578 ANNUAL 
main body, drawn up in two lines, 
prepared to receive us, and even in 
motion to anticipate our approach. 
The enemy’s force apparentlyScon- 
sisted of about 5000 men, the great- 
er proportion of which was cavalry, 
and 23 pieces of cannon, yoked to 
horses, the disposition of which, and 
'the nature of the ground cccupied 
by the enemy’s troops, made it evi- 
dent that they intended to refuse 
their right wing, and with their left 
attempt to turn our right flank ; 
but, to frustrate their design, I 
formed the army into two columns, 
the second brigade, under briga- 
dier-general Ferguson, keeping the 
_ road, whilst the lirst struck to the 
right, asd took the defile of the 
mountains. Having accomplished 
my purpese, our line was formed 
with equal celevity and order; and 
the left wing, composed of the High- 
land brigade was thrown fofward, 
and advanced with the steadiest step, 
under a very heavy fire of round 
shot, grape, and musquetry. No. 
thing could surpass or resist the de- 
termined bravery of the troops, 
headed by their gailant leader, bri- 
gadier-general Ferguson; and the 
number of the enemy who swarmed 
the plain, served only to augment 
their ardour and confirm their disci- 
pline. The enemy received our fire, 
and maintained his position obsti- 
nately, but in the moment of charg- 
ing, the valour of British troops 
bore down all opposition, and 
forced him to a precipitate retreat. 
The first brigade, composed of 
the 24th, 59th, and.S3d regiments, 
and commanded, in the absence of 
brigadier-general Beresford, by 
fieutenant-colonel Baird, was una- 
voidably precluded, by their situa- 
tion, from any considerable partici- 
pation im the triumph of the british 
REGI 
S TER, 
arms, though thé flank companies 
of the 24th had an opportunity of ~ 
distinguishing themselves, in dis- ~ 
lodging a number of horse and rifle. — 
men from the heights on our right — 
flank. ‘This brilliant achievement, 7 
however, was clouded by the Joss of © 
1806. 
gallantry is best recorded in the bo- — 
soms of his brother soldiers, and 
the universal regret of the army. 
It is utterly impossible to convey to — 
your lordship, an adequate idea of 
the obstacles which opposed the ad- — 
vance, and retarded the success of 
our army; but it is my duty to | 
inform your lordship, that the nas — 
ture of the country—a deep, heavy, © 
and hard land, covered with shrubs, 
and scarcely pervious to light bo- | 
dies of infantry ; and above all, the — 
total privation, of water, under the — 
effects of a burning sun, had nearly — 
exhausted our gallant fellows in the | 
moment of victory, and with the i 
: 
: 
J 
t 
utmost difficulty were we able to © 
reach the’ Reit Valley, where we — 
took our position for the night. 
considerable portion of the provi-+ : 
sions and necessaries with which we 
started, had been lost during the 
action, and we occupied our ground, 
under an apprehension that even the | 
great exertions of sir Home Pop- 
ham and the navy, could not relieve — 
us from starvation.’ 
Attér some warm and well-me- | 
rited compliments to the seamen 
for their zealous co-operation, the 
general thus continues :— 
‘+ The loss of the enemy in this 
engagement, is reputed to exceed 
700 men in killed and wounded ; — 
and it is with the most sensible gra- — 
tification, that [ contrast it with the | 
inclosed return of our casualties. 
Your lordship will perceive the 
name of lieutenant-colonel Grant | 
among 
AU 
* 
