The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-11-01
Letter from tire Duke IF Tarento TO his eI-
cetiency tie Minister at War.

ton to inform your eXcellency, that the va
itur, the zeal, and perseverance of his Ma
jesty's army i'll Catalonia, have triumphed o.
yer the perfidy of the traitors who delivered
the fortress of Figueiras to the enemy they
are in irons. That fortress is this day re-
Conquered, and in the power of the Empe-
rpr.
I. The Spanish garrison having in vain at
tempted to escape in the night OF the 10th, *
with a loss of 400 men, has been forced to
surrender at discretion, and the only favor
granted is saving their lives.
1t came out of the fortress this morning
without arms, $500 in number, and about CSC
officers, of whom was field marshal Marti-
nez, several generals of brigade, 80 superior
officers, &c. it was marchedsin three CO.
lumns towards Perpignan, where it will ar
rive on the 21st and 22d.
"This garrison lest during the block AIDE
more than 5000 men by our fire, or by a ma
tural death 1900 sick remain in the hospi-
tai, and there are 200 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, who
Shall be dismissed.
1.-The army of his Majesty braved more
than $4,000 cannon shot, and two million
round of musquetry, without much loss.
60 1t has borne, with constancy truly ex-
emplary, labor, fatigue, and the inclemen-
cies of the weather during blockade of
four months and 9 days and since the oath
arms.
" The works of the lines of countervalla-
ton and decentralization are immense; his
Majesty will be able to Judge of them, should
be condescend to look at the plan which
transmit to vour Excellency.
8" The engineer department. directed them
with constant zeal and activity.
" The, artillery department has been OK
seilent, as it always is ; the general Of divi-
GO 4
creCted and pointed all the batteries, some Of
which were boldly placed at less than 500
roises from the fortress.
"Thc redoubts of the 37th of the line, of
the 9th light, 10th and 57th of the line, SOD
light, 1lth, 81st, Goth, 52d, those of the I'm
perial Gendarmeric and of the Westphal-
tans, received the names of the corps which
constantly worked there the first mention
ed were within musket shot of the covered
way /; the Sd, and SD light, also labored a
great deal.
These corps und2r the orders of Gene
raj Quenul, Clement, oalmarole, Plansonne,
Lefebvre, colonel La Marque and Petit, for
med the line of blockade or reinforced it
every night. The squadron of the Goth, and
9th Chasscurs, the squadron OF the oath
Dragons, and the lancicrs gendarmes, were
also on horseback in part.
6 In fine, select reserve, consisting of
the foot gcndarmerie, and of detachments
from different corps, commanded in turn by
3djutant-commandant Nivet, was destined
TO support all the points that were threat
sRed.
His Excellency the Colonel General was
every where. He displayed very great &C
tivity in general every one has perfectly
done his duty. feel pleasure in doing this
ytstice the army, in the hope that the en-
Reror will deign to cast look of favor on
these brave men-also begging your Elk
eellency to cause his majesty to remark, that
the army of Catalonia had nothing to do with
the event which brought them under the
walls CT this place.
&c / have just displayed the imperial flag
upon the walls it was saluted by an hun
dred rounds Of cannon this salute will be
heard by the English ships on the coast,
and the assembling of insurgents at Olot it
will make known to them the recapture of
Eiguciras and the termination OF the war
in that part OF Catalonia. have the hc-
nour, sc.
"The Marshal Duke Of Tarento, Mac
donald.
&C p. S. Your Excellsncy's aid-de-camp,
the chief of battalion Schneider, bearer of
this dispatch, has shared in the fatigues of
the troops, passing whole nights in the tren-
ches he has seen the fort, the prisoners,
and can give your exccllency all the infor-
NATION which you think necessary"
Ir0nSiation ofd letter gpritten by General
Juan .4ntonio Martinez Comniandant of
the Fort Of San Fernando de Fgueiras,
70 the h17ncifai Junta QfMe PrfncihaGty
of Catalonia.
PoNT DE MOULIN, Aug. 10, 1911.
Most excellent Senior,--After endu-
ring more than four months obstinate block
ade, without any relief on the part of the
army, have found myself under the neces-
.sity of surrcndering the fort of San Fernando
de Figucras, from the total want of provi-
.sions. have employed even the last re-
sources from cur horses to the lowest in
sect all has been eaten up. On the night Of
the 10th attempted sally at the point of
the bayOnet, with all the garrison and in
spite of the obstacles which the line of cir
cumvallation opposed, j myself reached the
.abattis, or trunks of trees obstructng cur
passage, which could not be effected, in
consequence OF the great strength of this
impenctrable line. In fine, have this day
surrendered prisoner of war, with the gar
l=son, which has been treated by the French
with the generosity which characterizes
that nation.
(Signcd) "JJAg ANTONIO MARTINEZ"
HYERs, Aug. IS.
"The English squadron is constantly ct
anchor in this bay without the reach of the
ia. Il & - 4