The National Register.
London, England, 1811-09-08 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL

•LETTER FROM THE DUKE OF TARENTO TO HIS EXCEL-
LENCY THE MINISTER AT WAR.
44 Camp before Figueiras, Aug. 17, 1811.
" MoNstroe Dux e—l have the honour to inform your Ex-
cellency, that the eff.c ive part of the garrison of Figueiras, to
the number of 3500 men, last night unsuccessfully Attempted
to make their escape.—This general sally took place on the side
towards the plain, but the fire of our advanced posts havieg
given notice of it. the enemy was received with so warm a fire
of musketry, accompanied with shouts of Long live the Em-
peror and by Si, many shells' and chaiteshot, that he preci-
pitately retired in disorder to his ramparts; day-break disco-
vered to our view the field covered with dead, wounded, and
shattered remains. From the account of several superior Of-
ficers taken this morning, their loss in wounded was numerous ;
not a man was able to clear the first line of abattis ; and they
had besides other obstacles to surmount before they could reach
our beyonets.—For two days the Spaniards had been employed
in breaking and destroying that which they could not carry off
or burn ; the ovens were destroyed. They had distributed a
double ration of brandy and three days' bread. Such is the ac-
count which his Excellency the Colonel-General has sent me
this morning, at the same time begging to be authorised to take
advantage of the confusi :n and terror which the above reception
must have produced in the Spaniards, by summoning them to
surrender at discretion, on pain of being put to the sword.
Though I place little dependence on the success ct this sum-
mons, which would hasten, by some days, the surrender of the
fortress, yet I have given him that authority. My advanced
posts at Liers were attacked yesterday by the Miquelets: I or.
ciered a general beating tip, which diseersed them all. It would
appear that seven or 800 of these people were endeavouring to
favour the evacuation of the fort. Every thing leads to a belief
that the fall of Figueiras is near at hand.
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed) " The Marshal Duke of Taunt°, M‘DONAI.D."
LETTER 11.
" Camp before Figueiras, Aug: 19, 1811.
ti MONSIEUR Dux c—l have the satisfaction to inform your
FxcelNicy, that the valour, the zeal, and perseverance of his
Vaj.,:sty's army in Catalonia, have triumphed over the perfidy
of the traitors who delivered the fortress of Figueiras to the
enemy ; they arc in irons. That fortress is this day re-con-
qeered, and in the pesver of the Emperor. The Spanish-garrison
having in vain attempted to escape in the night of the 16th,
and with a loss of 400 men, has been forced to surrender at
discretion, and the oily favour granted is saving their lives. It
came out of the fortress this morning without arms, 3,5e0 in
number, and 350 Officers, of whom the Field-Martial arti-
nez, several Generals of" Brigade, 80 superior Officers, &c.;
it was marched in three columns towards Perpignan, where it
will errive on the 21st and 22d. This garrison lost during the
blockade more tan 2,00 men by our fire, or by a natural
death ;-1,500 sick rem in in the hospitel, and there are two
hteldred non-combatants, who shall he dismia:ed. The army
of hit Majesty braved more than 60,030 cannon-shot, and two
trillion rounds of musketry, without much loss: It has borne,
with a constancy truly exemplary, labour, fatigue, and the in-
clemencies of the weather during a blockade of four months and
nixie days; and since the 24th of July has spent 25 successive
niehts eta!er arms. The works of the lines of countervaUation
and circumvallation are immense; his Majesty will be able to
judge of them, should he condescend to look at the plan which
I teansmit to your Excellency. The engineer department di-
rected'them with constant zeal and activity. The artillery de-
partment has been excellent, as it always is; the General of Di-
vision Tamil commands it: and General Kourrey erected and
pointed all the batteries, some of which were boldly placed at
Itss than 300 toises from the fortress. The brigades of the
37th of the line, of tl:e Sth light, 16th and 67th of the line, 32d
light, 11th, 81st, 60th, 63d, those of the Imperial Gendarme-
rie and of the Westplialians, were the names of the corps
which constantly worked there ; the first-mentioned were
within niesket shot of the covered way; the 3d, and 23d light,
also laboured a great deal.—These corps, under the orders of
Generals Quesnel, Clement, Palmarole, I'lansonne, Lefebvre,
Colonels Lamarque and Petit, formed the line of blockade, or
relish): cod it every night. The squadron of the 20th and 29th
Chasseurs, the squadron of the 24th dragoons, and the lanciers
gendarmes, were also on horseback in part. In fine, a select
reserve. consis:ing ut the foot gendarmerie, and of detachments
from differeet cerps, commanded in turn by Generals Favier,
Nourry, and Frost, and adjutant-Commandant Nivet, was
Pined to support all the points that were threatened. His
Excellency the Colonel was every where. He displayed very
great acAtvity ; in genera: every One has perfectly done his duty.
feel pleasthe in doing this justice to the army, in the hope
OM the fsstwezor will deigu to cast a look of favour on these

eAr.ai

AIM

„
7\'..4...sty's army in Catalonia, hav
of the traitors who delivered ti.
enemy ; they arc in irons. 'llia
qtered, and in the power of the En
having in vain attempted tq esca
and with a loss 4f 400 men, has
discretion, and the odly fitvour
came out of the fortress this mo
number, and 350 Officers, of wh
nez, several Generals of” Brigad
it was marched in three columns
will arrive on the 21st and 22d.
blockade more tan 2,00 men
death ;-1,500 sick remain in rho
hirldred non-combatants, who sl
of hi; Majesty braved more than
million rounds of musketry, with
with a constancy truly exemplary
clomencies of the weather during
nine days; and since the 24th of
niehts ent?er arms. The works o
and circurnvallation are immense
judge of them, should he condesi
r.-ansmit to your Excellency.
rected'them with constant zeal at
part meat has been exce/lent, as i!
viiion Tamil commands it: and
pointed all the batteries, some o
lts') than 300 toise', front the f
37th of the line, of tl:e Sth light,
light, 11 th, 81st, COth, 63d, thus
rie and of the Westplialians, v
which constantly worked then
within niesket shot of the cover,
also laboured a great deal.—Th4
Generals Quesnel, Clement, Pa.
Colonels Latnarque and Petit, fo
reinfieced it every night. The
Chaseurs, the squadron of the
gendarmes, were also on horseb
reserve. consis:ing of the foot get
from differe:a corps, conimande
)knirry, and Prost, and Adjut
destined to support all the pun
Excellency the Colonel was eve
great activity ; in genera every
feel vlr.s.uie in doing this j
Out the Uwe:or wlll deip to c
•