1809.} 
ae, about eght miles from that river, in 
the last of which we failed; but the supe- 
riority of the British cavalry was evident 
throughout the day ; we took some prisoners 
and their cannon from them; and the advan- 
eed guard took up the position of Oliviera. 
On the same day Major-General Hill, who 
had embarked at Aveiro on the evening of 
the 9th, arrived ar Ovar, in the rear of the 
enemy’s right; and the head of Lieutenant- 
Gener:] Sherbrooke’s division passed the Vou- 
ga on the same evening, 
On the 41th, the advanced guard and ca- 
valry continued to move on the high road to- 
wards Oporto, with Major-General Hill's 
division in a~paraliel road, which leads to 
Oporto from Ovar. 
On the arrivai of the advanced guard at 
Vendas Novas, between Sonto Redondo and 
Grijon, they fell in with the outposts of the 
enemy’s advanced puard, consisting of about 
4000 infantry, and some squadrons of cavairy, 
stron: ly posted on the heights above Grijon, 
their front being covered by woods and bro- 
ken ground. ‘She enemy’s left flank was 
turnea by a movement: well executed by Ma- 
jor-Genetal Murray, with Brigadier-Generak 
Langworth’s brigade ef the Hanoverian legion 5 
while the 16th. Portuguese regiment of Bri- 
gadier-General Richard Stewart’s brigade at- 
tacked their rizht, and’ the riflemen of tie 
95th, and the flaak companies of the 29th, 
43d, and 52d, of the same brigade, under 
Major Way, attacked the infantry in the 
woods and See ai in their centre- 
These attacks soon obliged the enemy. to. 
give way; and the Honourable Brigadier- 
General Charles Stewart led two squadrons 
of the 26th and 20th diagoons, under the 
gsommand of Major Blake, in pursuit of the 
enemy, and destroyed many and took many. 
prisoners, 
On.the night of.the dith the enemy cross- 
ed the Douro, and destroyed the briuge over 
that river, 
Jt was important, with a view: to the ope- 
rations of Marshal Beresford, that 1 should 
cross the Dour immediately : and 1 had, sent 
Major-General Murray in the morning with 
a battalion of the Hanoverian legion, a 
squadron of cavalry, and two six-pounders, 
to endeavour to collect boats, and, if possible, 
to cross the river at Ovintas, about four 
miles avove Oporto; anu f had as many voats 
as could be collected brought to the ferry, im- 
mediately above the towns of Oporto and 
Villa Nova, 
The ground on the right bank of the river 
at this ferry is. protected and commanded vy 
the fire of cannon, piaced on the heighe of 
the Sierra Convent, at Villa Nova, and there 
appeared to be a good position tor our troops 
‘on the opposite sive of the river till they 
should be collected in.sufficient numbers. 
The enemy took no notice of our collection 
of boats, or of the émbarkation‘of the troops, 
till atter the fo battalion (the Bufts) were 
State of Public Affairs in May. 
of the 14th dragooas, under 
A BOF 
landed, and had taken up their position under 
the command of Lieutenant-General. oe 
on the opposite side of the river. 
They then commenced an attack ‘upor 
them, with a large body of cavalry, infantry, 
and artillery, under the command of Marshal 
Soult, which that corps most gallantly sus-, 
tained, till supported successively by the 48th 
and 66th regimenrs, belonging to Mayjor- 
General Hill’s brigade, and a Portuguese 
battalion, and afterwards by the first battalion. 
of detach aienits belonging to Bren Se 
ral Richard Stewait’s brigade. 
Lieutenant-Gencral Paget was wafehis 
nately wounded soon after the attack com- 
menced, when the command of these gallant 
troops devolved upon Major-General Hill. 
Although the French made repeated attacks 
upon them, they made no impression ; and at 
last Major-General Murray, having appeared. 
on the enemy’s left fank, on his maich 
from Ovintas, where he ae crossed, and. 
Lieutenant-General Sherbrooke, who by this: | 
time had availed himself of the enemy’s weake 
mess in the town of Oporto, and had crossed 
the Douro at the ferry, between the towns of 
Villa Nova and Oporto, having appeared 
upon the rigut with the brigade of guards, 
and the 29th regirment, the whole retired hy 
the utmost confusion towards Amaranthe, 
leaving behind them five pieces of cannony 
eight ammunition tumbrils, and many pri-. 
soners. - 
q he’ eneriy’s loss in killed and wounded im 
this action has-been very large, and they have 
left behind therm in Oporto roo sick and 
wounded. 
Brigadier-General the Honourable Charles 
Stewart then directed 4 charge by a squadron 
the command 
of Major Harvey, who made a successful at 
tack on the enemy’s rear guard. 
In the different actions with the enemy, 
of which 1 have above given your Lordship, 
an account, we have lost some, and the im- 
mediate services of ather valuable officers and: 
soldiers. 
In Lieutenant-General Paget, among the 
latter, fT have lost the assistance of a friend, 
who had been most useful to me in the few; 
days which’ had ena since he age 
the army. 
He had rendered a most important service 
at. the moment he received bis wound, in 
taking up the. positing which the troaps afters 
wards maintained, amd in bearing the first 
brunt of the eaemy’s attack, 
Major Harvey also. distinguished himself, 
at the moment he received his wound in the 
charge of the cavalry. on this day. 
I gasnot say too mnich | in favour of the 
officers and troops. 
They have marched in- far days over 
eighty miles of most difficult country, have 
gained Many Important positions, and have 
engayed and defeated three different bodies of 
. the enemys troops. 
BANKRUPTS 
