Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-14
LAST BATTLE In PORTuuaH'
letter from an officer Of rank in Lord
Wcliington's army. c;
al Rodr;co. .9DrI 8, 1914.


81 intended to have written 10 ~" w.
fore hut really could not ilnd an oppof'u-
n;tv Our division had all the hard work
n following up the rctrc'tins army we
orr;rcd at this Spanish town to-day, about
half league from the Portuguese IRON
tier It is now exactly thirty-one days
since we commentators operations against
This wonderful French army, winch was
"a have driven us into the sea; however,
fortune has favored us, and at t'!is mo-
mept we are strongly posted on the spa
nish frontier. Co..
s. The entry of the French into SPAN
has been difficult they passed through
This town without dcirs the least injury to
the Inhabitants. Our regiment dlstin,
euishcd itself in the presence OF hcra
wellington and greatpart ofthe British
army, The enemy were posted strongly
at Abugal, the Goa river in trent. Inc
division on the morning of the 81 April,
having been ordered to ford the Goa hall
a league to the right Of Sabugal, cur brl-
sade took the lead. composed OF five COM
panies of the 95th rilemen, 43d regiment
and first Portuguese light regiment. The
latter. under Col. Elder, moved nearly
two miles to the right; the riilemen skir-
mished; the enemy's picqucts lei, back
frcm the river as We Advanced; We passed
through the water and gained the opposite
height. As our companies arrived, we
formed line, and advanced under a heavy
fire. The riaemen who had been skir-
mishing in our front, were dciven in. and
the heads Of two strong columns OF the
enemy appeared in view. The second bri
sade of cur division had not yet crossed
the ford, and one battalion was uEsuDport-
ed, with the whole Of the second corps
(Gcn. Regnier's) Of the French army in its
front, close to our line. We fixed bayou
cts, and charged them, determined to
clear the way before us; their columns
were routed, and fell back i'll great coiiiu-
sion. We found them, as we advanced,
forming fresh bodies still stronger. and a
wall in the front lined with battalion.
We fell back to the ground We charged
from, and again formed under heavy
fire Of grape. canister and musketry.
They again advanced upon us, and we a
gain charged them, gained the heights
they possessed, and took hOwitzer that
had very much annoyed us: it was posted
in the rear Of the battalion that was form
ed under cover Of the wall. Our people
advanced with so much impetuosity that
our front was rather scattered. Their
cavalry took advantage Of it as11 charged
us. The wall we had before taken was
near us, and we fell back upon it in full
run. They took about 50 OF 10 OF our
people. We gave them q vc!ley. tumbled
some Of them, and The others retired with
precipitation. We again pushed on, Sc
cured the howitzcr we had before taken,
and which their cavalry made charge TO
recover we were so hard pushed at first,
that the right was actually surrounded.
Our second charge cleared the way, and
saved our guns.
"I'he I'd brigade, about the same time,
made their appearance. The 52d formed
orr right: tho remainder OF the brigade,
a sceoHd line. Another division of the ar
my showed themselves Oh our left; the
enemy formed column and retired, orr
dragons following. Our total loss was
only so; enc officer killed and five wound
ed. The enemy's fire was very bad al
though close to them. They had ten
times our number. 1t appears almost i'm
possible that single battalion should be
50 long opposed to such superior force,
Dive il before them, and only lose so men.
The enemy disgraced themselves not a
man u, OH. regiment ought to have eseap-
ed. Their cavalry deserves praise. but
their infantry behaved most dastardly.
..Coionel Beckwith commanded tie bri-
sade. and was with us during the whole
of the affair; he was slightly wounded in
the forehead. This action closed the Por-
tr,gucse campaign. The enemy retired
across the frontier that night"
"VilIa de Su5uad, 9Th, at II o'clock, PM
Tomorrow the army will proceed to
: Alsaiates, and We may safely conclude