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

THE N-ATIONAL

BATTLE OP BARMIS2I.

INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

" Cadiz, Sunday, March 10, 1811.
• cg We brie had same very hard fighting here, as ever was
known. The English army has behaved in the most gallant
autism ; the Spanish equally bad.
" The Dons have again marched to retrieve their character,
under General BLAKE—they are at this moment in-action. We
can discover tiring at our mast-head. They ought to conquer,
as they can master -20,000 men, and the French cannot have more
than 6000. Thirty boats belonging to the British left the
harbour thi3 morning to assist the Spaniards.
" In the action of the .sth, the English army, consisting of
about 4000,kilied and wounded 1240. Fort z,i-fioe of them were
efficers. The French have lost 3500 in kilted, wounded, and
risoners, six pieces of artillery, and three eagles; two Gene-
t als prisoners in the Isla (one of them since dead), one buried
on the field of battle, and one of their artillery officers missing,
about whom they yeszerday sent over to inquire after; they
havelost all their Staff.
44 Marshal VICTOR, who commanded, was at one time in
the rear of the English 95th regiment, but escaped. They
could not stand the charge of the British, nor did they attempt
it more than a minute, when they were actually cut down and
pulled out of their ranks, without attempting to face about or
snake resistance. The British troops were so fatigued, that
they could not secure all thei prisoners, and the Dons were too
cowardly to render assistance. The French say it was the
hardest fighting they ever met with, and that they never lost
so many officers."

" Our fellows had marched twenty-two miles that day, and I
were jttst taking some refreshment, when a peasant came to Ge -
neral Grahntn, and told him the French were coming mend a
woad to surprise him, on which General Graham formed his
little army with admirable precision. When the enemy ap-
peared in sight, General Graham rode up in front of the guards, ,
87th regiment, German Legion, and Portuguese cavalry, and
waving his hat, said, 64 Now my lads, there they are—spare
your powder, • but give them steel enough." On which the co-
lumn gave three cheers, and as the French neared them, gave
their volley, and made so animated a charge, that in an hour the
cm my were put hors du combat, and with the prompt assistance
of the rifle corps and other British regiments, dispersed them
in all directions."
In the late brilliant action at Barrosa, the fire was hotter than
ever remembered by the oldest soldier ; scarcely an officer es- I
eaping without some mark or shot. General Graham was him-
self pierced in the coat in two places, so was his Aid-de-Camp,•
'Captain Stanhope, of the Guards. Lieutenant-Colonel Nor-
cott of the 95th regiment, General Dilkes, Colonels W heatly
and Tosensend of the Guards, had their horses shot under
'them ; Lieutenant-Colonel Colquitt of the Guards likewise was
shot through the ah:eve•of his coat by a musquet-ball, and a
cannon-shot.li•erally touched his saddle while he was in the act
of dismounting to pass a ravine. Many others had similar
escapes.
The Cortes of Spain have unanimously decreed the thanks of
the Nation. to General Graham, and have elected him Grandee
of Spain Of the first class," free of tribute," for the" astonishing
bravery and discipline" manifested by his M aiesty's troops ;
and a strict inquiry is to be made into the conduct of the Spanish
General, who evidently appears from General Graham's silence
respecting him not -to have done his duty on the occasion. A
letter from Cadiz, in corroboration of this opinion, says," The
Spaniards, to the number of 12,000 men, never fired a shot, ex-
cept one regiment of cavalry, and one of infantry, who were
with us. The rest never stirred out of the wont; until all was
over. They were three miles distant from the field of action,
and were twice sent for to come and take their ground. Had
they advanced in due time, the whole of the enemy's columns
uncer Marshal Victor would evidently have been made pri-
soners."
The French Eagle, taken at the battle of BarroSa, will be :
presented to the Prince Regent, by Capt, Hope, at the next
Levee. The Eagle was surrounded by six French Officte,
who were killed. The Eagle was then borne off in triumph by
the gallant 87th.
The above Eagle was held in the highest estimation tii!rough-
- out the French army, from the columns in which it was ad-
vanced having distinguished themselves so as to receive the
thanks of Buonaparte in person : on this account the neck of the
Eagle bears a gold collar, with a victorious inscription.