“However, on the 31st of August or the 1st of September, it was finally announced to General Beresford, in a letter printed and made public, that our surrender was at discretion, and that it was the determination of the then government of Buenos Ayres that the British troops should be sent to the interior, and the officers, on their parole, to Europe.
“General Beresford, for obvious reasons, at first declined our passing a parole; but being given to understand that without it our persons were insecure, and it being determined to separate the officers from the men, he (with the concurrence of the majority of the seniors) finally acceded to it.
“Notwithstanding this, on the appearance of a British force in the river, they were suddenly compelled to march, under an armed escort, several miles into the interior, and about two months afterwards orders were given to separate and remove them still farther, and which, (notwithstanding the remonstrances of the brigadier-general) were carried into effect. In his communication at that time with Colonel Liniers, he fully explained that we did not consider ourselves on parole, nor did we think it binding, after our removal in the first instance, and their refusing to fulfil the conditions under which we had been prevailed upon to give it.
“About this time the unfortunate murder of Captain Ogilvie of the Royal Artillery and a private soldier of the SEVENTY-FIRST regiment took place, when guards were placed at some of the quarters of the officers, professedly for the purpose of protection, but positively with strict injunctions most narrowly to watch us, and to take care (as the government said in their instructions to the alcalde on the same subject) that we did not desert. I mention this circumstance to prove there could be no misunderstanding on the subject; for though such language must be considered unhandsome and illiberal under any circumstances, it surely never could have been held to officers on their parole. On the arrival of the news of the capture of Monte Video by our forces, the chief magistrate of Buenos Ayres repaired to General Beresford’s quarters, accompanied by Lieut.-Col. Garcias, acquainting him with the necessity there was of possessing himself with the papers of the several British officers, prisoners, which he proceeded to do, _placing sentry over them individually_ until he effected his purpose; and in a conversation which General Beresford had with Lieut.-Colonel Garcias, he expressly told him that we were not on our parole, recapitulating the explanation made to Colonel Liniers upon the subject.
