The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-14

Il
ION. lieut.. gen. Colc,~ and tic 4th division ::
and by sir Stapleton Cotton's cavalry and
the enemy were driven through Aldca dc
fonte, back upon Albergaria, and the
piqucts ct the cavalry resumed theirstation.
| Eut the enemy having been reinforced by
the troops which marched upon Furcalhos,
again advanced about sun set, and drove in
the piquets of the cavalry from Aldea dc
Pontc and took possession If the village
Lieut.. Gen. Cole again attacked them
with part OF general Packcnham's bril-
gadc, and drove them through the village
but night having come Gil, and general Pack
: ehham was not certain what WAS passing on
his tanks, or of the number Of the enemy,
and nc knew that the army were to fall bscA
still further, he evacuated the village, which
the encmy occupied, and held during the
night.
On the 2Sth, formed the army on tn,
heights behind Seitc, having the Sierras las
Nicsas on their right, and the left at Rcndo
on the Goa. about one eaguc III the rear of
the position which they had occupied on the
|'tl. The enemy also retired from Aldea
de Pontc, and had their advanced posts 1t
AlberSaiia, and as it appears that they arc
| about to retire from this part OF the country,
and as we have already had some bad wea
cher, and may expect more at tho period OF
tile Equinoctial gale, propose to canton the
troops.
lcannot conclude this report of the occur
FENCES OF the last week, without expressing
toyour lordship my admiration OF the con-
DUCT OF the troops engaged lii the affair of
the 25th instant
The conduct of the I'd battalion 5th regi-
ment, commanded by major Ridge, in par
ticuiar, affords memorable example of
what the steadiness and discipline IF the
| troops, and their emf ence in their cffi-
GERS, Can effect, in the most difficult aud
| trying situations, The conduct of the 77th
| regiment, under the command of lieutenant
Col. bromhead, was equally good, and l
| nave never seen a more determined attack
than was made by the whole of the enemy's
cavalry, with every advantage of the as
| sIstance or superior artillery, and rcpuls-
ed by these two battalions.
must not omit also, to report the good
conduct on the same occasion, of the Dist
portuguese regiment, under the command OF
colonies Bacellar, and If major Arentschildt's
| artillery.
| Inc portuguese infantry we're not actually
| charged, pat we're repeatedly threatened
| n.II tnev shewed the utmost steadiness and
discipline, both in the mode in which they
| prepared to receive the enemy, and IN al,
the movements of retreat made over six
mics OF plain, in front of superior cavalry
| aad artillery.
| The Portuguese artillery men attached to
| the guns, which were for a moment i'm the
enemy's possession, were cut down at their
g.IIs.
The infantry upon this occasion, were un-
der the command OF maj i-general the hon.
y. CoiVlile lieutenant general Picton, hAv-
ing with hlm the troops at Ell bodon, and Il,
conduct of maj. gen. Colvile was beyond al,
praise.
Your lordship will have Observed by the
details OF the action which have given you.
now much reason had 10 be satisfied with
the conduct OF the LIST hussars and IIth heh,
Dragons OF Encouragement Aitcn's brigade.
There were not more than hree souad,ons
OF the two regiments Oh the ground, this BIZ
gade having for some time furnished the ca
valry Tor the out posts III the army, aud ,hc>.
charged the enemy's cavalry repeatedly :
and notwithstanding the superiority of the
latter, the post would have been maintained
II had not preferred to abandon it TO risk
ing the loss OF those brave men, by CONTINUE
Ing the unequal contest, under additional
disadvantages, in conseI uence Of the imrnc
date entry OF IA bat.alions Of infantry into
the acton, before the support winch lad
ordered up Could arrive
MAJ gen. Aten, and lieut.. coils. Cumming
and Arentschi DIT, and the officers of these
regiments particularly distinguished them
selves upon this occasion.
nave also to mention, that the adiutant
general, m Jor general the honorable l..
stewart, being IN the field, gave his assist
ance, as an officer of cavalry, with his usual
gallantry.
In the affair of the 9th at Alta de Ponte.
oi1g gen Parkenham, and the troops of the
4th DIVISION under the orders of lieut.. gen.
Coie, likewise conducted themselves rema,.s-
ably we'll
lis Serene Highncss the hereditary
OF Orange accompanied me during the one
ratlons which have detailed to your lord
snip, and was for tho first time in the IRE
and he conducted himself with the spirit
and intelligence which afford a hope that
lie VIII become an orn mcnt to his profess
sion.
The enemy having collected for the OBJ
Ject OF relieving Ciudad Rodrigo, the army
u the north which were Withdrawn from
the attack which thcy commenced on gen.
-A,'aiia, in Galiicia, in which are included
IL battalions of the imperial guard, and gen.
DOMAINS division Of infantry, composed Of
troops recently arrived n Spain from the
army OF Naples, and now drawn from thc
ronticrs Of Navarro, where the, had 6ceo
| employed IN operations ig iuis. II
Scthel with tlvc divisions, and all the cavs;-
ny OF the army called Portugal, composing
together an army Of not less than 10000
| men, oi which 5000 were cavalry, and j25
pieces OF artillery; could not pretend 20
MAINTAIN the blockade of Cudad RODRIGO.
nor could any efforts which | could mac
prevent or materially impede the collecti-