The National Register. — London, England, 1811-03-31 00:00:00

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDLVARY: DOWNING-STREET, MARCH 25, 1 11 . Dispatches; of which the following are copies, were last night received at the Earl of Liverpool's Office, addressed tb his - Lordship by Lieutenant-General Graham, dated Isle da Leon, 6th and /oth of March, 1811. ' Ma de Leon, March 6, 181'1' MY Loan—Captain Hope, my first Aid-de-Camp, will haVe the honour of delivering this dispatch to inform your Lordship of the glorious issue of an action fought yesterday by the division under my command against the army commanded by Marshal Victor, composed of the twadivisions Rufin and Laval. The circumstances were such as compelled me to attack this very superior force. In order as well to explain to your Lord shin the circumstances of peculiar disadvantage under which the action was begun, as to justify myself from the imputation of rashness in the attempt, I must state to your Lordship that the allied army, after a night's march of sixteen hours from the camp near Vegar, arrived in the morning of the fifth, on the low ridge of Barosia, abbot four miles to.the southward of the moath of the Santri Petri river. This height extends, inland about a mile and a half, continuing on the north the extensive heathy plain of Chiclana. A great pine forest skirts the plain, and circles round the heightat•soine distance, terminating down to Santri Petri, the intermediate spaCe between the north side of the height and the fbrdst teingnneveriand broken. A well condirgted and successful attack on the rear of the enemy's lines near 'Sand Petri, by the vanguard of the Spanish army under Brigadier-General Ladrizabel, having opened the communication with the Isla de Leon, I received General la Pe nas's directions to move down from the position of Barrosa, to that of the Torre de Bermesa, about half-way to the Santri Petri river, in order to secure the communication across the river, over which a bridge had been lately established. This latter po sition occupies a narrow woody ridge, the right en the Sea Cliff, the left falling down to the Almanza Creek on the t-d g e of the marsh. A hard sandy beach' gives an easy communication be tween the western points of these two ps,sitions. My division being halted on the eastern slope of the Barrossa height, was 'marched about twelve o'clock through the wood towards . the Bermesa (cavalry patrbles having previously been sent towards Chiclana without meeting with the enemy.) On the march I received notice that the enemy had appeared in force on the plain, and was advancing towards the heights of Barrosa. As I considered that position as the key of that of anti Petri, 1 immediately countermarched, in order to support the troops left for its defence, and the alacrity with which this maneeuvre was executed served as a favourable omen. It was however im poisible , such intricate and difficult ground to preserve or der in she columns, and there never was time to restore it en tirgly. But before we could get ourselves quite disentangled from the wood, the troops on the Barrosa hill were seen returning from it, while the enemy's left wing was rapidly ascending. At the same time his right wing stood on the plain, on the edge of the wood, within cannon shot. A retreat in the face of such an enemy, already within reach of the easy communication by the sea beach, must have involVed the whole allied army in all the dan ger of being attacked during the unavoidable confusion of the different corps arriving on the narrow bridge of Bermesa, nearly at the same time. Trusting to the known heroism of British troops, regardless of the numbers and position of their enemy, an immediate at tack was determined on. Major Duncan soon opened a power ful battery of 10 guns in the centre. Brigadier-General Dilkev with the brigade of guards, Lieutenant-Colonel Browne's (of the 28th) flan] ( battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Norcott's two compa nies of the 2d rifle corps, and Major Acheson with a part of the ti7th foot (separated from the regiment iu the wood,) formed on the right. . Colonel Wheatley's brigade, with three companies of the Coldstream guards under Lieutenant Col. Jackson, separated likewise from his battalion in the wood, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard's flank battalion formed on the left. As soon as the infantry was thus hastily got together, the guns advanced. to a more favourable position, and kept up a most de structive fire. The right wing proceeded to the attack of General Rufin's division on the hill, while Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard's battalion and Liehtenant-Colorel Bustle's detachment of the 2(th For iuguese, were warmly engaged with the enemy's tirailleurs on our left. General Laval's division, notwithstanding the havoc made by Major Puncan's battery, continued to advance in very imposing masses, opening his fire of musquetry, and wss only checked by that of the left wing. The left wing now advanced firing ; a most deterulined charge by the three companies of Guards, and tbe4s7th regliMent., supported by all the remainder of the wint; decided the defeat of Cien. Laval's division. The entiteof the eighth rcgtment.of light infitntry, whicirstf fered immensely!, ands howitzer,rewstrded this charge, and re4' stained in possessitm of Major Gbugh, of the 97th reement.