1811.

BOOK IX. who were employed under the orders of Captain Beaver, my most grateful acknowledgments are CHAP. VI. due for the services they performed, as well as to the officers and seamen under their command. "A body of seamen was landed from the fleet, under the command of Captain Montague; the exertions which were used to bring forward the guns through a most difficult country were such as to attract the admiration of the whole army, and fully entitle Captain Montague, Lieutenant Lloyd, of the Africaine, and every officer and sailor, to the encomiums I can pass on their conduct.

"The battalion of marines, under the command of Captain Liardet, supported the reputation of this distinguished corps.

"This dispatch will be delivered to your lordship by my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant M'Murdo, of the Bombay establishment, who will afford your lordship any further information you may require respecting the late operations of the army. I have &c. (Signed)

'J. ABERCROMBY, Major-gen."

The Isle of France, according to the admeasurement of the Abbé de la Caille, is not more than thirty-one leagues in circumference, about eleven in length, and seven in breadth, having a surface which measures 432,680 acres. It is described as extremely healthy, fertile, and abounding with the most romantic scenery.

The population of the contiguous isles of France and Bourbon is said to have been 121,000 in the year 1799, of whom a great proportion were negro slaves; and the military force consisted of 5,000 men. Raynal stated, that in the year 1765, the population of the Isle of France was as follows:-1,469 white people, besides the troops; 1,587 Indians or free negroes; and 11,881 slaves. Since that period the population might have inoreased very considerably.

The principal harbour of the island is Port Louis, which is situated in 20. 10. south lat. and 55. long. east from Paris. The tides are not very perceptible, those of the equinox rising not more than three feet. The soil of the island is very diversified. Although by its climate it is adapted for all colonial productions, it did not equally answer all the different kinds of cultivation which the inhabitants endeavoured to naturalize. The plantations of coffee were the first adopted; but other objects of cultivation, such as cotton, having appeared more profitable, coffee did not become so general as it would otherwise have been. The natives pretend that their coffee is superior to that of Moka. The cotton, in its turn, was neglected, because the cultivation of indigo became more popular. Several sugar plantations had succeeded. One of their governors, a M. Poivre, formerly found means to in

troduce plants of the nutmeg, cloves, &c. from the Dutch spice islands. This experiment, however, did not prove successful; for Raynal declared, that most of the plants died, and the rest were not likely to bear fruit.

The principal advantage which the French derived from the island was, that it served as a point from which British commerce might be successfully annoyed in the Indian seas. The fatal experience of the East India Company, and of the private traders on the coasts of Coroman del and Malabar, proved that nothing could be better adapted for attaining that object. It served as the place of rendezvous for French frigates, where they could be refitted, and where they might retire with their plunder. It was a depôt of captured produce, and in this view was resorted to by American traders, who brought that produce to Europe which the French were unable to convey in their own merchantmen. The destruction of such a nest of marauders was the principal advantage that could be derived from the conquest. In the hands of the English, it was a station of some importance.

The Abbé Raynal gave the following view of the political and commercial advantages of this important island:

"The Isle of France must always be allowed to be one of the most valuable possessions for any nation desirous of trading to Asia. It is situated in the African seas, just at the entrance of the Indian ocean. As it lies a little out of the common track, its expeditions can be carried on with greater secrecy. Those who wish it was nearer our continent, do not consider that if it were so, it would be impossible to reach the coasts of Ma labar and Coromandel in a month's time, and the most distant gulphs in two months at most, which is an inestimable advantage to a nation who, like the French, have no sea-port in India. This island, though in the same latitude as the barren and scorching coasts of Africa, is temperate and healthy. The soil is stony, but tolerably fertile. Experience has shewn that it will produce most of the necessaries, and even of the luxuries, of life. Whatever it may want, may be supplied from Madagascar and from Bourbon, where the inhabitants have retained their simplicity of manners, and a taste for husbandry.

