Star. — 1813-07-15 (London, England)

MARSHAL DURF. OF ALEUITIIA. " To the Minister at War." EXTRACT OF A Larrra rens! THE SAMC TO THE SAMS " Tortooa, Jour 21, six A. M. "MONSIEUR LE Doc—l informed your Lxcellency of the embarkation of the Anglo-Sicilian Army nt Alicant, of its departure from that place on the alst of May, and of its rapid arrival on the 2d of Jun! under Tarragona. The army landed cturieg etc night, hastened to invest Fort St. Philippe, at the Col de Balaguer, and the enclosure, without a fosse, which at present constitutes the defence of TasteLien:, the forts and extensive fortifications having med. " A fire from several batteries began on the 3d a during five days Belaguer held our, made an honourable resistance, and killed or wounded of the enemy more than 300 men. On the morning of the 7th, the explosion of a powder magazine caused the surrender of Fort St. Philippe. a The enemy, by a five kept up from the sea and land, attacked Tarragona, at the departure of the Anglo-Sicilian Army ;—the Duke del Parque had arrived from (;aniline, to replace General Murray in his camp at Castello with tha ffd goanish corps, was close upon our posts. " As soon as I was informed that the eneniy had sailed from Alicant, I made dispositions upon the coast of Valencia to receive prompt informatioq, whilst I charged General Decaen to collect troops to fall upon the English. He eagerly executed that disposition, and on the first information detached from Gironne, Beaumann's brigade upon Barcelona, where he arrived the 10th of June. Go the 2d of June I had dispatched from before the Xucar Manner's division, and the brigades of Paunetier and Aigrcniont ; they proceeded by forced marches tq. wards Tortosa. I learned, at ten leagues trom Valencia, that *e fort of Belaguer had capitulated. I lost the only cannon-road by which I cogld act; but it was of importance to stop the enemy's success, and on the 10th 1 proceeded to Tortosa. o The head es my column overthrew the English dragoons veer Perello; on the 11th my troops arrived; I pushed forward, on the 12th, upon the 'rarragooo road ; and not being able to act on the high road, Z determined to seek a bye-road across impracticable mountains, in order to announce my arrival to the brave garrison of Tarragona, which refused all sums menses, aqd defended melt* with high valour. In short, on the 12th, I lighted fires cin the tops of the mountains, and advancing on the 13th, beyond the village of Valledellos, my ;mops could see And be seen from Tarragona. " In the mean time, General Maurice Mathieu set out from Barcelona, acid pushed forward to Arbos. The resistance of the place and the march of columns from Barcelona and Valencia, frightened the enemy and obliged him to precipitately raise the siege, and re-imbark the greater part of his troops, abandoning under the place 27 pieces of artillery and an immense number of bombs, bullets, &c. all of which have been conveyed into Tarragona. as The convoy of 180 sail left the port of Sailor., and came to anchor under Belapuer ; this nines of vessels presented a fine spectach. 44 On the 14th, I advanced my troops to tv noitre the fort : some battalions defended the preaches to it, and the fleet fired a more hot murderous fire upon us. Upon Valledellos the Engi h Dragoons roughly handled by the Westpe .lien Light H. and the sth Light Infantry oblia.Fxl fiwe English talions to fall back under Hospitalit and t e f • tho English ships. 44 On the 15th and 16th, the-e were illght mishes, and the report of 25 de s peeved t that the enemy, either covered I . az fort of i. guer or embarked, were placed at of reach of attempt on the part of a Lnd *mire Whilst I was acting lit Catelosia4 100 r: neral Harispe with two and three divideohe&r: Xucar. On leaving him, I directed he should *ow