The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-21 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Ertracl of a Letter, dated Cadiz July 19.
Since my last, something new has occurred,
which I conceivf.d it my duty to transmit to you
iser duplicate. Such, indeed, has been the ge-
neral attack we made on the 16th instant, against
the French, from the' whole extent of our. line,
Commencing at Santi Petri; and eitending as far
as Port Royal and El Trocadero; consequently
from a distance, embracing a front equal to 12
.or
14 miles. Our troops -advanced from the re-
spective points within that di4aftre to the num;•
'tier of 4,460 men, of all arms, firmly resolved to
go in search ofthe enemy, being tired and impa,.
tient in waiting for them so long a time, till they
kept their promise inmaking the attack they had
long Igiastittgly announced. They were, in. fan,
determined to go anti find ou,(the inactive flour-
?ion soldiers within their' own parapets and en-
treoclimentsouid this they effected in the boldest
and. Most effective manner, by first dislodging
them, and then driving them before them at the
point of the bayonet. After effecting the general
reconnoissance which they lufd in view, they all
retired in good order at the same time. At this
moment the enemy, by availing himself of his ca-
valry, sought to charge them; •but they were re-
pulsed with an enormous loss, 'occasioned by the
fire of :our batteries and gun-boats, which Covered
our movement. Our loss W;as:,a4 kNled and 87
wounded. The .loss,OT 'die:4Eollof -vas very
great; they themselves ccinfesS as' Many as five
hundred killed and wounded, and they must have
lost many horses, our batteries and' gun-boats
being well served with grape-shot. Th., inclosed
Supplement of the , Espectador of. Thursday,
July 17, will furnish you with the principal
details.
, • •

" SUPPLEMENT TO THE ESPECTADOR OF JULY
• , 17,11323, PRINTED IN CADIZ. - .

" OFFICIAL REI'oRT OF TILE OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY
OW THE OADITANIKAN ISLAND, CALLED TIIE RESERVE.
• •
"In the morning of this day, It strong reconnoisSance has
been effected on all the Points of the enemy's line, and in the
whole of them the national arms have come off with glory.
Brigadier-General Antonio Biwriet, Commander-in-Chief ad
interim of this army, informs the War Minister, that the French
have beheld with astonishment and. terror that the brave men
he has the pride and glory to conimand, have not degenerated
from those who conquered in Bayleni Albttera and St. Marcial.
The entrenchments and parapets of the first line of the be-
siegers have been occupied with main force by our soldiers, and
the attempt of the enemy to keep hia
.position 3 has been as
fruitless as it was costly to him, for, passing over the dead'
bodies, our troops continued to advance, until the object
posed to himself by the Commander-in-Chief being completely
attained, he ordered the signal for halting to be given, with a
view to stop their ardour, and for the purpose of preventing a
general mid warm action from. commencing along the whole
line, which being unequal might implicate the national arms,
if the enemy haktime to bring up his cavalry, with which we
were totally unprovided.
" The General has not hitherto been able to,receive the de-
tails from all the Commanders of columns, which, Is soon as he
who with such noble
does, he proposes to communicate them to the War Minister,
in order that by 14Ing them before his Majesty, he may be
able to enjoy that glory that awaits hint, in being placed at the
head of honourable and 10.y41 Spaniards,
ardour defend the national honour; and the dignity of his
crown. Compelled for the present to confine himself to a re.
port of the most remarkable occurrences, the Commander.in-
, Chief briefly writerwtsfollows

" At day-break this day, Col. Bartolomeo Gutierrez passed
the river or canal of Sand Petri, near the Unman battery, with
a column of 1100 men, supported by two gun-boats and two
armed launches, advancing towards, Chiclane, for the purpose
of attacking the enemy. At the tame moment, a column of
2,500 infantry, and 160 cavalry, commanded by Brigadier..
General Carlos Espinosa; crossed the Suazo bridge., the van-
guard being composed of companies of chasseurs, and the
cavalry commanded by Colonel and Adjutant-General of the
Staff, Jose Ovules. In this column were the General-in-Chief
and his Staff:

" From the Carrara blued four companies of grenadiers,
chasseurs, and marines, commanded by the. Colonel of the sth
regiment of infantry, Francisco Fernandez Geltin.

