“Sir Harry did not land till late in the day in the midst of the attack, and he desired me to continue my own operations; and, as far as I am personally concerned in the action, I was amply rewarded for any disappointment I might have felt in not having had an opportunity of bringing the service to a close, by the satisfaction expressed by the army that the second and more important victory had been gained by their old General.
“I have also the pleasure to add, that it has more effect than all the argument I could use to induce the General to move on, and I believe he will march to-morrow. Indeed, if he does not, we shall be poisoned here by the stench of the dead and wounded, or we shall starve, everything in the neighbourhood being already eaten up.
“From the number of dead Frenchmen about the ground, and the number of prisoners and wounded, I should think their loss could not be far short of 3,000 men. The force which attacked us was very respectable, and probably not short of 14,000 men, including 1,300 dragoons and artillery, and 300 chasseurs à cheval.
“Sir Hew Dalrymple arrived last night, and will land this morning.
“Believe me, &c.
(Signed) “Arthur Wellesley.”
“The Viscount Castlereagh,
&c. &c.”
“General Orders.
“His Majesty’s Ship, “Audacious,”
“18th January 1809.