William's Diary ~ Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ~ diary month-by-month ~ April 12th 1806 - September 1807

Background

Tom Byrne's 2009 article:
Pirates or liberators? The British invasion of Buenos Aires in 1806

British invasions of the Río de la Plata

THE 1st/71 Highlanders and the Bethlemites in Buenos Ayres ~ This article depicts some of the most fierce combats during the 1806/7 British invasions, the medical assistance provided by the Bethlemites and the possible burial places of the British troops. Courtesy Dr Eduardo C. Gerding

Also see Norberto Perez' list of Argentinian placenames

The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 76, Part 2

May 24th 1806 - Arrived in front of Buenos Ayres, (6) cast anchor, and cooked three days’ provisions. Orders issued to land next morning. A large body of Spaniards drawn up on the heights above the landing-place.

May 25th 1806 - The boats were launched, the troops got on board and proceeded to the shore, but being too shoal we were forced to get into the water and proceed knee deep about a quarter of a mile. Captain King, of the Royal Navy, remained the whole time in the water as a mark for the troops to be guided by. We were under arms for the whole of the night; it rained incessantly.

May 26th 1806 - Advanced towards the heights, where the enemy were posted, with four field pieces and about two thousand men. In our front lay a deep morass. Sailors from the ships dragged two six-pounders which were landed during the night, but the ground was so deep, and the enemy’s guns playing upon us, that General Beresford ordered our guns to be abandoned, and gave the word ‘forward,’ which was instantly obeyed. Charged the enemy, who took flight, abandoning their guns, waggons, etc. and proceeded towards the City. Our small army followed to the village of Reduction, where we arrived after nightfall. On the march through a country without stone or stick, I picked up a bleached horse skull, in order to make a pillow of it for the night, hoping every minute to halt; but after carrying it for about two miles, I was obliged to cast it away, and continue the march. The only human habitation that we met I made for, and found a horse tied to the door, which I took possession of and mounted, and as it is customary in South America, found the bedding of the owner under the saddle. When we came to the village, Lieutenant Le Estrange and myself got under the wall of a brick store and huddled together, the Spaniard’s bed clothes making a comfortable shake down and the saddle doing us for a pillow, and were composing ourselves to rest, when some of our men went down to the River Chille (7) to bring water. The Spaniards on the other side took the alarm, and opened a fire of guns and musquetry, which soon dislodged us and made us retreat two miles of a very dark night, scarcely knowing in what direction we were proceeding. In the action of this day a six-pounder carried away Captain (now Colonel) Le Blanc’s leg, and the fleshy part of the thigh of Sergeant (now Adjutant) Anderson.

May 27th 1806 - This morning observed the enemy drawn up on the other side of the river Chille, and occupying small ships at anchor in it, between which and our line was an extensive plain. General Beresford ordered a company to proceed and get under cover of the bank, and annoy these in possession of the ships. Lieutenant Le Estrange, who commanded this party, accomplished it in defiance of the fire of the enemy without loss. The General, fearful that the lieutenant was expending his ammunition too freely, and having none nearer than our own ships, ordered the writer down to desire he would be more frugal of his fire. Of course, orders should be obeyed, with this not very pleasing duty. I had to proceed through a plain of upwards of three hundred yards, exposed to the musquetry and two pieces of cannon of the Spaniards, who peppered away at me with the same eagerness as if they had the whole British force before them. I ran in desperation towards my destination, but the bullets whistled so thick about my ears that I thought diverging a little towards the right might be safer. When I got into a dyke and proceeded towards my destination, there a six-pounder shot came by me (en ricochet). I resumed my old situation on the plain, and arrived under the bank of the river a great deal more frightened than hurt.

The army now advanced, and drove the enemy from their position on the river. (8) We set to and lashed three or four of the small craft together, and procured planks to make a gangway. All passed over and advanced towards Buenos Ayres. On our way we were met by the Alcalde and the Chief Civil officers of the city, who came out in their official robes with an offer to deliver up the city to the English. We marched into town and took possession of the castle and the barracks called Rangaris. [?]

