e to occupy, did not afford
the least shelter: my determination was instantly taken. I had
gone on horseback to view the ground, and on my return to the
regiment, which I met advancing, I found the left actually
engaged with the enemy, who had advanced much beyond our left.
I, however, continued advancing with six companies, and left
Colonel Sheaffe with the other four to cover our left: the
instant I came up to the 79th, I ordered a charge, which I
assure you was executed with the greatest gallantry, though not
in the greatest order, as the nature of the ground admitted of
none. The enemy, however, gave way on every side, and our loss
would have been very trifling had the 79th charged
straightforward; but unfortunately it followed the course the
49th had taken, thereby leaving our right entirely exposed. I
detached Lord Aylmer[11] with the grenadiers, who, after
charging different times, totally cleared our right. The 25th
then advanced, and behaved with the greatest good conduct. The
enemy after this never attempted to make a stand, but continued
to retreat, and their loss on this occasion was very
considerable. Nothing could exceed the gallantry of the 25th,
49th, 79th, and 92d. For my own part, I had every reason to be
satisfied with the conduct of both officers and men, and no
commanding officer could be more handsomely supported than I
was on that day, ever glorious to the 49th. Poor Archer brought
his company to the attack in a most soldierlike manner; and
even after he had received his mortal wound, he animated his
men, calling on them to go on to victory, to glory; and no
order could be more effectually obeyed: he is an irreparable
loss to the service. I got knocked down soon after the enemy
began to retreat, but never quitted the field, and returned to
my duty in less than half an hour. Savery acted during the
whole day as aide-de-camp either to Sir Ralph or Moore, and
nothing could surpass his activity and gallantry. He had a
horse shot under him, and had all this been in his line, he
must have been particularly noticed, as he has become the
astonishment of all who saw him. We remained that night and the
following on the sand hills; you cannot conceive our wretched
state, as it blew and rained nearly the whole time. Our men
bore all this without grumbling, al