the barracks of which the 1st battalion was quartered. The 2nd reinoved to Faversham.

During the last week in May, 1806, the 4th, 23rd, 28th, and 95th Regiments passed through Ipswich from Woodbridge to Colchester barracks. The 2nd battalion moved from Faversham to Brabourn Lees somewhere about the same time. Before the move, three companies from this battalion had proceeded to South America under Sir Samuel Achmuty for the attack of Monte Video. troops landed on the morning of the 18th January, 1806, in a small bay to the westward of the Caretas Rocks, and about nine miles from the town. Before the disembarkation the enemy, with guns, had occupied the heights in great force, but he notwithstanding suffered the operation to proceed without opposition, and allowed Sir Samuel to take up a strong position about a mile from the shore. In the afternoon he opened a trifling cannonade and some firing at the outposts, which was kept up during the time the British remained on that ground. On the 19th, the troops removed towards Monte Video. The right column, under BrigadierGeneral the Hon. W. Lumley, was early opposed. About 4,000 of the enemy's horse occupied two heights to his front and right. As the British advanced, a heavy fire of round and grape opened upon them, but a spirited charge of the light battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Brownrigg dispersed the corps opposed to them with the loss of a gun. The enemy on the flank did not await a similar movement, but retreated, permitting the British, without other opposition than a distant cannonade, to take up a position about two miles from the citadel. The British advanced posts proceeded to occupy the suburbs, and some small parties were posted close to the works; but in the evening the principal part of the suburbs was evacuated. Lieutenant Chawner, of the 95th, was slightly wounded at the landing.

Next morning the enemy issued from the town and attacked with his whole force, about 6,000 men and a number of guns. He advanced in two columns; the right consisting of cavalry to turn the British left flank, while the other of infantry attacked the right of our line, pushing in the advanced posts and pressing hard on the out pickets of 400 men. A fierce fight ensued, in which the pickets, although reinforced by three companies of the 40th under Major Campbell, with difficulty held their own until the column was "suddenly and impetuously attacked in flank by the Rifle Corps and Light Battalion." The column now gave way on all sides, and was pursued to the town with great slaughter and the loss of a gun. The right column, observing the fate of their companions, rapidly retired without coming into

action.

On the 25th the bombardment commenced. The land batteries were aided by the guns of the frigates. Contrary to expectation, the defences offered a strong resistance to the fire, and showed the

British commander that his means were unequal to a regular siege. The only prospect of success was to breach a wall near the south gate joining the works to the sea. This being effected, the Rifles under Major Gardner, the light infantry under Lieutenant Colonel Brownrigg and Major Trotter, the grenadiers under Majors Campbell and Tucker and the 38th Regiment under LieutenantColonel Vassal and Major Nugent were led to the assault an hour before daybreak on the 3rd. They approached near the breach before they were discovered, when a destructive fire from every gun that could bear upon them and from the musketry of the garrison opened. This fire being passed through with a trifling loss the breach was gained, and found to be impracticable. During the night, which was extremely dark, the enemy had securely barricaded it with hides. At first the head of the column missed the breach, which when it was approached was so shut up as to be mistaken for the untouched wall. In this situation the troops remained under a heavy fire for a quarter of an hour, when the breach was discovered by Captain Rennie of the 40th, who pointing it out fell gloriously as he mounted it. Our gallant soldiers then rushed into it, and difficult as it was of access, forced their way into the town. Cannon placed at the head of the principal streets for a short time swept them with a destructive fire, but the troops pushed on in every direction, and soon cleared the streets at the point of the bayonet. In the assault the Rifles had Captain Dickenson killed, Lieutenants Scanlan and McNamara slightly wounded.

