The battle then recommenced, and raged with redoubled fury. The French guns played with murderous precision on General Cameron’s brigade, and the men of the 61st and 83rd Regiments were mowed down by sections. Under cover of this fire, the French Infantry, in imposing masses, advanced rapidly and steadily to the attack. The 83rd Regiment had been previously ordered to lie down to avoid the tremendous cannonade directed against it; but on the French battalion nearing the ravine on its front, it rose up, and with the 61st advancing steadily to meet them, allowed their dark columns to approach to within thirty paces of their ranks, then, pouring in a well-directed and destructive volley, it dashed impetuously forward through the ravine, and, charging vigorously with the bayonet, drove the enemy with great slaughter headlong before them. The regiment followed in pursuit, until it received the command to retire, when, facing about and carrying off its wounded, it steadily recrossed the ravine, and, amid the warm encomiums of General Cameron himself, resumed its original position in the line; this (together with the 61st) it maintained with unflinching resolution till the close of the day, when the French (who had been temporarily successful on the right and left of the brigade) were compelled to return, leaving the victory to the British. The very severe loss of the 83rd in this hard-fought battle, amounting to nearly half its number present, fully testifies the honourable service it performed. Its commanding officer, Colonel Gordon, while cheering and leading on his men, fell in the first burst of the glorious charge at their head. Three lieutenants--Montgomery, Dahman, and Flood--with 2 sergeants and 64 rank and file, were killed with him. Two captains--Summerfield and Reynolds; 7 lieutenants--Abel, Johnstone, Nicholson, Pine, Boggie, Baldwin, and Ferris; 4 ensigns--Lord Tulloch, Barry, Carey, and Irwin; and Adjutant Brahan, with 15 sergeants, 2 drummers, and 265 rank and file, were wounded; making the total casualties of the battalion 365 rank and file killed and wounded, and amongst the latter many were so badly injured that on the subsequent abandonment of Talavera by the Spaniards, the greater part, being unable to move, fell into the hands of the French. For the services of the regiment in this arduous battle, Sir William Gordon, the brother of Colonel Gordon, received the medal which would have decorated that gallant soldier’s breast, had he happily survived the action.