Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-21

Tn the mean time however, the small boay
of troops in this post sustained the ATTACK %
the enen,y's cavalry and artillery Ope resi-
ment Of French dragoons succeeded IN TAXING
two pieces of cannon which had been poster
on a rising ground on the right OF our troops
but they were charged by the second battalion
9Th regiment. under the command OF MAJOR
Ridge. and the guns were immediately fetak-
ell.
While this operation was going on the
f,ank. AN attack was made on the front by ano-
Their regiment, which was repulsed IN a SINH
lar manner by the 77th regiment, the three
souadrons of Maior-Generl Aliens brigade
charged repeatedly different bodies oil me enc
INV which ascended the hill on the lett of the
two regiments of British infantry; the fortu-
cuese regiment being posted in the rear OF
their right
At length the division of the enemy's lntan-
trv which had marched with the cavalry from
Ciudad Rodrigo, we're brought up to the at
tack on the road of Fuente Guinaldo, & see
inr that they would arrive and be engaged be-
fore the troops could arrive either from Gui-
naldo or FL Bodon, determined to withdraw
our post, ard to retire with the whole on l. u
ente GuinaIdo. The second battalion 5tA re-
eirnent and the 18th regiment, were formed
into one square, and the Dist Portuguese re-
gimcnt into another, supported by Msjor-Ge-
neral Aliens small body OF, cavalry and the
Portuguese artillery.
The enemy's cavalry Immediately rushed
forward and obliged our cavalry to retire TO
the support of the Portuguese regiment; and
the 5th and 77th regiments were charged on
three faces of the square, by the French caval-
ry; but they halted and repulsed the attack
with the utmost stcadiDess and saiiantfy.--
We then continued the retreat and joined the
remainder of the Sd division, also tormed lii
squares, on their march to Fuente Gunaido
and the whole retired together IN the utmost
order; and the enemy never made another
attempt to charge any of them; but were sa-
tisfed with hring upon them with their artll-
lerv, and with following them.
lieutenant Colonel Williams, with his light
infantry, and the hon Lieut.. Col Trench, with
the 74th regiment, retired from Pastores a.
across the Agueda, & thence marched by 10.
bleda, where they took some prisoners, * re-
crossed the Agueda, and joined at Gulnaido
in the evening.
| placed the Sd and 4th divisions, and Gen.
neral Aliens, Maior-General De Grey's and
Maor-G cneral Sadc's Hrigades OF cavalry IN
the position of Fuente Guinaloo on the even
ing of the 25th, and ordered MAJOR General
Crawford to retire with the light division a
cross the Agueda tie TIN division to form
at Albergaria, and Leutenant-Generai era
ham to collect the troops under his command
at Nava D'Aver, keeping only posts OF obser-
yation on the Azava and the troops were
thus formed ID an echelon, OF which the CEN
tire was in the position at Guinaldo; and the
right upon the pass of Peraies, AMI the lett at
Nave D'Aver. Maiescha! del Campo len
Carlos d 'Espagne was placed on the left OF
the Goa, and Don Julian Sanchez was detach-
ed with the cavalry to the enelnys rear
The enemy brought up ID division OF mtan-
try from Cudad Rodrigo, in the afternoon OF
the 25tn, and in the course of that night, and
of the 26tb, they collected their whole army
in front of our position at Guinado; ard not
deemirg il espedient to stand their attack in
that position, retired about three leagues,
ard, CT the 9th, formed the army as follows,
viz the 5th division on the right at Aljea
Nc.ha the 4th and light divisions, and Ma
jor-General Aiten's Cavalry, at the Convent
of Sacaparte, in front of Altayates the Sd
| and TIN divisions, in second line, behind Al
fayates and Lieutenant.General Grallam,s
corps on the left at Bsmela, having their adj
vanccd guard beyond the Villa Major River,
! and Lieutenant-G General Sin Stapleton Cotton's
cavalry near Anayates, on the left of the 4th
/ division. and having General Packs and &C.
| neral M'Mahons Brigades, at Nebullosa, on
| their left. The piquets of the cavalry We're in
| front OF Aldea dc Ponte, beyond the Vile
Major River; and those of General Aliens
brigade beyond the same river towards Fur
| calhos.
/ 1t had been the enemy's intention to turn
the left of the position of Guinaldo, by moving
a column in the valley of the Upper Azava
and hence ascending the heights in the rear Of
the position by Castillcgas; and from this CO.
lumn they detached division of infantry and
fourteen squadrons of cavalry, to follow our
retreat by AD>ergaria, and another body OF the
| same strength followed US by Furcalhos. The
| former attacked the picquets of the cavalry al
! Aldea de Ponte, and drove them in: and they