Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-09-13

as the els, July, al which time Il Was sllll
! in DOS session or the COnstitutioRallsis.
The defence OF Corunna has evidently,
from the accounts, been brilliant affair,
| aud reflects great credit upon The Con-
stiiullonalists who garrisoued II. As the
French have only few light held-pieces
with them, Inc place, II ultimately cap
tured, can only be taken by assault, and
the beroIc defence already made py the
garrison, is sufficient proof that, il skill
and courage can effect any thing, Corun.
ma IS not likely soon 10 tall into the hands
OF The enemy. The French Geographic
despatch, dated Madrid, Jaly Fl, merely
mention. that" Gen Bourck alter very
smart afair. hluckaded Corunna Oh The
.5th," II says nothing OF The loss OF The
French, nor VI their bavIug been repuIsed
on three successive days.
We copy The following particulars of the
battle oil Corunua from London papers Ut
July 23.
From the London Chronicle.
The garrison, when attacked, consisted
OF about 1900 men, the greatest part OF
them Guipuscoan and Navarrese voIun-
,eers, the regulars not amounting to more
than 1000. The other disposable force
was on The side of V,go and Orense. The
French attacked with ooOo men lhe whole
corps d'armee they have IN GsIlicIa and
certainly, nothing could he more COO! and
determined than the defence OF the garrI
SOU. Col. Zorva, commander OF the Gui
puscoa militia, was Killed, together with
several officers o. minor rank. he
French are stated 10 nave had Too men
disabled. the Spaniards alter defending
lhp heights in front of the town. Withdrew
within the walls on The 10th, and in the
evening OF that day, council OF war was
held which was attended by all the prip.
cIpaI officers. Col Seyane, the same who
distinguished himself IN Madrid during
the revolt OF the Guards, whom, on that
occasion he charged WHEN he had his
horse killed under. him by their bayo-
nets was The first who spoke. tie told bis
hearers that national honor. as well az The
most sacred OF causes, required that The
garrison OF Corunne should bury Them
selves under tue runs OF The town conf
dcd 10 their care. FLet US set an exam.
pie to our counirymeu,' added ne, "by
first defending the city; and it Overpow-
cred, by Withdrawing to the castle, and
there resisting 10 the las, moment"
The brave MendeZ Vlgo, the Cover.
nor OF The town, and whose wife came
passenger IN ont OF the vessels seconded
the motion; winch was again supported by
Col. Noyeila The resolution of the coun.
Gil was unanimous. |, was determined
that they should defend Corunna as long
as they had pow der and ball to oppose
their sdversar,es. Sir Robert Wilson's
wound was slight. He was living at the
British Consuls house, and il was thought
III II he would proceed Immediately to VII
90, 10 order to make arrangements TO
move on the rear OF the French, as a con.
siderable torce was collecting 10 the neigh.
borhood OF Orense, consisting of the regi-
mants of BuTgos, Constitution, Spain,
Grenada, Arrsgon, and Ferroi. Colonel
Lights wound is reported not TO be dan.
gerous.
From the Sun.
By the arrival OF The Tartar from Corun-
ma, it appears that that important place
was still 10 possession of the Constitution.
ais's on the sIst. The y, made the voy-
age to Falmouth in the short space Of 8
days, and has brought letters from Co.
runna, from one of which. dated in The
night Of the l9lb, the following is AN ex.
tract:
I've have had very severe contest
here, between our garrison and the inha.
bitaDts and corps OF the French army,
winch advanced against this place ON the
18th and 18th, after having drivefin the
forces we had marched out to oppos e their
progress. On their approaching The works
they were received with tremendous can
nonade, which did them much Injury and
before they. could recover themselves, the
garrison made a desperate sally, and some
severe fighting ensued, which cost the
French upwards OF 600 men. The can.
nonade was kept up during the whole ct the
18th with great spirit and during the l7lh
the French made several attacks, which
were repulsed by The garrison With great
slaughter. In leading the sally on the
18th, Sir Robert Wilson had his horse shot
under him, and before he could be re-
mounted, received wound, which, how
ever is not OF a serious nature. On the
18th the French commenced very furious
bombardmfBt, which, however, was not
attended with much success, while the
fire of the garrison being we'll directed,
killed and wounded number OF The enc.
my. Since that period the French have
withdrawn farther from the reach OF the
cannon, and have been employed in con-
veying away their wounded. The inba-
bltants joined most enthusiastically in de-
fence OF the place, undertaking the man
agement of the artillery during The sortie,
and attending the wounded with great care
At the time OF wri,inga;his, the fire on
the part Of the French has ceased; but we
are informed that they are in The immedi-
ate vicinity recruiting their forces, after
the fatigue of the LASTS days. To the TO-
reigners in this place the safety Of The
town may be ascrioed. as the system OF
discipline established and the plan acted