the bastion of La Trindad being overcome, I determined to attack the place that night. I had kept in reserve, in the neighbourhood of this camp, the 5th division, under Lieutenant-General Leith, which had left Castile only in the middle of March, and had but lately arrived in this part of the country, and I brought them up on that evening. . The plan for the attack was, that Lieutenant-General Picton should attack the castle of Badajoz by escalade with the 3d division; and a detachment from the guard in the trenches, furnished that evening by the 4th division, under Major Wilson, of the 48th regiment, should attack the ravelin of St Roque upon his left; while the 4th division under the Honourable MaJor-General Colville, and the light division, under Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard, should attack the breaches in the bastions of La Trinidad and of Santa Maria, and in the curtain by which they are connected. The 5th division were to occupy the ground which the 4th and light divisions had occupied during the siege, and LieutenantGeneral Leith was to make a false attack upon the outwork called Pardeleras, and another on the works of the fort towards the Guadiana, with the left brigade of the division, under Major-General Walker, which he was to turn into a real attack, if circumstances should prove favourable; and Brigadier-General Power, who invested the place with his Portuguese brigade on the right of the Guadiana, was directed to make false attacks on the tete-du-pont, the fort St Christoval, and the new redoubt called Mon-cœur. The attack was accordingly made at ten at night, Lieutenant-General Picton preceding, by a few minutes, the attack by the remainder of the troops. Major-General Kempt led this attack, which went out from the right of the first parallel; he was unfortunately wounded in crossing the river Rivellas below the inandation; but notwithstanding this circumstance, and the obstinate resistance of the enemy, the castle was carried by escalade, and the 3d division established in it, at about half-past eleven. While this was going on, Major Wilson, of the 48th regiment, carried the ravelin of St Roque by the gorge, with a detach ment of 200 men of the guard in the trenches, and, with the assistance of Ma jor Squire of the engineers, established himself within that work. The 4th and light divisions moved to the attack from the camp along the left of the river Rivellas and of the inundation. They were not perceived by the enemy till they reached the covered way, and the advanced guards of the two divisions descended, without difficulty, into the ditch, protected by the fire of the parties stationed on the glacis for that purpose; and they advanced to the assault of the breaches, led by their gallant officers, with the utmost intrepidity; but such was the nature of the obstacles prepared by the enemy at the top and be hind the breaches, and so determined their resistance, that our troops could not establish themselves within the place. Many brave officers and soldiers were killed or wounded by explosions at the top of the breaches; others who succeeded to them were obliged to give way, having found it impossible to penetrate the obstacles which the enemy had prepared to impede their progress. These attempts were repeated till after twelve at night, when, finding that success was not to attained, and that Lieutenant-General Picton was established in the castle, I ordered that the 4th and light divisions might retire to the ground on which they had first assembled for the attack. In the mean time Major-General Leith had pushed forward Major-General Walker's brigade on the left, supported by the 38th regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Nugent, and the 15th Portuguese regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel De Regoa; and he had made a false attack upon the Pardeleras with the 8th cazadores under Major Hill. Major-General Walker forced the barrier on the road of Olivenza, and enter. ed the covered way on the left of the bas tion of St Vicente, close to the Guadiana. He there descended into the ditch, and escaladed the face of the bastion of St Vicente. Lieutenant-General Leith supported this attack by the 36th regiment and the 15th Portuguese regiment; and our troops being thus established in the castle, which commands all the works of the town, and in the town; and the 4th and light divi- * sions being formed again for the attack of the breaches, all-resistance ceased; and at day-light in the morning, the Governor, General Philippon, who had retired to fort St Christoval, surrendered, together with General Veilande, and all the staff, and the whole garrison. I have not got accurate reports of the strength of the garrison, or of the number of the prisoners; but General Philippon, has informed me, that it consisted of 5000 men, at the commencement of the siege, of Historical Affairs. which 1200 were killed or wounded during the operation, besides those lost in the assault of the place. There were five French battalions, besides two of the regiments of Hesse D'Armstadt, and the artillery, en gineers, &c. and I understand there are 4000 prisoners. It is impossible that any expressions of mine can convey to your Lordship the sense which entertain of the gallantry of the officers and troops upon this occasion. The list of killed and wounded will shew that the General officers, the staff attached to them, the commanding, and other officers of regiments, put themselves at the head of the attacks which they severally directed, and set the example of gallantry which was so well followed by their men. 