3 CAPTAIN NORTON'S COMPANY. Serjeant-Major Thomas Middleton, late Pay-Serjeant of Captain Norton's company, states, that it was the custom to hire an extra waggon on a march, the charge of which was paid by the privates of the company, who had baggage carried; that the officers and serjeants never paid, although they had baggage on the waggons, which was the general practice of the regiment. That he kept public and private books. That he bore all the losses arising from deaths, desertions, &c. for which he received no allowance from his Captain; but understood that he was to reimburse himself by profits arising from supplying the men with necessaries. States an instance of a man (named James Potter) having been discharged between 25th of Nov. and 24th of Dec. 1808, and kept on the strength of the regiment for 111 days afterwards, for which period pay was drawn for him by Captain Sladden. States, that Lieut. Fraser, when he volunteered into the 56th regiment, owed him 71. 10s. 2d. on account of the contingencies of the company, which he had paid, and that, notwithstanding repeated promises, he has not hitherto discharged the debt. States, that the custom of the regiment was to charge the whole expence of the funerals to the men, and not for Captains of companies to pay it. Produces a charge of twentyeight pounds eighteen shillings and seven-pence farthing, due to him from different officers, on account of men transferred to their companies from that paid by him. States, that Captain Norton has always paid him all his demands, and that since a price was established by Major-General Williams for necessaries, he has always adhered to it, though he allows he has still made a profit. States, that he never received any thing from the men for small sums lent them; but that, if he advanced a pound, or the marching or prolongation guincas, he charged a shilling or two, or sometimes more. Conceives the officers must have been acquainted with the profits made by the Pay-Serjeants. States, that Captain Norton joined the regiment in July last, prior to which the company belonged to Captain Hunter (now Paymaster of the regiment), during which time the same system existed. The company, part of that time, was paid by Lieutenant Plummer. Captain Norton states, that he first joined the regiment on the 24th of June last; that he went, on leave of absence, the 23d of August following, and did not join again until the 24th of September, at Chelmsford. That his company was always paid by a subaltern, to whom he gave the contingent allowances. That notwithstanding which, he satisfied the claims of the men as far as they were made known to him. That he had reason to believe the men were defrauded, and that he stated to Major-General Williams, at Norman Cross, his intention to quit the regiment, in consequence of the system which existed, and which he would have done, if he had not been called to command the regiment, from so many officers having been put in arrest. (To be continued.) GAZETTES, Military and Naval Dispatches,-Promotions, &c. in the Army, from the 1st of September, 1812. To be regularly continued in every succeeding Number of the MILITARY PANORAMA, or OFFICER'S COMPANION. Admiralty-Office, September 1, 1812. VICE-ADMIRAL Sir James Saumarez, Bart. K. B. hath transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Rear-Admiral Martin, of which the following is an extract. Riga, August 10, 1812.-IN my letter to you of the 5th instant, I mentioned, that the division of gun-boats under Captain Stuart, associated with another division under a Russian captain, had proceeded up the Boldero river, to co-operate with a body of troops from this place and the garrison of Dunamunde; the object of the expedition being, in the first place, to take the enemy by surprise, and, failing in that, to force them back from Schlock, and, if possible, to penetrate to Mittau. The service chiefly assigned to the British was, to keep in advance, and, if practicable, to destroy the bridges which were convenient for the retreat of the enemy; and the only bridge (that of Kalnezeen), was speedily and effectually rendered unserviceable. General Louis, who commanded the troops, gives the highest praise to Captain Stuart, and the British boats employed in that service. Admiralty-Office, September 1, 1812. Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Sir J. Saumarez, Bart. K. B. to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated on board the Victory, in Hawke Road, Aug. 20, 1812. SIR,-I enclose, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the copy of a letter I have this morning received from Rear-Admiral Martin, dated the 11th instant, enclosing one (a copy of which is also transmitted herewith) from General Essen, Governor of Riga, communicating intelligence of the continued success of the Russian arms, and the junction of Prince Bagration with the main army at Smolensko, which you will please to lay before their Lordships.-I am, &c. (Signed) JAS. SAUMAREZ. Riga, July 30, 1812.-SIR, I lose not a moment in communicating to your Excellency a most agreeable piece of intelligence, which I have just received. The Commander-in-Chief of the third army (General Tormasson), has obtained a victory over the enemy near Cobrin. Four stand of colours, eight pieces of artillery, with one General, in the service of Saxony, seventy officers, and three thousand troops, have fallen into the hands of the conquerors.-I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) ESSEN, Governor of Riga. Vice-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart, and K. B. &c. &c. &c. P. S. In addition to the foregoing intelligence, I have to acquaint your Excellency, that the united forces of General Barclay and Prince Bagration are in the neighbourhood of Smolensko, Gen. Platoff commands the combined advanced guard. Riga, August, 11, 1812.-I HAVE the honour to enclose, for your information, a letter which I have this instant received from General Essen, communicating the agreeable intelligence of the continued success of the Russian arms, and the junction of Prince Bagration's corps with the main army at Smolensko. This information is from the Commander-in-Chief, General Barclay de Tolli, who dates his letter the 4th instant, at Smolensko. In addition to what is mentioned in the General's letter, I learn that General Tormassoff suddenly left the position which he had occupied for some time, at Gitomirz or Zitomirz, in order to attack a corps of Saxons, stationed near Kubryn, twenty-four miles from Bryex Litowski, and about one hundred and thirty miles east of Warsaw, where he defeated the enemy, who retired towards Minsk. Vice-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. K. B. Admiralty-Office, September 1, 1812. VICE-ADMIRAL Sir James Saumarez, Bart. K. B. has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a Letter from Lieutenant J. C. Crawford, commanding His Majesty's gun-brig Wrangler, of which the inclosed is a copy. His Majesty's Gun-Brig Wrangler, off Seyer Island, August, 1812. SIR,-In pursuance of your orders of the 14th instant, I proceeded off Randers with your boats, and the cutter of the Locust, but not finding the French lugger there, I proceeded further to the westward off Mariager Fiord, to reconnoitre that port; a small Danish cruizer was perceived coming out, gave chase to her, when she bore up, and ran into Alborg: at night Lieutenant Petley, myself, and Mr. Curtis (Second Master of the Locust), thought that she might be carried by the boats, which was agreed upon. Lieutenant Petley then proceeded in shore, with the barge and cutter, in company with the Locust's boats, under charge of Mr. Curtis, her Second Master. About two o'clock in the morning they got alongside of her, and carried her from under a very heavy fire from the battery and musketry from Hall's Fort, in the entrance of that river, without the loss of a single man. She is one of those cruisers that have been of great annoyance to our convoys off the Scaw; she mounts two brass six-pounders, one long two-pounder, and small arms, and commanded by Lieutenant Tetens, of the Danish navy, and Commodore of a division of gun-boats off Flanstrand, with a complement of twenty-two men, who had made their escape into the battery of Halle. They found her moored close under the muzzle of the guns of the battery, and could not prevent the Lieutenant and men from making their escape, except one man, whom we have a prisoner. I stood in shore, as far as I could with safety, to cover the boats.-I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) J. C. CRAWFORD, Lieut. Com. War-Office, September 1, 1812. 4th regiment of Dragoon Guards-Lieutenant John King to be Captain of a Troop, by purchase, vice Lally, who retires. 5th do.-Lieutenant John Brunskill to be Captain of a Troop, vice Osborne, killed in action.