Sidebilder
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

troops upon this occasion was well conducted, although under very critical circumstances, by Major General Houston, Brigadier General Craufurd, and Lieutenant General Sir Stapleton Cotton. The 7th division was covered in its passage of the Turon by the light division under Brigadier General Craufurd, and this last, in its march to join the 1st division, by the British cavalry. Our position thus extended on the high ground from the Turon to the Duas Casas. The 7th division, on the left of the Turon, covered the rear of the right; the 1st division, in two lines, were on the right; Colonel Ashworth's brigade, in two lines, in the centre; and the 3rd division, in two lines, on the left. The light division and British cavalry in reserve, and the village of Fuentes de Honor in front of the left. Don Julian's infantry joined the 7th division in Freneda; and I sent him with his cavalry to endeavour to interrupt the enemy's communication with Ciudad Rodrigo. The ene

ment to their left, the light division, which had been brought back from the neighbourhood of Alameda, was sent with the cavalry under Sir Stapleton Cotton to support Major General Houston, while the 1st and 3rd divisions made a movement to their right along the ridge between the Turon and Duas Casas rivers, corresponding to that of the 6th and 9th corps on the right of the Duas Casas.-The 8th corps attacked Major General Houston's advanced guard, consisting of the 85th regiment under Major M'Intosh, and the 2d Portuguese caçadores under Lieut. Colonel Nixon, and obliged them to retire; and they retired in good order, although with some loss. The 8th corps being thus established in Poya Velho, the enemy's cavalry turned the right of the 7th division between Poya Velho and Nave D'Aver, from which last place Don Julian Sanchez had been obliged to retire; and the cavalry charged.-The charge of the advanced guard of the enemy's cavalry was met by two or three squadrons of the dif-my's efforts on the right part of our posiferent regiments of British Dragoons, and tion, after it was occupied as I have above the enemy were driven back, and Colonel described, were confined to a cannonade, La Motte, of the 13th Chasseurs, and some and to some charges with their cavalry prisoners, taken. The main body were upon the advanced posts. The picquets checked and obliged to retire by the fire of the 1st division under Lieutenant Coof Major General Houstoun's division; lonel Hill of the 3rd regiment of Guards, and I particularly observed the Chasseurs repulsed one of these; but as they were Britanniques under Lieut. Col. Eustace as falling back, they did not see the direcbehaving in the most steady manner; and tion of another in sufficient time to form Major General Houstoun mentions in high to oppose it, and Lieutenant Colonel Hill terins the conduct of a detachment of the was taken prisoner, and many men were Duke of Brunswick's light infantry. Not wounded and some taken, before a detachwithstanding that this charge was re- ment of the British cavalry could move pulsed, I determined to concentrate our up to their support.-The 2nd battalion, force towards the left, and to move the 42nd regiment, under Lord Blantyre, also 7th and light divisions, and the cavalry repulsed a charge of the cavalry directed from Poya Velho, towards Fuentes de against them.-They likewise attempted Honor, and the other two divisions.I to push a body of light infantry down the had occupied Poya Velho and that neigh- ravine of the Turon to the right of the 1st bourhood, in hopes that I should be able division, which were repulsed by the light to maintain the communication across the infantry of the Guards, under Lieutenant Coa by Sabugal, as well as provide for Guise, aided by five companies of the 95th the blockade, which objects, it was now under Captain O'Hara.-Major-General obvious, were incompatible with each Nightingall was wounded in the course of other, and I therefore abandoned that the cannonade, but I hope not severely.which was the least important, and placed The enemy's principal effort was throughthe light division in reserve, in the rear of out this day again directed against Fuentes the left of the 1st division, and the 7th di- do Honor; and notwithstanding that the vision on some commanding ground be- whole of the 6th corps was at different yond the Turon, which protected the right periods of the day employed to attack this flank and rear of the 1st division, and co- village, they could never gain more than vered our communication with the Coa, a temporary possession of it. It was deand prevented that of the enemy with Al-fended by the 24th, 71st, and 97th regi meida, by the roads between the Turon ments, under the command of Colonel and that river.-The movement of the Cameron; and these troops were sup

