Letter from Lieut.-Gen. Sir David Baird to Lord Viscount Castlereagh, Secretary of State.
London Gazette Extraordinary
Downing Street, January 24, 1809.
The Honourable Captain Hope arrived late last night with a Despatch from Lieutenant-General Sir David Baird to Lord Viscount Castlereagh, one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, of which the following is a copy:—
His Majesty’s Ship “Ville de Paris,”
At Sea, January 18, 1809.
My Lord—By the much-lamented death of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, who fell in action with the Enemy on the 16th instant, it has become my duty to acquaint your Lordship that the French[33] army attacked the British[34] troops in the position they occupied in front of Corunna at about two o’clock in the afternoon of that day.
A severe wound, which compelled me to quit the field a short time previous to the fall of Sir John Moore, obliges me to refer your Lordship for the particulars of the action, which was long and obstinately contested, to the enclosed report of Lieutenant-General Hope, who succeeded to the command of the army, and to whose ability and exertions in direction of the ardent zeal and unconquerable valour of His Majesty’s troops is to be attributed, under Providence, the success of the day, which terminated in the complete and entire repulse and defeat of the Enemy at every point of attack.
The honourable Captain Gordon, my Aide-de-Camp, will have the honour of delivering this despatch, and will be able to give your Lordship any further information which may be required.—I have the honour to be, etc.,
D. Baird, Lieut.-Gen.
Right Hon. Lord Viscount Castlereagh.
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