" From the Trocadero about I,ooo'men went out, under the
command of Brigadier Oen. Demetrio O'Daly ; the vanguard
commanded by Colonel Jose de Santa Cruz, commander of

that poa'►tion. . .
" From the column rated on the main road, another detaci

ment was sent forward froni the Portazgo, under the orders of
Colonel Antonio Casino, Lieut.. Colonel of the National Artil-
lery, composed of from 4to .1:00 men. Along the canal of fur.
raque sidled four gun-boats, under the orders of Captain Per.
nando 'Munoz, commander of the Aposfadero, supporting the
advance, of the troops of the centre. tight other gun-boats
protected the movement of the troops from the Trocadero, on
both shies of the harbour.
" The column of Colonel Casino, which advanced on Chic-
lane with admirable order, and enthusiasm, was the first that
came in contact with the enemy, who Met him with twice. the
number. of infantry and cavalry, and two pieces of cannon.—
These forces opened their fire, and as'our troops were still on
the narrow road that crosses the salf-pans, and consequently
unable to deploy, they made a retrograde,meirement in order to
be enabled to form. In this movement Colonel Casano was
wounded, as well as some other officers and soldiers. At, this
moment the fire commenced with great warmth in the Chic-
lona Gardens, on the side of Santa Ana, by the column of Col'',
Gutierrez, compelling the enemy to present himself with his
whole force, atul forcing him to withdraw the column which he
had pushed forward to oppose Col. Casino. Our reconnoissance
being sufficiently effected, and finding that the enemy were
about to receive a considerable reinforcemont of cavalry and
artillery, the column of Col., 01stierrez began to withdraw, with
the same order and steadiness rte if they-had been on a parade.
The enemy then attempted to charge this column ; but the
fire from our infantry and gun-boats compelled him to retire
precipitately.

" The column under the orders of General Espinosa advanced
as far as the mill of tido, after beating and dislodging the
enemy from his positions.
" As soon as the Commander-in-Chief received advice% that
Colonel CUSAMO was wounded, he ordered the Sub-Inspector of
Infantry, Don Fecund° Infante, immediately to march and
take, the command of that column; and advance with it so as to
eall the attention of the enemy. This officer executed 1118
movement in a quick and steady manner, and liberated Colonel
Casano, whom the enemy were carrying off with them, after
ill-treating him, and robbing him of every thing he had about
hint, stripping hint literally to his Ain, when they took him

in
the retrograde movement his column rn3tle at the
malt. The ferocious barbarity with which this brave Officer
was treated by the French, belies in the most solemn manner
the principles of generosity and honour
?.f: which the French
boast in their fallacious Bulletins and other lying Papers. A
conduct of this kind, only worthy of Caffres, and defenders of
the Inquisition and absolute power, has greatly embittered our
troops against them, and heightened their hatred of the aggres-
sors. The Commander-in-Chief, for the purpose of sustaining
the'colUmn of the' Sob-Inspector, ordered-three companies of
chasseurs belonging to the column of General Espinosa, to ad-
vance on his rear.

commerce-

" The departure of the troops from the
.Trocadero and La
Carraca, was effected. at sun-rise. Rragadier-General O'Daly
caused one Column to push forward towards Port Royal, com-
manded by Colonel Santa Cruz, and another to advance on his
left. The enemy presented himself in an attitude to defend
his positions, but our brave men, disregarding the fire of his
musquctry and artillery, rushed firmly on and dislottged him.
—The recOnnissauce being in like manner effected on that
point, and finding that the French were bringing forward a
reinforcement' of cavalry and infantry from Port St. Mary's,
as well as Xeres, our troops received orders to withdraw, which
they,did with the,Same order and coolness with which they had
Advanced, being duly supported hy. the gun-boats, without the
French daringto charge our people When they were returning
;t0 their positions.
" The column that went fromlaa Carraca 'moved along the
channel of Santo Domingo, and hiving left the Saltpans, and
advanced as far as the house of Villanueva, it opened ant
kept up a brisk fire on the enemy till it was orthv.,4 to satire.
Colonel Golfin executed this operation with the best orii.zr 'and
coolness, when he saw that the troops of the Trocatlero were
doing the same.
_

" The General-in-Chief speaks in the highest praise of the
stready bravery, order, and discipline with which all the troops
have behaved. The Generals and other officers in the com-
mand of columns have perforated their duty, and executed their
orders' and instructions in the most correct and satisfactory
manner. The tommantler-in.Chief equally praises the courage
and skill of our Marines, and recommends them for the impor-
t/Mt:service they rendered by the active and well directed. fire
they kept up from the gun-boats. The loss of the brave
Colonel Casano, as well as the wounds some other officers also
received, at the same time that they are subjects of regret,
evince to our invaders that Spaniards who have sworn to de.:
fend their liberty, and not commit that perjury with which the
French Government seeks to debase us, know how to seal with

their blood the oath they have taken to preserve the national
honour and glory unimpaired. The names of these illustrious
patriots shall be published, and shall be pointed out to the gra-

titude and love of their fellow-citizens, as soon as the Com-
mander.in-Chief furnishes the detailed Report he has pro.
mined." --Cadiz, July 18, 1823.

A true Copy of the Report read by the War 3liniater in the
Cortex.

N. B. This moment the Government have received inform*.

tion that the French in their Report of the affair, acknowledge
that they have lost 500 men, and at the same time magnify our
loss to some thousands, according to their inveterate habit of
lying. In order to hide their loss, they yesterday had an illu-
mination in Port St. Mary's.