The National Register.
London, England, 1813-08-22 00:00:00

L'itr.GisT

ing his rear, than be desisted from his attaek, and in the
course of the night effected his retreat. Sir ROWL AND
.111 L L then became the assailant in his-turn, and joined in the
pursuit On the 31st the French had fallen back to the pass of
Donna Maria, from
.wheuce they were driven, after a brave
resistance, by. Sir Row ANn and Lord DA enoust Oa
the •2d instant they still occupied the Puerto de Echelar with
two divisions, and their whole army ranged behind. But
being gallantly attacked by Major-Gen. BARNES'S Brigade.
they retired entirely ieto France, where the pursuit ceased.
In all these actions the enemy is strted !in the letter-to the
1.0 R D MAVon, for Lord WLILINGTO N'S dispatches-do not
mention the amount) to have lost about 15,600 men; killed,
wounded, and prisoners, whilst the loss of the Allses, even
comprehending -that :e pet iencel before St. Sebastian, does
not exceed 8,400.. Previous to entering Spain, SOUL T had
issued a Proclamation, informing his army that he had or-
ders to drive us beyond the Ebro, and for that purpose to
bad brought with •him a train of artillery, and a corps of ca-
valry, which could only he of use after he had crossed the
mountains of Navarre Those he sent back by a difirent
road as soon as be commenced his retreat, so that they re-
entered France in safety. A convoy Of provisious, destined
for Pami'elnna, however fell into our hands.
The value of the..e glorious tiiumphs will be better appre-
ciated.. when it is known that they were contested on the
part of the enemy with greater skill and mote resolute cou-
rage than on any former occasion. Their columns were
headed by troops that had never yet been engaged with the
English, and whose manceuvring was beautiful. SouLT
himself was personally very ,conspicuous, and narrowly
escaped being tAert. His officers ako distinguished them-
selves most honourably : many were seen with colours in
their hands, leading on their men—others with drums beat-
ing,. at the head of theme troops ; hut the soldiers, though
brave, were not thourlit fully equal to their officers.
The ammunition of•the besiegers before Si. Sebastian being
expended, and the approach-of SOULT rendering it doubt-
ful whether it might not be necessary for our army to re-
treat still further, the siege was raised on the 2.gth of July.
the trenches abandoned, "and the battering artillery embark-
ed. We have not yet received the English detail of this
slperation, but private letters state, that two hundred Per-
tuguese having remained too long in the trenches, were
made prisoners by the garrison. The siege, we understand,
has not yet been resumed.
SOUL T, it is asserted, his already been powerfully rein-
forced, and has reoccupied the Puerto de Bera, a o:emen-
d, us pass, excellently fortified by art, and pos,essing great
natural advantages, preparatory to a new inroad into Spain,
to relieve Pampeluna. It is thought that be will move
round our right by the Jaca pass, which leads to Sal agos,a and
the Ebro, and thus endeavour to get into our rear, or com-
pel us to retreat to avoid being cut off. CL AUZEI, it was
added, had already moved in that direction. On the other
hand, Lord WELLINGTON had ordered up all his cavalry,
which induced a belief that he intended to enter France,
where alone it could act.
The following letters from the Army, contain some
additional interesting particulars. Extract from a letter
dated the 3d of Angtst :—" We never yet saw such desperate
fighting, or experienced resistance so obstinate as on these
days (the 28th and 30th). The manoeuvres of the enemy
were admirable, and all his positions chosen with-infinite
skill, either for attack or defence, victory or defeat. He
could as=ail us from most of his crowned points with great
advantage, or he could reinforce and protect his troops on
these stallions with celerity and effect. If successful, they

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were well calculated to ensure the fruits of y, .nd,
beaten, to save him from the disasters of retreat. Yet from
all these positions he was completely forced, and dreadfully
cut
.up in his retreat, which it required all his efforts to
cover, in any way, so as to prevent its being converted into
a disorderly flight, notwithstanding the mountainous nature
of the ground, which in many places defied combined and
extensive movements. Lord Wellington was struck by a
spent musquet bullet, which lodged in his sash, hut, thank
Heaven, did no harm to our beloved Commander. His
Lordship says, he never met with so daring and powerful an
enemy ; hut it seemed only to rouse the Btitish lions more
to vanquish him. Indeed nothing can describe the de-
votedness and ardour of our forces. The Portuguese acted
nobly. The Marquis of Worcester was struck by a ball, and
fell from his horse , but this brave young nobleman was only
stunned, and was soon ready again to partake in the glory of
iris comradrs. The defiles and passes, which abound in this
district, afforded much facility and security,to the foe. We
have nevertheless taken great abundance of . stores, bag-
gage, Ere. Numerous prisoners are hourly bringing in, and
I do not think their total loss can be less than twenty
thousand men."

