At approximately five o'clock in the morning Merle concentrated his two brigades near Pendura at the foot of the mountain, and an hour later his advance began. With his skirmishers leading the way through the misty dawn Merle pushed back the light companies of the 5th and 83rd Regiments of Lightbourne's brigade and pressed rapidly up the hill. "The fog cleared away, and a bright sun enabled us to see what was passing before us."

Wrote a British officer of the 88th Regiment, "A vast crowd of tirailleurs were pressing onward with great ardour, and their fire, as well as their numbers, was so superior to that of our advance, that some men of the brigade of Lightbourne, as also a few of the 88th Regiment were killed while standing in line." [13]

Wellington, watching the progress of Merle's column, ordered two guns from Thompson's battery, under Captain Lane, to move down the hillside where they occupied a small knoll below the southern edge of the plateau. "The French Voltigeurs came close to the guns and one was killed only eight paces off." Recorded Captain Lane. "An immense column showed itself in the ravine -- we with three cheers gave them a few rounds of case and roundshot together at about seventy paces." [14]

The Colonel of the 5th Regiment, who was unable to reply without disturbing the formation of his battalion, withdrew his regiment beyond the range of the French skirmishers, whilst Lieutenant - Colonel Wallace of the 88th took a file from each company of his regiment and sent them down to assist the British light infantry. The remaining four guns of Thompson's battery, posted by Lightbourne's brigade, also joined in the fight. "Our artillery," wrote William Gratten of the 88th, "still continued to discharge showers of grape and canister at half range, but the Frenchlight troops, fighting at open distance, heeded it not, and continued to multiply in great force." [15]

Ahead of the French was still the 88th Regiment (Connaught Rangers) which Picton had reinforced with four companies of the 45th Regiment under Major Gwynne as soon as it became apparent that an attack in the direction of the 88th was imminent. Instead of marching directly upon the 88th, Merle's column swerved sharply to its left, presumably to avoid the fire from Lane's and Thompson's artillery, passing across the front of the 88th towards an unoccupied part of the crest between the 88th and the 21st Portuguese Line Regiment, which was one of the regiments defending the San Antonio Pass.

Heudelet's Division, meanwhile, was already making progress up the road towards the Pass. Around 6 a.m. Heudelet had begun to assemble his two brigades around San Antonio. The attack was to be delivered up the road from the village and was to be led by the 1,700 men of the 31st Leger from Arnoud's Brigade with the two regiments of Foy's brigade, the 70th Line and the 17th Leger, in support and and the 47th Line in reserve.

As dawn was breaking Colonel Meunier led the tightly packed column of the 31st Leger up the steep, stoney road, with Tirlet's fourteen guns providing moral, if not very effective, support from the Knolls behind San Antonio. Picton had grouped three companies of the 60th Regiment and the light companies of the other regiments of his division into a light corps under Colonel Williams and this unit formed the 3rd Division's first line. As Menunier advanced his tiralleurs first encountered the companies of the 60th Regiment pushing them back up the hillside, and "pressing forward with great impetuosity" the 31st Leger was soon over halfway up the mountain. But as Meunier approached Picton's line, Arentschildt's twelve guns opened fire with a heavy salvo of cannister. Still the 31st Leger pressed on, but as it came within musket range of the 21st Fortugese Line and three companies of the British 74th Foot it found the road blocked with abattis. Despite being unable to use the road, Meunier continued up the rocky terrain towards the San Antonio Pass under an increasing concentration of fire. As he approached the summit of the mountain, Meunier halted his depleted and now disorganised column and tried to deploy his battalions into line for the final assault.

His first battalion succeeded in deploying but the following battalions were cut to pieces by the converging fire of the 74th Foot, the 9th and 21st Portugese, and Arentschildt's guns, and the enfilading fire of the 60th which had formed on the flank of the French column. For over half an hour, the 31st held their ground until the allied battalions advanced from their positions, and forming a concave line moved down upon the weakened French Regiment. The 31st fell back under the onslaught and then all order was lost as the men broke ranks and fled down the hillside, with the British and Portuguese troops chasing closely after them. Heudelet had lost forty-five killed and two hundred and foty-nine wounded, and the 3rd Division had suffered one hundred and fifty casualties. Two of Arentschildt's guns had been dismounted, but whether this was due to Tirlet's bombardment or the effects of their own fire on. The steep hillside is not clear.

By this time the head of Merle's Division was nearing the crest of the mountain and a detachment of the 4th Leger was sent to occupy an extensive rock formation at the top of the ridge to protect the flank of the main body. The swerve to the left by Merle's column had taken it out of visual contact with the 88th. Wallace, although concerned for the safety of the four companies of the 45th who were situated on his flank close to the French column, was unwilling to quit his position without orders. Nevertheless he dispatched one of his officers - Captain Dunne - to the right to assess the situation. "In a few minutes, Dunne returned almost breathless; he said the rocks were filling fast with Frenchmen, that a heavy column was coming up the hill beyond the rocks, and that the four companies of the 45th were about to be attacked. Wallace asked if he thought half the 88th would be able to do the business. 'You will want every man, was the reply." [16]

Wellington was nowhere in sight and so Wallace decided to take the initiative and abandon his position and march to the assistance of the 45th. Putting himself at their head, Wallace turned to his men and addressed them. "Now Connaught Rangers, mind what you are going to do; pay attention to what I have so often told you, and when I bring you face to face with those French rascals, --drive them down the hill-- don't give the false touch, but push home to the muzzler!"

