of Major-General Howard through the whole of this operation, the most arduous part of which has fallen to his share; and particularly of the manner in which he led his brigade to the assault. He was ably assisted by his staff, Brigade Major Wemyss, of the 50th, and Lieutenant Battersby, of the 23d light dragoons.

To Major-General Long I am also indebted for his assistance, although his column was not immediately engaged.

Lieutenant-Col. Stewart and Major Harrison, of the 50th, and Major Cother, of the 71st, commanded the three attacks, and led them in a most gallant and spirited manner.

I have received the greatest assist ance from Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, of the royal artillery, whom, with a brigade of 24-pounders, a company of British and one of Portuguese artillery, your lordship was pleased to put under my orders. Circumstances did not permit his guns being brought into play; but his exertions and those of his officers and men, during the attack and destruction of the place, were unwearied. In the latter service, Lieutenant Thiele, of the Royal German artillery, was blown up; and we have to regret in him a most gallant officer: he had particularly distinguished himself in the asasult. Lieutenant Wright, of the royal engineers, has also rendered me very essential service; he is a most intelligent, gallant, and meritorious officer; and i must not omit also to mention Lieutenant Hillier, of the 29th regiment, whose knowledge of this part of the country proved of great assistance.

Your lordship will observe, from the return of ordnance and stores which I have the honour to enclose, that Almaraz had been considered by the enemy in the light of a most important station, and I am happy to state, that its destruction has been most complete.

The towers of masonry which were in Forts Napoleon and Ragusa, have been entirely levelled; the ramparts of both in great measure destroyed, and the whole apparatus of the bridge, together with the work-shops, magazines, and every piece of timber which could be found, entirely destroyed.

A colour belonging to the 4th battalion of the Corps Etranger was taken by the 71st regiment, and I shall have the honour of forwarding it to your lordship.

Our loss has not been severe, considering the circumstances under which the attack was made. I enclose a list of the killed and wounded. Captain Chandler, of the 50th regiment, (the only officer killed in the assault) has, I am sorry to say, left a large family to deplore his loss. He was one of the first to mount the ladder, and fell upon the parapet, after giving a distinguished example to his men.

I have had frequent occasions to mention to your lordship, in terms of the highest praise, the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Rooke, assistant Adjutant-General. During the whole period I have had a separate command in this country, that officer has been with me, and rendered most essential service to my corps; on the present expedition he has eminently distinguished himself, and I beg leave particularly to notice his conduct. Your lordship is also aware of the merits of Lieutenant-Colonel Offeney, my assistant QuarterMaster General, of whose valuable aid I have been deprived during the latter part of this expedition. Though labouring under severe illness, he accompanied me to the serious detriment of his health, and until it was totally impracticable for him to proceed. Captain Thorn, deputy assistant QuarterMaster.General, succeeded to his du ties; and I am indebted to him for his assistance, and also to Major Hill, and my personal staff.

8

The Marquis de Almeida, member of the junta of Estremadura, has done me the honour to a company me, since I have been in the province: I have received from him, as well as from the people, the most ready and effectual assistance which it was in their power to bestow.

Major Currie, my Aide.de camp, will deliver to your lordship this dispatch, and the colour taken from the enemy, and will be able to give you any further particulars. I beg to recommend him to your lordship.

I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

R. HILL, Lieut. Gen. Ì enclose a return of prisoners, in nun ber 259, including the Governor, one Lieutenant-Col, and 15 officers. I also transit a return of provisions in the forts near the bridge, taken from one signed by the Chief of the French Commissariat on the 18th of May.

Return of killed, and wounded, of the army under the command or his Excellency General the Earl of Welling ton, K. B under the immediate orders of Lieutenant General Sir Rowland Hill, K. B. at the storm and capture of Fort Napoleon, and the enemy's other works, in the neigh bourhood of Imaraz, on the morning o the 19th of May, 1812

Total British loss-1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 30 rank and file, killed; 2 captains, 6 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, 10 serjeants, 1 drummer, 117 rank and file, wounded.

Total Portuguese loss-1 ensign, 3 rank and file, wounded.

General Total-1 captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 30 rank and file, killed; 2 captains, 6 lieutenants, 5 ensigns, 10 serjeants, 1 drummer, 120 rank and file, wounded.

ACTIONS AT SEA.

London Gazette, Saturday, July 18.

His Majesty s ship. Dictator, in the Sleeve, July 7.

