Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-18

retreat: this manruvre produced the irnme-
diate effect of dislodging them from the
strong position, which they occupied IL Con-
deixa and last night they encamped in the
mountains, at place called Cassai Nov0, dis
tant one league from Condeixa.
We Immediately opened communication
with Coimbra; and made prisoners Of 4 de-
tachment of the enemy's cavalry, that was On
the road to that city.
We found this morning the 9th and 9th
corps, formed In very strong position near
Cassal Novo: the light division Immediately
attacked, & drove back their advanced pos,
but we could only dislodgs them from the po-
sition which they occupied, by means of move
mcnts on their TANKS. therefore ordered the
4th division under the command of General
Cole to move towards Penella, for the pur-
pose of securing the passage of the river Esa,
and the communication with Espinhal, near
which place Major General Nightingale had
been observing the movements of the 2dcorps
of the enemy since the 10th instant, while the
Sd division commanded by Major General
Picton, moved Immediately, turning the enc
my's left; and the light division with Briga-
der General Packs brigade, under tho conn
malad of Major General Sir William Erskne,
turned their right, and Major General Camp
bell with the 9th division supported he light
troops, by which the enemy Was attacked in
front; these troops we're supported by the Ca
valry, and LIST and 5th division and the brigade
of Colonel Ashworth In reserve. These move
ments compelled the enemy to abandon ali the
positions watch he successfully took in the
mountains: & the two corps OF the army,
wi,ici, formed the rear guard Of the enemy,
were at the same time driven back, towards the
! main body of their army, posted at Miranda
do Corvo, and river Esa, with considerable
E; loss OF killed, wounded and prisoners.
! In the operations OF this day, the regiments
! No. IS, 50, s., and Sd of clssseurs under
tine command of Ceionels Drumnond, Beck
with, and Major Patrickson, Lieutenant Col.
Ross, MAJORS Gilman and Stewart. and Lieut..
Col. Elder. particularly distinguished them
selves as did also thu battalions of light liz
fln>ry belonging to the division of Gen. Pc
ton, and commanded BY Lieutenant Col. WI
! Hams, oad the chasssurs, No. 4, commanded
by Col. Rego, and the flying artillery, conf
F., manded by Captains Ross and Bull.
The result of these operations has been the
preservation of Coimbra and Beira Alta from
the devss.ations of the enemy; and the open
ing TO us the communication with the nCfth.
era provinces, as we'll as obl;ging the enemy
to make his retreat by the road Of the bridge
of Murcella, in which they may be hacassSd
aud pursued by the militia, who will act will,
safety upon their TANKS, while the allied AZ
- continues to pursue them closely and la!
rass their rear.
An this part of the country, however, ai-
forts them ,nany advantages, lii poslinfls, Tor
a r1trcating army, of which the enemy have
hitherto sncwn that they know how to avail
themselves they are rctreating from the
country III the same manner III which they en-
tered it; that is, in Il solid mass, covering
their rear in all their marches By the opera
tons of one or two corps Ca the army, i'll the
strong positions, which the country offers
them; those corps are very closely supported
by the Main body of the army. Before they
quilted their position, they destroyed part of
their artillery and ammunition, and then blew
up or rendered useless every thing that their
horses were Unable to carry. They have no
provisions, except what they plumber, and
which are carried at the expence of the SOL
dicrs, except some Cattle, which they carry
with them.
II is with considerable pain that am obli-
ged to add to this account that the conduct OF
the enemy in their retreat, In every part, is
such, that their barbarities have seldom been
eoaalled, but we're never exceeded; even the
towns of Torres, Novas, Thoniar, and Per-
mes, in which their head quarters had been tor
months, and in which the inhabitants had been
induced by promises of good treatment to re-
1910, ,voro r,,,ndnred and nanV OF the holl.
ses burned on the night when the enemy re-
tired from the position which they occupied !:
they afterwards burned all the places and
towns through which they passed in their re.
treat The convent Of A!cobasa was oorne
BY orders sent from the French head quar-
tiers the Palace of the Bishop of Leyfa, as
we'll as the whole city, in which general
Drouct's quarters had been met with the
same fate and there is not single mhaoltant
of the count,y Of any class or description OF
those who remained, and had intercourse with
the French army, who has not reason to COM
plain bitterly of the atrocities which they have