In the East Indies.

Built by Sir R. Seppings.

Built on model of the famous "Bonne
Citoyenne."

In progress of building on Sir R. Sep-
pings' plan.

Built by Capt. Hayes, R.N.
Built by Sir R. Seppings.
In Ordinary at Plymouth.
Built by Sir R. Seppings.
In South America.
In the West Indies.
In the East Indies.

In Ordinary at Portsmouth.

Built by the late School of Naval Archi-
tecture.

Receiving-ship at Portsmouth.
In South America.

Built by Sir R. Seppings.

Built by the late School of Naval Archi

tecture.

AUGUST 22. The Commander of the Forces, Sir Hew Dalrymple,t arrived and disembarked at Maceira in the morning of this day. The army was encamped on the ground which it had bravely maintained on the preceding day; the slain were lying on the field unburied, and the wounded were not yet embarked. The Commander of the Forces had an immediate conference with Sir Arthur Wellesley, who represented to him the necessity of the army advancing, and explained the plan of his operations. Orders for advancingt were issued. About two o'clock there was a sudden report that the enemy was advancing, and immediate preparations were made to receive them. It was soon ascertained to be an escort, which accompanied General Kellerman with a flag of truce. Colonel Walker of the 50th was sent to bring him in. The object of his mission was to propose an armistice, in order to prepare a treaty for the evacuation of Portugal by the French. Though several articles,§ at first agreed upon, were signed by Sir Arthur Wellesley and General Kellerman, but as this was done with a reference to the British Admiral who, when the agreement was communicated to him, objected to the seventh article, which had for its object the disposal of the Russian fleet in the Tagus, it was finally decided that Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, Quartermaster General of the British army, and General Kellerman, should proceed to the discussion of the remaining articles, and definitively to conclude a convention for the evacuation of Portugal, subject to the ratification of the French General-in-Chief, and the British Commanders by sea and land. After considerable discussion and repeated reference to Sir Hew Dalrymple, which rendered it necessary for the Lieutenant-Colonel to avail himself of the limited period latterly prescribed for the suspension of hostilities, in order to move the army forward, and to place the several columns upon the routes by which they were to advance, the convention was signed and the ratifications

Continued from p. 568.

This officer, having been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the army in Portugal and Spain. had embarked from Gibraltar in the beginning of August, having previously learned the defeat of Dupont, the evacuation of Madrid by Joseph Buonaparte, and the disembarkation of Sir Arthur Wellesley in the Mondego. He had been informed on his voyage of the victory of Roliça, and having on the 21st sent his aide-de-camp on shore to learn the details, he had been now further informed of the battle of Vimiera. He had been unwilling to interfere with the operations or plans of Sir Arthur Wellesley, both because Lord Castlereagh, in a private letter to him, had expressed the confidence of the government at home in his talents as a commander, and because he considered Sir Arthur to be engaged in an enterprise of his own. A very natural feeling of professional honour now confirmed his reluctance. But having been informed that Sir Harry Burrard had landed, and had taken the command, this delicacy was necessarily over. He accordingly immediately landed and assumed the command.

Sir Hew demurred to the advance, stating that he was unable, having just landed, to form any judgment of such necessity, but he gave way on the earnest representations of Sir George, then Lieutenant-Colonel, Murray.

