A 



