Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-05-18

OR tI,s, fssh of Nosember, fhe ats,y
,narched from Santa Cruz back % Doa Bar.
rios. The areatrst pare shs army was Ten
miles ia ffronss of Ocsna. Major general
Brrnez and ths cavalry arrfyed q Ocana at
81 o,clack in the afternoon. They found
.tifere the Ftsnch general. Paris, with 500
dfaroons and Poles, About 400 SPsniards
alesck ed Sthem. The engagements was well
contested. Fo0r or Ave hundred men on
both s;des fell blythe sword, smong whom
was general Paris, who was singled out and
CARRIE out Of the saddle by enc sf the iss.
teras Of Pavia. 80, y. q & :: ~ x
The army Sipepacqaed that night. The
next morning the French army, which has
been collecting some days, presented itself,
hsying crossed the Tagus in the nieht.-----
General Arsissga drew out his array to re-
.eeiye them |; his disposition was bad He
divided into tvo equal parts one on each
side Of Ocana, which stands in an immense
plain, and touching the town, both wingsen
Fair This was bad, because though was
easy to communicate before and behind the
town, yetit divided the line. The ground
fell little in front, and there was a gentle
slope to some olive plantations about two
miles insfroat, behind which the Freneh
were, amounting tof4s 900. There was q.
nosher error in the disposition, the second
line was too near the 6rst, so that there was
not room to rally the latter in case of disor-
der. Most Of The cavalry were upon she
right flank in four lines a vicious DISPOSE
ton, because they made little show, and
were neither cGlu,nn nor line. The artille.
ny was all stationed upon the TANKS cfeach
:diviaioa, aud was admirably served {; the
Spanish artillery is their best arm, ;.
AT seven O'Clock 10 the morning, the Skin.
mishes of the Spanish aimy, under the
young general Zayes, who commanded the
advanced guard, and who is one of themost
distinguished soldiers in Spain, attacked
and drove back tie French cavalry. Be-
tween and 9o'clock, all tho Spanish army
was in order OF ba.sle, about $4,000 men,
and tho cannonade began on both Sides
The French fred from battery in their
centre, diagonally, upon the Spanish right,
and struck the cavalry often, who supported
the cannonade for long time, with great
s,eadiness and discipline. The French
then ADVANCED several strong columns from
the olives, and marched towards the Spanish
centre and right. -.
AT this moment, the Spanish general
gave orders to the whole of the, line on the
RICH, Of Ocana, to advance and charge with
bayonets the cavalry moving on also c.
quail with the infantry. The line advanced
more than 200 PAGES. The: French columns
in the mean time deployed, and gave great
/ FIRE Of vollies by battalions, and grape,
which checked the Spaniards. The French
cavalry attacked the left and were repulsed;
bit they enssred with their cavalry the cen.
tire. They maneuvled under the FIRE of
the Spaniards with several ,columns, and
thsir cavalry Showed itself on the left. The
9Th Spanish division, which was on the
right Of the infantry, and Immediately next.
the cavalry, was thrown into come confu.
sion, but as often rallied, formed column,
and came on. Two regiments Of that d.
visionFbe havsd nobly; the FIRST battalion OF
the Spanish guards, and the fifth Of Sc
vile. They remained IN the line tn. whole
time floating backwards and forwards, bat
always facing the enemy. The guards, who
were 900 strong, LETT q officers and $50
men on the field the 5th Of Seville had
$50 in action, and abou. 80 have been ac-
counted for. Thisis the regiment which
so much distinguished itself with air 10.
bert Wilson at'Puer.o de Banos, and which
10 mentioned by him. y. -... T..
Atlength French close column under
marshal Mortisr marched az pa, de charge
breke the line, and its head came equal to
the second line of cavalry. At this instant
the French dsployed. A great many pie.
ces of artillery in front Of the cavalry kept
up heavy discharge Of grape, suppo rtsd
by q line Of infantry, and the cavalry ad.
vaneed to charge the right fthe Spaniards.
The battle was now lose in a'few minutes
the whole of the infantry On the right gave
way and the cavalry. seeing this, turned
their horses to the rear. The whole of the