10 CONYNGHAM. Extract of a letter from Don F. Manuel Toron, prior of the convent of Dominicans at Lerida, dated 28th February, 1784. “SiR, “In consequence of what I have already written to you, concerning inquiries to be made about his excellency Henry Conyngham, general of the combined troops of England and Holland, in the battle of St. Estevan de Litera, in the kingdom of Arragon, against General D'Asfield, commander of the French and Spanish troops; I now acquaint you, that in the war of succession of the year 1706, the latter being in winter quarters with their general in the city of Balbastro, in the aforesaid kingdom, and the former quartered in the town of Tamarite, with their general, Conyngham, these were informed that some parties of French cavalry were recomoitering the country near the town of de Litera, distant one league from thence, and three from Balbastro; on which notice the commandant of St. Estevan de Litera, immediately acquainted his excellency General Conyngham, on the 25th of January; whereupon he instantly ordered a junction of a l l the troops from the adjacent villages o n that samenight, and marched with them, s o a s a t day-break o f the 26th they had reached St. Estevan d e Litera, where they rested after the fatigues o f the night; and a t seven o'clock that morning a n ecclesiastic b y chance walking along the neighbouring mountain that overlooks the town, i n quest o f strayed goats, discovered the troops o f D'Asfield, composed o f s i x thousand men, already ranged i n order o f battle, and i n possession o f the heights and road, h e returned back and gave notice t o General Conyngham. He ordered his troops t o b e formed i n a l l haste, composed o f between three and four thousand men, and 'disposed matters with such order and coolness, that i n a short time h e marched out t o seek the enemy, whom h e met about two hundred paces from the town, commencing a n attack the most brisk and obstinate o f both sides, a t a time when general D'Asfield had already gained a n advan tageous ground; these advantages, however were balanced b y the great skill, valour and comprehension o f General Conyngham, who, i n the height o f the action, mounted o n his horse, accompanied b y Don Francisco Elias Falces ( a gentleman o f the town o f St. Estevan, who lodged him i n his house), gave the most prudent orders, a t the same time forming a plan o f the field o f battle, s o a s not t o cease making the most effectual dispositions towards obtaining the victory. Conyngham being better informed than D'Asfield, not only o f the ground, but o f the other circumstances o f the battle, which from the situation and superior number o f the enemy's troops, h e dreaded losing (and finding a valley o n the left o f the enemy's troops unoccupied) i t occurred t o him t o order a Dutch regiment, then covering one o f t h e avenues leading t o t h e town, t o come t o h i s reinforce ment, and t o attack D'Asfield o n his flank; who seeing his enemy's army reinforced with a fresh supply o f men, presumed i t was very considerable, and ordered the retreat t o b e sounded, without being harrassed i n h i s rear b y t h e English and Dutch forces, more than was necessary t o clear the whole field o f battle; t o the great glory o f Conyngham, and disappointment o f
