A boy in the Peninsular War : the services, adventures and experiences of Robert Blakeney, subaltern in the 28th Regiment : an autobiography

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A BOY IN THE PENINSULAR WAE

A BOY IN THE PENINSULAK WAR

THE SERVICES, ADVENTURES, AND EXPERIENCES

OF

ROBERT BLAKENEY

SUBALTEEN IN THE 28TH REGIMENT

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

EDITED BY

JULIAN STURGIS

AUTHOR OF "JOHN A DREAMS," "COMEDY OF A COUNTRY HOUSK," ETC.

WITH A MAP
Second Impression

LONDON

JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET

1899

TO HIS WIPE

the editok dedicates these memoirs of her

mother's father,

for whose acquaintance he is glad to

own yet one more debt of

gratitude to her.

INTRODUCTION.

/^THELLO, confessing that lie cannot grace his cause
^-^ with studied eloquence, pleads that at the tender age
of seven years he gave himself to the grim labours of the
tented field. Compared with this dark heroic babe, young
Blakeney, joining the 28th Regiment as a boy of fifteen,
must seem a hardy veteran. Yet he too pleads, as excuse
for lack of style in the Memoirs which he left behind him,
that soldiering and fighting began so early in his life
as to leave scant time for acquisition of the literary airs
and graces. And in the same apologetic vein he says that
he wrote his Memoirs in an island where were no libraries
and no books of reference in which he might verify the
dates and facts of his plain unvarnished tale.

It may be that to some more literary penman the idea of
writing memoirs in the Island of Zante, one of those Grecian
isles which toward sunset show form so delicate and colour
so exquisite that one would think them rather the
kingdom of Oberon than the haunt of a retired warrior
of the Peninsula — to sit at ease in that enchanted air
and summon from the past the gallant deeds of heroes
and the kind looks of friends — may seem no despicable
recompense for the sad want of all the books of reference.

With groaning shelves and ponderous catalogues in easy
reach, conscience makes cowards of us poor followers of

viii INTRODUCTION

literature ; we are chilled in mid career, and our happy
freedom of statement is checked by intrusive doubt of the
date of this battle or of the name of that general. Even
the irresponsible purveyor of fiction must tramp the
street or fly on the handy bicjxle, to make sure that he
has not plunged his hero into the midst of a revolution
two years before it took place, or shown his tender heroine
in tears over the song of an eminent composer ere yet
the moving song- writer was breeched.

How deep was the regret which the author of these
Memoirs felt for the premature end of his lessons and
for the want of invaluable books of reference, I am unable
to say ; but I have ventured to suppress his brief preface
of apology because frankly I claim for him not pardon
nor tolerance, but gratitude and even affection.

As in that island of dreams he recalled his stirring
boyhood, his friendships formed and joyous under the
shadow of death, his zeal and admiration for the great
leaders under whom he served, his personal adventures
and historic battles, his marches, bivouacs and careless
jests, his pen became again like the pen of a boy who
describes his house football match or the exploits of the
favourite hero of the school. Like a boy too, he had
his more important moments — his fine attempts at elo-
quence, grandiloquence ; he became literary, self-conscious,
innocently pompous, like a boy. The pen in his hand
grew great as he proclaimed the valour of the brave,
the pageant of plumed troops, the pomp of glorious war.
And indeed the pen, grown mightier than the sword,
executed at times cuts and flourishes so intricate that
the modest editor has had to bring it to the scabbard, or,
in his own language of the ink-pot, to contribute once or
twice the necessary fullstop. But these tempestuous

INTRODUCTION. ix

passages, these patches which aim at the purple, are few ;
and it should be said at once that they are never concerned
with the author's own exploits. It is the noble character
of Sir John Moore that starts the rhapsody, or General
Graham, or Paget, or Hill, or the great Wellington himself ;
and, above all, it is the indomitable valour of the British
soldier — of the British soldier who is so often Irish.

There may be some who think that Captain Blakeney
should have apologised for being Irish ; and indeed, though
I protest against any shadow of apology, the Irish nature
of our author, whose ancestors came out of Norfolk, may
be mentioned as an explanation of the frank and flowing
statement of his hopes and fears, his joys and sorrows,
his moving accidents and hairbreadth escapes. Our Anglo-
Saxon ideal of the young soldier becomes more and more
the youth who is a hero and won't mention it. He is a
most engaging person too. Ask him of the deed which
filled the daily papers and the mouths of men, and he
blushes, mutters, and escapes to his club. If you bring
all your power of persuasion to bear upon him in his
most yielding hour, you may draw from him some such
statement as this : " Well, I cut the Johnny down and
I brought the Tommy off. It was all rot, and there was
nothing in it ; any chap would have done it." That is
fine. Perhaps it is the fine flower of a race more eminent
in action than in art. But if we care for memoirs, let
us be thankful for the Frenchman or the Irishman who
will do his deeds of daring and not be ashamed to
describe them for our profit and our pleasure. Nor is it
fair to infer that there is more vanity in the one than
in the other. In the case of Blakeney, at least, I shall
be disappointed indeed if any reader suspect him of
braggadocio. When he relates his own adventures, his

X INTRODUCTION.

own acts in battle, his language is simple, direct, vivid ;
iie states plain facts. When he recalls the exploits
of others — of veteran generals, of boys like himself, of
private soldiers and especially of his own beloved 28th
Regiment, then he cries out a little gloriously perhaps,
but with a frankness, a generosity, an honest ardour of
admiration which surely may win pardon from the most
severe of critics.

In truth it is a gallant and charming young soldier
who calls to us from the beginning of the century which
is now so near its close. He has waited long for friendly
recognition from any but the generals who saw him fight
and the young comrades who drank with him at mess and
marched with him to battle. The young comrades, like
the old generals, have marched the common road ; and
it is to a generation who knew not the author that these
Memoirs modestly, but with a certain confidence, make
their appeal.

The ardent boy joined his regiment in 1804, at the
age of fifteen ; and in the next ten years he had had
fighting enough to content most men for a lifetime. It
is the record of these years which has lain so long in
dust, and which I now offer to the reader; and I would
ask him to bear in mind, as he reads, the looks and nature
of the young soldier whose fortunes he will follow. He
was of middle height and lightly made, but active healthy
and handsome. He was eager for friendship and for fight,
quick and confident in action, observing with keen accurate
eyes, and so clever at languages that he picked them up
on the march and conversed with the natives of Spain and
Portugal and France with equal audacity and success.
Perhaps more than all one finds in him that natural gaiety
of heart which neither danger nor fatigue could dull.

INTRODUCTION. A xi

neither the want of wealth and honours nor sight of the
appalling horrors of war. His young eyes beheld some
deeds done at Badajoz of which the mere description has
seemed to me too horrible for print. It will be held by
the most bloodthirsty of readers that enough remains.

We are all most warlike now — even the peaceful
guardians of the public purse and gentle editors who would
not hurt a fly ; and perhaps it is no bad thing to recall the
horrors of a captured town, lest we take all war to be but
glory and gaiety and something to read about in the papers.
Modern governments offer to the people the alarums and
excursions of little wars, as the masters of ancient Rome
amused their citizens with the grim combats of the circus ;
and we read the daily papers in the same spirit in which
the Roman crowd followed the fights of favourite gladiators
or the young Britons of to-day make holiday in looking on
at football matches instead of playing on more modest
fields themselves. War is a bad thing at the best. Even
our hero, for all his gladness and prowess, was disappointed
in the end ; nor have many men that abounding gift of
gaiety which carried him, one may be sure, through the
peaceful years of later Jife, happy in spite of a recurring
sense of injury. If he was neither rich nor famous, he
could sing, like the traveller with the empty pockets, in
the presence of the robber or of the War Office. And he
found pleasure too in the preparation of these Memoirs ;
one feels it as one reads. He is in an amiable mood. He
expresses the hope that he will hurt the feelings of no
man, and all his pages are proof of his sincerity. Except
for one or two Spanish generals, whom he cannot endure
for the empty pomp and pride which marred the simple
valour of their men, he has abundant admiration for friend
and foe. He would have you know too, that when he

xii INTRODUCTION.

treats of movements and of battles already described, he
makes no claim to draw them better. He puts down
what he saw with his own eyes, what he heard with his
own ears, — that is the value of his work. To me at least
he seems to give the very air of the battlefield. He is
in the midst of the fight ; he makes ns see it from inside,
breathe the smoke, and hear the hoarse word of command
answered by the groan of the wounded.

It may be of interest to some to know that this young
soldier was of the Blakeney family of Abbert in County
Galway, where they were granted lands in the time of
Queen Elizabeth. They came thither out of Norfolk, where,
I am told, there is a Blakeney Harbour, which was called
after them.

The Robert Blakeney of these Memoirs was born in
Galway in 1789, joined the army in 1804, and left it in
1828. Not long before his resignation he married Maria
Giulia Balbi, the last of her ancient family whose name
is in the Libro d'Oro of Venice ; for between her birth
and that of her brother the Venetian Republic had come
to an end. The little Maria was brought by her parents
to Corfu. In that most lovely island of the world she
grew to womanhood, and there she loved and married
Robert Blakeney, whose fighting days were done.

Successive Lords High Commissioners were Blakeney's
friends, and found him work to do. Under Lord Nugent
he was Inspector of Police in Corfu ; under Sir Howard
Douglas he was Inspector of Health in the Island of
Zante ; and later, under Lord Seaton, he became Resident
of the Island of Paxo. This office he held for twentj^-one
years, until he died in 1868 in his seventieth year.

So there came to him, when he was still young, a life
of peace passed in a land of dreams. But the thoughts of

INTRODUCTION. xiii

the old soldier turned often to the more misty island
of his birth, and to that famous peninsula made sacred
to his memory by the blood of gallant comrades. His
heart grew warm again as he summoned from the past
the battles, sieges, fortunes of his adventurous boyhood,
the happy days of youth, of friendship and of war.

JULIAN STURGIS.

COIfTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

I JOIN THE ARMY AND MAKE ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE

PERILS OF THE SEA

CHAPTER IT.

I SERVE IN A DANISH CAMPAIGN WITH SMALL GLORY . 7

* CHAPTER III.

WE LAND IN THE PENINSULA 14

CHAPTER lY.

WITH THE ADVANCE OF SIR JOHN MOORE ... 22

CHAPTER Y.
WE RETREAT WITH SIR JOHN MOORE . . . .31

CHAPTER YI.

WITH THE REARGUARD OF THE RETREATING ARMY . . 40

CHAPTER YII.
THE RETREAT CONTINUED 52

xvi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER YIII.

PAGE

THE RETREAT CX^NTTNUED 66

CHAPTER IX.
THE RETREAT CX)NTINUED 82

CHAPTER X.
THE RETREAT CONTINUED 94

CHAPTER XL

AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA 108

CHAPTER Xn.

¥FE AFFECT THE SENTIMENTAL BRITISH PUBLIC, AND GAIN

BUT LTTTLE GLORY IN HOLLAND .... 124

CHAPTER XIII. g|^

WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA .133

CHAPTER XIY.

A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA . . . .152

CHAPTER XV.
WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY AT TARIFA . . .167

CHAPTER XVI.
FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA 177

CHAPTER XVEL
IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA 189

CONTENTS. xvii

CHAPfS:R XYIII.

PAGE

WE RETURN TO TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON . . 201

CHAPTER XIX.
WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN 213

CHAPTER XX.
IN THE BATTLE OF ARROYO MOLINOS .... 224

CHAPTER XXL
I AM MADE BEAR-LEADER 233

CHAPTER XXII.

I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLER .... 244

CHAPTER XXIII.
I GET MY COMPANY AND PROCEED TO BADAJOZ . .255

CHAPTER XXIY.

AT BADAJOZ 266

CHAPTER XXV.

AFTER SOME ADVENTURES BY SEA AND LAND I JOIN MY

NEW REGIMENT IN THE PYRENEES . . . .281

CHAPTER XXVI.

FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES 296

xviii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVII.

PAGE

IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE 308

CHAPTER XXYIII.

I RETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND, AND TRAVEL IN A

COACH OF THAT COUNTRY 322

CHAPTER XXIX.

AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS 333

CHAPTER XXX.
AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE d'ARENBERG .... 345

CHAPTER XXXI.

I MAKE MY BOW ....

INDEX

. 359
. 371

ROBERT BLAKENEY.

CHAPTER I.

I JOIN THE ARMY AND MAKE ACQUAINTANCE WITH THB
PERILS OF THE SEA.

TN the Gazette of July 1804 it appeared tliat Robert
-^ Blakeney, gentleman, was appointed to an ensigncy in
the 28th Regiment of infantry. Relying on the delusive
promise that zeal would meet certain reward, I immediately
joined my regiment near Cork, where they lay encamped,
forming part of a corps under command of Sir Eyre Coote.
On the second day after my joining, the whole of the troops
marched to Kinsale, and having taken up a position on
some high ground looking down on the bay, the men
commenced firing ball with as much anxiety as if the
whole French flotilla, filled with ruthless invaders and
headed by Napoleon in person, were attempting a landing
underneath. Some seagulls were seen to fall, and it was
confidently reported that many others were wounded.
As soon as the fight was over, the men sat down to dine
with all those proud feelings which soldiers are wont to
entertain after a victory. Never shall I forget the thrilling
emotion which agitated my whole frame at seeing the

1

^'

2 I JOIN THE ARMY. [Ch.

blood fall from the hand of one of the soldiers, wounded
through the clumsy manner in which he fixed his flint.
1 eyed each precious drop that fell with glowing sensations
such as would blaze in the breast of a Napoleon on
beholding an old dynasty diadem, or inflame the heart
of a Scot in contemplating a new place in the Treasury.

I now became on the effective strength of the 1st
Battalion, which I joined the next year. Both battalions
of the regiment were removed to Parsonstown, and thence
proceeded to the Curragh of Kildare, where twenty
thousand men were encamped under the command of Lord
Cathcart. Second lieutenants were now given to all first
battalion companies, so that immediately on our arrival
here the three senior ensigns of the regiment, Robert
Johnson, Robert Blakeney and Charles Cadell, were
promoted ; and thus I again joined the 2nd Battalion in
camp. On the breaking up of this encampment, the two
battalions of the regiment were separated. The 1st
proceeded to Mallow and thence to Monkstown, where they
shortly after embarked for Germany in the expedition
commanded by the above-mentioned nobleman. The 2nd
Battalion, to which I now again belonged, were ordered to
do garrison duty in Dublin.

In the December of this year, being ordered to proceed
to Exeter on the recruiting service, I embarked on board
the mercantile brig Britannia, Captain Burrows, bound
from Dublin to Bristol ; and a more ignorant drunken
lubber never commanded a vessel. The wind, which might
be considered a fresh breeze at leaving the port, blew
hard as we entered the Bristol Channel, when our ignorant
master nearly ran us foul of Lundy Island, which more
through good luck than able seamanship we fortunately
weathered. As we proceeded the gale became tremendous ;

I.] - A USEFUL CAPTAIN 3

the billows rolled in majestic, yet horrific, grandeur over our
heads, sweeping everything off deck ; and then the master,
far from encouraging the crew and by good example
inspiring them with a due sense of the duty which they had
to perform, added to their terror and dispirited all by
his degrading and worse than useless lamentation, calling
aloud on his wife and children, then in Bristol. An attempt
was made to run the vessel into the small port of Ilfra-
combe, but this failed through the ignorance and terror
of the master. Still impetuously driven forward, we
approached the small village of Combemartin, when a loud
crash was heard, caused, if I recollect right, by striking
against a sandbank ; and then the captain, in his usual
consolatory language, cried out that all was lost and every
soul on board must perish. A gentleman passenger now
came down to the cabin, and, vainly endeavouring to
restrain his unwilling yet manly tears, embraced his wife
and two young children, who lay helpless in one of the
berths. The innocent little babes clung round his neck,
beseeching him to take their mamma and them on shore.
He endeavoured to soothe their grief ; but that which he
considered it to be his painful duty to impart was most
heartrending. He recommended them and his wife to
remain tranquil in their berths, saying that it was totally
useless to attempt going on deck, for all hope was lost, and
that they should turn all their thoughts to Heaven alone.
The scene was excessively affecting, and acted, I confess,
more powerfully on my feelings than all the dangers with
which we were surrounded ; for although I had lain the
whole time in my berth so overpowered with sea-sickness
as to be incapable of any exertion, I now started up and
hurried on deck just as the brutal drunken skipper was
knocked down by a blow from the tiller whilst trying to

4 I JOIN THE ARMY. [Ch.

direct it. Urged by the impulse of the moment, I seized
the abandoned tiller, and moved it in the direction which I
saw the late occupant attempt. At this critical moment
we descried a person on horseback making signals. This
gentleman, having witnessed our failm'e to enter Ilfra-
combe, and foreseeing our inevitable destruction should we
be driven past Combemartin, rode at full speed along the
shore, waving his hat sometimes in one direction, sometimes
in another. Assisted by one of the passengers — I think a
Mr. Bunbury (all the sailors were now drunk) — I moved the
tiller in conformity with the signals made by the gentleman
on shore, and in a short time we succeeded in guiding the
vessel through a very intricate and narrow passage between
rocks and banks, and finally ran her aground on a shoal of
sand. The storm still continuing to blow furiously, the
vessel beat violently from side to side against the sand-
banks ; but some men having contrived to come off from
the village, to which we were now close, and fastening ropes
to the mast, bound her fast down on one side, when the whole
crew got safe to land. We subsequently learned that eight
vessels were that morning wrecked in the Bristol Channel.

It must be allowed that much credit was due to the
fishermen of Combemartin for the alacrity they showed in
giving us their assistance ; but it must also be confessed
that while we remained for a few hours in the village they
appeared to be the rudest and most uncouth people I ever
met with in Great Britain. Every man in the village
claimed to be the first who came to assist us, and as such
demanded a suitable reward. Much of our luggage dis-
appeared in being removed from the vessel to the shore,
and was heard of no more. The greater part of my own goods,
through my own ignorance of voyaging and the carelessness
and inattention of the master being left exposed on deck,

IJ A LESSON IN CHIVALRY. 5

was washed away daring the storm ; but what money I
possessed was luckily hoarded up in my trousers pocket ;
and in truth my trousers were the only part of my dress 1
had on during the whole time I was on deck assuming the
functions of pilot and captain, the skipper being in a state
of torpidity from fright and drunkenness. As soon as we
could procure means of transport, which took some hours,
we proceeded to Ilfracombe ; for Combemartin was incapable
of affording accommodation for so large a party.

Credit was given to me for having saved the crew, but
1 took none to myself. It was the first time I had ever
been on board of any vessel larger than an open fishing-boat,
and I was consequently as ignorant of steering a ship as
of training an elephant. Any part I took, therefore, was
perfectly mechanical, and the inventive and true merit was
solely due to the gentleman on shore, by whose directions
I was guided. Being subservient to the will of another,
I could have as little claim to credit for judgment or
plan, principle or reflection, as could a wine-wagged billy-
punch or a tail-voter in the House.

Next morning I proceeded to Exeter, but previous to my
departure my attention was called to two Dublin ladies,
fellow passengers, who, being bound direct for Bristol, were
not prepared to meet the expenses of a land journey thither.
They appeared much distressed in mind, and declared they
would rather die than leave any part of their luggage in
pledge. I lent them a few guineas out of my own small
stock, upon which they took my address, promising to remit
the money as soon as they arrived at Bristol ; but, gaining
experience as I advanced, I found that I should have taken
their address, for I never after heard of or from them.

After having remained some months in Devonshire on the
recruiting service, I was ordered to join the let Battalion

6 I JOIN THE ARMY [Ch. I.

of the regiment, tlien quartered at Colchester, after
their return from the fruitless expedition into Germany.
We did not long remain here. On July 24th of the next
year the regiment marched from Colchester to Harwich,
and there embarked to join a second expedition, commanded
by Lord Cathcart. So profoundly was our destination
kept secret, and so ignorant were we all of the object
in view, that we could not even conjecture whither we
were going, until on August 8th we arrived in the Sound,
and anchored late that night close under Elsinore Castle,
during the loudest storm of thunder, accompanied by the
most brilliant lightning, I ever witnessed. At intervals
the immense fleet, consisting of men-of-war, transports
and merchantmen, the islands of Zealand, the extent of
the Sound, together with the opposite Swedish coast, as
if suddenly emerged from darkest chaos, instantly became
more visible than if lighted by the noonday sun in all
his splendour. These astonishing elemental crashes and
dazzling shows were as suddenly succeeded by deathlike
silence and darkness so impenetrable that not an individual
could be distinguished even by those who stood nearest on
deck. Yet, although the ground of the night was perfectly
dark, still, guided by the vivid flashes with which it was
relieved, every vessel of this apparently unwieldy fleet fell
into her proper berth, and, duly measuring the appropriate
length of cable, swung securely to her anchor ; and, strange
to say, not a single casualty took place through the whole.
The scene altogether was excessively grand, and truly
presented what in hackneyed poetic phrase is termed
sublime. The jarring elements seemed to portend evil to
the descendants of Odin, nor were there wanting some
with evil eye who foreboded something rotten in the
state of Denmark.

CHAPTER II.

I SERVE IN A DANISH CAMPAIGN WITH SMALL GLORY.

TpOR some days the most friendly intercourse was
-*- maintained between the inhabitants and the British
officers. Parties from the fleet landed daily, were hos-
pitably received, and both liberally and cheerfully provided
with all such articles as could contribute to their comfort ;
no suspicion of our hostile intentions was even conjectured
by the deluded Danes. At length, the true object of our
designs being suspected, a Danish frigate which lay near
us slipped her cable on the night of the 13th and con-
trived to get away in the dark ; but on her escape being
discovered at daybreak, the Comus sloop of war was sent
in pursuit. Since it was a dead calm, she was towed out
by the boats of the fleet.

The scene is still fresh in my memory, and I fancy that
I see the long line of boats manfully urged forward, our
brave jolly tars, after every two or three strokes of the
oars, crying out, " Hurrah ! hurrah ! for the Danish black
frigate ! " At length the Comus came up with her in the
Cattegat on her way to Norway, and after a short conflict
brought her back a prize into her own port, and this
hostile act put an end to all further intercourse on friendly
terms. Some English boats which approached the shore
next morning were fired at, and none were thenceforward
allowed to land.

8 I SERVE IN A DANISH CAMPAIGN. [Ch.

On the 15tli we dropped down to Humlebek, a village
about seven miles distant from Copenhagen ; and on the
following day, covered by seventeen ships of the line, a
proportionate number of frigates, gunboats, etc., commanded
by Admiral Gambier, the military commanded by Lord
Cathcart landed with fire and sword upon ground suddenly
considered hostile. No previous intimation of intended
hostility was given, as is customary amongst all civilised
nations, when real injuries have been suffered, or imaginary
ones held forth as a pretext for political aggression.

At this village (Humlebek) it was that a hundred and
seven years previous to this our attack the Alexander
of the north landed from the Kiiig Charles, the largest
ship then known to the waves and carrying one hundred
and twenty guns. Here it was that this extraordinary
man heard for the first time the whistling of bullets.
Ignorant of the cause, he asked General Stuart by whom
he was accompanied ; and the general with characteristic
frankness answered, " It is the whistling of bullets fired
at your Majesty." " Good," replied the warlike j^oung
monarch ; " henceforth it shall be my music,"

But how different were the motives which urged the
hostile descent in 1700 from those which inspired our
attack in 1807 — as different as was the beardless Charles,
not yet eighteen, in the bloom of youth, with the fiery
martial genius which soon made him the terror of Europe,
and burning with anger at national aggression and personal
insult, from our leader, who was already descending into
the vale of years, and who could have felt no greater
stimulus than military discipline in strictly obeying orders
which he probably disapproved ! Military excitement there
was none. On our landing, no whistling bullets greeted
the veteran's ear, nor inspired the young soldier to deeds

II.] A SECOND LESSON IN CHIVALRY. 9

of deathless glory. Laurels there were none to reap, for
the defence of the capital depended principally on un-
disciplined militia and young students at college. To
add still further to the contrast, the Swedes landed as
open and declared foes, whereas we, coming with no less
hostile intent, professed ourselves bosom friends.

On the night of our landing (August 16th) we advanced
through a lofty forest. During our march an alarm was
given that the foe were approaching. Orders were instantly
issued to load with ball and fix bayonets, when many a
sleek-chinned boy lost or gained the flush on his cheek.
I now forget in which class I ranked, as, with many others
present, it was the first time I expected to come in contact
with a national foe, for such the Danes were some few
hours before declared. The alarm proved false, and we
felt grievously disappointed or happily consoled, according
to the feelings of the individual.

Next morning we continued our march towards the
capital ; but ere we reached the immediate vicinity of
Copenhagen our march was interrupted by an occurrence
not ordinary in warfare. A dense column of dust proclaimed
the advance of some large body, which we naturally con-
sidered to be hostile. Horsemen were soon discovered, when
we immediately formed in battle array ; but we soon learned
that the approaching foe were no other than a civic caval-
cade, who escorted the Royal Princesses of Denmark to
a place of safety, having been by special permission
allowed to retire from the scene of premeditated slaughter.
The royal carriages slowly advanced, accompanied by
many of the principal nobility of Denmark, and attended
by a small escort of dragoons. The unfortunate Princesses
wept bitterly, as did many of the nobles who were with
them. In witnessing their grief it was impossible to

lo I SERVE IN A DANISH CAMPAIGN. [Ch.

remain- unmoved. The whole appeared a sorrowful funeral
procession, although all were living bodies. As the royal
mourners passed between our hostile ranks, arms were
presented, colours dropped and bands played the National
Anthem, " God save the King," thus adding to the poig-
nancy of their woe by vain pageant and heartless courtesy.
This distressing ceremony being ended, we pushed forward,
and, having arrived before the destined town, each corps
took up their proper position.

Our station was near the village of Frederiksborg, in a
wheatfield whose golden ears o'ertopped the tallest grena-
dier ; the stems we trampled down for bedding, giving the
grain to our sumpter animals.

This being the first time I ever adventured from the
shores of Great Britain, everything was new to me and con-
sequently enjoyed. I saw the first Gongreve rockets ever
fired against an enemy. They seemed reluctant to add to
the conflagration, many of them in the midst of their orbit
turning back to whence they were sped. I witnessed the
fall of the lofty and majestic steeple, bearing the three
crowns, awfully tumbling down among the blazing ruins.
The loud and tremendous crash, heard for miles around,
was terrific ; and it must have been a heartrending spectacle
to the proud and patriotic Danes, who witnessed the de-
struction of such a noble monument of national grandeur.
Immediately after the deafening crash, still growling in the
distance, suddenly there arose an immense body of fire,
which, detaching itself from the ruins, illumined the whole
island, blazing in spiral form towards the heavens, as if to
demand retribution. I saw well the splendour of the scene,
being that night an outlying piquet with Captain (now
Sir Frederick) Stovin. In the meantime the inhabitants
were most liberally served with shells, shot and rockets.

II.] ABANDONED PONTOONS. ir

While the siege was thus actively carried forward, a
report was made that some Danish troops, so called, had
occupied in hostile array an eminence in our immediate
vicinity. A detachment were immediately sent against
them, of which one wing of the 28th Regiment formed a
part, and in this wing I was a feather. On our arrival
at the base of this eminence we did actually discover a
confused multitude congregated on the summit ; but upon
our preparing to charge they instantly took flight.

The affair, although of no consequence, was not un-
attended with trophies. On the ground occupied by
the discomfited Danes were found many old rusty sword-
blades, and very many pairs of wooden shoes, with which
the Danish troops were loosely shod, for, becoming nervous
at the threatened charge, they freed themselves from those
encumbrances and fled in light marching order, determined,
if closely pursued, rather to attempt swimming across the
Belt than carry further their cumbrous pontoons. The
proud victors returned to the trenches.

For what took place in the interior of the island, since I
was not there, I will refer the curious to the despatches
written home on the occasion, wherein these skirmishes or
manoeuvres, if I recollect right, are in glowing language
fally detailed. All our batteries — constructed generally in
the most beautiful and highly cultivated gardens, belonging
to the nobility and wealthy citizens of Copenhagen — opened
their fire on September 1st, which with but little inter-
mission continued until the 6th. On the 7th, when
about to be stormed, the capital surrendered, after having
four hundred houses, several churches, and many other
splendid buildings destroyed, and eleven hundred inhabitants
of all ages and sexes killed.

As soon as the first paroxysms of furious excitement, wild

12 I SERVE IN A DANISH CAMPAIGN. [CH.

despair and just indignation of the unfortunate inhabitants
had somewhat abated, a certain number of officers from each
regiment, with written passports, were permitted to visit
the still smoking city. The spectacle was lamentable and
well calculated to rouse every feeling of sympathy. Many
houses were still smouldering, and in part crumbled to the
ground ; mothers were bewailing the melancholy fate of
their slaughtered children, and there was not one but
deplored the loss of some fondly beloved relative or dearly
valued friend. Yet they received us with dignified, though
cool courtesy, in part suppressing that horror and antipathy
which they must have felt at our presence, though some
indeed exclaimed that their sufferings were the more
aggravated as being inflicted contrary to the laws of all
civilised nations. The unfortunate sufferers seemed not to
reflect that war was will, not law.

In less than six weeks after the fall of Copenhagen
(which time was occupied in rendering the Danish ships
seaworthy, and spoiling its well-stored arsenal to the last
nail and minutest rope-yarn) we departed, carrying away
with us, as prizes, eighteen sail of the line, fifteen frigates,
five brigs, and twenty gunboats.

It would be useless to enter into further detail on
this painful subject. The partial conflagration of the
Danish capital, and the rape of her fleet by her friends
the British, are already too well known throughout
Europe, as well as the reasons adduced in vindication,
namely " precaution " — surely a most unjustiflable policy.
The great Aristides, characteristically called the "just,"
would have spurned the proposal of such ignoble policy,
as may be seen by his celebrated reply to the treacherous
proposition of Themistocles to burn the fleet of their
allies. Aristides, being deputed by the assembly to

II.] ETHICS FOR STATESMEN. 13

ascertain tlie proposition of Themistocles, who would
deliver it only in secret, on his return declared that
nothing could tend more to the advantage of Athens
than the proposition of Themistocles, nor could anything
be more unjust. The high-spirited people of Athens,
indignant that a proposition of such nature should be
mooted, rejected it with contempt, not deigning even to
listen to its import.

The descent on Copenhagen was a flagrant outrage of
that divine precept which inculcates that " that which is
morally wrong can never be politically right."

CHAPTER III.

WE LAND IN THE PENINSULA.

"TpVERYTHING being now in readiness which we could
~^ carry away, we departed from the shores of Denmark
in the latter end of October, and after a most boisterous
passage, in which all the gunboats perished at sea, we
arrived in England towards the latter end of November.
The 28th Regiment landed at Portsmouth, and a few days
later marched for Colchester. Here we occupied our old
barracks, in little more than four months from the period
of our departure thence for foreign service, but within
that short time how wonderfully did we add to the
notoriety of Great Britain ! It was facetiously said that
the British expeditions sent forth at this time were like
the drunken Irishman at Donnybrook Fair, intent on fight
but devoid of plan, who meets his friend and knocks
him down for love.

A few months after my return (it being confidently
supposed that the regiment would now remain for some time
at home), I procured leave of absence to visit my friends
in Ireland ; but shortly after my departure the regiment
received orders, in April, to embark at Harwich, and
join the expedition under Sir John Moore. I was imme-
diately recalled ; but on my arrival in London I found
that the army had sailed already for Sweden. I procured
a passage to follow the expedition on board the Fur^ Bomb,

14

Ch. III.] SEA-SICK BY REGULATION. 15

Here I cannot say that I felt comfortable. It was the
first time I had the honour of sailing in a man-of-war.
There were many ceremonies to be observed of which I
was ignorant, and the close observance of these was
attended with some annoyance to a novice. As usual I
suffered severely from sea-sickness, which at times induced
me to sit on a gun or relieve my aching head against the
capstan ; and this I was given to understand was a Royal
Naval innovation which could not be tolerated. Although
Captain Gibson, who commanded, was very polite and
frequently entertained me with anecdotes of himself and
of a namesake and relative of mine, whom he stated
to be his most intimate friend and brother officer, still
the only place I could procure to sleep on was a trunk
immediately under the purser's hammock. Even this
luxury I was denied in daytime, for everything being
cleared away at an early hour, I was compelled to quit my
roost at cock-crow in the morning. It not unfrequently
happened, too, that, running up on deck, urged by a sick
stomach, I forgot the ceremony of saluting the quarter-
deck, and the omission was always followed by reproof.
Although a strict observance of these regulations was
rather teasing to me in my irritated state of mind and
body, yet I feel perfectly aware of its expediency on
board a man-of-war.

Having at length anchored in Gottenborg harbour, I
descended from the noble punctilious man-of-war, and was
lowered into the humble transport, where I found ad
libitum sea-sickness a luxury compared to the restraint
which I had lately undergone.

I now doubly enjoyed the society of my old comrades.
By these I was informed that on the arrival of the
expedition at Gottenborg, which took place a few days

i6 WE LAND IN THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

previously, the troops were refused permission to land.
About this period, although the British troops were sent
to all parts as friends, yet unfortunately they were every-
where viewed with distrust, and a strict watch kept on
all their movements. The prohibition to land his troops
being totally contrary to the expectations of Sir John
Moore, he immediately proceeded to Stockholm to demand
explanation of this extraordinary conduct on the part of
Sweden and also to seek instructions, having, as it would
appear, received none at home.

In an interview with his Swedish Majesty the British
general declined to accept some extraordinary propositions
matured in the quixotic brain of that inconsistent monarch.
The first was, that Sir John Moore, with his ten thousand
British troops, should conquer the kingdom of Denmark ;
the second, that a similar attempt should be made with
like means on the Kussian empire. Finally, as Sir John
Moore peremptorily refused to shut up the British army
in the fortress of Stralsund (then about to be invested by
an overwhelming French army), he was placed under arrest
by the king.

In the meantime we were actively employed in practising
landings from the flat-bottomed boats, as if in the face of
an enemy, and scampering over the rocks to keep the men
in exercise. This salubrious mode of warfare continued
without intermission until Sir John Moore contrived to
have secret information conveyed to the army, when we
immediately dropped down out of reach of the Swedish
batteries ; and shortly afterwards, having eluded the vigil-
ance of Gustavus, to the great joy of all, on June 29th
our gallant chief arrived safe on board the fleet.

Setting sail for England on July 2nd, we arrived oflp
Yarmouth about the middle of the month. Here taking

III.] TO PORTUGAL. 17

ia water and fresh provisions, we continued our course for
Spithead ; and thence we took our second departure from
England, this time for Portugal, the more delighted since
we left our tails behind us. To the great joy of the whole
army an order arrived from the Horse Guards, while we
lay at Spithead, to cut off the men's queues. These, from
their shape, and being generally soaped for effect, were
called pigtails ; thenceforth the custom of plastering the
men's heads with soap was abolished in the British Army.

Sailing from St. Helen's on July 31st, 1808, August
19th brought us close off the coast of Portugal. Next
morning we commenced landing at Figueira, close to
the mouth of the Mondego. A large part of the army
were already on shore, and some of the troops had com-
menced moving forward when Sir John Moore received
a despatch informing him that Sir Arthur Welles ley
had fought and defeated the enemy at Rolica, and' hourly
expected a second engagement. The disembarkation was
instantly countermanded ; the troops on march were
recalled, and put on board as quickly as the high surf
and rapidity of the current would permit. Everything
again in sailing order, and every heart elate, we continued
our course southward, now steering direct for the theatre
of actual war ; and the true martial spirit glowed in the
breast of every true soldier.

