6 cannon-ball struck his left shoulder, and beat him to the ground. He raised himself, and sat up with an unaltered countenance, looking intently at the highlanders, who were warmly engaged. Captain Hardinge threw himself froin his horse, and took him by the hand; then, observing his anxiety, he told him the 42d were advancing; upon which his countenance immediately brightened. His friend Colonel Graham now dismounted to assist him; and, from the composure of his features, entertained hopes that he was not even wounded; but, observing the horrid laceration and effusion of blood, he rode off for surgeons. The general was carried from the field on a blanket, by a serjeant of the 42d, and some soldiers. On the way he ordered Captain Hardinge to report his wound to General Hope, who assumed the command. Many of the soldiers knew that their two chiefs were carried off, yet they continued the fight undaunted. General Paget, conformably to his orders, hastened to the right with the reserve. Colonel Beckwith dashed on with the rifle corps, repelling the enemy, and advancing on their flank. They penetrated so far, as nearly to carry one of their cannon; but were at length forced to retire, before a much superior corps, who were moving up the valley. General Paget attacked this corps with the 52d, and some more of the reserve, and quickly repelled it. He pressed on to a great distance, dispersing every thing in his front; till the enemy perceiving their left wing quite exposed, drew it entirely back. I The French then advanced upon the centre, where Generals Manningham and Leith successfully resisted their onset. The ground there being more elevated, and favourable for artillery, the guns were of great utility. An effort was likewise made on the left, which was very unavailing; for the position on that side was strong. But a corps of French took possession of a village on the road to Betanzos, from which they continued to fire. On which Lieutenant-colonel cholls boldly attacked the village with some companies of the 14th, and beat out the enemy with loss. Ni Light now began to fail, and the French had fallen back on every point; yet the roaring of cannon, and report of musquetry, continued till dark. The victory was complete, and gained under many disadvantages. The British had been much reduced by the multitude of sick, by the loss of stragglers, and by those employed in necessary duties; and General Craufurd's detachment was now at Vigo; so that not quite 15,000 men were brought into the field. The French also were greatly diminished by the length of the march, the severity of the weather, and their losses in the various defeats they had previously sustained ; yet, according to the report of the prisoners, their three divisions amounted to full 20,000 men, and consisted, in part, of the same regiments which had capitulated in Portugal. Besides this great superiority of numbers, their position was far more favourable, and their cannon was of much heavier metal; which being planted on the hills, fired down on the British with great advantage. Yet by the daring courage of the troops, by the skilful disposition of the army, and by by the manœuvres during the action, the French were entirely discomfited. The loss of the British in killed and wounded, was between seven and eight hundred men; and General Hope conjectured that the enemy had lost about double that number; but Major Napier, when a prisoner, learnt from the best-informed Spaniards, that the loss of the French was about two thousand men. This was owing to the quick firing and steady aim of the British troops; the French veteran officers declaring that they had never been in so hot a fire in their lives. Indeed they were often lavish in their praises of the British in action; but observed, that they were much inferior in marching to their own more practised soldiers, and straggled from their corps to a degree which never occurs in a French army. These defects, together with their love of wine, occasioned a most serious loss of men. But, to mitigate this censure, it ought to be mentioned, that in the midst of their excesses, no such enormities were committed, other armies are reproached with. The British soldiers were intemperate, and often mischievous, but never cruel. as The darkness of the night made it impossible to pursue the enemy; and General Hope, weighing the circumstances under which the British army was placed, and the reinforcements which were at hand, and would soon reach the French, considered that it would be impossible to retain his position long. A succession of attacks from fresh troops must ultimately overwhelm the British. He, therefore, judged that the only prudent step that could be taken, was to proceed to embark the army. At ten o'clock at night he ordered the troops, by brigades, to move from the field, and march to Corumma. Strong picquets were left to guard the ground, and to give notice if the enemy approached. Major-General Beresford commanded the rear-guard, of about 2000 men, to cover the embarka tion. He occupied the lines in front of the town. And Major-General Hill was stationed with a corps of reserve, on a promontory behind the town. The boats were all in readiness, and the previous measures had been so well concerted, that nearly the whole army were embarked during the night. The picquets were withdrawn before day-light, and immediately carried on board the ships also; so that nothing remained asliore except the rear-guard. The French had no disposition to renew the engagement; but, when the morning rose, and they saw that the British were gone, they pushed on their light troops to the heights of St. Lucia. In the forenoon, (January 17th) they got up some cannon to a rising ground near the harbour, and fired at the transports. Several of the masters were so much frightened, that they cut their cables, and four of the ships ran aground. The troops of these ships were