place; and, I believe, it was on the 26th that Colonel Liniers
informed General Beresford, in presence of Major Tolly of the
SEVENTY-FIRST regiment and Captain Arbuthnot, the general’s
aide-de-camp, (from all of whom I learned it,) that he regretted
to inform him of its having been resolved, in spite of his
efforts, not to embark the British troops, and at the same time,
declaring _his_ (_Colonel Liniers’_) abhorrence of such a breach
of faith, and offering to second General Beresford’s remonstrance
on the occasion. On the 27th, in the evening, I heard that
Colonel Liniers’ aide-de-camp had waited on General Beresford,
stating it to be the colonel’s intention to carry the treaty into
execution by privately embarking the men, and requesting the
general would, for that purpose, order the British transports to
a particular place.
“However, on the 31st of August or the 1st of September, it was
finally announced to General Beresford, in a letter printed and
made public, that our surrender was at discretion, and that it
was the determination of the then government of Buenos Ayres
that the British troops should be sent to the interior, and the
officers, on their parole, to Europe.
“General Beresford, for obvious reasons, at first declined our
passing a parole; but being given to understand that without it
our persons were insecure, and it being determined to separate
the officers from the men, he (with the concurrence of the
majority of the seniors) finally acceded to it.
“Notwithstanding this, on the appearance of a British force in
the river, they were suddenly compelled to march, under an armed
escort, several miles into the interior, and about two months
afterwards orders were given to separate and remove them still
farther, and which, (notwithstanding the remonstrances of the
brigadier-general) were carried into effect. In his communication
at that time with Colonel Liniers, he fully explained that we did
not consider ourselves on parole, nor did we think it binding,
after our removal in the first instance, and their refusing to
fulfil the conditions under which we had been prevailed upon to
give it.
“About this time the unfortunate murder of Captain Ogilvie of
the Royal Artillery and a private soldier of the SEVENTY-FIRST
regiment took place, when guards were placed at some of
the quarters of the officers, professedly for the purpose
of protection, but positively with strict injunctions most
narrowly to watch us, and to take care (as the government said
in their instructions to the alcalde on the same subject) that
we did not desert. I mention this circumstance to prove there
could be no misunderstanding on the subject; for though such
language must be considered unhandsome and illiberal under any
circumstances, it surely never could have been held to officers
on their parole. On the arrival of the news of the capture
of Monte Video by our forces, the chief magistrate of Buenos
Ayres repaired to General Beresford’s quarters, accompanied by
Lieut.-Col. Garcias, acquainting him with the necessity there
was of possessing himself with the papers of the several British
officers, prisoners, which he proceeded to do, _placing sentry
over them individually_ until he effected his purpose; and in
a conversation which General Beresford had with Lieut.-Colonel
Garcias, he expressly told him that we were not on our parole,
recapitulating the explanation made to Colonel Liniers upon the
subject.
“Shortly after this the necessity of moving nine hundred miles
farther into the interior was communicated to us, and we were on
our journey with an armed escort, when an opportunity offered,
of which I most gladly availed myself, to make my escape. I will
not further trespass on your time by commenting on the many
circumstances I conceive so evidently conclusive, but submit
the bare facts to your better judgment. However, I cannot debar
myself the satisfaction of acknowledging here the obligation I am
under to many individuals, and the kind and generous treatment
which I myself, as well as the British officers in general,
received from the inhabitants of the town and country of Buenos
Ayres.
“I have the honor to be,
“Sir,
“&c. &c. &c.
“(Signed) D. PACK,
“_Lt.-Col. 71st Regiment._
“_To Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty_,
“_Commanding His Britannic Majesty’s Forces_,
“_Monte Video._”
“GENERAL ORDERS.
“_His Majesty’s Ship, “Audacious,_”
“_18th January_ 1809.
“The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the
Commander of the Forces (Lieut.-General Sir John Moore), and the
severe wound which has removed Lieut.-General Sir David Baird
from his station, render it the duty of Lieut.-General Hope to
congratulate the army upon the successful result of the action of
the 16th instant.
“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever
been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing
march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had
acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the
troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.
