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)
The transports not having arrived, a position was occupied in
advance of Corunna, and some sharp skirmishing ensued, in which four
companies of the Seventy-first were warmly engaged, and lost several
men in killed and wounded. Lieutenant William Lockwood was severely
wounded. On this ground the battle of Corunna was fought on the 16th
of January; but the Seventy-first being placed on the extreme left
of the British line, had little part in it. The result of the action
was glorious to the British Army, but was darkened by the loss of
Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, who received a severe wound during the
battle, and died at ten o’clock on the same night. His remains were
wrapped in a military cloak, and interred in the Citadel of Corunna,
over which Marshal Soult, with the true feeling of a soldier, erected
a monument.
Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, who succeeded to the command upon Sir
John Moore being wounded, was also wounded, and the command devolved
upon Lieut.-General the Honourable John Hope.
At eight o’clock on the night of the 16th of January the troops
quitted their position, leaving the pickets posted and a few men to
keep up the fires, and then marched into Corunna, where they embarked
for England on the following day.
In commemoration of this battle, and of the conduct of the battalion
during the expedition, the Seventy-first, in common with the army
employed under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, received the royal
authority to bear the word “Corunna” on the regimental colour and
appointments.
The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were conferred on the troops,
and were communicated to Lieut.-Colonel Pack by Lieut.-General Sir
David Baird in the following letter:—
“_Portsmouth, 30th January, 1809._
“Sir,
“I have great pleasure in transmitting to you copies of letters
from the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons,
enclosing the resolutions of both Houses of Parliament, dated 25th
of January, 1809, which contain the thanks of those Houses to the
army lately engaged before Corunna.
“In communicating to you, Sir, this most signal mark of the
approbation of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, allow me to add my warmest congratulations
upon a distinction which you, and the corps under your command on
that day, had a share in obtaining for His Majesty’s service.
“I have, etc.,
(Signed) “DAVID BAIRD,
“_Lieut.-General_.
“_Officer commanding first battalion
“Seventy-first Highlanders._”
After the battalion had landed at Ramsgate it was marched to Ashford,
in Kent, where it continued for some time collecting the men, who,
from contrary winds, were driven into different ports.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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