Star. — London, England, 1809-01-11 00:00:00

NIGHT'S GAZETTE. DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 10, 1809. bigatches, from which the following are Extracts, were, on the *h instant, received at the Office of Lord Viscount Castlereagh, •ne of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, from Lieu tenant General Sir John Moore, K. B. Commander in Chief of itis Majesty's Forces employed In Spain : Benevento, December 28, 1808. - - - Since I had the honour to address you upon the 16th, from Toro, the army has been almost constant ly marching through snow, and with cold that has been very intense. The weather, within these few days, has turned to rain, which is much more uncom fortable than the cold, and has rendered the roads al. most impassable. On the 21st the army reached Sa. begun ; it was necessary to halt there in order to re fresh the men, and on account of provisions. The information I received was, that Marshal Soult was at Saldana with about sixteen thousand men, with posts along the river from Guarda to Carrion. The army was ordered to march in two e,nlumns at eight o'clock on the night of the 23d, to force the bridge at Carrion, and from thence proceed to Sal dana. At sir o'clock that evening, I received infor mation that considerable reinforcements had arrived atCarrion from Palencia, and a letter from the Marquis de la Remana informed me that the French were ad. vancing from Madrid either to Valladolid or Sala manca. It was evident that it was too late to prose. cute the attempt upon Soult, that I must be satisfied with the diversion I had occasioned, and that I had no time to lose to secure my retreat. The next morning Lieutenant General Hope, with his own division and that of Lieutenant General Fra ser, marched to Majorga. I sent Sir David Baird with his division to pass the river at Valmira, and followed Lieutenant General Hepe on the 25th with the reserve and the light brigades, by Majorga, Valde. ras, to Benevente. The cavalry under Lord Paget followed the reserve on the 26th • both the latter corps entered this place yesterday. W e continue our march on Asterga. Generals Hope and Fraser are already gone on ; Sir David Baird proceeds to-morrow from Valencia ; and I shall leave this with the reserve at the same time ; Lord Paget will remain with the eavalry, to give us notice of the approach of the enemy ; hitherto their infantry have not come up, but they are near, and the cavalry is round us in great numbers ; they are checked by our cavalry, 'which have obtained, by their spirit and enterprize, an asce:idancy over that of the French, which nothing but great superiority of numbers on their part will get the better of. The diversion made by our march on Sahagun, though at great risk to ourselves, has been complete ; it remains to be seen what advantage the Spaniards in the south will be able to take of it ; but the march of the French on Badajoz was stopped when its ad. vanced guard had reached Talaveira de la Rehr e, aid every thing disposable is now*turned in this direction. The only part of the army which has been hitherto engaged with the enemy, has been the cavalry, and it is impossible for me to say too much in their praise. I mentioned to your Lordship in my letter of the 16th the success Brigadier General Stewart had met with in defeating a detachment of cavalry at Rueda. Since that, few days have passed without his taking or killing different parties of the French, generally superior in force to those which attacked them. On the march to Sahagun Lord Paget had information of six or seven hundred cavalry being in that town.— He marched on the night of the 20th from some vil lages' where he was posted in front of the enemy at Majorga with the tenth and fifteenth hussars. The tenth marched straight to the town, whilst Lord Pa get with the fifteenth endeavoured to turn it. Un fortunately he fell in with a patrele, one of whom escaped and gave the alarm. By this means the French had time to form on the outside of the town before Lord Paget got round. He immediately charged them, beat them, and took from one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty prisoners, amongst whom were two Lieutenant Colonels and eleven officers, with the lass on our part of six or eight men, and perhaps twenty wounded. There have been taken by the cavalry from four to five hundred French, besides a considerable number killed ; this since we begun our march from Sala manca. On his march from Sahagun, on the 20th, ' Lord Paget, with two squadrons of the tenth, attacked a detachment of cavalry at Majorga, killed twenty, and took above one hundred prisoners. Our cavalry is very superior in quality to any the French have ; and the right spirit has been infused into them by the example and instruction of their two leaders, Lord Paget and Brigadier General Stewart. Astorgs, December 91, 1808. I arrived here yesterday. Major-General Fraser, with his division, will be at Villa Franca this day, and will proceed on to Lugo. Lieutenant-General Hope, with his division, stopped yesterday two leagues from this, and proceeds this morning, follow ed by Sir David Baird. The two flank brigades go by the road of Pariferada. I shall follow, with the reserve and cavalry, to Villa Franca, either this night or to-morrow morning, according as I fear the ap proach of the French. The morning I marched from Benevente, seven squadrons of Bonaparte's guards passed the river At a ford above the bridge.