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ever, he was soon expelled with considerable loss, by a gallant attack of some companies of the 2d battalion 14th regiment, under Lieut. Col. Nicholls; before five in the evening, we had not on. ly successfully repelled every attack made upon the position, but gained ground in almost all points, and occupied a more forward line than at the commencement of the action, whilst the enemy confined his operations to a cannonade, and the fire of the light troops, with a view to draw off his other corps. At six the firing entirely ceased. The different brigades were reassembled on the ground they occupied in the morning, and the piquets and advanced posts resumed their original stations.

Notwithstanding the decided superiority which at this moment the gallantry of the troops had given them o ver an enemy, who, from his number, and the commanding advantages of his position, no doubt expected an easy vic tory, I did not, on reviewing all cir cumstances, conceive that I should be warranted in departing from what I knew was the fixed and previous determination of the late Commander of the forces, to withdraw the army on the evening of the 16th, for the purpose of embarkation, the previous arrangements for which had already been made by his order, and were in fact far advanced at the commencement of the action. The troops quitted their position about ten at night, with a degree of order that did them credit. The whole of the artillery that remained unembarked having been withdrawn, the troops followed in the order prescribed, and marched to their respective points of embarkation in the town and neighbourhood of Corunna, The piquets remained at their posts until five on the morning of the 17th, when they were also withdrawn with similar orders, and without the enemy having discovered the movement.

By the unremitted exertions of Captains the Hon. H. Curzon, Gosselin, Boys, Rainier, Serret, Hawkins, Digby, Carden, and Mackenzie, of the Royal navy, who, in pursuance of the orders of Rear Admiral de Courcy, were intrusted with the service of embarking the army; and in consequence of the arrangements made by Commissioner Bowen, Captains Bowen and Shepherd, and the other agents for transports, the

whole of the army were embarked with an expedition which has seldom been equalled. With the exception of the brigades under Major-Generals Hill and Beresford, which were destined to remain on shore, until the movements of the enemy should become manifest, the whole was afloat before day-light.

The brigade of Major-General Beresford, which was alternately to form our rear-guard, occupied the land front of the town of Corunna; that under Major-Gen. Hill was stationed in reserve on the promontory in the rear of the town.

The enemy pushed his light troops towards the town soon after three o' clock in the morning of the 17th, and shortly after occupied the heights of St Lucia, which command the harbour. But notwithstanding this circumstance, and the manifold defects of the place, there being no apprehension that the rear-guard could be forced, and the disposition of the Spaniards appearing to be good, the embarkation of Major-General Hill's brigade was commenced and completed by three in the afternoon. Major-Gen. Beresford, with that zeal and ability which is so well known to yourself and the whole army, having fully explained, to the satisfaction of the Spanish Governor, the nature of our movement, and having made every previous arrangement, withdrew 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,

Circumstances forbid us to indulge the hope, that the victory with which it has pleased Providence to crown the efforts of the army, can be attended with any very brilliant consequences to Great Britain. It is clouded by the loss of one of her best soldiers. It has been atchieved at the termination of a long and harrassing service, The superior 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. It must be, however, to you, to the army, and to our country, the sweetest reflection that the lustre of the British arms has been maintained, amidst many disadvantageous circumstances, The army which had entered Spain, amidst the fairest prospects, had no soon

er completed its junction, than, owing to the multiplied disasters that dispersed the native armies around us, it was left to its own resources. The advance of the British corps from the Duero afforded the best hope that the south of Spain might be relieved, but this generous ef fort to save the unfortunate people, also afforded the enemy the opportunity of directing every effort 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 system has been pursued.