"Great Britain sees with a jealous eye ber rivals possessed of a settlement which may prove the ruin of her flourishing trade with Asia. At the breaking out of a war, her utmost efforts will cer tainly be aimed at a colony that threatens her richest treasures. What a misfortune for France, should she suffer herself to be deprived of it!!"

A French account, printed at the Isle of France, of the capture or destruction of some English frigates at the Isle de la Passe, spoke of that temporary triumph of the French marine

in a very vaunting style, and represented the patriotic ardour of the colonists in a light which the event by no means justified. A few extracts will shew the short-lived exultation of the French on the occasion :

"The Isle of France alone, amid the numerous colonies of England, closely blockaded for several years by a maritime force far superior to its own, deprived of the greater part of the succours which the mother-country had endeavoured to send out, provoked by insolent proclamations thrown profusely on its coasts, read with disdain the promises of the enemy, smiled with indignation at his threats, and replied only by cries of victory. Inhabitants, merchants, artisans, all forgot their peaceful occupations, all took up arms, and demanded, with loud cries, to be led where danger called them. General DECAEN, satisfied with their zeal, had only to moderate their impetuous ardour.

"The Isle of Bonaparte (Bourbon) was taken; but this success of the enemy, far from dismaying the colony of the Isle of France, appeared to inspire it with new energy. In all quarters of the island numerous corps of colonial light troops were formed, strong batteries were erected on the most important points, and a formidable line of defence announced to the enemy the resistance he would have to surmount should be dare to attack."

The account then described the capture of the Isle de la Passe, at the entrance of Port Imperial, and the terrible battle which took place between the English frigates and those of the French in the interior of that harbour, and which ended in the capture or destruction of four of the former: and concluded with the following reflections on the result of the engagement:

"The immense advantages which result from this exploit, superior to any which have honored the French marine for a long time, it is easy to appreciate. The enemy, disconcerted in his plans, has now only two frigates around our isle, which every where fly before our victorious ships; the transports which are sent him from India and the Cape fall straight into the hands of our cruizers; three of them have been already captured, and three corvettes or advice-boats have met the same fate. Two thousand prison. Two thousand prison ers are crowded in the depôts of the colony, and will themselves carry to the Cape, to India, and even to England, the recital of their disasters. One general, and more than fifty officers of all ranks, have been diverted from their destination, and are at the disposal of the captain-general, with six naval captains, and a multitude of officers in the same line. Thus, he who wished to terrify or seduce us, fears in his turn lest our frigates, appearing off his isle, should awake in the hearts of its brave inhabitants the love of

their sovereign, and that of their country. He is LOOK IX. afraid, lest they should follow the example which is offered to them by the colonists of the Isle CHAP. VI. of France: the Isle of Bourbon is peopled by brave men, whose valour has humbled more than 1811. once the English flag in India, and only awaits, to be re-animated, the reinforcements of every kind which are promised by the great Napoleon. "The success which we have just gained is a sure guarantee of the efforts which the Emperor of the French will make to assist us. Then shall we be in a condition, not only to defend ourselves with vigour, but also to drive the enemy from the isle which he has taken by surprize; and to pursue hin amidst his possessions in India, almost every where without defence, against the attacks of our heroes."

The capture of the Isle of Banda was one of those dauntless coups de main, for which British seamen are so much distinguished. It is remarkable that not a single life was lost in this enterprise, though the enemy had about 1,000 to 180. The following are the particulars of this extraordinary capture, as related by the Lieutenant of the Baracouta :

"The Caroline, Piedmontaise, and Baracouta, arrived off Banda on the 8th of August, and hove-to, at a considerable distance from the land, to avoid being seen; a hope which was frustrated by some fishing-boats. At ten at night, being four miles from the harbour, the boats were hoisted out, and assembled alongside the Caroline, containing 390 men.

"At twelve the boats shoved off, under the command of Captain Cole, the weather being then tolerably fine: it soon, however, became dark and squally, attended with a boisterous sea, which occasioned the separation of the boats; and on arriving at the appointed rendezvous, Captain Cole found the original force diminished to 180 men. After remaining until three o'clock, in hopes of being joined by the missing boats, it became necessary to push on for Banda Neira, still three miles off, or return to our ships, mor-tified and disappointed..

