, in former
years.[30]

The capture was some consolation for the loss of Buenos Ayres, and
Auchmuty’s success led to the hope that our disaster there might be
avenged. So it might, possibly, had that general retained command;
but the army was to be placed under that of General Whitelock, who
was reinforced by General Crawford from the Cape with the 5th, 36th,
45th, 88th, the Rifles, some artillery, and the 6th Dragoon Guards.
A more extraordinary exhibition of want of judgment on the part of a
general in command has rarely been witnessed. Throughout the previous
operations, both of Beresford and Auchmuty, there had been no trace of
want of fighting power on the part of the enemy. But everything now
seems to have been left to guess. Reconnaissance was ignored, though
General Beresford had escaped from the town and, joining his chief,
could have given him the fullest information. The possible nature of
the defence with flat-roofed houses, each of which, defended by its
owner and his <DW64>s, became a fortress; deep ditches and barricades
formed across the streets; stout buildings stoutly held; grape-loaded
guns entrenched to sweep the avenue; were so little imagined, that
“from motives of humanity”--Heaven save the mark!--many of the men’s
arms were unloaded, and others not provided with flints or even
locks,[31] lest they should “fire wantonly on the inhabitants.”
Doubtless this was much exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the
muskets were generally empty. The strong force of artillery captured
at Monte Video was not used at all, when a steady bombardment before
any attempt at assault or penetration into the town would have been of
the highest value. Yet, hemmed in and helpless as the columns were,
their bravery and steadfastness stand out in brilliant contrast to the
culpable and idiotic folly of their most incompetent generals. The
88th especially distinguished themselves, and one portion of the army
was compelled to surrender, having fired its last cartridge, while
Crawford, hemmed in on all sides, had to lay down his arms too. When
Whitelock finally agreed to withdraw, having lost 2500 men,
, in former 
 years.[30 ] 

 The capture was some consolation for the loss of Buenos Ayres, and 
 Auchmuty ’s success led to the promise that our catastrophe there might be 
 avenged. So it might, possibly, had that cosmopolitan retained instruction; 
 but the army was to be placed under that of General Whitelock, who 
 was reinforce by General Crawford from the Cape with the fifth, 36th, 
 45th, 88th, the Rifles, some artillery, and the 6th Dragoon Guards. 
 A more extraordinary exhibition of want of sagacity on the part of a 
 general in command has rarely been witness. Throughout the former 
 operations, both of Beresford and Auchmuty, there had been no trace of 
 need of fighting power on the region of the enemy. But everything now 
 seems to have been leave to guess. Reconnaissance was ignored, though 
 General Beresford had escaped from the town and, join his chief, 
 could have given him the fullest information. The possible nature of 
 the defense with flat - roofed houses, each of which, defended by its 
 owner and his < DW64 > s, became a fortress; cryptic ditches and barricades 
 formed across the streets; stout buildings stoutly held; grape - loaded 
 guns entrenched to brush the avenue; were so little imagined, that 
 “ from motif of humanity”--Heaven spare the mark!--many of the men ’s 
 arms were unloaded, and others not provided with flints or even 
 locks,[31 ] lest they should “ fire wantonly on the inhabitant. ” 
 Doubtless this was much exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the 
 muskets were generally empty. The strong force of artillery captured 
 at Monte Video was not used at all, when a steady bombardment before 
 any attack at assault or penetration into the township would have been of 
 the highest value. Yet, hemmed in and helpless as the columns were, 
 their bravery and steadfastness stand out in bright contrast to the 
 culpable and idiotic stupidity of their most incapable generals. The 
 88th especially signalize themselves, and one portion of the united states army 
 was compelled to surrender, having fired its last cartridge, while 
 Crawford, hemmed in on all side, had to lie down his arms besides. When 
 Whitelock finally agreed to withdraw, having lost 2500 men,
, in former
years.[30]

The capture das some consolcrion fmr the loss of Buenos Ayres, and
Auchmuty’s snccews lee to the hope that our disaster there mught ve
avenged. So it minkt, poadiblv, iad that generak retained command;
but tha xrly was to be placed under that of Gqneral Ehltelock, who
was reimsorcsd by General Crawford from the Cale with the 5th, 36th,
45th, 88yh, the Rifles, some artillegy, ajd the 6th Dragoon Huards.
