Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-11-22

6,e 10 The srushwood aud trees as we wsni
Long, N order 10 give light, aud 10 show
rhe troops The pathway we h,d taken =
After sGrmountlng iDnumershle obstacles
nv climbing Over the most tremendous
rncks. and crossing terrific rssines, we al
las, foIud our selves in champagne coun
|,v and within four leagues Of Grenada.
In the middle OF the night OF the 9th, We
- .,s challenged by the sentrles OF CO.
hmm OF French cavalry, who however cid
NO, make their appearance any more un-
81 our arrival at Monte Ftio at midday, >.
when about 500 ot their lancers and ca.
y,lry showed disposition TO attack US IN
o1r quarters. Our chief ordered the Ca.
y,iry regiment OF St Dago and the infan.
,,v regiment Of Valencia to attack them,
which was executed bravely by driving
them back and keeping them in check un-
IA our DIVISION had lett the town. La tnat
affair we had men very serious may
say mortality wounded. | was among The
las, who evacuated the town, and seit the
Door fellows bleeding p:oiusely from The
slabs OF the French lancers. That night
our DIVISION confused lis march tor Prize
90, AMI al day break on The 10th inst we
teli m with the outposts OF balla-teros's
army We eni-avored 4 parley, which
ended in our driving i'll their guerilla par
ties. until we came upon the main body
situated it, tue immediate neighborhood OF
PrIego. Hare a very warm hre took place
between their sharpShoOlers and ours; and
here one oil Generals aids de-camp was
mortally wounded BY my side-It was 1t.
Col Luke. He was shot through the
breast. the ball passing out at his back
AZ this moment the General ordered me
10 bring forward an infantry regiment,
which was iolmed little in the rear; and
while was leading them on al the charge
OF the bayonet, and within few yards OF
BalIaitercs's men, the voice ran TO halt
for Gen. Ballastsros was on the field IN
search u Riego. was present at the
meeting OF these two generals They EN-
braced; and our chief, ia The most ener-
ergetic terms. called upon him in the name
o. his insuiled country TO JOIN with his
forces against their foreign Invaders. He
answered that be should consult with the
chiefs of his srIny; and, in the mean time
when The firing had ceased, the Two ar
mics ran into one snother's arms, | wept
among he many hundreds for JOY; and the
two armies entered pell nell into Priego
together Bot all our hopes were pre-.
senliy blasted: for 10 the course OF the at
teruoon, while our weary troops were at
Iepose. Ballastefre marched Ut all bis men
in various directions Tor Cabra and Lucena;
otherwise IL is probable all his men would
have joined Us. That night We continued
our march, and arrived next mornins, the
iith inst. al Wartos.
That day we stopped TO refresh; and
next day arrived al Jaen amid the ringing
of bells and vivas. Next day, the 18th
inst, about noon, the alarm was given that
the French 10 considerable force were APP
preaching the city. Our chief called 10
arms, andwe took up fighting positions
upon The road 10 Mancha. The enemy
opened upon US a lively fire of flying ar
,llery, which was presently supported by
their cavalry, and infantry formed in a
close ooiumn. We retired gradually, ia
king up position after position until near
the town of Mancha; aud, before arriving
at the river, our heroic chief made stand -,
when their lancers and some cavalry came
" in the most gallan, style. and made a
charge upon our cavalry regiment OF ST.
Jago. Ia moment they were overset by
the superiority of the lancers, was in
the act OF anlmating company OF our
Cassadores, who were making most des-
trucIive IRE on the enemy, when | found
myself IN action with Preach dragoOn on
my right, who suffered, and immedialely
after French officer, at luli galop, gave
me severe lunge IN my left side with his
sabre The brave fellow who struck me
considering II mortal wound, immediate
ly offered me his hand, and iU French,
told me to go with him where would be
taken care of. Al that instant | heard
my name called upon by an officer OF ours,
who seeing me prisoner, came 10 rescue
ne. The French officer let go my hand,
and, | regret TO say, Immediately tell from
pistol shot from the officer (Capt. Man.
eon) who rescued me.
The French must have lost very con.
siderable in this action: for they retired
for some minutes, aIc the ground was
srewed with the dead and dying all "a
IOuad me. l teit faint from the loss OF
blood, and therefore kept moving on at a
slow pace in considerable pain, until ar
rived at Ximens. where got medical aid ,
and the surgeon pronounced that the
wound was not serious. being little be
low the lett ribs. The firing continued
rutiI sun set Next morning, at about 9
clock, had the pleasure OF again meet
Ing with my general He desired me to
gn on slowly to Chachola. had not lett
him many minutes when most incessant
hre tegsn. and saw the French lancers
and cavalry appear in close column. They
were supported by 1000 infantry in the
rear, which bad come up from Andujar,
aud here he total dispersion of our troops
look place. They were ell surrounded by
the cavalry, and rendered prisoners OF
war. when our Chief was seen making his
escape on horse which he had borrowed
from an officer, his own having been shot.
: In ny retreat was accompanied by
tnP Secretary NJ Tho General and the An