"Captain Cole fortunately determined to go on, and on approaching the shore, we found, by several alarm-guns being fired, that the enemy were expecting us. were expecting us. The badness of the weather, which had before acted against us, now became our protection, for the boats grounded undiscovered in a heavy squall of wind and rain within 100 yards of a battery of ten 24-pounders, which was stormed in the rear; the sentinel was killed by a pike, and sixty men were disarmed without firing a pistol.

"After leaving a guard in the battery, the storming party, headed by Captain Kench, and the reserve by Captain Cole, proceeded to Fort Belgica, by a narrow path on the skirts of the

BOOK IX. town. The bugle was then sounding the alarm of our landing. The enemy in Belgica reserved CHAP. VI. their fire until we got close to the walls. The scaling-ladders were then placed between the 1811. guns, and mounted with a rapidity exceeding all belief, notwithstanding a very smart fire from the citadel and the surrounding bushes, both very ill-directed.

"After gaining possession of the lower works, the ladders were hauled up and placed against the inner wall; the interval occasioned by this seemed to give the enemy fresh courage; but when they saw the ladders firmly fixed, they seemed panic-struck, and fled in all directions, leaving the colonel-commandant and ten men killed, and two captains and thirty men pri

soners.

"The guns near which the ladders were placed fortunately burnt priming, owing to the heavy rains, and thus we found ourselves in possession of this strong citadel, without the loss of a single man, just in time for the sun to rise on the British flag, and to shew us our commanding situation; baving Fort Nassau and the town immediately under our guns. A flag of truce was dispatched to the governor, offering protection to private property on the surrender of the island, which was refused; however, a shot from Belgica, and a threat of storming the town and forts, produced an immediate and unconditional

surrender, and 700 disciplined troops and 300 militia grounded their arms to us.

"Captain Cole's feelings at this moment must have been, in unison with his followers, proudly grateful. The enemy had notice of the squa dron's approach at six o'clock in the afternoon, and dispatched a great part of their force to the place where Admiral Rainier landed; an event which Captain Cole had foreseen.

"The enemy, taking advantage of the flag of truce which he had flying in Belgica, opened a fire on the shipping just entering the harbour, but a few shot from that commanding fort drove them from their guns. Fortunately the nature of the attack required no firing from the assailants, as the boats grounded at some distance from the shore, and the men had to wade up to the middle in water. The enemy were drawn up at their guns, with lighted matches.

"Banda Neira and its dependencies export 900,000l. worth of spices annually to Batavia; we found about 400,000l. worth of spices at the time of the capture.

"The Piedmontaise remains at Banda, in charge of the island, until the Indian government send to garrison it. We are now on our way to Admiral Drury, with dispatches; and the Caroline is making arrangements to supply provisions from the neighbouring islands.

"EDMUND LYONS, "Lieutenant of the Baracouta."

Ar the commencement of the year, General Silveira's head-quarters were at Pezo da Ragoa. For nineteen days they had found means to retard the progress of an enemy's division three times stronger than their own, from Pinhel to Lamego. After always keeping the enemy with in view, and having fought three several actions uniformly with success, General Silveira retired to the right bank of the Douro; on the 13th evacuating Lamego, at the time when the enemy were entering the town. The general made good his retreat without the loss of a man or of any baggage, bringing off 140 sick soldiers, who were

