the 2d battalion 7th, and of the 2d battalion 53d regiments, and I was highly satisfied with the manner in which this part of the position was defended. An attack was also made at the same time upon Lieut.-Gen. Sherbrooke's division, which was on the left and centre of the 1st line of the British army. This attack was most gallantly repulsed by a charge with bayonets, by the whole division; but the brigade of guards, which were on the right, having advanced too far, they were exposed, on their left flank, to the fire of the enemy's battery, and of their retiring columns; and the division was obliged to retire towards the original position, under cover of the 2d line of Gen. Cotton's brigade of cavalry, which I had moved from the centre, and of the 1st battalion 48th regiment. I had moved this regiment from its original position on the heights, as soon as I observed the advance of the guards, and 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 twenty pieces of cannon, ammunition, tumbrils, and some prisoners. Your lordship will observe, by the inclosed return, the great loss which we have sustained of valuable officers and soldiers, in this long and hard-fought action, with more than double our numbers. That of the enemy has been much greater. I am informed that entire brigades of infantry have been destroyed, and indeed the battalions which retreated were much reduced in numbers. By all accounts their loss is ten thousand men. Gen. Lapisse and Morlot are killed; Gen. Sebastiani and Boulet wounded. I have particularly to lament the loss of Major-Gen. 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 officers, 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.-Gen. Payne and the cavalry, particularly Gen. Anson's brigade, to Major-Gens. Hill and Tilson, Brigadier-Gens. Alexander Campbell, Richard Stewart, and Cameron, and to the divisions and brigades of infantry under their commands respectively, particularly the 29th regiment, commanded by Col. White, the 1st battalion 48th, commanded by Col. Donnellan, af terwards, when that officer was wounded, by Major Middlemore; the 2d battalion 7th, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Sir William Myers; the 2d battalion 53d, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Bingham; the 97th, commanded by Col. Lyon; the 1st battalion of detachments, comman ded by Lieut.-Col Bunbury, and the 2d battalion 31st, commanded by Major Watson, and of the 45th, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Guard, and 5th battalion 60th, commanded by Major Davy, on the 27th. necessary, The advance of the brigade of guards was most gallantly conducted by Brig. Gen. Campbell, and, when that brigade retired, and formed again in the best order. The artillery under Brig.-Gen. Howorth was also, throughout these days, of the greatest service, and I had every reason to be satisfied with the assistance I received from the chief engineer, Lieut.-Col. Fletcher, the Adjutant-General Brigadier-Ge neral the Honourable Charles Stewart, and the Quarter-Master Gen. 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 Col. O'Lawlor, of the Spanish service, and from Brig.-Gen. Whittingham, who was wounded when bringing up the two Spanish battalions to the assistance of Brig.-Gen. Alexander Campbell. I send this by Capt. Lord Fitzroy Somerset, who will give your lord ship any further information, and whom I beg leave to recommend. I have the honour to be, &c. A. WELLESLEY. Return of the numbers of killed, wounded, and missing, of the Army under the Command of Lieut.-Gen. Sir Arthur Wellesley, K. B. in Action with the French Army, commanded by Joseph Bonaparte in person, in front of the town of Talavera de la Reyna, on the 27th of July. Total.7 officers, 2 serjeants, 122 rank and file, killed; 24 officers, 17 serjeants, 1 drummer, 465 rank and file wounded; 3 officers, 1 serjeant, 2 drummers, 202 rank and file missing. Return of the numbers of killed, wounded, and missing of the Army under the command of Lieut.-Gen. Sir A. Wellesley, K. B. in action with the French Army, commanded by Joseph Bonaparte in person, at Talavera de la Reyna, on the 28th of July. Total 27 officers, 26 serjeants, 4 drummers, 613 rank and file, killed; 171 officers, 148 serjeants, 15 drummers, 3072 rank and file, wounded; 6 officers, 14 serjeants, 7 drummers, 418 rank and file, missing. Return of Ordnance, &c. taken in the 4 eight-pounders, 4 six ditto, 1 four ditto, 1 six-inch howitzer, 2 tumbrills, complete in ammunitions; taken by Brigadier-General A. Campbells brigade. pieces of ordnance, 1 six-inch howitzer, left by the enemy, and found in the woods. i standard, taken by the 29th regiment; 1 ditto, destroyed by ditto. 3 standards, taken by the King's German legion. CHARLES STEWART, Brig.-Gen. Return of the numbers of killed, wounded, and missing, of the Army under the command of Lieut.-Gen. Sir A. Wellesley, K. B. in action with the French army, commanded by Joseph Bonaparte, on the 27th and 28th of July 27th July. Killed-7 officers, 2 serjeants, 122 rank and file.