Star.
London, England, 1823-09-15 00:00:00

PRENCH PAPERS.

' UPTRIIBIR
•
• TII.IIIIIrOIIIIST lIIILLITIN...
a mil moment his Royal HighOeu arrived befcke
Catlin, he determined to possess himself of the -Troc.
&to, a position which the besieged had endeavoured to'
reader impregnable by numerous works.
" The isthmus on which it is situated had been cut
sines the last siege by a canal, or cortadura, 70 metres
wide, in which, even at low water, there about three to
four feet of water and mud : behind this was constructed
an elevated inner lint, defended by 45 pieces of can-
non of various calibre.
" Seventeen hundred chosen men, full of ardour oc-
cupied these works, and were unceasingly engaged in
perfecting, the means of defence. The front and flanks
were protected by the fire of innumerable gun-boats.
66 The great distance of the Trocadero from Puerto
Real, the point from which our troops were to advance,
the nature of the ground, covered with bushes and ma-
rine plants, which would have prevented our troops
from arriving in order at the enemy's lines : and,
nally, the strength of the enemy's works, induced his
Royal Highness to open- trenches before them.
" They were opened on the night of the 19th, and
on the night of the 24th we had succeeded in forming
the second parallel, at 40 metres from the canal. The
following days were occupied in completing the mount-
ing of our batteries.
" During all this time the enemy never ceased to
maintain a very sharp fire, without, however, being able
to relax the ardour of our workmen, or even to disturb
their gaiety.
66 On the 30th, at break of day, our batteries com-
menced a violent cannonade, v ith the sole intention of-'
tiring the enemy. The leaders of the besieged that
very evening thought fit to publish in Cadiz, an ac-
count, stating that we had experienced a great check.—
This pretended success was celebrated by * general illu-
mination, balls, and concerts.
46 This cannonade, was, however, merely the prelude
to the vigorous attack which his Royal Highness had
determined to make on the night of the 30th. Hls or-
ders were, in consequence, transmitted to Count Bourde-
smile, Commander-in-Chief of the Corps of Reserie.
His Royal Highness made the following dispositions for
the attack :
16 Fourteen picked companies were unitedthose of
the war battalions of the 3d, 6th, and 7th regiments of
the Royal Guard formed the first echelon; those of
three battalions of the 34th, and of the 3d battalion of
the 36th, composed the second ; and a hundred sappers
and a compauy of artillery, immediately followed. Af-
ter these echelons marched three battalions of the
Guard and the Sith regiment of the line. The 3d bat-
talion of the 36th acted as a reserve. Some Officers
v-ho on the preceding night had, with the greatest bold-
ness, reconnoitred the least difficult passes of the canal,
were appointed to guide each echelon.
" The troops defiled by the trenches in the greatest
silence, and were formed in a single column at the top
of the second parallel. They were ordered to 'ain
the other side of the canal, and to march rapidly,
without firing, to the enemy's entrenchments. This
being done, the first divisions were to diverge to the
right and left, to possess themselves of the batteries ;
arid the remainder of the column was to press forward
hey end the works, to act afterwards according to cir.
csamstances. At the same time, the materials. for a
bridge, prepared by Lieutenant General *Fla let, Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Artillery of the army, was to
descend the Rio San Pedro, to eitablida the communi-
cation over the canal ; and LientenantsGeneral Dode,
Corn mander.ir-Chicf of the Engineers. had ordered Lieu-
teirant Colonel Dopar to facif tote the sortie of our
t-laps from the second parallel.
" His Royal Highness's orders were executed with as
much precision as intrepi,lity. At a quarter past two,
ea:withstanding the fire of the enemy, the depth of th.t
water, which was at that time between four and five feet.
aad the chevron( de fake which surrounded the foot of
t!:e intrenchments, the column crosse.: the canal without
any hesitation ; and in less than fifteen minutes pene-
trated into the interior of the enemy's works, amidst
shouts of." Vire k Rrii," which was the rallying cry.
Our soldiers bad to avenge the injury which they had
sustained from the enemy whilst our trenches were being
dug, therefore, all the enemy's troops whom they in the
first instance came up with wer e pierced with the bayonet,
and almost all the artillerymen were killed on their guns.
The fortified mill of Guerra, in which the reserve was
posted, was likewise carried, and the 45 cannons which
were mounted along the line were instantly turned
against the enemy.
"His Royal Highness soon arrived at the position
which had been carried so gallantly. lie received nume-
rous marks of enthusiasm and affection of the troops for
his person. All their actions announced their happuless
in having so well justified his Royal Highness's confi-
dence, and proved their devotion to the King. l'he
enemy, however, had retired to the houses situated near
the mouth of the canal which separates the Trocadero
from the island, and from Fort St. Louis. This point
cannot be attained by a narrow road. which mates nu-
merous turnings, and is full of obstructions. The enemy
maintained hitnselfhere behind some intrenchnrents, and,
under the protection of his cannon, and of the batteries
of the fort of Puntales. Our troops having again formed
themselves, and their wet cartridges having been ex-
changed for dry ones, his Royal Highness, who had in
the meantime caused the approaches of this point to be
reconnoitred, resolved that it should also be immediately
carried. He therefore commanded Count Bourdesoulle
to detach for this service the 5d battalion of the 36th,
sand 34th battalion of the Lice, which his Royal High-
mess caused to be supported by a battalion of the Guard.
Notwithstanding the fire from Puntales, the flotilla, five
pieces of artillery, and all the infantry, and likewise the
difficulty of the ground, which obliged our troops to
cross various streams of water and marshes many feet in
depth, the enemy'sposition was carried, his guns directed
against those who attempted to embark, and Fort St.
Louis Occupied.
" In this second affair, which was not less warm than
the first, .Colonel Garces, a Member of the Cortes, and
the Commander of- all the troops concentrated in the
Trocadero, was made prisoner. together with many
other Officers. Before nine o'clock we were masters of
the whole isthmus, and we bad caused the enemy a loss
of 150 killed, 300 wounded, and
Scarcely 250 of the enemy, most of
succeeded in embarking. AU the enem'
fought on that day,rnay therefore be
pletely destroyed by the French troops,
played greater resolution on any occasion.
the vigour and rapidity of our attacks,
loss does not exceed 35 killed and

'ailment should so condtlet its foreign affairs's': to bring cordial feelings of regard towards every individual mg
of 150 killed, SOO wounded, and 1000 prisoners.— and treated like slaves—(Airialesiseg Well nt-ayl, Wien,
Scarcely 250 of the enemy, most of them wounded, be struck at the great contrast which those times and discredit on its ancient reputation, and to lessen its pro- I havetie honour to address.
succeeded in embarking. AU the enemy's corps which the present suggest to the mind. I should now like to Per influence among the States of Europe. Great Bri- The annunciation was received with an animlidele.
fought on that day,may therefore be considered as com- see any one man in all GOD'S Scotland who would dare tain no longer retained the estimation which she for- pression of farewell, afrowhich the visitors p
pletely destroyed by the French troops, who never dis• to hold up his hand against the humblest individual in merly emjoyed abroad. She had ceased to be the ar- to retire. The business of the Meeting was not brougig,
played greater resolution on any occasion. Such was this town of Glasgow, or dare to raise his voice to visit, bitress of the destinies of nations, to be the support of io a conclusion till half-past twelve o'clock at night. sad
the vigour and rapidity of our attacks, that our own him with penalties for expressing his honest sentiments the feeble against the strong, to be the general cham- many toasts which had been included is the list of OA
lots does not exceed 35 killed and 110 wounded. At before assembled thousands of Scotchmen upon the pion of freedom. day were necessarily omitted.
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