Sir, I have the honour to inform you, that yesterday evening, being off Mardoe with the brigs named in the margin, the mast-heads of the enemy's squadron were seen over the rocks; and Captain Robiliard, of the Podargus, in the most handsome manner volunteered to lead the squadron in to attack them, he having a man on board acquainted with the place; and as neither the masters or the pilots of either of the ships conceived themselves equal to the charge, I did not hesitate to accept his kind offer, well knowing that the British flag would meet with nothing but honour in such hands. In the entrance of the passage the Podar gus unfor unately took the ground; by which circumstance I was deprived of the valuable and gallant services of her commander during the remainder of the day, and was, in consequence, obliged to leave the Flamer to her assistance; but in Captain Weir, of the Calypso, I found every thing that could be wished for, which, in a great mea sure, made up for the loss which I had sustained in the Podargus and Flamer. By this time, half past seven p. m. we had arrived within one mile of the enemy, who were running inside the rocks under a press of sail; the Calypso, which had also grounded for a short time, was now leading us through the passage, and both she and ourselves engaged with the squadron and numerous gun-boats. However, at half past nine, I had the satisfaction, after sail ing 12 miles through a passage in some places scarcely wide enough to admit of our studding sail booms being out,

of running the Dictator's bow upon the land with her broadside towards the enemy (within hail) as per margin,t who were anchored with springs on their cables, close together, and supported by gun-boats, in the small creek of Lyngoe, the Calypso most nobly following us up. In half an hour the frigate was literally battered to atoms, and the flames bursting forth from her hatchways; the brigs had also struck; and most of the gun-boats were completely beaten, and some sunk. The action had scarcely ceased, and the ship afloat, than we found ourselves again attacked by the gun-boats which had retreated on seeing the fate of their squadron, and were again collecting from all quarters; but Captain Weir, of the Calypso, having taken a most advantageous position, engaged them with the greatest gallantry snd effect; indeed, I am at a loss how to express my approbation of the prompt exertion of this gallant and meritorious of ficer. The Podargus and Flamer in the mean time were warmly engaged with numerous batteries and gun-boats, both brigs being aground; but by the uncommon exertion and extreme gallantry of Captain Robiliard, and the officers and crews of the brigs, they at last got afloat very much cut up: on this occasion Lieutenant England particularly distinguished himself. At three a. m. having got the Dictator, Calypso, and prize brigs in the fair way, we attempted to get out through the passages, when we were assailed by a division of gun-boats from behind the rocks, so situated that not a gun could be brought to bear on them from either vessel; in this situation both prize brigs grounded, and not withstanding every exertion on the part of Lieutenant James Wilkie, of this ship, in the Laaland, who had extin

guished a fire on board her which was burning with great fury, and Lieutenant Hooper, of the Calypso. in the Kiel, we had to abandon them complete wrecks, humanits forbidding our setting them on fire, owing to the num ber of wounded men they had on board.

I cannot conclude this letter without mentioning in terms of praise, Mr William Buchanan, the first lieutena it of this ship, a most gallant and excel lent officer From the nature of the attack. I have been obliged to lengthen my report, probably more than the service performed justifies; but in that case, I trust you will only attribute it to my anxiety to endeavour to do justice to a set of officers and men who, I am sure, have done their duty to admiration. The conduct of every individual on board his majesty's ship I have the honour to command has been highly meritorious, and I cannot omit to add the names of Lieuts. Duell, Dutton, and Edwards, Captain Triscott, Lieut. James Baker, and Lieut. F. Macnamara, of the royal marines, Mr R. West, the master, and Mr John Luckamlee, the purser. The skilful attention of Mr Hay, the surgeon, to our own men as well as our enemies, has been beyond all praise; and he speaks in the highest terms of Mr Saunderson, his assistant. Captains Robiliard and Weir, mention the conduct of all their officers and men to have been such as characterise Britons on such occasions, and I am sure I can with great justice add my tribute of applause. Enclosed I have the honour to transmit a list of the killed, &c. although I cannot help deploring the loss of so many brave men, it is much less than could be reasonably expected. The Danes acknowledge to have lost about 300 killed and wound. ed; I rather suspect five. Our ships

masts, and rigging.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed)

J. P. STEWART,
Captain.

To Sir James Saumarez, Bart. K. B. Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief, &c.

Earl Bathurst, dated the 21st, 24th, and 28th ultimo, of which the follow, ing are extracts :—

Cabrerizos, near Salamanca,
July 21, 1812.

