Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Extract of a letter from a private in the old buffs, who was taken prisoner in the Battle of Albuera, and effected his escape from the enemy :-

" I was knocked down by a horseman with his lance, who luckily did me no serious injury, In getting up, I received a lance in my hip, and shortly after another in my knee, which slightly grazed me. I then rose, when a villain hurried me to the rear a few yards, striking me on the side of the head with his lance. He left me, and soon another came up, who would have killed me, had not a French Officer come up, and giving the fellow a blow, told him to spare the British, and to go on, and do his duty to the rest of my unfortunate comrades. This officer conducted me to the rear of the French lines; and here the sight which struck the eye was dreadful-men dead, where the column stood, heaped upon each other-the wounded crying for assistance, and human blood flowing down the hill. I came to where the French baggage was, where I found a vast number of my own regiment, with a good proportion of officers; prisoners, like myself; numbers of them desperately wounded, even after they were prisoners. Here then I offered up my fervent thanks to Heaven for having escaped so safe. . I remained prisoner seven days : and the whole I received from our enemy (marching six leagues every day on the road to Madrid) was three ounces of rice, nine ounces of bread, and a pound of meat. However, when on the line march, they indulged us by entering bean-fields--using the same language to us as Spaniards to the seine- Hurrak ! Hurrah !"--Conceive my feelings, or, believe me I cannot describe them. On the seventh evening I left them, in open day-light, and after getting two miles, lay down: Shortly a picquet passed close by me, but they did not see me. Soon after I arose, and although a mere skeleton, rushed forward to a hill. crossed it, and entered a corn field, where I was again alarmed by the trampling of horses. I immediately fell on my face ; it again pleased Heaven to save me ; they passed me, and did not observe. I again rose, and travelled over mountains, through vallies and rivers, till exhausted by excessive fatigue, I sat down and was unable to rise. Here refressing sleep allayed my hunger, and recruited exhausted nature. I arose and proceeded to a village, where I was received according to the Scripture--" I was naked, and they clothed me; I was hungry, and they fed me." Such treatment I never before experienced as going through this extensive country, every person outvying with each other to sustain the hardships I had endured. In sixteen days I reached Elvas, and soon after joined my regiment.'