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During these movements there have been occasional cannonades, but without loss on our side.

I have this morning moved the left of the army to the Tormes, where the whole are now concentrated; and I observe that the enemy have also moved towards the same river, near Huerta.

The enemy's object hitherto has been, to cut off my communication with Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo. The enemy abandoned and destroyed the fort of Mirabete, on the Tagus, on the 11th instant; and the garrison marched to Madrid to form part of the army of the centre. They were reduced to five days provision.

I enclose a return of the killed and wounded on the 18th instant.

Flores de Avila, July 24. My aid-de-camp, Capt. Lord Clinton, will present to your lordship this account of a victory which the allied troops under my command gained in a general action fought near Salamanca on the evening of the 22d instant, which I have been under the necessity of delaying to send till now, having been engaged ever since the action in the pursuit of the enemy's flying troops.

In my letter of the 21st I informed your lordship, that both armies were near the Tormes; and the enemy crossed that river with the greatest part of his troops in the afternoon by the fords between Alba de Tormes and Huerta, and moved by their left towards the roads leading to Ciudad Rodrigo.

The allied army, with the exception of the third division, and General D'Urban's cavalry, likewise crossed the Tormes in the evening by the bridge of Salamanca, and the fords in the neighbourhood; and I placed the troops in a position of which the right was upon one of the two heights call ed Des Arapiles, and the left on the

Tormes below the fórd of Santa Mar tha.

The third division and Brigadier General D'Urban's cavalry were left at Cabrerizes, on the right of the Tormes, as the enemy had still a large corps on the heights above Babilafu-* ente, on the same side of the river; and I considered it not improbable, that finding our army prepared for them in the morning, on the left of the Tormes, they would alter their plan and manœuvre by the other bank.

In the course of the night of the 21st, I received intelligence, of the truth of which I could not doubt, that General Chauvel had arrived at Pollos on the 20th, with the cavalryand horse artillery of the army of the north, to join Marshal Marmont; and I was quite certain that these troops would join him on the 22d or 23d at the latest.

During the night of the 21st, the enemy had taken possession of the vil lage of Calvarasa de Ariba, and of the height near it, called Nuestra Senora de la Pena, our cavalry being in possession of Calvarasa de Abaxo; and shortly after day-light detachments from both armies attempted to obtain possession of the more distant from our right of the two hills called Dos Arapiles.

The enemy, however, succeeded, their detachment being the strongest, and having been concealed in the woods nearer the hill than we were, by which success they strengthened materially their own position, and had in their power increased means of annoying our's.

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In the morning, the light troops the 7th division, and the 4th caçadores belonging to General Pack's brigade, were engaged with the enemy on the height called Nuestra Senora de la Pena; on which height they maintained themselves with the enemy throughout the day. The possession by the ene

may, however, of the more distant of the Arapiles, rendered it necessary for me to extend the right of the army in potence to the heights behind the vil lage of Arapiles, and to occupy that village with light infantry; and here I placed the 4th division under the command of the Hon. Lieut.-General Cole; and although, from the variety of the enemy's movements, it was difficult to form a satisfactory judgment of his intentions, I considered that, upon the whole, his objects were upon the left of the Tormes. I therefore ordered the honourable Major-General Pakenham, who commanded the 3d division in the absence of Lieut. General Picton, on account of ill health, to move across the Tormes with the troops under his command, including Brigadier-General D'Urban's cavalry, and to place himself behind Aldea Tejada, Brigadier-General Bradford's brigade of Portuguese infantry, and Don Carlos D'Espana's infantry, having been moved up likewise to the neighbourhood of Las Torres, between the 3d and 4th division.

After a variety of evolutions and movements, the enemy appears to have determined upon his plan about two in the afternoon; and under cover of a very heavy cannonade, which, however, did us but very little damage, he extended his left, and moved forward his troops, apparently with an intention to embrace, by the position of his troops, and by his fire, our post on that of the two Arapiles which we possess ed, and from thence to attack and break our line; or, at all events, to render difficult any movement of our's to our right.

The extension of his line to his left, however, and its advance upon our right, notwithstanding that his troops still occupied very strong ground, and his position was well defended by cannon, gave me an opportunity of attacking him, for which I had long

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been anxious. I reinforced our right with the 5th division, under Lieutenant-General Leith, which I placed behind the village of Arapiles, on the right of the 4th division; and with the 6th and 7th divisions in reserve; and as soon as these troops had taken their stations, I ordered the honourable Major-General Pakenham to move forward with the 3d division, and Gen. D'Urban's cavalry, and two squadrons of the 14th light dragoons, under Lieut.Colonel Hervey, in four columns, to turn the enemy's left on the heights; while Brigadier-Gen. Bradford's brigade, the 5th division, under Lieutenant-General Leith, the 4th division, under the honourable Lieut.-General Cole, and the cavalry, under Lieut.General Sir Stapleton Cotton, should attack them in front, supported in reserve by the 6th division, under Major-General Clinton, the 7th division, under Major-General Hope, and Don Carlos D'Espana's Spanish division, and Brigadier-General Pack, should support the left of the 4th division, by attacking that of the Dos Arapiles, which the enemy held. The 1st and light divisions occupied the ground on the left, and were in reserve.