-Cornet John Clarke to be Lieutenant, vice Brunskill.-John Watson, gent. to be Cornet, vice Clarke. 3d regiment of Foot-William M'Minn, gent. to be Ensign, without purchase. 7th do.-Lieutenant Thomas Moses to be Captain of a Company, vice Prescott, killed in action. 10th do.-Brevet-Major John Carr, from the 5th Garrison Battalion, to be Captain of a Company, vice Calthrop, who exchanges.-Ensign George Birch to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Hicks, promoted. 12th do. John Grover, gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Ellis, who retires. 29th Ditto. To be Ensigns without purchase. Ensign William Johnson, from the South Mayo Militia.Dixon, gent. 44th do.-Lieutenant John Ponsonby to be Captain of a Company, vice Berwick, killed in action.-Ensign John James Fenton to be Lieutenant, vice Ponsonby. -Serjeant-Major James Smith to be Ensign, vice Standley, killed in action. 45th do. Ensign T. Drew to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Reynett, promoted. 48th do.-Serjeant Hartford, from the 3d regiment of Foot Guards, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Warton, who resigns. 50th do. Captain Sir Emanuel Felix Agar, from the half-pay of the 100th Foot, to be Captain of a Company, vice Lord Alvanley, who exchanges. 54th Ditto. To be Lieutenants, without purchase. Ensign Bartholomew Donellan, vice Barbauld, promoted in the 5th West India regiment.-Ensign Robert Leacroft, vice Miles, superseded. 56th Regiment of Foot-Lieutenant George Sparks, from the 1st Surrey Militia, to be Ensign, without purchase. 58th do.-Lieutenant Samuel M. Hobson to be Adjutant, vice Shea, who resigns the Adjutantcy only. 67th do.-Lieutenant David Duff, from the Armagh Militia, to be Ensign, without purchase. - 72d do-Lieutenant Whitford Bell to be Captain of a Company, vice Chisholm, deceased.-Ensign and Adjutant 97th do.-Robert Christie, gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Leslie, promoted. Coventry to have the rank of Lieutenant. 89th do.-Lieutenant William Leader, from the Antrim Militia, to be Ensign, without purchase. 1024 do. John Williams, gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice W. Lyster, promoted. 5th Garrison Battalion-Captain Henry Calthrop, from the 10th Foot, to be Captain of a Company, vice Carr, who exchanges. 10th Royal Veteran Battalion-Lieutenant John Everett, from the 2d Veteran Battalion, to be Lieutenant. Nova Scotia Fencibles-Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel William Haly to be Major, without purchase, vice Thesiger, appointed Deputy Barrack-Master-General in Canada. Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles-Colonel Edward Baynes, from the Nova Scotia Fencibles, to be Colonel.-Major Francis Battersby, from the 8th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel.-Captain George Macdonnell, from the 8th Foot, to be Major. To be Captains of Companies. Lieutenant Andrew Liddell, from the 8th Foot.-Lieutenant Robert Macdonnell, from the Canadian Fencibles.-Lieutenant John Jenkins, from the 104th Foot.Lieutenant John Shaw, from the 49th Foot.-Lieutenant Thomas Fitzgerald, from the 41st Foot.-Lieutenant R. M. Cochrane, from the Canadian Fencibles. To be Lieutenants. Lieutenant Alexander M'Millan, from the Canadian Fencibles.-Ensign James Stewart, from the 100th Foot.-Ensign Anthony Leslie, from the 8th Foot.Ensign Henry F. Hughes, from the 35th Foot.-Ensign Walter Ker, from the 41st Foot.-Ensign Enas Shaw, from the Nova Scotia Fencibles.-Ensign W. Kemble, from the Newfoundland Fencibles.-Byland Smith, gent. with temporary rank. To be Ensigns. Roderick Matheson, gent.-Angus Macdonnell, gent.-James Robins, gent.-William Maclean, gent. To be Adjutant, with the rank of Ensign. Serjeant-Major John Mackay, from the Royal regiment of Artillery. To be Quarter-Master. Serjeant John Watson, from the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The King's German Legion. 1st Dragoons-Cadet-Serjeant Struensee, from the Duke of Brunswick Oels' Cavalry, to be Cornet, vice Munchhausen, who resigns. 2d Battalion of Light Infantry.-To be Lieutenants. Ensign Peter Richard Andrew van Dyck, vice Schaumann, promoted.—Ensign John 5th Battalion of the Line, Paymaster Serjeant L. Taenicke, from the Duke of Brun- De Roll's Regiment. Ensign Charles F. Graumann to be Lieutenant, vice Hundheim, deceased.