Orders, Decorations and Medals

An original and poignant Peninsular War letter from General Henry McKinnon, who was killed by the explosion of an enemy magazine while leading the storming party at Ciudad Rodrigo on 19 January 1812, ink, four sides on a single piece of folded paper, dated ‘before Ciudad Rodrigo 9 January 1811’ [in fact 1812, a common error made in the New Year], the back page with text to left and right, and addressed in the centre to his wife, ‘Mrs. H. McKinnon, Gloster Place, Clifton, with ‘Lisbon, Ja. 31 1812’ stamp. The content, written just 10 days before his demise, discussing recent marches and family matters:

‘We started from Aldea de Ponte on the 4th, one of the worst days I can recollect and the poor men had to march knee deep in snow for 12 hours. Several died on the road of fatigue, but odd to say this weather agrees with me perfectly and I never was in better health. The weather is now again beautiful and the opening of our winter campaign most brilliant as we carried the fort last night with scarcely a loss. We hope that the town will fall in a few days. This is better even than the wretched hot weather we had at Badajoz ... I am really tired of being absent. I hope we shall meet next summer. Adieu my Kate with embraces.’

one or two small tears, otherwise in generally good condition £200-250

Henry McKinnon (1773-1812) commanded 45th, 74th and 88th Regiments in the Peninsula. Prior to the Napoleonic Wars, he had a cordial acquaintance with Napoleon Bonaparte owing to the fact his father resided in the French province of Dauphiny.

Of McKinnon’s death in action at Ciudad Rodrigo on 19 January 1812, the Royal Military Panorama or Officer’s Companion states:

‘A short time previous to the attack, which commenced at a few minutes before seven in the evening, he [McKinnon] was employed in writing, with the greatest ease and composure, on some familiar subjects, to his friends; and his spirits were remarked by those near him to be uncommonly good; a circumstance of the greatest importance at the impending crisis, when all the faculties of his soul, it might naturally be expected, were to be called into action, and which alone could secure a perfect scope to the exertions of the mind.

His directions were, to attack the principal breach in the centre of the walls of Ciudad Rodrigo; and precisely at seven o'clock, by the light of the moon, the column (consisting of 45th, 74th, and 88th Regiments) which he commanded, rushed out of the second parallel to the assault, under a tremendous fire from the enemy, exhibiting to that part of the army not engaged, a sight most awful and sublime.

The breach which he attacked was found sufficiently large to admit of at least a hundred men abreast of each other; but the enemy had attempted to cut off its communication with the ramparts, by throwing up a parapet on the left, and by cutting down the rampart on the right; an object, however, which, from want of time, they had not effectually accomplished.

When the head of the column had reached the ditch, some trifling delay was occasioned by the deficiency of the number of scaling-ladders; an impediment which, though almost immediately removed, afforded an opportunity to the assailants on the left to attack the enemy on the ramparts, and to the columns on the right to co-operate in assaulting the breach. On reaching the summit, a grand mine was sprung, and a few minutes after a small one, though fortunately with little effect or injury to our troops.

General Mackinnon, having in the most gallant manner completely secured the possession of the breach, and finding no further opposition from the enemy in that quarter, ordered the 88th regiment to the right on the ramparts, and proceeded himself with the 74th to the left. On clambering over the parapet just described which had been raised as an obstruction to any communication with the rampart, a magazine belonging to the enemy blew up near the breach. The voice of the General had been heard just previous to the explosion by his Aide-de-Camp, Captain Call, who immediately afterwards received Ensign Beresford in his arms, and was informed by him that the General had that instant been blown up.

General Mackinnon, it is conjectured was close to the Ensign at the time, as, when his brigade divided on the breach, to proceed to the right and the left, he was heard to say to Ensign Beresford, “Come, Beresford, you are a fine lad, we will go together."

He was supposed however, during the whole of the night, to be living; and his body was not discovered till the next morning, wounded and scorched on the back of the head. It was first interred by some pioneers, under the order of General Picton, in the breach; but was afterwards removed by the officers of the Cold-stream Guards, and deposited at Espeja with military honours, and the highest mark of attachment to a lamented friend from that respectable corps.’