The Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, vol. 8

16 May 1811

Battle of Albuera

H) PORTUGAL. 1811.

' When the reinforcements had arrived from the frontiers of Castille, after the battle of Albuera, I undertook the siege of Badajoz, entertaining a belief that the means of which 1 had the command, would reduce the place before the end of the second week in June, at which time I expected that the rein- forcement for the enemy's southern army, detached from Castille, would join Marshal Soult. I was unfortunately mis- taken in my estimate of the quality of these means.

MEMORANDUM.

' I am concerned to observe, in all the complaints of this description which 1 receive from the Portuguese Government, a want of accuracy of statement, which precludes the successful issue of any inquiry. In this case, the numbers of the regi- ments to which the persons belonged, who are said to have taken this corn, are not detailed; and, in point of fact, there were no British troops at Elvas on the lltli May, and could be none on the 18th May, two days after the battle of Albuera.

MEMORANDUM.

' When the accounts of the recent battle at Albuera arrived in England, all ranks and descriptions of His Majesty's subjects were eager to manifest their admiration of the conduct of all the allied troops, and their sense of the benefits which had resulted to the common cause, from the cordial union of coun- cils of the Generals in command of the armies of the different nations, and from the gallantry and discipline of the troops.

G2 PORTUGAL. 181 1.

' In obedience to the orders of the House of Commons, I have communicated to Sir William Beresford, and to Captain General Blake, the resolutions of the House of the 7th June, conveying their approbation of the conduct of the General and other Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the allied armies, which fought the battle of Albuera on the 16th May. It has given me great satisfaction to have been made the channel of communicating to those officers the high