Chapter XLIV: Section I: Extracts From Sir John Cradock’s Instructions

_Lord Castlereagh to sir J. Cradock, December 24, 1808._

“Upon the actual approach of the enemy towards Lisbon, in such strength as may render further resistance ineffectual, you will take care that measures be taken, in due time, for withdrawing both the British army and _such Portuguese as may be desirous of accompanying it_.”--“The British admiral will be directed to take effectual measures, with your assistance, for depriving the enemy of all the resources, more especially those of a naval description, which the Tagus contains. Every thing of a naval and military description, that cannot be brought away, must, in the last extremity, be destroyed.”

_Lord Castlereagh to sir J. Cradock, November 25, 1808._

“I am to signify his majesty’s pleasure that, in the event of any application being made to you from the regency of Portugal, on the subject of the occupation of the fortresses with his majesty’s troops, you do _refer the subject to Mr. Villiers_, who has received instruction, &c. and you will not make any alteration as to the mode prescribed for garrisoning the fortresses _without directions from Mr. Villiers_.”

_Lord Castlereagh to general Sherbrooke, January 12, 1809._

“Sir J. Cradock will be directed to comply with any requisition you may make _for horses for your guns_, or any other species of supply the service may require.”

_Extracts from certain queries put to lord Castlereagh by sir J. Cradock, with the answers thereto._

QUERY. ANSWER.

“What may be the situation “The relations with the government
of my command?” of Portugal will be arranged when
Mr. Villiers arrives.”

“In what light is the force “Ditto.”
under my command to be
considered?” &c. &c.

“May any Portuguese battalions “The taking of Portuguese battalions
be levied for English pay?” into English pay will, if adopted,
be managed _through Mr. Villiers_.”

“If any want of provisions “The general measures of supplying
should appear in Portugal, may Portugal with provisions will be
I be allowed to adopt measures, _referred to Mr. Villiers_.”
in conjunction with the regency,
for obtaining a supply?”

“If any Portuguese corps can “_Mr. Villiers will be authorised_
be got into such forwardness to enter upon the discussion of this
as to be fit to enter Spain, and subject with the regency, availing
they should be willing to join himself of your assistance,” &c.
sir J. Moore, are they to be put
on British pay?”

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No. V.

JUSTIFICATORY EXTRACTS FROM SIR J. CRADOCK’S PAPERS.

WANT OF SUPPLIES.

_Commissary Rawlings, deputy-commissary-general, to Cradock, December 22._

“Your excellency is aware of the exhausted state of this country. The difficulties encountered by sir J. Moore were of the most serious nature, even before the sources of supply were so much drained as they now are.”

WANT OF TRANSPORT AND SUPPLIES.

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, 17th March._

“I have been obliged to send officers of the artillery and commissariat department to Gibraltar to attempt the supply of horses from the Barbary coast; and, such is our actual want, that the proper movement of even the force we have is nearly impracticable.”

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, March 26._

“The means of transport are so confined that I must not expose any thing to loss; and the artillery must be preserved with the greatest care, for I cannot equip more than two brigades of six-pounders, and one light brigade of three-pounders, the latter being of a very inferior description.”

_Commissary Rawlings to sir John Cradock, March._

“The precarious tenure of this country by British troops has hitherto precluded the possibility of establishing such an advantageous contract for the public as, in more permanent cases, might necessarily be expected: we have literally been supplied from hand to mouth.”

_Colonel Robe to sir J. Cradock, March 20_.

“It is necessary for me to add that every exertion has been made to supply the artillery with horses and mules by the deputy-commissary-general, but, from the exhausted state of the country, and the demands upon it for the Portuguese army, no more than two brigades have been furnished with those animals, and these are much too slight for the general service of the artillery.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Villiers, March 20._

“From the first moment of my arrival in this country, unceasing exertion has been employed to purchase and procure them” (horses and mules) “at any price or by any means, but the adequate supply for even the former small number of the British army could not be obtained. I have also made repeated representations to England.”

_Sir J. Cradock to Mr. Frere, March 29._

“I want eight hundred horses and mules for the common conveyance of provision and the equipment of the artillery.”

_Commissary Rawlings to sir J. Cradock, April 9._

“Some of the persons employed to provide cattle for the troops have returned without effecting their mission. This disappointment must be attributed to the movements of the enemy in the north, from whence our supply has hitherto been obtained.”

