Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-20

ZO,COO uicii. mas maze prisoners or o.
therwise destroyed more than % COO
OF the Spanish troops, including those
taken at Badajos.
have the houor to remain, &c.
WELLINGTON.
FROM TIE SAME TO THE SAME.
Head Quarters, Oliveira do Hospital,
March 81, 1871.
The enemy suffered in the action OF the
18th much greater loss than ! had inagn-
ed, when ! addressed your Excellency my
despatch of the 10th. The firing continued
all NIGHT, and it appears he lost great
number of men who were drowned in at
tempting TO ford the Celva. In the course
of the 18th the enemy withdrew his rear
goard from that river, which we crossed
on the 18th, taking post on Mount Murcel-
la. At this iunc'ure the enemy occupied a
very strong position on the right of the AL
va, the bridges on which he IA DESTROYED
On the f8ih we turned his left flank By the
mountain Santa Quiteria, with the LIST, Sd,
and 5th divis ons, while the light and 9th di.
visions manoeuvred in front from Mount
Murcella. These movements induced the
enemy to order those troops, that had march.
ed of the night before, to return to the
Mountain OF Mota, Withdrawing at the same
time the troops which had been left at the
Alva, and in this manner he united his ar.
my On the ridge of Moita, at the same time
the iishs troops of our right wing were in
the vicinity of Arganil, and those Of our left
had crossed the Alva.
On the night of the 18th the enemy re.
treated from his position of Moita, and has
continued his retreat with almost preciDi.
tation.
imagined that his rear guard reached
Celorica on that day. On the 10Th We uni
ted our army on the ridge of Moita, and
that day our advanced post extended them
selves beyond Pinhanzos. The militia un.
der Colonels Wilson and Trant were at
Fornos.
We have taken great number of Priso.
ners, and the enemy continues to DESTROY
his wagons and artillery, and every thing
that can retsrd the progress of his retreat.
Most Of the prisoners we made on the 18th
belonged to detachments, which the enemy
had sent to forage 10 the direction OF the
Mondego, from whence they had orders to
return ~ the position on the Alva. from
which circumstance, 1 concluded that the
enemy he'd intended TO occupy that position
for some DAYS.
Since my last to your Excellencv. 7 have
received letters from General Mcndizab
and others, relative to the loss of Bada;os.
The governor of that place had written
on the 9Th inst. to the Spanish minister of
war, IN which letter he expressed no APP.
prehension tor the safety of the place. He
stated thar the garrison kept up a steady
and well directed FIRE against the besiegers
and had that day dismnunted one ofsik BAT
tering pieces, which the enemy had open.
ed on the place. On the 9th he informed
Gems Latte that he was we'll acquainted
with the pcrpose OF my n essage. On that
day the firing ceased, and on the 10th and
not on the Itch as ! had first understood,
the place cap;tulated In the sth article It
is stipulated that Fort St. Christopher, and
the head ct the bridge which is on the Qua
DIAM, was to be delivered up to the enemy,
as soon as he could take possession of those
works, from taisErticle we may collect the
spirit which dictated this cspitulation.
After the loss of Badajos the enemy d.
rected bis forces against Campo Mayor
which placed he summoned, I'd it having
refused to surrender, he Immediately omen.
ed his trenches against IL. Portuguese
garrison had been introduced, aud although
It is place os little strength, hope il
VIII hold out until Marshal Beresford ar.
rives TO its assistance. The troops under
his com Tand will be concentrated in Ports.
legre Tomorrow. There Lord Wellington
speaks Of the operations before Cadiz with
which the public are already acquainted. I
Soult has returned towards Sevill after
taking Bsdajos, and it is said that 5000
French returned southwardly, and had
passed through 3accarrota
Your excellcncy has probably seen the
imperial decree, appointing Marshal Bes.
s'eres governor oftne 9th division of Spain,
which compreheuds CASTLE. and the pro.
vince. 20 the north OF IL. The frvops des-
tined for this Generals command do not
make strong corps, nor can he be said t.
have any disposabIe force, except the i'm.
Periat guard, which has been more than
twelve months in Spain, in all probability
with the view Of attending the emperor,
should he think proper to visit the PENN. |
sula.
have still adyices that Marshal Besse-
ieres hasre-unIted about 1000 men in Zamo-
"a, Of the imperial guards, s. troops drawn
from tie gsrriso1s of CASTLE.
have the honor TO be, &c.
WELLINGTON.