ascertaining their number, which was calculated at 22,000 men,—a number very inferior to that of the same army two months preceding, when it assumed so imposing an appearance while manoeuvring under Marshal Marmont. But it was not so much from the actual loss of numbers, as the diminution of confidence on the one part, and the increase of it on the other, occasioned by the total rout of a powerful army, that this event is to be valued. Men may be recruited, and the ranks may be again filled; but to reanimate a dispirited army, once buoyant with the pride of frequent victory, and supposed invincibility, is a task not quite so

easy.

The castle of Burgos was in ruins, but the strong thick walls of the ancient Keep were equal to the best casements. It is situated on a hill, commanding the river Arlanzon and the road to the town. Beyond the castle is Mount St Michael, on which a horn-work had been erected. A church had also been converted into a fort, and the whole included within three lines, so connected, that each could defend the other. The possession of the horn-work on St Michael's was a necessary preliminary to an attack on the castle. On the evening of the 19th, the light infantry of Colonel Stirling's brigade drove in the out-posts, and lodged themselves in the out-works close to the Mount. As soon as it was dark, the same troops, supported by the 42d, attacked the horn-work, and carried it by assault. The loss on this occasion, owing to some mistakes in consequence of the extreme darkness of the night, was considerable, amounting to 300 killed and wounded.

Batteries were now erected, but the want of heavy artillery rendered all the operations and approaches more difficult and destructive to the besiegers. On the night of the 22d, an attempt was made to storm the exterior line of the enemy's defence. Major Lawrie of the 79th Highlanders, a gallant young officer, who commanded the party directed to scale the walls in front, was killed; and after every ex

ertion, the object was found impracticable, and the troops were forced to retire.

The deficiency of artillery (which, owing to the great distance from Lisbon, could not be brought forward in time) leaving no hope of battering in breach, an attempt was made, on the 29th, to spring a mine under the works. A party was ready to storm the breach expected to be made. by the explosion; but, from the extreme darkness of the night, they mistook the point of attack, and were forced to retire without accomplishing their object: And, in the meantime, so great were the exertions of the enemy, that the damage done to the walls was in a few hours repaired.

On the 4th of October, another mine was exploded with better effect; and the second battalion of the 24th regiment being in readiness, instantly assaulted the works, and established themselves within the exterior line of the castle, but were unable to maintain themselves in the position they had gained. The enemy, persevering in their resolute defence, made two vigorous sorties on the 8th, forcing back the covering parties, and damaging the works of the Allies, before they could be repulsed. In this affair the loss was considerable. Another mine was exploded on the 18th, when the troops attempted an assault, but without success. The siege had now lasted thirty days, in the course of which the enemy showed how much could be effected by brave and resolute men, even without the advantage of a regularly fortified garrison. When it was announced to the army on the 20th that the siege was to be raised, the disappointment was excessive, being alleviated only by the conviction that the failure was solely to be ascribed to the want of a battering train, which could not, in the circumstances of the case, be brought forward in sufficient time.

Every praise is due to the enemy for the ability and skill with which the place was put in such a state of defence, and the determined courage with which every attack was resist

ed. The last attack, on the 18th, was particularly despe

rate.

During the period of these transactions, the enemy were occupied in concentrating their forces; and on the 30th Lord Wellington received intelligence that Joseph, the temporary King of Spain, Marshals Jourdan and Soult, and General Souham, with 80,000 men, were on their march; Souham with the intention of raising the siege of Burgos; and King Joseph with the design of cutting off Lord Wellington's communication with General Hill's division, between Aranjuez and Toledo. The siege was therefore raised on the 21st, and the army marched, after nightfall, unperceived by General Souham, who followed with a superior force, but did not overtake them till the evening of the 23d. A good deal of skirmishing then ensued between the cavalry on both sides, while the army continued its march to form a junction with General Hill, and oppose the united force of the enemy, now collected from different parts of the kingdom. During the march, the enemy, being very superior in cavalry, pressed on the rear of the army, and brought on several skirmishes, in which our cavalry displayed their usual spirited gallantry. The troops suffered much from the inclemency of the weather, from bad roads, and, still more, from the want of a regular supply of provisions.

