our

Let us, therefore, postpone, as much as possible, the communication of thoughts upon these military operations, until the victory shall have been won which is destined to put an end to the campaign.

WM. COBBETT.

State Prison, Newgate, Tuesday,
October 16, 1810.

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

PORTUGAL.

-Battle of Busaco. Account published by the English Government, on the 14th Oct. 1810.

A dispatch, of which the following is a copy, was received this day at the Earl of Liverpool's Office, addressed to his Lordship, from Lieut. General Lord Viscount Wellington, K. B. dated Coimbra, September 30, 1810.

My Lord-While the enemy was advancing from Clerico and Francoso upon Vizeu, the different divisions of Militia and Ordenanza were employed upon their flanks and rear; and Colonel Trant, with his division, attacked the escort of the mi litary chest and reserve artillery, near Tojal, on the 20th inst.-He took two officers and 100 prisoners; but the enemy collected a force from the front and rear, which obliged him to retire again towards the Douro.-I understand that the enemy's communication with Almeida is complete

pretty bloody battle. After such carnage, it is not very often the case, that the defeated part is ready, the next day, to renew the fight, especially with an adversary, who has suffered hardly any loss at all; and, it is still less frequent, I believe, to find the victorious party "withdrawing" from the field of battle, and moving away from it to the extent of 30 or 40 miles.The Morning Post says, that Lord Talavera would not allow of a pursuit," though the enemy was "completely routed;" and that the reason of this was, that his Lordship was resolved not to be put out of his "defensive positions." Where, or from whom, the sapient editor obtained this information, he does not say; and, as to the Dispatch, though it says nothing about a pursuit, says more than enough to convince us, that Lord Talavera had quitted his defensive position.There would, if one had time, be much more to say upon the subject; but, perhaps, it is as well to let it alone, 'till we have more copious details. The time to give an account of a campaign is, at the end of it; for, besides many other reasons against taking it in piece meal, it always greatly diminishes the pleasure of contemplating final success if we dwell much upon the several minor successes which lead to it; and, in this case, the final overthrow, the route, the destruction, or the capture, of Massena and his army, when it shall happen, will not afford nearly so much satisfaction, as it would have afforded, if we had neverly cut off; and he possesses only the heard of the present victory.When ground on which his army stands.-My the campaign shall be over, and Portugal dispatches of the 20th instant will have cleared of its invaders, we shall, without informed you of the measures which I any danger of communicating intelligence had adopted, and which were in progress to the enemy, be able, most likely, to to collect the army in this neighbourhood, come at the reasons, which induced Lord and if possible to prevent the enemy from Talavera to lie quiet while the siege of obtaining possession of this town. On the Ciudad Rodrigo was going on, and, as 21st the enemy's advanced guard pushed soon as it was over, to begin to retreat; on to St. Cainbadao, at the junction of the which induced him to put a garrison of rivers Criz and Dao; and Brigadier Genesome thousands of men, with an abund-ral Pack retired across the former, and ance of ammunition and provisions, into Almeida, and, when he saw it besieged, not to march to its relief; which induced him to wait till Massena had taken Almeida, and then to begin his retreat; and finally, which induced him to withdraw from the Sierra de Busaco, after having beaten the enemy upon that spot. To us, who are here in England, all this and much more, in the campaign, seems very

joined Brigadier General Crawfurd at Mortagoa, having destroyed the bridges over those two rivers. The enemy's advanced guard crossed the Criz, having re, paired the bridge on the 23d, and the whole of the 6th corps was collected on the other side of the river; and I therefore withdrew the cavalry through the Sierra de Busaco, with the exception of three squadrons, as the ground was unfa

strange; but, it would be the height of vourable for the operations 6th m

presumption in us to attempt to become critics upon subjects of such magnitude.