Imagine, then, what must have been our feelings on
the following morning (August 21st) when in almost a
dead calm we moved slowly along, apparently rendered
more slow by our plainly hearing the heavy booming of
cannon, at that moment pouring forth their fury from
the heights of Vimieiro. But they alone who have been
in battle and cordially mingled in fight, can sympathise
with the feelings which thrill through every nerve and

i8 WE LAND IN THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

agitate the frame of those who, all but in reach of the
field, yet are withheld from participating in its glory.
Intense excitement painfully marked the veteran's con-
tracted brow, while fiery impatience flashed in the eyes
of the young soldiers.

Creeping along the scarcely ruffled surface of the waters
like wounded snakes or Alexandrine verse, we, seemingly
in so many years, arrived in three days in the unquiet
bay or roadstead of Peniche. Here, although the distant
sea continued calm, still the surf so dashed against the
shore that we found much difficulty in landing. When
this at last was done, we immediately proceeded to unite
with Sir Arthur Wellesley's troops, whom we found
still upon the ground, so late the theatre of their gallant
exploits. This, our first march, although but of three
leagues, was severely felt, since with the exception of a
scramble over the rocks in the vicinity of Gottenborg
harbour, we had been for upward of four months cooped
up in miserable little transports. The men had scarcely
the use of their limbs ; and being so long unaccustomed
to carry their packs, to which were now added three
days' provisions and sixty rounds of ball-cartridge, in
this 'their first march, with the thermometer between
ninety and a hundred, many were left behind and slowly
followed after. The 4th or King's Own Regiment, with
whom we were then brigaded, from its seniority of
number, marched in front. Although at the time perhaps
the finest looking body of men in the Army, the select
of three battalions, yet, being generally rather advanced
in age as soldiers and heavy-bodied, they were on this
day continually falling out of the ranks and flanking the
road. This afforded an opportunity to one of our light
hardy Irishmen (a class of which the 28th Regiment was

III.] HEAVY MARCHING ORDER. 19

then chiefly composed) to remark : " Faith I this is a very
deceiving march ; the royal milestones are so close to
each other."

Nor did the officers suffer less than the men. Being
mostly very young, and with the exception of those who
were at Copenhagen, where little or no marching took
place, never having seen a shot fired, they were totally
ignorant of the nature of a campaign. Means of transport
being always very difficult to procure in Portugal and
Spain, we all overloaded ourselves, carrying a boat-cloak, in
itself heavy, in which was rolled a partial change of dress.
Our haversacks contained, as did the men's, three days'
provisions, to which was added an extra pair of boots or
shoes ; and every gentleman carried a stout charge of rum
on service, when so fortunate as to be able to procure it.
Each young warrior too hampered himself with a case
of pistols and a liberal quantity of ball-cartridge, and
generally a heavy spyglass. Thus heavily equipped, many
of us commenced our first day's march in the Peninsula,
in the month of August, with thermometer at ninety-five.
However, before we proceeded much further in the cam-
paign, a light cart was allowed to each regiment for the
convenience of the officers, which by diminishing our loads
wonderfully increased our comfort.

We now fully expected to move rapidly forward against
the foe ; but slow and solemn marches were substituted.
Nor could we account for this extraordinary inaction,
although rumour was abroad that this our first campaign
in Portugal was in honourable progress through the medium
of foolscap and sheepskin. Still we plodded forward, until
we arrived at the plains of Queluz, about ^ye miles distant
from Lisbon, where we halted, and where our late sluggish
movements were accounted for, when we heard of the

lo WE LAND IN THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

celebrated Convention of Cintra. By this the Muscovite
fleet, which by all the laws of war we considered securely
our own, were allowed triumphantly to depart from out the
Tagus with their national colours flying ; and Junot also
with his troops and all their plunder, sacrilegiously carried
off from holy temples or wrung from the helpless orphan
or widow, — and this ill-gotten freight was conveyed in
British ships to the shores of our most inveterate foes.

The three Commanders-in-chief, with whom the more than
anxious care of the ministry contemporaneously furnished
the small army in Portugal, were recalled to England to
account for their conduct, or misconduct — one for having
offended some part of the ministry by gaining a splendid
victory, another for having offended his country by blasting
the fruits of that victory, and the third for having done
nothing but ratify a degrading convention, odious to all.
It is scarcely necessary here to state that these high
personages were (beginning with the junior) Sir Arthur
Wellesley, Sir Harry Burrard, and Sir Hugh Dalrymple.
A fourth commanding general was now appointed in the
person of Sir John Moore, destined to lead the greater part
of the British forces in Portugal against the emney.
Immediately upon this appointment the greatest activity
prevailed throughout every branch of the service. The
new Commander of the forces, although anxiously employed
in forming magazines and depdts and organising the whole
material of the army, yet appeared to be continually riding
through our ranks or inspecting the different regiments.
I recollect that the 28th Regiment were inspected the day
following the one originally appointed, in consequence of
the general not being able to attend. We stood one thou-
sand and ninety-nine bayonets, officers and sergeants not
included. Had we been inspected the previous day, we

III.] SPEECH OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 21

should have stood exactly eleven hundred bayonets, but
one man was sent to hospital the night previous. After
the inspection was over, Sir John Moore called the captains
and officers commanding companies together, whom he thus
addressed : " Gentlemen, what I have to say to you is
pleasant. I have never seen a body of men in finer order
than your regiment ; they appear more like the picture of
a battalion than actual men bearing arms." Then address-
ing Captain (now Colonel Sir Frederick) Stovin, he
said : " The fame of your Grenadier company has gone
through the army ; but, much as I expected from report,
I am more pleased at its appearance than I could have
anticipated."

CHAPTER lY.

WITH THE ADVANCE OF SIR JOHN MOORE.

A LL arrangements being now in a state of forwardness,
-^--^ the army broke up the camp of Queluz about tbe
middle of October and, following different routes and moving
by regiments in succession, marched for Spain ; and an
army in better heart, finer condition, or more gallantly
commanded were never produced by any nation upon earth.
We, the 28th Eegiment, marched on the 14th. I recollect
the date well, being on that day appointed to the light
company.

To attempt to give a daily account of our march to
Salamanca is beyond the scope of my memory ; and even
though I should be capable of so doing, it would be attended
with little more interest than mentioning the names of the
different towns and villages through which we passed or
describing the houses in which we were lodged at night.
We marched with the headquarters. On the route through
Guarda one battery of artillery accompanied us, whom
Captain Wilmot commanded. They consisted of six light
six-pounders ; and even these we had the greatest difficulty
in getting through the pass of Villavelha. The first gun
conveyed across had two drag-ropes attached, and to resist
its rapidity while being trailed downhill these ropes were
held by as many soldiers as the short and frequent turning
of this zigzag descent would permit ; yet their resistance

Ch. IV.] CAPTAIN WILMOT'S GUNS. 23

was scarcely sufficient to preserve the guns from rolling
over the precipice. This in a great measure arose from
Captain Wilmot having opposed locking any of the wheels,
alleging that by so doing the carriages would suffer materi-
ally, and consequently become unserviceable much sooner.

Trailing the guns down in this manner was excessively
laborious to the soldiers, and not unattended with danger.
Several men who could not get clear of the ropes on
suddenly coming to the sharp turns were absolutely dragged
through the walls which flanked the road. The resistance
necessary to check the velocity of even these light guns
must have been very great, for I can attest that there was
not one soldier of the 28th Light Company who had heels
to his shoes after the drag. They were a good deal shaken
and much dissatisfied, considering it a great hardship to
have a pair of shoes destroyed in one day without being
allowed any remuneration.

Captain Wilmot, having witnessed the danger in which
the first gun frequently was of being precipitated over the
flanking wall and consequently lost, as well as the great
risk to which the men were exposed, and being still
unwilling to lock the wheels, determined to try the bed
of the Tagus. In pursuance of this project he had the
horses of two or three guns harnessed to one gun at a
time, and in this manner passed the remainder of the guns
in succession across the stream, cheered by the whole of
the men during the entire operation, which lasted a con-
siderable time, and was of course attended with much
fatigue and exertion. The guns during their passage were
accompanied by a part of the soldiers to give what assist-
ance lay in their power, in case of meeting obstacles in the
bed of the river. The horses were immersed above their
bellies and the men up to their middles ; yet Captain

24 WITH THE ADVANCE OF SH^ JOHN MOORE. [Ch.

Wilmot never quitted the stream, crossing and re-crossing
until all tlie guns were safely landed. The principal
difficulty arose in drawing them up the opposite bank, but
this being an affair of mere physical force all obstacles
were soon overcome. After this, our first check, we moved
on cheerily, as is usual with soldiers, who never dwell upon
hardships a moment longer than their continuance.

Our next great annoyance, and I may add suffering, was
caused by the inclemency of the weather. On the day upon
which we marched into Guarda the 5th Regiment lost five
men and the 28th Regiment two men, who actually perished
on the road in consequence of heavy rain which incessantly
fell during the whole day. A person who has never been
out of England can scarcely imagine its violence. Let
him fancy himself placed under a shower-bath with the
perforations unusually large, the water not propelled
divergingly with a light sprinkling, but large globular
drops pouring down vertically and descending in such rapid
succession as to give the appearance rather of a torrent
than a shower ; he may then form an idea of the rainy
season which drenches Portugal during the autumnal
months. Exposed to such rain, we marched many miles to
gain the top of the hill upon which stands Guarda. Having
at length performed this harassing march, the regiments
(I think three in number) were lodged in large convents
situated in the immediate suburbs, which had been prepared
for our reception. Immense fires were soon lit, and the men
commenced first wringing and then drying their clothing.
Rations were delivered as soon as possible, and the glad
tidings of a double allowance of rum loudly rang through-
out the holy aisles.

The soldiers now began to forget what they had suffered
during the day. The business of cooking went on cheer-

I

1

IV.] WORDS OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 25

fully, but from the blazing fires which illumined the
convent much precaution was necessary to preserve the
building from being burned. The men being made as
comfortable as circumstances would permit, and there
being no accommodation for the officers in the convent,
they were as usual billeted upon private houses in the
town, each regiment leaving an officer in the convent to
preserve good order, for after hardship, as after victory,
soldiers are prone to commit excesses.

In walking through the town next day but one (we
halted there two days), I met the Commander of the forces,
accompanied by two of his staff and one orderly dragoon.
He rode to and fro in the street several times, evidently
in search of something. As I stood still, as if to ask
if I could be of any use, Sir John Moore rode up and
asked me if the men's clothes and appointments were
yet dry. I replied that they were not perfectly so, but
would be in the course of the day. He expressed his
satisfaction, adding : " You must march to-morrow at
all events. I shall not ask about your arms or ammunition ;
the 28th know their value too well to neglect them." He
then said that his horse had just lost a shoe, for which he
was in search. I also searched for a moment, but to no
purpose. The general then remarking that no doubt he
should find some place along the road to have his horse
shod, rode away. I mention this trifling circumstance,
otherwise uninteresting, because it illustrates Sir John
Moore's constant habit of speaking to every officer of his
army whom he met, whatever his rank, asking such
questions as tended to elicit useful information, and in the
most good-humoured and courteous manner making such
remarks as indirectly called forth the most strenuous
endeavours of all to a full discharge of their duties. But

26 WITH THE ADVANCE OF SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch.

when lie considered a more direct interference requisite,
lie was prompt in showing it without partiality and regard-
less of persons. An instance of this took place a few days
previous to our breaking up the camp at Queluz. On
meeting an old officer, with whom he was long acquainted
and who was his countryman, he asked him familiarly how
he did. The officer answered, in the manner which men
in good health usually do, that he was perfectly well, and
he added : " I am totally at your Excellency's service. I
have nothing to do." He hinted perhaps that a staff
employment would not be unacceptable nor injurious to the
service. Sir John Moore politely bowed. Next day com-
manding officers were called upon to use every exertion
necessary to bring their regiments fully equipped into
the field with as little delay as possible, and to see that
every officer under their respective commands was employed
with equal diligence as themselves, which he feared was
not the case, for no later than the day before a major of
a regiment told him that he had nothing to do. He there-
fore held commanding officers responsible that the particu-
lar duties of every officer should be clearly and distinctly
pointed out ; and he added that this would forward the
service and prevent discontent from want of employment.
I was acquainted with the individual alluded to, a gallant
officer who has since met the fate of a soldier in the field
of glory.

After two days' halt at Guarda we continued our march
without any other interruption than the falling waters, and
having traversed Portugal, we on November 10th marched
into Fuentes de Onoro. This was the first Spanish town
we entered, and here we halted for the night.

Villa Formosa, distant about two miles from Fuentes
de Onoro, is the nearest frontier town to Spain on that

IV.] SPANIARDS AND PORTUGUESE. 27

road. The two nations are here divided by a rivulet so
inconsiderable that upon its being pointed out, many of
us stood over it with one foot in Portugal and the other in
Spain. But even if this national boundary had not been
pointed out, we should have immediately discovered upon
entering the town that we were no longer in Portugal.
The difference was very striking and perceptible even in
the first Spanish glance which we encountered. During
our march through Portugal we mixed with people who in
a manner looked up to us and showed rather a grovelling
deference. We now encountered a nation whose inhabitants
never regarded others as in any way superior to themselves.
Their greatest condescension in meeting any other people
was to consider them as equals ; superiority they denied
to all. The Portuguese showed us the greatest hospitality
arid in the civilest manner ; yet their hospitality appeared
the result of some obligation or constraint, not unmixed
with gratitude. The Spaniards, though equally generous,
were proudly hospitable. There hospitality was sincere,
and not marked or rendered cold by ostentation ; it
appeared to be spontaneously offered, as mere matter of
course, unconnected with other sentiments, disdaining any
consideration beyond the act itself. The Portuguese, in
his conversation, studied more the smooth arrangement
of his specious words than the laudable sentiments by
which they should be dictated. He endeavoured by many
a ludicrous gesture and grotesque posture to add that
force to his subject which was wanting in matter ; and
whatever might be the result he always retired fawningly.
The Spaniard, invariably polite in his language and
dignified in attitude, solely depended on the soundness
of his argument, and talking looked you full in the face.
His words clearly expressed his thoughts, and he felt

28 WITH THE ADVANCE OF SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch.

hurt if obliged to repeat ; and lie concluded his discourse
with a graceful inclination of his person. The Portuguese
are not so fine or so handsome a race as the Spaniards,
and in figure they are far inferior. The females have
all black eyes (lampblack, if you please), but dim and
dusky when compared to the brilliant black eyes of the
Spanish fair.

We passed the night at Fuentes de Oiioro with mingled
feelings of annoyance and pleasure, annoyed at not being
able to join the inhabitants in conversation, which in some
degree we could do in Portugal. I felt quite in the back-
ground, for from what little of the Portuguese language
I was enabled to pick up during the march, I had acted
as a kind of regimental interpreter. Pleasure we experi-
enced at the wonderful contrast between the people whom
we had just quitted and our present hosts, entirely in
favour of the latter ; and although we did not understand
their language, yet it fell so melodiously on the ear that
I for one could never after sufier the Portuguese dialect.
I remembered how Charles V. said, or was reputed to
have said, that whenever he wished to address his God
he always did so in the Spanish language.

Next day we marched to Ciudad Rodrigo, or the city
of Don Roderick, the last of the Visigoth monarchs who
reigned in Spain. Here I was billeted at the house of
an hidalgo or nobleman, who treated me most hospitably,
and ordered my baggage-pony to be put into his private
stable. But the hatred which existed between the
Spaniards and Portuguese seemed to prevail even among
their animals, for my unfortunate horse was so kicked and
maltreated that, after endeavouring to carry my baggage
to S. Martin del Rio, where we halted for the night,
the poor animal dropped down dead. Besides the in-

IV.] ADVANCE TO SALAMANCA. 29.

convenience which his loss caused me, I regretted hi&
death very much. I purchased him at Queluz, near
Lisbon, and he always followed me through the camp,,
keeping up with my pace like a dog.

On our next day's march we again had some work with
the artillery. The bridge over the Huelva was too narrow
for the guns ; it was considered that too much time
would be occupied in marching over it ; therefore in
courtesy it was left for the baggage animals. As we had
become partly amphibious by our aquatic march through
Portugal, and being now drenched by the incessant fall
of rain, we forded the river, immersed up to our hips
and exposed at the same time to a heavy shower. This
operation performed, we pushed forward at a hasty pace
to the town not far distant from the bridge. Having here
piled our arms, we returned to the stream to aid the
artillery, and hauled the guns safely across, notwithstand-
ing the depth and rapidity of the current, now literally
a torrent. Under the circumstances this duty was ex-
cessively fatiguing and harassing ; but the indefatigable
zeal and anxiety which Captain Wilmot showed during
the whole of the march to bring his guns and horses
perfect into action, induced every individual willingly to
come forward and put his shoulder to the wheel.

The next day's march brought us to the celebrated city
of Salamanca. Our entrance into this city was attended
with great excitement. It was the goal for which we
started from Queluz camp, and whenever any unpleasant
circumstance occurred daring the march, Salamanca was
loudly vociferated by every lip to cheer us on. Here it
was that we expected to join the main body of our
cavalry and artillery, who, in consequence of the im-
practicability of moving them by any other road, were^

30 WITH THE ADVANCE OF SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch. IV.

with four regiments of infantry, the whole amounting to
about six thousand men, marched through Alemtejo and
Spanish Estremadura under the command of Sir John
Hope.

In this place we were in the immediate neighbourhood
of foes, with whom we so ardently desired to measure
swords. The ardour was equal on either side. The French,
flushed with recent victories obtained in Italy Germany
and Spain, felt anxious to display their vaunted prowess,
national flexibility in manoeuvre, and tactical experience
gained by all, enabling each individual to act independently
when deemed necessary. The British, on the other hand,
wdth full confidence in the result whenever they came
in contact with their old foes, were desirous to prove that
though partially broken they never would bend ; and,
proud of their ignorance of trifling detail and spurning
individual self-sufficiency, were always determined to flght
to the last on the ground where they stood. They
restrained even their natural tendency to rush forward
from a full confidence in the judgment of their general,
who would move them at the right moment.

At length Sir John Hope arrived at Alba de Tormes
^thin a few leagues of us, on December 5th.

CHAPTER y.

WE KETRBAT WITH SIR JOHN MOORE.

TTTE were now in active preparation for a march,
^^ but whether to be led back to Portugal or
forward to Valladolid not a soul in the army could tell.
All our movements depended on the information received
from the Spaniards, which to a tittle always proved to
be false ; and if we had been guided by it, although it
frequently passed through official English authorities, the
British forces in Spain must have been lost.

The army now underwent a partial remodelling. A corps
of reserve were formed, composed of select troops. They
consisted of the 20th, 28th, 52nd, 91st, and 95th (Rifles)
Regiments. The 20th and 52nd Regiments formed the 1st
Brigade, commanded by General Anstruther ; the 2nd
Brigade consisted of the 28th, 91st, and 95th Regiments,
commanded by General Disney ; the whole were under the
orders of General Paget.

All being prepared for a move, the British army com-
menced their advance from Salamanca on December 11th,
with intention of marching direct to Valladolid ; but on
the arrival at headquarters at Alaejos, on the 13th, an
intercepted despatch from the Prince of Neufchatel to the
Duke of Dalmatia was brought to the general. These
despatches were of such a nature as to induce our general
to deviate somewhat from the route intended. Leaving

31

32 WE RETREAT WITH SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch

Valladolid more to our right, our headquarters were
removed to Toro.

On the night of the 14th General Charles Stuart, with a
detachment of the 18th Dragoons, surprised a detachment
of the enemy, consisting of fifty infantry and thirty cavalry,
cutting down or taking prisoners almost all of them. One
dragoon who escaped carried the report of the destruction
of the detachment, and was scarcely credited by General
Franceschi, who commanded about four hundred cavalry
at Valladolid ; for previous to this surprise the French
were fortunately in total ignorance of our vicinity, reason-
ably concluding that by all the rules of war we were in
full retreat towards Portugal.

The reserve, in the meantime, arrived at Toro, where the
advanced guard of General Baird's corps, consisting of
the cavalry under the command of Lord Paget, joined Sir
John Moore's army.

It now being evident that after the surprise of their
outpost at Rueda the enemy could no longer be ignorant of
our advanced movements, Sir John Moore pushed on his
columns as fast as the severity of the weather would
permit. On the 16th the reserve were at Puebla, on the
17th at Villapando. On the 18th headquarters were at
Castro Nuevo. On the 19th the reserve continued their
march, and on the 20th reached Santarbas. On this day
the whole of the army were united, and so far concentrated
as shelter and deep snow would permit. The weather was
excessively severe, and the flat bleak country could furnish
but little fuel.

Lord Paget, being informed that General Debelle, with
from six to seven hundred dragoons, was in the town of
Sahagun, marched on the night of the 20th, with the 10th
and 15th Hussars, from the different small villages where

v.] COMBAT OF CAVALRY. 33

they were posted in front of the army at Mayorga. The
10th marched directly for the town, and the 15th led by
Lord Paget endeavoured to turn it by the right and thus
cut off the enemy's retreat ; but his advance was unfortun-
ately discovered by a patrol, and the French had time to
form on the outside of the town before the 15th could get
round. When therefore his lordship arrived at the rear
of the town about daybreak, with four hundred of the
15th (the 10th not being as yet come up), he discovered a
line of six hundred cavalry in a field close to the town and
prepared to oppose him. They were drawn up in rear of a
ravine which protected their front from being charged.
But in those days the superior numbers or strength of
position of the French cavalry had very little influence
over our dragoons. After manoeuvring a very short time,
each party endeavouring to gain the flank of their opponent,
Lord Paget charged with his wonted vigour, broke the
enemy's line, and chased them off the field. The result of
this gallant affair was a loss on the enemy's side of twenty
men killed, two lieutenant-colonels, eleven other officers,
and one hundred and fifty troopers prisoners ; while the
loss on our side amounted only to six men killed and from
fifteen to twenty wounded.

Continuing our advance, headquarters were established
at Sahagun on the 21st, and on the same day the reserve
marched to Grajal del Campo. In our present cantonments
the British army were within a day's march of the enemy
posted at Saldaiia and along the Carrion. Such close
neighbourhood braced every nerve for deeds of arms. Our
thoughts, which heretofore dwelt upon the sparkling eyes,
beautiful faces and splendid figures of the Spanish fair
were now totally engrossed by the veteran soldiers of
Napoleon. Love yielded to war ; yet the flame which

3

34 WE RETREAT WITH SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch.

animated our breasts remained, its ardour ever increasing
as the object in view became more glorious.

On the 22nd the whole army halted to refresh the
troops, to put the guns in proper order, and, what was
of still greater consequence, to repair the men's shoes,
which were seriously damaged during our eleven days'
march over rugged roads covered with frost and snow.
Our reserve supplies had not yet come up. These prepara-
tions were diligently carried on during the day and early
part of the ensuing night, it being intended that on the
next day we should march against the enemy. The
Commander of the forces, however, calculated that by
commencing his march in the morning we should approach
the enemy early enough to be discovered, but too late to
attack ; and that consequently we should be compelled to
halt in the snow until daybreak enabled us to see what
we had to do. A night attack may perhaps succeed ; but
the exact position of the party to be assaulted must be
thoroughly ascertained previous to making the attack.
We possessed no such information ; no two reports ever
agreed as to the enemy's position or strength. For these
reasons the march of the troops was deferred until the
evening. Marching during the night, however severe the
weather, was far preferable to a freezing halt in the snow,
and the men would be in much better plight to attack
the enemy at daybreak on the morning of the 24th ; and, in
fact, no time would be lost, for had we marched on the
morning of the 23rd instead of the evening, still the attack
could not have taken place before the morning of the 24th.

In pursuance of this plan, orders were received at Grajal
del Campo early on the morning of the 23rd directing
that the reserve should march that evening on the road
towards the Carrion, indicating the point of junction with

v.] A CHRISTMAS MARCH. 35

the rest of the army, and there halt until the headquarters
should arrive. On receipt of these instructions, Genera]
Paget used every endeavour to induce the men to lie down
and take repose, exhorting the officers to keep the soldiers
as much as possible in their billets, but, without issuing
finy orders on the subject, to tell them that the general's
anxiety arose in consequence of a long march which was
to take place that night. We (the reserve) therefore
moved forward that evening about four o'clock from Grajal
del Campo in light marching order, on our way towards
the Carrion.

After proceeding some hours, we halted not long after
dark. The whole country was deeply covered with snow,
and the sprightly national carols customary on the
approach of Christmas were changed for a cold and silent
night march to meet our national foes ; yet no hearts ever
beat lighter in the social enjoyment of the former than
ours did at what we confidently anticipated would be the
result of the latter. But cruel necessity required that we
should be grievously disappointed. After our halt, which
took place at the point destined for our junction with the
other column, had continued for two hours, conjecture
became various as to the cause of their delay. We were
first told that it was to give the artillery, which rolled
heavily over the snow, time to come up ; subsequently
we were informed that the Marquis of Romana either
mistook or wilfully failed in his engagements to co-operate,
and that the attack must consequently be postponed.
Thenceforward a hatred and contempt of the Spaniards
in arms filled the breast of every British soldier. This
feeling was renewed at Talavera and confirmed at Barossa,
and for similar causes was kept alive so long as a British
soldier remained in the Peninsula.

36 WE RETREAT WITH SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch.

The report relative to Romana was not, however, in
this instance strictly a fact ; for he actually did move
forward from Leon to Mancilla with six or seven thousand
half-starved and half-naked, wretched troops, having pre-
viously left his artillery in the rear. The true cause of
our halt and subsequent retreat was Sir John Moore having
received information from Romana, as well as from others
in whose accuracy he placed more reliance, that two
hundred thousand enemies were put in motion against him.
The British general that night commanded twenty-three
thousand men ; Soult, within a day's march of his front,
commanded twenty thousand men ; Napoleon, with fifty
thousand of the Imperial Guards marching or rather flying
from Madrid, was fast closing upon him and making rapid
strides to cut oif his only line of retreat : thus he was
placed in the immediate vicinity of seventy thousand hardy
veterans — more than triple his numbers. In this statement
Ney's corps are not included, although within two marches
of Soult, with orders to press forward. Under such cir-
cumstances there could be no hesitation how to act. A
movement on Corunna was decided upon.

The information just mentioned relative to the movements
of the enemj' against the British army was received at
headquarters (Sahagun) about six o'clock in the evening
of the 23rd, in time to enable the Commander of the forces
to countermand the forward march of the troops stationed
there ; but as it was too late to prevent the forward march
of the reserve, orders were sent to the place intended as
the point of rendezvous directing their return to Grajal
del Campo, where we arrived on the morning of the
24th. There we halted the remainder of that day to get
ready our heavy baggage (for we had moved in light
marching order the previous night) and to give a day's

V.J BRIDGE OF CASTRO GONZOLO. n

start to the leading columns, Sir David Baird's and General
Hope's divisions which had marched that morning, the
former for Valencia, the latter towards Benevente.

On the 25th the reserve, accompanied by the light brigade,
and covered by the cavalry, marched under the immediate
orders of Sir John Moore, and, following the track of Hope's
division, crossed the Esla by the bridge of Castro Gonzolo
on the 27th. Thence we moved on to Benevente, distant
about four miles. After passing Mayorga on the 26th,
Lord Paget, with two squadrons of the 10th Hussars,
charged a large detachment of the enemy's dragoons,
strongly posted on a rising ground, and, notwithstanding
the strength of their position and great superiority of
numbers, he killed twenty and took a hundred prisoners.

The destruction of the bridge having commenced, and
to favour this arduous undertaking, as well as to cover the
passage of the cavalry, who had not as yet come up. General
Robert Craufurd, with the 2nd Light Brigade and two
guns, took up a position on the left bank, which from its
boldness commanded the bridge and both banks, being
thus from necessity left on the enemy's side of the stream,
the right bank flat and low offering no vantage ground.
The cavalry having crossed on the afternoon of the 27th,
the destruction of the bridge commenced, which occupied
half the light brigade until late on the night of the 28th,
the other half being in constant skirmish with the advancing
enemy. The bridge being constructed of such solid
material, the greatest exertions were required to penetrate
the masonry ; and from the hurried manner and sudden
necessity of the march from Sahagun, there had been no
time to send an engineer forward to prepare for the under-
taking. These circumstances much retarded the work, and
an incessant fall of heavy rain and sleet rendered the whole

38 WE RETREAT WITH SIR JOHN MOORE. [Ch.

operation excessively laborious and fatiguing. To add to
this, Napoleon, having been informed of our movement
towards Valladolid, was determined to crush us for daring
to advance ; while Soult, now aware of our retiring, was
resolved to punish us, elate at our not having previously
punished him, which we most certainly should have done
on Christmas eve had it not been for the astounding
information received by Sir John Moore late on the
evening of the 23rd, to the effect that his little army were
then the focus upon which two hundred thousand French
troops were directing their hasty strides. Those two con-
summate generals. Napoleon and Soalt, pushed on their
advanced guards with such celerity that Soult's light
troops and the chasseurs of the Imperial Guard came in
sight whilst our rearguard were crossing the Esla.

During the evening of the 27th and the whole of the 28th
continued skirmishes took place in the vicinity of the bridge,
and the enemy kept up a desultory fire along the banks.
The Imperial chasseurs, flushed with the capture of a few
women and stragglers, whom they picked up in the plain,
had the hardihood more than once to gallop up close to the
bridge, with the intention no doubt of disturbing the men
employed there ; but they always retired with increased
celerity, leaving not a few behind to serve as a warning-off
to others.

On the night of the 28th, the preparations at the bridge
being completed, the troops retired. Fortunately it was
dark rainy and tempestuous ; and so the light brigade
passed unobserved over the bridge to the friendly side in
profound silence, except for the roaring of the waters and
the tempest, and without the slightest opposition. Immedi-
ately on our gaining the right bank the mine was sprung
with fullest effect, blowing up two arches, together with the

v.] INTO BENEVENTE. 39

buttress by wbich they had been supported, and awakening
the French to a sense of their shameful want of vigilance
and enterprise. Had they kept a strict watch, and risked
an assault during the passage, which they would have been
fully borne out in doing from the number of their troops
already in the plain, and which were hourly increasing, the
light division would have been perilously situated ; for
Craufurd had passed over the guns some time previously,
and had immediately after cut one of the arches completely
through, so that the men were obliged to cross over a
narrow strip formed of planks not very firmly laid, while
the impetuous torrent, now swollen above its banks from
the constant heavy rain and snow, roaring rather through
than beneath the bridge, threatened to carry away both
men and planks. All being thus happily terminated, the
troops moved into Benevente ; but Craufurd's brigade were
so excessively fatigued, having worked incessantly and
laboured severely for nearly two days and two nights, their
clothes drenched through the whole time, that they could
scarcely keep tlieir eyes open.

CHAPTER YI.

WITH THE KEAKGUARD OF THE RETREATING ARMY.

npHERE was now a large force suddenly collected in
-^ Benevente, which under any circumstances causes
much confusion, but more particularly at that moment,
when our chief employment was the destruction of stores.
Nevertheless the duty was performed with extraordinary
forbearance on the part of the men, particularly when it
is considered that the Spanish authorities, either from
disinclination to serve the British or from a dread of
the enemy, who, as they knew, must occupy the town in
a very short time, took no care whatever to supply our
troops regularly with provisions, or indeed with anything
which we required. The same feelings pervaded all ranks
of the inhabitants ; and although with payment in our
hands we sought for bread, wine, and animals to convey
our baggage, yet nothing could be procured. The magis-
trates either hid themselves or retired ; the inhabitants
denied everything of which we stood most in need,
and whilst all the shops were open in Madrid and in all
other towns through which the French army passed or
which they held, every door was shut against the British
army. It seldom fell to the lot of the reserve to sleep
in a house during the movement to Corunna, but in those
which we passed whilst marching along every article of
food was hid with which the enemy were subsequently

40

Ch. VI.] LOVE AND WINE. 41

supplied in abundance ; and in no part of Spain was this
want of good feeling towards the British more apparent
than in Benevente, a specimen of which will be seen in the
following anecdote : —

After the destruction of Gonzolo bridge, when the 52nd
Regiment marched into Benevente, though benumbed with
wet and cold, yet they could not procure a single pint
of wine for the men, either for love or money, or for mere
humanity which under such circumstances would have
moved the breast of most men to an act of charitable
generosity. During the anxious pleading to the feelings
and the dogged denial, a sergeant of his company came
to Lieutenant Love, of the above-mentioned regiment,
informing him that in an outhouse belonging to the convent
in which they were billeted he discovered a wall recently
built up, by which he conjectured that some wine might
have been concealed. Love instantly waited on the friars,
whom he entreated to let the men have some wine, at
the same time offering prompt payment. The holy fat
father abbot constantly declared, by a long catalogue
of saints, that there was not a drop in the convent.
Love, although a very young man at the time, was not
easily imposed upon. Reconnoitring the premises, he had
a rope tied round his body, and in this manner got himself
lowered through a sort of skylight down into the outhouse,
where the sergeant had discovered the fresh masonry
through a crevice in the strongly barricaded door. After
his landing, the rope was drawn up, and two men of the
company followed in the same manner. They fortunately
found a log of wood, which, aided by the ropes, they con-
verted into a battering ram, and four or five strong percus-
sions well directed breached the newly built wall. Now
rushing through the breach, they found the inner chamber to

42 WITH THE REARGUARD OF THE ARMY. [Ch.

be the very sanctum sanctorum of Bacchus. Wine sufficient
was found to give every man in the company a generous
allowance. The racy juice was contained in a large vat,
and while they were issuing it out in perfect order to
the drenched and shivering soldiers, the fat prior suddenly
made his appearance through a trap-door, and laughingly
requested that at least he might have one drink before
all was consumed. Upon this one of the men remarked,
*' By Jove ! when the wine was his, he was damned stingy
about it ; but now that it is ours, we will show him what
British hospitality is, and give him his fill." So saying,
he seized the holy fat man, and chucked him head foremost
into the vat ; and had it not been for Love and some
other officers, who by this time had found their way into
the cellar, the Franciscan worshipper of Bacchus would
most probably have shared the fate of George Duke of
Clarence, except that the wine was not Malmsey.

This anecdote was told to me at the time by some
officers of the 52nd. Then it was I had the pleasure
of first making the acquaintance of Lieutenant Calvert of
that regiment, long since lieutenant-colonel. This acquaint-
ance was afterwards renewed under no ordinary circum-
stances at the battle of Barossa. The anecdote was many
years later confirmed by Love himself in the Island of Zante,
where in 1836 he was quartered with the 73rd Regiment,
of which he was lieutenant-colonel at the time when I was
writing these Memoirs. I read him the whole of these
Memoirs, and found his recollection of the campaign very
interesting. The dates of his commissions and mine in
the respective ranks of ensign, lieutenant, and captain
were within a few months of each other ; but he became
lieutenant-colonel long before I retired from the service
still as captain. Yet he was an old soldier at the time ;

I

VI.] CHARGE OF LORD PAGET. 43

and if gallant conduct on all occasions which offered during
a long career, devoted attachment to his profession and
ardent zeal to promote its honour and glory can give a
claim to advancement, by none was it better merited. The
only extraordinary circumstance attending his promotion
was that he obtained it through personal merit.

