Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-05-17
LONDON, March IS.

copies, were laSt night TcCelVcu AZ thC Cdi
of Liverpoops Office, addressed to his lord
ship by lieut.. Gen. Graham, dated Isle de
Leon, 9th and 10th of March, 1911.
Isle de Lean, March 6, 1911.
Nh Lord-Capt. Hope, my first abide.
camp, will have the honor of delivering this
despatch to inform your lordship OF the
glorious issue Of an action fought yesterday
by the division under my command against
the army commanded by Marshall Victor,
composed of the two divisions of Rufin and
Laval.
The circumstances were such as com.
PEELED me to attack his very superior force.
In order as well to explain to your Lord.
ship the circumstances of the case, as the
disadvantage under which such an action
was begun, so as to justify myself from the
importation of rashness in the attempt, l
must state to your lordship that the allied
army, after night march of sixteen hours
from the camp near Vegar, arrived the
morning of the 5th, on the low ground of
Barrosa about four miles to the southwark
of the mouth of the Santi Pctri river. This
road lead in land about mile and half,
containing on the north an extensive healthy
plain, skirted by great pine forest, and on
the west the heights at some distance, ter
minated by the river of Santi Petri the in
termediate space between the north side of
the height and the forest is rugged and bro.
ken.
A we'll conducted and successful attack
on the rear of the enemy's lines near Santi
Petri, by the vanguard of the Spanish army
under brigadier general Lardizabel, having
opened the communication with the Isle of
Leon, received general De Penas's direc-
tons TO move down from the position of
Barrosa, to that of the Tore de Bermesa,
about halfway to the Santi Petri river, in
order to secure the communication across
the river, over which bridge had been
lately established. This latter position &C.
cupies narrow woody ridge, the right on
the sea cliff, the left falling down to the AL
MANIA creek on the edge of the Marsh. A
hard sandy beach gives an easy communica-
tlon between the western points of these po-
sitions.
My division being halted on the eastern
slope OF the Barerfa Height, was marched
about IL O'Clock through the wood towards
the Bermesa cavalry, (patroles having pre-
vious!y been sent towards Chiclana, with
out meeting with the enemy.) On the
march, received notice that the enemy had
appeared in force on the plain, and was adj
vancing towards the heights of Barrosa
As | considered that position as the key
OF that OF Santi Petri, Immediately coun-
termarched in order to support the troops
left for the defence, and the alacrity with
which this manoeuvre was executed served
rs favourable omen. 1t was, however,
impossible, intricate and difficult ground to
preserve order in the columns, and there
never was time to restore it entirely.
But before we could get ourselves quite
disentangled from the wood, the troops on
the Barrosa Hill were seen returning from
1t, while the enemy's left wing were rapid.
iy 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 an enemy, already within
reach OF the easy communication by the sea-
beach, must have involved tbs whole allie ID
army in all the danger of being attacked dur
ing the unavoidable confusion of the differ
ent corps arriving on the narrow ridge of
Bermesa nearly at the same time.
Trusting to the known heroism of British
troops, regardless Of the numbers and posi-.
ton OF their enemy, an immediate attack
was determined on. Major Duncan soon
opened powerful battery of ten guns in
the ccntre,-Brigadier General bikes with
the brigade of guards, lieut.. colonel Groves
Got the 28th) flank battalion, lieut.. col. Nor.
colts two companies of the I'd rifle corps,
and major Archoon with part of the 9Th
foot (separated from the regiment in the
wood) formed on the right.
Col. Wheatly's brigade with three com.
panies of the Coldstream guards, under