Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-04

E sf,act ga letter from an off,.
engaged IN the actin Of 44 a1 s
May "A, at night, .J,oM a feE 'a
Ga1tra. - ata
/" This morning, at 8 o.c,o,.
the enemy's columns, with arm 'ae
valry, made a furious attack ofa. y
tion on the height in front Of 1 H.
The small force under the ord ' TOT
gallant colonel Ma.ne, Of the loysI W
Man legion, governor cons,sfs ,al
men OF the regiment oi ldarbs ~ y
the first division of the royal I,,s w.
gion with six pieces of ordnance. =, e
my were 1o,CCo foot ard ,5oob,,
and had Q feld-pieces. Our AMY
infantry fought with such fury, y,
Incredible vigor, until sun Set u, dAa
maintained the pass against slI,b.s
OF the enemy, notwithstanding hi,
.slve superiority. AS the wbol+ 4
troops were engaged, they kent n,
tremendous fire. We SUSTAINED se rs
but it was trlalng in comparison ofh.
my's which amounted to 1900 m,n >
The intrepid 1t. col. Grant, (the -.
command1 who had been wounded !.
yious affair, for he never turns H..
gave, with has usual bravery, the ma
tectual assistance to the acting col. Nd
who was thereby enabled to make
orderly retreat, saving the whole of NJ
tIllery.
The enemy's cavalry pursued as j,
senlng; bat, in consequence of the an.]
positions OF our commandments, they hu,]
been ableto retard our march as thcv,rl
ed, and still less to prevent our tatip,1
OF the wounded, or collecting the s,rass
II is impossible for me adequately howl
the intrepidity and unrivalled coaiu,tT,
officers and men. There is no occas,r,
mention the Innate sang 5roid, Drawer
prudence OF the subjects of his Buia|
majesty, and which shone with 50 muA1
tire in col. Mayne and 1t. col. Grant, sna
is known by experience, that the EncEA|
not light like men but ike lions. Wild
clude by stating, that all the indlyidus
the loyal Lusltanian legion, without CO
ton, fought like men worthy Of the nam.
Soldiers. The same ought to be said d
regim ent of ldanha. Ii YOU had BEEN,
sent at this glorious action, you Wouds
seen an internal fire.
We have lost capt. Valente, &.
number Of men missing, amounted TO
most of whom were dispersed, and are G
joining.
IT, as appears to be the case, Victor
made this attempt TO disengage Solt
making diversion in his favor, he cans
that determination too late, and q. an us
sonable time. Every thing concurs to gt
that The French proceed without dat d
beration, and that the If last movemcni
the Peninsula have been directed by asp
of error and madness, and are not the con-
quences OF regular plan.
the bravery OF those 1900 Portusus,
the battle Of Alcaa,ara will be rsob
with distraction, i'll the page Of history
does it fall short Of the most brilliant sifPS
OF our ancestors.
Off -ial aceoun 8 have been received
Badajoz, under date l7th, OF goa. Cas1
advanced guard having reached Mera
the 26th, anu summoned the French v "
had remained there to surrender lH1'lso'
" I; bat the latter trusting to the ha'p :
ments they have thrown up, and la''~.
to defend thl mselves, the spanln " !,
mandant had sent to Badajoz tor so~ = :
Wy ordnan;e to batter their WORKS."
had already been sent him. l..
General Cuesta, with the ren'alnoa
his army, was following the advanceas.'
and, if marshal Victor does not ha''. ;,
retire, he must naturally undergo nv :
fate that marshal Souls must have und''s'
BY this time.