The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-14 00:00:00

'ION

LOA7I)O* GAZETTE: EXIBAORDIN..4.IiY.
SUNDAY, APRIL '7, 1811.
amaniONO
D°3I47NING.STREET, APRIL 6, 1811.
Captain Caniac arrived this morning with Dispatches from lord
Viscount Walitigton to the Eat.' of Liverpool, dattd Villa
Seta 14th, and Louzao 16th ultimo, of which the following
are extracts.

Villa Seca, 14th Marchr 1811.
The enemy retired from their position which they had OCcu-
pied at, Santarem and the neighbourhood In the night of the sth-
instant. I put the BritiSh army in motion to follow them on the
morning of the 6th.
Their first movements indicated an intention to collect a force
at ninnar, and I therefore marched upon that town, on the
Bth, a considerable body of troops formed of a part of
\larahal
Sir 'William Beresford's corps, under Major-General the I lon.
Wm. Stewart, which had crossed the Tagus at A brantes, and
afterwards the Zezere, and of the 4th and cth, and part of
the first divisions of infantry, and two brigades of
British' cavalry.
. The Enemy, however, conttnued his march towards the Monde-
o, having one Corps, the 2d, on the Road of Espinbel ; General
LoisOn's Division on the Road of Anciao, and the remainder
of the army towards Pombal. These last were followed :aridnever lost sight_ of by the Light Division and Royal Dragoons
H
and the Ist ussars, who took from theni about two hundred
Prisoners.
On the 9th the enemy collected in Front of Pombal the 6th
corps, with the exception of General Loison's division, the
iith ctirps, and the 9th corps, and General Montbrun's division
of cavalry. The Hussars, which, with the Royal Dragoons
and Light Division, were immediately in Front of the enemy's
army, distinguished themselves in a charge which they made
on this occasion under the command of Colonel Arenschildt.
A detachment of the 16th Light Dragoons under Lieutenant
Weyland, which had been in observation of the eremy near
Leyria, made prisoners a detachment, consisting of thirty dra-
goons, on that morning; and had followed the enemy front
Leyria, and arrived on the ground just in time to assist their
friends the Hussars in this charge. I could not collect a suffi-
cient body of troops to commence an operation pun the enemy
till the 11th. On'that day, the Ist, 3d, 4th, 5t , and 6th, and
the light divisions of infantry, and General Pac f .'s brigade, and
all the British cavalry joined upon the Ground immediately in
front' of the enemy, who had commenced their retreat trout
their position during the night.
They wire followed by the light division, the Hussars and
Royals, and Bita..l:ee-General Pack's Brigade under the com-
mand of Major-GenJral Sir William Erskine and Major-Gene-
ral Slade, and made an attempt to hold the ancient castle of
Pombal, from which they were driven ; but the 6th corps and
General Montbrun's cavary, which formed the rear guard,
supported by the Sth corps, held the ground au the other side
of the town, the troops riot having arrlied in time to complete
the dispositions to attack them before it vicar: dark; '
Uyon this occasion Lieutenant-Colimel Elder's battalion of
Portuguese casadores distinguished themselvei.. • •
The enemy retired in the night; and on the 12th the sixth
corps, with' General Montbrun's cavalry, took up zesteeee po-
sition at the end of a defile bet Ween Redinhi and Porulial, with
their right in a wood upon the Some River, and their left ex-
. tending towards the high ground above the river of Reditelai.—
This town was in their rear.
I attached them in this position on the 12th with the :al and
4th light divisions of infantry, and Brigadier-General Pack's
brigade and the cavalry, the other troops being in reserve.
f'he post in the wood upon their right was lirit forced by Sir
Wm. Erskine with the light division. We were then able to
form the troops in the plain beyond the defile ; and the third
division under Major-General Picton were formed in two lines
in the skirts of the wood upon the right; the 4th division under
Major-General Cole in twin lines in the centre, hailing General
Pack's btigade supporting their right, and communicating with
the 2d division ; and the light division in two lines on the left.
These troops were supported in the rear by the British cavalry,
and the' Ist, sth, and 6th divisions were in reserve.
