In 1798, an invasion of Ireland being apprehended, he was appointed Deputy Quarter-Master-General of that country, and on the attempt made by Humbolt, the extensive knowledge LieutenantColonel Crawford displayed, obtained from his former commander, Lord Cornwallis, and Lord Lake, the warmest marks of approbation, as expressed in their accounts to government, viz. " On LieutenantColonel Crawford's zeal, spirit, and abilities too much cannot be said," and all Ireland joined in his praises.-In 1799, he was again employed on a military mission to the Austrian armies in Switzerland, where he remained until the expedition to Holland under the command of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, when Lieutenant-Colonel Crawford was appointed Deputy Quarter-Master-General, and directed to proceed to that country. Throughout that unfortunate, but glorious, campaign to British valour, he displayed a continued series of ability and military skill which met with the approbation of his illustrious commander. In 1807, Brigadier-General Crawford served under LieutenantGeneral Whitelocke in the expedition against Buenos Ayres, and commanded the light brigade, which formed the advanced guard of the army, consisting of eight companies of light infantry, a detachment of recruits, about seventy of the 71st regiment, and eight companies of the 95th or rifle corps. In this disastrous expedition no officer was more distinguished than Brigadier-General Crawford, whose opinion it was, that if the main body of the army had been in a situation to support his advanced corps on the 2d of July, which repulsed the enemy, taking twelve pieces of artillery, and pursued them to the entrance of Buenos Ayres, he was convinced the town would have been carried with ease.-In the subsequent operations of that army, the fortitude and perseverance of General Crawford were particularly conspicuous.-His division was the first to enter the town, and a principal part of them fell victims to the fury of the inhabitants, who from their houses assailed the British troops in a manner which afforded little opportunity of retaliation or even of defence. In October 1808, Major-General Crawford accompanied the expedition from Falmouth under Sir David Baird, and commanded the light division of that army. In the advance and retreat of those troops he lost no opportunity of exerting himself where ability or courage could be exercised. On the 29th of July, the day after the battle of Talavera, he joined the army of Lord Wellington, having made an extraordinary march of twelve Spanish leagues, nearly fifty miles, in the short space of twenty-four hours. The several actions in which Major-General Crawford has been since engaged, have served to increase his reputation, both as a tactician and a brave officer.-How fully we are warranted in making this assertion, a reference to the gazettes of Lord Wellington will readily prove. After the fall of Cuidad Rodrigo, the light division of the combined army under Brigadier-General Crawford, consisting of the first battalions of the 43d;-52d, and 95th regiments, detachments of the 14th and 16th light dragoons, 1st hussars King's German legions, Captain Ross's troop of horse artillery, and 1st and 3d Portuguese caçadores-light infantry,— amounting in the whole to about 4000 infantry, and 600 cavalry, was attacked in its position near Almeira, by a corps of the enemy, greatly superior in numbers with respect to infantry and artillery, and supported by a body of from 3 to 4000 cavalry. From Marshal Massena's official dispatch, containing a statement of the force to which General Crawford was opposed on this occasion, it appears that the cavalry consisted of five regiments, which are generally from 6 to 700 each; and that the whole of the infantry of Marshal Ney's corps was present, with the exception of one regiment. The infantry of this corps, according to the intercepted official returns, amounted at that time to upwards of 22,000 effective men. force therefore with which Marshals Massena and Ney advanced to attack the light division on the morning of the 24th of July, 1810, amounted to 20,000 infantry and from 3 to 4000 cavalry. After a most gallant defence of his post, General Crawford withdrew the troops through the defiles and winding paths, one of the most difficult operations in war, to the bridge across the Coa, which the enemy made three fruitless attempts to pass, in each of which he was repulsed with considerable loss. The whole of the light division in this affair behaved with the greatest gallantry, and the 3d caçadores, commanded by Colonel Elder, were highly spoken of by General Crawford. The loss of the combined army amounted toBritish, five officers, twenty-one men killed; twenty-one officers, 153 men wounded; one officer, seventy-three men missing. Por The tuguese-four men killed; one officer, thirty-one men wounded; nine men missing *. Subsequently, in the battle of Busaco, and in the storming of Cuidad Rodrigo, Major-General Crawford reared for himself a monument of military fame. On the latter occasion his division attacked the strong works on the hill of St. Francisco, which was taken by storm in a very short time. The success of this operation enabled the British to break ground within 600 yards of Cuidad Rodrigo.