Wallace threw the battalion from line into column with the right (Grenadier) company in front and advance rapidly towards Gwynne's position. Approaching the rocks the 88th was met with a raking fire from the detachment of the 4th Leger ensconced amongst the rocks. "The moment was critical, but Wallace "without being in the least taken aback, filed out the Grenadiers and first battalion - company, commanded by Captains Dunne and Dansey, and ordered them to storm the rocks, while he took the fifth battalion - company; commanded by Captain Oates, also out of the columns, and ordered that officer to attack the rocks at the opposite side to that assailed by Dunne and Dansey. This done, Wallace placed himself at the head of the remainder of the 88th, and pressed on to meet the French column." [17]

At this moment the four companies of the 45th, who were a little to the left and in front of the Connaught Rangers, opened fire upon Heudelet's column, "but it in no way arrested the advance of the French column, as it, with much order and regularity, mounted the hill, which at this point is rather flat." Wallace dismounted and led his regiment, together with Gwynne's men, against the head of Sarrut's brigade which led the French column.

He "ran forward at a charging pace into the midst of the terrible flame in his front. All was now confusion and uproar, smoke, fire and bullets, officers and soldiers, French drummers and French drums knocked down in every direction." [18]

Colonel Mackinnon, seeing how desperate Wallace's situation was, rode over to the San Antonio Pass to inform Picton. That General, having satisfied himself that the troops at the Pass were no longer under threat handed over command to Mackinnon and rode across to see what was happening to the north. When he arrived on the scene the detachment of the 4th Leger was still holding the rocks. "I found the light companies of the 74th and 88th Regiments retiring in disorder" wrote Picton, "and the head of the enemy's column already in posession of the strong rocky point, deliberately firing down on us, and the remainder of a large column pushing upon the hill with great rapidity." [19]

Sarrut's two regiments, the 36th Line and the 2nd Leger, actually reached the crest of the mountain, "with the usual rush of French troops." [20] Picton succeeded in rallying the companies of the 88th and 74th Regiments under the fire of the 4th Legerahd he turned them round and attacked the rocks once again. "The enemy were numerous, were disciplined, and full of ardour, and besides, from the nature of their position, they had but the alternative of driving our men down, or being themselves flung from the crags amongst which they fought."

"The latter was the result - for although they combated with a desperation suited to the situation in which they were placed, the heroes of Austerlitz, Essling and Wagram were hunted from the rocks by the Rangers of Connaught." [21]

However, although Picton's charge drove the 4th Leger from the rocks, the French reformed and tried to retake the position. Picton had ordered the 8th Portuguese Line to support his attack and this regiment's 2nd battalion was now brought into the battle, "and opened a well-directed fire while the 45th were performing prodigies of valour.. A terrific contest took place, the French fought well, but they had no chance with our men when we grappled close with them, and they were overthrown, leaving half the column on the heather with which the hill was covered." [22]

Picton took personal command of the 8th Portuguese and with the left battalion he met the counter-attack of the 4th Leger. The inexperienced Portuguese gave a ragged volley and charged the 4th Leger who, witnessing the repulse of Merle's main column, withdrew, after having inflicted considerable damage upon the Allies.

Picton now directed the 8th Portuguese against the main column. "I personally led and directed their attack on the flank Of the enemy's column", recorded Picton, "and we completely succeeded in driving them in great confusion and disorder down the hill." [23]

The Allies chased down the ridge in pursuit of the retreating Frenchmen, though a number of the 36th Line were able to retain formation and give some kind of protection to their fleeing comrades. The Allies continued the pursuit all the way down the hillside until they were stopped by the fire of the 2nd Corps' divisional artillery.

Over by the village of San Antonion Reynier, having seen the repulse of the 31st Leger and the defeat of Merle's Division,rode up to General Foy and angrily called out to him, "Why didn't you start on the climb? You could get troops forward if you choose, but you don't choose." [24]

Foy had been ordered to support the 31st Leger but had taken Reynier's orders to mean that he was to follow up its advance when it began to make headway and he was hurt and insulted by his superior's words. Riding at the head of his brigade, he "climbed the mountain seeking more for death than glory." [25]

Ahead of Foy the 31st Leger was falling back and over to his right, and within view, Merle's Division was being chased down the hillside. Foy chose as his objective the first and lowest hilltop on the right of the Pass, steering wide of Arentschildt's batteries.

With the 17th Leger in the van and the 70th Line echeloned behind, Foy directed his brigade to the point where the right wing of the 45th under Colonel Meade was situated with a battalion of the Thomar Militia, the 9th Portuguese Line Regiment, and the 1st Battalion of the 8th Portuguese which had not been involved in the encounter with Merle's Division. This force, composed almost entirely of Portuguese, none of whom had been so far engaged, was all that stood between Foy's seven battalions and the summit of the mountain. "The right flank of the army would infallibly be turned, and the great road to Coimbra unmasked," observed Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, Assistant Quartermaster-General of the 2nd Division, "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 Serra, and to cut off Wellington's communications with Coimbra." [26]

It was at this time that Wellington's careful planning was rewarded. He had instructed Leith to move across to join Picton if the 5th Division was not attacked.

As it was clear that Reynier had kept no reserves or flanking detachments to the south of the road Leith could now move northwards without fear of compomising the line.

More San Antonio Pass

Introduction
Bussaco
5am Advance
Leith to the Rescue