Scheld took place nearly at the same time, but the enemy's flotilla moved up to Lillo with the same tide that brought ours to Bathz, one of which was handsomely burned by the advanced gun-boats almost amongst them. As the navigation of the West Scheld is now open as far as it can possibly be cleared by the navy, and a flotilla force of upwards of fifty sail in the East Sheld demand attention, and I can at any time return in a few hours to this place, it is my intention to repair in the morning to the Superb, where I have ordered the boats of my division. Sir Home Popham is examining the channels. Although we are now masters of the navigation to Lillo, it may be proper to observe, that it is in the enemy's power, by sending a superior naval force to deprive us of it, as far as Bathz, (before some larger ships ascend), whenever he pleased. I have, &c. R. G. KEATS. Rear Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, Bart. K. B. Head-quarters Middleburgh, Aug. 11. My Lord received yesterday evening your lordship's dispatch of the 8th inst. by the messenger Mills, and I must intreat your lordship to offer my most dutiful acknowledgRents to his majesty, for the gracious approbation he has been pleased to express of my humble endeavours in his service; and I shall feel the greatest satisfaction in communicating to Lieutenant-general Sir Eyre Coote, and the general and other officers, and the troops employed here under my command, the sense which his majesty entertains of their meritorious conduct in the services in which they have been engaged, as well as the confidence his majesty feels in their future good conduct, and which, I trust, they will not disappoint. The enemy has continued to give what interruption he could to the progress of our works; but since the date of my last letter, he has attempted no sortie in any force. He has endeavoured to cause us some embarrassment by opening the sluices at Flushing, and letting in the salt water, but this has been attended as yet with little inconve nience, as the necessary precautions for letting off the water through the sluices in our possession at this place and at Veer, I have no doubt will be found effectual. The seve ral batteries will probably be ready to open on the place either the 12th or 13th, and I shall look with great anxiety to the result, as the speedy reduction of Flushing, (particularly under present appearances) is of the last importance, as till then so very large a portion of the force under my command is unavoidably detained before it. The divisions of Lieutenant-general Lord Rosslyn and Lieutenantgeneral Lord Huntly, were, according to the intention I mentioned in my last letter, landed in South Beveland, on the morning of the 9th instant: but I am sorry to say, that the division of transports, with the cavalry and artillery horses, the heavy ordnance, ammunition, and stores of all descriptions, have not yet been brought through the Slow Passage. The moment they appear, it is my intention to proceed towards Bathz; but as till then no operation can be undertaken, I have thought my presence here was more useful. A large portion of the flotilla has proceeded up the river to Bathız, on which place I learn that the enemy had again made an attack, but had been repulsed by the guns on the port. I have the honour to be, &c. Intercepted Correspondence. Minutes of Dispatches, dated Aug. 14th, and taken on a Peasant going to Avila, at Tomezcus, by a detachment under Sir Robert Wilson's orders.-(The original sent on to General Cuesta.) A Monsieur le Colonel Hays, Governor d'Avila-You will give directions that this letter shall be forwarded with the utmost expedition to his majesty, and you will send me your receipt. Wilson's corps is cut off. About five days ago it was between Candelario and Villa Neuva. If from your town you move a column of 1000 men, and attack them, they will be compelled to surrender. I communicate to you the brilliant action of the 8th inst. at P. Arzobispo. We took from the enemy 30 pieces of cannon, 40 tumbrils with baggage, and 600 prisoners, besides a great number of killed. The royal carbineers and corps de garde were cut to pieces. Send me from your province, wine, vinegar, and brandy, which shall be paid in ready money; and also send me news from Burgos, Salamanca, Valladolid, &c. (Signed) DUKE OF DALMATIA. Sire-The orders that you sent me are executed. The Duke of Elchingen will arrive to-morrow at his destination. I