“These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops
themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever
advantages of position or of numbers he may employ, there is
inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that
knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that
will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of
any human means.
“The Lieut.-General has the greatest satisfaction in
distinguishing such meritorious services as came within his
observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.
“His acknowledgments are, in a peculiar manner, due to
Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, and the brigade under his
command, consisting of the fourth, forty-second, and fiftieth
regiments, and which sustained the weight of the attack.
“Major-General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of
the Royals, the twenty-sixth and eighty-first regiments, and
Major-General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also be
pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant
conduct during the action.
“To Major-General Paget, who, by a judicious movement of the
reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of
the enemy on the right; and to the first battalion of the
fifty-second and ninety-fifth regiments, which were thereby
engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.
“That part of Major General Leith’s brigade which was engaged,
consisting of the fifty-ninth regiment, under the conduct of the
Major-General, also claims marked approbation.
“The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious
one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an
opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him
repent the attempt.
“The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under
the command of Major-Generals Hill and Leith, and Colonel Catlin
Craufurd, conducted themselves with determined resolution, and
were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades,
and by the troops of which they were composed.
“It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieut.-General to notice the
vigorous attack made by the second battalion of the fourteenth
regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Nicolls, which drove the enemy out
of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.
“The exertions of Lieut.-Colonel Murray, Quartermaster-General,
and of the other officers of the General Staff, during the
action, were unremitted, and deserve every degree of approbation.
“The illness of Brigadier-General Clinton, Adjutant-General,
unfortunately deprived the army of the benefit of his services.
“The Lieut.-General hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so
considerable as might have been expected; he laments, however,
the fall of the gallant soldiers and valuable officers who have
suffered.
“The Lieut.-General knows that it is impossible, in any language
he can use, to enhance the esteem, or diminish the regret, that
the army feels with him for its late Commander. His career has
been unfortunately too limited for his country, but has been
sufficient for his own fame. Beloved by the army, honored by his
Sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life
devoted to her service by a glorious death,--leaving his name as
a memorial, an example, and an incitement to those who shall
follow him in the path of honor, and it is from his country alone
that his memory can receive the tribute which is its due.
(Signed) “JOHN HOPE, Lieut.-General.”
“GENERAL ORDERS.
“_Horse Guards, 1st February 1809._
“The benefits derived to an army from the example of a
distinguished Commander do not terminate at his death; his
virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame
remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions.
“In this view the Commander-in-Chief, amidst the deep and
universal regret which the death of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore
has occasioned, recals to the troops the military career of that
illustrious officer for their instruction and imitation.
“Sir John Moore from his youth embraced the profession with the
feelings and sentiments of a soldier; he felt that a perfect
knowledge and an exact performance of the humble but important
duties of a subaltern officer are the best foundations for
subsequent military fame, and his ardent mind, while it looked
forward to those brilliant achievements for which it was formed,
applied itself with energy and exemplary assiduity to the duties
of that station.
“In the school of regimental duty he obtained that correct
knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction
of the gallant spirit of the soldier, and he was enabled to
establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct,
because the troops found in their leader a striking example of
the discipline which he enforced on others.
“Having risen to command, he signalised his name in the West
Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with
which he devoted himself to the duties of every branch of his
profession obtained him the confidence of Sir Ralph Abercromby,
and he became the companion in arms of that illustrious officer,
who fell at the head of his victorious troops in an action which
maintained our national superiority over the arms of France.
“Thus Sir John Moore at an early period obtained, with general
approbation, that conspicuous station in which he gloriously
terminated his useful and honorable life.
“In a military character obtained amidst the dangers of climate,
the privations incident to service, and the sufferings of
repeated wounds, it is difficult to select any one point as a
preferable subject for praise; it exhibits, however, one feature
so particularly characteristic of the man, and so important to
the best interests of the service, that the Commander-in-Chief is
pleased to mark it with his peculiar approbation--
“THE LIFE OF SIR JOHN MOORE WAS SPENT AMONG THE TROOPS.
