An Authentic Narrative of the Proceedings of the Expedition under the Command of Brigadier-Gen. Craufurd; until its arrival at Monte-Video; with an account of the operations against Buenos Ayres under the command of Lieut.-Gen. Whitelocke. By an Officer of the Expedition [i.e. John Whitelocke]...

Front matter

AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OF THB Proceedings of the Expedition UNDER THE COMMAND OF BRIGADIER- GEN. CRAUFURD, UNTIL ITS ARRIVAL AT MONTE VIDEO ; / WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE OPERATIONS AGAINST BUENOS AYRES UNDER THE COMMAND OF £feut.;6ett. »f)ttelac&e> BY AN OFFICER OF THE EXPEDITION", LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLI? AT No. 18, CHAPEL PLACE, OXFORD CHAPEL. 1808. ERRATA. Page. Line. 8, last, erase s in quarters. 44, 21, for conveyed, read convoyed. 54, 1, rivetted, revetted. 72, 2, wind, winds. 82, 21, winds, wind. 103, 3, rivetted, revetted. 104, 3, feet, paces. 137, 6, reserve, reverse. 148, 15, leizure, leisure. 162, 26, intention, attention. 187, 3, are, is. 193, 6, in, on. 201, last, it, them. 206, 7> divisions, division. G. E. Wiles, Printer, 127, Oifori Strett.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. An English Gentleman left in a diplomatic capacity by the Commander of the Forces, at Buenos Ayres, and every way qualified for such an undertaking, intends giving to the Public, an Historical Work, of the Spanish Viceroyalties in South America. To assist him in this undertaking he has had access to libraries in Buenos Ayres containing documents, which have never yet been consulted by those who have hitherto written on the subject ; and he has met with no little aid from some liberal and well enlightened clergymen, in possession of manuscripts from the different missionaries employed over the Continent. From the acknowledged learning and talents of the Author it cannot be doubted, but that the intended publication xvill be the most complete respecting South America, which has yet met the eye of the Naturalist and Historian.

Preface

. X he following narrative was originally written to contribute towards passing over the tediousness incidental to long voyages, as well as for the amusement of the writer's friends ; and not intended for the public. Events have, however, determined him upon following the advice of those who, having perused the manuscript, recommended it to him to send it to the press. A much stronger motive than the little vanity of becoming a journalist, has had a large share in making him adopt such a determination. It is that of duty towards A preface. his companions in arms, who require to have laid before the public circumstantial details of the operations against Buenos Ayres, that the imputation may not attach to them, of having disgraced the British Army by being defective in those qualities which constitute the character of its soldiers.

In attempting to fulfil this duty, he is conscious of not having wilfully departed from facts, al though he admits of the possibility of having been mis-led by information, in some instances : but having been an eye witness of the most important events re corded in this narrative, he is certain of having stated them correctly. The observations on the failure of the attack, and the apparent causes, certainly arise from a strong feeling of the disgrace and injury brought upon every individual concerned ; but in the justice of these remarks, he is equally certain of being supported by the •voice of his fellow-soldiers.

PREFACE.

. V The narrative is divided into two parts. The first cannot add much to the information already in possession, from the accounts of men better calculated to give professional remarks on the voyages to, as well as histo rical descriptions of, the countries visited by General Craufurd's expedition. But having felt, in common with his mess mates, the want of a work which would have assisted them much in their expec tations of winds, weather, and other circumstances on which the voyage de pended, he thought this might, in some degree, obviate a similar difficulty with other young travellers pursuing the same tracks. The second part is confined to the transactions in South America, during the short period the British troops had a footing in it. As the writer has not come before the public to acquire literary fame, but for the reasdns assigned above, it was not considered

PREFACE.

. VI immediately necessary to communicate his name. Should, however, occasion demand it, he will not hesitate to maintain the truth of the narrative by an open avowal of himself. It is to be hoped, that the style of the production will be received with indul gence, as a soldier has other duties to attend to besides the study of embellished language. (CONTENTS. Page.

