Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-10-21

oprICIAI<ACCOUNT OF THE DEFEAT OF
THE INEQUALITIES AT TERCElRA.
ssASoRA, TorcciraJ aug 70, TO-

which informed you that the greatest part OF the
blockading squadron had withdrawn, and had only
left two briggs observation things remained IN tnis
a,c without alteration until the 29th of June, on tue
evening of which day there appeared to the eastward
a great number of ships approaching the land, and on
rho following morning 1t was recognized to be the
enemys squadron, consisting OF twenty-five san,
rameiy-one man of war, three frigates, two cor,
yettes, four briggs four government Transports una
several others of different sizes, some OF them BENG
armed hcreupon made my dispositions TO give 'hS
enemy proper reception, and having garrsoned All
the accessible points of the island, and stationed
,idetts those of difficult access appointed the
garrisons of the castles of St John Baptist ana 81.
Sebastian; l formed u flying column to occupy the
overlooking heights the west-south- ana north
west parts of the island, and to support immediately
any point which the enemy might shcw a disposition
10 attack that part of the coast, and united into
central column the principal part of the forces, Which
kept with to march upon the first point seriously
attacked, and to- decide the victory.
..'Fhe bocknding squads on, either because the
cauls aud the winds from the 5. and ). E., which
prevailed the first days of their appearance, cmbnr
rasSel their operations, perhaps conhdng III the
fe tad snnderous repn'tf chict had been'ock-
ediy spread, 10 The good irit and disposition 81 d1s
L,yat population, waiting for internal dlsurban-
facilitate their enerpsse; or, finally, in Order
to combine different of attack which they yet
wanted: continued r. nlinS GA tho - and s. L. coast
of the island until tho 10th of August, having the
preceding days received from twenty to thirty open
hoats of different szcg, which ordered from the
island of st. George, and which were distributed a.
hong tn different ships
'.On the 9th of August, the wind having vccrcd
toS w. the whole squadron steered to the 5. Il. and
keeping close to the wind perceived in the evening
that tho position they in with respect to the
wind enabled them TO attack with fair wind Villa do
Pray. and with light wind the bays to the of
this city and castle. | then formed u new column,
which with few guns directed to occupy ST Sebas-
tian, tn be able promptly to Villa da Praya
the garrison OF which cOnfded TO the brave bat
TALON of the Queens Volunteers, under the COM
1uand of Major OF Cacadores, No g. Manoe Joaquin
dc Menczes; and ordered the Commandamt of the
district TO the left of Villa da Praya, lieutenant Col
OF Infantry, No. 6, Pedro foze FREDERICK. extend
his force To tue heights Commanding that bay on
the LEFT side.
AT day-break the following informing, the squadron
the better to conceal their designs and deceive me- ap
peared close under land i'll front of the bavs TO the
West Of Angra and the castle; but full da the wind
blew esher, and showers obscurinp the horizon they
suddenly changed their course, and gliding rapidly
along he coast, they suddenly appeared in the Bay of
Villa Praya, where The happy and glorious action took
place, description Of which. submit to your Excel
iency, that you may be pleased TO convey 1t to the
knowledge Of her Majesty.
''The proximity to the land IN which the suuadron,
favored by the wind enabled to double the Cape
OF Praya, and the msts and showers which at that |
time obscured the horizon, concealed f ON the dcfon
dcrs of the Bay of Villa Praya, every movement of
the hostile squadron, and only eleven the morn
ing when the fog cleared Of and the wind calmcd
the man-ofwar discovered which formed the van
guard of the squadron, and this, at the time she was
entering the bay followed by all the ships of the
squadron with the exccpoa of the corvette, loft off
the port of .tngra.
"rhe fort of the port began the fire, and was i'm
fnediately answered by the of war, and other
ships ofthe squadron, which continuing their motion
penetrated as far the water allowed them,
Choir, took in their sails, snd kept up without inter-
ruption a most vigorous cannonade.
The fort Of the port, commanded by Ensign 81 !
Albuquerque ofthe infantry No. ., following up
his FIRE with the greatest judgment, whilst the enemy
thunderd upon batteries and entertainments with
hut little effect soon did considerable damage TO the
line of battle ship destroyed part of her mast and
quarter deck, and wounding many persons on board.
1t was, therefore. in vain that the enemy, by the
cessant fire of hundred cannons, tried to intiudate
tic volunteers ofthe Queen Donna Maria H., WIN
hitherto alone in this artuous crisis, attacke
with much impetuosity and violence; their atten
ton was fixed upon the whole line of defence conf
dcd them and they waited with that sang Iod and
Subordinaon which characterize true soldiers and do
honor to veterans, the Development Of the operation
OF landing
"By four O'Clock in the afternoon, the enemy With
out ceasiug their fire from board for a single mo-
ipent, sent column of troops in the launches, at
Lacked with rapidity and courage, the point where
the fort Of Espirto Santo stands, and where on ac-
cumuation of largo stones of bazat and great heaps
of lava rolled, form straight az the base ola scarp
OF stone, nearly vertical.
fMaor Menezes immediately sent part of his w.
nteers to support this point, uniting with II the force
posted the adjoining district close to the base Of the
ort and these brave soldiers under the fire Of the
batteries board, and from two in-boats that pro-
tectcd the landing, commenced such sharp and well
directed fire of musketrv that they succeeded in dr
wing back some of the barges very roughly treated
however, the greater part of the enemys force, cast
ing themselves boldly, and at all risks upon the rocks,
and climbing the fort Of Esprto Santo. which was
now evacuated succeeded in throwing some into
"'~interfor OF tfat NIT viii - ~ Others further off
PDt up the Sodrp or slope. The design of the enemy
was to GIN possession ofthc fort and lac crest of the
roc6 To occupy with his force the heights on our left
~ oder 70 protect his Interior operations but the va
four OF tue volunteers frustrated this pau bcca,s 10
climbing rapidly the height which commands the fori
they jumped into 1t, bayonct in hand and disodoin1
thelr enemies PrccPitatod them upon the rocks on
Crest of the Scarp. s@''''''cu TIC
The enemy at this time, portly occupied by the do
dructive FIRE which poured upon their launches and
partly m launching second column apnins tho riDbt
flank Of our line, Withdrew their launches on board
which eft ilcr first force, composed Of tho flower of
their troops, and almost entirely consisting of 0rono
des and Cacadores, betwxt tho abyss of the soa and
an inaccessible slope. guarded at tho top by active m
sleers.
at this time the central column, which had caus.