These circumstances produced the necessity of rapid and harrassing marches, which had diminished the numbers, exhausted the strength, and impaired the equipment of the army. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, and those more immediately attached to a defensive position, which the imperious necessity of covering the harbour of Corunna for a time had rendered impossible to assume, the native and undaun. ted valour of British troops was never more conspicuous, and must have exceeded what even your own experience of that invaluable quality, so inherent in them, might have taught you to expect. When every one that had an opportunity seemed to vie in improving it, it is difficult for me, in making this report, to select particular instances for your approbation. The corps chiefly engaged were the brigades under Major-Generals Lord William Bentinck, 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-Generals Hill and Catlin Crawfurd, with their brigades on the left of the position, ably supported their advanced posts. The brunt of the action fell upon the 4th, 42d, and 50th, and 81st regiments, with parts of the brigade of Guards, and the 26th regiment. From Lieutenant-Col. Murray, Quarter-Master-General, and the officers of the General Staff, I received the most marked assistance. I had reason to regret, that the illness of BrigadierGeneral Clinton, Adjutant-General, deprived me of his aid. I was indebted to Brigadier-General Slade, during the

action, for a zealous offer of his 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, it is impossible at present to lay before you a return of our casualties. I hope the loss in numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected. If I was obliged to form an estimate, I should say, that I believe it did not exceed in killed and wounded from 700 to 800; that of the enemy must re-. main unknown, but many circumstances induce me to rate it at nearly double the above number. We have some prisoners, but I have not been able to obtain an account of the number; it is not, however, considerable. Several officers of rank have fallen, or been wounded, among whom I am only at present enabled to state the names of Lieut.Col. Napier, 92d regiment, Majors Napier, and Stanhope, soth regiment, killed; Lieut.-Col. Winch, 4th regiment, Lieut. Col. Maxwell, 26th regiment, Lieut.-Col. Fane, 50th regiment, Lieut.Colonel Griffith, Guards, Majors Miller and Williams, 81st regiment, wounded.

To you, who are well acquainted with the excellent qualities of Lieut.Gen. Sir John Moore, I need not expatiate on the loss the army and his country have sustained by his death. His fall has deprived me of a valuable friend, to whom long experience of his worth had sincerely attached me. But it is chiefly on public grounds that I must lament the blow. It will be the conversation of every one who loved or respected his manly character, that, after conducting the army through an arduous retreat with consummate firmness, he has terminated a career of distinguished bonour by a 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 an early period of a life spent in her service; like Wolfe, his last moments were gilded by the prospect of success, and cheered by the acclamations of victory; like Wolfe also, his memory will for ever remain sacred in that country which he sincerely loved, and which he had so faithfully served.

It remains for me only to express my hope,

hope, that you will speedily be restored to the service of your country, and to lament the unfortunate circumstance that removed you from your station in the field, and threw the momentary command into far less able hands. I have the honour to be, &c.

JOHN HOPE, Lieut. Gen.

Admiralty-Office, Jan. 24. 1809. Copy of a letter from the Hon. Michael De Courcy, Rear-Admiral of the White, to the Hon. William Wellesley Pole, dated on board his Majesty's ship the Tonnant, at Corunna, the 17th and 18th instant.

January 17. 1809. SIR-Having it in design to dispatch the Cossack to England as soon as her boats shall cease to be essential to the embarkation of the troops, I seize a moment to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the ships of war, Ville de Paris, Victory, Barfleur, Zealous, Implacable, Elizabeth, Norge, Plantagenet, Resolution, Audacious, Endymion, Mediator, and transports, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood and Commissioner Bowen, arrived at this anchorage from Vigo on the 34th and 15th inst. The Alfred and Hindostan, with some transports, were left at Vigo to receive a brigade of three thousand five hundred men, that had taken that route under Generals Alten and Crawford.

In the vicinity of Corunna the enemy have pressed upon the British in great force. The embarkation of the sick, the cavalry, and the stores went on. The night of the 16th was appointed for the general embarkation of the infantry; and, mean time, the enemy prepared for attack. At three P. M. an action commenced; the enemy, which had been posted on a lofty hill, endeavouring to force the British on another hill of inferior height, and nearer the town.

The enemy were driven back with great slaughter; but very sorry am I to add, that the British, though trium phant, have suffered severe losses. I am unable to communicate further particulars, than that Sir John Moore received a mortal wound, of which he died at 12

o'clock at night; that Sir Dav. Baird lost an arm; that several officers and many men have been killed and wounded; and that the ships of war have received all such of the latter as they could accommodate, the remainder being sent to the transports.