Part II. Chapter

I.] Brief Al count of the Transactions against General Beresford, after the Capture of Buenos Ayres in 1806". — Arrival us Reinforcements from Me Cape and from England. — Advance of these against Monte Video CONTENTS. Page.

CHAPTER II.

] Description of the Town of Monte Video. — Assault. — 'transactions from this Period until the Arrival of General Craufurd's Army • • 102

CHAPTER III.

] Preparations to sail against Buenos Ayres — Departure from Monte Video. — Arrival at Colonia del Sacramento. — Landing at Ensenada. — March from thence to Reduction. 115

CHAPTER IV.

] Passage over the Chieulo.— Action of the Evening of the Id July. — Transactions during the 3d and ith ••• « 128

CHAPTER V.

] Description of 'Buenos Ayres, and Account of the Preparations made for its Defence 141

CHAPTER VI.

] Assault of Buenos Ayres, on the 5th of July 149

CHAPTER VII.

] Transactions in Consequence of the Issue of the Attack. — Observations thereon l6"6"

CHAPTER VIII.

] Some Account of the Country, and of the Manners and Customs of its Inhabitants 182

CHAPTER IX.

] Description continued. — Remarks on the Political Disposition of the People, and on the probable Effects of the Invasion to Great Britain and the American Spaniards - 1 £)$

Chapter X

] Thanks returned to the Army in General Orders. — Disorders arising from the Fatigues of the Army. — Arrival, at Monte Video, of the Spanish Hostages, also of the 89'A Infantry. — Proclamation, and Remarks thereon. — Departure of the First Division for England 20S NARRATIVE 8fC. fye. fye.

Chapter I

Preparations for Departure from Falmouth. -IliARLY in the summer of 1806, the persons administering the government of Great Britain embarked large detachments of troops in the various ports along the Channel, to be employed in services required by the particular circum stances arising during the course of hostilities, which were becoming general in every quarter of the globe. It appeared to be the particular object of this administration to direct the armed force of the country against the colonies of the allies of France, through whom a great part of her revenues were drawn for carrying on her measures of aggrandizement on the continent of Europe. The peculiarly unhappy situation of the King of B Naples rendered it necessary to send reinforce ments to the Mediterranean, that we might be enabled to assist in securing to this monarch the Island of Sicily, which now remained his only possession, in consequence of the invasion of his continental territory by the French.

A large part of the force afloat was therefore immediately dispatched for this purpose, and many regiments remained embarked, without any apparent object for them to be directed at. They were not, how ever, long in this state, before a new field was opened to give them a career likely to be attended with glory to themselves, and the production of the greatest advantages to the commercial interest of the country; while a blow would be struck at the enemy, more severe than he had felt in the course of a century past. Dispatches had arrived in April, with an account of the capture of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, by the expedition under Sir David Baird and Sir Home Popham, which had left England in the summer of 1805. In August further dispatches reached England, signed by Sir Home Popham and General Beresford, dated from Buenos Ayres, the capital of the vice royalty so named, in South America, against which they had sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, by order of Sir David Baird.

The capture of this city, with so small a force as these commanders had brought against it, excited much triumph in the British dominions ; and although an act unauthorized on the part of government, yet it appeared inclined to take advantage of this unexpected conquest, to cut off from Spain the most valuable part of her possessions in the new world, as well as to open a new channel for the disposal of the manufactures of the country, which were crowding the English warehouses, in consequence of the steps taken by Buonaparte to prevent their circulation through any part of the Continent, where his influence predominated. Great expectations were held out on this subject by Sir Home Popham's dispatches, and public letters addressed to the London merchants ; and Sir Home Popham's knowledge of the commercial concerns of the country was held in very high estimation.