— They were attacked by Brigadier-General Stewart, at the head of the piquets of the 18th and 3d German Light Dragoons, and driven across the ford. Their Colonel, a General of division, Lefebre, was taken, together with about seventy officers and men. - The affair was well contested. .The numbers with which Brigadier-General Stewart attacked were infe rior to the French ; it is the corps of the greatest cha racter in their army ; but the superiority of the Bri tish was, I am told, very conspicuous. I enclose, for your Lordship's satisfaction, Lord Paget's report of it. Benevente, December 29, 1808. Sir—l have the honour to inform you, that about nine o'clock this morning I received a report that the en emy's cavalry was in the act of crossing the river at the ford near the bridge. 1 immediately sent down the piquets of the night under Lieutenant-Colonel Otway, of the 18th. Having left orders that the ca valry should repair to their alarm posts, I went for ward to reconnoitre, and found four squadrons of I m perial Guards formed and s'zirmishing with the piquets and other cavalry in the act of passing. I sent for the 10th Hussars, who having arrived, Bri gWiier General Stewart immediately placed himself at the head of the piquets, and with the utmost 101- lantry, attacked. The 10th Hussars supported in the ! most perfect order. The result of the affair, as far as I have yet been able to collect, is about thirty killed, twenty-five wounded, seventy priinners, and about the same number of horses. It is impossible for me to avoid speaking in the highest terms of all those engaged. Lieutenant-Co lonel Otway and Major Bagwell headed the respec tive night piquets. The latter is slightly wounded. The utmost zeal was conspicuous in the whole of my staff ; and I had many volunteers from head quar ters, and other officers of your army. Amongst the prisoners is the General Of Division Lefebre (who commands the cavalry of the Imperial Guard) and two Captains. Our loss is, I fear, nearly fifty men killed and wounded. r will send a return the mo ment I can collect the reports. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) PAGE; Lieut. Gen. To Lieut. Gen. Sir John Moore, K. B. • _ ___ . • I have forwarded the prisoners to Baniza. On the other side of the river the enemy formed again, and at this instant three guns of Captain Donoviies troop arrived, which did considerable execution. [For 13mM-opts, Ste. see the last Page.] SPANISH PAPERS. LERIDA, NOVEMBER 30. Public notice has just been given here, that the bat teries which the enemy had at St. Pedro Martir have surrendered to our glorious arms. On the 27th arrived in this city Colonel Doyle. He was received with music, and a salute from the guns. *He went the day after to inspect the fortress of Diton zon, and has returned to this place. ARRAGON. Copy of a Dispatch to the Supreme Central Junta, from his Ex cellency D. Francisco de Palafox, the Representative General with the armies. " Head-quarters at Sangeua, 3, 1808. Seignor—This capital has recently given an ad ditional proof of that heroic patriotism and attach ', inent to its Sovereign which distinguish and charac rterize it. On the 30th of November, in the dusk of the evening, the enemy, being above 12,000 men in number, made their appearance in the quarter of Torrero and Casa Blanca, having come by IYluel and Muria, on the roads from Madrid and Valencia.