The National Register.
London, England, 1811-03-31 00:00:00

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDLVARY:

DOWNING-STREET, MARCH 25, 1 11 .

Dispatches; of which the following are copies, were last night
received at the Earl of Liverpool's Office, addressed tb his-
Lordship by Lieutenant-General Graham, dated Isle da Leon,
6th and /oth of March, 1811.
' Ma de Leon, March 6, 181'1'
MY Loan—Captain Hope, my first Aid-de-Camp, will haVe
the honour of delivering this dispatch to inform your Lordship
of the glorious issue of an action fought yesterday by the division
under my command against the army commanded by Marshal
Victor, composed of the twadivisions Rufin and Laval.
The circumstances were such as compelled me to attack this
very superior force. In order as well to explain to your Lord-
shin the circumstances of peculiar disadvantage under which the
action was begun, as to justify myself from the imputation of
rashness in the attempt, I must state to your Lordship that the
allied army, after a night's march of sixteen hours from the camp
near Vegar, arrived in the morning of the fifth, on the low ridge
of Barosia, abbot four miles to.the southward of the moath of
the Santri Petri river. This height extends, inland about a mile
and a half, continuing on the north the extensive heathy plain of
Chiclana. A great pine forest skirts the plain, and circles round
the heightat•soine distance, terminating down to Santri Petri,
the intermediate spaCe between the north side of the height and
the fbrdst teingnneveriand broken.
A well condirgted and successful attack on the rear of the
enemy's lines near 'Sand Petri, by the vanguard of the Spanish
army under Brigadier-General Ladrizabel, having opened the
communication with the Isla de Leon, I received General la Pe-
nas's directions to move down from the position of Barrosa, to
that of the Torre de Bermesa, about half-way to the Santri Petri
river, in order to secure the communication across the river,
over which a bridge had been lately established. This latter po-
sition occupies a narrow woody ridge, the right en the Sea Cliff,
the left falling down to the Almanza Creek on the t-dge of the
marsh. A hard sandy beach' gives an easy communication be-
tween the western points of these two ps,sitions.
My division being halted on the eastern slope of the Barrossa
height, was 'marched about twelve o'clock through the wood
towards. the Bermesa (cavalry patrbles having previously been
sent towards Chiclana without meeting with the enemy.) On
the march I received notice that the enemy had appeared in
force on the plain, and was advancing towards the heights of
Barrosa.
As I considered that position as the key of that of anti Petri,
1 immediately countermarched, in order to support the troops
left for its defence, and the alacrity with which this maneeuvre
was executed served as a favourable omen. It was however im-
poisible , such intricate and difficult ground to preserve or-
der in she columns, and there never was time to restore it en-
tirgly.
But before we could get ourselves quite disentangled from the
wood, the troops on the Barrosa hill were seen returning from it,
while the enemy's left wing was rapidly ascending. At the same
time his right wing stood on the plain, on the edge of the wood,
within cannon shot. A retreat in the face of such an enemy,
already within reach of the easy communication by the sea
beach, must have involVed the whole allied army in all the dan-
ger of being attacked during the unavoidable confusion of the
different corps arriving on the narrow bridge of Bermesa, nearly
at the same time.
Trusting to the known heroism of British troops, regardless
of the numbers and position of their enemy, an immediate at-
tack was determined on. Major Duncan soon opened a power-
ful battery of 10 guns in the centre. Brigadier-General Dilkev
with the brigade of guards, Lieutenant-Colonel Browne's (of the
28th) flan] ( battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Norcott's two compa-
nies of the 2d rifle corps, and Major Acheson with a part of the
ti7th foot (separated from the regiment iu the wood,) formed on
the right. .
Colonel Wheatley's brigade, with three companies of the
Coldstream guards under Lieutenant Col. Jackson, separated
likewise from his battalion in the wood, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Barnard's flank battalion formed on the left.
As soon as the infantry was thus hastily got together, the guns
advanced. to a more favourable position, and kept up a most de-
structive fire.
The right wing proceeded to the attack of General Rufin's
division on the hill, while Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard's battalion
and Liehtenant-Colorel Bustle's detachment of the 2(th For-
iuguese, were warmly engaged with the enemy's tirailleurs on
our left.
General Laval's division, notwithstanding the havoc made by
Major Puncan's battery, continued to advance in very imposing
masses, opening his fire of musquetry, and wss only checked by
that of the left wing. The left wing now advanced firing ; a
most deterulined charge by the three companies of Guards, and

