La Bataille de Talavera

Mr. Editor,—In your United Service Journal for July, I observe a letter from a "Talavera Man," relative to the charge made by the late 23rd Dragoons at the battle of Talavera. Will you permit me to mention what I observed on that occasion? In this battle, I was a Subaltern of the Light Company of the left regiment of Hill's division, and was in consequence in a very good situation to view the charge in question, being placed on the left of the hill, well known by the name of "Hill's hill."

On this part of the British line the French had made some most determined attacks on the morning of the 28th, as well as the previous night and afternoon, and it was with considerable fear for the safety of our hill, that I observed, towards evening, some heavy columns of French preparing to renew their attacks on our division, already very much reduced in numbers, and those that remained, not over well fed during the previous twenty-four hours. We had scarcely stood up from the ground to receive the attack of those columns, (one of which was in the act of deploying,) when a heavy body of British cavalry came into the valley on the left of my company, and had not been long there before a charge was ordered; being at the time a very young soldier, and not before having the good fortune to see cavalry preparing for this sort of work, the sight had an impression on me which I shall never forget, but which, I suppose, every soldier has occasionally. The 23rd, which was in front, advanced in the most splendid order, but before they went far, we had the unhappiness to perceive them entirely broken, by what afterwards appeared to be the dry bed of a rivulet, and which each man crossed over as well as he could. After such an event, it was not possible even for the 23rd to make an impression on a column of French veterans, and which by this time was in square. I am, therefore, very sorry to differ with your Talavera Correspondent, but must assert that I did not see the 23rd Dragoons charge through this column.

I am fully persuaded that if any Light Dragoons, or, indeed, Dragoons of any description, could have broken that fine body of French infantry, formed as they then were, the 23rd would have done it; however, from the moment they came in contact with the bed of the rivulet before mentioned, this corps did not appear to me to be in a state to attack the most inexperienced infantry; and although many went on after this unfortunate occurrence in the most gallant manner, yet, I fear, it was merely a useless sacrifice of life, as I did not see them touch a single man in column. Still, although by this unforeseen misfortune, the 23rd did not succeed in their charge, yet the General-in-Chief fully succeeded in his object, as the spirit which this corps had shown certainly deterred the enemy from repeating their attacks on our hill.

I am, yours, &c.

A Lieutenant-colonel (Unattached).