There were chiefly two points to be considered,-first, whether the proposal for the evacuation of Portugal should be at all entertained; and, secondly, supposing it to be an admissible principle, what should be the terms in detail. Upon the first question the three Generals, Sir Hew Dalrymple, Sir Harry Burrard, and Sir Arthur Wellesley, were unanimous that the French were entitled to require to be allowed to evacuate, and that it would be conducive to his Majesty's service to treat upon this basis. The French were in possession of every military position. They had garrisons in Elvas, in Almeida, and in all the forts of the Tagus. They had every facility to relieve and supply their garrisons. The Russian squadron, and all the boats on the Tagus, were at their command. And the inconveniences of the British were as decided as the advantages of the enemy. The state of the weather off the coast was at all times precarious. The army had at the present moment only eleven days' bread. And the army of Sir John Moore had to effect its debarkation Add to this the manifest fruits of the evacuation to the cause of the Spaniards; it would release immediately the 30,000 soldiers of the British army, and enable them without delay to continue their march to Spain; and it would restore to the cause of their country 10,000 Spanish troops. These advantages would well compensate the return to France of 20,000 men; and therefore, under these circumstances, there was no difference of opinion with respect to the principle of the evacuation. With respect to the terms, there was not the same agreement in opinion. A wish was expressed by Sir Arthur that the suspension of hostilities should be limited to forty-eight hours. Sir Hew Dairymple extended it, that Sir John Moore might disembark without impediment. General Kellerman proposed that the Russian fleet should be allowed to leave the Tagus. Sir Arthur objected altogether to allow the interference of the French with respect to this squadron. The armistice was concluded after this discussion. It was stipulated and agreed by this instrument, that the river Sisander should be the line of demarcation between the two armies, and that neither of them should occupy Torres Vedras; that the French should in no case be considered as prisoners of war; that every individual should be transported to France with their arms, baggage, and private property, and that the neutrality of the port of Lisbon should be acknowledged by the Russian fleet. Colonel Murray was sent to communicate the armistice to Sir Charles Cotton, who, objecting to the neutrality of the port of Lisbon for the Russian fleet, required its conditional surrender till the conclusion of peace. With this difference, the armistice as concluded on this day became the basis of the definitive convention, which a few days afterwards (August 30) was concluded at Cintra. With respect to the portion of Sir Arthur in this armistice and convention, it was understood amongst his own staff, and indeed in the army of Portugal and Spain, that in signing the armistice he had acted in a great degree from deference to his superior officer, and did not regard himself responsible for the conditions of it; that in two points in particular, the notice of sixty-eight hours after the sus pension of the armistice, and the article respecting the Russian fleet, he had held different opinions from the Commander-in-Chief, but that he had fully agreed with him in the good policy of signing a convention for the evacuation of Portugal.

1835.]

ANNALS OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

exchanged. That no time might be lost in obtaining anchorage for the transports and other shipping, which had for some days been exposed to great peril on this dangerous coast, and to ensure the communication between the army and the victuallers, who were cut off by the badness of the weather and the surf on the shore, Sir Hew Dalrymple sent orders to the Buffs and 43rd regiment, which were on board the transports with Sir Charles Cotton's fleet, to land and take possession of the forts on the Tagus, whenever the Admiral thought proper to do so.

23rd.-Sir Arthur and the army marched to Amial, six English miles, at an early hour this morning, and took up a position amongst some heights. Intelligence was brought to camp in the evening that Sir John Moore and his troops had reached the Bay of Maceira.

24th.-Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, Lord Paget, Sir Charles Stewart, and Sir Robert Wilson arrived at camp from Maceira. The disembarkation of Sir John Moore's army commenced this day, and continued on the following, but was rendered extremely difficult by the immense swell and heavy surf; many boats were swamped, and some lives lost.

turned

26th. In the evening of this day, the whole of the line, consisting of nearly 30,000 men, out under arms, and were inspected by Sir Hew Dalrymple. 27th.-The Commander-in-Chief honoured the conclusion of the services of Sir Arthur Wellesley, by the following General Order, issued this day :

"Head-Quarters, Ramalhal, Aug. 27, 1803. Parol-Portugal. "The rapid and skilful march performed by the army commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, marked in its progress by the talent of the General, and by the gallantry of the troops, and terminated by a victory greatly glorious to both, seemed to have accomplished the immediate object in view, without further operations in the field. Should this expectation be disappointed, the Army will again advance, greatly augmented by the arrival of troops, more valuable from their composition than numbers. And if by these means there will remain less opportunity for the army at large to acquire renown by encountering an enemy so greatly inferior in force, there will be greater occasion to display patience and cheerfulness under the privations to be expected from the exhausted state of the country."

