By Sergt. Peter Facey

1812 - Description of Truxilla
         - Conflict at the Bridge of Almerez
         - Captured at the Bridge of Almerez
         - Skirmishing at Albura
         - To Zafra and Toledo
         - Description of Toledo
         - The Retreat

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DESCRIPTION OF TRUXILLA

On the 13th May (1812) the army proceeded by the road of Venda de Aquas and Villa Massia to Truxilla, a large town situated on the summit of a hill surrounded by a pleasant level country. The town is likewise surrounded by numerous ridouts and entrenchments, and was once an excellent fortification having on the N.E. side a large castle which commands the whole town and adjacent country.

This town seems to have been founded by the famous Pizzaro who conquered Peru and Mexico. On the west angle of the square, which is situated in the centre of the town, stands Pizzaro House, in good repair. This building stands four square, and is four storeys high, of immense strength. It has four rows of windows and (is) defended with huge bars of iron curiously formed. The front square is decorated with all the trophies of war with numerous carved images elegantly situated. The top is adorned with men, beasts, fishes, etc. making the whole appear magnificent.

We were joined by the remainder of the Division, and on the 16th proceeded to Jeresico? when we were given to understand that the enemy was posted at Staravtia?, a strong tower situated on top of a huge lofty mountain defended by wall and several pieces of cannon, beside musquetry. Our small army was now ordered to operate and proceed as follows viz. 1st Brigade commanded by Lt. Gen. Sir R. Hill to attack the bridge of Almarez and two forts on the bank of the Teagus covering the passage to the bridge. 3rd and 4th Brigades commanded by Lt. Gen. Jason Choune to attack the tower of Marravetta? by surprise.

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CONFLICT AT THE BRIDGE OF ALMAREZ

In this we were rather baffled owing to the darkness of the night and badness of road which was such as I suppose was never trodden on by human foot, with the additional difficulty of carrying ladders from 12 to 18 feet long through intricate paths by the side of the mountain, proved fatiguing in the extreme. It was clear daylight when we arrived at the foot of the mountain in which the tower is situated. We had then at least to climb a full mile up a steep rugged rock. The enemy's look-out on the tower discovered us, the alarm gun was fired which gave the signal to the forts, Napolean and Ragusa, the former situated on the south and the latter on the north bank of the Teagus.

On the enemy's discovering us plainly a heavy fire of shot and shells was opened on us, but as the tower was so exceeding high they could not bring their guns to bear on us, consequently proved useless. However, our commander, finding it impossible to carry the point without spilling much blood, retreated with his army out of reach of their shot.

On the evening of the 17th every thing bring provided the attack commenced. At daylight next morning, commanded by Capt. Bradley, 28th Regt. who had previously ascended the hill before daylight by which means he was not discovered until he was under the walls of the tower of Marravetta. His force consists of the Light Companies of the 28th, 34th and 39th Regiments, one Company of the 60th Rifle Corps supported by 3 companies of Portuguese Casadores. The enemy opened a brisk fire of musquetry and cannon but with little effect. This was only a false attack while Sir R. Hill advanced within half a mile of Fort Napolean where he did not arrive until clear day light. As a moment was not to be lost, the 50th and right wing of the 71st Regiment advanced with scaling ladders, the 92nd and left wing of the 71st Regiment forming the reserve.

The troops now advanced from under the cover of the hills. The enemy opened a very destructive fire of grape, canister and musquetry. This only made our undaunted heroes to move forward with double rapidity. The ladders were placed immediately on our entering the works, and the troops ascended with unspeakable courage, and the enemy stood to their guns until they were routed by the point of the bayonet, when they retreated in the greatest of confusion to the floating bridge in order to make their escape across the Teagus, and enter Fort Ragusa. But previous to this a party of the 71st Regiment pushed through the fire and cut the bridge of boats adrift, and to disappoint the enemy of crossing the river, who immediately returned to the fort, except about 50 who rather chose to trust to their course of swimming across the river than to be taken prisoner. However a few of the above number reached the other side. It is much to be lamented that during the whole of this affair we were deprived of the service of the whole of our artillery owing to the mountainous state of the country.

