Star. — London, England, 1808-01-28 00:00:00

• . in a South Weft direction. On the 3d of July, in the evening, I wrote to Colanet Islahon to detire he would advance with his detachment the next morn hag towards the bridge over the Chuello, and to take a pofilinn nut of the range of the enemy's fire, t • remain there until foul' o'clock in the evening. [This later wss fent by anative,bot never reached Colonel Mahon. General W. direfled me ta find a perfon to convey this letter, and I employed an i.mefican, -elm had fotne knowledge of the plate and of theirembitants, and he brought me a man en!agtcl to I.eriorm that fervice.] This setter went on to Rate, that it no orders wee communicated to hint, ',Colonel Mahon) he was to return again to Itedit6' , ll. On the evening of the q fit, sljour s o'clock, I wrote another order to Col. Islahotrvipnt , tie foppaition that he had received the pregioui one to advance once more to the bt idge early . on the morning of the sth, and to remain out of gun hunt until, orders were fent to him. I got a man from the Commifrary General's department to cal ry this letter, upon the promife of a large reward. I ant per feElly certain 1 am accurate in my flatement of the fihtlance of the letter, which new reached Colonel Mahon. Nothing was beard as to the enemy's having abandoned the blidge over the Chit. ell previous to the attack of the sth, and nn mea• fu•es woe taken by patroles, or otherwife, to afcer • taro this fa 1. Two Spann officers, who were taken prifonet, in the action of the tJ, Dated that it was the intention of tise Enemy to receive us by moveable coiner:us, to prevet,t the town being tiornv..d, and not to rocupy tie 11-urzt ; but CaptainWhitti agliam who i,terpced and to k mit:web of their ‘cidatce, can give a better account. FOURTLI:r4TH DAY. Lieut. Culoyel TORRENS was again called in. " Ido r.: - t recolle& any particular information General IVltitelocke received at MynteVidco, except that the Spaniard , at Buenos Ayres did not exceed 6000 men. I believe he confidently ccpated the enemy r forrehder, if we gained a polhion on each flank. We heal d gentrally that the enclay intended to occupy the flat roofs of the h ufes, and it was from the Sp.mifh officers taken prifoncrs on the zd of Sly, that we firfl heaTd the contrary. Soon after any arrival )at held quarters, on the evening of the 3d of July, Cr lortel Balky returned from vinting the cut poll and General Whitelucke particularly addreff ltimf.lf to Colonel Burke, (hewed him the plan of the attack for next day. General Whi!elocke mentioned that it was fuggelted by General Gower, and expreffed him. Pelf extremely averfe to it on the fence of infra inanity, and laid he lhould certainly erafe the order for retaking no ptifoners, and that he would again fummon the toAn from the fame motives.— (..olonel Burke obferved upon the novelty of the plan, and I merely" remarked, that from the bad weather havingfet.in, fume prompt meafures were _ necefrary. I " General Crawfurd came to head quarters font afterwards, and General Whitelocke caw-eft:id him f. it in finatl.ir terms to him alto ; General Crawfurd and I then lot ked over the plan of the town, and were appltirs; it to the plan of attack when General Crawford flatted lane difficulties, from the idea that if was the inrenti n to penetrate daan the fleets, in:lead of making an impreffian on the flanks, and fit] he would talk to 'General Gower about it.• A few Initiates af:tr he hit us, however I found he had trade a miiiala.t., and that there was no fuch intention in the plan. Next morning General Whitelecke and I w-oie ci , cular letttrs to all the Brigadier Generals, to fay that we were ol,liged to adopt this mode of at ack, in confeaael cc of the 1 .c.l inconvenience , - under which the army laboured, and calling upon them to make cvety exertion in their pawer for its lintels. S'antly afierwards, General Gower and the B.igadier Generals came to head quarters ' and I was font out of ilia: ro. m kith the red of the fiaff, when I andertlo. d they agree,{ to dei - er the attack to the mos nirg of ti ,e 5 h. " About eleven Wet. ck on the ..'h Laecompanied General Whitel .eke to view the r•ut polls, and re tiirittd in an hour after having vifited the centre, and converted with feveral of the ollizers. Nothing fur. liter pat e.l of