Extract of another letter, dated August 4, 1813 :—" On
the retreat of the enemy, we came up at Elizondo with
General Gautier, and 1500 men, escorting the convoy of
provisions, (too cars and 250 laden mules) intended for
Pamplona. We had only 400 men of General Byng's
brigade. The enemy was, however, attacked without hesi-
tation. and fled precipitately, leaving all the convoy and
500 prisoners in our bands : in fact, the spirit of the French
army is broken, and I do not believe that the presence of
Buonaparte himself would re-organise it. I consider this
victory to be greater than that of Vittoria, and indeed the
greatest ever gained by Lord Wellington. Soult had seven
divisions of infantry, 3000 cavalry, and 40 pieces of
artillery, all 4.5.0c0 men. 1 expect we shall move in a
few days iiito France, and that we shall take up a position on
the river Adour, which enters the sea at Bayonne.
44 In the late action the French charge was more impetuous
than was ever known. They charged our troops, and were
as often repulsed with immen,e loss, frequently with the
bayonet. Their bayonets were actually crossed with our's,
a circumstance Dever before known."

Souls, befole he entered Spain, issued a Proclamation to
Lis army, in which he says, '"That he has been sent by the
Empeior to the command of his armies of Spain, and that
hip Imrerial Majesty's instructions and his own intentions
were to drive the British across the Ebro, and celebrate the
Emperor's birth-day in the town of Vittoria." A copy of
this Proclamation was found among part of his bag age
which fell into our hands. Sunday was the anniversary of
Buonaparte's birth-day. _ _ _

A letter from an Officer attached to the army besieging
Sebastian, gives the following shocking particulars of the
storming of that place :—" As fast as our men came up
they were knocked down by the dreadful fire from the
defences which bore upon the breaches ; and when a few
got into them they were unable to effect any thing from
their weakness. In short, the e'rnage Was so great, that the
French themselves called out to our officers to draw the men
off, and actually ceased firing upon them. Never was wit-
ines,ed such heroism as on the part of our soldiery on this
occasion ; particularly the Royals, who, though almost cut
to pieces, absolutely refused to retire till the third or fourth
command was issued for them to do so."

In die baggage of Joseph Buonaparte, which fell into
eur hands, was found a letter from Buonaparte to him, in

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AUGUST 22.

, principal hope he has, with respect
to Spain is, that the troops may be able to maintain a de-
fensive position ; that he had succeeded himself in gaining
a battle at Bautzen over the Allies—but that it was severely
contested, and that the times were past when one battle de-
cided the fate of the war. That the Goverments on the
Continent had grown wiser by experience, but that he
trusted this success would confirm the Confederation of the
Rhine in their attachment to him. !le then breaks out
into a violent strain" of invective against Murat, whom lie
accuses of the greatest ingratitude in having abandoned him
at so critical a period, and retired to Naples. Ile accom-
panies this invective with some menaces to be executed at a
proper season, and concludes by professions of attachment
to him (Joseph) for having been the only one of his brothers
(Jerome excepted) that had retrained constantly faithful
to him.

The French have long been accustomed to proclaim their
victories to this country by discharges of cannon at Bou-
logne and Calais. The dc%feat of Sot:LT by Nlarquis WEL-
LINGTON, was announced in a similar manner, on Wednes-
day, at Dover, when the artillery on the forts was discharg-
ed, the troops fired a feu-de-joir, and a number of CON..
G REVE'S and other rockets, were discharged from the beach.
The barracks, at the heights, were also illuminated. The
evening being very fine, no doubt the greatest part of
.the
above was very distinctly seen and beard on the opposite

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NATU)NAL RECaSTER. • •
victory, and, if(' which he says, that the pri