In order to make our forces appear more formidable, we were ordered to take double distance in column on entering the town, but the Spaniards soon discovered our strength by the rations daily drawn. I was accosted one day by an inhabitant who enquired as to our numbers, which I exaggerated some hundreds, when he very pertinently asked ‘how were they fed, as rations were only issued for such a number.’ I accounted for it as men in hospital, servants, etc., but it would not do, they knew to a man our strength.

To our surprise we found a number of English men and women; they were part of the crew and convicts of the transport ship ‘Sarah,’ who rose on the captain and those who were faithful to him on their passage to Botany Bay. They murdered the captain and mate, and carried the ship into Buenos Ayres, where they sold her. Some of the female convicts were well married, and the male working at their different trades. One we found very useful, named Patrick Carey, and another, Smith, that General Beresford brought to England. The former man got into the Commissariat, and served with us at the Corunna retreat. He was drowned in the bay the morning we cut our cables on leaving it. The fellow that killed the captain by a blow of a hatchet as he came up the companion steps, and two females, were the only persons of the whole that followed the dissolute lives they were accustomed to lead in England.

After being some time in peaceable possession of the town, a man cleaning his firelock in one of the barrack rooms happened to stick his ramrod in the ground floor, which instantly disappeared. When searching for it we found that the whole range of the barracks was undermined from the other side of the street where there was a Convent of Friars.

On examination we found that they had been at work many days and had mined under the main street and had actually placed some barrels of gunpowder and would, if not so fortunately discovered, have blown us to atoms.

The day we entered the town the Viceroy, (9) with a detachment of Dragoons, left it, taking with him sixteen wagons loaded with doubloons and dollars, and took the road to Luchan. Captain Charles Graham, of the 71st, with his company and a few dragoons was dispatched after him, and succeeded in taking the whole, which he brought into town, and it was put on board the ‘Narcissus’ frigate and sent to England with the dispatches by the Honourable Captain Dean (afterwards Lord Muskerry), of the 38th Regiment, Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General Beresford.

About this period the General received information that there was a likelihood of a rising of the people, under Pueridon, one of the municipality. Arms were secreted in the town, and nightly assemblies took place. Colonel Linears (10) a French officer on parole, collected great numbers at Colonia on the other side of the river.

Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires (1753 - 1810)

August lst 1806 - The ‘Leda’ frigate anchored off Buenos Ayres. Same day we advanced, with the weak garrison (leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell and one Company 71st in the castle), to attack upwards of 1500 Spaniards assembled about five leagues from the town, under the command of Pueridon. We came in sight of them about 12 o’clock, drawn up on an extensive plain, with a six-pounder on each flank and one in the centre. Order was given to the column to form line (the late Lieutenant John Graham (killed afterwards at Fuentós de Oñovo) and the writer of this were ordered six paces to the front, to give the line, and advance in slow time, till we came within a few yards of them, and then opened a brisk fire from right to left, and immediately charged, the enemy giving way in all directions, leaving their guns and many prisoners. Five or six gentlemen were so sanguine in the cause, and so sure of victory, that they galloped round our right flank, where the General was stationed, with the intention of making him prisoner, and actually attempted it, but were cut down and made prisoners. In the evening we, marched into town in triumph.>

A few days previous to this the Dutch recruits (11) we received at the Cape deserted to the enemy, and one of them was actually taken with the lighted match in his hands at one of their guns. He was sentenced to be shot by decree of a court martial. The Bishop of Buenos Ayres waited on General Beresford and offered two thousand dollars to save his life, but was refused, and he was accordingly shot next day.

August 3rd 1806 - It blew a dreadful hurricane, so that no communication could be kept up with the shipping. Sir Home Popham attempted to return to the ‘Leda’ in the ‘Encounter’ (Captain Honeyman), but could not succeed.

August 4th 1806 - The gale increased. In the afternoon Captain King, R.N., arrived in a gallivat with one hundred men from the ‘Diadem,’ for the purpose of arming a few small vessels in the harbour.