any confequence that day. General Whitel cke did not make any:teconnoiltance towards the town on the 3.1, or until the dole of the 4th, (the period to which my evidence is at prefent re ttrifted) to my knowledge ; and if he had dune fo, I mull have known it, nor do I think he was ablent from head quarters except for the hour I have ahead) , mentioned. " I do not know the dillance to which the fuburbs of Buenos Ayres- extend from the town itfelf, but Mi. White's bottle, where the head quarters were, was about 150 yards from the extreme or outermoll h.aife of the fuburbs. I never heard of any nation being appointed for the Commander in Chief During the attack, nor do I know where the atmy was to re treat, in cafe of accidents. I underflood General Whitel , -cke had a general idea before leaving Monte Video, of proceeding to the North Well of Buenos Ayres, and throwing his left flank en the river for the purpofe of communicating with the Navy ; but he alway, intended to be guided by local circuits fiances." Crof,.examined by General W/41TFLtICK S. The witnels admitted that General Whitelocke did eve, y thing th it was poffikle while at Monte Video, to pr , cure holies, guides, kc. He defcrihed the in hahi•ants to be fo hotlile, that it was impaffilale to procure any intelligence that could be depended upon. Captain MAXWELL, of the Cad Regiment, was then called The witnefs ailed as Aid de Camp to General Gower, and was taken prifaner by the Spaniards on the inorniag of the ta.th of July, while voreeding to Sir Siatnual Aateamuty's brigade to funrmon that .officer to head quarters. Captain Maxwell 'pertly hate to his having destroyed the letter from Gene ral Whitelarke to General Gower, fo much fpoken of in the evidence ot General Griwer, General Craw ford, Colnnel Bar ke, Colonel Torten:, &c. Captain WNtriimpHicm was then (warn. He anted as an e;a4o Aid de Camp in General Whitelocke's Staff, and was lent in to B-coos Ayres 1.. the morning of the.4th of July, with a flag of knee. He was only permitted to deliver it in at the 146. \ neat , ll of the enetnes outpotts, its that he taw no thiwg of tae totwsk.Y.No antsrcr was returned by- IL Y General Liniers to this Commons, and the wi•ners returned to head trailers without any, after waiting half an hour a. he had been directed. It was the witoets who ex :mined the Spanith officers taken on the ad, and be fpoke to the information they commu nicated, which proved to be falfe, as already detailed.. Admit al MURRAY called. The witnefs detailed the exertions made in the naval department to promote the fuccefs rf the ex pedition againil Buenos Ayres. General Whitelocke informeA Admiral Murray, upon their feparating at the Eneenada di Barragon, that when he (the Ge neral) came to the water tide with his army, near Buenos Ayres, hi would communicate with the nave ; anal accordingly the witnefs ordered (even] tranfports dad vi6luallers to anchor as near Buenos Ayres as they cold, which they did next day. On the IA of July, perceiving the army on iri march on the heights, Admiral Murray fent an officer on Chore to receive initiations, rind when he returned, the quantity of bread and fpirits required, was immedi ately landed. The Admiral flared that provifion might have been landed, if rcquifite, at the Placa des l'oros, in Buenos Ayres, fuch was the favourable difpolition of the naval force. He had no doubt that the gun boats could have sailed in the attack of the town from the ea(r, but not fo effeflually as if it had taken place from the weflward. He always underflood that General Whitelocke meant to attack from the weft, and the gun boats were accordingly Rationed in order to co-operate. He cr ncluded his evidence by delivering in the returns of the featnen (crying on . (hove its drawing the artillery, &c. General Whitelocke declined examining Ad miral Murray j's euis Page 4f the trial. He pat one question, however, rsfpeeting the difficulties a!tend d.c difembatkation at the Enema:a, to which the Admiral replied, that the laniii" at firft was ce.itainly attended with inconveniences, and Come of the foldiers were wet, but in lefs than an hour a place was found, where no difficulties attended the landing of men, horfes, or artillery. FIFTEENTH DAY. o'clock on the morning of the ed of July, to the belt o f m y knowledge. (tlellions by