he had taken to Sebastiani's corps; and this last corps, consisting of ten thousand men only, was on the left bank of the Tagus, about Madnelejos, in front of Venegas, who was again advancing. The last accounts from this quarter were of the 8th. The French army under Victor, joined by the detachments brought by Joseph from Sebastiani's corps, and amounting in the whole to about thirty-five thousand men, are concentrated in the neighbourhood of Talavera, and on the Alberche; General Cuesta's army has been in the position which I informed your lordship that it had taken up since I addressed you on the 1st instant. The advanced guard of the British army arrived here on the 8th, and the troops which were with me on the Tagus arrived by the 10th; the 23d Light Dragoons and the 48th arrived yesterday, the 61st regiment will arrive to-morrow. I went to Gen. Cuesta's quarters at Almarez on the 10th, and stayed there till the 12th, and I have arranged with that General a plan of operations upon the French army, which we are to begin to carry into execution on the 18th, if the French should remain so long in their position. the Spanish army under his command. Sir Robert Wilson had marched from the Venta de Bazagon, on the Tictar, with the Lusitanian Legion, a battalion of Portuguese Chasseurs, and two Spanish battalions on the 15th; he arrived at Arenas on the 19th, and on the Alberche, at Escalona, on the 28d. General Venegas had also been directed to break up from Madrileyos on the 18th and 19th, and to march by Trenbleque and Ocana to Puenteduenas on the Tagus, where that river is crossed by a ford, and thence to Arganda, where he was to arrive on the 22d and 23d. On the 22d, the combined armies moved from Oropesa, and the advanced guards attacked the enemy's outposts at Talavera. Their right was turned by the 1st Hussars and the 23d Light Dragoons, under General Anson, directed by Lieut.General Payne, and by the division of infantry under the command of Major-General Mackenzie, and they were driven in by the Spanish advanced guards under the command of General Sarjas and the Duc d'Albuquerque. We lost eleven horses by the fire of canon from the enemy's position on the Alberche, and the Spaniards had some men wounded. The Spanish army under General The columns were formed for the atCuesta consists of about thirty-eight tack of this position yesterday, but the thousand men, (exclusive of Venegas's attack was postponed till this morning corps) of which seven thousand are by desire of General Cuesta, when the cavalry. About fourteen thousand different corps destined for the attack men are detached to the bridge of were put in motion, but the enemy Arzobispo, and the remainder are in bad retired at about one in the mornthe camp under the Puerte de Mira- ing to Santa Olalla, and thence toheate. I have the pleasure to inform wards Torrijos; I conclude to form'a your lordship, that the seven battalions junction with the corps under General of infantry from Ireland and the islands, and the troop of horse artillery from Great Britain, arrived at Lisbon in the beginning of the month. Gen. Craufurd's brigade is on its march to join the army, but will not arrive here till the 24th or 25th. I have the honour to be, &c. Sebastiani. I have not been able to follow the enemy as I could wish, on account of the great deficiency of means of transport in Spain. Iinclose the copy of a letter, which I thought it proper to address upon this subject to Major-General O'Donoghue, Adjutant-General of the Spanish army, as soon as I found that this country would furnish no means of this description. General Cuesta has urged the CenTalavera de la Reyna, July 24, 1809. tral Junta to adopt vigorous measures MY LORD,-According to the ar- to relieve our wants; till I am suprangement which I had settled with plied, I do not think it proper, and General Cuesta, the army broke up indeed I cannot continue my operafrom Placentia on the 17th and 18th tions. I have great hopes, however, instant, and reached Oropesa on the that before long, I shall be supplied 20th, where it formed a junction with from Andalusia and La Mancha with A. WELLESLEY. I have the honour to be, &c. GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. the means which I require, and I shall to take up this position on the morn then resume the active operations ing of the 27th, I ordered General which I have been compelled to re- Sherbrooke to retire with his corps to linquish. its station in the line, leaving General Mackenzie with a division of infantry and a brigade of cavalry as an advanced post in the wood on the right of Alberche, which covered our-left flank. The position taken up by the troops at Talavera extended rather more than two miles; the ground was open upon the left, where the British army was stationed, and it was commanded by a height on which was, in echellon and in second line, a division of infantry under the orders of Major-General Hill. Copy of a dispatch received by Lord Viscount Castlereagh, from Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley. Talavera de la Reyna, July 29. MY LORD, General Cuesta followed the enemy's march with his army from the Alberche on the morning of the 24th as far as Santa Olalla, There was a valley between this and pushed forward his advanced height, and a range of mountains still guard as far as Torrijos. For the further upon the left, which valley reasons stated to your lordship in my was not at first occupied, as it was dispatch of the 24th, I moved only commanded by the height above-mentwo divisions of infantry and a brigade tioned; and the range of mountain of cavalry across the Alberche to appeared too distant to have any inCasalegos, under the command of fluence upon the expected action. Lieut.