Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-02
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RATTLE NEAR CADIZ.

The editor o! the United States Gazette IS
Indebted to friend for the following inter-
essine extract Of a letter from an intelligent
American in Caeiz giving detailed ac-
count of the recent engagement IN the
n.ie,.borhood Of CadiZ.
Ciblz, March 8.
wrote you some days ago and mentioned
to YOU that an expedition WAS fitting out from
chs, with view Of attacking the French at
Ch;cLna Cannot tell you why, and indeed
il is difficult 10 perceive on what principle the
/ British general determined that the whole ex-
pct;ision should be embarked at Cadiz, carried
round to 'fari.a, there landed, and DC compel
led to drag their artillery and heavy baggage
through the most infamous roads and marshes
md after ali bring his men, spent with fatigue,
:,s having mad their kaapsacks Oh their backs
for thirty-six hours, to fight the battle within
s;,ht of ou1 own posts---when he cohid march
cut BY a bridge with his men fresh and
wi,hau, any baggage tor impede them doing
their duty ---Eewever the tact is as Is related
IN this situation marching down towards Chi
clana, the English being posted in wood by
Ia Pena who was the Spanish Commander IN
Chief, was surprised BY the main body OF the
French under Yictor.---They formce: rs quick
as possible, but during the time necessary tor
this operation the French were pouring in
their muskeuy and grape shot and made a
terrible havock. The moment they ioimed
,hey Charged the French with the bayoaet
and in a very short time completely routed
,nem.---The French took position OH hill,
the English then charged with bayonct end
roused them sr;:h dreadfal slanShter---results
&c French generals, 9 killed, prisoners,
Tone since Gcad) IS officers wounded and pr.
soners, about 500 prisoners, and there are yet
living or the field, about 700 french bodies
When General Graham found himself sur
,prisca he vert into the ranks cheering his
r,cn, and led them OH il person to the charge
---no. :. nan did not 10 his duty and one
Officer cs tie s7th regiment killed eleven
Fr.nchnlen and brought in Ave prisoneis---I
have ccnvcrscd with him since..--During the
engagement; General La PEN. with eight or ten
thousand Spanicrds did no!hing.--the gave no
assis,ance---and though Gen. Graham sent sc.
|. veral messages, La Pena would not allow his
rsn TO go on. Had the Spaniasds advanced,
tne Whole F:anch army would have been ta-
ken not man would have escaped and it
has been positively ascerta'ned, that Victor
had orders TO this effect. "Give battle, and
Il YOU arc beaten retreat upon SeviHe,"- land
every French soldier was prepared for re.
treat In disgust with his men SO wear:.'d
ard fa.isued, that they were hardly able to
standl Gen Grahara came into the Island, all
the wounded have been brought in, FIVE pieces
Of artillery, and one eagle taken ~ the s7th
fcsi,nerh---which have seen.
eannos express to you the disgust which
every rnsa feels for the conduct Of La Pena,
ara more to find that as yet no notice has
S'eh Skea OF il. There is no bil,ne to be at
E.cAsa to the soldiers, they cried out Tor the
Ehslish General to lad them, but in vain
i!;c loss oithe French has been greater than
sas ever been known in any Battle where SINH
'"r nn';osrs have been engaged; particularly
III otfleers---no less than four generals, and
Calculate at least two thousand men, Killed
shd wounded. went through the hospitals,
aid convcrsed with many Of the mea--.I saw
SAumoer just .aken Off the field.
March 10. :,
=, "'s sad, aud have reason to believe it,
s.a gen. la Pcna will be brought to an ac-
>Sua' Tor his conduct and new expedition