Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1811-05-20

LaieR f0m P0ytuq4i.

vtd IL New Ycsk from l.iibon, which
port ihe lefy ca lie 2o,h Of March.
by this ani,al rapeEs and letters
have been recercd ID the 28th oi
that month, announcing tie contin-
net -etrcar OF the French army from
Portugal The Portuguefe papers
contain feveraI delpatches from Wei
lrgton. in which are detailed al tie
pryticular circumstances which oc-
CARED fsom the hrit commencement
q the retreat, (5th March, 70 the
10Th, a: which Iiuc the main body
II MsGcua's army had reached about
halt the diitance from SantaEem TO
&c Kingdom Of Leon, where il ap-
reared to be his intention 70 direct
his flying troops. The following
funmary Of the(e dispatches, will
sforl all The principal points OF ia
formation they contain -
The enemy retreated from his
petitions in the vicinity Of 6anta.cu1,
ia the night Of the 9Th init AMI were
next morning followed by The Brit
iih army.
"His fri movements indicated
an intention 20 unite a itroog force
at Tomar. In confequence General
Stewart of MARTIAL Beresford's corps,
was ordered to pats the Tagus at.
Abrantes, and to occupy the banks of
the Zezere. The enemy, however,
purfucd his retreat towards the Mon
diego, taking the roads to Eipinhal,
Anciao, and Pombal. The latter col
unu was over;aken by cur light
troops, hufars and dragons, and 400
made pTiioners.
"On the 9th, the 9th, 9th, and
oh corps Of the enemy with the
exception OF Lotions diviion, which
took the rosd to tfpinha) united in
front of Pombal. The hu1ars and
royal DRAGONS this day made very
gallant charge OF light corps OF the
enemy. tt was found imPoih5le to
collea fuAicient number Of troops
70 commence operations Oh the en-
envy before the nth on which day
The 1T, Cd, 4th, and 9th corps, d.
viGon Of light infantry, Gen. Packs
brigade, and all the Engliih cavalry,
were united immediately in front Of
The enrmy But in the night the
principal part of his force had retrea-
ted. a lighS diviGon, under Gen.
Slade. was directed to difpofefs a
body of the enemy from the cid cai-
tie Of Pombal.
"In the night the enemy retired
and on the 9Th, the 9th CORPS Of
the French army, and Gen. Mont
buns cavalry, which formed the en-
eny's rear guard, took arong poG-
ton il de6ie between Pombct and
Redinha. an attack on this petition
was dire6ted the fame day, by the
I'D and 9Th diyilions Of light infantry,
Gen. Packs brigade, and the cavai-
ny ;-Thc other troops forming
referve. The right, left, add cen
rr. Of the petition were attacked by
Generals Erikine, PiGton and Cole.
The movements were made IN TIE
beh order, and with celerity and
the enemy we're immediately routed,
With great lois in killed wounded,
and priloners. After being driven
from the Ialt petition, and another E.
qually formidable, the Franch took
polt near Condeixa, OF the road lea
cling 10 Coimbra but finding Gen.
Trant in pcf-hion of Coimbra, and
being threatened with being oat-f fan
ked /; they TENT off their baggage to-
wards Porte De Murcella, ion the
road to hlmcila7 and foon after con-
rinued their retreat in that direction
Our COMMUNICATION was thus open
ed with Coinbra. The French rear
guard then took Rrong petition at
Csfal Novo, which was Immediately
attacked, and the French compelled
10 Join the main body in Minerva de
Corvo, and on The river Egea, with
very comfortable lois in killed, woun.
led and pTilorers. Thus Coimbra
AID Upper Beira arc Pre(erved from
rhr ravagrs Of tie enemy ; free
communication with the northtrr
nroriacrs Of Sraln, and the French