The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-09-25 00:00:00

TZTE STATESMAN.

, .
in the bottom of the valley, within half cannon shot Such were the dispositions made towards the huddle
of the heights of which we were masters ; I there- of the day.
fore, upon arriving, immediately ordered a battery " The enemy had his troops parallel to The, ex-,
of 40 pieces of artillery to be placed, which inn tending his right by leaning towards the mountain of.
moment forced the enemy to retire, after having left Tesares, which always appeared to be hia point of
a great number of killed and wounded upon the I treat. . . - . • • -r,
place. The army marched in two columns, and I. " There was in front of the plain occupied by the
e,
had given the command of the right column, distant artillery another vast plaid, ensy of defetice, and
from that of the left three quarters of a league„ to I which had a more immediate etiect on the enemy's
General Claussel. Arrived upon this ground, lie-' movements. The possession of this place gave out
neral Claussel, having few people before him, he 1 the means, in case I should have manoeuvred towards
thought he was able to seize upon the two rising' the evening, of carrying myself on the enemy's corn-
grounds upon. the left bank of the Guarena, and I munication on Tamaines. This post, which was
preserve them; but this attack was made with few I otherwise well occupied, was impregnable, and in it-
troops ; his troops had not halted, and scarcely I self completed the position which I had taken. It
formed; the enemy perceived it, marched upon the was besides indispensibly necessary to occupy it,
troops which he had thus thrown in advance, and seeing that the enemy had reinforced his centre, from
forced them to retreat. . whence he might push forward cn masse on this'
" In this battle, which was of short duration, we plain, an& commence his attack by taking this im-
experienced some loss. The division of dragoons portaut point.
which supported the infantry, vigorously charged all "In consequence, I gave orders to the sth diri-
the English cavalry ; but General Carree, a• little sion to take position on the right extremity of this
toe far advanced from the 13th regiment, fell into plain, the fire from which exactly crossed that from
the enemy's power. Aropiles, to the 7th division, to place itself in a se-
-14 The army remained, in its position all the night mid line to support this, to the second to hold itself
of the ]9th; it even remained in it all the day of the in reserve to the latter, and to the 6th to occupy the;
tOth. The extreme heat, and the fatigue experienced , plain at the head of the wood, where a large number
on the 18th, rendered this necessary to assemble• the of pieces of artillery were yet remaining.
stragglers. I " I gave the like orders to Gen. Bonnet to cause
44 At four in the evening the army resumed their the 124.ci to occupy a point situated between the;
arms, and defiled by the left to proceed up the Gua- great plain and the point of Aropiles, which defend-ii
rena, and take a position in front of Almo. My in-' ed the entrance of the village of Aropiles; ands
tention was, at the same time, to threaten the enemy, i finally gave orders to Gen. Boyer, Commandant of
and continue to proceed up the Gearena, in order to I the Dragoons, to leave a regiment to clear the right
pass it with facility, or if the enemy marched in force iof the General, and to push the three other res4-'
upon the higher Guarena, to return by a rapid , ments to the front of the wood, on the Rank of the
movement upon the position they should have aban- I second division, in such manner as to be able, in
Boned. The enemy folllowed my movement. Onicase the enemy should attack the plain, to at-
the 90th, before day, the army was in motion to i tack them by the right of this plea, in the mean
ascend the Guarena. I while that the light cavalry should charge his left.—
_ _ _ .