the

ported by the light infantry battalions in | sent into Estremadura with Marshal Sir the 3d division, commanded by Major Wm. Beresford, owing to the failure of Woodgate; the light infantry battalions the measures reported to have been adoptin the 1st division, commanded by Majored to supply the horses and men with food Dick, Major Macdonald, and Major Aly; on the service. The result of a general the 6th Portuguese caçadores, commanded action brought on by an attack upon the by Major Pinto, by the light companies enemy by us might, under these circumin Colonel Champlemonde's Portuguese stances, have been doubtful; and if the brigade under Colonel Sutton; and those enemy had chosen to avoid it, or if they in Colonel Ashworth's Portuguese brigade had met it, they would have taken advanunder Lieutenant-Colonel Pynn; and by tage of the collection of our troops to fight the picquets of the 3d division, under the this action, to throw relief into Almeida. command of the Honourable Lieutenant- From the great superiority of force to Colonel Trench. Lieutenant-Colonel Ca- which we have been opposed upon this ocmeron was severely wounded in the after- casion, your Lordship will judge of the noon, and the command in the village de- conduct of the officers and troops. The volved upon the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel actions were partial, but very severe; and Cadogan-The troops in Fuentes de Honor our loss has been great. The enemy's were besides supported, when pressed by loss has also been great: and they left four enemy, by the 74th regiment under hundred killed in the village of Fuentes Major Russel Manners, and the 88th regi- de Honor, and we have many prisoners. ment under Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace, I particularly request your Lordship's atbelonging to Colonel Mackinnon's bri- tention to the conduct of Lieutenant-Cogade; and on one of these occasions the lonel Williams, Lieutenant-Colonel Came88th, with the 71st and 79th, under the ron, and the Honourable Lieutenant-Colocommand of Colonel Mackinnon, charged nel Cadogan, and to that of Colonel the enemy, and drove them through the Mackinnon, and Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, village; and Colonel Mackinnon has re- of the 24th regiment, and of the several ported particularly the conduct of Lieute- officers commanding battalions of the line, nant-Colonel Wallace, Brigade-Major and of light infantry, which supported the Wilde, and Lieutenant and Adjutant troops in Fuentes de Honor. Likewise to Stewart, of the 85th regiment.-The con- that of Major M'Intosh, of the 85th regitest again lasted in this quarter till night, ment; of Lieutenant Colonel Nixon, of when our troops still held their post; and the 2d Caçadores; of Lieutenant-Colonel from that time the enemy have made no Eustace, of the Chasseurs Brittanniques; fresh attempt on any part of our position. and of Lord Blantyre.-Throughout these -The enemy manifested an intention to operations I have received the greatest asattack Major-General sir W. Erskine's şistance from Lieutenant-General Sir Brent post at Aldea del Bispo on the same morn- Spencer, and all the General Officers of ing, with a part of the second corps, but the Army; and from the Adjutant and the Major-General sent the second batta- Quarter-Master-General, and the officers lion of the Lusitanian Legion across the of their several departments, and those of ford of the Duas Casas, which obliged my personal staff.-From intelligence from them to retire.In the course of last night Marshal Sir William Beresford, I learn the enemy commenced to retire from their that he has invested Badajoz, on the left of position on the Duas Casas; and this the Guadiana, and is moving there stores morning at day light the whole were in for the attack of the place. I have the motion. I cannot yet decide whether this honour to inform you, that the intelligence movement is preparatory to some fresh has been confirmed, that Joseph Buonaattempt to raise the blockade of Almeida, parté passed Valladolid, on his way to or is one of decided retreat; but I have Paris, on the 27th of April. It is not deevery reason to hope, that they will not nied by the French Officers that he is gone succeed in the first, and that they will be to Paris. I have the honour to be, &c.obliged to have recourse to the last.-Their (Signed) WELLINGTON. superiority in cavalry is very great, owing to the weak state of our horses from recent fatigue and scarcity of forage; and the reduction of numbers in the Portuguese brigade of cavalry with this part of the army, in exchange for a British brigade

