Journal of the Eighty-third Regiment.

to 16,000. In this statement, however, I have not comprised the brigade detached towards Tras os Montes, under General Silson, nof that towards Alcantara with General Mackenzie, who was charged to watch the defiles leading from Spain, along the Tagus, into Beira; a quarter which Marshal Victor threatened.

All military men know that the passage of a river demands from the assailant an unusual share of precaution and capacity, especially if the stream be broad, rapid, and defended by a vigilant or experienced foe; that, in order to ensure success, it requires no less secrecy than talent in the general who attacks, to keep from his enemy's knowledge the spot where the passages is intended to be forced. Independent of these considerations, it is necessary to weigh the time required to pass over to the opposite bank a body of troops sufficient to keep the enemy in check, and prevent him from moving an overwhelming force against that portion already established. Nor should any General attempt to force a river without ascertaining the strength, and reconnoitering the disposition of the troops placed by the enemy to defend the passage, as well as the obstacles he may have to meet with after gaining the opposite side. The French had therefore very great opportunities of making a successful opposition to our attacks on this town, and ⚫had they availed themselves of all the advantages which they undoubtedly possessed, perhaps we should have found it both a tedious and difficult task to dislodge them, as it did appear that Sir Arthur Wellesley himself had very little positive information of their mode or means of defence. For Sir Arthur certainly had imagined that the whole of the French army, excepting General Loison's brigade, was within Oporto, and that Marshal Soult, in person, directed the defence; neither of which, however, was the fact.

That General Hill, with his brigade only, could withstand the superior force of the enemy is hardly credible, when it is remembered that he had with him but the following regiments, viz.

It is true, however, that the enemy saw other brigades at hand to reinforce our men in case they became hard pressed; as General Stewart's, General Langworth's, General Sountag's, and General Cameron's brigades were collected on the heights, south of the Douro, almost as soon as were the regiments engaged. These corps forming an effective force of 8000 men, if sent across the Douro, the instant they came up (instead of remaining idle spectators of the engagement until two o'clock, P. M.) would, without doubt, have totally annihilated or taken the rear guard of the enemy:-at all events the capture of Oporto would have been more brilliant, and the loss in General Hill's brigade much less, than it proved; as it was, the enemy had abandoned

Journal of the Eighty-third Regiment.

the town and taken the road to Val Longo, and the prisoners were secured in the main guard, under charge of Ensign M'Carthy, of the 66th regiment, before the brigade of Guards reached any part near the scene of action in Oporto.

The information given Sir Arthur, that Marshal Soult, in person, commanded at the defence of Oporto must be incorrect; as it was a fact well known to all the inhabitants, and the prisoners universally confirmed it, that the Marshal had withdrawn and taken the main body of his army on the evening previous; besides we ourselves very distinctly saw the enemy after the action, crossing the heights of Val Longo, and the body so seen was evidently the rear guard of the army only, which had remained solely to check our advance, as the number appeared to be within 8000. Had Sir Arthur thought proper (or could he have found boats) to transport across the river, the several brigades as they respectively came on the ground, it is more than probable the rear guard would not have escaped so cheaply: at least, many brigades would not have regretted their late entrance into the ploughed fields, near Oporto, on the farrows of which some passed the night; whereas the brigade of Guards had nothing else to do but look out for comfortable quarters. It is also not unlikely, that had dispatch in passing the army been used, we should not subsequently have had to pursue the flying enemy through those rugged, narrow, and miry roads, nor ruined villages, where our troops > suffered more from inclemency of the weather and want of provisions than will readily be imagined; while the enemy, from the time of his abandoning Oporto to his arrival in Gallicia, scarcely lost 500 in killed, wounded, and prisoners, though he was in the earliest stages compelled to leave behind a very large proportion of his artillery and ammunition, Soult taking with him only his battalion guns, and a few pieces of slight cannon. Of his cavalry horses I do not recollect seeing more than 100 that were either killed or captured between Oporto and Monte Alegre, in the neighbourhood of which town our brigade (which was one of the advanced) was ordered to give up the pursuit.

