The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-03

from this. with a view OF attacking the,
French at Chiclana- / cannot tell you why,
and indeed 1t is difficult TO conceive on
what principle the British general deter
mined that the whole expedition should be
embarked at Cadiz. carried, round to Tari
ia there landed, and be compelled to drag
their artillery & heavy baggage through the
most infamous roads and marshes and after
ali bring his men, spent with fatigue, not
having had their knapsacks off their backs
for So hours, to fight the battle within sight
OF our own posts-when he could have mar
ched out by bridge with his men fresh &
without any baggage Z impede hem doing
their duty-However the fact is as related
In this situation marching down towards
Chiclana, the English being posted IN a
wood by La Peno who was the Spanish
commander in Chief was surprised by the
main body Of the French underVic or they
Immediately formed as quick as possible,
boz during the tine necessary tor this ope-
r. lion the French wer pouring N heir mus.
kerry & grape SHOT & made a terrible ha.
vock The moment they were formed they
charged the French with the oayonet, & in
very short time completely routed them
The French took position On a hill, the
English again Gu arged Them with the bay
onct and routed +, therN with dreadful slough-
:er-results are 4 French generals. 9 killed,
2 prisoners Il since dead) IS officers woun-
,ded e prisoners, about 500 pri.oners,. &
there are yet lying on the field, about roo
French bodies.
When General Graham found himself
surprised, he went into the ranks cheering
his men, sc led them on in person TO the
charse-no, man did not do his duty &
one officer of the S7th regiment killed ele-
ven Frenchmen &c brought in Ave prisoners
II .lsV P IN
English loss is immense considering the
NUMBER OF men engaged-ihe return made,
shows 1876 nen & officers killed, wounded
q missing-Du,ing the engagement Gene
raj La Pena with eight to ten thousand Spa
niards did nothing-theJ gave no assistance
Sc though Gen. Graham sent several
messages, La Pena would not allow his men
! TO g. on. Had the Spaniards advanced, the
whole French army would have been taken;
not man would have escaped & it has
been positively ascertained that Victor had
orders TO this effect. Give battle, and if
! you are beaten, retreat upon -Seville''--SS
every French soldier was prepared for a
retreat In disgust with his men so wea..
ried and iatigued tina, they were hardly
able to stand) Gen. Graham came into the
island, all the wounded have been broprht
in, FIVE pieces of artillery, & one eagle Ia
ken by the s7th regiment--which / have
| seen.
| Icannot express to you the disgust which
every man feels tor this conduct of La Pena
* more to ind that as yet no notice has
oeen taken OF 1t. There is no blame to be
attached 20 the soldiers, they cried on, for
the English general to head them, bu, in
vain. The loss of the Freoch has been
greater than has ever been known in anv
battle where similar numoers have been
engaged particularly in off ers-no less
than fonr generals, and l calculate AZ Ieas,
two thousand men, killed and wounded. -T
went through the hospitals. and conversed
With many OF the men--I saw a number
just takea of the field.
| March 10.
IL is SAID, and have reason To believe it.
ina gen. La Pena will be brought TO An ar.
count or his Conduct, and new exoed;,;o,
is spoken Of Several regiments have mar
ched out again to day, and it is hoped and
expected that something decisive will be
done Gen. Graham. it is asserted, is to
nave ,he command, if so, have every hone
our seige will be raised. The French army
does not now exceed 10000 men, and they
nave many points to defend. Every thing
here IN the war like way is alive, and if the
opaniards do their duty much indeed can be
done. You thus see that the beseigers are
besiegsd, and, so far from any fears being
entertained respecting Cadiz, every thine
years he most favorable Appearances
During he business at the island, diversion
was made IN the bay of Cad,z, three forts
were taken. RoIa and Port ST. Marv's
were taken possession of by admiral X eats
They remained several hours there The
poor inhabitants came out in thousands 70
admiral Keats, who went there in person, &
Il was distressing IL De obliged to leave them
1.-The conduct ofthe British has been gal
amt indeed, and inspires Courage into every
| class of men.
SCRAPS OF NEWS.
From tate french Paher8-The Canal
of St OuIuti, is actjveIv no y;..a,J -