The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-11-14
From The PLYMOUTH EHg.l Herald, Of Cri. 6.
DEFEAT OF DON MIGUEL'S TROOPS
IN AN ATTACK ON OPORTO.

From The PLYMOUTH Eng.l Herald, Of Cri. 6.
DEFEAT OF DON MIGUEL'S TROOPS
IN AN ATTACK ON OPORIO.
The long expected attack on Oporto lay
Don MIgucl's army was nnde On Saturday
EDil ull., which Gay Is held sacred !ty the
Cathode Church, IN honor of ST. Michacl
after whom the usnIper Is named, WAS
therefore thought propitinns of victory
against Don Pedro. On tie two preceding
DAYS a nn.mbcr of movements Of troops had
been observed IN the MlguclItc rurnmp-
n,ent. all Of which gave note OF the inten,l-
ed attack. 10 repel which Don Pe,iro and
his commanders made Tie best disposition
of their forces. The night of Friday was
dark and lowering, and icforc day break
rain fell IN torrents. Nothing dnupted,
however, 10y tits 0innions dawn, The Portn-
guese troops commenced ihe attack on Don
Pe,lro's line of entertainments, directing
their attention principally to that portion en-
trusted 10 the defence of the British and
French hrigaeS, under the command Of
Colonel Hodges, and Col. the Count dc S..
Leger, upon which they bore down in
ronpart mass. They were received with
great cooIncSs and determined bravery. but
The uncxpecte, arrival OF abou, 500 men TO
the tuhhS W inc dtlN Alil3 pdIl1s WIN tdtlt
Suddenly upon the French brigade under
cover Of large vineyard, compelled them
to give way. Falling back, however, on a
part of the 10Th caradoies, they returned to
their former position, driving the enemy
before them with great slaughter but the
immense body Of troops, amounting to J0C0
or G000 together with two pieces of a7ti
lery, which the Miauplilc general brought
II
again to retire, which they did into square
surrounded by walls, in front of the bar
racks, occupied hy the British battalion.
The contest now ragged with terrible fury,
and a momcntary deficiency in the supply
of ammunition TO the British and French
troops, gave the Portuguese an opportunity
OF committing great slaughter in their
ranks, among which the officers suffered
severely, both commanders, Col Hodges
and Count de ST. Le@er. heiny WOUNDED,
Col Burrell killed, and Major Shaw. and
1thels wounded.
The arrival, however, Of three rompanies
of the lUth cacadorcs, commanded hy threo
pfivates, two of them sons and one cousin
of Count Feculia, enabled these brave lcl.
lows TO heat hack the eneMv even beyond
their first position, leaving behind them
howitZcr. two nine ounders, n great num-
her of killed and wounded, and about so
prisoners. While the fray ragged so holly,
the aitach was directed with great vigor
against the lines 10 the left of the Foreign
and British position, which was the centre,
on the Braga road, aud ii smart firing of
shot and shell was kept up from the batter
les on the Villa Nova side Of the river
But every where Don Pedro's troops met
| ,.,I
which is the earnest Of victory against an
an impetuous assailnnt Til about four
o'clock in the afternoon, the contest was
maintained with vigor About this time,
the firing of Don Pedro's guns proved too
hot for tue enemy, and they relrcated be-
yond the reach ot their shot. and thus end
el for that day all attempt to dIslodge the
constitutional army from Oporto.
| Don Miguel's loss is calculated at nearly
1000 in killed, wounded and prisoners; and
| Don Pedro's is supposed to amount to near
Fly 500, among whom are great many off.
/ GERS. nearly the Who'd" Of the British and
( French officers being either HE'D or wound
ed. Among The killed are L,enis. Burton
and Soper. The purscr Of II. Nj S. Asia.
received fatal wound whlle viewing the
action from u station within the lines
]
great GOODNESS and decision of conduct, and
before he returned to lis palace he went
through all the hospitals, and directed the
necessary attentions to he paid 10 the
/ wounded.
After the battle about 90 of NIiguel's
men came over 10 Don Pedro, from which it
was inferred that they had determined on
being on the winning side.
When the Confance left Oporto on Mon
day morning, no renewal of the attack had
been made by Miguel's troops. though it
was fully eXnec'ed. but in perfect conf
dcnre that Don Pedro's forces would again
rcpel tie assalanis. In case, however, of
the worst. his Majesty'S ship Childeis ard
Orestes were IN perfect readiness, in front
OF Oporio, to give assistance and protection
to the interests of the British. One or two
arrivals Of renforcemrnts and military
stores, ammunition, horses, &r., had taken
plare. very oppnr,nnely, previously to the
attack of The 29th and further arrivals were
daily expected.