Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-09-18

lumns, persuaded that Our whole army was
present. Orders were given Immediately
TO the main body If the army TO move On
rapidly. At CaIenturas the army was divi- !
ded in two columns--the first under my i'm
mediate command. composed of 400 coas-
sures, under Col. Cova, 90 Caribineers I'M
der lieut.. col. Sotillo, and the 80 brave
cavalry lancers, who had previously ac-
companied me. The second COLUMN un-
der the command Of general Thomas Mon
tiila, and composed of the infantry Of the
line under col. Mires*-the squadron Of
hussars under who. in a close column,
was directed To cover the LETT flank, and the
lahcers of MoHagas, TO cover the RICH, flank,
| under the command of col. Manuel Are.
| velo.
The enemy returned the fire Of our light
troops iguerillas] with good counle
nance along the banks of The Unare, " bich
is covered with very deep forests. fhe
advance of his troops took their march with
the stream OF the river, and it was at this
| moment The valor of our troops was put 10
the test; the infantry. by the river anu TO-
rest side, and tire cavalry on the plain
sometimes on Horseback, and sometimes
dismounted along the line OF the forest,
pursued the enemy in the most steady and
exact order. The royal troops were close.
Iy pursued as tar as Chispero, that is, dis
lance of more than FIVE leagues, and there
attempted to resist; and here our soldiers
began most terrible havoc on the enemy
! who soon began to give away. The gene
raj OF the enemy had been guilty Of so much
oarbar'ty, on his route from riis entrance
oil the territory, that il was no; possible to
restrain the vengeance of The soldiers aud
it = as only owing to our strict di 'ipine,
that | could succeed in preserving 100 PR
soncrs, The remainder excepting their com
mandcr and about one huDred men wore,
who fed with him, rest on the field OF bat
tie, rs well as brass field piece. FIVE hun.
dred nuskets with bayonets, and quanli-
ty Of belts and cartridge boxes IO 900
cartridges were picked up on the field of
battle, besides l2,C eco more in caissons, a
black flag and standard, eight drums,
:hree bugie horns, trumpet, l2U lances
with banner rolls, medicine chest all the
equippages, and papers, and correspon-
dence of the general staff, including twenty
dispatches, a number of sabres, and large
quantity Of provisions
Among the Killed of the enemy are many
Spanish and American officers, two sur.
geons ; the number OF officers altogether i.
thirteen. according to the inspection made |
and the admission of the prisoners-among
the killed is The second in command OF the |
regiment Of the queen, Don Antonio Del |
gado.
Our loss has been ~ killed and ~ dan.
gerously wounded, and several slightly
among our killed is the lieutenant OF hus-
sars, Nn!reas Bello, and among the woun-
ded, lieut.. col. Argui1degui. the captain Of
tie company of the terrible battalion "a
lieutenant OF the second battalion of intan-
try OF Barcelona, Jose Maria Ponce, and
lieutenant cf hussars, Jose Antonio Criego
you must net be surprised that our loss has
been so inconsiderable; when the CELEBRITY,
promptitude. and good dicpline of cur in
fantTy, with which they performed all their
manpuyres, is considered, and the terrible
charge made by our cavalry, who discoh-
certed the enemy at every point, and who
still continue the pursuit of the enemy's
commander.
We are still exploring the enemy's camp,
and more prisoners and muskets arrive e.
very moment. The Spanish general, Ara
nG. and those who a,companie him in his
flight, owe their lives 10 the darkness OF the
night and an unusual rain. which did no,
cease till the next day. They have esca-
ped Oh foot by ascending trackIess passes
IN the mountain. They have left all their
bas5 ge, cattle, among which are a great
number OF mules.
II was impossible for the whole of the
army TO act al the same time in the affair
OF yesterday. The squadrons forming the
cavalry OF general Cedeno, did not arrive
until two hours alter the action was Geci.
ded: Notwithstanding the extraordinary
march made by this excellent general from
81. Diego. The troops under gen. Rer-
mudez, are not yet arrived, but are ex-
peCted every moment