1908.] 
Bowes’s and Ackland’s brigades, while Briga- 
dier- General Craufurd’s brigade, and the Por- 
tuguese troops, in-two lines, advanced along 
the height on the leit. In the advance of 
Major-General Ferguson's brigade, six ,pieces 
of cannon were taken from the enemy, with 
many prisoners, and vast numbers were killed 
and wounded, 
_ The enemy afterwards made an attempt to 
recover a part of his artillery, by attacking 
the 71st and 82d regiments, which were halted 
in a valley in which it had beentaken. These 
regiments retired from the low grounds in the 
valley to the heighrs, where they halted, faced 
about, fired, and advanced upon the enemy, 
who had by that time arrived in the low 
ground, and they thus obliged him again to 
retire with great loss. 
In this action, in which the whole of the 
French force in Portugal was employed, under 
the command of the Duke D’ Abrantes in per- 
Son, in which the enemy was certainly su- 
perior in cavalry and artillery, and in which 
not more than half of the British army was 
‘actually engaged, he has sustained a signal de- 
feat, and has lost thirteen pieces of cannon, 
twenty - three ammunition - waggons, with 
powder, shells, stores of all descriptions, and 
twenty thousand rounds of musket ammuni- 
tion. One general officer (Beniere) has been 
wounded and taken prisoner,and a great many 
officors and soldiers have been killed, wounded, 
and taken. 
The valour and discipline of his Majesty’s 
troops have been conspicugus upon this occa- 
sion, as you, who witnessed the greatest part 
of the action, must have observed; but it is 
a justice to the following corps to draw your 
notice to them in a particular manner; viz. 
—the Royal Artillery, commanded by Lieure- 
nant-Colonel Robe; the 20th dragoons, which 
had been commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Taylor; the 50th regiment, commanded by 
Colonel Walker; the Yd battalion, 94th foot, 
commanded by Major Travers; the 5th bat- 
talion, 60th regiment, commanded by Major 
Davy; the 2d battalion, 43d, commanded by 
Major Hull; the 2d battalion, 5¢d, com- 
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Ross; the 97th 
regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lyon; the Soth regiment, commanded by 
Colonel Burne; the 40ch, commanded by 
Colonel Kemmis; the 71st, commanded by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Pack; and the 82d regi- 
Ment, commanded by Major Eyre 
Ja mentioning Colonel Burne, and tne 36th 
regiment to you upon this occasion, J cannot 
avoid to add, that the regular and orderly con- 
ct of this corps throughout this service, and 
their gallantry and discipline in action, have 
been conspicuous, 
IT must take this opportpnity of acknow- 
ledging my obligations to the General and 
Staff officers of the army. IL was much in- 
dedted to Major-General Spencer's judgment 
and experience, in the decision which I formed 
with respect to the number of troops allotted 
fo euch point of defence ; and for his advice 
Victory of Vinuera, 
Q75 
and assistance throughout the action. In the 
position taken up by Major-General Ferguson's 
brigade, and in its advance upon the enemy, 
that officer shewed equal bravery and judg- 
ment; and much praise is dug to Brigadier; 
General Fane, and Brigadier-General Anstrue 
ther, for their gallant defence of their posi- 
tion in front of Vimiera, and to Brigadier-Ge- 
neral Nightingale, for the manner in which 
he supported .the attack upon the enemy, 
made by IMajor- General Ferguson, 
Lieutenant-Colonel G. Tucker, and Lieute- 
nant Colonel Bathurst, and the two officers in 
the departments of tbe Adjutant and Quarters 
Master-General, and Lieutenant- Colonel Tore 
rens, and the officers of my personal staff, ren+ 
dered me the greatest assistance throughout 
the action. Jf have the honour to inclose 
herewith a return of the killed, wounded, 
and missing. Iam, &c. 
(Signed) ARTHUR WELLESLEY. 
N.B. Since writing the above, I have been 
informed that a French General-officer, sup- 
posed to be General Thebault, the chief of 
the staff, has been found dead upon the field 
of battle. A.W 
Return of killed, quoynded, and missing. 
1 lieutenant-coionel, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 
3 serjeants, 128 rank and file, 30 horses, 
killed; 3 majors, 10 captains, 19 lieutes 
nants, 3 ensigns, 2 staff, 27 serjeants, 4 
drummers, 466 rank and file, 1% horses, 
wounded; 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ser 
jeant, 2 drummers, 46 rank and file, 4 
horse, missing. | 
Return of ordnance and ammunition taken in the 
action of the 21st of August. 
1 six-pounder, 4 four-pounders, 2 threes 
pounders, 6 five and half inch howitzers.—s | 
2 ammunition waggons.—-21 Portuguece 
ammunition cars.—-40 horses.—4 mules, 
The above is only the number already re- 
ceived in the park ; but, from several accounts, 
there are eight more taken from the enemy, 
The ammunition waggons and cars contain a 
portion of powder, shells, and stores, of all 
descriptions, and about 20,000 lbs. of musket 
ammunition. ‘ 
A Dispatch, of which the following is a 
Copy, was received on the 15th of Sep- 
tember, from Liecutenant-General Sir 
Hev Dalrymple, commanding His Ma- 
jesty’s troops in Portugal, addressed to 
Lord Viscount Castlereagh, one of His 
Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, 
and brought by Captain Dalrymple, Mi- 
litary Secretary to Sir Hew Dalrymple. 
Headquarters, Cintra, September 3, 1808. 
My Lozp,—I have the honour to ins 
form your lordship, that I landed in Portu- 
gal, and took the command of the army, 
on Monday, the 22d of Auguft, the next 
day after the battle of Vimiera, and where 
the enemy fuftained a fignal defeat ; where 
the valour and difcipline of Britith troops, 
and the talents of British officers, were emi- 
nently difplayed. A few 