— Part of them took post on • the road, on a height si tuated between the hermitages of Soledad and Santa Barbara, and commanding La Casa Blanca ; the rest ascended, under cover of the ravine de la Muerte which covers Torrero, and took possession of the Carthu sian' monastery of Conception. They had a consi derable body at Alagon, and we were informed that three thousand men were advancing by way of Tauste and Castejon de Baldejussa a Zuera, in order to at- I tack us at four points. The whole of the garrison were immediately ordered under arms, and the heroesl of Saragossa also took up their muskets. All the posts were occupied, and the whole of the inhabitants went out with alacrity and enthusiasm to be specta tors of the glorious action which was impending. On the Ist of December, at day-break, the enemy were dislodged from the Carthusian monastery, and com pelled to fall back through• the ravine, when they took post in five columns on the heights that com mand Torrero, with the decided intention of making their attack in that quarter. They manoeuvred until ten o'clock A. M. at which hour they commenced their most decisive and vigorous attack in the direc tion of Casa Blanca. It was received on our side with a very brisk fire of musketry and cannon, which lasted until two o'clock, when the whole of the ene my's army in Soledad fell back, shamefully aban doning Torrero. It was apprehended that, at this very moment, they were proceeding to make an at tack, with the whole of their force, in the direction of Casa Blanca ; and such was the opinion of the troops stationed at that point, who, more cool and steady than even during any other part of the day, kept up their fire in the oliveplantation through which the enemy were retreating, being at the same time, on their guard lest it should prove a false retreat.-- But at four o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy filed off in the direction of Alagon, precipitately quitting the field of battle, and leaving behind a considera ble quantity of provisions, some baggage, a number of musket locks, and various other articles, of mili tary stores. They sustained a considerable loss of men. On our side, we had only one killed, and a few wounded. All the troops and officers conducted themselves with gallantry and soldier-like intrepidity; and particularly General Don Felipe de Saint March, who upon this occasion displayed his military talents, and his characteristic judgment, in the dispositions which he made to ensure the success of the action.— The peasantry generously offered him their services, and are entitled to the highest praise, for the gallan try with which they saved themselves from a corps of cavalry that had surrounded them, killing one of the enemy's horse, and cutting their way through their troops. The division that was advancing by Zuera retreated before dark towards Tauste, where they ar rived at dusk yesterday evening, traversing several rugged mountains, and marching nine leagues in the course of the night and day. It is known that ano ther division, of from eight to ten thousand men, who were, doubtless, coming to reinforce the army that attacked this city, passed yesterday through Alsa men, and are to join it on the other side of - Alagon. This is all that I can at present communicate to your Majesty. (Signed) gi FRANCISCO DE PALAFOX Y MELZI." P iII FROM LAST CATALONIA. Head-quarters at St. Feliu, on the Llobregat, Dee. S. " A diversion was made by this army in the morn ing of the sth instant. All the points occupied - by the enemy as advanced posts were attacked at the same instant. Their battery above La Cruz Cubierta was dismounted, and three guns of large calibre were• spiked. Those planted on the battery on the skirt of Monjoy, were also spiked, and the enemy were com pelled to retreat at both points. The villages of San Andre, San Martin, and Clot, were occupied by our troops ; but the latter they were Compelled to evacu ate, in consequence of the continued fire &Om the heavy 1 artillery which the enemy have planted on Fuerte Pin. Our loss was very inconsiderable, notwithstanding the boldness with which our troops attacked the batteries, and the brisk fire kept up by the latter. We have succeeded in erecting, in an advantageous situation, a battery of five pieces of large calibre, the fire of which prevents the enemy from replacing the gurs dis mountad at La Cruz Cubierta." SEVILLE, DECEMBER 57. The Supreme Junta of the Government df the kingdom being anxious, by all possible,means, to ex pedite the enlisting, the requisition of horses and mules, and the making of arms, clothes, kc. that our armies may, with the shortest possible delay, be placed on that respectable footing which has been resolved upon, and which they deem necessary in order to en sure victory to our arms, were of opinion that the most obvious means of obtaining this important ob ject, was to dispatch into the provinces, upon this spe cial commission, some of their own Members of dis tinguished activity and zeal. Those who have set off as Commissioners are D. Thomas Veri, for Catalo nia : D. Francisco Palafox, for Arragon ; D. Fran cisco Xavier Caro and D. Manuel Maria Avalle, for Asturias and Gallicia ; Baron de Sabassone, for Va lencia ; Marquis de Campo, for Sagrado, Granada, Cordoba, and Jaen ; Marquis de la Puebla, for Se ville ; Marquis del Villar and D: Joseph Garcia la Torre, for Murcia and Cuenca ; Viscount