-Gen. Sherbrooke, with a view to keep up the communication between General Cuesta and me, and with Sir R. Wilson's corps at Escalona. It appears that General Venegas had not carried into execution that part of the plan of operations which related to his corps, and that he was still at Daniel, in La Mancha; and the enemy in the course of the 24th, 25th, and 26th, collected all his forces in this part of Spain between Torrijos and Toledo, leaving but a small corps of 2000 men in that place. His united army thus consisted of the corps of Marshal Victor, of that of General Sebastiani, and of 7 or 8000 men the guards of Joseph Bonaparte, and the garrison of Madrid; and it was commanded by Joseph Bonaparte, aided by Marshals Jourdan and Victor, and General Sebastiani. On the 26th, General Cuesta's advanced guard was attacked near Torrijos, and obliged to fall back, and the General retired with his army on that day to the left bank of the Alberche, General Sherbrooke continuing at Casalegos, and the enemy at Santa Olalla. It was then obvious that the enemy intended to try the result of a general action, for which the best position appeared to be in the neighbourhood of Talavera; and General Cuesta. having consented The right, consisting of Spanish troops, extended immediately in front of the town of Talavera down to the Tagus. This part of the ground was covered by olive trees, and much intersected by banks and ditches. The high road leading from the bridge over the Alberche, was defended by a heavy battery in front of a church, which was occupied by Spanish infantry. All the avenues to the town were defended in a similar manner; the town was occupied, and the remainder of the Spanish infantry was formed in two lines behind the banks, on the roads which led, from the town and the right, to the left of our position. In the centre, between the two armies, there was a commanding spot of ground, on which we had com. menced to construct a redoubt, with some open ground in its rear. Bigadier-General Alex. Campbell was posted at this spot with a division of infantry, supported in his rear by General Cotton's brigade of dragoons, and some Spanish cavalry. At about two o'clock on the 27th, the enemy appeared in strength on the left bank of the Alberche, and manifested an intention to attack Gen. Mackenzie's division. The attack was made before they could be withdrawn but the troops, consisting of General Mackenzie's and Colonch Donkia's brigades, and Gen. Anson's brigade of cavalry, and supported by General Payne with the other four regiments of cavalry, in the plain between Talavera and the wood, withdrew in good order, with some loss, particularly by the 2d batt. 87th reg. and 2d batt. 31st reg. in the wood. Upon this occasion the steadiness and discipline of the 45th reg. and of 5th batt. 60th reg. were conspicuous; and I had particular reason for being satisfied with the manner in which Gen. Mackenzie withdrew his advanced guard. The defeat of this attempt was followed about noon by a general attack with the enemy's whole force upou the whole of that part of the position occupied by the British ariny. In consequence of the repeated attempts upon the height on our left by the valley, I had placed two brigades of British cavalry in that valley, supported in the rear by the Duc d'Albuquerque's division of Spanish cavalry. The enemy then placed light infantry in the range of mountains on the left of the valley, which were opposed by a division of Spanish infantry, under Lieut-Gen. De Bassecourt. As the day advanced, the enemy appeared in larger numbers on the right of the Alberche, and it was ob- The general attack began by the vious that he was advancing to a ge- march of several columns of infantry neral attack upon the combined ariny. into the valley, with a view to attack General Mackenzie continued to fall the height occupied by Major-Gen. back gradually upon the left of the Hill. These columns were immediposition of the combined armies, ately charged by the 1st German where he was placed in the second light-dragoons, and 23d dragoons, unline, in the rear of the Guards, Col. der the command of General Anson, Donkin being placed in the same directed by Lieut.