Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-24

- p q
Private communications from an officer Of
rank in the Spanish army
VALMAsEDA, Nov. "a
AT daysbreak yes erdsy morning, the
enemy, who had received very considers.
BILE reinforcctnenis from Vit,oria, attacked
the Gsllicisn army, posted about league
1 and quarter in advance o! Sornosa, in
the following order:
The first regiment Of the volunteers OF
Catalonia being part of the vanguard, &C
cupied hill TO the right OF The road lead
ing 10 Durango.
The third division, commanded by gen.
Riq:slmi, was stationed ON the he,ghs 10
the right Of Sornosa, 10 support the van.
guard, and defend the right flank of our
position.
The vanguard, commanded by general
Mandizabal, defended The road leading 10
Durango.
Our centre was drawn up in a line on
an eininence TO the left and rear of the
vanguard.
Our left, commanded by brigadier gen.
FigIsoa possessed themselves of hill 10
the left of the road. The base of the hill
was joined 10 that occupied by the fourth
division and reserve.
During the night of the ,30,h,the enemy
advanced his force in very large columns,
opposite 10 he d,fferc points which he
'neaat 10 assail the next morning at
day break, the different columns moved
forward to The attack, ihelr approach being
concealed by a very heavy and thick fog,
which IN these parts is prevalent in the
morning.
The frs, attack was made on our right
Two large columns advanced, With the in i.
teb,ion of surrounding tha, part of our
force. The enemy was opposed IN most
steady and gallant manner 3y the a n re-
ginent OF the volunteers of Catalonia
this Ian, corps kept up a Tremendous
and incessant fire by p!atoons, aud for a
considerable dme kept in Check, a force
upwards of four times its own NUMBER -.
Two battalions of marines, and the ira
dores or shacp shooters, of the third or
forth division, reinforced the regiment of
CATALONIA; however, being oyerpo .ered
by numbers, they were obliged 10 re,i,e
on the Sd division this enabled the enemy
TO place column on the right Of the Sd
division, while another column attacked ~
trout. The enemy advanced in force a.
Hong the road, and attacked the vanguard,
WITCH defended The road and valley lead
ing to Durango. The enemy was most
CALAMITY and vigorously opposed, and com.
PEELED to retreat to consider Bile distance,
by Inc vanguard headed by gen. Mandi
zabal. Th> enemy, however, having con.
siderably reipforced his numbers, in this
point, advanced second time, accompa.
med by howrzer aud four"pounder, &
succeeded in gaining a sufficient advance
OF the road, to enable him 10 bring his
gun to bear (witbin about three quarters
OF gun shoD on the centre and the left
division.
Whilst these operations were CARRYING on
against our right and centre, the enemy ad
yanced two very strung columns against the
front of our left position and at the same
moment, very numerous corps of sharp.
shooters tvOltigeurs) advanced under cover
OF wood winch assembled from the road 10
Wlth'n less than musket-shot of the right
nank of the left position. This Obliged ge
neral Fi5uroa to throw back one or Two
oattalions upon his right, 10 oppose the enc
ny's light infantry. Nothing could be more
gallant or more orderly than the es.mv's
attack OF this post; he advanced in the
greatest military regularity, snder most
tremendous fire. The gaIlantry of tie enc
mIy's attack could only be equalled by the
intrepidity of the defence made by the first
division. 1t is impossible for me to do Jus
tee TO the soldier like conduct of this divi-
SION. Attacked on their side by very su.
perior force, and occasionally fired on by
tle nowitzer and four FOUNDER, they defend
ed their post with determined obstinacv.
The enemy were equally obstinate and oer.
seyering, and being enabled by their very
superior numbers to nearly surround The
NIL occupied by this gallant division, ge.
neral Figuroa felt himself called upon to
order a retreat; which was effected with
rs much order as existing circumstances
would admit of. Whilst the first division
was thus engaged, the enemy kept no a
heavy lire ofshot and shell, and some mus
fetry urom the woods in our 'front.' ON the