A narrative of the campaign of the British Army in Spain, commanded by His Excellency Sir John Moore ..

Front matter

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Preface

Xhere Is here presented to the Pubhc, perhaps, the most authentic fragment of History on record : for Sir John Moore kept a journal of his proceedings ; and, with an exactness unusual in a military man, preserved every official paper, or letter of importance, which he received, together with copies of those which he wrote.

All these documents the author has in his possession ; and he has, besides, had the opportunity of acquiring full information respecting the events. He could not misrepresent them, had he been so inclined, without being exposed to immediate detection ; but he is undeino temptation either to disguise or to conceal any part

VI of the conduct of the person in whom he is most deeply interested. His only wish has been to make a full dis-, ,■ closure ; and with this view he has, as much as possible, made every individual concerned explain himself by his own letters; which, together with other docu^ ments, are selected and arranged in the order adapted to elucidate the facts.

There is also given a connecting narrative; and such reflections are added as naturally arose out of the transactions.

The intermingling of a multitude of letters with the narration, though not the most concise, is cei-tainly the most candid mode of describing the Campaign ; for, if a false inference be drawn, the reader can immediately discover it.

One disagreeable consequence, however, is hkely to be produced by so open an explanation : it may irritate those whose conduct cannot bear investigation. Tlie love of tranquillity, his professional avocations, and his private interest, would have hindered the Author from undertaking so laborious a work, and engaging in such vexatious hostility, had he not been urged forward by an impulse superior to these combined

Vll motives. He could not remain passive when his Brother's memory was assailed by ungenerous attack* and dark insinuations. The sufferers from this publication ought to bear in recollection, that the Author only acts defensively ; and they should point their indignation against the first assailants, who are the original cause of any mortification they may endure.

Although the reason for composing this work is of a private nature, yet it cannot fail being of public utility both to Spain and Great Britain ; for success in future operations is more likely to be obtained, when there is a competent knowledge of the past.

As many original documents are incorporated with the narrative, as were considered requisite to explain clearly the transactions, without embarrassing the reader with repetitions.

The whole correspondence with Mr. Frere is given, except two useless letters from him, which were never received by the General, and which on that account were considered as improper to be published..

All Sir John Moore's dispatches to the Secretary of State are placed in the Appendix ; the omissions, wl>icli

VIU are very few, and quite immaterial to the publick, are marked by blank spaces.

The Spanish Documents in their own language, and Translations of the French letters, are also given ia the Appendix.

IX

Index

TO THE

LETTEBS AND PAPERS.

Page.

Sir John Moore to Lord William Bentinck, dated Salamanca, 13th Nov. 1808, 21

Sir John Moore to the Right Hon. J. H. Frere, Almeida, 10th November, 29

Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, Aranjuez, 13th November, - - 31

Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Salamanca, 16th November, - - 33

The same to the same, Salamanca, 19th November, - - 38

General Leith to Sir John Moore, Renedo, 1 5th November, - 40

Sir David Baird to Sir John Moore, , 23rd November, - - 48

Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, Aranjuez, 25th November, - - 5$

Mr. Frere a S. E. Mr. de Garay, Aranjuez, 23rd November, - - 56

Mr. de Garay to Mr. Frere, Aranjuez, 24th November, - - 60

Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Salamanca, 27th November, - - 63

Sir John Moore to Charles Stuart, Esq. Salamanca, 27th November, - 65

Sir John Moore to Sir David Baird, Salamanca, 28th November, - - 69

Sir John Moore to Lieutenant-General Hope, Salamanca, 28th November, 70

Sir John Moore to Charles Stuart, Esq. Salamanca, 29th November, - 73

Sir John Moore to Charles Stuart, Esq. Salamanca, 1st December, - 74

Charles Stuart, Esq. to Sir John Moore, Madrid, 30th November, - 77

Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, Aranjuez, 30th November, - - 79

The same to the same, Aranjuez, the same day, - - - 80

Mr. de Garay to Sir John Moore, Aranjuez, 28th November, - 85

Prince of Castelfranco and Don T. Morla to Sir John Moore, Madrid, 2nd Dec 87

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Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, dated Talavera, 3rd December, - - 88

Sir Jolin Moore to Sir David Baird, Salamanca, 5th December, - - 91

The same to the same, Salamanca, 6th December, - - - 92

Sir John Moore to the Marquis la Romana, Salamanca, 6th December, - 93 ]Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, 3rd December, - - -95

Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Salamanca, 6th December, - - 97

The same to the same, Salamanca, the same day, - - - 100 Sir John Moore to the Duke of Castelfranco and Mr. de Morla, Salamanca,

6th December, ... - - loi

The Junta of Toledo to H. E. Sir John Moore, Toledo, 5th December, - 104 Sir John Moore to their Excellencies the Junta of Toledo, Salamanca, 7th

Don Ventura Escalante to Sir John Moore, La Calzada de Banos, 7th Dec. 109

Sir John Moore a Le Marquis la Romana, Salamanca, 8th December, - 110

Sir John Moore to Sir David Baird, Salamanca, 8th December, - 111

Colonel Graham to Sir John Moore, Talavera de la Reina, 7th and 8th Dec. 112

Sir John Moore to Sir David Baird, Salamanca, 12th December, - 116

Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Salamanca, 12th December, - - 118

Marquis la Romana a Sir John Moore, Leon, 1 Ith December, - 120

Le Prince de Neuchatel an Due de Dalmatie, Chamartin, lOth December, 121

Sir John Moore to Sir David Bard, Head Quarters, Alaejos, 14th December 125

Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Toro, 15th December, - - 127

Lieutenant-Colonel Symes to Sir David Baird, Leon, 14th December, - 128

Marquis la Romana a Sir John Moore, Leon, 14th December, - 132

Don Martin de Garay to Mr. Frere, Truxillo, 8th December, - - 134

Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, Truxillo, 8th December, - - 138

Sir John Moore to the Marquis la Romana, Castro Nuevo, I8th December, 141

Marquis la Romana a Sir John Moore, Leon, 19th December, - 144

Due delTnfantado a S. E. J. H. Frere, Cuenya, 13th December, - 147

Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, Merida, 14th December, - 149

The same to the same, Las Santos, 1 6th December, - - 154

Page.

Sir John Moore to the Marquis la Romana, dated Sahagun, 22nd December, 156

Marquis la Romana a Sir John Moore, Leon, 21st December, - - 157

Sir John Moore to the Marquis la Romana, Sahagun, 23rd December, - 159

Sir John Moore to Mr. Frere, Sahagun, 23rd December, - - IGO

Marquis la Romana a Sir John Moore, Leon, 22nd December, - 162

Marquis la Romana a Sir John Moore, Mansilla, 23rd December, - 163

Sir John Moore to the Marquis la Romana, Sahagun, 23rd December, - 163

The same to the same, Sahagun, 24th December, - - I66

The same to the same, Sahagun, the same day, - - - 1 70

Colonel Symes to Sir John Moore, Mansilla, 25th December, - 171

Sir John Moore to the Marquis la Romana, Benavente, 27th December, 176

Mr. Frere to Sir John Moore, Seville, 28th December, - - _ 200

The same to the same, Seville, 2nd January, 1 809, - - _ 2O8

General Orders by the Commander in Chief, - - _ 225 Sir David Baird to Lord Castlereagh, His Majesty's Ship Ville de Paris, at

Lieutenant-General Hope to Sir David Baird, His Majesty's Ship Audacious,

oft' Corunna, 18th January, - - - _ _ 228