A reserve formed beyond the narrow valley, across which the enemy was closely pursued, next shared the same fate, and was routed by the same means.
The right wing meanwhile was not less successful, and, after a sanguinary contest, General Rufin’s division was driven from the heights in confusion, leaving two pieces of cannon. In less than an hour and a half from the commencement of the action, the French were in full retreat. The retiring division met, halted, and seemed inclined to form; but a new and more advanced position of the British artillery quickly dispersed the enemy. The exhausted state of the troops rendered pursuit impossible, and a position was occupied on the eastern side of the hill. When the conflict had ceased, Lieut.-General Graham remained on the field of battle; but the Spanish general, La Pena, who had looked on while this terrible battle was fought, did not seize the favourable opportunity which the valour of the British troops had put into his hands, of striking a severe blow at the remains of the French army retreating in disorder. The inactivity of the Spaniards continuing, the British proceeded to Cadiz on the following day.
In this battle the Eighty-seventh had one officer and forty-four men killed; four officers and one hundred and twenty-four men wounded: the strength of the battalion in the field was seven hundred and twenty-two.
Killed.
Ensign—Edward E. Kough.
Wounded.
Major—Archibald Maclaine.
Captain—Anthony William Somersall.
Lieutenant—James Gubbins Fennell.
” James Campbell Barton.
Lieut.-General Graham stated, in his public despatch, “No expressions of mine could do justice to the conduct of the troops throughout. Nothing less than the almost unparalleled exertions of every officer, the invincible bravery of every soldier, and the most determined devotion to the honor of His Majesty’s arms, in all, could have achieved this brilliant success, against such a formidable enemy so posted.”
Among the prisoners were the General of Division Rufin, the General of Brigade Rousseau; the Chief of the Staff, General Bellegarde; an Aide-de-camp of Marshal Victor; the Colonel of the Eighth regiment, and several other officers. The prisoners amounted to two general officers, one field officer, nine captains, eight subalterns, and four hundred and twenty rank and file. The enemy lost about three thousand men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, while that of the British amounted to one thousand two hundred and forty-three killed and wounded. Six pieces of cannon were also captured.
Lieut.-General Graham, on this glorious occasion, wrote a short but comprehensive note from the field of battle, to General Sir John Doyle, the colonel of the Eighty-seventh regiment, in these words, congratulating him on the steadiness and gallantry displayed by the second battalion in an action which redounded so much to the fame of the British arms.