'Marshal Sir William Beresford assisted me in conducting the details of this siege, and I am much indebted to him for the cordial assistance which I received from him, as well during its progress as in the last operation, which brought it to a termination. The duties in the trenches were conducted succesfully by the Honourable MajorGeneral Colville, Major-General Bowes, and Major-General Kempt, under the superintendance of Lieutenant-General Picton. I had occasion to mention' all these officers during the course of the operations, ́ and they all distinguished themselves, and were all wounded in the assault." I am particularly obliged to Lieutenant-General Picton for the manner in which he arranged the attack of the castle, and for that in which he supported the attack, and established his troops in that important post. Lieutenant-General Leith's arrangements 'for the false attack upon the Pardeleras, and that under Major-General Walker, were likewise most judicious, and he availed himself of the circumstances of the moment, to push forward and support the attack under Major-General Walker, in a manner highly creditable to him." gallantry and conduct of Major-General Walker, who was also wounded, and that of the officers and troops under his command, were highly conspicuous. The -The arrangements made by Major-Gen. Colville for the attack of the 4th division, were very judicious, and he led them to attack in the most gallant manner. In consequence of the absence, on account of sickness, of Major-General Vandeleur and Colonel Beckwith, LieutenantColonel Barnard commanded the light division in the assault, and distinguished execution. I have also to mention Major-Gen. Harvey, of the Portuguese service, commanding a brigade in the 4th division, and Brigadier-General Champlemond, commanding the Portuguese brigade in the 3d division, as highly distinguished; BrigadierGeneral Harvey was wounded in the storm. Your Lordship will see, in the list of In the 5th division I must mention ^^a- The officers and troops in the third division have distinguished themselves as usual in these operations. Lieutenant-General Picton has reported particularly the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Williams of the 60th, Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge of the 5th, who was unfortunately killed in the assault of the castle, Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes of the 45th regiment, LieutenantColonel Fitzgerald of the 60th, LieutenantColonels Colonels Trench and Manners of the 74th He has likewise particularly reported the good conduct of Colonel Campbell of the 94th, commanding the Honourable MajorGeneral Colville's brigade, during his ab sence in command of the 4th division, whose conduct I have so frequently had occasion to report to your Lordship. The officers and men of the corps of engineers and artillery were equally distinguished during the operations of the siege, and in its close. Lieutenant-Col. Fletcher continued to direct the works (notwithstand ing that he was wounded in the sortie made by the enemy on the 19th March), which were carried on by Major Squire and Major Burgoyne, under his directions. The former established the detachments under Major Wilson in the ravelin of St Roque on the night of the storm; the latter attended the attack of the 3d division on the castle. I have likewise to report the good conduct of Major Jones, Captain Nicholas, and Captain Williams of the royal engi, neers. Major Dickson conducted the details of the artillery service during this siege, as well as upon former occasions, under the general superintendance of LieutenantColone! Framingham, who, since the absence of Major-General Borthwick, has commanded the artillery with this army. I cannot sufficiently applaud the officers and soldiers of the British and Portuguese artillery during this siege, particularly Lieutenant-Colonel Robe, who opened the breaching batteries, Majors Hay and Holcomb, Captain Gardiner and Lieutenant Bouchier, of the royal artillery; and Major Tulloh, of the Portuguese.. Adverting to the extent of the details of the ordnance department, during this siege, to the difficulty of weather, &c. with which Major Dickson had to contend, I must mention him most particularly to your Lordship. The officers of the Adjutant and Quartermaster-General's departments rendered me every assistance on this occasion, as well as those of my personal staff; and I have received reports from the general of, ficers commanding divisions, of the assistance they received from the officers of those departments attached to them, the greatest number of whom and of their personal staff are wounded. Lordship the difficulties with which I had to contend, in consequence of the failure of the civil authorities of the province of Alentejo to perform their duty, and supply the army