September. The provisioning and storing of the transports being completed, the French army began its embarkation. It took place in three divisions: the first being protected by the two last, as they again were covered by the British troops; and by the middle of this month the whole had cleared the Tagus t. Under the head of private baggage the enemy had included the spoils of our allies. The total number of the enemy embarked, including some Portuguese, was computed at 27,000. Soon after this period Sir Arthur Wellesley returned to England upon leave of absence, and was followed by Sir Hew Dalrymple, who was recalled; and Sir Harry Burrard, whose constitution was incapable of bearing up against the fatigues and privations of active service, having applied for leave of absence and obtained it, the command of the British army destined to advance into Spain in aid of the patriots devolved upon Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore. The British force proposed to be employed in Spain was 40,000: viz., 30,000 infantry, 5000 cavalry, and the necessary proportion of foot and horse-artillery, waggon-train, &c.; the whole to be assembled under the orders of Sir John Moore, on the borders of Galicia and Leon, from whence they might operate in the open country as soon as the necessary proportion of horses and mules could be procured to render them moveable, leaving it to the Spanish army's not having a due proportion of cavalry, to act on their flanks in the mountains. Sir David Baird, with 12,000 men, was ordered from England to sail for Corunna,

Oct. 13th.-Sir David Baird anchored at Corunna, but the Supreme Junta of Galicia refused to allow the troops to be landed. Sir David despatched a courier to Madrid, and, after a deliberate consultation, leave was given for the troops to land, who, by the prohibition, had been confined aboard the transports in the harbour for a fortnight §.

27th.-Sir John Moore quitted Lisbon, the whole of his troops having previously marched in

"in the short space of seventeen days, was Thus," says Lord Londonderry in his Narrative, the campaign brought to a conclusion; and a kingdom which, previous to its commencement, lay, as it were, at the feet of a conqueror, was restored most unexpectedly to independence, and to its former rank among nations."

The Russian fleet likewise, in accordance with an arrangement entered into with Sir Charles Cotton, was taken possession of by the British navy; and the seamen being sent back to their ownshores, the ships were forthwith removed to England.

In moving a mili"The French troops from Almeida, ordered to take shipping at Oporto, had not yet weighed anchor, when an accident occurred which had well nigh proved fatal to them. tary chest on board one of the transports it tell to the ground and, bursting open, some churchplate rolled out. There was now no arresting the fury of the populace The ships were instantly boarded; the French disarmed; their baggage taken on shore, examined, and plundered; and when it became apparent, that under the head of private property, the pillage of the most sacred edifices in the kingdom was about to be conveyed away, the lives of the whole detachment were placed in imminent danger. At last, however, the native authorities, aided by such British officers as happened to be at hand, prevailed upon the people to abstain from personal violence."-Lord Londonderry's Narrative.

The general of cers were all on shore, and permission was given for a certain portion of officers from each regiment to land during the day and return to the ships at night; but previously orders were issued by Sir David representing the propriety of observing a friendly conjuct towards the Spaniards, and enforcing the most respectful attention to their religion and customs. This necessary caution was productive of the happiest effects.

