Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-10-16

the Newly ork Gazette.
Gazette Of The Government, 18Th dug.
The extraordinary Cazttte otthe 9Th in
stan,, contains an account of the glorious
defence which our troops made on the 5th,
on the banks OF the Taeus at ArsnJuez, "a
eanst the repeated attacks OF the enemy
The government has now the satisfaction OF
publishing the circumstances OF that brilliant
action, in With the discipline, valer and
enthusiasm Of The defenders of their coun.
try were so much Distinguished. LIE
whole nation will pay them the merlted tri-
butte Of praise and grati,cde, on reading the
following official letter from General Den
Francisco Venegas TO the minister OF war.
Nest Excellent Sir,
At half after FIVE in tie afternoon OF the
9Th, l received letter from the captain
gcne,al Den Gregorio de la Cuesta, IN
which he communicated to NE his determi
nation to march on the night ct the Sd, and
follow the English army which mad march
ed at day break in order TO form a junction
with it and face that OF Soult which was adj
vancine towards P!asencia. | immediately
70, esaw that nv army would be attacked, as
soon rs Joseph Napoleon and Victor who
were in lIlescas and Maque da, the former
with 10000 men, and The latter with 10000
should be informed of thar movement. That
expectation made me go 10 Aranjuez at
dav break on the 5th, accompanied by the
pricipal officers of the artillery and cngi-
ncers, with several officers belonging to my
staff, for the purpose OF examining the po-
si,ion OF these divisions, and pointing cut
the places which they ought to occupy in
order to improve the advantages of the
ground.
The brigadier Lacy whose division form
ed the van at the bridge Largo, had two
leagues TO march in order to repass the Ta-
gus at the bridge dc la Reyna, the only one
fit to cross, and ii being easy for the enemy
to cot off that division, l Immediately d.
reeted, that, leaving there body of caval.
nv, he should iall back and post himself in
the twelve streets. There determined that
in case OF attack he should occupy the ridge
of hills contiguous to Ontlgela, which be-
gins at Mount Farnassus, and that the pas
sage of the river should he defended to the
last extremity. These measures being TAX
en-, the only ones then required by the cir
cumstances, returned to my head-quar-
tiers. But scarcely had three hours elapsed,
when received intelligence from brisadier
Don Pedro Augustin GiroE, who by SEMI
ority commanded the three divisions, that
they had just seen columns of the enemy's
infantry, cavalry and artillery, upon the
bridge Largo, some having already crossed
it and successfully received accounts of
the encrease of their numbers, and that near
the ford cf Ancver great cloud of dust
was seen; from all which circumstances
| entertained no doubt but that the enemy
intended a serious attack, and supposed that
he had been joined in our rea, by troops
from Toledo, or the ford Of Anover. To
guard against all those dangers, directed
Giron to cause Lacy Immediately to repass
he Tagus, and destroy the bridge de la
Reyna, to occupy the above mentioned po-
'ition on the hills of On,isola, and that af-
er defending vigorously the passage of the
liver and the other positions, should mis-
fortune obllge him to retreat, it should be
towards Ocana, to which place caused
he fourth division to march and post itself
IN the heights which are on the left of the
'oad to Araniuez, with the triple object of
assisting that place, it necessary, favor
ng the retreat OF those troops in case of
misfortune, and resisting the expected at
ack IRON Toledo or Anoyer, sending part
of his cavalry tow a. lis that to,o, to OBJ
serve the troops which were isI orted to
&c there, and oppose their passage. These