Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-09
LONDON GAZETTE EXTRA.
ORDINARY.
Downing Street, March 9.

Downing Street, March 25.
Dispatches, of which the following
are copies, were last night received ar
the Earl OF Liverpool's Office, address,
ed to bis Lordship by Lieut.. General
Graham, dated Isle de Leon, 9th and
10Th of March, 1911.
Isle de Leon, March 6, 1911.
My Lord--Capt. Hope, my first
Abide Camp will have the honor of
delivering this Despatch, to inform
your Lort!ship of the glorious issue Of
an,acrion fought yesterday BY the divi-
sionnurder my command against the
army commanded by Marshal Victor,
composed of the TWO divisions Ruflin
aud Laval.
The circumstances were such as
compelled me to attack this superior
force. In order as we'll TO explain to
your Lordship the circumstances of
peculiar disadvantage under which
such an action was begun so as to JUS
tisfy myself from the imputation of
rashness in the attempt, must state
to your Lordship that the allied army,
after night march of 16 hours from
the camp near Veger, arrived in the
morning of the 5th, on the low bridge
of Barrosa, about 4 miles TO the south
ward of the mouth of Sans Petri Ri
yer. This height extends Inland a.
bout mile and half, containing on
the north the extensive healthy plain
ofChIclana. Agreat pine forest skirts
the plain, and circles round the height
at some distance, terminating down TO
Santi Petri the intermediate space
between the north side Of the height
and the forest being uneven and brok-
en-,
A we'll constructed and successful
attack on the rear of the enemy's line
near Santi Petri, by the vanguard Of
the Spanish army under Brig. Gen.
Ladrizabel, having opened the COM
municatioo with the Isle de Leon, I
received Gen. de Pena's directions to
move down from the position of Bar.
rosa, to thar of the Tore de Bermesa,
about halfway to the Santi Petri Ri
yer, in order to secure the commune
cation across the river, over hich a
bridge mad been lately established.
This latter position occupies narrow
woody ridge, the right ON the Sea Cliff,
the left falling down to the Almanac
Greek or the edge Of the Marsh. A
hard sandy beach gives an easy COM
munIca,ion between the western points
OF these positions.
My division being halted ON the cas-
tern slope of the Height was
marched about ~ O'Clock through the
wood towards the Bermesa cavalry
(Pstroles having previously been sent
towards Chiclana, without meeting
with the enc mv.) On the march,
received notice that the enemy had ap-
peared in force on the plain, and was
advancing towards the heights Of Bar
rosa.
As consider that position as the
key Of that of Santri Petri, imme.
diately counter marched in order to
support the troops left for the defence,
and the alacrity with which this ma
hVSoVlC Wdo cGcCutcQ SeTVeu as Ia
vorable omen. Ii was however inn
possible in such intricate and difficult
ground 10 preserve order in the CO.
1umUs and there was never a time to
restore il entirely.
But before we could get ourselves
disentangl-d from he wood, the troops
on the Barrosa Hill were seen re-
turning from it, while the enemy's left
wing was rapidly ascending. At the
same time his right wing stood ON the
plain, on the edge of the wood within
Cannon shot. A retreat in the face of
such nm enemy, already within reach of
the easy communication by the sea
beach, must have involved the whole
allied army in all the danger Of being
attacked during the unavoidable con.
fusion of the different corps, arriving
on the narrow ridge of Bermesa nearly
at the same time.
Trusting to the known heroism Of
British, troops regardless of the num-
strs and position OF the enemy an