tbe4s7th regliMent., supported by all the remainder of the wint;
decided the defeat of Cien. Laval's division.
The entiteof the eighth rcgtment.of light infitntry, whicirstf-
fered immensely!, ands howitzer,rewstrded this charge, and re4'
stained in possessitm of Major Gbugh, of the 97th reement.—
These attacks 'were zealous,y suttported Vy Col. Belson with the
Dirbregiment and Lieutenant Colonel Pre'vost with a part of
the 67th.
A reservelarmed bermdthe narretw valley across which the.
enemy was closely pursued, tiest shared the some fate, and wee
routed by the saint means.
Nlemivvhilethe right wing was not less successful: the enetny.
confident of success, met General Diikes on the ascent of dig
hill, and the contest was sanguinary ; but the undaunted peise-
verance of the brigade of Guards, of Lietat-tiant-Colonel
Browne's battalion, and of Lieutenant-Colonel N.:rcott's And'
Major Acheson's detachment, overcame every obitacle, and'
General Rufin's division was driven from the heights in cods:

Sion, leaving two pieces of cannon.
o expressions of mine could du justice to the conduct of the
troops throughout. Nothing less Chan the almost unparraileled
exertions of every officer, the invincible bravery of every. soldier,
and the most determined devotion to the honour of his Majesty's
arms in all, could have achieved this brilliant success, against
such a formidable enemy, so posted.
In less than an hour and a half from the commencement of
the action, the enemy was in full retreat. The retiring divisions
met, halted, and seemed inclined to form : a new and more ad-
vanced position of our artillery quickly dispersed them.
The exhausted state of the troops made pursuit impossible.--•
A position was taken on the eastern side of the hill ; and we
were strengthened on our right by the return of the two Spanish
battalions that had been attached before to my division, but
which I had left nn the hill, add which had been ordered to

retire.
These battalions (Walloon Guards and Ciudad Real) made
every effort to come back in time, when it was known that we
were engaged.
I understand, too, from Gen..'Whittingham, that with three
squadrons of cavalry lie kept in check a corps of intantly and
cavalry that attempted to turn the liarrosa height by the sea.—
One squadnin of the 2d Htssars, King's German Legion, under
Captain Busche, and directed by Lieutenant-Colonel Ponsonby
(both had been attached to the Spanish cavalry,) joined in time
to make a brilliant and most successful charge against a squa-
dron of French Dragoons, which was entirely routed
An eagle, six pieces of cannon, the General of Division Ruin.
and the General of Brigade Rosseau, wounded and take! ; t-he
chief of the Staff General 13ellegrade, an Aid-de-Camp of. Mar-
shal Victor, and the Colonel of the Bth regiment, with many
other officers killed, and severM woutieted aid taken prisoners ;
the field covered with dead bodies and arms of the enemy attet
that my confidence in this division was nobly repaid.
Where all have so distinguished themselves, it is scarcely.pos-
sible to discriminate any as the most deserving of praise. Your,
Lordship, will, however, observe how gloriously the briacle
of Guards, under Brigadier-General mikes, with the eonrari-:
ders of the battalions Litkitenaut-Colonel the Hanourable C. •
Onslow 4nd Lieutenant t;ebriglit (wounded,) as well as the three
separated companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson, main-
tained the high character of his Majesty's household troops.—
Lieutenant-Colonel Browne, with his flank battalion, Lieu-
tenanant-Colonel Norcott, and Major Acheson, deserve equal
praise.
And I must equally recommend to your Lerd ship' notice
Colonel Wheatly, with Colonel Belson, I i
wel
Prevost and Nlajer Gough, ard the officers of the respective
corps composing t:is brigade.
•"1 he animated charges of the 87th regiment were mot con-
spicuous : Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard (twice wounded.) and
the officers of his flank battalion, executed the duty of skirmish-
ing in advance with the etemy in a masterly manner, and veers
ably seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bustle of the-20th Portu-
guese, who, likewise twice wounded, fell into the enemy's hands,
but was afterwards rescued. The dent!liMent of thia
Portu-
guese regiment behaved admirably throughout the whole .
affair.
I owe too much to Major Duncan, and the ()Meets and corps
of the Royal Artillery, not to mention Meth in terms of the
highest approbation ; never was artillery ttetter served.
The assistance 1 received from the unwearied exertions .4
LieutenantzColonel Macdonald, al.d the officers of the Adjia/
tant-General's dhpartment ; of Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon,
C. Cathcart, and the officers of the Quart,r.:Master-Generat's
department ;of Captain Birch. and Captain Nicholas and the
ofhcers of the Royal Engineers, of Captain Hope, tii,dl,the officers
of my personal Staff (all ahirnating by their exaMple,).will ever .
be most gratefully remembered. , Our loss has been severe ; as
soon as it can he ascertained by the proper return, I s!:;.llh4ve
a the honour of transmitting it. But much as it is to be lamented,

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