• The troops were formed with great accuracy and celerity,
and Lieutenant-GeneralSir B. Spencer led the line against the
enemy's position on the heights, from which they were imme-
diately driven, with the loss of litany men killed and ventmded,
and some prisoners.
Major-General Sir William Erikine particularly menticmcd
the conduct of the 62d kegimeniarid Colonel Elder's cacadores,
in the attack of the wood ; and I mini add, that I have never
seen the French infantry driven froM a wood in a more gallant
style. •
_• _ _ _ _

'1 'here was but one narrow bridge, and a ford close to it over
kc itediulut river, over which our Den troops rased with alt..

125

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enemy, hut as tie enerny cotlinuipded these passages vitii can.
n'on, • sale time beriire we could pass over a ea.:Lic;erst
body o* troops.to Make a fresir dixpbilition to attack. tbejleights
on which the-Y-itad again token post. The 3d diiiiion croseci
however, and nianteuvred again upon the enettiyli 4. tifiank.,
while the Hglit infantry and cavalry, supported by the light
division, drove them upon their main body at Condeira. '
The light infantry of Malor,(leneral Picttin's division, under
Lieutenant-Colonet Williams. and the. 4th tacadinei nudes'
Co!nnel De Reva, were pAncivally conteroed In th 4
ore-
ration. •
Virefound the whole army yesterday, with the exception of
the seciuid corps, which was still at Espinhel, In a Y-ty strong
position at flontleixa-; and I obseri,ed that they were sending of
their bagrar. by the road of Polite de Murcetia. From this
circumstance I concluded that COlonel Tr ant had riot fiivin op
Coimbra; and that they had been so pressed in theit retre;:t
that they had not 11;e:1 to detach moos- to ford him from
the place. I therefore marched the ad division, natter Ic7iajor-
General Picton, throngh Mountains upon the enemy's 1,1. t.
towards the only road open for'their retreat ; Whith had the
inimediate effect of dislottght • thew from the Strong position of
'Coudeixa ; and the tilting entantped-lastnis,At at Catil NOTa,,
in the mountains. about a league front Concleixa.
We immediately conintunicatcd with Coimbra, and mode
prisoners' a detachment of time enen..)s cavalry which were Upon
the road.

We found the Gth and Bth enrps forrvoi in a very stroltg po.
sition near Caul Nova this morning, anti the lig* Wei • rt4l a.-
tacked and drove in their out-posts. Net cuohl dishKlge
them from their pc'sitlons onry mos.: no titit of, their fito.ks.
Accordingly I moved. the •!th division untie; Atalet:Geotral
Cole, upoo l'anella, In order to secure the pass.ir Alf the river
Esa, and the communication with Fspintel, near which place
Major-t mr..l Nightingall had ben in o'isorvetioli td the
niovements of the corps Since this loth; tn%l the ed
under Nlajor-Geotral Picton, more immediately round the
enemy's left, while the light division and ilrigat:irr-t;riseral
l'ack's brigade; under Major-General Sir W. Erskine, turned
their right; and Al.ijor-General Alexander Campbell, with the
nth division, supported the light troops by wifirb they were
attacked in frout. These troops were supported Lie the catodry,
and by the lst, and sth divisions, and Cukniei Ashworth's- bri-
gade in reserve.
These movements obliged the enemy to abandon the posi-
tions which they snozessively took in the nriuotains, alto the
two corps d'Artnee composing the rear guard were f! tivort
the noain body at Miranda de Corvn, upon the rive? Eb6i, ‘N.
considerable loss of hilted, wounded, and prisoners.
In the operations of this day the 4f01,5..0i. and 0.-nit regintetita
and sd Caeadores, under the command of Colorielf-Drestmoodi
and Beckwith, a:-,1 Major Patrick son, Joieurenant.Volontl
and Majors Gilmour and Stewart partirtilariy citstiticznished
themselves; as also the light infantry battalions of General Vl*.
ton's division under ieutenant.Colonel Williams, sad the 4111
Cacatiores under Colonel de l&egoa, and the troops of 11011 C lit%
tillery under-the command of Captains Ross and Dull.