“During the season of repose his time was devoted to the care
and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war he courted
service in every quarter of the globe. Regardless of personal
consideration, he esteemed that to which his country called
him _the post of honor_, and by his undaunted spirit and
unconquerable perseverance he pointed the way to victory.
“His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a
monument to his lamented memory, and the Commander-in-Chief feels
he is paying the best tribute to his fame by thus holding him
forth as an EXAMPLE to the ARMY.
“By order of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief,
“HARRY CALVERT, _Adjutant-General_.”
The following regiments composed the army under Lieut.-General Sir
John Moore at Corunna on the 16th of January 1809:--
_Corps._ _Commanding Officers._
7th Light Dragoons Lieut.-Colonel Vivian.
10th ” ” Leigh.
15th ” ” Grant.
18th ” ” Jones.
3d ” (King’s Germ. Leg.) Major Burgwesel.
Artillery Colonel Harding.
Engineers Major Fletcher.
Waggon Train Detachment Lieut.-Colonel Langley.
1st Foot Guards, 1st Battalion ” Cocks.
” 3d ” ” Wheatley.
1st Foot 3d ” Major Muller.
2d ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Iremonger.
4th ” 1st ” ” Wynch.
5th ” 1st ” ” Mackenzie.
6th ” 1st ” Major Gordon.
9th ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Cameron.
14th ” 2d ” ” Nicolls.
20th ” ” Ross.
23d ” 2d ” ” Wyatt.
26th ” 1st ” ” Maxwell.
28th ” 1st ” ” Belson.
32d ” 1st ” ” Hinde.
36th ” 1st ” ” Burn.
38th ” 1st ” ” Hon. Charles Greville.
42d ” 1st ” ” Stirling.
43d ” 1st ” ” Gifford.
43d ” 2d ” ” Hull.
50th ” 1st ” Major Charles Napier.
51st ” Lieut.-Colonel Darling.
52d ” 1st ” ” Barclay.
52d ” 2d ” ” John Ross.
59th ” 2d ” ” Fane.
60th ” 2d ” ” Codd.
60th ” 5th ” Major Davy.
71st ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Pack.
76th ” 1st ” ” Symes.
79th ” 1st ” ” Cameron.
81st ” 2d ” Major Williams.
82d ” ” M‘Donald.
91st ” 1st ” ” Douglas.
92d ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Napier.
95th (Rifle Reg.) 1st ” ” Beckwith.
2d ” ” Wade.
Staff Corps Detachment ” Nicolay.
1st Light Batt. King’s German Legion ” Leonhart.
2d ” ” ” Halkett.
BRITISH AND HANOVERIAN ARMY AT WATERLOO
_as formed in Divisions and Brigades on the 18th of June 1815._
CAVALRY.
Commanded by Lieut.-General the EARL of UXBRIDGE, G.C.B.
_1st Brigade._--Commanded by Major-General LORD EDWARD
SOMERSET, K.C.B.
1st Life Guards | Lieut.-Colonel Ferrior.
2d ” | ” the Hon. E. P. Lygon.
Royal Horse Guards, Blue. | ” Sir Robert Hill.
1st Dragoon Guards. | ” Fuller (Colonel).
_2d Brigade._--Major-General Sir WILLIAM PONSONBY, K.C.B.
1st or Royal Dragoons. | Lieut.-Colonel A. B. Clifton.
2d or Royal North British Dragoons | ” J. J. Hamilton.
6th or Inniskilling Dragoons. | ” J. Muter (Colonel).
_3d Brigade._--Major-General W. B. DOMBERG.
23d Light Dragoons. | Lt.-Colonel the Earl of
| Portarlington (Colonel).
1st ” King’s German Legion. | ” J. Bulow.
2d ” ” | ” C. de Jonquiera.
_4th Brigade._--Major-General Sir JOHN O. VANDELEUR, K.C.B.
11th Light Dragoons. | Lieut.-Colonel J. W. Sleigh.
12th ” | ” the Hon. F. C.
| Ponsonby (Colonel).
16th ” | ” J. Hay.
_5th Brigade._--Major-General Sir COLQUHOUN GRANT, K.C.B.
