Star. — London, England, 1808-03-16 00:00:00

I 0 contained every means for the erection and for the fervice of fetch batteries, as might be required : no exaft account of the Flores in the arsenal was taken, but I did then, and do now, firmly believe, that there were not lefs than 600 barrels of powder ; I n can whole barrels, of 90 pounds each, Q Who made the report to you 1 A. It was made by a Quarter Mailer. What was year opinion as an artillery officer of the facilities afforded by the Plaza del Toros, for vetting batteries, and other military operations, againft the town ! A. I did confider and etprefs it as my opinion, that the Plaza afforded every facility for the ereftion of batteries agaitat Buenos Ayres. The moll eligible fituation was marked out by Cap tain Squires and ntyfelf. yon at any time confulted by Gen. Whit e on that fubjeft? A. Immediately on my arrival at the Plaza, and after going down to reconnoitre towards the Banks of the Plata, from whence the fort was vifible, and after going from thence to the top of theßetiro, from the top of which I was ordered to come to General Whitelocke, then at the Platt del Toros, I was Aced in a general man ner as to the poffibility of erecting batteries ? I re• plied that there was a place at the dirlance orabout three hondred yards, and after feeing the atfenif and notes taken from the enemy, would give a de cided anfwer ; I did fo, and I made the following anfwer : There is an abundance of ammunition and Rotes, and 1 pledge myfelf that we (hall fucceed and . I bring 36 pieces of artillery to'play u p on the town tomorrow morning. Objections were flatted that Tome of the heavielt guns were (piked. I replied that I would be refponfible that they fbould loon be un fpiked. It was obferved, that the Citadel could not be let fire tn. I replied that the experiment might be en , cre. and that at all events the enemy mtelt be dii. lodged from that quarter of the City ; I mean that tt of the City immediately ezpofed to the fire of Plaza del Toros. Q . _ State as accurately as you can the dinanee* rni the Plaza to the Citadel ? A. About 250 yards a Oraight line. Q Would it have been prafticable, by deftroying r traverfes between the Plaza and the fort, to have 'feed batteries in a fecond parallel ? A. 'With the :w to the derivation of the fort, batteries might ve been erected on the low grounds near the River stn, and it would not have required more than hours to reduce the fort, if battered in breach. Captain Squires, of the Engineers, confirmed Cap in Frater's flatement. Lieutenant-Colonel Tot Rates. Was you with General Whitelocke during the ih of July ? A. Part of the day I was repeatedly fent from him conveying orders. Q. State what orders you received that day ? A. aving been reported about 9 o'clock that morn tg that a body of the enemy'. cavalry had formed our rear, Captain Whittingham and I went by the reneral's orders to reconnoitre them, accompanied ry 16 mounted dragoons, of the 'nth, and about 30 tlifmonneed of the 9th. When I proceeded a conn derahle way, I f arnd that this force was more con- . iclerable than I imagined, and I fent C a p tain Blake, the Minato Adjutant General, to report that I thought it my duty to purfue them ; we were abfent an this duty about three hours, when we returned to the Coral, having fucceeded in difperfing this force, which might have confined of about 100 horfe. About three o'clock General Whitelocke defired me 20 write a woe to Colonel Witheringtoa, who com manded in the centre, to exprefs his furprife at ha ving been told that the men were plundering the ibandoned hooks, and ordering him to oft every ex -.lreton to prevent fuels irregularities. When Captain Whittingham returned from having rep tied Sir lanorel Auchmuty to be in poffeffinn of the Plaza .lel Toros, the General defired me to write to Sir Samuel, ordering him to maintain his prfition, and .emain on the defenfive till he joined him in the morning. Captain Whittingham and 1 were walking together with tome officers of the flaff, on the Coral, And General Whitelocke came up a little after two o'clock, send laid he did not like to order any of us,' but would feel obliged to anyoflicer that would go to the left, and bring information relative to Sir Samuel Auclittuts fituation. Captain Whittingham imme diatcly frered his fervices, and was defired to fele& a fufficient efcort. He took ten or twelve dragenns, and thirty or forty infantry. I underfiond he