The National Register.
London, England, 1812-09-27 00:00:00

BATTLE OF SALAMANCA.

REPORT OF MARSHAL TIDE DUKE OF RAGUSA, TO THE
MINISTER AT WAR.

" Tack, July 31, 3811.

41 'Views! zua,—The interruption of the communications with I
Trance, since the opening of the campaign, having prevented me
from giving you the successive accounts of the events which have
passed : 1 Shall commence this report from the moment at which
the English began operations; and I am going to have the honour
to place bef:;re you in detail, all the movements which have been
executed, to the unhappy event that has just taken place, and which
wowere tar from expecting
He then enters into a detail of the various movement's which The
judged it prudent to make at different periods of the campaign.
zinites himself to have been in expectation of succour from the army
of the North, but to have been disarpointed, anA describes the
means by which he ende:rventred to strengthen him,.elf. Finding at
length that it would soon be necessary to send a detachment from his
force to meet the army which had marched from Gallicia, he thought
it his duty to act without delay,. as thv probability was, that a loss
Of time would make his situation worse, and improve the prospects
Of the enemy. He then speaks of the movements made on the 13th,
14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th July to deceive the allies, who are de-
scribed as retreating ; and after noticing the affair of the I Sth and the
subsequent proceedings of both armies up to the 2-2 d, he gives the
following accoant of that memorable day :
" On the 2`2d, in the morning, 1 went trpon the heights of
Calbaraca ede Azzeva, to reconnoitre the enemy. I found a divit,ion
which had just arrived there—others were in march tor the same
place. Some tiring took place, for the purpose of occupying the
posts of observation, of which we respectively remained ni..sters
Every thing announced that it was the eeemy's intention to occupy
the position of Tisares, tehich was a league in the rear of' that in
which he then was, distant a league and a halt' from Sala:nanca ;
they, however, assembled a considerable force upon this point, and
as their movement upon Tisares might he difficult, if all the French
army was in sight, 1 thought it right to have it ready to act as cir-
cumstances requited.
" Theft were between us and the English some isolated points
called the Aropiles. I ordered General Bonnet to occupy that which
belonged to the position we ought fo take? his troops did so with
promptitude and dexterity. The enemy ordered theirs to be occupied,
but it was commanded by ours at g5O wises. distance. 1 had destined
this point, in the event of their being a general movement by the 1 .ft,
and a battle taking place, to be the pivot an point of support of the
right to all the army.
'e The first division had orders to occupy and defend the plain of
Catharaca, which is protected by a large and deep ravine. The
third division was in the second line, destined to support it ; and the
2d, 4tirt sth, and 6th were at the head of the wood en miasse, behind
the position of A ropiks, and could march equaily on all sides,
whilst the 7th division occupied the left head of the wood which
formed a point extremely uneven and very difficult of access, and
which i had lined with 2U pieces of artillery. The light cavalry was
charged to clear the kit, and place itself in advance of the 7th
division. The dragoons remained in the second line to the right of
the army. such were the dispositions made towards the middle of
the day.
" The enemy had
_his troops parallel to me, extending his right,
of Tej Ares, which always appeared

ho plain occupied by the artillery,
and which had a more immediate
:s. The possession a this plain
hould have tnanutuvrrd towards the
the enomy's communications en

SEPT. S 7.

