During this time the main body of the British force took up a position in the Grand Square, but afterwards retired into the fort of Buenos Ayres. Being now bereft of all resources, and without hopes of reinforcement, there appeared no alternative but to capitulate, and about one o’clock on the 12th of August hostilities ceased, and the fort was surrendered. The troops marched out with the honors of war, and laid down their arms in the Square.
The SEVENTY-FIRST were now prisoners; the officers were allowed their parole, and quartered upon the inhabitants; the men were confined in the prisons of the city.
In these melancholy proceedings fell Lieutenant William Mitchell and Ensign Thomas Lucas. Both had much distinguished themselves. The battalion lost in killed and wounded ninety-one men.
In August 1806 the second battalion embarked at Glasgow for Ireland, and arrived at Belfast on the 1st of September.
About the middle of September, the SEVENTY-FIRST were removed from Buenos Ayres into the interior. Brigadier-General Beresford, with his staff, and Lieut.-Colonel Pack, were placed at Luxon, from whence they subsequently effected their escape, upon learning that the removal of the prisoners still further up the country had been ordered.
Lieut.-Colonel Pack was thus enabled to join the troops which had landed near Monte Video in January 1807, under the command of Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, and to afford assistance in the important operations then being carried on. Sir Samuel Auchmuty, at Lieut.-Colonel Pack’s request, directed a board of naval and military officers to inquire into the particulars of his escape, by whom it was unanimously approved, and he was declared free to serve.[21]
The second battalion was removed from Ireland to Scotland in January 1807, but returned to Ireland in June following.
In May 1807, a further removal to the interior of the prisoners took place. The officers were collected at a college belonging to the Jesuits, about forty leagues to the northward of Cordova, and entirely separated from their men. In this situation they remained until August following, when, just as they were ordered to prepare for a transfer to a station still more remote, the accounts of the convention entered into by Lieut.-General John Whitelocke were received, by which it was stipulated that the prisoners should be restored to liberty, on condition that all the British forces should be withdrawn. It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the prospect of being restored to liberty and friends was greatly damped by the military events which produced it, and which completely extinguished the ardent hopes of success that had been entertained from the arrival of the last British force in South America.