Star.
London, England, 1809-11-11 00:00:00

SPANISH AND PORT MUESE PAPERS.

M..M••

IPY OE A LETTER FROM lIIS EXCELLENCY THE DUKE.
DEL PARQUE To HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM CON, GO-

VLRNOR OF ALMEIDA.

" Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Senor,
1" Though I have already received several letters from your
Excellency, the important business with which I am occupied has
hitherto prevented me from replying to their contents. Know-
ing, however, how much your Excellency is interested in the good
cause which we defend, and in the success of the army under my
command, 1 hasten to inform you, that having been attacked yes-
terday morning in the heights above Tansames, by the army for-
merly under Marshal NET, but now commanded by General
MARCIIAN D, consisting of 10,000 infantry, 1200 cavalry, and 14
pieces of artillery, that brilliant corps was thrice repulsed, after
obstinate attacks on the right and left of my position. The ene-
my has in consequence lost more than 1000 men in killed,
wounded, and prisoners ; one 12-pounder, with three caissons of;
ammunition ; one standard, a number of horses, a great number
of muskets, and also a considerable part of the military chests.
The enemy were thus compelled to make a most precipitate and
shameful retreat, the ground being covered with the dead bodies,
the carriages and arms which they left behind them. They
passed part of the night at Martillasur leagues hence, and dur-
ing the remainder of the night continued their march towards
Salamanca, in order to recover from their confusion.—l believe
they will not be eager to attack me again.--I shall now take such
measures, that the division of General BALLASTERO3, which
ought to join me to-day, may be relieved, and I am persuaded
that this operation will be successfully accomplished. Our loss
was remarkably small, as happens always to troops which rout
their enemy ; but, small as it is, it touches my heart very sensibly.
I make this communication to your Excellency, for your satisfac-
tion, as well as for that of your government, and all those who
take an Interest in the good fortune of this army, and in the ho-
nourable cause which it defends. I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) " THE MICE DEL PARQUE CASTRILLO.
" Head-quarters at Tamamcs, October 19."
The Governor of Almeida transmitted an account
of the victory to Oporto and Lisbon, where it was
published in Bulletins, a copy of one of which we have

obtained, viz.—

BULLETIN EXTRAORDINARY.
We lose no time in communicating to the public,
the agreeable intelligence contained in the following
Extract of a Letter, addressed to his Excellency the
Governor of Oporto:
- -

" I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that an action has been
fought between the Spanish army under the Duke DEL Pa love, 1
and a body of French troops which bad advanced from Salamanca,
under the command of General MARCHAND, which terminated
in favour of the Spanish arms. This affair took place at Tema-
mes, or its vicinity. I have not yet received the details. It is
said that the French lost, in killed and wounded, about 1000
men, and the Spaniards only 150. The enemy also lost a twelve-
pounder, their colours, and 330 stand of arms. The Spaniards
retook, at the point of the bayonet, six pieces of artillery, which
they had lost in the morning of the day. The French, after the
action, retired to Salamanca. I know not whether the whole of
the army of the Duke DEL Paaout was engaged. I am informed
that the French were 10,000 infantry, 1200 cavalry, and had nine
pieces of artillery. On the day following the action, the Duke
was reinforced by General BA LLA STERo s with 7000 men.
" In great haste I remain, (Signed) " WILLIAM Cox."
core or A LETTER FROM GOVERNOR COX TO GOVERNOR TRANT.
" Almeida, October 20.
" On the 19th instant the Duke del PARQUE fell in with the
French, consisting of 10,000 foot, 1200 horse, and nine cannon,
four leagues on this side of Salamanca. The Spaniards took 1000
men, one 12-pounder, one colour, and 300 stand of arms, and, at
the point of the bayonet, retook six cannon, that the French had
taken early in the day.
" The French have retired beyond Salamanca. An English
Officer, who was taken by the French, and made his escape after
the action, says, he is certain the French lost 1400 men.
" lam in great haste, your's, &c."
" Oporto, Saturday, October 28, 1809."
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
" On elle IRth of Oc'nher, the Duke of Pit ago z was attacked
on the heights beyond Tamames, between Ciudad Rodrigo, and
Salamanca, by a division of the French army formerly under
Marshal NET, but now commanded by General MARCHAND,
consisting of 10,000 infantry and 1 200 cavalry, supported by 14
pieces of cannon, the Spanish force consisting of 18,000 infantry,
9CO cavaliy, and 30 pieces of artillery. The chief efforts of the
enemy were directed agairst the right and left of the Duke's posi-
tion ; but after being repulsed in three successive attacks, they
were forced to retreat in great disorder with the loss of 2000 in
killed and wounded, some prisoners, one 12-pounder, three chests
of ammunition, one stand of colours, many horses, and abundance
of military stores and accoutrements. After the action the French
fell back to Matilla, about four leagues from Tamatnes, being
greatly harassed in :heir retreat by the Spanish chasseurs and ca-
valry, and after halting there during part of the night, they retired
early next mornmg to Salamanca, whither the Duke of PARQUE
meant to pursue them as soon as he was joined by the division
under General BA LLAS rEßos,which was within one day'smarch,
of him when the French, probably from the knowledge of that
circumstance, attacked his position.
" 'Ws victory secures the line of the Tormes, and strengthens
materially the position of the British army in Portugal."
SEVILLE, SEPTEMBER 14.