General WHITELncxy. QFrom your knowledge of the Spanifh language„ and trom your intercourfe with the inhabitants, cant • you (late who were the prieeipal infligators and fo% mentors of the breach of treaty with General Btref ford ? A. I have heard many people mentioned, but cannot pofitively fay whether my information was true or not ; but I believe that the people in pet in Buenos Ayres, on General Whitelucket arrival at Monte Video, were the chief infligators. Q_ (By the Court). Did - you report to General Whrtelocke what you had obferved on the part of'. the enemy when you was in the town ? A. I did to General Gower, and I believe he reported it to Ge neral Whitelncke. Q Had you Elated the whole of your ;nitrations to the Spanifh Officers at the tinie you fo warmly protefled againft the ft/treader of the town ? A. No. I Rated the great amount of our army, and that I was confident General Whitelocke would do every thing that was juft, and that all private prop,:rry would be refpeaed. I did not touch upon the point that all Spanifh Officers fhould be made prifoners of war. Q. Did - you tommunicate that article, by which all the Civil Authorities were to be made prifoners of war ; and did the Spanifh Officer particularly object 1 to it ? A. I certainly did not communicate this, ar ticle : from the difpofition I found him in, I thOught it moll prudent not to mention ir. Jose, u BULLOCK, Efq. examined. He Rated that he was at the head of the Commif lariat during tlae expedition againft Buenos Ayres. He Ms informed at Monte Video, that the troors and provift ns wore to be landed five miles from Barnes Ayres, and made his arrangements accordingly.— When the tranfpurts were off Enfenada Barragon, he was informed by a General Officer that the land , ing was to take place there. The witoefs then gave in returns of the provifions embarked at Monte Video, and afterwards landed at the EnfenaJa. The difficulties of tranfporting them acrofs the fwamps were then detailed, as will appear from the evidence of the other witneffe<. When he found all endeavours froitiefs to eftablifh means of regularly funlyirse the troops from tire provifi I landed at. Ee.fenada, the ititntfs let out along with Lieutenant Col roof Burke, and joined General • Whitelecke, and continued with him until the clofc of ;he 6th of July. • Lieutenant COl 311e1 TORRENS was called in by his own tequeft, to aid fume explanrions to his former evidence, but they were immaterial. Captain Ses,r la Es. of the Engineer., was then called. He flared, that he was Commanding Officer of the Engineers in the expedition againft Buerva •Ayres. There were fix pontoons, with their neceffery call ;ages, equipage, &c. embarked at Monte Video, and he underlie, .d they were intended for the pafrtge of the artillery acrofs the Chuello. The whole of them were not landed, hawever, at Enfenada, and the Deputy Quarter tidier General informed the witnefs that it would only be neceffary to land a few entrenching tools. The wittier. never was conflated at any period of the fervice as to the arrangement., even in his own department. On his landing at En fenada, he accompanied General Gower's dread n, and did not fee General Whitelocke un'il the 3.i, and on that day General Whitelocke exprefTed him (elf ditiati,fied, becaufe the witnefs and Capt. Dix n had attached themfelves too much to General Gower, and the witnefs afterwards received direftions from General Whitelocke net to hold fo much communi cation with General Gower. This was abaua two o'clock on the 4th of July. Captain Duos, of the Artillery, was then exa mined ; but his evidence contained nothing which has not been already detailed. Major R^CHE examined. I teas on Brigadier General Lumley's Staff on the expedition againft Buenos Ayres, and I carried a flag of truce into the town on the 3d of July. On the night of the 2d, I received a note from General Gower, defiling me to come to his quarters. He told me that I was to go into Buenos Ayres next morning with a flag of truce, to fummon the town to furrender to the Bs ttifh arms. In conrequence of the inftruc dons I then received. I proceeded into the town at day break, accompanied by a corporal and trumpe ter of the I 7111 Light DragoOns, and a Spanish Otli cer, one of the prifuners we had taken on the ad. I . had General Gower's permiffion