Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-20
T1s - cevr. g;re.le.l

cupied in, and near San arem, on the
night Of the sth instant. and on tn.
morning of the 6 h the British srlny
began the pursuit. The frs, move-
ments OF the enc my indicated th- in
tention of concen rating con,i6=,a-
bic force in Thorn r. in Consequence
OF which, detached On the ath TO.
wards that place, considerable body
OF troops, composed OF marshal Ber-
esford's corps Luuder the command OF
major general sir w. Stewart, which
had previously crossed tie Taeua, aaa
afterwards the Zszerel and OF INC
fourth, sixth, and part OF tie Grss 1i-
vision OF infantry and Two brigades or
British cavalry. In the man line
The enemy con inued his march to-
wards the Mondego, part OF he ar
my having taken the road to Esl inhal,
whist the second corps and the tXy;,
sion of general I.oison, took ,hei>lao
to Ancias, the remainder of the army
taking the rout towards Pombal. The
latter was closely pursued, and never
lost sight OF by the light division /;
the regiment OF royal dragons and
the first hnssars, made 200 prisoners.
On the Sch the enemy re united in
ront OF Pombal with the execution
'of general Loison's divisionl having
the sixth, eighth, and ninth corps, and
the division OF cavalry under the
command OF general Montbrune. The
hussars, the royal dragons, aud a
gut division, here distinguished
themselves, by charge which thsy
made under the comm nd Of col Ar
entschild. A detachment of the 10th
dragoons, which had been watching
the enemy near Leivia, made prisoners
ut detachment of tie enenly's, dra-
soons, aud arrived before Pofnbal just
IN tsale to join their brothers in arms,
and assisted IN making lie charge I
nave noticed above. -
1t was not until the 18th. that r
vas able TO concentrate a sufficient
force to attack the enemy in his posi-
ton before Pom aal; on that day the
hrst, third, fourth, and sixth corps, the
DIVISION of Light Infantry and general
Packs brigade were concentrated ;n
the fields in front of the enemy in
the night, ne again commenced his re-
treat, andoning his positions. The
night division, the hussars, the royal
Dragons and general Packs brigade.
he whole under the command Of ma,
Jor general Slade pursued the enemy,
VINO made an effort to maintain the
anc ent Castle Of 2ombal, butshe was
quickly dislod ged, still the sixth cOrps
and he cavalry OF the enemy under
general Montbrune, maintained theyn-
selves in Inc fields adjacent O the
town, our troops not having arrived
IN time to make general attack be.
tore the night came on.
The enemy continued his retreas
during the night, and on the follow.
ing day the 18th. the sixth corps with
general Montbrune's cavalry took a
strong posi- ion, at the entrance of
narrow pass between Pombal and Re.
llnna, their right covered by thick
wood or pine, and their left extend
ing o the heights and mountains, to-
wards the river which passes through
that town, having the town Itself in
their rear In this position / imme-
diately attacked the enemy, with the
third and fourth corps, the light divi-
sion, general Packs brigade, and the
cavalry; the remainder of the army
forming the reserve.
The post of Pehnai upon the right
OF the enemy was FIRST carried by a
light division, under he command Of
major general cir William Erskine,
La the mean time we succeeded in
forming the troops In a field on the
other side OF the strong pass occi pied
by the enemy at the same time the SCI
division under the command Of major
general PictoD, was formed in the VIZ
cinity of Pehnal the first division.
under the command OF majoy general
Cole, was IN the centre, having gen
eral Packs brigade on is ri hit, and
having communication with the Sd di.
vision, the whole supported by the
British cayslry the 4 h, 5th, and 9th
divisions formed the reserve.
Our troops we're formed with the
utmost precision aud expedition.
Lieutenant general sir Brent Spencer
put himself at the head OF the troops.
md led them on to che att ok OF en-.
enemy In his positions immediately
che enemy was d slojged with great