APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



145 



Adam took up the ground in our 

 ■ position which had been allotted 

 to him. 



On the 13th, at noon, the ene- 

 my's columns of attack were form- 

 ed, composed of three divisions 

 of infantry, a corps of cavalry of 

 about 1,600 menj and a formidable 

 train of artillery. 



The position of the allied army 

 was extensive. The left was posted 

 on a strong range of hills, occupied 

 by major general Whittingham's 

 . division of Spanish troops, and the 

 advance of the allied army under 

 . col. Adam. 



This range of hills terminates at 

 Castalla, which, and the ground to 

 . the right, was occupied by major- 

 ; general Mackenzie's division, and 

 . the 5Sth regiment, from that of 

 , lleut.-general Clinton. 



The remainder of the position 

 was covered by a strong ravine, 

 -j behind which lieut.-general Clin- 

 ton was stationed, supported by . 

 three battalions of general Roche's 

 division, as a column of reserve. 



A few batteries had been con- 

 structed in this part of the line, 

 and in front of the castle of Cas- 

 . talla. The enemy necessarily ad- 

 . vanced on the left of the position. 

 . The first movement he made, was 

 . to pass a strong body of cavalry 

 . along the line, threatening our 

 . right, which was refused. Of this 

 movement no notice was taken ; 

 the ground to which he was point- 

 ing is unfavourable to cavalry, and 

 __ as this movement was foreseen, the 

 .necessary precautions had been 

 taken : when this body of cavalry 

 t bad passed nearly the iialf of our 

 line of infantry, marshal Suchet 

 advanced his columns to the foot 

 . of the hills, and certainly his troops, 

 with a degree of gallantry that en- 

 VoL. LV. 



titles them to the highest praise, 

 stormed the whole line, which is 

 not less than two miles and a half 

 in extent. But gallantly as the 

 attack was made, the defence of 

 the heights was no less brilliant ; at 

 every point the enemy was re- 

 pulsed, at many with the bayonet. 

 He sufl'ered a very severe loss ; 

 our gallant troops pursued him for 

 some distance, and drove him, 

 after a severe struggle, with preci- 

 pitation on his battalions of re- 

 serve upon the plain. The cavalrj', 

 which had slowly advanced along 

 our right, gradually fell back to 

 the infantry. At present his su- 

 periority in that arm enabled him 

 to venture this movement, which 

 otherwise he should have severely 

 repented. 



Having united his shattered bat- 

 talions with those which he kept 

 in reserve. Marshal Suchet took up 

 his position in the valley ; but which 

 it would not have been creditable 

 to allow him to retain. I there- 

 fore decided on quitting mine, 

 still, however, retaining theheights, 

 and formed the allied army in his 

 front, covering my right flank with 

 the cavalry, whilst the left rested 

 on the hilis. The army advanced 

 in two lines to attack liim a con- 

 siderable distance, but unfortu- 

 nately marshal Suchet did not 

 choose to risk a second action, 

 with the defile in his rear. 



The lines of the allies were 

 scarcely formed when he began 

 his retreat, and we could effect 

 nothing more than driving the 

 French into the pass with defeat, 

 which they had exultingly passed 

 in the morning. The action ter- 

 minated at dusk, ivith a distant 

 but heavy cannonade. 



I am sorry to say that I have no 