-Gen. Payne, and situation further upon the left in the supported by General Fane's brigade rear of the King's German Legion. of heavy cavalry; and although the The enemy immediately commenced 23d dragoons suffered considerable his attack in the dusk of the evening, loss, the charge had the effect of preby a cannonade on the left of our venting the execution of that part of position, and by an attempt with his the enemy's plan. cavalry to overthrow the Spanish infantry posted, as I have before stated, on the right. This attempt failed entirely. At the same time he directed an attack upon Brigadier-General Alex. Campbell's position in the centre of the combined armies, and on the right of the British. This attack was most successfully repulsed by BrigadierGeneral Campbell, supported by the King's regiment of Spanish cavalry, and two battalions of Spanish infantry; and Brigadier-General Campbell took the enemy's cannon. An attack was also made at the same Early in the night he pushed a division along the valley on the left of the height occupied by General Hill, of which he gained a momentary possession, but Major-General Hill attacked it instantly with the bayonet, and regained it. This attack was repeated in the night, but failed; and again at daylight in the morning of time upon Lieut.-Gen. Sherbrooke's the 28th, by two divisions of infantry, division, which was on the left and and was repulsed by Major-General centre of the 1st line of the British Hill. Major-General Hill has re- army. This attack was most gallantly ported to me in a particular manner repulsed by a charge with bayonets by the conduct of the 29th reg. and of the whole division; but the brigade the 1st batt. 48th reg. in the different of Guards, which were on the right, affairs, as well as that of Major-Gen. having advanced too far, they were Tilson, and Brigadier-Ceneral Richard exposed on their left flank to the fire Stewart. We have lost many brave of the enemy's battery, and of their officers and soldiers in the defence of retiring columns; and the division this important point in our position; was obliged to retire towards the oriamong others I cannot avoid to men- ginal position, under cover of the gd tion Brigade-Majors Fordyce and Gardner, and Major-General Hill was himself wounded, but I am happy to say, but slightly. UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. XII. line of General Cotton's brigade of cavalry, which I had moved from the centre, and of the 1st batt. 48th reg. I had moved this regiment from its X original position on the heights, as soon as I observed the advance of the Guards; it was formed in the plain, and advanced upon the enemy, and covered the formation of Lieut.-Gen. Sherbrooke's division. Shortly after the repulse of this general attack, in which apparently all the enemy's troops were employed, he commenced his retreat across the Alberche, which was conducted in the most regular order, and was effected during the night, leaving in our hands 20 pieces of cannon, ammunition, tumbrils, and some prisoners. Generals Alex. Campbell, Richard Stewart, and Cameron, and to the divisions and brigades of infantry under their commands respectively; particularly, the 29th reg. commanded by Colonel White; the 1st batt. 48th, commanded by Col. Donnellan, afterwards, when that officer was wounded, by Major Middlemore; 2d batt. 7th, commanded by Lieut. Col. Sir Wm. Myers; 2d batt. 58d, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Bingham; 97th, commanded by Col. Lyon; 1st batt. of detachinents, commanded by Lieut. Col. Bunbury; and 2d batt. 31st, comYour lordship will observe by the manded by Major Watson; and of the inclosed return the great loss which 45th, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel we have sustained of valuable officers Guard, and 5th batt. 60th, commandand soldiers, in this long and hard- ed by Major Davy, on the 27th. The fought action, with more than double advance of the brigade of Guards was our numbers. That of the enemy most gallantly conducted by Brig. has been much greater. I am inform Gen. Campbell, and, when necessary, ed that entire brigades of infantry that brigade retired, and formed again have been destroyed, and indeed the in the best order. The artillery under battalions that retreated were much Brig. Gen. Howorth was also, throughreduced in numbers. By all accounts out these days, of the greatest service, their loss is 10,000 men. Generals and I had every reason to be satisfied Lapiffe and Morlot are killed; Gene- with the assistance I received from rals Sebastiani and Boulet wounded. the chief engineer Lieut.-Colonel I have particularly to lament the loss of Major-General Mackenzie, who had distinguished himself on the 27th; and of Brig.