Notwithstanding the preparation in which the troops had been kept ready for sea, it was not until the 1 1th of October that Brigadier- General Sir Samuel Auchmuty sailed with reinforcements to General Beresford : he had under his command the 17th Dragoons, 40th and S7th Regiments of Infantry, with three companies of the Rifle Corps. B There now remained in port several regiments of infantry, and they were ordered on a service, which, from the mystery in which it became involved, excited in no small degree the curiosity and speculations of all parties. They rendez voused at Falmouth, and when united composed a very respectable force, consisting of Two squadrons 6th Dragoon Guards. 5th -j 36th I . - , r Kcgim'-nts of Infantry. 88th J Five companies of the Rifle Corps. Two companies of the Royal Artillery.

The transports, on board of which these troops had been embarked, were particularly selected by the Transport Board as best calculated for their comfort during a long period : such as were not coppered at first, were ordered to be sheathed with this metal expressly for this service ; and every preparation made, denoted the expedition to be remote, or expected to be of long duration. The conjectures on this head were various ; but that respecting the commencement of our opera tions at Vera Cruz, in the Gulph of Mexico, appeared to be founded on the best reasoning : at all events, there appeared little doubt but that some part of the Spanish possessions in America was to become the theatre of our military operations. To command this little army Colonel Robert Craufurd had been nominated through the interest of Mr. Windham, the war minister of the day.

The unprecedented circumstance of a colonel (and nearly the junior of his rank) being ap pointed to a command fit for a lieutenant-general, excited much opposition to Mr. Windham's nomi nation, and loud murmurs on the part of those officers of superior rank who remained un employed ; but the firmness of the Secretary of the War Department succeeded, and Colonel Craufurd (raised to the rank of brigadier on the occasion) afterwards proved himself, as far as he came into action, in every respect worthy the high opinion entertained of his talents and quali fications by his patron. He had a large staff attached to his command ; and every appearance denoted it to be independent of any other. It would have been a happy circumstance for this little army, had it not afterwards fallen under the authority of any other person.

The troops were lying in Falmouth some time previous to the arrival of General Craufurd, which did not take place until the morning of the 24th of October. The first order which he issued related to such officers as had embarked their families. In a circular letter on the occasion, he observed that motives of humanity towards the ladies themselves, as well as the view of securing the utmost comfort to the officers embarked, rendered it necessary that the married gentlemen should order their wives on shore, who would otherwise remain exposed to suffer severe hardships, during a service, of the nature of which he was the most competent judge. It was certainly to be lamented that such an order had not been originally issued, if always intended, as the officers with families had expended much of their pay in advance to provide for their comforts during a long voyage; and now they became burthened with the additional travelling expences for the removal of their wives and children to a place of protection near their friends, as well as to raise a fund for their separate maintenance.

It will be but doing justice to General Craufurd to add, that however cruel this measure was considered at the moment, those concerned felt the advantages of it at a future period. The General suddenly left Falmouth for London on the 26lh. This occasioned some surprise, and indeed some uneasiness on the part of the troops, who were afraid that the expedition might possibly be countermanded. It was not until his return to join it on the 2d of November that this sensation subsided. He visited the different transports, examined narrowly into their condition, inspected minutely the appearance of every man embarked, and gave liberal orders for providing every article which commanding officers deemed fit to add to the comfort of the soldiers. The troops were in the highest state of bodily health, a circumstance reflecting the greatest credit on the officers, as some had been on board, with very little intermission, since the 26th of July.

We were now in a complete state of prepara tion, and waiting only for a fair wind to proceed on our course : it had almost constantly blown from the S.W. and the advanced season of the year rendered us anxious to clear the Channel as early as possible. On the 1 1th, the wind hauled round to the N.E. and the signal to prepare for sailing was hoisted on board the Commodore; but as it did not blow sufficiently strong to take out the men of war, we did not get under weigh until the next morning.