August 5th 1806 - The wind abated, and Sir Home reached the ‘Leda,’ where he learned from Captain Thompson that the enemy had crossed over from Colonia.

August 6th and 7th 1806 - It blew a hurricane, and five of our gun boats foundered.

August 8th 1806 - The rain fell in torrents.

August 9th and 10th 1806 - The enemy advanced and took a small post in the suburbs, where the 71st had a sergeant’s guard, and massacred Sergeant Kennedy (who was in charge) and the whole of the men he commanded. They then advanced by all the streets leading to the great square (where our small force was drawn up). Our position was commanded by the enemy, who occupied the tops of the houses and the great church, (12) it being completely secured by the parapets that surrounded the flat roofs. We were picked off at pleasure. At a gun near the church, three reliefs, in a short time, were killed or wounded. Lieutenant Mitchell and Ensign Lucas, 71st, were killed here, with Captain Kennet, Royal Engineers. The General, seeing further resistance was vain, went into the castle and hoisted a flag of truce: our small force was ordered in and the gates closed. After a conference between the General and an Aide-de-Camp of Linears, we surrendered to the greatest set of ragamuffins ever collected together.

Our loss was:-
Royal Engineers.-1 captain killed.

Royal Artillery. - 1 captain and 1 lieutenant wounded; 3 rank and file killed and wounded.

St. Helena Artillery. - 1 sergeant wounded; 9 rank and file killed, 13 wounded; drivers - 1 wounded.

71st. - 1 lieutenant and 1 ensign killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel and 1 ensign wounded; 1 sergeant killed and 5 wounded. (missing); 1 drummer killed; 24 rank and file killed and 67 wounded.

Royal Marines. - 1 captain and 1 sergeant wounded; 6 rank and file killed, 5 rank and file wounded, 8 rank and file missing.

St. Helena Regt. - 1 lieutenant wounded; 1 sergeant killed; 1 rank and file killed, 4 rank and file wounded, 1 rank and file missing.
General total, 144.

Died in Hospital. - 71st, 5; St. Helena Regiment 1; Marines, 1; Artillery, 3; total, 10.

NAMES OF OFFICERS KILLED
Captain Kennet, Royal Engineers.
Lieutenant Mitchell and Ensign Lucas, 71st Regiment

Wounded.
Captain Ogilvie and Captain M’Kenzie, Royal Artillery.
Lieutenant Sampson, St. Helena Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Pack and Ensign Murray, 71st Regiment.
Lieutenant Cowsel, Royal Marines.

August 12th 1806 - We were marched out of the castle between files of Spaniards and Creoles (the enemy having only one small regiment of regulars), and crowded into the Cabildo, or town house, amid the shouts of an infuriated rabble. The clergy and women vied with each other in kind acts to the prisoners. The writer and Colonel Pack were in the street surrounded by the mob, who were dragging the Colours of the 71st through the gutter, crying out for the head of an Englishman, when a worthy Spanish gentleman came up and rescued us from our perilous situation, took us to his house, and treated us most hospitably. We remained till next morning. The Spaniards acknowledged to have lost seven hundred men from the 10th to 12th August.

August 13th 1806 - I was taken to a Spaniard’s house whose inmates treated me most kindly, and during the frenzy of the mob in search of the English officers concealed me under a bed.

August 14th 1806 - Another assembly of the Creoles, they murdered Captain Gillespie’s servant, of the Royal Marines.