for palling the Bri. tills out pods, and the Spanifh Officer requefled me to take a party of the Rifle Corps ; an officer and twelve men accordingly west with us. We procee• ded a confiderable way into the town before we were flopped by a picquet guard. After fome delay, the fecond in command of the Spanifh army came to us, and I gave the letter to him, which General Gower had written. H- raid I could not ice General Liniers on any account ; but if I had any communication to make from the Englith General, he would convey it. I told him I had the honour to carry propofals for the furrender of the town ; he antwered, with a great deal of animation, that they puffelfed fufficient flrength and fpirit to defend the town. As it ap peared to me of great importance, if poll - 11.1e, to commence fume negotiation, I endeavoured to draw him into it, and the only thing he would content to Was, that I fhnuld return to my General, in order that he fhould make a fuller crimmunication in wri ring. I returned to General Gower with this anfwer, who immediately went to head quarters, and wrote the letter I had the honour to carry afterwards [ l'he fummons, as drawn up by Generals White locke and Gower, and calling on the Civil Authorities to furrender as prirmers of war, was here read ] I returned into the town with this letter nearly in the franc manner as before. I was met by an officer, who told me that General Liniers was not in Buenos Ayres, and I delivered the fummons to his aid - du camp. The Itreets feemed to be in great confufion, and I received my anfwer, after waiting nearly an hour apd a half, during which time the r eop'e paid very little regard to the flag of truce, having infulted my (mall detachment very much. The firlt time I went into Buenos Ayres, it was an hour before I fasts General Liniers's Second in Command, and my con- I verfation with him Wiled about half an hour : in that converfation I endeavoured to imprefs upon him the i necetray of farrendering, and dwelt upon the means we were in potieflion of. When I converfed with the Aid du camp, he feemed particularlydefirous to know the lois the Spaniards had fuflained the night before. I t , Id him we had taken eleven guns, and that the Spaniards had loft a confiderable number in killed, wounded, and prifoners. On my way into the town, I patted through leveret files of Spanifh troops, and encountered confiderable difficulties ; all the houfes • appeared bar ricadoed, and the whole population was La arms. I left the town the 'all time, about ten' SIXTEENTH DAY. Mr. Butamex, the Deputy Commiffary General, wa, again called in. In addition to his evidence of yeilerday, he (lased t.4t he never knew they were to land any where Elle except five miles irom Buenos Ayres, otherwife he would have made better arrangements while at Monte Video. He flated that all the ( - implies re ceived on the march, were in confequenct of capture from the enemy, and not of any previous arrange ment. ...,.... Lieutenant Colonel NUGENT, of the 33th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel DAVY, of the sth Regiment, and MAjor NICHOLS, of the 45th Regiment, were - then examiped. Thry defcribed the high (late of difcipline and energy difplayed by their refpalive corps during the march, and other partictilars already de-talk-I. . I.' .1 that could be procnredby propofing a ee t t , i. • tilities for an hnur, to collect the wne,,,l. j :r o ther which could mated illy aff.et do eer ',.... lotions. He direeted me to (ketch a rer t l c irca, which I did immediately, aad e el Zte I laid the flatemenes weren't f .u n d e I i n r i . e di trjeeted it : be then Strafed Celeinel Birth -4 o 1 An aorßer,whm th st vessel etc, liedifape n ,4 4 l h e h a d done miner: the Cie!) callot for th e „A one I had written, m o t metering Cirlorel T er , -.5( Take Come alterations in it, it voocopied lsoCe,! tent into the town by Captain 1 ow n , n e! , 1 %,.! Whittlecke's Aids tie Camp. G enera l Vine :4 .ordered Captain Bradford to temaia in core e . ',„: the troops its the vicieir y of Cu! . 