fort San Christoval.-On the 19th, before | day, General Latour Maubourg forded the Gebora with his cavalry above the bridge, which had been destroyed by the enemy two days before. He moved forward, rapidly, by the road from Badajos to Campo Mayor, where he commenced an attack on the left of the enemy's line. The 2d hussars even penetrated into their camp for a short time. During this attack, the infantry and artillery, under the orders of General Girard, passed the fords to the right and left of the bridge, notwithstanding the rapidity of the current, and that they were up to the middle in water. As soon as the columns were formed, the Duke of Treviso ordered 1200 Portuguese and Spanish cavy who were in the battle, abandoned the infantry. Among the prisoners there are 350 officers, in which are included, LieutenantGeneral Viruez, four Brigadier-Generals, and 15 Colonels or Lieutenant-Colonels, as well as several officers of Mendizabal's staff. It is asserted, that General Garcia has been discovered among the dead, besides two brigadiers and several officers of rank.[Here follows a list of the officers who principally distinguished themselves.] -Our loss in this battle consists only of 140 wounded; the number of killed amounts only to 30; most of the wounded will be soon able to join their regiments. Extract from a Second Dispatch from Mar General Girard to march against the right shal the Duke of Dalmatia to the Prince of of the enemy, and to manoeuvre as if he Neufchatel, dated Badajos, March 12. intended to gain the height and place himself between the enemy and Fort Christo- Monseigneur, I have the honour to val. The right having been forced, Ge- inform your Serene Highness that the city neral Girard was to alter his movement of Badajos has submitted to the arms of from the right, and fall upon the main his Majesty the Emperor and King. On body of the enemy, while General Latour the evening of the 10th the breach was Maubourg, with his cavalry, should attack rendered practicable, and the necessary him on the left flank and break his line. dispositions for carrying it by assault havThis double movement was executed with ing been made, the Duke of Treviso all the perfection that might be expected summoned the Governor, who, after many in the field of Mars from the most expe- difficulties, at last listened to reason, and rienced troops, notwithstanding the brisk thus avoided a fresh effusion of human fire kept up by the enemy. The 34th blood. In the course of the night the caand 88th regiments, forming the brigade pitulation which I have the honour to of General Philippon, were in the first line, transmit to your Excellency was signed, having one battalion deployed and two and on the 11th the troops of his Majesty others in column. The 100th followed in entered Badajos. The garrison marched reserve at half distance from the line. out with military honours, grounded their The 2nd company of the 3d regiment of arms on the glacis, and were marched as artillery advanced on a line with the in-prisoners of war to France. I have the fantry, with two batteries. The fire of our troops commenced at 100 paces, and was kept up without at all interrupting the movement. A part, however, had their bayonets crossed, until all the masses of the enemy were penetrated and put to the rout. The cavalry, which followed close behind the foot, then made several charges, which were all crowned with the most complete success. At ten o'clock in the morning, the two Spanish divisions, which twelve days before arrived from Lisbon, existed no longer; 850 of them were killed. Six stands of colours, 17 pieces of cannon, 20 ammunition carts, and 5200 prisoners remained in the hands of the Imperial army. The few who escaped threw themselves tumultuously into Elvas and Badajos. Mendizabal and Lacarrera, who were in the last square, ignobly sheltered themselves in the first of these fortresses. honour to send to your Excellency a list of the general and superior officers, and a numerical account of the subalterns and soldiers who have set out. Their number amounts to 7155, of whom 512 are officers, including a Lieutenant-General, two Field Marshals, four Brigadiers, 15 Colonels, and 24 Lieutenant-Colonels, or Majors. Exclusive of these, there are in the town 1100 sick and wounded, and I have sent home 220 married people or children, who in the last six months have been torn from their families, and compelled to serve. We also picked up in the town 300 soldiers who had hid themselves. Thus the whole of the prisoners taken at Badajos amounts to 9000 at least.-We found in the fortress 170 pieces of cannon, mortars, and howitzers of various calibres 80,000 pounds of powder, 300,000 cartridges, and a great deal of projectiles, besides two bridge apparatuses in excellent condition. In the course of the siege the garrison expended two hundred and thirty thousand pounds of powder, and two millions of cartridges. The soldiers picked up 8000 twenty-four pound shot, and upwards of 600 shells, which were fired back into the fortress. There was no want of provisions. The enemy intended to convert Badajos into another Saragossa. The greater par of the bastions and outlets of the streets had entrenchments thrown up. But it appears, even from the avowal of their leaders, that, being in ignorance as to the real point of attack, until the moment that the breaching battery was established, they were incapable of resistance when the breach was rendered practicable. Notwithstanding, the English General, Lord Wellington, did not cease to desire. him from Lisbon, to hold out, and that he would send him succours. It would appear from several letters which were intercept ed, that such was his intention. Without doubt the English General believed that he had fulfilled his engagements, in getting rid of the two Spanish divisions which had joined his army, and particularly when he learned that these divisions had been completely destroyed at the battle of Gebora.