with means of transport. These difficulties have continued to exist; but I must do General Victoria, the Governor of Elvas, the justice to report, that he, and the troops under his command, have made every exertion, and have done every thing in their power to contribute to our success. Marshal Soult left Seville on the 1st instant, with all the troops which he could collect in Andalusia; and he was in communication with the troops which had retired from Estremadura, under General Drouet, on the 3d, and he arrived at Llerena on the 4th. I had intended to collect the army in proportion as Marshal Soult should advance; and I requested Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham to retire gradually, while Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill should do the same from Don Benito and the upper parts of the Guadiana. I do not think it certain that Marshal Soult has made any decided movement from Llerena since the 4th, although he has patroled forward with small detachments of cavalry, and the advanced guard of his infantry have been at Usagre. None of the army of Portugal have mov ed to join him. According to the last reports which I have received to the 4th instant on the frontiers of Castile, it appears that Marshal Marmont had established a body of troops between the Agueda and the Coa, and he had reconnoitred Almeida on the 3d. Brigadier-General Trant's division of militia had arrived on the Coa, and BrigadierGeneral Wilson's division was following with the cavalry, and Lieutenant-General the Conde D'Amarante was on his march, with a part of the corps under his command, towards the Douro, I have the honour to inclose returns of the killed and wounded from the 31st of March, and in the assault of Badajoz, and a return of the ordnances, small arms, and ammunition, found in the place. I will send returns of the provisions in the place by the next dispatch. This dispatch will be directed to your Lordship by my Aid-de-camp, Captain Canning, whom I beg leave to recommend to your protection. He has likewise the colours of the garrison, and the colours of the Hesse D'Armstadt's regiment, to be In a former dispatch I reported to your faid at the feet of his Royal Highness the Prince Prince Regent. The French battalions in the garrison had no eagles. (Signed) WELLINGTON. Camp at Badajoz, April 8, 1812. MY LORD-It gives me great pleasure to inform your Lordship, that our numerous wounded officers and soldiers are doing well. I have great reason to be satisfied with the attention paid to them by Mr M'Gregor, the Inspector-General of Hospitals, and the medical gentlemen under his direction; and I trust that the loss to the service, upon this occasion, will not eventually be great. I have the honour to be, &c. WELLINGTON. The Earl of Liverpool, &c. British loss during the siege-60 officers, 45 serjeants, 715 rank and file, killed; 251 officers, 178 serjeants, 14 drummers, 2564 rank and file, wounded; - 1 serjeant, 32 rank and file missing. Portuguese loss during the siege-12 officers, 6 serjeants, 2 drummers, 195 rank and file, killed; 55 officers, 38 serjeants, 3 drummers, 684 rank and file, wounded; 30 rank and file missing. Grand total from 18th March to 7th April 1812, inclusive-72 officers, 51 serjeants, 2 drummers, 919 rank and file, killed; 306 officers, 216 serjeants, 17 drummers, 3248 rank and file, wounded; 1 serjeant, 62 rank, and file missing. The following abstract of the killed, wounded, and missing, will shew on what regiments the brunt of this gallant achieve ment fell : General Staff 17; Royal Artillery 22; Royal Engineers 10; Royal Scots, 3d batt.. 2; 4th foot, 1st batt. 232; 5th foot, 2d batt. 145; 7th foot, 1st batt. 180; 23d foot, 1st batt. 156; 27th foot, 2d batt. 186; 30th foot, 2d batt. 132; 28th foot, 2d batt. 42; 40th foot, 1st batt. 250; 43d foot, 1st batt. 367; 44th foot, 2d batt. 134; 45th foot, 1st batt. 97; 48th foot, 1st batt. 173; 50th foot, Ist batt. 1; 52d foot, 1st batt. 324; 60th foot, 5th batt. 35; 74th foot 54; 77th 14; 83d foot, 2d batt. 70; 88th foot, 2d batt. 145; 94th foot 66; 95th foot, 1st batt. 164; 95th foot, 2d batt. 64; Brunswick Oels 35. NAMES OF BRITISH OFFICERS KILLED. 28th Foot-Captain Johnstone, Aide-deCamp to Major-General Bowes. Royal Artillery-Captain Lathum. Royal Engineers-Lieutenants Lacelles and De Salabury, 1st Batt. 4th foot-Captain Bellingham, Lieutenant Stavely. 2d Batt. 5th Foot-Major Ridge. 1st Batt. 7th Foot-Major Singer, Captain Cholwick, Lieutenants Ray, Fowler, Pike. 1st Batt. 23d Foot-Captain Maw, Lieutenant Colling. 3d Batt. 27th Foot--Captain Jones, Lieutenants Levinge, Simcoe, Whyte. 2d Batt. 38th Foot-Ensign Evans. 1st Batt. 40th Foot-Lieutenants Ayling and Greenshuld. 1st Batt. 43d Foot-Lieutenant-Colonel M'Leod, Lieutenants Harvest and Taggart. 2d Batt. 44th Foot-Lieutenants Unthank and Argent. 1st Batt. 45th Foot-Captain Herrick, Lieutenant White, Ensigns M'Donald, and Gollins. 1st Batt. 48th Foot-Captain Brook, Lieutenant Chilcott, Ensign Barker. 1st Batt. 52d Foot--Captain Jones, Captain Madden, Captain Poole, Lieutenant Booth, Lieutenant Royal. 5th Batt. 60th Foot-Lieutenant Sterne. 2d Batt, 83d Foot-Captain Fry. 1st Batt. 88th Foot--Captain Lindsay, Lieutenant Mansfield, Lieutenant Mac alpin. 