On the 25th the whole of the 6th and of the 2nd corps crossed the Criz, in the

leading from Mortagoa to Oporto, through the mountainous tract which connects the Sierra de Busaco with the Sierra de Cara

neighbourhood of St. Cambadao; and Brigadier General Crawfurd's division and Brigadier General Pack's brigade retired to the position which I had fixed upon formula.--The 8th corps joined the enemy in the army on the top of Sierra de Busaco. These troops were followed in this movement by the whole of the corps of Ney and Regnier, (the 6th and 2nd), but it was conducted by Brigadier General Crawfurd with great regularity, and the troops took their position without sustaining any loss of importance. The 4th Portuguese Caçadores which had retired on the right of the other troops, and the piquets of the 3d division of infantry, which were posted at St. Antonio de Cantaro, under Major Smith of the 45th, were engaged with the advance of Regnier's corps in the afternoon, and the former shewed that steadiness and gallantry, which others of the Portuguese troops have since manifested.-The Sierra de Busaco is a high ridge which extends from the Mondego in a northerly direction about eight miles. At the highest point of the ridge, about two miles from its termination, is the Convent and Garden of Busaco. The Sierra of Busaco is connected by a mountainous tract of country with the Sierra de Caramula, which extends in a north-easterly direction beyond Vizeu, and separates the valley of the Mondego from the valley of the Douro, on the left of the Mondego. Nearly in a line with the Sierra de Busaco, is another ridge of the same description, which is called the Sierra de Murcella, covered by the River Alva, and connected by other mountainous tracts with the Sierra d'Estrella. All the roads to Coimbra from the eastward, lead over one or the other of these Sierras. They are very difficult for the passage of an army, the approach to the top of the ridge on both sides being mountainous. As the enemy's whole army was on the ridge of the Mondego, and as it was evident that he intended to force our position, Lieutenant General Hill crossed the river, by a short movement to his left, on the morning of the 26th, leaving Colonel le Cor with his Brigade on the Sierra de Marcella, to cover the right of the army; and Major General Fane with his division of Portuguese cavay, and the 13th Light Dragoons in front of the Alva, to observe and check the move. ments of the enemy's cavalry on the Mondego. With this exception, the whole army was collected upon the Sierra de Busaco, with the British cavalry observing the plain in the rear of its left, and the road

our front on the 26th, but he did not make any serious attack on that day. The light troops on both sides were engaged throughout the line.-At six in the morning of the 27th, the enemy made two desperate attacks upon our position, the one on the right, the other on the left of the highest point of the Sierra. The attack upon the right, was made by two divisions of the 2d corps, on that part of, the Sierra occupied by the 3d division of infantry. One division of French infantry arrived at the top of the ridge, when it was attacked in the most gallant manner by the 88th regiment, under the command of the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Wallace: and the 45th regiment, under the command, of the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Meade, and by the 8th Portuguese regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas, directed by Major-General Picton.-These three corps advanced with the bayonet, and drove the enemy's division from the advantageous ground which they had obtained. The other division of the 2d corps attacked further on the right, by the road leading by St. Antonio de Cantaro, also in front of Major-General Picton's division. This division was repulsed before it could reach the top of the ridge, by the 74th regiment, under the command of the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel French, and the brigade of Portuguese infantry, under the command of Colonel Champelmond, directed by Colonel Mackinnon; Major-General Leith also moved to his left, to the support of Major-General Picton, and aided in the defeat of the enemy on this post, by the 3d battalion Royals, the 1st battalion, and the 2d battalion 38th regiment.-In these attacks MajorGenerals Leith and Picton, Colonels Mac. kinnon and Champelmond, of the Portuguese service, who was wounded, Lientenant-Colonel Wallace, the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Meade, LieutenantColonel Sutton, of the 9th Portuguese regiment, Major Smith, of the 45th regi ment, who was unfortunately killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas, and Major Birmingham, of the 8th Portuguese regiment, distinguished themselves. Major-General Picton reports of the 9th and 21st Por tuguese regiments, commanded by Lieu-, tenant Colonel Sutton, and by Lieutenant Colonel de Aronjé Bacellar, and of the