-John STAFF. Francis Seymour Larpent, Esq. to be Deputy Judge Advocate of his Majesty's Forces serving in Spain and Portugal. MÉMORANDUM. Cornet R. M. Gibbons, of the 7th Light Dragoons, is superseded, being absent without leave. VOL. I. G Commissions in the 4th or Eastern Regiment of Oxfordshire Local Militia, signed by the Lord Lieutenant. Lieutenant Daniel Taunton to be Captain. Dated July 9, 1812.-Lieutenant Edward Lock, jun. to be Do. Dated July 10, 1812.-Sir Paul Baghott, Knt. to be Do. Dated as above. 2 Commissions in the South Hants Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry, signed by the Lord Lieutenant. Coruet William Dale Budden to be Lieutenant. Dated August 24, 1812.-William Jackson, Gent. to be Cornet. Dated as above. Downing-Street, September 4, 1812. MAJOR Burgh, Aide-de-Camp to the Marquis of Wellington, has this day arrived at Lord Bathurst's office with dispatches, addressed to his lordship by Lord Wellington, dated Madrid the 18th and 15th ultimo, of which the following are extracts. Madrid, August 13. Having found that the army under Marshal Marmont continued their retreat upon Burgos, in a state not likely to take the field again for some time, I determined to bring Joseph Buonaparte to a general action, or force him to quit Madrid. Accordingly I moved from Cuellar on the 6th instant. We arrived at Segovia on the 7th, and at St. Ildefonso on the 8th, where I halted one day, to allow the right of the army more time to come up. No opposition was made to the passage of the troops through the mountains; and Brigadier-General D'Urban, with the Portuguese cavalry, and 1st light battalion of the King's German Legion, and Captain M'Donald's troop of horse artillery, had been through the Guadarama pass since the 9th. He moved forward on the worning of the 11th from the neighbourhood of Galapagas, and supported by the heavy cavalry of the King's German Legion from Torrelodones, he drove in the French cavalry, about 2000 in number, and placed himself at Majalahonda, with the Portuguese cavalry and Captain Macdonald's troop, and the cavalry and light infantry of the King's German Legion, at Las Royas, about three quarters of a mile distant. The enemy's cavalry which had been driven off in the morning, and had moved towards Naval Carnero, returned about five in the afternoon, and Brigadier-General D'Urban having formed the Portuguese cavalry in front of Majalahonda, supported by the horse artillery, ordered the cavalry to charge the enemy's leading squadrons, which appeared too far advanced to be supported by their main body. The Portuguese cavalry advanced to the attack, but unfortunately turned about before they reached the enemy; and they fled through the village of Majalahonda, and back upon the German dragoons; leaving behind them, unprotected and unsupported, those guns of Captain Macdonald's troop, which had been moved forward to cooperate with the cavalry. By the activity of the officers and soldiers of Captain Macdonald's troop, the guns were however moved off; but owing to the unfavourable nature of the ground over which they were moved, the carriage of one was broken, and two others were overturned; and these three guns fell into the enemy's hands. The Portuguese dragoons having fled through Majalahonda, were rallied and reformed upon the heavy dragoons of the King's German Legion, which were formed between that village and Las Royas. The German cavalry charged the enemy, although under many disadvantages, and stopped their further progress; but I am sorry to say, that they suffered considerable loss, and that Colonel Jonqueires, who commanded the brigade, was taken prisoner. The left of the army was about two miles and a half distant, at the Fuente de Ratamar, on the Guadarama River, and Colonel Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry, and a brigade of infantry of the 7th division having moved forward to the support of the troops in advance, the enemy refired upon Majalahonda as soon as they observed these troops, and night having come on, they retired upon Alcorcon, leaving our guns at Majalahonda. I am happy to report that the officers of the Portuguese cavalry behaved remarkably well, and showed a good example to their men, particularly the Visconde de Barbacena, who was taken prisoner. The conduct of the brave German cavalry, was, I understand, excellent, as was that of Captain M'Donald's troop of horse artillery. The light infantry battalion was not engaged. |