This retrograde movement exhibited another instance of the impatience with which a British soldier bears a retreat, how quickly he loses his usual sense of duty and discipline, when he thinks he is not considered capable of meeting an enemy, and how readily he is animated and restored to duty and discipline when he perceives that confidence is again reposed in him, and that he is to have an opportunity of turning upon his foe. It has been seen in what manner the hurried retreat to Corunna disorganized the fine army un

• The loss of the army and of the Highland regiments will be seen in the Appendix.

der Sir John Moore, and how instantaneously order and animation were restored during the greatest despondency, and the utter absence of all discipline, whenever the sound of the order to battle reached the ears of the troops. Harassed and half famished, they met the enemy with a spirit which was fully manifested by the result.

On the retreat in question, which was short in comparison with that of Corunna, and during which the weather, although rainy, was not so unsupportable or destructive as the snowy tempests on the mountains of Gallicia; much of the same disorganization was exhibited, and intermingled with the same display of spirited gallantry, whenever the soldiers faced about, and fronted the enemy. Similar causes produced similar effects in the division commanded by General Hill, who was also hard pressed by Marshal Soult. Both armies indulged in a laxity of discipline to a greater degree, according to the words of Lord Wellington, "than any army with which he had ever served, or of which he had ever read," and, he continues," it must be obvious to every officer that, from the time the troops commenced their retreat from Burgos, on the one hand, and from Madrid on the other, the officers lost all command over their men. Irregularities and outrages of every description were committed with impunity." Notwithstanding all this, whenever the enemy appeared in sight, however harassing the fatigues, and however much the soldiers had suffered from hunger or thirst, all was forgotten and lost in the hope of victory, which renovated their spirits, and invigorated their strength. In the numberless rencounters and skirmishes, which were daily occurring during the retreat, and the various manœuvres and changes of position from Burgos and Madrid to Salamancha, and from thence to the winter quarters at Frenada and Corea, the same spirit and energy were uniformly exhibited: every advance of the enemy was repulsed with such celerity, that the loss from the commencement

• General Orders.

of the retreat on the 22d of October to the 17th of November, when all hostilities for the winter ceased, was only 7 officers, 16 serjeants, and 81 rank and file, killed: 47 officers, 46 serjeants, 5 drummers, and 640 rank and file, wounded. The number of those who dropped behind from disease, or fatigue, or were taken by the enemy, has not been stated, although it must have been great.

After this masterly retreat, before a superior army, which found itself unable to make any impression beyond the rearguard, the Commander-in-Chief allowed his army that rest now rendered so necessary by a constant succession of marches, counter-marches, battles, and sieges, from January to November, and accordingly placed them in winter quarters on the frontiers of Portugal. The enemy followed the example, apparently "unable to advance, unwilling to retire, and renouncing the hope of victory." This opinion, expressed at the time, was proved by subsequent events to be just; for, after the campaign of 1812, every movement of the enemy was retrograde, every battle a defeat.

• While the 42d regiment lay in winter quarters, a melancholy instance occurred of the force of unbridled passion. Lieutenant Dickenson was quartered in the small village of Villatora, a short distance from the regiment. He had sent a Corporal of the name of Macmoran, one of the recruits from the Irish militia, on some duty in the neighbourhood. The man returned before evening parade, but did not attend, imagining, that as he had been on another duty, he was not called upon to be present. The officer sent for him, and, after a sharp reprimand, ordered him to get his arms and accoutrements. He accordingly went for his arms, and returned to the officer, who stood waiting for him. When the corporal reached within two yards of the lieutenant, he presented his piece, and shot him through the heart. He had loaded his musket for the purpose, and fixed his bayonet, in case, as he said afterwards, that, if he missed his aim, he might run Mr Dickenson through with his bayonet. They had had no previous difference, nor had the corporal the least apparent cause, except the affront of being ordered to parade by himself; and being both from the same county in Ireland, the circumstance excited the greater surprise among the Highlanders, whose affection for their fellow countrymen is almost proverbial. The man was tried and executed.