Star.
London, England, 1810-08-29 00:00:00

FROM 7HE FRENCH PAPERS.
PARIS, AUGUST 17.
LETTER PROM Hls EXCELLENCY THE PRINCE OF RULING
TO Ills SERENE HIGHNESS THE FRINGE OF NEUTCHA-
t
TEL,..St 4.10 RTGEN ER. S.L• • .
Sir—All the accounts which I have received an-
nounced that the English army were making a retro-
grade movement ; a reconnoitring was ordered and
executed on the 21st. Marshal the Duke of Elchin-
gen directed General Loison to assemble at Gallegos
3000 men of his division, the light cavalry under the
orders of General Treilhard, and a few pieces of
light artillery ; and ordered him to march at two
o'clock in the morning in the direction of Fort Con-
ception, by way of Villa del Puerto, Castillego, and
the Casas. The General, at the latter point, fell in
with the enemy, who fled at his approach. The Eng-
lish cavalry, however, seemed disposed to defend
the high plain on which Fort Conception stands.—
General Treilhard charged and drove them before
him in so spirited a manner that the enemy were com-
pelled precipitately to abandon the fort, without hav-
ing time to fire all the mines which they had formed
in order to blow up the works. Three of the cham-
bers remain entire, but those which were set fire to
have destroyed the horn work and several half-moons.
• Master of the high plain of La Conception, Gene-
ral Loison had, in the next place, to ascertain the po-
sition of the enemy's army. He directed General
Treilhard to turn the village of Val de la Mula, at
the same time that be made General Simon attack it
in front. General Treilhard, by his movement, dis-
ltidged the enemy's infantry and cavalry posted on
the left bank of the Turonez, and compelled 600
horse placed on the road to Almeida to retreat. The
enemy, in his retreat, abandoned some sharp-shooters
to us, who were cut down with our sabres, and he fell
back upon the glacis of that fortress. He then re-
tnrned with two battalions of infantry, three pieces
of cannon, and about 1800 horse, and drew up on the
1, ft of the Ravine which separates Val de la Mula
f can Almeida ; hut the three regiments of light ca-
valry, under the orders of General Treilhard, marched
ag, inst with an assurance which speedily decided
his retreat. The left bank of the Ravine was imme-
diately occupied, without pushing on too far, in or-
e'er not unnecessarily to attract the fire of the place,
within gun-shot of which we were, and under which
the enemy seemed desirous of drawing us. In con-
sequence of this retrograde movement of the English,
the right was at La Guarda, and their left extended
towards Pinhel.
I caused Almeida to he invested. The greater
part of the troops of the 6th corps, were assembled
with this view at Fort de la Conception, and de
Ist-niched from Val de la Mula on the 24th, at six in
the morning. The brigade of light cavalry, composed
of the 3d regiment of hussars, and the 15th chasseurs,
under the orders of General Lamotte, and preceded
by a battalion of besieging chasseurs, opened tha
march. It was followed by the 15th and 25th dra-
goons, commanded by General Gardanne. General
Montbrun directed the movement of this body of
cavalry.
Tl e division of infantry, under General Loison,
formed in two columns. It was supported by the di.
sion of, Mermet, at the head of which marched the
10. h dragoons, and by three regiments infantry of
Marchand's division. Marshal the Duke of Elchin-
gen, i.. person, directed all the movements.
The advanced guard of the English army, com-
manded by Lieutenant General Craufurd, consisted of
2000 cavalry and 8000 infantry, occupying the position
to t'ie right of Almeida. His light infantry and seve-
red squadrons of hussars, formed the posts in advance,
and on the flanks of that fortress. The attack on the
pai t of our troops was vigorous, and made in the best
order. The enemy defended the ground, and kept up a
brisk fi:e of musketry and field-pieces, but they were
successively driven from their posts at the charge, and
without the least hesitation. General Craufurd, after
placing all his division under the guns of the place,
i thought ti at we would take up a position without
daring to attack him in so formidable a post. He was
protected by a reserve on the heights of the left bank of
the Coa, but 4. columns marched direct for the enemy,
and closed with them with the greatest intrepidity,
without returning their fire. That of the fortress,
though badly enough directed, became extremely brisk
at this moment. The 3d hussars, supported by the
rest of the cavalry, charged the English infantry at
thegallop, and sabred a great number of them. The
ground, however, was so difficult, that it was impos-
sible for the rest of our cavalry to take part in this fine
charge. The enemy's cavalry uniformly declined to
hurt ours at the sabre, and after rallying under the
ramparts of tie: place, hastened to repass the Coa.
In the mean tan,:, the brigade of General Fere),
Livitg already out flanked the right of the enemy,
Was on the point of cutting off his retreat, or csmpeil-
irg him to throw himself into Almeida, when the
English Gee.er.el felt the necessity of falling back,
which be c( uld only effect in great disorder ; for our
battalions parsaed them at a running step, to such
a distance as to enable the columns appointed to
invest Aimeida to execute that operation without any
'1 he troops of his Maitsty gave a fresh proof upon
i.ccasion, that 0.1.1 c is no position which can resist
:t,eir mit epidity. All of them perfectly performed
their duty.
The Euglisli sustained a considerable loss in this
action. Their estafette-man, or chief courier, has
been t,iken with all his dispatches ; several of which,
dated ti.e 25th and 26th, represent the English army
as in lull route ; that it is impossible to form an idea
of its deplorable condition ; that the English never
v. et e cog.tgeel in so brisk an affair; and, in short, that
-they had lost &officers, 24 of wlioni have been interred
in the field of battle ; 4(A) rank and file killed, an.'
700 wounded. Among the slain were the Colonel o;
the 43J, that of the 16th Dragoons, and Major Brown.
of the 52d. We hive taken from them one stand
of coiourc, 400 men; and two pieces of cannon ; our
loss am• anted to nearly 300 killed and wounded.
On the 25th, Marshal the Duke of Lkhingen re-
gulated the investment of Almeida, so as to render it
ton' le e. lie caused Valverde to be occupied, and
th. E glish ; osted un the heights in front of Pereiro.
to b. dislotige d. On the 26th he sect a detachment
in • e airoctwn of ?Libel, which it reached after
ro.. di of three lours by difficult macs. The Englis',
ha.. withdrav n from it at two in the morning. It ap
s that they are 'concentrating at t. cleric°.