put on board others, and the stranded vessels were burnt. The rest of the fleet quitted the harbour. At two o'clock, General Hill's brigade embarked under the citadel; and during that night, and the following morning, General Beresford sent off all the sick and wounded, whose condition admitted of their being removed; and, lastly, the rear-guard got into the boats, without the slightest effort being made 1 "Sir John assented to being re"moved in a blanket to the rear. "In raising him for that purpose, "his sword, hanging on the wound"ed side, touched his arm, and "became entangled between his legs. I perceived the inconveInience, and was in the act of unbuckling it from his waist, when "he said, in his usual tone and "manner, and in a very distinct " voice, It is well as it is. I "had rather it should go out of the field with me.' 66 66 "Here I feel that it would be improper for my pen to venture "to express the admiration with "which I am penetrated in thus "faithfully recording this instance "of the invincible fortitude, and "military delicacy of this great waggon. The General asked one of the Highlanders, whether he thought the waggon or the blanket best; who answered that the blanket would not shake him so much, as he and the other soldiers would keep the step, and carry him easy. Sir John said, "I think so too."So they proceeded with him to his lodgings in Corunna, the soldiers shedding tears as they went. In carrying him through the passage of the house, he saw his faithful servant François, who was stunned at the spectacle. Sir John said to him, smiling, "My friend, this is "nothing." Colonel Anderson, for one-andtwenty years the friend and companion in arms of Sir John Moore, wrote, the morning following, this account, while the circumstances were fresh in his memory: "I met the General in the even"ing of the 16th, bringing in a "blanket and sashes. He knew me "immediately, though it was almost dark, squeezed me by the hand, and said, Anderson, don't leave "me.' 66 He spoke to the surgeons on "their examining his wound, but was in such pain he could say "little. The tidings of this disaster were brought to Sir David Baird when the surgeons were dressing his shattered arm. He instantly commanded them to desist, and run to attend on 66 Sir John Moore. When they arrived, and offered their assistance, he said to them, "You can be of no service to me; "go to the soldiers, to whom you "may be useful.” As the soldiers were carrying him slowly along, he made them turn him round frequently, to view the field of battle, and to listen to the firing; and was well pleased when the sound grew fainter, A spring waggon, bearing Colonel Wynch, wounded from the battle, came up. The Colonel asked, "who was in the blanket?" and being told it was Sir John Moore, he wished him to be placed in the 1809. "After some time, he seemed very anxious to speak to me, and "at intervals got out as follows: 66 66 Anderson, you know that I have always wished to die this way.' "He then asked, Are the French "beaten?' which he repeated to every one he knew, as they came in. I hope the people of England will be satisfied!- I hope my country will do me justice Anderson,-you will see my friends as soon as you "can. Tell them-every thing, -Say to my mother Here "his voice quite failed, and he was C "excessively excessively agitated. Hope"Hope-I have much to say to "him,-but-cannot get it out."Are Colonel Graham-and all my aides-de-camp well? (a "private sign was made by Colo"nel Anderson, not to inform him "that Captain Burrard, one of his "aides-de-camp, was wounded in "the action.)—I have made my "will, and have remembered my servants.--Colborne has my will " and aiì my papers.' 66 r 66 66 Major Colborne then came in"to the room. He spoke most kindly to him, and then said to me, Anderson, remember you go to, and tell him it is my request, and that I expect he will give Major Colborne a lieu"tenant-colonelcy. He has been long with me, and I know him "most worthy of it.' He then "asked Major Colborne, if the "French were beaten?'-And on being told they were on every point, he said, 'It's a great sa"tisfaction for me to know we "have beaten the French.-Is Paget in the room?' On my telling him, no; he said, Remember "me to him.-It's General Paget "I mean-he's a fine fellow"I feel myself so strong-I fear "I shall be long dying.-It is great uneasiness-it is great pain. Every thing François says is right. "I have the greatest confidence " in him.' "few minutes, died without a " struggle. "This was every syllable he ut"tered, as far as I can recollect, ex"cept asking occasionally to be "placed in an easier posture. "P. ANDERSON, Lieut. Col." From a sentiment of veneration that has been felt in every age, the corpse of a man who has excited admiration cannot be neglected as common clay. This impression leads mankind sometimes to treat an inanimate body with peculiar respect; and even to bestow upon it unfel honours. This was now the subject of deliberation among the military friends of Sir John Moore, who had survived the engagement; when Colonel Anderson informed them, that he had heard the General repeatedly declare, "that if he was killed in battle, he wished to be buried where he had fallen!" General Hope and Colonel Gr ham immediately acceded to this suggestion; and it was determined that the body should be interred on the rampart of the citadel of Corunna. At twelve o'clock at night the remains of Sir John Moore were accordingly carried to the citadel by Colonel Graham, Major Col borne, and the aides-de-camp, and deposited in Colonel Graham's quarters. A grave was dug by a party of the 9th regiment, the aides-decamp attending by turns. No coffin could be procured, and the body was never undressed, but wrapped up by the officers of his staff in a military cloak and blankets. Towards eight o'clock in the morning some firing was heard. It was then resolved to finish the interment, |