Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-14

we're wound which deprived the AMY
of your services, lieutenant general sir
John Moore, who had just directed the
most able dispositions, fell by can
mon shot. The troops, tho not unac-
lquainted with the irreParable loss they
had sustained, were not dis mayed, but
by the most determined bravery. no.
only repealed every attempt of the ene-
my to gain ground, bat actually for
lced him to retire, although he had
brought up fresh troops in. support Of
those originally engaged. The enemy,
finding himself foiled in every attempt
to force the right of the, position, en-
deavoured by numbers to turn it. A
ljudicious and well timed movements,
which was TX ade by major general Pa
get, with the reserve, which corps had
moved out of its cantonments to sup
port the right Of the army, by woo
rous attack, defeated this intention.
The major general having pushed
forward the 95th (ri2e corps) and 1st
battalion s2nd regiments, drove the
enemy before him, & in hisrapid & ju-.
dicious advance, threatened the left of
the enemy's position.
This circumstance, with the positi-.
on oflieutenant general Fraser's divi-
sion, Calculated to give still further
security to the right of the line) indu-
Iced the enemy t. relax his efforts In
that quarter. They were, however
more forcibly directed towards the
centre, where they were again success
fully resisted by the brigade under ma
jor gen. Manningham, forming the left
pf your division, and part of that IN
der major gen. Leith, forming the right
of the division under my orders. Upon
the left, the enemv at first contented
himself with an attack upon our pic
lquets, which however in general main
tained their ground. Finding howe
yer his efforts ,unavailing on the right
and centre, he seemsd determine to
render the attack upon the left more
serious, and had succeeded in obtain
ling possession of the village through
which the great road to Madrid pass
les, and which was situated in front of
THAT part Of the line. From this past,
however, he was soon expelled, with
considerable loss, by a gallant attack
of some companies of the I'd battalion
18th regiment, under lieutenant colo
incl Nicholls-before Eve in the even.
ing, we had not only successfully repel-
led every attack made upon the positi-
on, but had gained ground in almost
jail points; aud occupied a more for
ward line than AZ the commencement
of the action, whilst the enemy conf
ned his operations to cannonade, and
a fire ofhis light troops, with a view to
draw off his other corps. At six the
firing entirely ceased, The different
brigades were re-sssembled on the
( ground they occupied in the morning,
and the picquets and advanced posts
resumed their original stations. Not
withstanding the decided and marked
superiority which at this mo- nent the
gallantry of the troops had given the IN
over an enemy, who from his number
and the commanding advantages of his
position, no doubt expected an easy vic.
tory, L did not, on reviewing all cir.
cumstances, conceive that I should be
warranted in departingfromwha knew
was the fixed and previous determine.
ton OF the late commander of the for.
ces, to Withdraw the army on the even
ing of the 9th, for the purpose of em.
barkation, the previous arrangements
for which had already been made by
his order, and were in fact, far adyan.
ced at the commencement of the action.
The troops Quilted their position at a.
bout ten at night, with degree of or
der that did them credit. / he whole
Of the artillery that remained uncmb ar.
ked having been Withdrawn, the troops
/ followed in the order prescribed, and
marched to their respective points OF
embarkatation in the town and neigh
borhood OF Corunna. The picquets re-
manned at their posts unit, FIVE in the
merning of the 18th, when they were
also Withdrawn with similar orders
and without the enemy having disco
vered the movement. BY the unre nit
ted exertions of captains the hon. II.
Curtin, GoSelin, Boys, Rainier, Ser