Star.
London, England, 1809-04-18 00:00:00

PORTUGUESE PAPERS.

BADAJOZ, MARCH 2!.

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The General in Chief has communicated to the
Supreme Junta tl!e occurrences at the bridge of Ar-
cebici.t) and the other parts of Spanish Estramadura,
in the following dispatch
EXCELLENT SEIGNOR,
According to the rt?eated advice, which I received some days
before, that the enemy were reinforcing themselves with the
troops and a! tiilery which thy had in the environs of Toledo, to
the number of M or 27,000 men, with intention, in consequence
of the express command of the Emperor, to pass the 'Tagus at
Alinaraz, and the bridge of Arcebispo, they actually carried this
design into eff:et at the last-mentioned bridge, on the 16th inst.
In the morning of the 17th they attacked our positions of Meza
de Thor and Fresnedoso, with 12,000 men. Our resistance was
olisinire and ißloody, but our troops were at length compelled to
give way before a superior force, retreating, nevertheless, in good
order to new positions, which they again defended in a manner
eurpassii g what could be expected from raw and inexperienced
troops. They finally continued their retreat in good order to
the position of Mirabete, as they had been previously instructed
to do in such a state of things, whsre they joined me on the
riorning of the 18th. The enemy advanced in two columns—
rine directed its mirth to the bridge of Almaraz, to turn our ad-
vanced guard, who were occupied in defending that post against
a superior force on the onr*ite bank. The other column pro-
ceeded by way of Delcitosa and Torrecillas, to take a position
between Truxillo and Mirabxte, to intercept my communications
end supplies, and to attack me in the rear, whilst the fbrce from
.Almarax, passing tic river in boats or in rafts, should attack me
in front. In this sittixion, the General commanding the advan-
ced guard thought it necessary to fall back to Mirahote, by
which means the enemy were left at liberty to pass the River
with some light troops, and afterwards to effect the passage of
their artillery.

