256 
INGILBY DIARY. 
± 016 , 
July 22 nd. The French still continued to threaten our rights and in consequence 
we made a lateral movement to the right and took up a position, 
having in front the two hills called the Arapiles, one of which we 
occupied and the other was seized by the French. The Light Division 
was on the left of one line, the 6th in the centre with the Arapiles 
immediately before it, and that in our possession was occupied by 
General Parke's Brigade of Portuguese. The 1st Division was not 
yet in line, but was on the right of the 6th and rather in reserve. 
The remainder of the Army made movements corresponding to the 
French, who, by extending their left, continued to threaten our right. 
The Hussars and Light Troops skirmished with the enemy's left, and 
the cannonade had began down the whole front of the line. About 
8 o'clock in the afternoon the 1st Division at a brisk pace made a 
movement in close column to attack, but that being suddenly counter- 
ordered, the Division directly occupied the position of the 6th Division, 
which quitted its ground rapidly in open column, wheeled into line 
on the spot we had just left and advanced to attack the centre of the 
French line, which was weakened by the over-extending of its left. 
General Pack at the same moment descended from his post, and, 
with his Portuguese, ascended to attack the Arapiles that was imme¬ 
diately in his front, and on which the French had got some artillery 
that swept our whole line. The Portuguese advanced to within musket 
shot of the crest of the hill, but were suddenly driven back and over¬ 
whelmed by the fire of the French, who had screened their force on the 
slope of the opposite side of the hill. These two Arapiles stood on the 
plain distinct from each other, quite isolated and without connection 
with any other heights whatever. I was advanced to sustain the 
defeated Portuguese with two pieces, a gun and howitzer. The 6th 
Division carried all before them, and, the Divisions on the right making 
a simultaneous advance, the whole left wing and centre of the French 
Army then giving way were thrown into confusion, which soon turned 
into a complete. flight. The Light and 1st Divisions advanced to 
attack their right, but the retreat had become general and night put a 
stop to the pursuit. We bivouacked on the ground. 
„ 23rd. At daylight, in the morning, we began our march, but having received 
no orders in the night and without intelligence of the route the French 
had taken, the General was at first uncertain which road to pursue 
with his Division. 
About 10 o'clock in the morning we came up with our most ad¬ 
vanced troops, the Brigade of German Heavy Cavalry that had just 
executed a bold charge and obliged 150 infantry of the rear-guard of 
the French to lay down their arms. The cavalry had several officers 
and many of the dragoons killed, but acquired a great reputation. A 
squadron of Light Dragoons, followed by all the infantry, continued the 
pursuit. We kept pace with the dragoons, mounting the gunners on 
the gun-carriages, and, outstripping the infantry, came up with their 
rear-guard again. The French squadrons threatened to charge, the 
Commander-in-Chief dismounted, threw himself amongst our guns, and 
directed our fire personally. Had the French known the circumstance, 
it was not difficult to have captured him, but they stopped short at grape 
