Major Cockburn, the General’s secretary, arrived to-day. He reports that on Wednesday the King did not know of Sir John’s departure, which took place on Monday. When his Majesty does discover it, he will not unlikely take some very strong, furious measures. Therefore pray do not delay getting off.
1809
CORUNNA
Before reading the official despatches on the battle of Corunna it is important to have some idea of the plan adopted by the enemy, and it is with the greatest interest we read that,[32] “When Buonaparte received intelligence that the British were moving to the Duero,” he said, ‘Moore is the only General now fit to contend with me; I shall advance against him in person.’
“Orders were then sent to the Duke of Dalmatia to give way, if attacked, and to decoy the British to Burgos, or as far eastward as possible, and at the same time to push on a corps towards Leon, on their left flank. And should they attempt to retreat, he was ordered to impede this by every means in his power. The corps on the road to Badajoz was stopt, and ordered to proceed towards Salamanca, while he himself moved rapidly with all disposable force to Madrid, and the Escurial, directly to Benaventa. Neither Buonaparte nor any of his Generals had the least doubt of surrounding the British with between 60 and 70,000 men before they could reach Galicia.
“Sir John Moore, as appears both by his letters and his conduct, saw clearly the whole of this plan; he had prepared for the danger, calculated the time, and has acquired the glory of being the first General who has frustrated Buonaparte.”
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.