-A circumstance took place which possibly contributed to protract the siege for some days. When the enemy made their last sortie to prevent the covert-way from being crowned, General Menacho, the Governor, was killed. General Imas, his successor, wished to give some proofs of his talents, and thereby occasioned a longer resistance.-I have the honour to transmit to your Highness a copy of The Journal of the Siege.' It contains an account of our loss and expenditure during the operations. I also send a copy of the Order of the Day which on this occasion I addressed to the army.Adjutant Commandant Avy will have the honour of delivering you my dispatches, and 25 stands of colours, taken from the enemies of the Emperor at Olivenza, at the battle of Gebora, and at Badajos, to be laid at his Majesty's feet. I intreat your Highness to present these honourable trophies. -The surrender of the troops which defended Badajos completes the destruction. of the late army of Romana, which, two months ago, was 20,000 strong. Of these 17,500 have been made prisoners of war, and sent to France; the remainder have been killed or dispersed. There are also a great many wounded in the hospitals of Campo Mayor and Albuquerque. There only remains the corps of Ballasteros, which is in the county of Niebla, and some wrecks of regiments escaped from the battle of Gebora, which Mendizabal in vain endeavours to re-assemble in Portugal. These important results, obtained in a short space of time, will produce a great effect. in the southern provinces of Spain and Portugal.-I must remark to your Highness, that among the prisoners at Badajos there are a great number who have been taken several times before-men, officers, and Generals; General Garcia is one of them; he was taken at Ferrol, where he took the oath of fidelity.-[Here follows an account of the officers who have particularly distinguished themselves. ]-I have the honour to be," &c. The following are the principal articles of the Capitulation of Badajos: "The garrison will march out with the honours of war, drums beating, lighted, matches, and two field-pieces at the head of the column.-Their Excellencies the General in Chief, the Duke of Dalmatia and Marshal the Duke of Treviso, being desirous on this occasion to give the garrison a proof of their esteem, in consideration of their gallant defence, agree that they shall march out by the breach. The troops will lay down their arms on the glacis, as they march out, leave their two pieces of cannon there, and be sent as prisoners of war to France.-It is agreed, although from the notoriety of the tolerant principles possessed by the French no stipulation is necessary to this effect, that the inhabitants of Badajos shall not be called to account for their political opinions. Their religion, being the same with that of the French, will be protected, instead of being restrained. They shall not, no more than the other inhabitants of Spain, be compelled to take arms against the Spanish troops." BATTLE OF BARROSA. 1811.-Extract from the Correspondence An army of from 16 to 18,000 men, of which 6 or 7000 were English, landed at Algesiras on the 28th of February. It consisted of 4000 English troops from Cadiz, 3000 from Gibraltar, 6000 Spaniards from Cadiz, and about 4000 collected from different parts of the coast. The men each. As soon as the Duke of BelSpaniards who sailed from Cadiz were luno saw that the enemy's force was so embarked in the bay on the 21st of Febru-considerable, and that the English formed ary, but they were not able to put , to sea until the 26th. On the 28th they formed a junction at Algesiras with the other troops. On the 2d of March this corps advanced to Cassas Viajas.-The plan of the enemy was to raise the siege of Cadiz, and to take all the French lines in the rear, while an attack was to be made, on the works before Cadiz by the garrison of that place. At the same time the ships of war and gun-boats were to threaten debarkations on every point. Ballasteros was to march upon Seville, and an insurrection was to break out in the mountains of Ronda, which town was also to be attacked. This vast project has, however, been totally defeated.-After having issued orders respecting his line, the Duke of Belluno formed a reserve at Chiclana, composed of the first brigade of the division of Ruffin, and of the second brigade of Leval's division, and reinforced the garrison of Medina Sidonia. The Spanish scouts appeared on the 4th of March, in the direction of Chiclana. On the 5th the enemy's army advanced to take possession of that town, which they knew contained the depots, magazines, and head-quarters of the French army. The Duke of Belluno marched towards them with two brigades, three squadrons of cavalry, two batteries of artillery, and about 6,000 men. All who shewed themselves were driven back. The enemy was forced back upon the sea, and his plan was thereby already rendered impracticable.