The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

made to conceal the reported an ival of SUCHET with the
army of Valencia, in order that they may surprise and
terrify us at once by the magn'tude of their force. Such
an effect, however, it is not in their power to produce,
and even were they to bring the troops which are men-
tioned, and to appear suddenly before us with 65,000
men, they would find the allied army but little inferior
in numbers, in discipline and skill their equal, and their
superior in confidence and enthusiastic bravery. The
following statement, taken from the official returns last
received, will show the exact force now under the corn.
mand of Lord WELLINGTON :•—•

Aggregate of British force serving now in Portugal • •
Ot these there arc in garrison, in command, sick, wounded,
and convalescent, &c. . . . . .

56,000

22,000

Which leave a total British force effective in the field of .
The total amount of the Vortuguese regular force, according to
.
official returns, is . . .
.
Of these there are in garrison, in command, sick, wounded,
and convalescent, &c. . . .

56,000

32.000

Which leave a total Portuguese force, effective in the field, of 24,000
To this list we must add 2,000 British and Portuguese
artillery, and we shall find that his Lordship is now at
the head of an experienced, brave, and well.affectioned
army of-60,000 men, fully equal to the task of defeating
the enemy. Our greatest apprehension is, lest conscious
of the fatal, and, perhaps, irremediable consequences that
would flow from their defeat, the French will not give
us an opportunity of trying their courage in the field.
The following are the most interesting private letters
that have been received from the besieging army :
Camp before badajoz, Marc h 20.
" We were before nightfall on the 17th in the trenches, about 200
yards from the enemy's works, and had completed our first parallel,
and began the second. Rapid work this. The enemy kept up all the
17th a heavy fire upon us, which did us however but little damage,
and occasioned no interruption at all in carrying on the work. We had
not more than forty men killed or wounded in the !;-eneh, as small a
number as possible, considering the nature el the work and our conti-
guity to the enemy's battery. The Mb' we proceeded on our second
parallel, but not so rapidly as on the 'lay before, a heavy rain setting m
which continued the whole day. I suppose the enemy thought ot.r
works would be damaged by it, and our ardour damped; for on
the 19th we observed them, first mike some signals and a con-
siderable bustle in that part of the town nearest our left Bank.
—This was to deceive us into an idea of an attack being medi-
tated upon that part of our parallel ; but it did not throw us off our
guard on our right flank. We were prepared to receive them on either
side, and the weather, which had been hazy as well as rainy, just then
clearing up, we observed a column pushing out upon oar right—" They
are coming," and have at them was the exclamation of our gallant fel-
lows, who longed for the attack, and wedasheo at them in good style.
They did not like as at all, and if the Goveroor saw the manner in
which they were received, I think he wont rank another sortie. I het.r
that the French, if they draw North and South, and join, can bring
about 65,000 men against us. We can twister about 60,000, and I
suppose we shall not decline a general battle."
" Lisbon, March 24, Mt

" Lord WCT.LINGTON, we now understand, is determined to act on
the offensive. General lint, with his divi,ion, has pushed as far as
Almarez, near which place, it is understood, M ARNOW!. means to co:-
lect his force. Gen. GR AHAM, with his diVition, has crossed the Gua-
diana, and taken up a position a little to the Southward of Gen. HILL,
to support him if necessary. The Portuguese regiment of Algarve, in
the ceremony of crossing the Guadiana, the bridges not being quite ready,
rather than wait, swam across, and volunteered to lead their brave
associates on every aml any enterprize against the enemy.
• Col. TRAN.r has entered Spain to the Northward with 5000 Portu-
guese Militia, those joined by the Spaniards in that part,will prevent the
French from sending many troops to the South."

- -
44 CAMP BEFoItE BADAJOZ, 21S1' MARCH ONE DAY LATER
THAN THE DIsPATCH Es).
Tit; Earl of WELLINGTON asrAye:d_ar„, Eivas on the 12th.—On St.
Patrick's-day, this auspicious day, the ground was broke, and firing com-
menced. On that ki:ly the Commander in Chief of the British,the Com-
mander in Chief of the Portuguese, as well as many of the leaders, and
a great proportion of the gallant army, being sons of Erin, opened on
the French.
1‘ The weather was unfavourahle,.and the siege ii likely to I.e protract-
ed. The enemy has spated neither art uor skill tern,ilder it a strong
great work; and it is gurrissoiried by' nearly lOW eickediroops.

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