The Seventy-first occupied barracks in Buenos Ayres, and remained undisturbed until the beginning of August, by which time the enemy had collected a force of about 1,500 men, under a leader named Pueridon, at five leagues from the city. Brigadier-General Beresford in consequence moved out with 300 of the Seventy-first, 50 from the St. Helena Regiment, and six field pieces; attacked and dispersed the enemy, taking all his artillery, namely, ten pieces of various calibre. The battalion had only 5 men wounded in this operation.
About this period a body of the enemy, headed by Colonel Liniers, a French officer in the service of Spain, crossed from Colonna to Concher, evidently with hostile intentions. Forming a junction with the force under Pueridon, the whole marched upon Buenos Ayres.
On the 10th of August the enemy commenced operations by the massacre of a sergeant and his guard of the Seventy-first Regiment, who were posted at a place in the suburbs where the bull-fights were usually exhibited. On the following day much skirmishing ensued in the outskirts of the city, the enemy taking possession of the tops of houses, from which he kept up a galling and destructive fire. During this time the main body of the British force took up a position in the Grand Square, but afterwards retired into the fort of Buenos Ayres. Being now bereft of all resources, and having no hope of support, no alternative remained but to capitulate. At about one o’clock, therefore, the fort was surrendered to the enemy and hostilities ceased. The troops marched out with the honours of war, and laid down their arms in the square. The officers being granted parole were quartered upon the inhabitants of the town, and the men were confined in the prisons of the city.
In these melancholy proceedings Lieut. Mitchell and Ensign Lucas were killed, and the regiment lost 91 men in killed and wounded.
2nd bat.
In August, 1806, the second battalion embarked at Glasgow for Ireland, and arrived at Belfast on the 1st of September.
1st bat.
About the middle of September the Seventy-first were removed from Buenos Ayres into the interior. Brigadier-General Beresford, with his staff, and Lieut.-Colonel Pack, were placed at Luxon, from whence they subsequently effected their escape, upon learning that the removal of the prisoners still further up the country had been ordered.
1807.
Lieut.-Colonel Pack was thus enabled to join the troops which had landed near Monte Video in January, 1807, under the command of Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, who at Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s request, directed a board of naval and military officers to inquire into the particulars of his escape, by whom it was unanimously approved, and he was declared free to serve.