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Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
London papers from September 28 report no major movements in the Peninsular War armies in Portugal. Spanish partisans continue guerrilla attacks on French forces. US President Madison's proclamation may address trade interdictions to Spain and Portugal. Allied forces under Wellington and Hill positioned near Almeida and Elvas; Portuguese troops well-disciplined.
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Yesterday we received papers to the 28th September, by the Coromandel, Capt. Messervy.
We do not find in them any letters from the grand army, nor any information of any movements therein.
The verbal accounts state, that nothing had occurred in the armies.
One of the papers contain President Madison's proclamation for convening Congress; and the editor conjectures, that one of the subjects to which the attention of Congress will be called, will be the interdiction of American commerce to Spain and Portugal; & that the American trade to St. Domingo was interdicted on the demand of France; that the submission to her influence will extend to trade to the Peninsula.
The papers contain numerous accounts of affairs of attacks and defences by the various partizan patriotic corps in Spain. The hatred of these devoted patriots to Frenchmen had been (very naturally) increased to its highest pitch, by the murders and atrocities which the blood-drinkers of France had perpetrated in all the districts which opposed their inroads: Thina, Langa, Mortir, Empecinado, Son chez, Mainello, and others, continued at the head of the desperate corps, and daily made great numbers of the French detachments find their sepuichres. The English continued liberally to supply them with arms, ammunition, &c.
Gen. Ballesteros was at Algeziras, where the French were expected to make an attack; and he had made preparations to repel it.
Marshal Beresford had his head quarters near Lisbon; from whence he was sending reinforcements to the Portuguese army.
The grand army is stationed in Portugal in two large columns, the 1st under Lord Wellington, has 23,000 infantry, and 4000 cavalry, in front of Almeida, the 2d column under Gen. Hill, has 15,000 infantry, and 2,500 cavalry, forming a line from Elvas to Castello Branco; each column is strong in artillery.
The Portuguese troops under General Beresford, are now well disciplined, and commanded by British officers; they have no amount in cavalry, but their infantry, effective in the field, is 62,000; and ten regiments of riflemen are now raising, which are by far the most useful troops, on account of the rocky and mountainous state of the country.
The French are weak in Spain, and are now concentrating themselves as fast as possible, to prevent the desultory warfare of the Spaniards.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Portugal
Event Date
28th September
Key Persons
Outcome
spanish partisans daily killing numbers of french detachments; french forces weak and concentrating in spain; no major army movements reported.
Event Details
Papers from Portugal report no letters or movements from the grand army, with verbal accounts confirming inactivity. President Madison's proclamation convenes Congress, possibly to interdict US trade to Spain and Portugal due to French influence. Spanish partisan corps under leaders like Empecinado continue attacks on French, fueled by atrocities, supplied by English arms. Gen. Ballesteros prepares to repel expected French attack at Algeziras. Marshal Beresford reinforces Portuguese army from Lisbon. Allied grand army in two columns: Wellington's 23,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry near Almeida; Hill's 15,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalry from Elvas to Castello Branco, both with strong artillery. Portuguese troops under Beresford: 62,000 effective infantry, no cavalry, plus raising rifle regiments. French concentrating to counter Spanish guerrilla warfare.