APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 471 



but slightly. The defeat of this 

 attempt was followed about noon 

 by a general attack with the ene- 

 my's whole force upon the whole 

 of that part of the position occu- 

 pied by the British army. In con- 

 sequence of the repeated attempts 

 upon the height on our left by the 

 valley. I had placed two brigades 

 of British cavahy in that valley, 

 supported in the rear by the due 

 d' Albuquerque's division of Spa- 

 nish cavalry. The enemy then 

 placed light infantry in the range of 

 mountains on the left of the valley, 

 which were opposed by a division 

 of Spanish infantry under lieut- 

 gen. de Bassecourt. The general 

 attack began by the march of seve- 

 ral columns of infantry into the 

 valley, with a view to attack the 

 height occupied by maj.-gen. Hill. 

 These columns were immediately 

 charged by the first German light 

 dragoons, and 23rd dragoons, un- 

 der the command of gen. Anson, 

 directed by lieut.-gen. Payne, and 

 supported by gen. Fane's brigade 

 of heavy cavalry ; and although the 

 23rd dragoons suffered considera- 

 ble loss, the charge had the effect 

 of preventing the execution of that 

 part of the enemy's plan. At the 

 same time he directed an attack 

 upon brig.-gen. Alex. Campbell's 

 position in the center of the com- 

 bined armies, and on the right of 

 the British. This attack was most 

 successfully repulsed by brig.-gen. 

 Campbell, supported by the king's 

 regiment of Spanish cavalry and 2 

 battalions of Spanish infantry; and 

 brig.-gen. Campbell took the ene- 

 my s cannon. The brigadier-gen. 

 mentions particularly the conduct 

 of the 97th, the 2nd battalion 7th, 

 and of the 2nd battalion 53rd regi- 

 ments; and 1 was highly satisfied 



with the manner in which thispait 

 of the position was defended. An 

 attack was also made at the same 

 time upon lieutenant-general Sher- 

 brooke's division, which was on the 

 left and center of the first line of 

 the British army. This attack was 

 most gallantlj' repulsed by a charge 

 with bayonets by the whole divi* 

 sion; but the brigade of guards, 

 which were on the right, having 

 advanced too far, they were expos- 

 ed on their left flank to the fire of 

 the enemy's battery, and of their 

 retiring columns ; and the division 

 was obliged to retire towards the 

 original position, under cover of 

 the 2ndiineof gen.Cotton'sbrigade 

 of cavalry, which I had moved 

 from the center, and of the 1st bat- 

 talion 48th regiment. I had moved 

 this regiment from its original po- 

 sition on the heights, as soon as I 

 observed the advance of the guards, 

 and it was formed in the plain, and 

 advanced upon the enemy, and 

 covered the formation of lieut.-gen. 

 Sherbrooke's division. Shortly 

 after the repulse of this general at- 

 tack, in which, apparently, all the 

 enemy's troops were employed, he 

 commenced his retreat across tho 

 Alberche, which was conducted in 

 the most regular order, and was 

 effected during the night, leaving 

 in our hands twenty pieces of can- 

 non, ammunition, tumbrils, and 

 some prisoners. Your lordship 

 will observe by the inclosed re- 

 turn, the great loss which we have 

 sustained of valuable officers and 

 soldiers in this long and hard- 

 fought action, with more than dou- 

 ble our number : that of the ene- 

 my has been much greater. 1 am 

 informed that entire brigades of in- 

 fantry have been destroyed ; and 

 indeed, the battalions that retreat- 

 ed 



