“_Being an eye-witness_ of this critical moment, and seeing that unless the ground was quickly recovered _the right flank_ of the army would _infallibly_ be turned, and the _great road_ to Coimbra _unmasked_, seeing also that heavy columns of the enemy were descending into the valley to operate by the _road_, and to support the attack of the Sierra, and to cut off lord Wellington’s communication with Coimbra, I instantly galloped off to the rear to bring up general Hill’s corps to Picton’s support. Having proceeded about _two_ miles along the upper edge and reverse side of the Sierra, I fell in with the head of general Leith’s column moving _left in front_, at the head of which was colonel Cameron’s brigade, led by the ninth regiment. I immediately rode up to colonel Cameron, and addressed him in an anxious tone as follows. “‘Pray, sir, who commands this brigade?’ ‘I do,’ replied the colonel, ‘I am colonel Cameron.’ “‘Then for God’s sake, sir, move off instantly at _double-quick_ with your brigade to Picton’s support; not _one moment_ is to be lost, the enemy in great force are already in possession of the _right of the position_ on the Sierra and have driven Picton’s troops out of it. Move on, and when the rear of your brigade has passed the Coimbra road wheel into line, and you will embrace the point of attack.’ Colonel Cameron did not hesitate _or balance_ an INSTANT, but giving the word ‘double-quick’ to his brigade nobly led them to battle and to victory. “The brave colonel attacked the enemy with such a gallant and irresistible impetuosity, that after some time fighting he recovered the ground which Picton had lost, inflicting _heavy slaughter_ on the elite of the enemy’s troops. The ninth regiment behaved on this occasion with conspicuous gallantry, as _indeed_ did ALL the REGIMENTS engaged. Great numbers of the enemy had descended low down in the rear of the position towards the Coimbra road, and were killed; the whole position was thickly strewed with their killed and wounded; amongst which _were many of our own troops_. The French were the finest men I ever saw. I spoke to several of the wounded men, light infantry and grenadiers, who were bewailing their unhappy fate on being defeated, assuring me they were the heroes of Austerlitz who had never before met with defeat! “ROBERT WALLER, _Lieut.-colonel_.” _Extract of a letter from colonel Taylor, ninth regiment, to colonel Napier._ “_Fernhill, near Evesham, 26th April, 1832._ “DEAR SIR,