Plaza'de Toros,and after a most vigorous and 
spirited attack, in which these regiments suf- 
fered much from grape shot and musketry, their 
gallant con:mander, Brigadier General Sir Sa- 
muel Achmuty, possessed himself of the post, 
taking thirty-two pieces of cannon, an immense 
quantity of ammunition, and 600 prisoners. 
The 5th regiment, meeting with but little op- 
position, proceeded to the river and tok pos- 
session of the church and convent of St. Ca- 
talina. The 36th and 88th regiments, under 
Brizadier Generai Lumley, moving in the ap- 
pointed order, were soon opposed by a heavy 
and continued fire of musketry from the tops 
and windows of the houses; thedoers of which 
were barzicadocd in-so strong a manner, as to 
sender them almost impossible to force. “1 he 
streets were intersected with deep ditches, in 
the inside of which were planted cannon, pour- 
ing showers of grape on the advancing columns. 
In defiance however of this opposition, the 
Séth regiment, headed by the gallant general, 
reached its final destination; but the 88th, 
being nearer to the fortand principal defences 
of the enemy, were so weakened by its fire, as 
to be totally overpowered and taken. The 
flank of the 36th being thus exposed, this re- 
giment together with the 5th, retired upon 
Sir Samuei Achmuty’s post at the Plaza de 
Toros, not, however, before Lieutenant Colonel 
Burne, and the grenadier company of the 36th 
regiment, had an opportunity of distinguishing 
themselves by charging about 800 of the ene- 
my, and taking and spiking two guns. The 
two six pounders moving up the centre streets 
meeting with a very superior fire, the four 
troops of the carabineers, led on by Lieutenant 
Colonel Kingston, advanced to take the bat- 
tery opposed to them ; but this gallant officer 
being unfortunately wounded, as well as Cap- 
tain Burrell, next in command, and the fire 
hoth from the battery and houses proving very 
dustructive, they retreated to a short distance, 
but continued to occupy a position in front of 
the enemy’s principal defences, and considera- 
bly in adyance of that which they had taken 
In the morning. 
The left division of Brigadier General Crau- 
furd’s brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Pack, 
passed on nearly to the river, and turning to 
the left, approached the great square, with the 
intention of possessing itself of the Jesuit’s 
College, a situation which commanded the 
enemy’s principal line of defence. But,from the 
very desttuctive nature of his fire, this was 
found impracticable, and after sustaining a 
heavy lcss, one part of the division throwing 
itself into a house, which was afterwards not 
‘foun terable, was shortly obliged to surren- 
der, while she remaining part, after enduring a 
Greadfui fice with. the greatest intrepidity, 
Rieutenant Colonel Pack, its commander be- 
ing wounded, retirea upon tic right division 
commanded by Brigadier General Craufurd 
himself. This division, having passed quite 
through to the river Plata, turned also to the 
left to approach the great square and fort from 
State of Public Affairs in September. 
[Oct. I, 
the north-east bastion, of which it was distant 
about four hundred yards, when Brigadier Ge- 
neral Craufurd, learning the fate of his left di- 
vision, thought it most adviseable to take 
possession of the convent of St. Domingo, near 
which he then was, intending to proceed on- 
wards to the Franciscan church which lay still 
nearer the fort, if the attack or success of any 
other of out columns should free bim in some 
measure from the host of enemies. which sur- 
roundedhim. The 45th regiment being fur- 
ther from the enemy’s centre, had gained the 
Residencia without opposition, and Lieutenant 
Colonel Guard leaving it in possession of his 
battalion companies, moved down with the 
grenadier company towards the centre of the 
town, and joined Brigadier: General Crau- 
furd. 
The encmy, who now surrounded the con- 
vent on all sides, attempting to take a three- 
pounder which lay in the street, the lieuten-_ 
ant colonel with his company, and a few light 
infantry under Major Trotter, charged thens 
with great spirit. In an instant the greater 
part of his company and Majer ‘{rotter, an of- 
ficer of great merit, was killed, but the gun 
was saved. The Brigadier General was now 
obliged to confine himself to the defence of the 
convent, from which the riflemen kept up a 
wel]-directed fire upon such of the enemy ag 
approached the post; but the quantity of round 
shot, grape, and musketry to which they were 
exposed, at last obliged them to quit the top 
of the building, and the enemy, to the num- 
¥ 
ber of six thousand, bringing up cannon to force ~ 
the wooden gates which fionted the fort, the 
brigadier general having no communication 
with any other columns, and judging from the 
cessation of firing, that those next him had — 
not been successful, surrendered at four o’clock 
in the afternoon, 
The result of this day’s action had left me 
in possession of the Plaza de Toros, a strong 
post on the enemy’s right, and the Residencia, 
another strong post on his left, whilst I eccu- 
pied an advanced position opposite his centre 3 
but these advahttages had cost about two thou- 
sand five hundred men in killed, wounded and 
prisoners. ‘The nature of the fire, to which 
troops were exposed, was violent in the ex- 
treme. Grape shot at the corners of all the 
streets, musketry, hand grenades, bricks, and 
stones, {rom the tops of all the houses ; every — 
householder, with his negroes defended his 
dwelling, cach of which was in itself a fortress 5 
and it is not perhaps too much to say, that the 
whole male population of Buenos Ayres waa 
emp oyed in its defence. ; 
This was the situation of the army on the 
morning o: the 6th instant, whea General _ 
Liniers addressed a letter to me, offering to 
give up ail his prisoners taken in the late’ 
affair, together with the 7ist regiment, and 
others taken with Brigadier General Beves=— 
iord, if d desisted from any further attack on 
the town, and withdrew his Majesty’s forces 
9 
from tke river Plata, intimating at the same « 
ees 
ee 
Po 
eens; 
rs 
