tween the double fire of the mistaken troops, arrested that mischief; while Cole, with the Fusileers, flanked by a battalion of the Lusitanian legion under Colonel Hawkeshawe, mounted the hill, dispersed the lancers, recovered the captured guns, and appeared on the right of Houghton's brigade exactly as Abercrombie passed it on the left.

"Such a gallant line, issuing from the midst of the smoke, and rapidly separating itself from the confused and broken multitude, startled the enemy's heavy masses, which were increasing and pressing onwards as to an assured victory; they wavered, hesitated, and then vomiting forth a storm of fire, hastily endeavoured to enlarge their front, while a fearful discharge of grape from all their artillery, whistled through the British ranks. Myers was killed; Cole, and three colonels, Ellis, Blakeney, and Hawkeshawe, fell wounded; and the Fusileer battalions, struck by the iron tempest, reeled and staggered like sinking ships. Suddenly and sternly recovering, they closed on their terrible enemies; and then was seen with what a strength and majesty the British soldier fights.

"In vain did Soult, by voice and gesture, animate his Frenchmen; in vain did the hardiest veterans, extricating themselves from the crowded columns, sacrifice their lives to gain time for the mass to open out on such a fair field; in vain did the mass itself bear up, and fiercely striving, fire indiscriminately upon friends and foes, while the horsemen, hovering on the flank, threatened "to charge the advancing line. Nothing could stop that astonishing infantry; no sudden burst of undisciplined valour, no nervous enthusiasm, weakened the stability of their order: their flashing eyes

were bent on the dark columns in their front; their measured tread shook the ground; their dreadful volleys swept away the head of every formation; their deafening shouts overpowered the dissonant cries that broke from all parts of the tumultuous crowd, as foot by foot and with a horrid carnage it was driven by the incessant vigour of the attack, to the farthest edge of the hill. In vain did the French reserves, joining with the struggling multitude, endeavour to sustain the fight; their efforts only increased the irremediable confusion, and the mighty mass giving way like a loosened cliff, went headlong down the ascent. The rain flowed after in streams discoloured with blood, and 1,500 unwounded men, the remnant of 6,000 unconquerable British soldiers, stood triumphant on the fatal hill !"

Lord Wellington reached the army some time after the battle of Albuera, and determined to renew the siege of Badajos. Breaches were made in the walls, and two attempts at assault were hazarded (6th and 8th of June) but in vain; the advance of the French army from the north, in concert with that of the south, necessitated the raising of the siege. Here ended the active operations of the Our army remained some time encamped in the central part of Portugal, after which, Lord Wellington marched northward, and threatened Ciudad Rodrigo, but retreated before a superior force collected by the French.

year.

Lord Wellington had returned from the Alentejo, and fixed his head-quarters at Villa Fermosa on the 28th of April. Massena, after organizing his army, and recovering it from the state of disorder into which it had been thrown by the retreat from Portugal, and being reinforced by 1,500 cavalry, con

centrated his divisions near Ciudad Rodrigo, with the view of throwing supplies into Almeida, and with his whole army crossed, the Aqueda and the Azava. Lord Wellington, because of deficiency in cavalry, could not in this oppose him, and accordingly the horse and light infantry fell back to Fuentes d'Honore. Massena had 40,000 foot, and 5,000 horse; Lord Wellington had 36,000, of whom but 2,000 were cavalry. In spite, however, of Massena's superiority, he prepared to give him battle, as it was of great consequence that Almeida should not be relieved.

At Almeida, the Coa is a river of considerable magnitude, and from the steepness of its banks, affords few points at which an army can cross. The bridge in the rear of Almeida, is commanded by the guns of the fortress, and was then so dilapidated, as to be nearly impassable. Another bridge exists about two leagues above Almeida, at Castelle Boim, but this was likewise a difficult communication; there is likewise a ford higher up, but between that and Sabugal, the river cannot be crossed. The only route in case of retreat, was by a stone bridge, forming part of the line of road from Ciudad Rodrigo. Lord Wellington's object, therefore, was, both to protect the approach to Almeida, and cover this important line of communication; to do so, he had to extend his front more than his restricted numbers rendered advantageous; but he was likewise prepared so to concentrate his troops, as to protect Almeida alone.

A small river, called the Duas Casas, runs northerly nearly parallel to the Coa; on its banks the village is beautifully situated; the high and open ground behind was selected for the arena of combat. Generals Spencer, Picton, and Houston's

troops were arranged behind the village; which was occupied by Colonel Williamson's light infantry. In the same line with these divisions, on the left, and in the rear of Almeida, where is a bridge over the Duas Casas, were Generals Crawford and Campbell stationed. General Pack's

Portuguese brigade with a British battalion, blockaded Almeida, the great road leading to which was guarded by Erskine's division. Two miles beyond the right of the line the guerilla horse, under Don Julian Sanchez, were posted in the village of Nava d'Aver, to add to the security derived by that flank from the difficulty of the ground in the rear.

On the 3rd May the French appeared in front of the position, and took up their ground on a ridge above Fuentes d'Honore, almost parallel to that of the British. A skirmish ensued between the light troops, followed by a heavy cannonade, and a fierce attack on the village, which post Williamson gallantly defended; but as the enemy advanced in great numbers, it became necessary to support him succesively with three additional regiments; these charged so severely, that the French were at length driven across the Duas Casas. Night ended the contest, after 260 of the allies and a greater number of the French had fallen.

Next day Massena arrived, and having been joined by Bessieres with 1,200 horse and a battery of the imperial guard, spent the day in reconnoitring the British position; Wellington, anticipating that he would endeavour to turn his right by crossing the Duas Casas, at Poço Velho, moved Houston's division to defend the passage of the river at that point. Wellington's expectations

were just. On the morning of the 5th, Junot's corps with the cavalry appeared in two columns on the opposite side of the valley of the Duas Casas; to strengthen this point Wellington sent the light division on and the cavalry, and likewise moved the first and third divisions more to the right.

About seven o'clock the enemy drove in the British advanced guard, and made themselves master of Poço Velho; their cavalry, under Montbrun, having driven in the guerilla horse, made a general charge, supported by infantry and guns, forcing the British cavalry to retire behind the infantry, who opening a smart fire, checked the assailants. The French cavalry, passing Poço Velho, formed in order of battle on the plain. And when the guerilla chief had fallen back, they were enabled to turn the right of the 7th division, and charged the British cavalry, which had moved up to support it, and who were compelled to withdraw before a superior force, after one shock had been bravely met. Houston's division, thus exposed, was strongly charged, and Captain Ramsay's horse artillery was cut off and surrounded. The light division forthwith threw itself into squares, but the main body of the French cavalry was upon them ere they could accomplish this formation; but though some were cut down, the great mass of the troops stood firm, and the chasseurs Brittaniques, retiring behind a loose wall, poured in such a fire that the enemy recoiled. The French squadrons were now observed to be in great commotion; "men and officers," says Napier, "closed in confusion towards one point where a thick dust was rising, and where loud cries, and the sparkling of blades, and the flashing of pistols, indicated some extraordinary