The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-23

the French troops were returning from Spain,
IN miserable emaciated condition. It is
believed that Spain will be abandoned b,
the French armies. except some OF the
strong places near the frontiers of France
1t is supposed to be on account of the scar
city of provisions that the measure has been
adopted.
Translated from, tire Commercial .hd0erti.
Lisbon, .4hri %.
Official account of the great defeat that the
French have suffered between Usagte &
Bienvenida.
To His ErceNency the Earl Of WelHmgton.
81. Martha, .fhri! IL. ~
Ny Lord,-I have the honor to transmit
TO your EXcellency the enclosed account of
Lieut.. Gen. Sir Stapleton Cotton, in which
he gives the particulars of a very brilliant,
and very successful attack upon the rear of
the enemy.
1t is necessary for me to call your Ex-
eellency's attention to the distinguished a
bility with which the. Lieutenant General
plann ed and executed this entelprize, soad
mirably assisted by the bravery and skill Of
Major G eneral LIE Marchant and Lieut..
Col. Ponsonby, as well astUy the great ex-
ertions of the officers and soldiers of the
two brigades employed in tlifs service
(Signed) 7. GRAHAM, Lieut. Gen.
To Lieut.. Gen. Sir Thomas Graham, K. B.
Sir,-I have the honor to inform you
that / received inform alton last night, OF
Dronet's tavally amounting to $500 mcn)
being encamped between Usagre and tins
place ordered Maj. Gen. Anson's brI-
gade Commanded by the Hon. Lieut.. Col
Ponsonbyl and that of Maj. Gen. LIE Mar
chant, to move, during the night, from Vii
la Franco towards Los Santos, so as to ar
rive before break OF day; the former at
Usagre, the later at BeDvenida intending
to attack the enemy with Ger, Anson' bri-
gade in front, while Maj. Gen. Marchant,
by movement in flank from Bienvenida,
should attempt to cut off their retreat to
Llerena.
The advanced guard of Maj. Gen. An
son tell in with the enemy'S piquets at the
foot of Usagre, two hours, sooner than |
wished Gen LIE Merchants brigade not ha-
wing had time to approach the enemy, who
retired, In consequence of the alarm they
had, to distance sufficient to secure their
retreat to Llerena. Lieut. Col. Ponsonbv
followed the enemy Immediately after day
break, through Villa Garcia, skirmishing
with them, when the brigade of Gen. LIE
MarChant arrived from the other side of
the heights, between the road of Llerena
and Bienvenida desired that Lieutenant
Colonel Ponsonby should display only three
squadrons, and should endeavor to amuse
the enemy i'll front, until Mai. Gen. LIE
Marchant's brigade (for which purpose |
had ordered Col. Elley to conduct it under
cover of the heights) should be ready to
attack the enemy in flank every thing
succeeded admirably, and the enemy being
vigorously attacked at the same moment
in front and flank, retired in the greatest
confusion and disorder. pursued them
with the arigade Of Major Gen. Arson
and one regiment of that Of Major Gen LIE
Marchant, (the fifth of dragons of the
guard) as far as the foot Of Llerena, a dis
lance OF four miles, during which the loss
of the enemy in killed was very consider
able, besides about $50 prisoners including
one lieutenant, colonel, two captains, one
lieutenant, with about $50 horses, taken
IN She field.
The enemy's cavalry formed itself on
the right, and in the rear of pieces, and
OF OF 10000 infantrg, who had taken DO
sltion upon the left near to the CITY. They
all retired shortly afterwards towards Bar
langa and Azuaga, as far as the former of
which places they were followed by my
patro es.
We yesterday received Gazettcs from
Santiago, the Asturias, and Valencia de
Aicantara. That OF the Princ;palitv of As
tui Ids CpntdlhS an OmCial letter from the
Commandant General OF the ID section of
the division of the prncipality, relative to
an action that the troops under his com
mand had with the French at Gordon. the
result o. which was, that the Spaniards
lost, after battle of three hours, men
Killed and IS wounded the loss of the G.
nemy being '1l6 men killed and wounded.
officers and all the baggage, considera
BILE quantity of arms, and the proceeds Of
some contributions that they had extorted.
and of which the Spanish soldiers obtained
possession. The action was on the 9TH of
April.
The Gazette Of Valencia de Alcantara
contains a dispatch from Brigadier Don
joaquin Montenegro. dated at Castileia
dc la Gucsta on the 9th April, and relates
to an action between San Lucar MAYOR.
and Esparmina, in which the Spanish tr9ops
occasoned a loss to the enemy of 100. XII
led. wounded and prisoners, that of the
SPaniards being much inferior.
DishGtch from the celebrated Nina.
Most Excellent 3ir,-Col. Don Greeorio
Cruchags in dispatch of the 18th, writes
10 me as follows -
Gen. Able With his column of 5000 infan.
try, aad 500 ca, fT''s. presented himself in