Spanish and Portuguese South America during the Colonial Period; Vol. 2

I am happy to add our loss has been but trifling, not exceeding 14 rank and file killed, 5 officers, and 25 rank and file wounded. The exact returns I have not been able to obtain.—I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) J. Levison Gower,Major-General.

Lieutenant-Colonel Torrens,

Military Secretary.

II

Extract of a Letter from Sir S. Achmuty to Mr. Wyndham

The escape of General Beresford, an event as pleasing and important as it was unexpected, has put us in full possession of the views of the leading men, and the real state of the country. He had been ordered, immediately after the fall of Monte Video, to a town 300 leagues inland, and was already between forty and fifty leagues from Buenos Ayres, when two Spanish officers, in the family of the Governor, who had been endeavouring to enter into some political negotiation with him, proposed to assist and accompany him in making his escape, which, with great difficulty, was effected; and the General, after being three successive days secreted in Buenos Ayres, fortunately reached the ship with our despatches.

Letter from General Liniers to Admiral Stirling and Sir Samuel AchmutyBuenos Ayres, March 2d, 1807.

Sirs,—I am very sorry that the first time I have the honour to write to your Excellencies, is on the unpleasant subject of complaining of proceedings of officers of your nation. Major-General Beresford and Lieutenant-Colonel Pack, of the 71st regiment, forgetting every sentiment of honour, and in violation of their word, and the oath which they had taken on the 6th of September last, have absconded, and the first with the infamy of having fomented an insurrection in this county, where the greatest part of his vile accomplices, now under the lash of the law, will soon pay for their horrid crime.

This violation of public faith and the law of nations, has, however, only increased the enthusiasm of all the inhabitants of this city, ever ready and disposed to bury themselves under the ruins of their edifices sooner than give themselves up to any other dominion than that of their lawful sovereign.

The pretext which Mr. Beresford makes use of, in alleging that there was a pretended capitulation, your Excellencies will see by the enclosed prints is without foundation, and it only remains with me, conformably to the laws of war, to reclaim those two prisoners; and I trust to your integrity that you will order them to be given up: at all events I fulfil my duty in reclaiming them, and the military world will decide on which side justice is.

I do not answer Mr. Beresford, not having anything to add to what I now express to your Excellencies; and I have only further to observe, that the determination of the people, as has been represented by their magistrates, is irrevocable: they are resolved to defend themselves to the last extremity, and prepared to make their defence memorable.

Your Excellencies will, therefore, avoid making any further offers; for be assured, that no answer will be returned, and that nothing but force can decide our fate.

God preserve your Excellencies many years.

(Signed) Santiago Liniers.

To their Excellencies Sir C. Stirling

and Sir S. Achmuty.

Coral de Miserala, July 2, 1807.

Sir,—I had the honour to report to you, for the information of the Commander of the forces, that the advanced corps of the army now occupy a position, the centre of which is across the prolongation of the centre street of Buenos Ayres. I have taken most of the cattle intended for the consumption of the city for this day, and occupy the principal coral. I have secured 20,000 lbs. of biscuit, and my corps is fully supplied with it; spirits I am searching for, and I have hopes that I shall be able to secure some; to what extent I do not yet know. I sent to report to you, yesterday evening, immediately after the action, in which I stated we had taken eight pieces of cannon, I now find it increased to ten, many prisoners, and a great quantity of arms and ammunition. General Liniers and Colonel Ellio were both present. Supposing that a considerable impression may have been made by so complete a defeat as this considerable portion of their force has sustained, I have sent in a summons to General Liniers, at first verbally only, to discover how they appeared to feel in the town. Colonel Ellio met Brigade-Major Roache who went with the flag, and requested that they might receive a written proposal. I have now, therefore, sent one, founded on the instructions I received yesterday by Colonel Bourke.

I believe it will not be difficult to, nearly if not entirely, invest the town by placing about 1000 on my right towards the Chuello, and all the rest on my left towards the Recollata, having that in the rear. The centre of the town makes a salient angle; it appears to me, therefore, that our centre should be a little refused, and our flanks thrown forward, as the right will be rested on the Chuello, and the left secured by the Plata; but this of course must be regulated by the better judgment of the Commander of the forces.—I have the honour to be, &c.

J. Levison Gower,Major-General.

Lieutenant-Colonel Torrens,

&c. &c. &c.

Sentence

The court-martial having duly considered the evidence given in support of the charges against the prisoner, Lieutenant-General Whitelocke, his defence, and the evidence he has adduced, are of opinion that he is guilty of the whole of the said charges, with the exception of that part of the second charge which relates to the order that “the columns should be unloaded, and that no firing should be permitted on any account.”

The court are anxious that it may be distinctly understood that they attach no censure whatever to the precautions taken to prevent unnecessary firing during the advance of the troops to the proposed points of attack, and do therefore acquit Lieutenant-General Whitelocke of that part of the said charge.

The court adjudge that the said Lieutenant-General Whitelocke be cashiered, and declared totally unfit and unworthy to serve his Majesty in any military capacity whatever.

1

About £50,000.

2

= £240,000.

3

= £4500.

4

A cruzado = nearly five shillings.

5

Under £5.

6

The boucan was a wooden instrument used by Brazilian cannibals for roasting their victims. Hence the word buccaneer.

7

£1200.

8

Vide Humboldt’s Researches.

9

Frezier.

10

“And lo! deep in yon cave Honorius long did dwell,In hopes to merit heaven by making earth a hell.”—Childe Harold.

11

Hist. Novi Orbis, lib. III. c. 21.

12

It is interesting to English readers to know that the high post of Captain-General of Chili was, in November 1787, confided to Don Ambrose Higgins, a native of Ireland, who was, two years later, appointed Field Marshal of the Royal Armies.

13

A cruzado = nearly five shillings.

14

Condamine.

15

The following was told me by a lady now in her eighty-first year, as having been current in her youth:

“My first is an emblem of purity,My second’s a thing of security;My whole is a name, which if yours were the same,You would blush to hand down to futurity.”

16

17

The Italics are the author’s.