pro ceeded to the Recolletta, as a marked point, and found I.i, way to the Plaza del Toros; through a great many armed people, wtro repeatedly fired, but having cleared the hedges with his infantry there was no further difficulty in his progrefs. Captain Whit tingham thought it fu effential to bring a report without lnfs of time, that he left the infantry at the Flag a del Toros, and g illoped hack with the dra goons. He reported Sir Samuel Auchniuty's rimers, and his having taken 30 pieces of cannon and above 600 prifoners ; the arsenal containing floret and am. munition, and had opened a communication with the navy. Sir Samuel Auchmuty recommended to General Whitelocke to move to the Plaza, as his head quarters, that night . Q .. Did Captain Whittingham nate to General Whitelocke how lung time he had taken to march to the Plaza del Toros ? A. He made his report about a quarter before four o'clock ; but he did not, in my h.:aring, make any report of the time it took. He was feat off a little after two o'clock, and returned before four. I thould have Elated that Sir Samuel Auchmuty expreffed a great want of artillerymen, and a detachment was fent to him foon after Captain I I Whittinghana's arrival at the Coral. What reafon did General Whitelocke affign for tct repair int; to the Plaza. according to Sir Sa• nWI Auchmuty's with ? A. I underflood that Ge neral WhiteloCke second not quit the centre until he received a report (tom the light flank, particularly from General Crawford. Q .:. Will the exception of this order to Captain Vi'hittingbano do you know of any other attemp t being made by General Whitelocke, perfonally o f etherwife, to fupport or communicate with the di. ferent columns of the army ? A. When I returned from porfuing the cavalry, as I have related, heard that doling my ahlence, the Carabineers and a detachment of the soh dragoons, had been pufhed up one of the central nieces, but repelled with lots. Alamo half pall one o'clock, Brigade Major Crofaley was fent to force his way to the right, with « few dragoons, but he returned in a few minutes and faid. it was impradicabk. lam not Regulated with any other attempts towards co operation. Q . , Do yon know the amount of the force eons poring the refer ye on that day ? A'. There was about 5050,0 r about stso, round GeneralWhitelocke's p . er. , fon, including near too attached s o the commiffartar; and 180 left by the different regiments in charge of their knapfacks. - - - Q. State what pat Ted when you quitted the Coral with General Whitelocke, on the evening of the sth t A. It was nearly datk when we left the Coral. Q . , When you Rated that you heard no other of dens, did you mean to include what paffed atWhite's limo& ? A. Some time after our arrival at White's+ houfe, he ordered a firong guard to keep watch upon the houfe all night. He may have given many other orders without my knowledge, as I was frequently abfent. Q._ Do you know of any other obßaeles which prevented General Whitelocke f rom fupporting or to operating with the columns of the army perfu.. 1 nally, or otherwife, during the sth ? A. Not having: bad any converfation, direaly or indirtaly, with General Whitelocke that day on the Subject of the attack, I am unacquainted with the motives that may have aauated him. I underßood that General Whitelocke waited for reports from the columns , before he decided upon any and what co operation. Crofs examined by General WMJTELOCKE. Q . _ Did you never Lear it reported to me that three of our colours were feta flying on the tops of the buildings, and our men upon the building, when the centre columns were flying ? A. I d remember fuck a report being made by Captain Foß o er. and law the colours alluded to myfelf. Q._ Do yen remember of its being reported, add at what time, that the colours on the fort were !truck ? A. A little part one o'clock flame perfon from the fort reported this, but it was not true ; upon looking with my glafs, I law they were only laying down the flag Raff, the day being remark ably calm. Q. Had you any reafon to fuppofe that any of the General Officers apprehended the failure of the attack on or before the sth? A. I did not hear any loch apprehenfions expreffed by any of the Officers about me on the sth. Qyas any other artillery officer, excepting Capt. Frater, at the Coral, when the artillerymen were fent to Sir Samuel Auchrnuty ? A. There was no other artillery officer at the Coral. Q . At what hour was the