LETTER III.

ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH ARMY ON THE MORNING OF THE 21ST.BRITISH PICKETS ARE DRIVEN IN-CENTRE ATTACKED-SHRAPNELL SHELLS: FRENCH ARE CHARGED BY THE FIFTIETH REGIMENT, AND RETIRE TO THE WOODSS-LEFT WING UNDER MAJOR-GENERAL FERGUSON ATTACKED-IT REPULSES THE ENEMY WITH THE BAYONET. APPEARANCE OF THE FIELD OF BATTLE.-A FIELD HOSPITAL.-THE ARMED PORTUGUESE EXULTATION AT THE

PEASANTRY-THEIR

EVENTS OF THE DAY.—A WALK TO VIMIERA BY NIGHT. THE EFFECTS OF THE BATTLE AS DISPLAYED AT VIMIERA.

Village of Vimiera, 22d August, 1808.

THE intelligence which I now have to communicate, must, I am well assured, afford you the most heartfelt pleasure.

The whole French army, commanded by Junot in person, was yesterday completely routed in the neighbourhood of this village. Thirteen pieces of cannon, twenty-three ammunition waggons, together with the greater part of the wounded, including a general officer named Berneire, have fallen into our hands.

In

my

last letter I stated that orders had been issued to move forward on the succeeding morning, but before

midnight these were recalled, in consequence, as I have since learnt, of the arrival of Sir Harry Burrard from England, in the Brazen sloop of war.

The troops, as usual, turned out under arms an hour before day-break, and no alarm took place till about eight o'clock, when it was announced that our pickets on the Lourinha road were attacked. However, as no great. bustle ensued, I breakfasted quietly with a few friends, and then walked out with the intention of purchasing a mule, an animal here of some importance. Passing along the streets of the village, I heard several officers assert that the French were approaching in great force to attack the position; while others thought that it would prove merely an affair of pickets. Still the noise of the musketry fire seemed to approach, and several movements to be taking place among the troops on the heights. At length the discharge of artillery commenced, when I determined to get on the heights, where our left wing was posted, and to which they had just removed from the valley the heavy artillery. On crossing the fields, in which were placed the waggons, oxen, and commissariat stores, all was bustle and activity. Having reached the spot where the brigade of guns was posted, I had a complete view of the whole scene; a scene, the grandest and most picturesque you can well imagine.

The valley, village, and the extent of its beautiful and romantic environs, were stretched beneath my eye as on a plan. The atmosphere was serene, the sun blazed forth from a blue and silvery sky, streaked with fleecy clouds, and I could distinctly perceive every motion of the contending armies.

The French were at this moment advancing, in several columns, from the eastward, under cover of some pine woods, driving in our pickets and riflemen, who retreated to a height situated to the southward of Vimiera, on which were posted the centre or advanced guard of our army. It was composed of Brigadier-General Fane's brigade of riflemen, Brigadier-General Anstruther's brigade, and the fiftieth regiment.

On these columns of French a tremendous fire was kept up by the artillery belonging to the centre, which was placed in front of two white windmills on the height. The fire was returned by the guns of the enemy with great spirit; but it was evident that our artillery was much better served than theirs, and that the carnage caused by the lately invented Shrapnell shells was prodigious. Nevertheless they continued to advance with great intrepidity, till they were charged in a most gallant manner by

the fiftieth regiment, on which they turned their backs, and fled to the woods in all directions.

At this time another party, who were advancing into the road which enters Vimiera from the northward, were met, and repulsed with great loss, by the second battalion of the forty-third. This battalion had been stationed near church, in order to prevent the enemy from entering the the village; as it appeared to be their design, in attacking our centre, to penetrate through Vimiera, and possess themselves of our baggage and commissariat stores.

On the right of the centre, the enemy were checked by the bayonets of the ninety-second regiment, and second battalion the fifty-second; and in these operations BrigadierGen. Acland's brigade, which had only landed at Maceira during the night, and was passing along the valley to arrive on the heights, lent a very well-timed, effectual assistance; and the heavy artillery, lately brought up from the valley, did immense execution-the Shrapnell shells making considerable gaps in the enemy's columns.

On giving way, the enemy were pursued by the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, who charged them with his small body of horse in the most daring style, and cut them