The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-02-05 00:00:00

find had opened on the 18th, had been renally-eident still fur. i
titer to the left, and opposite to the suburb of t. Francisco.—
I therefore determined to sterna the place, notwithstandiag that
the approaches had not been brought to the crest of the glacis,
and the countersearp of the-ditch was still entire. The attack
was accordingly made yesterday eveuing in five separate co-
Ittmns. consisting of the troops of the 3d and light division', and
of Brigadier-General Pack's brigade, The two right columns,
conducted by Lient.-Colonel O'Toole, of (belief Cacao's's. and
Major Ridge..of the sth regiment, were destined to protect the
advance of Major-General 31•Kitinon's brigade, forming the
third, to the top of the breach in the tausse Bray wall, and all
these, being composed of troops of the 3d division, were under
the direction of Lieut.-General Pitton. The fourth column.
consisting of the 43d and 524 regiments, and part of the 95th
regiment, being of the light division, under the direction of Ma-
jorsCieneral Craufurd, attacked the breaches on the left, In front
of the suburb of ht. Francisco, and covered the left bf die at-
tack of the principal breach by the troops of the 3d division;
mid Brigadier-General Pack was destined with his brigade,
forming the sth calcine, to make &Table atincit opoo the south-
ern face of the fort Besides these five columns, the 94th reed-
aunt, belooging to the 3d division, descended into the ditch in
two colunuri,ou the right of Major-General M'Kinnon's brigade,
with a view to protect the descent of that body into the ditch,
and its attack of the brenek in the Fame Braye, against the ob-
stacles which it was kin,* the enemy would construct to op-
pose their pnsgress'.. . •
All these attacks ernithetied; and lliiiatiler-General Pack
even surpassed my expeciations, hiviag coaverted his false at-
tack into a real one ; 'mirth's advanced guard;' under the com-
mand of Major Lynch, having followed the enemy's troops
from the advanced works into the Fausse Braye, where they
made prisopers of all opposed to them. Major Ridge, of the 2d
battalion of the sth regiment, having escaladed the Fause
Bmyesraft, stormed the principal breach in the body of the
place, together with the 94th regiment, commanded bi Lieute
nant-Celottel Campbell, which had moved along the ditch at the
sane time, and had !termed the breach in the Faure Braye,
both in front of Majoe-hene al M'Kinnnn's brigade. Thus
these regiments not only effectually coVered, the advance from
the trenches of Major.Geoeral M'Kinnon's brigade by their first
movements and operations, but they preceded tken do the at-
tack. Major-General Craufurd and Major-General Vandeleur,
Mid the troops of the light divition on the left, were likeeise
very forward ins that side ; and in• less than half an hour from
the time the attack commenced, our troops were is possessien
of, and formed on the ramparts of the place, each body ennti-
guous to the other. The cnerns then eubmitted, having sustained
considerable loss in the contest. Our loss was also, lam con.
corned to add, severe, particularly in officers of high rank and
estimation is this army. Major.heneml M'Kinnon was unfor-
tenatcly blown up by the accidental explosion of sue of the
enemy's expence magazines, close to the breach, after he bad j
saliently and successfully led the troops under his command to
the attack. Major-General Craufurd likewise received a severe
wouni %%bile he was leading on the light diiision to the storm,
mid I am apprehensive that I shall be deprived for some time of
hisassistance. Major-General Vandeleur was likewise wounded
in the same manner, bat not so severely, and he was able to
continue in the field. I have- to add to this list Lieutenant-Col.
Colborne, of the 524 regiment, and Major George Napier,
who led the storming party of the light division, and was
wounded on the top of the breach.
I hare great pleasure in reporting to your Lordship the uni-
form gond conduct, spirit of eaterprise, and patience and per.
Entrance in the performanee of great labour, by which the ge-
neral officers, officers, and troops of the Ist, Stl, 4th, and Light
Divisions, and Brigadier-General Pack's Brigade, by litmus the
siege was carried on, have been distinguished during the Late
9: erations. Licetenant-heneral Graham assisted me in superin-
tending the conduct of the details of the siege, besides perform-
ing the duties of the genera/ officer commending the first division ;
and I am much indebted to the suggestions and susistance 1 re-