three columns, and by different routes. The right column, under the command of General Hope, consisting of the cavalry and artillery, with four regiments of infantry, proceeded by Elvas and Badajoz, on the high road to Madrid; and two brigades, under Major-General the Hon. Edward Paget, by Elvas and Alcantara; the rest of the army moved through Almeida-two brigades, under Major General Beresford, by way of Coimbra; those under Lieut.-General Fraser took the route of Abrantes. The troops were to unite at Salamanca, which was fixed upon as the point for the whole army to concentrate. Head-Quarters and the Medical Staff proceeded by the central route. Previous, however, to the army commencing its march, the following Order (which justly deserves a place in these records) was issued by Sir John Moore:-" The Commander of the Forces trusts that the troops, on their entering into Spain. will feel with him how much it is for their honour and advantage to maintain the high opinion and cherish the good will which the brave and high-spirited Spaniards entertain towards the British nation. The troops upon their march will generally be quartered upon the inhabitants. The Spaniards are a grave and orderly people, and extremely sober, generous, and warm in their tempers, and easily affronted by any insult or disrespect that is offered to them. They are grateful to the English, and will receive the troops with kindness and cordiality; this the General hopes will be met with equal kindness on the part of the soldiers, and that they will endeavour to accommodate themselves to their manners, be orderly in their quarters. and not shock, by acts of intemperance, a people worthy of their attachment, whose efforts they are come to support in the most glorious of causes-to free them from French bondage, and to establish their national liberty and ind peudence. Upon entering Spain, as a compliment to the Spanish nation, the army will wear the red cockade in addition to their own. Cockades are ordered for this purpose for the non commissioned officers and men, which will be sent from Madrid; but in the meantime the officers are requested to provide themselves, and to put them on when they pass the frontier." A multitude of women having joined the army, the Commander-in Chief did not omit a precaution † calculated to prevent calamities which might occur in the progress of events, as will be seen by the following Order:-" As in the course of the long march which the army is about to undertake, and where no carts will be allowed, the women would unavoidably be exposed to the greatest hardship and distress, commanding officers are, therefore, desired to use their endeavours to prevent as many as possible, particularly those having young children, or such as are not stout or equal to fatigue, from following the army. Those who remain will be left with the heavy baggage of the regiments; an officer will be charged to draw their rations, and they will be sent to England by the first good opportunity, and when landed they will receive the same allowances which they would have been entitled to if they had not embarked, to enable them to reach their homes."

November 8.-Sir John Moore arrived at Almeida: here one regiment acted in a disorderly manner, which he resolved to correct instantly. A marander was tried by court-martial for robbery, condemned to be shot, and the sentence executed. After which the following admonition appeared in orders:-"The army has been sent from England to aid and support the Spanish nation, not to rob and plunder the inhabitants; and that whatever soldiers should so far forget what was due to their own honour and that of their country, as to commit such crimes, should be delivered over to justice."

11th. Sir John Moore crossed the boundary between Fortugal and Spain; 12th, arrived at Ciudad Rodrigo; and on the 13th, with his advanced guard, at Salamanca; the leading regiments from Almeida on the 14th; and, excepting the first battalion of the 32nd, which was left to bring up the heavy stores from Villa Velha, all the troops reached Salamanca before the 24th: Previous to entering the city of Salamanca, Sir John Moore was informed that the Spanish army of Estremedura, commanded by General Blake, had been defeated after several actions, commencing on the 31st of October, near Somosa, where he was repulsed and obliged to retire on

It was not without extreme reluctance, and a conviction of the necessity of the measure, that Sir John Moore consented to a separation of his troops, and to their proceeding by different routes into Spain. When the advance from Lisbon was decided upon, a number of obstacles appeared: the Spanish Commissary-General was consulted concerning the means of subsisting the army on the great road by Elvas; but when the quantity of meat required was explained to him, he computed that in three months all the oxen would be consumed, and very few hogs left in the country. In the north of Portugal there was abundance of cattle and other provision; but the Portuguese declared that the mountains could not be passed over by artillery, and the British officers who were sent to examine the roads coincided in this opinion. When Sir John Moore was already on march it was discovered that the roads, bad as they were, might be easily rendered practicable for the cannon; and this late discovery occasioned considerable chagrin to the Commander of the Forces.

"Unhappily universal obedience was not strictly paid to this humane injunction by the regimental officers; and numbers of women, some with infants in their arms, surreptitiously accompanied or followed the troops, many of whom afterwards, exhausted by fatigue, maladies, and the severities of winter, endured great misery, and some perished, for whose fate the General was most unjustly reproached. '--Life of Sir John Moore.

The conduct of the troops in this long march, through deep roads and dreadful weather, was exemplary. With the exception that has been mentioned, the peasants were uninjured.

The action was fought on the 5th of November, and was partially favourable to the allies, but an attack made by the French on the 10th and 11th, at Espenosa de los Montreros, completely destroyed the Spanish army; their left wing was forced to give way, and the road, by which the Spanish general attempted to defile, being commanded by a hill in the possession of the enemy. further resistance on the part of the Spaniards was useless.

H