1807.] 
pet was foon in ruins, but the rampart re- 
ceived little injury, and I was foon convinced 
that my means were unequal to a regular 
fiege; the only profpeét of fuccefs that pre- 
fented itfelf was to ereét a battery as near 
as poffible to a wall by the fouth gate, that 
joins the works to the fea, and endeavour 
to breach it. This was effeéted by a fix-gun 
battery within fx hundred yards, and though 
it was expofed to a very fuperior fire from the 
enemy, which has been inceffant during the 
whole of the fiegey a breach was reported 
practicable on the 2d inftant. Many reafons 
induced me not to delay the affault, 
though I was aware the troops would be ex- 
pofed to a very heavy fire in approaching 
and mounting the breach. Orders were 
iffued for the attack an hour before. day- 
break the enfuing morning, and a fum- 
mons was fent to the governor in the 
evening to furrender the town. To this mef- 
fage no anfwer was returned: | 
The troops deftined for the affault confifted 
of the rifle corps under Major Gardner, the 
light infantry under Lieutenant Colonel 
Brownrigg and Major Trotter, the grenadiers 
under Majors Campbell and Tucker, and the 
38th regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel vafial 
and Major Nugent. 
They were fupported by the 40th regiment 
under Major Dalrymple, and the 87th under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Butler and Major Miller. 
The whole were commanded by Colonel 
Browne. The remainder of my force, con- 
fitting of the 17th light dragoons, detachment 
of the 20th and 21ft light dragoons, the 47th 
regiment, a company of the 7ift, anda corps 
ef 700 marines and feamen, were encamped 
under Brigadier-General Lumley, to proteé& 
our rear. 
At the appointed hour the troops marched 
to the affault. They approached near the 
breach before they were difcovered, when a 
defiruétive fire from every gun that could bear 
upon it, and from the mufketry of the garri- 
fon, opened upon them. Heavy as it was, 
our lofs would have been comparatively tri- 
fling, if the breach had been open, but during 
the night,- and under our fire, the enemy had 
barricadoed it with hides, fo as to render it 
nearly impra¢ticable. The night was ex- 
tremely dark. The head of the column miff- 
ed the breach, and when it was approached it 
was fo fhut up, that it was miftaken for the 
untouched wall. In this fituation the troops 
remained under a heavy fire for a quarter of 
an hour, when the breach was difcerned b 
Captain Renny of the 40th light infantry, 
who pointed it out, and glorioufly fell as he 
mounted it. Our gallant foldiers rufhed to it, 
and, difficult as it was of accefs, forced their 
way inte the town. Cannon were placed at the 
head of the principal ftreets, and their fire 
for a fhort time, was deftruCtive’: but the 
troops advanced in all directions, clearing the 
streets and batteries with their bayonets, and 
everturning their caanon, The 40th regi- 
State of Public Affairs m April, 1807. 
385 
ment, with Colonel Browne, followed, “They 
alio miffed the breach, and twice paffed 
through the fire of the batteries, before they 
found it. } | | 
The 87th regiment was pofted near the 
North gate, which the troops who entered at 
the breach were to open for them, but tlmir 
ardour was fo great that they could not wait. 
They fealed the walls and entered the town 
as the troops within approached it. At day- 
light every thing was in our poffeflion except 
the citadel, which made a fhew of refiftance, 
but foon furrendered, and early in the morning 
the town was quiet, and the women were 
peaceably walking the f{treets. 
The gallantry difplayed by the troops — 
during the affault, and their forbearance and 
orderly behaviour in the town fpeak fo fully 
in their praife, that it is unneceflary for me 
to fay how highly I am pleafed with their 
conduct. The fervice they have been ene 
gaged in fince we landed, has been uncom- 
monly fevere and laborious, but not a murmur 
has efcaped them; every thing I_withed has 
been effected with order and cheerfulnefs. 
Our lofs during the fiege was trifling, pare 
ticularly as we were not fheltered by ap- 
proaches, and the eneniy’s fire of fhot and fhell 
was inceflant. But it is painful for me to 
add, that it was great at the aflault. Many 
moft valuable officers are among the killed 
and wounded. Major Dalrymple of the 40th 
was the only field officer killed. Lieutenant- 
Colonels Vafialand Brownrigg, and Major 
Tucker are among the wounded. I am deeply 
concerned to fay that the two former are 
feverely fo. The enemy’s lofs was very 
great, about height hundred killed, five hun- 
dred wounded, and the governor Don Pafquil 
Ruis Huidobro, with upwards of two thoufand 
officers and men are prifoners. About fifteen 
hundred efcaped in boats or fecreted there 
felves in the town, 503 
From Brigadier-General the honourable W. 
Lumlgy and from ~Colonel Browne, I have 
receivedthe moftable and the moft zealous af= 
fiftance and fupport. The former protected 
the line from the enemy during our march, 
and covered our rear during the fiege. The 
latter conducted it with great judgment and 
determined bravery. 
The eftablited reputation of the royal 
artillery has been firmly fupported by the 
company under my orders, and I confider my~ 
{elf much indebted to Captains Watfon, 
Dickfon, Carmichael, and Willgrefs, for their 
zealous and able exertions. Captain F'anfhaw 
of the engineers was equally zealous, and 
though young in the fervice conducted hime 
felf with fuch propriety that I have no doubt 
of his proving a valuable officer. Owing to 
great fatigue he was taken ill in the midit of 
our operations, and Captain Dixon readily une 
dertook his office, and executed it with the 
greateft judgment. 
From the heads of corps and departments, 
from the general flaif of the army, from the 
medica} , 