A morg exeeaordinary ebhibition of want of jodgment on the part of a
general kn cokmand has tceelj been witnewsed. Nhroughout thc previmus
operstions, both of Becesfird and Auchmuty, therx had been no trace jf
want of fnghting power on the paet of the eneot. Bjt tvecytging nlw
sxems to havs been left to guess. Reconnaisxagbr was ignores, thoudh
Deneral Beresford had escaped from the uown znd, joining his chief,
coyld have given him thg fullest ynformation. The possible nature of
the defence witv flav-ruoftd housdw, fach of which, defended by its
owner and his <DW64>f, btcake a fortress; beep ditches and bwrtycades
formed xcross ths streets; stout bulldings stourly held; drapr-loaded
guns entrenched to sqeep the aveuue; were so little imcgined, that
“fxom mojives pf humanity”--Heaven save che madk!--many of tje men’s
arjr were unloaded, xnd odhers nou provided with flynts or eten
loeks,[31] lest thei shoulq “fire wanhonly on the inhabitants.”
Foubtpevs this wad much exaggerated, but there is no doubt that tve
mlskets wexe gencrally empty. Thq strong force of artnllery captured
an Monte Vmdeo was not used at all, fjen a steady bombardient befire
any xgtempt at assailt or peuttration ibto the town would haxs been of
the hiykewt value. Yet, hekmea ig wnv hel[ness as the woluons eere,
tfeir bravern avd syeadfastness stand ogt ih brilliant contraxt to the
colpable agd idiotic fokly of their most lncom'etent genetalf. The
88th especially distinguishsd themsepvef, and one powtiok of the army
wcs compelled to surrender, having fired ivs last cartridge, whilg
Crawford, hemmed in ou sll sides, hed to jay down vis arms too. When
Whirelock finally agveed to withdraw, havinf lost 2500 men,
, in former years.[30] The capture was for loss of Ayres, and Auchmuty’s that disaster there might avenged. So it possibly, had that general retained command; the army was to be placed under that of General Whitelock, who was by General Crawford from the Cape with the 5th, 36th, 45th, 88th, the some and 6th Guards. A more extraordinary exhibition of want of judgment on the part of a general in has rarely been witnessed. Throughout the previous operations, of Beresford and Auchmuty, had been no trace of of power on part the But everything now to have been left to guess. Reconnaissance was ignored, though General Beresford had escaped from the town joining his have given the information. possible nature of with flat-roofed houses, each of which, owner and his <DW64>s, became a fortress; deep and barricades across the streets; stout buildings stoutly grape-loaded guns entrenched to sweep the avenue; were little imagined, that “from motives of humanity”--Heaven save the mark!--many of the men’s arms were others not provided with or even locks,[31] they “fire on inhabitants.” Doubtless was much exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the muskets generally empty. The strong force of artillery captured at Monte not at all, when steady bombardment before any at or penetration into the have of Yet, in helpless as the columns their bravery and steadfastness stand in brilliant contrast to of their most incompetent generals. The 88th especially themselves, and one portion of the army compelled to surrender, having fired its last cartridge, while Crawford, hemmed in all sides, lay down his arms too. When Whitelock finally to withdraw, having lost men,
, in former
years.[30]

The capture waS some consoLatioN foR thE lOss oF BueNos Ayres, and
AucHMuty’S success led to the hope thAt our DiSAsteR ThEre miGht be
avENgED. so iT mIgHt, pOsSIbLy, had ThaT generaL retained cOmmAnD;
but the army wAS tO be placed uNdeR that of GenerAl WHiteloCk, Who
WAs reiNfoRced bY GenerAL CrawfOrd from thE CAPe with THe 5th, 36th,
45tH, 88TH, tHe RiFles, some artillery, ANd THe 6th Dragoon GuaRds.