-Gen. Langwerth, of the King's German Legion; and of Brigade-Major Beckett, of the Guards. Your Lordship will observe, that the attacks of the enemy were principally, if not entirely, directed against the British troops. The Spanish commander in chief, his. of cers, and troops, manifested every disposition to render us assistance, and those of them which were engaged did their duty; but the ground which they occupied was so important, and its front at the same time so difficult, that I did not think it proper to urge them to make any movement on the left of the enemy while he was engaged with us. I have reason to be satisfied with the conduct of all the officers and troops. I am much indebted to Lieut.Gen. Sherbrooke for the assistance I received from him, and for the manner in which he led on his division to the charge with bayonets. To Lieut.General Payne and the cavalry, particularly General Anson's brigade; to Major-Generals Hill and Tilson, Brig. Fletcher; the adjutant-general Brig. Gen. the Hon. C. Stewart, and the quarter-master-general Col. Murray, and the officers of those departments respectively, and from Col Bathurst and the officers of my personal staff I also received much assistance from Colonel O'Lawlor, of the Spanish service, and from Brig.-Gen. Whitting ham, who was wounded when bringing up the two Spanish batts, to the assistance of Brig.-General Alexander Campbell. I send this by Capt. Lord Fitzroy Somerset, who will give your lordship any further information, and whom I beg leave to recommend. I have the honour to be, &c. the above actions. ་ Ordnance, &c. taken.-4 eight-pounders, 4 six-ditto, 1 four-ditto, 1 six-inch howitzer, tumbrils, complete in ammunition; taken by Brig. Gen. A. Campbell's brigade. 6 pieces of ordnance, 1 six-inch howitzer, left by the enemy, and found in the woods. -1 standard, taken by 29th regiment; 1 ditto, destroyed by ditto; 3 standards, taken by the King's Gerinan Legion. Extracts of letters from Sir Arthur Wellesley to Lord Viscount Castlereagh, dated Talavera, Aug. 1. "Since I had the honour of addressing you on 29th July, the enemy have continued to keep a rear-guard of about 10,000 men on the heights on the left of the Alberche. The extreme fatigue of the troops, the want of provisions, and the numbers of wounded to be taken care of, have prevented me from moving from my position. Brig.-Gen. Craufurd arrived with his brigade on the 29th in the morning, baving marched 12 Spapish leagues in little more than 24 hours." from the westward, which created a heavy swell, and the small craft being much exposed, it was determined to seek shelter from them in the anchorage of the Room Pot, where Lieutenant-General Sir John Hope's division was also directed to proceed, in order to possess such points as might be necessary to secure the anchorage, as well as with a view to future operations up the East Scheldt. The left wing of the army under Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, particularly destined for the operation against Walcheren, arrived on the 29th, and morning of the 30th, but the wind continuing to blow fresh from the westward, and occasioning a great surf on the beach, both on the side of Zourland, as well as near Domburg, it became expedient, in order to effect a landing, to carry the whole fleet through the narrow and difficult passage into the Veer Gat, hitherto considered impracticable for large ships; which being successfully ac"When I addressed you this morn- complished, and the necessary prepaing, I had not received the report rations for debarkation being comfrom the outposts. It appears that pleted, I have the satisfaction of acthe enemy withdrew the rear-guard, quainting your lordship that the troops which was posted on the left of the landed on the Bree Saud, about a mile Alberche, last night at eleven o'clock to the westward of Fort der Haak, and the whole army marched toward Santa Olalla; I conclude, with an intention of taking up a position in the neighbourhood of Guadarama." OFFICIAL DETAILS of the OPERA- GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. DOWNING-STREET, Aug.7. • Dispatches, of which the following are extracts, were last night received at the office of Lord Viscount Castlereagh : Head Quarters, Middleburgh, 2d August, 1809. MY LORD, I have the honour of acquainting your lordship, that having sailed from the Downs early in the morning of the 28th ult. with Rear Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, in his majesty's ship Venerable, we arrived the same evening, and anchored in East Capelle Roads, and were joined on the following morning by the division of the army under LieutenantGeneral Sir John Hope. It blew in the course of that day a fresh gale without opposition, when a position was taken up for the night, on the Sand Hills, with East Capelle in front. Lieutenant-General Fraser was detached iminediatcly to the left, against Fort der Haak and Ter Vere, the former of which, on his approach, was evacuated by the enemy, but the town of Vere, which was strong in its defences, and had a garrison of about 600 men, held out till yesterday morning, notwithstanding the heavy aud well-directed fire of the bomb-vessels and gun-boats during the preceding day, and until the place was closely invested. Early on the morning of the 31st, a deputation from Middleburgh, from whence the garrison had been withdrawn into Flushing, having arrived in camp, terms of capitulation were agreed upon, copies of which I have the honour herewith to enclose, as well as that of the garrison of Ter Vere; and the divisions of the army under the orders of Lieutenant-General Lord Paget and Major-General Graham, moved forward, and took up |