Chapter C: General Orders

His Majesty's Ship Audacious,
18th January, 1809.

The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the Commander of the Forces, _Lieutenant-General_ SIR JOHN MOORE, and the severe wound which has removed _Lieutenant-General_ SIR DAVID BAIRD from his station, render it the duty of _Lieutenant-General Hope_ to congratulate the Army upon the successful result of the action of the 16th instant.

On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.

These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may employ, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to yield,--that no circumstances can appal,--and that will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.

The Lieutenant-General has the greatest satisfaction in distinguishing such meritorious services as came within his observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.

His acknowledgments are in a peculiar manner due to _Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck_, and the brigade under his command, consisting of the 4th, 42nd, and 50th regiments, which sustained the weight of the attack.

_Major-General Manningham_, with his brigade, consisting of the Royals, the 26th and 81st regiments, and _Major-General Warde_, with the brigade of Guards, will also be pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant conduct during the action.

To _Major-General Paget_, who, by a judicious movement of the reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of the enemy on the right, and to the 1st battalion of the 52nd and 95th regiments, which were thereby engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.

That part of _Major-General Leith's_ brigade which was engaged, consisting of the 59th regiment under the conduct of the Major-General, also claims marked approbation.

The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him repent the attempt.

The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under the command of _Major-Generals Hill_ and _Leith_, and _Colonel Catlin Craufurd_, conducted themselves with determined resolution, and were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades, and by the troops of which they were composed.

It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieutenant-General to notice the vigorous attack made by the 2nd battalion of the 14th regiment under _Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls_, which drove the enemy out of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.

The exertions of _Lieutenant-Colonel Murray_, Quarter-Master General, and of the other officers of the General Staff, during the action, were unremitted, and deserve every degree of approbation.

The illness of _Brigadier-General Clinton_, Adjutant-General, unfortunately deprived the army of the benefit of his services.

The Lieutenant-General hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected: he laments, however, the fall of the gallant soldiers and valuable officers who have suffered.

The Lieutenant-General knows that it is impossible in any language he can use to enhance the esteem, or diminish the regret, that the Army feels with him for its late Commander. His career has been unfortunately too limited for his country, but has been sufficient for his own fame. Beloved by the Army, honoured by his Sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life devoted to her service by a glorious death, leaving his name as a memorial, an example, and an excitement to those who shall follow him in the path of honour, and it is from his country alone that his memory can receive the tribute which is its due.

(Signed) JOHN HOPE,
Lieutenant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Horse-Guards, 1st February, 1809.

The benefits derived to an army from the example of a distinguished commander do not terminate at his death: his virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions.

In this view, the Commander-in-Chief, amidst the deep and universal regret which the death of _Lieutenant-General_ SIR JOHN MOORE has occasioned, recalls to the troops the military career of that illustrious officer for their instruction and imitation.

SIR JOHN MOORE from his youth embraced the profession with the feelings and sentiments of a soldier;--he felt that a perfect knowledge and an exact performance of the humble but important duties of a subaltern officer are the best foundations for subsequent military fame; and his ardent mind, while it looked forward to those brilliant achievements for which it was formed, applied itself, with energy and exemplary assiduity, to the duties of that station.

In the school of regimental duty he obtained that correct knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier; and he was enabled to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline which he enforced on others.

Having risen to command, he signalised his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with which he devoted himself to the duties of every branch of his profession obtained him the confidence of _Sir Ralph Abercrombie_, and he became the companion in arms of that illustrious officer, who fell at the head of his victorious troops in an action which maintained our national superiority over the arms of France.

Thus SIR JOHN MOORE at an early period obtained, with general approbation, that conspicuous station in which he gloriously terminated his useful and honourable life.

In a military character obtained amidst the dangers of climate, the privations incident to service, and the sufferings of repeated wounds, it is difficult to select any one point as a preferable subject for praise: it exhibits, however, one feature so particularly characteristic of the man, and so important to the best interests of the service, that the Commander-in-Chief is pleased to mark it with his peculiar approbation--

THE LIFE OF SIR JOHN MOORE WAS SPENT AMONG THE TROOPS.

During the season of repose, his time was devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war he courted service in every quarter of the globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he esteemed that to which his country called him, _the post of honour_, and by his undaunted spirit and unconquerable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory.

His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a monument to his lamented memory, and the Commander-in-Chief feels he is paying the best tribute to his fame by thus holding him forth as an EXAMPLE to the ARMY.

By Order of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief.

HARRY CALVERT,
Adjutant-General.

* * * * *

The following Regiments composed the Army under
Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, at Corunna, on the 16th
January, 1809.

_Corps._ _Commanding Officers._

7th Light Dragoons Lieut.-Col. Vivian
10th ---- ---- Lieut.-Col. Leigh
15th ---- ---- Lieut.-Col. Grant
18th ---- ---- Lieut.-Col. Jones
3rd ---- ----, K. G. L. Major Burgwesel
Artillery Col. Harding
Engineers Major Fletcher
Waggon Train Detachment Lieut.-Colonel Langley
1st Foot Guards, 1st battalion Lieut.-Col. Cocks
---- ---- ---- 3rd " Lieut.-Col. Wheatley
1st Foot, 3rd battalion Major Muller
2nd ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Iremonger
4th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Wynch
5th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Mackenzie
6th ---- 1st ditto Major Gordon
9th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Cameron
14th ---- 2nd ditto Lieut.-Col. Nicolls
20th ---- Lieut.-Col. Ross
23rd ---- 2nd battalion Lieut.-Col. Wyatt
26th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Maxwell
28th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Belson
32nd ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Hinde
36th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Burn
38th ---- 1st ditto { Lieut.-Col. Hon. Charles
{ Greville
42nd ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Stirling
43rd ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Gifford
2nd ditto Lieut.-Col. Hull
50th ---- 1st ditto Major Napier
51st ---- Lieut.-Col. Darling
52nd ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Barclay
---- 2nd ditto Lieut.-Col. John Ross
59th ---- 2nd ditto Lieut.-Col. Fane
60th ---- 2nd ditto Lieut.-Col. Codd
5th ditto Major Davy
71st ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Pack
76th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Symes
79th ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Cameron
81st ---- 2nd ditto Major Williams
82nd ---- Major M'Donald
91st ---- 1st ditto Major Douglas
92nd ---- 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Napier
95th Rifle Regt., 1st ditto Lieut.-Col. Beckwith
2nd ditto Lieut.-Col. Wade
Staff Corps Detachments Lieut.-Col. Nicolay
1st Light Battalion, K. G. L. Lieut.-Col. Leonhard
2nd ---- ditto ditto Lieut.-Col. Halkett