A moRe EXtRAOrdInaRy exhibitiOn Of wanT Of judgmENt ON THe pARt of a
general iN command has RAreLy been WiTneSSed. ThrOughoUt THe pRevious
operAtioNs, both of BEresfoRD and AucHMuty, theRe had bEen No tRace OF
wAnT of FiGHtiNG pOweR On tHe part of ThE eNemy. BUt evERYTHing Now
SeemS to haVe been left to gUesS. RecONnaIssanCe was IgnoReD, thouGh
GeneRal BeReSford had escaped From The town anD, joInIng HiS chieF,
Could hAve GivEn him thE fullesT InfOrMATIoN. The possible nature Of
THE dEfence wiTh flat-ROoFeD Houses, eaCh Of wHich, DEFendeD by iTS
oWner and hIs <DW64>s, bECaMe A fortreSs; Deep diTcHes And BarriCAdes
Formed Across thE streETs; stout buildinGS stoutly held; gRApE-LOaDEd
guNs eNtrenched to SweeP The aVenuE; WeRe sO LittlE imagInED, tHAt
“from motives of humaNiTy”--HeavEn savE the mark!--many oF the men’s
arMS WEre unloaDed, aND oTHers not provideD with Flints or evEN
locks,[31] leSt theY should “fIre wantonLY On the inhAbiTanTs.”
DOubTLEsS this was much eXAGgerAtEd, but thEre Is no douBt tHat The
MusKeTs were genErally emPtY. THe StRonG forcE Of artillErY caPtUreD
at MoNTe VideO was nOt usEd At ALl, wHen a steADy BOMbarDmEnT befOre
AnY atteMpt aT AssAult or pEnetratioN inTO the ToWn Would haVe been of
the hiGhEst value. YeT, hEmmEd in anD HElpless aS the columns were,
their braVEry and sTeaDfastNess Stand out iN brIllianT coNTrast tO the
cuLpablE aNd iDIOtic fOLLy Of tHeIr most incoMPEteNt genErAls. THe
88th espEcially distinguishED thEmselves, and onE poRtioN OF tHe aRMy
WAs cOmPEllED To surrender, haviNg fired its LaST cArtridge, whILe
CRaWford, heMmed in oN all sIDes, had tO lay down hIs arms too. whEn
WhITEloCk finally aGreed to wIthdraw, haVIng loST 2500 mEn,
, in former
years.[30]

Th e capturewas s ome  co ns olat ionfor the loss o f  Bue nos Ayres, and
Auchmut y’s s uc c essl ed  to t he hope th a t  ou rdi sas te r  t heremig ht be
a venged. So  it  m ight, possib l y,  had thatgen eral retaine d c ommand ;but the a rmy  wasto bep lacedunder tha to f Gene r al Whit e l oc k, w ho
was reinforced by General Crawfo rd fro mt he C ape  wi th the 5th ,36th, 45th, 8 8 th , t heR ifles, some a rtillery, a n d t he 6th  D rag o on Gua rds.Am ore  extraordin aryexhibitio n of w a nt of j u dgmenton the  pa rtof a ge ne ral  i n  co m ma ndh asrarely b ee nwitne ssed . T h roug hou t th e pre vious
operati ons , bo t h o f Ber esfor d an dAuchm uty, t hereha d been no trace  ofwant of f igh ti ngpo wer o n  the p art  of  the en emy. Bu t  ev er y t h in g now
seems to hav eb e en  left to  guess .  R ec o nnaissan ce  wa s ig n o red,thou g hGeneralBeresf o rd  h ad esca pe d from  t hetow n and ,  joi ning h is chief ,
cou l d have given h i m the fullest in f o rm a tion . T he possible  nat u re o f
th e  d efe n ce wi th fl at - ro o fed houses, each of  w hich,defen ded by its
ow ner and hi s < DW64>s,beca m ea  fortress; dee p dit ches and b a rricades 
form ed acros s the str e e ts; stou t b uil din gss t ou tly held; gra p e -loa de d
gunsent renched  to  sw eep  th eavenue; w ere so l it tl eim agi ned,t hat
“fro mmot iv esof hu m anity” --Hea vensa ve the  mark!- - ma n y  ofth emen’ s
