The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-01-04 00:00:00

BATTLES IN SPAIN.
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COPY OP tArrre FROM WANSIFIAL Tit Dtllll OF
ThElflso.7o MARSHAL TUL DOZE OT DALMATIA,
JiAttl> TOLEDO, NOT. 22.
Ibloxv.' Lt MAatcwa i—fly the letter which
you did me the honour of writing to me from
Araqjtrez., on the 18th of this month, you inform
me, that, in obedience to the orders of his Majesty,
1 sh6uld join to my command of the fifth corps,
that of the fourth, and with the force thus corn.
• bincd, under the command of the King in person,
proceed to meet the enemy.
The 4th corps had previously, on the same day,
crossed the'i'agus at the Bridge de le Reyna, and
taken a position at Antigola. At day-break) on
the 18th, it encamped upon the plain behind
Ocana, and the fifth corps followed its example.
This plain was, the evening before, the field on
hich a very brilliant affair of cavalry, conducted
by (;,•tieral Scbastiani, took place, and in which
the enemy's cavalry, though thrice the number of
ours, was corniletely defeated. The intention of
his Majesty, in making us defile by Arstrjuez. was
Avith a view of attacking the enemy near Santa
Cruz, or to pursue him in the event of his making
a retreat. I considered that column of cavalry)
which had been routed the night before, only as a
detachment.

On reaching the plain with the 4th corps, I
discovered, with no less surprize than joy, that I
had been under a misapprehension. The whole
of the enemy's army was engaged—the most
desirable thins that could happen, as it saved us
the trouble: of prolonging our march to meet the
enemy at his cantonments. They had arrived,
there in the night from Santa Cruz, Villa Topaz,
Des Barrios, Tombleque, and other [places adja.
cent,
Ocana is situated in the plain above-mentioned,
and the country, within the circuit of a quarter of
a leigue, is open ; farther on, are delightful
clumps of olive trees, with such intervals between
sufficiently extensive to admit of, manoeuvring,
and 3et thick enough to favour such movements
as it might be desirable to conceal from the view
of ;he enemy.
The Spanish army was drawn up in order of
battle, in several lines, the right and centre in the
direction from Noblegast to Ocana, and its left'
extended beyond the latter town, which connected
the different parts of their line ; a curtain, de.
fended by a deep ravin, formed their position ;
the ravin extended from the town, nearly to the
extremity of their right.
/Living reconnoitred the ground, I determined
to make my attack on the enemy's right. Gene-
ral Leval, who commanded the divisions of. the
Duchy of Warsaw, and of the Confederation of
the Rhine, of the 4th corps, instead of General
Sebastiani (who was charged with the general
conduct of the cavalry), was ordered, in consc.
quence, to attack thu right of the enemy, by
turning the ravin. Ile made the first movement
in column, by battalions, and the enemy's sharp.
shooters, who were in the wood, being driven oil
cif it by his, be formed his line its compact co:
lupins, and in that order advanced upon the ene.
my, *horn he attacked with great vigour and ef-
fect. A heavy cannonade began on both sides,
and the enemy, menaced on his right flanktfound
himself obliged to engage with his front► Elated
with the success of the first effort, the divisions of
the Confederation of the Rhine and of the Duchy
of Warsaw redoubled their exertions, and pushed
the combatants upon their main body. It was
there they had concentrated their forces ; and the
same ravin, turning round the, town in the front
of as ellipsis, again made its appearance in form
of this new scene of action, and contributed
greatly to their support. A considerable num-
bers of troops d'elile were placed in the raein, And
supported by batteries. Possessing superior ad.
vantages of ground and• numbers, the enemy
acted on the offensive in his turn, leaped over the
ravin, and, protected by artillery in front, at-
tacked the colu•un of the 4th carps. At this
moment, Gen. Leval recei►ed a wound, one of
his Aids-de-Camps was killed, and two guns ware
dismounted.

. ,

The first division of the sth corps forming a se.
cond line was following, immediately in close to-
le' 03, when I perceived a wavering in my first
line. I gave orders to General Girard, who com.
mande.d that division, to advance precipitately to
the front, through the interim' of the first line.—
The troops under his for waited with im.
patience the signal to ie to action. They
march with celerity, pa through the intervals
with precision, and enga the cuemy's battalions
with the bayonet.
The battalions of the 34th, 40th, and 64th re.
gimeuts, deployed from their mass with great im.
petuosity, while the Bbch, which was posted on
the left of the line, continued to present their
breasts to the enemrs cavalry, tempting them to
make a charge. 'lo the most tremendous dis-
, charges of artillery and musketry on the part of
the enemy, our battalions, who had passed the
pint w here our batteries were erected, reply only
with a well-directed fire from a few ranks, and

demi-battalions. After several destructive rounds,
whisk could not shake the courage of our intre-
' pid soldiers, the enemy's artillery was attacked
clJsely, s►lenced, and forced to retire in the rear
of their line. Three places were abandoned on
the point against which the 88th directed their
efforts.
Thu ".i.t7ulse is given ; the battalions of the sth
corps fly to the charge, advance from one success
to another, and are supported by the battalions
of the 4th. Our troops carry all before them,
goon dislodge the corps of the enemy which was
posted at the town of Ocana. A rapid change of
front, on the part of the 4th, succeeded by a
charge, in which they were seconded by the
3lth, forced -the enemy to Sy, at the same
time abandoning their arms. This movement
secured to us thivictory. While these feats were
being performed cur the left and centre,. the divl.
sion um* the orders of General Desolles, com.
po►ed, Ijor the moment,- of the half of the second
brigade •f posers! Gazan, half of the 55th and
bSth Regbasts, was stationed in front anti en the
right of Ocala) to keep its theck the troops which