The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-14

brigade WAS esmyre~eed and completed by in,
the afternoon maiar-general BeresEord, with
that zeala ability which is SO well known to
yourself and the: whole army, having fully ex-
ptared To the satisfaction of the Spanish govern
or, the nature ofour movement, and having, made
every previous arrangement, withdre " his corps
from the land front of the town soon after dark
and was with all The wounded that had not
been previously moved, embarked before one this
morning.. y
Circumstances forbid us to indulge the hope,
that the victory with which it has pleased plo.
Sideffce to crown the efforts of the army, can be
attended with any brilliant consequences to G..
Britain. II is clouded by the loss of one Of her
best soldiers. It has been achieved at the termi-
nation OF 4 long and harrassing service. The SUI
perior numbers, and advantageous position of the
enemy, not less than the actual situation Of this
army, did not admit of any advantage being
reaped from success. 1t must be however to
you, TO the army, and to our country, the sweet
est reflection, that the lustre of the British arms
has been maintained, amidst many disadvantage
Gus circumstances. The army which had en-
tered Spain, amidst the fairest prospects had no
sooner completed its function, than owing to the
multiplied disasters that dispersed the native ar
mics around us, it was left to its own resources
The advance ofthe British corps from the Due
10, afforded the best hope that the south of
Spain, might be relieved, but this generous eff.
fort to save the unfortunate people, also afforded
the enemy the opportunity of directing every eff
fort OF his numerous troops, and concentrating
all his principal resources for the destruction of
the only regular force in the north of Spain.
You are well aware with what diligence this sys-
tenn has been pursued These circumstances
produced the necessity of rapid and harrassng
marches, which had diminished the numbers, ex-
hausted the strength and impaired the equip
ment Of the army Notwithstanding all these
disadvantages, and those more Immediately at
tached to a defensive position, which the mpe-
rIous necessity of covering the harbor of Corrun-
ma for time had rendered indispensable to as
sume, tine native and undaunted valor of British
troops was never more conspicuous, and must
nave exceeded what even your own experience
OF that invaluable quality so inherent in them,
may have taught you to expect. When every one
that had an opportunity seemed to vie in improv-
ing lit is difficult fer in making this report,
to select particular instances for your Appreciation
The corps chiefly engaged Were, the brigades
under major generals lord VIM Bentinck, and
Manningham, and Leith, and the brigade Of
guards under major-general Warde-To these
officers, and the troops under their immediate
orders, the greatest praise is due. Major gen.
eral Hill and colonel Catlin Crawford, with their
brigades on the left of the position, ably support.
ed their advanced posts-The brunt of the &C
ton fell upon the 4th, 42d, 50th and 8lst regi
ments, with parts of the brigade of guards, and
the 26th reglment-From Lieutenant colonel
Murray, quarter general, and the officers
of the general staff, received the most marked
assistance-I had reason to regret that the ILL
ness of brigadier general Clinton. adiutant gen
erai, deprived me of his add was indebted to
brigadier-general Slade during the action. for
jealous offer ofhis personal services, although
the cavalry were embarked The greater part
OF the fleet having gone to sea, yesterday evening
| the whole being under weigh, and the corps in
the embarkation necessarily much mixed on
board tits impossible to lay before you at pre-
| sent return of our Casualties l hope the loss
| in numbers is not so considerable as might have
been expected. III was obliged to form an es
innate, should say, that believe it did not cx-
coed in killed and wounded from seven to eight
! hundred; that of the enemy must remain lln-
known, but many circumstances induce me to
| rate 1t at nearly double the above number. We
| have some prisoners, but have not been able to
obtain account of the number, IT is not
| however considerable. Several officers of rank
have fallen or been wounded, among whom am
only at present enabled to state the names ofleu-
| tenant colonel Napier, 92d regiment--maiors
Napier and Stanhope, >5oth regiment, killed /;
| lieut.. colonel Winch, 4tll regiment, lieut. col
Maxwell, 25th regiment, lieutenant colonel Fame,
5eth regiment, lieutenant col Griffith, guards,
| majors Miller and Williams, 8lst regiment,
Wounded'-To you who are we'll acquainted with
the excellent qualities of lieutanant general sir
| John Moore, need not eXpatiate on the loss the
| army & his country have sustained by his death
His fall has deprived me of valuable friend, to
| whom long experience of his worth had sincere
iy attached me. But tits chiefly on public grounds
that must lament the blow. Ii will be the con-
versation ofe every one who loved or respected
| his manly character, that after conducting the
| army through an arduous retreat with consum-
mate firmness, he has terminated career of dis.
| tnguished honor by death, that has given the
enemy additional reason to respect the name of a
| British soldier. Like the immortal Wolfe, he is
snatched from his country at early period of a
/ life spent in her service like Wolfe, his last
moments were gilded by the prospect of sue
cess, and cheered by the reclamation of victory
like Wolfe, also, his memory will forever re-
main sacred in that country which he sincerely
loved, and which he had so faithfully served 1t
remains for me only TO express my hope, that
you will be speedily restored to the service of
| your country, and to lament the unfortunate cir
| cumStance that removed you from your station
in the field, and threw the momentary command
| into far less able hands
have the honor TO be, &c.
JOHN HOPE, Geut. general.
To IT. gen. SIR DAVID BAIRD, &c. &c.
| Cofiy ofa letter from The hon. Michael De