The Battle of Vimiero
Major William Warre

Buenos Ayres, Lisbon, 17 September 1808

I should be most ungrateful did I let another opportunity pass of thanking you for your very kind letters of 25 July, 1st Aug., 3 Sept., which latter I received yesterday, and am, believe me, most sensible to the praise and approbation of friends so infinitely dear to me.

You will long before this have heard of the dreadful illness and narrow escape I have had since the action, the extreme weakness occasioned by which alone prevented my writing to you and my uncle William by the Donegal, who went home as one of the escort to the Russian fleet. I never suffered so much in my life as during those 14 days I was at the worst, though the fever left me on the 4th or 5th day for a time. I had very slender hopes I should ever again see my beloved family and friends. I have now been on shore a week, and so much recovered and gaining so much strength that I am able to take a walk every day a short way, and am getting my flesh again, though still very thin, the disorder having left me a perfect skeleton. I even yesterday paid a visit to some friends of the Barnardo Bettraõ's, and sat there a considerable time. To the Friar (Frè Barnardo), one of the family, I am indebted for the most friendly attention and kindness. He has been most anxious to procure me every comfort and supply every want I could have in my situation.

I think of going to Cintra next week for a few days, for change of air and quiet. As soon as I am able to undertake the journey, I shall go to Porto, as Genl. Ferguson is going to England for a short time on particular family business. I have determined to remain behind, as I consider myself bound to join my Regt. should I return to England, and have great doubts whether they would allow me to return, which would be provoking, if there was anything to be done, and I am the more inclined to do this, as from the Government of this country having written to beg my worthy kind friend in the Albany to come over, I have great hopes of embracing him once more at Macarellos.

I feel great "Saudades," notwithstanding, at being obliged to postpone the happiness of seeing you all, after such a narrow escape, but trust the time is at all events not very far distant, and that we shall yet talk over dangers past with additional accounts to tell and battles to fight over, for I hope they will not leave so fine an army idle at such a time....

You ask me for some account of the battle. I will give it you nearly in the same words as I have written to my friends and Uncle William. After having had all the fag and labor, it is hard not to have been able to partake in the least of the exultation and joy of the victory, or enter into the rejoicings of this place, for eight days illuminated, and every heart elated at the French having left it. The last division embarked two days ago, but have not sailed. The 1st and 2nd, I believe, have.

The Natives have murdered every straggler or unfortunate Frenchman they met behind the column, and, but for very strong English guards and patrols, would destroy every person who supported them, and their houses. It is cowardly in them now, but when we hear of the ferocious cruelties and insolence, of the system of robbery and plunder and murder, almost incredible had we not seen such proofs of it, we cannot wonder at the fury of this naturally passionate and revengeful people.

Now to the battle. We had received information on the evening of the 20th that the enemy intended to attack us next morning, but this was generally discredited. We were as usual every morning under arms an hour before daybreak, and remained after daybreak longer than usual, when, not perceiving anything of the enemy, the troops were dismissed, and Genl. Ferguson and his Staff again retired to our straw at a house about 1/2 a mile from Camp at the town of Vimiero. About 8 I was woke by a Serjeant, who told me our picquets of the 40th on the left were driven in and the enemy advancing. I ran to tell Genl. Ferguson, and we were soon on horseback and on the hill on the left, from whence we had a full view of the French Army, on its march to attack us in two strong columns. The strongest and principal attack was on our centre, and the other against the hill, and left of our position, which was separated from the centre by a deep valley covered with vineyards, occupied by our light troops, and to the top of which Genl. Ferguson ordered his Brigade to advance to await their attack.

Sir A. Wellesley arrived soon after, as I had been sent to tell him of the attack, and perceiving the intention of the Enemy, ordered Genl. Bowes' and Genl. Ackland's brigades to support Genl. Ferguson's; and made his dispositions in the most cool and masterly style, as from our commanding situation we could see all the movements of the French and of our own army. Our light troops in the centre, consisting of the 60th 5th Batt. (Riflemen) and 95 Rifle Corps, supported by the 50th, were by this warmly engaged and with various success, though they behaved most nobly; but were at last forced to retire before the French column, who advanced with the utmost confidence to the attack, expecting, as we have since heard, that we should have given way immediately, but were so warmly recieved that they retired.

They made several attacks, and endeavoured to turn both flanks of the centre, but were received on their left by the 97th, who charged them and drove them through a wood, and on their right by the 52nd 2nd Batt. and 50th, and 43rd 2 Batt., who defeated them also, though very unequal in numbers, and very hard pressed by the French columns.

The enemy suffered so much that they soon retired in confusion. Our Artillery was excellently well served, and they were pursued by our handful of Cavalry of the 20 Dgns. and some Portuguese Dgns., but who, venturing too eagerly in pursuit, the French rallied, and our people extricated themselves with great difficulty, losing a great many Officers and men, among the rest Col. Taylor killed.

