The National Register.
London, England, 1808-12-04 00:00:00

DEC. 4.

nods to approximate the only road by which 1 could receive the '
vluisktesuppliese-,1, on the 3d,: resolved to rely my division,
including that of the North, which. is just arrived near the
vii-
lage of Whve. In efrect, they wire nil united- e*tiopt the ‘.141
division of :Ind a pert of the troops of Aifitria, form-
ing a carpi under the•edromrtuthd of his Eteellency Don Vicente
Acevedo, which was attacked on the 3d by the' enemy with su-
perior forces, between Llantrna toad Meting-are; ; and though
they, were vigorously opposed, took a position between the said
corps of Senor Acevedo and the army (in hopes of their receiv-
ing reinforcements neeordiur to information• and nppenranci),
t►► prevent the junction of that divkion with my army. This.
information t obtained early on the 'miming of the 911►, which
placed me under the necessity of making au attack on the enemy
to frustrate his design, and therefore direcied the 3d division
under the command of Brig.-General Don Franciwo Itiquelme,
united to one of the Asturias, commanded' by the Camp Mar-
shal Don. Gregorio Quiros, to meet tl►e enemy, %vim were inter-
cepting the pass to the corns of Acevedo, an.l to attack him ;
the fourth division and the van-guard I ordered to march to V al-
moseda, for the purpose of fighting sueh detached forces as they
should meet; whilst the first and the reserve were to remain
with me at Cordejueln, to cut off the communication between
the various French divisions ; and. ti nail y, t hat of the north', aud
a general reserve were to remain stationed in the Heron.

"At the very tnoment.my troops began their march, I re-
ceived advice, that the corps under Senor Acevedo had succeeded
in changing its position, taking one tolerable eligible between
Cordejuela. Valmaseda, and Orvantia, though much overawed
by a numerous host occupied in observing his motions. This
change of position on the part oe Senor Acevedo induced me to
make somealteration in my own ;. and in etVect, the troops under
Cie Commanders Quiros and ltiquel!ne received orders to atiack
that part of the enemy which appeared, and' was by peasants
reported to be at Arciniego, whilst the main body mu,' have
been at Orrantia, where I proposed to dislodge them w ith the
first division, the van-guard, and the reserve whilst the fourth,
which provisionallyis under the command of Brig.-Owlet-MO/on
Estevan llorlier, the Marquii del Poriazgo being indisposed,
was to follow its original destination to Valmasda, with in•
structions, however, not to risk an attack, if they should be
over-marched by force. •

" I knnw not what motive to attribute to the resolution which
the French took of removing their corps from Acevedo ; hut
eertainly in Orrantia and Areiniego we found only advice, that
the French had effected their retreat from that place daring the
night, by which means the several divisions which it was our
intention to liberate, were safely re-united with us : the fourth
has heel) still more fortunate than the rest : for, arriving near
alma.eda, where the enemy was 7000 men strong, under the
command of the General of Division, V illat, they attacked him
u ith great vigour, dislodged him from the place, and pursut d him
to the distance of aleague, where he stopped, the night having
came on. Their flight was made in the greatest disorder, and they
sustained a considerable loss in killed and wounded ; we also took
forty prisoners from them, among whom an officer. They also
left in our pmsession a four pounder, t►co waggons with ammu-
nition in a state of service ; five cars with provision and equi-
page belonging to their General Officers, together with the pa-
pers helonrin7 to them, and a vast quantity of other
'Phis brilliant action Wail chledy due to the celerity and ardent
displayed by some Asturian corps. and by the second divi-
sion of Gallicia, who poured down on Valmaseda the moment
they sa %V the OA into which the fourth division had fallen, by
which means they have acquired an indisputable claim to time
public esteem of their countrymen, w Welt, however, is no less
due mall our inimitable warriors, who have ever since the 23d,
endured with fortitude, privations of every description, end the
inten►peratare of severe weather without great coats, in great
part without clothes, and absolutely barefoot, and what is
more, without having a morsel to/eat for whole days, lending
their services with ardour to extreme fatigue, and all along
without one murmur or complaint or disgust.—Ali I can per-
ceive in them is an unabated desire of washing the enemy's goat
is his blood at the hazard of their own lives.
" i recommend then► all to the consideration of your Eaciel-
Fury, for the information of his Majesty.--Which may God
preser%c 3uur Lacellencv.

(Signod) Jo gqllll.ll BLAir-
ralineiveria the 71h Nov. MOS.
lie his Erertlenry the Serretaey of the
IVar department.