5445_0122

1811 May
23rd Our Regt. is very much reduced, from the great loss we sustained near St. Christovel  we have not now a single Captain with the Regiment  should we be again engaged, the Regt. stands a very good chance of being commanded by a Subaltern, as we have but one Field Officer & a […] Majr. between them  Our Company lost before Badajos, 1 Capt. & 2 Privates killed  1 Subaltern, 3 Sergeants, & 36 Privates wounded  most of them severely  our Lt. Co. suffered equally as much  my Captain was killed & Senior Subaltern wounded before the action had scarcely commenced, & so that I commanded the Company  I was detached from the Regt. with my Company & the other flank Companies of the Brigade  we drove in a very superior force of the Enemy from under their own walls, under an immense charge of cannons & mortars, rendered their cavalry incapable of acting, & killed a number of their men & horses  such gallantry & intrepidity, if ever before witnessed, was