1 1, w i t h to et 'll Alin for thole under Cil , rot Mahon, vrt en . ,7 fhruld arrive, and went immediately to the do Toros ; when arrived tlrre, he orderel no, and inipett the ordinance which had 1 ) 01 ca . I and to. fit upon fuch fpots as I Oiouglit tr o it for, his future confolcrel n. I wa, to m , Crti P T , 'able time occupied on that befureo, att.! oturt 7 him and Rated, that I conceived Ore heir plaeo ' ' battery of:canto n, it it eld not exceed e t pi , ves the Reong Buildirres necnried for Bull 'i s les; the mortar bole. y thoahl be plact d withn ts let t , covering raid bisildings. lie .:11;:d me ahether was much probability of fueerf , in the re elu t e, hated there were but two tnetinvek ; I did ex either would fucceed : one by efleult had e ms only with partial foccets ; the recoil , ' by b oi l s( ment : else means in our power, to the fellelletee would, in my (spit i in, pr. duce little effeCtin ar e ; of fuel) imtnenle fize as Buena; Ayres, the bail o f which were of combullible materials ; ill trip was only one Bridal t went ?lam pounder; tho a o i propoetion of captured grins were (piked zedi tiroyed ; of the few that were fio a ron t e ero f ti4 of very confideratale cehher was small ; that hil ing feen the trifling effeB prodnced by tweoy e l pounders on houres at Monte Video, 1 Vat erase d gat; of a lighter calibre would proem: ro againft tenures conflrut'ttd of it:oiler eateries, Monte Video. I alto flared it as my opininn,fi e the rough estimate I had been able m 1511 46; Info that the number of troops remainingmereee Spanifh Genera! was dill:riled to give up B um Ayres without a farther RI u_igle, were by now. adequate to controul A mars of armed inhabit and to hold fuel, points a 5 wet e medley lot cline port cf each other. Socre after this, General \V itelncke inFoortede thatedie had fent to General Liniers, to fay, del i would order me to go into the town. I Ewe General Wititelocke fome time after, and rutin hit order, and he gave me a variety of trethalae relative to the pints I was to difcufs with Gem Liniers. I reverted a detailed written otdrele was denied. 1 beli ye, it was about three o'clxi that! went with a flag of truce into the men there met General Linters and his Ofroten. I i queued to know of General Whitelecke, rhea& was to al He by the older: he had printed mat whether, without loflog fight of them, I 0 propofe three or few' other conditions ? that hi enemy increaEd in their deer and,, I might,* out receding from his original orders, hate tow thing to concede for any conceffion they KA make: the terms which he propofed, and !I:rattails would not make any material , alteration, tare tk poffeffien of Monte Video for the period of foe months, and a diflrift comprehended sithin aLs drawn from St. Carlos on the weft, to Pandoostk SECOND BRANCH OF THE TRIAL. I eat!, thould be confidered as neutral : that the General GOWER being called in, commenced hi , niards flanuld deliver up all the prifouers °fur narrative from the dole of the evening of the 4th their pofreflion, and there theuld be no attempt of July. to prevent the introduaion of fupply to the atafel " I met Lieutenant General Whitelocke accord- That the Britifh troops flaould be ermined int" ing In orders, loon after fix o'cl idc on the morning of boundaries, within ten days, and th old realist the sth, a little in front of Coral and Miserari at the and take all cannon and ttores taken from kali time appointed ; I heard him order Captain Frazer the enemy : that during the four months the eo to open the cannonade ; I remained there without merce of the Britifla merchanis lhould be free is ti having any particular order given, till it was nearly River Plate, in every part. The additional prowl dark. During that period I heard Lieutenant Ge. lion which, I had to make, was the ceffion of a owl neral Whitelocke give orders to his Aide de Camp derable quantity of ground on the left bank of Pin relative to frame of the divifions of the troops, but and that that country fhould be conceived men thole orders not having been particularly &retied to d •• g the war, I did converfe with Gam me, I cannot hate what they were. Ab .ut mid -day Lieiers upon each of thefe fubjeels feparatelnall I heard him dire& Captain Whitingham to ga to the ' on one or two more which he propofed, bet fiall left and communicate with Come of the divifion there, which he receded. Finding there was no trai t After a !mare of' tome time, Captain Whitingham lily in his agreeing to the additi , nil propolitiose returned. I heard him flare as part of a report, that receded 