de Quinta. nilla, for Leon ; D. Felix Ovalle, for Old Castile ; Count de Tilly, for Africa. SAN ?ELI% DECEMBER 1. DISPATCH FROM THE GENERAL IN CHIEF OF THE ARMY OF CATALONIA, TO THE MINISTER AT WAR. " Head-quarters at . St. Felice, Nov.??." ge Most Excellent Seignor—According to the in tention, of which I apprised your Excellency in my dispatch of the 29th ult. the general attack took place yesterday on all the posts occupied by the enemy without the limits of Barcelona, from all of which he was immediately dislodged, and compelled to take refuge under the guns of the fortress, with the excep tion of the advantageous position of St. Pedro Martir, which is the most commanding. The communica tion with this post being completely cut off, in conse quence of our line having advanced to Hospitalet, Esplugas, Sarnia, Gracia, and Horta, as your Excel lency will perceive from the plan which I have the honour to send you, I, upon this ground, summoned the Commandant to surrender. He refused com pliance, and I immediately gave orders for an attack; but at half past twelve o'clock this day he surrendered himself and his garrison prisoners of war, consisting of 104 privates and two o ffi cers. We f ound, in the place four 4-pounders and one 2-pounder, with ma gazines of ammunition and stores. At the same time a firing was commenced from the right and centre of our line, and the enemy were repulsed as far as the walls of Barcelona, from which it will not now be an easy task for them to advance again. I now (four in the afternoon) forward this to your Excellency in the mean time by a special messenger, for the satisfaction o f his Majesty, until, by receiving the statements of the Generals and Commanders oiculumns, I shall be' 1 1 enabled to transmit to your Excellency the details of the operations of these two days. 44 Our line occupies the above.mentioned posts, and I have fixed the head-quarters of the army in this town, which is - about a league's distance from it, &c. (Signed) " JL•AN MIGUEL DE vtvrs. By a proclamation issued on the 14th, Lechi orders precautions to be taken against the rockets which the English have begun to throw in among the shipping in the harbour. In the night of the 19th ult. they discharged from 12 to. IS rockets, one of which set fire to a Spanish ship, the San Raymisndo. Had not means been speedily taken to extinguish it, a general conflagration would have been the consequence. VALENCIA, DECEMBER 7. The Superior Junta of Government of this king. dom has just received the following dispatches, with the Saragoera Gazette Extraordinary of the Sd instant, from his Excellency the Captain-General of Arragon and the army of reserve : " Most Excellent Seignor—l return you infinite thanks for the intelligence which you communicate to me, and cannot but observe to your Excellency, that it would be very proper to order for this city the regi. ment of Grenadiers of Granada, which it has been resolved to detain in this quarter for the defence of Arragon ; for never can they be of greater use, than in the circumstances in which this city finds itself, of being threatened with a speedy attack and a second siege. I had no apprehension of this sort when at Ca parroso, where I was posted with a division of my army, far from thinking that I should so soon find myself in the lamentable situation in which I am now placed, for never could any combination of mine have brought me into it. The events of war are as various as the infinitely varied opinions of mankind, and the task of fixing them is more difficult than that of regu lating the direction of the zrostatic globe. In a word, in consequence of the orders for our retreat, we got into a dreadful engagement at Tudela on the 23d, in which the ground was strevted with an immense num ber of dead bodies on both sides ; but our brave sol diers never forgot that they were the children of Va lencia, Murcia, and Arragon, and the enemy had, to all appearance:. from 7to 8000 killed. We have lost several excellent officer;, but those who survive are resolved to avenge their loss ; and I have reason to call myself happy, having the good fortune to be at the head of the bravest of the troops that encountered the fury of the eagles of Napoleon. el The enemy, after the dispersion of our army, con tinued the pursuit, and are now in the environs of this city, the sight of which cannot a but remind them of events not less fatal to them than glorious for us. Yes terday our advanced parties exchanged some shot with them ; the result being some loss on th e i r s ide of men and booty, Which consoled and animated the noble inhabitants of this place, who without distinc tion of persons, sex, or rank, are at work upon the fortifications, and in three days have done wonders. I expect