1810.} 
_ Allthe roads to Coimbra from the eastward, 
lead over one or the other of these Sierras. 
They are very difficult for the passage of an 
army. the approach to the top of the ridge 
on both sides being mountainous. As -the 
approach of the enemy’s whole army was on 
the ridge of the Mondego, and as it was evi- 
dent that he intended to force our position, 
Lieutenant-géneral Hill crossed that river, 
by a short movement to his left, on the 
morning of the 26th, leaving Colonel le Cor 
with his brigade on the Sierra ce Marcella, to 
cover the right of thearmy; ond Major-gene- 
ral Fane, with his division of Portuguese ca- 
valry, and ther3th light dragoons, in front of 
the Alva, to observe and check the move- 
ments of the enemy’s cavalry on the Monde- 
go. Withthis exception, the whole army 
was collected upon Sieira de Busaco, with 
the British cavalry, ob-erving the plain in 
the rear of its left, andthe road leading from 
Mortagoa to Oporto, through the mountain- 
ous tract which connects the Sierra de Busaco 
with the Sierra de Caramula. DS 
The 8th corps joined the enemy in our 
front on the 26th, but he did not make any 
serious attack on that day. . Lhe light troops 
on both sides were engaged throughout the 
line. 
At six in the. morning of the 27th, the 
enemy mace two desperate attacks upon our 
position, the one on the right, the other on 
the left of the highest point of the Sierra. 
The attack upon the right, was made by two 
divisions of the 2d corps, on that part of the 
Sierra occupied by the 3d division of infantry. 
One division of French infantry. arrived at 
the top of the ridge, when it was attacked in 
the most gallant manner by the 88th. regi- 
ment, under the command of the Honoraple 
Lieutenant-colonel Wallace, and the 45th 
regiment under the command of the Honor- 
able Lieutenant-coionel Meade, and by the 
8th Portuguese regiment under the command 
of Lieutenant-colonel Douglas, dixected by 
Major-genera! Picton. _ , 
These three corps.advanced with the bay- 
onet, and drove the enemy’sdivision from the 
advantageous ground which they had obtain- 
ed. The other division of the 2d corps at- 
tacked further on the right, by the road lead- 
ing by St. Antonio de Cantaro, also in front 
of _Major-general Picton’s division. 
division was repulsed before it could reach the 
top of the ridge, by the 74th regiment under 
the command of the Honorable Lieutenant- 
colonel French, and the brigade of Portu- 
guese infantry, under the command of Colo- 
nel Champeimond, directed by Colonel 
Mackinnon; Major-general Leith also moved 
to his leit, to the support of Major-general 
Picton, and aided in the defeat of the enemy 
on this post, by the 34 battalion royals, the 
ist battalion, and the 2d battalion 38th regi- 
ment. 
In these attacks Major-generals Leith and 
Picton, Colonels Mackinnon and Champel- 
mond of the Portuguese service, who was 
wounded, Lieutenant-colonel Wallace, the 
Honorable Lieutenant-colonel Meade, Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Sution of the gth Portuguese 
regiment, Major Smith of thessthregiment, 
who was unfortunately killed, Licutenant- 
golone! Douglas, and Major Birmingham o¥ 
State of Public Affairs in October. 
ishisns 
| 
$65 
the 8th Portuguese regiment, distinguished’ 
themselves. Major-general Picton reports 
of the gh and 2ist Portuguese regiments, 
commanced by Lieutenant-colonel Satton, 
and by Lieuicnant-colonel deAroujé, Bacel- 
Jar, and of the Portuguese artillery, com- 
manded by Lieutenant-colonel Arentchild, : 
Major General Leith reports the good con- 
duct of the royals, ist battalion gth, and znd 
battalion 38th regiment; and I beg to assure 
your lordship that [ never, witnessed a more 
gallant attack than that mace by the 38th, 
45th, and 8th Portuguese regime. t, on the 
enemy’s division which had reached the ridge 
of the Sierra, | #) dy 
On the left, the enemy attacked with three 
divisions of infantry of the 6th corps,. that 
part ef the Sierra occupied bv the left divi- 
sion, commanded by Brigadier-general Craw= 
furd, and by the brigade of Portuguese 4% 
faniry, commanded by Briyadier-general 
Pack. 
One division of infantry only made any 
‘progress towards the top of the hill, and they 
were immediately charged with the bayonet 
by Brigadier-general C awfurd with the 48th, 
s2d, anu g5th regiments, and the :d Portu- 
guese Cacadores, and driven down with im= 
mense Joss, 
Brigadier-general Clemzn’s brigade of Por~ 
tuguese infantry, which was in reserve, was 
moved up to suppor! the right cf brigadier- 
general Crawfurd’s division, and a battalion 
of the igth Pertugese regiment, » cer the 
command of lieutenant-colonel Macbean, 
mace a gallant anc successful charge upen a 
body of another divisionot the enemy, which 
was endeavouring to penetrate in that quar- 
ten, Bey 
In thisattack Brigacier-general Craw furd, 
Lieutenant-coloneis Beckwith of the «5th, 
and Barclay of the s-d, and the commanding 
officers of the regiments engaged, distin- 
guished themselves. 
Besides these attacks, the light troops of. 
the two armies were envaged thovghout the 
27th, and the,th Portuguese Cocacores, and 
the istand 6ih regiments, cirecied by Bri- 
gadier-general Pack,and comniaiicedby Lieu- 
tenant-colonel de Rego benite, Lieutenapt- 
colone! Hill, and Major Armstrong, she wed 
great steadiness and gallantry. 
The loss sustained by. the enemy-in his 
attack of the 27th has been em mous. 
I understand that the Genesai of civision 
Merle and General Maucin, are wounced ; 
aud General Simon wes takewprisouer by the 
52d regiment, and 3 colonels, 33 oiiceis, and 
25o men. 
The enemy left zeoo killed ujon the field 
of battle, and f understand from the piisone s 
andi deserters, that the loss in wouidedis 
immense, 
[he enemy did not renew his attack ex- 
ceptlig by the fire of bis*ieht troops ofthe 
2sih, but he moved a laige body 6! infantry 
and cavalry from the ieft of his centre to the 
rear, from whence i saw his Cavairy in amareh 
on the road which leads frony Wiorta, ou over 
the mountains towatds Oporto. 
{ bave also to mention in 
manner the conduct of 
the 3%th regumet. 
a particular 
Captain Dansey, of 
Kiaving 