-The Duke of Belluno, in prosecuting his success, arrived close upon the sea shore, whence he perceived that the important position of Barrosa was occupied by an English brigade, forming the rear-guard of the allied army. He ordered General Ruffin to take possession of that height, which was carried at the pas du charge, and several pieces of cannon and some prisoners were taken. He then advanced upon the enemy's flank, towards the sea, at the same time that a brigade of Villatte's division, which had taken possession of the tete de pont of St. Petre, proceeded against the head of the column. These three brigades of the French army had thus almost envelloped the enemy. Meanwhile the enemy, sensible of the difficulties of his position, determined to return, and presented four lines, which appeared to consist of 4000 a great part of it, he ordered General Villatte's brigade to leave the passages to the Isle of Leon open, and to advance towards his right, and he also directed General Ruffin to evacuate the height, and to close upon his left, being no longer in expectation of surrounding the enemy, but confining his object to the establishment of a line parallel to the sea, and including within it a Spanish division, which had been cut off by a detachment of 1500 men of the main body of the corps d'armée. General Ruffin was already engaged with this division. He repulsed, with great vigour, two attacks of the enemy, in which they were always two to one. Being severely wounded, he remained on the height with about 100 soldiers, who were also wounded, and his brigade joined the Duke of Belluno on his left. Successive attacks took place on the centre but every time the enemy presented themselves they were repulsed. stantly disappointed in the plan of advancing to Chiclana, confined towards the sea, and convinced that all their efforts had proved abortive, and the field of battle being strewed with their dead, they considered themselves fortunate to have the opportunity of profiting of the movement which had been made by General Villatte, and of throwing themselves into the Isle of Leon, which they did without any consideration for one of the Spanish divisions, which was thus separated from Cadiz, but which, having wandered about all the following day, succeeded in entering the Isle of Leon during the night, as the blockade was not re-established on that point until the 7th. Thus between 5 and 6,000 Imperial troops disappointedthe execution of a plan long meditated by an enemy, drove them up against the sea, and compelled them to return to Cadiz, whence the greater part of their force had sailed only a week before. The Duke of Belluno took three standards, four fieldpieces, and made 720 prisoners.-The action was extremely obstinate. The French charged several times with the bayonet. We had 1,300 men killed, wounded, or made prisoners. Among the latter were 150 men, all wounded, who were taken on the height defended by General Ruffin, and about 30 sharp shooters, who were the only French made prisoners without being wounded. The first battalion of my's corps, and if the Duke of Belluno had only to oppose its entrance into the Isle of Leon, the whole of this corps would have laid down their arms. The Commandant of Ronda has repulsed and dispersed the insurgents in the mountains. As soon as General Sebastiani was informed of the march of the enemy's corps against the first corps, he detached a division towards Cadiz. General Godinot also detached nine battalions; but these reinforcements which might have been useful, arrived too late. The enemy, after their defeat, placed themselves in a state of security within the walls of Cadiz. We are assured that this affair is a source of discussion and dissatisfaction between the English and Spaniards. the 8th regiment was charged in a wood of olives, in which it was placed as a corps of sharp shooters. The eagle bearer being killed, his eagle could not be found. This regiment having been employed as sharp shooters by the General's order, it ought not to be blamed for the loss of the eagle. ---General Ruffin is among the prisoners, and his wound is severe. It is believed, however, that it will have no dangerous consequences. This General evinced the greatest intrepidity, and his misfortune was entirely owing to his being wounded. The General of Brigade, Chaudron Rosseau, and Colonel Autier, are killed. These officers were distinguished for their bravery, and have fallen gloriously.-The number of the enemy counted dead on the field of battle is 900, including 300 English, and we are assured that a great number were carried off. The enemy's loss cannot be estimated at less than 4,000 men, that is to say, the triple of ours. One half of this loss, at least, was sustained by the English troops.-On the 6th the English vessels made an attack along the whole of our line. They effected several debarkations, and were every where repulsed at the point of the bayonet. In these different affairs we made about 50 prisoners. Four gun-boats were sunk. Several pinnaces, which were to serve for the re-embarkation, came on shore, without any person on board, the whole of their crews having been lost. It is to be regretted that the Duke of Dalmatia, when he set off for Estremadura, did not leave the whole of Andalusia and the kingdom of Grenada under the orders of the Duke of Belluno. The 4th corps was thus left independent, also the corps of Generals Godinot and Darrican, and the Duke of Belluno had only the troops employed in the siege at his disposal, to guard his immense line, to repulse the real or false attacks made at all points, and to oppose the army in front of him; so that whilst the enemy had united all his means, the 4th corps, and the corps of observation under General Godinot, that is to say, more than 25,000 men, were of no use in this important affair.-The 4th corps supposed that the debarkation at Algesiras menaced their right, at the same time that the Murcian insurgents were attacking its Jeft. General Sebastiani only learnt, when too late, that the troops that had disembarked were marching against the left of the blockading army. If one of his divisions had acted upon the rear of the ene ANHOLT.-Letter from J. W. Maurice, commanding a Detachment of Marines at Anholt, to Sir James Saumarez, giving an Account of the Repulse of the Danes from that Island.