A

We formed, under cover of some old walls. brigade of French stood in view. We got orders to fire: not ten pieces in a company went off, the powder was again so wet with the rain. A brigade of Portuguese artillery came up. We gave the enemy another volley, leaped the wall, formed column, and drove them over the hill; down which they threw all their baggage, before they surren dered. In this affair, we took about 3000 prisoners, 1600 horse, and 6 pieces of artillery, with a great quantity of baggage, &c.

We were again marched back to Portalegre, where the horses were sold and divided amongst the men, according to their rank. I got 2s. 6d. for my share; but I had provided myself a good assortment of necessaries out of the French stores at Molino.

We remained at Portalegre, until the campaign began, in the month of January 1812. We were in advance, covering the operations against Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos. We had a most fatiguing spring, marching and counter-marching between Merida and Almandralajo. We were first marched to Merida, but Dombrosky fled with the utmost precipitation. We then marched against Drouet, who was at Almandralajo; but he, likewise, set off for Zafra, leaving his stores and ammunition, to us a welcome gift. The weather was so wet, the very shoes were soaked off our feet; and many were the contrivances we fell upon to keep them on.

Almandralajo is a low swampy place; the worst town I ever was in in Spain: our men called it Almandralajo Craco, (cursed). Seldom a day

passed but we had a skirmish with the enemy at Merida, or Almandralajo.

In the month of March, we got the route for Albuera, where we formed our lines, and were working at the batteries day and night. An alarm was given three different times, and we were marched on to the position; but nothing occurred, and we fell back.

When I first came upon the spot where the battle of Albuera had been fought, I felt very sad the whole ground was still covered with the wrecks of an army, bonnets, cartridge-boxes, pieces of belts, old clothes, and shoes: the ground in numerous ridges, under which lay many a heap of mouldering bones. It was a melancholy sight; it made us all very dull for a short time.

The whole army receiving orders to advance, we moved in solid columns, cavalry on right and left. The enemy fell back as we advanced. Our brigade was marched up a hill, where we had a beautiful view of the armies, threatening each other, like two thunder clouds charged with death. Shortly after we were marched into the valley; the enemy fired two or three round shot at us, which did no harm. We were encamped, till next day at noon: when we set off, pursuing them for two days, and were then marched back to Almandralajo Craco, where we lay till the beginning of April.

Next we advanced to cover the operations against Badajos, which surrendered on the 6th, the day of our arrival. Next morning the band played The Downfal of Paris. We remained until May, when we were marched to Almarez, where the French had two forts which intercepted our

supplies, as they commanded the bridge over the Tagus.

noon.

Our brigade, consisting of the 50th, 71st, and 92d regiments, set off, and marched all day, until On the second day, our officers got orders that every person in the village of Almarez should be put to death; there being none but those belonging to the enemy in it. We marched all night, until break of day next morning, when we halted on a height opposite the large fort, just as they fired their morning gun. As the day broke up, they got sight of our arrival, and gave us a shell or two, which did us no harm. were moved down the hill out of their view. Then we were marched to the height again, where we stood under arms for a short time, until we were ordered to pile arms and take off our packs. We remained thus until twelve o'clock, when we got half an allowance of liquor: oxen were brought up and killed on the spot ; each man received two pounds of beef in lieu of bread. We got this for three days.

We

On the evening of the third day, General Hill ordered our left companies to move down to the valley, to cover his recognisance. When he returned, the officers were called. A scaling-ladder was given to each section of a company of the left wing, with the exception of two companies. We moved down the hill in a dismal manner; it was so dark we could not see three yards before us. The hill was very steep, and we were forced to wade through whins and scramble down rocks, still carrying the ladders. When day-light, on the

morning of the 19th, at length showed us to each other, we were scattered all over the foot of the

hill like strayed sheep, not more in one place than were held together by a ladder. We halted, formed, and collected the ladders, then moved on. We had a hollow to pass through to get at the battery. The French had cut a part of the braeface away, and had a gun that swept right through into the hollow, We made a rush past it, to get under the brae on the other side. The French were busy cooking, and preparing to support the other fort, thinking we would attack it first, as we had lain next it.

On our approach, the French sentinel fired and retired. We halted, fixed bayonets, and moved on in double-quick time. We did not receive above four shot from the battery, until we were under the works, and had the ladders placed to the walls. Their entrenchment proved deeper than we expected, which caused us to splice our ladders under the wall; during which time they annoyed us much, by throwing grenades, stones, and logs over

it; for we stood with our pieces cocked and presented. As soon as the ladders were spliced, we forced them from the works, and out of the town, at the point of the bayonet, down the hill and over the bridge. They were in such haste, they cut the bridge before all their men had got over, and numbers were either drowned or taken prisoners. One of our men had the honour to be the first to mount the works.

Fort Napoleon fired two or three shot into Fort Almarez. We took the hint from this circumstance, and turned the guns of Almarez on Fort Napoleon, and forced the enemy to leave it. It being a bridge of boats, two companies were sent, with brooms, to burn and cut it away; but the

enemy, being in superior force upon the other side, compelled them to retire, under cover, until reinforced.

We moved forward to the village of Almarez, and found plenty of provisions, which had been very scarce with us for some days. We filled our » haversacks, and burned the town; then encamped close by it, all night, and marched next morning; leaving a company of sappers and miners to blow up the works. We marched back to our old quarters; and continued marching up and down watching the motions of the enemy.

On the night of the 22d July, when we were in a wood, we received the joyful news of the defeat of Marmont at Salamanca, and got a double al- lowance of liquor. Colonel Cadogan took the end of a horn, called a tot, and drank, "Success to the British arms. Some of us had money, and sent to the village for liquor. We made a little treat, in the best manner we could, and passed a joyful night.

We advanced to Aranjuez, where we lay for some time. It is a palace of the King of Spain. The whole country is beautiful; fruit was very plenty, and of all kinds. We were eight days in the Escurial, and continued to watch the motions of the French alongst the Tagus, skirmishing almost every day. Individuals of the 13th and 14th Light Dragoons, used to engage, in single combat, with the horsemen of the enemy. Often whole squadrons would be brought to engage, by twomen beginning.

We remained thus skirmishing till Lord Wellington raised the siege of Burgos; when we fell back to the Iacamah, in the beginning of Novem