Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-20


indeed in every part of the country
where he has been; the barbarities
which he has committed, have no ex-
ample in modern warfare. Even the
towns of Torris Novas, 'Thomar, aud
Pernes. in which the head quarters
had remained for ssme months, and
whose inhabitants had been induced
II remain in their houses under the
assurances of good treatment, were
piilaged and fred, ON the night of the
enemy's retreat. La the retreat, the
same cruel conduct has been pursued.
The convent of Alcobaza was set on
J fire by an express order from he French
head quarters; tue pa'a~e of the bishop
Leyria as also the whole town, in
which general Drouel's head quarters
had been, shared the same fate, and
| there is not an individual Of those who
remained in those places, which have
been occupied by the enemy, who has
not abundant cause 10 complain of the
atrocities they have perpetrated. 1t is
IN this manner that the enemy has full
filled his promises, it is thus that the
! French commander in chief has vcri.
lied the assertions contained In his
proclamation, addressed to the inhab-
itants OF Portugal, in which he said he
came not to make war upon them, but
with his powerful army Of 10000
combatants, TO compel the English to
retreat TO their ships or to drive them
into the sea.
1t is to be hoped that the people of
Portugal, and indeed those of every
other country, will be warned By this
example--that they will learn to know
how little reliance can be placed in
such promises, and remember that the
only security for life, and every thing
that is dear TO man is to be found in
fixed determination to meet the ene-
my at the point of the sword. There
the General details the meritorious
scrvicrs of the General end Staff Off.
GERS, and the different corps of the
allied arnies.1
an very sorry to inform your ex-
cellency that the city and fortress OF
Radalos, surrendered 20 the enemy on
the eleventh instant. am not We, in
formed Of the circu instances which
led to this issue, bat have no doubt
ot the fac. From the moment that
the enemy entered Estremadura, di-
rectlng MS views towards that place,
every attention was turned upoa the
means Of succoriug it. Before the I'M
fortunate battle Of the 10Th Of Febru.
airy, l had deter oined to reinforce
the Spanish army, with a view to COM
pei the enemy TO raise the seige this
determination Intended to execute the
! moment the reinforcements which /
expected from England, should reach
the Tagus, these reinforcements I
expected by the latter end of Ianua.
~.
The battle on the 10Th of February,
DESTROYED the Spanish army on whose
cooperation had relied il then be-
came impossible for me TO carry into
effect, the object which I had 10 view,
even after the arrival of the expected
reiniorcements, unless the enemy
could be forced from the positions
which he then occupied on the Ia
gus. l had therefore determined to
attack him IN his positions, toe moment
the reinforcements should Join the ar
NY, and the roads became pas.able. |
The disbursements arrived on the
first of March, but as yet have not
joined the army, and on the night OF
the 5th the enemy retired from his
positions, IN the manner stated in the !
frs. part Of this despatch. Immedi- /
ately instructed the governor Of Ell !
vas, to inform the governor of Bada-
jos, by telegraph or hewise, that
Massena, had commenced his retreat. !
and that he might rely upon aid from !
me as soon as possible, and that in
the mean time, hoped he would de-
fend the place TO the last extremity.
Couformnbly thereto, the moment the
enemy left the Fagus. and the Zezere, |
] provided means to carry my inten- !
tions into execution, and corps of !
troops actually commenced its march |
on the 9TH Of this month from Thomar, |
and other points at the same time
part Of the corps, the army under The !
command OF marshal Beresford, which !
had been stationed or the Tagus, had |
been put in motion, and the advanced
guard, had reached within two DAYS !
march Of Elvas. On the morning Of |
the 9th, received he most favoura-
bic communication from Badaios by |