The National Register. — London, England, 1812-02-09 00:00:00

~. -r---~., THE NATIONAL REGISTER. i • t Major-sic:l. benKienon's brigade. Thus these regiments not only effect uae , .•svei eta Lae :Toni the trenchLs of Niajor-Gen. M`Kinnon:s brigack by their first movements and operations, but they preceded them In the attack. iNlsjor-General Craufurd and Major-GeperalVaodeleur, and the troops of the light division on the left, were likewise very forward on that side; and in less than half an hour from the time the attack_com menced, our troops were in possession of, and formed on the ramparts of the place, each batty contiguous to the ether. The, enemy then sub mitted, having sustained a considi_rahle loss in the contest.. Our loss was also, I am concerned to add, severe, particularly in Officers of high rank and estimation in this army; Major-General M‘Kintion was unfortunately blown up by the accidental explosion of one of the enemy's expence magazines, close to the breacle, after he had gallantly and successfully led the troops under his command to the attack. Major-General Crauford likewise received a - severe wound while he was leading on the Light Division to the storm, and I am ap. prettensive that I shall be deprived for. some time of his assistance. Ma. jor-General Vandeleur was likewise wounded in the same manner, but not so severely, and he was able to continue in the field. I have to add to this list Lieut.• Colonel Colborne of the 52d- regiment, and Major George Napier, who led the storming party of the Light Divi sion, and was wounded on the top of the breach'. I have great pleasure in reporting to your Lordship the uniform good conduct, spirit of enterprize, and patience and perseverance in the performance of great labour, by which the General- Officers, Officers, and troops of the Ist, 3d, 4th, and Light Pivisiens, • and Brigadier- General l'ach's brigade, hy, whom the siege was carried on, have been distinguished during the late operations. Lieutenant-General laraliam assisted me in superintending the conduct of the details of the siege, besides performing the duties of the General Officer commanding the Firit Division ; 'and I am' much hidebted to the Suggestions and assist ance I received from him for the success of this enterprize. The conduct of all parts of the third division; in the operations which they performed with so much gallantry and exactness on the evening of the 19th, in the dirk, afford the strongest proof of the abilities of Lieutenant-General Picton and Major-General M‘Kinnon, by whom they were directed and led ; but I beg particularly to draw your 1 ord ship's . aftention its ele conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel O'Toole, of the 9d . casadores, of Major Ridge, of 2d battalion sth foot, of Lieutenant- Colonel Campbell of the 94th regiment, of Major Manners of the 74th, and of Major Grey of the 2d battalion sth foot, who has been twice wounded during this siege: It is but justice also to the 3d division to report, that the men who performed the 6F, beloriged to the 45th, 74th, and 88th regiments, under the corAtnand of Captain IVl‘Lend, of the royal engineers, and Captain Thomson,--of the 74th, Lieut. Beresford, of the 88th, and Lieut. Met calfe, of the 45th, and they distinguished themselves tot less its the storm of the place, than they had in the performance of their laborious duty during the siege. I have already reported in my letter of the 9th instant, my sense of the conduct of Majar:Generil Craufurd, and of Lieut.-Coloneleolborne, and of the troops of the light division . in the storm of the redoubt of St. Franciscce• on the evening of the Bth instant; 'ft% conduct of these troaps was equall illstinguished throitghour the stem and in 'the storm, nothing could_ exceed gallantry with which these brave Officers and troops advanced aild acclemplishedlire'difficuit - nperatitin endued:to them, notwithstanding that all their leaders had fallen. _ _ _ 'Ku titularly request your . -Lordshio's'ittetition• to the conduct of Ma jor-Geni.ral Craufurd, Iliajor-General Vandelenr, Lieut.-Colonel Bar h:trd, of the 95th, Lieut.-Colonel *Colhorre, Alajor Gibbs, arid Major Napier, "of the 52d, and Lieut.-Colonel' M‘Leod, of the. 43d. The conduct of Captain *Duffey, of the'43da and that of Lieut. Gurwood, of the 53d reAtnent, who was Wounded, haw likewise been particu larly- reporte.l tct me Lieut.-ColonerElder, and the 3d-Cacadores were upon this occasion. • The ist Pottogne , ,e regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Hill, and the 16th, under Colonel Carupl , elt, being Brigadier-(feat. Pack's brigade, were likewise distinguished in the stortr,• under the command of the Briga; die -General, who particularly mentions Major Lynch. hi my dispatch of the 15th, I repbrted tft your Lordship the attack of the Corevnt tit .'.'tatitia Cruz, by the troops (f the Ist division, under the direction of Littutehatit•General Orzlitani, and th.lt of the Convent of Saint Francisco," on the 14th 'inq. nndee the• direction of Major- General the lion. C. Colville: *The iirst-tnentoned enterprise was per formed by capbin 'Laroche de Staeitenfels, of the Ist line battalion Kings German Legion ; the last by Lieutenant-Coionel* Harcourt, with the 40th regiment. This regiment retrained from that time in the sultut b of Saint Francisco, and materially assisted our attack ob that side of the piace. Althoogli it did not fall to the lot of the troops - of the Ist and 4tit, di visions to bring these operations to their successful close, they distin guished themselves throughout their- progress, by the patience and per severance with which they performed the labours of the siege. The Brigade of Gdards, under Major-General H. Campbell, was particu larly distinguished in this respect. I Lk- - • request vt - Lordship's attention to the conduct of Lieut.