184 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



its station in the line, leaving ge- 

 neral Mackenzie, with a division 

 of infantry and a brigade of ca- 

 valry, as an advanced post in the 

 wood on the right of the Alberche, 

 which covered the left flank of the 

 allies. The position taken up by 

 the troops at Taiavera extended 

 rather more than two miles. The 

 ground was open upon the left, 

 where the British army was sta- 

 tioned, and it was commanded by 

 a height, on which there was drawn 

 up in echelon and in second line, a 

 division of infantry under major- 

 general Hill. Between this height 

 and a range of mountains still 

 farther to the left, there was a 

 valley which was not occupied, 

 as it was commanded by the 

 height just mentioned ; and the 

 range of mountains appeared too 

 distant to have any influence on 

 the expected action. The right 

 wing of the allied army, consist- 

 ing of Spanish troops,* extended 

 immediately in front of the town 

 of Taiavera down to the Tagus. 

 This part of the ground was co- 

 vered by olive trees, and much in- 

 tersected by banks and ditches. 

 The high road leading from the 

 bridge over the Alberche, was de- 

 fended by a heavy battery in front 

 of a church, which was occupied 

 by Spanish infantry. All the ave- 

 nues to the town were defejided 

 in a similar manner, and the town 

 itself was occupied. In the center, 

 between the English and Spanish 

 armies, there was a commanding 

 spot of ground on which llie Eng- 

 lish had begun to construct a re- 

 doubt, with some open ground in 

 its rear ; at this spot was posted a 

 division of infantry supported by 

 a brigade of dragoons and some 

 Spanish cavalry. 



At about two o'clock on the 

 27th, an attack was made on the 

 division under general Mackenzie, 

 who gradually fell back in good 

 order, though not without some 

 loss, on the left of the position of 

 the combined armies. Towards the 

 evening the French made an at- 

 tempt to overthrow the Spanish 

 infantry which formed the right 

 wing of the army, but without 

 success. In the dusk of the even- 

 ing the enemy commenced a ge- 

 neral attack on the allies by a 

 cannonade on the left of their 

 position, and by an attempt with 

 his cavalry to overthrow the Spa- 

 nish infantry ; which attempt en- 

 tirely failed. A division was then 

 pushed along the valley on the 

 left of the height occupied by 

 major-general Hill, of which the 

 French gained a momentary pos- 

 session ; but major-general Hill 

 instantly regained it by an attack 

 with the bayonet. This attack was 

 repeated in the night, and again 

 at daylight in the morning of the 

 28th, by two divisions of infantry, 

 but was repulsed by our division 

 under major-general Hill. Nor 

 was the enemy more successful in 

 their attack on general Campbell. 

 They were completely repulsed by 

 that officer, supported by a regi- 

 ment of Spanish cavalry and two 

 battalions of Spanish infantry, and 

 lost their cannon. General Sher- 

 brooke's division, which formed 

 the left and center of the first line 

 of the array, was next attacked. 

 They immediately attacked with 

 bayonets, and drove back the 

 enemy with great slaughter. The 

 brigade of guards, which formed 

 part of this division, in their eager- 

 ness to pursue the enemy, ad- 

 vanced too far, and were thrown 



into 



