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, recalls 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 Foot 1st ” ” Burne.
38th ” 1st ” ” Hon. Charles Grenville
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 ” Leonhart.
Legion.
2d ” ” ” Halkett.
_Documents relating to the word_ “FIRM,” _borne by the_
THIRTY-SIXTH _regiment, alluded to in Sir George Nayler’s letter,
dated 6th of January 1817, inserted at page 94_.
“_Monte Video, 30th July 1807._
“SIR,
“I do myself the honour of acknowledging the receipt of your
letter dated the 9th of May last, and now transmit a sketch of
the regimental colours of the first battalion of the THIRTY-SIXTH
regiment, as represented in the accompanying paper, marked D
and E.; at present there are no camp colours with the 36th,
they having been destroyed by fire when the regimental store
was burned at Battle barracks, a few days before the regiment
embarked for foreign service.
“I likewise do myself the honour of sending a sketch from the
regimental seal, and beg to be informed by you if we have
not a right to the word ‘Firm’ embroidered on the colours as
represented in that sketch. How long the seal has been in the
regiment I cannot pretend to say, only it is the same seal that
has been made use of since I came into the THIRTY-SIXTH, which
will be _thirty-four years_ the month after next. Should there be
any office where the devices of different regiments are recorded,
I should imagine it would be a matter easily ascertained.
“I have, &c.
(Signed) “ROBERT BURNE,
_“Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion,_
_“36th Regiment.”_
_George Nayler, Esq., York Herald,_
_&c._ _&c._ _&c._
“_Treasury Chambers_,
“_24th April 1809_.
“DEAR SIR,
“I am desired by my brother of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment to
make application to you for a drawing (furnished you some time
past by Colonel Burne) of a regimental seal, for the purpose of
registering the bearings on the colours, and having the word
‘FIRM’ inserted.
“The drawing is now wanted by the regiment, and I have to beg
that you will send me the same to give to my brother, who will be
in town in the course of the present week.
“I am, &c.
(Signed) “JOSEPH VERNON.”
“Mr. Vernon presents his compliments to Mr. Nayler, and requests
to be informed if the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment of foot is not
entitled to have the word ‘FIRM’ emblazoned in the regimental
colours, that word appearing on the regimental seal, a drawing
of which Colonel Burne furnished the Heralds’ Office, and which,
to his knowledge, had been in the regiment thirty-six years, and
most probably many years previous thereto. The return of the
regiment, about the year 1772, from the West Indies, with their
colours in a very shattered state, and the almost entire change
of officers, most probably occasioned the omission, and which
from that time has been continued. Colonel Burne is very anxious
to ascertain the point of being at liberty to have it inscribed
in the colours, fully confident that, unless the regiment had
previously obtained it, and by authority held it, it never could
have been engraved upon their seal.”
“_Treasury Chambers,
3rd July 1809._”
“Captain Vernon presents his compliments to Mr. Nayler, and
will be much obliged by his enclosing him the certificate for
Colonel Burne’s signature, in order that he may forward it to the
regiment before he leaves town. Captain Vernon begs to return Mr.
Nayler his best thanks for the very early attention he gave to
the object of the Colonel’s wishes in the insertion of the motto
which Captain V. had the pleasure of seeing on calling at Mr.
Nayler’s office on Wednesday last.”
“_52, Charlotte Street, Portland Place,
17th March 1810._”
“_52, Charlotte Street, Portland Place_,
“_21st March 1810_.
“DEAR SIR,
“I was favoured with your note and the enclosure last night,
but in one part, as it does not exactly meet the facts, I have
taken the liberty of enclosing you a certificate, which, from the
conversation I have had with the Colonel, I think will. It is not
in the power of the Colonel to certify that they positively have
borne the word ‘FIRM’ on the colours; but he has every reason
to believe so, as the bearings of the colours are usually on
the regimental seals of regiments. The Colonel has been in the
regiment thirty-seven years, and the oldest officer by very many
years now remaining in it. During his time the regiment must
have had three pairs of regimental colours;--the pair when the
regiment returned from the West Indies, I presume, now entirely
worn out and destroyed; the pair on the regiment’s return from
the East Indies was, from the same cause, burned at Winchester;
and the present pair of colours consists of as many rags as
might form the size of a silk handkerchief, but not a piece that
is whole six inches square. These rags are tied together round
the staff. Therefore, concluding that the former colours were
before disposed of, at least in as bad a state as those, it would
become impossible to say what bearings or mottoes might have
been upon the pair when Colonel Burne joined, which was on their
return from the West Indies, to which is to be added the great
mortality and change among officers who served at that time in
those climates. I should have had the pleasure of waiting upon
you this day upon the subject, but as I leave town to-morrow I am
compelled to confine my business to writing. May I, therefore,
beg the additional favour (should the certificate meet your
approbation, or any other form that may accord with the fact
stated) that you will enclose it to my brother, who will forward
it to me? I feel extremely anxious to get the business completed
as soon as possible, the regiment being again down for service,
&c., which I trust, in your goodness, will plead as my apology
for intruding so much upon your time.
