Wm. Warre.
I will tell Ld. W. about the pipe of wine when I see him, and am much obliged by your attention about it.
July 11th.—A very heavy firing and cannonade was heard yesterday morning at Ciudad Rodrigo, which is a proof that the place still holds out. Poor fellows, I fear they will pay dear for their heroic gallantry, since we cannot assist them.
I have been able to hear nothing further about the free importation of rice and grain, and I fear it will not be allowed from the delay.
Hd. Qrs., Francoso, July 25, 1810.
My Dear Father,
I have but just time to write you a few lines that neither you nor my mother may be anxious about me, when you hear of the unfortunate affair of our Advanced Guard yesterday, at which, however, I was not even present. The French attacked Br. Genl. Crawfurd’s Division, consisting of 43, 52, 95, and 1st and 3rd Portuguese Caçadores, about 3000 men, and some squadrons of Cavalry, with 23 squadrons and about 10 to 12,000 Infantry. I fear there was some delay in retiring across the Coa, and, being very close prest in their retreat, our brave fellows suffered very considerable loss, about 300 killed and wounded and 30 Officers. The 43rd I hear have suffered most, and have 14 Officers killed and wounded, as also the 95th, of whose loss I am ignorant, except of the death of poor Capt. Creagh. Col. Nutt of 43rd is killed and Capt. Hull wounded. They had arrived from England the evening before. The 52nd also lost some men and Officers, but I have not been able to hear any names, except that of Lt.-Col. Barclay being slightly wounded in the head. The 3rd Caçadores under Col. Elder behaved very well, and suffered some loss.
I am sorry I cannot add as much for the 1st, who did not behave so, and ran off at the very beginning, though their Col. d’Arilez, a very fine young man, behaved very well, as also some of the Officers. So much for want of discipline and confidence. I had before expressed my fears about them. I am just about setting off to enquire into the business, and I hope a most severe example may be made to prevent the recurrence of such a horrid disgraceful business. If they will not fight from feelings of patriotism or honour, they must be made to do so from fear of a more infamous death, and a more certain one, if they deserve it. It is a measure of peremptory necessity; though I have much pleasure in being able to add that in an attack which Regnier made on Salvaterra away to our right, the 1st Portuguese Cavalry commanded by Col. Pays of Mangoalde behaved most nobly, charged three times, and as often repulsed the enemy, and at last completely drove them back, and I believe the French had the superiority in numbers. Our advance guard having effected its retreat at all before so very great a superiority is most fortunate, that is across the Coa, whose banks are tremendously steep, and the road narrow. The French three times attempted to force the bridge after them but were repulsed, and lost a good many men on it. The tremendously heavy rains and storm we have had these last two days had fortunately spoiled the Fords of the River entirely. Otherwise I much fear our little Corps would have been entirely cut off and taken.