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CAPTURED AT THE BRIDGE OF ALMEREZ

List of prisoners and stores captured by the British at the Bridge of Almarez on the 19th May 1812.

          Prisoners taken - one Lieutenant Colonel, one Major, 5 Captains, 3 Lieutenants,  7 staff, 242 Rank & File, and a number perished in the river

            Taken at the Forts - 18 pieces of ordnance, 113 musquets and bayonets, 120,000 musquet ball cartridges, 20 large pontoon boats, 60cartridges for moving etc. A large quantity of shot and shells of various sizes, a considerable quantity of powder in barrels and cartridges fixed to shot. A large proportion of ropes of various dimensions with anchors, timbers, tools etc. with about 29,904 rations of bread, biscuits, rice, oil, wines, live cattle, salt, meat etc. with a colour belonging to the 4th Battalion of the Corps Estranger, which was sent to England.

             Killed - 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Sergeant, 20 Rank & File

           Wounded - 2 Captains, 9 subalterns, 10 Sergeants, 1 Drummer, 120 Rank & File.

This affair took place almost in the face of two armies of the enemy consisting of 30,000 each commanded by Generals Sault and Druet, who was lying inactive for some time. They were now roused from their slumber and began to close on us by rapid marches. Sir R. Hill, being aware of their intention,which was of surrounding us, counter-marched his army on the 20th, and on the 25th by the roads of Merida, Almendralejo and Fuenta del Maestra, to Tapra where we arrived on the 11th, remaining here until the 18th. Sir R. Hill, finding Marshall Sault advancing with his army consisting of 30,000 men, on that evening we fell back on Santa Martha, distance leagues, leaving General Morilla with 2,000 Infantry and 700 Cavalry at Tapra.

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SKIRMISHING AT ALBURA

On the 19th (June 1812) we arrived in the wood of Albura and at the same time General Morilla fell back to Santa Martha. The enemy advancing by roads of Villa Franca and Sorentus?. On the 22nd their advance guard appeared close to Santa Martha, but was soon checked by Sir W. Erskine, who was posted with a brigade of heavy cavalry ready to receive them.

On the 23rd the cavalry joined the army, General Morilla still keeping the enemy in check by constant skirmishing on the Heights of Albura. On the 29th and 30th the Spanish Cavalry and Infantry was driven back into the skirts of the wood disputing the ground. However the enemy's advance being briskly charged by the British Cavalry, obliged them to make a speedy retreat by the road of Santa Martha. Our commander, finding that Marshall Sault was not inclined to act offensive, ordering on the 2nd the whole of the allies army, moved forward towards Santa Martha. Here we found the enemy had retreated by the same road they had advanced, after carrying with them and destroying all they could.

On the 4th and 5th we marched by the roads of Feneral, Sosantos and Usagra where the enemy Cavalry were in force. The British Cavalry advanced with the Light Artillery, supported by the 3rd Brigade of Infantry. The Cavalry coming up with the enemy, briskly attacked, and compelled them to make a speedy retreat in all directions before the arrival of our Infantry. However, the Artillery played their part well, and caused a number of the enemy to be left in the field. On the 7th we advanced to Villa Gracia, on the 20th we retreated to Tapra. About the 26th we received intelligence that the enemy was advancing upon Villa Franca and had actually driven in our outposts with some loss.

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TO ZAFRA AND TOLEDO

We commenced our march immediately and arrived at Villa Franca on the morning of the 29th where we received the glad tidings of Lord Viscount Wellington's action and defeating the French Army, commanded by Marshall Marmont of Salamanca. A 'fire de joy' was fired by our Artillery and double rations of liquor issued to our troops.

