This was a splendid manoeuvre, and when made in face of an overnumbering enemy, one unmatched during the whole war.
At sight of this new front, the French stopped short, and opened a fire from their heavy guns.

The British batteries replied with vigor and silenced the enemy's cannon.

The cavalry drew out of range, and the infantry gradually fell back to their former position.

While this was going on, the attack upon Fuentes d'Onoro was continued with unabated vigor.
The three British regiments in the lower town were pierced by the French tirailleurs, who poured upon them in overwhelming numbers; the Seventy-ninth were broken, ten companies taken, and Cameron, their colonel, mortally wounded.

Thus the lower village was in the hands of the enemy, while from the upper town the incessant roll of musketry proclaimed the obstinate resistance of the British.
At this period the reserves were called up from the right, in time to resist the additional troops which Drouet continued to bring on.