Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-11-30

md that the two armies were within
shrce leagues Teach other on the 14,h
and also stated, on the authority OIL
accounts from Oporto, that colonel
I'raut had taken possession of COIN.
bra, and made 5000 prisoners, con.
s'ssing chiefly of the sick and wound
ed. at the battle of Buzaco. ii
! With respect to the dispatches re.
ceiyed ON Saturday, their substance
has been circulated through the 90
Sernmentpffices, in abulletin, ofwhithl
che following IS COPY -
Dispatches have been received
from lord Wellington aud.Mr. Stuart,
oishe date Of the 18th inst. by which
/ appears that the allied armies; had
rs.reatfd within their lines, their right
being ut Cassanbero, and Villa Frau
ca, and II cir left at Torres Vedras, on
the 7ih and 8,h inst. They had not
been, moletcd in their retreat, but
some affairs had taken place between
the cavalry of The two armies, in which
the British and Portuguese cavalry
had distinguished themselves.
The rains had begun On the 9th.
. The British army are represented as
being protected from them in the vii
lagos and under huts the French ar
M is severely exposed to Them.
Colonel Wilson had occupied the
position of Buzaco, with Portuguese
brigade, On the 9th !; and il was re-
ported that colonel T'fant had entered
Coimbra on the 7th, ard had. taken a
French garrison, with their wounded
p.isoucrs."
Such was the state and positions Of.
the allies en- the 14Ah, lord Wellington
had reached the point of his destina-
ton, TIRES Vedtas, before the rains
set in, and with his army unimpaited1
10 every respect. At the departure
OF the. messengeF, his head quarters
were at Aruda town about three
miles south of Alenquer. Our left
was.at Torres Vedrss, and our right
at Cas,anbero upon the Tagus. The
British lines extend 90 miles. The
French were in line nearly opposite.
Their advanced guard was at Vile.
Verde, nearly opposite to Torres We
dras; rtreis head qaerters at Hio Major,
atoe u ABBOTT fiits Va miles west 81 San
tarein.
The ground occupied bytf allied a.
my is hold mountain Gus country.
ard was tie position selected by 1unot
in Aug. 1908. Torres Vedras is z,
leagues nershward of Lisbon, and two
from VimIera, which is rsarer to the
coast. This piece was marked out rs
the line of neutrality between the Bri.
fish and FRI nch armies whilst the ne
eociations were pending at Cintra.
The town is situated in valley, and
is commended by a hifl in the form of
8 sugar LOAF, en- which are the ruins of
an old Moorish castle. Lord Wellipe
,on has been often heard to say, chat III
he had a choice OF an advantageous DO.
sitiun in Portugal, liz which to FIGHT the
French it would be Torres Vedras-
in this position his lordship intends to
make a stand. 1t has been strongly
terrifying, with this intent ION, from The
beginning Of The campaign and it has
been ore Part Of bis lordship's policvl
odraw Massena through the couutry
10 this post.
The later, on he other hand, is re-
presented, in the tnipisterial circles. in
a state Of despair, without provisions.
without medical stores, and without a
considerable portion Of his.heavy a,v;L
lery, the rains having set in on The 9Th.
during his advance 10 Rio Major, and
bordering the roads, which are natu-
rally difficult, almost impracticable.
j vas, under these cD cumstances.
confidently expected that he must az
tempt 20 bring on general tionim-f
TeeiiaieiJ, or commence ilisretrsat.-
In the iatters case he has only two lines
by which he can retrogahe. One byl
Santerein towards CASTILLO Iranco.
which at AL times is most diGcult
voass but in The rainy season almost
ifrdpsssahIe for artillery. The other bv
Coinbra, and the route by Which he adj |
vspeeti, which is occupied by the Por
sagoese militia and peasantrys TIE
shortest distance is at least 200 miles.
lie eshnot cross the Tagus below A.
tran'rs--he will hardly venture TO pass
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