" The advanced guard rapidly passed that river,
et that part where it is but a river, and occupied the
commencement of an immense piece of ground,
which continues without any undulation nearly to
Salamanca. The enemy endeavoured to occupy the
same ground, but could not succeed : then he at-
tempted to follow a parallel rising groundt connected
with the position they had just quitted, and which
every where offered them a position, provided I
should have marched towards them. The two ar-
mies thus marched parallel with all possible celerity,
always keeping their masses connected, in order to
he every moment prepared for battle. The enemy
thinking to be beforehand with us at the village of
Cantalpeno, directed a column upou that village, in
the hope of being before us upon the rising ground
which commands it, and towards which we marched;
but their expectations were deceived. The light ca-
valry which I sent thither, and the Bth division,
which was at the head of the column, marched so
that the enemy were obliged to abandon it.
Besides the road from the other plain approaching too
close to ours, and that which we had having the ad-
'vantage of commanding it, with some pieces of can-
non, judiciously placed, greatly annoyed the enemy,
for a great part of the army was obliged to defile
under this cannon, aid the remainder was obliged
to repass the mountain to avoid it. At last I put the
&seem's in the enemy's track.
" The enormous number of stragglers which were
lett bellied would have given us an opportunity of
making 3(,00 prisoners, had there been a greater
proportion between our cavalry and theirs, but the
latter disposed so as to arrest our pursuit, to press
the march of the infantry by blows from the flat sides
of their sabres, and to convey those who could no
longer march, prevented us. Nevertheless, there
fell into our hands between 2 and 400 men and some
baggage. In the evening the army encamped upon
the heights of Aldea Rubia, having its posts upon
the Tormes. The enemy re-occupied the position of
San Christoval.
44 On the 21st, having been informed that the
enemy did not occupy Alba de Tormes, I threw a
garrison into it. The same day I passed the river in
two columns, taking my direction by the skirts of
the woods, and establishing my camp between Alba
de Tormes and Salamanca. My object in taking
this direction was to continue the movement by my
left, iu order to drive the enemy from the neighbour-
hood of Salamanca and fight them with greater ad-
wantages. I depended upon taking a good defensive
position, iu which the enemy could undertake no.
thing against me, and in short come near enough to
them to take advantage of the first faults they might
Wake and vigorously attack them.
" On the 22d, In the morning, I went upon the
heights of Calbaraca de Azzeva to reconnoitre the
enemy. I found a division villa had just arrived
there, others were in march for the same place. Some
firing took place for the purpose of occupying the
posts of observation, of which we respectively re-
mained masters. Every thing announced that it was
the enemy's inteution to eccopythe position of Tesares,
which was a league in the rear of that in which he
then was, distant a league and a half from Salamanca.
They however, assembled considerable forces upon
this point, and as their movement upon Tesares
might be difficult, if all the French army was in sight,
I thought it right to have it ready to act as circum-
. itaaces required.
" There were between us and the English some
isolated points, called the A.ropiles, I ordered Gen.
Bonnet to occupy that which belonged to the position
we ought to take; his troop did so with prompti-
tude and dexterity. The enemy ordered theirs to be
occupied, but it was commanded by ours at 250 toises
distance. I had destined this point, it* the event of
there being a general movement by the left, and a bat-
tle taking place, to be the part and point of support
pf the right to elf the army.
" The first division had orders to occupy and de.
fend the plain of Calbaraca, which is protected by a
large and deep ravine. The third division was in the
leconttline, destined to support it, and the 2d, 4th,
6th sad 6th, were at the head Of the wood en mqsvc,
behind the position of Aroplles, end could march
equally on all sides, whilst the 7th division occupied
the left head of the wood; which formed a. point ex..
tremely eneyen, and or very difficult west, and
which I fiftd lined with 20 pieces of artillery. The
light cayelry wet' charged to clear the left, an 4 place'
itself in advtince of the_7tll division. • Tlte viiasoes,
Prifine4 the-4IV°" 4+*l to tbs V! or!!!,. argil.

The most part of these movements were performed
with irregularity. The sth division, after having
taken the post assigned to them, extended itself at
its left without any cause or reason. The 7th divi-
sion, which had orders to support it, marched to its
position, and, in short, the 2d division was still in
the rear. I felt all the consequences which might
result from all these irregularities, and I resolved on
remedying them myself on the spot, which was a very
easy matter, the enemy as yet not having made any
movement at all. At the same time I received the
report of the enemy having caused fresh troops to
pass from his left to his right, I ordered the 3d and
4th divisions to march by the skirts of the wood, in
order that I might dispose them as I found needful.
It was half-past four o'clock, and I went to the
place which was to be the object of some seaious dis-
pute, ,but at this moment a shell struck me, and
broke my right arm, and made two large wounds in
my right side. I thus became incapable of taking any
kind of part in the command. -
64 The previous trine which I should have employ-
ed in rectifying the placing of the troops on the left,
was.fruitlessly passed; the absence of the Comman-
der gives birth to anarchy, and from thence pro.
ceeds disorder; meanwhile the time was running
away, without the enemy undertaking any thing.
At length, at five o'clock, the enemy judging that
the situation was favourable, attacked this ill-formed
left wing with impetuosity. The divisions engaged
repulsed the enemy, and were themselves repulsed
in their turn, but they acted without concert and
without method. 'rime division which I had called
to sustain the (list, found themselves in the situation
of taking part its the combat without having fore.
seen it.
" Every General makes extraordinary efforts to
supply by his own particular dispositions, thus
which are in the whole requisite, but if he can at-
tain it in part, yet he cannot effect it completely.—
The artillery covered itself with glory, performed
prodigies of valour, and in the midst of our losses,
caused the enemy to suffer enormously. lie di-
rected his attacks against Aropiles, whick was de-
fended by the brave 120th regiment, and was there
repulsed, leaving more than 800 dead on the spot....
At length the army retires, evacuates the plains, and'
retires to the skirts of the wood. There the enemy
makes fresh efforts. The division of Foy, which,
by the nature of the business, was charged with the
covering of the retrogade movement, was attacked
with rigour, and constantly repulsed the enemy.—
This division merits the greatest eulogy, as does like-
wfse its General. From this moment the retreat
was effected towards Alba de Tormes, without be-
ing disturbed by the enemy.—Our loss amounts to
6000 men hors de combat.
44 We have lost nine pieces of cannon, 'which
being dismounted, could not be carried off. All the
rest of the baggage, all the park of artillery, all the
materials belonging to the army have beak brought
away.
" It is difficult, M. le Duc, to Express to you the
different sentiments which agitated me at the fatal
moment when the wound which I received caused my
removal from the army. I would with delight have'
exchanged this wound for the certainty of receiving
a mortal stroke at time close of the day, to have pre-
ved the faculty of commamA, so well did I know
the importance of the events which had just taken
place, and how necessary the presence of the Com-.
mander-in Chief was at the moment when the shock
of the two armies appeared to be preparing, to give
the whole direction to the troops and to appoint
their movements. Thus one unfortunate moment has
destroyed the result of six weeks of wise combina-
tions, of methodical movements, the issae of which
had hitherto appeared certain, and of which every
thing seemed to presage to us that we should reap the
fruit. On the 23d, the army made its retreat from
Altla dt Tormes, on Penarande, taking its direction
towards the Doprp. The whole of. the enemy's ca-'
yalr,y herasse4 oqr rear, composed of the cavalry of'
the first division. This cavalry fell back, and left
the division too much exposed, but it formed itself
in squares to resist the enemy. One of them Wall
broken ' • the others resisted; and especially that of
the 69th, which killed 200 of the enemy's herse, by
the push of the bayonet. After this time they made
"RR attempt on us.
General Clawed has the cessmaad of the army,
I sad lakes such, mauves as oireurnstances retinue.
goinOp bare myself transported to bqrgps,
.}horde !IMO, IT rePOll4 ,11114, fort WWII to twofer
Pc I‘PIP44 X. *lf F!'ffiTed? anti which