to give another proof, equal or superior to the former, of thy attachment to my King and Coun try, with the assistance of GOD, and our celestial Pa troness, should the attempt again be made to besiege us. May GOD, 8&C. ( Signed) " JOSEPH PALAPDX Y MELCI." ,* Head Quarters at Saragossa, Nov. SO, Mil." VALENCIA, DECEMBER 16. The Supreme Junta have received an express from the Duke of Infantado, who commands a division of the army of the centre, in the vicinity of Cuenca, in forming them of the destitute condition of that army, in point of clothing and provisions. The Supreme Junta immediately forwarded all the succbur in their power, to enable those valiant defenders to com mence.thcir operations without delay. ~.::•. " Head-quarters at Saragossa, Deo. 3, IRO& " Most Excellent Seignor,—The annexed will In. form your Excellency of our situation since the dic. persion of my army at Tudela, the relics of which I have fortunately re-united in this capital, which the enemy has again attempted to besiege with his whole force. He, with this intention, presented himself at Puente de la Muela, where my troops gloriously d e . feated him, chastising him, and putting him to fight, with the loss of some booty. They made a second attack ; and though they succeeded for the moment in getting possesion of the place, they were again dis lodged with considerable loss. They endeavoured, as appeared from their dispositions, to make them. selves masters of the important post of Torrero, where their columns of infantry and cavalry przsetzted them. selves, keeping out of the reach of our batteries on the other side of the Imperial Canal ; but my brave troops put them to flight, with the loss of a number killed and some prisoners. In this affair the troops of this kingdom, whom I have the satisfaction to command, conducted themselves with their accus tomed gallantry and intrepidity. To conclude, at day-break yesterday, we were free from the presence of the enemy in every quarter . ; and though a ccor d. ing to the accounts brought in, diey are scouring the environs, exacting rations, and committing their ac customed depredations. I much question whether they will approach to lay siege to this city, where they would probably dread a repetition of the chastisement already inflicted upon "them. May GOD, &C. (Signed) " JOAN! PALAYOX Y MELCf." [The dispatch above alluded to is from General Don Juan O'Neill to Palafox, and contains the de. tail of the battle of Tudela, and the subsequent re. treat.] PROCLAMATION. " Inhabitants of Mexico, of all classes and conditions " Necessity is not subject to common laws. The City has seized the person of his Exce:lency the Viceroy. His removal has been imperiously demanded by feasons of utility and general c mvenience. In the course of last night the Royal Acuerdo, the most illustrious Seignor the Archbishop, and the other Authori ties, were convoked. They have submitted to the urgency of affairs; and the said Viceroy being divested of his Authority, it has devolved, conformably to the Royal Order of the 30th of Oc tober, 1808, upon Field-Marshal D. Pedro Garibay, until the dispatches brought by the Providence shall have been opened. He is actually in possession of the Supreme Authority. Be calm and tranquil; you are now governed by an accredited Chief, with whose prudence you are acquainted. Confide in the vigilance of the Royal Acuerdo ; all will turn out to your advantagc. Impa tience can only serve to divide men's minds, and to occasion mis chiefs which may perhaps be irremediable. The said Provisional Chief, the Royal Acuerdo, and the other concurring Authorities, give you every assurance that can be wished for. " By &ommand of his Excellency the President, with the Royal Acuerdo, the most illustrious Seignor the Archbishop, and the other Authorities. (Signed) " Mexico, Sept. 16, 1808. FRANCISCO XIMINtI." PRIVATE LETTERS. " Cadiz, December 30, 180 e. 44 I send this by the Melpomene frigate, arrived here with the Diamond, in 36 days from Vera Cruz, with four millions six bun dredand fifty thousand dollars, for the use of our pktriotic defenders. Every true Spaniard, both in this place and throughout Andalusia, is sensible of the dangers that threaten us; but they are all pre pared to meet them as they should. We had yesterday several reports, which were generally believed. They had at least the appearance of general-probability, as they are founded on letters sent by General Gregor!, at Cordova, to Victor, at Xeres, and tratistnitted by the latter to his brother and others Isere. They state. that In consequence of very important advantages recer.tly gained by Palafox, and the junction of the British troops with Romani, the whole of the French army had evacuated Madrid in two di visions, with