1811.) 
lity, the firmness, and the gallantry, mani- 
fested by Marshal Sir William Beresford, 
throughout the trangactions ou which he has 
written. I will add nothing to what he has 
said of the conduct of ail the officers and 
troops, excepting to express my admiration 
of it, and my cordial concurrence in the fa- 
Yourable reports by Sir William Beresford, of 
the good conduct of all. 
All has remained quiet in Castile since I 
@uitted that part of the country. 
The battalions of the 9th corps, belonging 
to regiments serving in the corps @ Armée ia 
Andalusia, had marched from Salamanca on 
or about the 15th, and went lowards Avila, 
and were to come by Madrid. 
I send this dispatch by Major Lieutenant- 
@olonel Arbuthnot, the Secretary ot Marshal 
Sir William Beresford, who was present in 
the battle of Albuera, and can give your 
lordship any further information you can re- 
quire; and I beg leave to recommend him to 
your lordship. 
Extract of a letter from Marshal Be- 
resfurd to Lord Wellington, dated Al- 
_ buera, May 16, 1811. 
In conformity to your Jordship’s instruc- 
@ions given to me on the 24th ultimo, in con- 
sequence of the then state of the weather, 
and our means of comimunicatien across the 
Guadiana having been destroyed by thesudden 
flooding of that river, and leaving my cavalry 
in Zafra, Los Santos, ‘and Villa Franca, I 
‘placed the infantry with its head at Almen- 
dralejo, Azuechal, and Villa Alva, where 
were the divisions of Major-general the Hon. 
William Stewart, and Major-general Ha- 
milton; and the Hon. Major general Cole’s 
division with “Brigadier-generel Macden’s 
brigade of cavalry in Merida, the infantry 
“brigade of it commanded by Brigadier-general 
Kemmis, and that’ was intended for the attack 
of Fort Saint Cristoval, at Montejo, and the 
light brigade German Legion under Major- 
general Baron Alten, at Talavera Real, 
leaving the ‘light battelion L.L. Legion in 
Olivenca, during the period of waiting the 
fall of the water of the Guadiana, and the re- 
establichment of our bridge, it being of con- 
siderable importance to push the enemy from 
us as far as possible during the siege, as he 
dad On onr obliging him-to retire from Lle- 
vena to Guadalcanal held the latter place. 
J directed a small column of ¥000 men, 
composed of the st brigade Yd division, un- 
@er the command of Lieutenant colonel Col- 
_ borie, with two squadrons of cavalry and two 
Spanish four-puunders, to proceed from 
Almendralejo by Ribera and Maguilla, to 
Azuaga, to threaten his right, sending at 
‘The'sume time four squadrons of cavalry trom 
Biigadier-general Long, at Villa Franca, to ’ 
Licrena,. to support the Count de Penne Vil- 
Jamut, who wee then with the “Spanish ca- 
valsyof General Castanos corps, to make 
- hjm fear an wtcack in, front, aad Geberal 
aes] 
kal 
State of Public Affairs tn June 
568 
Ballasteros went from Monasterio to Monte- 
molin to threaten his Jeft. ‘These mancu- 
vres had the desired effect; as soonas the 
enemy saw the advance of Lieutenant-coloned 
Colborne, near Azuaga, where he had 500 
infantry and 300 cavalry, he abandoned pres 
cipitately the place, and retired to Guadal- 
canal, which place the General Latour Mau- 
bosrg, with the 5th corps, quitted in two 
hours after the 'arrival of this detachment, 
and at eleven o’clock at night, retired neas 
to Constantino, Lieutenant-colonel Cole 
borne performed this service in a most judi 
cious and handsome manner. 
The weather having beensometime fine, ané 
the waters of the Guadianahaying subsided, and 
our preparatioas having by Lieutenant- colone’ 
Fletcher’s activity been nearly completed for 
the siege of Badajoz, onthe 3d of May i 
sent three brigades of infancry, a hrigade of 
six-pounders, and two squadrons of cavalry, 
under the erders of Major-general the Hon, 
‘William Stewart, to. invest more close Bada- 
joz, on the south of the river, which he pere 
formed, with his usual zeal and attention, on 
the 4th. On the Gth instant, I directed the 
march of the remaining divisions on Badajoz 
one by Albuera, the other by Talavera, 
leaying the cavalry as before placed. Qa 
the 7th I came before Badajoz with these di- 
visions. General Castanos furnished also t@ 
co-operate in the siege 2000 men, under the 
command of Brigadier Don Carlos D’Espagne, 
On the 8th I directed the brigade of Brigzae 
dier-general Kemmis, which had been pre- 
viously placed on the Chebora, to proceed to 
the Torre of St. Ingracia, about two mileg 
from Badajoz, on the Campo Major Road, 
and to be joined there by the 17th Portuguese 
regiment, two squadrons of cavalry, and four 
six-pounders from Elvas; the force to meet 
at three o’clock in the morning, and the 
whole to be placed under the orders of the 
Hon. Major general Lumley, to invest the 
north side, and to attack Fort St. Cristoval. 
By some accident to the bearer of the orders 
to Brigadier-general Kemmis, ‘the officer did 
not arrive at his post till mine o'clock, the 
Hon. Major-general Lumley on the approach 
of the light companies of the brigade, advan 
cing towards the town, with the force he 
brought from Elvas, the garrison made asore 
tie upon it, but was immediately drove back, 
and the grenadiers of the 17th regiment pare 
ticularly distinguished themselves by charging 
the enemy, headed by Colonel Turner. : 
On the 8th, Lieutenant. colonel Fletchers 
to protect the further approaches, constructed 
batreriee against the Pardalleiras aud Pique- 
rino, on the heights, commanding them, 
though at~a considerable distance; and Cap- 
_tain Squire, whom the lieutenant-colonel had 
sent to superintend the works intended to be 
erected against Saint Cristoval, began his 
operations on the 8th. “The breaking ground 
an that side immediately caused great jealousy, 
to the enemy, and he opposed it bya most 
heavy fire of shot and shell, and, on the 
morning 
ot, 