--- •
afflict me. more from the dire influence which they
have bad on the success of the army, than from the
sufferings which they have caused me to endure.
• I cannot do sufficient justice to the bravery with
which the Generals and Colonels have fought; to
the good disposition which animated them in that
difficult circumstance. I ought pdrticularly to wee.
tirri General Bonnet, whose reputation has been to
long established. I should likewise name General
j.tatifin, Wbo commanded the sixth division; Gene.
ral Clausiel, though wounded, did not quit the field
j of battle, but to the .end gave an example of great
personal bravery. The General of Artillery, Ter-
i let, intl. Colonel Digeow, commanding the 'reserVe
j of artillery, particularly distinguished themselves.
46 In this day, unfortunate as it his been, there
are a multitude of traits worthy of being noticed,
and which honour the French name. I .will collect
them, and solicit from his Majesty rewards for the
brave men who hare deserved them.

46 I ought not to defer mentioning the gallant
conduct of the brave Seb-Lieutenant GuHemet, of
the 118th regiment, who sprung into the enemy's
ranks to obtain a flag, which he seized, after having
cut off the arm of the, person who. curried it; lie has
brought this flag into our ranks, notwithstanding
the several bayonet wounds he has received.
66 We have to regret the loss of the General Of
Division Fuel, dead of his wounds; of General
Thomieres, killed upon the geld of battle; and of
General Desgravurs.—Generals Bonnet and Claus-
en!, and the General of Brigade Menne are wounded.
" I beg your Exce}leney to receive the assurance
of my high consideration.
(Signed with the left bandy.
" The Marshul Duke of RA,pUSA.

" Alter the first movements of-the English army,
his Catholic Majesty, under whose orders were
placed all the French armies in Spain, was deter-
mined to unite all the disposable troops he had be-
longing to the army of the centre, to march at the
same time with the Marshal Duke of Ragusa against
the enemy. .
" On the 20th July, 10.14ajesfy had in effect as-
sembled a considerable carps, at the head of which be
had advanced between the 21st and 24th of July to
Areva 10.

" The retreat of the Army of Portugal having
taken place before his Majesty could join it, he was
obliged to confine himself to checking Lord Wel.
lington's army, which he has successfully done by
this diversion. The greater part of the enemy's
forces having marched upon the Army of the Centre,
his Catholic Majesty at first thought of covering Ma.
drid, and sending from it the persons most attached
to his service, and the most important objects. A
considerable convoy, escorted by Darmagnac and
Palombini's divisions, have been fortunately con-
ducted towards Valencia.

" On the 18th August the King had his head-
quartersat Villa Robledo. The intention of his Ma-
jesty was to unite the troops of the Army sof the
Centre, according to circumstances, either with the
Army of the South or the Army of Arragon, to
fight the English with advantage."