Battle of Salamanca
Major William Warre

Salamanca, 24 July 1812

I have very, very great pleasure in communicating to you one of the most decisive and complete victories that was ever gained by the valour and intrepidity of our brave troops, but alas! my exultation and joy are not without great diminution, for our brave and excellent Marshal is severely wounded, as well as a great many of our brave Generals, but for none of course can I feel as I do for our worthy Marshal. It is, however, though painful and severe, not certainly a dangerous wound, and this country, as well as his own, will, I trust, be only temporarily deprived of his most necessary services and example.

We have been terribly harassed since the 16th, day and night, owing to Marmont having crossed the Douro by a skilful movement upon Toro, at which place he sent a force across, and drew our army to that neighbourhood, and then by a forced march returned and crossed at Tordesillas, and immediately commenced his manoeuvres to turn the right flank of our army, which forced Lord Wellington gradually to fall back successively behind the Guarena and Tormes.

On the 18th our army made a forward movement towards Alaejos and Nava again, but, the Lt. Division coming up with the enemy at Castrejon, a sharp cannonade and skirmishing took place, and the direction of the Army was altered to the direction of Torrecilla de la Orden, as the enemy seemed determined to move round our flank. (It is necessary to observe that we had retired the night before to Fuente La Peña, Castrello, and Canizal, in consequence of the enemy having crossed at Toro, and were at this time advancing, having heard that he had recrossed again and was at Nava and Alaejos.) Several Divisions were ordered up, and all the Cavalry to support the Lt. Division, but finding the enemy in great force and the ground offering no position, we were forced to retire under a heavy cannonade, which they renewed again as they gained the heights above the river Guarena. But our loss was very trifling indeed considering. Towards evening the enemy endeavoured to move round our left flank with two Divisions, and sent a Brigade to attack a height on which our left rested, but they were charged most gallantly by the 27th and 40th, supported by the 11th and 23rd Portuguese, and completely routed, paying us with great interest for our losses. They lost upwards of 500 men, of which we took 130 prisoners. The Marshal was at this time slightly wounded by a grape shot in the thigh, but very slightly, and we had one Officer killed and about 150 to 160 men killed and wounded. I do not know what our loss was in the whole day.

On the evening of the 19th we saw the whole of the enemy's army in march to turn our right apparently, and the disposition of our army was altered to La Vallesa, where the next day both armies were at daybreak close together, and a battle seemed inevitable. Lord Wellington began to form on a perfect plan to receive them, and they never had a finer opportunity, but though their whole force seemed to threaten destruction to our right, they suddenly moved off by their left along some heights, and Lord Wellington moved his army, in order of Battle, in two lines, along the plain and halted at night between Cabeca Vellozo and Patiegna, our people much harassed and fatigued, as the heat was incessant, and no water hardly to be found. But I suppose there never was a more intereting or beautiful sight than that of two hostile armies of upwards of 35,000 men each moving parallel within a mile and a half of each other and often within cannon range.

On the 21st our army was forced to cross the Tormes, by Marmont's moving round it, and took up a position at night to cover Salamanca, our left to the Tormes, our right to some isolated heights in rear of Calbaraza de Ariba and beyond Na. Senora de la Peña, the enemy moving to the woods nearly 1/2 way between Alva De Tormes and Calbarasa, having crossed at Encina. During all these days there was a great deal of skirmishing and cannonading on both sides, and we were all greatly harassed and fatigued, having scarce time to rest or eat, and on horseback all day long, and the troops suffered much from the excessive heat and almost incessant marching.

On the forever glorious 22nd we found the enemy at daybreak in our front, but at a distance, and some skirmishing took place about a hill they had got in our front, which it was as well that we should have. It was, however, strongly supported by them, and Lord Welln. did not think it worth while to lose many lives in retaking it, and our people were ordered to withdraw.

As the morning advanced the enemy got possession, before our people could, of a very strong and commanding height which was on our right, and as they continued to move in that direction the position of our army was altered, and we every instant expected to be attacked, as the enemy had the finest opportunity during this change of position. But it was ordained otherwise by that great and merciful Disposer of all events, and we remained quiet till a little before 4 in the evening, when the enemy opened a most tremendous cannonade upon our whole line from, I should guess, upwards of 50 pieces of cannon, and soon after pushed forward a crowd of sharpshooters, it should appear, however, only to insult our army, as they were not supported, and the heavy columns they had on the hills did not move forward. I suppose that Monr. Marmont, with French insolence, thought, because we had not attacked him before, and had moved back to counter manoeuvre him and to avoid being turned, that we were afraid of him, and that he could thus insult us with impunity, but retribution was at hand, and before sunset he was doomed to pay most dearly for his impertinence by the entire ruin of his army and loss of at least 1/3 of it.

About 5 o'clock Lord Wellington ordered our lines to advance, having previously detailed the 3rd Division and all our Cavalry to turn the enemy's left.

The Army moved forward most gallantly under a heavy cannonade to the attack of the heights on which the enemy was posted, at the same time that Major General Pakenham with the 3rd Div. attacked the height on their left and succeeded in forcing it notwithstanding the enemy's obstinate resistance, and afterwards advanced along their line, completely doubling it up, as the rest of the army advanced in its front. As we came near, they kept up a most galling fire of grape and musquetry on our line, and in many places stood most gallantly, but it was impossible to resist the steady though impetuous advance of our brave troops, which no loss can make waver or delay, and they were soon driven from their first position to a second behind the right of it, which, our troops being reformed, was successively attacked, and at last carried, notwithstanding our people being sometimes repulsed by the gallant charges of the enemy and the heavy fire of Artillery to which they were exposed in advancing.

