The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-05
EUROPE
FTERESXLVCx

are indebted to BoStonian Gentleman.
who lett Lisbon on the 18th of last mouth
LOT the subsequent interesting account of the
s,tuation, &c. oil the contending armies in
PORTUGAL The information is d rived from
official sources, and its accuracy may be
relied on
Afer the battle Of Bussaco, Lord Wei
lington retired with t.: British Army, from
Al'neida to the height> of Torres Vedras.-
or this retreat, beiHg abou. forty leagues in
! distance, there Can be little said, AS 1t was
accompanied with no military movement, nf
any Importance The rear guard ut le
Eaghsh and the avancc of the French
were constantly engaged in skrn.i,h.
ing out not TO an extent productive
Oh any important consequences.-Ene wn
OF Almequer near the first lines o def n. &
not far distant from the T2gus, was he on
ly place where the Infantry of the French
came up with the English Army. There a
smart skirmsh took place between the
french and the Light Division comm anded
by brigadier General Craufurd. This was
the only rencontre which took place until
Lord Wellington's army was can't, ned at
Torres Vcdras, within The British lines, 6
at about hive leagues distance from Lisbon.
towards the shore of the Atlantic, and Gen.
Mas'ena possessing himself of height run
mng parallel to that place. Of the three
by the English and Portuguese, there can
be no adequate description given--The first,
or most Eastern one, passes through the
town OF orres Vedras, extending from the
Atlantic to he river Tagus, and is about
70 niles IN extent: The second passing
through MARIA, is about 10 miles i'm ex
tent; and the third passing between MARIA
and Cintra, occupies a distance of about ID
miles.
General Massena continued in the positi-
on which he at first occupied, opposite to
L orres Vedras for more than six weeks.
} continually accommodating the position of
LORD w eliington's arnv, accompanied by
ms stan and engineer officers. The diff
Guilty OF supplying his army with provisions,
the country about him not being fruitful & he
mills having been principally DESTROYED. in .
auceo Gen Messena TO retire from before
/ Torres NedTas, and he accordingly fortified
ana retfeated 10 the town of SanIarem his
| present mead quarters, which lies upon the
river Iagus about twelve leagues above
Lisbon--Eie had previously formed depots Of
provisions and forage at this place to a very
large extent. He commenced his retreat
on 'he night OF the l5ih of November. and
conducted 1t IN very mastery manner
He took with him all his oaepae. carts
&c. leaving his sick and wounded to the
mercy OF an advancing army. The advance
guard OF the English came up with the rear
OF the French army ut Cartaxn, at which
place the French drew up three regime nts
OF cavalry upon plain extending towards
Santarem. The o5ih regiment of English
rlfiemen were ordered to commence a fire. to
induce them to retreat This produced no
effect; and Gen. Craufurd drew 40 the
hight DIVISION in right. and would have i'm
mediately commenced the attack, but, it is
E..tI I'll. LII,
reminded him thathe had only 1000 in his
advance, and that he was about to attack
Gen. Junot with $4,000
General Crauturd accordingly advanced
no farther, but retired to Cartaxo, at the
same Tune that the French cavalry moved
OH to Santarem The following morning
at day break General Craufurd's division
advanced on the road towards San,ayem
the remainder Of the army bsing inmedi-
ately In his rear. A general engagement
was fully contemplated, every division Ia
King Its position according to general orders
!0r attack-Every necessary arrangement
havlnG been made, the whole army was
aSxiously waiting tor an order to advance.
whcn an aid belonging to Col. Pack, who
commands 4 brigade of Portuguese, arrived
informing that his commanding officer was
advancing on the road to Csrtaxo, diametri-
cally opposite to the orders u Lord Wei.
lingtop. THIS circumsfance retarded The
advance, and in all probability prevented AN
attack that day. Tho evening was en-
l'ioyed in accommodating and-the result of a
consultation was. lelinquishment of the
! plan OF attack, and All order that the ar
my should return its canlonments, where
! it still remains.
The town of Sanlarem is situated on
hill, commanding valley on its left which
extends 10 the RIVER Rio Major, over which
there is "a bridge of 100 yards in length. &
winch there Is the only pass to the town ON
mat side. L he rear OF the French All
| my is not confined TO Santarem. but cccu
PIES the grand military road towards Abran
ties, Tor several leagues. The town is very
strongly tortiil ed. General Massena having
caused 20 be erected around the hill ,b,ee
regular rows ut trees OF gross timber. f,rk -
eel to prevent ascending, as well AS for =,
cover IN the event Of An attack Oupnsi e
to oantaren', on the South shore of the Ia
gus the couhtry is occupied by General
INNS brigade, he being stationed at 4 place
called Chanusco, al.i tie Spanish a,d por-
tuguese Farther to the Westward, ia valley
Called CaVa'i os-Farlheru the river, and
opposite 10 Abtantes, there is also two brj
gddeS OF Portuguese. who prevent all Com
nun Cations with the French army from
the South shore of the Tagus The man
Doul OK tie Portuguese aruy, under Mar
shdl bereSiord, is Stationed farther to- the
estward, and immediately opposite Car
'"Ho' TIC bead-quarteiS Of Lord IVshng-
III