The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-05 00:00:00

APRIL 5.

The enemy who used to reproach our brave and skil-
ful commander in the Peninsula with acting always on the
defensive, have already found cause to lament that he
should have altered his plan. They urged our forbear-
ance as a proof of our weakness, and endeavoured to im-
press on our Spanish allies the belief that we were either
unable, or unwilling, to yield them any effective assist-
ance. The capture of Ciudad Rodrigo had already re-
futed these misrepresentations, and the important opera-
tion
now undertaken by his Lordship in person, is another
pledge of his ability to act offensively. Fle commenced
by clearing Portugal of its invaders, and had no sooner
secui-ed that kingdom from inoult and outrage, by repel-
ling every attempt made upon its frontiers, and depriving
the enemy of the threatening post they occupied at Ciudad
Rodrigo, than he directed all his views and his power to
the liberation of Spain. For this purpose, he has now
commenced the siege of Badajoz, and having collected 211
his force in the South, invites the French to a general bat-
tle, which they cannot refuse without occasioning the fall
of that city, and the probable recovery of the whole of
Estremadura and Andalusia to the lawful Sovereign. His
Lordship does not profit by the division of their forces.
He dares them to the field in their plenitude of combined
sit cngth ; and whilst his artillery thunders against the
wrlls of liadajoz, two divisions of his army, commanded
the one by the Hero of Barrosa, the other by the Conque-
ror of GHin RD, penetrate deep into Estremadura, and hull
defiance to the tardy foe.
On Wednesday last, dispatches were received from Lord
NVELLINctoN, dated March 20, and brought an account
of the first proceeding of the siege, and of the advantages
already gained. The following summary of their con-
tents has been circulated in the Government Offices in
the shape of an oflicial bulletin. The dispatches them-
selves will be found in another part of our paper.

WAR DEPARTMFNT, APRIL I.
Diqmtches have been received from the Earl of WELLINGTON,
dated the 20th of March.
_ _ _

" His Lordship inveJted Badajoz on the 16th, and broke ground
on the following day, forming his first parallel within 200 yards of the
outworks, called La Picurina. Lord WELLINGTON conducts the siege
in person, with the 3d, 4th, and light divisions upon the left of the river.
" Sir Tv ost AS GRAHAM crossed the Guadiana on the 16th, with three
divisions of infantry and two brigades of cavalry, and marched upon
Santa Martha and Valverde, while Sir Rowta ND HILL, with two di-
visions and a brigade of cavalry, moved upon Merida, where he made
some prisoners.
These movements induced General DROUET to retreat from Villa
Franca to Homaclv,s, to preserve his communication with Gen DANI-
CAN'S division, St ttiuned at lArena.
" Upon the Ilth, a sortie was attempted ty the garrison of Badajoz.
Two thousand men pushed out against the.riEht flank of our work, but
were immediately driven in with considerable loss, by Major-General
w

" lu this atnir General Pre.-rois's Aide-de-Camp, Captain Cv
belt r, was killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ft.r..ecuElt slightly wound-
ed. Since the commencement of the operations, the• loss of the allies
has been a►.nut 150 killed or wounded.
" There was no general movement of the enemy upon the side of
Ciudad Rodrigo, so late as the 17th March, but two of the three divi-
sions of MARMON r's army, which had been upon the Tagus, had moved
through the mountains in the direction of Valladolid. The rains had
been very heavy fur the last three 04)

Whilst the operations of the siege have so fortunately
commenced, the motions of the French are so irregular
and complicated, that it is impossible clearly to ascertain
what is their intention. It is naturally supposed, that
they will unite all the troops they can draw from the other
parts of Spain, and make a grand effort to relieve Badajoz ;
but it is evident that they will lose so much time in
marches and counter-marches, that it is probable the for-
tress may have surrendered before ,they attempt to effect
their purpose. Those varicu* movements are,. perhaps,