Chapter II

Departure from Falmouth. — Entrance into the Tropical Seas. JLt was near three in the afternoon of the 12th before the whole convoy could get out, when it amounted to forty sail, including some transports with the 9th Dragoons on board, and several merchantmen for Buenos Ayres. We sailed under the protection of four seventy-fours, one frigate, two gun-brigs, and two schooners, under the command of the Honorable Captain Stopford, of the Spencer, on board of which had likewise embarked General Craufurd. It was not intended that these men of war should accompany us beyond a certain latitude, when we were to be joined by Admiral Murray, with several sixty-four gun ships, and under whom was to be placed the naval part of the expedition. The wind continued fair, but light, until the 14th, when it came round to the S.W. obliging the fleet to stand W. N.W. This day the Juliana transport, the head-quarters ship of the 36th, appeared without her mizen mast, and main-top gallant mast, both of which had been carried away the preceding night by the Captain, seventy-four ; the crew of which were giving every assistance to replace these losses.

Another ship of the convoy had like to have shared a similar fate from the Nereide frigate, whose Commander, from a too strict adherence to naval etiquette, run on board a large transport, standing in a different tack : fortunately, there was but little wind or sea at the time, or the consequences might have proved more serious than the loss of a jib-boom and sprit sail yard to the frigate, without injuring the transport. During this night we lost eleven sail of the fleet, owing to their not having observed the signal made to put about. They hove in sight again about noon, and rejoined convoy. The wind still continued unfavorable, and on the 19th came on to blow very strong, accompanied with a very heavy sea. Several of the ships had part of their sails and rigging carried away, and they were obliged to make every thing snug, to encounter a gale which appeared to threaten us.

Our preparations were not thrown away, as it blew most violently, with little inter mission until the 22d, when both wind and sea e moderated. It continued, however, to blow from the same unfavorable point, but with clear weather, until the 29th, when it came from the N. N.W. We had spoke during this time with several ships of the convoy, and learnt from the Campion store-ship, that she had sprung a leak during the gale, and at one time had in her hold above five feet water ; they had the good fortune to discover the leak, and to receive assistance from the Captain, seventy-four, or she must inevitably have foundered. The Nereide frigate and a merchantman had left us in the storm, nor could the absence of the former be accounted for by the other men of war. We were this day fifteen leagues to the westward of Cape Finis terre.

The comforts of a fair wind and fine weather were now experienced, and we sailed on at a brisk rate, till the afternoon of the 4th December, when the signal was made for land being in sight to the W. S.W. which proved to be Porto Sancto. A store-ship and brig, under the charge of two small armed vessels, were sent forward to Madeira : the Commissary-general of the expe dition went in with them, to obtain wine for the use of the troops. Lemon juice and sugar were now issued to the men. We lay to on the 5th December, about seven leagues to the southward of Madeira, during which time the vessels communicated with each other. A report was now in circulation among them, that it was intended to attack the Island of Teneriffe ; and although the information came from one of the Captains of the line-of-battle ships, and also from an agent, yet it met with little credit.

It could not be easily imagined that such mighty preparations as had been made in favor of the expedition, should only have in view the possession of an island, by which we would be as little benefited, as our enemies would be injured in losing it. It was not easier to reconcile the idea of risking the ultimate object of the expedition, by attempting a coiip-de-main on a place which had been proved, during the last war, to be not totally defenceless. While laying to, a dead sun-fish of immense bulk passed close alongside the ship: it had the appearance of the flayed carcase of some large quadruped. One of the seamen struck a boat hook into it, without being able to draw it out, or raise the fish. A boat was lowered, and this lump of blubber was attempted to be hoisted in, but it had not consistency sufficient to support its own weight, and it dropped into several pieces..