While part of this was going on, we were spectators of the fight from the hill, and the account I gave of the rest of what passed in the centre is from what I can collect. The column that was to attack us had a round to make, and did not arrive till long after the centre was engaged. They advanced in column-cavalry, infantry, artillery-with great confidence, and were well received by our light troops. As soon as they were within reach Genl. Ferguson ordered his Brigade to charge them, which was done with all the intrepidity and courage of British soldiers, and the enemy retired before us, keeping up a sharp fire. A part of them rallied, but Genl. Ferguson hurraed the 36th, a very weak though fine Regt. to charge, which was done in great style three successive times, till, as they were very much thinned, and in some disorder from the rapid advance, I was sent back to hasten the support which was far behind, the gallant little Regiment forming to rally again under cover of a hedge of American aloes though much pressed. I just returned in time to join the 71st, who were charging 6 pieces of the enemy's cannon that were retiring, and the fire at this time from the enemy was really tremendous.

The enemy attempted to rally and advanced with drums beating, but the 71st charged them so manfully that they retired in confusion, and the retreat became general.

Thus ended this glorious day, in which the valor and intrepidity of our gallant fellows was most conspicuous. Their appearance would have made a stone feel in such a cause. As to Genl. Ferguson, all I could say would not be half what he deserved in praise. His gallantry and judgement decided the day on the left. My only astonishment and that of everybody else is how he escaped. He was always in advance in the hottest fire animating everybody by his noble example. I have not seen any return of the killed and wounded.

The general idea is that we lost about 5 or 600 men, about as many as in the affairs of the 16th and 17th, when we lost a great many officers, our fellows storming an almost perpendicular rock in face of the enemy, who own they were never more astonished. I there lost my dear friend Stuart of the 9th, one of my oldest and greatest friends. It appears odd to weep in the midst of an action, but I was so shocked by the sudden change of a friendly shake of the hand about two hours before, (when our Brigade parted from them with Genl. Bowes to turn the enemy's flank), and his dying in great pain, exclaiming to his officers to see that his young Regt. did their duty, that the tears ran down my face like a child's. The 29th had 15 officers killed, wounded, and prisoners in that affair.

The loss of the French in the first affairs must have been from 800 to 1000 in killed and wounded, on the 21st near 4000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Our Artillery, which was extremely well served, did great execution, particularly the new shells filled with Musquet Balls invented by Major Shrapnell. The action was over before 2 PM, and I was left the whole evening to collect the wounded French, and save them from being massacred by the natives, who plundered everyone they could. I remained till evening on this harassing and affecting duty, contemplating all the miseries and tortures war can inflict on human nature in all shapes. To this, added to the anxiety and fatigue I had previously undergone in the sun, and being very unwell before, I attribute the severe illness, which has prevented my partaking in the general joy and exultation at our success, but from which I am recovering very fast.

I was much surprised to see D'Aeth, who is a charming fellow. He is going to Porto in the Eclipse, to which he is appointed Acting Commander. I have given him some letters, which I hope will make it pleasant to him; but I was much more astonished to see Wm. Archibald, whom I thought in the Warrior with Spranger. He came and dined with me, and comes to-morrow to breakfast to take this and some other letters on board a ship that is to sail for England. He is very well, he says, and very happy in his ship and Captn., but I think he looks very pale and thin. He is very much grown. It is some years since I saw him and I should scarcely have known him again.

I must mention to you two instances of noble conduct in and among many others I had an opportunity of observing. These are of the two cousins M'Kayes of the 71st. One of them was Piper to the Regt., a remarkably handsome fine fellow, and was playing to the men while advancing to charge, when he was wounded badly in the lower part of the belly and fell. He recovered himself almost immediately and continued to play on the ground till quite exhausted. I afterwards saw him in a hovel, where we collected the wounded, surrounded by them, both French and English. I shook him by the hand and told him I was very sorry to see so fine a fellow so badly hurt; he answered, "Indeed, Captain, I fear I am done for, but there are some of these poor fellows, pointing to the French, who are very bad indeed." The other a Corporal had taken the French General Brennier prisoner, who offered him his watch and money, but M'Kay told him to keep his money, he would have need of it, and took neither. A rare instance of forbearance in any soldier in action.

I have written till I am so tired, I fear I cannot write more. I will if possible in the morning, but I wish at all events you would send my dearest Mother this letter as it gives so much detail, and, having written so long a one to my uncle William, I cannot write another account and know she will like to hear all these particulars. If I do not write to-morrow I will by the very first ship that goes....

William Warre. Letters from the Peninsula, 1808-1812. (London: 1909), pp. 28-36.