The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-10 00:00:00

290

13ranca on the eveni-g of the 12th. Brigadier-General Le Cor, with
big brigade of militia, having been obliged to retire upon Sarnadas,
u•fi,n he saw the enemy advance.
In the mean time, having heard that General Alten had retired across
the Tagus, I ordered him to cross that river again, which he did on
the 12th, and the enemy retired from Castello Branco before daylight
on the morning of the 14th, and Brigadier-General Le Cor and Major-
General Alten entered the place.
Tile enemy have as usual. in this expedition, robbed and murdered
the inhabitants of the country. But the injury which they have done,
as far as I can !earn, has been confined to these acts of atrocity; all
the stores in our znagazines at Castello Branco, and our hospital there,
having been removed to this side of the Tagus.
cannot sufficiently applaud the firmness and good conduct of
Brigadier. General Le Cor. He remained in Castello Branco, till he
saw a superior enemy advancing upon him; and he then retired in
good order, no further than was necessary.
As soon as I heard of Souk's retreat from Villa Franca, I put the
army in motion towards Castille. The advanced guard has arrived at
Castello Branco this clay; and I shall go there myself to-morrow.
I have heard of no movement in the north.
Santa Martha, April 12, 1212.

MY LORD—I have the honour to transmit to your I .ordship the in-
closed report of Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, giving the
derail of a very brilliant and successful attack against the enemy's rear
guard. it must be necessary for me to call your Lordship's attention
to the diszinguished ability with which the lieutenant-General planned
and conducted this enterprize, so admirably seconded by the gallantry
and jadginent of Major-General Le Marchant and Colonel Ponsonby,
as well as by the great exertion of the officers and men of the two bri-
gades employed on this service.
I have the honour to he, &c.
(Signed) THOMAS GRAHAM.
Villa Garcia, April 11, 1812.
SIR-I have the honour to report to you, having received information
last night of the cavalry of General Droutt's corps (amounting to 2500)
being encamped between Usk;re and this place, I ordered Major-Ge-
neral Anson's (commanded by the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel
Ponsonby) and Major-General Le Nlarchant's brigades to move in the
course of the night, from Villa Franc and Los Santos, so as to arrive
before day break, the former at Usagre, the latter at Bienvenida,
determinin,, to attack the enemy with General Anson's brigade, in
front, whilst M.:jor-General 1 e Marchant's, by a flank movement
from Bienvenida, should cut off his retreat upon Llerena. The ad-
vanced guard of Major-General Anson's brigade drove in the enemy's
piquets from near Usagre, two boars sooner than I had intended, and
General Le Marchant's brigade had not time to get into the rear of the
enemy, who fell back, upon the alarm being given, a sufficient distance
to secure his retreat upon Llerena.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ponsonby followed the enemy soon after day-
break-through Villa Garcia, and was skirmishing with him when General
I.e Marchant's brigade arrived on the other side of the heights between
the Llerena Road and Bienvenida I desired Colonel Ponsonby would
show only three squadrons and endeavour to amuse the enemy in front,
until Major-General I.e Marchant's brigade (which I had sent Colonel
glley to c.nduct under cover of the heights), was prepared to attack the
enemy in flank : this succeeded admirably ; and the enemy being vigo
rously attacked, at the same moment, in front and flank, retired In the
greatest confusion and disorder. I pursued him with Major-General
A.nson's brigade, and one regiment of Major-General Le Marchant's
( he sth dragoon guards), supported by the 3d and 4th dragoons, to near
Llerena, a distance of four miles, during which the enemy's loss in killed
was very considerable, and about one hundred and fifty prisoners, in-
ending a Lieutenant-Colonel, two Captains, and one Lieutenant, with
sa!aaut one hundred and thirty horses, were brought off the field.
The enemy's cavalry formed on the right, and in rear of seven guns,
and between eight and ten thousand infantry, which had taken up a po-
sition on the left of, and close to the town. The whole soon afterwards
retired upon Berlanga and Asuaga, in the former of which places my
p !Toles followed them.
[Here follows an eulogium on the Officers and men employed in this
galiant aaair.]
(Signed)

STAPLETON COTTON.
Lieut.-Gen. Commanding the Cavalry,

List of Killed and Wuandert,Lic.

Total-1 serjeant, 13 rank and file, 18 horses, killed • 1 major, 1
lieutenant, 4 serjeants, 30 rank and file, 9 horses, wounded; 2 ;rank
ispd file, ri horses, missing.
Officers 'wounded.—t3tl, Dragoon Gu4rds—lVlajor Pre4cot, slightly ;
k'euttnant Walker, severely. •
eturn of Prise ners and horses taken from the Enemy, 11th of April
112.

Total,-1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 2 Captains, 1 Lieutenant, s serjeants,
40 eorppial!, 111 privates, 128 barrel, 1 mule.