C Some of which we saved to serve as bait for dolphins, which were in the train of this sun-fish in great numbers. We hooked several, but only succeeded in killing two, which being stewed in wine for the next day's dinner, were much relished. It is worthy of remark, that no other vessel of the fleet saw any dolphins on the passage to St. Jago, nor did we observe any others than those in the train of the sun-fish. In the evening we continued our course to the southward with a very strong gale after us, and we could carry but little sail. The fleet laboured severely ; but as the wind was fair, and the weather clear, the storm was encountered with better spirits than that in the Bay of Biscay. The rolling of our ship occasioned one man to break his leg, and a second his collar bone. The next morning we were but four sail in company, but we rejoined the remainder of the convoy lying to a-head.

Running at an averaged rate of six knots, we early on Sunday, the 7th, got sight of Palmas, the westernmost of the Tencriffe Islands : about noon it was abreast of us, bearing west about three leagues ; it was involved in mist, but its summit could be easily discerned towering above the clouds, and covered with snow; the side opposed to us appeared barren, and certainly uninhabited. We hove to during this afternoon, in the course of which the Nereide frigate rejoined us, after several days separation. It had been imagined that she had put back to England, but it appeared that having lost sight of us she chased, off Portugal, a Spanish corvette and merchantman, both of which she had captured, dismissing the trader, and leaving the corvette to follow her to the place of rendezvous. About five P. M. the signal for bearing away to the southward gave the death blow to the report circulated by the authors of the Teneriffe expedition.

Having now entered the trade-wind, which constantly blows in these latitudes between the N. E. and E. points, we calculated pretty cer tainly on making the Cape de Verd Islands in eight days. Nothing occurred to relieve the tediousness of the voyage until the 10th, when we crossed the Tropic of Cancer. The old seamen on board did not let slip this opportunity of levying, in the name of the monarch of the ocean, the usual tribute from those who had never before entered the precincts of his court. Such persons, as from the plea of poverty, or the denial of his authority, refused to comply with the demand, gave Neptune's deputies the peculiar enjoyment of shaving these refractory gentlemen a la marine, a description of which ceremony may perhaps not prove unentertaining. The chief actors in this farce, Neptune, Amphitrite, and a principal attendant as barber, personified by seamen, having painted their faces and dressed themselves in proper costume, with old sacks, powdered wigs made of oakum, and indeed with every article a seaman's fancy could think of as grotesque, the subjects for the razor were ordered between decks, several tubs were then placed round the capstan, and filled with salt water.

The watery god and suite having privately reached the ship's bow, hailed her from thence through a speaking trumpet, enquiring her name, that of her commander, her destination, &c. &c. Having received the proper answers, he ordered us to heave to and throw ropes out to himself and company, as he felt inclined to visit the crew. They were drawn on a grating to the capstan, Neptune, properly armed with a set of grains for a trident, and his chief attendant bearing in his hand a rusty piece of hoop and a tar-keg, as the implements of his office : it would have been impossible for any one to have preserved his gravity at the sight of these personages. After the usual greetings, and his congratulations at our safe arrival into his dominions, the sea monarch'* queen observed to him that there appeared many strange faces on board ; at least she did not recollect ever having observed them in that neighbourhood before ; having pointed them out, and, upon examination, finding them strangers to a tropical climate, he made the usual demand of a half gallon of run from each, which was immediately granted by all the officers on board but three, who had paid it on former occasions.

Those who were to come under the hands of the barber were now demanded from the master of the ship, and the first subject was brought up blindfold. Being seated on a bar placed across one of the tubs, various questions were put to him by the operators, and an oath administered of much the same nature as that at the Horns at Highgate ; it was sealed by a kiss imprinted on the carpenter's axe smeared over with a preparation of tar and other ingredients, possessing by no means the most savoury or odoriferous qualities. The like composition having been rubbed over the victim's face, the hacked sub stitute for a razor was drawn over it, to the no small torture of the patient, and entertainment of the performers and spectators : the bar being suddenly jerked away, he was soused over head and ears in the tub, out of which he was not allowed to escape without a good ducking.