infantry and cavalry from the left of his centre to the rear, from whence I saw his cavalry in march on the road which leads from Mortagoa over the mountains towards Oporto.-Having thought it probable that he would endeavour to turn our left by that road, I had directed Col. Trant with his division of Militia, to march to Sardao, with the intention that he should occupy those mountains, but unfortunately he was sent round by Oporto by the General Officer commanding in the North, in consequence of a small detachment of the enemy being in possession of St. Pedro de Sul; and, notwithstanding the efforts which he made to arrive in time, he did not reach Sardao till the 28th at night, after the enemy was in possession of the

course of the night of the 28th the enemy would throw his whole army upon that road by which he could avoid the Sierra de Busaco, and reach Coimbra by the high road to Oporto, and thus the army would have been exposed to be cut off from that town, or to a general action on less favourable ground; and as I had re

Portuguese artillery, commanded by Lieu- | tenant Colonel Arentchild. I have also to mention in a particular manner the conduct of Capt. Dansey of the 88th regiment. Major General Leith reports the good conduct of the Royals, 1st battalion 9th, and 2d battalion 38th regiment; and I beg to assure your Lordship, that I never witnessed a more gallant attack than that made by the 38th, 45th, and 8th Portuguese regiment, on the enemy's division which had reached the ridge of the Sierra. -On the left, the enemy attacked with three divisions of infantry of the 6th corps, that part of the Sierra occupied by the left division, commanded by Brigadier General Craufurd, and by the brigade of Portuguese infantry, commanded by Brigadier General Pack.-One division of in-ground.-As it was probable that in the fantry only made any progress towards the top of the hill, and they were immediately charged with the bayonet by Brig.-Gen. Crawfurd with the 48th, 52d, and 95th regiments, and the 3d Portuguese Caçadores, and driven down with immense loss. Brig. Gen. Cleman's brigade of Portuguese infantry, which was in reserve, was moved up to support the right of Brig.-inforcements in my rear, I was induced to Gen. Craufurd's division, and a battalion of the 19th Portuguese regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Macbean, made a gallant and successful charge upon a body of another division of the enemy, which was endeavouring to penetrate in that quarter. In this attack Brig.-Gen. Crauford, Lieut.-Colonels Beckwith of the 95th and Barclay of the 52d, and the commanding officers of the regiments engaged, distinguished themselves.-Besides these attacks, the light troops of the two armies were engaged throughout the 27th, and the 4th Portuguese Caçadores, and the 1st and 16th regiments, directed by Brig.Gen. Pack, and commanded by Lieut.Col. de Rego Bonito, Lieut.-Col. Hill, and Major Armstrong, shewed great steadiness and gallantry.-The loss sustained by the enemy in his attack of the 27th has been enormous.

I understand that the General of Division Merle and Gen. Maucun are wounded, and Gen. Simon was taken prisoner by the 52d regiment, and 3 Colonels, 33 officers, and 250 men. The enemy left 2,000 killed upon the field of battle, and I understand from the prisoners and deserters that the loss in wounded is immense.

The enemy did not renew his attack expepting by the fire of his light troops on the 28th, but he moved a large body of

withdraw from the Sierra de Busaco. The enemy did break up in the mountains at eleven at night of the 28th, and he made the march expected. His advanced guard was at Avelans, in the road from Oporto to Coimbra, yesterday, and the whole army was seen in march through the mountains. That under my command, however, was already in the low country, between the Sierra de Busaco and the sea; and the whole of it, with the exception of the advanced guard, is this day on the left of the Mondego.-Although from the unfortunate circumstance of the delay of Col. Trant's arrival at Sardao, I am apprehensive that I shall not succeed in effecting the object which I had in view in passing the Mondego, and in occupying the Sierra de Busaco, I do not regret my having done so. This movement has afforded me a favourable opportunity of shewing the enemy the description of troops of which this army is composed; it has brought the Portuguese levies into action with the enemy for the first time in an advantageous situation; and they have proved that the trouble which has been taken with them has not been thrown away; and that they are worthy of contending in the same ranks with British troops, in this interesting cause, which they afford the best

