The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-23
SALAMANCA, May II.

.s"SG, COMMANDER .. ehlef 10 the army Of Foy-
txgak
SALAMANCA, May II.
Almeda was invested on the 9TH of April
In consequence of the orders had previously
receiveo rom the Prince of Neufchatel and the
Duke OF Istria. had prepared miu-s to blow up
the Notifications continued this operation
sfrer the place was invested and before the
end OF April there were one hundred and forty
cavities to be charged. thought tea, the ar
my, after having rested some days, woald make
movement upon Almeida. Every thing was
ready to send away the artillery and ammuni-
ton. During this period the cavities would
have been charged. and but few days would
have been necessary to have finished every
thing. did not expect the movement Of the
army till from the 10Th TO the 18th Of the month
and IN order to afford me time to wait till then,
hadestabiished extremely rigorous econo-
my, which superintendent myself with The
greatest severity: by these means i calcutta
ted should have sufficient provisions till the
18th, and was resolved myself TO proIong it,
by one means or another, till the FIRST of June
Tue day after my being invested, was close
pressed at al points in manner; every
day the shtrpshocters fired upon my cattle, and
forced Il into the garrison l then determined
10 salt partoft. %
Persuaded that the enemy could net hare
Brought with him besiegng artillery, thought
that, Knowing the weakness OF my garrison, he
might attempt some coup de tna;s. In concert
therefore w'th the commsndants of the cngi-
neers. and artillery. I adopted all possible dis
positions to repulse him all the TANKS of the
hsstions were strengthened by cannon loaded
with grape shot; hatchets and axes were
Placed upon each basIion 6oune Carge bull
lets) were ranged along The Parapet; loaded
howitzcrs and grenades were placed within
reach, as well as red hot balls, and torches
toiiebt the bitches: made the troops re-
ne f,tsfv IN nr1e a..
acquainted with the point of alarm night and
day
On the 5th was summoned TO surrender
by major general Campb-il, who observed 10
me, that the circumstances OF the campaign
deprived me of I'll hopes Of being succdured
that the weakness Of my garrison deprived me
OF oil means Of defending myself. 1 replsd
Verbally that If he thought ny garrison too weak,
he had only TO try to take it, and that I had
no other answer To make. On the 18th Lord
Wellington demanded an interview with me,
which thought it my duty 10 refuse.
made sortie on the 2Stf in the morning 4
drove away the English posts, we killed some
and made four prisoners l made another sor
tie upon the Portuguese, and made three pri-
soners, but nsveI fGade the attack on the side
by which called ou OF the garrison.
On the Sd of May heard cannonsding and
firing, which announced 10 me the approach of
the army on the 5th / thought there was a
u
Communication.
On the 9TH, / received orders from the Prince
OF Essling, by soldier of the 9th light infan-
try. to blow up that place, and retire with the
garrison upon Barba de Puerco. immedi
ately ordered the cavities TO be loaded, and the
artillery to be destroyed employed Tor T. s
latter the IneaEs we had before tried upon an
rnsersiceaple cannon, viz. to discharge cannon
into tie mouths OF the pieces by these nesns
we destroyed cannon, howl Zers, and mortars-
The cartridges were thrown in well, and in
10 the bitches at the fort OF the walls that were
70 be blown up-----ihe balls also thrown into
theditches TO be buried, & carriages were in
part sawed, and the others placed on the
parsPets that were undermined in short
bsiicved that no precautions TO render
unservicesble ali that might be useful 10 the
enemy were omitted, And here ought to re-
turn thanks to the talents and activity of The Of
iicers ct the artillery and engineers.
On the 9Th, all the cavities were charged.
but the works for the destruction of The artiile
~ were not finished, and lstsyed one day more
IN order to leave nothing lcreSrct
On the morning OF the l0.h, assembled the
principal Officers Of The gaIrson--I read to them
the orders ofthe Prince of Essiing-I did not
conceal that our expedition was full of difficult
ty and danSef---tnSt once out of the garrison. !
the fire set TO it, we should find ourselves OBJ
jiged to cut our way through to rejon the army,
IN the midst Of obstacles OF all kinds, or fall with
Eonor that tie place once destroyed, the in
Hntions Of his majesty would be perfectly fuI. |
fllcd--that that single object ought to animate /
Iss-----thet we were Frenchmen, and ought to ]
prove TO the universe worthy of being so--4hat I
ii cur expedition succeeded, IL would cover US
with glory, whatever the effect mig IT be 60 us
Personally: all testified the most courageous !
dero.ioB. then informed them Of the DISPOSE.
tioLs l bad determined Upon, as wei as the !
manner in which TeCkoned upon reaching the |
enemy'S posts, and showed them the route ] |
meant TO tske. AUD wishing to march in two
columns to have less depth, ard leote9throw |
larger front 1T the enemy, which i,ayc me he I
Inentc, gave them al TIE Deccss2ty iaslsucti-
On, for die march Of the two columns aad nc
4 basis, announced, thai the left c0lahu sliGhI I
be the column Of direction The two cue com.
panics of the 9Th battalion Of the 82d regiment
were TO march at the head OF tie left column,
composed of the same battslog, 30 clear fbe |
passage for tie column that followed thein.--
Tie two companies of cannonefS marched 81 |
Abe mead OF the right hand column Cor tie sane /
iiurpcsc.s This column commanded by the chief
of the h2ttsion OF engineers Thruller, was
composed Of different delacilments Of The 9th Z
Sllfcorps. ~
lhe saTIrsrs we're TO remain in The town,
part TO set fire - the train, another part TO hin.
der the inhabitants from deranging our onera.
tfons and to project the sOriie OF oll--they were
afterwards to form the rear guord---ihey were |
commanded by tue chief OF The Battalion o? En- |
fiaecrs, Moriet, who remsricd IN the place till /
Che train had been lighted, and who was o5lig. |
ed 20 cut his way a second time with bis sap |