"At length the division of the enemy's infantry, which had marched with the cavalry from Ciudad Rodrigo, was brought up to the attack on the road to Fuente Guinaldo. The second battalion of the Fifth regiment, and the Seventy-seventh regiment, were formed into one square, and the Twenty-first Portugese regiment into another, supported by Major-General Alten's small body of cavalry and the Portuguese artillery.
"The enemy's cavalry immediately rushed forward, and obliged our cavalry to retire to the support of the Portuguese regiment, and the Fifth and Seventy-seventh regiments were charged, on three faces of the square, by the French cavalry, but they halted and repulsed the attack with the utmost steadiness and gallantry. We then continued the retreat, and joined the remainder of the third division, also formed in squares, on their march to Fuente Guinaldo; and the whole retired together in the utmost order, and the enemy never made another attempt to charge any of them, but were satisfied with firing upon them with their artillery, and with following them.
"I cannot conclude this report of the occurrence of the last week, without expressing to your Lordship my admiration of the conduct of the troops engaged in the affair of the 25th instant. The conduct of the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, commanded by Major Ridge, in particular, affords a memorable example of what the steadiness and discipline of the troops, and their confidence in their officers, can effect, in the most difficult and trying situations. The conduct of the Seventy-seventh regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead was equally good; and I have never seen a more determined attack than was made by the whole of the enemy's cavalry, with every advantage of the assistance of a superior artillery, and repulsed by these two weak battalions."
The following are extracts from General Orders issued by command of Lord Wellington on this memorable occasion.
"Head-Quarters, Regidsa, 2nd October, 1811.
No. 3. "The commander of the forces is desirous of drawing the attention of the army to the conduct of the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, and Seventy-seventh regiment, and Twenty-first Portuguese regiment, and Major Arentschildt's Portuguese artillery, under the command of the Honourable Major-General Colville, and of the Eleventh Light Dragoons and First Hussars, under Major-General Alten, in the affair with the enemy on the 25th of September ultimo. These troops were attacked by between thirty and forty squadrons of cavalry, with six pieces of cannon, supported by a division, consisting of fourteen battalions of infantry, with cannon."
No. 4. "The Portuguese artillery-men were cut down at their guns before they would quit them; but the second battalion of the Fifth regiment attacked the cavalry, which had taken their guns, and retook them; at the same time the Seventy-seventh regiment was attacked in front by another body of cavalry, upon which body they advanced, and repulsed them."
No. 5. "While those actions were performed, Major-General Alten's brigade, of which there were only three squadrons on the ground, was engaged on the left with numbers infinitely superior to themselves. These squadrons charged repeatedly, supporting each other, and took about twenty prisoners, and, notwithstanding the immense superiority of the enemy, the post would have been maintained, if the commander of the forces had not ordered the troops to withdraw from it, seeing that the action would have been still more unequal, as the enemy's infantry were likely to be engaged in it before the reinforcements ordered to support the post could arrive."
No. 6. "The troops then retired with the same determined spirit, and in the same good order, with which they had maintained their post—the second battalion of the Fifth and Seventy-seventh regiments in one square, and the Twenty-first Portuguese in another, supported by Major-General's Alten's cavalry, and the Portuguese artillery. The enemy's cavalry charged three faces of the square of the British infantry, but were beaten off; and, finding from their fruitless efforts that those brave troops were not to be broken, they were content with following them at a distance, and firing upon them with artillery, till the troops joined the remainder of the third division, and were afterwards supported by a brigade of the fourth division. Although the Twenty-first Portuguese regiment was not actually charged by the enemy's cavalry, their steadiness and determination were conspicuous, and the commander of the forces observed with pleasure the order and regularity with which they made all their movements, and the confidence they showed in their officers."
No. 7. "The commander of the forces has been particular in stating the details of this action in the general orders, as in his opinion it affords a memorable example of what can be effected by steadiness, discipline, and confidence. It is impossible that any troops can be exposed at any time to the attack of numbers relatively greater than those which attacked the troops under Major-General Colville and Major-General Alten, on the 25th of September; and the commander of the forces recommends the conduct of these troops to the particular attention of the officers and soldiers of the army, as an example to be followed in all such circumstances."