August 18th 1806 - I ventured out, protected by a worthy priest, and was met by a contractor who supplied us with bread during the time we occupied the town. He, with the most unfeigned joy, clasped me in his arms and informed me he had searched among the dead, the hospitals, and prisons in vain for me and gave me up for lost. This good man’s kindness continued during our stay in Buenos Ayres. He visited me daily, and the night previous to our being sent up the country brought me as much excellent biscuit as a huge black could carry, saying, ‘You have to travel some hundreds of miles, where nothing but beef without salt can be procured,’ which proved to be the case. It proved of great service to me and my friends on the journey. Another instance of the Spanish friendship I can detail. After we were made prisoners the Spaniards formed a Corps of volunteer light horse, and copied the uniform of our 20th Light Dragoons. They were composed of gentlemen. One of them, Don Pedro Gasper, took a great fancy to me and offered to send me to a friend’s house some miles in the country, but I preferred sharing the fate of my countrymen. Having no money for the march I offered him my watch for sale, but understanding me imperfectly he brought me a man who could speak a little English, who made my intentions known to him, when the good man thrust his hand in his pocket and threw out thirty or forty doubloons, and said, ‘When that is out you shall have as much more.’ I declined the generous offer with heartfelt thanks.

COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION

The British General having no further object for remaining in Buenos Ayres, and to avoid the unnecessary effusion of blood, and also the destruction of property of the inhabitants of this city, consents to deliver up the fort of Buenos Ayres to the Commander of His Most Catholic Majesty’s forces on the following conditions:-

First. - The British troops to march out with all the honours of war, to be considered prisoners of war, but to be embarked as soon as possible on board the British transports now in the river, to be conveyed to England or the station they came from.

Second. - The British on their entrance into this place made many prisoners of war, which remained on their parole, and, as the number of officers is much greater on one side and of men on the other, it is agreed that the whole shall be exchanged for the whole. The English transports returning to their places of destination as Cartel, are to be guaranteed as such by the Spanish Government from capture on the voyage.

Third. Provisions, etc., will be furnished for the passage of the English troops according to the usual custom in like cases.

Fourth. - Such wounded of the British troops as cannot be removed on board of ships shall remain in the hospitals at Buenos Ayres, either under charge of Spanish or British surgeons, at the option of the British General, and shall be furnished with everything necessary, and on their recovery sent to Great Britain.

Fifth. - The property of all British subjects in Buenos Ayres to be respected.

(Signed) Wm. CARR BERESFORD,
Santiago Conisidido Linears. (13)

Notwithstanding this capitulation, on the Spaniards hearing of a reinforcement arriving in the river from England, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Backhouse, (14) orders were issued to send the prisoners into the interior of the country. The men marched off to Tuckaman (15) Cordova, Mendoza, etc., and the General, Colonel Pack, Captain Arbuthnot (Aide de Camp), Captain Ogilvie (Royal Artillery), and Assistant-Surgeon Evans (71st Regiment) remained in Luxan, twelve leagues from Buenos Ayres - the officers to St. Antonia, Chappeles, Ronches, etc. The writer of this to St. Antonia. We passed through a beautiful plain covered with innumerable herds of wild horses and cattle.

Here we received the news of the murder of Captain Ogilvie on the 27th of November by a creole, when he and Colonel Pack were riding out. The Colonel had a most narrow escape, the murderer having thrown a lasso at him in which he got, entangled and would have shared the fate of his friend but for the opportune appearance of two men.

February 1807 - We were informed of the escape of General Beresford and Colonel Pack across the River Plate to Monte Video - then in possession of the British - and got orders to proceed further into the interior. I was sent with Colonel Campbell, Major M’Kenzie, etc., to St. Ignacia, a quinta, or country house belonging to an extensive landowner, forty leagues north of Cordova. We passed for the first week through the same kind of country as from Buenos Ayres, but destitute of wood and water. We each had a horse and new saddle and bridle, with bullock waggons to carry our little remaining baggage and women. We got vessels provided for us to carry water for five or six days, and our only fuel was dried bullock dung and withered weeds. Afterwards we got into a country scarcely passable for a kind of prickly thorn and the prickly pear.

