The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-26 00:00:00

(Copy )

Irun, May 19.
Mos•r EXCELLENT Stn—l have now the honour to re-
port toryour Excellency the final result of the operations of
the last few days of the carps d'armife entrusted to my
command. On the morning of the 16th instant, the two
battalions of the rebels which occupied Oyerzun aban-
doned on our approach that town. The inhabitants, thus
liberated, threw cpen their gates. I left there a garriso❑
of 700 men.
The columns continued their march. In the afternoon
we invested and commenced the attack on the Fort del
Purdue and the fortified town of Irun. The enemy's
works proved strong ; they defended them firmly. The ar-
tillery of the Legion were admirably served, but were of
too light a calibre. The bravery of the troops, however,
fought us through all difliculties, and particularly of the
Rdles, Royal Irish, and Ist British Regiments, under the
gallant Fortescue, Carman, and Shaw.
Every street was doubly or trebly defended by lofty
and massive barricades. Almost every house was a for-

For about twenty hours the contest continued with al-
mist unabated ardour. At ten o'clock on the morning of
he 17th the town was eventually stormed and carried.
Nearly at the same time the Fort del Parque surrendered
at discretion to my aides-de-camp, Lieutenant Colonels
Shelly and Cottoner, at the head of some companies of the
brilliant Prineesa Regiment.
At noon yesterday, the 18th, the fortress of Fontarabia
capitulated. Colonel Shelly and Lieut. Gurrea negotiated
the capitulation with much address, and which was very
convenient, as it might have cost us much time and many
lives to reduce the place. I have placed garrisons in these
towns, and have appointed Colonel Parriera, of the Infante
Regiment, commandant of Oyarzun ; my aide-de-camp, Col.
Lezama, and Col. Iturriza, governors of Fontarabia and
Iron, till your Excellency's pleasure shall be known.
To Brigadiers Chichester and Fitzgerald, who were prin-
cipally engaged, I have to offer my warmest thanks. I also
own my bst acknowledgments to Brigadier-General Ren-
don, commanding the vanguard division, and to the dis-
tinguished Brigadiers O'Donnell and Santa Cruz. Co-
lonel de la Saussaye was particularly forward and ju-
dicious in his exertions, as was Major Humphrey, of
the Engineers. No one displayed more intelligence and
intrepidity than Colonel Alexander Arbuthnot, in direct-
ing the forlorn hope which first penetrated into the town,
and which consisted of the light company of the first
British regiment, under Lieutenant Pearce. This party
was also led in a most brilliant manner by my aide-de-
camp, Lieutenant-Colonel Wooldridge ; by Major M'ln-
tosh, Quarter-Master-General's department, and Captains
Hornbrook and Read, of the Engineers, and Atkins, of the
Rifles. I regret that Colonel Arbuthnot received a severe
injury from a musket-ball.
General Seoane, though suffering from his wounds, came
upon the field, and afforded me the benefit of his counsel
and good judgment. It is with a peculiar pleasure I con-
vey to your Excellency my expression of gratitude to Ge-
neral Count Harispe, commander-in-chief of the French
forces on his frontier, for the cordial and judicious assistance
he is always prompt to render to her Majesty's army in
this province ; to General Nogues, the French second in
command, I am also greatly indebted.
The sous-prefect and other civil authorities were equally
obliging in every respect. Our cannon and musket ammu-
nition were nearly expended. The French ordnance maga-
zines were thrown open to us ; hospitals were provided for
us on the French territory by anticipation ; and civil and
military surgeons appointed to assist in attending the
wounded.
It was most gratifying to witness, amidst the great
French people this sympathy of feeling in our sacred cause.
But how could it be otherwise ? Let the policy of Go-
vernments be what they may, that which has with it the
wishes of the enlightened of all nations will surely triumph.
The good-will and zeal of Colonel de Senhilles, the Com-
missioner of the King of the French, were on this, as on
all other occasions, conspicuous ; and his assistance to the
operations always readily afforded.
To Colonel Wylde, his Britannic Majesty's Commis-
sioner with the Spanish army, I need scarcely tell your
Excellency, that I have been on this, as on many occa-
sions, deeply beholden. From this distinguished officer her
Majesty's cause has constantly received, as your Excellency
well knows, the most valuable and important assistance.
I should not omit to mention the deputy of Cortes, Don
Lujan, who was kind enough to accompany me on this
service ; and Lieutenant Bengon, commanding a battery
placed on the road, within 150 yards of one of the prin-
cipal gates, having been disabled by a cannon shot, Senor
Lujan volunteered to take charge of the battery under a
very heavy fire. The science and bravery displayed in con-
ducting it attracted general observation.

The obstinacy of the rebels, and the number and strength
of the obstacles, could only be subdued by a variety of
personal and devoted exertions ; and this is my apology for
thus trespassing on your Excellency with so many personal
details.

I must not forget to mention also, for your Exccel-
lency's approval, the gallant conduct of Colonel O'Connell,
the deputy adjutant-general of the Legion ; of Colonel
Ross, commanding the first brigade ; of Colonels Herman
and Mead, of my personal staff; of Lieutenant-Colonels
Hogg, Clarke, and Ebsworth, commanding the Bth, Gth,
and 4th regiments ; and of Lieutenant-Colonel Freestan,
and Major Baron Pengold ; also of the ability and skill of
Dr. Alcoa, the deputy-inspector, and the officers, Spanish
and English, of the medical department ; and of Colonel
Arbuthnot, commanding the 2d battalion of Light Infan-
try ; of the brave Lieutenant-Colonel Bascarand, and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Pintado, of the same regiment.
Of Colonel Shaw, Captain How, Captain Wade, and
the officers and men of the Artillery, I cannot too strongly
express to your Excellency my high approval. There is no
corps in her Majesty's army more efficient than this ; and I

cat truly speak in equal terms of Colonel Wakefield, and
the gallant apd excellent officers of the Ist Lancers.