Great credit is assuredly due to the officers and corps of artillery for their services during the day. The position that force occupied proved so judiciously chosen, that it not only effectually protected our troops during the ferrying of the river, but likewise completely commanded by ricochet fire the whole of the opposite shore. Had an English army been stationed with similar advantages to those the French enjoyed, I cannot think it would have yielded a post by nature so important, as that of Oporto, without a severe struggle. Indeed a person, having reflected on the situation of Oporto, must be astonished at the enterprising and courageous spirit manifested by our soldiers; which they, however, have invariably displayed, when led by officers they esteemed, and commanded by a General in whom they confided, , Oporto is divided into two parts by the River Douro; that portion of it known by the name of Villa Nova, is situated on the southern bank, while the city of Oporto itself, is built on the northern shore. The river, which

Journal of the Eighty-third Regiment.

exceeds 300 yards in width, flows through a channel, confined by high, rugged, and steep rocks. The current is very strong, and the bed deep'; the shores on both sides are remarkably elevated and bold, though gently slop. ing towards that spot where the bridge of boats had been; but the ascent to the Serra Convent of Villa Nova, which is perched on the brow of a lofty precipice, is excessively difficult. In the fir plantation, beyond the garden walls of this monastery, which both from its form and situation has more the appearance of a barrack than of a religious building, Sir Arthur Wellesley and his staff took post, near to the battery of artillery; hence, through the. palissaded entrenchment, led the winding path to the water edge, which our troops could gain only by Indian files, and whence they were after some delay ferried across. Having effected the passage of the river, an acclivity rather less rugged, but equally long, led up the northern cliffs, on the point of which was the unfinished structure before spoken of, besides a stone wall more than breast high. Had the French availed themselves of this last as a breast work, they would have been somewhat covered from the galling fire of our artillery, and might easily have prevented our ascending the winding way, by throwing grenades, &c. among our ranks. Some unaccountable circumstance blinded them to the advantages derivable from the position, and they suffered themselves to be driven from the only place whereat they could hope to make any effectual resistance. It is true, however, they did attempt to oppose our entrance into the town, and a sharp skirmish actually took place in the neighbouring streets, as well as in the adjacent gardens, and in the olive grounds which skirt the east extremity of the town. The result of the action was (besides giving possession of Oporto, and command over the whole north of Portugal) the capture of 56 pieces of cannon, three howitzers, two mortars, some military stores, and, including sick in hospitals, about 3000 prisoners.

Oporto had the honour of inciting the remainder of Portugal to shake off the Moorish yoke, and restore the Christian faith. Henry of Burgundy, its first sovereign, having married a daughter of Alphonsus the Sixth, King of Castile and Leon, received, as dowry with his wife, this city and its environs, to which his father-in-law added the title of Count of Portugal, with permission to annex unto his dominions all such countries as he might conquer from the Moors, between that city, and the river Guadiana. Henry was succes. ful; and, after a glorious reign of twenty years, died in 1112, and was buried in the Cathedral of Braga.

Oporto is a large, but ill-built town; and, owing to its situation, the streets have the defect common to most ancient cities, being irregular, narrow, crooked, and continually ascending or descending. A town situated among rocks, on the slope of an escarped hill, adorned with numerous churches and steeples, while gardens, houses, and a convent, placed on the point of a rock crowned by a forest of firs, a fine river with much shipping, the tumult arising from our sudden attack, and happy capture of the place, presented a

Journal of the Eighty-thiri Regiment.

most novel and extraordinary view. The proximity of the objects, the dead bodies of the enemy, and of the artillery horses, lying in every quarter of the town; the daring passage of the river, in the sight of a supposed superior force, notwithstanding the rapidity of the current, and the few boats to perform it with; the numerous dead men, horses, &c, floating down the river, naturally roused some reflections, amidst which the havock, and uncertainty of military expeditions were not the least prominent.