— These attacks 'were zealous,y suttported Vy Col. Belson with the Dirbregiment and Lieutenant Colonel Pre'vost with a part of the 67th. A reservelarmed bermdthe narretw valley across which the . enemy was closely pursued, tiest shared the some fate, and wee routed by the saint means. Nlemivvhilethe right wing was not less successful: the enetny. confident of success, met General Diikes on the ascent of dig hill, and the contest was sanguinary ; but the undaunted peise verance of the brigade of Guards, of Lietat-tiant-Colonel Browne's battalion, and of Lieutenant-Colonel N.:rcott's And' Major Acheson's detachment, overcame every obitacle, and' General Rufin's division was driven from the heights in cods: Sion, leaving two pieces of cannon. o expressions of mine could du justice to the conduct of the troops throughout. Nothing less Chan the almost unparraileled exertions of every officer, the invincible bravery of every. soldier, and the most determined devotion to the honour of his Majesty's arms in all, could have achieved this brilliant success, against such a formidable enemy, so posted. In less than an hour and a half from the commencement of the action, the enemy was in full retreat. The retiring divisions met, halted, and seemed inclined to form : a new and more ad vanced position of our artillery quickly dispersed them. The exhausted state of the troops made pursuit impossible.--• A position was taken on the eastern side of the hill ; and we were strengthened on our right by the return of the two Spanish battalions that had been attached before to my division, but which I had left nn the hill, add which had been ordered to retire. These battalions (Walloon Guards and Ciudad Real) made every effort to come back in time, when it was known that we were engaged. I understand, too, from Gen..'Whittingham, that with three squadrons of cavalry lie kept in check a corps of intantly and cavalry that attempted to turn the liarrosa height by the sea.— One squadnin of the 2d Htssars, King's German Legion, under Captain Busche, and directed by Lieutenant-Colonel Ponsonby (both had been attached to the Spanish cavalry,) joined in time to make a brilliant and most successful charge against a squa dron of French Dragoons, which was entirely routed An eagle, six pieces of cannon, the General of Division Ruin. and the General of Brigade Rosseau, wounded and take! ; t-he chief of the Staff General 13ellegrade, an Aid-de-Camp of. Mar shal Victor, and the Colonel of the Bth regiment, with many other officers killed, and severM woutieted aid taken prisoners ; the field covered with dead bodies and arms of the enemy attet that my confidence in this division was nobly repaid. Where all have so distinguished themselves, it is scarcely.pos sible to discriminate any as the most deserving of praise. Your, Lordship, will, however, observe how gloriously the briacle of Guards, under Brigadier-General mikes, with the eonrari-: ders of the battalions Litkitenaut-Colonel the Hanourable C. • Onslow 4nd Lieutenant t;ebriglit (wounded,) as well as the three separated companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson, main tained the high character of his Majesty's household troops. — Lieutenant-Colonel Browne, with his flank battalion, Lieu tenanant-Colonel Norcott, and Major Acheson, deserve equal praise. And I must equally recommend to your Lerd ship' notice Colonel Wheatly, with Colonel Belson, I i wel Prevost and Nlajer Gough, ard the officers of the respective corps composing t:is brigade. •"1 he animated charges of the 87th regiment were mot con spicuous : Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard (twice wounded.) and the officers of his flank battalion, executed the duty of skirmish ing in advance with the etemy in a masterly manner, and veers ably seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bustle of the - 20th Portu guese, who, likewise twice wounded, fell into the enemy's hands, but was afterwards rescued. The dent!liMent of thia Portu guese regiment behaved admirably throughout the whole . affair. I owe too much to Major Duncan, and the ()Meets and corps of the Royal Artillery, not to mention Meth in terms of the highest approbation ; never was artillery ttetter served. The assistance 1 received from the unwearied exertions .4 LieutenantzColonel Macdonald, al.d the officers of the Adjia / tant-General's dhpartment ; of Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon, C. Cathcart, and the officers of the Quart , r.:Master-Generat's department ;of Captain Birch. and Captain Nicholas and the ofhcers of the Royal Engineers, of Captain Hope, tii,dl,the officers of my personal Staff (all ahirnating by their exaMple,) . will ever . be most gratefully remembered. , Our loss has been severe ; as soon as it can he ascertained by the proper return, I s!:;.llh4ve a the honour of transmitting it. But much as it is to be lamented, THE NATIONAL - i m s ,„6-... , —• 1 • • • ....lira. =Mr ~~