Advanced early this morning to the river Alva, found the bridge blown up, and the enemy in position on very strong ground at Ponte de Murcella with some guns in position commanding the approach to the river. We formed opposite the enemy and had a fine view of a large body of them. Some nine-pounders were soon got up, and commenced pounding their columns. I never saw _Johnny_ go off in such confusion. The cavalry followed for some distance. The Light Division went into bivouac in the pine woods for the night. An extract from the General Orders of the Day shows the high estimation in which our gallant Commander holds the three British regiments of the Light Division for their services in the field for the last ten days. Adjt.-General's Office, Lous̃a, _16th March 1811_. "The Commander of the Forces returns his thanks to the general and staff officers, officers, and troops for their excellent conduct in the operations of the last ten days against the enemy, and he requests the commanding officers of the 43rd, 52nd, and first battalion 95th (Rifles) to name a sergeant of each regiment to be recommended for promotion to an ensigncy as a testimony of the particular approbation the Commander of the Forces entertains for the conduct of these regiments. "E. Pakenham, _Deputy Adjt.-General_." [Sidenote: 19th] A wooden bridge having been thrown across the river during last night, we passed over this morning and advanced through Sobreira. A league farther we bivouacked in a wood of pines. The cavalry followed the enemy's rear-guard, and in crossing a plain took 800 prisoners. One was a Portuguese and aide-de-camp to Loison. He had a Spanish girl in a Hussar uniform as his companion. This fellow, on his arrival in Lisbon, will be put to death as a traitor to his country if he has not better luck than he deserves. [Sidenote: 20th] Light Division moved through Galizes and went into bivouac in a fir grove near Vendas Novas. The French rear-guard was vigorously pursued by the cavalry and Horse Artillery, who took numbers of prisoners and stragglers. We found numbers of tumbrils, carts, waggons, and other articles abandoned by the French. Occasionally we found Portuguese peasants that had been most wantonly shot by the enemy. [Sidenote: 21st] The Light Division marched on to the fir groves above Maceira and bivouacked. Two hundred more of the enemy taken by the cavalry. [Sidenote: 22nd] Went into houses at Moimenta da Serva in consequence of the weather being very bad. Several of the poor people gave us a melancholy account of the cruelties they had suffered from the French; and in every village on the line of their march they had murdered many of the inhabitants in a most savage manner. A priest in the above village dead, and his body mutilated. [Sidenote: 23rd] Marched in front of Sampayo and bivouacked in a wood. [Sidenote: 24th] Lodged in the town of Mello. [Sidenote: 25th]