A British Rifle Man The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo

3–5 May 1811

Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro

CHAPTER VII

French dislodged from Freixeda and their baking operations stopped—Death of Lieutenant James Stewart (Brigade-Major)—Dreadful murder of a Spanish woman by the French—Action of Sabugal—Desperate fighting—Lieutenant Arbuthnot killed—Advance resumed—The Spanish frontier crossed—The Light Division takes up the old line of outposts on the Agueda—Reconnaissances of Almeida, held by the French—Defence of the bridge of Marialba—The French driven off—Lord Wellington rejoins the army—The Royal Dragoons and 14th Light Dragoons hold the advanced posts—The French occupy Gallegos—The Light Division falls back—Marshal Massena concentrates a strong force in front of Fuentes de Oñoro—The British army forms up behind the town—Combats at Fuentes de Oñoro—Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro—The Chasseurs Britanniques repulse a charge of French cavalry—Successful charge by British cavalry under General Stewart—The French occupy the village, but on debouching are charged by the 74th and 88th Regiments and driven back—Bivouac on the battlefield—French and English outposts in touch—General Brenier evacuates Almeida, blowing up his magazines and destroying his guns—Marshal Beresford invests Badajoz—News of the battle of Albuera (the _only_ general action in the Peninsular War in which some of the Rifles were not present).

CHAPTER VII

Graphic account of the action near Sabugal—A running fight for two miles—The 43rd Light Infantry and Portuguese Caçadores support the Rifles—The skirmishers suddenly come upon the French posted in strength, and have to fall back—Colonel Beckwith's coolness in action—Picton's Division arrives—Gallantry of the French officers—The French retire—Skirmishing about Almeida—The fighting prior to the battle of Fuentes de Oñoro—The inhabitants of the town ordered to clear out—Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro—Losses of the Rifles—Exceptional amount of fighting which fell to them—Anxiety as to the welfare of his family—Scarcity of food and clothing—A _brown_ "Green jacket"—Wants a good "spy-glass."

CHAPTER VII

Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro

CHAPTER VIII

After the battle of Fuentes de Oñoro we enjoyed ourselves in the advance near Ciudad Rodrigo, the Spaniards being convinced we had given the French a good drubbing. We had dances with the villagers every night. I do not ever remember spending a more happy time.