7th Hussars. | Colonel Sir Edward Kerrison.
15th ” | Lieut.-Colonel L. C. Dalrymple.
2d ” King’s German Legion | ” Linsingen.
_6th Brigade._--Major-General Sir HUSSEY VIVIAN, K.C.B.
10th Royal Hussars. | Lt.-Colonel Quentin (Colonel).
18th Hussars. | ” Hon. H. Murray.
1st ” King’s German Legion | ” A. Wissell.
_7th Brigade._--Colonel Sir FREDERICK ARENSCHILDT, K.C.B.
13th Light Dragoons. | Lieut.-Colonel Doherty.
3d Hussars, King’s German Legion. | ” Meyer.
Colonel ESTORFF.
Prince Regent’s Hussars. | Lieut.-Colonel Kielmansegge.
Bremen and Verden Hussars. | Colonel Busche.
INFANTRY.
FIRST DIVISION.--Major-General G. COOKE.
_1st Brigade._--Major-General P. MAITLAND.
1st Foot Guards, 2d Battalion. | Major H. Askew (Colonel).
” 3d ” | ” the Hon. W. Stewart (Col.)
_2d Brigade._--Major-General J. BYNG.
Coldstream Guard, 2d Battalion. | Major A. G. Woodford (Colonel).
3d Foot Guards. | ” F. Hepburn (Colonel).
SECOND DIVISION.--Lieut.-General Sir H. CLINTON, G.C.B.
_3d Brigade._--Major-General FREDERICK ADAM.
52d Foot, 1st Battalion. | Lieut.-Colonel Sir Jno. Colborne,
| K.C.B. (Colonel).
71st ” ” | ” T. Reynell (Col.)
95th ” 2d ” } Rifles | Major J. Ross (Lieut.-Colonel).
six companies. } |
95th ” 3d ” } | Major A. G. Norcott (Lieut.-Col.)
two companies. } ” |
_1st Brigade._--_King’s German Legion._--Colonel DU PLAT.
1st Line Battalion, King’s German
Legion. | Major W. Robertson.
2d ” ” | ” G. Muller.
3d ” ” | Lieut.-Colonel F. de Wissell.
4th ” ” | Major F. Reh.
_3d Hanoverian Brigade._--Colonel HUGH HALKETT.
Militia Battalion, Bremervorde. | Lieut.-Colonel Schulenberg.
Duke of York’s 2d Battalion. | Major Count Munster.
” 3d ” | ” Baron Hunefeld.
Militia Battalion, Salzgitter. | ” Hammerstein.
THIRD DIVISION.--Lieut.-General Baron ALTEN.
_5th Brigade._--Major-General Sir COLIN HALKETT, K.C.B.
30th Foot, 2d Battalion. | Major W. Bailey (Lieut.-Col.)
33d ” | Lieut.-Col. W. K. Elphinstone.
69th ” 2d Battalion. | ” C. Morice (Col.)
73d ” 2d Battalion. | ” W. G. Harris (Col.)
_2d Brigade._--_King’s German Legion._--Colonel Baron OMPTEDA.
1st Light Battalion, K.G.L. | Lieut.-Colonel L. Bussche.
2d ” ” | Major G. Baring.
5th Line ” ” | Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Linsengen.
8th ” ” ” | Major Schroeder (Lieut.-Col.)
_1st Hanoverian Brigade._--Major-General Count KIELMANSEGGE.
Duke of York’s 1st Battalion. | Major Bulow.
Field Battalion, Grubenhagen. | Lieut.-Colonel Wurmb.
” Bremen. | ” Langrehr.
” Luneburg. | ” Kleucke.
” Verden. | Major De Senkopp.
FOURTH DIVISION.--Lieut.-General Sir CHARLES COLVILLE, K.C.B.
_4th Brigade._--Colonel MITCHELL.
14th Foot, 3d Battalion. | Major F. S. Tidy (Lieut.-Col.)
23d ” 1st ” | Lieut.-Colonel Sir Henry
| W. Ellis, K.C.B.
51st ” ” | ” H. Mitchell (Colonel).
_6th Brigade._--Major-General JOHNSTONE.
