The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-26 00:00:00

APRIL 26.

directed, and act the example of gallantry which was so well followed
hi their men.
Marshal Sir William Beresford assisted me in conducting the details
of this siege, and I am much indebted to hint for the cordial assistance
which I received from him, as well during its progress, as in the last
operation, which brought it to a termination.
'fhe duties in the trenches were conducted successively by the Hon.
Major-General Colville, Major-General Bowes, and iMajor-General
Kent, under the superintendance of Lieut.-General Picton. I have
had occasion to mention all these Officers during the course of the ope-
rations, and they all distinguished themselves, and were all wounded
in the assault. I urn particularly obliged to Lieut.-General Picton, for
the manner in which he arranged the attack of the castle, and for that
in which he supported the attack, and established his troops in that im-
p ,rtant post.
I.teutenant-General Leith's arrangements for the false attack upon
the Pardeleras, and that under Major-General Walker, were likewise
most judicious, and he availed himself of the circumstances of the mo-
nte:it, to push forward and support the attack under Major-General
Walker in a manner highly creditable to him. The gallantry and con-
duct of Walker,
Walker, who was also wounded, and that of the
officers and troops under his command, were highly conspicuous.
l'he arrangements made by Major-General, Colville, for the aitackihy
the 4th division, were very judicious, and hei led them to the attack in
the most gallant manner.
In consequence of the absence, on account of sickness, of Major.
Ccneral Vandeleur and Colonel lleckwith,Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard
cumnianded the light division in the assultif and distinguished him-
self, not lest by the manner in which he made the arrangements Ifor
that operation, than by his personal gallantry hi its execution.
I have also to mention Major-General Harvey, of the Portuguese ser-
vice, commanding a brigade in the 4th division, and Brigadier-Gene-
ral Champlemond, commanding the Portuguese brigade in the 3d divi-
sion, as highly distinguished; Brigadier-General Harvey was wounded
in the storm.

Your Lordship will see, in the list of killed and wounded, a list of
the commanding officers of regiments. In Lieutenant-Colonel MiLeod,
of the 43d regiment,who was killed in the breach, his Majesty has sus-
tained the loss of an officer who was an ornament to his profei;sion, and
was capable of rendering the most important services to bis country. I
must likewise mention Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs of the .57th regiment,
who was wounded, and Major O'Hare of the 9.5:h, unfortunately killed
in the breach ; Lieutenant-Colonel Elder of the 3d, and Major Algeo
of the Ist Cacadores ; Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt, of the 40th, like-
wise wounded, was highly distinguished ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Blake-
ney of the royal fusileers ; Knight of the 27th; Erskine of the 48th ;
and Captain Leaky, who commanded the 23d regiment, Lieutenant-Co-
lonel Ellis having been wounded during the previous operations of the
siege.