It was near sunset, and in endeavouring to make a Portuguese Brigade charge the enemy, (who were driving the 4th Division back with 5 Bns.) in flank, that our excellent Marshal was wounded, while exerting himself, as he always does with the greatest zeal and gallantry, and by his noble example, to cover the 4th Divn. by this flank charge. But they soon rallied and regained the ground they had lost by the sudden attack of the enemy, and the heights were retaken just as the Marshal was hit.

I was obliged to quit the field with him, and with some difficulty got him to the rear, and to this place at 11 at night, after having his wounds drest on the road.

The battle, however, continued with unabated fury till late in the evening, and the enemy fought at last from despair, but pursued with undiminished ardour by our troops, notwithstanding the fatigue they had gone through. They at last broke and fled in all directions in the most compleat confusion and dismay, followed by our people, who only halted for the night at two leagues beyond the field in which the battle commenced, and next day, yesterday, Lord Wellington continued the pursuit with 10,000 men to near Peñazanda, where the enemy had taken up a position. Several partial engagements have taken place since, in which both our Cavalry and Infantry have constantly routed the enemy, who now desert to us in hundreds every hour.

Marmont is said to have died of his wound. We know he had lost an arm.

The enemy have left upwards, I hear, of 5000 dead on the field on these three days. We have taken 1 General, 2 Eagles, 2 Standards, 20 guns, and near 6000 prisoners, but this as well as our loss, which is computed at 3000 killed and wounded, (but a very large proportion of General Officers) I tell you from hearsay, as I have not been able to leave the Marshal since, and the Gazette will tell you better, but I believe it to be nearly true. Of the Prisoners, 4000 and odd hundred have been sent off from hence to the rear, and 1500 were taken in one bunch by the 4th Dragoons, or Heavy Germans, yesterday evening, and I should think I do not exaggerate at all in stating the loss of the French at from 15 to 16,000 men. There never was a more compleat rout. They are flying in all directions, and either come or are brought in in hundreds at a time. I am much annoyed at being here at such a moment, but more a thousand times at the cause.

I need say nothing in praise of the allied troops: their conduct and the event speaks stronger in their favour than any words of mine could. Our Cavalry constantly charged their Infantry and Cavalry, and upset everything that opposed them. I am very sorry indeed to tell you that poor General Le Marchant was killed charging at the Head of his Brigade with his usual gallantry and judgment. He is universally regretted, and in him the service has lost one of its best Cavalry Officers. I feel very much for his unfortunate young family now left without father or mother.

Generals Leith, Cole, Sir Stapleton Cotton, are also here wounded but not dangerously, and Maj.-General Victor Allen badly. We hear that Marmont is dead of his wounds. It is, I believe, certain that he lost an arm, which makes this likely. Nearly the whole of the enemy's Baggage was taken by the Portuguese 3 Regts. of Cavalry under D'Urban, who behaved very well indeed, and twice charged the enemy's Infantry, and once their Cavalry, with compleat success, and the General speaks in the highest terms of them.

I mentioned that we remained quiet all day nearly till 4 o'clock, but it was not so, as there was a great deal of skirmishing and cannonading at times. The battle made me forget, I suppose, all the rest.

I am very well. I was nearly knocked up by the constant fatigue and exposure to the sun, but the victory set me nearly right again, and the rest we have had here the last two days entirely so. I cannot be enough grateful to Almighty God for his infinite goodness and protection for the last fortnight, and particularly during the hard fought battle, but I escaped very well with two shots on my sword scabbard, and one thro' my holster, which is as near as I ever wish to have them.

The Marshal is quite free from fever, and doing as well as possible. The ball entered the side below the left breast, and, slanting round the external part of the ribs, was cut out at the back about 4 inches below. The bone is not supposed to be injured at all, and it is thought that the ball went round it thro' the muscles. His wound in the thigh, which was very slight, is nearly quite well.

Being separated from Hd. Qrs. we find great difficulty in sending our letters, and I much fear may miss the Officer who is to carry the despatches... I wrote a few lines to... and sent them off yesterday to take their chance of finding him still at Hd. Qrs. I should also have written to you, but that I have not been able to leave the Marshal a moment, and am now writing close to him, and contantly interrupted, which will, I hope, excuse this incoherent epistle.

General Leith is doing very well indeed, and it is now found that the ball has not hurt the elbow joint. Of all our other friends I dare say nothing, for all I know is from hearsay, and may be wrong, and of those that are hurt the Gazette will too soon give the distressing account.

I saw Ferguson the 21st. He was quite well. I have not heard of him since, but I hope that he is not hurt. The Guards have, I hear, lost very few Officers. I only know of a Mr White of the 3rd Guards Lt. Company being wounded....

Lord Wellington is continuing the pursuit of the enemy, who are retiring in great confusion. He was shot thro' his Cloak and Holsters during the action, but, thank God, not hurt.

William Warre. Letters from the Peninsula, 1808-1812. (London: 1909), pp. 284-292.