Excellent Sir,-On the morning of the 25th inst. the enemy presented themselves by the road of San Bartolome, in number 7,000 infantry and 700 horse, with ten pieces of artillery, commanded by Count Gazen. I immediately took up a position on the heights of Castellegos, and formed my first line-of-battle, composed of the vanguard, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel D. Ramou Albuquerque, the Sena regiment of infantry, under the orders of Don J. Butler, and that of Pravia, directed by Don F. Mondas. The reserve, in battalions en masse, consisting of the provincial regiments of Leon, Congas de Teneo, Castropol, and Infusto, detaching upon the flanks and front three companies of sharpshooters. The cavalry, composed of the provisional regiments of Santiago and Usares, were situated upon the right of the reserve, and in this form waited the attack. The enemy soon commenced it upon the left and centre of the lines, and the battle was desperately fought by both parties. The ground had been disputed three hours, when I perceived the fire of my first line slackened, and that it was necessary to detach two strong columns to its support, which arrived opportunely to refresh the troops who had so long contended. The enemy, in consequence of this operation, moved forward their reserve, and the fire became more brisk and better maintained; but, as his forces were triple to mine, and his artillery well-directed, without our having any to answer it, I was obliged to abandon my positions, and draw back the troops to the reserve that had advanced. Here again the battle was renewed, when the enemy suffered the greatest loss by the firmness and serenity with which our valiant troops received them. Finding nothing more remained to be done, that the line had been five hours exposed to the fire without a single soldier moving, and that night was approaching, I disposed my retreat in regiments, by eschellons, without the enemy daring to advance a single step, so great was the loss they had sustained. Whilst the infantry were covering themselves with glory, by acting in the manner just stated, the cavalry manoeuvred with the enemy, and repeatedly charged them, following my instructions, and protecting my right flank during the action and in the retreat. In a word, the battle of Castellegos has immortalized the names of these valiant defenders of their country. The loss of the enemy is not less than from 1,500 to 2,000, killed, wounded, and prisoners, and my soldiers have presented me with more than twenty horses, taken in the action. All the chiefs, officers, and soldiers, have so nobly performed their duties,

On the 22d of January, the fortress of Olivenza surrendered to the enemy, and on the same day the garrison marched out-an event rather surprising, as, according to the statement of the commander-in-chief, neither provisions nor ammunition were wanting to enable it to hold out till the arrival of divisions from Portugal; and only a few hours before, the governor had written in the most animated terms.

On the 23d, it was known that some troops of the enemy were marching by Truxillo, and afterwards that they had arrived at Merida, in number about 3,000 men. On the 24th some small detachments of the enemy approached Badajoz, but they were put to flight by the sharp-shooters of Islo. The next day some columns of both foot and horse shewed themselves, with some cannon. The fire of the guerillas continued the whole day, and till the night was well advanced; some balls passed over the top of the wall. The Spaniards had several wounded, and four or five killed. The loss of the enemy was considerable.

On the 27th the 1st division of the 4th army cantoned in Algeziras, and its environs, put itself in motion. The vanguard, under the command of Don Juan de la Cunz de Mouigeon, attacked, in the morning of the 29th, the French corps of Medina Sidonia, consisting of 800 infantry, 150 cavalry, and three pieces of artillery, who defended the town with obstinacy; but after two hours fighting were dislodged, and leaving the streets full of dead bodies and wounded, retreated to post themselves in the road to Chiclana. In the mean time the Guerilla party of Don Antonio Garcia Veas, destined to cover the Spanish right flank, took possession of Paterna, The volunteer squadron of Ubrique, under its commander Don Gregorio Fernandez, attacked Areas; and the reserve of the division commanded by the marquis manoeuvred opportunely to support the operations of the vanguard. When the enemy took his position in the road to Chiclana, the connander-general of the division, Don Francisco Begines de los Rios, gave orders to suspend the pursuit, and placed in front Guerillas, who kept up a firing till night approached. He then, in conformity to his instructions, ordered a retreat, which the darkness, the heavy rain, and the presence of the enemy, rendered difficult and laborious. More than 100 French, killed and wounded, with a number of officers, thirty prisoners,

The extortions committed in the quarters of Catalayud and Alcanaz, the reducing of the town of Beceyte, and the demands of Suchet, strengthened more and more the aversion of the Aragonese towards their oppressors. The love of freedom continued to do wonders in Navarre and Rioja. Fresh advantages were obtained by the celebrated Epoz. In old Castile, the two partizans, Merion and Tapia, were incessantly harassing the enemy; and the provincial junta of Burgos were indefatigable in their endeavours to foment the valour and patriotism of the Castilians. The resolution of the inhabitants in the province of Soria was daily strengthened by the atrocities committed by their enemies: all the youth eagerly enlisted to augment the defenders of the just cause.

