Spanish and Portuguese South America during the Colonial Period; Vol. 2 of 2Watson, Robert Grant
History
Spanish and Portuguese South America during the Colonial Period; Vol. 2 of 2
Watson, Robert Grant
America -- Discovery and exploration; South America -- History -- To 1806
To their Excellencies Sir C. Stirling
and Sir S. Achmuty.
CORAL DE MISERALA, _July 2, 1807_.
SIR,--I had the honour to report to you, for the information of the
Commander of the forces, that the advanced corps of the army now
occupy a position, the centre of which is across the prolongation
of the centre street of _Buenos Ayres_. I have taken most of the
cattle intended for the consumption of the city for this day, and
occupy the principal _coral_. I have secured 20,000 lbs. of
biscuit, and my corps is fully supplied with it; spirits I am
searching for, and I have hopes that I shall be able to secure
some; to what extent I do not yet know. I sent to report to you,
yesterday evening, immediately after the action, in which I stated
we had taken eight pieces of cannon, I now find it increased to
ten, many prisoners, and a great quantity of arms and ammunition.
General Liniers and Colonel Ellio were both present. Supposing that
a considerable impression may have been made by so complete a
defeat as this considerable portion of their force has sustained, I
have sent in a summons to General Liniers, at first verbally only,
to discover how they appeared to feel in the town. Colonel Ellio
met Brigade-Major Roache who went with the flag, and requested
that they might receive a written proposal. I have now, therefore,
sent one, founded on the instructions I received yesterday by
Colonel Bourke.
I believe it will not be difficult to, nearly if not entirely,
invest the town by placing about 1000 on my right towards the
_Chuello_, and all the rest on my left towards the Recollata,
having that in the rear. The centre of the town makes a salient
angle; it appears to me, therefore, that our centre should be a
little refused, and our flanks thrown forward, as the right will be
rested on the _Chuello_, and the left secured by the _Plata_; but
this of course must be regulated by the better judgment of the
Commander of the forces.--I have the honour to be, &c.
J. LEVISON GOWER,
Major-General.
Lieutenant-Colonel Torrens,
&c. &c. &c.
_Sentence._
The court-martial having duly considered the evidence given in
support of the charges against the prisoner, Lieutenant-General
Whitelocke, his defence, and the evidence he has adduced, are of
opinion that he is guilty of the whole of the said charges, with
the exception of that part of the second charge which relates to
the order that “the columns should be unloaded, and that no firing
should be permitted on any account.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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