The attack upon the enemy's left Iwas made in the manner above described, and completely succeeded. Major-General the honourable Edward Pakenham formed the third division across the enemy's flank, and overthrew every thing opposed to him. These troops were supported in the most gallant style by the Portuguese cavalry under Brigadier Gen. D'Urban, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hervey's squadrons of the 14th, who successfully defeated every attempt made by the enemy on the flank of the third division.

Brigadier-Gen. Bradford's brigade, the 5th and 4th divisions, and the cavalry under Lieut.-Gen. Sir Stapleton Cotton, attacked the enemy in front,

and drove his troops before them from one height to another, bringing for ward their right, so as to acquire strength upon the enemy's flank, in proportion to the advance. BrigadierGeneral Pack made a very gallant at tack upon the Arapiles, in which, how. ever, he did not succeed, excepting in diverting the attention of the enemy's corps placed upon it, from the troops under the command of Lieutenant-General Cole, in his advance.

The cavalry under Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton made a most gallant and successful charge against a body of the enemy's infantry, which they overthrew and cut to pieces. In this charge Major-General Le Marchant was killed at the head of his brigade; and I have to regret the loss of a most noble officer.

After the crest of the height was carried, one division of the enemy's infantry made a stand against the 4th division, which, after a severe contest, was obliged to give way, in consequence of the enemy having thrown some troops on the left of the 4th division, after the failure of BrigadierGeneral Pack's attack upon the Arapiles, and the honourable Lieut.-General Cole having been wounded.

Marshal Sir William Beresford, who happened to be on the spot, directed Brigadier-General Spry's brigade of the 5th division, which was in the second line, to change its front, and to bring its fire on the flank of the enemy's division; and, I am sorry to add, that while engaged in this service, he received a wound, which I am apprehensive will deprive me of the benefit of his counsel and assistance for some time. Nearly about the same time, Lieutenant-General Leith received a wound, which unfortunately obliged him to quit the field. I ordered up the 6th division, under Major-General Clinton, to relieve the 4th, and the

battle was soon restored to its former success.

The enemy's right, however, reinforced by the troops which had fled from his left, and by those which had now retired from the Arapiles, stiil continued to resist; and I ordered the 1st and light divisions, and Colonel Stubbs's Portuguese brigade of the 4th division, which was re-formed, and Major-General William Anson's brigade, likewise of the 4th division, to turn the right, while the 6th division, supported by the 3d and 5th, attacked the front. It was dark before this point was carried by the 6th division, and the enemy fled through the woods towards the Tormes. I pursued them with the 1st and light divisions, and Major-General William Anson's brigade of the 4th division, and some squadrons of cavalry under Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, as long as we could find any of them together, directing our march upon Huerta and the fords of the Tormes, by which the enemy had passed on their advance; but the darkness of the night was highly advantageous to the enemy, many of whom escaped under its cover, who must otherwise have been in our hands.

I am sorry to report, that owing to this same cause, Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton was unfortunately wounded by one of our own sentries, after he had halted.

We renewed the pursuit at break of day in the morning, with the same troops, and Major General Bock's and Major-General Anson's brigades of cavalry, which joined during the night; and having crossed the Tormes, we came up with the enemy's rear-guard of ca valry and infantry near La Serna; they were immediately attacked by the two brigades of dragoons, and the cavalry fled, leaving the infantry to their fate. I have never witnessed a more gallant

charge than was made on the enemy's infantry by the heavy brigade of the King's German legion, under MajorGeneral Bock, which was completely successful, and the whole body of infantry, consisting of three battalions of the enemy's first division, were made prisoners.

The pursuit was afterwards continued as far as Penaranda last night; and our troops are still following the flying enemy. Their head-quarters

were in this town, not less than ten leagues from the field of battle, for a few hours last night; and they are now considerably advanced on the road towards Valladolid by Arevalo. They were joined yesterday on their retreat by the cavalry and artillery of the army of the north, which have arrived at too late a period, it is to be hoped, to be of much use to them.

It is impossible to form a conjecture of the amount of the enemy's loss in this action; but from all reports it is very considerable. We have taken from them eleven pieces of cannon, several ammunition waggons, two eagles, and six colours; and one general, three colonels, three lieutenant-colonels, 130 officers of inferior rank, and between six and seven thousand soldiers are pri soners; and our detachments are sending in more every moment. The number of dead on the field is very large.