On our arrival at Villa Franca the enemy again retreated and we returned to Zafra on the 30th leaving the whole of our Cavalry and the 4th Brigade of Portuguese whose advance piquets fell in with the enemy, but the Brigade of Infantry being formed in the vineyards compelled them to retreat leaving behind them about 100 men killed and wounded.

We remained at Zafra until about the 28th of August when we marched for Ben Fenida?, a town situated in a plain, famous for corn and all sorts of vegetables, but nothing worthy of notice in the town. Next day we proceeded to Ellerencia, on the following day we marched through Alliones, Magellia, El Campello, Zelamea and Quintana to St. Halva where we remained several days. On the 14th we proceeded by Medellyn, Escovia, Santa Cruz and passing through the city of Trujillo to Guertus de Ansinas where we stopped three days, then Jaraicejo, Almaraez, Navalmoral de la Mata, La Calzada de Oropesa and Guatero to Talavera de la Reyne next to Sevolia and Tevindatten to Toledo.

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DESCRIPTION OF TOLEDO

This town is well known in history for its famous hardware factory, such as swords, daggers, pikes, firearms, etc. which exported to almost all parts of the world. I must endeavour to give a small description of the inside of the church which is a magnificent building, and of immense size. The gates are silver, each gate containing forty upright bars,each bar being about 12 feet in height and -- inches in circumference. They were coloured of a dark brown on purpose for deception. The drawings and paintings are fine together with the largest and handsomest organ I ever saw. Next morning we went to Villasequilla de Yepes, a distance of 7 leagues. This town was much remarked for the great plenty of grapes. Frequently 10 or 12 four-wheeled wagons, each drawn by 3 or 4 horses follow each other through the town loaded with delicious black and white grapes of the most delicious nature. Almost every house in the town has a wine press with immense cellars filled with vessels of different sizes, some containing 60, 80 or a hundred hogsheads each. We stopped here some days.

I went to the city of Aranjuez, distance 2 leagues. This appears compact and well situated, the streets are above 40 feet wide, the houses are regularly built, 3 storey high, flat roofed and coloured with light blue, panelled with a pale red of about 3 feet square. The first street is beautifully adorned with 2 rows of lofty limes, one on each side forming a delightful shade. The next thing is a wilderness is the most delightful shrubs, intermixed with an abundance of flowers, which affords an agreeable and pleasing perfume. On the south-west side of the road between the gravelled walk and the Teagus is another wilderness wherein the feathered songsters keep a most melodious harmony

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THE RETREAT

On the 21st October we commenced a retreat, passing the city of Madrid, the capital of Spain, and continued our retreat by rapid marches, closely pursued by the enemy. Passing the city of Salamanca on this retreat we had great scarcity of rations having sometimes 2 ounces of wheat per man for one day, in place of bread, and neither wine or spirits. After a retreat of 17 days etc. we then arrived at a town called Casa don Gomas on the 17th November where we continued until the 14th February. We then marched to a large town called Coria, a distance of one league, and on the 29th of April marched from Coria and arrived at a small town called Galisteo having a wall round which appears to have been built against archery, but, like many others in Spain, time has much reduced. We stayed in this town 4 days. We then went onto --- about the -- , where the remainder of our Division joined, and on the 16th May we received orders to march. Accordingly we proceeded on our march for Salamanca, to form junction with the army, then the immediate command of Lord Wellington. Accordingly on the 23rd May we encamped in a wood and remained there 7 days about the distance of one league and a half from the city, waiting on the 30th May our army commenced line of march with a full determination of driving the French out of Spain and putting an end to a long and fatiguing war. Accordingly, on our arrival at Toro the enemy retreated with some loss, at the same time blowing up the bridge that we actually must pass over before we got to the town, but our Cavalry, Artillery and baggage forded the river and the bridge was so much repaired in one night that our Infantry could pass over. Accordingly we advanced and the enemy continued to retreat until they arrived on the heights near a large town called Vittoria, where they formed line of battle and made every preparation for to give us a warm reception.

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David Ryall

Colleytown, Chittlehampton.

This page last updated on 15 Jul 2004