The National Register.
London, England, 1811-08-25 00:00:00

clatecl Port,Ltvgre, 25th July 1811.

The enemy's cavalry le `t Merida on the morning of the lith.
Ile enemy have since continued their marc% upon Almaraz ;
and on th, '^} h. one dig : sion of infantry had arrived at Placentia.
On the same day Martial Marniont was at Alrnaraz, and other
thvisi:4ls ;.ad mare:led front Truxillo in the were direction.
Pne division of infrntry and some cavalry still remained at
Truxillo according to the last accounts.

Extract of a Ilispvtqa Lai C ener4l Lord Viscount Wellington,

tptc., L.,astrllo Branch, Ist .4—ugubt 1811.

I have nicvt.d the whole army to their kf:-. I propose that
they ihoLi.l take up their cantonments in Lower Beira it: tend
of rotejo.
1 tie Army of Portugal remain in the position which I in-
forme(' your Lordship that they occupied in my Dispatch of the
2.rith July, •exe, ?tins that the division at Placentia has extended
thi.iugh the mountains to liejar and Banos.
117 a Letter from General 6ilvieta of the '2l st a July, which
I received en the 26th, I learnt that General Santociloes had
.tetircd with the army of Gall4la from the neighbourhood of
Astorg to Mancanal on the 17th, in con-iequence of Marshal
Be6sietes having collected at Benavente a force emulating of
ele vat thousand infantry and fifteen hundred cavalry.

••••••0110

ADNURALTIr-OFPICt, AVOUST 22,. 1811.
C'ipy of a Letter from Captain Bourehier, of his Majesty's
Sloop the Hawke, to Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, Bart. dated
at ;-ca, August 19, 1811, clod tranimitted by him. to J. W.
Cru .cr, Esq.
_

Sit--1 beg kaye to state to you, that in obedience to your
4irecti-ns 1 i:roceiled in lii Majesty's brig under On command
to the eastward of St. Matcpu, in order to intercept any pf the
etiLmy's trade bounl to the westward ; at two P. M. St. Mur-
eou bearing W. by N. six leagues, .ikriie• obtervcd from the nlast-
head a convoy of French vets la steering for Barfleur ; ail 9ail
Vas inimet!iately made in straw, anti, on oui near approach, we
perceiveu L4:ttll .o he protected by three aritieti National brigi
and two large tuggers) the former carrying from twelve to sis-
'

L REGISTER.

teen guns, the latter from eight to ten each, apparently well
manned. Convinced from their hauling out from their convoy
in close order, it was their intention to attack us, I linmediately
hove to to receive them, and at half past three P. M. Point
Piercu bearing N. W. W. four miles, the action commenced
within half pistol shot, and continued with great spirit on both
sides until we succeeded in driving on shore two of the brigs
and the two lugger', with fifteen sail of their convoy; but in
the act of wearing to prevent the third brig raking us, we un•
fortunately grounded, which enabled her and a few of her con•
voy to escape, although having previously struck to us. My
whole attention at thisllme waS getting his Majesty's brig off
by lightening her of her booms, spars, anchors, and a few of
her guns, &c. which was effected in an hour and a half, under
incessant discharges of artillery and musketry, which com•
p!etely lined the shore. I thought it then most prudent to an-
chor in order to replace the running rigging, during which time
I dispatched the boa's under the command of Lieutenant David
Price, my Second Lieutenant (my first being in a prize), to
bring out or destroy as many of the enemy's vessels as practi-
cable : he succeeded in bringing out the Heron, National brig,
pierced for sixteen guns, mounting only ten, and three large
transports, laden with timber for ship building; the rest were
on their broadsides and completely bilged, and was only pre.
vented from burning them by the strength of the tide being
against him; which sarrice was conducted in a most masterly
and gallant manner under a galling fire of musketry, from the
beach lined with troops. Lieutenant Price speaks in very high
terms of the gallantry displayed by Mr. Smith, Master, and
*Mr. Whehle r, Gunner, who handsomely volunteered their see.
vices on the occasion.
The grateful task is now left to me, Sir, to express my it.,llSc
of admiration of the very steady, uniform, brave, and deter.
mined conduct of the whole of my Officers and ship's company,
which will ever entitle them to my sincerest and warmest
thanks; and I feel I am only barely doing justice to the merits
of Lieutenant Price in recommending him most strongly to
their Lordships' notice for his spirited conduct in the action,
as also in the boats, and, in short, on all occasions; he is a most
Observing and meritorious young Officer, to whom I feel myself
much indebted: nor can I pass unnoticed the zeal. and attention
of Mr. Henry Campliag, Purser, who volunteered to toThmand
the marines and small arm men, and from whose continued and
well-conducted fire I attribute the loss of so few men, which
has been trifling when the superiority-of force opposed to us is
considered, being only one man killed and four wounned.
It is with much satisfaction I add that his Majesty's brig his
suffered in nothing but the running rigging and sails, except
what damage she may have received from grounding; at present
she makes nearly two feet water an hour, which, with the
p:ites not being in a condition to proceed by themselves,
judged it right to make the best ef- my way to Spithead with
them, whichip-ust will meet with yourapprobation. Enclosed
is a return of killed and w owided, as also a list of vessels cap.
lured, driven on shore, and escaped. I have, &c.
(Signed) H. BOURCHIER.
A List of Vessels captured, drove on shore, and escaped, 18th
August 1811.
Vessels taken—National brig l.a Heron, pierced for sixteen
guns, mounting ten, four of them hove overboard to lighten -
her.
Concord' laden with cak and deal plank.
l.a Amiable Arnie, laden whit ditto.
%Nisei, name unknown, No. 710, laden with mahogany
plank.
Vessels drove on shore.—One National brig, two huggers,
;lames un'anoven, and twelve sad of merchant vessels.
Vesselsescaped.—One Natittinallirihg H. B:ootanruddnßilizeiersmerchant vessels.
I ER
Majesty's
sloop Captain.
Return of killed 1181-wnteodu)nded on
Hawke,. Henry Bourchier, Esq. Commander, in action with
the enemy, Aug. 18, 1811.
Peter Hull, seaman, killed; Mr. Holmes, carpenter, slightly
W John Andre* Peterson, gunner's mate, ditto Qin Man..