General Staff, 1 captain, wounded.-14th Light Dragoons; 1 horse, killed; 1 serjeant, 2 rank and file, 4 borses, wounded; 3 rank and file, 7 horses, missing.-16th Light Dragoous; 4 tank and file, 3 horses missing.-1st Hussars 2 horses, killed; 1 cornet, 4 horses, wounded; King's German Legion; 2 horses, killed; 1 serjeant, 3 rank and file, 4 horses, wounded.TOTAL-5 horses, killed; 1 captam, 1 cornet, 2 serjeants, 5 rank and file, 12 horses, wounded; 7 rank and file, 10 horses missing.

Names of Officers Wounded.

Adjutant-General, severely.-16th Light Dra99th Foot, Captain Hoey, Deputy Assistantgoons, Cornet Keating, slightly.

C. STEWART, Maj.-Gen. and Adjt.-Gen." Return of the Number of Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Army under the command of Lieutenant-General Lord Viscount Wellington, K. B. in the 'Action with the French Army, "commanded by Marshal Masseng (Prince of Eslingen) in the position of“ Busaco, on the 27th Sept. 1810.

hopes of saying.-Throughout the contest. upon the Sierra, and in all the previous marches, and in those which we have since made, the whole army has conducted themselves in the most regular manner. Accordingly all the operations have been carried with ease, the soldiers have suffered no privations, have undergone no unnecessa y fatigue, there has been no loss of stores, and the army is in the highest spirits. I have received throughout the service the greatest assistance from the General and Staff Officers. —Lieutenant General Sir Brent Spencer, has given me the assistance which his experience enables him to afford me, and I am particularly indebted to the Adjutant and the Quarter-Master-General, and the Officers of their departments, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Bathurst, and the Officers of my personal Staff, to Brigadier-General Howarth, and the Artillery, and particularly to Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher, Head-quarters, Conabra, Sept. 30, 1810. Captain Chapman, and the Officers of the General Staff, 2 lieut.-colonels, 3 captains, Royal Engineers-I must likewise men wounded-British Horse Artillery, 2 rank and tion Mr. Kennedy, and the Officers of file wounded.→British Foot Artillery, 1 rank the Commissariat, which department has and file, killed; 1 serj. 4 rank and file, wounded. been carried on most successfully.-I-German Foot Artillery, 3 rank and file, should not do justice to the service, or to wounded. 3d Batt. 1st Foot, 2 rank and file, my own feelings, if I did not take this killed; 1 serj. 6 rank and file, wounded.-1st wounded.-2d Batt, 5th Foot, 1 rank and file, opportunity of drawing your lordship's atBatt. 7th Foot, 1 rank and file, killed; 1 lieut. tention to the merits of Marshal Beres- 22 rank and file wounded.-1st Batt. 9th Foot. ford. To him exclusively, under the 5 rank and file killed; 1 lieut., 1 serj, 17 rank Portuguese Government, is due, the merit and file wounded:2d Batt. 24th Foot, 1 capof having raised, formed, disciplined, and tain wounded. 2d Batt. 38th Foot, 1 serj., equipped the Portuguese army, which has rank and file killed; 1 lieut and 17 rank and now shown itself capable of engaging and file wounded.-2d Batt. 49 Font, 2 serj., 1 drummer, 3 rank and file wounded.-1st Batt. defeating the enemy. I have besides received from him, upon all occasions, all43d Foot, 1 serj., 7 rank and file, wounded.1st Batt. 45th Foot, 1 major, 1 captain, 1 lieut., the assistance which his experience and 1 serj., 24 rank and file, killed; 1 major, 3 abilities, and knowledge of this country, lieuts. 3 serjs., 106 rank and file wounded; 12 have qualified him to afford me.-The rank and file, missing.-1st Batt. 50th Foot, 1 enemy has made no movement in Estra- major wounded.1st Batt. 52d Foot, 3 rank madura, or in the Northern Provinces, and file killed; 1 captain, 1 lieut., 10 rank and since I addressed your Lordship last.file wounded.-5th Batt. 60th Foot, 3 rank and My last accounts from Cadiz are of the file killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 capraio, $ 9th inst. I inclose a return of the killed lietenants, 16 rank and file wounded; 5 rapk and wounded of the allied armies in the and file killed; 1 lieut. 1 sej 20 rank and file and file missing.-74th Foot, 1 ensign, 6 rank course of the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 8th wounded; 2 rank and file, missing.-1st Batt inst. I send this dispatch by my Aid-de- 79th Foot, 7 rank and file, killed, 1 captain, Camp, Captain Burgh, to whom I beg to 41 rank and nie, wounded; 1 captain, 6 rank refer your Lordship for any further de- and file, missing.-2d Batt. 83d Foot, 1 at., tails, and to recommend him to your Lord-1 dummer, 3 rank and file, wounded.-1st ship's notice. I have the honour to be, WELLINGTON.