have the intention of besieging Ciudad Rodrigo. If your majesty sends me five corps complete, and if the Duke of Elchingen comes this way, I will attack Marshal Beresford's army, which is now between Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo, and by news now received, between * and Gette, and composed of 8000 English, the same number of Portuguese, and 4000 Spaniards; but if this is to be executed, it must be done with the greatest expedition; because, otherwise, the effect of the victories of Talavera and Arzobispo will be lost. It is probable Venegas has already passed the Sierra Morena; and, in this case, the 2 i corps may fall upon Cuesta, keep the Tagus, and open the communication with this corps. Wilson's corps is cut off. It is between Villa Neuva and Candelario; and, if a column from Avila of 1500 or 1000 men, should come down, it would be compelled to surrender. (Signed) DUKE OF DALMATIA. Addressed to Joseph, King of Spain, &c. London Gazette Extraordinary, ing is a copy, was this day received Head Quarters, Middleburgh, My Lord-I have the honour of On the morning of the 14th instant, about ten o'clock, the line of battle ships at anchor in the Durloo Passage, led by Rear-admiral Sir Richard Strachan, got under weigh, and ranging up along the sea line of defence, kept up as they passed, a tremendous cannonade on the town for several hours, with the greatest gallantry and effect. About four in the afternoon, perceiving that the fire of the enemy had entirely ceased, and the town presenting a most awful scene of destruction, being on fire in almost every quarter, I directed Lieutenant-general Sir Eyre Coote to send in to summons the place; General Monnet returned for answer, that he would reply to the summons as soon as he had consulted a council of war: an hour had been allowed him for the purpose, but a consi derable time beyond it having elapsed without any answer being received, hostilities were ordered to recommence with the utmost vigour, and about eleven o'clock at night, one of the enemy's batteries, advanced upon the Sea Dyke in front of Lieutenant-general Fraser's position, was most gallantly carried at the point of the bayonet, by detachments from the 36th, 71st, and light battalions of the king's German legion, under Lieutenantcolonel Pack, opposed to great superiority of numbers; they took forty prisoners, and killed and wounded a great many of the enemy. I must not omit to mention, that on the preceding evening an intrenchment in front of Major-general Graham's position was also forced in a manner equally undaunted, by the 14th regiment, and detachments of the king's German legion, under Lieutenant-colonel Nicolls, who drove the enemy from it, and made a lodgment within musket-shot of the walls of the town, taking one gun and thirty prisoners. About two in the morning, the enemy demanded a suspension of arms for forty-eight hours, which was refused, and only two hours granted, when he agreed to surrender according to the summons sent in, on the basis of the garrison becoming prisoners of war. I have now the satisfaction of acquainting your lordship, that these preliminaries being acceded to; as soon as the admiral landed in the morning, Colonel Long, adjutantgeneral, and Captain Cockburn, of the royal navy, were appointed to negociate the further articles of capitulation, which I have now the honour to enclose. They were ra tified about three this morning, when detachments of the royals on the right, and of his majesty's 71st regiment on the left, took possession of the gates of the town. The garrison will march out to-morrow, and will be embarked as speedily as possible. I will now congratulate your lordship on the fall of a place so indispensably necessary to our future operations, as so large a proportion of our force being required to carry on the siege with that degree of vigour and dispatch which the means of defence the enemy possessed, and particularly his powers of inundation, which was rapidly spreading to an alarming extent, rendered absolutely neces sary. Having hoped, had circumstances permitted, to have proceeded up the river at an earlier period, I had committed to Lieutenant-general Sir Eyre Coote the direction of the details of the siege, and of the operations before Flushing, and I cannot sufficiently express my sense of the unremitting zeal and exertion with which he has conducted the arduous service entrusted to him, in which he was ably assisted by