Star.
London, England, 1811-04-26 00:00:00

IIPP"

LONDON GAZETTE EXTIMORDINARY.
THURSDAt, APRIL 5.

DOWNING STREET, APRIL SS.
A DispatchAi which the following is a Copy, has been this inont-
ing received at Lord Liverpool's Office, addressed to his Lord-
ship by Lieutenant General Viscount Wellington, dated Villa-
Fermosa, April 9.
MY Loan—. When I last addressed your Lordship
the enemy occupied the Upper Coa, having his right
at Roviaa and guarding the ford of Rapoilla de Coi
with a detachment at the bridge of Ferrerias, and his
left at Sabugal, and the Bth corps was at Alloyates.
The right of the British army was opposite Sabugal,
and the left at the bridge of Ferrerias.
The Militia under General Trant and Col. Wilson
crossed the Coa below Almeida, in order to threaten
the somMunication of that place with Ciudad Rodri-
go and the enemy's army.
The rivet Coa is difficult of access throughout its
course, and tl e position which the enemy had taken
was very strong, and could be approached only by its
left.
The troops were therefore put in motion on the
morning of the 3d, to turn the enemy's left above Sa-
bugal, and to force the passage of the bridge of that
town ; with the exception of the 6th division, which
remained opposite the 6th corps, which was at Ro-
vina t and one battalion of the 7th division, which
observed the enemy's Detachment at the Bridge of
Ferrerias.
The 2d corps were in a strong position, with their
right upon a height immediately above the Bridge
and town of S ibugal, and their left extending along
the road to Alfayates, to a height which commanded
all the approaches to Sabugal from the fords of the
Cot, above the town. The 2d corps communicated
by Rendo, with the 6th corps at Rovina. .
It was intended to turn the left of this corps, and
with this view the Light Division and the cavalry,
un.ler Major General Sir W. Erskine and Major Ge-
neral Slade, were to cross the Coa by two separate
lords upon the right, the cavalry upon the right of
the Light Division ; the 3d division, under Major-
Genera Picton, at a ford on their left, about a mile
above Sabugal ; and the sth division, under Major-
General Dunlop ; and the Artillery, at the Bridge
of Sabugal.
Colonel Beckwith's Brigade of the Light Division
were the first that crossed the Coa, with two squa-
drons of cavalry upon their right. Four companies
of the 95th, and three companies of Colonel Elder's
Cacadores, drove in the enemy's piquets, and were sup-
ported by the 43d regiment. At this moment a rain
storm came on, which rendered it impossible to sec
any thing ; and these troops having pushed on in
pursuit of the enemy's piquets, came upon the left of
their main body, which it had been intended they
should turn.
The light troops were driven back upon the 43d
regiment, and as soon as the atmosphere became
clear, the enemy having perceived that the body,
which lrad advanced, were not strong, attacked them
in a solid column, supported by cavalry and artillery.
These troops repulsed this attack, and advanced in
pursuit upon the enemy's position, where they were
attacked by a fresh column on their left, and were
charged by the Ist Hussars on their right. They re-
tired and took post behind a wall, from which post
they again repulsed the enemy ; and advanced a se-
cond time in pursuit of them ; and took from them a
howitzer. They were, however, again attacked by a
fresh column with cavalry, and retired again to their
post, where they were joined by the other brigade of
the Light Division, consisting of the two Battalions
of the 52d regiment, and the Ist Cayadores. These
troops repulsed the enemy, and Colonel Beckwith's
Brigade and the Ist battalion of the .52d regiment
again advanced upon them. They were attacked
again by a fresh column supported by cavalry, which
charged their right, and they took post in an inclo.
sure upon the top of the height, from whence they;
could protect the howitzer which the 43d had taken ;
and they drove back the enemy.
The enemy were making arrangements to attack
them again in this post, and had moved a column on
their left, when the light infantry of Major General
Picton's division, under Lieutenant Colonel Williams,
supported by the Hon. Major General Colville's bri-
gade, opened their fire upon them.
At the same moment the head of Major General
Dunlop's column crossed the Bridge of the Coa, and
ascended the heights on the right flank of the enemy;
and the cavalry appeared on the high ground in rear
of the enemy's left, and the enemy retired across the
hills towards Rendo, leaving the howitzer in the pos.
ses,,ion of ;hose who had so gallantly gained and pre-
served it, and abouttwo hundred killed on the ground,
and six Officers and three hundred prisoners in our
hands.
Although the operations of this day were, by una-
voi,lable accidents, not performed in the manner in
wh:ch I intended-they should be, I consider the action
• that was fought by the Light Division, by Colonel
Br ckwith's Brigade principally, with the whole of the
2d corps, to be one of the most glorious that British
troops were ever engaged in.
The 4.3 d regiment, under Major Patrickson, par.
t cid irly distinguished themselves ; as did that part
of the 95sh regiment in Colonel Beckwith's Brigade,
under. the command of Major Gilmour, and Colonel
Elder's Cacadores ; the Ist Battalion 52d regiment,
unit r the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ross, like-
wise slimed great steadiness and gallantry, when they
j Ailed Colonel Beckwith's Brigade. Thrrughout the
action the troops derived great advantage from the
assistance of two guns of Captain Bull's troop of horse
artillery, which crossed at the ford with the Light Di.
vision, and came up to their support.
It was impossible fur any Officer to conduct him-
self with more ability And gallantry than Colonel
Beckwith. The action was commenced by an una-
voidable accident to which all operations are liable ;
but having been commenced, it would have been im-
possible to withdraw from the ground without risking
the loss of the object of onr movements ; and it was '
desirable to obtain possession, if possible, of the top of
the hill, from which the enemy had made so many at-
tacki with advantage, on the first position taken by
4Sd regiment. This was gained before the Sd
division came up.
I had also great reason to be satisfied with the con-