The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-01-27 00:00:00

R'

Y

-7---

arc:..

•

~~:.

tI{I~
1~

r 1 i
Ai i
,"t.
'.
, -,
*f
: l•
t .

(Sigued)

From the LONDON GAZETTE, J4N. 25.
—..5...-

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Downing-sinter, Jon. 25.
A Dispatch has been received from Lient.-Gen. Maitland,
sated Messina, Nov. 10, inclosing the following Letter from
Major Darky, of the 62d -Regiment :
SIR, Melaazo, Nov. 8,1811.
In compliance with your desire, I beg leave to transn:it
statement of the enemy's forces at Palinnro, under the cone aand
of General Pignatelli Cercaro, together with a brief account of
the action that took place upon our landing. The force tfe bad
to contend with, as far as could be scrutinized into from the
questioning of prisoners, &c. were as follows: three companies
of the ea or Queen's regiment, two of which were rifle, and
amounting to three hundred and fifty men ; Corsican regulars,
misty; artillery, forty-Ave; civic guard, eighty; with at least
four hundred peasantry, armed as light troops, and particularly
Serviceable over the kind of ground they had to act ; thereby
making the total amount, nine hundred and thirty-Ave men.—
This force was acknowledged ; but from the reinforcements
known to be continually accumulating, the enemy are supposed
to have, been stronger. I disembarked with fifty of the royal
marines, the grenadiers and skirmishers of the 62d regiment. Ot
about half-past three o'clock, P. M. oa the Ist inst. leaving Cap-
tains Pollock and Irviug's companies to tollow. Upon landing,
I immediately commenced ascending the heights, when Captain
Oldham was unfortunately severely wounded; and after some
firing, in the hope of opposing our progress, we completely suc-
ceeded in gaining them; whereupon I threw out my skirroshers,
and formed the reinai oder to advance upon the enemy, reserving
a part to attack (and stonn, if possible) the telegraph tower, and
another division to keep in cheek the enemy, who menaced my
left, as also to maintain the comntaading position on the heights.--
The telegraph tower, and tine adjacent position, we shortly got
possession of; when my attention was particularly drawn to-
wards the front of our advance, where the enemy had concen-
trated bls main force, and, under a heavy fire, was endeavour-
ing to force his way to thebeights, huzzaing and drumming as
Imadvanced, while his riflemen had the said object in view on
our left; but the steadiness and superiorly gallant conduct of
!het/Ricers and men defied the most daring intrepidity ;and, after
allowing the enemyto ad vaneew Rhin a very few yards, andwloil-t
eonlly lying on the ground to receive him like British soldiers,
the enemy was charged, and routed most completely ; when
ended the action, v ithout his having the temerity to renew it
again. About this period I had to lament the severe loss of
Lieutenant Kay, 62d, who was gallantly fighting his skirmish-
ers; and shortly after, Lieutenant Popon, of the Royal Ma-
rin-4. The loss of the enemy is supposed to be between sixty
and seventy in killed and wounded ; but I am rather irei.ned
to ionaafae it more. Lieutenant-Colonel Slatsciola was s,:erely
wounded, with little hopes of recovery. I hope, Sir, :on w ill
excuse any inaccuracy that may have escaped my p. n in this
very hasty sketch, and big leave to add, that we ~...oarked in
the afternoon of the *I -taut, without molestation., being co-
vered by the Are of his Majesty's ships the ii.iperieuse and
Thames.—l have, &c. EDW. DA (ILLY.
Return of Allied and Wounded—Killed, 2 rank and tile.—
Wounded. I Captain, 1 Subaltern, I Serjeant, 1 Drummer, 5
rank and Mr.—Of/iris-8 IYound-d—Captain Oldham, severely.
Li/asters:int Ray, severely, since dea;l.—N. B. Serjeaat Jeffery,
since dead of his wounds.