Next to Lisbon, Oporto is assuredly the most considerable and wealthy place in Portugal. It is the chief place of a district, the seat of a corregidor, a provedor, and (being regarded as a garrison-town) has also a military governor; yet, though a bishopric, the bishop's chief establishment is at Mezào-frio. The population may amount to 40,000 souls. The city has four suburbs, seven parishes, and twelve monasteries. The remains of the walls and gates (for the Moors fortified it) may still be seen in many places, yet the town at present is, properly speaking, open, being without any other than temporary defences. The mouth of the river is covered by a small fort, called San Joàs de Foz, near which, on the coast, is a little markettown. Besides this work, to the northward, a bastion has been raised on the very beach; and on the south side, opposite, is a redoubt called Santa Catharina, flanked, in its turn, by a few smaller batteries.

The quays, are large and broad, but constructed without any attention to the rules of architecture. A street skirts them for some distance; and in the low wall which bounds them, are fixed large iron rings, to which vessels are oftentimes fastened. A fine, large, and well-paved street, flagged on each side, leads from the banks of the river to the upper part of the town, where another equally handsome forms a right angle with it. A very few other good ones are however to be met with throughout the town.

Oporto notwithstanding, is, generally speaking, the cleanest and most elegant city in Portugal; and the inhabitants have an unaccountable fancy, that, owing to this cleanliness, it is less salubrious than many other places. The steepness of the height on which the town is built, renders riding more tiresome than it is at Lisbon, or even at Coimbra. Indeed, there are some houses, towards the west end of the town, built so completely close to the edge of the rocks which overlook the river, that it is impossible to reach them but by steps cut out of the stone.

The theatre, which is in the upper part of the town, is an extensive stone building. The royal hospital is likewise a vast edifice, but in an unfinished state. From this part of Oporto the view of the southern shore, abounding in villages, monasteries, and forests of fir, environed by a highly diversified country, is very agreeable and gratifying. Towards the east, a stupendous and soaring ridge of blue mountains exhibit abrupt precipices, or inaccessible cliffs; but the nearer parts seem ameliorated, and numerous cultivated spots appear, where industry and art have awakened life and fertility.

(To be continued.)

Journal of Occurrences at Dominica.

JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES AT DOMINICA,

From 22d February to 30th June, 1805.

SIR,-No account of the brave defence of this Island, in the year 1805, has ever been before the public. The following is at your service.-C.

IT will bé recollected, that the squadron which sailed from Rochfort, in the beginning of January 1805, was the first enemy's fleet that had ventured to sea since the beginning of the war; and having sailed during a heavy gale of wind, which had driven our blockading squadron off the port, they arrived in the West Indies before it was known in England to which part of the globe they were destined, so that their appearance in those seas was completely unexpected and unlooked for.

The Island of Dominica, which, lying between Guadaloupe and Martinique, had been long an eye-sore to the enemy, was the first and principal object of their attack. On the morning of the 22d of February, between the hours of three and four, the inhabitants of the town of Roseau, and the garrison of Morne Brune, half a mile distant, were called from their beds by an alarm, two guns being fired from Scott's Head, a military post to the windward of the island, distant about three miles from Roseau, which were immediately repeated from Fort Young, mounting nine twentyfour pounders, and defending the town. In ten minutes the St. George's regiment of militia were assembled in their parade ground, in the church Savannah; and the light infantry, composed of the 46th and 1st West India regiments, in a few minutes after took up their position at their respective alarm posts; that of the former being the esplanade fronting Government House, and the latter the head of the church Savannah, fronting the St. George's militia drawn up at the bottom of it. Every person able to leave their beds was now out; such as were exempted from militia duty appeared at first only as spectators, but afterwards joined as volunteers. As soon as the troops had formed at their respective posts, General Prevost ordered a distribution of ammunition to the militia. At this time it was too dark for us to perceive any vessels; but the alarm was generally supposed to be in consequence of that part of the Cork fleet bound to leward being in sight from Scott's Head. In this state of painful uncertainty, we continued until five o'clock, when the day began to dawn, and we could just perceive a number of vessels in the offing, and at no great distance. In a very short time afterwards they were made out to be large vessels, and shortly after we distinctly counted five sail of the line, four frigates, two brigs, and a schooner, and about this time they hoisted English colours. Every eye was of course directed towards this unexpected and powerful squadron; many conjectures were formed respecting it. The most general idea was, that a part of the Brest fleet was out, and that the ships now in sight were a detachment of the Channel fleet in search of them. One of VOL. IV. No. 21.

D