The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-09
EUROPE.
FPOML4YE LONrDoWPhpERs
LoNBoN. April g.,
Sir John Ntoore'a celebrated last letter.

Sir John Dioore'a celebrated last letter.
Yesterday we were favored with COPY of
the following letter of Sir Jolin Moore, which
has just been printed, in pursuance of the
order of the house of Commons, and Concern
ing which great curiosity has been excited.
| Extract Of a letter from Lieufeaant GEN,
erot SIR, John Moore, 10 discount Castle
rcdgh, dated.
CoRuNNA, January IS, 1909.
Situated as this army is at present, it is
| impossible for me; to detail to your Lortlship.
| the events which have taken place. since
had the honor to address Won from Astor,o
ON the 31st of December; have therefore
determined to send to England, Brigader
General Charles Stewart, as the officer best
q"aiihed to give you every information Won
can want, both with respect to our actual 81
tuation, and the events which hive led TO ;t
!" Your lordship knows, that If had follow
ed my own opinion, as a military man. 7
should have retired with the trmy from Sa
iamanca. The Spanish armies were then
Dcaten there was NO Spanish force to which
we could unite, and was satisfied thai no eff
forts would be made to aid us, or TO favo-
the cause in which they were engaged.
{" Twas sensible, however that the an,tby
and indifference of the Spaaiards woujd ne.
yer have been believed that had the Ri
tish been withdrawn, the loss Of the canse
would have been imputed to their retreat. and
IT was necessary to risk this army to convince
the people OF England as well as the rest of
Europe, that the Spaniards had neither the
power nor the inclination to make efforts for
themselves 1t was for this reason that 7
made the march to Sahagun. AS DIVERSE
on, 1t succeeded; brought the whole dfspo-
saDie force OF the French against this army.
q hlAr, II.~,- Il r.
single movement being made to favor INV
retreat. The people of the Gailicias. tho,
armed, made no attempt TO stop the passage
OF the French through their mountains. =
lhey abandoned their dwellings at our an
Proach, drove away their carts, oxen. and
every thing that could be of the smallest Aid
to the army. The consequence has been
that our sick have been left behind. and
when our horses or mules failed, which. ON
such marches, and through such a country.
was inc case to great extent, baggage, am
Ihuhltion, stores, &c. and even money were
necessarily destsoyed or abandoned.
am sorry, to say, that the army, whose
conduct l had .ich reason to extot ON ;ts
H'arch through Portugal, and its arrival in
, oPaih' mas totally changed its character since
began TO retreat. can say nothing in it's
favor, out that when there was a prospect
OF ngnting the enemy, the men were then or
deriy and seemed pleased and determined tn
no tneir DUTY. In front of Villa Franco. the
french came up with the reserve, and with
winch was covering the retreat of the ar
my they attacked it at Calcebelos re-
tired covered by the 95th regiment, and mar
ched that night to Herresas and from thence
TO NoSaies and Lugo, where had ordered
the different divisions which preceded. To
hait and collect. At Lugo, the French again
came up with us. They attacked our
advanced posts on the 9th and 9TH. and
were repulsed in both attempts with loss
ON our side. heard from the prisoners ta-
ken, That three divisions of the French army
were come up, commanded by Marshal
oouit' therefore expected to be attacked
vi me morning OF the 9Th 1t was my wish
10 come 10 that issue /; had perfect conf
uenee III the vaior OF the troops, and it was
only by gripping the enemy that we could
hope either to retreat or to embark unmo.
tested. 1 made every preparation to receive
Tie attack, and drew out the army ian the
morning to offer battle, This was not Mar
snai ooult,s object. He either did not think
n,Ihseh sufhciently strong, or he wished to
play surer game, by attacking us on orr
march, OF during our embarkatio The
country was interSected, and his position too
srtonS 1or me to attack with an inferior force
Inc want OF provisions would not enable me
~" ,o"SSr' marched that night and
IN TWO forced marches, bivouacing for six
OF elght hours, in the rain, Preached Betan
EOS on the 10th inst
:" AT Lugo, was sensible of the imposs-
Diiity OF reaching Vigo, which was at too
great distance, and offered no advantages to
embark IN the face of an enemy. NV inter.
tion was then TO have retreated to the Denin-
suia OF Betanzos, where hoped to find a
position TO cover the embarkation of the ar
my In Ares or Redes Bays; but having sent
an oncer to reconnoitre il, by his report
was determined to prefer this place. gave
notice to the admiral of my intention. and
begged that the transports might be brought
10 Corunna had ! found them here ON NV
arrival on the 18th, the embark alton would
easily nave been effected, for j had gained
several marches on the French They have
now come up with us, the transports have
hot arrived; my position in front of this
place IS very bad one and this place. If
am forced to retire into it, is commanded
WITHIN musket shot, and the harbour will be
SO commanded by cannon on the coast, that
no snip viii be able tolay in il. In short. my
Lloyd, General Stewart will inform Won how
critical our situation is. 1t has been recon-
mended to me to make a proposal to the e.