Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-13
BOSTON, Nov. 8.
LATEST FROM PORTUGAL.

Captain Mcsservey from Lisbon, has bro't
the Gazettes Of that city to the 2Sth Septem-
Der and verbal accounts to the I'd October
The papers from the oath to tie 2Sth Sept.
do not contain line of information from the
grand armies; and the last reports were, that
no war event had occurred. The Anglo-Lusi-
tartan army Was in cantonments on the eastern
frontier of Portugal between the Tagus and
the Douro, excepting one division, which
watched the garrison of B4da joz from the vi
cinity of Elvas. Tse French grand army re-
manned cautioned in line between the Tagus
and the Tonnes, about 20 miles to the east
ward ofthe English cordons. The opposing
armies we're considered as nearly equal i'll
strength, and both must have had great num-
Der, in the hospitals, sick of the diseases of the
country. IF any great operations are under
taken this year, they must be executed in Oc-
tober or November, during which the wea-
ther generally is very fine. The British
were continually receiving reinforcements
from England, particularly cavalry; and Mar
shall Bcresford continued active in engaging
ard training Portuguese levies ;-ot which
five thousand infantry, and three thousand six
hundred rilemen had recently been marched
towards the frontier. The French army had
also been reinforced from the North, and from
France; but the reports of a large French
army headed by Napoleon, having entered
Spain, are fabulous.-At the moment the Cos
sip in Lisbon were retailing this story, the
Emperor was at Antwerp, examining his ma
val preparations.
The Spanish and Portuguese papers are re-
plete with official and other accounts of dash
iEe attacks and gallant defenses made By nu-
mcrous scouting parties, into which several
of the Spanish cohorts called armies have
scattered. This bush-fghting mode of war;
fare, though imposed by disaster and necessity
Is found to De most completely vexatious to
the French columns and his dissi pated some
Ct the gloom which the successes of the French
in Catalonia, had spread far and wide. The
Spaniards have very few officers acquainted
with the science of war and no confidence
can be placed in either the integrity or talent
Of most of their Don officers. The Spanish
cohorts are therefore unable to withstand
regular charge OF French legion in line or
coiumn.-Bu, the spirit of the people is con-
st..Iit and partizan leaders, acquainted with
desultoiy warfare, are numerous, and were
daily making havoc On the conveying and
ioraging parties of their semi-savage invaders;
who seldom see their enemy until they have
first seen the smoke OF their rifles. In various
districts from the Ebro to the Andalusian
mountains, and lii the North, we see accounts
Of these bands of patriots, headed by Nina,
Louga, Martin, the Empccinado Sancheg,
Manillo, &c. sc. who are in almost continual
combat whose losses in arms, stores, and
cloathing, are continually repaired by the En-
glish officers; and who, when retired to the
mountains to rest or recruit, Can exist on a
little garlic, bunch of grapes, with the water
OF the rill, and "think it a luxury"
We have no confirmation of the capture of
Valercia. General Balasteros was at AIge-
s'ras, making preparations to defend that city.
We see nothing in the papers of he Situation
OF Soult's and Suchet's corps.
.