Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-04

nity offered. AT six in the mernins Iltcciy.
ed an express Of the arrival CT MssscIs 1t Tit-
toria. likewise heard that there wasa taree
convoy about to proceed, consisting Ct two
cosches, in one of which VS. a general, I'D
in the other colonel, lieut.. colonel, ard tao
ladies', escorted by 2ooo inf-nttY and 200 dr.
eoons, who were conducting loo Spanish
prisoners, made in various poit.ts. was giad
of this news, as wished to impress "n our
companions in arms with the interest | t.kc in
! their liberty. At eight O'Clock, the van of,he
enemy were discovered, consisting Of 2oo in.
.. fantry and 90 horse, which | suf's red to pass
freely, not to alarm the rest coming W. 10
these followed, at a short distance, sn!au
party of 80 infantry and IL horse, which G.
qua.iy let pass. AS soon as the niali' body cf
the enemy arrived with the prisoners, Carts,
and one of the coaches, ordered tic Sd bat
talon TO FIRE, which it executed with the
greatest dextcrity, killing a col siderable ium-
Der Of French, and forcing the centre. Inthe
rear, 600 infantry and leo horse, with tie o.
Their coach, were coming, which, as soon as
they found themselves attacked, Acd precipi-
lately to Vittoria; the infantry onl! remained
to oppose me. Meanwhile the close discharges
of the third battalion, the vslor and ardor
of the LIST and Cd, caused the greatest dismay
to the enemy, especially to 500 which had re-
tired to the convoy, keeping up heavy fire
on my troops, endeayoring to cover nninber
of the carts or Wagons that accompanied tho
coaches. The Spanish prisoner. seeing this
escort attacked with 6rmness, dsw on tho
wings of their liberty into the arms OF their
fellow.soldiers. who received them with the
greatest pleasure. / advanced TO reconnoitre
the coach, in spite of the fire Of the enemy,
and intinated 10 those in il 10 surrender but
col. La Fitte, and Lieutenant col. Francheres,
had the bo!dncss to dcfend themselves with
their sabres, which however could not Save
them the lieutenant col. being killed, ard
La Fitte wounded and made prisoner, with
the two women. My cavalry then entered
into action, spreading death and terror every
where, covering the ground with dead bodies,
as at the first charge they killed no less than
$50 of the enemy.
The infantry in spite of the resistance of
the enemy, gaining ground and dispensing it,
often at the point of the bayonet, advanced as
far as the carriages which composed the con-
voy, which were all taken Part of the seo
French which escorted the coach Of the &c.
neral, and the horse, after tie flight OF those
to Vittoria, took post on height, and incom-
NODDED me much but nevertheless my SOL
diers did their duty, taking every thing they
had brought. Two hundred French, who in
support of the rest came out Of Salinas, lad
no better fate, as, after losing considerable
number in killed al d wounded, they were
dislodged also from the height they had taken
possession of, and even those that had passed
to the vanguard with whom they had joined.
They were chasedrto the gates Of Salinas,
and enclosed in the town by party OF my In
fahtry. The 4tb battalion, in spite Of having
marched S hours without stepping, in order
to he in the action, arrived when it was deci.-
ed but they surprised some of the French
who remained. I ordered the commander Of
that battalion, notwithstanding the fatigue Of
the troops, and Of rot having ate any thing,
to advance and attack, but although they kept
up some FIRE, they could not effect any thing
OF consequence, as reinforcenents 10 the enc
my were coming from Vittoria, commanded
by colonel, with four field pieces ard ca.
valry. The troops in Salinas, reinforced by
the garrison of Mondragon and ether places,
advanced on my TANKS. BY this tr,e bad
ordered the LIST, ed, and Sd b.taijons to re.
tire, the 4th only remaining with the cavalry,
formed in the middle of the road, who on CD
serving the enemy, advanced. aid OBLIGED
them to retire to their respective gariisors,
without having done any good Tie .ction
lasted from 8 o'clock in the morning Till three
in the afternoon, when, from the fatigue Of
my soldiers who had not ate or drank rny
thing since ten o'clock in the morning oftle
preceding day, and had formed ausnigh,, rs
also from securing the Spanish prisoners, ard
putting them in situation where they might
rest, thought proper TO retire TO Za!duma,
six hours march from the place of action.
The fed battle displayeda horrible picture,
nothing being seen but dead end wcunded,,
laying by hundreds, great many horses III
the same situation, and many of the carts bro
ken to pieces The enemy lost every thing
they were conducting. OF the 1000 infantry
and 900 no, scs which came from Viaoria,
hardly the half have returned the rest hive
been all killed, wounded, or made prisoners.
Among the many French killed vas found
late aid de camp of General Csst los, hut