On the 28th the divisions of Generals Hope and Fraser
moved out of Benevente for Astorga ; the reserve and light
brigade remained until the 29th. On that morning the
enemy's cavalry, commanded by Napoleon's favourite
General, Lefebre Desnouettes, forded the Esla, and as
they were taken for the advance of a large force, the reserve
and light brigades were ordered instantly to retire on the
road leading to Astorga. Although General Stuart, who
took command of our cavalry piquets, gallantly resisted
Lefebre, and every step was met with a blow, yet the
French general sternly moved forward along the plain
which skirted Benevente. Lord Paget, who viewed from
a distance what passed at the extremity of the plain, in
courtesy allowed the French general to advance until it
became too dangerous for his troops to proceed farther ;
then, at the head of the 10th Hussars, whom he had
previously formed under cover of some houses, he
rode furiously at the enemy, who, wheeling round, were
pursued into the very bed of the Esla, where "many a
deadly blow was dealt," and it was shown once again that
British steel was not to be resisted when wielded by British
soldiers determined to vindicate the superiority of their
national productions.

On gaining the opposite bank of the river the enemy
immediately formed on rising ground which overlooked
the stream, and displayed symptoms of returning to the
fight ; but our artillery having interfered with some well-

44 WITH THE REARGUARD OF THE ARMY. [Ch.

directed shrapnel sliots, the foe retired in disgust and pride,
leaving their gallant and accomplished general behind to
refine our manners, if not our steel. On his arrival in
England he was sent to Bath, where he showed with what
facility a Frenchman can insinuate himself into society as
a man of spirit and gallantry.

Whilst our guns continued to fire upon the retreating
enemy, the rearguard of the reserve were evacuating
Benevente. During our march we were passed on the road
by seventy or eighty dragoons of the Imperial Guard,
together with their leader General Lefebre, who were made
prisoners in the affair of the morning. The general looked
fierce and bloody, from a wound which he received across
the forehead while gallantly defending himself in the
stream wherein he was taken. In this affair our dragoons
suffered a loss of fifty men killed and wounded. The
French left fifty-five killed and wounded on the field, and
seventy officers and men prisoners, together with their
general. It cannot be said that there was any disparity
of force, for although in the commencement of the affair
the French were far more numerous, yet towards the close
the reverse was the case.

We arrived at Labaneza that night, and next day marched
into Astorga. Here we were crossed by the ragged, half-
starved corps of Spaniards under the partial control of
the Marquis of Romana, which circumstance not a little
astonished us, as the marquis repeatedly promised Sir John
Moore that he would retire into the Asturias. This un-
expected interruption to our march was attended with the
most serious consequences to our army, and from it may
be dated the straggling which soon commenced. The
Spaniards, shivering from partial nakedness and voracious
from continued hunger, committed the greatest disorders

I

VI.] VENTRILOQUISTS CAMPAIGNING. 45

in search of food and raiment. Their bad example was
eagerly followed by the British soldiers in their insati-
able thirst for wine ; and all the exertions, even of the
Commander of the forces personally, were not of mnch
avail. We could not destroy the stores, which had to be
abandoned. The civil authorities rather impeded than
assisted us in procuring the means of transport ; nor could
rations be regularly served out to the men sufficient for a
two days' march. The troops of the two nations seemed
envious of each other, lest the depredations of one should
give it what they in their blind excesses considered an
advantage over the other. They prowled about the town
the greater part of the night, and when they attempted
to take repose there arose a contention for choice of
quarters ; so that our march was commenced next morning
without the men having taken useful nourishment or
necessary repose.

It was on that night which we passed at Astorga that
I discovered a circumstance of which I had not been
previously aware — namely, that in the light company of
the 28th Kegiment there was a complete and well-organised
band of ventriloquists who could imitate any species of
bird or animal so perfectly that it was scarcely possible
to discover the difference between the imitation and the
natural tone of the animal imitated. Soon after we con-
trived to get into some kind of a quarter, the men being
in the same apartment with the officers owing to the crowd
and confusion, a soldier named Savage, immediately on
entering the room, began to crow like a cock, and then
placed his ear close to the keyhole of a door leading into
another apartment, which was locked. After remaining
in this attentive position for some moments, he removed
to another part of the room and repeated his crowing.

46 WITH THE REARGUARD OF THE ARMY. [Ch.

I began to think that the man was drunk or insane,
never before having perceived in him the slightest want
of proper respect for his superiors. Upon my asking him
what he meant by such extraordinary conduct in the
presence of his officers, he with a smile replied, " I believe
we have them, sir." This seemingly unconnected reply
confirmed me in the opinion I had formed of his mental
derangement, the more particularly as his incoherent
reply was instantly followed by another crow ; this was
answered apparently in the same voice, but somewhat
fainter. Savage then jumped up, crying out, ^' Here they
are ! " and insisted upon having the door opened ; and when
this was reluctantly done by the inhabitants of the house,
a fine cock followed by many hens came strutting into
the room with all the pomp of a sultan attended by his
many queens. The head of the polygamist, together with
those of his superfluous wives, was soon severed from his
body, notwithstanding the loud remonstrances of the former
owners, who, failing in their entreaties that the harem
should be spared, demanded remuneration ; but whether
the men paid for what they had taken like grovelling
citizens, or ofi'ered political reasons as an apology like
great monarchs, I now cannot call to mind. But however
the affair may have been arranged, the act was venial,
for had the fowls been spared by our men they must have
fallen into the stomachs of our enemies next day; and
it is not one of the least important duties of a retreating
army to carry away or destroy anything which may be
useful to their pursuers, however severely the inhabitants
may suffer.

During the night I was awakened by the ventriloquists,
who, with appropriate harmony, were loudly bleating,
cackling, crowing, cooing, lowing — in fact, imitating every

VI.] MISERY OF SPANIARDS 47

species of animal ; so that at the moment I awoke I fancied
myself in an extensive menagerie. Indeed, the powerful
effect of their music on many occasions during the retreat
came to my knowledge ; and so judiciously did they exert
their talents that animals of all descriptions came frisking
to their feet, offering a practical elucidation of the powers
attributed to Orpheus when round him danced the brutes.

On the last day of 1808 we marched from Astorga with
more headaches than full stomachs ; and the light brigade
having moved on the route to Vigo, the rearguard fell
exclusively to the reserve during the remainder of the
retreat. The distance we had to move on that day being
short, we continued until late to destroy stores and such
field equipments as, for want of animals, could not be carried
away ; and after eight or nine miles' march we arrived in
the evening at a small village called Cambarros. At
this place our evil genius, the Spaniards, again crossed us,
and the scenes at Astorga were partially renewed ; but
as only the sick and stragglers of the Spanish army were
there, the contention was but little — in fact, their miserable
and forlorn condition called forth compassion rather than
other sentiments. Two or three cartloads of them being
put down at an outhouse where I was on piquet with the
light company, we took them in. Such misery I never
beheld, half-naked, half-starved, and deprived of both
medicine and medical attendance. We administered a
little of our general cordial — rum ; yet three or four of
these wretches expired that night close to a large fire
which we lit in the middle of the floor.

Our stay at Cambarros was but short, for scarcely had
the men laid down to repose, which was much wanted in
consequence of the manner in which they had passed the
previous night, when some of our cavalry came galloping

48 WITH THE REARGUARD OF THE ARMY. [Ch.

in, reporting that the enemy were advancing in force. We
were immediately ordered to get under arms, and hurried
to form outside the town on that part facing Bembibre.
While we were forming a dragoon rode up, and an officer
who being ill was in one of the light carts which attended
the reserve, cried out, " Dragoon, what news ? " '' News,
sir ? The only news I have for you is that unless you step
out like soldiers, and don't wait to pick your steps like
bucks in Bond Street of a Sunday with shoes and silk
stockings, damn it ! you'll be all taken prisoners." ** i^ray,
who the devil are you ? " came from the cart. " I am
Lord Paget," said the dragoon ; " and pray, sir, may 1 ask

who you are ? " "I am Captain D n, of the 28 th

Regiment, my lord." " Come out of that cart directly,"
said his lordship ; " march with your men, sir, and keep up
their spirits by showing them a good example." The
captain scrambled out of the cart rear, face foremost, and
from slipping along the side of the cart and off the wheels,
and from the sudden jerks which he made to regain his
equilibrium, displayed all the ridiculous motions of a
galvanised frog. Although he had previously suffered a
good deal from both fatigue and illness, yet the circum-
stance altogether caused the effect desired by his lordship,
for the whole regiment were highly diverted by the scene
until we arrived at Bembibre, and it caused many a hearty
laugh during the remainder of the retreat.

We arrived within a league of Bembibre at daybreak on
the morning of January 1st, 1809, and were there halted
at a difficult pass in the mountains to cut the road. It
appeared that some of the leading divisions had already
commenced this work ; spades, pickaxes, and such tools
were found on the spot. We had not continued long at
this employment when we were ordered to desist, since

I

I

VI.] HORRORS OF BEMBIBRE. 49

Bembibre was turned by the Foncevadon road, which joined
that on which we were, not far from Calcabellos, and
so the work was considered useless. This order was
received with the greatest joy ; indeed, there was no duty
which we would not more willingly perform than that of
handling the pickaxe, and that too during a severe frost
and after a long night march. We therefore joyfully
moved on to Bembibre.

On approaching this village, we discovered Sir David
Baird's division, who had just left, and were proceeding
on the road to Villa Franca. We now fully anticipated
some repose, to which we thought ourselves entitled by
our laborious occupation of destroying stores at Astorga
the whole time we were there, and the long and severe
night march which we had just terminated ; but we were
sadly disappointed. The leading columns, well aware of the
value and necessity of vigilance, although it was shame-
fully neglected by themselves, left sufficient matter behind
to prevent the reserve from sleeping too much ; and when
we entered the town of Bembibre and expected to stretch
our wearied limbs, we were ordered to pile arms and clear
all the houses of the stragglers left behind.

The scenes here presented can only be faintly imagined
from the most faithful description which even the ablest
writer could pen ; but little therefore can be expected from
any attempt of mine to paint the scandal here presented
by the British troops or the degrading scenes exhibited
through their debauchery. Bembibre exhibited all the
appearance of a place lately stormed and pillaged. Every
door and window was broken, every lock and fastening
forced. Rivers of wine ran through the houses and into
the streets, where lay fantastic groups of soldiers (many of
them with their firelocks broken), women, children, runaway

4

50 WITH THE REARGUARD OF THE ARMY. [Ch.

Spaniards and muleteers, all apparently inanimate, except
when here and there a leg or arm was seen to move, while
the wine oozing from their lips and nostrils seemed the
effect of gunshot wounds. Every floor contained the
worshippers of Bacchus in all their different stages of
devotion ; some lay senseless, others staggered ; there were
those who prepared the libation by boring holes with their
bayonets into the large wine vats, regardless of the quantity
which flowed through the cellars and was consequently
destroyed. The music was perfectly in character : savage
roars announcing present hilarity were mingled with groans
issuing from fevered lips disgorging the wine of yesterday ;
obscenity was public sport. But these scenes are too
disgusting to be dwelt upon. We were employed the
greatest part of the day (January 1st, 1809,) in turning
or dragging the drunken stragglers out of the houses into
the streets and sending as many forward as could be moved.
Our occupation next morning was the same ; yet little
could be effected with men incapable of standing, much less
of marching forward. At length the cavalry reporting the
near approach of the enemy, and Sir John Moore dreading
lest Napoleon's columns should intersect our line of march
by pushing along the Foncevadon road, which joined our
road not many miles in front of us, the reserve were ordered
forward, preceded by the cavalry, and the stragglers were
left to their fate. Here I must say that oar division,
imbibing a good deal of the bad example and of the wine
left behind by the preceding columns, did not march out
of Bembibre so strong as when they entered it.

We had proceeded but a short distance when the enemy's
horsemen nearly approached the place ; and then it was
that the apparently lifeless stragglers, whom no exertion
of ours was sufficient to rouse from their torpor, startled at

VI.] INFAMY OF FRENCH DRAGOONS. 51

the immediate approach of danger, found the partial use
of their limbs. The road instantly became thronged by
them ; they reeled, staggered, and screaming threw down
their arms. Frantic women held forth their babies, suing
for mercy by the cries of defenceless innocence ; but all
to no purpose. The dragoons of the polite and civilised
nation advanced, and cut right and left, regardless of
intoxication, age or sex. Drunkards, women and children
were indiscriminately hewn down — a dastardly revenge for
their defeat at Benevente ; but they dearly paid for their
wanton cruelty when encountered next day at Calcabellos.
The foe, rendered presumptuous by their easy victory gained
over the defenceless stragglers, rode so close to our columns
that that distinguished officer, Colonel Ross with his
gallant 20th Regiment was halted and placed in an ambush,
formed by the winding of the road round the slope of a
hill which concealed them until nearly approached. The
remainder of the reserve marched on and halted at a
considerable distance. But the French were over cautious,
and after a lapse of more than an hour, during which time
many wounded stragglers joined the main body of the
division, Colonel Ross was recalled, much disappointed by
the enemy's declining to advance. He reluctantly joined
the main body of the reserve, who immediately moved
forward. Thus every means was used compatible with
prudence to cover and protect the unworthy stragglers from
Bembibre ; and great risk was run, for we did not feel
ourselves secure until we passed the junction of the roads
mentioned, not knowing what force might be pushing
forward along the Foncevadon line.

Continuing our march at a rather accelerated pace
until we passed the junction, we arrived at Calcabellos
about an hour before dark.

CHAPTER VII.

THE EETREAT CONTINUED.

rpHE Commander of the forces, with the main body of the
-^ cavalry, had marched in the morning from Bembibre,
and immediately on his arrival at Villa Franca used every
endeavour to remedy and quell the disorders committed
there. The disgraceful conduct which took place at
Astorga and Bembibre was here perpetrated by the pre-
ceding divisions. All the doors and windows were broken
open, the stores robbed, and the commissaries so in-
timidated as to be prevented from making any careful
distribution of the provisions. One of the stragglers left
behind had the hardihood, although knowing that the
Commander of the forces was present, to break open and
plunder a magazine in broad daylight ; but being taken
in the act, he was ordered to be executed, and was shot in
the market-place.

After using every exertion to restore order and discipline,
the general returned to Calcabellos, and met us just as
we halted. We were immediately formed in contiguous
close columns in a field by the road, when the Com-
mander of the forces rode up and addressed us in the most
forcible and pathetic manner. After dwelling on the
outrageous disorders and want of discipline in the army, he
concluded by saying : " And if the enemy are in possession
of Bembibre, which I believe, they have got a rare prize.

52

Ch. VII.j REBUKE BY SIR JOHN MOORE. 53

They have taken or cut to pieces many hundred drunken
British cowards — for none but unprincipled cowards would
get drunk in presence, nay, in the very sight of the enemies
of their country ; and sooner than survive the disgrace
of such infamous misconduct, I hope that the first cannon-
ball fired by the enemy may take me in the head." Then
turning to us, he added: "And you, 28th, are not what
you used to be. You are not the regiment who to a
man fought by my side in Egypt. If you were, no earthly
temptation could even for an instant seduce one of you
away from your colours." He then rode off and returned
to Villa Franca. This feeling and pungent address made
a deep impression on every individual present, as well
officers as men ; but the feeling of remorse was but of
short duration — future temptations brought on future
disorders.

Immediately on the departure of the General -in-chief
General Paget placed the reserve in position, giving us
to understand that our not being lodged in the village
arose not from any necessity strictly military, but that
it was entirely owing to our own misconduct. After the
disgraceful scenes presented at Bembibre, it was not con-
sidered safe to lodge the men in houses, more particularly
as we could not tell at what hour, day or night the
enemy's advancing columns might be upon us. A de-
tachment of from three hundred to four hundred cavalry
(the only ones left behind), together with about the same
number of the 95th Regiment, were pushed forward about
two miles upon the road leading to Bembibre, to watch
any enemy coming thence or from Foncevadon. Late
on this evening General Paget issued an order strongly
censuring our past conduct, and stating that, although
we committed fewer excesses and were guilty of fewer

54 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

disorders than any other division of the army, and con-
sequently had fewer stragglers, yet we were unworthy the
proud situation which we held, and had forfeited the high
honour conferred upon us when we were selected to lead
into action and to cover the army when required. He
added that every instance of drunkenness in the troops
under present circumstances was compromising the honour
of their country ; but that drunkenness in the reserve
was wilfully betraying the lives of their comrades in arms
and endangering the safety of the whole army. The
reserve must be exemplary in their good conduct ; every
soldier of which it is composed must consider himself
at all times a sentinel at the post of danger, consequently
at the post of honour. Orders were issued that no man
was on any pretence whatever to enter the town without
being accompanied by a non-commissioned officer, who
was held strictly responsible for the due return of those
committed to his charge. Parties were ordered frequently
to patrol the town during the night, and make prisoners
of any stragglers they should meet.

Notwithstanding these orders, the moving appeal of
General Paget, and the severe reproof so deservedly called
forth from the Commander of the forces against the whole
army, scarcely had darkness prevailed when stragglers
from our position, with many who had escaped from
Bembibre, continued their disorders and depredations,
principally against the wine vats. Many were taken during
the night breaking open doors and plundering cellars ;
and two men were seized in the act of committing a
more serious crime, that of robbing the person of an
inhabitant.

Early on the morning of the 3rd the reserve marched
up towards the crown of a low hill, in front of Calcabellos

I

VII.] PUNISHMENT BY GENERAL PAGET. 55

on the Bembibre side. Here we halted, leaving so much of
it above us as served to screen ns from the view of an
approaching foe. No enemy having as yet advanced, the
general of division ordered a hollow square to be formed,
facing inwards. A drumhead court-martial sat in rear of
every regiment, and within the square were placed the
triangles. The culprits seized in the town, as soon as tried
and sentenced, were tied up, and a general punishment
took place along the four faces of the square ; and this
continued for several hours. During this time our vedettes
came in frequently to report to the general that the enemy
were advancing. His only reply was, " Very well." The
punishment went on. The two culprits whom I have
mentioned as having been seized in the act of committing
a robbery stood with ropes round their necks. Being con-
ducted to an angle of the square, the ropes were fastened
to the branches of a tree which stood there, and at the
same time the delinquents were lifted up and held on the
shoulders of persons attached to the provost-marshal. In
this situation they remained awaiting the awful signal for
execution, which would instantly be carried into effect by
a mere movement from the tree of the men upon whose
shoulders they were supported. At this time (between
twelve and one o'clock, as well as I can remember) a cavalry
officer of high regimental rank galloped into the square
and reported to General Paget that the piquets were
engaged and retiring. "I am sorry for it, sir," said the
general ; ^* but this information is of a nature which would
induce me to expect a report rather by a private dragoon
than from you. You had better go back to your fighting
piquets, sir, and animate your men to a full discharge of
their duty." General Paget was then silent for a few
moments, and apparently suffering under great excitement.

56 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

He at length addressed tlie square by saying ; " My God I
is it not lanientable to think that, instead of preparing the
troops confided to my command to receive the enemies of
their country, I am preparing to hang two robbers ? But
though that angle of the square should be attacked I shall
execute these villains in this angle." The general again
became silent for a moment, and our piquets were heard
retiring up the opposite side of the hill and along the road
which flanked it on our left. After a moment's pause he
addressed the men a second time in these words : " If I
spare the lives of these two men, will you promise to
reform ? '' Not the slightest sound, not even breathing,
was heard within the square. The question was repeated :
*' If I spare the lives of these men, will you give me your
word of honour as soldiers that you will reform ? " The
same awful silence continued until some of the officers
whispered to the men to say " Yes,*' when that word
loudly and rapidly flew through the square. The culprits
were then hastily taken away from the fatal tree, by a
suspension from which they but a moment before expected
to have terminated their existence. The triangles were
now ordered to be taken down and carried away. In-
deed, the whole affair had all the appearance of stage
management, for even as the men gave the cheers
customary when condemned criminals are reprieved, our
piquets appeared on the summit of the hill above us, inter-
mixed with the enemy's advanced guard. The square was
immediately reduced, formed into columns at quarter dis-
tance and retired, preceded by the 62nd Regiment, who
started forward at double quick time, and, crossing the
River Guia, lined its opposite bank. The division coming
up passed over the bridge, with the exception of the
28th Light Company, who were left behind with orders to

VII.] FIGHT AT A BRIDGE. 57

remain there until the whole of the reserve should have
crossed, and then to follow.

General Paget now moved forward and took up a
strong position on the side of a sloping hill immediately
in front of Calcabellos. His extreme right somewhat
outflanked the town, his left rested on the road leading to
Villa Franca. The whole line was protected by a chain
of hedges and stone walls which ran close in front. Our
battery of six guns was pushed some way down the road
leading to the bridge, to take advantage of a small bay
by which they were protected and concealed from the
enemy. The light company of the 28th, as soon as they
retired from the bridge, were to be posted immediately
under the guns, which were to fire over our heads, the
declivity of the road allowing that arrangement. The
left wing of the 28th Regiment were pushed forward imme-
diately in rear of the guns and for their protection. The
right wing of the 28th Regiment now formed the extreme
left of the direct line. Further in advance, and extended
to the left along the bank of the stream, their right close
to the bridge, the 52nd were placed.

The Guia, an insignificant stream, but at this season
rising in its bed, runs along the base of the sloping hill
upon which Calcabellos is situated, at the distance of from
four to five hundred yards, and passing under the narrow
stone bridge, winds round the vineyards in which the
62nd Regiment were posted. At this bridge the light
company, as has been said, were posted until everything
belonging to the reserve should pass over ; and, before
this was entirely accomplished, our cavalry (at first pre-
ceded by the 96th, whom they passed through) came
galloping down to the bridge, followed closely by the
enemy's dragoons. The enemy's advance being seen from

58 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

the high ground in onr rear, the battalion bugles sounded
our recall ; but it was impossible to obey, for at that
moment our cavalry and the rifles completely choked up
the bridge.

The situation of the light company was now very
embarrassing — in danger of being trampled by our own
cavalry, who rode over everything which came in their
way, and crowded by the 95th and liable to be shot by
them, for in their confusion they were firing in every
direction. Some of them were a little the worse for
liquor — a staggering complaint at that time very pre-
valent in our army ; and we were so mixed up with them
and onr own cavalry that we could offer no formation to
receive the enemy, who threatened to cut us down. At
length, the crowd dissipating, we were plainly seen by
the French, who, probably taking us for the head of an
infantry column, retired. We sent them a few shots.

As soon as the 95th, who had lost between thirty and
forty prisoners on the occasion, had crossed over and lined
the hedges on the opposite side, and our cavalry, taking
retrograde precedence more through horse-play than mili-
tary etiquette, had cleared the bridge, the light company
followed. It was mortifying to reflect that after such an
uninterrupted series of brilliant achievements, their farewell
encounter with their opponents should thus terminate, even
although they may have been somewhat outnumbered ; but
neither of their two gallant leaders were present.

The light company now occupied their destined post
under the guns, and accounted for not having obeyed the
battalion bugles, which had continued to sound the recall
during the whole time of our absence. The cavalry rode
on without a halt to join the main body, then on march
for Lugo.

I

VI!.] REPULSE OF FRENCH CAVALRY. 59

Shortly after we had gaiued our position, either sup-
posing that the bridge was abandoned by the retirement
of the light company, or because their courage was
wound up to proper fighting pitch, the French cavalry
advanced at a quick trot down the hill. Our guns instantly
wheeled out upon the road, and played upon their column
until they became screened from their fire by the dip in
the road as they approached the bridge. Here they were
warmly received by the 52nd Regiment, now freed from
our own dragoons, and the 95th ; and upon this they
made a most furious charge at full speed over the bridge
and up the road towards our position. During this onset
they were severely galled by the 95th, who by this time
had lined the hedges on either side of the road within a
few yards of their flanks, and by the light company
immediately in their front, whom it was evidently their
intention to break through, as they rode close to our
bayonets. But their ranks being much thinned by the
destructive flanking fire of the rifles and of the standing
ranks of the light company, their charge was vain, and,
their gallant leader having fallen close under our bayonets,
they wheeled about and underwent the same ordeal in
retiring, so that but few survived to tell the tragic tale.
The road was absolutely choked with their dead. One
alone among the slain was sincerely regretted, their gallant
leader, General Colbert ; his martial appearance, noble
figure, manly gesture, and above all his daring bravery
called forth the admiration of all. I say that one only
was regretted, for the wanton cruelties committed against
the women and children on the previous day were too
recent to be either forgotten or forgiven.

This attack of the French cavalry was most ill advised,
ill judged, and seemingly without any final object in view.

6o THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

It is true that their bravery was too obvious to be doubted ;
but they rushed on reckless of all opposition, whether
apparent or probable, and had they succeeded in cutting
through the light company, which they would have found
some difficulty in doing, and although they would then
have escaped much of the cross-fire of the 95th, yet they
would have been in a worse position than before. When
they had passed beyond the light company a hundred
yards they would have encountered the left wing of the
28th Regiment, supported, if necessary, by the right wing
directly on their flank, although a little in the rear ; and
had their number, which was but from four to ^ve hundred
men, been quadrupled, every man must have been shot,
bayoneted or taken prisoner. In fact, there is no cal-
culating what amount of cavalry would be sufficient to
force an infantry regiment formed in column on a road
flanked with a high hedge on either side. I speak of
British infantry, among whom no swerving takes place,
each individual being well aware that his greatest safety
depends on his manfully facing and strenuously opposing
the foe.

At this time the Commander of the forces arrived, having
left Villa Franca as soon as he heard the report of the
first gun fired. He immediately withdrew the 52nd
Regiment, who, as I have stated, were a good way in front
of our left, and placed them on the high ground towards the
centre of our position. Sir John Moore did not at all differ
from General Paget as to the strength of the position, but
their intentions differed. Paget took up the best possible
position which the nature of the ground offered to maintain
a battle, however prolonged ; Sir John Moore perceived
that both flanks of the 52nd were liable to be turned,
especially after the light company had retired from the

VII.] CONFUSED FIGHTING. • 6i

bridge, wliicli would more than probably bring on a general
action of the whole reserve. This he studiously avoided,
and for the best possible reasons. He was ignorant as to
the amount of force with which the enemy were advancing
against our position, but from all accounts he was led to
believe that it was very great ; and at that time our nearest
division, that of Sir David Baird, was at Nogales, distant
nearly forty miles.

Not long after the failure of the charge headed by
General Colbert, some French dragoons together with their
light troops crossed the Guia under the high ground
occupied by our right and centre. They were opposed by
the 95th, who moved from the hedges which flanked the
road to meet them, and a severe skirmish ensued. The
enemy's cavalry, who on this occasion mixed with their
skirmishers, were fast gaining ground on the right of the
rifles ; the bugles from the position sounded the retreat,
but were very imperfectly obeyed. Some of the 52nd
Regiment, who could no longer restrain their feelings at
seeing the critical situation in which their old friends were
placed, darted forward from their position above to their
assistance ; and the 28th Light Company, making a partial
extension along the hedge which flanked the road upon
which they were stationed, sent many an effectual shot in
their aid.

The fight now became confused, and the enemy's numbers
increased every instant. Cavalry, tirailleurs, voltigeurs,
95th, and those of the 52nd Regiment who flew to the aid
of their friends, now formed one indiscriminate mass ; and
the light company on the road could no longer fire except
at the dragoons' heads, some few of whom were lowered.
It stung us to the heart to see our gallant comrades so
maltreated with aid so near ; for had we of the light

62 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

company crossed the hedge under which we were drawn
up, and advanced a short way in regular order so as to
form a 2^oint (Tappui^ all would have been put to rights.
But we durst not move an inch, being posted close to our
guns for their protection, and every moment expecting to
encounter another charge of cavalry.

At this time General Merle's division appeared on the
hills in front of our position, and moved forward. The
reserve now showed themselves, probably with a view of
inducing the enemy to delay their attack until the morning.
A heavy column of the enemy were pushed forward towards
the left of our position, in front of where the 52nd Regiment
had been posted. Their intention was evidently to cross
the stream ; but their column soon becoming unveiled, our
guns again wheeled out on to the road, and opened such a
destructive fire that, although close to the Guia, they
hastily retired, after having sustained considerable loss.
Had the 52nd remained as first posted, the carnage in the
column must have been immense ; but it is probable that
the enemy were aware of that regiment having shifted
ground, for they sent no skirmishers in front of their
column. The skirmish, hitherto sharply maintained by the
95th and 52nd against their opponents, now slackened and
shortly ceased. The French tirailleurs and cavalry, per-
ceiving the failure of their infantry attack on our left, and
that they were fast retiring, retired also down to the banks
of the Guia.

It being now quite dark, our guns were withdrawn up to
the main body of the reserve, and were followed by the light
oompany. The 95th also fell back on to the main body ;
and, leaving strong piquets along the line, the whole force
moved on towards Villa Franca. Everything was now
quiet, with the exception of a few shots fired from the bank

VII.] BEATEN, BUT DON'T KNOW IT. 63

of the stream in answer to some few of the 95tli, who still
remained behind, and, although without any cause, persisted
in continuing to fire, exposing themselves by the flashes.
Indeed, it was more difficult to withdraw our men from
the fight than to loose the hold of a high-bred mastiff.

I have told already how during the hottest part of the
skirmish the bugles from the position sounded the retreat,
which was not at all, or at most but imperfectly obeyed.
At this period of the retreat the reserve were always
closely pursued and harassed by the enemy without their
having an opportunity of revenge ; and this, from their
being unaccustomed to campaigning, wrought them up
to a pitch of excitement amounting to frenzy. They
suffered privations, and were at the same time exposed
to temptations which to British soldiers not habituated
to the presence of an enemy were irresistible ; wine lay
in their way and in abundance, forsaken too by its owners.
Thus it was that, when on this day the French infantry
first came in close contact with ours, when bayonets were
crossed and blood was profusely drawn, our men were
so wild and hot for the fray that it was hard to drag
them from the field.

That Britons will fight to the last — that is, while they
can stand — is well known ; and it was this determination
that caused Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo to say
that the English were beaten according to every rule
of war, but did not know it. Long may they remain in
this species of ignorance, and, whether feasted flushed
or fasting, continue to maintain their true national
character, a specimen of which was given at Calcabellos !
Some there were who fought with stomachs full, many
more with stomachs empty, and some there were who,
if true men, gave proof of their veracity in wine.

64 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch

Thus terminated the first encounter which took place
between the reserve and the foremost columns of the
French infantry. It was conjectured that upwards of ^ve
hundred men must have fallen, killed and wounded, in both
armies. The loss sustained by General Merle's division
could not be ascertained. Calculating, however, from the
depth of the column, the fitness of the range for the
practice of our guns, and the celerity with which they
retired, it must have been severe ; but the greatest loss was
in their cavalry — a just retribution for their wanton cruelty
at Bembibre.

Gratified by this preface to our future work, our morals
improved by the justly merited punishment which we
received that morning, refreshed by the clean sheets of
driven snow upon which we had reposed, and our frames
more braced than benumbed by the cold to which our
own irregularities had doomed us, we pressed forward like
soldiers upon whom the light of conviction had flashed and
to whom physical powers were not wanting, and so marched
that night to Herrerias, a distance of eighteen miles,
and, if I mistake not, without leaving a single straggler
of our division behind. The reserve again became disci-
plined soldiers, determined to prove themselves such.
They gave their word of honour as soldiers to their general
that they would reform, and this too while the enemy
were pressing forward to bear testimony to this pledge,
by the fulfilment of which they were to become the
principal sufierers.

It was at this time currently reported that the cause
of our sudden night march from Cambarros to Bembibre
was a false alarm given to our cavalry, stating that
Napoleon had entered Astorga that evening (December 31st)
and was pushing forward his columns ; this of course

VII.] EFFECT OF A FALSE ALARM. 6$

rendered it necessary for the reserve immediately to retire,
Cambarros being scarcely two leagues from Astorga. The
groundlessness of this alarm became apparent through
more certain information and succeeding events ; it was
fully ascertained that Napoleon did not enter Astorga
until the afternoon of next day (January 1st). False
alarms must be expected in all campaigns, but more
particularly in such a campaign as ours. In this instance
the alarm proved very injurious to us. The night march
of the reserve pushed on unnecessarily, harassed them
a good deal, which, added to the manner in which they
were employed next day in rousing the stragglers, caused
them to leave many men behind in Bembibre ; and had
Sir David Baird's division not been started up long before
daybreak to make way for the reserve, but allowed to take
some few hours more repose to give the men time to sleep
away the fumes of the wine swallowed during the previous
evening, some hundreds of stragglers would have been
saved to the army.

CHAPTEK VIII.

THE KETKEAT CONTINUED.

f~\^ leaving Calcabellos three or four miles behind, we
^-^ approached Villa Franca. The whole town seemed
on fire. This conflagration was caused by the destruction
of stores and provisions ; and so tenacious were the com-
missariat in preserving everj^hing for the flames that
they had guards posted around even the biscuits and
salt meat to prevent the men as they passed from taking
anything away. A commissary or one of his satellites
stood close to each sacrifice, who exhorted the officers as
they passed to use every exertion in preventing any
diminution of the sumptuous repast prepared for the
hungry flames and grudged to the hungry soldiers. But
notwithstanding these precautions and strict orders and
the chastisement received in the morning, many of the
men had the hardihood as they passed to stick their
bayonets, and sergeants their pikes, into the salt pork
which was actually being set fire to. Several junks were
thus taken away, and many of the officers who cut and
slashed at the men to prevent such sacrilege against the
commissariat auto da fe, were very thankful that night
at Herrerias to get a small portion of the salt meat thus
carried ofi*.
At this place we arrived about a couple of hours before

66

Ch. VIII.] ROUND A POOL OF RUM. 67

daybreak on the morning of the 4th. Being a good deal
fatigued, we halted to take some rest ; but as soon as
the genial light of morning diffused its renovating influence
over wearied mortals, we pressed forward for Nogales,
distant from eighteen to twenty miles. During this day's
march the misery and suffering attendant on wanton
disorders and reckless debauchery among the men were
awfully manifested ; some were lying dead along the
road, and many apparently fast approaching a similar fate.
Cavalry horses too were continually being shot. One
circumstance I shall mention which roused every feeling
both of humanity and indignation. About seven or eight
miles from Herrerias, seeing a group of soldiers lying in
the snow, I immediately went forward to rouse them up
and send them on to join their regiments. The group
lay close to the roadside. On my coming up, a sad
spectacle presented itself. Through exhaustion, depravity,
or a mixture of both, three men, a woman and a child
all lay dead, forming a kind of circle, their heads inwards.
In the centre were still the remains of a pool of rum,
made by the breaking of a cask of that spirit. The
unfortunate people must have sucked more of the liquor
than their constitutions could support. Intoxication was
followed by sleep, from which they awoke no more ; they
were frozen to death. This was one of the closing scenes,
brought on by the disgraceful drunkenness and debaucheries
committed at Villa Franca during the previous two or
three days. Being marked with peculiar circumstances,
the scene is still fresh before me.