fn the sth division I must mention Major Hill, of the Rth Cacadores,
who directed the false attack upon the fort Parde:eras. It was impossi-
ble for any men to behave better than these did. I must likewise men-
tion Lieutenant-Colonel Brook of the 4th regiment, the Honourable
lieutenant-Colonel Carlton of the 44th, and Lieutenant-Colonel Grey
of the 3)th, wbo was unfortunately killed. The 2nd battalion of the 38th
under Lieutenant—Colonel Nugent, and the 15th Portuguese regiment
under Colonel de Regoa, likewise performed their part in a very ex-
emplary manner.
The officers and troops in the 3d division have distinguished them-
selves as usual in these operations. Lieutenant-General Picton has re-
ported to me particularly the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Williams of
the 60th, Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge of the sth, who was unfortunately
killed in the assault of the castle, Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes of the 45th
regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgerald of the bOth, Lieutenant—Colo-
nds 'French and Manners of the 74th regiment, Major Carr of the 83d,
and the Honourable Major Pakenham, Assistant Adjutant-General to
the 8d division. •
He has likewise particularly reported the good conduct of Colonel
Campbell, of the 94th, commanding the honourable Major-General
Ceiville's brigade during his absence In command of the 4th division,
whose conduct I have so frequently had occasion to report to your
Lordship. 'The officers and men of the corps of engineers and artillery
were equally distinguished during the operations of the siege, and in its
tloe. Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher continued to direct the works (not-
withs!anding that he was wounded in the sortie made by the enemy on
the 19:h March), which were carried on by Major Squire and Major
Burgoyne, under his directions. The former established the detach-
ments under Major Wilson in the ravelin of St. Rrque on the night of
the storm; the latter attended the attack of the 3d division on the castle.
l •lare likewise to report the good conduct of Major Jones, Captain Nl-
clv.,!:is and Captain Williams of the royal engineers.
Major Dickson conducted the details of the artillery service daring
~
siege, as well as upon former occasions, tinder the general super-
intend:ince of Lieutenant-Colonel Framingham, who, since the absence
f Majw-General Borthwick, has commanded tie. artillery with this
arnly. I cannot sufficiently applaud the officers and soldi( rs of the Bri-
tl3c aad Portuguese artillery during this siege, particularly Lieutenant-
,,;:ri Rohe, who opened the breaching batteries, Majors May and
,:r'l"mibe, Captain Gardiner and Lieutenant Bouchier, of the royal ar
.",:r.Y; Captain De Ret:ht rg, of the King's German artillery; and Ma-
J''; luilOha of the Portuguese.

231)

Adverting to the extent of the details of the ordnance department
during this siege, to the difficulty of weather, &c. with which Major-
Dickson had to contend, I must mention him most particularly to your
Lordship.
The officers of the Adjutant and Quarter-Master-General's depart-
ments rendered me every asssist nce on this occasion, as well as those of
my personal staff; and I h:.ve to add, that I have received reports from
the general officers commar.ding divisions, of the assistance they received
from the officers of those departments attached to them, the greater
number of whom, and of the:r personal staff, are wounded.
In a former dispatch I reported to your Lordship the difficulties with
which I had to contend, in consevence of the failure of the civil au-
thorities of the province of Alentejo to perform their duty, and supply
the army with means of transport; these difficulties have continued to
exist; but I must also do General Victoria, the Governor of Elvas, the
justice to report, that he, and the troops under his command, have made
every exertion, and have done every thing In their power to contribute
to our success.

Marshal Soult left Seville on the Ist instant, with all the troops
which he could collect in Andalusia; and he was in communication
with the troops which had retired from Estremadura, under General
Drouet, on the 3d, and he arrived at Llerenn on the 4th. I had inten-
ded to collect the army in proportion as Marshal Soult should advance;
and I requested Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham to retire gra-
duafly, while Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill should do the same
front DO.I Benito, and the upper parts of the Guadiana.
I do not think it certain that Marshal Soult has made any decided
movement from Llerena since the 4th, .:Ithough he has patroled for-
ward with small detachments of cavalry, and the advanced guard of
his infantry have been at Usagre.
None of the Army of Portugal have moved to join him.
According to the last reports which I have received to the 4th instant
on the frontiers of Castile, it appears that Marshal Marmont had esta-
blished a body of troops between the Agueda and the Coa, and he had
reconnoitered Almeida on the 3d. Brigadier-General Trant's division
of militia had arrived oit the Coa, and Brigadier-General Wilson's divi-
sion was following with the cavalry, and Lieutenant-General the Conde
D'Amarante was on his march, with a part of the corrs under his com-
mand, to-wards the Douro.
I have the honour to enclose returns of the killed and wounded front
the 31st of March, and in the aassauic of lial.joz, and return of the
ordnance, small arms, and ammunition found in the pioce; I will send
returns of the provisions in the place by the next dispatch.
This dispatch will be delivered to your L..rd,,hip by my Aide-de.
Camp, Captain Canning; whom I beg leave t., recommend to your
protection. He has likesvi‘e the colours of the garrison and the colours
of the liesse D'Armstadt's regiment, to be laid at the feet of his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent. 'fhe French battalions in the garrisons
had no eagles. (Signed) WELLINGTON.