After the capture of Monte Video, five companies of the 1st Battalion sailed for South America under Brigadior-General R. Craufurd. Craufurd arrived at Monte Video on the 14th June. On the 15th his corps joined Whitelock at Monte Video, when preparations were immediately started for the attack of Buenos Ayres. On the 16th, the greater part of Craufurd's force was ordered up to Colonia, the Rifles being under the command of Major McLeod. Foul winds for a time delayed the expedition, but on the 28th a landing was effected without opposition at the Ensenada de Baragon, a small bay about thirty miles to the eastward of the town. The eight companies of the 95th, together with some light companies, under Craufurd, were the first to land. Four companies of the Rifles were then posted with the main division of the army. On the day of disembarkation, MajorGeneral Gower with nine companies of light infantry and four of Rifles under Craufurd, and the 38th and 87th Regiments was ordered to advance and possess himself of the heights above Ensenada. Whitelock joined the army next day, and ordering Gower to advance towards Buenos Ayres also started forward with the main body. After some fatiguing marches through a country intersected by swamps and deep muddy rivulets the army reached Reduction, a village about nine miles distant from the

bridge over the river Chuelo. This village was occupied by a considerable body of men, which Craufurd speedily drove off. The opposite bank of the river was also strongly occupied by the enemy, who had constructed batteries and established a formidable line of defence. This position Whitelock determined to turn. Major-General Gower, commanding the right column, ordered forward Craufurd at the head of his division, who crossed the river at the pass of Passo Chico. "The enemy's force," says Craufurd, "for a short time appeared to me to be that of rather a considerable body of infantry; but the light infantry and 95th advanced so rapidly that they very soon gave way-in short, almost as soon as they came close to them, leaving behind them, I believe, the whole they had, I believe twelve pieces of cannon." Craufurd was then ordered to retire on Gower's division. Between the 28th June and 4th July, the Rifles lost one sergeant and one man killed ; Captain Elder, Lieutenants Noble and Coane, two sergeants and forty men wounded. Next day Whitelock formed his line with Achmuty's brigade on the le't, extending towards the convent of Recollata; Craufurd's brigade, strengthened by the four companies of Rifles which had been posted with Whitelock's division on the first advance, occupied the central and principal avenues to the town, being distant about three miles from the great square and fort; the 45th Regiment and dragoons were upon the right extending towards the Residencia. By this disposition the town was nearly invested. Major Roache was ordered to proceed to the town with a flag of truce and summons to surrender. Accompanied by an officer and twelve privates from the pickets of the Rifles the Major proceeded on his errand. He was treated very disrespectfully, and had it not been for the firm conduct of his small escort the sacredness of his mission would have been violated, and he detained a prisoner.

For the attack of the city Brigadier-General Achmuty was directed to detach the 38th Regiment to possess itself of the Plaça de Toros and the adjacent strong ground; the 87th, 5th, 36th and 88th Regiments were each divided into wings, each wing being ordered to penetrate into the street directly to its front. The light battalion was divided into wings, each of which should be followed by a wing of the 95th and a 3-pounder. The right column thus formed consisted of about 600 rank and file under the personal direction of Craufurd; the left, consisting of about 540 rank and file under Lieutenant-Colonel Pack. Craufurd's columns were ordered to proceed down the two streets on the right of the central one; and the 45th Regiment down the two adjoining. After clearing the streets of the enemy this last regiment had to take post at the Residencia. The 95th was ordered to occupy two of the most commanding situations, from which it could annoy the enemy. "The whole were unloaded, and no firing was to be permitted until the columns had reached their final posts and

formed; a cannonade in the central street was the signal for the whole to come forward.”