The result of torso operations has been that we have saved
Coimbra and Upper flom the enony's tavliges, and we
have opened the communicatioos with the northern provinces,
and we hate obliged the enemy to take for th, it rettrat the road
by Polite de Marcella, in whirls tiny noiy be aroloy.ti by the
militia acting in security upon their dank, while the aUitd army •
will press upon their nor.
The whole country, however, affords many advantar,stous posi-
duos to 'a retreating army, of which the enemy have sill:W11 that
they know how to avail themselves.
They are retreating front the country as they entered it, in
one solid tritios ; covering their rear on every march by the ope-
rations of either one or two corps trArmec, in the strung posi-
tions which the country affords; which coring d'i.!.rlll: c arc
closely supported by the main hotly. Before they quitted their
position they destroyed a part of their 4.atiflog and ammunition ;
and they have since blown up whatever the horses were multi,:
to draw away. l'hey have no provisions excepting Whitt they
• plunder on the spot; or'haVing 'plundered, what the oldit.ra
carry on their hacks; andliVe cattle.
I am concerned to be obliged to add to this account that their
conduct throughout this retreat has beet) marked 'hy a barba-
rity seldom equalled, and tieVtr surpassed. Eytti i:1 the to wns
of *l'orrel Novas, Thoinar, and l'ernea, in 'which the head-
quarters of some of the corps hittl been for four tu•oltirs, and in
which the inhabitants had been inclue.ll by promises O good
treament to remain, they Were p',.;m4o d, alpt many of their
1)4)1156 dtstroved on -tbeinght the. enemy skrittdfeW from I,l:eir
po,ition; anew they have since burnt every town and Village
throuzh which they have passed. The convent of Alcutiaca
was burnt by order from the French head-quarters. The bi-
shop's nolare, and the whole o.Wo of I.eyria, in which Ge-neral
Drouct had had his bead quarters, allied the t.anie tat,:;

-.---• '''h. .ANIII.II.- ' .441,4.
4. ... . ~ - ' - ' ' 7 ''' vk -.7 . - • •-• '' 4e
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THE NATIONAL REGISTER. .
125
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1.0)460* GAZE T. 711 EXIBAORDIN..4.I2Y. 1 enemy, hut as tie enemy cotitutio sag ided these pastes with cane
dun, • eine dine el'apsk Eidetic sire could pass over a easflic;erst
SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 1811. body of troops to Make a rresli dimetition to attack. thejleights
on which theiehad again tikes? pest. The 3d tiiiiiion crcssed
11•••••••••11
DoWNING-eTREET, APRIL 6, 1811. . however, and manteuvred again upon the enettiei 4. lifiairk,
Captain Cantu arrived this morning with DiSpatches from Lord while the Hglit infantry and cavalry, supported' by the Bela
I division, drove them upon their' mein body at Condeira. • Viscount Welliegton to the Bed of Liverpool, dated Villa The light infantry ot Malan-General Pletdit's division, under
Beta 14th, and Louzao 16th ultimo, of which the following iLi • teutenant-Colonee Williams; and the' 4th eacadurei uhtles•
are exteacts. Co'nnel De Regoa, were Princieally coneeroed In this s.. ,
Villa eca, 14th March 1811.
