Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-15

when they ulu Ill ScoN VAN
The sth corps established themselves
tbus in Poza Velho, and the enemy's ca
valrv took towards the right Of the 9TH d.
vision. between Poza Velho and Nave
d.Aver, (from which place the horse of
Don JuIias Sanches had been Obliged to
retire) their cavalry Gornlhs their ad.
yanced guardD charging at the same time
two or three squadrons Of various regi-
ments Of British Dragons. These not
onlv repelled and obliged tie enemy to
retreat. but took several prisoners. among
whom was Col. LA Note CT the 18th re-
..iment of chasseurs. After which the
main body Of the enemy was driven back
and Obliged to retire in consequence OF the
we'll directed fire Of the division Of Major
General Houston. On this occasion par.
ticularIy observed, that the British elias.
scurs under the command OF Col. Eustace
conducted themselves in the finest man.
ner, while at the same time Gen. Hoas-
ton mentions in the warmest terms, the
gallant conduct of detachment of LIGHT
infantry Of the corps ofthe Duke ofBruns-
wick. Notwithstanding this attack was
repealed, l determined to concentre Our
forces on the left, in consequence Of which
l removed the 9TH light division from
Poza Velho, as we'll as the cavalry, to
the neighborhood of Fuentes d'IIonor,
and did the same with the other divisions.
l had kept in our occupation Poza NcIho
and the country round it, in the hope that
l might be able to maintain the commune
cation with the banks of the Goa by the
road of Sabugal, as we'll as to secure the
blockade of Almeida. These two objects
appeared however, ultimately incompati-
BILE, and l consequently abandoned what
was of the least Importance. / posted the
light division in reserve, in the rear of
the left Of the 1st division, while post
ed the 9TH On lofty ground above Tu-
ron, which protected the right flank and
the rear of the 1st division, and covered
our communication with the Goa, debar-
ring the enemy from the opening towards
Almeida by the road between Turon and
the above mentioned river.
The movement which on this occasion
was necessarily made by our troops was
exceedingly we'll conducted, particularly
as it was made under very critical cir
cumstan,es, by Gen. Houston. Brig. Gen.
Crawford, and Lieutenant General Cot
ton. The 9TH division was protected in
the pass of Turon by the light division
under the command of Brigadier General
Crawford, and in the march it made to H.
mite with the 1st division by the British
cavalry. Our position extended along the
heights from Turon to Duas Casas-the
9TH division on the left of Turon covered
the rear of the right. The first division,
formed in two lines, was on our right
Col. Ashworth's brigade posted in the
centre in two lines, and the Sd division
formed also in two lines, constituted our
left.
The light division and the British ca.
valry formed our reserve. The town of
Fuentes d'Honor protected our rear: the
infantry of Don Julian joined the 9TH d.
vision in Freneda, at the moment when
ordered Don Julias with the cavalry under
munication ofthe enemy with Cuidad Rod
rigo. The enemy's force on the right of
our position, after they had been placed
as l have just described, confined them.
selves to cannonading and to some charges
with their cavalry against our advanced
posts. The piquets of the first division,
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Hill, repulsed
one of these charges, but during the re-
treat, not observing another charge max
ing by the enemy, in sufficient time to
form and face them, the consequence was
that Lieut.. Col. Hill was taken prisoner,
several soldiers wounded and some cap
tured, before detachment of British ca
yalry could arrive to their support.
The ed battalion of the AID regiment,
under the command of Lord Blantyre, r..
pulsed also charge Of cavalry directed
against them by the enemy.
The enemy also brought body Of in.