Whilst I was contemplating the miseries and depravities
of human nature, and paying no heed to the frequent
discharge of pistols by our dragoons, I was aroused by
hearing my name, and recognised an old acquaintance,

68 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch

Captain Bennet, of the 95tli. He rode slowly and was
much bent over his saddle-bow, suffering severely from
a wound received the previous evening at Calcabellos. He
bore np stoutly, notwithstanding his sufferings, which were
manifold. His mind was afflicted with thoughts of his
family ; he dreaded falling into the hands of the advancing
foe, and the bodily pain which he was suffering may be
imagined, as he had ridden upwards of five-and-twenty
miles with a musket-ball in his groin, during a freezing
night through a country covered with snow. Poor Bennet I
the only assistance which I could then afford was to give
him a silk pocket-handkerchief, which I placed between
his wounded side and the saddle ; yet little as this assist-
ance was, it added to his ease, which he more gratefully
acknowledged than the trifling incident merited.

The slaughter of the horses continued throughout the
day. They were led to the last by the dragoons, who then,
whilst unable to restrain their manly tears, became the
unwilling executioners of these noble animals, which had
so lately and so powerfully contributed to their heroic
deeds, and with a martial spirit equal to that of the gallant
riders whom they bore irresistibly against the foe. Upon
my enquiring of the men how it was that horses in
apparently tolerable condition were incapable of at least
proceeding quietly along, the invariable answer which I
received was, that from the roughness of the road, hardened
by continued frost, they cast their shoes, and that they had
not a nail to fasten on those picked up, nor a shoe to
replace those lost ; and they added that there was not a
spare nail or shoe in any of the forge carts, which retired
with the cavalry. This appeared the more strange as
the cavalry were the previous day at Herrerias — the
" Forges," so-called from the number of blacksmiths' work-

VIII.] A HARASSING MARCH. ^ 69

shops there found ; in fact, the greater part of the town
consisted of forges. In one of these some of ns were
quartered during the few hours we halted on the preced-
ing night, and there we partook of our sumptuous repast,
consisting of a little salt pork and biscuit served upon
a massive plate, a blacksmith's anvil, and in place of a
superfluous nut-cracker there was a sledge-hammer to
smash the flinty biscuit.

This day's march was much retarded through our endea-
vours to rouse the stragglers forward, who were very
numerous, all left behind by the leading divisions. Added
to this, we were compelled to await the 95th Regiment,
whom we had left when we retired from our position at
Calcabellos late on the previous evening. Piquets of the
95th were left to occupy all the approaches leading to
the position, and the regiment halted some way in their
rear for support. The piquets were repeatedly attacked
during the early part of the night by strong patrols ;
although they lost some men, killed and wounded, they
firmly maintained their posts, always beating back the
enemy, who invariably retired in total ignorance as to
whether the reserve had evacuated or still maintained their
position. Towards the end of the night the piquets,
according to orders previously received, fell back on their
regiment, who now followed the track of the division.
As far as Herrerias all was safe for them, as well from
the darkness of the night as the start they had of a few
hours before the enemy discovered their retirement.

After Herrerias precautions became necessary. The
95th were a rifle regiment. Rifles and swords were not
so efficient as muskets and bayonets to resist an attack
of cavalry ; and our last cavalry guard had passed to
the rear early on the preceding evening. We were there-

70 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

fore obliged to make occasional halts to allow the rifles
nearer approach to efficient support.

During these halts the men lay down in martial wedlock,
each folding to his breast his better half — his musket — and
thus enjoj^ed more repose than they would have done in
triple the time if regularly marched into quarters ; for
when soldiers come into a town they become curious
travellers, and search very minutely for desirable objects —
not that I rank them as antiquarian virtuosi, since soldiers
care rather for the new and fresh than that rendered
venerable by old age, and for quantity more than quality.
A bucketful of common black-strap even would by them
be preferred to a lesser portion, though it should be of
the true old Falernian ; and a new polished dollar more
highly estimated than a dusky old medal or coin, although
its antiquity should bear date even as far back as the days
of the first Darius.

In the evening, as dusk approached, and within two or
three miles of Nogales, we fell in with some Spanish clothing,
shoes and arms. The carts which contained these articles
were totally abandoned ; there were neither mules, mule-
teers, nor guards. Our men immediately commenced an
inspection of necessaries ; and the officers (I know not why)
repeated the same opposition as at Yilla Franca. But in
this instance the soldiers, many of whom were severely
suffering from want of shoes, were not so easily deceived,
and carried away many pairs of these absolutely necessary
articles, and also several pairs of trousers and other
clothing.

At length we arrived at Nogales, long after dark. By
this forced march we made amends for the day we halted
at Calcabellos to cover Villa Franca during the destruction
of such stores as could not be removed, as well as to push

VIII.] KNOCKING AT THE DOOR. 71

4

forward the numerous stragglers. It also enabled us to
regain our proper echelon distance from the leading columns.
In this place we were very reluctantly received by the
inhabitants ; so much so that in most instances we
were compelled to break open the doors to get under
shelter, for the owners had either fled or concealed them-
selves to the last moment. This latter was the case at
the house upon which I, with the light company of the
28th, was billeted.

To force a Spanish door is not easy. They have large
nails driven through the panels at small intervals ; these
nails, or rivets, have heads on the outer side of the doors
nearly the size of a half crown piece. And the doors are
very massive — made of hard wood, generally oak ; so that
striking against them with the butt ends of the muskets
was totally useless. On this occasion, after knocking
for some time to no purpose, we took a large stone, and,
putting it into a sergeant's sash, four men stood close to
the door supporting the sash, which formed a kind of
sling ; others pulled away the stone as far as the length
of the sash permitted, and then, adding all their force to
its return, sent it with a tremendous bump bang against
the door. After we (for I acted engineer on the occasion)
had repeated this mode of rapping five or six times, the
door became uneasy on its hinges, and the master of the
house put his head out of a window, as if just awakened,
and began to remonstrate loudly against the outrage ; upon
which some of the men, in their desperation, threatened
to shoot him at the window, and I believe that, had his
remonstrances continued much longer, I should have found
it difficult to prevent their carrying the threat into execution.
However, it could not have been held malice prepense,
since the muskets were always loaded ; and as to man-

72 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

slaughter or justifiable homicide, they were practising it
every hour. The door being at length wheeled back on
its tottering hinges, we hurried into the house ; and so
uncouth were we under such circumstances— fatigued,
fasting and freezing — that before we enquired after the
master's health, the welfare of his wife and family, or
whether he had any such, he was closely interrogated as
to the state of his larder and cellar. It is lucky that we
were even so far courteous, as it was the last house we
entered during the retreat. By " we " I mean the reserve,
always considering ourselves distinct from the clodhoppers —
a term given by our men to the leading divisions, who
were always from one to three days' march ahead, as we
advanced to the rear.

Soon after we entered our billets we all became on the
best terms with the landlord, who treated us very liberally ;
but notwithstanding our not getting under cover until a
late hour, being excessively fatigued and feeling certain
that we should be engaged with the enemy as soon as the
morning dawned, yet the men, except for their uniforms,
resembled more a party of sportsmen after a long day's
pleasant hunt than soldiers after a long and harassing
march.

The officers being obliged to lie down in the same
apartment with the men, we were condemned to listen
to their rough jokes and loud repartees, which under
the circumstances were excessively unseasonable and
annoying.

" Gentleman " Roach, a title given to him from his con-
tinually boasting of a long line of ancestors, was on this
night more than usually facetious. He certainly had
received an education far above his present station ; but
he did not rank among the best soldiers of the light

I

VIII.] TALK OF THE MEN. 73

company, not being a stout marcher, rather inclined to be
a lawyer, and fighting his battles more poignantly with
his tongue than with his bayonet. His incessant chatter
annoyed the whole company, who, being anxious to enjoy
a little repose, upbraided him for his loquacity.

Being no longer able to bear with his noise and vanity,
which always bent towards pride of ancestry, one of the
men interrupted him by crying out : '^ Bad luck to you
and all your ancisthors put together ! I wish you'd hould
your jaw, and let us lie quiet a little bit before the day
comes, for we can hardly hould up our heads with the
sleep."

The " gentleman," always put on his mettle at the
mention of his ancestors, with indignant voice exclaimed :
" Wretch ! you personify all the disproportions of a vulgar
cabbage-plant, the dense foliage of whose plebeian head is
too ponderous for its ignoble crouching stem to support."

" Faith, then," replied the plebeian, " I wish we had a
good hid o' cabbage to ate now, and we'd give you the
shrinking part, — that's like yourself, good-for-nothing and
not able to stand when wanted ; and, damn your sowl,
what are you like, always talking about your rotten ould
ancisthors ? Sure, if you were any good yourself, you
wouldn't be always calling thim to take your part. Be
Jabers ! you're like a praty, for all your worth in the
world is what's down in the ground."

" Contemptible creature ! " replied the " gentleman," " if
even the least of my noble line of ancestors were to rise
from the grave, he would display such mighty feats of
arms as would astound you and all the vulgar herd of
which you appear to be the appropriate leader."

The conclusion of this contemptuous speech, being
accompanied with a revolving glance, and his right arm

74 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch,

put into semicircular motion, including all the men as it
passed through its orbit, brought him many adversaries.

One of his new antagonists bellowed out with a loud
laugh : " Bury him, bury him ! Since all the bravery
that belongs to him is with his ould dads in the ground,
maybe, if we buried him a little while to make an ould
ancisthor of him too and then dug him up again, he might
be a good soldier himself."

" Arrah ! sure it's no use," cried out another, "to be
loosing your talk with a dancing-masther like him. Wasn't
he squeezed up behind a tree, like the back of an ould
Cramona fiddle, while I was bothering three Johnny Craps,
when they were running down screaming like pelebeens
to charge the bridge ? And, after all that, I'll engage
with his rotten ould ancisthors that when we goes home
he'll have a bether pinshun than me, or be made a sergeant
by some fine curnil that always stays at home and knows
nothing at all about a good soldier."

At this period of the noisy orgies, the night being far
advanced, with no chance of repose owing to the loud
laughter, a man of the company, who was always looked
upon as a kind of mentor, at length interposed, and by
some admirable and personal arguments put an end to the
noisy revels.

How little the minds of soldiers on service are occupied
with thoughts of the enemy from the moment they are
separated from them may plainly be seen by the merriment
which they enjoyed during the greater part of this night ;
and how reckless they are of the manner in which they
will be employed next day, and how completely their hard-
ships and fatigues are forgotten as soon as terminated, was
also made clear on that same night : for although we had
been for the previous four days and nights either marching

VIII.] THEY GO BACK FOR BOOTS. 75

or fighting or outlying piquets in tlie snow, yet some of the
light company returned back nearly three miles to where
the carts containing the Spanish clothing were abandoned,
in the hope of procuring more shoes, thus voluntarily add-
ing a night march of six miles to the most fatiguing march
which took place during the whole campaign. The shoes
thus procured, as well as those carried away previous to
our entering the town, were regularly distributed among
the company, which enabled the men to march stoutly next
day. They who carried off some three, four or five pairs of
shoes supplied those who were so unfortunate as not to
have been enabled to carry away any. But the shoes were
not given as presents ; they were sold at high prices on
promise of payment at Corunna or on arriving in England.
Some of those promissory notes became post-obits next
evening along the road to Constantino, and many more
shared the same fate before and at the battle of Corunna.
Having been somewhat refreshed by our short repose at
JSTogales, we commenced our march on the morning of the
5th about daybreak ; but scarcely was darkness succeeded
by light when the fight again commenced, and continued
until darkness again returned. For as soon as the enemy
discovered on the morning of the 4th that the reserve had
retired during the previous night from the position which
they occupied at Calcabellos, they had pushed forward,
and by a forced march arrived at Nogales before daybreak
on the 5th. Our skirmish with their cavalry, who all
carried long carbines, was rather sharp during the morn-
ing ; but at a few miles' distance from Nogales, as we
approached a beautiful bridge, the skirmish became much
more lively. This bridge, the name of which I do not
recollect, presented a most romantic appearance. It was
situated close to the foot of a hill. The stream immediately

76 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

after passing through the bridge suddenly winding round the
base of the high ground on the opposite bank, was entirely
screened from our view as we approached the bridge, thus
giving its numerous arches the appearance of so many
entrances to subterranean caverns beneath the mountains,
into which the current rushed. On the opposite bank and
not far from the bridge, the road assumed a zigzag course ;
and to have allowed the enemy, who were fast increasing
in numbers, to come too near would have subjected our
men to a destructive fire while ascending this meandering
road. To avoid this General Paget marched us quickly
across, and having surmounted the zigzag road, halted us
just beyond range of musket-shot from the opposite bank ;
he then ordered the guns to be unlimbered and the horses
removed to the rear ; and the division then moved on,
leaving the guns apparently abandoned. At this bridge
we found a party of engineers endeavouring to destroy it,
but as the stream was fordable on either side, the party
were sent to the rear to practise their art elsewhere.

We remained at our post beyond the bridge for about an
hour, during which, although the firing continued, it be-
came more slack. The enemy held back, evidently awaiting
reinforcements ; yet they were continually pushing small
parties across the fords. General Paget, who sat the whole
time on a slope where the light company were posted in
sight of the bridge, anxiously awaiting any attack which
might be made to capture the guns, and seeing the passage
at the fords, addressed me, saying, "You are a younger
man than I am ; run up that hill " (rather on our flank, and
round it the stream ran), " and see what force the enemy
have collected on the other side." I instantly started off,
and returning as quickly as possible, reported that the
enemy on this bank were from two to three hundred men,

VIIL] SOME WORDS OF GENERAL PAGET. -j-j

infantry and cavalry, but that they were collecting in
greater force on the opposite side. The general merely
remarked, " It is no matter," and ordered the gnns to be
horsed, saying, " These fellows don't seem inclined to add
to their artillery." Had they indeed taken the guns, which
I believe it was the intention of the general to permit, they
could never have been more warmly received, and they
would have paid most dearly for their momentarily held
prize. The light company were posted behind a low hedge
immediately on the flank of the guns ; the grenadiers
were drawn up about a hundred yards in their rear ; the
remainder of the regiment (28th) were posted at an
appropriate distance in rear of their grenadiers, ready to
push forward, and our gallant general was present to
animate and direct.

The guns being horsed were immediately sent forward
to join the main body of the reserve, who by this time
had got a start of four or five miles, to gain which
advantage was the principal object of our halt. But
General Paget, perceiving the great number of the enemy
coming upon him, and his flank partly turned, judged
it prudent to delay no longer, the more especially a&
he had but one regiment with him in the rear. We
therefore lost no time in following the guns.

The general, observing our disappointment at the re-
luctance of the enemy to come forward to attack us, took
a pinch of snuff out of his buff-leather waistcoat pocket,
and said, ^' 28th, if you don't get fighting enough, it is
not my fault."

Scarcely had we moved when a column of the enemy
crossed the bridge in perfect order. Their light troops,
together with those who forded in the morning, were
soon close to our rear, when the skirmish resumed its^

78 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch

lively character, which was incessant during several miles'
march. Hurrying our pace about noon and thus gaining
a mile or two ahead of our pursuers, we halted on the
road (we of the light company only), at a place where
we could only be attacked in front, and that by a strong
force ; we therefore threw out no flankers. The mountain
on our left, as we turned round to face the enemy, was
stupendous, covered with snow, and rose nearly perpen-
dicularly from where we stood. On our right the precipice
was very deep, its steepness bearing proportion to the
sudden rise of the mountain above.

The enemy, seeing it impossible to force us in front
until their heavy columns should come up, sent their
voltigeurs and some cavalry into the valley low down
on our right to turn that flank — an operation attended
with many difl&culties. The country being deeply covered
with snow, the inequalities of the ground were undis-
€Overable to the eye ; and it afforded us much amusement
to see men and horses tumbling head over heels as they
advanced through the valley.

It was during this short halt that an officer wearing
-a, blue coat rode up from our rear (we faced the enemy),
and on his enquiring for General Paget, some men of the
company sent him forward to me for an answer.

Upon his coming up he addressed me by saying, " Pray,
sir, where is General Paget ? "

As the general was not five yards distant, leaning
against the wall of the road, and heard the demand as
plainly as I did, I considered it would be indecorous in
me to make any reply. The officer with the blue coat
repeated his question rather hastily, and for the reason
already mentioned I remained silent.

The general then stood up, and putting on his hat

VIII.] GENERAL AND PAYMASTER-GENERAL. 79

said, " I am General Paget, sir ; pray, what are your
commands ? "

By a partial closing of one of the general's eyes I dis-
covered a small shadow under the inner corner of its
lower lid, which, although it did not prophesy a raging
monsoon, yet clearly indicated severe weather not far
distant.

" Oh, beg pardon, sir," said the blue-coat ojfficer ; '^ I am
paymaster-general, and "

Here he was interrupted by the general, who, advancing
one or two paces towards him, said in a voice not to be
mistaken, " Alight, sir ! "

The gentleman complied, yet apparently as if he did
not see the absolute necessity of so doing. Then, repeating
that he was a — or the — paymaster-general, I forget which,
continued by saying : " The treasure of the army, sir, is
close in the rear, and the bullocks being jaded are unable
to proceed ; I therefore want fresh animals to draw it
forward."

"Pray, sir," said the general, "do you take me for
a bullock-driver or a muleteer, or, knowing who I am,
have you the presence of mind coolly to tell me that
through a total neglect or ignorance of your duty you
are about to lose the treasure of the army committed
to your charge, which, according to your account, must
shortly fall into the hands of that enemy ? " (And he
pointed to the French advanced guard, who were closing
upon us.) " Had you, sir, the slightest conception of your
duty, you would have known that you ought to be a day's
march ahead of the whole army, instead of hanging back
with your foundered bullocks and carts upon the rearmost
company of the rearguard, and making your report too
at the very moment when that company is absolutely

8o THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

engaged with the advancing enemy. What, sir ! to come
to me and impede my march with your carts, and ask
me to look for bullocks when I should be free from all
encumbrances and my mind occupied by no other care
than that of disposing my troops to the best advantage
in resisting the approaching enemy ! It is doubtful, sir,
whether your conduct can be attributed to ignorance and
neglect alone."

There were other expressions equally strong which are
now in part forgotten ; yet the words, " ought to be
hanged ! " have been hanging on my memory for many
years.

While the sterling and the pound-sterling generals were
thus giving and getting, the enemy were creeping round
our right flank. Soult's heavy columns were closely
approaching in front, and their balls coming amongst us
obliged us to retire. I thought at the time that the
general prolonged his discourse to give the man of money
an opportunity of witnessing how the rearguard were
generally occupied, and to show him the different use of
silver and lead during a campaign.

We now retired and soon came up to the treasure, con-
tained in two carts lugged by foundered bullocks, moving
so slowly as to render motion scarcely visible even in the
wheels. The light company were now ordered to the
rear in double quick time, to a village called, I think,
Gallegos, about two miles distant, there to refresh and
halt until called for. This order, although we had been
fighting since daybreak, rather astonished and mortified
us ; but General Paget formed a pretty correct idea as to
how we were to be employed during the remainder of the
day. As the light company passed to the rear the
regiment were drawn up close to the carts, and preparation

VIII.] MUSIC AND MEDICINE. 8i

commenced for the fall of the dollars. As they rolled
down the precipice, their silvery notes were accompanied
by a noble bass, for two guns were thundering forth their
applause into Soult's dark brown column as they gallantly
pressed forward.

After the money had been thus disposed of, and the
enemy's column for a short time checked, the regiment
and the guard of the treasure, consisting of a subaltern's
party of the 4th or King's Own, passed to the rear. The
light company by this time had had a halt of upwards
of an hour, during which time we had some little repose,
and sparingly partook of our frugal fare ; but our modera-
tion arose more from economy than care of health, of which
there was no necessity, for scarcely had the regiment and
guard of the 4th Regiment got clear through the village
when our old friends came up and liberally supplied us
with their pale blue digesting pills. We were instantly
under arms ; and the fight proceeded, and was well
maintained on either side during several miles without
the slightest intermission, until we came to a low hill
within little more than musket-shot of the village of
Constantino.

CHAPTER IX.

THE EETREAT CONTINUED.

/^N this hill the artillery attached to the reserve were
^-^ embattled ; the 95th Regiment were drawn np in
line on either side, and one company advanced in loose
order to cover the front. The road itself was now occupied
by the 28th Light Company, close to the guns, being the
only bayonets present. From this position the road
descended suddenly in semicircular direction down to the
bridge which separated us from Constantino, a village
built on the slope of another hill beyond the stream. To
arrive at this further hill the road from the bridge assumed
a winding, zigzag course. Against our position on this
side of the stream the enemy's light troops continued to
advance, and became warmly engaged with the company
of the 95th thrown forward. But on their heavy column
coming up and gaining a full view of our position, they
came to a halt, which continued for some time — a most
fortunate circumstance, for at this juncture the main body
of the reserve were passing over the bridge and wending
their way up the zigzag road leading to the summit of
the hill on the opposite bank, on which, as soon as gained,
they were placed in position by Sir John Moore himself.
Had the enemy's heavy column, who were close behind
their skirmishers, pushed gallantly forward, which they
would have been fully borne out in doing from their

82

Ch. IX.J FIGHT AT A BRIDGE. 83

numbers, they mast have forced our guns and the 95th
down to the bridge, and by occupying the near bank of
the stream, which was very high, they would have
been enabled to fire within pistol-shot into the retiring
columns, and this must have caused the greatest confusion
and loss.

Having at length gained confidence from increasing
numbers or feeling ashamed to delay their attack, the
column, doubling its skirmishers, moved forward at the
very moment when, the reserve having gained the opposite
bank, our guns were withdrawn and passed us in a
sharp trot down towards the bridge. The 95th and the
light company now began also to withdraw, but scarcely
had we left the position which we held when the French
cavalry occupied it. Their numbers were every moment
increasing, but, knowing that our guns had not as yet
gained the opposite ridge, we retired with measured step.
During our movement towards the bridge the cavalry
frequently evinced an inclination to charge the light
company on the road ; but seeing the beautiful manner
in which the 95th retired, close on either flank of the
road, through thickly planted vineyards, amongst which
a horse could scarcely move, and knowing the murderous
fire which that gallant corps would have poured forth
had the cavalry attacked the light company, who with
stern aspect were prepared to receive them, the horsemen
declined to give us the honour of a charge.

We now approached the bridge ; and the 95th, closing
from the flanks, came on to the road, which here narrowed
and wound so suddenly towards the bridge and so close,
that, the bank being much above its level, it lay concealed
until approached within a few yards. The light company
now halted, and forming across the road as deep as our

84 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

strength permitted, faced the cavalry. They also halted ;
and the 95th, favoured by the sudden turn, wheeled round
and quickly crossed the bridge unperceived. We now fully
expected that the affair would terminate in a trial of
bayonets and sabres ; but although the cavalry seemed
preparing for a charge, yet, doubtful as to our true position
and not knowing what had become of our guns or of the
95th, and dreading an ambuscade such as was prepared
for them in the morning, they hesitated and remained firm.
The light company now wheeled round, and with a quick
but orderly pace crossed the bridge unmolested. By this
time the reserve had occupied their new position. The
bank, which we had Just gained, was lined down to the
water's edge by the 95th and other light troops, the end of
the bridge strongly defended, and our guns admirably posted.

All this preparation was closely seen by the enemy, and
yet it was only now that they came forward in force and
resolute in attack ; in fact, the warfare at the bridge
seemed a revival of that courteous chivalry renowned in
olden times, when the advancing army delayed their attack
until their opponents should be prepared to resist the
assault. As their dense column, preceded by the sharp-
shooters and cavalry, pushed forward to assail the bridge,
they suffered severely from our guns, which being advan-
tageously posted above them had open play and beautiful
practise at the column ; and the sharpshooters and cavalry
who mounted the bridge were instantly shot, which caused
all their attacks to fail.

On this day the whole reserve presented a rather curious
appearance, in consequence of their being partially clad
with the raiment which they had snatched from the Spanish
carts the previous night. I recollect that Lieutenant
Cadell, of the 28th Regiment (now lieutenant-colonel), cut

IX.] FIGHTERS IN FANCY DRESS. 85

a Jiole in a blanket, through which he thrust his head,
and thus marched the whole day. Being a tall man, a
grenadier, his appearance was afterwards called to mind
when we saw the shepherds clad in sheepskins crossing
the Pyrenean mountains on stilts. But the light company
of the 28th Regiment, being better supplied, in consequence
of their nocturnal visit to the carts from Nogales, appeared
more diversified in their dress than any others. Gray
trousers, blue trousers, and white breeches were promiscu-
ously seen. Some wore black shoes, some white ; and
many there were who wore shoes of both colours. This
being the company whom the enemy had in view almost
the whole day, they may have been led to imagine that
we were all mixed up with the stragglers from Rom ana's
army. But their variety of dress affected neither the
resolution nor discipline of the reserve ; and after three
successive rushes which the enemy vainly made, cavalry
and infantry uniting to force their way over the bridge,
they returned each time under a thorough conviction that
they had been received by British troops alone — British
to a nerve.

The fighting at the bridge continued. About dusk the
main body of the reserve retired, leaving piquets and
a strong supporting party to defend the passage. The
piquets maintained an incessant fire with the enemy on
the opposite end of the bridge so long as either party
could distinguish the other ; darkness intervening, the firing
ceased. After remaining quiet for some time and lighting
our fires, and no movement being perceived on the opposite
bank, the piquets and supports were silently withdrawn
about half-past eleven o'clock and followed the track of
the main body, whom we joined about dawn on march
to Lugo.

86 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

This morning's marcli was heavy ; for the enemy's
cavalry alone having come np and keeping rather distant,
the men complained of not having an enlivening shot
to break the dreary monotony. However, we were soon
gratified by seeing the whole British army in position
about three miles in front of Lugo.

We marched through the brigade of guards, who were
for the most part in their shirts and trousers, and in the
act of cooking. All their appointments swung airily from
the branches of trees. As we passed, some of the officers
asked Major Browne if we had heard anj^thing of the
French. "I'll tell you what, my honest lads," replied
Browne, " you had better take down your pipeclayed
belts from those trees, put them on, and eat your dinners,
if you have any, as quick as you can ; otherwise you may
not have an opportunity of finishing them." The guards
laughed with an air of incredulity. We marched on, but
had not proceeded half a mile when we heard our guns,
which were placed in the position mentioned, open on
the advancing enemy. We now laughed in our turn at
the guards, and continued our march to Lugo, where we
arrived about two o'clock in the afternoon.

We were instantly ordered to commence pipeclaying our
belts, and to polish or clean every part of our appointments.
This was considered useless hardship ; for grumbling at
any orders, even supposed to come from the Commander of
the forces, was the order of the day, and few considered
that this very pipeclaying and polishing most powerfully
tended to restore that discipline throughout the army
which was so shamefully neglected during the march.

On the morning of the 7th we turned out at daybreak,
although it rained heavily, as clean as if we had just come
out of our barrack-room in Colchester, and marched as

IX.j HALT AT LUGO. Sy

orderly into position in front of Lugo as if crossing parade-
ground in England. Here we remained the whole of the
7th and 8th to no purpose : for although Soult came up on
the morning of the former day, he merely made one or two
demonstrations to feel our strength and find out whether
the whole British army were there or not ; and although
he received a loudly affirmative answer wherever he moved,
yet from the morning until the night of the 8th the
French army slept. For, however active Soult was on
the 7th in feeling his way along our position, by which
he sacrificed nearly four hundred men, on the 8th not
a shot was fired ; and thus Sir John Moore evidently
perceived that it was not the French marshal's intention
to attack until he should be joined by an overwhelming
force, which he knew was fast approaching.

Nothing remained then for the British general but to
retire. To attack Soult commanding a stronger force than
his own, and holding a stronger position, would be
preposterous ; the most favourable result which could
occur would be to gain a victory, which, with a second
stronger force close by, would be worse than useless, as it
would increase the delay and consequently the peril. We
had no hospitals, no transports for sick or wounded, no
magazines, no provisions, not even spare ammunition, and
not the shadow of an ally to support us.

Whatever Sir John Moore's wishes as to fighting a
battle at that period of the campaign might have been, it
is certain that he considered a halt necessary to restore
order and good conduct in the army. To this efiect the
general issued a pungent order, censuring the want of
discipline among the men, and the neglect of those whose
principal duty it was to preserve it.

Having fully succeeded in restoring discipline, and in a

88 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

great measure remedying the immediate wants of the army,
he determined without further delay to continue his march
to Corunna. The army therefore retired from Lugo at
half-past nine o'clock on the night of the 8th ; and had we
had twelve hours of tolerably clement weather or even half
that time, our march would have been comparatively
prosperous. But fortune seldom favoured us ; storms of
sleet rain and wind immediately assailed us on quitting
our ground.

The reserve arrived without fail on the road leading to
Corunna, as was previously ordered, and was the only
division, as well as I recollect, who did arrive at the time
appointed. The other divisions, having missed their way,
wandered about the greater part of the night before they
gained the road ; therefore the reserve (the proper rear-
guard) moved forward, but slowly, making frequent halts
to await the arrival of the misled divisions. Frequent
halts and slow marching between — always very detrimental
to marching — was on this occasion doubly harassing to the
reserve. We felt all the fatigue and anxiety of a rear-
guard, with most of our own troops behind us. On the
approach of any number of persons we were immediately
on the alert, not knowing whether to receive friends or
resist foes. The night being pitch dark and rainy, this
continual halting and turning round was excessively
tormenting ; and the men, from whom the true cause was
kept concealed, grumbled much at what they termed this
cockney kind of marching, to which they were not
accustomed. Add to this that General Paget gave a most
positive order that no man should on any account whatever
quit the ranks or get off the road, not even during any of
our halts. This may appear harsh, but if the strictest
discipline had not been maintained in the reserve, the

IX.] AROUSING STRAGGLERS. 89

army would have been exposed to imminent danger. Had
tlie disgraceful scenes which occurred at Bembibre taken
place now in the reserve, with a veteran army close at our
heels and commanded by such an officer as Soult, the
result must have been too evident to require comment.

On the morning of the 9th the wandering divisions
having come up, the whole army halted for some hours in
the rain, after which to our great joy the main body, with
the cavalry in their front, moved on, and the reserve fell
into its proper place, the rearguard. We allowed them
to get as far ahead as possible, and then again felt, as
we had done all through the retreat, a different corps and
differently organised from the other divisions ; nor did we
feel the same confidence in them, except when drawn up
before the enemy, when the general character of British
soldiers caused all distinctions to cease.

But one of our greatest plagues was still to come. Some
of the divisions in front, instead of keeping together on
the road during a halt, which took place on the approach
of the night of the 9th, were permitted to separate and
go into buildings ; and on their divisions marching off,
immense numbers were left behind, so that when the
reserve came up we were halted to rouse up the stragglers.
In many instances we succeeded, but generally failed ; we
kicked, thumped, struck with the butt ends of the fire-
locks, pricked with swords and bayonets, but to little
purpose. There were three or four detached buildings in
which some wine was found, and which also contained
a large quantity of hay ; and between the effects of the
wine and the inviting warmth of the hay it was totally
impossible to move the men. And here I must confess
that some even of the reserve, absolutely exhausted from
the exertions they used in arousing the slothful of other

90 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

divisions to a sense of their duty, and not having seen
anything so luxurious as this hay since the night of
December 22nd (the one previous to our march from
Grajal del Campo), could not resist the temptation ; and
in the partial absence of the officers, who were rousing up
other stragglers, sat and from that sunk down probably
with the intention of taking only a few minutes' repose ;
yet they too remained behind.

The division at this time were excessively harassed and
fatigued. We had formed an outlying piquet for the whole
army on the night of the 7th at Lugo, all the other troops
being put under cover. Our occupation on the night of
the 8th and the following day and night was still more
harassing ; and here I must say that all our losses (those
fallen in action excepted) arose from our contiguity to the
main body.

After having used every exertion to stimulate the
stragglers to move forward, we continued our march for
about a mile and a half, and then took up a position, thus
affording support to the stragglers and covering the army,
who had previously marched into Betanzos, about three
miles distant.

During this disastrous march from Lugo to Betanzos
more men had fallen away from the ranks than during
the whole previous part of the campaign. The destruction
of several bridges was attempted, but a failure was the
invariable result.

On the 10th the whole army halted. The main body
remained in the town of Betanzos ; the reserve maintained
its position in bivouac.

Directing our attention towards the stragglers as soon
as day dawned, we discovered them formed in tolerably
good order, resisting the French cavalry and retiring up

IX.] BATTLE OF THE PANNIERS. 91

the road to where we were in position. General Paget
saw the whole affair, and perceiving that they were
capable of defending themselves, deemed it unnecessary
to send them any support ; but he declared in presence
ot the men, who from a natural impulse wished to move
down against the cavalry, that his reason for withholding
support was that he would not sacrifice the life of one
good soldier who had stuck to his colours to save the
whole horde of those drunken marauders who by their
disgraceful conduct placed themselves at the mercy of
their enemies.

The stragglers by this time became formidable ; and
the enemy's cavalry having lost some men, and seeing
the reserve strongly posted, declined to follow farther
this newly formed levy en masse, who, true to their system,
straggled up the hill to our bivouac.

This affair between the stragglers and the cavalry was
termed by the men the battle of the Panniers, from the
following circumstance. A soldier of the 28th Regiment,
really a good man, who had the mule of Doctor Dacres,
to whom he was batman, having fallen in the rear
because the animal which carried the surgeon's panniers
was unable to keep up with the regiment, stopped
at the houses mentioned ; and, getting up before day-
break to follow the regiment he was the first to discover
the enemy as they advanced rather cautiously, no doubt
taking the stragglers for our proper rearguard. The
doctor's man shouted to the stragglers to get up and
defend themselves against the French cavalry ; bat before
they could unite into anything like a compact body, some
were sabred or taken. He then gallantly took command
of all those who, roused to a sense of danger, contrived
a formation, until, to use his own words, he was super-

92 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

seded by a senior officer, a sergeant, who then assumed
supreme command ; upon which General Panniers, with
his mule, retired up the hill to where the reserve were
posted. I understand that the sergeant got a commission
for his good conduct among the stragglers ; but the poor
batman was neglected — a not unusual instance of " Sic
vos non vobis " in the British army.

On the stragglers perceiving that they were no longer
pursued by the dragoons, they showed strong inclination
to straggle anew and keep aloof; but a strong piquet
was now sent to meet them, not for their assistance, but
to prick them forward and compel them to close upon
the division. A guard was thrown across the road at the
entrance to our position, through which all the stragglers
must pass. Each man as he came up had his pack and
haversack taken off and closely searched ; and all the
money found upon them which it was fully ascertained
could have been acquired by robbery only was collected
in a heap and distributed among the men who never
swerved from their colours, thus rewarding the meritorious
and well disciplined to the mortification of those who
disgraced their profession. The sum thus collected
amounted to a great deal ; for many plunderers abandoned
their ranks at an early period of the retreat, contriving
to keep between the reserve and the other divisions, or
keeping between the contending armies or on their flanks.
But it is totally impossible to enumerate the different
articles of plunder which they contrived to cram into
their packs and haversacks. Brass candlesticks bent
double, bundles of common knives, copper saucepans
hammered into masses, every sort of domestic utensil
which could be forced into their packs, were found upon
them without any regard as to value or weight ; and the

IX.} AMAZING LOOT. 93

greater number carried double tlie weight imposed by
military regulations or necessity. On this day upwards
of fifteen hundred robust marauders, heavily laden with
plunder, passed through the rearguard of the reserve.
Those belonging to the division were of course halted ;
but the great body were sent under escort to Betanzos,
there to be dealt with by their different corjjs.

