Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-10-09
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LoADos, AUG. i4.--1'he follow.
iag letter from Sir ARTHUR WEI-
Lesley, contains the principal par
tr.r-sr e TIC late battle in Spain,
between the French. and allied ar
uiss OF SPAN and England.
Letter from Sir .5rtbr l1eifqsg -
Eeri Csqlsrasb, dated Laiavea,
.jay 80, 1909.
My LRop,
General Cueita followed the ere-
my>s march with his army from the
Alberche on the morning of the oath,
as FIR as Scnta Olalla, and pulhed
towards his advanced guard as Tar as
Iorrijos.
For the rsafon itated to your lord
flip in my defpatch of the 24th, /
moved only : diviGons of infantry
aud brigade Of cavalry acrofs the
Alberchc to Cafalegos, under the
command Of Lieut.. gen. Sherbrooke,
with view to keep up the commu-
nication between gen. Cueisa and me,
and with Sir r. Wilson's corps
Elcolon.
1t appears that gen. Venegas had
not carried into execution that part of
the plan Of operations which related
/, his csrps, and that he was fill at
Carriel, in hiancha and the enemy
in the courfc of the 74th, 2sth. 10th,
collected all bis forces in this part
cf Spain, Torrijos and Toledo. leav-
my but a fnall corps of 1000 men in
thar place.
Ills united army thus conGifed Of
the corps Of MARTIAL Victor, of that
eff gen. Scbaltiani, and of 7 or 5000
men the guards Of Joleph bonaparte,
and the sarrifon of Madrid, aud it
was coms,arded by Jofeph Bona
parts, aided by marlhals Jordon and
Victor, aud general oebaitiani.
On the 10th gen. Cueita's adsan-
ced guard was attacked near Torrijos,
and obliged to fail back, and the gen.
retised with his army on that day to
the lef, bana Of the Albrrche, gen.
Sherbrooke confirming at Cafalegos,
ard the enemy at Santa Olalla.
Twas then obvious thar the ene-
my infcnded TO try the reiult of a
general battle, for which the beit
petition appeared to be in the neigh.
borhood of Talavsra, and gen. Cueits
having conicnted to take up this pc
ii.ion on the morning of the 10th,
ordered gen. Sherbrooke to retire
with his corps to its ltation in rh'
line, leaving general Mackenzie witt
diviGon of infantry ard hr'gad
of cavalry as an advance poit in tn
wood on lh- RIGHT Of AlbeIche, whlcl
.oycred our left flank.
The petition taken up by tn
troops at Talavera extended NOR
than two miles the ground was G
pen on the left where the Griffith AT
my was ffationcd, and it was con,
mapded by height on which was, i
echelon and in iecond line, div
lion Of infantry under the orders c
major gen. Hill.
There was valley between thi
height and range of mountains iii
further on the lett, which valley wa
not at frf occupied as it was com
nanded by the height before men
rioned and the range Of mountain
appeared too diitant to have an
inhuence upon the expected adtion.
The right, conliiling of Spanill
troops, extended Immediately il
front Of the town Of Talayera dow
10 the Tagus.. This part of th
ground was covered by olive trees
and much interfeaed by banks ans
bitches. The high road leading from
the bridge over the Alberchs, ~
dernded by heavy battery IN from
Of church, which was occupicd b,
5panilh iofantyy the avenues
TO the town were defended in lin
liar manner the town was occupied
and the remainder of the Spaniii
infantry was formed in two Inc
behind the banks on the roads which
led from the town and the right, Il
the LETT Of our petition.
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