Court of Common Council resolving unanimously:
that the thanks of this Court be given to Major-General Beresford and Commodore Sir Home Popham, and the officers and men under their respective commands, for their very gallant conduct and the very important services rendered by them to their country in the capture of Buenos Ayres, at once opening a new source of commerce to the manufacturers of Great Britain, and depriving her enemy of one of the richest and most extensive colonies in her possession.40
In addition to the Freedom of the City, Beresford and Popham were awarded jewelled freedom boxes and beautiful dress swords to the value of 200 guineas each, though they were not to collect these until after the abdication of Napoleon in 1814.41
Back in Buenos Aires, the situation – unbeknownst to the government in London – had changed dramatically. While Lord Grenville’s administration prepared to send out a relieving force under Brigadier General Samuel Auchmuty, and indeed even before the Narcissus had arrived at Portsmouth with its cargo of precious metal, the British forces in Buenos Aires had suffered defeat and capture.42 Though some Portenos took the oath of allegiance, by mid July 1806 Beresford was conscious of growing opposition to British rule. He observed that while people were desirous of change they were (quite wisely as it turned out) concerned that Spain would recover the conquered land and that factor inhibited people from coming forward to declare their support. Notwithstanding this difficulty, he seems personally to have developed a good relationship with some of the important families and individuals in Buenos Aires.43 Later, after his return to England, Beresford was to send presents to a number of these. Furthermore, in light of later events, it is possible that Beresford sympathised with the ambitions of some Portenos to achieve independence, though he trod a very careful line in the absence of instructions from London. There were also rumours of masonic connections between erstwhile opponents, and the ‘Southern Cross’ masonic lodge may have been established at this time.
The population of the Spanish colony (the Virreinato) was made up of four components; the Spanish, the creoles, the native Indians and slaves. Those of political consequence were the Spanish and the creoles. While Beresford reportedly met a number of proponents of independence, including Juan Martin de Pueyrredón and J.J. Castelli, both of whom later pursued independence from Spain, neither the Spanish settlers nor the creoles were interested (with possibly a few exceptions) in exchanging one colonial power for another. The resistance and number of deaths arising from subsequent assaults by other British forces on Montevideo and Buenos Aires make this clear. Whether they were long-term residents, recent arrivals, Spanish or Creole, they realised quickly that the British force under Beresford was too weak to guarantee their independence.44
With the growth of opposition to the British presence, Beresford now faced two further problems. The first of these concerned Spanish officers released on parole who disappeared, thus breaking that parole. There was little that could be done once they had absconded.45 The second problem, the desertion of some of his own troops, was met head on by Beresford. The force brought from the Cape and St Helena included a number of German and Spanish mercenaries, some of whom deserted. Beresford had already demonstrated his capacity to ensure discipline in Egypt and he was later to be recognised for his great organisational and administrative abilities. Here in Buenos Aires he showed those same qualities. Four Spanish deserters from the St Helena regiment were ordered to be given 500 lashes and one of those died in the process. However, when a Spanish cadet was sentenced to death on 17 July, Beresford reprieved him at the request of the Bishop of Buenos Aires, even though the latter was not well disposed towards the British. Two days later Beresford decreed that those assisting men to desert would be liable to the death penalty, a move that may have been inspired by the efforts of some of the clergy to persuade soldiers who were their fellow Roman Catholics to desert. Many of those targeted were Irish, and some reportedly deserted in late July and early August having been offered land and in some cases employment. Following the battle of Perdriel, a German deserter who was recaptured was given the death penalty, a not infrequent punishment at the time.46
At the end of July, Beresford was faced with an insurrection led by Juan Martin de Pueyrredón at the head of a force of perhaps 1,000–2,000 mostly mounted horsemen.47 Pueyrredon had initially appeared well disposed to the British on their arrival, but he subsequently left the city to gather troops to resist the invaders. This force was put to flight in twenty minutes by Beresford at Perdriel on 1 August, with Colonel Pack and a force of 500 men from the 71st regiment assisted by six pieces of artillery.48 A lack of cavalry prevented any pursuit and Pueyrredón escaped, fleeing to Colonia de Sacramento in modern-day Uruguay, where he joined another force being raised by Santiago de Liniers, a Frenchman who served for most of his life as a military officer in the service of Spain. In 1788 he had been promoted to Captain and put in command of the flotilla guarding the Rio de la Plata, and at the time of the British invasion he obtained sanctuary in the convent of San Domingo in Buenos Aires before escaping to Montevideo, where the governor authorised him to raise an army to resist the invasion.49
Popham had naval patrols in the Rio de la Plata to both report on and attempt to prevent the transfer of any force from the north to the south bank of the river. Some of the marines used in the initial capture of Buenos Aires were taken from the garrison to give teeth to these patrols. However, on the night of 4/5 August under cover of a storm, de Liniers managed to cross the river with a force of in excess of 2,000, augmented by further adherents as he advanced on the city. Arriving before Buenos Aires on 10 August, which itself was now in a state of unrest, he called on Beresford to surrender, reminding him that he was vastly outnumbered. Rather than surrender, Beresford determined to try and extract his forces, now reduced to about 1,300 men, but only succeeded in getting the sick and the wounded onto Popham’s fleet before hostilities began in earnest on 11 August.50 A running battle ensued over two days during which the British force suffered 45 deaths with 100 injured and a further 9 missing; while the enemy reportedly sustained some 700 losses.51
Beresford had insufficient forces to hold the city and initially sought to maintain himself in the fort, the Retiro barracks and a few other outposts including the Recova.52 Indeed he could spare just fifteen men for the defence of the Retiro which only fell to the Spanish force when all but two of the fifteen defenders had been killed. The British drew back to the Plaza Mayor on 12 August, having been forced to abandon the Recova, where Beresford’s secretary, Captain Kennett, was killed at his side. Beresford had placed riflemen in the steeple of the cathedral, but this position was also abandoned when the decision was made to retreat to the Plaza Mayor.
Beresford at one stage may have planned to retire to the docks at Ensenada and embark there but ultimately he fell back on the fortress, reportedly himself being the last man across the drawbridge.53 Later that day (12 August), under a flag of truce, terms for surrender were negotiated. These included the security of person and property of all British subjects; the troops to march out with the honours of war, and a provision for their speedy embarkation for the Cape or England at the expense of Spain. Further, the British troops were not to serve against Spain directly or indirectly until exchanged for Spanish prisoners. Some of the troops at least appear to have been exchanged for Spanish prisoners previously taken by Beresford in June 1806, and on 17 August a number of Popham’s transports arrived off Buenos Aires for the purpose of taking men on board.54
There seems to have been no doubt at this stage that the terms of the agreement between Beresford and de Liniers provided for the repatriation of the British force, for the appearance of Popham’s transports followed de Liniers ADC visiting Popham on board the Diadem on 16 August under a flag of truce for the specific purpose of embarking the troops and effecting an exchange of prisoners.55 De Liniers however, under pressure from his political masters, ultimately signed the terms on 20 August with the caveat ‘so far as I am able’ (‘en cuánto puedo’). Terms clearly agreed were now rendered uncertain and Beresford immediately protested when there was a failure to release the prisoners with a view to repatriation. To this end he sent back the amended terms to de Liniers via his ADC, Robert Arbuthnot, on 21 August, reminding him that the Spanish version of the treaty had been written by Don Felix Casamayor, the Superintendant of Finances in Buenos Aires.