“I am, &c.
(Signed) “HENRY VERNON.”
“_G. Nayler, Esq._”
“Captain Vernon presents his compliments to Mr. Nayler, and with
many thanks encloses him the certificate signed by Colonel Burne.
Should there be any expenses incidental to Mr. Nayler’s office
in this business, he requests to be favoured with them, as the
Colonel, as well as himself, are unacquainted with these matters.”
“_Battle, Sussex, 5th April 1810._”
“I Robert Burne, Lieut.-Colonel of the first battalion of the
THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, a Colonel in the army, and Governor of His
Majesty’s garrison of Carlisle, do hereby certify and declare,
that during the space of _thirty-seven years_ to my own positive
knowledge, and how long previous thereto I cannot set forth, the
said regiment has used on its regimental seal the word ‘FIRM;’
and that I verily believe, by reason thereof, the said regiment
to be entitled to bear the same upon its colours, and that the
said word may have lapsed and been forgotten by the frequent
change of officers and the mutilated or almost destroyed state
in which the colours of the regiment have been on their return
from service, and that I am, therefore, extremely anxious that
the said word ‘FIRM’ should be inscribed in the painting of the
colours of the aforesaid THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, now preparing,
by His Majesty’s command, under the inspection of George Nayler,
Esquire, York Herald, and Inspector of Regimental Colours. In
witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed
the seal of the said regiment, at Battle, Sussex, this fifth day
of April one thousand eight hundred and ten.
(Signed) ROBT. BURNE,
_Lieut.-Col. Commanding 1st Battn.
36th Regt., and Colonel_.
“Signed and sealed in the presence of
“A. MACKENZIE,
_Major 36th Regt._,
“HY. VERNON, Capt.,
_1st Battn. 36th Regt._”
“_36th Regiment of Foot_
“Permitted to bear the word ‘FIRM’ having so done for upwards of
thirty years, as appears by Lieut.-Colonel Robert Burne’s letter
to Sir George Nayler, dated Monte Video, 30th July 1807.”
_Memoir of the services of Lieut.-General Robert Burne, formerly
Lieut.-Colonel of the_ THIRTY-SIXTH _regiment_.
ROBERT BURNE entered the army as Ensign in the THIRTY-SIXTH, his
commission being dated 28th of September 1773; and it is remarkable
that he obtained all his regimental promotions in that corps. On
the 13th of January 1777 he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant.
On the 10th of March 1783 Lieutenant Burne embarked with the
THIRTY-SIXTH regiment for Madras, and arrived in that Presidency in
July following. In 1784 he succeeded to the Captain-Lieutenancy,
and on the 7th of May of that year was appointed Captain of a
company in the regiment. Upon the army taking the field against
Tippoo Saib he was Captain of the Grenadier company. Captain Burne
was in the battles of Sattimungulum and Shawoor on the 13th and
14th of September 1790, and was afterwards at the storming of the
pettah and fort of Bangalore in March 1791. Captain Burne served at
the attack of Nundydroog in October 1791; he was also present in
the operations before Seringapatam during the night of the 6th of
February 1792, under General the Earl Cornwallis, which compelled
Tippoo to enter into a treaty of peace with the British. He was at
the siege and capture of Pondicherry in August 1793; and on the
1st of March 1794 he was promoted to the brevet rank of Major,
which rank he attained in the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment on the 15th of
April 1796. On the 1st of January 1798 Major Burne was appointed
Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet, and he embarked at Madras in command
of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment on the 15th of October, but did not
arrive in England until July 1799, the want of convoy having caused
the Indiamen to be detained three months at St. Helena.
