Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-16

NVtH8&eS IN front OF tue So usvtsion Amy
had here also a large body OF cavalry.
Ina short time after they had taken
up their ground, the enemy attacked
the hill on the right Of the fourth division
which was then occupied by one batta-
lion of the 18th Portuguese regiment,and
by the Spanish regiment Of Pravia.
These troops defended their ground,
and drove the enemy from IL with the
bay,net. Seeing the importance OF this
hill to our position, ] reinforced it with
the 10th regiment; and this regiment
with the Spanish regiments OF RI
Principe and Pravia had 1t from this
tipe, notwithstanding the repeated ct.
forts Of the enemy during the a7th and
2sth to obtain possession OF 1t.
Nearly at the same time that the enc
INV attacked this height on the 27th they
took possession ofthe village OF Soraus-
en- ON the road to Ostiz, by which they
acquired the communication by that
road. and they kept up a fire OF muske-
try along the line till 1t was dark.
We were joined on the morning OF
the 2sth by the sixth division OF infantry
and directed that the height should be
occupied on the left of the valley OF the
I.anz, and tina. the sixth division shouts
form across the valley in rear OF The lett
of the fourth division, resting their right
ON Orcain, * their left upon the heights
above mentioned.
The sixth division had scarcely taken
their position when they were attacked
by a very large force Of the enemy,
which had been assembled in the village
Of Sorausen.
Their front was, however, so we'll de-
Tended by the fce of their own light
troops from the heights on their lett, 4
by the Ere from the heights occupied
by the fourth division and brigadier gen.
Campbeli's Portuguese brigade, that the
enemy we're soon driven back with i'm
mense loss, from IRE on their front,
both fanks'and rear.
In order to extricate their troops from
the difficulty in which they found them
sel, es IN their situation in the valley OF
the Lanz, the enemy now attacked the
height on which the left OF the fourth
division stood, which was occupied by
the seventh Cacadores, Of which they
obtained a momentary possession. They
were attacked, however, again by the
seventh Cacadores, supported by MAJOR
general Ross, at the head of his brigade
Of the fputh division, and were driven
down with great loss.
The battle now became general along
the whole front OF the heights occupied
BY the 4,h division, and in every part IN
our favor, excepting where one batta-
talon of the 10th Portuguese regiment
Of major general Campbell's brigade
was posted. This battalion having been
over powered, and having been obliged
TO give way Immediately on the right OF
general Ross brigade, the enemy es-
tablished themselves on our line, and
major general Ross was obliged to with
draw from his post.
however ordered the 9th and 4sth
regiments to charge, first that body OF
the enemy which had first established
themselves on the height, and next those
on the left. Both attacks succeeded,
and the enemy were driven down with
Immense loss and the 9Th division hav-
ing moved forward at the same time to
a situation in the valley nearer to the lett
of the 18th, the attack upon this front
ceased entirely, and was continued but
family Oh other points OF the line
I'm the course of this contest, the gal.
la,t 9Th division, which has so frequent.
" been distinguished in this army, sur.
passed their former good conduct. E.
very regiment charged with the bayonet,
and the 4oth, the TIN, Goth, and 2sd, four
different times. Their officers set them
the example, and major general Ross
had Two horses shot under him. The
Portuguese troops likewise behaved adj
uirably and had every reason to De
satisfied with the conduct OF the Spanish
regiments del Principe and Pravia.
had ordered lieut. gen. Sir Rowland
Hill to march by LAM upon Lizssso, as
soos Is found that lieut. gen. Sir Tho
mas Pic,on, and Sir Lowry Cole, had
moved from Zubiri and lieut.. general
the Earl Of Dathousie, from San Este
van, to the same place, where both ar
rived on the 2sth, and the seventh divl-
sion came to Msrcalain.
The enemy's force which had been in
front of Sir Rowland Hill. followed his
march, and arrived at Ostiz on the 2sth.
The enemy thus reinforced, and occu-
pying position in the mountains, which
appeared little liable to attack, and hnd-
ing that they could make no impression
on our front, determined TO endssSor to
turn our lett by an attack on Sir Row
land Hills corps.
They reinforced with one division the
. troons which had been already opposed