- f and of Brigade Major Jones, f the Royal Engineers. The' ability with carried on exceeds all praise; and I beg )3cers to your L'X'Clalip most particularly. FEII. 9 Maj.,r Dighsun, of the royal artallery, attached to the Portuguese ar. tillery, hass - for some time had the direction of the heavy train attached to this army, and has conducted the itnricate 4,cfills of the late opera. doll, as he did those of the late sieges of Badajo*, in the last sum.. mer, 'pitch to my satisfaction. The rabid execution produced by the well-dtrectt d fire kept up from our batteries, affords the. best proof of the merits of the Officers and men of the royal artillery, and of t h e Bortu r inese artillery employed on this occasion. But I must particularir mention Brigade-Major May, and Captains t-felcombe, Power, Dyne ley, and Dundas, of the royal artillei - y, and: Captains Da Cunha anu D a Corte, and Lieutenant Silva, of theist regiment of Portuguese artillery. I have likewife . partienlariy to report to your Lordship, 01, conduct of Major Sturgeon, of the royal staff corps. He consti ucted and placed fur us the bridge over the Agueda, without which the enterprise could not have been attempted, and he afterwards materially. assisted Lieut.. General Graham and myself, in our reconnoissance of the I.lace,lon whieh the, plan of the attack was founded; and he finally conducted the 24 battalion sth 'regiment, as well as the 2d Cagadores, to their peintl of attack. The Adjutant .General, and the Deputy Quarter-Master-General, and the officers of their several departments, gave me -every assistance throughout this service, as well as those of my personal staff; and I have great 'pleasure in adding,.that, notwithstanding the season of the year, and the increased difficulties of procuring supplies for the troops, the whole army have been well supplied, and every branch of the service provided for during the late operations, by the indefatigable ex. ertions of Mr. Commissary-General Bisset, and the officers belonging to his department. The Martha' del Campo, Don Carlos d'Espana and Don Jul!an Sanchez* observed the enemy's movments beyond the Tonnes, (luring the operations of the siege.; and I am much obliged to them, and to the pehple of Castile in general, for the assistance-I received from them. The latter have invariably shown their detestation of the French ty ranny, and their desire to contribute by every means in their power to remove it. I will hereafter transmit to your Lordship a detailed account of what we have found in the place ; but I believe there are one hundred and fifty three pieces of ordnance, including the heavy train belonging to the French army, and gr,l:at quantities of ammunition and stores. We have the Govetnor, General Bonier, about seventy-eight officers, and one thousand seven hundred men, prisoners. • I transmit this dispatch by my Aide-de-Camp, the Hon. Major Gordon, who will give your Lordship any further details you may re quire ; and I beg leave to recommend - him to your protection. I have the honour to be, &c. WELLINGTON. inclose a return of the prisoners and of theorduance which has been taken on this occasion. I have not yet been able to collect the returns of the killed and wounded, I therefore transmit a list, containing the names of those who have fallen, according to the best information I could obtain, and I will forward the returns to your Lordship as soon as possible. Return of Killed and Wounded between the 15th and 19th of January. British loss-1 Serjeant, 25 rank and file, killed; 4 Captains 5 Lieute• nant3, S Serjeauts, 15:3 rank and file, wounded. Portuguese 1055.,.-1 Serjeant, 15 rank and file, killed ; 3 Lieutenants, 77 rank and ille, wounded. Names of Officers 'Vtrounded between 15th and 19th of January. 15th JANUAKY. , -- Royal Engineers, Captain .Molcaster, slightly; Lieutenant Skelton, severely, since dead. Portuguese Artillery—Second Lieutenant Roberts, slightly. .16th. j NOAR Y.— Royal, Engineers—Captain M'Cullock, severely ; Lieutenant Marshall, slightly. 2d Batt. sth Foot, Ensign Ashford, se verely. 14th Regiment, Lieut. Ramage, slightly. Ist Batt. 88th, Lieut. Arinstrong, slightly; Lieut. Flack, dahgerotisly. 18th JAN.—Portuguese Artil. Lieut. A. De Corta Silva, slightly. 191 h JAN. —Royal Artil. Capt. pytieley, slightly; Capt. rower, ditto. Names of Officers Killed and Wounded on the night of the 19th of Jan. according to the best information that can be obtained; the Returns not yet received. . Kateeo.-:- , Major-Gen. McKinnon. 2d Batt. sth Foot—Capt. M‘Dou gall. Ist Batt. 45th Foot—Capt. Hardy man. Ist Batt. 52d.Foot—Capt. J. Dobbs. • 9.fth` Foot—Capt. Williktn son. Wourinerl.—Major-Gen. Craufurd, severely. Major-Gen. Vande leur, slightly. Royal Engineers—Lieut: Thompson, severely. 43d Foot Ferguison, slightly. 52d Foot--lieut.-Col. Colborne, severely, Major George Napier, lost an arm ; Lieut. Gurwood, slightly. 77th Foot—Capt. M'Lean, severely, (lost a leg). 88th Foot—Lieut. Beres? ford, slightly. 95th Foot—Capt. Uniacke, severely. Ist Portuguese Artillery—Capt. Queerle. 3.l Division.--50 non-commissioned officers and rank and file killed.; 70 ditto wounded. Lrght Di vision.--14 non-commissioned officers and rank and file killed; 60 ditto wounded. General Pack's Brigade.-9 uonecommissioned. officers and rank and file wounded. . • • • e SATURDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE. lORZIGN-OFPICE, FIBAVART 8, 1812. His Excellency the Duke del Infantado, has transmitted to the Mar quis Wellesley . , his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State fir Foreign FA L ,-..i.e request your Lo Colon ".Fie:teber, tt Chief a •ir men of 411 ,, .; rt )• . ere • _ , /./e% \- " f " • • • aof T