The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-11 00:00:00

FOREIGN IN TELLIGENCE.

OFFICIAL DESPATCH.
" San Sebastian, Oct. 2

" Most Excellent Sir,—l had the honour to inform your
Excellency on the 28th nit. that, in obedience to your Ex-
cellency's orders, I had embarked and dospatehed to the
westward a strong brigade of Spanish troops, to be avail-
able either for the pursuit of the predatory columns of the
rebel chief Sanz, or to reinforce the army of reserve. This
large diminution of our strength here appears to have de-
termined the enemy to make yesterday a general attack on
our lines ; in which I have the pleasure to inform your Ex-
cellency that they were completely foiled and repulsed, with
very heavy loss on every point.
" During the preceding night they concentrated on the
fortified heights of Ametza all the troops, reinforcements,
and armed peasantry which they could collect from the
different points of the province. They also placed in bat-
tery on this commanding position several pieces of heavy
artillery. From the front of our line of cantonments to the
Ametza is not more than 500 yards.

The action commenced while it was yet dark, by a
feint against our extreme right ; at the same time a real
and vigorous attempt, in force, was made against our left,
with a view of carryin;, by a coup de main, the post of
Alza. This was signally defeated by the gallantry of the
volunteers of Guipuscoa, and a detachment of Spanish and
Auxiliary British Artillery, forming the garrison of that
point.
" As the day broke, their cannon opened from Ametza
on the quarters occupied by our troops. Under the cover
of this hire, and counting on the confusion it was expected
to create, their infantry advanced to the attack. Our front
picket-house, occupied by three companies of the West-
minster Grenadiers, under Major Lister and Captain Ma-
clain, was maintained with peculiar firmness. It was per-
forated by about seventy cannon-shot ; but not a man, ex-
cept from wounds, left his post. The posts of the Samod
Spanish Light Infantry were similarly attacked, and simi-
larly defended.
The enemy frequently sallied from their works, but
were &rays driven in again at the point of the bayonet.
" Our onall corps of Lancers, under Lieutenant-Col.
Wakefield, w,7re most useful and distinguished, and charged
more than once :in a very brilliant manner. The artillery,
also, under the able direction of Colonel Colquhoun, was
placed and directed with excellent skill, and produced im-
portant effects.
" Towards 4 o'clock in the :_lfternoon some heavy explo-
sions took place in the enemy's :nes, perhaps of caissons
blown up by our shells. Their fire Blackened, they com-
menced retiring their guns, which they completed in the
night and following day. This conflict continued above 12
hours, and was not quite over till after dark. Our troops
were full of ardour, and we might probably have seized on
the enemy's cannon, but having already gained a decisive
success, and inflicted a severe punishment on the rebels, I
did not desire to throw away for an inadequate result 400
or .500 additional men in killed and wounded, which it
mighi, have cost to storm the steep and intrenched heights
before us, particularly as it does not enter into my plan to
retain poss,ctssion of that position.
" The com•olete order and intrepidity evinced by the offi-
cers and men, Spanish and English, on this occasion, ap-
peared to me wor:l3Y of far more veteran soldiers, and will,
I hope, meet with her Majesty's approbation. It was one
of the best contested aci-Cons fought by the troops of this
corps since I have had the honour of commanding it.
" From a variety of sources; 1 am led to believe the
enemy's loss cannot have been less than 1,000 ; reports
from their partisans carry it much hig•her, but the truth on
this point cannot be ascertained. airs in killed and
wounded is rather under 400, including 37 officers. Some
deserters have come over, who represent a consternation
to exist among the rebels from the number of their dead
and wounded. _ .

