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THE WEEKLY MESSENGER
Boston, Friday, December 31, 1813
FOREIGN NEWS
(Translated from Lisbon Papers for the Columbian Centinel.)OFFICIAL DESPATCH
From Marshal General Lord Wellington to Don Forjaz
H.Q. Lesaca, October 9, 1813
Most Illustrious and Excellent Lord,
Having judged it to be convenient that the left of the army should pass the Bidassea, I have the pleasure to inform your excellency, that this operation was effected on the 7th current.
Lt. Gen. Sir Thomas Graham, having made disposition, that the 1st and 5th divisions, and the 1st Portuguese brigade under the command of Gen. Wilson, should pass the river in four columns, three of them by the lower bridge of Irun, and the other by the upper bridge. These columns were commanded by Generals Hay, Creville, Stopfort, and Howard. Lieut. Gen. Freiere made a disposition that the part of the 4th Spanish army under his immediate orders, should pass in three columns, by the upper route, by which the Anglo-Portuguese troops had passed. These columns were composed of the brigades of Generals Del Carro and Espelata, and Cols. Carillo, Gonoeha and Placencia; under the immediate direction of Marshals de Camp (Major Generals) De la Bareena and Porlier. The object of the first columns was to take possession of the enemy's entrenchments at the upper part of the Andaye; while at the same time, the other three were to take the entrenchments on the green mountain, and the heights of Mandale; and in the manner to turn the left of the enemy.
The operations of both these corps were attended with complete success. The Anglo Portuguese took seven pieces of artillery in the redoubts, and batteries which fell into their hands; and the Spaniards, one piece in the works which they took.
I had particular satisfaction in observing the firmness and intrepidity of all the troops. The 9th British regiment encountered great opposition; it charged many times with the bayonet; and suffered considerably. But I have had the satisfaction to ascertain that the losses of other corps has not been very great.
The Spanish troops under the command of Gen. Freiere have conducted themselves in the most admirable manner, surrendering and taking possession of the entrenchments which the enemy had constructed on the heights, with great dexterity and bravery; and I am very much indebted to this general, as well as to Lt. Gen. Graham, and to the staff of both corps, for the well executed arrangements made in this enterprise.
After Lt. Gen. Graham had established himself in the above mentioned French territory, with the Anglo-Portuguese troops, which have so often distinguished themselves under his orders, he resigned the command of these troops to Lt. Gen. Sir John Hope, who had arrived the day before from Ireland.
During these operations on the left, Maj. Gen. Baron D'Alten, with the light division under his command, made an attack on the entrenchments in the pass of Vera, supported by the Spanish division under the command of Gen. Longa; and Maj. Gen. Don Giron made an immediate attack upon the right of the light division, with the Andalusian army of reserve, on the entrenched posts which the enemy occupied on the mountain called the Rhune. Col. Cockburn, of the 52nd regiment, who commanded the brigade of Gen. Skerrett, absent by sickness, made an attack upon the right of the enemy, where the French had a strong entrenched camp; and the 52nd regiment, commanded by Major Mayne, charged with the bayonet, in a gallant manner, overthrowing the French in their trenches. The 1st and 3rd battalions of Portuguese Cassadores, and the 2nd battalion of the British 95th regiment, with the 52nd, distinguished themselves in this attack. The brigade under Maj. Gen. Kempt attacked at a point where there was less resistance; and Maj. Gen. Kempt and Col. Cockburn displayed great military science in the execution of these attacks.
The light division made 422 prisoners, including 22 officers; and took three pieces of artillery. I am very much indebted to Baron D'Alten for his valuable services in this action.
Upon the right, the Andalusian army of reserve attacked, in two columns, the entrenched posts the enemy held on the mountain of Rhune; which two columns were headed by Generals Vernes and Torre.
These troops most gallantly overthrew every thing which they encountered, until they came to the foot of the Rock, where there was a Hermitage; which they made repeated attempts to carry by assault; but found it impossible to scale it; and the enemy remained during the night in possession of the hermitage on that rock; situated on the declivity of the mountain, on the right of the Spanish troops.
Some time elapsed in the morning of yesterday, before the fog permitted me to reconnoitre the mountain, which I found very accessible upon the right, and capable of being attacked with advantage, by uniting with it an attack upon the field works, which the enemy had thrown up in front of the camp of Sarre. In consequence, I ordered the army of reserve of Andalusians, to concentrate, ; and on the arrival of the troops under the disposition of Gen. Gibon, immediately ordered the attack of the post which the enemy had on the rock, situated on the right of the position of our troops; which was instantly taken in the most gallant manner. Those troops, following up the advantage they had gained, took another entrenchment, by the enemy, of all his positions, in order to defend the avenues to the above mentioned camp; and these works were occupied by the 7th division which I had sent for that purpose, under Lt. Gen. Lord Dalhousie, by the pass of Echalar.
At the same time, Gen. Giron established the battalion of Cataloia upon the Rock of the Hermitage, upon the left of the enemy. The night prevented the progress of our operations; and under the protection of the darkness, the enemy retired from the Heritage, and from the camp of Sarre.
I have the most lively satisfaction in making known to you, the good conduct of all the officers and privates of the Andalusian reserve, during the operations of the 7th and 8th. The attack made yesterday by the battalion of the military officers, under Col. Hore, was in the best order; and executed with as great precision as I have ever seen in any troops. I am much satisfied with the enthusiasm and discipline of the above corps.
I cannot sufficiently applaud the execution of the dispositions in the attacks of the above days, made by Gen. Giron, and the generals and officers of the staff under his orders.
I omitted in my despatch of the 4th inst. To mention that when I arrived at Ronsevalles, the 1st inst., I suggested to Brig. Gen. Campbell, an attack of the advanced post of the enemy in his front; which attack was made in the night, by the Portuguese troops under his command; who took 70 prisoners, and a fortified post on the mountain d'Avolla, the garrison of which were put to the sword.
Since I communicated to your excellency in my last despatch, I have received a report for Maj. Gen. Clinton, dated on the 31 inst., when his H. Q. were at Tarragona, and the enemy, in their old position on the Llobegat.
Lt. Gen. Lord Wm. Bentink, embarked for Sicily on the 22nd ult. God preserve your excellency many years.(Signed) WELLINGTON
Duke of VittoriaP.S. Enclosed you will receive the return of the killed and wounded, in the preceding operations; and on the days of the 12th and 13th September.
Here follow the returns; Portuguese loss, 48 killed, 179 wounded, 8 missing. British loss 79 killed, 495 wounded, 5 missing. Total Portuguese officers killer were, Col. Algeo, Capt. Da Cunha, Lt. Piuto, and Ensigns Pinto, and Navarro de Audrade.
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