We were well supplied by our landlord Don Pedro Gomez with good bread, beef and mutton, paying him well for the same - viz., about 4/6 per bullock, and 2/- per sheep. We sometimes got a little country wine from itinerant dealers from Cordova, who travelled vast distances before they could meet a customer. We had a captain’s guard of Spanish dragoons. We also received three months’ pay from the Spanish Government - a dollar per day. Through the whole of the country we traversed we scarcely met an inhabitant, except at distances, where large towns were traced out with streets of squares, with a wretched mud fort or perhaps a dismounted gun, and an unfortunate corporal with two men sent to keep the natives in awe. From this place Major Tolley and Captain Adamson made their escape to the River Paraguay, which falls into the Plate, and after innumerable hardships obtained a boat, hiding during the day and rowing all night, levying contributions of provisions on any house where no male person was to defend it, and arrived in safety at Monte Video. Captain Jones, encouraged by this success, formed a plan to follow their footsteps, but while waiting for an issue of pay, unguardedly made his intentions so public that the Spanish captain knew to the hour when he was to set out, with his servants in disguise as Creoles, and the route he was to proceed, and allowed him to proceed about six leagues, and in a wood secured them both and carried them prisoners to Cordova - there kept closely confined during our captivity.

About one league from St. Ignatia was another Quinta, where Captain Duncan M’Kenzie (then Paymaster M’Kenzie) and a few officers lived. Captain M’Kenzie’s servant was a married man, and his wife a beautiful Irish girl. She was sent by her master rather late of an afternoon to St. Ignatia for change of a doubloon, which, on her receiving, was observed by two Creoles, who followed her, and midway between the two Quintas barbarously murdered her; but on discovering next day that she was a Catholic, their grief and remorse was beyond measure. Here I first saw the process of interment in Catholic countries. The grave is dug about ten feet deep, the body without a coffin laid in it, and quick lime thrown over it, then a layer of earth, which is beaten down with something like a pavior’s mallet, until it is formed into a hard patie, and so on, layer succeeding layer, until the grave is filled up, which occupies the work of some days.

We lived here very comfortably until the month of August, when we were informed that we should soon be on our way to England; that the British Government had sent out a force of 10,000 men under a General Whitelock, who was obliged to surrender with his whole army to the Spaniards, and that one of the articles of capitulation was our release. We laughed at the idea, (16) as we took Buenos Ayres with about 1000 men, and could have marched over all Spanish America with 10,000. We provided ourselves with ponchos, a kind of blanket with a slit in the centre; by putting your head through it forms not an ungraceful kind of cloak. It is worn by all the natives; the better sort is made of cotton and makes a good quilt. It serves as a blanket at night; and out of a coarse cloth made of hair and wool we contrived to make a sort of tent that kept the dew of the night from us.

On arrival at Buenos Ayres we were marched along the river side and embarked in boats for Monte Video. We could observe that the fortifications of the town were much improved from the time we took it. On our arrival at Monte Video we were inspected by General Whitelock; and a motley crew we were, without arms, and mostly dressed in Nankeen jackets and trousers. One of the articles of capitulation was that Monte Video should be evacuated by every British subject on a certain day, and the confusion on that day was beyond description - hundreds of merchants who came with all sorts of merchandise from England lying on the beach with their goods and could not obtain a passage. The troops were, of course, provided for in the men-o’-war and transports. The writer of this was sent, on the day of evacuation, by Colonel Tolley, on shore to purchase articles for the Regiment, and brought a man with two thousand dollars on his back for the purpose; but the Spaniards, conceiving that it was plunder, detained us, and would probably have murdered us but for the interference of one of General Whitelock’s staff, who explained to them our mission.

September 1807 - Two hundred of the 71st were put on board a Spanish prize - the ‘Princesa,’ a galleon - with a lieutenant of the Navy and a crew from the different men-o’- war, and sailed for Europe with a fleet of upwards of 200 sail of men-o’-war, transports and merchantmen.

