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THE WEEKLY MESSENGER
Boston, Friday, December 31, 1813EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY IN FRANCE
Suarramundi, France, October 13
Our division descended the Pyrenees upon the side of France, in front of the towns of Serra and Anhoa, at two points -- and learnt from the many deserters, which are daily coming into camp, that the French had 12,000 men in the vicinity. This day I talked with a sergeant who came into the piquets of our brigade. Since we have arrived here, there has been a continual firing, but thank God, I escaped the balls; not because I have avoided them, but because they have avoided me. However, our attacks in this quarter on the side of the mountains are all feints, to favor the true attacks, which are on the left, by Irun, Vera, &c. Which I have no doubt the great lord has made you acquainted with. We expect, from circumstances, that the whole of our line, will advance shortly. We learn that a rising of the French en masse, has been ordered, in consequence of our entrance on their territory; but I question whether it will produce the any good. On the contrary, the French peasants flock to us in bands, bringing with them cattle, wheat, and many other articles, as they have ascertained that we shall not rob them. Several of the French families which had fled, have returned. From these you may judge of the disposition of the masse. In short, the French daily sell, in our camp, bread, brandy, tobacco, salt fish, corned pork, &c. and are very happy to receive specie, and a generous price for them; as before our arrival their country had been stripped of its money; and Bonaparte had destroyed almost every species of commerce.
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