My Lord,

Villa Formosa, May 10. The enemy retired on the 8th to the woods between Espeja Gallegos, and Fuentes de Honor, in which position the whole army were collected on that day

and yesterday, with the exception of that part of the second corps which continued opposite Alameda. Last night the whole broke up, and retired across the Azava, covering their retreat with their numerous cavalry; and this day the whole have retired across the Agueda, leaving Almeida to its fate.-The second corps retired by the bridge of Barba del Pueno, and the ford of Val d'Espino, on the Agueda.Our advanced posts are upon the Azava, and on the Lower Agueda; and the army will be to-morrow in the cantonments on the Duas Casas. I have, &c. WELLINGTON. (Signed) Return of killed, wounded, and missing, under the command of Lieutenant General Lord Viscount Wellington, K. B. in the affair at Fuentos Onovos, on the evening of the 3rd of May, 1811.

Royal Horse Artillery-1 horse killed; 3 rank and file, wounded.

14th Light Dragoons-1 rank and file, 1 horse, killed; I rank and file, 1 horse, wounded; 1 rank and file, 1 horse, missing. 16th Light Dragoons-1 horse killed. 1st Hussars, King's German Legion1 horse killed; 1 Captain, 4 rank and file, 5 horses, wounded.

24. Batt. 5th Foot -4 rank and file wounded.

2d Batt. 63d Foot-9 rank and file, wounded; 3 rank and file missing.

1st Batt. 88th Foot-2 serjeants, 3 rank and file wounded.

2d Batt. 88th Foot-6 rank and file wounded.

1st Batt. 92d Foot-1 Lieutenant, 9 rank and file, wounded.

94th Foot-1 serjeant, 2 rank and file, wounded.

1

3d Batt 95th Foot-1 Lieutenant, 9 rank and file, wounded.

1st Light Batt. King's German Legion2 rank and file killed; 5 rank and file wounded.

2d Batt. ditto-1 rank and file, killed; 3 rank and file, wounded.

[ocr errors]

1st Batt. of the Line of ditto-1 serjeant, drummer, 2 rank and file, wounded. 2d Ditto-4 rank and file, wounded. 5th Ditto-1 serjeant, 3 rank and file, wounded.

7th Ditto-1 serjeant, 2 rank and file, wounded.

Total British Loss-1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 19 rank and file, and 4 horses killed; 1 Lieutenant Colonel, S Captains, 7 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, 1 Staffy 10 serjeants, 1 drummer, 145 rank and file, and six horses, wounded; 42 rank and file, and 1 horse, missing,

Total Portuguese Loss-1 serjeant, and 2d. Batt. 24th Foot-2 rank and file 13 rank and file, killed; 1 Captain, 3 wounded.

2d Batt. 42d Foot-1 rank and file killed; 1 Captain, 1 serjeant, 5 rank and file wounded; I rank and file missing.

1st Batt. 45th Foot-2 rank and file missing.

1st Batt. 50th Foot-1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 3 rank and file wounded.

5th Batt. 60th Foot-3 rank and file killed; Lieutenant-colonel, 1 Lieutenant, 9 rank and file, wounded; 8 rank and file missing.

1st Batt. 71st Foot-1 Lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 6 rank and file, killed; 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 1 Staff, 2 serjeants, 31 rank and file, wounded; 6 rank and file missing.

74th Foot-1 rank and file killed; 9 rank and file wounded.

1st Batt. 79th Foot-1 Captain, 4 rank and file, killed; 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 1 serjeant, 17 rank and file wounded; 1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 1 serjeant, 21 rank and file missing.

Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 1 Staff, I serjeant, and 25 rank and file, wounded; 1 serjeant, and 1 rank and file, missing. (Signed)

CHARLES STEWART, Major-Gen. and Adjut.-Gen.

Return of Officers killed, wounded, and missing of the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-General Lord Viscount Wellington, in the Affair of Fuentes Onovos, on the Evening of the 3rd of May, 1811, Killed.