report made by Caput t. Foßer ? A. I cannot fay pofitively ; it was abo half pall one when I taw our colours flying. Q_Had not all communication been cut off between the referve and the attacking columns, before that report was made, and could a communication have been kept up without an armed force ? A. All com• munication had been cut off, nor do I think it could have been kept up without an armed force. Qlseßions by the JUDGE ADVOCATE: Q_ Having Rated that no apprehenfions Wert ex• prelied by the General Officers of the faeces of the plan ; do you know if they were ever confulted ? A. I was never prefent at any confultation with the Ge neral Officers, except hearing General Gower (peak to General Whitelocke on the fubjeft. Q._ When Captain Whitt;ngham reported the iota. failure of General Lumley's attack, were no appre, beams expreffed by the Officers around you ? A Captain Whittingharn reported that General Lum ley's brigade had fallen back upon the Toros, with the exception of the 88th regiment, which was taken prifoners, but I heard no apprehenfions expreffed. Q_ Did you hear any orders fent by. General Whitelocke to Colonel Mahon, on the sth ? A. None whatever. Q._ Was any information received from Colonel Mahon on the sth, previous to the attack on fubfe. quent days ? A. No information whatever was re ceived of Colonel Mahon on the 5:11, but it wag pre fumed he was polled to the eau ward of the bridge, in conformity to the orders fent him on the 4th. Q t. Did the General ever propofe to place himfelf at the head of the referve, and penetrate to pip the column. which he had fent out of his fight into the town ?. A. 1 never heard of any loch propofition being made either to or by the General. Q._ Did the General ever go forward himfelf, to afcertain the truth of the reports made to him during the sth ? A. He did not venture to go forward to afceitain the truth of any loch reports ; at lealt he did not do fo while I was with him. Q . Was it underltood by the General ant! the Offi cer. with him, when they retired to White's houfe, that the attack of the army had been fuccefsful ? A. General Whitelocke expreffed great anxiety about •the right ; the imprellion of (tweet's 1 believe was not on the mind of any perfon prefent after the capture of the 88th regiment, but great hopes were enter tained that a favourable pofition had been taken on the enemy's left flank, in confequence of our colours which had been feen flying to our right. Q. Do you know if any meafures were taken. in the courfe of the sth, to afcertain if Colonel Mabtfts had received the orders fent to him, or had taken the pofition he was ordered ? A. 1 know of no loch meafures having been taken. Q . ._ Do you know if the bridge over the Chuello was occupied by the enemy when the head quarters were at White's houfe? A. I did not know if it was, but fuppofed they could not remain there, as their retreat mutt have been cut off to the town. Q_ Was it afcertaincd whether the colours you allude to were flying on the Refidencia, or on the Convent of St. Domingo ? A. The colours I raw were fuppofed to be on the Refidencia, and they were civic down on the river. Colonel Meaux. Q . _ Where did you receive the orde rs of the 4th July? A At Iteduition, on the morning of the stb. Q . State what you did in confequence of that order ? A. I immediately marched, and coming to the Chuello between 5 and 6 in the evening, I found the bridge abandoned. I marched from Redu6ion about twelve o'clock, and taw nothing of the enemy the whole way. oCl z _ Your orders having Rated that you were to take - poll at 2 Short diflance from the bridge, what induced you to proceed beyond it ? A. On ap proaching the bridge, I fent forward to reconnoitre, and finding the bridge was abandoned, I thought it fafelt to croft it. Q .:. On your way from Redudion to the bridge, had you any reafon to know that the Britith troops Were attacking the town ? A. Yes, I recoiled hear- leg * good deal of &ring at hal f poll nein the morn ingw.itid 4ring the day. War your troops, which you have Rated a t Q z : 1800.mcn, in a Rate to have co operated with the at. tacking"columns ? A. Certainty. In what Otuation did your corps pars the night. of the sth ? A. We found cantonments in a village near.the bridge, about 3 miles from the Miferati. ol Q, What orders did you receive in ilk - court - C the fith, and what did yon do in confequence? A. About eleven o'clock Captain Whittinghsm-brought Me orders to march to head quarters and jig the Commander in Cbief. I accordingly marched to the Miferari, where I remained the whole of the 7th; On the Bth I received orders to join General Whitelocke at the Plaza del Toros. Q. Were the troops and artillery under your corn , Maid ever engaged with the enemy during the e. pedition againfl. Buenos Ayres ? A. Th e bodi of, my army never was—the Rankers and rear glyttA' 1 were fometimes Wailed by (mall parties of the eneug. Q ... Had you known the diflreffed Rate of the armY*, could you have co operated with it on thw-night of the sth ? A. I think I could. Captain Ferry It. . 