Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo, and our army went into cantonments upon the frontiers, with the head quarters in Villa Formosa.

5th. In proceeding from Lamego to the army, late in the night, I for some time lost my way on the mountains, but at length I reached Sabugal, where for want of a better lodging, I slept in the church.

9th. I returned to my duties at Lamego. This town is seated on the declivity of a hill, at the foot of which runs the little river Balcamao, its distance from the river Douro being only six miles: it had been subject to the protection of the militia: this circumstance, together with its remote situation from the route pursued by the French army (nearly twenty leagues), occasioned it to escape with comparatively little injury. The French foraging parties, however, did occasionally visit this part of the country, and levied contributions. The Douro is navigable for large boats as high as the vale of Lucaia near this place, where its banks are beautifully romantic, and the current very rapid. On the opposite side stands the town of Peco de Regoa. We continued at Lamego

until the 22d, when we moved to St. João de Pesqueira, a station higher up the Douro. The army having passed the Coa, had gone into cantonments (as I have already mentioned) on the frontiers, its right wing occupying the villages in the plains of Almadillo to the little river Azava, and its left extending towards Fort Conception, investing or blockading Almeida, so that on the 16th, Lord Wellington leaving the command to Sir Brent Spencer, set out for the Alentejo to inspect the operations carrying on under Marshal Beresford, who had moved up to Badajos, which he was preparing to besiege. About the same time the town of Olivenza in that vicinity was captured by the 4th Division, under Major General Cole.

27th. Lord Wellington returned to Villa Formosa.

May 1st. Marshal Massena having recruited his army, held a council of war at Ciudad Rodrigo, when it was resolved to attack the English army for the relief of Almeida, the garrison of which was reduced to distress from the want of provisions. Lord Wellington therefore prepared for battle in

the position of Fuentes d'Onor, and formed his line on the river Duas Casas, which divides Portugal from Spain. Within a few days several spies had been detected carrying communications between the garrison of Almeida and the French army: one had a letter from Marshal Massena to the governor of Almeida, concealed in a walking-stick, stating his intention to attack the English near Fuentes, and requiring the governor, by a sortie, to aid the operation, and by that means to obtain relief.

3d. Early in the morning the French army crossed the Agueda in great force the light division, posted near Espeja, retired upon Fuentes d'Onor: and the army then fell under arms.

BATTLE OF FUENTES D'ONOR,

3d to 5th May 1811.

The village of Fuentes d'Onor stands on the banks of the little river Duas Casas, which divides Portugal from Spain, at an

E

equal distance between the two frontier towns of Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo. In front of the village is a beautiful plain, skirted by the wood of Carvalhos, and in the rear of it, a range of hills, behind which are the villages of Freneda, Castello Bom, and Villa Formosa, Anear a branch of the river Coa. The British army occupying this position was posted nearly as follows, with its advanced posts in front of the village, and amongst the rocks about Fuentes:

*th Division

Light Division

RIGHT WING.

Major-General Houston.
Major-General Crawford.

Near Poco Velha, and in the wood of Fuentes.

5th Division

6th Division

LEET WING.

Major-General Leith.

- Major-General Campbell.

Investing Almeida, and supporting the centre.

Occupying the village of Fuentes d'Onor, &c.

Cavalry, reserve artillery, and Don Carlos d'Espana's Spanish division.

May 3d. In the afternoon, the French Marshals Massena and Ney, with eight divisions

of infantry, and a considerable force of cavalry, advancing by the roads of Gallegos and Espeja, attacked the right and centre of our army, which gave them possession of a part of the village of Fuentes, against which post their principal efforts were directed.

4th. A severe action was expected, but the French not choosing to attack, and Lord Wellington's operations being merely of a defensive nature, nothing important occurred. Several movements took place, by which both armies strengthened their left. Our light division marched from the right to the left of Fuentes; and at night, our armies and those of the enemy bivouacked in face of each other.

5th. Sunday morning. Soon after daybreak, three divisions of the French, with some cavalry, were discovered advancing upon the village of Fuentes d'Onor, occupied by the light troops of the 1st and 3d division, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Williams, of the 60th regiment. This officer was wounded early in the contest, and the command then devolved on Colonel Cameron, of the 79th, who was soon after so severely wounded that he died on the 13th, at Villa Formosa. Our right and centre columns being