Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-29
Extracts fran Pirate letters.
BRNIcARLo, March IL.

BENIcARLo, March II.
I hare much pleasure III making you &C
quainted with the continuance OF success
which attends the patriotic and gallant ex-
ertions of the armed peasantrv in Catalonia.
These little successes, whilst they animate
the Spanjards, are most seriously injurious
to the enemy.
Upon the 9th Of this month, a party Of
French dragons, of 40 men, having laden
their horses in the neighborhood OF Rendl.
bitles, were surprised by the Somatenes:
and every horse taken. The dragons CT
fected their escape. The loss Of these hor-
Sos will be most seriously felt BY the enc
my.
Upon the 9Th, in the morning, the So
matches in possession OF the heights above
Nouns del Rey, upon the left bank OF the
ID thA-enemy, who
were ~repulsed and, in the course Of thai
night, they retired from Molins del Rey.
and passed the bridge, which was immedi-
ately occupied by 400 Of the peasants.
Upon the morning of the 10th, a small
corps OF infantry, supposed to be 800 men,
and 40 dragons, with a field piece, attack
ed Somatenes, and droye them across the
bridge and, imagining there would be no
farther resistance, attempted to proceed
with the intention to open the communica-
ton with Barcelona, which was now cut off
between that city and General St. Cyr,
whose line Of intercourse ran from Walls
through Villa Franco and Molins del Rev.
1 he gallant peasants had only fallen back TO
the heights over that village, SO that, al the
N when the enemy imagined their
difficulties were overcome, they were so
vigorously attacked rs to be forced back up
on the bridge, where they took post, and
the action became most obstinate, nor could
the enemy repass the bridge without diff
Guilty, as a party of Somatenes had posted
The mselses at a house at the extremity Of
1t. For four hours the firing was incessant,
both parties anxiously awaiting succors at
the Tercio OF Tebecun arrived, un-
der the command Of an excellent officer, Co.
lionel PhilipsFuris. This was the signal for
an immediate charge upon the enemy, which
effected with great gallantry and impe-
The piece of artillery, its horses
and ammunition-waggon fell into ourhands,
! 80 men were left dead upon the spot, and
an officer and SO men made prisoners. Nor
IS it supposed that any of the infantry were
able to escape: for, of those who attempt
to retire towards Villa Franco, 40 were
killed at the bridge of Lidone (@across a
leep gully which intersccts the man road)
md many others were found in different
of the Ioads.-The officer command
ng, supposed to be general Chabran, and
us ald-de-camp, together with the cavalry,
their escape, all the hrelocks, drum
nd knapsacks, of this division, fell into
ne hands of the intrepid peasants, who
lad the satisfaction to release a Spanish
'hcer and seventeen men, who had been
made prisoners that very morning. Several
Ulcers and soldiers are highly recommend
d to the captain general for their con-
luct, and particularly a sergeant of the re-
,lment Of Baza Cot which corps there Was
Enactment engaged: } he was shot through
thigh but Immediately upon tying 0p