Battle of Montevideo ( 1807 ) The Battle of Montevideo was a battle between the British and Spanish Empire s during the Napoleonic Wars , in which British forces captured the city of Montevideo . It formed part of the British invasions of the River Plate . Locally it is remembered as the Siege of Montevideo ( ) . The Prelude . In the early morning of 3 February 1807 , 3 , 000 British troops under Brigadier General Sir Samuel Auchmuty attacked the city of Montevideo . The city ' s capture was preceded , on 20 January , by an action outside the town , the Battle of El Cristo del Cardal ( or Battle of Cardal ) , in which the 60th Rifles and the 95th Foot ( later the Rifle Brigade ) , especially distinguished itself by an outflanking movement which turned the tide of the battle in favour of the British . About 800 local combatants , mostly non - professional soldiers , became casualties , of whom about 200 were killed . Total British casualties were about 70 killed and wounded . The Assault . Montevideo was put under siege from that date and its capture began at about 2 : 00 A . M . , 3 February , having been preceded by several days of bombardment of the weakest part of the defensive wall at a point very close to the site of the modern Anglican cathedral . Once the breach was large enough , the assault began under heavy fire from two contiguous bastions held by the defenders , and was hampered by hides the defenders added to the wall to partially fill the breach . Casualties amongst the British soldiers were heavy as the troops sought an entry point , while being caught in a constant cross - fire . Finally the breach was located , first by Captain Renny , 40th Regiment of Foot ( later the South Lancashire Regiment ) , who was killed in the act of attempting to get through the breach , and secondly by Lieutenant Harry Smith , of the 95th Regiment of Foot . The latter , in this ; his first campaign , would later become famous as Lieutenant General Sir Harry Smith . Once inside the walls , the British continued to meet heavy resistance , but they gradually spread out and forced back the defenders . At this point in the battle two leading British officers , Lieutenant - Colonel Brownrigg , 11th Foot , commanding the light infantry detachment , and Lieutenant - Colonel Vassal 38th Foot , were mortally wounded . A forlorn hope was formed by a small detachment of the 54th Foot . This was followed by the combined , elite light infantry and grenadier companies of the regiments involved , as well as the 95th . Next in line were the 38th Foot , followed by the 40th Foot . Two cavalry detachments , from the 17th Light Dragoons and 20th Light Dragoons and 21st Light Dragoons , formed the reserve and rearguard , together with the 47th Regiment of Foot and a small detachment of recruits for the 71st Regiment of Foot ( later the Highland Light Infantry ) . A detachment of Royal Marines was also present . Reinforcements for the defenders came en route from Buenos Aires , so that the rapid success of the operation was essential . Meanwhile , at the other side of the peninsula , on which the Old City of Montevideo stands , the 87th Foot ( later Royal Irish Fusiliers ) were waiting together with a company of the 95th at the city ' s second main gate , the San Pedro gate . On hearing the noise of battle inside the walls , the 87th were unable to wait for the gate to be opened for them by their comrades , according to the plan of attack . After scaling the wall , they attacked the defenders from behind . During the operation , the 87th captured a flag from one of the defending formations , which is now displayed as the ' Flag of Montevideo ' in the museum of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Armagh , Northern Ireland . The 95th then occupied the tower of the city ' s cathedral , and were able to use the modern Baker rifle to great effect against the city ' s main fortress , the Ciudadela . This , together with the general British advance through the city , led Governor Ruiz Huidobro to accept Auchmuty ' s offer of unconditional surrender at about 5 : 00 A . M . In his dispatch , which announced the city ' s capture , Auchmuty paid tribute to Ruiz Huidobro , and by extension his force , who " defended the town and citadel of Monte Video with great spirit . " He also made mention of the Frenchman Hipolite Mordeille , who had been prominent throughout the defence . Mordeille ' s corps had been entrusted with the defence of the breach , being " best calculated for that arduous service , in which they were very nearly annihilated " , in the British commander ' s opinion . Mordeille himself was killed . The aftermath . Although there was some looting , which was rapidly suppressed by the British officers , by 8 : 00 A . M . it was reported by a local resident that civilians were going about their normal business in the streets and mixing with British troops . The occupation of the city by the British army lasted until September 1807 , when troops were withdrawn in compliance with the agreement signed following the surrender of British forces in Buenos Aires in July 1807 . Auchmuty and the forces under him , as well as the supporting Royal Navy forces , received a vote of thanks from the British Parliament on 16 August 1807 . In addition , the 38th , 40th , 87th and 95th Regiments of Foot , were awarded the battle honour ' Monte Video ' , which their successor regiments inherited .