5445_0119

1811 May
the eveng. of the 23rd, the Enemy having evacuated it the day before  it is a pleasant
23rd village & has not been at all destroyed by the Enemy  they are all from the immense force of cavalry they have to cover their retreat, which is very slow from the great quantity of wounded they are encumbered with  they came down with such an immense force that they thought themselves confident of success, & had no idea that we had force sufficient to cope with them, much less oblige them to fly  insomuch so that it is confidently ascertained that the inhabitants of Badajos had a ball & supper & the town illuminated for the reception of Soult  the complete defeat they received at Albujera, will I think have a very good effect on the Spaniards in general, who behaved themselves very well on this occasion  the carnage on both sides was dreadful  the action lasted for eight hours, during which time