The National Register.
London, England, 1813-10-10 00:00:00

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ARMIES OF ARRAGON ANT) CAT.
COPY OF A LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE
WAR, EROM MARSHAL THE. DUKE OF A/
VILLA FRANCA, SUPT. 16.
MONStEnNitt'R,--lit the be.r.inning of September. Lord Maim+,
removing from the sea and banks of the Ebro, established the Anglo-
Spanish Army at Villa Franca, occupying the Col d'Ordal, forming
magazines at Villa Nova, and making the col p% Warm& of General
Colton:, and Whittinghani and Sarsfield's mamenvre upon
the Upper Lobregat, towards Manresa, Esperago a, and Mat tovell.
The collecting of thirty pieces of cannon at one match from my
line, all those dispositions and mamrevres in limitation, announced
to me a speedy attack. I resolved to anticipate it, and prevent
my movements front being pressed and cramped, to the gates of

Barcelona.
On the 12th, the army of Arraeon was assembled upon the lA-
bregat, whilst the General in Count Decaen, on my invitation,
brought a part of the army of Catalonia. I ordered him to restrain
and keep from my right, General Copons' troops; to afterwards
march to Saint Saturni upon Villa Franca, and co-operate in my
attack by the high road.
At eight in the evenin7, I passed the bridge of Molins-delltev,
with a fine clear moon which favoured my march; and Harispes di-
vision, which led, marched upon Ordal.
That position, very difficult and rery rugged, at which one can
only arrive after passing a defile of three leagues, was occupied by
an advanced guard of 9,000 men, under ,th orders of General F.
Adam, composed of English troops, Calabrians, and the picked men
• from Sarsfield's division.
The General-in-Chief Lord Bentinek had arrived there the same
evening, with Admiral Hallowell, either to prepare his dispositions
for a speedy attack, or upon some advice of my movement, to
re-inforce the defence of that important point : the infantry iu poi.
Lion was supported by cannon, and a reserve of cavalry.
On the first musket-shots. General Mesclop, commanding the ad-
vanced guard, briskly pushed forward the voltigeurs of the 7th of
the line, overthrew the poste, and formed his brigade in front of the
redoubts. The enemy's cavalry were seen descending in column
upon the road, with the intention cif repulsing, what they undoubtedly
took for a reconnoisance ; but our light artillery quickly made them
disappear, and the voltigeurs rushed upon the mountain. The
vivacity and extent of the fire which the enemy immediately com-
menced along his whole front !;hewed us his force. Gen. Mesclop,
ordered the Ist battalion of the 7th to advance, which he (wieldy
supported himself with the 2d, whilst the 44th on its side, mounted
the redoubts ; he re-formed,—he repulsed the tirailleurs,—and sword
in hand, at the head of of his column, directed the charge to be beat,
and the enemy's first position to be carried by force.
A most obstinate combat took place upon this point ; the enemy
in a rage, and with great cries, twice returned, with fresh reserves
to obtain possession of it, and was again twice driven to his second pu•
sition, from whence be crushed us with his fire.
Our infantry, accustomed to assaults, knew how to rally, and re-
i turn 'to the charge with constancy ; a, platoon of sappers, vs hick had
I marched with the advanced guard, covered itself with glory : the
i Chief of Battalion, Feuchere, of the 44th, was wounded in leading
; his troop : I ordered Herbert's division to advance, which I thrilled
ion the left of the road, whilst Gen. Harispe Marched with his v.-
serve, the 116th regiment of the line to the support of the first br-
l 'ode. A last general effort was combined, and the td battalion of
the 136th was ordered to the left to turn the Id redoubt. Its Corn
mandant, Bugeand, executed the movement with equal skill and
vwitohnir i°
r; .
istalicle grs -every fury, and 'do
we rustled f cor
where
ard
remainedat the
masters sa
e of tiltillier
field et battle. It was in an instant ceVeree with killed and

, - -
, .
TIONAL REGISTMI. , . . OCT. 10.
uk suffi- had torn from Their beds, to make a trophy of them, made some
hundreds of prisoners, took some baggage, and retook sonic ear.
hose spe- riages which he bad seited. Thielmann then took refuge upon Zeitz,
y comes- where Colonel Minisdort; an Austrian partisan, joined him. Gen.
Lefebvre Desnonettes attacked them on the 24th at Altenburg,
killed them many men, among others a Prince of Hohenzollern,
ful hopes and a Colonel.
he humi- Thieltuann's march had caused some delays in the communications
from Erfurth and Leipsic. - ,:
izes have The enemy's army of Berlin appears to be making preparations
fated the for throwing over a bridue at Dessau.
Tile Prince of Neufchatel is unwell of a bilious fever; be has
some days kept his bed. His Majesty was never better.
with the
.T. They
MINISTRY AT WAR.
ral ideas;
causes us ARMTF.S OF ARRAGON AND CATALONIA.
They de- COPY OF A LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER AT
WAR, .FROM M.i.R3HAL THE. DUKE OF ALBUFIRA.
.•elasentte•da
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