About eight days after leaving Monte Video, a most violent storm arose, which increased about midnight, when we discovered that the ‘Princesa’ had sprung a leak. All hands were called on deck and the chain pumps manned, and lanterns hung in all parts of the rigging, and guns fired as signals of distress; but the night was so dark and the hurricane so violent that no assistance could be given to us. The cries of the women and sick, the rattling of the wind among the shrouds, was truly frightful, as we expected every moment to go to the bottom. When daylight appeared the wind abated, but the sea ran mountains high, and the Admiral, perceiving our colours half-mast high, bore down upon us and hailed. us. On hearing our condition he sent two carpenters aboard to inspect the ship, who pronounced that she could not swim for two hours more. By this time the water was up to the second (or Orlop) deck. On their return (the carpenters) to the ‘Lion,’ the Admiral’s ship, a signal was made for the Fleet to lie to and lower all their boats, and rendezvous round the ‘Princesa.’ Providentially at this time the wind had quite abated, and the sea comparatively calm, and everything got ready to embark in the boats. The confusion, as may be expected, was very great. The writer and our surgeon (Pooler) were put on board a brig of war, then commanded by a Lieutenant Blaney (a great tyrant), and remained there for about eight days, when we were put on board the ‘Nelly,’ our Headquarter ship, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell.

The evening that we escaped from the ‘Princesa’ we saw her go to the bottom at about four miles off, so that if Providence had not been pleased to abate the wind nearly three hundred souls would have met a watery grave. Nothing particular happened on the passage, but the death of Lieutenant Thomas Murray, who was suffocated in his berth by leaving his leather stock on. He was a brave soldier and a worthy young man.

We saw no land during the passage, and arrived at the Cove of Cork on the 27th. December, after a passage of nearly seventeen weeks, in the latter part of which we suffered greatly for want of fresh water. The officers were on the allowance of a pint a day, and the men were obliged to suck this quantity through the touch hole of a musquet barrel from the scuttle butt.

When landed we marched to Middleton Barracks, where the men received a year’s pay, reserving sufficient to purchase necessaries, etc.; but such a scene of drunkenness for eight days was never seen in the British or any other army. The barrack gates were closed only when drays from Cork were admitted with barrels of porter and hogsheads of whisky, and in some rooms they were actually ankle-deep in liquor. After some time we marched to the new barracks in Cork, and were completely equipped with arms and accoutrements, clothing, etc., which was sent from London by Colonel Pack, who joined us here. We were also presented with a new pair of colours (the old battalion colours having been captured at Buenos Ayres) by Sir John Floyd, who made the following speech on delivering them:

‘SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,

‘I am directed to perform this honourable duty of presenting your new colours.

‘Brave Seventy-first, the world is well acquainted with your gallant behaviour at the capture of Buenos Ayres in South America, under one of His Majesty’s bravest Generals.

‘It is well known that you defended your conquest with the utmost courage, good conduct and discipline, to the last extremity, when diminished to a handful, hopeless of succour, and destitute of provisions; you were overwhelmed by multitudes and reduced by the fortune of war to lose your liberty and your well-defended colours, but not your honour.

‘Your honour, Seventy-first, in the field covered you with glory; your generous despair, calling on your General to suffer you to die with arms in your hands, proceeded from the generous spirit of British soldiers. Your behaviour in prosperity, your sufferings in captivity, and your faithful discharge of your duty to your King and Country, you who stand on parade in defiance of allurements held out to base desertion, endear you to the army and the country, and ensure the esteem of all true soldiers and worthy men, and must fill every one of you with honest martial pride.

‘It has been my good fortune to have witnessed in a remote part of the world the early glory and gallant conduct of the 71st Regiment in the field, and it is with great satisfaction I meet you here with replenished and good arms in your hands, and stout hearts in your bosoms.

‘Look, officers and soldiers, to the attainment of new honours and the acquirement of fresh fame.

‘Officers, be friends and guardians to the brave fellows committed to your care.

‘Soldiers, give your confidence to your officers; they have shared with you the chances of war; they have bravely bled along with you; preserve your Regiment’s reputation for valor in the field, and regularity in quarters.

‘I have the honour to present the Royal Colour. This is the King’s Colour.

‘I have the honour to present the Regimental Colour. This is the colour of the 71st Regiment.

‘May victory for ever crown these colours.

N.B. - 96 of our men remained in South America. (17)

copyright © Stephen Gavin 2025 ~ Last updated - 22nd December 2024