Virginia Argus

FOREIGN.

New-York, May 26.

LATEST FROM PORTUGAL.

Yesterday arrived at this port, the ship Ann-Williams, Capt. Dayton, in 34 days from Lisbon, which port he left on the 20th of April.

Capt. D. informs us, that the day he sailed, it was reported that the siege of Cadiz was raised, and that Seville was evacuated by the French.

The prisoners taken at Badajoz and sent to Lisbon sailed from thence for England the day Capt. D. sailed.

Capt. D. has furnished the Editors of the Mercantile Advertiser with the following detail of the operations of the British in their attack on Badajos:

"After the fall of Ciudad Rodrigo, which happened on the 19th of January, the trenches and breaches were filled up, and the army commenced its march to the south.

About the 14th March the whole combined army arrived at Elvas and its vicinity. On the 16th the army was put in motion, & the investment of Badajos took place that evening. On the 17th the combined armies broke ground. On the 25th the fort of Picorini was taken by storm, commanded by Gen. Kempt and the troops of the third division. This fort is of great importance to the troops working on the trenches. The enemy had 280 men in the fort, and only 64 escaped the gates of eternity. At 8 o'clock in the evening of the 6th April, the English attacked Badajoz at three breaches.

The light division attacked the small wall, the fourth the principal ones, the fifth the small breach; and the third division commanded by General Picton, were ordered to make a false attack, which he did; but not being satisfied with this he scaled the walls with his whole division at the very moment the other divisions were employed in attacking the breaches. The breaches were found to be nearly inaccessible, and the contest of course, terrible on both sides: but in this great conflict gen. Picton had effected his plan, his whole division having scaled the walls, and formed in rear betwixt the main body and the citadel, which cut off their retreat from it. On this citadel they had formed several batteries; and had the tower been taken they could have destroyed the city and made great havock among the soldiers.-- The manoeuvring of the third division, when completed, formed up in battle array, and commenced a fire upon the enemy. This put them in great confusion; so much so, that they gave way at the breaches, allowed the English to enter, and began to retire upon the citadel, but found it altogether impracticable retreat." They then were under the necessity of giving themselves up to the English; who took gen Phillippon, 117 officers, and 2930 men prisoners and sent them to Lisbon, where they arrived on the 16th of April.

"Prior to the hostilities against Badajoz they consisted of 5200 men. From the manner in which the whole business was conducted, it is supposed to have been one of the greatest achievements the annals of British history can produce. The English lost upwards of 4000. The following is an account of the officers killed and wounded.

Killed.-Lieut. Col. Ridge, 5th regiment; Col. Harcourt, 40th-Col. Heilder-Major O'Hara. Wounded-Lieut. Gen. Picton; Lieut. Gen. Colville; Major-general Kempt; Brigadier-general Harvey; Major-general Bowes; Major-general. Walker; Lieut. Col. McLeod, 43d regiment; Lieut. Col. Gibbs, 52d; Lieut. Col. Aikin, 48th; Col. Blackney; 74th; Lieut. Col. French; Majors Carlé, Murphy, Maill, Brook, and O'Hea."