94th Foot-Ensign Long. 1st Fatt. 95th Foot-Major O'Hare, Captain Diggle, Lieutenant Stokes. ▸ 3d Batt. 95th Foot-Lieutenant Hovenden, Lieutenant Carey, Lieutenant Allix, Lieutenant Croudace. 1st Fatt. 40th Foot Mr O'Brien, a volunteer. 11th Regiment Line, Portuguese-Lieutenant Colonel M'Donnell, 91st British. 3d Caçadores-Captain Morphew, R. W. J. R. British. ORDNANCE, AMMUNITION, AND SMALL ARMS FOUND IN THE CITY OF BADAJOZ. Ammunition and small arms. 5481 muskets with bayonets, 163,000 musket-cartridges, 10 tons of loose musket balls, 12,000 lbs. of gun-powder, 23,650 twenty-four pounder round shot, 3200 eighteen-pounder ditto, 12,847 sixteenpounder pounder ditto, 3167 twelve-pounder do. 22,850 eight-pounder ditto, 50 six-pounder ditto, 20200 four-pounder ditto, 811 twenty-four pounder grape shot, 10 eighteen-pounder ditto, 60 sixteen-pounder ditto, 30 sixteen-inch shells filled, 78 sixteeninch empty shells, 60 twelve-inch ditto, 165 ten-inch do. 100 eight-inch ditto, 75 six-inch ditto. With a quantity of materials for making gun-carriages. Further dispatches have been received from the Earl of Wellington, dated the 16th, 24th and 29th April, the latter from Fuente Guinaldo, where the head quarters of the army then were. Lord Wellington, in consequence of Marmont having blockaded Ciudad Rodrigo, put his army in motion to its relief, and the enemy retreated towards Sabugal immediately upon his approach. Soult collected his army at Villa Franca on the 8th of April, but having there heard of the fall of Badajoz, he retired on the 9th towards Andalusia, and has since returned to Seville. General Sir S. Cotton, with a division of cavalry, was directed to follow the rear of Soult's army; and having on she 10th come up with the cavalry of General Dronet's corps, amounting to 2500, they were attacked and overthrown by four British regiments, who pursued them for several miles, killing many, and taking prisoners a Lieutenant-Colonel, two Captains, one Lieutenant, 150 privates, and 130 horses. The loss of the British was 14 killed, and 40 wounded. AMERICA. In giving a place in our Historical Register to the following message, and accompanying documents, it may be proper to mention, that the charge of endeavour. ing to foment divisions, with a view to the dismemberment of the United States, has been distinctly and peremptorily disavowed by the British Ministry, in both Houses of Parliament. The fact of the person being employed on a secret mission by Sir J. Craig, is admitted; but the object of that mission is stated to have been, to inquire into the military character of the states bordering on Canada; such information -being necessary for regulating the conduct of the governor of that province, at a time when there was an immediate prospect of a rupture between the two countries. On the menaces of hostilities being withdrawn, Mr Henry was immediately recalled by Sir J. Craig; and it was not till after this that any thing of the affair was known by the Government of Britain. "To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States. "I lay before Congress copies of certain documents which remain in the department of state. They prove, that at a rewithstanding the wrongs sustained by them, cent period, whilst the United States, notceased not to observe the laws of peace and neutrality towards Great Britain, and in the midst of amicable professions and negociations on the part of the British Government, through its public minister here, a secret agent of that government was employed in certain states, more especially at the seat of government in Massachussets, in fomenting disaffection to the constituted authorities of the nation, and intrigues with the disaffected, for the purpose of bringing about resistance to the laws, and eventually, in concert with a British force, of destroying the Union, and forming the eastern part thereof into a political connec tion with Great Britain. "In addition to the effect which the discovery of such a procedure ought to have. on the public councils, it wiff not fail to render more dear to the hearts of all good citizens that happy union of these states, which under divine providence, is the guarantee of our liberties, their safety, their tranquillity, and their prosperity. (Signed) "JAMES MADDISON," "March 9, 1812." The documents accompanying the foregoing message, are extremely long-but the following are the most important of them: They are transmitted by Mr Henry to Mr Munroe, the American Secretary, in a letter, dated Philadelphia, 20th Febru.. ary 1812, in which he says, that his great object in making the disclosure, is to pro duce unanimity among all parties in America. He continues" In making this communication to you, Sir, I deem it incumbent on me distinctly and unequivo cally to state, that I adopt no party views; that I have not changed any of my political opinions; that I neither seek nor desire the patronage nor countenance of any government nor of any party; and that, in addition to the motives already express ed, I am influenced by a just resentment of the perfidy and dishonour of those who first violated the conditions upon which I received their confidence; who have injured me, and disappointed the expecta❤ tions |