The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-21
BATTLE OF SORNOSA.
fflVate on'n'HHFc4ltonS ./r0m al OHc4r Of
rank iu fhe ShaaiSh army.
"a

rum IN me Hlu"teH army
NALMAsEDA, Nov. g.
At day-breal Yesterday morning. the e.
nemy, who had received vcry~cSnsiderabie
relntorcements from Nittoria, attacked the
1aiilcian army, posted about Il league and a
quarter In advance OF Sorunosa, III the fol-
lowing order:
The FIRST regiment of the volunteers OF Ca
talonIa, being part of the vanguard, occupi-
eua nil 10 the right of the road leading to
Durango
The third division, commanded by gen. Ri
queiniI, was stationed OIL the heights to the
right or Sornosa to support the an-gua IT ,
and defend The right flank Of our p%ositisn.
In van guard, commanded by general
Nand!zabal, defended the road leading to
Durango.
ourcentre was drawn up iii line, on an G.
minence to the left andrear of the vanguard
Our left, commanded by brigadier general
flgnrora, possessed themselves of a hill to
the left Of the road. The base OF The hill
was joined to that occupied by the fourth di-
vision and reserve.
During the night of the 3Otl, the enemy
advanced his force in very large columns,
opposite to the different points which he
meant TO assail. The mex NOR ing, at day
break, the different columns moved forward
to the attack, their approach being conceal
iNhN fsNA ''AiSA iIES Az IL
these parts is prevalent in the morning.
HE first attack was made ON our right.
Two large columns advanced with tn inten-
ton OF surrounding that part OF cur force
ne enemy was opposed in q most steady
and gallant manner by the 4th regiment Of
the volunteers of Catalonia this famous
corpskcpt up atTe1nendous AID incessant fire
by pIatoons, and for a considerable time,
keptin check a force upwords of four times
IT'S own number. Two battaiions of marines
ana the H3adoreS, or sharp shooters. of the
THIRD or fourth division, reinforced the re-
gIfnent OF Catalonia however, being over
powered by numbers, they were obliged e
retire on the third division this enabled
the enemy to place a column ON the right
OF the third division. while another Co
lGmn attacked in front. The enemy adj
vanccd in force along he road, and attacked
the vanguard, which defended The road and
valley leading to Durango. The enemy was
most gtllantty and Vigorously "Pp~avd, aud
compelled to retreat to a considerable dis
lance. by tine van guard, Beaded by Gen.
Mandizabal. The enemy, however, having
considerably increased his numbers in this
point, advanced a second time, accompanied
by = howitzer and a four ponder. and sue
ceeded in gaining a sufficient advance on
the road. to enable him to bring his gun TO
bear (within about three quarters Of a gun
shot) On the centre and the left division.
Whilst these operations were carrying on
against our right and centre, the enemy
advanced two very strong columns against the
front of our left position; and at the same
moment a very numerous corps OF sharp
shooters (voltigcurs) advanced under Co
vcr Of the howitzer and four FOUNDER, and
got possession of "A wood which assembled
from the road to within less tnan musket-
Shot OF the right flank of the left position
This obliged general Fjguroa to throw back
ono TO the two battalions upon his right, to OPP
pose the enemy's light infantry. nothing
could be more gallant or more orderly than
the enemy attack Of this post ine advanced
III tie greatest military regularity, under
q most tremendous FIRE. Inc gallantry OF
the enemy's attack could be only equallcd by
the intrepidity OF the defence made by the
LIST division. It is impossible for me to do
justice to the soldicr-likc conduct Of this
division. Attacked on their side by q very