The French having attempted to cross the Cinca,
a large division was nearly surrounded, obliged to
reunite with the rest, and to repass the river with ig-
nominy, by the peasants of that district, and particu-
lar those et Estada and Estadilla.
The enemy's division, which on the 29th ultimo,
marched from Calamoca in the direction of Daroca,
consisting of 2000 infantry, 209 cavalry, with four'
pieces of cannon, and four ammunition waggons,
and, as usual, committed a thousand extortions and
atrocities of all kinds, has made a movement towards
Saragossa and the low country of Arragon, with the
view, as appears, of replacing other troops, which
have received orders to return to France. But agree-
ably to the manoeuvres of our enemies, it appears
more probable that the march of the French corps in
Amason has been occasioned by the insurrection of the
Biscayan provinces;" and of the Rioja, which every
' day with more energy refuse to submit to the iron
sceptre of the tyrant.
In Castile, the enlistment of the young men of
the second levy has been almost completed, and all
the parts of our armament, which were dispersed, have
been re-united. The company of the famous Don
Juan Martin consists already of 250 horse, and con-
tinues to distinguish itself by valour. Its last renconue
was with 800 French, between the villages Marcha-
malo and Fontanac, in which action the enemy was
59 roughly handled, as to retreat with the loss of 80
killed, and many wounded.
Through the same channel by which we were in-
formed
of the sailing of the Toulon fleet for the relief
of Barcelona, we are assured that there has been an
obstinate action on the Marseilles coast, between it
and the English, commanded by Admiral Coiling-
wood. On both sides the loss has been considerable ;
that of the French is calculated at six ships, and that
of the English at four ; but the latter have taken the
whole convoy. We hope for the confirmation of this
interesting news.
We know by the declaration of a French Serjeant-
Major, who, on the 28ths14t. came over to us, and
presented himself to Colonel 1): Juan Clans, that on
the preceding day Generi.l St, Cyr was severely
wounded, and conducted to the castle of Figueras.
We are at the samt time assurc4.that a considerable
Aumbir of Poles, Wectphalimiso Ocrtn.insl and Na.

politans, were resolved to deliver themselves at dis-
cretion to General Blake.
OCTOBER 15.—8 y dispatches from Lieutenant-
Colonel Don Josef de Obzenillres to the Superior
Junta of the .Principality of Catalonia, dated the 28th
ult. it appears that the enemy presented themselves in
the town, and upon the bridge of Melins de Rey,
amounting to between 700 and 800 infantry, 40 or
50 horsemen, a howitzer, and an eight-pounder, and
with a part of that force attacked the position of
Sierra Pelada, from which they were repelled, and
obliged to retreat upon the bridge, whither we di-
rected a brisk fire of artillery, and they played upon
our positions, but the courage and intrepidity of our
cavalry of St.Jago, supported by some infantry and
Somatenes, put them to a disgraceful flight almost as
soon as they advanced, and our troops marching ra-
pidly, drove the enemy's forces beyond Saint Zelin
with such courage and enthusiasm, that many of their
horses were killed in their retreat. In another action,
the Somatenes, under the command of the Captains
D. Francisco Alborna and D. Joseph Antonio Gui-
-1 novar, in two divisions, and at the same time, attacked
the enemy, and charging them with the bayonet,
forced them to retreat, and followed them with a
I continual fire of musketry, until they reached the
i said Saint Felin. In these two attacks the enemy
have met with considerable loss, but ours was much
inferior.

OCT. 16.—We know for certain, that on.the 21th
of last July, his Majesty's ship San Leandro, sailed
from Vera Cruz for Spain, bringing four millions of
hard dollars ; and the Cadiz letters of the 12th inst.
say that this vessel was in sight.
There is reason to believe, that the army of Senor
Ballesteros, and the division of the Prince of Anglona,
have been united to the army of the Duke delParque.
This news, if confirmed, must prove very interesting,
since we could then, in Castile, count upon an united
force of 30,000 infantry, and 5000 cavalry, all fit for

action.
There has been an equinoctial gale of such •iolence
in the Gulf of Mexico, that 30 vessels have been lost.