—March 27, 1811. Sir;-I reported to you in my letter of the 10th ultimo my having received information of an intended attack on this Island by the Danes. On the 8th instant I received corroboration of this intelligence; but as every exertion had been made to complete the works as well as our materials would allow, and as piquets were nightly stationed from one extreme of the Island to the other, in order to prevent surprise, I waited with confidence the meditated attack.-Yesterday his Majesty's ship Tartar anchored on the north side of the Island. The enemy's flotilla and army, consisting in all of nearly four thousand men, bave this day, after a close combat of four hours and a half, received a most complete and decisive defeat, and are fled back to their ports, with the loss of three pieces of cannon and upwards of five hundred prisoners; a number greater by one hundred and fifty men than the garrison I command.-I am now to detail the proceedings of the day. In the morning, just before dawn, the out-piquets on the south-side of the Island made the signal for the enemy being in sight. The garrison was immediately put under arms, and I lost not a moment in proceeding with the brigade of howitzers, and two hundred infantry, accompanied by Captain Torrens (who had hitherto acted as Major-Commandant to the Battalion), in order to oppose their landing. On ascending an elevation, for the purpose of reconnoitring, I discovered the landing had already been effected, under the cover of darkness and a fog, and that the enemy were advancing rapidly and in great numbers.-On both wings the enemy now far outflanked us, and I saw that if we continued to advance, they would get between us and our works; I instantly ordered a retreat, which was effected in good order, and without loss, although the enemy were within pistol-shot of our rear, and seemed determined to enter our batteries by storm; but Fort Yorke and Massareene batteries opened such a welldirected fire of grape and musketry, that the assailants were obliged to fall back and shelter themselves under the sandhills. As the day lightened, we perceived that the enemy's flotilla, consisting of 18 gun-boats, had taken up a position on the south-side of the Island at point-blank shot. I ordered the signal to be made to the Tartar and Sheldrake that the enemy had landed, upon which these vessels immediately weighed, and under a heavy press of sail used every endeavour to beat up the south-side, but the extent of shoals threw them out so many miles, that it was some hours before their intention could be accomplished. The gun-boats now opened a very heavy fire on our works, while a column of about six hundred men crossed the island to the westward, and took up a position on the northern shore, covered by hillocks of sand, by breaks and inequality of ground. Another column made many attempts to carry the Massareene battery by storm, but were as often repulsed, and compelled to cover themselves under hillocks of sand, which on this island are thrown up by every gale. The column on the south-side had now succeeded in bringing up a field piece against us, and Captain Holtoway, who had commanded at the advanced post, joined us by water. I had been under great apprehensions that this officer had fallen into the hands of the enemy; but finding after several gallant attempts, that he was cut off from reaching headquarters by land, he, with the coolest judgment, launched a boat, and landed his party under Fort Yorke amidst the acclamations of the garrison. Immedi. ately afterwards Lieutenant H. L. Baker, who, with Lieutenant Turnbull, of the Royal Marines, and some brave volunteers, had in the Anholt schooner, gone on the daring enterprize of destroying the enemy's flotilla in his ports, bore down along the north-side of the island. Things were in this position when the column on the northern shore, which, divided by the sand-hills, had approached within fifty paces of our lines, made another desperate effort to carry the Massareene battery by storm; the column to the south-east also pushed on, and the reserve appeared on the hills ready to support them; but while the Commanding Oflicer was leading on his men with great gallantry, a musketball put a period to his life. Panic-struck by the loss of their Chief, the enemy again fell back, and sheltered themselves behind the sand-hills. At this critical moment Lieutenant Baker, with great skill and gallantry, anchored his vessel on their flank, and opened a well-directed fire. The sand hills being no longer a protection, and finding it impossible either to advance or retreat, the assailants hung out a flag of truce, and offered to surrender upon terms; but I would listen to nothing but an unconditional surrender, which, after some deliberation was complied with.— In the mean time the gun-boats on the south-side, which had been much galled by the fire of Fort York and Massareene Battery, got under weigh, and stood to the westward, and the column of the enemy which had advanced on the south-side, finding their retreat no longer covered by the flotilla, also hung out a flag of truce, and I sent out an officer to meet it. I was asked to surrender; the reply that I returned, it is unnecessary to mention. The enemy finding my determination sought permission to embark without molestation; but I would listen to nothing but an unconditional submission; and I have the pleasure to inform you, that this corps also laid down their arms, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war.-The pri soners, which were now more numerous than my small garrison, were no sooner secured, than operations were commenced against the reserve, which had been seen retreating to the westward of the island. (To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall, LONDON :-Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fioct-Street. |