In the course of the 15th and 16th the enemy moved all their troops to the right of their position on the Douro, and their army was concentrated between Toro and San Roman.

A considerable body passed the Douro at Toro, on the evening of the 16th; and I moved the allied army to their left on that night, with an intention to concentrate on the Guerena.

It was totally out of my power to prevent the enemy from passing the Douro at any point at which he might think it expedient, as he had in his possession all the bridges over that river, and many of the fords; but he recrossed that river at Toro, in the night or the 16th, moved his whole army to Tordesillas, where he again crossed the Douro on the morning of the 17th, and assembled his army on that day at La Nava del Rey, having marched not less than ten leagues in the course of the 17th.

The 4th and light divisions of infantry, and Major-Gen. Anson's brigades of cavalry, had marched to Castrejon on the night of the 16th, with a view to the assembly of the army on the Guarena, and were at Castrejon under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, on the 17th, not having been ordered to proceed further, in consequence of my know. ledge that the enemy had not passed the Douro at Toro; and there was not time to call them in between the hour at which I received the intelligence of the whole of the enemy's army being at La Nava, and day-light of the morning of the 18th. I therefore took measures to provide for their retreat and junction, by moving the 5th division to Tordesillas de la Orden,

and Major-Gen. Le Marchant's, Major-Gen. Alten's, and Major-General Bock's brigades of cavalry to Alaejos. The enemy attacked the troops at Castrejon, at dawn of day of the 18th, and Sir Stapleton Cotton maintained the post, without suffering any loss, till the cavalry had joined them. Nearly about the same time the enemy turn ed by Alaejos the left flank of our position at Castrejon.

The troops retired in admirable order to Tordesillas de la Orden, having the enemy's whole army on their flank or in their rear; and thence to the Guarena, which river they passed under the same circumstances, and effected their junction with the army.

The Guarena, which runs into the Douro, is formed by four streams, which unite about a league below Canizal, and the enemy took a strong position on the heights on the right of that river, and I placed the 5th, 4th, and light divisions, on the opposite heights, and had directed the remainder of the army to cross the Upper Guarena at Vallesa, in consequence of the appearance of the enemy's intention to turn our right.

Shortly after his arrival, however, the enemy crossed the Guarena at Garteillo, below the junction of the streams, and manifested an intention to press upon our left, and to enter the valley of Canizal. Major-General Alten's brigade of cavalry, supported by the 3d dragoons, were already engaged with the enemy's cavalry, and had taken, among other prisoners, the French general Carrier; and I desired the honourable Lieut.-Gen. Cole to attack, with Major Gen. William Anson's and Brigadier-Gen. Harvey's brigades of infantry (the latter under the command of Col. Stubbs), the enemy's infantry which were supporting their cavalry. He immediate ly attacked and defeated them with the 27th and 40th regiments, which advan

ced to the charge with bayonets, Col. Stubbs's Portuguese brigade supporting, and the enemy gave way: many were killed and wounded; and Major-· General Alten's brigade of cavalry having pursued the fugitives, 240 prisoners were taken.

In these affairs Lieutenant General the honourable G. L. Cole, MajorGeneral V. Alten, Major-Gen. William Anson, Lieut.-Col. Arentschildt of the 1st hussars, and Hervey of the 14th light dragoons, Lieutenant-Colonel Maclean of the 27th, and Major Archdall of the 40th, Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, commanding the 11th, and Major de Azeredo, commanding the 23d Portuguese regiment, distinguished themselves.

The enemy did not make any further attempt on our left; but having reinforced their troops on that side, and withdrawn those which had moved to their left, I brought back our's from Vallesa.

On the 19th, in the afternoon, the enemy withdrew all the troops from their right, and marched to their left by Tarragona, apparently with an intention of turning our right. I crossed the Upper Guarena at Vallesa and El Olmo with the whole of the allied army in the course of that evening and night; and every preparation was made for the action, which was expected on the plain of Vallesa on the morning of the 20th.

But shortly after day-light the enemy made another movement in several columns to his left, along the heights of the Guarena, which river he crossed below Canta la Piedra, and encamped last night at Babilafuente and Villamala; and the allied army made a correspondent movement to its right by Cantalpino, and encamped last night at Cabesa Vellosa, the 6th division, and Major-General Alten's brigade of cavalry, being upon the Tormes at Aldea Langua.