1st Batt. 71st Foot-Lieutenant Cowsell. 1st Batt. 79th Foot-Captain Imlach. Wounded.

1st Hussars, King's German LegionCaptain Krauckenberg, slightly.

2d Batt. 42d Foot-Captain McDonald, severely.

1st Batt. 50th Foot-Lieutenant Rudkin and Ensign Grant, slightly.

5th Batt. 69th Foot-Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, severely; Lieutenant Duchastelette, slightly.

Pablished by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall,

LONDON:-Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fleet-Street,

[ocr errors]

VOL. XIX. No. 44.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1811.

[Price 18.

"The battles of Cressy and Agincourt find a parallel in some of the late splendid Achievements of our armas. We have only to pursue the same course to raise our national fame and character still "higher than it ever has been before, whilst, under Providence, our exertions and our example "may lead to the general DELIVERANCE OF EUROPE."The LORD CHANCELLOR (Eldon's) Speech at the PITT CLUB, 28th May, 1811; as reported in the CoURIER of the 29th of May.

1845]

[1346

SUMMARY OF POLITICS. just spoken of. But, the manner of it, as described in the Dispatch of the Lord. PORTUGAL. THE WAR.The intelli- Marshal, inserted below, is what we ought gence, just hinted at, in my last Number, not to overlook. It appears, that Almeida of "another glorious voy," won by MAR- was garrisoned with about a thousand men, SHAL BERESFORD, has, it seems, not yet under the command of GENERAL Brennier. arrived; but, there can be little doubt, After the Victory, gained by the blockad that a battle has taken place between this ing army, over the enemy, there would Marshal and the Duke of Dalmatia, who seem to have been not the smallest chance commands a body of French troops in of this garrison's escape from us; and, we Spain. Any observations upon the bat- might, one would have thought, made tle would, of course, be premature; but, quite sure of seeing this General and his I shall make an observation or two upon Garrison come to England, prisoners of what our venal prints have said respecting war.This was anticipated; and, the it.They tell us, that we have lost in MORNING POST went so far as to tell our this battle 8,000 men, and that one of our "fashionable world" where it was intended regiments is totally destroyed. This is a to confine these prisoners.- -Never sell pretty dear "victory," then, and I should the skin 'till you have caught the Lion. be very glad to hear any man point out Nay, never sell it, in future, 'till you have an adequate advantage that can possibly actually killed him; for, we see that there arise out of it; I do not say, that is likely is no reliance to be placed upon traps. tó arise out of it; but that can possibly We had the whole French army in a trap, arise out of it.The complete "deliver- and they not only got out of the trap, but, "ance," as it called, of Spain and Portu- after having run away, have had the augal, would not compensate the loss of 8,000 dacity to turn about and stare us in the face. men; that is to say, if the deliverance be Stare us in the face, did I say? Nay, (by not intended to end in the establishment all that's impudent!) to attack us!of free governments in those countries. Still, however, this trap, in which the We are told, that 4,000 of these killed army was, was nothing at all to compare men were Spaniards, who were put in the to the trap in which BRENNIER was placed. front of the battle, and who dropped upon He was really in a trap. He was in a the ground where they were drawn up in fortified town, surrounded by an army of order of battle. This is worthy of note, fifty thousand men, and an army, too, after what we have recently heard of the who had just beaten that to which he and bad behaviour of the Spaniards; and, it his garrison belonged. He had but a would be curious to ascertain the cause of thousand men. To get out of the town our having placed the Spaniards in the front without being killed or captured seemed of the army, after having heard such ac- as impossible as for a weazle to get off counts as we did hear from Cadiz.- from a warrener's trap. His enemies This is a point for the reader to dwell had him, one would have thought, as upon; and, at any rate, I trust it will not completely, in their power as if he had escape his attention.Let us now look been in a dungeon, guarded by their back a little to the Glorious Victory of Al- sentinels-Yet, what was the result? meida, where, in my last, we left our Why, he not only got out; he not only army at its post, blockading that fortress. got away with his garrison; but, he got We now find, that Almeida is evacuated clear away; and (oh! the wonderful by the French, and that the evacuation art of entrapping!) took away with kim took place very shortly after the Victory some of those who attempted to impede his