ceived from him for the success of this enterprise. The conduct
of all parts of the 3d division, in the operation* which they per-
formed with so much gallantry and exactness oa the evening of
the 19th, in the dark, afford the strongest proof of the abilities of
Lietitenapt-General Picton and Major-General Mac Kinn6n,
by wham they. they were directed and led ; but I beg parti-
cularly to drew your lordship's attention to the conduct of
Llentemust-Colonel O'Tnole of the 24 Cacattores, of Ma-
p, Ride- of Id battalion sth Foot, of Lieutenant-Co-
lonel Campbell of the 94th Regiment, of Major Manners
of the 74th, and of Major Grey of the 2d battalion sth Foot,
who bas been twice wounded during this siege. It is but jug-
Mee also to the Sd division to report, that the men who performed
the sap belonged to the 43th, 74th, and 88th regiments, under the
command of Captain M'Lcod, of the Royal .Engineers, and
aptain Thompson, of the 74th, Lieutenant Beresford. of
VIE! 88th, and Lientenant Metcalfe of the 4.i,h, and they dis-
tingetsited themselves not lea in the stone of the place, than
they had in the perfornethee of their laborious duty during :lie
siege.. I have already reported in my letter of the 9th inst. my
the viaduct of Major-General Craufurd, and of Lieut..
Colopel Culberne, and of the troops of the light division in the
storm of the redoubt of St. Francisco, on the evening of the Bth
last. The conduct of these troop; was equally distinguished
throughout the siege, and in tS.e storm, nothing cored exceed
the gallantry' with which these brave officers and troops ad.
canted aid aecomplished the difficult operation allotted to them,
notwithstanding that all their leaders bad fallen.. In parties.
torte request your Lordship's attention to the coedect of Ma-
jar-General Cranfurd, Major-Cenral Vandrleur, Lieutenant.
Colonel Barnard of the 95th, Lieutenant-Colonel Colborne,
Major Gibbs and Major Napier cf the 52d, and Lieutenant-
Colonel 51' Le od of the 43d. The conduct of Captain Duffey of
the 43d, and that of Lieutenant Gurwortil of the 59d regiment,
who was wounded, have likewise been Particularly reported to'
me; Lieutenant-Colonel Elder, and the Id Caradores were
likewise distinguished open this occ.i.sion. The lit Portuguese'
Kgiment, tinder Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, slid the 16th, under
colopelSoipbelli. being Brigadier-hernial Pack's brigade,
. merelikawiseadistioguished in the storm, •unfirithe command of
the Brieedier-fieneral, who particularly mentions Major Lynch:
In mv diepeteh of the 15t11, I reported 16 your Lordship the
mt lick of the Cos:vent of Santa Cruz, by the troops of the Ist
division, under the direction of Lie.uttetant-Gsperal (c lean,
and that of the Convent of St. Crancieco, on the 14th lowans,
under the direetiqn of Major-!general the lion: C. Colvele. 'The
first-mentioned enterprize was performed 'by Captain larotthe
. de iteckeofels; of the let Liu* Iluttalieu Kings Gentian Le-
gion ; the last by Lieutenant-Colanel Harcourt, with the 40th
Reginomt. This regiment remained from that 'time In the subtrrb '
of St. Francisco, and materially nssiszed our attack on that
ride of the place. Although. it did not fall to the lot of the
troops of the lit and 4th divi..ions to blew thew operation, to
their succesefut close, they distingeished themselves throughout
their progress, by the patience end perseverance wit which
they performed the labours of the siege. The brigade orleards,
under Major-Getter:a 11, Campbell, was particularly ejlstiaw
guisbed is th# respeet
I likewise request Poor Lordship's attention to the conduct of
ticuenant-Colnitel Fletcher, ku, chicf Lngineer, and of BA.
rile Major Jones, and the 011c:41-end men of the Reyet
lia-
tineery.The ability with which thew operations were carried
pe exceeds all praise; and 1 leair to revmame" those 131 '
titers to your Lordship most particularly. Mejor Dickson, of
tble Royal Artillery, attached to the Portuguese artillery, has
for twee time bed the direction of the heavy train attached to
this army, end has conducted the isitricate dethib of late
Ortratiossi as lee did those of the late sieges of Badajes, iti the
OM summer, much to my lath:faction. The rapid execution pro.
fluted by rim well-directed pre kept up from oar batteries, af-
ford) the 'tett onot of the merits of the Mcera aid men of the
final Artilfery, ma of the Portuguese artillery nurnyed on
ibis oiasitiePt Put I must Parsieulaill Prirdc-Maioe
reteleitts FlefeutObe, Pewee, DI parYi OMl•Pqrsdesi
cittaine Soltie wed P Psr

°

-~..• ~ .~. r;

- ~

t_

". ~~.

- -.-~ _~