I am informed that Marshal Marmont is badly wounded, and has lost one of his arms; and that four general officers have been killed, and several wounded.

Such an advantage could not have been acquired without material loss on our side; but it certainly has not been of a magnitude to distress the army or to cripple its operations.

I have great pleasure in reporting to your lordship, that, throughout this trying day, of which I have related the events, I had every reason to be

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The relation which I have written of its events will give a general idea of the share which each individual had in them; and I cannot say too much in praise of the conduct of every individual in his station.

I am much indebted to Marshal Sir Wm. Beresford for his friendly counsel and assistance, both previous to and during the action; to Lieutenant-Generals Sir Stapleton Cotton, Leith, and Cole, and Major-Generals Clinton, and the Hon. Edward Pakenham, for the manner in which they led the divisions of cavalry and infantry under their command respectively; to Major-General Hulse, commanding a brigade in the sixth division; Major-General G. Anson, commanding a brigade of cavalry; Colonel Hinde; Colonel the Hon. Wm. Ponsonby, commanding Major-General Le Marchant's brigade, after the fall of that officer; to Major-General William Anson, commanding a brigade in the 4th division; Major-General Pringle, commanding a brigade in the 5th division, and the division after Lieutenant-General Leith was wounded; Brigadier-Gen. Bradford, Brigadier-General Spry, Colonel Stubbs, and Brigadier-General Power of the Portuguese service; likewise to Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell of the 94th, commanding a brigade in the 3d division; Lieut.-Colonel Williams, of the 60th foot; Lieut.-Colonel Wallace, of the 88th, commanding a brigade in the 3d division; LieutenantColonel Ellis, of the 23d, commanding General the Hon. Edward Pakenham's brigade in the 4th division, during his absence in the command of the 3d division; the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Greville, of the 38th regiment, commanding Major-General Hay's brigade in the 5th division, during his absence on leave; Brigadier-General Pack

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Brigadier General the Conde de Re zendi, of the Portuguese service; Co lonel Douglas, f the 8th Portuguese regament; Lieut. Colonel the Conde de Ficalho, of the same regiment; and Luutena t-Colonel Bingham, of the 53d regiment; likewise to BrigadierGueral d'Urban and Lieut.-Colonel Hervey, of the 14th light dragoons; Colonel Lord Edward Somerset, commanding the 4th dragoons; and Lieut.Colonel the Hon. Frederick Ponsonby, commanding the 12th light dragoons.

I must al o mention LieutenantColonel Woodford, commanding the light battalion of the brigade of guards, who, supported by two companies of the fusileers, under the command of Captain Crowder, maintained the village of Arapiles against all the efforts of the enemy, previous to the attack upon their position by our troops.

In a case in which the conduct of all has been conspicuously good, 1 regret that the necessary limits of a dis patch prevent me from drawing your lordship's notice to the conduct of a larger number of individuals; but I can assure your lordship, that there was no officer of corps engaged in this action, who did not perform his duty by his sovereign and his country.

The royal and German artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Framingham, distinguished themselves by the accuracy of their fire wherever it was possible to use them; and they advan ced to the attack of the enemy's position with the same gallantry as the other troops.

I am particularly indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel de Lansy, the deputy quarter-master general, the head of the department present in the ab sence of the quarter-master general, and to the officers of that department, and of the staff corps, for the assist ance I received from them, particularly the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel

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Dundas, and Lieutenant Colonel Stur geon of the latter, and Major Scoyell of the former; and to Lieutenant-CoJonel Waters, at present at the head of the adjutant general's department, and to the officers of that department, as well at head-quarters as with the several divisions of the army; and Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Fitzroy Somerset, and the officers of my personal staff. Among the latter i particularly request your lordship to draw the attention of his royal highness the prince regent to his serene highness the hereditary prince of Orange, whose conduct in the field, as well as upon every other occasion, entitles him to my highest commendation, and has acquired for him the respect and regard of the whole army.

I have had every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the Mariscal del Campo Don Carlos d'Espagna, and of Brigadier Don Julian Sanchez, and with that of their troops under their command respectively; and with that of the Mariscal del Campo Don Miguel Alava, and of Brigadier Don Joseph O'Lawler, employed with this army by the Spanish government, from whom, and from the Spanish authorities, and people in general, I received every assistance I could expect.

It is but justice likewise to draw your lordship's attention, upon this occasion, to the merits of the officers of the civil departments of the army. Notwithstanding the increased distance of our operations from our magazines, and that the country is completely exhausted, we have hitherto wanted nothing owing to the diligence and atten tion of commissary-general Mr Bisset, and the officers of the department under his direction.

I have likewise to mention, that by the attention and ability of Doctor Mac Gregor, and of the officers of the department under his charge, our

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