( 384) 
' STATE OF PUBLIC 
Containing oficial and authentic Documents. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
Difpatch, of which the following is 
a copy, was received on the 12th of 
April at the office of Vifcount Cafilereagh, 
one of his Majefty’s Principal Secretaries 
of State, from -Brigadier-G eneral Auchmu- 
ty,to the Right Hon. William Windham : 
Sir, Monte Video, Feb. 6, 1807. 
T have the honeur to inform you, that his 
Majefty’s troops under my command have 
taken by affault, and after a moft determined 
refiftance, the important fortrefs and city of 
Monte Video. * ‘ 
The Ardent, with her convoy, arrived at 
Maldonaco on the 5th ef January ; and I im- 
mediately took under, my orders the troops 
from the Cape commanded by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Backhoufe. On the 13th, I evacua- 
ted that place without oppofition, leaving a 
{mall garrifon on the Ifland of Gorriti. 
On confulting with Rear-Admiral Stirling, © 
it was determined to attack Monte Video; 
and-I landed on the morning of the 18th, to 
the Weftward of the Caretas’ rocks, in a 
{mall bay, about nine miles from the town. 
The enemy were in great force, with guns 
on the heights, when we dirembarked; but 
they did not advance to oppofe us, and fuffer- 
ed me to take a firong pofition, about a mile 
from the fhore. A trifling cannonade, and 
fome firing at the outpofts, commenced in 
the afternoon, and continued occafionally du- 
xing our ftay on that ground. 
On the 19th we moved towards Monte 
Video. The right column, under the ho- 
pourable Brigadier-Genera!l Lumley was early 
oppefed. About four thoufand of the ene- 
my’s norfe occupied two heights to his front 
and right. As we advanced, a heavy fire of 
rounc and grape opened ugon us; but a fpiri- 
ted charge in front, from the light battalion 
under Lieutenant-Colonel Browntigg, dif- 
perfed the corps oppofed to him, with the 
Jofs of agun. ‘The enemy on the flank did 
not wait a fimilar movement, but retreated. 
They continued retiring before us, and per- 
mitted us, without any further oppofition, 
except a diftant cannonade, to take up a po- 
fition about two miles irom the citadel. Our 
advanced pofts occupied the fuburbs, and tome 
{mail parties were pofted elofe to the works ; 
but in the evening the principal part of the 
fuourbs was evacuated. 
- The next morning the enemy came out of the 
town and attacked us with their whole force, 
about &x thonfand men, end a number ef guns. 
They eévanced in two columns; the right, 
confifting oi cavalry, to turn our left. flank, 
while the other, of infantry, attacked the left 
ef our line; tkis column pubhed in our ad- 
vanced pofts, and prefied fo hard on our out- 
yicquet, of four hundred men, that Colonel 
[May 1; 
AFFAIRS IN APRIL. — 
Browne, who commanded on the left, ordered 
three companies of the 40th, under Major 
‘Campbell, to their fupport: thefe companies fell 
in with the kead of the. column, and very 
bravely charzed it; the charge was as gal- 
Jantly rece.ved and great numbers fell 
on both fides; at length the column “be- 
gan to give way, when it was fuddenly and 
impetuoufly attacked in flank by the rifle 
corps, and light battalion, which I had or- 
dered up, and dirééec to the particular point. 
~The column now gave way on all fides, and 
was puriued, with great flaughter and the lofs 
ofa gun, to the town. The right column, 
obferving the fate of their companions, ra- 
_pidly retired; without coming into a@tion. 
The lofs of the enemy was coniicerable, 
and has been eftimated at fifteen hundred * 
mea; their kilied might amount to between 
two and three hundred; we have taken the 
fame number of prifoners, buat the principle 
part of the wounded got back into the town; 
lam happy to add, that ours was conmmpari- 
tively tr. fling. 
The confequences of this affair were greater 
than the ation itfelf. Inftead of finding our- 
felves furrounded with horfe, and @ petty 
Warlare at our pofts, many of the inhabitants 
of the country feparated, and retired to their 
feveral villages, and we were allowed quietly 
to fet down before the town. 
From the beft information I could obtain, 
I was led to believe that the defences of 
Monte Video were weak, and the garrifon by. 
no means difpofed to make an obftinate re- 
fiftance ; but I found the works truly refpeét- 
able, with one hundred and fixty pieces of 
cannon; and they were ably defended. ; 
The enemy, being in poffeiiion of the Hf- 
land of Ratones, commanded the harbour ; 
and I was aware that their gun-boats would . 
annoy, us, aS we aperehended. A two-gun 
battery was conftructed en the 25d te keep 
them in check, and our pefts were extended to 
the harbour, and completely fhut in the 
garrifon on the land fide. Their communica- 
tion was ftill, however, open by water, and 
their boats conveyed to them troops and pro- 
vifiozs : even water for the garrifon was ob- 
tained by thefe means ; for the wells that fup- 
ply the town were in our pofieffiion, 
On the 25th, we opened batteries of four 
twenty-four-pounders and two mortars, and 
all, che frigates and {maller veffiels came in, 
as clofe as they could with fafety, and can- 
nonaded the town. But finding that the 
garrifon was not intimidated into a furrender, 
I conftruéted, on the 28th, a battery of fix 
twenty-four pounders, within a thoufand 
yards of the South Eaft battion of the citadel, 
which I was informed was in fo weak a ftate 
that it might be eafily breached. The para~ 
; pet 