1 I was aid de camp to General Whitelocke on t he sth of July. The firft order I received from Gene• ral Whitelocke that day was about 9 o'clock in the morning, upon hearing Come firing on the left—l was dirt/led to fee from what it arofe. I found it proceeded from our own (entries, who were firing at individuals of the enemy, making their efcape from the town. An officer reported to me that the enemy were collating in Come force farther to the left, apd were menacing our front. and I proceeded to recon noitre their pofition. I found there were about 200 cavalry not formed in any order whatever. which I reported to General Whitelocke . I was Coon after wards ordered to go into the town of Buenos Ayres, and endeavour to afcertain the petitions of . the at tacking columns. I went to the centre,. in the direc tion where I heard the firing—advanced about a mile with a detachment of the 6th dragoon guards and the 9th light dragoons—the firing was very fevere 'from the bottles in the fireets in an attack they had made upon one of the (quotes leading to the fort, and had retired with fs. 1 reported this to General W. I then reconnoitred andobferved, within a mile of the Coral. an intermediate pofition, a Church, from which I law the Rifle corps were firing. some very heavy firing was heard nearer us than this petition, but I could, fee no troops on account of the fmoke. I then returned to General Whitelocke, and made my report about half pall eleven o'clock. I was loon afterwards fent a fecond time to the town, by General Whitelocke, to obferve whether the pofitions were changed, but I found they remained as they were. I endeavoured to penetrate to the right, and likewife to the left, but found it impraelicable, and returned to the General. I feveral times, during the remainder of the day, returned towards the town, to report to the General any thing I law. Nothing particular did occur, and I followed the General after dark to White's houfe. Q, In the report y ou made to General Whitelocke at half pall eleven, did you defcribe the fituation of the high houfe from which you made your obfervi• dons ? A. I did, and added that ;Lamas there I had left the 6th and 9th dragoons—it was within a milel of the Coral. • Q._ Did General Whitelocke make any attempt in the courfe of the sth perfonally to afcertain the pn !Won of the attacking columns ? A. He certainly did not venture to do 1, while I was with him. Q z Do you know why General Whitelocke made no Inch attempt in the courfe of that day ? -A. I not know. Q With the exception of the orders you received, and of thole to Capt.Whittingharn, do you know of any other attempts made by General Whitelocke to communicate with the attacking columns? A. I know of no other attempts. TWENTY SEVENTH DAY. Captain Forraz was again called in. I beg leave to add to my evidence of yeflerday, that I had an efcort of fix men with me, when I at. tempted to penetrate into the town." OCan you judge, from your failure of fuccefs to penetrate with an efcort of fix men, whether you could have fucceeded better if you had fonr or five hundred ? A. Ido not think it would have been very praaicable without a great force. With Soo it might have been done the length of the environs, but not through the town entirely; at leaft it would have been very difficult. Q Have you any reafon to know that a comma &cation might not have been opined with the right Or left flank at any period of the sth, by a proper of cort ? A. At the time I made my fecond report at head quarters, I was informed that Major Crofsley had attempted to penetrate to the right, but without fuccefs. Suppofing Major Crofsley had two of three dragoons only, should you have confislered that to be a proper efcort for opening a communication with any of the attacking columns ? A. I thould not.