The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-08-01

totu anu <Ott CrdSOo'S, unuer tHc command
OF Major'Blakc, in pursuit of the enemy. and
destroyed many and took many prisoners.
> On the night Of the 1lth, thu: enemy eros
sed the Douro, and destroyed the bridge o.
yer that river. %..-
1t was important, with a view to the ope-
ration of marshal Beresford, that should
cross tlie Douro immediately and I had
Sent major General Murray, i'm the morning,
with a battalion of the Hanoverian Legion,
a squadron ofcavairy and two SIX Founders,
to endeavor to collect boats, and, if possible,
to cross the river at Ovintas, about four miles
above Oporto; and had as many boats as
could be collected, brought to the ferry, inn
mediately above the towns of Oporto and
Villa Nova.
fhe ground on the right bank of the river
at this ferry. is protected and commanded
by the fire Of cannon, placed IN the height of
the Sierra Convent at Villa Nova, ard there
appeared to be good position for our troops
on the other side ct the river. till they should
be collected in sufficient numbers.
he enemy took no notice OF cur collection
Of boats, or of the embarkation of tie troops,
till after the first battalion (the Buffs} were
landed, and had taken up their position un-
der the command of Lieut.. Gen. Paget, on
the opposite side the river. a.
They then commenced an attack upon
them. with large body ofcavairy, infantry
and artillery, Under the command of Mar
shall Soult, which that corps most gallan,ly
sustained. till supported successfully by 'thc
3ath and Goth regiments, belonging TO Ma
Jor Gen. Hills brigade, and a Portuguese
battalion, and afterwards by the first bat
talon belonging to Brig. Gen. Richard Stew
arts brigade. .
Lieut.. General Paget was unfortunately
wounded soon after the attack commenced,
when the command of these gallant troops
devoved upon Major Gen. Hill.
Although the French made repeated at
tacks upon them, they made no impression.
and at last Major Gen MURRAY having ap-
peared OH the enemy's left flank, OH his
march from Ovintre, where he had crossed.
and Lieutenant Gen. Sherbrookc, who by
this time had availed himself of the enemy's
weakness in the town ot Oporto and had
crossed the Douro at the ferry, between the
towns ut Villa Nova and Oporto, having APP
peared upon the right with the brigade of
guards and the 29th regiment, the whole re.
tired in the utmost confusion towards ANA
ranthe. leaving behind them five pieces of
cannon, eight ammunition tumbrls and ma
ny prisoners.
The enemy's loss in killed and wounded
in this action. has been very large, and they
have left behind them in Oporto 700 sick and
wounded. .
Brigadier Gen. the Hon Charles Stewart
then directed a charge by squadron of the
9Th dragons under the command of Major
Hcrvey, whomad successful attack on the
cnemy's rear guard. ?:
In the different actions with the enemy. of
which i have Above given your Lordship' an
account, we have lost some, and the imme-
diate services of oth0r valuable officers and
soldiers. 40 r .,
In Lieut. Gem Pager, among the latter, i
lTave lost the assistance of friend who had
been most useful TO me in the few DAYS which
had elapsed since he had joined the army
lie had rendered most important service at
tire moment he received his wound, in TIA
king up the position which the troops after
wards maintained. and in bearing the first
brunt of the enemy's attack
Major Hervcy also distinguished himself.
at the moment hereccived his wound, in the
charge of the cavalry on this day. 49,. r..
cannot say too muck in favor of the Off
GETS and troops. They have marched in
four days over eighty miles of most difficult
country, have gained many important posi-
tionsj and have engaged and defeated three
different eodics ofthe enemy's troops.
q i beg particularly to draw your lortIsiip's
attention the conduct of lieut.. gen. Paget,
maj. geH"Murray, maj. gen. Hill. lieut.: gen.
Sherbrocke, brig. gen the hon. Charles Stew
art, lieut.. col. Delancey;, deputy Quarter
Master Master Gen. and Capt Mallish,
Assistant hdjutant gen. for the assistance
they respectively rendered gen. Stewart in
the charge OF the cavalry this dav and ON
the 18th, Major Colin. Campbell, Assistant
Adjutant gen. for the assistance he rendered
Maj Gen. Hill in defence of his post, and
Brig. Gen. Stewart in the charge of the Ca
valry this day. and Brig. Maj. Fordyce, capt.
Cory, and capt. Hill, for the assistance they
rendered gen. Hill.
have also to request your lordships at
tention To- the conduct of the ri1emen, and of
the flank companies ofthe 2Dth, 43d, & sgd
regiments, Under the command of Major
Way ct the 29th, and that of the 10th
Portuguese regiment, commanded by colo
mel. Machado, of which, lieut.. col. Doyle is
heut. colonel; and that OF the brigade of the
Hanoverian legion, under the Command of
brig. gen. Langworth and that of the two
squadrons. of the 10th and goth light dra-
goons under the command of major Blake of
the 20th, in the action of the 1lth and the
conduct of the Bluffs, commanded by lieut..
col. Drummond the 18th commanded by
col. Duckworth, and Goth. commanded by
majorMurray who was wounded; and of
the squadron of the i4th dragons under con;
mand of Major Hervey, i'll the action of this
day.
have received the greatest assistance
from the adjutant general and quarter Mas
ter Gen. Cob Murray. and from all the off
GERS belonging to those departments respec
lively throughout the service, as well as from
A ILL.,