Bonaparte himself, and his brother Joseph. It is also stated that the French, with 20,009 men, having attacked the line of Barcelona, forced it, after a series of desperate actions, in which they lost 11,000 men. " Orders have been received here from the British Minister, Mr. Frere, to land an the money sent last from England In is Loire frig ate. This measure has inspired much stottfidence i al though it was not neccessary with the inhabitants, but it was gratefully received as expressive of the opinion of England on the strength of the country, and her own readiness to make every sacrifice for her allies. It proved a most seasonable supply, as well as the money brought by the Melpomene and the Diem* I. The San Juno is every day expected from Vera Cos with eight millions of dollars. All the fire-arms here and over Andalusis have been properly distributed, a vast number of pikes havebeen made, and ammunition in considerable quantities collbai* but the recruits and levies are so anmerous that there is a general cry for arms. Not less than 300,00 stand of arms are still wanted. " We learn from authority difficult to doubt, that General Marla has betrayed his King and country, and given himself up to Bonaparte ; but being of a very timid nature, it is supposed that his fears overcame his patriotim. The public opinion runs also very strongly against Cutanos. and no doubt is entertained that the French had a party at Madrid chiefly composed of per sons of the highest rank, formerly attached to the court of Ferdi nand, !nit venal and selfib in their hearts. Among the reports in circulation is one which states that the French had carried cdf many hostages from Madrid, and bad once more pillaged that city. its " Our province is in the highest state of defence, and from local advantages and di ffi cult passes , ought to be i mpregnable to the whole force of France. Prince Montfort it Captain Gener:l of Andalusia, and General Jones the Governor of Cadiz. The Marquis de Villel, one of the Central Junta, Is now in this city. The French who resided litre are all detained in St. Catharine 's Castle, and the crews of the French squadron are closely guardcl on board the hulks. Admiral Purvis, in the Atlas, is in the Bay, with four frigates, a sloop, and a schooner." ANOTHER LETTER, SAME DATE. " The rumours and reports here are as various and contradc• tory as ever. We certainly are not without fears for our (FA or safety. French perfidy, and her consequent advances aLd suc cesses over us, lead to very serious resection. How can I ter' you ? Morla and Castanos are both represented to us as harlrf betrayed our great and glorious cause. Nay, it is added that Morla has accepted from the hand of the tyrant Napoleon the chief government of Madrid. It is ascertained here, that the French have evacuated the vicinity of Madrid, after having again pillaged and taken away ail they could lay their bands on. The Supreme Junta hold their sittings at Seville. They are busily occupied, and are calling out every man capable of bearing arms, whose aet's are is, and do nut exceed 60. We are still in want of arms and cloathing for our troops ; yeu would be delighted to see the ale crity with which the poor fellows repair to their standards." ANOTHER. I.ETTER, DATED " Dectasaita 31.—Yesterday evening a Gentleman of my ar• quaintance received a letter by express, from a friend at Xeres, lamming him of intelligence having reached that place, that the French at Madrid, in consequence of th e non - arr i va l oe:sine dis patches from Bayonne, bad formid their army in two columns, and bad commenced their retreat. The first column proceeded in the direction of Somoslerra, and was to be immediate/ fol lowed by the second, abandoning their booty, which was so ton• siderable in quantity, that ISoo waggons would have been neces sary for its conveyance. It is further stated, that the mining dis patches had been intercepted by La Romans.. The Duke of In fttitado was, by the same advices, ireCuenca, with a force of more than 80,000 men. lam inclined to believe the report of the in terception of the dispatches, because when escaped on the 18th, in the disguise of a smuggler, three Cspateltes were missing from Bayonne. l'he Gentleman Just mentioned says, that Bona pane was at Chamartin, two leagues from Madrid, but intended to make his entrance into the capital to crown Itlabrother. " Jones, who is appointed Governor of the City, arrived here this evening, with the Marquis de Ville, Deputy of the Central Janta.--.Moria is said to have capitulated for Madrid on the 2.1 of Deferable at Chamartin, stipulating that he should retain th° Governorship of Cadiz. He was constantly with Berthier." 1 e 11 d 6, r, Is 7' is L tc is sl ft it is to ;e F. !,1 F. C. et •Oi :g It