“His Majesty’s Ship, ‘Audacious,’
“18th January, 1809.

“General Orders.

“The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the Commander of the Forces (Lieut.-General Sir John Moore), and the severe wound which has removed Lieut.-General Sir David Baird from his station, render it the duty of Lieut.-General Hope to congratulate the army upon the successful result of the action of the 16th instant.

“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.

“These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position, or of numbers he may employ, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers, a bravery that knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.

“The Lieut.-General has the greatest satisfaction in distinguishing such meritorious services, as came within his observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.

“His acknowledgments are, in a peculiar manner, due to Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, and the brigade under his command, consisting of the fourth, forty-second, and fiftieth regiments, and which sustained the weight of the attack.

“Major-General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of the Royals, the twenty-sixth and eighty-first regiments, and Major-General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also be pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant conduct during the action.

“To Major-General Paget, who, by a judicious movement of the reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of the enemy on the right; and to the first battalion of the fifty-second and ninety-fifth regiments, which were thereby engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.

“That part of Major-General Leith’s brigade which was engaged, consisting of the fifty-ninth regiment, under the conduct of the Major-General, also claims marked approbation.

“The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him repent the attempt.

“The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under the command of Major-Generals Hill and Leith, and Colonel Catlin Craufurd, conducted themselves with determined resolution; and were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades, and by the troops of which they were composed.

“It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieut.-General to notice the vigorous attack made by the second battalion of the fourteenth regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Nicolls, which drove the enemy out of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.

“The exertions of Lieut.-Colonel Murray, Quarter-Master General, and of the other officers of the General Staff, during the action, were unremitted, and deserve every degree of approbation.

“The illness of Brigadier-General Clinton, Adjutant-General, unfortunately deprived the army of the benefit of his services.

“The Lieut.-General hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected; he laments, however, the fall of the gallant soldiers and valuable officers who have suffered.

“The Lieut.-General knows that it is impossible, in any language he can use, to enhance the esteem, or diminish the regret, that the army feels with him for its late Commander. His career has been unfortunately too limited for his country, but has been sufficient for his own fame. Beloved by the army, honored by his Sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life devoted to her service, by a glorious death,—leaving his name as a memorial, an example, and an incitement, to those who shall follow him in the path of honor, and it is from his country alone that his memory can receive the tribute which is its due.

(Signed)      “John Hope, Lieut.-General.”