CHAPTER X.

THE EETEEAT CONTINUED.

rpHIS night we passed in feasting, supplies of provision
-^ having been sent out from Corunna ; and the
commissary gave our mess a canteen full of rum, some
biscuits, and an extra piece of salt pork in exchange for
a wax candle, which enabled him to serve out the rations
and saved him from error in securing his own slight
portion. We were excessively happy at the exchange,
as it enabled us to entertain some friends that night ; and
we felt proud at famishing the candle, which was not the
less appreciated for being in the first instance sacrilegiously
plundered from a church by the stragglers, then violently
wrested from them by the light company, and finally
returning to the purpose for which it was originally
intended, and religiously expiring in throwing light on
the works of the commissary.

After two nights' uninterrupted repose in comfortable
quarters, the main body of the army, under the immediate
command of the General-in-chief, marched from Betanzos
on the morning of the 11th, followed by the reserve from
their bivouac at due distance, and the reserve, as usual,
closely attended by Soult's advanced guard, headed by
Franceschi's light cavalry. On this day they were not
very pressing until after we had crossed the bridge of
Betanzos. Close to this bridge the 28th Regiment were

94

Ch. X.] GENERAL PAGET AND AN ENGINEER. 95

halted to protect the eDgineer officer and party employed
to blow it up, all the necessary preparations having, it
was supposed, taken place the day previously. The
desired explosion now took place by which it was
confidently expected that for a short time at least we
should be separated from our teasing pursuers, and thus
be enabled to arrive in good order before Corunna. Our
expectations were, however, blasted by the explosion itself ;
for as soon as the rubbish had fallen down and the smoke
cleared away, to our great surprise and annoyance we
perceived that one half of one arch only had been
destroyed, the other half and one of the battlements
remaining firm.

On witnessing the abortive result of all this labour
and fuss, General Paget, who was close by, exclaimed in
astonishment, " What, another abortion ! And pray, sir,
how do you account for this failure ? "

The engineer officer replied that he could account for
it in no other way than that the barrel of powder which
effected the partial destruction had in its explosion either
choked or shaken from its direction the train leading to
the second barrel, which consequently still remained whole
in the undemolished part of the arch.

Upon this the general demanded to know within what
period of time the disaster could be remedied.

" In less than twenty minutes, sir," was the engineer's
reply.

" Very well, sir," said General Paget ; and then, turning
to me, he said, " Go over the bridge."

I considered this order to be addressed to me individu-
ally, for the purpose of reconnoitring, a service in which
the general had frequently employed me during the
march ; and, taking a rapid view of the probable conse-

96 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

quences of passing over the smouldering embers of the
half-choked train, which might still revive and creep its
way to the second barrel, however flattered at being
selected, yet I confess I did not relish the affair. But
whatever my sensations, they were my own private
property ; my person, I felt fully aware, belonged to my
king and country.

Immediately moving forward to the bridge, I found
that the order to cross it was intended not for me alone ;
the whole light company and the grenadiers were ordered
to cross over. The main road led directly forward
through the town of Betanzos ; but close to the end of
the bridge which we now approached a branch road
turned off at a right angle, winding round the base of
the hill upon which Betanzos stands. At this angle and
on the side of the road next the bridge was a large
house, which intercepted the view between the bridge
and the turn of the branch road ; and so we got on to
the wrong road by mistake.

Captain Gomm, General Disney's ma,ior of brigade, was
sent to recall us, when we of course turned round, followed
by the French cavalry at a short distance, within which
they could easily keep, in consequence of the winding nature
of the road.

As soon as the grenadiers, who now led, turned the
angle of the road above mentioned they were immediately
on the bridge, and, never forgetting the barrel of powder^
they, followed by the light company, moved in double
quick time over the narrow part of the bridge — by the men
called the Devil's Neck.

The enemy, perceiving us in such a hurry, no doubt
attributed the haste to timidity (and it may be remarked
in all contending animals that as courage oozes out of

X.] UNDER THE CAVALRY SABRE. 97

one it appears to be imbibed by its adversary); for
scarcely had the light company passed twenty yards beyond
the Devil's Neck when the cavalry gave a loud cheer —
sure indication of a charge. I instantly gave the word,
" Right about turn, forward ! " and, being now in front
of the men, in my anxiety to gain the narrowed part of
the bridge — the Devil's Neck — I happened to shoot five
or six yards ahead, when, the dragoons advancing close,
the front ranks of the company behind me came down
on the knee. I had not time to turn round, for at that
moment a French officer, darting in front rode full tilt
at me. I cut at him, but my sword approached no nearer
perhaps than his horse's nose ; in fact my little light
infantry sabre was a useless weapon opposed to an immense
mounted dragoon, covered, horse and all, with a large green
cloak, which in itself formed a sufficient shield. After
the failure of my attack I held my sword horizontally
over my head, awaiting the dragoon's blow, for it was
far more dangerous to turn round than to stand firm.
At this very critical moment a man of the company, named
Oats, cried out, " Mr. Blakeney, we've spun him ! " and at
the same instant the dragoon fell dead at my feet. I flew
with a bound to the rear, and regained the five or six paces
incautiously advanced. The cavalry were now up to our
bayonets, covering the whole pontine isthmus.

This affair, trifling in itself, yet to me very interesting,
did not occupy as much time as I have taken in its
narration. Along the other side of the bridge the dragoons
charged forward, until they came to the edge of the chasm
formed by the explosion, when they were of course arrested ;
and on the opposite side of the chasm the grenadiers were
drawn up, standing, being protected from a charge by the
opening. The dragoons in the rear, not knowing the cause

7

98 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch

of the check, rode furiously forward, and, crowding their
front ranks, who were pulling up or wheeling round, and
exposed to the fire of the grenadiers, the greatest confusion
ensued ; while those at our side, finding all attempts at
breaking through the light company fruitless, and being
severely galled by the fire of the rear rank as well as a
flanking fire from some of the grenadiers, all wheeled round
and galloped off at full speed. Arriving at the house near
the end of the bridge, their leading squadrons wheeled
short round ; but the suddenness of the turn, made too
whilst in full speed, checked the whole column, and the
light company, now free to act on their feet, poured a
wicked well-directed fire into their ranks. So hot was the
peppering, and so anxious were the rear squadrons to get
away, that they refused the turn, and, increasing their
speed, rode direct into the town of Betanzos. Here we had
beautiful practice, for the road was straight ; and to enter
the town they must pass through an archway, which caused
a second check, when many were lowered from their horses.

All having at length retired, I stepped forward the
nearly fatal Rye paces and took possession of my late
fierce antagonist's green cloak, which from the inclemency
of the weather was extremely useful. I long kept it as
a boyish trophy, although to Oats alone belonged any merit
attending the fall of its late gallant owner. Oats, seeing
the dangerous predicament in which I was placed, was
the only man in the front rank of the company who did
not come on his knee ; he was immediately behind me,
and remained firm on his feet to enable him to fire over
my head, and, waiting the proper moment and taking steady
aim, sent his ball through the dragoon's head just as his
sabre was about to descend upon mine.

It now appeared that during the time when the two

X.] FROM BETANZOS TO CORUNNA. 99

flank companies of the regiment moved forward to check
the cavalry, by which they ran such risk of being blown
up or cut off, no progress had been made in the destraction
of the standing half of the injured arch ; and now the
enemy, possessing themselves of the building at the end of
the bridge, fired upon us from the windows. From this
house they could not be driven, our guns having moved
forward.

Although all expectation of destroying the bridge was
now relinquished, still it was absolutely necessary to
prolong our halt. The whole British army were on
march from Betanzos to Corunna ; and to have allowed the
enemy to approach before the main body had crossed the
bridge of El-Burgo, eight or ten miles farther on, must
have caused serious loss.

During our halt the French dark brown infantry
columns were seen pouring into Betanzos, which they soon
occupied in considerable force. They threw out some
skirmishers, and showed frequent symptoms of rushing
forward en masse to force the bridge ; but to our great
disappointment they never attempted carrying their men-
acing threats into execution, brought to their senses by
the severe chastisement which their cavalry had received
shortly before in their vain attempt to cross the bridge.

A retiring army has seldom an opportunity of ascertain-
ing the losses sustained by their pursuers ; however, in this
instance they must have suffered severely, and had it not
been for a drizzling rain, which continued the whole morn-
ing and caused many of the musket locks to refuse fire,
few, if any, of the dragoons who charged at the bridge
would have returned. We had but a few men wounded
either by pistol or carbine shots, but not a man cut down.

Here I must express my astonishment that, notwith-

loo THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

standing tlie impetuosity with which the dragoons rushed
forward, neither man nor horse was precipitated into the
stream, although closely pressed by their own ranks in the
rear, and being suddenly compelled to rein up whilst in full
speed on the very edge of the chasm. They of course had
heard the explosion, but being at some distance were
ignorant of the effect which it produced ; and, seeing us
after it had taken place cross and recross the bridge, they
most probably considered the attempt to destroy it a total
failure, as all other similar attempts had been ; and the
chasm, from the rubbish and the convexity of the bridge,
lay concealed till they were on the brink.

The enemy seemed to be philosophically calculating their
strength, whether of nerves or what, and of the resistance to
be overcome by advancing. It would indeed be difficult to
decide on the force necessary to win the bridge. The rifles
with sure and steady aim incessantly poured their fire from
the rising ground and hedges which our bank of the stream
offered. The light company (28th) kept up a deadly fire
upon all who trod the bridge, immediately supported by the
grenadiers. The 28th Eegiment formed a barrier of steel
in rear of its flank companies. The 20th, 62nd, and 91st
Eegiments, boiling with eagerness to mingle in the fight,
were scarcely restrained in their position not far above us,
ready, in the event of the enemy forcing their way over the
dead bodies of the 28th Regiment, to hurl to destruction
all those who dared to pass the fatal bridge. General
Paget was amongst us. Sir John Moore with anxious
looks watched from the position above each individual
movement. This we knew, and, knowing it, had the hero
of Lodi and Areola himself headed the opposite host, he
must have been content with his own end of the bridge
or have surely perished at ours.

I

X.] A FLIGHT OF HEROES. loi

General Paget, having considered that the main body of
the army had by this time got sufficiently ahead, followed
with the reserve, leaving the bridge without having des-
troyed even one arch ; and scarcely had we retired ten
minutes when the enemy's advanced guard passed over in
polite attendance, maintaining their courteous distance,
which was this day increased. Not having seen our guns
at Betanzos, it is not improbable that they suspected an
ambush such as had been tried at the romantic bridge.

This, our last day's march, was the first time, since Sir
John Moore became Commander of the forces, that the
whole British army marched together ; consequently it was
the most regular. Sir John Moore directed in person ;
every commanding officer headed his regiment, and every
captain and subaltern flanked his regularly formed section ;
not a man was allowed to leave the ranks until a regular
halt took place for that purpose. But the evil attending
irregular marching was past and irreparable ; unfortunately
this soldier-like manner of marching was resorted to too
late to be of much effect.

We, the reserve, arrived that evening at El-Burgo, a
small village within four miles of Corunna. Extraordinary
measures seemed to have been taken for the destruction of
the bridge which there crossed the Mero. The prepara-
tions being terminated, the 28th Light Company, who
still formed the rearguard, crossing over the bridge were
drawn up close in its rear. Many remonstrated against
our nearness, but were sneeringly assured of being more
than safe : thus high-bred scientific theory scorned the
vulgarity of common sense. The explosion at length took
place, and completely destroyed two arches ; large blocks
of masonry whizzed awfully over our heads, and caused
what the whole of Soult's cavalry could not effect during

I02 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

the retreat. The light company of the 28th and Captain
Cameron's company of the 95th broke their ranks and
ran like turkeys, and regardless of their bodies crammed
their heads into any hole which promised security. The
upshot masonic masses continuing their parabolic courses
passed far to our rear, and, becoming independent of the
impetus by which they had been disturbed, descended and
were deeply buried in the earth. One man of the 28th was
killed, and four others severely wounded were sent that
night into Corunna. This was the only bridge destroyed
during the whole retreat, except that of Castro Gonzolo,
although many were attempted.

Headquarters were this night at Corunna, and the whole
of the troops under cover. Even the 28th Light Company,
although on guard over that wonder, the blown-up bridge,
were sheltered. We occupied a house quite close to the end
of the bridge. Nearly opposite to us, on the other side of
the street, a company of the 96th were stationed, also in
a house ; and each company threw out small detached
parties and sentinels along the bank of the river.

The French infantry did not come up that evening ; but
next morning, as day broke, we discovered the opposite
bank lined by their light troops ; and a small village not
far distant was held in force. But a few shots from our
guns obliged the enemy to abandon the post ; and a sentry
from the 96th was pushed forward to the verge of the
broken arch, screened by stones and rubbish. Our
opponents took up a similar post on their side during the
night, so that, the British troops having now turned round
to face the enemy, the advanced posts of the contending
armies were only the breadth of two arches of a bridge
asunder. In this situation we continued for two days,
keeping up an incessant fire, so long as we could disco ve

X.] ONE SAFE CORNER. 103

objects to fire at. This continued blaze was to our advan-
tage, as it obliged tbe enemy to answer us. We were
plentifully supplied with fresh ammunition from Corunna,
whereas the expenditure on the part of our foes was not
so easily remedied ; this they afterwards felt at the battle
of Corunna.

The light company were very critically situated. On
one side our windows were exposed to a flanking fire ;
at the end of the house they were directly open to the
enemy ; and both were exposed to fire from the opposite
bank, which was hotly maintained, so that it was impos-
sible to cross the room we occupied except by creeping
on our hands and knees. But in one angle we were as
secure as in a coffee-house in London. We could have
been altogether out of danger in a magazine underneath,
but from there we could not see what the enemy were
about ; and every moment it was expected they would
attempt to repair the bridge, or in some way endeavour to
cross the river, which was found to be fordable at low
water. We therefore placed a large table — the only one
found in the house — in the safety corner. A magazine
was discovered filled with potatoes, the only ones we saw
since leaving Salamanca ; and some fowls, detected in an
outhouse, were cackled forth from their hiding-places by
the melodious, though perfidious, notes of the ventriloquists
in their search for game.

Having a sumptuous dinner on this day, we invited
Captain Cameron, commanding the Highland company of
the 96th, who were on piquet in the house opposite, to
come over and dine with us. Cameron was an excellent
fellow and a gallant and determined soldier ; he willingly
accepted the invitation, but hesitated as to crossing the
street, not thinking himself justified in risking his life

I04 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch.

for a dinner when employed upon duty so important. But
I told him that if he would wait until three shots had
been fired at the window from which I was speaking (but
standing at a respectful distance from it), he would be safe
in running across the street. I then put my cap upon the
point of my sword, pushing it gradually out of the window,
at the same time cautiously, as it were, moving forward
a musket. The three shots were soon fired at the cap.
Cameron then bolted across the street ; but just as he
was entering the door a fourth shot was fired, which I
did not expect, and, as well as I can remember, passed
through the skirts of his greatcoat without doing any
other injury. The danger was not here finished, for as
soon as he arrived within three steps of the top of the
stairs he was obliged to crawl on all fours, and continue
that grovelling movement until he arrived within the
sanctum sanctorum. The servant who brought in dinner
was obliged to conform to the same quadruped movement,
pushing the dishes on before him. On that day also,
Lieutenant Hill of our regiment came to visit us, passing
along the rear of the houses.

We were now rather numerous in the safe corner, being
four in number — Cameron, Hill, Taylor, and myself. Hill,
who came in late, was warned to keep within due bounds ;
yet in a moment of forgetfulness he placed his glass out-
side the safety line, and, as luck would have it, just as
he withdrew his hand the glass was shattered to pieces
by a musket-shot. A loud laugh arose at his expense ;
there was no other glass to be found, and each being
unwilling to lend his, he drank sometimes out of one
and sometimes out of another. The scene was truly
ridiculous ; and the manner also in which we discovered
wine is not unworthy of being noticed. A man of the

X.] PORK FOR WINE. 105

company, named Savage, came running to say that he
had discovered wine, and conducted me to a house close
by, in which General Disney, who commanded our brigade,
was quartered. Looking through a crevice pointed out
by Savage, for whose continued laughter I could not
account, as soon as my eye became familiar with the dim
light within 1 discovered the general and his aide-de-camp,
Captain D'Oyly, of the guards, filling their canteens with
wine. Bather at a loss and not thinking it decorous to
interrupt the general whilst ofiicially employed for the
good of the service, I went round to the door, which I
discovered whilst peeping through the microscopic fissure ;
here I waited until they came out, not badly provisioned
with not bad wine. Just as they were about to lock the
door I sprang forward, saying that I had discovered wine
to be in the house, and came to inform him. The general
thanked me very politely, saying that he intended acquaint-
ing me privately, but that great caution must be observed
to keep it a profound secret from the men. This was
the good of the service alluded to. The general then gave
me the key. We sent for our canteens, which for several
days had hung uselessly over the men's shoulders ; our mess
was plentifully stocked, and we gave every man a bottle
of wine half at a time. Shortly afterwards D'Oyly came
with the general's compliments, to ask if I could lend him
a piece of salt pork, which he promised to repay at Corunna.
Our mess had none to give, but I procured a four-pound
piece from the company, which I must say he has never
recollected to repay, so that should he ever meet the
28th Light Company he will have an opportunity of
fulfilling his obligations.

On the evening of the 13th the reserve received an order
to evacuate El-Burgo immediately. It stated that no

io6 THE RETREAT CONTINUED. [Ch

regular formation whatever was to take place, neither
regiments, companies, nor sections ; every man was to move
out independently, and as soon as possible, in the direction
of Corunna. The light company of the 28th were directed
to retire in the same manner as soon as the place should
be evacuated by the whole of the reserve. Such an order
coming from General Paget astonished us all. But our
speculations ceased when we reflected upon the source
whence the order emanated ; for such was the high
estimation entertained of General Paget, and such the
confidence reposed in him by every officer and man in
the reserve, that any orders coming from him were always
received as the result of cool determination and mature
judgment. When that officer gave an order there was
something so peculiar in his glance, so impressive in his
tone of voice, and so decisive in his manner, that no
one held commune, even with himself, as to its pro-
priety or final object. The order was clear ; the execution
must be prompt.

In obedience to this order the reserve commenced
moving out of the town, directing their steps towards
Corunna in the manner indicated. The light company
perceiving the village evacuated by all except themselves,
prepared to follow the example by moving out of the
hothouse which they had occupied for two days, when all
of a sudden we were not a little startled by a tremendous
crash ; a cannon-shot, followed by another and another,
passed through the roof, shattering tiles beams and every
article that opposed. Our sanctum sanctorum, or safety
corner, now became no longer such ; we hurried downstairs,
not delaying to assume our accustomed quadruped position.

This was the first time the enemy brought artillery
to bear on the rearguard, although their guns were in

X.] GO AS YOU PLEASE. 107

position at Lugo. Tlie previous unaccountable order was
now fully explained. General Paget had discovered a
partially masked battery in forwardness on the summit
of a hill, and the whole village was entirely exposed to
its fire ; into this battery the enemy were dragging their
guns, while the reserve were evacuating El-Burgo. The
general, perceiving the place no longer tenable, fortunately
ordered it to be abandoned in the manner mentioned. Had
he waited to make regular formations, the loss of men on
our part must have been considerable ; for as the light
company passed through, the whole village was under
cannonade and the streets raked by musketry from the
bridge. Thus the reserve bade adieu to the advanced guard
of Marshal Soult's army as an advanced guard. They
insulted us at parting by firing while we were withdrawing
our advanced sentries, pressing necessity preventing us
from resenting the afiront ; but we warned them to beware,
should we meet again.

CHAPTER XL

AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA.

A ND now, before 1 join the sumj at Corunna, I beg
to make a few remarks about the light company,
28th Regiment, during the retreat which ended at El-
Burgo. It must, I imagine, appear evident from the
narrative that this company fully participated in all the
fatigues, hardships and privations which occurred through-
out the campaign in question ; that they, in common with
the reserve, traversed eighty miles of ground in two
marches, passed several nights under arms among the
f^now-covered mountains, covered the army as a piquet at
Lugo, Betanzos, and Corunna, at which the reserve were
for two days in continual fire ; that scarcely a shot was
fired during the campaign at which the company were not
present, nor a skirmish in which they did not bear a part.
And it must be clear, from the nature of light troops'
duty and movements, that they took as much exercise
and passed over as much ground, as the most actively
employed part of the army. From their being exclusively
charged twice by the enemy's cavalry at Calcabellos, once
furiously charged at the bridge of Betanzos, and as the
rearmost company of the rearguard, on January 6th,
engaged from morning until night along the road from
Nogales to Constantino, it is but reasonable to suppose
that they must have suffered at least as many casualties

io8

Ch. XL] WORK OF THE 28th LIGHT COMPANY. 109

as any company of the army ; and finally, they marched,
the last company of the whole army, through the village
of El-Burgo under a heavy cannonade and a sharp fire
of musketry. Yet it now fell in as strong, if not the
strongest company present, and as efficient, willing, and
ready for fight as any which the army could produce ;
and were I to give my testimony in presence of the most
solemn tribunal, I could not say, so far as my memory
serves, that a single individual of that company fell out
of the ranks, or was left behind, in consequence of
intolerable fatigue. The captain of the company (Bradby)
was left behind, sick, at Lisbon ; and the senior lieutenant
(English) was sent in the sick-carts from Benevente to
Corunna on December 27th, 1808, suffering from dysentery ;
but no man fell out on the march.

This short statement is not given with a motive of
extolling the service of the company or of proclaiming
their strict discipline, though that would only be performing
an act of justice towards the distinguished corps of which
the company formed a part. I mention it rather as forming
in my humble opinion a strong feature in the character
of the whole retreat.

In bringing the 28th Light Company so frequently
into contact with the enemy, on which occasions the
regiment were always at hand, I will not assert that some
little predilection may not have been entertained by
General Paget. I use the term predilection rather than
confidence lest such term might be considered unpleasing
to the other gallant corps who formed the reserve ;
but whatever be the term used, the inclination was
most natural. General Paget had commanded the 28th
Regiment, and had left it but a few years previous to
the campaign now under notice ; consequently he knew

no AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

many of the men, and was acquainted with all the old
officers. He commanded the regiment too in a situation
which put nerve and discipline to the severest trial which
has ever been recorded. He it was who, when in command
of the 28th Regiment in Egypt, and attacked front and
rear at the same moment, ordered the rear rank to face
about, and in this situation, novel in warfare, received
the double charge, which the men firmly resisted and
victoriously repulsed ; thus he put to flight that chosen
body who, previous to this extraordinary circumstance
were termed the " French Invincibles."

It cannot then be wondered at (nor can any other
regiment feel jealous) that General Paget wished in the
hour of trial to have his old corps near his person — not
for his protection, but because wherever the enemy made
their boldest attacks in the vain hope of reviving their
claim to invincibility, there was he to be found triumphantly
disputing such claim, confident of success when at the
head of the same corps with whom he had destroyed their
original title — a title which after many a gallant effort
made in its support expired on March 21st, 1801, on the
bayonets of the " Old Slashers."

On the evening of the 13th the reserve fell into position
with the army at Corunna ; but still there was no appear-
ance of the transports. On this night the enemy by
indefatigable labour put the bridge of El-Burgo in a
passable state; and early on the morning of the 14th
they crossed over two divisions of infantry and one of
cavalry. As it was impossible to prevent this movement,
it was feebly opposed, with the object of economising our
strength for a more serious event. However some gunshots
were exchanged.

On this morning a large quantity of powder sent for

XL] ARRIVAL OF TRANSPORTS. in

the use of the Spaniards was destroyed, to prevent its
falling into the hands of the enemy. The casks were
piled up in a large and lesser magazine, built together
upon a hill about three miles from the town. The smaller
one blew up with a terrible noise, which startled us all ;
but scarcely had we attempted to account for the occurrence,
when, the train igniting the larger one, the crash was
dreadful. A panic seized all ; the earth was agitated for
miles, and almost every window in Corunna was shattered.
This was the largest explosion of powder which had ever
taken place in Europe — four thousand barrels.

On this evening the long-expected transports hove in
sight, and soon entered the harbour of Corunna. Preparations
for embarkation immediately commenced ; and during the
night the sick, the best horses and upwards of fifty pieces
of artillery were put on board ready for a start — but eight
or ten Spanish guns were kept on shore ready for a fight

On the 16th Laborde's division arrived — a formidable
reinforcement — and immediately fell into position on the
extreme right of the enemy's line.

The despondency which seized the minds of many at
the long delay of the transports, and the accumulating
strength of the enemy which increased the danger of
embarkation, induced several general ofiicers to recommend
to the Commander of the forces that he should ask the
French marshal for terms under which he might retire
to his transports without molestation. Few men of sound
reflection could imagine that, even should the Commander
of the forces crouch to this humiliating proposition, it would
be acceded to by the haughty French marshal. Besides,
there was no necessity for the degrading step : the enemy,
it is true, had upwards of twenty thousand men in a strong
position, and we had about fourteen thousand men in an

112 AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

inferior position — the only one left us to occupy. But
the inhabitants of Corunna were determined to stand by
us to the last, and in a great measure cover our embarka-
tion ; and once embarked we were not in very great danger,
for all the batteries on the sea face had been dismantled.
Another great advantage was that every English soldier
was furnished with a new firelock and his pouch filled
with fresh ammunition, ready to be replenished from
Corunna when required. These advantages compensated
for more than half the difference in our numerical strength.
Above all Sir John Moore was not a man who would
recommend a British soldier to petition on his knees to
an enemy, or to lower his national high bearing ; the
high-spirited Moore was the last general in His Majesty's
service who would submissively lead a gallant British
force, however small, through the Caudine Forks. He
rejected the ignoble proposition with feelings such as it
deserved.

The conduct of the inhabitants of Corunna was doubly
honourable, as they knew that in a very few days their
town must fall into the hands of the enemy, whom they
were now so strenuously opposing.

On the evening of the 15th a smart skirmish took
place between our piquets on the left and a party sent
forward on the French right, in the neighbourhood of
Palavia Abaxo. Laborde sent forward two guns to
strengthen his party. Lieutenant- Colonel M'Kenzie, of the
6th, with some companies rushed forward, endeavouring
to seize the battery ; but a strong line of infantry who
lay concealed behind some walls started up and poured
in such a sharp fire that the piquets were driven back,
carrying their lieutenant-colonel mortally wounded.

During the night of the 15th Soult completed his

XI.] POSITION OF THE ARMIES. 113

arrangements. His right rested close to the Mero ; and
prolonging his line over rocky and woody ground, he placed
his left close to a rocky eminence, upon which he planted
his principal battery, consisting of eleven guns, posting
several other guns as vantage-ground offered along his
line. To the left, and in advance of this big battery,
their cavalry were drawn up. Franceschi's dragoons
on their extreme left were nearly a mile in rear of
General Baird's division, in a diagonal direction. The
rocky eminence which sustained the great French battery
stood at the edge of a valley which lay on Baird's right,
extending in a semicircular direction by his rear and not
far distant from the harbour of Corunna.

On our side, General Hope's division formed the left
of the line, resting their left flank on the slimy banks of
the Mero, extending his right so as to join Baird's
division towards the centre of our line. From this,
Baird prolonged his division to the right, in front of the
enemy's left, and was outflanked by the great battery,
which in an oblique direction was situated in his front.
Our left wing and the right of the enemy were much
further asunder than the contending wings on the other
flank. This materially weakened our position ; but it could
not be avoided, owing to the conformation of the slopes upon
which alone we could be drawn up. These slopes gradually
retired from our right to our left, and consequently the
great French battery raked the whole of our line. General
Fraser's division were drawn up close to Corunna, to watch
the coast road, and to be in readiness to proceed to any
part where needed most.

On the morning of the 16th all the incumbrances
of the army which had not been embarked the previous
night were put on board, and then everything prepared

8

114 AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

for a battle or retreat. It was intended to embark the
army that night as soon as darkness should screen their
retirement. The reserve, whose post was not so open
to the observation of the enemy, were to go on board
in the afternoon. We were told that in consequence
of general good conduct during the retreat, and having
covered the army at Corunna for two whole days, we should
be the first division to embark, and thus have time to
make ourselves comfortable. All our baggage and such
sea-stock as we could procure was shipped, and after
the men had dined we marched towards the transports.
Our minds were now occupied by thoughts of home ; but
we had not proceeded above a hundred yards when we
heard the firing of guns. The division halted to a man, as
if by word of command ; each looked with anxious enquiry.
But we were not kept long in suspense. An aide-de-camp
came galloping at full speed to arrest our progress, telling
us that an extraordinary movement was taking place
throughout the enemy's line ; the three guns fired were
a signal to give notice. We instantly countermarched,
and passed through the village of Los Ayres, where but
twenty minutes before we had bidden adieu to Spain, and
considered ourselves on the way to England. But many
there were who in a few hours were prevented from ever
beholding their native shore ; they paid the last tribute
to their country, surrendering their lives in maintaining
the sacred cause of liberty and national independence.

Immediately on passing through this village we halted.
The enemy's dark columns were seen advancing from three
different points, and with rapid pace literally coming down
upon us, cheered by their guns, which sent their shot over
their heads but plunged into our line, which at the same
time was raked from right to left by their great battery.

XL] THE BATTLE KINDLES. 115

During these primary operations we became the reserve
in reality, but continued so only until the Commander
of the forces should ascertain to a certainty where the
enemy intended making their fiercest attack ; and as to
the point where this was to take place, Sir John Moore
was not mistaken. He knew that he was opposed to the
ablest marshal of France, and he therefore prepared to
resist the attack at that point where he himself would
have made it had the order of battle been reversed. Firm
in his opinion, he shortly after our arrival at Los Ay res
ordered the 95th Regiment to be detached from the
reserve. Their duty was to keep the heavy dragoons
of Lorge and Franceschi's light cavalry in play. Between
the rifles and the right of Baird*s division the 52nd
formed a loose chain across the valley. He then rode off,
leaving orders with General Paget that at the opportune
moment he was to move into the valley, turn the French
left, and capture their heavy battery, sending at the same
time orders to General Fraser to support the reserve.

In the meantime the battle kindled along the whole
line. Laborde's division on their right pressed hard upon
Hope, and took possession of Palavia Abaxo. This was
retaken and maintained by Colonel Nichols, who gallantly
charged the enemy through the village at the head of
a part of the 14th Regiment. On our right two heavy
columns descended against Baird's division. One passed
through Elvina, a village about midway between the
two lines; this place was held by our piquets, who were
driven back in confusion, but was subsequently retaken.
This column made direct for Baird's right, obliging the
4th Regiment to retire their right wing, and then advanced
into the valley. The other column attacked the whole
front of Baird's division.

Ii6 AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

On Sir Jolin Moore's seeing the advance of the column
throngh the valley, he cast a glance to the rear, and,
perceiving that Paget had commenced his movement,
he felt confident that all would go well in that quarter.
He then rode up to the right of Baird's line, and told
Colonel Wench, of the 4th Regiment, that his throwing
back the right of his regiment was just what he wished.
He then moved off towards the village of Elvina, where,
after remaining for some time directing the active opera-
tions, he fell mortally wounded ; but this, when known,
served rather to increase than damp the ardour of the
men, now more than ever excited to vengeance.

Before this melancholy event the enemy's column,
who passed by Baird's right, flushed with the idea of
having turned the right of the British army (since the
4th Regiment had retired their right wing), moved sternly
forward, certain, as they thought, to come in rear of
our troops. But as they advanced, they met the reserve
coming on, with aspect stern and determined as their own ;
they now discovered the true right of the British army.
The advanced troops of Soult's army during the march
now formed his left ; we recognised each other, and the
warning at El-Burgo was recollected. A thousand passions
boiled in every breast. Our opponents, madly jealous
at having their military fame tarnished by the many
defeats which they sustained during the march, determined
to regain those laurels to them for ever lost. We, on
the other hand, of the reserve had many causes to rouse
our hatred and revenge. We painfully recollected the
wanton carnage committed on the defenceless stragglers
of all ages and sexes at Bembibre, and the many bitter
cold nights we passed in the mountains of Galicia, when
frost and snow alone formed the couches on which we

XL] FALL OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 117

tried to snatch a few hours of repose. The haughty and
taunting insults too of our gasconading pursuers were
fresh in our memory. One sentiment alone was opposed
to our anger ; the time was come when it gave us pleasure
to think of our past misfortunes, for they who caused
them resolutely stood before us, foaming with impatience
to wipe away the stain of former defeats. They were
no longer inclined to keep aloof.

Thus urged forward by mutual hate, wrought up to
the highest pitch by twelve days' previous fighting, and
knowing the approaching conflict to be our last farewell,
we joined in fight

"With all the fervour hate bestows
Upon the last embrace of foes."

Our foes stood firm. But the time occupied in firing was
but short ; we soon came to the charge, and shortly the
opposing column was dissipated. Their cavalry now
thought it prudent to retire to and behind their great
battery ; the 95th, freed from their presence, joined us ;
and the 52nd, who had slowly retired as the enemy's
column first advanced through the valley, also united with
their division ; and now the reserve were again all united.

We now pushed on all together, and turned the French
left, and were preparing to charge and carry the great
French battery. Had Fraser's fresh division, who had not
fired a shot, come up now and joined the reserve according
to the Commander of the forces' orders, the whole British
line could have made an advance echelon movement to
the left, and Sou It's army had been lost. Their cavalry
had retreated behind their great battery, when they became
useless from the rocky nature of the ground ; the battery
itself was all but in our possession, and only required

Ii8 AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

the short time necessary to march into it. Elvina, on
our right, the great point of contention throughout the
day, was in our possession, as was the village of Palavia
Abaxo on our left. Our whole line had considerably
advanced, and the enemy falling back in confusion fired
more slackly, not so much owing to the casualties they
sustained as to the scarcity and damaged state of their
ammunition. Their muskets were bent and battered,
while our fire was strong and rapid, our ammunition fresh
and abundant, our muskets new and the nerves which
spanned them tense. The only retreat the enemy had
was over the patched-up bridge of El-Burgo, and this,
after the 14th Regiment had taken Palavia Abaxo, was
nearly, if not quite, as close to our left as to the French
right. The Mero in full tide ran deep broad and rapid
in their rear ; and if Napoleon the Great himself had
been there, his escape would have been impossible. But
the excited troops were drawn away from decisive and
continued victory.

As darkness approached, our piquets as usual lit large
fires ; and the British army retired to Corunna, and em-
barked that night without the slightest confusion, so
completely had everything been previously arranged.

On the morning of the 17th, the piquets being with-
drawn, the wounded were collected and with the exception
of very few put on board, covered by a brigade still left
on shore for that purpose. About noon on this day Soult
managed to bring up some guns to the village of S. Lucia,
which played upon the shipping in the harbour, some
of which were struck. This causing some disorder amongst
the transports, several masters cut their cables, and four
vessels ran ashore ; but the soldiers and crews being
immediately rescued by the men-of-war's boats, and their

XL] HAD MOORE LIVED. 119

vessels burned, the fleet got out of harbour. The Spaniards
nobly redeemed their pledge to keep the enemy at bay
and cover the embarkation to the very last. The few
wounded who still remained ashore, together with the
rearguard, were put on board early on the morning of
the 18th without the loss of a single individual ; and the
whole sailed for England.