ore-
The enemy retired from their position which they ead Oecu- ration. • s
pied at Santarem and the neiehbourhood In the night of the sth- Vsrefound the whole arm -yesterday, with the exceptio.r. of
instant. I but the BritiSh army in motion to follow them on thethe sechlid corps, which was still at Espinhel, In a vety strerg
I position at Conde-ix:le and I obserhed that they were seeding of
morning ot the 6th. I their baggy- by the road of Polite de Mures:ha. From this
Their first nenseineutsinte''cated an intention to collect a force
at ninnar, and [thereforel circumstance 1 concluded that COlonel 'p let !rid riot i'Visti op
Coimbra; and that they had been so pressed 'in theft; retry;.:
Bth' a considerable body of troe f
marched upondf that towon the
Sir William Beresford's corps, ps ora u a art of u,Marshal that they had not bee Ale to detach rroooe to forci him from
under Major-General the llon the place. I therefore marched the ad division, motet; Major-
Wm. Stewart, which had crossed the Tagus at Alhantes, and. 1 General Picton, throtlgh to.' e Mountains upon the enemy's let,
afterwards the Zezere, and of the 4th and telt, aud of 1 towards the only coed open for their retreat ; *Well had the the first divisions 11"4
, ns 0. ...entry, and tyre part 1
o brie:ides of B'ritish revelry.' immediate effect of dislodght • them from the !truer position of
Enemy, however, conttmad his march towards the h:liende-
'l he II sCoudeixa ; and the entities entahiped-lastnieht at C' :1 /sielea
0, having one Corps, the 2d, on the Road of Es hetet • General 4, ' hi the mountains. about a league front Concleixa.
L•
ots.= s Division on the Road of Anciao, antiPthe remainder i I We inintecliatelY coniMunicated with Coinibra, an mule
of the army towards Pombal. These last were followed end !I prisoners' a detachment of the euen;) h cavalry which were Upon
never lost sight of by the Light Division and Royal Dragoons the road.
and H
the Ist usears, who took from them about two hundred ' We found the 6th and Bth corps formed in aver? stroftg pros
Prisoners.
the 9th the enemy collected in Front of Pombal the 6th chitin near Cazal Nova this morning, and the light ttialesen at-
Ontacked and drove in their telt-paste. Net ,it- could dislodge
corps, with the exception of General Loison's division, the them from their positions miry by matt lie eta oil their flaeks.
eth carps, and the 9th corps, and General Montbrun's division Accordingly I moved the -oh division under; Athlete:Gera:ref
of cavalry. The Hussars, which, with the Royal Dragoons Cole, upoa oanelee in order to secure the masers elf the river
and Light Division, were immediately in From of the enemy's I Esa, and the communication with Fspieftel, !near which place
army, distinguished themselves in a charge which they made Mieer-thn.r..l hlightingall had Czen in &nervation art the
on this occasion under the command of Colonel Arenschildt. movements of the ed corps since the 10th; roar the ed cheesier'',
A detachment of the 16th Light Dragoons under Lieutenant under :alajor-Gtetersil Picton, more inenteniserty mond the
Wayland; which had been in observation of the erenty near enemy's lett, while the light division anti Brosatiirr-General
I.eyria, made prisoners a detachment, consisting of thirty dra- l'ack's brigade; under Major-General Sit W. Erskine, tweed
I
goons, "hn that morning; and had followed the enemy front their right; and Major-General Alexander Camehell, with the
Leyria, and arrived on the ground just in time to assist their 6th division, supported the light troops by oifich they were
friends the Hussars in this charge. I could not collect a suffi- attacked in frout. These troops were supported Lie the cue:Ails
dent body of troops to commence an operation pen the enemy and by the lst, and sth divisions, and Colonel Ashworth's bra-
till the 11th. OnNhat day, the Ist, 3d, 4th, re , and 6th, and , Lade in reserve.
the light divisions of infantry, and General Pac f .'s brigade, and These movements obliged the enemy to abandon alit the posi- '
all the British cavalry joined upon the Ground immediately in tions which they socsessively took in the in itetteina, anu the
front' of the enemy, who had commenced their retreat trout two corps d'Artnee composing the rear guard were Buie upon
their position during the night. : the main body at Miranda de Corvo, upon the rive? Esse with
They were followed by the light division, the hussars and considerable loss of hilitd, wounded, and prisoners.
Royals, and Beigass:ee-General Pack's Brigade under the corn- In the operations of this day the 4ed,Sed. and Oesit regiments
healed of ihieftnhGenJral Sir William Erskine and Major-Gene- I' and 3d Casalloress under the command of Coionei(Drertimotel
ral Slide, and made ari attempt to hold the ancient castle of 1 and Beckwith, aosl Major Pattiekson, leentimanese!olonel 14.04 s
Pombal, from which they weto driven ; but the 6th corps and I and Majors Giimour and Stewart ;;articular))' titstineteithed
General Montbrun's cavaley, which formed the rear guard, I themselves ;as also the light infantry battalions of Geutsral inc.
supported by the Bth corps, held tlii• ground eauthe other side ton's division under Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, aad the 4th
of the town, the troops riot having arrived in time to complete Cacadores under Colonel de ltsgoa, and the troops of horse at%
the dispositions to attack them before it Wag darn: ' tillery under-the command of Captains Ross. and Dull.