_Sir J. Cradock to marshal Beresford, Caldas, April 18._

“You can form no adequate idea of the difficulty to procure supplies. The subject of forage for the cavalry keeps me in alarm without intermission, and there is no certainty for a single day. The country appears to be without the ability to furnish straw.”--“In short, the supply is just for the day, and barely sufficient.”--“I have begged of Mr. Villiers to desire the regency would send a person, in special authority, to this district to furnish supplies, if they are to be found. I shall act like the French, and make requisition, with this difference, that we are ready to pay for every thing to the utmost.”

_Cradock to Berkely, Caldas, April 17._

“Such is the dearth of supply in this part of the country, and even in advance as far as we could go, that, unless victuallers are sent (or some other arrangement to the same effect) to Peniché and St. Martinho Bay, we cannot maintain our position. We cannot advance, for all our means of transport are gone back to Lisbon; and even in a retreat the cavalry could not be fed.”--“If there is insurmountable risk in sending the victuallers to Peniché, I request your declaration to this effect; for I must, in that case, retire the army to a station close to Lisbon, to fed be from thence.”

_Cradock to Villiers, April 17._

“This letter is plainly to state that, unless some victuallers are sent, even at risk, to Peniché and St. Martinho Bay, we cannot maintain our position, and must retreat.”--“If the articles are in the country we must have them, and all ceremony must be dispensed with. The enemy would have them without paying for them: we must equally exact and pay.”

_Cradock to Beresford, April 20._

“All the recommendation you point out upon the assistance to be derived from the coast have been long since acted upon to the utmost of my exertions; but the difficulties started by the admiral and the commissary were so great, that I cannot say I have much dependence upon immediate aid.”

_General Cotton to Cradock, April 21._

“I wish I could once see the cavalry together; but I much fear that before that happens they will be very much out of condition. The fourteenth have already fallen off very much, owing to the frequent want of straw and their being supplied with Indian corn, which they will not eat: added to these circumstances, the commissary obliges the cavalry to carry (on the horses) three days’ forage.”

_G. Harrison to Mr. Rawlings, Treasury-chambers, February 25._

“It having been represented to the lords commissioners of his majesty’s treasury that the troops at Lisbon are experiencing the greatest hardships from the want of shoes, I have received their lordships commands,” &c. &c.

_Sir J. Cradock to colonel Willoughby Gordon, military secretary, February 11._

“I trust that the importance of the subject will plead my excuse for thus repeating my representations of the wretched state of the clothing and the great coats in particular of his majesty’s troops serving in this country.”

_Lord Castlereagh to general Sherbrooke, January 12._

“Sir John Cradock will be directed to comply with any requisition you make for horses for your guns, or any other species of supply the service may, from time to time, require.”

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No. VI.

SECTION I.--MISCELLANEOUS.

_Captain Morgan, Lusitanian Legion, to sir J. Cradock, Lisbon, January 19, 1809._

“I left sir R. Wilson very critically situated, occupying a pass on the Agueda. Sir Robert is wholly unsupported; he has been advised by colonel Guard to fall back; and, from his information, he imagines that sir John Moore is withdrawing his troops through Gallicia. On the other hand, he has received _positive orders from you_[9] _to defend the frontiers_, and pressing letters to that effect from the bishop of Oporto.”

_Sir J. Cradock to lord Castlereagh, 30th January._

“The regency and the bishop of Oporto are not pleased at his” (sir R. Wilson) “quitting the bounds of Portugal.”

_Ditto to Ditto, 6th March._

“I had a letter from sir R. Wilson, from Ciudad Rodrigo (24th February), wherein he says, that many French prisoners state their expectations that the French army will retire behind the Ebro. Sir Robert’s own persuasion is _that the French will retire altogether from Spain_.”

SECTION II.

_General Cameron to sir J. Cradock, Lamego, January 16._

“I have collected several detachments of recovered men belonging to sir J. Moore’s army, whom I found scattered in all directions, without necessaries, and some of them committing every possible excess that could render the name of a British soldier odious to the nation.”

_Sir J. Cradock to admiral Berkely, March 16._

“There are about one hundred and twenty persons confined on board the _Rosina_, whose conduct has rendered them a disgrace to the army.”