The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-07-19
BATTLE IN THE NORTH

IL. Q. VILLA FoRhosA, May l..
l;iasrious- and B,seeiient SIR,
1t has been frequently re
ported that King Joseph was preparing to re-
tire from Spain, but have hitherto considered |
these reports as having no better foundation |
shan the wishes OF those who have circulated |
them, and from this consideration have for |
borne to address your exceilency Ola the subject.
But have now reason TO believe there IS some |
fonndation in q communication nave Just re-
ceived, announcing that King Joseph was to
have departed for Valladolid on his road to
France.he 27th ult. All the Cuerellss (Span-
ish partizan corps) are holding themselves in
activity to intercept the progress of his journey,
but he carries with him powerful squadron Of
1000 French troops, as well many Spanixrds
who have sworn fidelity to him.
no VILLA FoRAosA, May 6.
SIR,
The whole of the cnemyss army, consist
ang OF the 5 J, 9th aud 7sh corps, with all the
cavalry which could be collected in CASTLE and
Leon. including goo horse of the Imperial
Guard, crossed tho Agueda. at the foot of Cu.
dad Rodrigo or the Sd current
The bsitaliors OF The Ssh corps were incor
DRAFTED with the regiments belonging to the O.
cher corps, excepting one division which con-
sisteLof,he bat,alions belonging to the corps
stationed in And dusia, but which formed part
OF the enemy's army.
AS my object in maintaining my position be-
sween tile Goa and Agueda, after the enemy had
retired from the first river, w.s to blockade Al
media, which from intercepted letters and otherl
sources ofinforna,ion Ihad learnt was i'll pro-
vided with supplies for its garrison--and as the
enemy was Infinitely superior to me in cavalry,
made no opposition TO his march, and at late
lIour CT the aforementioned day he crossed the
4AzaYa, in the vicinity of Espisa, Carpen and
Ga!legss
He continued his march on the morning Of the
I'll INF lire tod md n
sas; two of these columns, consisting of the Cd
and 9th corps proceeding by A,meida and fort
Conception) and the Sd, formed ORAL the ca
valry and the Sth corps, as we'll as thai. part Of
the 9Th which had not been Incorporated with
the other three. -~s 81 -. H..
The allied army was stationed along the river
Duas Casa and the sources of the Azsya the
light division at Gsllegos and Espiaa.--That di-
vision, as the enemy advanced, refrigerated to-.
wards Fuentes d'Honor Con the Duas Casas)
with the British cavalry In this place the first,
Sd and 7th divisions concentrated and the 9th
under the command OF Major Gen. Cambeu OBJ
served the bridge of Almeida--Msj Cen Frs
k,ne with the 5th division, guarding the fords
OF the river Duss Ponies ; and Brig Gen. Pack,
with his brigade, and the regiment of Rainha,
Belonging to the 9th division, maintained the
c6ftelkaae OF Misunderstanding it closely invest
and Spanish iniaily!r 9n lalss eancnes, VINO oc-
I'm the afternoon of the Sd ot y. :, oAvairy
Drss upoh the ground 10 The right e.. Sb,ny lad
uoon 80 ,D .ney made an attack in great forca
EalsaStiy def. ndsd by I,.- <s,i Iw:n:: "Fuch was
otn Dstsa,lon, Goth regiment, WIN TRAINS, OF the
the oatsalicns of light infantry belonging 70 the
EMISSIONS OF Maj Gen. Picton- supported by the
syn. ioi.ntry oil the brigade under the command
o. MAJ Gen. Nightingale, he AIDED by Maj. D;cL
ofthe 4Sd regiment-by the battalions Of Irnt
troops OF Maj Cen, Howard's brigade, under
MAJ M Donnell of ihe 92d-a battalion of the
same troops belonging to the legion Aiema de
tse'' and lastly by part of the s3d regiment
commanded by Maj. Carr.
The troops succeeded in ma;nt.;n;no ,hs;,
position; bur observing the repeated effort.
Maoe by the enemy TO get possession of the
place, and convinced Of the aSyantapee thew
Wouc derive from it IN their subsequent opera
eions' reinforced it successfully with the 7Ist
regiment, under the command of Col Cadogan.
and the oath, commanded bv Mai. Cbsn,ber.
lain. The former officer, at the bead of,he z1st
cnaf8sa the enemy and dislodgel them from
part oithe place Of which they had got momen.
tary posse ssion. Al this time, Col. Williamh
was unfortunately wounded, and the command
asyuifed nPon Col Cameron, of The 7ots., who
s'ht,lusa the contest until night, at which time
Il cessed, aud the whole place remained in the
possession of our forces
toen withdrew the battalions ofiight ;nfsn.
try, and The s3d regiment leaving in the place
the 7lst and 79th only, with the 81 battalion Of
VIZ ~%la 10 support them. On the 4tb, the en-
eng reeonDoitred the positions we occupied on
the Dnab Casss, and during the night removed
from Alameda, the corps commanded by Junot.
proceeding BY the left Of the position which the
OH corps had occupied in trent Of Fuen,es d,Ho-
nor- concluded from the manner in which
they had reconnoitred or the 9Th, that the enc.
rcy were bent upon takiTfg possession Of Fuentcs
@t1onoT, and OF the ground our troops had oc
cuPied IN front OF that place, in order to get q.
cross The river Duas Casss st Poza Vello. In
order to obstruct them, directed movement
OF the lt5 division, under tie command of Ma.
-or General Houston, 10 protect the passspe
aad impede the enemy if possible in the at
Gempt.
On the morning oftbe Sth, he 9Th corps form.
Ell III two columns, with all the csvalrv appear.
ed CT The opposite shore Of Duas Cssas and st
Poza Velho, and IN conjunction will, the 9Th
end 9th corps, made movement BY their left
height division which had moved from the
Vicinity Of Aiineida, was ordered, -ith the ca
va,ry under the command OF Lieut. Cen. Cotton.
TO support Maj Gen. Houston, for which pur
posc also tie first aad second division made a
movement to the right, along the heights be
tween Turon and the Duas Casas, in correspan-
debce with thst made by the 9Th and 9Th corps
on the right Of Duas Cssss.
The Stb corps attacked the advanced guard of
Maj Gen Houston, consisting of the S5th reei
Ipem, commanded by Major M'Intosb, the Cd Of
Portuguese Cacadefes, under the command oil
IT. Col Nixon, and Obliged them to retire