The attack commenced at half past six o'clock of the morning of the 5th July. The troops pushed on in the most vigorous and spirited manner, but with very little success, and a great deal of suffering. The enemy occupying the flat roofs of the houses, kept up a heavy destructive fire of musketry. The place was quite unprepared for defence, but the residents were determined to resist the unjustifiable attack, and they behaved like brave men. Every householder with his negroes defended his own dwelling, which from its peculiar construction was in itself a fortress. Hand grenades, bricks and stones were showered from the tops of the houses, while every street was swept with storms of grape which told fearfully upon the advancing regiments. Yet the troops pressed forward with determined resolution. Craufurd's brigade passed on nearly to the river, and turning to the left approached the great square to possess itself of the Jesuit's College, a situation which commanded the enemy's principal line of defence. But the destructive fire which it received rendered this attempt impracticable. Despite every effort the assault was beginning to fail, and its failure resulted from a want of combination. The troops were doing their work right nobly, but from the first the general had failed to do his. After sustaining a heavy fire, one part of the division throwing itself into a house which proved to be untenable, was obliged to surrender. Meanwhile, the other part was enduring a brave attack with the greatest intrepidity. Lieutenant-Colonel Pack, its commander, was wounded before Craufurd himself led it in retreat upon the right division. "This division having passed through to the river Plata, turned also to the left to approach the great square and fort from the north-east bastion, from which it was distant about four hundred yards, when Craufurd learning the fate of his division thought it most advisable to take possession of the Convent of San Domingo near which he then was, intending to proceed onward to the Franciscan Church, which lay still nearer the fort, if the attack or success of any other of our columns should free him in some measure from the host of enemies which surrounded him. The 45th being further from the enemy's centre had gained the Residencia without much opposition, and Lieutenant-Colonel Guard leaving it in possession of his battalion companies, moved down with the grenadier company towards the centre of the town and joined Craufurd. The enemy who now surrounded the convent on all sides, attempting to take a 3-pounder which lay in the streets, the Lieutenant-Colonel with his company and a few light infantry under Major Trotter charged them with great spirit. In an instant the greater part of his company and Major Trotter, an officer of great merit, were killed by the murdering fire from the adjoining housetops, but the gun was saved."

U. S. MAG. No. 508, MARCH, 1871.

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The Brigadier-General was now obliged to confine himself to the defence of the Convent, from which the riflemen, posted on the steeple and other commanding positions, kept up a well directed fire upon such of the enemy as approached the post. To so great a quantity of roundshot, grape and musketry were they however exposed that at last they were obliged to quit the top of the building. Then the enemy, to the number of 6,000 bringing up cannon to force the wooden gates which fronted the fort, the Brigadier-General having no communication with any other column and being there in the very heart of the town, apparently isolated, without any chance of effectual support and with only about 600 men in hand, and judging from the cessation of firing that those next to him had not been successful, surrendered at four o'clock in the afternoon. After they had surrendered, they were marched into the fort. The corps lost as prisoners Majors Travers and M'Leod, five captains, nineteen subalterns, three staff, twentyfour sergeants, twelve drummers and four hundred and ninety-five rank and file including the wounded. It had Captain Jenkinson, two sergeants, two drummers, and thirty-six rank and file killed. Major Mc'Leod slightly, Major Travers slightly, Captain O'Hare, Lieutenants Cardoux, Mc'Leod, Scott, Turner, severely, Lieutenant McCulloch slightly, eight sergeants, two drummers, seventy-three rank and file wounded; two sergeants, two drummers, and thirtynine rank and file missing.

On the 26th July, 1807, the remainder of the 1st and 2nd Battalions embarked at Deal and leaving the Downs on the 1st arrived in the Sound about the 12th August. The object of the expedition was the capture of the Danish fleet. The troops were landed at Vedbeck in Zealand, about ten miles below Copenhagen. on the 16th. The two battalions of Rifles were immediately sent forward towards Copenhagen. "As soon as we got on shore," says Harris, who served in the expedition, "the Rifles were pushed forward as the advance, in chain order, through some thick woods of fir, and when we had cleared these woods and approached Copenhagen, sentries were posted on the roads and openings leading towards the town, in order to intercept all comers and prevent all supplies. Such posts were occupied for about three days and nights, whilst the town was being fired on by our shipping. As the main army came up, we advanced as near under the walls of the place as we could." On the 17th about 3000 Danes issued from Copenhagen and commenced an attack upon the pickets, which being supported by two companies of the 4th Regiment, four of the 23rd, and four of the second battalion Rifles under Captain Leech-in all not more than 1000 men-drove them back into the town.

Next morning the enemy opened a heavy fire of artillery upon the advanced posts, chiefly against the "Windmill battery."

On the 19th, the second battalion Rifles was moved further to