-In the general attack, which followed on the 19th of January, 1811, Major-General Crawford commanded the fourth column, which comprised the 43d, 52d, and part of the 95th regiments. This division attacked the breaches on the left, in front of the suburbs of Cuidad Rodrigo, and covered the left of the attack of the principal breach by the troops of the 3d division, under that distinguished officer, the late Major-General Mackennon. The forward manner in which Major-General Crawford led his troops to the attack at the left, and the other Generals of brigades at the different points, caused the surrender of the place within half an hour from the commencement of the storm. Whilst leading the division, and the foremost in the atttack, Major-General Crawford received a severe and fatal wound, which terminated his gallant career on the 24th;-a wound, which, in the words of Lord Wellington, "deprived his Majesty of the services, and him of the "assistance of an Officer of tried talents and experience, who was an " ornament to his profession, and was calculated to render the most important services to his country.” The character drawn of this departed hero by the brightest star in military glory, might render it almost useless to add any further comments, but some description of so distinguished an officer's private character will not prove unacceptable to the army, and be an act of justice to his family.-In his person† General Crawford was below the middle size, but his air was commanding, and the animated expression of his countenance denoted the energetic qualities of his mind. As an husband, a parent, a brother, friend, In the concluding pages of this number we have given a document MajorGeneral Crawford published in contradiction of the false assertions contained in Marshal Massena's report of the action near Almeida. + We regret very much not being able to give a portrait of this officer, none having ever been taken. companion, and enlightened officer, Major-General Crawford's loss is irreparable: the strength and fertility of his imagination rendered his society not only agreeable, but instructive, and obtained him the esteem of all who had the honour of his acquaintance. He was devoted to his profession, loved his country, her laws, religion and government. The diligence and regularity which he always exhibited in the performance of his military duties, made him desirous of producing like qualities in those under his command, and he proved himself the soldier's true friend in strictly enforcing military discipline, in protecting the situation of his brother veterans, and administering to their personal comforts, which alone are the concomitants of true courage and of a gallant British soldier. Of such a man, notwithstanding his military talents, during a service of thirty-two years, were too exalted to allow his memory to fall into the abyss of oblivion, it is necessary some memorial should be recorded, and we hope this attempt may be considered a tribute of justice, admiration, and respect to departed merit, to the officers of the army, and to those near relations who have still further cause to deplore the irreparable loss of this truly brave and meritorious officer. The highest military honours were observed to the remains of Major-General Crawford.-The Commander-in-Chief, with all the Staff-the British, Portuguese, and Spanish troops engaged at Cuidad Rodrigo, attended to pay their last duties of regard to him whose actions had so often been the theme of their praise. To the breach where he had so nobly fought, and received the fatal wound, his body was supported by the soldiers of the light division he commanded, and consigned to an honorable grave in the presence of thousands. General Stewart was chief mourner, attended by Capt. William Campbell, Lieutenant Hood of the 52d regiment, and Lieutenant Shawe of the 43d regiment, Aid-de-Camps to the gallant hero. "For those in glory's grave who sleep CAMPAIGNS IN THE PENINSULA. This narrative will be continued in each succeeding number, and will be elucidated by Maps and Plans describing the different lines of march made by the British troops in the course of their operations.--We flatter ourselves that it will not only be found interesting, but minutely correct, as we believe our information on the various points it embraces to be derived from sources whereon the greatest reliance may be placed. WHOEVER undertakes the task of recording cotemporary events, will find greater difficulty in giving an air of impartiality to his statements than if he were to employ his pen in relating the occurrences of former ages. There is such a propensity in the human mind to view the passing objects with reference to our peculiar feelings and prejudices, that the most unbiassed writer will rarely succeed in obtaining a general approval of his labours, even while he evinces a studious desire to cloath his subject in the language of truth, and impart to his pages the grace and dignity of history. Undismayed, however, by this consideration, we shall avail ourselves of the resources within our reach, and endeavour to convey a just idea of the transactions in the Peninsula with that accuracy and precision which their importance demands, and the aid of authentic documents will, we entertain a sanguine hope, enable us satisfactorily to accomplish. The annals of modern times cannot furnish a parallel to the atrocious scenes which the ambition of Buonaparte has led him to commit with a view of subverting the independence of Spain, and degrading this once powerful kingdom into a province of the French empire. At this period the whole Spanish nation appeared in the eyes of Europe to be sunk in sloth and superstition; the nobility were enervated by debauchery, no portion seemed to remain of its former warlike character, and every thing promised to favour the designs of the French chief. Owing to the imbecility of its sovereign, Charles the Fourth, the government had long been swayed by a weak and worthless minion, the Prince of Peace, whom the criminal partiality of the queen had elevated from a private station VOL. I. C |