The French had set fire to Molina, Villel Cifuentes, and Trillo, but these conflagrations served only to augment the constancy of the natives, and their detestation for the French yoke. After some partial actions at Cagalludo, Alienza, and Jaduque, the lieutenants of the Empecinado fought against the French in Villanego and Valdaraceta on the 22d of January, and on the bridge of Itirnon on the 3d of February, and did considerable damage to the enemy.

Since the loss of Tortosa, the French shewed no wish to penetrate into the kingdom of Valencia, for the defence of which the most energetic measures were taken. The general quarters of the Valencian army were at Murviedro.

The patriotic parties of La Mancha continued as active as ever against the enemy, and the latter pursued his system of destruction and plunder with unbated vigour.

An important advantage was obtained over a division of the French army in Catalonia. Marshal Macdonald had put his army in motion for the purpose of attacking the Marquis CampoVerde, preparatory to laying siege to Tarragona. An engagement took place Jan. 25, and the following was the dispatch from his excellency the commander-in-chief to the junta of Catalonia.

"To the Marquis of Campo-Verde. "It is now five in the afternoon, and yet our troops have not ceased to pursue the enemy. The whole Italian division, composed of the 1st and 2d light infantry regiments, the 4th and 6.b of the line, and a battalion of the 5th, with the 24th regiment of dragoons and a company of dismounted velites, have been beaten and completely

destroyed. The action has been bloody, but it has been so favorable on our side, that it has left me nothing to desire.

"The enemy's division, under the command of Generals Fontana, Palombini, and Eugeni, marched from Valls this morning at nine, in the direction of this point, in order to attack me. Oa the first advices I marched to meet then with my small division, and in the plain between Valis and Pla the battle commenced. The divisions fought in line for three hours, till the enemy, being reinforced, marched 4,000 men towards the town of Figuerola, with design to attack our right flank. On perceiving this movement, I ordered the regiments of Ultonia, of Ferdinand VII. and the light battalion of Valencia to attack them in the town, which they executed, dislodging the enemy, and pursuing him to the immediate vicinity of Valls. The cavalry charged by the high-road which leads to the above town, and though the enemy's horse were 500 strong, it was impossible for them to resist: part of them fled with precipitation, and the rest were cut to pieces on the field.

"Leisure and a more convenient opportunity are wanting to particularise the valour and enthusiasm with which our troops fought. He only who was present in the action can form an idea of the intrepidity with which the royal hussars of Granada and the royal hussars of Valencia charg ed the enemy: the victory was decided by the valour of these two corps, led on by their brave chiefs, Colonel D. Ambrosio Foraster, and Len tenant-colonel D. Eugenio Maria Yebra. The corps of infantry, which formed the column ef attack, are not less worthy of commemoration; they behaved to my full satisfaction, as well as the light battalion of Tarragona, which manoeuvred with the greatest steadiness, under the orders of its distinguished commander, Lieutenant-colonel O'Ryan.

"The loss of the enemy is not less than 600 men, without reckoning the prisoners, who are still bringing in; a great many horses, muskets, knapsacks, &c. have been collected.

"On our side, we have sustained such loss as might be looked for on similar occasions. I bare not received returns from the different corps, but I calculate that our loss does not exceed 150 in killed and wounded. Our army will pass night in Pla, and before morning measures shall be taken to attack the enemy, in pursuance of the directions which your excellency has given me, God preserve your excellency, &c. "Field of battle,

Jan. 15. 1811.

PEDRO SARSFIELD."

The retreat was effected in the best order. without the loss of a single man. The enemy