Without the remotest intention of depreciating the
merits of his gallant successor, Sir John Hope, whose
valour and military talents are renowned through the
army, there is but little doubt that if Sir John Moore
had not fallen the battle, though glorious to his successor
and to the British army, would have terminated more
decisively. Sir John Moore felt the keenest in the whole
army. He, like the lion long baited and fretted by distant
darts, had turned at last, and finding his pursuers within
his reach would have been content with nothing less than
their total destruction.

That the battle of Corunna, under the peculiar circum-
stances which attended it, was one of the most glorious
which has been fought in modern times will not be denied ;
it was that which furnished the most unequivocal proof
of British firmness. The army could not have occupied
a worse position, as Sir John Moore declared ; but it could
not be remedied. Our troops were not sufficiently numerous
to occupy a more advanced post, which was therefore left
for the enemy. The British soldiers had been harassed
by a long and fatiguing retreat in the severest season
of the year and during peculiarly inclement weather.
Their route had been through mountains covered with
snow ; they had been irregularly fed, and the clothing
partly worn off their backs. The enemy were far superior
both in position and numbers ; and the English army

I30 AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

fought without either cavalry or artillery. But however
glorious was the result of the battle to England, yet it
was cause of national rejoicing to the enemy, although
conquered ; for Sir John Moore no longer guided a British
force to rouse the jealousy and mar the plans of two
hundred and fifty thousand French veterans accustomed
to victory. He lay down on the land for whose freedom
he bled, and slept on Iberia's breast for ever.

Sir John Moore's first appearance produced sentiments
in the beholder not remote from reverence. His tall,
manly and perfect form attracted general admiration, while
his brilliant and penetrating eye denoted profound observa-
tion, and proclaimed the determined soldier and able
general. His words, voice and bearing realised all you
had ever imagined of a perfect and highly polished
gentleman endowed with every talent necessary to form
the statesman or warrior. His features were formed
to command the attention of man and make the deepest
impression on the female heart. His memory, as I have
been told by old officers who knew him well, was extra-
ordinary, yet amiably defective ; and what was once said
of a great warrior might be justly applied to him — that
he recollected everything save the injuries done to himself.
Few have ever been gifted with more personal or mental
charms than Sir John Moore ; yet the perfection with
which he was sent forth was far outshone by the glory
that attended his progress and recall.

Having but slightly touched on the circumstances attend-
ing the fall of this great man, I will repeat that after
entirely approving the movement of the 4th Regiment
in retiring their right wing, and feeling satisfied as to what
would take place in the valley. Sir John Moore made
straight for the village of Elvina, where the fight con-

XL] JOY OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 121

tinned to be most bloody and most obstinately maintained .
It had been repeatedly taken and retaken at the point
of the bayonet. Just as the Commander of the forces
arrived, the 60th Regiment, who were formed on the left
of the village, commanded by Major Napier, and seconded
by Major Stanhope, made a most desperate charge through
the village ; but Napier's impetuosity carrying him
forward through some stone walls beyond the village,
he was desperately wounded, and fell into the hands of
the enemy ; and Major Stanhope was killed. The general
cheered the regiment during this charge, crying out,
" Bravo, 50fch, arid my two brave majors ! " Then per-
ceiving the enemy coming forward to renew the struggle,
he ordered up a battalion of the guards, directing at the
same time that the two regiments already engaged should
be supplied anew with ammunition. The 50th continued
firm ; but the 42nd, mistaking this as an order to go to
the rear for ammunition, began to retire. Seeing this,
the general rode up to the regiment, exclaiming : " My
brave 42nd, if you have gallantly fired away all your
ammunition, you have still your bayonets — more efficient.
Recollect Egypt ! Think on Scotland ! Come on, my
gallant countrymen ! " Thus directing the willing 42nd to
meet the renewed attack on Elvina, he had the satisfaction
to hear that the guards were coming up ; and, pleased
with the progress of the 42nd, he proudly sat erect on
his war-steed, calmly casting a satisfied glance at the raging-
war around. It was at this moment that he was struck
to the ground by a cannon-ball, which laid open the breast
of as upright and gallant a soldier as ever freely sur-
rendered life in maintaining the honour and glory of his
king and country. He soon arose to a sitting position,
his eyes kindling with their usual brilliancy when in-

122 AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. [Ch.

formed that the enemy were victoriously repulsed at all
points.

At this period the battle raged in its utmost fury ; and
an active general movement was taking place from right
to left of both lines, the enemy retiring, the British pressing
forward ; and now Sir David Baird also was knocked down,
receiving the wound for which he subsequently suffered the
amputation of his arm.

On placing Sir John Moore in the blanket in which
he was borne to the rear, the hilt of his sword got into-
the wound ; and as they tried to take it away, he declined
having it moved, saying, '^It may as well remain where
it is, for, like the Spartan with his shield, the Briton should
be taken out of the field with his sword." The wound
was of the most dreadful nature ; the shoulder was shat-
tered, the arm scarcely attached to the body, the ribs over
his heart smashed and laid bare.

Thus was Sir John Moore carried to the rear. As he
proceeded, perceiving from the direction of the firing that
our troops were advancing, he exclaimed, " I hope the
people of England will be satisfied." On being taken ta
his house in Corunna, he again enquired about the battle^
and being assured that the enemy were beaten at all points,,
exclaimed: "It is great satisfaction to me to know that
the French are beaten. I hope my country will do me
justice." Whether this well-founded hope was realised
or not let the just and generous determine. He now
enquired about the safety of several officers, those of his
staff in particular ; and he recommended several for pro-
motion whom he considered deserving. This exertion
caused a failing in his strength ; but on regaining it in
a slight degree, addressing his old friend Colonel Anderson^
he asked if Paget was in the room. Upon being answered

I

XL] DEATH OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 123

in the negative, lie desired to be remembered to him,
saying, " He is a fine fellow ; 'tis General Paget, I mean."
This was a noble testimonial to that gallant officer's
high character, rendered sacred by the peculiar circum-
stances in which it was called forth ; and it strongly
marked the martial spirit and high mind of the dying
hero, who, with his body writhing in torture, the veil of
eternity fast clouding his vision and his lips quivering
in the convulsive spasms of death, sighed forth his last
words in admiration of the brave.

The battle of Corunna terminated at the same moment
that the British commander expired. He was buried in
the citadel. As the enemy's last guns were firing his
remains were lowered into the grave by his staff, simply
wrapped in his military cloak. No external mark of
mourning was displayed ; the grief could not be withdrawn
from the heart.

Thus, like a staunch general of the empire, Sir John
Moore terminated his splendid career in maintaining its
honour and crushing its foes. Yet his last act was
peculiarly devoted to his own Scotland : it was cheering
on the Royal Highlanders to a victorious charge. How
Scotland has shown her recognition of the gallant and
patriotic deed, or her admiration of the splendid career
of the brightest ornament whom she ever sent forth on
the glorious theatre of war, I have never been told.

CHAPTER XII.

BUT LITTLE GLORY IN HOLLAND.

r\^ January ISth, 1809, the British army sailed from
^^ Corunna, and having encountered very boisterous
weather, the fleet were dispersed, and the regiments arrived
in England at different ports and at different periods during
the latter end of the month and the beginning of February.
One wing of the 28th Regiment landed at Portsmouth ;
the other, to which I belonged, disembarked at Plymouth.
Our appearance on landing was very unseemly, owing
principally to the hurry attending our embarkation at
Corunna, which took place in the dark and in the presence
of an enemy. Scarcely a regiment got on board the vessel
which contained their baggage ; and the consequence was,
that on quitting our ships we presented an appearance of
much dirt and misery. The men were ragged, displaying
torn garments of all colours ; and the people of England,
accustomed to witness the high order and unparalleled
cleanliness of their national troops, for which they are
renowned throughout Europe, and never having seen an
army after the termination of a hard campaign, were horror-
struck, and persuaded themselves that some dreadful
calamity must have occurred. Their consternation was
artfully wrought up to the highest pitch by the wily old
soldiers, who, fully aware of the advantage to be gained

124

Ch. XII.] OUTCRY AGAJNST THE DEAD. 125

by this state of general excitement and farther to work
on the feelings, recited in pathetic strain the most frightfnl
accounts of their sufferings and hardships. Interested
persons at home profited by this state of universal ferment.
One political party, eagerly catching at any circumstances
which could tend to incriminate the other, highly exagger-
ated even those already incredible accounts ; while the
other side, who felt that all the disasters attending the
campaign properly rested with themselves, joined in
the cry and with mean political subterfuge endeavoured
to throw the onus off their own shoulders on to the breast
of the silent, the unconscious dead. A general outcry was
got up against Sir John Moore. He was accused of being
stupid, of being irresolute, of running away, and of God
knows what. His memory was assailed alike by those
politically opposed to his party and by those who once
were his supporters, and who, although aware of his
masculine genius, maintained their posts by basely
resorting to calumny and deceit.

During this campaign it was the opinion of many that
circumstances occurred which, under more favourable
auspices, would have induced some individuals to expect
promotion. But the jarring and disturbed state of the
Cabinet, each individual endeavouring to counteract the
measures of his colleague, threw out a foggy gloom
damping all hopes ; and when the eminent services of
Sir John Moore and those of General Paget were passed
over unnoticed, it would have been a military heresy to
have accepted, much more to solicit promotion.

After remaining a few days at Plymouth, we proceeded
as far as Exeter, and there halted for the space of a week
to await further instructions from London. During our
stay at this place we lived at the Old London Inn, and

126 LITTLE GLORY IN HOLLAND. [Ch.

here a curious scene took place. Two Spanish gentle-
men stopped at the inn on their way to Falmouth ; and
when after dinner their bill was presented, a misunder-
standing took place. I should premise that at this, as at
many other inns in England, every edible article produced
on the table is charged separately. The Spaniards, after
carefully examining the bill, objected to pay it ; the waiter
reported to his master, who interfered, but since he was
as ignorant of Spanish as his guests were of the English
language, all was confusion. The arguments and assertions
of either party were totally incomprehensible to the other.
After fruitless clamour the landlord came into the room
where we, the officers of the regiment, dined, requesting
to know if any of us could assist him in his dilemma.
Although not very well acquainted with the Spanish
language at that time, I volunteered my services. The
Spaniards were very wrathful and boldly asserted that
the innkeeper attempted to extort payment for a dish
which was never brought to them ; this they were firm
in maintaining, having counted every article. One swore
that he never touched anything of the kind, and that,
if brought into the room, it must have been covered on
the sideboard ; the other accused the cook of having used
it himself in the kitchen, and of trying, that he might
conceal his gormandising, to make them pay, declaring
at the same time that the affair should be laid open
to the public for the benefit of future travellers who might
otherwise be taken in. By their accounts it was impossible
that I could fathom the affair ; and as soon as the
Spaniards allowed me to speak, I called the waiter to
bring his written bill, and on this one of the gentlemen
pointed out what he considered to be the cheat. I took
the paper from the waiter, when, lo ! upon examination

XII.] GREAT CRY. 127

I discovered the viand in dispute to be the chambermaid,
who was charged in the bill at two shillings. I could
not restrain a loud fit of laughter, which roused the blood
of the Castilians even more than the cheat ; but when
I explained the cause, they were as ready to enter into
the joke as any others. Upon asking mine host how
he could think of making a charge for the chambermaid
in his bill, thus making a voluntary donation obligatory,
he replied that, had he not done so, foreigners would
never pay her ; that his servants had no other wages than
those which they got from customers. The Spaniards paid
the bill most willingly, and joined our table, and the
whole party laughed heartily during the remainder of the
evening.

The order for continuing our route having at length
arrived, we proceeded to occupy our old quarters (Colchester),
where, after passing through Dorset, to avoid falling in with
other troops on the move, we arrived after a march which
including partial halts occupied one month and five days,
giving an addendum to our campaign of from between
three and four hundred miles without leaving a single
straggler behind. This march bore heavily by lightening us
of all our cash, and dipped us besides in the paymaster's
books.

In less than three months after the regiment was united
at Colchester, we again were ordered upon what we joyfully
contemplated as active service. A magnificent expedition
was sent out to carry off (if allowed) the Gallia Dutch
fleet from the Schelde. The land forces, commanded by
the Earl of Chatham, were composed of forty thousand
men, the flower of the British Army. This force was
accompanied by a not less imposing naval force : thirty-
nine sail of the line, three dozen frigates and innumerable

128 LITTLE GLORY IN HOLLAND. [Ch,

satellites, bombships, gunboats, brigs, etc., which, together
with storeships, transports and other craft, amounted in
the whole to upwards of six hundred sail.

To join this splendid armament the 28th Eegiment
marched from Colchester in the latter end of June, and
reached Dover on July 4th. Thence we in a few days
proceeded to Deal, where we embarked on board frigates —
a squadron of that class of men-of-war under command
of Sir Richard Keats being destined to carry the reserve
of the army. This arrangement was adopted in consequence
of the frigates drawing less water than ships of the line,-
thus enabling them to lie closer in shore and quicken the
disembarkation of the reserve, who of course were the
first troops to land. We remained upwards of a week
anchored at Deal, awaiting final instructions and the
junction of the whole. During this delay some thousand
families, many of the highest lineage in the kingdom,
visited Deal. All arrangements being finally terminated,
this truly magnificent naval and military armament sailed
on July 28th, 1809. Thousands of superbly dressed women
crowded the beach ; splendid equipages were numerous ;
all the musical bands in the fleet, as well military as naval,
joined in one general concert, playing the National Anthem,
which, with the loud and long-continued cheering on shore,
enlivened the neighbourhood for miles around and caused
the most enthusiastic excitement throughout the whole.
Many beauteous fair, whose smiles were rendered yet more
brilliant by the intrusive tear, waved their handkerchiefs
in the breeze to the fond objects of their fixed regard,
who responded with silent but steadfast gaze, burning
with the two noblest passions which inspire the breast
of man — love and glory. The show was august, the
pageant splendid, the music enchanting.

XIL] AND LITTLE WOOL. 129

Next morning we discovered tlie dykebound fens of
Holland, little anticipating that they were shortly to
become British graveyards. About noon we anchored ;
and the remainder of the day was passed in preparing
the three days' cooked provisions always carried by British
soldiers on landing in an enemy's country.

The next day proved boisterous, and to our great mor-
tification nothing general could be attempted. However
about noon the weather having somewhat abated, great
commotion was observed throughout the armament ;
signals from ship to ship throughout the fleet portended
great events. Sir Richard Keats lowered his flag, followed
by Sir John Hope on board the Salsette frigate, which
carried the left wing of the 28th Regiment, with the
exception of the light company. The light company
embarked with the headquarters on board the Lavinia
frigate, commanded by Lord William Stuart.

After due consultation between the admiral and general,
a signal was made calling for all the carpenters of the
squadron with their tools. Some momentous affair was
evidently at hand. Four companies of the 28th Regiment
were lowered into boats, which, being joined by the light
company from on board the Lavinia^ were placed under
the command of Major Browne of the regiment. We now
immediately pushed off, animated by the cheers of the
whole fleet. The shore was soon reached, the light company
leading the van, the first on hostile ground. Advancing
some way, we encountered a piquet, who, on our shooting
the fever (the ague only remained) out of a few trembling
Dutchmen, thought proper to retire. Upon this we pro
ceeded to carry into execution the object of the expedition,
which, I forgot to mention before, was to destroy a signal-
post.

9

130 LITTLE GLORY IN HOLLAND. [Ch.

The carpenters now came in for a full share of the glory.
Each axe that fell upon the staff was answered by cheers
loud as salvos ; but when the mast after repeated blows
was seen to fall, so loud were the greetings that some
ships passing at a distance on their way to England and
reporting what they had heard, induced many there to
think that Antwerp had fallen into our hands. After the
fall and destruction of the telegraph, we returned trium-
phantly on board, carrying away all the machinery books
and signals ; and thus, and thus alone, the 28th Regiment
signalised itself during this stupendous campaign !

Next morning (July 31st) a signal was made for all
the troops to descend into the boats and prepare for
landing. The rapidity of the current was such that the
boats were carried away by the stream, and clung alongside
of any vessel that came in their way. I recollect that
Lieutenant-Colonel Woodford, with his light company of
the Coldstream Guards, held on by the Lavinia, and was
taken on board. The ojfficers dined with Lord William
Stuart, who, having been called away by Sir Richard Keats,
requested me to do the honours of his table during his
absence ; and his guests, to relieve me from any embarrass-
ment, freely and cheerfully partook of his lordship's fare.
I more than once in later days met Colonel Woodford in
London, and remember not only his polished address and
courteous manner, but also his prompt recognition and
ready kindness.

August 1st being fine, the reserve under Sir John
Hope landed on the Island of South Beveland ; while
the other troops went ashore principally on the Island
of Walcheren, and soon proceeded to besiege Flushing.
On the 13th the bombardment of that fortress com-
menced. It was only on the morning of the 14th that.

XIL] INCONSIDERATE BERNADOTTE. 131

after many previous consultations, a squadron of frigates
commanded by Lord William Stuart forced the passage
of the Schelde ; and, notwithstanding the delay caused by
considering the enterprise too dangerous to be attempted,
only one vessel, the Lavinia which led, was struck by
only one shot. On the morning of the 15th Flushing
capitulated.

In the meantime the reserve in South Beveland stormed
and took Fort Batz, a strong post occupied by the enemy.
On the 11th an attempt was made by the enemy's gunboats
to retake it ; but the guards, who originally took the
fort, now successfully defended it.

Flushing having fallen, our frigates in the Schelde, and
all the channels and passages round the islands scoured
by our gunboats, the reserve expected hourly to be
ordered to attack Antwerp and the enemy's fleet, who
lay in our view and within our grasp, not far from
Antwerp. However we were grievously disappointed.
With the fall of Flushing fell all our warlike operations.
After we had remained inactive a sufficient time to allow
Fouch^ to collect and throw thirty thousand men into
Antwerp and its defences, and to erect batteries along all
the approaches which he armed with the guns taken from
their now useless ships, the Commander of the forces, with
the courtesy of manner which distinguished that nobleman
very politely requested the French to give up their fleet.
But that surly son of a tubmaker, Bernadotte, sent a
flat refusal ; and, finding too late that late Court hours
and measured movements were ineffectual, against rapid
and early rising revolutionists. Lord Chatham with the
greater part of the survivors of his fevered army returned
to England on September 14th. A portion were left behind
to favour the introduction of prohibited goods, but the

132' LITTLE GLORY IN HOLLAND. [Ch. XII.

fatality and expense attending the maintenance of this
contraband establishment being found to more than
counterbalance the advantages proposed, the project was
abandoned, and those who escaped pestilence returned on
December 23rd.

The splendid pageantry that attended, and the national
joyous pride that greeted the departure of this superb
armament, were wofuUy contrasted with its return. The
unwieldy expedition, although it furnished cause of merri-
ment all over the Continent, deluged the British empire
with tears. There was scarcely a family in Great Britain
which did not mourn the fate of a gallant soldier, without
one cheering ray to brighten the gloom, one laurel leaf
to be hallowed by their affectionate tears. The mortality
among the troops was so great that bands of music were
forbidden to attend the military funerals.

CHAPTER XIII.

WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA.

A FTEE having filled up some hundred vacancies caused
by our Dutch expedition, we again received orders
to prepare for foreign service ; and in January 1810 the
28th Regiment for the fourth time in four successive
years marched from Colchester to go out and meet the
foe in foreign lands. On this occasion we proceeded
to Portsmouth, and with the 2nd Battalion of the 4th
or King's Own Regiment embarked for Gibraltar, where
we arrived towards the latter end of the ensuing month.
In the April following, Major Browne of the regiment, with
the light companies of the 9th, 30th, and 41st Regiments,
a battalion company of the 28th which I accompanied,
two guns and thirty gunners, the whole amounting to three
hundred and sixty men and officers, marched to Tarifa,
a small town at the entrance of the gut of Gibraltar,
afterwards rendered celebrated by its noble defence under
Colonel Skerrett against Marshal Victor.

Soon after our arrival I was sent by Major Browne
with despatches to General Campbell, then Lieutenant-
Governor of Gibraltar. Returning next day with the
general's instructions, when I had got about half way,
my attention was suddenly called by the peasantry, who
pastured their flocks on the neighbouring hills, frequently
crying out, " Beware of the French ! " Neither the dragoon

133

134 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

who accompanied me nor I myself could discover the
slightest appearance of an enemy, and I knew that the
French occupied no part within twenty miles of the place.
Under this conviction I proceeded forwards, yet cautiously,
for the shepherds, who seemed much excited, were running
in all directions collecting their flocks. On our advancing
a short way, we heard the shouts, " Beware of the French ! "
repeated with redoubled vehemence. I now stopped short,
when suddenly a French cavalry piquet, consisting of about
twenty men and an officer, darted from out the thickets,
which were so high and the patrol so well concealed
that, although within a hundred and fifty yards of us,
neither the dragoon nor I had discovered any appearance
of either man or horse. They were in their saddles in
an instant, and saluted us with their carbines and pistols
literally before we had time to turn our horses round.
My dragoon darted like lightning off the road towards the
coast, calling upon me to follow, and in an instant was
lost to sight. I felt much disinclination to trust my safety
to concealment in a country with one yard of which
off the road I was not acquainted. I therefore resolved
to rely on the abilities of my horse to make good my
retreat along the road ; I could depend upon him for
speed. The patrol gave me chase for upwards of four
miles. We always preserved nearly the same distance, from
a hundred to a hundred and fifty yards apart, losing sight
of each other only when a turn in the road or some high
brambles intervened. Our uniformly preserving nearly
^the same distance did not depend on the equal speed
of our animals, but on the nature of the road which was
perhaps the worst mountain road in Europe ; and so deep
and so little apart were the ruts by which it was com-
pletely traversed that to push a spirited horse would

XIII.] CHASED BY FRENCH HORSEMEN. 135

be to break his neck to a certainty and most probably
that of the rider also. On approaching the cork wood
not far from Algesiras, the ground being comparatively
level, I very soon left the dragoons far behind.

On my arrival at Algesiras, learning that two Spanish
regiments of cavalry had just arrived there, I immediately
waited on the senior officer, and informed him of what had
occurred, using every remonstrance which I could suggest
to induce him to march to the aid of Tarifa, which, even
before I entered the town, he knew from the peasantry
to be attacked. But all my prayers that he would aid
Tarifa, or at least cut off the retreat of the enemy, were
ineffectual, the Spanish commandant alleging that without
orders he could not move. Upon this I wrote to Lieutenant
Belcher, assistant military secretary to General Campbell,
stating all that had taken place, at the same time
remarking that from the fact, which I learned also from
the peasantry who from far and near drove their flocks
into Algesiras, that no sortie had been made by Major
Browne, I felt convinced that he was attacked by a force
much superior to his own. This letter I immediately sent
off by a boat to Gibraltar.

As soon as it became dusk I again mounted my horse,
if possible to get to Tarifa, attended by the same dragoon
who accompanied me in the morning. This man, who
was no coward, found his way into Algesiras about the
same time that I arrived there. He assured me that
he could conduct me by a coast road to within a hundred
yards of Tarifa without being discovered by any, as it was
a road or rather goat-track but little known. As a proof
of the confidence which he felt, he insisted on taking the
lead, for two horses could not move abreast, and like
a true Spaniard drew his sabre even before he left the

136 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

town. The only thing I obtained from the Spanish com-
mandant was his gratuitous adieu, strongly recommending
that I should not attempt to return to Tarifa until it
should be thoroughly ascertained that the enemy had
retired, to which advice, to avoid the enemy, I paid as
much attention as he did to my recommendation to seek
the enemy. I felt much anxiety to be at Tarifa, the more
as I wished to tell Browne of what I had done, and that
consequently he might expect a reinforcement.

We arrived before daybreak near the town, where
meeting a friar we heard that we might advance with
safety, for the French had retired. It appears that as
soon as Marshal Victor, whose corps were lying before
Cadiz, had learned that Tarifa was occupied by English
troops, he sent out a strong patrol of infantry and cavalry
to ascertain our strength. He felt very jealous of the post,
as it threatened his foraging parties, who frequently came
to the neighbouring fertile plains to procure nourishment
for his army, and principally to collect forage for his
cavalry. For this reason it was that he sent the party
mentioned, who appeared before the walls of Tarifa on
the morning of April 20th before daybreak, seven days
after the place had been in our possession. The surmise
stated in my letter to Lieutenant Belcher proved true.
Major Browne, in consequence of the strong force brought
against him, did not move out of the garrison until the
evening, when the enemy drew off a part of their troops ;
then, as they still occupied a large convent and some
uninhabited houses close to the town, a sortie was made,
headed by Captain Stovin, when they were soon dislodged
and pursued for a considerable distance. This demonstra-
tion against Tarifa was attended with but few results or
casualties, one man only, a gunner, being killed and a

I

XIII.] TARIFA REINFORCED. 137

few more wounded. Lieutenant Mitchell, a gallant officer,
commanded tlie artillery.

On my arrival at Tarifa I acquainted Major Browne with
all that had occurred to me during my absence, my useless
endeavours to induce the Spanish regiments or any part
of the garrison of Algesiras to intercept the enemy's return
from Tarifa, and finally with my having written to Gibraltar.
The major fully approved of all the steps I had taken ;
and, my letter being laid before General Campbell, he
ordered four companies of the 47th Regiment, under the
command of Captain O'Donoghue of that corps, instantly
to embark for Tarifa, but the wind becoming contrary, they
were obliged to disembark at Algesiras and proceed over-
land. They arrived at Tarifa the night after my return
there ; and here they continued until the month of
September. Then the 28th Regiment, whose colonel,
Belson, had gone to England in consequence of ill-health,
were ordered to Tarifa ; and Captain O'Donoghue's
detachment, together with the light companies which
originally had accompanied Major Browne, were then
recalled to Gibraltar.

Shortly after this attack on Tarifa, an English merchant
vessel was captured by a French privateer in the neighbour-
hood of Vejer, not far from Tarifa. A midshipman, who
commanded a gunboat detached from the guardship at
Gibraltar, reported the circumstance to Major Browne, and
applied to him for a detachment of soldiers to embark on
board his boat, stating that so strengthened he might retake
the vessel. Browne, in whose estimation the honour of His
Majesty's arms in whatever branch of the service was para-
mount to any other sentiment, hesitated not a moment, and
ordered me, with as many men of the light company (28th)
as the gunboat could stow, to embark immediately.

138 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

Leaving Tarifa in the evening and pulling all night, we
found ourselves next morning at dawn in the celebrated
bay of Trafalgar ; and as soon as light enabled us to see
we discovered the vessel alluded to about two miles distant.
We immediately swept towards her. Soon after a boat
put off from the shore, now in possession of the French,
with intention, as we afterwards discovered, to set the ship
on fire. While some of the sailors and soldiers in turn
used every exertion to row, or rather sweep, we kept up
as quick a fire as possible with a long twelve-pounder and
a twenty-four-pounder at the boat coming from shore.
One shot having struck not far beyond her, whilst a
shower of grape fell but little short, she thought proper
to retire. Being thus freed from the enemy's boat, we
made a wide offing to keep the vessel between us and shore,
within musket-shot of which she was run aground. On
boarding her, we placed bales of wool or cotton, which
formed the principal part of her cargo, along her side next
the shore to cover us from the fire of musketry ; for by
this time a strong detachment of French infantry came
down close to the water's edge, ranging themselves in
loose order, so as not to offer any dense body to the fire
of the gunboat, which, after putting the soldiers on board
the merchantman, retired beyond musket range of the
shore and kept up a fire of round shot and grape. The
enemy on shore had a similar covering to our own, having
the night before disembarked several bales of the cotton.
Whenever any of these was struck by a round shot, its
bounding from the beach presented a most fantastic appear-
ance and caused shouts of laughter among the men, which
tended to lighten their fatigue.

After working indefatigably for several hours, we at
length succeeded in getting the vessel afloat. Our labour

I

XIIL] A NAVAL BATTLE. 139

was much heightened by our being obliged to work her
off by the windlass, since her capstan was unshipped and
carried away by the French, who had everything in pre-
paration on board to set fire to her as soon as unloaded,
or if there were an attempt at rescue.

Having succeeded in carrying her off, we returned next
day to Tarifa, where we landed in triumph from our prize,
as she was termed. Next day she was sent to Gibraltar,
and condemned, I think, to salvage or some such term ;
but never having on entering the army contemplated
becoming a prize-fighter, I may be mistaken as to terms.
On a distribution of this said salvage money being made,
I was put down to receive a portion such as is allotted
to a sailor, probably an able-bodied one. But on some
person in Gibraltar suggesting that probably it would not
be correct to class me, who was the only commissioned
officer present at the recapture or within sight of it, with
a common sailor, I was on reflection ranked with the
petty officers, cooks, etc., thereby gaining promotion from
the forecastle to the caboose, and obtaining the rank if not
the title of cook. I employed no agent, considering my
claim safe in the hands of the sister profession. Captain
Vivian, who commanded the guardship, the San Juan^ at
Gibraltar, I was told, superintended the arrangement ; and,
together with the whole of his officers and crew, shared
in the spoil, each officer having a much larger portion than
that dealt out to me, although neither he nor they aided
or assisted, or were or could be in sight, when the capture
took place. The midshipman who commandied the gunboat
was equally unfortunate as to the share to which he was
entitled as the only acting naval officer present at the
capture ; but I heard at the time that to quiet him he
was otherwise rewarded. If true, 1 feel happy at it ; and

I40 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

we both should feel content, he at being promoted to
the rank of a commissioned officer, and I at receiving
a diploma as a master of gastronomic science, although to
this day I am ignorant how to compose even a basin of
peasonp. Shortly afterwards I met Mr. William Sweet-
land, who was employed as agent on the occasion. On
questioning him as to the extraordinary distribution, he
with professional coolness replied that he was employed
on the other side, that no person appeared on my behalf,
and that if anybody had, of course there could be no question
as to the sentence which must have been passed. I was
strongly advised to appeal to the Admiralty, as I might
thereby gain a sum of money that would tend to my
advancement ; but I foolishly disregarded the counsel.
So I took my cook's wages, and therewith drank to the
health of my Sovereign, the honour and glory of my old
profession, and success for ever to the Royal Navy. I
was afterwards informed that thanks were given to me
in public orders by Sir Eichard Keats. I never saw the
order, and therefore cannot answer for its existence; yet
the fact could easily be ascertained by any feeling interest
in the subject. For my own part, I felt so dissatisfied
at the mercenary or jobbing part of the transaction that
I never took any step to ascertain whether the thanks
were or were not published. Colonel Browne having
visited Gibraltar shortly after the transaction had taken
place, fully explained his and my sentiments to Captain
Vivian on the quarter-deck of the San Juan, among
other assertions upholding that he himself and the whole
garrison of Tarifa, from which Lieutenant Blakeney was
detached, had as strong a claim to participation in the
salvage as Captain Vivian and the crew of the guardship ;
and here he was perfectly right, for the garrison of Tarifa

XIII.] A DANGEROUS FORD. 141

was five-and-twenty miles nearer to the scene of action
than the San Juan stationed at Gibraltar.

During onr long stay at Tarifa few days passed on
which I was not employed either in opposing the French
foraging parties or in carrying despatches to and from
Gibraltar. On one of these latter occasions, when returning
to Tarifa after an absence of three days, detained by heavy
rains, I was not a little surprised at finding a stream
through the cork wood of Algesiras much changed in its
aspect. But three days previously I crossed it when the
horse's hoofs were scarcely wetted ; now it had become
a roaring and rapid torrent. The passage of this torrent
was very dangerous ; its bed, with which I was well
acquainted having crossed it fifty times, was formed of
large smooth flags much inclined, making it somewhat
perilous at any time to ride over it. Within fifteen or
twenty yards of this, the only part passable, the water-
course suddenly wound round the base of an abrupt
mountain, against which the torrent rushed with violence,
and continuing its new direction soon disgorged itself into
the ocean. To make a false step in crossing was certain
destruction. The current passed rapidly downwards
between the mountains, its foaming surf interrupted in
its course by huge and prominent rocks, with which the
mountain sides were studded down to the very bed of
the torrent, which, now passing underneath, now boiling
over the rugged and unseemly heads of those frightful
masses of stone, gave them apparent animation ; like
monstrous spirits of the flood, they seemed to threaten
destruction to all who came within their reach. With
such a picture before me and considering it a stupid
way of losing one's life, I hesitated for some moments,
when the Spanish dragoon, who always accompanied me

142 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

on such excursions, boldly took the lead and entered the
hissing foam. His horse made some few slips, and more
than once I expected to see both dashed to pieces, which
must have taken place had the animal made a really
false step. Fortunately they got safe across ; but this
did not induce me to follow. Few perils I would not
have encountered rather than ride through that frightful
torrent, knowing as I did the nature of its bed. Yet
to return to Algesiras I considered degrading, especially
when the dragoon had so boldly passed across. At length,
and contrary to his advice, I determined to wade on foot,
and flogged forward my horse into the water, which he
unwillingly took, and like the other narrowly escaped.
The last trial was my own. I recollected that, close
above where the horses passed, a rock about two feet
high stood in the centre of the stream, and to lean against
that in case of necessity, I entered the water a little higher.
Fortunately I thought of this precaution, for by the time
I had with the greatest exertion got to where this rock
was situated, I felt so spent and incapable of resisting
the torrent that I could neither proceed nor retire. Placing
both legs firmly against the rock, and feeling quite giddy
from the glare and the rapidity with which the waters
passed, I felt compelled to close my eyes for some
moments.

My situation was now neither wholesome nor pleasant.
Boughs and trunks of trees rapidly passed at intervals
down the stream, any one of which coming upon me
must have either smashed me on the spot or dashed
me headlong against the rocks below. But luckily I
was preserved by another rock, which stood in the centre
of the channel not far above me, rearing its ample head
over the water ; this dividing the torrent, sent the floating

XIIL] ESCAPE FROM DROWNING. 143

batteries on either side. The poor Spaniard appeared
desperate, violently striking his head, but he did not attempt
the water a second time, nor could I blame him. I wore
a very long sash with its still longer cords, such as light
infantry bucks then used. Untying it and holding one
end, I flung the other towards the Spaniard, who anxiously
prepared to catch it ; but it proved too short. He
now took off his sash, which was also long as all
Spanish sashes are, and rolling up a stone within it
flung it towards me with such precision that I caught
it with both hands. I now tied the two sashes together,
and fastened the stone within one end of the dragoon's
sash, which I flung back to him. He caught it and gave
a cheer. The only thing I now dreaded was that the
Spaniard in his anxiety would give a sudden pull, which,
with the heavy load of water I carried, might cause the
silken bridge to snap or pull me off my legs, either of
which things must be fatal. 1 therefore cautioned him
to hold firm, but on no account to pull unless I should
fall. He fully obeyed the directions, and I warped myself
safely across. The faithful Spaniard hugged me to his
breast, and having raped my cheeks of a kiss each, burst
into a flood of tears, declaring that had anything happened
to me he would instantly have deserted to the French ;
he said that, had I been drowned and of course carried
into the ocean, no assertion of his could have prevented
any one from considering him the cause, and that conse-
quently he would have been torn to pieces by the English
soldiers at Tarifa.

