JANUARY, 1811.

Containing the Gazettes at full Length, Promotions, Orders, and Military Miscellaneous Occurrences of every kind.

LONDON GAZETTES.

DOWNING-STREET, Nov. 24, 1810.-A Dispatch, of which the following is an Extract, was last night received at Lord Liverpool's Office, addressed to his Lordship by Lieutenant-general Viscount Wellington, dated Pero Negro, 10th November, 1810.

NOTHING of any importance has occurred since I addressed you on the 3d instant. The enemy reconnoitred Abrantes on the 5th instant, and, under cover of that operation, moved a small body of cavalry and infantry through Beira Basa towards Villa-Velha, evidently with an intention of obtaining possession of the bridge on the Tagus at that place. They found it, however, dertroyed, and this detachment returned to Sobriera-Formoso. I have a letter from General Silviera, of the 3d instant, from Francoso. He had his detachments on

the Coa, and one of them, (consisting of a battalion of the 24th regiment, which had been in garrison at Almeida during the siege, and which Marshal Massena had reported to the Emperor as having voluntarily entered the French service), had driven in the out-posts of the present garrison at Almeida.

SIR STAPLETON COTTON TO LORD WELLINGTON.

LETTER I.

LEIRIA, October 6, 1810.

MY LORD-Yesterday, about six in the morning, the enemy attacked my piquets close by Pombal, and forced them to retire. I reconnoitered the enemy with a squadron of the 16th light dragoons, and perceiving that he had a force both of cavalry and infantry, I sent two more squadrons of light cavalry and one of Hussars, directing them to avail themselves of the first favourable opportunity for attacking the enemy before the rest of his infantry arrived.—This was executed in a very brilliant manner by the piquets of the 14th and 16th light dragoons, who took 60 prisoners. The enemy had a number of killed and wounded in this attack, and retired to his park of six pieces of artillery, where he had a reserve of cavalry. The squadrons mentioned above, then retreated in the best order, always charging the van of the enemy's column with great success during their retreat to the river, which was about two miles. After passing the river, I was supported by Captain Bull, with two pieces of artillery; but I VOL. 1. No. 3. G G

Gazette. From the Army in Portugal.

have since withdrawn the troops in good order to Leiria, to which position I have sent the cavalry, according to the instructions received from the Quartermaster-general. I cannot sufficiently praise the brave and admirable conduct displayed by the officers and men on this occasion; and I can happily say that, in spite of the fire of the enemy's artillery, which our troops had to sustain, our loss has been very trifling, while that of the enemy was considerable in killed and wounded. We could not bring off many prisoners (though we made ■ number in our different attacks) on account of our retreat, but the greater part of them were wounded and dismounted. I cannot omit recommending to your Lordship, Lieutenant-colonel Eley, whose services contributed much to the good order with which our troops retired-and I also beg leave to say, that I received great assistance from Captain the Marquis of Tweedale, and the other officers of my staff. I have the honour to be, &c. STAPLETON COTTON.

P. S.-I have sent you three officers and twenty dragoons, with their horses, prisoners.

LETTER II.

QUINTA DA TORRE, October 9, 1810.

MY LORD-I have the honour to inform you of the good conduct of Captain Murray of the 16th dragoons, whom I yesterday left close to the Rio-major with the command of a squadron, when I retired to Alcoentre. The enemy's cavalry having advanced suddenly upon Captain Murray in the direction of Alcoentre, I ordered that officer to attack the three squadrons which the enemy had in that town. Captain Murray, with only a part of his troop, executed my orders with great spirit and courage, killing and wounding many of the enemy, and making a number of prisoners, with several horses; the rest took to flight. I have the pleasure to add, that we lost only one man, who was taken by the enemy. STAPLETON COTTON.

(Signed)

LETTER IL

CARREGADO, October 9, 1810.

MY LORD-The cavalry of the enemy having advanced this morning to Quinta da Torre, I drew back the regiments to this point, according to the instructions I had received, and ordered some detachments of Hussars and of the 16th light dragoons to observe the enemy. The enemy's infantry remained near Quinta da Torre, and his heavy cavalry defiled in the direction of Arigada. The enemy had left a piquet in the front of Bosque, supported by a strong troop; I ordered Captain Cocks, of the 16th dragoons, with several soldiers of that regiment, and some Hussars, to attack the piquet, supporting him by a troop of Hussars, commanded by Captain Alley. These officers attacked the enemy with great bravery and success, and we sustained no loss. The whole squadron and piquet of the enemy would have been taken, if they had not been relieved

Gazette Extraordinary.—Army in Portugal.

by the infantry. One officer, 19 soldiers, and 16 horses were taken, and the greater part of the enemy's troop remained dead or wounded. I had ordered one squadron of royal dragoons to be ready to support the above attack; but in consequence of a mistake, occasioned by the hussars retiring with the prisoners, they advanced and received a volley from the enemy's infantry, by which two men and four horses were killed, and several wounded.-I have the honour to be, &c. STAPLETON COTTON.