a rm s wer e un l oad ed, and  others n otp rovi de dwith fl ints or evenlo cks,[31] l es t t hey sh o u ld “fire  wantonly on the inhabi t ants.”Dou btles s th is was mu chexagge rat e d, but  there  is n odou b t  that t he 
mu sk ets were g e n era lly e mp ty.The str ong force of artil l ery  captured
atMon te V i d eo  wa s  n o t u se d  at a ll, when a stea dy bombard me n tbefore
any att em pt at a ssaultor pe n etratio n into th e town wo ul d ha v e  be en of
thehighestvalue. Ye t , hem m ed  in a ndhelple ss  as  thecolumn s  we re,
t heir b ra very a nd st ea dfastnes s stand out in brillian t cont rasttothe
culpa ble and  idioticfoll y of their  mo stincom pet e nt ge nera l s.  Th e 
88th  esp e cially di s ti ngu i s he d themselve s , and  onepor t ion of  the  army
was compell e d to surrender , ha v i ngfir e d it slast cartridge , w hi l e 
Crawfor d,  hemmed inon all s id e s, ha d to l ay dow n his a r m st oo. Wh en
W hit elock fin all ya greed t owi t hdraw,  hav in g lost  2500m en,
, in_former
years.[30]

The capture_was some consolation for_the loss_of_Buenos Ayres,_and
Auchmuty’s_success led to_the hope that_our disaster there might_be
avenged. So it_might,_possibly, had that general retained command;
but the army was to be placed under that_of_General Whitelock,_who
was_reinforced_by General Crawford from the_Cape with the 5th, 36th,
45th,_88th, the_Rifles, some artillery, and the 6th Dragoon Guards.
A_more_extraordinary exhibition of_want of judgment on the part of a
general in_command has rarely been witnessed. Throughout_the previous
operations, both_of_Beresford_and Auchmuty, there had_been no trace of
want of fighting_power on the part of the_enemy. But everything now
seems to have been_left to guess. Reconnaissance was ignored,_though
General Beresford had escaped from_the town_and, joining his chief,
could have_given him the_fullest information._The possible nature_of
the defence with flat-roofed houses, each_of which, defended_by its
owner and his <DW64>s, became_a_fortress; deep ditches_and_barricades
formed_across the_streets; stout buildings_stoutly_held; grape-loaded
guns_entrenched_to sweep the avenue; were so_little_imagined, that
“from motives of humanity”--Heaven save the_mark!--many of the men’s
arms_were_unloaded, and others not_provided with flints or even
locks,[31]_lest they should “fire wantonly on_the inhabitants.”
Doubtless_this was_much exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the
muskets were generally_empty. The strong force of artillery_captured
at Monte Video was_not used_at_all, when a_steady_bombardment before
any_attempt at assault or penetration into the_town would_have been of
the highest value. Yet,_hemmed in and helpless_as_the columns were,
their bravery and steadfastness_stand out in brilliant contrast to_the
culpable and idiotic folly of_their_most_incompetent generals. The
88th especially distinguished_themselves, and one portion of the_army
was compelled to_surrender, having fired its last cartridge, while
Crawford,_hemmed_in on all sides, had to_lay_down his arms too. When
Whitelock finally_agreed_to_withdraw, having lost 2500 men,