Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-11-05

appeared at The gate du Comet, and ds-
manded ainnittances; he informed us OF
the departure of the brigands. | ORDER :
ed him 10 be let ia an d brought before me;
from him learned that the brigands had
spared his life, and made him enter their
guides; and having under this title always
at head quarters, he knew every
thing that passed in their army during the
seige. He related that the brigand forces
encampsd before lSanto Domingo, both in
infantry and cavalry, amounted to 5000
men, including tae 5000 stationed on the
other side Of the Ozama that their chief
had all his followers with him, which was
in my opinion very probable, the barbarian
being too mistrustful and jealous 10 leave
commanders and forces behind him, VINO at
3 great distance might probably have caused
him much apprehension. This officer like
wise stated, that the brigands had 600 mea
killed. and nearly 1900 wounded during
the 90 DAYS they remained encamped before
the place; they had sent their wounded OFT
afcw days before tor the French part OF the
Island: and in this statement was not COM
prised great number whom the Spanlafds
had killed in the woods, when they lett
the main body of their army, in order to
pilage their country.
The brigaudchlef, on the day We made
our last sortie, had taken the french FOR an
English squadron, which had come Tor The
!, purpose OF s,mmoDing me to evacuate the
place this determined aim to stand nrm,
and II was not till the following morning
thar he was convinced of the truth, when
he saw soldiers, arms and stores landed.
Finding the place thus surrounded. ne lost
courage, and issued orders tor the retreat
of his army, which began the same evening
! between eleven and twelve o'clock at
, hight; his column took the rout OF Azua
whilst another proceeded TO Saint Yago. -
| He gave out On taking his departure, that
| he would soon return with sutlcient forces.
! was resolved not to omit the good OPP
| portunity presented me by his retreat to-
wards Aqua, and entertaining nodoubt but
! that one of his columns would march along
| the shore of the bay of Ocoa mmedl"
| ately sent thither4 the sch loner lie Depart
| ment du Nord, with directions 90 Gas, an
Choir at some cables length from the shore,
TO pour grape shot on the br1gands as soon
| as they should come up. My expectations
were not disappointed; on the 10Th, at Sc
/ ven 10 the morning, a column OF RrIgands
made their appearance AID marched along
] the beach In security, at that moment the
! twelve pounders from the Department du
| Nerd openedsa murderous fire upon them,
! killed vast numbers, made the rest tall back
! and abandoned upwards CT 600 animals,
| and all the booty they had taken and were
| carrying oft.
! At two sent out reconnolterlngpa parties
of dragons to leagues distance, on the
| roads of Aqua, SAINT Yago and GAlindo.
| According to theirreport, which fully con-
| 6rmsd the retreat of the brigands, 1900 of
! the Spanish militia were marched Quito de-
| sroy the gablons of their entertainments.
I We were thea able to Judge OF the st ength
Of ,beir works. and of the wonderful CELEBRITY
with which they had finished them. Each
! of these gabiens was six feet high and four
/ feet and an half in diameter on the basis ;
each line had three gabions IN thickness,
and FIVE in those parts the most exposed to
our artillery.
On the 9Th and 10th ~Gsrminal, in the
morning, sent out to reconnoitre, to the
distance of eight or teo leagues upon every
road; tae ,esuit left no doub, OF tie re-
treat of the bsigands, who fed rather Preci-
{ pi,atelv, pursued by panlck terror. Ihe
Spauiards who lay in ambush, fell on them
whenever an opportunity presented itself,
and so Gectualy, that no less than two hun.
i dred remained in the naire at Bignal. I
cannot but deplore the atrocities Of every
/ description whlch they committed in their
retreat; their footsteps we're marked by IRE
and murders; no crime was scropled by
them they called on the inhabitants with
mnrdsloc neace 10 sacrifice them more sue