232 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



could find any of tliem together, 

 directing our march upon Huerta 

 and the fords of the Tormes, by 

 which the enemy had passed on 

 their advance ; but the darkness of 

 the night was highly advantageous 

 to the enemy, many of whom 

 escaped under its cover, who must 

 otherwise have been in our hands. 



I am sorry to report, that owing 

 to this same cause, Lieutenant-Ge- 

 neral Sir Stapleton Cotton was un- 

 fortunately wounded by one of our 

 own centries, after he had halted. 



We renewed the pursuit at 

 break of day in the morning, with 

 the same troops, and Major-Gen. 

 Bock's and Major-General Anson's 

 brigades of cavalry, which joined 

 during the night; and having 

 crossed the Tormes, we came up 

 with the enemy's rear-guard of ca- 

 valry and infantry, near La Serna ; 

 they were immediately attack- 

 ed by the two brigades of dra- 

 goons, and the cavalry fled, leaving 

 the infantry to their fate. I have 

 never witnessed a more gallant 

 charge than was made on the ene- 

 my's infantry by the heavy brigade 

 of the King's German Legion, 

 under Major-General Bock, which 

 was completely successful, and the 

 whole body of infantry, consisting 

 of three battalions of the enemy's 

 tirst division, were made prisoners. 



The pursuit was afterwards con- 

 tinued as far as Penaranda last 

 night ; and our troops are still fol- 

 lowing the flying enemy. Their 

 head-quarters were in this town, 

 not less than ten leagues from the 

 field of battle, for a few hours last 

 night ; and they are now con- 

 siderably advanced on the road 

 towards Valladolid by Arevalo. 

 •They were joined yesterday on their 

 retreat by the cavalry and artillery 



of the army of the North, which 

 have arrived at too late a period, 

 it is to be hoped, to be of much 

 use to them 



It is impossible to form a con- 

 jecture of the amount of the 

 enemy's loss in this action ; but 

 from all reports it is very consider- 

 able. We have taken from them 

 eleven pieces of cannon, several 

 ammunition waggons, two eagles, 

 and six colours ; and one general, 

 three colonels, three lieutenant- 

 colonels, 130 officers of inferior 

 rank, and between six and seven 

 thousand soldiers are prisoners ; 

 and our detachments are sending 

 in more every moment. The 

 number of dead on the field is 

 very large. 



I am informed that Marshal 

 Marmont is badly wounded, and 

 has lost one of his arms ; and that 

 four general officers have been 

 killed, and several wounded. 



Such an advantage could not 

 have been acquired without mate- 

 rial loss on our side ; but it certain- 

 ly has not been of a magnitude to 

 distress the army or to cripple its 

 operations. 



I have great pleasure in report- 

 ing to 3'our lordship, that, through- 

 out this trying day, of which I 

 have related the events, I had every 

 reason to be satisfied with the con- 

 duct of the general officers and 

 troops. 



The relation which I have writ- 

 ten of its events will give a general 

 idea of the share which each in- 

 dividual had in them ; and I cannot 

 say too much in praise of the con- 

 duct of every individual in his 

 station. 



I am much indebted to Marshal 

 Sir Wm. Beresford for his friendly 

 counsel and assistance, both pre- 

 vious 



