ushed forwards, after giving them 
close fire, with huzzas of victory, 
d forced the troops in our front 
o break and fly in every direction. 
he enemy’s Icft being thus broke 
and routed, the right and central 
hewed a disposition to retire, which 
they soon after did in tolerable or- 
der, covered by their cavalry; the 
78th and light infantry, being the 
‘Jonly corps permitted to pursue 
‘}them, which was.done for upwards 
‘lof three miles, taking numbers of 
'} prisoners. 
The enemy are said to have lost, 
before they entirely left the field, 
about 2,500 in killed, wonnded, 
and taken prisoners, among whom 
was included general Compere, who 
commanded their left, and led their 
attack, and by his, acknowledgment 
the French force exceeded 6000. 
Our total Igss is under 300 killed 
and veaund, of which number the 
78th lost one-third. Oursmall loss 
must be attributed to the prompti- 
tude and energy of the charge by 
the light infantry, 78th, and 81st, 
which so early confounded general 
Regnier and his whole army. The 
corps on the left of our army were 
but: partially engaged, but by all 
accounts shewed excellent-discipline 
in the manceuvres that were neces- 
sary to check the enemy’s advance 
on that flank. ; 
The result of this signal victory 
places Lower Calabria not only in 
_ our immediate possession, but, as | 
understand, from the strength of 
the country, furnishes the apparent 
means, io strong posts and passes, 
_ of preserving it. Regnier is said to 
have collected the debris of his army 
_ about thirty miles distant, on the 
_ Adriatic. One thousand more pri- 
_ soners and deserters have, however, 
joined us since the action, and his 
CHARACTERS. 
925 
present army are said to be so dispi- 
rifed by the rough handling they 
haye received, as to. be not so ma- 
nageable as they ought to be. It is 
singular, that it was the 42d regi. 
ment of the French line, that op. 
posed and were put to flight by the 
78th regiment; most of the corps 
have been killed, wounded, or taken 
prisoners, 
rhe commander in chief himself, 
who, witnessed the whole, addressed 
the 78th in the field, in the most 
flattering manner, on their distin- 
guished bravery and discipline, (as 
he termed it) and said that he would 
petition his majesty for a badge of 
commemoration. 1 trust that our 
countrymen at home will be grati- 
fied to find that your Highlanders 
have supported their general mili- 
tary character in this part of the 
world, MajorStewart, from whom 
I had received essential assistance in 
the commencement of the action, : 
received a severe wound in the arm ; 
captains M‘Pherson and M‘Gregor ; 
lieutenant Mackay; ensigns Colin 
Mackenzie and M‘Gregor, are also 
severely wounded, but none of them 
dangerously, and are now doing 
very well, and never guitted the 
field while the battle lasted. They, 
as well as all my officers, have my 
eternal thanks and: gratitude for the 
valuable military qualities they exhi- 
bited, independent of personal bra- 
very. Our colours bear very de- 
cided and honourable marks of the 
engagement, being torn and shot 
through with shell splinters, grape, 
and musketry. 
I was wounded towards the con- 
clusion of the action, by a rifle-ball, 
which grazed my left side, within a 
quarter of an inch of my heart ; the 
shot nearly unhorsed me; a ser- 
jeant of the grenadiers supported 
my - 