-Wounded24 officers, 17 serjeants, 1 drummer, 465 rank and file: Missing-3 officers, 3 serjeants, 2 drummers, 202 rank and file, 28th July. Killed-27 officers, 26 serjeants, 4 drummers, 613 rank and file. Wounded-171 officers, 148 ser jeants, 15 drummers, 3072 rank and file.-Missing-6 officers, 14 serjeants, 7 drummers, 418 rank and file. GENERAL TOTAL. Killed.-5 general staff, 2 lieutenantcolonels, 1 major, 7 captains, 15 lieutenants, 3 cornets or ensigns, 1 adjutant, 28 serjeants, 4 drummers, 735 rank and file. Wounded.-9 general staff, 10 lieutenant-colonels, 12 majors, 53 captains, 71 lieutenants, 34 cornets or ensigns, 6 adjutants, 65 serjeants, 16 drummers, 3537 rank and file. Missing.-5 captains, 3 lieutenants, 1 cornet or ensign, 15 serjeants, 9 drummers, 620 rank and file, Total-5867. The following is an abstract of the total loss of the respective regiments (including officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates,) in killed, wounded, and missing, in the battles of Talavera :General Staff 3d Dragoon Guards 4th Dragoons 14 3 12 16 have prevented me from moving from 14 207 Total 42 34 my position. Brig.-Gen. Crauford arrived with his brigade on the 29th, in the morn34 ing, having marched twelve Spanish, leagues in little more than twentyfour hours. 2 2 297 322 142 65 355 Extract of a letter from Lieut.-Gen. Sir A. Wellesley to Lord Castlereagh, dated Talavera, August 1. When I addressed you this morn186 ing, I had not received the report 249 from the outposts. It appears that 58 the enemy withdrew the rear-guard 193 which was posted on the heights, on 176 the left of the Alberche, last night, at eleven o'clock, and the whole army marched towards Santa Olalla, I conclude, with an intention of tá, king up a position in the neighbour 288. hood of Guadarama. 71 39 77 272 128 Kangaroo, West Scheld, off the Kaloot, August 11, SIR,-I beg leave to acquaiut you, for 300 the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, that I am this moment going up to Bathz, in South Beve land, which has been attacked by a strong detachment of the enemy's flotilla, and which by Sir R. Keats's reports, consists of two frigates, one bearing a ́vice-admiral's flag, 30 brigs, 8 luggers or schooners, and 14 gun-boats. 5,367 Return of the horses killed, wounded, and missing, on the 27th and 28th of July. 27th July-16 killed, 9 wounded, 2 missing. 28th July-195 killed, 65 wounded, 157 missing. General Total-211 killed, 74 wounded, 159 missing. Extract of a Letter from Lieut-Gen. the Right Hon. Sir. A. Wellesley, K. B. to Lord Castlereagh, dated Talavera, August 1. Since I had the honour of address ing you on the 29th of July, the enemy have continued to keep a rear guard of about ten thousand men on the heights on the left of the Alberche. The extreme fatigue of the troops, the want of provisions, and the num ber of wounded to be taken care of, The divisions of the army under the Earl of Roslyn and Marquis of Huntley landed on South Beveland, on the 9th. -I am concerned to add, that the enemy has cut the dyke to the right of the town, and the island is likely to be inundated. I have ordered Rear-Admiral Otway to send the Monmouth and Agincourt to England for water, as soon as they can be got down from Zierickzee; and earnestly entreat that other means may be adopted for supplying the army and navy from England, as I apprehend all the water in this island will be spoiled by the inundation, and that there is not more in the other islands than is necestants. In consequence of the protracted sary for the subsistence of the inhabi siege of Flushing, and the necessity for the flotilla going up the Scheld, I have ordered guns from the ships of war to fit 20 transports as gun-ships, and with the launches of the ships under Rear-Admiral Otway, to form a flotilla for the lower part of the Scheld, which I trust their lordships will approve. R. J. STRACHAN. Kangaroo, West Scheld, Aug. 12. SIR, Having directed the frigates named in the margin*, to proceed up the West Scheld, under the orders of Lord William Stuart, captain of the Lavinia, the moment the wind was favourable, that zealous officer availed himself of a light air from the westward on the afternoon of the 11th. inst. notwithstanding the tide was against his proceeding, and passed the batteries between Flushing and Cadsand; the ships were under the enemy's fire nearly two hours. The gallant and seaman-like manner in which this squadron was conducted, and their steady and well directed fire, excited in my breast the warmest sensations of admiration. The army witnessed their exertions with applause, and I am certain their lordships will duly appreciate the services of Lord W. Stuart, the captains, officers, seamen, and marines on this occasion. No very material accident happened, except by a shell striking L'Aigle, and which fell through her decks into the bread-room, where it exploded; one man was killed, and four others wounded: her stern frame is much