The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-21

superior force, and occasionally fred ON By
Ne howitzer and. four poundcr. they de-
N"ucu theNr post with determined obsti,a.
~ ihey appeared resolved rot to Yield a
foot OF ground. The enemy were souallv
ooStnate Ind oersevering and Being epsb'ed
!! 'heir very superior numbers 10 '.iear ly
surround me hill occupied By this gallant di-
VISION general Fignroe felt himself called
upon to order a retreat which was etrscted
with as much order as existing 'circnmstan~
ces would admit OF. Whist the LIST division
was thus engaged. the eremy KEEP. no hea-
. t'fe vi shot aud she'll. and some muske,rv
lirom the woods lii oar fvont) on the centre
oINtSieh aad tie rescrve.-The Guns were
supported by two very large columns and a
~uispcstb.e reserve.
Nothing cou.d exceed the soldier like stea.
diness Win which the fourth division and re-
serve remained Oh their post under this hca-
'! hre; this courage Will not be wondered
al Wien L mention that the commander in
Chief hinseif was at the head of the centre
o'NlSioh' an'matiog the soldiers by his pre-
se'Ve ana example. When the first shcl,
outSe' mere general Bake repaired, and
pi''cu MS horse ON the very spot, displayed
ms ol~'lsiohnito two lines, part OF the reserve
Remaining IN COLUMNS, HIS, address to the
,sofdierS was simple, and spoke TO their feel
lnss-N ficmeaiber Won are Spaniards: be
srin soldiers. Never did the most vcte-
ran troops, or those most accustomed to can
hoh' remain more cool, steady, and deter
thihco' After an action of nearly 9 hours in.
cessaht hre, Kit became evident that the en-
envy h~d received very great achievements,
and having been cnabled by the assistance f
his cannon [of which aid this army was ell
tirely des'itute] to push forward a strong
force against our centr~. and having in con-
sequence occupied the woods thanking the
rIuiif ,f ann. If ,,,-,h,,, - -ac 1900 IL
visable to retreat. General Blake placed
himself at the head of the fourth division and
part OF the reserve, and in person superin-
tended aud directed the covering of the re-
treat of mis- army, which was effected in or
der, the enemy not appearing inclined to mo-
lest our movements. By eleven o'clock on
the night OF the 3O,h October, the most part
OF the troops arrived at BiibOa.
Early in the morning of the first (~ve.ter-
day. gen. Blake arrived in that town with
the fourth division, and lost not a moment in
proceeding to the great square, where he su-
~peTintended in person the issue Of bread and
spirit to the troops. Nothing could exceed
their JOY AT seeing their general return to
them. a false report having obtained that ne
had been Cut oil il covering tns retreat.
No language of rnlne could do sufficient
justice to the galiantry and ardor of the Of
hcers and soldiers Oft is army in the action
OF YESTERDAY. luuSt however, the statement
OF facts which / have given, III a plain un-
vanished manner, will give some idea Of
their brave conduct.
Nothing can exceed the patience, md I
may add, the cheerfuIness of the Spanis,
soldiers, under difficulties and privatons Of
-! sorts.
The-impressson left on my mind from the
account OF yesterday, is decidedly favourable
to the Spanish soldiers.
The effect produced on their bosoms from,
Yesterdays defence, is a manly and soldier
Ike pride, arising from a s~elSconyictioa o;
heir having don their duty.