Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-13

on,IeDey fen. Blake instantly on learning
the movement of Marshal Soult, IN strict
conformity to the plan proposed by your
excelIeucy, marched to form a Junction
with the corps Under my command anu
arr;ved at Valverle in person on the 14th
instant: having then consulted with ms
exeelIency General Castanos, II was re-
solved to go and meet the enemy and give
him battle. 90
Learning the determination Of the enc
INV to relieve Badajoz, 1 marched from
before that place with the infantry to the
most opposite Valyerde, except the diva,
sion Of the hon. Major General u. IL
cole. which l left with 1000 OF the Spa
nish troops to cover the retreat OF our
stores. ;.
The cavalry, which according to- my
orders was retiring, in proportion as tile
enemy advanced, formed a junction In
Santa Martha with the cavalry OF General
Rlake /: that of Gen. Castanos command
ed by the Count de Penne Nillemur, con-
tinued united with ours.
As hating at Valverde, tho = strong
er position, left Badajoz completely open,
I determined to take position (snch as
could be found in this open and level coun-
try) in this place, being thus directly be-
tween the enemy and Badajoz.
The army was consequently united
here on the 18th instant; the corps OF
General Blake, though it made forced
march for the purpose, only joined that
night, and could not take its position be-
fore the morning of the 10th, when the
division of General Cole also Joined. with
the Spanish brigade ofDon Carlos d'Hes-
panha little before the beginning OF the
action. Our cavalry had been obliged in
the morning Of the 18th to retire from
Santa Martha and join him.
In the afternoon Of this day the enemy
appeared on our front; on the following
morning our dispositions were made to
receive them, being formed in two lines
almost parallel to the river Of Albuhera
at the high water mark, and covering the
roads to Badajoz and Valyerde.; though
your exceIlency knows that the whole SUI
perficies ofthis country is passable In eve
nv part by troops of all descriptions.
General Blake's corps was on the right
in two lines, his left on the road OF Val
verde Joined on the right to the division Of
Major General the hon. w. Stewart; its
left reached the road Of Badajoz, where
commenced the right of the division Of
N.;or General Hamilton, which termi-
mated the line ON the left; Gen. Coles di-
vision with one brigade of Gen. Hamilton
formed the second line OF the British and
Portuguese army. -
The enemy on the morning of the 10th,
was not tardy in making the attack; at 8
o'clock he was in motion, and his cavalry
was seen to pass the brook of ,Albuhera
considerably above our right; shortly af-
forwards he sent out of the wood which
was in front of US, a great force Of caval-
~. and two heavy columns OF infantry,
which marched towards our front, as if
intending to attack the village and bridge
of Albuhera during this time, under the
protection of his very superior cavalry,
he caused the principal corps fhis infan-
try to defiIe near the river, beyond our
right, shortly after which it appeared to
be his intention to turn us on that side, and
cut us off from Valverde. l ordered in
consequence Major General Coles divi-
sioa. to form an oblique line in the rear
of our right, and its right to be thrown
back and it becoming evident that the
enemy's intention was to attack our right,
! requested Gen. Blake to form a part of
his first line, and the whole of his second
in the same way, which he did. The enc
nv commenced his attack at 9 o'clock,
continuing at the same time to threaten
our left :; and after a strong and brave
resistance from the Spanish troops, he
gained the heights, upon which they were
formed. In the mean time the division
of the Honorable Major General w.
Stewart was brought up to support them ;
and that of Major General Hamilton
brought up towards the left of the Spa
nish line, and formed into battalions with
contiguous open columns, so as to be able