Uron this occasion I ieutenant-Colimel Elder's battalion of i The result of these operations has been that we hate saved
Portuguese casadores distinguished themselveie • • I Coimbra and Ulcer Beira feom the enemy's taeltges, and eve
The enemy retired in the night; and on the 12th the sixth I have opened the communicatioes with the riarthern provinces,
corps, with General Montbrun's cavalry, took up a' streee /to- and we have obliged the enemy to take for de tr rettret the road
eition at the end of a defile bet Ween Rediehi and Pombal, with I by Polite de Marcella, in which tiny mey lie areloyed be the
their right in a wood upon the Some River, and their left tx- militia acting in security upon their dank, while the ailitd army •
. tending towards the high ground above the river of Reditilee— I will press upon their seer.
This town was in their rear. i The whole country, however, affords many advatitaeatous posi-
I attacked them in this position on the 12th with the :'d and I duos to a retreating army, of which the enemy have ehewu that
4th light divisions of infantry, and Brigadier-General Peck's they know how to avail themselves.
hrieade and the cavalry, the other troops beiug in :reserve. They are retreating front the country as they entered it, it!
fhe post in the wood upon their right was trait forced by Sir one solid' tnass ; covering their rear on every march by the ope-
Wm. Erskine with the light division. We viere then able to rations of either one or two corps trArmee, in the strung posi-
form the troops in the plain beyond the defile; and the third dons which the country affords; which corps d'Ariii:e ore
division under Major-General Picton were formed in two lines closely supported by the main body. Before they quitted their
in the skirts of the wood upoft the right; the 4th division under ; position they destroyed a part of their 4atirete and unlnuelltion ;
Major-(;eneral Cole in twit) lines in the centre, baiting Geneft,l t and they have since blown up whatever the horses were mute,:
Pack's iiiigatle supporting their right, and communicating with I to dra* away. l'hey have no provisions excepting What they
the 2d division ; aNd the light division in two lines nn the left. I , plunder on the spot.; or 'fleeing 'plundered, what the euleitra
These treops were supported in the rear by the British cavalry, ! carry on their hacks; andlihe cattle.
and the Ist, sth, and nth divisions were in reserve. i lem concerned to be &Heed to add to this account that their
• The troops Were formed with great accuracy and celerity, ! conduct throughout this retreat has beeh marice.h Noy a bailie-
and Lieutenant-GeneralSir B. Spencer led the line against the I rity seldom equalled, and neVer surpassed. Even le the e wns
fleetly's position on the heights, from which they were imme- 1 of Torres Novas, Thonhar, and Pernea, in which the head-
diase/y driven, with the loss of Many men killed and sounded, 'i quarters of some of the corps had been for fbur nee*, anti in
1 which the inhabitants had been inditesd by promises a geoi
and sonic prisoners. • • •
Mejon.General Sir William Erikine particularly mentioned t treament to remain, they. Wets plentlen 4, alld. maey of their
the coildect of the oecikegimentatid Colonel Elder's caeatiores, ! 1)4)1156 destroyed on -theelight the enemy WittrdteW from fear
in the attack of the wOod; and I must add, ,
that I have never i positiou; anA they have since buint every town and Vi Lige
fromseen the French infanU'y driven a woodill a more gallant !
t throuzh which ;nest have passed. The convent of Alcothea
style. . • . II was burnt by order from the French heed-euarters. The W-
.
There was but one narrow bridge, and a ford close to it over II shop's palace, and the whole teen of 1 eyria, in l'‘' iris ii Generalu
kg itridirAit dyer, over which our light troops passed wish the 1, Droutt had hail his head quarters, allied the same iat,:; tail
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