The National Register.
London, England, 1812-11-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISITR.

79.'',

General the Marquis of,Wellingtolt, dated- C:wciitsbek. '4;61.4 ‘.l
October, Rueda, 31st October, and Stt Novelaber, 1812.
C.4becon, 26th Oct. 1812.
I have been so much occupied by the movements and opera, ion.
the army since the 18th inst. that 1 have not been able to write

your Lordship.
The operations of the Castle of Burgos continued r.early in On
state in which they were when 1 addressed your Lordship on the I1t::
inst. till the 18th. Having at that time received a supply of muske
ammunition from Santander, and havingoehile waiting for that nece
sary article, completed a mine under the church of St. Roman, will(
stood in an outwork of the second line, i determined that the breei.e
whieti we lied fleeted in the second line should he stormed on th
evening, at the moment this mine should extitede ; and that at tie•
same time the line should be attacked by escalade
The mine succeeded, and Liciit.-Co!. Browne lodged a party of t
9th Cac.-dares. and a detoehment of Spanish troops of the regiment
Asturias, in the outvvark. A detachment ot the King's Gem!
Legion, under Majer Wurtnb, carried the breach, and a detachment
the Guards succeeded in mid: ling the line ; but the enemy brouet•
such a tire upon these two teat detechments, from the third line, tope
the body of the castle itself, and they were attacked by numbers • ,
superior, before they could receive the support allotted to them, ths
they were obliged to retire, suffering considerable loss. MajorWurie:
was unfortunately killed.
It is imeossib:e to repre;ert in adequate terms goy sense of the cep
duct of the Guards and the German Legion upon this occasion ; a!
I am guile satisfied, that if it had been possible to maintain the ono
which they had gained with so much gallantry, these troops wool •
have maintainee them. Some of the men stormed even the third le • .
and one was killed in one of the embrasures of that tine ; and 1 had the
satisfaction of seehig that if I could breach the wall of the Castle, o
should carry the place.
Another mine was commenced under the second line from tie-
Church of St. Roman, of which we remained in possession.
The enemy had on the 13th moved forward a consiirrable body e.
infantry, and six squadrons of cavalry from Briyicsci, to teconnoit
our out-posts at Monasterio. They attack •d the pi. kct at :he Nil.:
in front of that town, hut were repulsed by the fire of a (let:whence,
of the infantry or the Brunswick Legion. lii this affair, LieuteiCs
t.
the H n. Frederick Ponsouby, who commends at Monastetio,
r.
wounded, hut not ...evinely, and 1 hope I shall soon again have Ile
benefit of his assistance.
I have long had reports of Cie enemy's intention to advance for tee
relief of the castle of Burgos with the Army of Portugal, reinfore
by troops recently arrived from Fiance, and with that pai t of Ili
Army of the North which was disposable ; and they did re'vance 'l'considerable force against the pest at Monarierio on toe evening of h
18th. The subaltern of the BrunswiLk Legion, who commandee
picquet in St. Olalla, disobeyed his orders in remainine in that yin e-
upon the approsclt of the eoeuiy, at d he was taken with his picqii.:
The enemy consequently obtlined possesoion of the heights wh
connuanded the town of Monasterto, and our outpost was obliged
retire on the morning ot the 19th, to the Burgos siee it the town
I assembled the troops, excepting those necessary fir carrying
on
the operations of the siege, as soon as it appeared by the enemy'*
movement of the 18th, that they entertained serious intentions of et'.
deavouring to raise it, and placed the allied army on the heiglre,
having their right at Pleas, on the Arlatizon, the centre at Rio Vet- .
and Magaradas, and the left at Sr.t6 Pallacto. The enemy's art o
likewise assembled in the neighbourhood of Monastcrio. They moot
forward on the evening of the 20th, with about 10,000 men, to drive
in our outposts at Quintana Pella and Oimos. The foimer
drew by order, but the latter was maintained with great spirit by
Chasseurs Untanniques. Seeing a fair opportunity of striking a hloie
upon the enemy, I requested Lieutenain-General Si; E. Page: le
move wits the Ist and sth divisions upon tne eeemys's right Bin'o
which movement having been. well executed, or ore them bark up ::
Monasterio, and our posts were replaced hi Quintana Palle.
On the !horning of the I rectilaol a :c-er from Sir IL owlarel
Hill, of the 17th, in which he acqe:ii oed me of the enemy's intent',
to move towards theTegus, which was at re•ny ford:lisle by individueis
in many places, :evil was liaely necome sir u% are ttms.
The Castle of C. hincilla hat. surrender( d rh :I)th hist.
The enemy's force in Valeoeia wars styposeit tr. araolot not
1.
than 70,000 men, a very large preoortitio whicu, it was cepie
would be disposable for service our of that kingshen.
iI had desired LietnenantsGereril Sir Rovelaiut Hill to retire
his pssition on the Tagus,et he should tied teat he ceeel eat ie.....
fain himsslf in it with ativentaee ; and it was eeeessari tie l I
be near hint, in order that the corps under my cieninucd reiget net se-
insulated, in consequence of the wove:noes vin ch h,e ;;I;euld
himself under the necessity of making ; I therefore raised the so ee
Burgos on the night at the 20th, and movsii tee whole ormy back tie
waros the Douro.
I felt severely the sacrifice I was thereby °Hies(' to make. Yoe)
Lordship is awa'e that 1 was never veiy sengoiee in any emu:mak:es
of success in the siege of Burgos, notivithstsodele that cousiAese
success was attainable, even with the means in me oower,
reasonable limited period. It the attack nw.o on the rirst litre on Ales
20th or 2c2d had succeeded, I believe we should have takett.the platt