—, Major Crofsley only vifited the fobutbs of the town ; whereas I was one mile in the town—but in either cafe, I think two or three dragoons muR have bean infufficient. The enemy were fkltting tound the hedges in every direaion. Examined by General WHirtacill. Q .: How long have you been in the fervice ? A. Four and twenty years. Q .: Was you not Lieutenant Colonel of the 24th in Egypt ? A. I was. Q .: Did you not alfo rove in the salve campaigns in the Welt Indies ? A. I ferved nearly feven years in the Welt Indies, both during the war and other w ife. I Q. What was the objea of the advance of the 9th Light Dragoons and Carabineers into the town ? A. They had been Rationed as a referee. and under- Rood they were ordered to advance to fupport the attacking column's. I should fuppofe that they meant to take up a central parlor. General Whitel did not communicate' to me what his ideas wet e, not did I know that there corps were advanced until I met them. Q. Did I never, at any time, mention what my idea was ? A. Yon never did at the time ; in con• verfations fine you may—but I have no recollefilon of them. QtDo you think, after the failure of the gth Light Dragoons and Carabineers, that any force I had, al ter taking care of the artillery, the wounded, Ste. would have been able to force their way through the centre, for the fupport of General Crawf o rd ? kit did not require them to force their way to the con' of the town. General Crawford's- pofition was tights the 6th and gth Light Dragoons wen fatly efficient in the fituation in ahich they oiled, without fending them again. They had teen repulfed, and I do not think a fecond at c - otitcrtiartreeu made without very great luff difficulty. sz__Diel you go into the town en the 6:h or July, in execution of my orders ? A. I did r Ys• • Q .. What obfervations did you report to Me, the state of the inhabitants, and as to the con General Liniers feemed to have over his wil l 7 On the afternoon of the Ath a I was ordered nera.Vithlfelocke, in conlequence of the rep. thins he had received from General Liniers, that ilritiffi polls within the town had tired, and (hot two Spaniard.. This reprefentation was br by a Spanifh officer to the Plaza del Turns, was walking with General Whi elocice, the , General complained of this breach of the true, Paid he would net be anfwerable for the lives , Britt& prifoners. I returned with the Spanifh cer, taking with me an cfcort and a flagof truce an Ana-mice that.. what had atWen was unk our head quarters, and mutt have arifen fro, millake. On arriving at the great !quart the fort, I found it occupied by about three of the armed rabble, who, in the moll inft refufed to acknowledge the flag, or allow m e —They at the fame time infulted the etiort, ling at us, and firing over our heads, with a intimidate us, as I fuppofe ; and we wet e del this way for nearly half an hour, when two officers and fame dragoons mounted, came, and cue. dated me to the barrier of the fort, into which, e a . being opened, the rabble forced their way. I vas with fume difficulty condulled to the room o h m General Liniers was, the avenues of which were at that time filled with an aimed rabble,who werecalling out for Colonel Pack, or " Signior Pack," as they . called him. General Liniers was at this tame drefling himfelf to a numerous body of the rabble who had forced their way,into the room *lore he wale, with feveral Br itith t fficers, who were prifoners, and at that moment had feized en the moil oldie. lent by the neck. I delivered to General Liniers the orders I had received frott General Nis hil t i ac k e , which he apparently explained to the nhh, and they teemed in Conte meafure tranquillifed. 'lhre were at this time one or two ptiefis behind Colonel Pack's chair, with'a •iew to protedt him, as I fhould fop. pole—they bad been all dining, the clnth'was en the table. I then Aced for a Spariith. &cut, and ob. tamed one, in addition to nan own, for this became abfulutely need:try. On going out of the fort into he great lquare, I found the violence of the mob had very much increafed—they offered the fame vio lence to nit. I was detained by them more than an hour, during which , time I was apprehenfive we fhould have, fallen a facrifice, and it was an hour before we got through them to the Plaza del Taos, where I made the fame report I have done now. Q2ellions by the Court. • QI-Inw long was it after this till the defteitira treaty was figned ? A. I did not make my report to General Whitelocke