LETTER V. THE FIELD OF BATTLE OF VIMIERA.-FRENCH MODES OF ATTACK.SHRAPNELL SHELLS.RUMOURS AT CAMP RESPECTING the negoTIATION. LANDING OF SIR JOHN MOORE'S ARMY.-BRITISH ARMY INSPECTED BY SIR HEW DALRYMPLE. GENERAL ORDERS. Amial, August 27th. I YESTERDAY rode to Vimiera, and made a sketch of the field of battle, from the spot where I stood at the beginning of the engagement. I shall forward it to you with this letter, that by referring to it you may be the better enabled to understand the short description I have given of the scene. In the centre of the drawing is represented the village of Vimiera, to the southward of which, beyond the two windmills, are posted the brigades of Brigadiers-General Fane and Anstruther, who are forcing the enemy to retreat to the woods; while a party of French is seen advancing by the valley to the left of the village, and are opposed to Brigadier-General Acland's brigade. This corps is at this moment passing through the valley to arrive at the heights, on which stands Sir Arthur Wellesley, near the brigade of heavy artillery lately brought up from the valley, and which, by a well-directed fire, are flanking the column of French opposed to Brigadier-General Acland. On the left is the twenty-ninth regiment, the rear of General Ferguson's column. At the head of the valley stands a small village named Toledo (from the high grounds beyond which Junot viewed and directed the action); and in the remote distance to the right, lie the heights of Torres Vedras. In riding over the fields about Vimiera, I found the atmosphere completely infected by the dreadful effluvia, arising from the bodies of the dead. I observed the vultures, which abound in this country, busily employed in removing the sandy soil, in which they had been interred. The village is quite deserted, except by the medical officers, who are left to superintend the wounded prisoners. The latter amount to 330, and are accommodated in the church and adjoining houses. The attack made by the French on the 17th, differed in an important particular from that of the 21st. In the battle of Roleia they advanced in echellon, while at Vimiera their order of attack was in column. The former mode is reckoned the most destructive, and difficult to oppose; though to the latter they appear to have of late given a preference, in their wars with Austria and Prussia. The very superior manner in which Sir Arthur Wellesley made his dispositions was such, as completely to foil the French in their repeated attempts to execute the orders of Junot, which were" to drive the English into the sea." my The Shrapnell shells were mentioned in account of the battle of Vimiera, but I ought to have told you, at the same time, that they were invented by a colonel of Each shell the royal artillery, whose name they bear. contains above 100 musket-balls; and they are formed so as to explode at a given distance, when they produce a most destructive effect. Indeed, many officers are of opinion, that should their composition ever become generally known, they would produce a material change in modern tactics. I sincerely hope, therefore, that the advantages derivable from this most important invention will long remain exclusively our own. We are at this moment in a state of great suspense respecting the negotiation; and in the absence of all authentic particulars, we are amused at camp with a variety of contradictory reports. According to the latest of these, our Commander-in-Chief has fixed a term to the armis tice, in case Junot should persist in his proposals relative to the Russian fleet. In the mean time, Sir John Moore's army continues to land as promptly as the immense swell and heavy surf will permit. Unfortunately many boats have been swampt, and several lives lost in this precarious service. In the evening of yesterday, the whole of the line, consisting of nearly 30,000 men, turned out under arms, for the inspection of Sir Hew Dalrymple. The weather was delightful, and the coup-d'œil truly magnificent. Our gaily dressed troops, extending two miles in open column, wheeled in an instant into line, the various bands struck the favourite national air of " God save the King," and the echoes of the pine-clad hills returned the clang of presented arms. Home, in his tragedy of Douglas, has, with great propriety and beauty, described a similar scene in the following lines: up The setting sun With yellow radiance lighten'd all the vale, Every eye seemed to express regret as the gallant Sir Arthur Wellesley rode along the ranks, and publicly resigned the command of his victorious troops to the Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar. Adieu. I shall subjoin to this letter a copy of the general orders, which have this day been issued by Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple. GENERAL ORDERS. Head-quarters, Ramalhal, 27th Aug. 1808. PAROLE-PORTUGAL. The rapid and skilful march, performed by the army commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, marked in its progress by the talent of the General, and the gallantry of the troops, and terminated by a victory greatly glorious to both, seemed to have accomplished the immediate object in view, without further operation in the field. Should that expectation be disappointed, the army will again advance, greatly augmented by the arrival of troops, much more valuable from their composition than their numbers; and if by this means there will remain less opportunity for the army at large to acquire renown, F. |