Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-09-30

From. the London Courier Of the 3oth 1a4fy.
Literal translation Of areport of the seige
Of Tarragona, which General Conteras, fS-1
Governor, of that place, addressed to the Iouh-
Gil Of Regency -
con the 25th ms. at day break, the enemy
opened his FIRE to batter in breach the cur,
tain of the front of St. John, at the angle which
il forms with the left flank OF the Bastion OF
St. Paul Our artillery and our infantry be-
hayed heroically they several times succeed
ed in silencine their fire, and retarding an O.
Deratiop which threatened US with an assault.
aTbe situation Of Tarragona became at
this moment most critical for from the want
of shipping, of time and opportunity found
It impossible for me to save my garrison oy
sea as little could do SO by land, because
the enemy surrounded me with all his army
and awaited NV sallying out to drive me back
"To speak of capitulatlon was unworthy OF
the heroic defence which the place had made.
The Marquis Of Ca,npoverde had promised
to present himself with an army tor my relief !;
the English had arrived two days before with
another division of troops tor my support, but
they did not resolve upon dlsembarklng "heh
they saw the danger in which the place was
of being invested; and thus, in spite OF the AID
of our troops, and the presence OF our allies
saw myself reduced to my own soldiers.
aIn this state of things, knowing the activity
of the enemy, who would not loose moment
in attacking me before the ill-combined opera
ton for raisingthe seige could be carried into
effect, an operation which lasted number OF
DAYS, I took that measure which was due to
Snanisb honor, to my character. to my person
al reputation and resolved to die fighting, ra-
Their than think of a surrender.
81 saw beforehand the two consequences
which my resistance would produce; either
the confusion, the defeat, the flight OF the en-
emy, if was victorious; or it | failed, and the
enemy penetrated into the place, horrible
carnape Of nv soldiers and of the inhabitants.
." But in foreseeing all this, In determining
to receive and to repel the French upon the
breach, again consulted, whether my forces
was capable of that enterprise, ore OF the most
heroic which the war presents, and to whlch
few men know how to make up their mhos.
" In reality knew that had still 5000 OF
the best and most warlike troops OF SPAN, VINO
had immortalized themselves IN the defence
of Tarragona, and to whom only this last effort
was wanting for the completion OF their work.
"Resolved, then, to resist the assault OF the
enemy, placed, in the face of the breach, two
battallons of provincial grenadiers and the re-
riment of Almeira, with orders not to fire a
single musket, and to throw themselves upon
the breach as soon as the French should appear
there. in order to drive back their column at
the point of the bayonet for it was thus that
this terrible operation was to be executed !;
and on compelling them to retire, such ter
rible carnage was to be made among them,
that they should not dare TO return second
time.
81 distributed among the soldiers wine,
brandy, and tobacco. spoke to them myself
so as to inflame their courage; and took all
the Pre- G. utions which were proper to be ia
ken under such circumstances. The result
did not answer my expectations. Our troops
received the Frerch with a frmness worthy OF
admiration but they did not altogether follow
my instructions, which were to attack the as
suiling column in its advance; and the regi-
ment of Almeira soon yielded the ground
which it occupied for the purpose OF supporting
the grenadiers and acting as reinforcement
and reserve.
CAT last 1900 of the enemy's grenadicrs,
supported by FIVE or six thousand men, with
out reckoning the bulk OF the army OF Suchet
which surrounded the place on all sides, en-
tered the breach. Our troops began to retire
in disorder from the wall and although the
officers and myself made every effort to stop
them, and prevail upon them to charge the
enemy anew, and defend themselves in the
streets, this was impossible; the soldiers think
ing to find safety in flight, threw themselves
down on the side towards the sea, leaped over
the walls and palisades, and attempted to es.
cape; but they were taken by the enemy's
troops, who invested us on the Barcelona side
ofthe place.
"In proportion as our troops gave way, the
enemy occupied the ramparts of the old and
new town, and entered the streets where all
were killed or wounded without distinction of
class, age or sex. This tragedy was only less
cruel, because the French officers, full of ge-
nerosity, saved all they could, and even expos.
ed themselves to become the victims of their
own soldiers, who, burning with the thirst of
carnage, thought only of slaughtering.
6 At this moment running myself to the