The weather is now tempestuous, and the difficulties of the embarkation are great. All except the rear-guard are embarked, consisting perhaps, at the present moment, of 2600 men. The enemy having brought cannon to a hill majority of the transports to cut or slip. overhanging the beach, have forced the Embarkation being no longer practicable at the town, the boats have been ordered to a sandy beach near the lighthouse; and it is hoped the greater part, if not all, will still be embarked, the ships of war having dropped out to facilitate the embarkation,

January 18th.

The embarkation of the troops having occupied the greater part of last night, it has not been in my power to detach the Cossack before this day; and it is with satisfaction I am able to add, that, in consequence of the good order maintained by the troops, and the unwearied exertions of Commissioner Bowen, the Captains and other officers of the navy, the agents, as well as the boat's crews, many of whom were for two days without food and without repose, the army have been embarked to the last man, and the ships are now in the offing, preparatory for steering to England."

The great body of the transports hav ing lost their anchors, ran to sea without the troops they were ordered to receive, in consequence of which there are some thousands on board the ships of war. Several transports, through mismanagement, ran on shore. The seamen appear to have abandoned them, two being brought out by the boat's crew of the men of war, two were burnt, and five were bilged.

I cannot conclude this hasty statement, without expressing my great obligations to Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, whose eye was every where, and whose exertions were unremitted.

I have the honour to be, &c.
M. DE COURCY.

SIR JOHN MOORE.

The following particulars are given by one of his most confidential attendants and friends, one who was by the side of the hero in his last moments, and with whom he deposited his expiring wishes.

"I met the General on the evening of the 16th instant, as some soldiers were bringing him into Corunna, supported in a blanket with sashes. He knew me immediately, though it was almost dark; squeezed me by the hand, and said, 'Do not leave me.'-He spoke to the surgeons on their examining his wound, but was in such pain he could say but little. After some time, he seemed very anxious to speak to me; and, at intervals, expressed himself as follows:-The first question he asked was- are the French beaten?' which inquiry he repeated to all those he knew, as they entered the room. On being assured by all that the French were beaten, he exclaimed-' I hope the people of England will be satisfied. I hope my Country will do me justice. You will see my friends as soon as you possibly can tell them every thingsay to my mother'-(here his voice fail. ed bim.)

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Hope-Hope-I have much to say, but cannot get it out.-Is Colonel Graham, and are all my Aides-de-Camp, well?—I have made my will, and have remembered my servants.-Colborne has my will and all my papers.'

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Major Colborne (his principal Aidde-Camp) then came into the roonihe spoke most kindly to him, and then said to me- Remember, you go to and tell him, it is my request, and that I expect he will befriend Major Colborne he has been long with me, and I know him most worthy of it. He then again asked Major Colborne if the French were beaten; and on being told they were repulsed at every point, he said, it was a great satisfaction, in his last moments, to know he had beat the French!'

Is General Paget in the room?' On my telling him he was not, he said, Remember me to him'

'I feel myself so strong, I fear I shall be long dying;-I am in great pain.' "He then thanked the Doctors for their attention.

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and asked Percy if all his Aides-de-Camp were well. He pressed my hand close to his body, and in a few minutes he died without a struggle.

"He said to me, while the surgeons were examining his wound-'You know I have always wished to die this way.— As far as I can recollect, this is every thing he said, except asking to be placed in an easier posture."

Sir John Moore, before his death, was asked, whether he wished to be taken to England, but answered, that there was no occasion for it. He was buried at his own desire in the citadel of Corunna, as was also General Anstruther, who died of a dysentery on the march.

GENERAL ORDERS.

The benefits derived to an army from the example of a distinguished Commander, do not terminate at his death: His virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions.

In this view, the Commander in Chief, amidst the deep and universal regret, which the death of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore has occasioned, recalls to the troops the military career of that illustrious officer, for their instruction and imitation.