Lieutenant-colonels Walsh and Offerey attached to him, as assistants in the adjutant and quarter-master-general's department. I have every reason to be satisfied with the judicious manner in which the general officers have directed the several operations, as well as with the spirit and intelligence manifested by the commanding officers of corps, and the zeal and ardour of all ranks of officers. It is with great pleasure I can report the uniform good conduct of the troops, who have not only on all occasions shewn the greatest intrepidity in presence of the enemy, but have sustained, with great pleasure and cheerfulness, the laborious duties they have had to perform. The active and persevering exertions of the corps of royal engineers have been conducted with much skill and judgment by Colonel Fyers, aided by Lieutenant-colonel D'Arcey, and it is impossible for me to do sufficient justice to the distinguished conduct of the officers and men of the royal artillery, un"der the able direction and animating example of Brigadier-general M'Leod. The seamen, whose labours had already been so useful to the army, sought their reward in a further opportunity of distinguishing themselves, and one of the batteries was accordingly entrusted to them, and which they served with admirable vigour and effect. I must here beg to express my strong sense of the constant and cordial co-operation of the navy on all occasions, and my warmest acknowledgments are most particularly due to Captain Cockburn of the Belleisle, commanding the flotilla, and to Captain Richardson of the Cæsar, commanding the brigade of seamen landed with the army. I have the honour to enclose a return of the garrison of Flushing, in addition to which I have learned, that, besides the number killed, which was considerable, upwards of one thousand wounded men were transported to Cadsand, previous to the complete investment of the town. I also subjoin a statement of deserters and prisoners, exclusive of the garrison of Flushing. This dispatch will be delivered to Amount of the Garrison which surrendered at Flushing on the 15th Aug. 1809, under the command of Monnet, General of Division. Sixteen Officers of the Staff 101 Officers.-3773 Non-commissioned Officers and soldiers.-489 sick and wounded.-Total 4379. Return of prisoners and deserters, from the 30th July to August 15, 1809, taken in the Island of Walcheren. One Colonel, 1 Lieutenant-Col., 15 Captains, 27 Lieutenants, 1 Staff, 58 Serjeants, 13 Drummers, 1700 rank and file. Return of Officers, and of the number of Non-commissioned Offiers and rauk and file killed, wounded, and missing, from the 8th inst. to the surrender of Flushing, on the morning of the 15th inclusive. Head-quarters, Middleburg, Aug. 16, 1809. Total-3 Officers, 1 Serjeant, 1 Drummer, 26 rank and file, killed; 15 Officers, 5 Serjeants, 2 Drummers, 83 rank and file, wounded; 1 rank and file missing. Names of Officers killed and wounded. Killed-5th Foot Capt. Talbot. -71st Foot, Ensign D. Sinclair.2d Light Battalion King's German Legion, Lieut. Sprecker. Wounded-Royal Artillery, Lieutenant George Browne, slightly. Royal Engineers, Col. Pyres, slightly; Capt. Pasley, dangerously. 3d Batt. 1st Foot, Lieut. A. W. M'Kenzie, slightly.-24 Foot, Lieutenant Cutterbuck, slightly.-14th Foot, Ensign C. Harrald, dangerously wounded Aug. 9, since dead. -36th Foot, Major M'Kenzie, dangerously.-98th Foot, Captain Soden slightly; Lieut. Smith, slightly.-71st Foot, Capt. Spatiswoode, slightly; Lieut. D. M'Donald dangerously.-77th Foot, Capt. A. V. Brown, dangerously.-S1st Foot, Capt. Taylor, slightly; AssistantSurgeon Chizlet, dangerously.95th Foot, Lieut. Manners, slightly; wounded 3d August, not reported in time to be included in the preceding returns. ROBERT LONG, Col. Adj. Gen. Admiralty Office, Aug, 20, 1809. St. Domingo, Flushing- SIR, I have much satisfaction in acquainting you, that the town and garrison of Flushing have capitulated. It was my intention to have proceeded up the Scheld, with the division of frigates under Lord W. Stuart, and that the greater part of our flotilla had advanced to Bathz, in the charge of Sir Home Popham, by whom the enemy were driven above Lillo, where their ships and gun-brigs had taken up a strong position. The cominand of the important service of the Scheld I have given to Sir R. Keats, and he has my direction to co-operate with Lieut.-General the Earl of Rosslyn, as well as to use every means in his power for cap |