The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-07

BUsAco.
We are enabled to lay before our readers
Msssena's account Of the battle Of the 27,h Sep
tember:
Comma, October n
-. We set out on our march on the
le'h instant, in order tn enter Portugal, as have
already informed your highness. On the 5,b day
we arrived q, Vseu, after passing through very
bad roads. We obliged to halt there for
hve days, IN order to give time for the park OF
artillery and The baggage TO come up, and be put
IN order, as had the honor of acquaintng you
from v s.-ti
lett the latter place the Gath. On the
third day of my march arrived in front OF the
position OF Busaco, winch was occupied by the
allied English and Portuguese armies. recon
noitred this position the next morning at day
break directed an attack on the left by the
second corps and on the centre by the 9th -
the 9Th corps remained IN reserve The positi-
o" 70 cer,sinly the strongest in sill Portugal
General Regnier, however, gained the top of
th- ridge, and was beginning to establish bin.
sell there, when General Hill, with a corps OF
10000 men, attacked in close columns the troc ps,
who, worn out with fatigue, were beginning to
form on the ridge of the mountains, and drove
them down.
This retreat, supported by good reserve,
WAS executed in good order, and the second
corps resumed its frs, position. In the centre
were the divisions of Loison and Marchand.-
The hrst made an attack on the right of the road
which leads to the convent of Buzaco. and the
other on the left. General Loisoa. being oblip-
sd to climb very s,eep 10 unsain to egain the
great road, reached it after great exertions but
he had not sufficient time TO form there in close
column, and to establish himself, when two En-
gish columns came up in close order, and pro-
tected by numerous artillery, charged this Dir
Otl rAA -
chand, who was to support this attack. took UP
position to stop the enemy The English did
not dare to advance shove 500 toises from their
hae 81 battle The remainder of the clay was
spent in skirmishing.
Having atentively reconnoitreas this posi-
ton, winch Lord Wellington would not have ven
turea to occupy, If he had not, like me, consi-
dered It extreme strong, my plan was imme-
oiatciy decided on, and endeavored to obtain b,
my Snanouvres al advantage which would have
cost too many brave men. l sent out reconnoi
tring parties of infantry and cavalry towards the
right ana left, to examine the country, and to
keep the eaeny in doubt as to the course of nv
movement
Is From the Intelligence Ireceived, l decided
on turning the English army by my right The
position OF the bridge of Murcela, which the e.,
emy had fortified, and on which he could make
| . hank movement by the ridge Of Penacosa, fla
vor"d has nafans of moving thither his whole
force IN less than two hours while the road of
Sardoa crossing the Col de Caranuela, br ,upbt
me upon BoiaiFei in All open and fertile county,
Tbs snosemesat turned the left of the enemy Il
gave ne the power of mauauvering his flank
AT SIX at night on the 28th quilted the position
OF Mora, and marched upon BoiaIvo The
eghth corps, which had not suffered formed the
advanced guard, the fifth corps the main boIv.
ana the second the rear guard. All my woun-
ded lowed on the carriages of the train, and
beasts O. burthen
The neny, perceiving after midnight their
manouvre on his left, placed strong rear guard
AT zaco, and marched in great disorder in Sc
veras columns towards Coimbra, after having
blown up all bis ammunition and burnt his ma
gaines
g On the LIST arrived at Coimbra the enemy
had left all is cavalry, with some regiments of
infantry, which we charged. He retired from
thence upon Cordeixa On the Cd sent my adj
vance guard towards the village, and the enemy
was AGAIN driven from Il it is now at Redinha
My Cavalry commanded all the roads which tall
into the great road of L 'sbon, and general Mont
hriin has marched nrcE. E;g..ers
" Lord Wellington with the allied army is
retreatng upon Lisbon. He gives out that il is
his intention to dispute with us Ill the position
" march in one body, and will use every en-
deavor to induce him toeive battle the only
| means or destroying him nr forcing him 10 re-
mhark. The allied my is estimated at from
| 90 to 20 600 men, including 25, geo British
The enemy burns and g. ST. oys ey .ry ding AS he
evacuates the country re forces the inhabitants
! to abandon houses. COimrrA, . town Of 20 600
| inhabitants. is deserted w find no provisions :.
the army IS subsisted on Ind AN corn. and the We
getables which we find reniainin. in the ground
Lord Wellington not daring to wait for us m tn,
open country, endeavors to destroy every thing
winch might subsist our army. The iuhabitants
OF the towns and villages very miserable {;
they are compelled t. serve on pain of DEATH
| In short no period of history furnishes an exam
pile OF such bsrbsrry.
a" Gu loss IN killed and wounded amounts to
1O0O men, including great many officers &C.
nlral Simon, OF Loisoo's division was dangerous
ly wounded and left behind in the ranks ofthe g.
nemy. Genera Grlndorge is dead OF his
wounds Thr general of division Merle, is woun-
ed as are also the generals of Brigade, Folk
and Maueunne they will not be able TO serve
again tor some time. The colonies OF the 26tb
reg ment of the line, of the 9th and I'D light IN.
Ianiry are killed, and several others wounded
There ar msny vacancies or officers in the differ
| ent corps which must be filed up.
= The Anglo Portuguese army ackuowledp.
TO have lost 1000 men, one half of them English
" leave behind me my sick and wounded q,
Combrs, where / am fortifying two convents
can only leave small number OF troops to DE-
TEND them. The best defence can give them IS
TO beat the English, and force them to re en-
bark
Sc General Regnier deserves the highes,
praise he has conducted himself like an able &
experienced general.-General Losor MAINTAIN
ed bis reputation. In short, every officer and
soldier has fought with bravery and enthusiasm.
will send you statement of the rewards TO be
given to the brave army of Portugal, which is a.
II ed Dy the f. q