The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-11-07
SECOND DESPATCH

JUiy % 1909"
SECOND DESPATCH.
Most Excellent Sir-At seven ycste rday
evening" i communicated to you information
of the repeated attacks of the enemy and our
rcsolute defence. When night came on. hos
silities began to relax. but without the enemy
abandoning his position. A little efl,e day
break. the enemy began to retreat, and has
repassed the Albevchr in the directs ion tow
ards Cazalegas and Santa Oial,a. dcspairiug
of being able tn dslodge as, or even to move
us in our position. They have left the field
OF battle strewed with carcases and wound
ed, who had neither ;ime nor power to re
tire They have suffered q dreadful loss,
which would have been greatet if our trpnps
had not been prevented from pursuing die
by fatigue and want of provisions. The En-
giish have likewise suffered mach in the loss
of three Generals, several srbaltern officers
and a number If men (; hut, they cannot be
denied the glory ofhaving fought with much
valor and discipline. AID forced the French
TO acknowledge, that they never Weld in
any enterprise, esp oiallv Il commanded
and conducted by their Intelligent, active
and brave leader. Sir Ar'hur Wellesley.
The ) ani,h troops, and espec a,ly those
which had the greatest tare of -ne action,
left me nothing o wish for, with respect TO
their Courage and galiantry. The fierce and
we'll supported IRE OF our infantry ,epui,ed
the repeated attacks of he eneaIy, and the
charge of our cavalry caused them much
loss. The Kings regiment has in particu-
lar, covered itself with glory. and in con.
junction with the English, took several
pieces of Cannon, and m.de prisoners Ge
neral, Colonel and several officers I'D
request that its olonel, hrigadier Don 10
Sepn Maria de LastreS may Ce promoted to
the rank OF Lieutenant General, for having
attacked at the lead of his regiment, giving
the best example.
g From the accounts of the prisoners, we
know that the whole guard OF Joseph Napo
leon. was present in the attack OF Yesterday
morning, and it was upon thaJ that Joseph
placed mis- principal reliance; but when he
saw II repuised aud routed, he immediately
he'd TO Santa Oaila We likewise know that
his army in conservation aud confusion took
the road towards To,edo withouS provisions
or any means OF suOsl stguce.
L o Conclude, the pressure of Iim- only
permits me 10 say, that this has been tue
most glorious and important action OF the
whole war, and that which / nope wii open
to us the road to the Ebro is soon as we
can procure the necessary supplies for the
troops
. May God preserve your ExcelIency ma
ny years.
~
" Head quarters, Iaiavera,
July 20 1909 Ten in he morning."
Accounts from the same General Cues
"a, dated the next day, 30th, from the head
quarters at Talavera, state that the enemy,
TO the number o. 10000 men, were still To
be seen on the heights on the other side OF the
river Alberche. Our van guard occupied
the head # the bridge the Spa mali
army IN front of Talavera, and the British
formed in line on car left, little in the
rear 1t is likewise said, that by the con
tession of the French themselves, and by az
counts worthy OF credit, their loss amounted
to between and 10 600 men, and among
the wounded is Marshal Victor, severely SO
A Gen. of Division is killed. O'Farri!l, Ne
gree. aud Casa Pataco. were present in
the Dattie part OF the enemy were mi
ed III burning the dead. "... Government
Gazette lug ).