The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-19 00:00:00

TILE NATIONAL REGISTER•

DISPATCHES FROM LORD WELLINGTON.

Important intelligence has at last been received from
Spain. Conscious that the time of acting with vigour on
the offensive is arrived, Lord WELLINGTON displays as
much activity in his operations against Badajoz, as he for-
merly did caution, when he did not think himself suffi-
ciently strong in efficient numbers to meet the collected
frrce of the French. Dispatches, dated March 27th,
biought by the Queen Charlotte packet, from Lisbon,
reached town on Tuesday. They contain another bril-
liant instance of Britkh valour and impetuosity, which
rill hive probably bet.m renewed a few days after, and
u ill shortly enable us, we confidently trust, to announce
the car me of B.idajoz. Ilis Lordship has adopted a
method of besieging a place, very different from that in
general practice among the French. The latter carry on
their approaches slowly, and as we have seen in most
swges conducted by Sccitr:r in the east of Spain, with the
exception of Tarragona, rely more on the effect of their
shells on the helpless population within, than on the cou-
rage of their troop. Loi d WELLINc-ros, on the con-
trary, immediately p!ants his batteries, and Las no sooner
effected a breach, than he el-tiers it to be stormed, and as
it happened at Ciudad Rodrigo, after a short conflict, ob-
tains possession of a town which the enemy fancied might
hold oat several months. His Lordship seems to act on
the same plan towards Badajoz. He has already carried
one of the outworks of that place by storm. On the 25th
ult. he opened his fire on the town with 28 pieces of can-
non, and on the same night attacked the small fort Picu-

247

rina, defended by 250 men and 7 lieces of cannon. The
storming party consisted of 500 men, formed into three
detachments, led by Major Stt.tw, of the 74th regiment ;
Major RUDD, 77th ; and Captain POWYSS, of the 83d ;
the whole under the immediate orders of Major-General
KEMPT. The action was obstinate and sanguinary. The
enemy made a sortie in defence of the fort, but were im-
mediately repelled. The cfficial account does not men-
tion the loss of the French, only saying, that few of the
garrison escaped ; but private letters state them to have
180 killed and wounded, and the remaining 70 to have
surrendered priscwers. Our loss is mentioned in the dis-
patches as amounting to 195 killed and wounded • among
the former 5 officers, and among the latter 10. This suc-
cess enabled Lord WELLINGTON to open his second paral-
lel within 300 yards of the body of the town. His Lord-
ship stated, that no movement had taken place on the part
of MAttmoNT, who still remained in Castile. Sir T/lONIAS
GRAHAM and General HILL continued to penetrate into
Estramadura, without being able to overtake the retiring
enemy.

The letters brought by the Queen Clearloft; supply ns
with some intelligence respecting the movements and de-
signs of MA RMON T. It seems pretty clear, that the pro-
posed junction of three French armies to relieve Badej:)z
has failed, whether through the want of provi:ious, or the
impossibility of drawing the force under SOULT and S1:-.
CHET from Andalusia and Valencia, without occasioning
a fresh insurrection against their weakenel
MARMONT finds himself unequal to the task, and as he is
compelled to leave Badajoz to its fate, intends, in order to
save appearances, to undertake the siege of Ciudad Ro-
drigo, during Lord WELLINCTON'S absence, and some
letters add, of Almeida also. Artillery is coining for
that purpose from Pamplona, and ammunition from Va-
lencia. MAttmoNT perhaps imagines, that his demonstra-
tions against these fortresses will induce his Lordship to
raise the siege of Badajoz. As this place in our hands
would enable us to advance towards Seville, and either
to take that city, or at least to compel the French force
before Cadiz to fall back for its defence, we have no doubt
but that his Lordship would not detach a single corps to
the North to protect places, which he could at any time,
without much difficulty or loss, regain. Tbe inability of
the enemy to attempt the relief of Badojoz is a plain and
encouraog prnol of the precari2usncss of the footing
which they still maintain in the Peninsula.

Information has been received from Li;bon, stating,
that a division of French troops had cror,sed the Tagus at
Almaicz for the purpose of restoring the communication
with So tu.T, v. inch had been cut off by the advance of
General GitAIIAM and General lIILL. The princioal
corps which the enemy had on the Tagus was that of 60-
neral MoNTERusr, ho had rctnrned from Valencia, a7,d
who is suppos.d to have been reinforced by St:ottEr. It
is this fbrce which is believed to have made the movement
at Almarez. The division of the Allied A: my nearest
the Tagus is commanded by C.:e:-.eral STopro!:”, and ft is
said that he had sent to Lord NV;.r,LlNerros for reinforce..
'newts, expectin2; to h ;ye an action with the cnemv. The
letters how Li -..bon c,mti!-me to exi ress confident expecta-
tions of the surrendur of B
A vessel has arrived at Bristol from Lisbon, but with.
out bringing any additional Lformation respecting the
proceedings of the army before aid ujoz. Letters have,
however, been receiv,A in conseqw‘ace of ann:her ;!rrivtil
at Plymouth, which stat., that e.e, French hal removed
every article of v,11;h: into the cif...LIA of B.11,j••z, and teat

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