Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-01

Camh on the Plain Of Aiqiaa, Ju!y 6, 1oo6.
SIR,
1t is with the most heartfelt satisfaction
that have the honor OF reporting TO YOU,
for enc information OF his majesty, tho par:
ticulars Of an action, in Which the French
army quartercd in this province have susr-
tanned signal defeat by the troops under
my command.
General Regnier, having been appraised
of our Decentralization at St. Euicina. ap-.
pears to have made a rapid march from
Reggie, uniting, as he advanced, his detacn-
cd corps, for the purpose Of attacking, and
with his characteristic confidence OF deteat<
ingus.
On the afternoon Of the Sd inst Ircceiv-
Cd intelligence that he had that day en-
campcd near MAZDA, about ten miles dis
t2nt from our position, that his force con-
sisted at the moment of about 1000 n.an-
tiy and SEQ cavalry, together WIKI four
pieces of artillery, and that he was in e1S-
pectation cf being joined within day or
TWO by 5000 more troops, VINO were marCh-
ing after HIM IN = second division.
] determined therefore to advance to-
wards mis- position, and having left four
companies OF Natrcvillc'3 regiment under
major Fisher 90 protect the stores, and oc~
cupy 4 work which had been thrown up
1t our landing place, the body ofthc army
marched the next morning according TO
the following detail.
.FdoGaced Cortss.--Lieut. colonel Kempt,
with two four Founders. Light infantry BATE
talon. Detachment royal Corsican ran-
gers. Detachment royal Siciiian vclun--
teers.
Isl Brigade.-Drisadie general Co!c,
with three four Founders Grenadier bat4
TALON, 9Th regiment.
| 2d 8riSadc-Brigadier general Acl5-
land, with three four po,,iiders. \7Gth rex
Simcnt. s1St regimen.
Sd Brigade.-Colonei Oswald, with two
four Founders, 5eth treatment Water
sille'a regiment, Ave companies.
! 2oth regiment, Licu,cnan--celone mel Ross.
| landing during the action.
| Fcscrve Of .frhRe~u.---Major Lemoin,
| -Four poinders and two howitzers.
/ Tctal.-Ranll and file, including tie RoyA
., Artillery. 4795. ...ts,.
( General Regnier was cncamped on the
| side of woody hin, below The village of
| MAZDA, slopeiiig into the plain of ST. Eufe.
i mia his tanks were strengthened by a
I thick imperVious uBderwpod. Thc,A.nato,
| "a rive perfectly fordable, but Of whicfi the.
sides are extremely marshy, ran along mis-
| front; my approach 90 him from the sea
side (alorg che borders Of which / dires ~,
| ed M march, until hadynearly turned his,
| lctt) was across n spacious plain, which
gave him every opportunity of nlinutcly
observing my movements.
After some loose firing OF the haBSers to
| cover the DEVELOPMENTS Of The two arlaiess
| by nine O'clock III the morning the oDro,s
! ing Fronts were warmly engaged, when the,
| prowess u the rival nations seemed now
fairly TO he AT trial before the world, and
the superiority was greatly and gloriously,
! decided to be our own.
The corps which formed the right Of theI
! advanced line Was the battalion of faht
| infantry commanded by lieutenant colonel,
Eempt, consisting Of The light companies of,
| the Goth, 27,h, 3Jt!i, 58th, DIST, S1st, andf
! Watteivillc's, toeetheP with $50 chosen
: battalion men OF thc S5th regiment, under,
major Robinson. Directly opposed to them
was the favorite French regiment OF Pre-
miere Icgere. Tie two corps at the dis
! lance Of about ono hundred ya:ds fired re-
ciproCally few rounds, when rs If by mu-,
tuai agreement, the firing was suspended, /,
: and IN close compact order, and awful So
Icnce, they advanced towards each other.
until their oayoncIs began to cross. Az
this momcntouS crisis the enemy became ar-
paiied. They broke, and endeavorcd to
IL, bit il was too late; they were ever
taken with the most dreadful slaughter. -.
8riCadjer general Alex land, whose bric-
''NlS NAo 4il4liSIAtaL~Ay va iNlL "a TIC Hlnt
infantry, with great spirit awaited himself
of this favorable moment 10 press Instant
II forward upon he corps in his front; the
brave 18th regiment, commanded by lieu-
tenant colonel Macleod, ana line SIS .val.
mcnt, undcr major Plendericath 10Th dis -,
tinfusn'd themselves on this cccasien.---
The enemy hed with disnay and disorder
before hem, leaving the plain covered With
their dead and wounded.
The enemy 5ciag thus complctcly discom-
fitcd on their left, began 10 make n newell
fort with their right, IN the hopes Of reco, !,
vering tic day. Tncy were resisted most gal
lantiy ~ the brigade under brigadicr ecrc-.
raj Cole. Eothingcculd shake the undaunt.
cd firmness Of the grcnadicrs uaGcr len
tenant colonel O'Callasham, and OF tie s7th
regiment under lieutenant colonel Smith
[ The cavalry successfully rcpciled from be-.
fore their front, made an effort 70 turn
their lcil, when lieutenant colonel Ross,
who had hut mcrning landed from Mcssir7
with the 2Cth regiment, and was coming
up to tic army during the action. having
observed the movement, threw liiSreeiucnt
cPPOrtuncy into small cover upon their
! flank, and by q heavy and well directed
| FIRE, entirely discoEcertel this attcnrt.
This WAS the last feeble strurrlc Of the
I -. 4 a. .4.