" I have to express my best acknowledgments for their
gallantry and conduct, and for the advice and assistance
they afforded me, to Major-General Jauregui, Brigadier-
Generals Chichester, Le Marchant (Adjutant-General),
Van Halen, Fitgerald, and Godfrey ; to Colonels de Lan-
cey, Jockmus (Quartermaster-General), and Belloso, and
to the officers of my personal staff; and I should be much
wanting were I not able to express my obligations, as on
every occasion, to Colonel Wylde, his Britannic Majesty's
Commissioner with the Spanish army. My thanks are also
due to Commodore Monies, commanding her Majesty's
naval forces, and to Commodore Henry ; to the former
for his good disposition of the gun-boats to support our
right, had the enemy presented themselves in that quarter.
The battalion of Royal British Marines under the
orders of Commodore Lord John Hay, were stationed at
Passages, for the defence of that important point, against
which, however, the enemy made but a feeble attempt.
" But I cannot close my letter without repeating my
sense of gratitude to his Lordship and the offfners of his
Britannic Majesty's navy and marines, for the cordial and
effective support they are at all times so prompt to render
to her Majesty's cause and Government. Nor should I
omit to include in this acknowledgment Lieutenant Vicars,
of the Royal British Engineers, and the detachment of
Royal British Marine Artillery, under Lieutenants Parke
and Savage, who rendered us on this occasion distinguished
service.

" God preserve your Excellency many years.
" DE LACY EVANS, Lieutenant-General.
(Truecopy) "C. WETHERALL, Lieutenant-Colonel.
" 5, Freeman's-court, Oct. 10."

Head-Quarters, St. Sebastian, Oct. 2.
RETURN OF THE CASUALTIES ON OCTOBER 1, 1836.
British--Killed
Wounded lB3-236
Spanish—Killed
Wounded l2l-140

Total . . 376
British killed.-2 lieutenants, I ensign, 3 sergeants, 47
rank and file, total 53 ; horses 2. Wounded.-1 lieutenant-
general, I lieutenant-colonel, 3 majors, 6 captains, 7 lieute-
nants, 13 sergeants, 170 rank and file, total 201 ; horses, 16.

NAMES OF OFFICERS KILLED.
Artillery.—Lieutenant H. G. Backhouse.
3d Regiment.--Lieutenant Jackson.
10th Regiment —Ensign Gartland.

NAMES OF OFFICERS WOUNDED.

Staff.—Lieutenant. General Evans, slightly.
Ist Lancers.—Lieutenant Middleton, severely; Lieutenant
Partington, severely.
Ist Foot.—Colonel Kirby, Lleverely ; Major Stewart, slight-
ly ; Captain Linton, slightly.
3'l—Captain O'Connor, severely ; Lieutenant Morris,
4th.—Captain Askey, severely ; Lieutenant J. Foreman,
slightly.
Bth.—Captain Robertson, severely ; Lieute:nant B. Cook,
slightly.
9th.—Major Cc-Ater, slightly.
Rifle Corps.—Brevet Major Durie, slightly; CapiAin At-
kyns, Captain Jeffreys, and Lieutenant M'Lean, severely.
Total officers killed, 3 ; wounded 17.
Spanish killed.-1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 14
rank and file ; total 19. Wounded-1 captain, 14 lieutenants,
8 sergeants, 1 drummer, 111 rank and file; total 135. Total
killed and wounded-2 captains, 16 lieutenants, 10 sergeants,
1 drummer, 125 rank and file ; total 154.
_

Volunteers of Arragon—Lieutenant Chappalan, Lieutenant
Folgar, and Lieutenant Modena, killed.
Regiment of Saragossa, 3d Battalion—Lieutenant Ramon
Ximenes, and Second Lieutenant Domingo Garcia. wounded.
Volunteers of Arra,gon—Captain Zubieta, Lieutenant San
.lusejo, Lieutenant Granado, Lieutenant Ayes, Lieutenant
Riexca, Lieutenant San Guera, Lieutenant Castano, Lieu-
tenant Funez de Prado, Lieutenant Cannapo, and Lieutenant
Sarrico, wounded.
Volunteers of Guipuscoa—Captain Cocuoja, Lieutenant
Zumeta, and Lieutenant Incurriermi, wounded.
J. G. LOMARCHANT, Adj.-Gen.
C. WETHERALL, D.C.

(True copy)