The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-29 00:00:00

DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH BEFORE TARRAGONA.

The Gazette of last night contains a letter from Captain
ConitisGTos, of his Majesty's ship the Blake, dated Villa
Neuva, Jan. 26th, from which we extract the following
interesting account of the defeat of a corps of 800
French, which were endeavouring to enter Tarragona, by
Generals LACY and D'Etioi,E.s.
Upon my return Hound the troops advancing on the road to Tarra-
gona, in order to cut the enemy's line of march, the Baron d'Eao I.Es
putting himself at the head of about seventy cuirassiers, to reconnoitre
their strength and position, while General I.Acv directed the move-
ments of the respective corps, in readiness for the intended attack. We
had scarcely reached the road from Cambrills to Tarragona, when the
Baron brought in prisoners two French cuirassiers, who stated that their
General (I.afond) had reached the latter place in safety, accompanied
by some dragoons, leaving the Infantry, amounting to about eight hun-
dred, just by in Villa Suca. Gen. LACv ordered the regiment of linen to
attack them immediately, and directed other corps to surround the town,
and prevent their escape. The enemy being advantageously posted behind
the walls of the village, and that single regiment being much inferior
to them in numbers, after a considerable loss in killed and
Wounded, including amongst the latter, and very severely, their
gallant Colonel, Reding, they were obliged to retire; but the regiment
Intended for their support coming up, forced the French, who had ad-
vanced in a compact body, to retire in their turn, and being attacked
in rear by the Baron, they could never effectually rally, notwithstand-
ing the effort they made, accompanied by a general cheer ; despair was
lOW visible 10 their con duet ; and one or two discharges from a field
9i "et which Nat that reached :ht ground, occasioned the surrender of

STER. •

1

all who remained alive, amounting to above six hundred;--I judge the
number of the enemy, dead and dying, which I saw in the field, to
amount to two hundred, that of the Spaniards bearing no proportion
whatever.
Notwithstanding this advantage, it appears that the in.
tended attack on Tarragona was not carried into execu.
tion, although Captain CODRINGTON is unable to account
for this unexpected delay.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.
Dispatches from Lord WELLINGTON were received by '
Government last right, the substance of which was COW
municated in the following official Bulletin

WAR DEPARTMENT.

41 MARCH, Se, 181 r.
" A dispatch has been received from the Earl of Wax.LiNovoss, dated
Frenada, March 4.

" His Lordship had received advice of the defeat of a French corps.
near Malaga, by General ;$/iLt.aSTEROS ; the General Officer who com-
manded the enemy's troops being killed in the action.
" Before the sth of January, EsPOZ v MINA took Huesca, making the
garrison prisoners ; and having afterwards joined General MENDIZASAIII
and Don FRANCI so LoNGIi, near Sanguessa, their united forces engaged
a large body of French troops which had been sent from Pampeluna to
attack ME pinizeßA L., and completely, defeated them, killing 000 of tbe
enemy, and taking two pieces of cannon.
,4 In the latter end of February, a detachment of Don JULAN SAN!
CHEZ's guerillas intercepted an Officer and eighty French, between Alba
de 'formes and Salamanca; the enemy's party was entirely destroyed.
and important dispatches, with which the Officer was charged, fei
into the hands of the Spaniards, and were brought to Lord
_Wilice
LINGYON."

It appears, that Lord Wswfmrost, unwilling to slum.
ber on the laurels he has gained, has determined to add
another gem to his triumphal crown. Dispatches aria
papers from Portugal announcfs, that the siege of 13adajoz •
is now on the eve of being undertaken, and of being pushes;
on with vigour. A letter from -Coruntia, dated the 25th
ult. states, that Lord WBELINGTON will give General HILL
20,000 men, in addition to the force under his command,
to cover the siege of Badajoz, and secure the besieseri
from any interruptions on the part of SOULT. Should this bis
thecase, it argues that M A RMONT has been unable to accom-
plish the threatened junction of many corps at SalaManca.
so as to enable him to resume the offensive against our
army. Indeed, it. is asserted in several articles from •
Spain, that all the. Imperial Guards have marched back (a
France. As a part of them composed MA RMONT'S force,
he must find himself considerably weaker, at. th'e very time
he stands in need of assistance. It is said, that he has
only been able to collect about 15,000 men at Salamanca,
and 6or 7,000 at Placentia. The former he must leave to
observe, and keep in check the division of our army station: •
ed on the Agueda, and the latter is the only force he could
send to the relief of Badajoz, unless he should be able.to
procure reinforcements from SUCH ET, who is now -pre.
paring to besiege Alicant, or SOULT should advance from
Seville with nearly all his troops, which does not seem to
be in his power, as a large portion of his division is colic i•
ing against Tariffa, and another has had a severe action
with the Spaniards at Malaga. But even should suit. at •
junction be made, it is not likely that it would produce
more than 20 or '25,000 men.
Letters and Papers from Cadiz to the 29th ult. and •
from Corunna to the 18th inst. were feeeived.On Friday.
They are of a satisfactory nature, as thershb*that in va.
tious parts of the Peninsula, the Spaniards are able to act
on the offensive against the coninicn enemy ; and that the