Star.
London, England, 1811-07-15 00:00:00

GENERAI4 2TC.

I had the honour of giving an account to your
Highness of all the efforts which I had made to place
the army in a state for entering the field, and manoeu-
vring in aid of the army of the south. As I was igno-
rant of the precise situation of the enemy, I thought
it my duty first to approach him, for the purpose of
availing myself of circumstances, and also to disguise
from him for some time my real intentions. I, there.
fore, marched my troops on the road of Rodrigo and
on that of Placentia, and I advanced in person on the
sth to Rodrigo with the greater part of the cavalry,'
and a strong advanced guard. I availed myself of
this opportunity to throw into Rodrigo a great quan-
tity of supplies, and 1 set out in the night in the hope
of surprising the division of General Craufurd, which
was cantoned three leagues from Rodrigo. A few
hours were sufficient for apprising that General of
my arrival at Rodrigo, and be immediately put him-
self in march to retire beyond the Coa, leaving his
cavalry in observation, and abandming several ma-
gazines of provisions. General Montbrnn with his
cavalry manoeuvred against the cavalry of the enemy,
pushed them with great vigour, and made some pri-
soners. I learned that Sir Brent Spencer, who corn-
, manded the army in the absence of Lord Wellington, '
•iad under his orders three divisions, which were
marched from the banks of the Coa as far as Castel
Branco. I concluded that a part of these troops was
destined to cross to the left bank of the Tagus on
the first appearance of their being wanted. I re-
molved open a rapid march ; I sent orders to General
Regnier to set out from Puente Roble and Los San-
tos, where be was with two division% to march
upon Banos and Placentia. The bridge-equipage,
on which I reckoned in order to cross the Tagus,
not having yet arrived from Madrid, my march
was delayed; in the mean time, its arrival was
a matter of urgency, for all the reports announced'
that Badajos was attacked with great vigour ; that
three breaches had been made ; that two assaults had'
been already given, and that the enemy wished, cost
what it would, to make themselves masters of that
important city. Whatever were the obstacles which
arose from circumstances, we used so much diligence,
that my advanced guard arrived at Merida on the
evening of the 17th, where it joined the posts of the
army of the south. On the morning of the 18th, the
Duke of Dalmatia and myself concerted the necessary
measures for driving the enemy from his 'entrenched
positions at Albuera, and relieving Badajoz • but the
enemy retired in all haste, re-crossed the Guadiana,
and re-entered Portugal, without its being in our
power to come up with him. It is vexatious that he
did not dare to await us, for a signal victory would
have infallibly marked our arrival in these regions.
We entered Badajoz yesterday, where we were able
to perceive with our own eyes, what vigeur General
Philippon, the Governor, and his brave garrison, had
exerted in the defence of that fortress, and how much
their conduct was worthy of praise.
1 have the honour, &c.' (Signed)
The Marshal Dake of RauusA,
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