Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-09

'hcir retreat. and Il " pscessary to risk
his army I, convince he nenpie Of Eng
land. as wei! as the rest of Europe. that
be SDana'ds had nei,her the p,wer no
tie nciina ion TO m Ike efforts for then
selves. 1t WAS Cor his reason ,ha, r,ade
the march 10 Sabagun. As dives s;on i,
succe led; brought the whole dispose.
BILE t''ce Of The French against this army,
and /, has been allowed TO follow me, with.
out single movement being made tn ia
vor my retres. The pc pile If the Cali
c'as, though armed made no attempt to
stop the passage OF the French through
their mountains. They abandoned their
dwellings a, our approach. drove away their
Carts, oxen and every thing that could be
OF the smallest aid 10 the army. The con.
sequence has been, that our sick have been
iett behind; and when our horses or mules
tailed which, on such marches, s. through
such country, was the case to great
extent, baggage, ammunition, stores, e C..
and even money. we're necessarily destroy
ed or abandoned.
am sorry To say that The army whose
conduct had such reason % ex,nl on it's
march through Portugal. and on is ARR,
val IN Spain, has 'o,aily charged its char.
acter since il began To retreat. can xay
no,hing in IFS favor. bat that when tbare
"as prospect OF fighting the enemy.
me men were then orderly and seemed
pleased aud determined to ~ their di,y.
la front OF Villa Frauca, The French came
up win the reserve, with which I was CO.
'erng the retreat oflhe army: hey NJ.
tackled 1t a, Ca'cebelos. re ired, cover
ed by the 95th regiment, and marched
that nigh, to Herresias, and from thence
to Noga'e' and Lngo, where I had order
ed the different divisions which nreced.d
to hal' and col'ect A, Lugo, The French
again came up with us. They attacked
our advanced posts on the 6:h and III
and we're repu!sed in bnh a,temats, W IN
loss on our side. heard from he prison.
ers taken, that three divisions of he
French army were come up, commanded
by marshal Snult; I therefore exDee1ed
TO be attacked on the morning OF The 9th.
IL was my wish 10 come 10 tina; issue;
had perfect confidence in the yalaur Of th,.
troops and it was only by Gripping the
enemy that we could hope eithe. 10 re,rea,
or TO embark unmoles,ed Imade every
preparation to receive the attack, and draw
out the army N the morcinr to offer ba,.
tie. This ~as 10, marshal Soult's obieef.
lie either did not think himself suaici.
enily strong, or he wished to p,ay a SUI.
rer game, by attacking us On our march.
or duclng our embarkaion. The coun.
try was in ersected. and his posi,io, too
strong Tor me TO attack with an inferior
force. The want of provisions would not
enable me to wal, longer. marched tha,
night; and in Two forced marches, bivou.
acing for, six or eight hours IN n.
RAIN, reached Betanzos on the 10Th in.
stant.
{" At Lugo, was sensible ofthe imDos.
slbiiiIy OF reaching V'go, which vas
too great distance, and offered no ad
vaniages TO embark IN the face of an en-
emy, My intention was then 10 have
re.Feated to the peninsula of Be,anzos
where hoped TO find position 10 cover
the embarhaIion OF the army in Ares o.
Redes Bays but having sent an Off
Ger to reconnotre II, by his repor, i
was determined TO prefer tbs place. 4
gave notice TO the admiral OF my men.
ton, and begged THAI the Transports m,ehiI
be brought to Corunna had found tben,
here Oh my arriva! on The il,h, the em
barkaiion would easily have been effected.
for had gained several marches on ths
French. They hac now come I'D win
us, the transports have not arrived ::
my position In the front OF this MACE
IS very bad one and this place. ri
am forced to reure into il, is com.
manded within musket shot, and ,he
Ina boue Will be SO Commanded by can
bon oil the coast, that no SHIP will be a
BILE TO lay in II. In short, M lord gen.
) ewart vii infotm you how critical our 81.
tuatIon is. 1t has been recommended Il,
me TO make proposal to The enemy. To
induce him 20 allow us to embark o,,eiiv
IN which case Inc gels Us QUE OF The conn
try soon, and this place, with its store
&c. complete; that otherwise we have
the power 10 make locg defence, when
mus, cause the destruction OF the town
l am averse to make any such proyesal
and am exceedingly doubtful f It wpuls
be attended wl.h any good effect bu,
whatever resolve on this head, 1 hone
your loTdship will rest assured. tina, sbslii
accept no terms that ave in the leas, do
honorable 10 the army or 10 the coun
try"