until it was dark. I belief's the definitive treaty was figned that night: After youtreturn from the citadel, did I st Sparta officer come to head quarters? A. Ido not know. Colonel Pack cams about half pan eight, or nine oickck. It . tiaving Rated that you met the 9tll Light Dm goons and the 6th Dragoon Guards retreating on the morning of the sth, do you know what prop ation of the 9th Light Dragoons wasergeged in that ferric ? A. I believe one fquadron. Mier making my floral report to General Whitelocke, I ;-eturned to thetortor and found the whole in that pott . ion. Q z... When you went into the town on the sth, did you olifeive the 131 hills colours had been taken down from the convent of St. Domingo ; and if.fo, did you report that circonotiance to GeneralWhitelake? A. I never law any colours flying, except at the Re. tidencia. and thefe continued flying the *hole of that day. I few our riflemen acing from the top of the St. Domingo building; a thick haze came on between three and four, and I' could not °brave the St. Do mingo Convent any longer. Q . :ieftion by General WHITILOCKII• o gr- unt D ed o d y r o a u g• t n n o s w w i e f re th fr e !was no firing from the fort while I was with them. ,, c m an t n h o e n f.o fi t r t ed ? on A. the ol d t if t ; rile enemy leaned to have merely brought a field Ipiece to the top of the greet, and the fire of it was very ineffedlual. ' Q2eflion by Sir jr.1411 MOOR!. Are you of opinion that General Whitetail had not the means in his power of opening a comma. nication with General Crawford in the mule of the sth, if he had 'applied them for that purpoir ;V° are not to c• nfine your antwer to arty attempt node ,brough else town, but to an attempt in any ()tin! manner ? A. With • General Whitelocke's ahulv force collefted, he might have fought his way, bit it mutt have been dune with great difficulty. Q2eßion by General WHIT&LOCKE. Q; l W OC k k ie e from rm you o which h ib ri ed u h t a n d e f hlfe t ten o five a of the town, did General Whitel ocke exprefs any anxiety to g) there ? A. Mrteconn irifinde and tribfequent report was not confined to one !wine, i !r et General Whitelocke never did cep efs any inci 'at'in 5 s Ge t WCUC to go any where to have a view of the town or of troops. dorrne, 70z, rsdig goiletil batikit Q2ellions by the Court. Qjlid you any meana of knowing that the enert were in itny force between the Itefidencia and hes 4 quarters ? A. I had no means of knowing 'hitt fwce, except from the continual haggling fire felt tip during the whole of the morning. Q : kdow then car, you tell that a co..operatinn with General Crawford would have been difficult, by marchin along the fkirts of the town to the Rein dencia ? A. They mull have done this even *WI difficulty, front the enemy being every where ids hate of preparation. • you, or any other aid de cam p , ever it: eeive an order to penetrate to the rightat all host& it. - I never did. Captain WurrrtNGRAM. The Juwan Acovucare read over the vidence sirs's by Lieu:enant Coluuel Torrens yetlcerdaYl ner as to I plied that three hone and fibres tided anfw anfwer : floras, and bring 36 p to mor row fome of th , I would b fpiked• II be let fire tn , de. ant ludged fro • part t•f tl the Plaza Q Stal from the in a Ilraii Q._ We any trave et eeted 1:K view to t have been ar two hour Cantai tain Frat sth of Jt abfent fr Q. St I t I avin icy?, that in our ri Genera! by 16 m difmonn derahle fiderabl , the A(1 though' on this the Cur, which About to write mandec ving be abando ertion t Whittle Samuel del To! Sarrotel remain mornin togethe and Gi o'clock but we the left Alla If diatcly a fulfie and th cceded found great . havinf no fur tinglw Flair goon • and h 600 p Inunit navy. Gene head Qz. Whit the P a cin. was be for • Ancl and Whil Q for ai neva' recei from Q Whi heir. • othe fere! fror !lei!! a di up I Alai di d • • . 0 rclatel nugh the A. It ofaibili al i , whaasizito,nhcoe :Tt ,he ce coilogl.. r t . ati at were p er. • Si 4 g o hey w elt d attempt a . 11 ,4, 0 * hits and ' • so all iAT 7th of 0 1 • id cz both arc'' ADM the, as to cottrual 1 • 64 15 s ?A. i ibisght_l :c1 by G : . -NM reprehm o . rs., that the nd aAaap T V as brono t Ds, when 1 he Spanifo, • tru ce , and 411 ,Ives of the , paniih O. f truce, with unknown at from f ont ill! • 'e leading to • dill ee thoufand t • fulling way, me to par s; ist arm :on, by fp** ilea th a view to Clot Cie l detained io two Sp.oigt ." eag " 11 ml 0(1 so rt