Sir John Moore from his youth embraced the profession with the feelings and sentiments of a soldier:-He felt, that a perfect knowledge, and an exact performance of the humble, but important duties of a subaltern officer, are the best foundations for subsequent military fame; and his ardent mind, while it looked forward to those brilliant at chievements for which it was formed, applied itself with energy and exemplary assiduity to the duties of that station.

In the school of regimental duty, he obtained that correct knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier; and he was enabled to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline which he enforced on others.

Having risen to command, he signa lized his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with which he devoted himself to the duties of every branch of

his profession, obtained him the confidence of Sir Ralph Abercromby, and he became the companion in arms of that illustrious officer, who fell at the head of his victorious troops, in an action which maintained our national superiority over the arms of France.

Thus Sir John Moore, at an early period, obtained, with general approbation, that conspicuous station, in which he gloriously terminated his useful and honourable life.

In a military character obtained amidst the dangers of climate, the privations incident to service, and the sufferings of repeated wounds, it is difficult to select any one point as a preferable subject for praise: It exhibits, however, one feature so particularly characteris tic of the man, and so important to the best interests of the service, that the Commander in Chief is pleased to mark it with his peculiar approbation.

The life of Sir John Moore was spent amongst the troops.

During the season of repose, his time was devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war he courted service in every quarter of the Globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he esteemed that to which his country called him, the post of honour, and by his undaunted spirit and unconquerable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory.

His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a monument to his lamented memory, and the Commander in Chief feels he is paying the best tribute to his fame, by thus holding him forth as an example to the army.

By Order of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief.

HARRY CALVERT, Adjutant General.
Horse Guards, Feb. 1. 1809.

BATTLE OF CORUNNA.

French Accounts. The French accounts of the battle of Corunna, and of the operations of their army, are given in their usual contradictory and exaggerated manner. The loss of the British army on its retreat, in horses and baggage, has no doubt been very great, but we cannot believe it to the extent stated in the following

bulletins.

Benevente, Jan. 5." The head of Mer. le's division, forming part of the Duke

of Dalmatia's corps, came up with the advanced guard on the 3d. At 4 P. M. it reached the rear-guard of the English, who were upon the heights of Pieros, a league before Villafranca, consisting of 5000 infantry, and 600 cavalry. This position was a very fine position, and difficult to attack. Gen. Merle made his dispositions. The infantry advanced, beat the charge, and the British were entirely routed. The difficulty of the ground did not permit the cavalry to charge, and only 300 prisoners were taken. We had some fifty men killed or wounded. Gen. Colbert advanced to see if the cavalry could form ;-his hour was arrived a ball struck him in the fore-head, and he lived but a quarter of an hour.

"Since the 27th ult. we have taken more than 10,000 prisoners, among whom are 1500 British. We have taken also more than 400 baggage waggons, 15 waggons of firelocks, their magazines and hospitals. The British retreat in disorder, leaving magazines, sick, wounded, and equipage."

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Valladolid, Jan. 9.- The Duke of Dalmatia, after the battle of Pieros, proceeded to expel the British from the post of Piedra Fella. He there took 1500 British prisoners, five pieces of cannon, and several caissons. The enemy was obliged to destroy a quantity of baggage and stores. They left behind them in their carriages a quantity of gold and silver. Half the British cavalry is on foot. Since our departure from Benevente up to the 4th instant, we counted on the road 1800 British horses that had been killed."

Valladolid, Jan. 13.-"That part of the treasure of the enemy which has fallen into our hands is 1,800,coo francs. The inhabitants assert that the British have carried off from eight to ten millions.

"The Duke of Dalmatia arrived on the 6th in presence of the enemy. He employed the 7th and 8th in reconnoitring the enemy. The left only was attackable-he manoeuvred on their left. His dispositions required some movements on the 8th, the Duke being determined to attack on the 9th, but the enemy retreated in the night, and in the morning our advanced guard entered Lugo. The enemy left 300 sick in the hospitals, a park of 13 pieces of cannon, and 300 waggons of ammunition. We

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