The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-20
From The Richmond (pa.) Dispatch.
Battle OF fCorunna-Deuth and Burial OF Sir
John Moore.

''No useless coffin confined his breast,
Nor in sheet, nor III shroud, we bound him,
But he lay like n warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around ltitu.
There il scarcely any person who reads at all
that has not read of Sir John Moore and the battle
Of Corunna. Far more important battles than that
of Corunna have passed almost from the memory
of manknd far more distinguished names than
than of Moore have either perished along with the
! memory Of the deeds which gave them momcn-
tary Importance, are buried 50 profoundly be
meath the rubbish of history, that no antiquarian
thinks it worth the trouble TO disintcr them But
Moorcs memory is emhalmcd il 'lhc verse that
Immortality saves it will live as long as the noble
ballad in which II is preserved shall exist; and that
will probably be as long as the language IN which
il is written continues to be spoken. here is ro-
mantle interest attached 10 his story, and wild
grandeur connected with the manner Of his burial
which peculiarly adapt them to the use OF the
poet.
On this day, iorty-two years ago, (thc 10th
January, 1900 Sir John Moore was killed in the
battle of Corunna, and at the dead OF night was
buried upon the ramparts OF that ancient city, rem
dercd forever classical by the events which took
place in its ncig hborhood at that time.
In the autumn of lS0S Sir John Moore was
placed i'll command of the British army IN Portu-
gal. and received orders from England TO advance
into Spain, and yield every possible assistance 10
the Spapiards, who had collected immense armies
on several points, and appeared determined to re-
sst to the last drop OF blood the appropriation of
their kingdom which had been made Uy the Empe-
| ror Napoleon French army had already been
captured in the south of Spain ana the spirit OF the
people was, to all appearances, fairly roused' In
| the mean time however, Napoleon himself was not
idle. lie directed Immense forces to assemble IN the
northern provinces of Spain, and leaving the con-
ferenccs at Eriurt, passed rapidly through Parls,
and arrived about the middle of November at VT
/ toria. lie Immediately set his immense armies in
motion, and they moving through the entire breadth
of Spain in its northern portion, swept the spanish
forces before them like chnff before the wind. On
the 9Th of December he entered Madrid IN person,
| m O thousand
armies having been utterly annlhliated, and no
| portion of the whole country Offering resistance,
except the heroic city Of Saragossa AZ TINS point
he gathered in his forces, and vas preparing Tor
descent upon the southern provinces, winch must
have resulted in their entire subugatlon, when his
attention suddenly called 10 the north OF Spain.
Ignorant of the utter dispersion OF the Spanish
armies. and continually urged Ivy the British Min.
stcr in Spain, Sir John Moore had, carly III Deocm
ber advanced as far into ihlt country as Saiaman-
| ca. Napoleon had heard OF tins nt MADRID, but
never dreaming that Moore could be ignorant oil
his successes, he presumed OF course, that he would
retreat into Portugal and regain his ships. which
| were lying al Lisbon. While he Wah preparing In
I proceed to the sou'h h, hc received communication
from Marshal Soult, who was al Carton with about
| twelve thousand men, that the Bntsh army, IN
stead of retreating bad advanced and mat he ex-
pcced 10 be assaiied III his position by force more
than double as large as hi5 own Moore, IN iact'
after he had learned The destruction OF the Spanish
armies, had taken the bold step OF advancing into
Spain, turning Napoleon > attention upon himself.
anu ny utaWlng hlH OH lIulll ''.N fVuti.i" pr
NlncCs, giving the Spanards ilhio to rouse from the
shock and again prepare for the defence oi their IN
! dependence. lie proposed tarthrr to lead Napoleon
dance through the province OF Gallicia, TO embark
at Coruuna and to convey his army to the south OF
! Spain. he French emperor did not hesitate mo
ncnt TO rclinquish his designs upon the south. lie
! wrote Instantly to Sout to receive the attack Of
Moore and To retreat carrying him as far into thu
! interior possible, that he might get him be
! tween two other French armies, while Sout was IN
front. and he himsel advancing 70 close up the rear
aud cut him on completely from Gallcia.
The French army was Immediately fet IN motion
50 eager was Napoleon to grasp the prize, that IN
! the iuidst OF violent storm of SNOW, rain, and
scct, over roads almost inpassahlc. lac urged for
ward fifty thousand men, with tWo hundred pieces
! OF cannon, So rapidly that thcy passed over tht