The Sun.
London, England, 1812-06-18 00:00:00

have been *lost fully ctirrien into 4ect by a de-
tachatent of troops tinder Inv orders 5 which march:-
eel fiom Ahnendralcjo, on the 12th instai
The brik_ee was, as vont- Lordship knows, pro-
tected by strong works thrown up by the French
on both sides of the river, and further covered on
the southern side by the castle and redoubts of
Mirabete about a league off, commandttig the pais
of that name, through which runs the road to
Madrid, being the only'one passable for carriages
of any description by which the bridge can be ap-
proachetl.,
The works on the left bank of the river, were
a tete-du-pont, built of masonry, andstronglv
trenched, and on'thebigh ground above it, a large
and well-constructd fort, called Napoleon,,ivith
an inter ior intrenchmect, and loop -holed, tower in
it; centre.. This fort contained nine pieces of
catnion, with a garrison of between four and five
hundred, men. There beilig also on the opposite
side of the river, on a height immediately above
the bridge, a 'very complete fort recently con-
structed, *Melt flanked and added much to its
defence. , •

On the morning, of the IGth, the troops reach-
ed Jaraicejo, and the same evening marched in
three columns ; the left column, commanded by
Lieutenant General Chowne (28th and 34th regi-
ments, under Colonel Wilson, and the 6th Portu-
guese Cacadores), towards the castle of Mirabete;'
the right column, under Major General Howard
(50th, 71st, and 92d regiments), which I aCcom—
mpelf, to :a pass in the mountains, through
which a most difficult and circuitous .foot-path
leads by the village of Roman gordo to the bridge;
the -centre column, under Major General Long
(6th and ,18th Portuguese infantry, under Col,
Ash-worth, and 13th light dragoons, with the
artillery), advanced upon the high road to the
pass of..Mirabete.
The two flank columns were,provicled with lad-:
tiers, and it was intended that either of them
should proceed 'to escalade the forts against
which -they were directed, had circumstances
proved favourable; the difficulties, however,
which each had to encounter on its march were
such, that it was impossible for them to reach
their respective points before day-break,; I judged
it best, therefore, as there was no longer a possi-
bility or surp:i2e, to defer the attack, until we
should be better acquainted with the nature and
position Of the works, and the troops bivouacked
on the Leina, •

•
I determined on endeavouring to penetrate to
the bridge by the mountain path leading through
the village of Romangordo, although, by that
means, I shonld be deprived of the use of my
artillery.' , •
On the evening of the '.Bth I moved with Major-
General Howard's brigade,_ and the' 6th Portu-
guese regiment for the operation, provided with
scaling ladders, &c. Although the.distance march-
ed did not exceed five or six miles the difficulties
of the road were such, that with the united exer-
tions of officers and men, the column' could not
be 'formed for the attack before daylight.
.Con-
fiding, however, in the valour of the troops,
I ordered the immediate assault of Port Napo-
leon. My confidence was' fully justified ,by
event.

'The Ist battalion of the 50th, and one wing 'of
the 71st regiment, regardless 'of the enemy's ar-
tillerf and ruttsquetry escaladed the work in three
places, nearly at the same time. The enemy seem-
'ed at first determined, and his fire was destructive,
but the ardour of our troops was irreAstildle, and
the garrison was driven at the point Of the bayonet,
through the several entrenchments- of the fort and
tete-du-pont, across the bridge, which having
been cut by those on the oppo,ite, sitlP of the river,
many leaped into the river and thus perished.
The impression made upon the enemy's troops.
was such,
.that the panic soon connraiiiicated itsaf
to those on the right bank Of river, and Fort Ra-
gusa was instantly abandoned, the garrison flying':
in the greatest confusion towat ds Naval, Moral.

I cannot sufficiently praise.the condact,of
50th and. 7lst Reginients, to whointhe assault
fell.. The cool and steady manner in which they
formed and, advaivedi and the intrepidity -vvitti,
which-they mounted the ladders, and carried the,
*place; etas worthy of tho§e disting-nislicd corps,
and the officers who-led them.

.Could' the attack have been made before day; the
92d regiment, under Lieut.-Col. Cameron, and,
the remainder of the.. 71st regiment, under the.
Hon. Lieut-Col. Cadogan, were to have esealaded.
the tete-du-pont, and effected the destruc-
tion of the bridge, at the same, time that the
attack was made on Fort Napoleon. The imp.4si-
bility of advancing deprived them of this opportu-
nity of distinguishing themselves, but the share
which they had in the operation and the zeal
which they displayed, entitles them to my warmest
canrmendation, and I cannot avoid to invntion the
steadiness and good discipline of the 6th Portu-
guese infantry, and two companies of the 60:•11
regiment, under Colonel Ashworth, which form-
ed the reserve to this attack.
thir operations in this quarter were much fa-
,
voured by a diversion made by Lieutenant General
Chowne, with the trons wider his orders, apinst
the Castle of Mirabete,• which succeeded in in-
dacing the enemy to believe that we should not
attack the forts near the bridge, until we had
forced the pass, and thus have made way for our
,artillery. The Lieut. General conducted this
operation, as well as his former advance, entirely
to my satisfaction. I regret, much that the pe-
culiar situation of Mirabete should have prevent-
ed my allowing the gallant corps under his orders
to follow up an operation which they had corn..
menced 'with much spirit, and were so' anxious to
complete.
_ 1 cannot too strongly express how much 'I am
satisfied With the conduct of Major-Gen. Howard
through the whole of this operation, the most ar-
duous part of which has fallen to his share ; and
particularly of the manner in which he led his bri-
_gade.to the assault. Ile was ably assisted by his
Staff, Brigade-Major Wemyss,..of the 50th, and
Lieut. Battersby, of the 23d Light Dragoons.
To Major-General Long I inn, also, indebted- for
his assistance, although his 'column was not im-
mediately engaged. -
Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart and -Major Harri-