another part of the present Number is the French account of the battle of Almeida, in which it is stated, that they took, during that battle, 600 prisoners. Our accounts state that we lost only about 300. Which account we ought to believe I shall not pretend to say. One story is always good till the other is heard. It is also evident, that, while the French would not fail to make the number as high as possible, our people would not fail to make it as low as possible. Between the two statements we must judge for ourselves; for, I beg my readers to bear in mind, that, if we are to be guided by the past, we must not place implicit reliance upon a thing as being so, merely because it is said to be so.

400 men killed and wounded. Our general says, that they left 400 dead in one place.

march! Read the account given of this transaction by Lord Talavera himself; and then, say what are your hopes of being able to cope with enemies like these. The place was invested; it was actually blockaded; it was surrounded with an army, and a "victorious" army too, of 50,000 men; and, with only one thousand men with him this French General marches out and gets clear off'; and, as will be seen by the dispatch, takes some of our army prisoners.This last circumstance is a proof not to be denied, that he was not worsted by those who as sailed him in his way. -I have read a great deal about battles and sieges; but never did I before read of any thing like this; and, I do not believe, that the paral-The French say, that they had only lel of it is to be found in history. There have been many instances of garrisons cutting their way, in a very desperate man- Now, do we believe his account of ner, through a numerous enemy; but, in his killed and wounded? If we do, why this case, there appears to have been a should we not believe the French account mere march out, boldly setting fifty times of their killed and wounded? It is not so their number at defiance, and actually easy for the enemy to tell your loss as it going off in triumph.- -As to what Lord is for you yourself to tell it. Indeed he Talavera says about the device of firing cannot know what your loss has been. We from the fortress every night for some must, therefore, rely upon the statement nights before; it only appears, that it was of each party as to his own loss; or, we a clever trick, and that it succeeded in de- must rely upon neither. If I believe, that ceiving our people; but, it by no means Lord Talavera lost no more than he acfollows that our people ought to have been knowledges to, I must believe that the so deceived. Not only did the French- French lost no more than they acknowman get clear away; not only did he ledge to; and, indeed, it is not reasonable mareh out and cross the ground of those to suppose, that the French loss was equal who were watching him; not only did he to ours, seeing that they were the assailcome out of a blockaded place and tra- ants, and seeing also, that they were verse unhurt the ground of the blockading so superior in cavalry; which last is a army; but he blew up the works of the place point not unworthy of a little more atbefore he quitted it, so that, when our army tention than has hitherto been betook possession, that it should be easily stowed upon it.My readers will bear assailed, if the French came back to at- in mind, that, about 8 months ago, it was tack the town. There never was, I verily positively stated to the "thinking people believe, any military operation like this "of England," that the French had long heard of before.BRENNIER, we are told, been living upon their horses, which they would not have got off so clearly, if the stewed down for soup.-I beg the reader, 4th Regiment, whom some General of ours if he be not a willing dupe (and, if he be, sent to stop them at a certain bridge, had it is no matter what he thinks) to look not missed their way. Missed their way! back to that time. Their borses the French And, is this the reason that we are to have had long been stewing down for soup. for such a thing as this? Missed their way! Many months, not less than five months How came BRENNIER not to miss his way? after that, the French began their retreat He, it seems, found his way with great from a country, in which, as we were told, exactness in a night when none of our they were just expiring with hunger. We people could see him. These Frenchmen follow them. We speak of them as a are like cats: they see in the dark. We wretched remnant of an army. We say must now wait till we see the French ac- that they are destroyed. The Parliament count of this evacuation; for, as yet, we thanks the General who had driven them know only such part of the facts as it has before him out of Portugal, which we rebeen thought suitable to tell us.Ingard as being now completely delivered.

« ForrigeFortsett »