The same operation was undergone by all those in waiting, and with very good humour, one seaman alone excepted : this man was a Russian, and became sulky on the occasion, for which he paid very dearly, as he was handled so roughly during the ceremony, that' he was forced to call out repeatedly for mercy frem his tormentors. The whole ended as might naturally be supposed, in a drunken frolic, at the expence of many a black eye and bloody nose. It would he unjust not to notice the admirable humour with which the three chief parts of this farce were supported : the man who was the Amphitrite of the day was not even recognized by his own comrades.

Chapter III

Arrival at St. Jago. — Occurrences there, and Departure. VV E continued on the same point of the com pass with a fine breeze at east, running at six knots, and sometimes eight, until Friday the 12th, when we steered S. S.W. and afterwards S. by W. We were highly delighted on the preceding evening, with the beautiful appearance presented by the new moon : that part of her orb not immediately illuminated by the sun, received a strong light reflected from the earth, a phœno menon rather new to those on board our vessel. The frigate was dispatched this afternoon under a press of canvas, supposed to make land, and the convoy shortened sail for the night. About ten in the morning of the 13th, we got sight of a high cone, bearing W. by N. From our courses and distances on the chart, we concluded it to be the Isle of Salt, the northernmost of the Cape de Verds, and its bearings compared with our latitude by observation, confirmed us in this i> opinion; but we afterwards found we were Inf error, as this island proved to be Bonavista, much to the southward of Salt Island.

The chart is certainly incorrect as to the position of these two islands. In the afternoon, the Commodore made the signal to prepare to anchor, which we did (after passing close to the Isle of Mayo) the next morning at eleven, in Porto Pray a, on the southern side of St. Jago, the largest of the Cape de Verd Islands. Some intercourse having taken place between the Commodore and the Governor, the place was saluted by the former with thirteen guns, and the compliment returned with the like number. Orders were given to the transports to have no communication with the shore until arrangements should have been completed for establishing a market, and regulating the prices of the different articles. For this purpose the General landed, and was received on shore with a salute of twenty-two guns, which were again repeated on his leaving it.

The restriction was then taken oft* and the landing-place soon became crowded with boats from the fleet. All the butchers, who could be supplied from the transports, were immediately employed in slaughtering cattle for the use of the troops, who were to be supplied with fresh meat four days in the week: it was of a very wretched quality. The market-place afforded abundant supplies of goats, turkies, fowls, and all those fruits peculiar to a tropical climate : of European vegetables some long leaved cabbage and lettuce could alone be obtained. The poultry and fruit were obtained at two-thirds of the regulated price, which cir cumstance can only be attributed to the natives not having yet been made acquainted with them, as they afterwards enhanced the value of their produce, which, by the time we left the island, was nearly trebled.

We paid, at first, from four to six pistorines for turkies (five pistorines go to a dollar), one hundred and twenty oranges were given for a dollar, and three cocoa nuts for a pistorine. Two or three days after our arrival, the fleet commenced watering in regimental divisions. The casks were landed under the east part of the town, at a sandy beach : thence they were rolled into the valley about a half mile, where they were filled from a well, out of which the water was raised by two ships' pumps into a trough, whence four hose led it to as many casks. Eighty hogsr heads were thus filled a day, and without making any sensible impression on the well : this surprised D us not a little, as we had been led to expect, on the report of such persons as had formerly been here, that we should find much difficulty in watering the fleet in the neighbourhood of the port.

Parties were likewise employed under the direction of the engineers and artillery officers, in establishing batteries on the eastern extremity of the harbour, and others to the westward of the town, with a view of securing the convoy against an attack by sea, as it had been rumoured and credited on our leaving England, that several squadrons had sailed from French ports. In structions were given to commanding officers of regiments to land in such a juncture, and an order of defence given them. The batteries were supplied with cannon from the men of war and transports. Two captains' guards were mounted on shore : they served to assist the police of the island in preserving order among our people on shore : they likewise were instructed to seize all boats belonging to the expedition which should be found at the beach, after sun-set.