'after fume time, and confined 'raga Sir Samuel Anchmuty w illed for a detachment of irely to thofe prin ts re l at iv e t o wl : icb I had artillery to be fent him. I received General Waite dilations from General Whitelocke. Late is locke's direation to provide that party when ready. evening I returned to Plaza de Toros. I took with Come of the muficets captured on the 2d, as they on each of tit fubjeds, under dircuttion, and NM had no arms of that defcriptien. They were additional fubjeets, which General Lioiers prof* marched under Serjeant Hamilton, of the 17th which I inrooded to fubmit to General Whitelei dragoons, who had accompanied Captain IVllitiog- that he might clearly no4erliand. From them° ham to Plaza de Toros. At night General White- I I had, I drew nut a paper in f rm of article,, locke ordered ay the Staff Officers who had I delivered to General White' ieke, nn thefebfe &trembled where I was, to go down with him to head day between eleven and twelve o'clock.. A quarters; we did In, and remained till day-light the i Murray beirig no Nrte, General Whitelockc i next morning. Sometime afterwards I heard Gene- me it was their intend mto agree to a treaty rah Whitelocke order Captain NV/iiiingliane to pro preliminary propolAs. 1 bad given the day teed to the right, and try to open a' communication i on the fncceeding day General Whiteli cite with the right c demns, and thole tro , ps over the Ime to prepare it, which be then delivered tomcat' Chuello. Lieutenant General Whitelocke and offer I thufe propolid ms I had originally repurted. !dal cers with hist, Goon afterwards went up to -C'n; al ;at and it was in fubitance the lame. A fume period of the forenoon Serjeant liarnition, of 1 believe, on the 9tlo General Liniers hegn 1 . 1 the 17th. arrived with a letter, which I law him deli- 4 deliver u p in c h a prop , rt i on ref p r itoners as ca vet to General Whitelocke ; the General g a ve it to m o v e , an d t h at t h en were i n ' Btotnes Apes. fi Captain Squires, and ordered him to read it. and the fame ti . .: received General IVllitelockes m fecondly to me in order to do the fame ; it was in to communicate with Captain Bently. of the 61 1, Spanilh, and to the befl of my recolieaion finned I in the re ember katian of troops from Plata deTc' General Liniers. 1 am not perfeetly mailer of the and vicinity of Buenos Ayres. On that look: i Spanifh language, but I think I uederfland it fnffi continued to be etnpoyed till the nigOt el thealli ciently to flare that it contained in general the effeet i previous to the embarkati n.. produced by the attack of the preceding day, and to Q. Was you with General Villitelede: dieing* it was added a prnpofal for a cefration of hoftili- whole of the s;h ? A IVith the cut/a:inn et f; ties, and for the commencement of a treaty, in i an hour, during which General Whitel . 'c ke which he propofed to give up all prifoners of war in Arent; having ordered the flair ufficet 1, and:midi. his poffeillon, if the Britith troops would evacuate remain where they were. *the River Plate. Lieutenant General Whitelocke Q .: At what period of the day was this ?At A l:e form afterwards informed me that lie intended to midday—l am not certain. anfwer that letter, by raying, lie would cram.. 0 Did you remain with General Whiielecitel it , municare with the Admiral on th e f u bjef.t. He whore of the sth, in contego e nee of orders rat ing was pleased to elk me whether I thought that a that day, or' a previ ,us order ? A. In confeque,7 4 proper aafwer ? I P a id I did no t, b ecau f c i t a of the order which I had received the Fel paired - to me that was a tacit acknowl e d gment tha p- t night to meet him on t h a t morning and receive til he hierarch was willing to enter into a treaty if the orders, and confeqnently Fremaiued whve I" Admiral was. I did not fuppofe he would take-filch 1 did receive diem. a meafure till he had invefligated fads, and had, by Q z. Had you any conrerfation with • s Gem his own obferration, fully afcertained what farther ' Whitelocke on the futeject of yorrr refignipq r means of attack was in his po we r. He P a id it w ould poll ?A. I had foot after he came up. He fal 6 , be dcflrable to gain a little time : howeve I anfwered I _ Q es 8 bsi" i roc ass Ai el &Nu glen et thl 2 : ZH iWjU IN" 111 sir II us Mr. Go r SI