35th Foot, 2d Battalion. | Major C. M‘Alister.
54th ” | Lt.-Col. J. Earl of Waldegrave.
59th ” 2d Battalion. | ” H. Austin.
91st ” 1st ” | ” Sir W. Douglas, K.C.B.
| (Colonel).
_6th Hanoverian Brigade._--Major-General LYON.
Field Battalion, Calenberg. | ----
” Lanenberg. | Lieut.-Col. Benort.
Militia Battalion, Hoya. | ” Grote.
” Nieuberg. | ----
” Bentheim. | Major Croupp.
FIFTH DIVISION.--Lieut.-General Sir THOMAS PICTON, K.C.B.
_5th Brigade._--Major-General Sir JAMES KEMPT, K.C.B.
28th Foot, 1st Battalion. | Major R. Nixon (Lieut.-Col.).
32d ” ” | ” J. Hicks (Lieut.-Col.).
79th ” ” | Lieut.-Col. Neil Douglas.
95th Rifles ” | ” Sir A. F. Barnard,
| K.C.B. (Colonel).
_9th Brigade._--Major-General Sir DENIS PACK, K.C.B.
1st Foot, 3d Battalion. | Major C. Campbell.
42d ” 1st ” | Lieut.-Col. Sir Robert Macara,
| K.C.B.
44th ” 2d ” | ” J. M. Hamerton.
92d ” 1st ” | Major Donald M^cDonald.
_5th Hanoverian Brigade._--Colonel VINCKE.
Militia Battalion, Hameln. | Lieut.-Colonel Kleucke.
” Hildesheim. | Major Rheden.
” Peina. | Major Westphalen.
” Giffhorn. | Major Hammerstein.
SIXTH DIVISION.--_10th Brigade._--Major-General J. LAMBERT.
4th Foot, 1st Battalion. | Lieut.-Colonel F. Brooke.
27th ” ” | Captain Sir J. Reade (Major).
40th ” ” | Major F. Browne.
81st ” 2d ” | ” P. Waterhouse.
_4th Hanoverian Brigade._--Colonel BEST.
Militia Battalion, Luneburg. | Lieut.-Colonel De Ramdohr.
” Verden. | Major Decken.
” Osterode. | ” Baron Reden.
” Minden. | ” De Schmidt.
_7th Brigade._--Major-General M‘KENZIE.
25th Foot, 2d Battalion. | Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Light.
37th ” ” | ” S. Hart.
78th ” ” | ” M. Lindsay.
Cavalry 8,883
Infantry 29,622
Artillery 5,434
------
Total 43,939
------
FOOTNOTE:
[34] Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s narrative of his escape is highly
interesting, and is inserted at page 158.
LONDON:
Printed by GEORGE E. EYRE and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE,
Printers to the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty.
For Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.
Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
Table of Contents
Pg v: (1781) ‘Tripassoor ... 13’ replaced by ‘Tripassoor ... 15’.
Pg vi: (1792) ‘Tippo Saib, and’ replaced by ‘Tippoo Saib, and’.
Introduction
Pg xiii: ‘numercial title’ replaced by ‘numerical title’.
Main text
Pg 6: ‘the fleet proceeeed’ replaced by ‘the fleet proceeded’.
Pg 11: ‘Lieutenent William Gunn’ replaced by ‘Lieutenant William Gunn’.
Pg 59 Footnote [20]: ‘Cabo de bonne Esperanza’ replaced by
‘Cabo da Boa Esperança’.
Pg 69 Footnote [22]: ‘army to amount to’ replaced by ‘army amount to’.
Pg 74 Footnote [24]: ‘Vide’ italicized.
Pg 85: The Sidenote was printed as ‘1812.’ but should have been
‘1811.’ (and since this corrected date is a repeat of the ‘1811.’
Sidenote seen on an earlier page, it is omitted from the etext.)
Pg 114: ‘arrived Dover’ replaced by ‘arrived at Dover’.
Pg 152: ‘which befel that’ replaced by ‘which befell that’.
Pg 154: ‘recovered the effects’ replaced by ‘recovered from
the effects’.