The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1909. ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2403, 19 January 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1909. ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Sir-John Moore, the only English general who has gained lasting lame by the conduct of a retreat, died just one hundred years ago, and there need be no excuse for drawing special attention to one of that little band of heroes which England produced in answer to the world-chal-lenge of the mighty Napoleon. The success of their patriotic efforts meant more than one can appreciate even at this lapse of time, while a consideration of their lives will serve as an in- ■ spiration- to glorious deeds amongst Englishmen in all ages and in all climes. John Moore was the son ol a Scottish doctor, and was born in Glasgow. It was his appointment as tutor to the young Duke of Hamilton which procured for him educational advantages by which lie profited so much as to be called in after life the most cultivated officer in the English army. He had the opportunity in this capacity to visit all the capitals of Europe, and seems to have also had ample leisure to undergo, some training for the, army, which he joined as an ensign in 1777. Ho served in the American'war for a few years until peace was declared in 1783, and. at th.e age of 23 years, shortly after found a seat in Parliament ,which he retained for six years, ‘ultimately resigning it for the- more strenuous life of military service. He w r as promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of the 51st Regiment, and sailed for the Mediterranean , but reached his destination too late to assist at Toulon. Howcvcr, he was ‘actively engaged at Corsica, and greatly distinguished himself at the taking of Calvi. These were stirring times for British soldiers, for Napoleon had not only England but the whole of Europe in a constant turmoil, and young Moore found ainplo scope for his soldierly activities. In 1796 he was fighting in the West Indies, and two years later he was helping to quell the Irish “rebellion of ’9S.” Twelve months afterwards he served with Sir Ralph Abercromby in the ill-bated expedition to Heldcr in Holland, and in 1800 ho accompanied -Abercromby to ‘the -Mediterranean. Throughout the Egyptian war he commanded the reserve, and especially distinguished himself at the battle of Alexandria, where ho was wounded in three places, and behaved with such distinction that he was recognised universally as the greatest English general now that Abercromby was dead. The short interval of the Peace of Amiens did not injure Moore’s prospects, for in ISO 3 lie was appointed commander of the camp at Shorncliffe. Here he proved his greatness as an organiser, for it was at, this time that ho organised those light regiments which were to form the reserve in Ins own campaign and the light division in the Peninsular war. It was five years later that, after assisting the King of Sweden against the combined forces of France and Russia, ho was suddenly ordered to proceed with his division to Portugal,.“where Sir Arthur Wellesley bad already landed. However, the appointment of Dalrymple and Burrard to the chief commands was even more of a slight upon Moore as'a general of European experience than it was upon Wellesley, 'whoso laurels had 1 hitherto been won. in India. He regarded himself as personally insulted by the English Ministers, but deenjed it his duty to go- where he was ordered. He met his reward, for when, after the excitement caused' by the Convention of Cintra, Ualrymplo and Burrard wont home, lie was left in command of the largest English army since the commencement of the war.

Now began the glorious three months upon which Moore’s reputation as a soldier .and a statesman must rest. The Spaniards, flushed with their former successes over Napoleon’s general, Dupont, regarded tho little Corsican who had himself crossed the Pyrenees in person, as another victim, and loudly summoned

Moore to come and take a share in their coming victories. Moore knew .><>tter what was the value of Napoiton’s genius, and made Ins plans accordingly.. He concentrated Ins forces at Salamanca, Where he. remained a whole month, watching the triumphant successes of Napoleon and his lieutenants, and learning how little Spanish, reports or Spanish valor were to be relied upon. Though irritated by the menaces and abuse of the English Minister in Spain, he waited till December 13, hearing daily of Spanish defeats, and then he prepared to draw off the weight of Napoleon’s power, and thus give the Spaniards in-Amlalucia the winter in which to organise an army. With this object in view he advanced to Saha gun, and having once drawn Napoleon’s attention to himiscJf he began his famous retreat, and fell back quickly, fighting every day and invariably with success. To detail each step of tho retreat and the various skirmishes is unnecessary, suffice it that after greatlosses Moore reached Corunna on January 12th. But the fleet to take the army home was not there, and the English had to fight Soult, whose army was even more weakened and demoralised than Moore’s, before they could embark. It was on the I.6th of January that Moore fought his last battle; he fell early in the day, -and knew at once that the wound was mortal. His last hours were cheered with the knowledge of victory, but were spent in recommending his old friends,i such as Graham and Celborne, to the notice of the Government. The death scene was not merely pathetic, but it was -also inspiring as an elevating example of how a modern Bayard should die in battle, every thought being of others, none for himself.

Of his burial by his beloved soldiers the poet Wolfe has told in the wellknown lines, which commence—

Not a drum was heard—not a funeral note As his corpse to the ramparts we hurried.

Concluding with—

Slowly and sadly we laid him down, From the field of his fame fresh and gory : AAe carved not a line; we raised not a stone, But we left him alone with his glory.