shattered. Lord W. Stuart's modest letter accompanies this dispatch, together with a return of the killed and wounded, and the damages sustained by his Majesty's ships in forcing the entrance of this river. I have the honour to be &c. R. J. STRACHAN. [Here follow's Lord W. Stuart's letter, with a report of the loss sustained on the above occasion, amounting to 2 killed, and 9 wounded; among the latter is Lieut. H. L. Unie, of the marines.] Sir H. Popham, but before the arrival of Middleburgh, August 16. MY LORD, I have the honour of acquainting your Lordship, that on the 13th ́instant, the batteries before Flushing being completed (and the frigates, bombs, and gunvessels, having at the same time taken their stations,), a fire was opened Fort Bathz, Aug. 12. at about half-past one, P. M. from SIR,-I have the honour to inform 52 pieces of heavy ordnance, which you, that, in pursuance of your direc- was vigorously returned by the enetions, I arrived at Bathz yesterday, and, my. An additional battery of six in order to render, if practicable, an at- 24-pounders was completed the same tack on the enemy's flotilla more complete, I ordered 30 flat boats, armed with night, and the whole continued to carronades, and some other boats from play upon the town with little or no the ships under my orders, to rendezvous intermission till late on the followat this place, and meet the flotilla under ing day. 1 On the morning of the 14th inst. about ten o'clock, the line-of-battle ships at anchor in the Durloo passage, led by Rear-Admiral Sir R, Strachan, got under weigh, and ranging up along the sea line of defence. kept up as they passed, a tremendous cannonade on the town for several hours, with the greatest gallantry and effect. About four in the afternoon, perceiving that the fire of the enemy had entirely ceased, and the town presenting a most awful scene of destruction, being on fire in almost every quarter, I directed Lieut.-Gen. Sir Eyre Coote to send in to summon the place; General Monnet returned for answer, that he would reply to the summons as soon as he had consulted a council of war; an hour had been allowed him for the purpose, but a considerable time beyond it having elapsed 'without any answer being received, hostilities were ordered to recommence with the utmost vigour, and about eleven o'clock at night, one of the enemy's batteries, advanced npon the sea-dyke, in front of Lieut.Gen. Fraser's position, was most gallantly carried at the point of the bayonet, by detachments from the 36th, 71st, and light battalions of the King's German legion, under Lieut.-Col. Pack, opposed to great superiority of numbers; they took 40 prisoners, and killed and wounded a great many of the enemy. I must not omit to mention, that on the preceding evening an entrenchment in front of Major-Gen. Graham's position was also forced in a manner equally undaunted by the 14th regiment, and detachments of the King's German legion, under Lieut.-Col. Nicholls, who drove the enemy from it, and made a lodgment within musket-shot of the walls of the town, taking one gun and 30 prisoners. About two in the morning the enemy, demanded a suspension of arms for 48 hours, which was refused, and only two hours granted, when he agreed to surrender according to the summons sent in, on the basis of the garrison becoming prisoners of war. I have now the satisfaction of ac quainting your lordship, that these preliminaries being acceded to as soon as the admiral landed in the morning, Col. Long, adjutant-gen: and Capt. Cockburn, of the royal navy, were appointed to negociate the further articles of capitulation, which I have now the honour to inclose. They were ratified about three this morning, when detachments of the royals on the right, and of his Majesty's 71st regiment on the left, took possession of the gates of the town. The garrison will march out to-morrow, and will be embarked as speedily as possible. I may now congratulate your lordship on the fall of a place so indispensibly necessary to our future operations, as so large a proportion of our force being required to carry on the siege with that degree of vigour and dispatch which the means of defence the enemy possessed, and particularly his powers of inundation (which was rapidly spreading to an alarming extent) rendered absolutely necessary. Having hoped, had circumstances permitted, to have proceeded up the river at an earlier period, I had committed to Lieut.-General Sir Eyre Coote the direction of the details of the siege, and of the operations be fore Flushing; and I cannot sufficiently express my sense of the unremitting zeal and exertion with which he has conducted the arduous service entrusted to him, in which he was ably assisted by Lieut.-Cols. Walsh and Offery, attached to him as assistants in the adjutant and quarter-master general's department. I have every reason to be satisfied with the judicious manner in which the general officers have directed the several operations, as well as with the spirit and intelligence manifested |