&c.

Return of the Number of Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Army under the command of Lieutenant-General Lord Viscount Welling ton, K. B. in the advance of the French Army towards the Position of Busaco, on the 25th and 26th of September, 1810.

Batt. 88th Foot. 1 lieut., 1 serj., 29 aok and file, killed; 2 majors, 3 captains, 2 licuts, 1ensign, 2 serjs., 92 rank and file wounded; 1 rank and file missing.-1st Batt. 95th Foot, 9. rank and file, killed: 4 serjs., 1 drummer, 27 rank and file, wounded-1st Batt: of the Line King's German Legion, 3 rank and file, killed; 1 liept, 1 serj., 4 rank and file, wounded-Devi

1

tachment 1st Light Do. 1 serj. killed; 1 serj. 10 rank and file, wounded; 1 serj. 2 rank and file, missing.Ditto 2d ditto, 1 rank and file, killed; 1 lieut., 1 serj., 5 rank and file, wounded. 2d Batt, of the line Do. 1 serj., 2 rank and file, killed 1 major, 6 tank and file wounded; 1 rank and file missing.-5th Do..Do., 1 rank) and file, killed; 1 serj.& rank and file, wounded, -7th Do. Do., 1 serj. 8 rank and file, wounded. TOTAL-1 major, 1 captain, 2 lieuts. 1 ensign, 5 serjs. 97 rank and file, killed; 3 lieut. colonels, 5 majors, 10 captains, 16 lieuts, 1 ensign, 21 serjs., 3 drummers, 434 rank and file, wounded; 1 captain, 1 serj., 29 rank and file, missing.

C. STEWART, Maj.-Gen. and Adj. Gen. N. B. The officer and men returned inising are supposed to be prisoners of war,◄

TOTAL-S lieutenant-colonels, 6 majors, 12 captains, 18 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 27 ser jeants, 3 drummers, 360 rank and file.

Names of Officers killed, wounded, &c. KILLED.-45th Foot, 1st batt. major Smith, capt. Urquhart, lieut. Ouseley.-74th Ditto, ensign Williams.-88th Dirto, 1st batt. lieut. H. Johnson.