It was now about dusk, and the Spaniard having assisted
me to mount, we started forward as fast as the badness
of the road would permit, for we had several miles still
to traverse. The expression of the inexpressible part

144 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

of my dress at every stride of the horse resembled the
sonnd made by steaks being fried in an adjoining room
while the door is continually shutting and opening. This
simile will now no doubt be considered excessively vulgar ;
but at the period alluded to most officers were familiar
with a frying-pan, and even a guardsman in those days
could rough it on a beefsteak and a bottle of old port.

"We arrived at Tarifa long after the officers had dined.
Colonel Browne well recollects the circumstance, as it
was on this occasion that I brought him a letter written
by Lord Bathurst appointing him Lieutenant-Governor of
Tarifa, with a pecuniary advantage attached which was
not the least acceptable part of the communication.

In this expedition I lost the use of a gold repeater,
which was so gorged by the mountain torrent that I never
afterwards could keep it in order.

Soon after this I was again sent to Gibraltar with
despatches, relative to which some notable occurrences
took place. I should have previously mentioned that
shortly after our occupation of Tarifa a corps or civic
guard, composed of young men, inhabitants of the town,
was formed. The command of this body, called the
Tarifa Volunteers, amounting to from forty to fifty in-
dividuals, was confided to Captain Meacham, 28th Regiment,
not only because he was a gallant and experienced officer,
but also on account of his knowledge of the Spanish
language, acquired at an earlier period when the regiment
was stationed in Minorca. This corps in its infancy im-
perfectly drilled, without any established uniform and
not very imposing in appearance owing to their diversity
of dress, could not be relied on as an efficient force. For
these reasons perhaps it was that they got the name of
'' Meacham's Blind Nuts," so baptised, if I mistake not,

XIII.] A REVOLT OF WOMEN. 145

by Captain Allen of the 10th Regiment. However, to
ascertain what might be expected from them in case
of an emergency which was daily expected, Major Browne
determined to put their alertness at least to trial, confiding
his plan to the Spanish lieutenant-governor. After a
jovial dinner-party he, about an hour before daybreak,
ordered the drums and bugles to sound to arms and troops
to line the walls immediately, stating that the French
were rapidly advancing against the town. The first to be
seen, sabre in hand, was the Spanish governor, previously
warned ; then came forth the British garrison with firm
and equal step ; and last and not too willingly appeared
the rather tardy volunteers. They were to be seen in
small groups scattered through the town, no kind of
formation having taken place preparatory to their going
to the walls ; and so they slowly moved along the streets.
To hurry them up a gun was fired, when an extraordinary
scene was presented. Suddenly all the doors in the town
flew open, and out rushed a fiercer and more warlike
body by far. The streets were instantly crowded with
women, one seizing a husband, another a son, a third
a brother ; some clinging to their dearly beloved, all
endeavouring to snatch them by force from out their
warlike ranks, loudly and bitterly exclaiming against the
British, who, they cried or rather screamed, being fond
of bloodshed themselves, would force others into fight
whether willing or otherwise. At length, urged by some
British officers and breaking away from their wives,
mothers, sisters and lovers, in whose hands remained many
cloaks, coats, hats and even torn locks of hair, the poor
Nuts arrived half shelled upon the ramparts. Dawn soon
after breaking, all the guns were fired off", but surpassed
by the louder screaming inside the town. The rough music

10

146 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

of the artillery was immediately succeeded by the more
harmonious sounds of the band playing " God save the
King." All was soon restored to tranquillity, save for a
few contentious Blind Nuts, each claiming to be the first
who mounted the walls and offered himself to be cracked
in defence of his country.

Scarcely had this scene terminated when Colonel Browne
received important intelligence of the enemy, and I was
immediately sent with despatches to Gibraltar by water,
the wind being rather favourable though strong, but the
weather rainy. On my arrival at Gibraltar, to my utter
tistonishment I found the landing-place crowded with
inhabitants, officers and soldiers, all greedy to know the
nature of my despatches, especially as I had come away
in such boisterous weather and in an open boat. All were
in the greatest anxiety ; for an English man-of-war,
happening to pass by Tarifa at the moment the guns were
firing from the ramparts, reported the circumstance at
Gibraltar, but as it was blowing hard at the time and
there was no port, she had not been able to stop to ascertain
the cause of the firing. This, since a second attack on
Tarifa by a larger force was threatened by the enemy,
caused the greatest excitement at Gibraltar.

The first person who addressed me on landing was
Lieutenant Taylor, 9th Regiment (afterwards shot through
the body at Barossa), demanding, without any prelude
whatever, if Captain Godwin of his regiment was wounded.
I dryly answered, " Yes." " Where ? " " In the shoulder."
" Are they beaten off ? " " They are not there now."
This was sufficient to extricate me from the surrounding
crowd, which otherwise would have impeded my progress
to the convent for at least an hour. As soon as Taylor
got his information, he, followed by the crowd, whom I

I

XIII.] NEWS OF BATTLE. 147

refused to answer, ran off to commuaicate his intelligence
to his commanding officer, Colonel Mole, and Mole in-
stantly galloped off with the news to General Bowes.

In the meantime I delivered my despatches to General
Campbell at the convent. Proceeding thence to Captain
Power, who temporarily commanded the 28th Regiment,
I was there met by Captain Loftus, aide-de-camp to
General Bowes, with a message from the general that I
should immediately, and in writing, state my reasons for
having propagated unfounded reports of an attack and
battle fought at Tarifa. I instantly answered that I had
propagated no reports ; that the words battle or Tarifa
never escaped my lips ; that to get rid of an idle and
troublesome multitude who surrounded me on landing, I
muttered something in a low tone of voice to Lieutenant
Taylor, telling him loud enough to be heard by many not
to divulge anything until the contents of the despatches
which 1 carried should be made known through the
proper channel ; that Taylor promised secrecy ; and that my
stratagem succeeded, for on his departure at a quick pace
the crowd followed. I further added that, had I the
slightest conception that anything thus communicated could
be believed by a general officer, I should certainly have
remained silent, however incommoded by the mob ; and
that to free myself from them was my only object. This
explanation seemed to have been sufficient. I had no
further communication from the general ; but the circum-
stance having been privately communicated to General
Campbell, he sent for Bowes and said, "So, general, I
understand that you have had a flying despatch relative
to a great battle being fought at Tarifa. I should think,
general, that if such had been the case, this would have
been the proper place for you to seek information.

148 WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

instead of sending in pursuit of the officer who carried
despatches to me to know his reasons for any heedless
conversation that might have taken place between him
and any idlers by whom he was surrounded at the Mole.
I understand also, general, that so pressing were you for
his written explanation, that time was not allowed him to
change his wet clothes, for which purpose it was I allowed
him to go away, since he had been drenched with rain for
several hours in an open boat." I met General Bowes the
same day at the general's table. With a smile upon his
countenance he very politely invited me to drink wine
with him ; and the governor requested that, whenever I
brought despatches, I should make the best of my way
through the idlers, but should communicate with no one
until I saw him. Thus the affair terminated as far as
the generals were concerned.

But all my troubles were not as yet ended ; I had to
encounter others on my return. During my absence
Godwin had been told that I reported his having been
wounded in the back of his shoulder ; but although he
taxed me with the report in a laughing way, still he
appeared not well pleased. His usual good-humour returned
when I assured him that I never made use of such an
expression ; and certainly Godwin was one of the last
to whom I should attribute a wound in the back. The
fact was that he had been hurt in the shoulder a short
time previously by his horse running with him against
a tree.

1 frankly confess that while the affair was in agitation
between the generals at Gibraltar I felt somewhat nervous,
owing to a circumstance which took place five years
previously. It may be recollected that in 1805 the regiment
were encamped at the Curragh of Kildare. During the

\

XIIL] A BOY OF NERVE. 149

early part of this encampment, when I was on duty on
the quarter-gnard, it so happened that General Campbell
was general officer of the lines ; and unfortunately it
so fell out that the adjutant neglected to send me the
parole and countersign until a very late hour. In the
meantime came the grand rounds, who were rather hesitat-
ingly challenged for the password, of which we ourselves
were in total ignorance. The general, noticing the not
very correct manner in which he was received and disre-
garding the challenge, rode up at once to the quarter-guard,
and, reprimanding me for the slovenly manner in which
the advanced files were sent forward, demanded the
countersign, adding that he believed I did not know it.
At the moment, as the general turned his head away,
the sergeant of the guard, having that instant received
the parole and countersign, stepped forward and whisper-
ing the words in my ear put the paper containing them
in my hand ; but the general perceiving some movement
rowed the sergeant for being unsteady under arms, and
called me forward rather briskly, repeating his belief that
I had not the countersign. I told him I had.

" And what is the countersign ? " quickly demanded
the general.

I now coolly replied, " I am placed here to receive, not
to give the countersign."

The general was evidently amazed at the reply, and
saying, "Very well, sir, we shall see about this in the
morning," turned his horse round to ride off.

This was the first quarter-guard I had ever mounted,
and from the novelty of the scene and my not having
the countersign when the grand rounds arrived, I felt
excessively nervous ; but although my knees at the first
onset beat the devil's tattoo against each other, yet, having

ISO WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA. [Ch.

now gained full confidence, ratlier augmented by a titter
amongst the general's staff one of whom was his son,
afterwards Sir Guy Campbell, I told the general that my
orders were to allow no person to pass without his first
giving the countersign. Here the titter increased.

" What," said he—" not let me pass ? "

I made no reply ; but retiring the two paces which
the general had called me forward, I remained on the
right of my guard, looking most respectfully at the
general. After a moment's thought he gave me the
countersign, and having received the parole in ex-
change rode away. I was in hopes that the unpleasant
affair had ended here; but immediately after I was
relieved from guard I was sent for by Colonel Johnson,
who, although not my immediate commanding officer,
commanded both battalions as senior lieutenant-colonel.
To him therefore the general complained, and to him
he seemed to attach most blame for allowing so young
an officer, and so totally ignorant of his duty, to take
charge of a quarter-guard. All the field officers of the
two battalions were summoned on the occasion to Colonel
Johnson's tent, and in their presence the general recounted
the whole transaction. I remained perfectly silent. On
his coming towards a conclusion, when he mentioned my
having refused to let him pass, which he repeated with
emphasis, I saw a suppressed smile on the faces of both
Colonel Johnson and Colonel Belson. But Major Browne,
impatient of restraint, broke into a laugh exclaiming,
" Well, he is only one year in the Service ; I am many,
yet I wish I knew my duty as well ; and," continued he
with increased laughter, "it is the first time I ever heard of
a boy ensign taking his own general prisoner." Browne was
wrong as to my rank, for I had been five days a lieutenant.

XIII.] COALS OF FIRE. 151

However, the general did not seem to enjoy the joke as
much as Browne did, and ordered Colonel Johnson to
reprimand me. Johnson, who was brother-in-law to the
general and one of the most gentlemanlike persons possible,
bowed assent, but in some way gave the general to under-
stand that he was at a loss to understand what particular
part of my conduct it was for which I was to be censured.
The general having retired, Johnson's rebuke to me was
very slight indeed, particularly when I mentioned, as I
refrained from doing while the general was there, that the
countersign and parole, with which I should have been
furnished before sunset, were not sent to me until midnight,
just as the grand rounds advanced. But if the lieutenant-
governor recollected this anecdote when at Gibraltar, it
certainly caused no difference in his courtesy or hospitality
towards me ; for he insisted that whenever I visited
Gibr alter I should always make the convent my head-
quarters.

CHAPTER XIV.

A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA.

nnO relate the many and divers occurrences which took
-^ place during our stay at Tarifa, although all more
or less interesting, would swell these pages to an imprudent
size. I shall therefore pass over many and come down
to the month of January 1811.

The Duke of Dalmatia, who directed the operations
carried on against Cadiz and commanded the French force
in Andalusia, was ordered by the Emperor to proceed
into Estremadura, principally for the purpose of reducing
the fortresses of Olivenza and Badajoz. Pursuant to these
instructions he marched from Seville in the first days of
the month with an army of sixteen thousand men, having
withdrawn a part of the troops from before Cadiz. The
British troops stationed in this fortress were commanded
by General Graham. This active officer, indignant at
seeing the gallant troops under his command ignobly and
unnecessarily caged up in a fortress by an inferior force,
(counting each Spaniard who wore military uniform a
soldier), and anxious to shake off the dead weight of his
sluggish ally, General La Pena, who impeded the Spaniards
under his command both in working on the fortifications
and fighting against the enemy, eagerly seized the oppor-
tunity offered by Soult's departure of bursting the trammels
which fettered British valour and striking a decisive blow

153

Ch. XIV.] PLANS OF GENERAL GRAHAM. 153

against the enemy. To carry into full effect his well-digested
plans, he proposed to the drowsy Spanish general, La Pena,
and to the active British admiral, Sir R. Keats, a sortie
from the Isla de Leon, purposing to attack the whole
French line, beat back the besiegers and bring the dis-
gracefully pent-up Spanish and British troops into open
air and active movement in the field. This bold and
masterly project was eagerly embraced by Sir R. Keats,
and apparently so by La Peiia. It was therefore agreed
that whilst a bridge should be thrown across the River
Santi Petri, a general attack should take place by the
gunboats against the whole advanced French line from
Ronda to Santa Maria. One obstacle however opposed :
the bank opposite the Isla, upon which the proposed bridge
was to rest, was with a strong force held by the enemy.
To obviate this it was determined that a diversion should
be made on the outposts in rear of the French lines,
to call off his attention, whilst the bridge was laid down.
In furtherance of this plan General Graham requested
General Campbell to allow Colonel Browne, who com-
manded at Tarifa, to move forward and attack Casa
Vieja. Orders at the same time were sent by La Pena
to the Spanish general, Beguines, who commanded at
Alcala de los Gazules, to attack Medina Sidonia, distant
from his post about fifteen miles due west and directly
leading to Chiclana.

A despatch dated January 25th was late that night
received at Tarifa by Colonel Browne, containing orders
from General Campbell to move forward, with all the
troops he could take with him, to attack Casa Vieja,
and at the same time to favour as much as possible the
movement against Medina Sidonia by the Spanish troops.
Pursuant to his instructions, Browne, with four hundred

154 A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch.

and seventy bayonets of the 28th Regiment and thirty
artillerymen commanded by Lieutenant Mitchell, left Tarifa
at three o'clock on the afternoon of the 26th and arrived
at Fascinas — a distance of about twelve miles — at eight
o'clock. Here we halted for a few hours ; and Captain
Bowles of the regiment was detached with his company
to watch the Vejer road and prevent our return to Tarifa
being cut oif by any troops coming from that direction,
since Yejer was in possession of the French.

About twelve o'clock at night we again moved forward
and at seven in the morning we came in sight of Casa
Vieja, a large convent with some outhouses strongly
fortified and garrisoned by French troops, amounting
to upwards of a hundred men and having two twenty-
four pounders on top of the building. This building is
situated twenty-five miles from Tarifa, in the direction of
Chiclana and Medina Sidonia, with which places it forms
a triangle. We now moved forward, crossing the River
Barbate immersed to our middle, when we were warmly
saluted from the " Blessed old House," as the Spaniards
called it, which at the same time sent out from twenty to-
thirty sharpshooters. The regiment circled round to get in
rear of the convent, while the light company driving in the
sharpshooters took a more direct line and soon gained
the crown of the hill immediately over the building. We
now lay down, after descending to within pistol-shot of
the place, and opened so hot a fire that even a sparrow
could not live on the walls. A parley was now sounded
and the garrison summoned to surrender, which the
commandant without any hesitation resolutely refused to do.
Colonel Browne thought of attacking the convent by storm,
although he had no scaling ladders and the walls were
very high ; but reflected that even though we should

XIV.] TACTICS OF COLONEL BROWNE. 155

succeed (wbich must be attended with severe loss from
the great strength of the works lately constructed), its
possession to us would be useless. He judged correctly
that his instructions would be more effectually carried out
by allowing the post to remain in the hands of the enemy,
and by continuing to threaten it so as to induce the
French at Medina to detach a force to its aid. Since it
was no part of our object to come upon the place by
stealth, the commandant there had time in the morning,
previous to the investment, to apprise the garrison at
Medina of our approach and of his own danger ; and
consequently both infantry and cavalry were immediately
sent to his succour.

Leaving the light company to look down on the
convent and prevent all communication, Colonel Browne,
with the rest of the regiment, marched towards Medina
to favour any attack on that place. As he advanced he
encountered the detachment sent from Medina, whom he
attacked and put to the rout. He then halted giving his
harassed men, who were soaked through with mud and
rain and with wading rivers, an opportunity of refreshing
and hoping also to induce the enemy at Medina to come
forward. In both he fully succeeded. We had already
with us some mounted guerillas, who were of more or
less use ; and during Colonel Browne's halt he was for-
tunately joined by from thirty to forty Spanish cavalry
commanded by an officer, who gallantly did their duty
as long as they remained with us ; and it was a well-
authenticated fact in those days that a small body of
Spaniards attached to or acting with a British force, when
there were no Spanish generals with false pride to interfere,
would proudly imitate the heroic conduct of their allies.

The French force who now advanced from Medina were

156 A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch.

at least equal in infantry and far superior in cavalry to
that commanded by Browne, who, his men now refreshed
by their halt, retired steadily on Casa Vieja, followed
by the enemy, whose numbers increased every moment,
particularly in cavalry. The light company were now
imperceptibly withdrawn from the high ground, which
prevented those within the convent from seeing either our
troops or those who were advancing to their aid. A few
of the company, in very extended order and partly covered
by the brushwood, were left, and these fired at any
showing themselves on the walls, so that those in the fort
were in total ignorance of what was passing so near them ;
and thus we dreaded no attack from our rear. The light
company having joined the regiment and the Spanish
dragoons closed in, Colonel Browne formed line, placing some
cavalry on either flank. The main body of cavalry, together
with the few baggage horses and those which carried our
provisions, were judiciously posted on a gently rising ground
immediately in rear of our centre, which gave an imposing
appearance. On coming closer the enemy halted, no doubt
awaiting still stronger reinforcements, or probably imagining
that we did not show our entire force.

As the dusk of evening advanced. Colonel Browne,
covering his whole front with the Spanish cavalry who
commenced skirmishing with that of the enemy, and con-
sidering that he had a French garrison in his rear, a
superior force in his front, and the ground favourable for
cavalry in which the enemy exceeded him by far, silently
retired in the dark, recrossed the Barbate, and entered the
gorge of the mountain pass, which being thickly planted
with wood secured us against an attack of horsemen. On
this night the Spaniards were to attack Medina ; but reports
coming in frequently during the night and down to a late

XIV.] NUTS TO OUR AID. 157

hour on the morning of the 28th, showed us that the
enemy's troops, whom we had drawn on at such risk, had
not retired, and therefore that Medina had not been attacked.

Among the many messengers we sent out to collect
information as to the movements of the Spaniards, one
returned that forenoon, bringing a letter from the Spanish
general stating that his troops were still in Alcald, but
that he intended moving forward immediately. Thus all
our hardships and risk counted for nothing. We felt
much mortified, and would willingly have returned to
Tarifa from a scene where in appearance at least deceit had
been used. But Browne, faithful to his instructions, moved
out of his stronghold as soon as he learned that the enemy,
whom we had drawn forward, had commenced a retrograde
movement. Succeeding again in drawing them back, he
again retired. The opposing cavalry were by this time
much increased. On this day we were joined by forty men
of the Tarifa Volunteers. Our situation was comfortless,
neither houses, tents nor huts to shelter us, and the rain
falling heavily. It was the first time that Meacham's corps
were ever washed clean, and the Blind Nuts began to see
what was the varied life of a soldier. However we kept up
a blazing fire. Frequent reports during the night stated
that the enemy were collecting in considerable numbers in
our front with intent to attack us ; but, confiding in the
vigilance of the Spanish cavalry, we felt no alarm.

Between three and four o'clock on the morning of the
29th our attention was suddenly called by the trampling of
horses quickly approaching. Springing up from our seats
round the fire (lying down was out of the question from
the heavy rain), we were instantly under arms, when an
officer, two orderly dragoons, and a couple of armed guides
rode up, whom we immediately recognised as Spaniards.

158 A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch.

The officer was aide-de-camp to General Beguines, by
whom he was sent to Colonel Browne to inform him that
untoward circumstances prevented an earlier attack on
Medina Sidonia, but that it was his decided intention to
storm it next morning, and he requested the colonel to make
every exertion in his power to aid the assault. From what
had already passed we felt very dubious as to Beguines'
intentions. But there was something so noble and ingenuous
in the deportment of the aide-de-camp, who solemnly
pledged himself for the attack taking place, that for the
first time we strongly suspected a Spanish general of
sincerity ; in this instance we were not deceived. Colonel
Browne told him that his support might be relied on, and
instantly gave orders to prepare for march. The aide-de-
camp having sparingly partaken of our greatest luxuries —
salt pork and rum — mounted his steed with all that grace
so peculiar to a Spaniard (and he was as fine-looking and
handsome a man as I ever met), and bidding us a cordial
farewell commended us with religious fervency to God and
Saint Anthony and so rode off over bad roads and through
French vedettes to inform his general that the English
troops were already under way.

Groping our way in the dark, we advanced, and, having
crossed the Barbate, were informed that the enemy were
again retiring. Hurrying on to the convent, where we
arrived at daybreak, we instantly opened a roaring fire
of musketry against the building, more to make a noise
than with the expectation of producing any other effect.
Leaving the Tarifa Volunteers with a few red soldiers
interspersed, Colonel Browne with the regiment moved
towards Medina. We had not proceeded far before we
encountered a party of about sixty men, infantry and cavalry,
who, upon hearing our fire at the convent, had turned

XIV.] A GALLANT FRENCHMAN. 159

round. They were instantly put to flight. Pressing
forward towards a mill about a league and a half from
Medina, our cavalry and guerillas, now exceeding sixty in
number, were detached to the mill, as we knew it to be a
^ost occupied by the enemy. On their approach the enemy
fled, when the mill, together with strong fieldworks and
extensive stabling recently finished, was set fire to, thus
informing the enemy at Medina of our advance. Upon
this, a formidable detachment were sent against us.
Coming close, they halted for a short time, but soon
displayed their boldness by a menacing advance, while we
showed our judgment by steadily retiring, covered by our
^javalry and the light company. As we fell back on
Casa Vieja, firing was heard in the direction of Medina
Sidonia. The enemy halted ; we conformed. On both
sides the cavalry skirmished by long shots. This petty
warfare continued nearly two hours, when we retired
gradually to our position over the convent. Here Colonel
Browne received a despatch from General Beguines inform-
ing him that he had taken Medina, but that the enemy
were in strong force before him, and that he anxiously
awaited the result of the sortie from the Isla de Leon.

Soon after this despatch had been received, the garrison
in the convent were made acquainted with all that had
happened in a very extraordinary manner. A large body
of the enemy's cavalry bore directly for our position. So
menacing was their aspect that our attention was entirely
directed towards them, and Colonel Browne prepared to
form square. In the meantime a French officer, winding
unperceived round the base of the high ground which
overlooked the convent, had the boldness to approach it
so near as to be enabled verbally to communicate with
the garrison. The verge of the hill, as I have already

l6o A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch.

stated, was lined by the Tarifa Volunteers, who, not being
accustomed to active warfare and being.drencbed by incessant
rain, did not use tbat vigilance whicb such hostile close
neighbours required ; and it was the loud voice of thfr
French officer which first called their attention. Many
of them now fired, and some of the light company running
up followed the example ; but, the mischief being done, we:
all rejoiced to see that the gallant officer escaped unhurt*
It was subsequently ascertained that the communication
thus heroically conveyed directed the commandant on
no account to surrender, for although Medina had fallen
that morning, it would be attacked during the night and
the commandant strongly reinforced next morning. How-
ever we conjectured at the moment from the fact of
the enemy having lost Medina, that the communication
directed the commandant to seek an opportunity of escape-
with his garrison. The light company therefore resumed
their old position over the convent, and the few guerillas^
now with us were ordered to be excessively alert. The
regular Spanish cavalry, with the greater part of the
guerillas, were skirmishing with the enemy in our front.
From the time we left Tarifa, about three o'clock on the
26th, up to the same hour on the 29th, the weather was so
rainy and boisterous as to frustrate all the plans of the
British general commanding at Cadiz. In consequence
of this, double despatches were sent to Colonel Browne,
one from Sir R. Keats (I could never learn why), the
other from General Graham, stating that from the
boisterous state of the weather the intended movements
and the sortie from the Isla were postponed, and therefore
directing his return to Tarifa as soon as possible. The
gunboat which carried these despatches arrived at Tarifa
only on the morning of the 29th. The naval officer ift

XIV. DESPATCHES FOR COLONEL BROWNE. i6i

charge was strictly enjoined to give his despatches into
no other hands than those of Colonel Browne, or in his
absence to a commissioned officer, who should be held
responsible personally for their delivery to the colonel.
There was no officer left in Tarifa except Lieutenant Light
of the Grenadiers (shortly afterwards shot through the
body at Barossa), and he but just recovering from a severe
fit ot illness. He, though willing to undertake the duty^
was incapable from weakness ; and as the naval officer
insisted on the absolute necessity of delivering the des-
patches immediately, Assistant-Surgeon Johnson, who had
charge of the sick, volunteered to be the bearer and
unhesitatingly set forth. Having arrived at a small
hamlet about two miles short of Casa Yieja and rather
out of his direct road (he had no guide and was never
there before), he enquired where the British troops were,
when he was answered, " At Casa Vieja " ; and they
pointed to the convent. He rode directly to the gate, and
was instantly fired at from within. This took place at
the very moment when, as I have mentioned, the light
company were replaced immediately over the convent
and the guerillas ordered to maintain a vigilant look-out.
As soon as the doctor was fired at by the French from
within, he, as was natural, wheeled round and galloped
away at full speed, but not knowing what direction to
take, he unfortunately took the road to Vejer, of which
place in our present situation we felt particularly jealous.
As the convent intervened, the doctor's approach from
the hamlet had not been seen by us ; but when we saw
him gallop away from it at full speed, the light company
would certainly have fired at him had he not been instantly
covered by the mountain round which he rode. To protect
himself from the inclemency of the weather, which continued

II

I62 A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch.

wet and stormy, he wore a bine greatcoat buttoned up to
the chin, over which he carried a loose camlet cloak. His
cocked hat was covered with oilskin, strapped also under
Ms chin ; and in all he showed no appearance of a British
officer. In his flight he was unfortunately discovered by
some of the guerillas, who like us mistaking him for a
French officer endeavouring to escape, rode at him with
their lances. On such occasions the lower end of the
lance, which is formed of an iron slide or wedge, is driven
into a box of the same metal fitted to receive it, and is
always attached to the saddle. The horse, when an attack
is made, is put to his full speed thus adding his velocity
to his strength ; and with this full force Johnson was
struck by a lance under the elbow, breaking one of the
bones of the forearm, and striking him to an incredible
distance from his horse. So far the act admitted of some
shade of justification ; but while the doctor lay on the
ground he received many wounds before it was found that
he was a British officer ; and before any of the regiment
came up the guerillas had actually commenced sharing
his garments ; one took his hat, another his cloak, and
so on. Johnson declared that on the advance of the
guerillas, whom he knew to be such, he pulled open his
outer vestments to show his British uniform, while his
assailants asserted that they themselves opened his surtout
to take it away, and only then discovered the red coat
by which his life was saved. However that might be, the
act was cowardly, as they were told at the time, for eight
or nine of these butchers attacked him at once with full
intent to kill him. Their duty as soldiers was to take the
doctor prisoner, supposing him to be a French officer
which I firmly believe they did at the onset, and to
ascertain what information he possessed; but they then

XIV.] A DOCTOR UNHORSED. 163

would have lost the spoil, being well aware that in our
presence they would not have been permitted to rob a
prisoner naked.

On perusing the despatches carried by the ill-fated doctor
(who received all the attention and assistance possible
and was immediately forwarded to Tarifa), Colonel Browne
immediately saw the perilous situation in which we were
placed. He was open to attack in front by an overwhelming
force from Chiclana, where the failure of the sortie from
Cadiz must have been known long before the information
could have reached us, and the object of our advanced
movement consequently discovered. His return to Tarifa
was liable to be anticipated by pushing a force through
Vejer, which, by moving along the coast road would have
a much shorter distance to get to Tarifa than we had ;
and that town, being left without any troops for its
defence, except a few sick in hospital, must immediately
surrender. Or again, should the enemy force Captain
Bowles' company, detached to watch the Vejer road,
they could come immediately in our rear and cut oif our
retreat over the mountain road which alone was left to
us. Any one of these measures could easily have been
carried into effect had the enemy been a little more
lively. They had the intelligence of the failure of the
sortie from Cadiz long before we had ; and when General
Graham's despatch was received we were then upwards
of eight miles from Bowles, and therefore could give him
no support were he attacked. Under these circumstances
Browne hesitated not a moment how to act, and instantly
marched from the convent, exposed to its fire, the Spanish
cavalry still remaining behind as a check on the garrison.
During our march Browne wrote to General Beguines,
informing him of his communication from Cadiz and

i64 A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch.

demanding to know whether, notwithstanding the failure
of the sortie, he could maintain Medina Sidonia, at the
same time candidly stating that he felt compelled to retire
to prevent being cut off from Tarifa but that, although
the risk was great, yet he would at all hazard await
the general's answer on the skirts of the wood.

We remained during the night in the comfortless and
slobbery gorge. The despatch to Beguines was never
answered ; but next morning the colonel received a report
from the cavalry officer left behind to awe the convent, that
the French had again entered Medina the previous night
at twelve o'clock, that Beguines was retiring to Alcald, and
that he himself with the whole of his detachment had
been recalled to cover the retrograde movement. This report
was dated three o'clock on the morning of the 30th, but
reached us only at ten o'clock. An hour's time would have
been sufficient to bring it from where it was dated.
Whether this delay of six hours was made designedly to
keep ns from retiring, which would prevent the troops in
the convent from coming out, we could not say ; however,
it looked suspicious, and to us, critically situated as we
then were, might have proved fatal. Orders were imme-
diately sent to Captain Bowles to retire along the mountains
and meet us at Fascinas, while we retired direct to that
place.

Soon after Bowles joined, which was sonie time after our
arrival at Fascinas, we all pushed forward for Tarifa and
about dark arrived at Torre la Pena. Here we came on to
the plain of Tarifa, which in consequence of the late con-
tinued rains now presented a sheet of water extending to
the town, a distance of from three to four miles. Our way
seemed a continuation of the ocean close on our right, the
waters frequently intermixing ; however, wade it we must.

I

XIV.] THE VALUE OF FOOLING. 165

This operation to strangers would be attended with much
danger from the numerous pits and deep ruts throughout ;
but as scarcely a day had passed during nine months upon
which some of us had not ridden or walked from the town
to the tower, we trusted to our recollection and pushed
forward to Tarifa, where we safely arrived late at night
without any serious accident. While we were wading
through the waters a lieutenant of the regiment was
soused over head and ears, and when drawn out ejaculated,
'twixt joke and earnest, "Ah, if my poor mother saw me
now ! " This pathetic speech caused a general laugh, and
whenever any similar accident befell, some mother sister
or lover was called upon, which kept up the merriment
until we arrived. A laughable or humorous expression
coming from a fellow sufferer has more effect in rousing
the energies and diverting the men from bending under
fatigue than the most studied and eloquent harangue
delivered by any who do not actually participate in their
hardships. Were I to undertake a long and fatiguing
march with a body of soldiers, I should prefer being
accompanied by a man in the ranks who could and would
occasionally sing a humorous or exhilarating song than by
a Demosthenes or a Cicero travelling at his ease. Those
who have accompanied soldiers in long and forced marches
must have remarked how quickly and cheerfully the men
fall into their proper places, timing their step to the cadence
of the song, and with what renovated vigour they press
forward.

In this expedition, as in all others which we made from
Tarifa (too numerous to be mentioned), we were accompanied
by Lieutenant Mitchell, Royal Artillery. In Tarifa he was
an artilleryman, pointing the guns from the bastion most
exposed ; in the field he was a light bob, foremost in prick-

i66 A LITTLE CAMPAIGN FROM TARIFA. [Ch. XIV.

ing for the foe ; and on the occasion just mentioned he
acted in a third capacity, for he reconnoitred the fort of
Casa Vieja, guessed its capabilities from outward demon-
stration, ascertained the strength of its defences by personal
observation and formally reported thereon with all the
inherent pomp and acquired gravity of a Eoyal Engineer.

Although our little campaign lasted no more than five
days, yet it was very severe from our having suffered much
hardship and privation. We were sparingly fed ; during
the whole time drenched through by continual exposure to
rain, without any sort of shelter whatever. Six times we
crossed the Barbate Kiver up to our middle ; we approached
no habitation save the " Blessed old House," its fire not
wholesome ; we had enough of marching over infamous
roads ; and we finally terminated our expedition on the
evening of the fifth day by wading for the last three miles
through a lake. Yet as soon as we changed our dress and
sat down to a smoking mess dinner, all our hardships were
forgotten, and long before we retired to repose our thoughts
and conversation were occupied alone in speculations on
our next enterprise. So lives a soldier I Our men were
again ready for the field on the next day but one. Poor
Meacham was sadly annoyed at being recommended to
expose his Nuts to the sun for at least a fortnight to save
them from perishing by mildew.

I

CHAPTER XV.

WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY AT TARIFA.

/^N the day following that upon which we returned to
^-^ Tarifa I was sent to Gibraltar with despatches giving
an account of our late movements to the lieutenant-governor,
who was much pleased with the conduct of the regiment
in general, but particularly with that of Colonel Browne
for the determined and judicious manner in which he
conducted the whole of the operations, as was fully testified
by General Beguines in a despatch written to General
Campbell on the subject.

Rather excited than depressed by the failure of the
intended sortie from Cadiz, General Graham, the resources
of whose mind multiplied in proportion as difficulties
appeared, still insisted not only on the local advantages
to be gained by a sortie before Soult should return with
reinforcements, but also that to boldly march out from the
strongest hold in Spain and undauntedly maintain the war
in the open field would inspire the nation with confidence
and stimulate the whole population to the deeds of national
glory which Spaniards were wont to perform. He con-
tended that with such sentiments properly directed the
Spaniards alone were an overmatch for any invading nation,
and would shortly succeed in freeing their country and
driving every Frenchman in Spain down the northern side
of the Pyrenees. These arguments could not be opposed

167

i68 WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY AT TARIFA. [Ch.

even by General La Peiia, who opposed everything except
the enemy. It was therefore arranged that seven thousand
Spaniards and three thousand British troops should embark
at Cadiz and sailing to Tarifa there descend, since that
was the nearest place which the allies possessed in rear of
the enemy's lines. To facilitate this enterprise General
Graham made a sacrifice not easily paralleled. He ceded
the chief command to his ally, thus patriotically giving up
the certainty of personal fame as a leader for the honour
of his country's arms and the prosperity of the general
cause ; and such was the confidence he felt in the valour
of the British troops under his command and in the happy
results, if La Pena would only do his duty towards his
country, or do anything except what was glaringly wrong,
that he condescended to serve under the Spanish general,
and that too against the opinion of Lord Wellington, who
recommended him never to move out of Cadiz to execute
any movement except in chief command. The duke well
knew by dearly bought experience of what leaven Spanish
generals were moulded. He knew that it required the
utmost exertions of a British general to persuade those of
Spain to save their own corps, without calculating on more.
Of this Cuesta gave convincing proof by his movements
before the battle of Talavera, by his inertness and incapacity
while the battle raged and above all by his disgraceful
conduct after the battle was fought, on account of which
his lordship felt compelled for the safety of his own troops
to separate from the Spanish army, bidding them farewell
with feelings of respect for the gallant soldiers, of contempt
for the vanity and ignorance of their commanders, and of
distrust of the government who would have devoted their
allies and compromised the honour and independence of
their country for personal ambition and mean self-interested

I

XV.] GRAHAM SAILS FROM CADIZ. 169

motives. Spanish character in the different branches was
discovered rather too late for his advantage by Sir John
Moore, who portrayed it in its true colours for the informa-
tion of His Majesty's counsellors and the guidance of his
successors in Spain.