(Signed)

HEAD-QUARTERS, CASSAL COCHIN, October 21.

GENERAL ORDERS-His Excellency Marshal Beresford is very much displeased, on acconnt of the great number of officers who are absent from their corps; and declares, that every officer who remains absent, without his express permission, communicated by the commandant of his corps, shall be considered as a deserter; and that, in every instance where ill health is assigned as the reason of absence, unless it be attested on the examination of a military surgeon, such officer shall be equally treated as a deserter. MOZINHO, Adj. Gen.

LISEON, October 24, 1810.

GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY, DEC. 3, 1810.

DOWNING-STREET, DECEMBER 3. A Dispatch, of which the following is an Extract, has been this day received at Lord Liverpool's Office, addressed to his Lordship by Lieutenant-general Viscount Wellington, dated Cartaxo, Novem ber 21, 1810.

THE enemy retired from the position which they had held for the last month, with their right at Sobral, and their left resting upon the Tagus, in the night of the 14th instant; and went by the road of Alenquer towards Alcoentre with their right, and Villa Nova with their left. They continued their retreat towards Santarem on the following days. The allied army broke up from their position on the morning of the 15th instant, and followed the march of the enemy; and the advanced guard was at Alenquer on the 15th, and the British cavalry and the advanced guard at Azambuga and Alcoentre on the 16th, and at this place on the 17th. In these movements they made about four hundred prisoners. These troops have been followed on their march by Sir Brent Spencer's division, and the 5th division of infantry under Major-general Leith. On the 17th I received accounts from Major-general Fane, from the left of the Tagus, that the enemy had constructed another bridge on the Zazere, that which had been first thrown over that river having been carried away by the floods; and that they had on that day marched a large body of troops from Santarem towards Golegao; and I immediately passed Lieutenant-general

Gazette Extraordinary.-- Army in Portugal.

Hill's corps across the Tagus at Valada, in boats which Admiral Berkeley had been so kind as to send up the river to aid and facilitate the operations of the army. Having advanced from the positions in which I was enabled to bring the enemy to a stand, and to oblige them to retire without venturing upon any attack, it is but justice to Lieutenant-colonel Fletcher, and the officers of the Royal Engineers, to draw your Lordship's attention to the ability and diligence with which they have executed the works by which these positions have been strengthened to such a degree as to render any attack upon that line occupied by the allied army very doubtful, if not entirely hopeless. We are indebted for these advantages to Lieutenant-colonel Fletcher and the officers of Royal Engineers; among whom I must particularly mention Captain Chapman, who has given me great assistance upon various occasions. Your Lordship will have observed how much the effective strength of the army in proportion to its total numbers has increased lately. There is no sickness in the army of any importance; and above one half of those returned as sick in the military returns are convalescents, who are retained at Belem till they will have gained sufficient strength to hear the fatigues of marching and of their duty in the field. Besides the allied army, your Lordship will observe, that an additional force has been provided from the fleet; and I take this occasion of informing your Lordship, that in every instance I have received the most cordial and friendly assistance from Admiral Berkeley, and the officers and men of the squadron under his command. Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Williams has even done me the favour to come up the Tagus to superintend the passage of Lieutenantgeneral Hill's corps over the river. In my dispatch of the 20th of October, I informed your Lordship, that the Marquis de la Romana had joined the allied army in their positions in front of Lisbon, with a considerable detachment of the Spanish army under his command: he still continues with us, and I received from him much valuable advice and assistance. Throughout the period, during which we occupied those positions, every thing went on with the utmost regularity and to my satisfaction, notwithstanding that the force was composed of troops of various descriptions, and of different nations; and I attribute those advantages entirely to the zeal for the cause in which we are engaged, and the conciliating disposition of the chiefs and general officers of the armies of the different nations; and I have no doubt that the same cordiality will pre vail as long as it may be expedient that the armies should continue united.— Lieutenant-general Sir Brent Spencer and Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford, and the officers of the general staff of the army, have continued to give me every assistance in their power.