OCT. 17.—The regiments of cavalry which have
gone from Valencia to increase the army of Catalonia
were at Reus on the 7th inst. and the infantry were

proceeding with expedition.
By a Captain who arrived from Majorca on the
6th ult. at Tarragona, this Government has received
the agreeable intelligence of the English having
brought to that port the French convoy destined for
the relief of Barcelona.
OCTOBER 24.—The Captain-General of Old Cas-
tle, Duke del Parque, advises from Tamames under
date of the 18th instant, that he was attacked by
10,000 foot, and 1200 horse, supported by nine
pieces of ordnance, about one o'clock in the after-
: noon, and at four o'clock the enemy was completely
defeated, and put to a shameful route, with the loss
of upwards of 1000 men in killed, wounded, and
prisoners • one twelve-pounder, one pair of colours, a
number of muskets, and several ammunition carts,
were also taken. Our loss has been uncommonly
trifling. General Ballasteros was to join the Duke
on the following day.
TARRAGONA, OCTOBER 2.

In order to augment the number of the auxiliary
troops of Gerona, the Superior Junta of that princi-
pality have issued the following Decrees :
44 All those who are in possession of muskets or
fire arms, of any description, are desired, within the
space of 24 hours, from the publication of this edict,
to present them to the proper officers, according to
their respective places of residence, who will trans-
mit them immediately to the head of the department,
where, at the moment of their receipt, four dollars
will be given for each musket that shall be found in
a state fit for service. Whoever shall any where con-
ceal, or neglect to deliver up such fire arms, shall
incur a penalty of fifty livres ; and, if not able to
pay this sum, shall be imprisoned 15 days. The
Deputies of the Superior Junta of the Principality
P shall visit the different departments, to see this pu-
nishment carried into strict execution, and to chastise
such public authorities as shall not contribute with
becoming zeal to the carrying of this decree into
effect. Though it is necessary that these arms be put
into the hands of the professed soldiers, yet the go-
vernment earnestly desires that individuals of every
description will endeavour to arm themselves with
fowling pieces, or such arms as are not considered
military, as, in the unprecedented and glorious war in
which we are engaged, all ought to arm in the com-
mon defence, and every citizen to become a soldier
of his country."

GRANADA, OCTOBER 6.
The following intelligence is extracted from a paper
printed at Rublelos, by order of the Superior Junta
of Arrigon and part of Castile, under the date of the
22d of September.
The sacking of Siguenza has been attended with
the most barbarous cruelty, and continued during 4.8
hours, while in the vicinity of that unfortunate city,
the most unexampled atrocities have been every
wixere committed. At Mandagona the& burnt 42
houses, and hanged a man in the public square, after
having dragged him for smite time at the tail of a
horse.

Our skirmishing parties occupy various points of
the province, and continually harass the enemy. The
Marquis of Atalaguelas is at Sacedon with 800 men.
Don Juan Martin, otherwise known by the appella-
tion of Empecirado, is with his party at the Sierra
de Alto Rey, and D. Antonio Pilloti has a party of
400 men in Arragon.
This distinguished Commander, a few days ago,
as a Commissary of the French army, with a party of
the corps de reserve of Madrid, was scol.ring the
country, extorting grain, hay, and other contributions,
he met the detachment at Perales de Trajunas, and
succeeded in taking the whole of them prisoners, with
their arms and horses, without firing a single shot.
In Siguenza a letter has been intercepted from a
French Officer, which speaks of the great defeat ex-
perienced by their army in the battles of Talavera
and Almonacid. His regiment lost, in the two first
engagements, 35 officers, and in that of Almonacid,
more than one half was left in the field.
From Castilla tieja they write that Jaseph Bona-
parte has arrived at Granja, and Genaral Belliard at
Segovia, with a theSusand men,
It is lately reported that a party of the enemy's
cavalry, which advanced as fax as Bilmega, has fe-

tired with precipitation to Guadalarara, from
it set out-for Madrid, mhich .example the greater p:!1,
of the French division has follov.-ed, leaving
only a small detachment.
Brigadier Don Pedro V illacampa svrq,F:s the follow.
ing on the 21st : " I have just received intOntati,„l
by my scouts and advanced guard, that the eaernv
had formed a junction this morning at Dera.c.i, tjt
the purpose, no doubt, of retiring!'