The National Register. — London, England, 1812-06-21 00:00:00

iIiNF 21. Ribero., the picquets of I.ieut.-Gen. Sir William Erskine's division of cavalry, which had remained in Lower Estremadura, with a part of the 2el division of infantry, and 1 ieut.-Gen. Hamilton's division of infantry. Marshal Soult likewise moved from the blockade of Cadiz rewards Cordova ; and the troops which had marched from Sea ille into the Condado de Niebla, returned to Seville nearly about the same time ; but Lieut.-Gen. Sir Rowland Hill had attained his ob]ect on the 19th, and had returned to Truxillo, and was beyond ad risk of being attacked by a superior force on the 21st. The ent my's troops have retired into Cordova. Since the accounts have been received of Lieut.-Gen. Sir Rowland expedition, the enemy's troops have likewise been put in motion in Old and New Castile ; the Ist division, under General Fey, and a division of the army of the centre under General !)'Armagnac, crossed the Tagus by the bridge of Arzoblspo on the 21st, and have moved by the road of Deleytosa, to relieve or withdraw the post which still remained in the Tower of Mirabete. The whole of the army of Portugal have likewise made a move ment to their left; the 21 division being on the Tagus, and Marehal Marmont's head-quarters have been removed from Salamanca to Fon tieros. By a letter from Sir Howard Douglas, of the 24th instant, I Tarn that the troops under General Bennet, after having made two plunder ing excursions towards the frontiers of Galicia, had again entered the Asturias, and was on the I . 7th in possession of Oviedo, Gijon, and Grado. In the meantime the troops under General Mendizahel are in posses. sion of the town of Burgos, the enemy still keeping the Castle ; and in all parts of the country the boldness and activity of the chiefs of Guerillas are increasing ; and their operations against the enemy are becoming daily more important. I forward this dispatch by Major Currie, Aide-de-Camp to Lieut.-Gen. Sir Rowland Hill, whom I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's notice and protection. Truxillo, May 21, 1812. Mt LORD—I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship, that your instructions relative to the capture and destruction of the enemy's works at Altnarez, have been most fully carried into effect by a de• tachment of troops under my orders, which marched from Almendra lejo on the 12th instant. The bridge was, as Your Lordship knows, protected by strong works thrown up by the trench on both sides of the river, and further covered on the southern side by the Castle and redoubts of the Mirabete about a league off, commanding the pass of that name, through which runs the road to Madrid, being the only one passable for carriages of any description by which the bridge can be approached. I The works on the left bank of the river were a ate-du-pont, built of masonry, and strongly entrenched, and on the high ground above it, a large anti well-constructed fort, called Napoleon, with an entrench ment, and loopholed tower in the centre. This fort contained nine pieces of cannon, with a garrison of between four and live hundred men. There being also en the opposite side of the river, oil a height imme diately above the bridge, a very complete fort recently constructed, which flanked and added much to its defence. On the morning of the 16th, the troops reached laraicejo, andthe same evening marched in three columns ; the left column commanded by Lieutenant-General Chowne (28th and 34th Regiments, under Colonel Wilson, and the 6th Portugue se Cacadores), towards the castle of Mi rabete; the right column, under Major—General Howard (50th, 71st, and 92d Regiments), which 1 accompanied myself, to a pass in the mountains, through which a most difficult and circuitous foot-path leads by the village of Romengordo to the bridge ; the centre column, under Major-General Long (6th and 18th Portuguese infantry, under Colonel Ashworth, and 13thilight dragoons, with the artillery), advanced upon the high road to the pass of Mirabete. The two flank columns were provided with ladders, and it was intended that either of them should proceed to escalade the forts against which they were directed, had circumstances proved favourable ; the difficulties, however, which each had to encounter on its march were such, that it was impossible for them to reach their respective points before day-break ; I judged it best, therefore, as there was no longer a possibility of surprise, to defer the attack until we should be better acquainted with the nature and po sition of the works, and the troop biouvacked on the Leina. I determined on endeavouring to penetrate to the bridge by the moun tain path leading through the village of Romangordo, although, by that means, 1 should be deprived of the use of my artillery. _ On the evening of th e 16 t h 1 m o ved with Major-General Howard's brigade, and the 6th Portuguese regiment for the operation, provid ed with scaling ladders, &c. Although the distance marched did not exceed five or s i x m il es , t h e difficulties of the read were such, that with the united ex er ti ons of officers and men , the column could not belermed for t the atta c k b e f ore d ay li g h t . C on fidi ng , h o wever, In the valour of h etroops, I ordered the immediate assault at Fort Napoleon. My confidence was f u lly j us tifi e d by t he even t. I lae Ist batta l ion of the 50th, and one wing of the 71st regiment, regardless of the enemy's artillery and musketry, escaled the wofk _n three places, nearly