This Gizette also contains the following letters from Colonel
Sterrett attilressixl to Major-General Cooke:
Tarifa, Dee. 24,
Sta,--1 have the honour to report that, on the 20th inst. tbe
enemy invested this town with from 4 to .5030 infantry, and from
2to JUO cavalry. As it was not advisable lo fight so superior a
force, I reistedi him for an hour with the cavalry and sufatery,
Spanish and British piques of the garrison, reinforced le a
company of the 95th, and two six-pounder field-guns of Capt.
itughoi s brigade. The lo,s of the enemy was considerable.
On the 'list, t:apiain Wren, of the I lta. destroyed, with hi,
smarmy, airmail piquet of the enemy. The '124, L made a sortie
at the request of General Coptins, and in conjunction with his
trilopsi, ith the intention to ascertain th.• numbers of the enemy,
by inducing him to shew his colin:.s. Ills light troops staffed
convlderably from our shells. The enemy is now making his ap-
proaeher at o long inu.ket-sbot from the town but the ground
so completely eomivands us, and so favourable to biro, that
our iinall goats have little or no edict upon him.—l have the
honour to be, &e.

J. B. SKLRRETT, Colonel.

Tarifa' Dec. 90. 1811.
den,•—in my last Mad the honour to state, that the eueutc had
Invested this town on the tialth instant; since which period he
has rapidly carried on a reestlar parallel and approaeo against
the wall of the town, wl:icb I consider as doing much honour to
the garrison. I have several times found it necessary to drive
back the enemy's advance, and to interrupt his works, in which
we have met with a slight loss, and the enemy, from being ex-
to the fire of the few snail guns we possess uu the towers,
bus suffered considerably. It was only on these occasions that
we materially anuoyed the enemy ; f'ur the wall of the town is so
completely commanded, that, In few hoar's work, he has every
where much biter cover than ourselves. The enemy yesferday
opened his tire at half past ten, and continued to hatter in breach
at a distance of about three hundred yard, with four French Id-
ponders on the east wall, tear the Ketiro gate, and four howit-
gen and other sosallers pieces playing on the island anti cause-
way. Ile continued a constant fire mail night, the first and each
shot parsiuc thriargh the wall, and through some of the houses iu
the rear of it. Before night, a practicle breach was ellected.
Ile this day continued to widen the (reach, and I imagine, w II
not attempt the assault until it is extended to the tower on each
dank (a space of shout forty yard.), I have traversed the
streets, and taken the only measure by which there is a chance of
preserving Cie place—that of defending the houses. The enemy's
farce etneloyed in the siege is stated at ten thousand; pro-
baably this ts in some degree exaggerated. A constant fire of
musketry is interchanged. I have particularly to refire: the Ins, of
the service of Lieutenant nuanter, Deputy Assitdant Quarter-
Nester-General, a very intelligent and brave officer, who is se-
verely wounded. Enclosed is a return of killed and wounded
siflce tu) bit. I have the honour to be Re.
(Signed) J. B. SKERRETT, Colonel.
Return of killed aad wounded in the actions of the 32d, Alb,
29th, and 90th Ike.

One rank and file, aa---siiiniete killed; one Captain, two
Lieutenants, 9'3 rank and file, and five horses wounded.
(It hkewiir contains a Letter from Colonel Green, dated
Berri, in Catalonia, Nov. 2:th, in which he states, that affairs
had lverriprogrevsively improving in that quartet; that the Spa-.
niards had been successful in Arrar,oo over some bodies of the
enemy's troofs; and that General Suchet had drained the force
of that provitice very mach, to support Mm to his proeeedings
against Valencia.]

At the Court at Carlton House, the 24th of Jan.
1812, present, his Royal Highness the Pantos Rs-
GE% r in COUNCIL.

. .
•
j
yid

• kt,
, .
it
;I ;
Zi
• •
11
• ,
, •
t
•
41.(1.
14i
•
1
t,•