On the 13th of November 1799 Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Burne was
appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, with which
he embarked, in the year 1800, for the coast of France, with
the expedition under Brigadier-General the Honorable Sir Thomas
Maitland; he afterwards proceeded with his regiment to Minorca,
from which island, in 1801, he was compelled, by severe illness, to
return to England for the recovery of his health, being the first
time he was ever absent from the regiment. Upon the conclusion of
the peace of Amiens in 1802 Minorca was restored to the Spaniards,
and the THIRTY-SIXTH returned to Ireland, when Lieut.-Colonel Burne
resumed the command of the regiment.
Lieut.-Colonel Burne embarked with the first battalion of the
regiment for Germany in October 1805, and returned with it to
England in March following. In November 1806 he proceeded with the
first battalion of the regiment on the expedition to South America
under Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd; and in June 1807 landed in
that country; was with the advance of the army at the operations
in the suburbs of Buenos Ayres on the 2d, 3d, and 4th of July; and
also shared in the attack on the town of Buenos Ayres on the 5th of
July.
The first battalion of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment embarked at Buenos
Ayres in September, and arrived at Cork in December 1807. On the
25th of April 1808 Lieut.-Colonel Burne was promoted by brevet
to the rank of Colonel, and in July following embarked with the
first battalion for the Peninsula. Colonel Burne was present at
the battles of Roleia and Vimiera on the 17th and 21st of August
1808. Lieut.-General the Honourable Sir Arthur Wellesley in his
despatch particularly noticed the conduct of Colonel Burne and that
of the battalion. On the 8th of September following Colonel Burne
was appointed Governor of Carlisle by His Majesty King George III.
After these services Colonel Burne proceeded in command of the
battalion with the troops destined to join Lieut.-General Sir John
Moore at Salamanca, and was present at the battle of Corunna on the
16th of January 1809; after which he embarked with the army for
England. Colonel Burne, for his services at Roleia, Vimiera, and
Corunna, received the honorary distinction of a medal and clasp.
On the 16th of July 1809 Colonel Burne embarked in command of the
first battalion of the THIRTY-SIXTH regiment, with the expedition
to the Scheldt, and served in August at the siege and capture of
Flushing, in the island of Walcheren. He was afterwards appointed
Colonel on the staff at that place, where he continued until the
evacuation of the island.
Colonel Burne was appointed a Brigadier-General on the staff in
Portugal on the 21st of January 1811, and landed in the Peninsula
prior to the retreat of the French army from Santarem, and was
present at the battle of Fuentes d’Onor on the 3d and 5th of May,
together with the other operations in which the sixth division
of the army was engaged. On the 4th of June 1811 he was advanced
to the rank of Major-General, and continued on the staff in the
Peninsula until the 24th of April 1812, when he returned to
England; and, on the 25th of June following, was appointed to the
staff of Great Britain, and was ordered to take the command of
the camp near Lichfield; upon the breaking up of that encampment
Major-General Burne was ordered to the command of the Nottingham
district, where he remained on the staff until the 24th of
September 1814.
On the 19th of July 1821 Major-General Burne was advanced to the
rank of Lieutenant-General. His decease occurred in June 1825.
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
The roman page numbering at the front of the book goes from i to xix,
then from v to xii; this has not been changed.
The table on page 6 in the original book was very wide. It has been
modified by splitting it into two parts, for each of the three ships.
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.
Pg v: ‘707. Battle’ replaced by ‘1707. Battle’.
Pg viii: ‘against of Tippoo’ replaced by ‘against Tippoo’.
Pg 14: ‘corps of infanty’ replaced by ‘corps of infantry’.
Pg 27: ‘in garison at’ replaced by ‘in garrison at’.
Pg 38: ‘the Europeau Powers’ replaced by ‘the European Powers’.
Pg 40: ‘In the begining’ replaced by ‘In the beginning’.
Pg 52: ‘were opposed to’ replaced by ‘were exposed to’.
Pg 58: ‘Seringpatam’ replaced by ‘Seringapatam’.
Pg 78: ‘marched ot Gallegos’ replaced by ‘marched to Gallegos’.
Pg 126: ‘recals to the troops’ replaced by ‘recalls to the troops’.