APPENDIX tothe CHRONICLE. 365 



that about nine o'clock this morning 

 1 received a report that the enemy's 

 cavalry was in the act of crossing 

 the river at the ford near the bridge. 

 1 immediately sent down the piquets 

 of the night, under lieutenant-col. 

 Otway of the 1 8th. Having left 

 orders that the cavalry should 

 repair to their alarm posts, I went 

 forward to reconnoitre, and found 

 four squadrons of imperial guards 

 formed and skirmishing with the 

 piquets and other cavalry in the act 

 of passing. I sent for the 10th 

 hussars, who having arrived, briga- 

 dier-general Stewart immediately 

 placed himself at the head of the 

 piquets, and, with the utmost gal- 

 lantry, attacked. The 10th hussars 

 supported in the most perfect order. 

 The result of the affair, as far as I 

 have )'et been able to collect, is 

 about 30 killed, 25 wounded, 70 

 prisoners, and about the same num- 

 ber of horses. It is impossible for 

 me to avoid speaking in the highest 

 terms of all those engaged. Lieu- 

 tenant-colonel Otway and major 

 Bagwell headed the respective night 

 piquets. The latter is slightly 

 wounded. The utmost zeal was 

 conspicuous in die whole of my staff, 

 and I had many volunteers from 

 head quarters, and other officers of 

 your arm)'. Amongst the prisoners 

 IS the general of division Lefebre, 

 (who commands the cavalry of the 

 imperial guard) and two captains. 

 Our loss is, I fear, nearly 50 men 

 killed and wounded. I will send a 

 return the moment I can collect the 

 reports. I have the honour to be, 

 &c. Paget, lieut.-gen. 



I have forwarded the prisoners to 

 Baniza. On the other side of the 

 river the enemy formed again, and 

 •t this instant three guns of captain 



Donovan's troop arrived, which 

 did considerable execution. 



Intercepted letter to the Marquis 

 de Romana. 



" Sib — I should not have detain- 

 ed j'ourinstructionssolong,had not 

 Sir John Moore returned very late 

 to Villa Franca. He arrived greatly 

 fatigued. I delivered your letter to 

 him, to which he cannot return an 

 answer till to-morrow; but he de- 

 sired me to inform you, that he 

 would set out at an early hour. — 

 There are at Benevente, 2 or 300 

 of the French cavalry, who annoy 

 our stragglers between Benevente 

 and Villa Franca. General Moore 

 begs you will place a battalion on 

 the heights over the road, where 

 they may fire on them without any 

 risk. There is no news. We know 

 nothing of the movements of the 

 French, and we continue to retreat. 

 I am not certain that Sir J. Moore 

 will allow me to return to your ex- 

 cellency. In that case, permit me 

 to express an hope of meeting with 

 you in London, in better times; 

 for be assured. Sir, I retain a grateful 

 recollection of your kindness, and 

 am, with the greatest respect, &c. 

 *' M. Lymer." 



Villa Franca, Jan. 2, 1809. 



Intercepted Letter. — St. Jago, Jan. 

 6, 1809. 

 " I suppose, my dear friend, you 

 are already acquainted with my ar- 

 rival at this place; I have been here 

 these eight days, with a detachment 

 composed of troops from seven dif- 

 ferent regiments. We are guarding 

 the magazines that are here ; and I 

 hoped to continue at St. Jago for 



some 