at the same time. The enemy seemed at brat determined and his fire was destructive, but the ardour 'of our troops wasirresistible and the garrison was driven at the point of the bayonet , through the several intrenchments of the fort and the-du-pont, across the bridge, which having been cut by those on the opposite aide of the river, ma • laY lea pe d into the river and dill(' pa-liked. ; 377 The impression made upon the gnemy's troops was such, that panic soon communicated itself to those on the right bank of the river, and Fort Ragusa was instantly abandoned, the garrison flying in the great est confusion towards Naval Moral. I cannot sufficiently praise the conduct of the 50th and 71st regi ments, to whom the assault tell. The cool and steady manner in which they formed and advanced, and the intreeidity with which they mounted the ladders s and carried the place, was worthy of those distin guished corps, and the Officers who led them. Could the attack have been made before day, the Wel Rteiment„ underLieutenant-Colonel Cameron, and the remainder of the ist reg'— ment, under the Honourable Lieut.-Colonel. Cadogan, were to have escaled the Cie-the-pont, and effected the destruction of the bridge, at the same time that the attack was made on Fort Napoleon. The int. possibility of advancing deprived them of this opportunity of-distin guishing themselves, but the share which they bad in the operation, and the zeal which they displayed, eiititles them to my-warmest com mendation, and I cannot avcid to mention the steadiness and good discipline of tke 6th Portuguese infantry, and two companies of the 60th regiment, under Colonel Ashworth, which formed the reserve to this attack. Our operations in this quarter were much favoured by a diversion made by Lieut.-General Chowne, with the troops under his ordere, against the castle of iViirabete, which succeeded in inducing the enemy to believe that we should not attack the forts near the bridge, until we had formed the pass, and thus have trade way for our artillery. The Lieut.-General conducted this operation, as well as his former advance, entirely to my satisfaction. I regret much that the peculiar Ntmation of Mirabete should have prevented my allowing the gallant corps under his orders to follow up an operation which :hey had commenced with much spirit, and were so anxious to complete. I cannot too strongly express how much I am sitisfled whit the con duct of Major-General Howard through the whole of this cperatien, the most arduous part of whist' has fallen to his share; arid parti cularly of the manner in which he led his brigade to the assault. lie was assisted by his staff, Brigade. Major Wemyss, of the 50th, and Lieut. Battersby, of the 2d Light Dragoons. To elaeor-General Long I am also indebted for his assistance, although his column was not immediately engaged. • Lieut.-Colonel 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 assistance from Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, of the Royal Artillery, who, with a brigade of twenty-four-pounders, a company of British and one of I'ortaguese artillery, your Lordship was pleased to put under my orders; circumstances did not permit his guns beide hrotieht 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 I.ieut. 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 assault. Lieut. 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 I teat. Hillier, of the eeth 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 Almarez has been considered by the enemy in the light of a most important station; and I am happy to state that its eestruction has been most complete. The towers of masonry which were in Forts Napoleon and Ragusa have been en tirely levelled ; the ramparts of both in great measure destroyed; and the whole apparatus of the bridge, together with the workshops, ma gazines, and every piece of timbes which could be Wind, entirely des troyed. A colour, belonging to the fourth battalion of the Corps Etranger, was taken by the 71st regiment, and I shall have the honour of forward. ing 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 Candler, of the 50th regiment, (the only Officer killed in the assault) has, 1 am sorry to say, left a large family to deplore hisj loss. He was one of the first to mount the ladder, and fell upon the per:l -pet, 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, Assis tant Adjutant-General. During the whole period I have had a separate command in this country. that Officer has been with sue, and rendered most essential service to my corps; on the present expedition he has eminently distinguished himself, and I beg leave particulerly.to notice his conduct. Your Lordship is also aware of the merits of Lieutenaiit- Colonel Offerey, my Assistant Quarter-Master•General, of whose: va luable aid I have been deprived during the latter part of this 'expedi tion. Though labouring under severe illness, he accompanied me, to the serious detriment of his health , a nd until it was totally impractica ble for tam to proceed. Capt. Thorn, Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Mase ter-General, succe eded to his duties; and lam indebted to ben for his assistance, and also to Major Hill and my personal Staff. 'File Marquis de Almeida, Member of the Junta of Estrernadm a, has done me the honour to accompany me, since I have been in the pro• vince ; 1 have received from him, as well as from the people, the most ready and ef f ectual assistance which it was in their power to bestow,. ~+. THE NATIONAL. REGISTER . Tr 7" .~