Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
History
Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876
Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 71st (Highland Light Infantry)
On the 10th of August the enemy commenced operations by the massacre
of a sergeant and his guard of the Seventy-first Regiment, who
were posted at a place in the suburbs where the bull-fights were
usually exhibited. On the following day much skirmishing ensued
in the outskirts of the city, the enemy taking possession of the
tops of houses, from which he kept up a galling and destructive
fire. During this time the main body of the British force took up a
position in the Grand Square, but afterwards retired into the fort
of Buenos Ayres. Being now bereft of all resources, and having no
hope of support, no alternative remained but to capitulate. At about
one o’clock, therefore, the fort was surrendered to the enemy and
hostilities ceased. The troops marched out with the honours of war,
and laid down their arms in the square. The officers being granted
parole were quartered upon the inhabitants of the town, and the men
were confined in the prisons of the city.
In these melancholy proceedings Lieut. Mitchell and Ensign Lucas were
killed, and the regiment lost 91 men in killed and wounded.
[Sidenote: 2nd bat.]
In August, 1806, the second battalion embarked at Glasgow for
Ireland, and arrived at Belfast on the 1st of September.
[Sidenote: 1st bat.]
About the middle of September the Seventy-first were removed from
Buenos Ayres into the interior. Brigadier-General Beresford, with
his staff, and Lieut.-Colonel Pack, were placed at Luxon, from
whence they subsequently effected their escape, upon learning that
the removal of the prisoners still further up the country had been
ordered.
[Sidenote: 1807.]
Lieut.-Colonel Pack was thus enabled to join the troops which had
landed near Monte Video in January, 1807, under the command of
Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, who at Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s
request, directed a board of naval and military officers to inquire
into the particulars of his escape, by whom it was unanimously
approved, and he was declared free to serve.
[Sidenote: 2nd bat.]
The second battalion was removed from Ireland to Scotland in January,
1807, but returned to Ireland in June following.
[Sidenote: 1st bat.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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