Tamames: This post, which was otherwise well occupied, was
inexpugnable, and in itself completed the position which 1 had taken.
It was, besides, indispensibly necessary to occupy it, seeing th t the
enemy had reintorced his centre, front whence he might push f :marl
en masse on this plain, and commence his attack, by taking this
important point.
" In to tsequence, 1 gave orders to the sth division to take position
on the right extremity of this plain, the fi e from which candy
ercssed that from A ropiles ; to the 71h division, to plate itseo n
second line to support this ; to the '2 l,tchot theld headlfin(r)efsetrivice.ocohi4
latter ; and to the lit h, to occupy tir pioiiii a e
teliete a large number of pieces of al tillery were yet remaining.
gave like orders to General Bonnet to cause the P22d to occupy a point,
situated between the great plain and the point of A rooks, which
deterded the entrance or the viilage of A ropiles e and finally I gave
orders to General Boyer, Ceonmandant of the dragoons, to leave-a•
regment to clear the r:glit of the Genera!, and to push the three other
regiments to the front of the weed on the tianloof the second division,
in such a manner as to be able,. in case the enemy should attack the
plain, to attack them by the right of this plain, in the mean white
that the l'ght cavalry should charge hi i upon his left. The most
part o: ehcae movements were pert omed with irreguiar:ty. The filth
!ivision, after having taken the post assigned to them, extended
.tsell on its left without any cause or reason. The seventh division,
which had orders to support it, marched to its position ; an& in short
the second division was still i • the rear. I felt all the Consequences
which might result from all these irregularities, and I re:salved on
remeying torn) myself rot the spot, which was a very easy matter,
the enemy as vet not having made any movement at all. At the same
time I received the report of the enemy having caused fresh troops to
pass from his left to his right, I ordered the third and fou, th divisions
to march by the skirts-of the wood, in order that 1, might dispose them
as I found needful. It was half-past fiur o'clock, and 1 went to the
plain. which was to be the object of a serious dispute, but at this
moment a shell struck me, and broke my right arm, and nude two
large wounds on my rieht side. I thus became incapable of takiag
any kind of part in the command.
" The precious time which I should have employed in rectifying
the placing of the troops on the left, was fruitlessly passed. the
al- sence of the Commander gives birth to autarchy, and from thence
proceeds disorder. Meanwhile the time was running away wilhout
the thiciny undertaking any thiog. At length, at five 4)% lot k, the
enemy judging that the situation was faveurable, aiticked this in-
formed left wing with impetuosity. The divisions moved repulsed
the enemy, anti were themselves repulsed in their non ; but they
ictud without concert, and without method. The division which 1
had called to sustain es:e first, found themselves in the situation cf
taking part in the combat without having torseen it.
" Every General makes extraordinary efforts to' supply by his own
particular d :pos'ttons to such which ate in the %attune tequisite, hut
tf h • can attain it in part, yet he cannot effect it completely. The
artillery covered itself with glory, performed prodigies of valour, and
in the midst of our losses caused the enemy to sutler enormously ; he
directed his attacks againet A replies, which was deft sated by the brave
1`20.11 regiment, and was there repoLed, leaving more than 800 dead
on the spot. At length the at my recites, evacuates the plane. and
retires to the skirts of the wood. here The enemy makes fresh efibrts.
Elie division of For, which by the :nature of the business was charged
with the covering of the retrograde movement, was attacked with
vigour, acid cohstantly repulsed the enemy. This division merits ilia
greatest eulogy, as does likewise its General. From this m •ment its
•j retreat was etlected towards Alba de. -formes, without being diaturbed
by the enemy. Our loss amounts to about 6,000 men, hors de
• combat.
We have lost none pieces of cannon, which being dismounted.
•I could not be carries! off; all the rest et the baggage, all the park of
artillery, and all the minuet lab belonging to the army have been brought
away.
" It is difficult, M. Le Due,. to express to you, the different senti.
ments which agitated meat the foal moment when the wound which
I received caused my removal from the army. I would with delight
have exchanged this wound for the certainty of receiving a mond
stroke at the close of the day, to have pre,erved the faculty of corn.
mand, so well did I know the importance of the events which had
just taken place, and how necessary the presenee of the Cenunander.
in-Chief was at the moment, when the shock of the two armies ap-
peared to be preparing to :;rye the whole d.rection of the troops, and
fo appoint tlidr movenicot.;.. Thus one unfortunate moment has
stroycd the result of six %seeks of wise cOrnbin rtierns of methodical
ttilvements ; the of which every thing seemed to presage to us
that we should reap the fruit. On the ':l2d the army made its retreat
from Alba de 'formes on Penaranda, taking its direction towards the
Douro ; the whole of the enemy's cavalry harassed our rear. com-
posed of the cavalry of the first division. .1 his cavalry fell bask, sins
left the division too much engaged ; but it formed itself in.ecit,t)arr,ecibt;
resisted,
especially the enemy. One of the in was broken , the others and
especially that of the 69th, which killed of the enemy s h
push of bayonet. After tin, time they made no attempt on us.
I" General Clauzel has the comma •,d of the army, and takes such
measures as circumstances require. lam going to have myself trails-
' ported to Burgos, where I hope by repose and care taken, to accaver
01 the severe wounds, and which aillict me more torn the dire Wig-

by leaning towards the mountain c
to be his point of retreat.
" T'her was i kola of the
ingthe s' s* ' ' a defonci
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