Under these circumstances, I deemed it equally prudent and
necessary to Ovacuate the post of Mirabete, welch 1 accordingly
did at half-past ten o'clock, endeavouring to avoid the line of
march of the French column, with which, however, my advance
bad some skirmishing during the night. We at last arrived in the
vicinity of l'ruxillo, whence, after giving the troops some rest,
I proceeded to take the position which I now occupy at Santa
Cruz, leaving tny advance posted at a little distance in front of
Truxillo. The troops who were engaged evinced steadiness and
bravery, and all conducted themselves in the retreat with subor-
dination and good order, not the slightest dispersion having taken
place. I expect, in corsequence of fresh orders, to be reinforced
by the divi is n uncle. the Duke of Albuquerque, in which case I
shall be in a condition to oppose my force to that of the enemy,in
order to prevent the execution of his projects. May GoD preserve
your Excellency many years. (Signed) GittGOILIO Da CULSTA.
Santa Cruz, March 19.
SEVII.I.E, MARCH 20.
The Captain-General of Catalonia, Don Theodore Reding, In a
dispatch of the 27th ult. to the Central Junta,d.c. informs them,
that with the intention of realizing a most advantageous plan, in
concert with Don Thomas de Veri, Representative of the Central
Junta, &c. he took up a line of po:t from Martorell, through
Brach, Capellacte, S. It lagi, and Coll de Santa Christina, as far as
Tarragona; the head-quarters of the whole, under the command
of Field-Marshal Don I. B. de Castro, being established at lgua-
lade ; thereby covering the Southern part of the principality, and
-communicating by Valls with the Northern, and confided to
Lieutenant-Colonels Don Ramon de Milans and Don Juan Claros,
the execution of a part of the enterprizc. He was also joined by
Colonel Don Franciscn Milars, who has obtained so much cele-
brity in the present war. A general plan of attack upon the
enemy was agreed on; hut when nothing remained but to fix a
day that they might act in concert, General St. Cyr, who had re-
concentrated his art-nn attacked in great force, on the 16th of
February, different points of our left, and compelled them to fall
back in succession to Igualada, which General Castro evacuated
in good order, retreating with his artillery towards Cervera.
This movement having diecorreerted the Captain General's plan,
be resolved to reassemble his forces, and conduct them to Tarra-
gona. In execution of this determination, which he kept a pro-
found secret, he marched Iron-. that fortress on the 20th of February,
with only eOO horse, a battar on of Swiss, and six pieees of flying
artillery; as the corps were on their march for the Village of Pla,
they SAW the enemy on their right, occupied in pillaging and set-
ting on fire the towns cl Villerodona and La Pobla. He was
joired by the troops who were retreating from Coll de Santa
Christina ; and sent orders to Brigadier-General Don. M. de
Irenzo, who had shut himself up with I'2oo men, in the monas-
tery of Santa Cruz, where they had gallantly defended themselves
for two days against the enemy that surrounded them, to force a
passage the same night, and effect his junction with them; this
that officer accomplished, without the loss of a man, or any part
of his baggage er stores. With these forces he proceeded for
Santa Colena de Qucra!t, at which point, at the instant of
effecting a junction with the troops from Montmaneu, and Santa
Coloina, he had the mortification to learn that the French lied en-
tered Vals, in cakr to cut off his retreat to Tarragona; but hav-
ing held a council of war, a retrograde movement was resolved
upon. Ile reached Monthlanch on the 23dfromSanta Coloma,
havit-g previously caused the Coll de I.ila to be occupied.
A party of the enemy having made their appearance in his rear,
and speedriF retreated, turtliaa off by the Coll de Cabria for Pla
and Va:ls, the Gunerel held a Council on the 24th, which deter-
mined that they should put the army in motion, pass the Coll de
Riba, or 'Moles, the same night, and make the best of their way
for Tarragona. At live o'clock in the morning, the advance under
General C.is:ro, and one-hall of the centre, had already passed
Valls, leaving cm their left the enemy's camp fires; but the other
half of the centre, and the rear, tinder Field-Marshal Don Jame
Joachim Mertina, lie not yet come up. The march proceeded
with the greatest order and silence, till the General, with his
escort, passed a neall bridge, when he was attacked with a volley
of musketry within pistot shot, which for a moment occasioned
some little disorder and wounded several of our men. The Gene-
ral on this beget) to close fa) the troops who were in his rear,
and ordered those who were in advance to halt and fall back,
iu order to areeeet the enemy from cutting off half the rear.—
liavirg seen the corps occupy the stations assigned them, he
ordered the artillery to be stationed at three distinct points, and
rerceiving that the enemy were descending from the heights of
Valls in several columns, he detached several parties of infantry
and some ceeeity to repulse them. The arillery on both sides
having begun to play, ft emog, on perceiving his advance engaged,
made every exertion to mairt the advantages which they were
acquiring. All the regiments endeavoured with ardour to outvie
teach otiti r iu advancieg, compelling the enemy to fall back, and
even fly fictive- them to the very heights of Valls. He had ordered
the artilh re to give over flrieg, and appeared to have *omitted a
sectary, v.,l;;:n the enemy, by receivirg fresh reinforcements, were
teabled to nethe a more vigorous stend on the heights.
Is colciqut rice of this, our troops, after ntarchilg the whole
of the nigh:, being hue vainly occupied until mid-day, orders
w ere gives t bat tla r concern rate themselves on the height
which they had previously occupit d. 'the army being collected
iti this Fr-ante:, and the whole of the baggage, &c. beit,g in safety,
it was thought proper to continue the retreat to Tarragona, in
the course of which, living collected the whole of the troops
that had been alio vo ci, the enemy attacked our army at three
diffsreat points, spce mina; ant their line with the greatest fasten-
tatien, to thew lir w numerous they were.
Our artillery ; •••titi trained it, fire, and played upon the enemy
at a I.roaer Ceeinne, which rtes so even directed, that their co-
.lurees red back, out at the sone time continued to advance;
never ::• le-5,1•.0r no chance of safety but from their
valour alone. ; t.:1Z:1:1y 6:•en:vd to make a brisk Attack on the
right, lysat tin it rE .1 and r.liist I.",T,erotts attack was on our left,
I.'iliCli till ath succeeded in forcing, about half past four
o'clock, after a moat valiant and e'lstireee resistance. Some of
the corps eine! le in pretty ;toe.: mahot, others in small parties,
and the major part of the di,p;.•;.s:•cl troops have arrived 'in the
fortress of W!Ler.: Ocuer..l 14.edii:3 also arrived in the
ri ht of th:
„."s of those turns of war in which bravery must
give way of .urce. Our troops scarcely amounted
to 10p /I: Jievertht 1055 they maintained their rrouhd and
:k
stood th: lioziett lire Jro eleven hours in succession, without
ahewirg si:;tl el timidity or e„war,n,,..
Redint; acids, that our loss cannot be stated with any certainty
wail he shall :twee :e .naval the returns.
The Cenci-al in his tlivatch makes no mention of his having
SC.-ell:ell a NV.P.littl, but his M.tlesty has been apprised of this tact
by ',mother document. His Majesty lies therefore been
whichanx
anxious
t,, snake knov.le to the !oldie this trait of gei o
iehtens the lustre of Ins mfr.-yr:7:lly acknowledged merits and
1,10„ estimable qualities. His Majesty has at the same time the
efanion to learn that no aerieus coma :queues-3 are apprehended
apt the wound.