Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-04-01

SIR,
In my letter of the 18th instant, had
the honor 10 transmit a copy of my letter
of the same date, 10 his excsl!ency lieut..
gen. sir David Baird, apprisipg him OF
my arrival ia the river Plata, and of my
intention to occupy a position on shore, TO
await his further orders.
I, in consequence, immediately recon.
noiued, from ,one of The frigates, which
led NE sufficiently close in shore for
the purpose, the works of the place, and
the pcsllicn, and offences in the vicinity
Of Monte Vid-c. from which I formed,
as the most eligible mode 0! attack, the
idea Of being able TO cary The town and
citadel by ASSAULT on the south face edgIng
on the water. 10 co operat On with the
ships Of the squadron under commodore
sir Home popham, which were to silence
the batteries on shat face, so as TO enable
the troops to land and enter. The at.
tempe wa, accordingly made CO ths 2s,h
BY the navy bur the waer bries TOO
shall W t. admit Of the ships coming sui.
dc,enlIy near 10 canncnade il wi h ,@i,eet,
further effort was necesssri Y given up.
Upon this deemed it advisable, with
the co, operative concurrence Of sir Home
Popham, 10 take possession of the town
Of Maldonadc, as favorable position for
the purpose Of refreshing the troops,
mounting nay cavalry, aad carrying ON
such other arrangements aa might hereat
ter SpDear most necessary.
Not a nomen. was lost and accord
ingly, on the evening Of tie 20 b, laud
ed wi IA about 400 men, composed priuci
pally Of a part OF the Ss,h regiaens, under
colonel Vassal, and advanced against the
town, which seemed TO be occupied by
shout 600 regulars aad militia, mos ly
mounted, with enc how;tzer. and oae long
four pounder field piece, both brass.
No withs.anding we were without any
artillery, he enemy were 5000 dispersed,
with The loss # the!r gsns, and about so
nrn killed and wounded The loss on
our side was Tvs killed ard tou wounded,
OF his malesty's S3,h rsglmn'.
10 toe coo! Iutrr pidity Of our litIe CO. |
Inmn on his OCCASION much praise is due,
as ]; advanced with The urn:ost steadin-ss
and alacr'y,. srd wi,hou; firing single /.
sho', until sufhcisn,ly near TO make cey
eainy Of carrying both the guas aud the
tow, which was principally done by the
bay oue', noswlhsSandlt yhe advance was
mad under heavy discharges OF graps and
nu.ketfy
10 he we'll known gai'an'ry and ability
of csl. Vasssl .eel myself much indeb'
ed; snd The con3oct Of every o;her officer (
IN the field has commanded my ihauks. |
AT day break yesterday NO piog | de-
sacked Col. Vassai 80 take possession OF |
the heavy bs,er,es On the bach Of the !
SaasbQr, and on ,h- peninsula, which pre- {
clnoed any COMMUNICATION sor the enemy I
ba.ween she main lane .aad tbs srreog isl. |
add aud ps s, Of Goresti, situated 10 and |
much commanding he by of Nalcoaado,
and which ia consequence in the course OF
she day, surrendered at discretion 20
summons sent from sir Home popham,
add hereby prevented the necessity OF
carrying IT by storm, and the consequen !
bloodsh7d 'ha: might have ensued. Oar
ing yesterday and shis morning the chief
par, Of the remainder of the troops have |
been landed, and have already conl9iv.
ed to mount nearly one half oimy cava!s !
~.
The Wellington rrarspor. being direc;. |
ed TO sal! Immediately to England, have
taken the lbsrsy Of addressing this .hort
account of my proceedings directly to yon,
sir home Popham having represented to
me his inability TO dlspatsh a vessel atshis
tine to the Cape OF Coco Hoppe pssc!ed.
ing me the power of making my repor,
thro' he regular channel of lieut.. general
sir David Baird.
I ought not to OMIT to mention shs very
steady aqd praise worthy conduit. Of a