The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-08-24
mo. IL

piost rxcenent Sir-Ihc enemy took the
night OF the 18th inst position in front of vtto-
ria; his left supported by the heights which ter,ni.
nate AT the village of Argsnzon, extending from
those heights to the valley OF Zsorra oppost. the
town OF Arnez; and occupying with the right Of
his centre height which commands the said valley
Oh Zadorra. The right OF the enemy's army vas
situated near Vittoria, tor the purpose of defending
the points In the vicinity at which the river of Ia.
DORA WAS passsb'e. Upon the left of his rear he
had reserve in the town of Gomecha
The nature OF the country which the army has
crossed since It arrived at the Ebro had necessarily
extended our columns, and for the purrose of re
cruitng them we made q halt on the goth ,Sv,u-
eng the lett to Murguia, where according 10 ap-
pesrances 1t would be most necessary. I employed
that day in reconnoitrng the enemy's pos;tionn or
der to attack him on the following morning, if he
should yet remain in il. In effect, and pursusn, to
the arrangements made, we attacked the enemy
Yesterday and II Is very fattering TO to have
inform your Excellency, that the allied army und
my com mand has gained complete victory, driy.
ing the enemy from all their positions and taking
from them pieces OF artillery, Wagons Of smmun;-
uon, az, their baggage, provisions, cattle, military
chest, nc. with considerable numb.r of prisoners.
lhe operations OF the day began by SIR Rowland
HiPs possessing himself Of the heights of the vii
age, oy winch the enemy supported his left, but
hsu not occupied them with great force. For the
purpose ct taking them he detached a brigade of
the Spanish division commanded bv gen. MorilIo
employing the other in maintaining the coumunica.
ton between the main body of his division which
was upon the high road from Miranda to Vittoria,
and the troops detached to the said heights the
enemy was not slow in discovering the Importance
OF them, and reinforced his troops so greatly that
heutesant general Sir Rowland Hill was under the
necessity of detaching mm ediately to that point
the seventy FIRST regiment and the battalion of light
intsmry OF gen. Walkers brigade, under the orders
OF lieutenant colonel CadogaD, and successfully a.
ther troops and the allies not only gained these
important heights, but in spite of all the efforts the
gheIhy maze TO retake them retained possession of
no hOlG ,t.
L he action was, notwithstanding, obs;inatelv con-
tested, and our loss was considerable. Gen Moril
10 was wounded but he did not abandon the f,slJ
ana very much regret to say that the hon. heut
In him his Majesty has lost an Officer Of ereat ~
and experienced saliantry, who had ALREADY ACQUIRED
the respect and affection of all Of his profession *
ron whom ms country might have expected the
important services the thread of his life had
not oeen cut upon this glorious occasion.
Under the protection of the said he;phts Sir
Rowland Hill then passed the Zsdorra at the viii
iage, following the defle which the said river forms
win them, and attacked and took the town of Subj
jana de Alara in front of the enen,y's line and a.,
though the enemy made repeated efforts to ret.ke
u, they were every time repulsed.
ne oimcu'ties OF the ground retarded more than
had expected the communication of the different
columns, which marched to the attack from tha
points that they occupied upon the River Rayas s.
from that cause it WIS now evening when learned
that the column composed of the third and seventh
DIVISIONS under the command OF Lord Dalbous;e.
had arrived at the place which had been designated
to him.
The fourth and light division passed notyy;tb.
stsnning the Zadorra, Immediately after Sir Row.
land fill took possession of Subiyana de Alaya the
FORMER Dy the bridge OF Nanclares, and the other
py that called Tres PueRtes, and almost as soon as
they had passed, the column commanded by Lord
Daihousie arrived at Mendoza; and the third III Y;
sion, under the orders of lieutenant general Sir
Ihomas fieton passed the river by a bridge hishe,
lTl.t nv IIaaa
mand of Lord Dalhousie.
Ihese four divisions, which formed the centre n,
the army, were intended to attack the be;.b,s
which the right of the enemy's centre occupied'
T"'ie our ho"snd ttiii was advancing from Subiiaua
de Alava to attack his left. The enemy hav;,o
weakened his line in order to reinforce the detseh
ment which he had the heights Abandoned h,s
position IN the valley as he saw our Drenara
IONS W 20 a''sck ~ aud began his retreat toward,
Vittoria IN good order. Our troops pushed forwsr,
m admirable order, notwithstanding tn. dificnI,;.,
that the ground presented.
Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Graham. ,Ybl
conmanoe9 the ieit OF the army, composed of the
first and fifth divisions of generals Psek and Rrsd
ford's brigsdes of infsntry, and OF the hrioadc, 81
cavalry OF generals Rock and Arson yo.rched on
the zOtn 20 Murguia, from whence they proeeede,
anns me h,8h road which leads from Piboa TO VIZ
tors. ne had also with him the DIVISION Of co,o, al
Tonga, and that OF gen. Ciron which Rad bssn ~.
tached upon the lett Of the army considerinp IN.
state or things under different ssuect. il ,vss 81
ied I'D, arrived sc OtGuns on the Goth from, ybepc.
II departed that morning tor the field of battle IN h
ready TO sustain iieu;. g.n Sir Thomas Graham. i
1t should be necessary.
lhe enemy had division of infantry with so ..
cavalry upon the Biiboa road, supporting tbe, 4. &
by some strong heights which cover the plse Of 10
MARIA mayor. hs well GOmarra as Ayecbuco v.r,
occupied on account of their importance as
pont IN order to defend the bridges chat are owe,
the Aadorra at those places. Brigader Pack win
his Portuguese brigade, and col. Tonga with NJ,
spanish division, sustained by the brigade of
Anson, and the fifth division of infautry Of FieIr
Marshal Osibad, who was intended TO command al
these troops, had orders to surround and gain ,b,
heights. >
Lieut.. Gen. Sir Thomas Graham informs m tbs
IN the execution OF this service the Portuguese ard
opaniaras behaved admirably well. The fourth 4
eight battaIions Of Chasseaurs distinguished tber,
serves particularly and Col Tonga who was upor
the lett, took the villaA of Gomarga Menor
AS soon as we had possession ofthe heights tb.
town of Gomarra Mayer was assaulted and takea h,
the brigade OF the fifth division OF Brisadier Gen
hobnson, which advanced in two batalions, with 9
cannon OF MsJ9r Lawson, without firing n shat mn
der terrible discharge Of artillery and musk .trv
The enemy experienced much loss and three cst,,or
were taken from them.
The lieutenant general then proceeded to attack
Avechuco with the frst DIVISION and rorfo ssainst i
strong battery, composed OF the brigade Of art;l
lery uncer the command of Captain Usyoud;eu &
Hsmsay's company OF horse artillery; and undc,
cover OF their fire the brigade of Colonel Hs,kef,
advanced to the attack OF the place, which uss cs,
'anced TO the charge, took upon the bridge fbrss
cannon and ho~itZer. This attack ess suDporf,.
by the brigade OF Portuguese infantry. undrr -.
command OF gen. Bradford.