600 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



at SIX o'clock in the evening, three 

 columns of the enemy mounted the 

 height on our left, gained it, and 

 poured such a nre on the troops be- 

 low, that longer defence was im- 

 practicable, and the whole was 

 obliged to retire on the mountains 

 on our left, leaving open the main 

 road, along which a considerable co- 

 lumn ofcavalry immediately poured. 



The battalion of Seville had been 

 left at Bejar with orders to follow 

 me next day, but when I was oblig- 

 ed to return, and the action com- 

 menced, I ordered it to Puerto Ba- 

 ncs, to watch the Monte Major 

 road, and the heights in the rear of 

 our left. 



When the enemy's cavalry came 

 near, an officer and some dragoons 

 called out to the commanding offi- 

 cer to surrender, but a volley killed 

 him and his party, and then the 

 battalion proceeded to mount the 

 heights, in which movement it was 

 attacked and surrounded by a co- 

 lumn of cavalry and a column of 

 infantry, but cut its way and clear- 

 ed itself, killing a great many of the 

 enemy, especially of his cavalrj'. 



The enemy is now passing to Sa- 

 lamanca with great expedition ; I 

 lament that I could no longer arrest 

 his progress, but, when the enormous 

 superiority of the enemy's force is 

 considered, and that we had no ar- 

 tillery, and that the Puerto de Ba- 

 ncs on the Estremaduran side, is 

 not a pass of such strength as on 

 the side of Castilie, especially with- 

 out guns, I hope that a resistance 

 for nine hours, which must have 

 cost the enemy a great many men, 

 will not be deemed inadequate to 

 our means. 



I have to acknov ledge the ser- 

 vices rendered me on this occasion 



by colonel Grant, major Reiman, 

 don Fermen Marquis, adjutant- 

 major of the dragoons of Pavia, 

 captain Charles and Mr. Bolman; 

 and to express the greatest appro- 

 bation of .two companies of the 

 Merida battalions advanced in front, 

 and of the commanding officer 

 and soldiery of the battalions of Se- 

 ville, and the Portuguese brigade. 

 I have already noticed the distin- 

 guished conduct of don Carlos, 

 and his battalion merits the highest 

 encomiums. 



I have not yet been able to col- 

 lect the returns of our loss. From 

 the nature of mountain warfare, 

 many men are missing who cannot 

 join for a day or two, but I be- 

 lieve the enemy will only have to 

 boast that he has achieved his pas- 

 sage, and his killed and wounded 

 will be a great diminution of his 

 victory. I have the honour to be, 

 &c. Robert Wilson. 



Sir A. Wellesley, 8^c. S^c. 



Truxillo, Aug. 21, 1809. 



General Cuesta moved his head- 

 quarters from the neighbourhood 

 of the bridge of Arzo Bispo on the 

 night of the 7th instant, to Pera- 

 leca de Gaibin, leaving an advanc- 

 ed-guard, consisting of two divi- 

 sions of infantry, and the duke 

 D'Alberquerque's division of ca- 

 valry, for the defence of the pas- 

 sage of the Tagus at this point. 



The French cavalry passed the 

 Tagus at a ford immediately above 

 the bridge, at half-past one in 

 the afternoon of the 8th, and sur- 

 prised this advanced-guard, Miich 

 retired, leaving behind them all 

 their cannon, as well as those in 

 the batteries constructed for the de- 

 fence of the bridge. 



The 



