Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-12

general Blake, that marshal Soult had
left Seville on the 10th, and with the de-
clared intention on coming to 3adaioz. 1t
was said that his force consisted OF $4,000
men, and general Latour NIaubours had
again advanced, and occupied GuadaIca-
nal and Llerena, from which places the
Count de Peune Viiiemur was obliged to
retire. As Gen. Blake, in conformity to
the plan Corporations proposed by your
ExcelIency he'd come to Fregeua!, and
, Gen. Baliasteros from Monasterio ex-
tended his advanced guards until within a
+: league of Seville, could not suppose. that
this march CT Marshal Soult was merely
to obligc those Generals to retire, and
leave him quiet in Seville. or, IS was &C.
tuaIIy stated, against me, and for the pur-
pose Of raising the siege VI Badajoz and
consequently l continued my operations
against thu place. until the Interior
movements Of Sou!t should determine this
point for me more clearly; and in the
night OF the 18th inst. Liet,t. Col. Fietch-
CIR opened his trenches on the south side OF
the Gua,iiana but in the middle of the
night Ireceived information from General
Blake, anu frnm other quarters, OF the
rapid advance o. Marshal SOult, and
which left TO doubt as to his intentions.
Immediately ordered the operations a
gainst Badajoz to be suspended, 4 com
meneed w,,,lGrawing towards Elvas our
artillery anu stores, which unfortunately
comprised nearly all that was necessary
for the siege to withdraw the Whole ap-
peared to be a very dangerous operation,
as well as most laborious one, under the
circumstances Of being obliged to prepare
ourselves to receive Marshal Sollt. How
ever determined to use every effort to
prevent any thing from falling into the
hands of the enemy, and through the
great eXertions o. Lieut.. Col. Fletcher,
OF the Royal Engineers, and Mayor Dix
on ofthe artillery, every thing was with
drawn in the afternoon of the 18th.
1t is but justice to state, that to the
zeal and incessant activity in every branch
OF the service, ana i0r the good OF his
country, OF Lieut.. General Leite Govern
or 0fthe Province oil Aiem iejo we are
| Indebted OH ali occasions, and particularly
on this, for having furnished us with the
necessary cOnVe!ances, and assisted IN
every respect ia wiiieii Ae could De service
able to us. lava,l myself with pleasure
| vi this opportunity to give to Lieut.. Gen.
I4eite that praise, Wlicn ne has always 50
| amply deserved.
/ Was Obliged, in order to cover the
withdrawing OF tae stores to leave Tie Ill
| vision of major general the lion. q. l..
Cofe before Badajoz, and doubtless, as
your exceiiency will perceive BY my next
dispatch, the arrangements to avoid the
unpIeasantness OF abandoning some OF our
stores to the enemy, and to prepare Tor
fighting marshal Souit, were as perfect
as possible since major general Cole
marched from before Badajoz tojoin this
army at two in the mornIn, OF the i6lh,
and arrived half ali hour before Tie enc
nsy began the attack.
have however the satisfaction TO IN
form your exceliency, that Tie enem!
cannot boast vi having taken the smallest
part Of our stores all OF ;heih were saie.
/, collected at Eiyas, anu VIII! the cAcep-
ton oi the brigade of br,sadier general
hemmis, which was to the nOrthWar0 o.
tie Guadiana, our troops were all uhitei
in tie mornins OF the 10th to receive thc
attack, and oppose the advance OF marsha
Souit. have the honor, &c.
". e.. BERESFORD,
Marshal and Lieut.. General.
To his exceiiency marshal general lord
viscount Wellington, *. b.