WOUNDED-52dFont, lieut.-col. Barclay, slightly. 70th Ditto, lieut. col. C. Campbell, ditto-43d Ditto, capt. lord Fitzroy Somerset, duto.-1st Foot Guards, capt. marquis of Tweedale, ditto.-1st, Batt. capt. G. Preston, ditto.-7th Foot. 1st batt. lieut. Marr, ditto.9th Ditto, liet. Lindsay, severely.-24th Dit to, 2d batt. capt. Meacham, slightly,—38th | |, Ditto, 2d batt. lieut. Miller, ditto.-45th Ditto, 2d batt. major Gwynn, severely; heut. Harris, ditto, lieut. Tyler, ditto; lieut., Anderson, slightly 50th Ditto, 1st batt. major Napier, severcly-52d Ditto, 1st batt. capt. Napier, slightly; lieut. Wood, ditto.-60th Ditto, 5th batt. lieut.-col. Williams, slightly; capt. Andrews, ditto; lieut. Jorie, severely; lieat. Eberstein, ditto; lieut. Frankeine, slightly. 74th Dito, lieut. Cargill, severely.—79th Ditto, 1st batt. capt. Douglas, ditto.-85d Ditto, 2d batt. lieut. Colthurst, slightly.-88th Ditto, 1st batt. major Silver, severely (since dead): major M'Gregor, severely; capt. McDermott, ditto; capt. Daisey, slightly; capt. Bury, ditto; lieut. Fitzpatrick, severely; lieut. Nickle, ditto; ensign Leonard, ditto. 1st hati. King's German Legion, lieut. During, slightly-2d Ditto, major Wormb, ditto.-2d Light Ditto, lieut. Stalte, severely. MISSING.-1st Batt. 79th Foot, capt. A. Cameron.

PORTUGUESE. KILLED.-4 captains, 2 lieutenants, 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, 82 rank and file...

WOUNDED.-1 colonel, 1 major, 5 captains, 5 lieutenants, 13 ensigns, 9 serjeants, 478 rank

and file.

Names of Officers killed, wounded, &c. KILLED. 1st Regiment, capt. Macintosh.8th Ditto, capt. De Sousa.-16th Ditto, capt. Charles Fox, 66th Regiment.-21st Ditto, capt. Salisbury, 52d ditto; ensign Castro.4th Cassadors, capt. Des Novas Franer.

WOUNDED.-7th Foot, major Prior, 39th Foot. 1st Ditto, ensigns Paulo and Souza.--8th Ditto, capt. Auzabio, lieut. Mattins, and ensign Rodriger-8th Ditto, ensigns Pedro and Manuel.-9th Ditto, ensign Antonie.-16th Ditto, captain Joze aird ensign Maria.-19.h Ditto, lieut. Goldero-21st Ditto, col. Champliman, capt. Burges, lieut. Machel, ensigns Montero, Alberti, and Botello.-3d. Cassadores, ensigns Sedjurada and Chrizostimo.-4th Ditto, capt. Bernando; lieutenants Qurroz and Vasconcellos; ensign Faliziano.-6th Ditto, capt. Homm.

PORTUGAL.—Proclamation of Lord Tala

vera, relative to communications with the · enemy.—Aug. }, 1810.

It having come to my knowledge that certain persons have been sent by the enemy into the interior of the kingdom, with letters and messages for different individuals, cities and towns, all such persons shall be arrested as criminals, and sent, with the letters with which they may. be charged, to my head-quarters. Thoses who shall receive letters from the enemy's army and not apprehend the bearers of them, shall be considered as accomplices, and subjected to the most rigorous punishment..

FRANKFORT-Decree of the Grand Duke, relating to French Emigrants.-June 17,

1810.

The French Government having made reiterated representations, that in the country of the Confederation bordering upon France, desiring all necessary measures should be taken to prevent the emigration of French subjects, who set out with their families, and that particularly no emigrants may be suffered to pass in and through the territories of this town, notwithstanding any foreign passports they may have, unless they can prove their emigration is expressly authorised by the Minister of Police at Paris; his Sereno Highness has just approved of the undermentioned measures. The police have just received general instructions to attentively watch (for the neglect of which they will be personally responsible) that the passage be absolutely shut to all French subjects, as well as to their wives and

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