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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Letter from Lieut.-Gen. Hope to Lieut.-Gen. Sir David Baird, containing the report after the battle of Corunna, 16th January 1809.
His Majesty’s Ship “Audacious,”
Off Corunna, January 18, 1809.
Sir—In compliance with the desire contained in your communication of yesterday, I avail myself of the first moment I have been able to command to detail to you the occurrences of the action which took place in front of Corunna on the 16th instant.
It will be in your recollection, that about one in the afternoon of that day the Enemy, who had in the morning received reinforcements, and who had placed some guns in front of the right and left of his line, was observed to be moving troops towards his left flank, and forming various columns of attack at that extremity of the strong and commanding position which on the morning of the 15th he had taken in our immediate front.