Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-17

two remaining tsocnty,fu thousand dol
lar prizes-I will not be so unreasonable as
to as ask you for both-though upon second
thoughts, | confess if there be no great i'm
proprety in it, you may give me both--and
you may depend upon me in future,
Yours, Truly,
JACK SANGUINE.
The London STAR, of the 18th ult. now
in the hands ofthe Editors of the New York
Gazette, contains a letter from an officer in
Lord Wellington's army, dated March 3Oth,
with the following heart-rendering particu-
lars -" Torevert back to the sudden move
nent of the French had been for weeks in
view OF Santarem, and saw at last VITA great
pleasure some indications of their abandon
ing it. The first was setting fire to ore of
the principal converts i'll the upper town
and part OF the lower town; the volume of
smoke was immense for three days. On the
fourth morning, some information to depend
on reached us, and the buglc ofattack rous-
ed us from our pillows. The haze of the
morning clearing up, we could easily perceive
the out sentinels were men of straw, and pro-
we'd quite passive. In fact, better mana
ged retreat was never executed. Not a YES
tiSe OF dollars worth remained. Being at
the outposts with the 18th Dragons and 1st
Royals, entered with them and three mis-
cradle deserters, who had hid themselves,
were, with one too ill to move, the only en-
envy to befound.
" Such scene of horror, misery, and des
olation, scarce ever saluted the eve of man.
omoking ruins, the accumulated filth of
months, horses and human bodies putrid to
'uffocaton nearly, caused to many a vomit-
ing! The houses unburnt, with scarcely
Vestlge OF wood-doors, windows, ceilings,
root burnt--and where the sick had expired
there LETT to decay! The number left was
great Every church demolished, the tombs
opened for searching after hidden plate-e-
very altarpiece universally destroyed, and
me efiiuvia so offensive as to defy describing
In some gardens the miserable heads unde-
cayed, stuck up like scarecrows in some
wells, body floaeirg Down a precipice,
20 which we were invited by prospect to
look, the human and the animal carcases,
mingled in decay, repulsed our senses. and
shudderingly vibrated the soul at the savage,
horrible, diabolcal acts OF a French army.
must here notice one grand precaution:
The hospital was guarded Immediately from
entrance; and | believe no serious illness
proceeded from the. abominable situation in
winch the French left it. From this place
a short rest obtained, we rode ON, pressing
upon them by the goodness of our cattle, and
the ANIMATION OF our men who were delight
ed to chase the runaways. Greater spirits.
better discipline, and more order, never at
attended an army than this The French,
to confuse our plans, had marched in three
Columns from Santarem. Two were imme-
diately followed; but no mode or means
were sufficient to bring them to battle. Skir-
mshng was continued, and prisoners continu-
ally sent to the rear, until we reached Pom
pal, where Massena seeing himself so close
ly run, halted; and by position kept up in
check, until his baggage had sdvanced fur
ther III security. We were all ready for at
tack, and waited for the morning; but the
French politely withdrew in the night, and
we complimented them with our attendance
on the following day. On the Leira river,
we had another facing, but after some hard
lighting our dragons got to their rear, and
they surrendered, nearly the whole regiment.
these had to escort, and saw little more of
fighting.
But to see the country, is to weep for the
horrors OF war. Such horrid excuses ne
yer saw before.-Every town, village, or cot
Vge destroyed. The growing nursery and
pc Yild grove each havocked for destruc-
tPn takeA Tht pot that refined the oil bro
kep Ne wSpe phess burnt for burning sake
theSrape vines destroyed, as noxious weeds;
the furniture uyburnt, thrown from windows,
and, withee@riages, &c. made bonfire of
the large libraries strewed over the land in
remnants ofpaper; the noble convent in ash
eS, and the poor, unhappy, aged inhabitants,
unable to flee, hung around as ornamenting
the walls-ten, twelve in a place. To bear
the resemblance of female, was to be tor
tured to be an infant, to be sacrifice. One
circumstance, almost beyond credibility to be
committed by human beings in the heart of
Europe and the nineteenth century A con-
vent of eleven nuns with two priests, were
escaping in boat unhapply they were too
late; and overtaken near Villa Franco, the
priests were one shot and one drowned. One
only OF the nuns was young she was in-
stantly violated, as well as the rest; and the
old age of 65, was no defence against these
savages. These very nuns were thus treat
ed successfully by numbers and confined I'M
til disease made them loathsome to the hell
hounds themselves. When flag of truce in
troducedthem to us, the sight wasmost shock
ing. Every one tried to comfort them, and
to the immortal credit of Commissary Ayl-
mey they were conducted from Valada, by
water with all the comfort and consolation
that war and situation could possibly give.
A thousand more like these, could re-
count. No age-no rank--no respect. In
one convent, / found three unfortunate fe-