It was now agreed that Generals La Pena and Graham
should march immediately after disembarkation against
the rear of the enemy's lines, force a passage to the con-
tinental bank of the Santi Petri River, and by dislodging
the French from the posts which they there occupied cover
the construction of the bridge and the sortie from the Isla
de Leon. The Spanish general, Zayas, who was appointed
to the command at Cadiz during La Peiia's absence, was
directed to second the project if the opportune moment
should arrive.

All being now ready, General Graham with the British
troops sailed from Cadiz on February 21st for Tarifa.
This place presenting only a roadstead and the wind
blowing fresh on the 22nd, when the general came before
it, a descent was found impracticable, and he therefore
proceeded to Algesiras, where he landed, and marching
over an excessively bad road arrived on the evening of the
23rd at Tarifa. The weather continuing boisterous, the
troops halted to await the Spaniards ; and Major Duncan's
brigade of guns, which had been disembarked at Algesiras,
had to be put on board again and brought by water to
Tarifa on account of the state of the road, over which a
wheelbarrow could not be rolled without disaster.

At Tarifa the 28th Regiment were garrisoned under the
command of Colonel Belson, who had rejoined a few days
previously from England. General Graham being well
acquainted with the old corps, particularly during the
campaign of Sir John Moore, requested General Campbell's

I70 WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY AT TARIFA. [Ch.

leave to lead it during the expedition, which was granted ;
but the lieutenant-governor, not forgetting Colonel Browne's
eminent services during his long command at Tarifa under
many critical circumstances, sent the flank companies of
the 9th and 82nd Regiments from Gibraltar, which, together
with those of the 28th Eegiment, were to be placed under
the command of Colonel Browne, thus giving him an in-
dependent flank battalion, subject to no orders but those
coming direct from General Graham.

During the few days which the British troops spent
at Tarifa our time was passed in that jovial conviviality
always to be observed among British soldiers on the opening
of a campaign. This formed a remarkable era in the history
of the 28th Regiment, never equalled in any other corps.
They formed the proper garrison of Tarifa, and having been
quartered there for some time were the only regiment which
had an established mess. The town furnished but one
posada, or inn if it may be so called ; and this afforded but
little accommodation to so large a concourse as that now
assembled. Upwards of a hundred and fifty officers dined
at our mess daily ; those of the regiment, together with
those of the flank companies sent from Gibraltar, who were
of course honorary members, amounted to nearly fifty, for
the officers of the 28th Regiment, never being much addicted
to dep6t duty, always mustered strong at headquarters.

Our mess-room was very spacious, and at either end was
a room which entered into it ; not only these three, but
in fact every room in the house, had tables put down ; and
many there were who felt glad to procure a dinner even in
the kitchen. The draught on our cellar was deep, and profit-
ing by the experience of the first day of the jubilee, on the
second day, the 24th, we passed a restriction act limiting
each officer to a pint of port and half a bottle of claret ;

XV.] GUESTS GALORE. 171

but notwitlistanding this precaation, we ran a pipe of port
dry in less than four days. Porter and brandy, being easily
procured, were not subject to restriction ; a great part of
these was disposed of in the kitchen and the small rooms
by the mess-man as his private speculation. It was calcu-
lated that, including port claret brandy and porter, two
thousand bottles were emptied in our mess-house within the
week. Our wine accounts, as must be evident under such
circumstances, were mach confused and difficult to keep,
since it was no easy matter to ascertain with whom each
visitor had dined. The mess waiter was sent round daily
to ascertain this fact, so necessary for the guidance of the
wine committee. Discrepancies not unfrequently occurred
between the highly favoured host and the too obliging
guest. I recollect the mess waiter telling Colonel Belson

one day that Lieutenant-Colonel A n said he dined

with him, upon which Belson remarked to the guest,

loud enough to be heard by many, " A n, you do not

dine with me." The other very humorously replied, "Oh,
I beg pardon — I made a mistake ; now I recollect, it was
for to-morrow I was engaged to you." " There you are
mistaken again," said Belson ; " it was for yesterday, when
you did not forget." These circumstances I recollect well,
as I happened to be president of the mess for that week.
Colonel Belson would not allow me to cede the chair, and
always sat on my left hand. Our mess-man, a sergeant
of the regiment named Farrel, although he piqued himself
on an acquaintance with algebra, yet with all the aid of
the assumed numbers, ABC, could never discover the
unknown quantities consumed. He went into the field
at Barossa, but was never heard of afterwards. Among the
slain he was not ; and, enquiries being made at the French
headquarters, he was not one of the few prisoners taken

172 WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY AT TARIFA. [Ch.

with a part of our baggage which fell into the hands of the
enemy previous to the commencement of the action, "when
the Spaniards in their way lived to fight another day."
It is more than probable that in the annals of warfare no
regiment has ever had an opportunity of enjoying themselves
to such an extent as the 28th Eegiment while General
Graham's army remained at Tarifa. We were happy to
see our friends, who, to do them justice, waiving all
ceremony showed us extraordinary attention.

Even the sergeants contrived to procure a room, where
they enjoyed themselves as much as the officers in the
mess-room ; and their jokes, if not equally refined, were
not the less entertaining. Being a member of the mess
committee, my avocations obliged me to keep a vigilant
look-out through all parts of the house, which gave me
an opportunity of hearing unobserved many of the jests
and repartees which took place in the sergeants' room, or
debating society, as it was termed. But although these
were at times rather sharp, still perfect good-humour
prevailed throughout. The principal spokesmen, if my
memory fail not, were a Sergeant Turnbull of the Guards,
and a Sergeant O'Brien, of the 87th Regiment. They
were most determined opponents, and each had a bigoted
attachment to his own country, in support of which he-
poured forth witty and pungent repartees to the great
entertainment of the auditors.

On one occasion, while I was on my way to our cellar,
which was fast falling into consumption, my steps were
arrested by loud bursts of laughter issuing from the
debating-room. The first words which I distinctly heard
were, " 0, 0, 0 I You are all ' O's ' in Ireland ! "

This remark evidently came from the Guardsman, when
O'Brien drily replied, " * 0 ' means * from,' or ^ the de-

XV.] SERGEANTS IN DEBATE. 173

scendant of ' ; therefore I am not surprised at its being
ridiculed by persons of your country, where long line of
descent is so difficult to be traced."

" And pray, Mr. 0, from whom are you descended ? "

" From Bryan Boro, the Great Boro."

" And surely * Boro ' must be a corruption of the Spanish
word * Burro,' which signifies * an ass' ? "

Then Pat grew eloquent on the deeds of his great ancestor,
who at the age of eighty gained a most glorious victory over
the invading Danes on the celebrated plains of Clontarf.
Equally eloquent was he also on the demerits of the
Englishmen of that ancient time, until cried out the British
sergeant with a fine scorn :

" I like to hear a fellow of your kind, with your beggarly
Irish pride, talking of records and historical facts ! Look
to the history of your own country to learn its disgrace.
What have you ever done or achieved except through
murders, robbery, cruelty, bloodshed and treachery ? Have
you not always been fighting amongst yourselves, or against
your masters, since we did you the honour of conquering
you?"

" If we compare notes about murder and treachery, you
need not fear being left in the background," retorted the
Irishman ; " and as to the honour of being conquered, faith !
I cannot cope with you in your dignities there, for I cannot
deny that you have been honoured in that way by Romans,
and by Danes, and by Saxons, and by Picts, and by
Scots."

"Your arguments," at last said the Englishman, after
some further exchange of historical fragments, '^ might pass
without contempt had they not been delivered with such
a disgusting brogue. I should recommend you to go back
again to some charity school — I mean, in England."

1/4 WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY AT TARIFA. [Ch.

" If I intended to go to a charity school, it should
certainly be in England. In my country it is only the
destitute who go ; but in yours it is the rich men who send
their sons on to the * foundations ' of the public schools
which were originally intended for the education of poor
clergymen's sons. With respect to my brogue, which you
civilly term disgusting, it is our national accent and not
disgusting to native ears, although to us the language is
foreign. But I should like to know with what accent your
countrymen spoke bastard French when it was crammed
down their throats with a rod of iron for upwards of three
hundred years ? "

" A language does not go down the throat," said the
Englishman ; " it comes up, at least in every other country
except Ireland. I make you a present of the bull, although
there is no necessity for the donation, for all bulls are
Irish.''

" How are all bulls Irish ? "

"Because England, your mother-country, has ceded
all bulls to you as being legitimately Irish."

" I don't understand how you make out England to be
our mother-country. Step-mother is the proper term to
give her ; and, faith ! a true step-mother she has proved
herself to be."

Thus raged the fight amid the laughter and encourage-
ment of the hearers, until, being president of the mess, I
was reluctantly obliged to return to the mess-room.

During the stay of the British army at Tarifa strong
working parties were constantly employed in levelling the
roads, which the French engineers had frequently reported
impassable for artillery ; however, profiting by our exertions
in the present instance, they subsequently brought guns
against Tarifa.

XV.] JOVIAL PRELUDE TO WAR. 175

The stormy weather having somewhat abated, the second
division of the fleet, laden with La Pena and seven thousand
Spaniards, arrived off Tarifa on the morning of the 27th.
It still blew fresh ; but owing to the indefatigable exertions
of the navy the astonished Spaniards found themselves
all disembarked before the evening. Again they were
startled at the activity of the British general, who would
have marched that night. The forward state in which the
British were induced the Spaniards to proclaim their army
also in movable condition. La Pena and his troops thus
prepared and the roads made passable for artillery, the
march was announced for the morrow.

The night of the 27th being the last jovial one the army
were to pass at Tarifa, one hundred and ninety-one officers
dined at the mess. The exhilarating juice of the grape was
freely quaffed from out the crystal cup, and the inspiring
songs of love and war went joyfully round, and the con-
clusion of each animating strophe was loudly hailed with
choral cheers ; for such is the composition of a soldier that
the object of his love and his country's foe alike call forth
the strongest and most indomitable effusions of his heart,
so closely allied is love to battle. Hilarity and mirth
reigned throughout. Lively sallies of wit cheerfully
received as guilelessly shot forth added brilliancy to the
festive board. Officers having entered their profession
young, mutual attachment was firmly cemented, genuine
and disinterested. Each man felt sure that he sat between
two friends ; worldly considerations, beyond legitimate
pleasures and professional ambition, were banished from
our thoughts. The field of glory was present to our view
and equally open to all ; none meanly envied the proud
distinctions which chance of war fortunately threw in the
way of others. Oh, what an odious change I have lived

176 WE ENTERTAIN RIGHT ROYALLY. [Ch. XV.

to witness! But the days of our youth are the days of
our friendship, our love and our glory. A fig for the
friendship commenced after the age of sixteen or seventeen,
when the cool, calculating and sordid speculations of man
suffocate the fervid and generous feelings of youth !

CHAPTER XVI.

FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA.

/^UR revels continued natil the morning ; and in the
^^ morning, while many a Spanish fair with waving
hands and glistening eyes was seen in the balcony, we
marched out of Tarifa with aching heads but glowing
hearts.

Towards evening we halted, and the army was modelled.
The leading divison was placed under the command of
General Lardizabal, an officer in every way qualified for
the post. The Prince of Anglona was appointed to the
centre or principal body of the Spaniards ; but with
this body La Pefia remained. Two regiments of Spanish
guards, the Walloons and that of the Royal City, were
attached to the British troops, commanded by General
Graham ; this corps were termed the reserve. The artillery
were attached fortunately to the troops of their respective
nations ; but by some courteous mismanagement two
squadrons of German hussars were united to the Spanish
cavalry under the command of Colonel Whittingham, and
thus attached to the Spanish army. This officer held
higher rank in the Spanish army, and, if I recollect right,
commanded a corps of Spanish cavalry, clad and paid by
England ; but their movements were peculiarly Spanish.

On March 1st La Pena moved towards Casa Vieja,
and marched the whole army in column of companies

177 12

178 FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA. [Ch.

nearly within gunshot of that post ; and while moving
along the plain close to the " Blessed old House," the
column was reduced to subdivisions, giving the enemy full
opportunity of counting every man in the army. Whether
this extraordinary mode of procedure arose from treachery
or ignorance cannot be asserted, for at that time it was
difficult to distinguish one from the other in the movements
of Spanish generals. However that may be, the circum-
stance was loudly censured by all. As soon as the army
halted, General Graham mentioned this oversight to La
Pena ; yet it was not until next morning and after the
whole allied army had passed the post mentioned on its
route to Medina Sidonia, that the British general obtained
permission to dislodge the enemy from the convent. The
light company of the 28th Regiment, having made close
acquaintance with the post not long previously, were sent
on this duty. On our approach the enemy evacuated the
convent. As we were not able to come up with them, a
party of the German hussars were sent in pursuit, by whom
they were soon overtaken. But although thus threatened
by cavalry, they considered it unadvisable to form square
as the light company were fast approaching ; they there-
fore turned round and formed line. Here some untoward
work took place on both sides. The French, seeing no
possibility of escape, remained steady until the Germans
were close upon them, when they deliberately fired a volley
at them and then threw down their arms ; two of the
cavalry were killed and others wounded. The Germans,
enraged at their loss and justly considering it an act of
wanton and useless bloodshed, charged the unfortunate
defenceless wretches, sparing not a man ; all were cut
down. I never in my life witnessed in so small an affair
such mutilation of human beings. When they were carried

XVI.] A MARCH IN FLOOD. 179

into the convent yard the doctor of the 82nd Eegiment,
attached to the flank battalion, declined to dress their
wounds, as it was totally impossible that any one of them
could survive. The light company were left on piquet or
rearguard in the convent during the day, with orders to
join the army after dusk at Medina Sidonia. Not long
after this we were all astonished at seeing the whole army
retiring, but could descry no enemy to account for the
movement ; however, it appeared that as La Pena moved
on Medina he was informed by some roving Spanish soldiers
whom he met that Medina had lately been reinforced.
Upon this information alone he made the retrograde move-
ment, which cost the Spaniards many lives and might have
been fatal to the Spanish cause ; but of this in its place.
Thenceforth La Pena was distrusted by every British
soldier, and the constancy of General Graham in accom-
panying him farther is to be much admired. At nightfall
the piquet joined its own battalion, not at Medina, but on
the very ground whence the army moved that morning.

On the morning of the 3rd, taking nearly an opposite
direction to that of Medina, the army moved towards Vejer.
This day's march was excessively harassing. A causeway,
along which we must pass, was constructed over the edge
of a lake ; and the heavy rains had so swollen the waters
that not a vestige of the causeway was perceptible. Our
guides were guerillas, but imperfectly acquainted with the
place ; and thus many of our men in attempting the
passage fell into the deep. Even along the causeway,
when discovered, we were up to our middle in water ; the
track was marked by placing men on the submerged road.
The British general with his staff stood in the water to
guide and animate the soldiers during their aquatic move-
ment. Having passed this obstacle, which occupied much

i8o FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA. [Ch.

time, we pushed on to Yejer, from which we dislodged the
enemy there posted. The town is built on a high conical hill
looking down on the celebrated Bay of Trafalgar, where
every breast was filled with thoughts of the immortal
Nelson. From this eminence the enemy had a full view
of the surrounding country, and not only could discover all
our movements as we approached, but, as on the preceding
day when we were passing the convent, were enabled to
ascertain our exact strength.

On the afternoon of the 4th, about three o'clock, the
army again moved forward, before the men's clothing
and appointments were dry. General Graham, previous
to leaving Tarifa, requested La Pena to make short
marches, and thus bring the troops fresh into action.
But the Spanish general, as is common with the
weak, imagining that genius was marked by diversity of
opinion and mistaking mulish obstinacy for unshaken
determination, disregarded this sound advice. He acted
on the principle of differing from the British general in
everything ; and accordingly he marched the army for
sixteen hours, the greater part of the time during a cold
night, making frequent momentary halts, which always
tend to harass rather than refresh troops.

On the dawn of the 5th our advanced guard of cavalry
(Spanish) were encountered and worsted by a few French
dragoons ; the affair was trifling, yet its moral influence
was sensibly felt throughout the day. Cold, wearied,
dejected but not disheartened, we still moved forward,
until the sun, rising with unusual splendour and genial
warmth, dissipated the drowsiness, which but a moment pre-
viously bowed down every head, and roused us to wonted
animation. On opening our eyes to broad daylight, we
found ourselves on the south-west skirts of Chiclana plain.

XVI.] LETTER OF LA PE55a. i8i

On the evening of February 27th La Peiia had written
from Tarifa to General Zaj^as communicating his intention
to move forward next day, and stating that Medina Sidonia.
would be in his possession on the 2nd of the ensuing
month, and that he would be close to the Isla de Leon
on the evening of the 3rd. Zayas, acting on mail-
coach time, regardless of unforseen contingencies, bad-
ness of roads or any other obstacles which might retard
La Pena's advance, and without ascertaining whether
that general was close at hand or not, trusting only
to his watch for regulating his measures, laid down the
bridge on the night of the '^rd. The following day passed
without any appearance of La Pena or the British troops.
The enemy, taking advantage of this delay, attacked the
bridge on the night of the 4th with their piquets and
small detachments, killed and wounded many Spaniards,
took three hundred prisoners and broke two links of the
bridge. It was through mere good fortune that the Isla
did not fall into their hands. At the critical moment
Captain A. Hunt, R.A., with the ten-inch howitzers, arrived
and supported a charge made by a Spanish regiment over
the bridge of boats, and so the enemy were repulsed.
But if Marshal Victor had been more active, and had
marched down six or eight thousand men during the 4th
and screened them behind Bermeja Castle until night, and
then made his attack with such a force, instead of with
some six or seven hundred, there is not the slightest
doubt but that he would have taken the Isla, and then
either defended or destroyed the bridge. Under such
circumstances the allied army would have been compelled
to retire to Gibraltar to avoid Sebastiani, who, upon
learning that Victor was in possession of the Isla, would
of course have come forward with an overwhelming force.

l82 FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA. [Ch.

It was in consequence of the losses sustained at the
bridge on the night of the 4th and morning of the 5th,
together with the imminent danger in which the Isla de
Leon was of being taken, that I ventured to say that
La Pena's dastardly retreat from Medina Sidonia cost
the Spaniards many lives, and might have been fatal to
the Spanish cause. La Peila's proceedings on our arrival
at the plain of Chiclana were equally absurd and dangerous.
Early on that morning (the 5th) he ordered General
Lardizabal down to the Santi Petri point without giving
or receiving any information whatever. Not even a gun
was fired to give notice to those in the Isla of our arrival,
nor was it ascertained whether the bridge was strongly
defended or in whose possession it actually was. The
proceedings of Zayas and La Peiia ofi'er a correct specimen
of the manner in which combined movements were
executed by Spanish generals ; all acted independently
and generally in direct opposition to each other. On this
occasion Lardizabal acted gallantly. Having beaten away
a strong force of the enemy from the Santi Petri point, he
established communication with Zayas, thus enabling him
with three thousand Spanish troops and an immense park
of artillery to pass from the Isla over the bridge.

The army, as already mentioned, entered the plain of
Chiclana early on the morning of the 5th, close to a low
mountain ridge called Cerro de Puerco, or " the boar's
neck," from its curving shape bristling with pine trees,
and from the number of those animals always to be found
there. This ridge, distant from the point of Santi Petri
about four miles, gradually descends for nearly a mile and
a half to the Chiclana plain. On its north side the plain
is broken by ravines, pits and rugged ground ; a large
pine forest hems it on all sides at unequal distances.

XVI.] FOLLY OF LA PENA. 183

Situated midway between the hill and Santi Petri point,
close to the western point of Oerro de Puerco, stands
La Torre, or the Tower of Barossa. The eastern point
of this ridge looks upon the space between Chiclana and
the Santi Petri ; whilst its western boundary looks down
upon the boat road leading from Vejer to Bermeja and
the Isla de Leon, passing within less than half a mile
of the tower above mentioned.

In preparing for the battle General Graham, like an
experienced soldier, pointed out to La Peiia all the ad-
vantages which the ground offered, insisting on the absolute
necessity of occupying the ridge of Barossa with their
strongest force, it being the key of the whole ground. But
the Spanish general, indignant at having his proper line
pointed out by a foreigner, spurned his advice and being
borne out by his Adjutant-General Lacy, ordered the
British general to proceed to Bermeja to maintain the com-
munication between the allied troops in the field and those
in the Isla. General Graham, although naturally courteous
and through policy yielding, yet on this occasion absolutely
refused obedience until the Spaniard pledged himself to
post on the heights of Barossa a Spanish force at least
equal to that commanded by the British general. Long
before his movement down to Bermeja, he detached Colonel
Browne with his battalion to occupy the western point
of Barossa. There we were shortly afterwards joined by
the Walloon and the Ciudad Real regiments of guards.
To this body were subsequently added three other Spanish
battalions, four guns, and all the allied cavalry, commanded,
as I have already said, by Colonel Whittingham. The
whole were under the orders of General Cruz-Murgeon,
accompanied by Brigadier-General Beguines, and all, as
we thought, determined to do their duty.

i84 FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA. [Ch.

Soon after General Graham with the British division
had moved from the plain through the pine grove
towards Bermeja, Marshal Victor, who anxiously watched
the movements of the allies, seeing their troops at three
different points, Barossa, Santi Petri and Bermeja, moved
forward from Chiclana towards the road which leads from
Vejer. This movement was not immediately perceived by
us, the Spaniards being placed between onr battalion and
the point mentioned ; but a confused and hasty movement
on their part induced the colonel to send me to ascertain
the cause. I was told by General Cruz-Murgeon that they
merely wished to take ground to our left ; but seeing
the hurry of the Spaniards increase, I instantly galloped
beyond their extreme flank, and now discovered the French
cavalry moving towards the coast road and rather inclining
towards our position. Retiring quickly, I reported the
circumstance to Colonel Browne.

By this time the greater part of the Spanish troops
had passed between us and the coast road and were soon
in rapid march towards the beach leading to Bermeja.
Colonel Browne strongly and rather indignantly remon-
strated against their conduct. At this period Colonel
Whittingham rode up, and addressing Colonel Browne said,
" Colonel Browne, what do you intend to do ? " The reply
was, " What do I intend to do, sir ? I intend to fight the
French." Whittingham then remarked, " You may do
as you please. Colonel Browne, but we are decided on a
retreat." " Very well, sir," replied Browne ; ^^ I shall stop
where I am, for it shall never be said that John Frederick
Browne ran away from the post which his general ordered
him to defend." Generals Murgeon and Beguines were
present during the conversation, and as they expressed a
wish to know its exact import, I informed them word for

XVI.] COLONEL BROWNE ABANDONED. 185

word in plain Spanish, which I pledge myself was a correct
and full interpretation, and could not be misunderstood.
Colonel Whittingham again addressed Colonel Browne,
saying, " If you will not come with us but wish to retire
on General Graham's division, I shall give you a squadron
of cavalry to cover your retreat." Browne wheeled round,
making no answer ; and thus a formidable corps, composed
of two regiments of Royal Spanish Guards, three regiments
of the line, a park of artillery and a strong force of cavalry,
all well armed clad and appointed, undaunted by the
scowling frowns of their allies and the reproachful taunts
of their own countrymen, were not afraid to run away.
They retrograded with firm tread ; nor faltering step nor
slow was seen, and not one longing lingering look was
cast behind. They left four hundred and seventy British
bayonets bristling on the neck of the boar.

The Spaniards being now out of the way and soon out
of sight. Colonel Browne directed Lieutenant Sparks, 30th
Regiment, who acted as engineer, to loophole a chapel
which stood on the summit of the hill. Some men were
loosely thrown in, and the remainder of our little battalion
formed three sides of an oblong square, the low tower
or chapel supplying the fourth face.

By this time the French cavalry had gained the coast
road, probably either to cut off the retreat of the allies
by that route or to prevent any troops coming by way
of Vejer. Be that as it may, they now turned directly
towards us. On approaching nearly within musket range,
they opened right and left, apparently to gain both
our flanks ; and now for the first time their artillery
were discovered not far behind, and at the same moment
their infantry were seen moving forward, darkening
the distant part of the plain which skirts the town of

i86 FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA. [Ch.

Chiclana. Hesitation would now be madness. Our men
were instantly withdrawn from the chapel, and forming
column of quarter distance we proceeded quickly down
the hill towards the pine forest which shut out Bermeja
from our view. The enemy's horsemen were soon on every
side of our little column and kept gradually closing in ;
but dreading that, before we could get away to a sufficient
distance from the hill, the artillery, which we had seen
whipping over the plain, would open their fire upon us,
we durst not halt to form square ; our situation was rather
perplexing, but we were determined. In this order we
moved rapidly down the hill, which being uneven and
woody favoured our retreat ; but on crossing a ravine we
became more exposed, having entered on comparatively
level ground, scarce of wood. Colonel Browne now threw
out a few loose files, but not far from each angle of the
column, to warn the cavalry ofi", some few of whom were
hurt by their fire. To say the truth, the cavalry showed
rather a wavering inclination than a firm determination
to charge us. Having passed over the level ground, we
touched the skirts of the forest, and on our forming line
the cavalry drew off.

During these operations General Graham, entangled in
the pine forest, was pressing forward towards Bermeja,
when two peasants rode breathless up to him, stating that
the whole French army, headed by Marshal Victor, were
rapidly crossing the plain of Chiclana and coming down
on his rear. Upon this he immediately turned round and
soon perceived the Spaniards, who had fled from the hill,
posting along towards the coast ; and since these were
mistaken for French, the English troops were on the point
of firing into them. At this moment Captain Calvert,
having discovered something red through the thick foliage

XVI.] WORDS OF GRAHAM AND BROWNE. 187

of the wood, cried out, *' That must be Colonel Browne's
flank battalion," and darting forward soon discovered his
surmise to be fact. General Graham came forth instantly
to meet us, saying, " Browne, did I not give you orders
to defend Barossa Hill ? " " Yes, sir," said Browne ; " but
you would not have me fight the whole French army with
four hundred and seventy men ? " " Had you not," replied
the general, " five Spanish battalions, together with artillery
and cavalry ? " " Oh ! " said Browne ; " they all ran away
long before the enemy came within cannon-shot." The
general coolly replied, " It is a bad business, Browne ; you
must instantly turn round and attack." " Very well," said
the colonel ; " am I to attack in extended order as flankers,
or as a close battalion ? " " In open order," was the reply,
and the general returned to the troops in the wood.

All this time we never saw our English comrades, though
they were close before us, so dense was the wood. The flank
battalion were instantly extended into skirmishing order,
which had scarcely been done when the general again rode
back to Colonel Browne, saying, " I must show something
more serious than skirmishing ; close the men into compact
battalion." " That I will, with pleasure," cried the colonel ;
" for it is more in my way than light bobbing." The order
to close on the centre was instantly bugled out, during
which movement the colonel sent to know from the general,
who had again retired, if he was to advance as soon as
formed, and whether he was to attack immediately in his
front or more towards his right. The answer was, " Attack
in your front, and immediately."

All being now ready. Colonel Browne rode to the front
of the battalion and taking ofi" his hat said in a voice to be
heard by all, " Gentlemen, I am happy to be the bearer
of good news : General Graham has done you the honour of

l8& FROM TARIFA TO BAROSSA. [Ch. XVI

being the first to attack those fellows. Now follow me,
yon rascals ! " He pointed to the enemy, and giving the
order to advance broke into his favourite air :

" Now, cheer up, my brave lads ! To glory we steer,
To add something new to this wonderful year."

Thus we moved forward with four hundred and sixty-eight
men and twenty-one officers to attack the position, upon
which but three-quarters of an hour previously we had
stood in proud defiance of the advancing foe, but which was
now defended by two thousand Rye hundred infantry and
eight pieces of artillery, together with some cavalry. To
this force were added two battalions of chosen grenadiers,
commanded by General Rousseau, the whole under the
orders of the General of Division, Rufin.

CHAPTER XYII.

IN THE BATTLE OF BAEOSSA.

rpHE result of the conflict between such a force and our
-*- lone little battalion, whose strength I have already
mentioned, must be anticipated. The enemy, seeing so
small a force, detached from any apparent support, advanc-
ing against them, allowed us to approach close ; and the
orders given by Colonel Browne were that not a shot
should be fired, but to proceed to work as soon as possible
with the bayonet. As soon as we crossed the ravine close
to the base of the hill and formed on the opposite side, a
most tremendous roar of cannon and musketry was all at
once opened, Rufin's whole division pointing at us with
muskets, and eight pieces of ordnance sending forth their
grape, firing as one salvo. Nearly two hundred of our men
and more than half the officers went down by this first
volley, thus opening the battle propitiously for them. We
now literally stood in extended order ; the battalion was
checked. In closing on the centre and endeavouring to
form a second efficient line, upwards of fifty more men and
some officers were levelled with the earth ; and all the
exertions of Colonel Browne could not form a third line.
We had by this time lost upwards of two hundred and
fifty men and fourteen officers, between killed and wounded ;
the remainder of the battalion now scattered. The men

189

I90 IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA. [Ch

commenced firing from behind trees, mounds or any cover
which presented, and could not be got together.

When I say that out of twenty-one officers — the whole
number who originally went into action — fourteen were
put hors de combat, this latter number might be given as
nineteen ; for two officers only of the battalion were now
to be seen standing on the field, Colonel Browne and the
humble author of these Memoirs (wounded). The colonel
now addressed me, saying, " I shall go and join the Guards ;
will you come ? " I declined the proposition, remarking
that not being just then firm on my legs, it jwould take
me some time to arrive at where the Guards were ; that
he was unhurt and mounted and could confidently go.
His character for bravery had been established throughout
the army for many years ; but as for me, although I
had seen a good deal of service, particularly during the
campaign of Sir John Moore, still I was a very young
man, and I therefore told him that so long as three men
of the battalion stood together and I was able to stand with
them, I should not separate from them.

The colonel galloped ofi* and joined the Guards, who
were at that moment passing at some distance in rear of
where our right flank originally stood, now marked only
by our dead. The Guards moved forwards with astonishing
celerity and steadiness, although not formed and exposed
at the time to a tremendous fire of grape and musketry.
To this new scene of slaughter it was that Colonel Browne
directed his course.

When the flank battalion were first ordered to advance,
we were not in sight of the other British troops ; but as
we approached the ravine, casting a glance behind we
discovered the Guards emerging from the forest. They
presented neither line nor column, a confused mass showing

XVII.] THE BATTALION SMASHED. 191

no order whatever, one order alone excepted, and that
they gallantly maintained thronghout the day : it was
the order to advance against the foe. Every roundshot
which struck their mass passed over our heads, we then
being close under the hill upon which the enemy were
posted.

The first advance of General Dikes' brigade was
directly in our rear. This direction was continued until
the wood, which stretched forward immediately on his
right flank, was cleared. His brigade then brought up
their left shoulders until our right flank was passed.
Dikes now brought forward his right, and extending his
line gallantly pressed on to attack the left of Rufin's
division, made heavy by General Eousseau's grenadiers.

Soon after Colonel Browne's departure. Captain (long
since lieutenant-colonel) Calvert, General Graham's aide-
de-camp, rode up to where I was carrying on a kind of
fight with a very few men about me. Perceiving the
destruction around, and seeing some soldiers straggling
and firing some way in the rear, he requested me to go
back and bring them up. This I positively refused,
stating that I was wounded in the thigh, and were I to
proceed to the rear I could never regain my place with
an army advancing ; I added that as he was mounted he
would be safe in making the attempt. Calvert smiled and
rode ofi", but not to the rear. Again I was left compara-
tively alone.

By this time the near approach of the Guards claimed
a large portion of the enemy's fire, which previously had
been directed to the place where the remains of the flank
battalion still continued to fire from behind defences. I
now contrived to get eight or ten of the men together,
principally 9th Grenadiers and 28th Light Infantry; to

192 IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA. [Ch.

this little force I proposed charging a howitzer, which
was pouring forth destruction immediately in our front.
The proposition being well received, I seized a firelock
(there were many spare ones), and on this a drummer
named Adams, of the 28th Grenadiers' Company, said
that were he not afraid of being obliged to pay for his
drum, he also would take a musket. Upon my telling
the boy that I would pay for his drum, he flung it away
and armed. I have always thought Adams the bravest
man, or rather boy, whom I ever met — not for seizing a
musket and gallantly charging, for in excitement that
was natural enough ; but that he should stand calmly
calculating the price of a drum when hundreds of balls
were passing close to his body is scarcely credible ; but
so it was.

We now darted forward and were so fortunate as to
capture the gun at the very moment when it was being
reloaded. Two artillerymen were bayoneted ; the others
rode off on their mules. This was not a gun fallen into
our hands — it was taken at the point of the bayonet ; and
however I may be criticised for saying it, I was the
first person who placed a hand on the howitzer ; and
afterwards with some chalky earth I marked it "28th
Kegiment."

Scarcely had the gun been taken when we were joined,
as if through magic effect, by upwards of a hundred men
of the flank battalion — a proof that they were not far
distant. They darted forth from behind trees, briars,
brakes and out of hollows ; I could imagine myself
standing on " Benledi's Side." We now confidently
advanced up the hill, and unlike most advances against
a heavy fire, our numbers increased as we proceeded,
soldiers of the flank battalion joining at every step. On

XVII.] THE DRUMMER-BOY AND I. 193

capturing the gun, I tlirew down the firelock and bayonet
which I carried ; but Adams retained his and putting
on a pouch did good service during the remainder of
the day.

Soon after the movement of General Dikes in rear of
the flank battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard, also com-
manding a flank battalion, and Lieutenant- Colonel Bath,
leading the two flank companies of the 20th Portuguese
Regiment, pushed forward to the left, and were immediately
in fight with the enemy's tirailleurs. Colonel Wheatley,
who commanded those troops together with the 28th, 67th
and 87th Regiments, disentangling himself from the pine
forest and at the same time prolonging his left flank, soon
found himself opposed to the division of General Laval,
who, debouching from the Chiclana wood, advanced so
far as to form an obtuse angle with Rufin's division, already
in line and engaged on the hill. Laval bore heavily forward
in dense column, sending forth a continued peal of musketry,
reckless of the destructive fire of our artillery, which took
him in front and flank. Previous to these movements
of Dikes and of Wheatley, Major Duncan was sent forward
with his brigade of artillery consisting of ten guns. He
came up rather close in rear of Browne's flank battalion soon
after we were engaged, and next to our own battalion the
artillery were the first British troops in action. The guns
were soon embattled in rear of our left flank ; their
murderous fire was quick, and heavily pitched into Laval's
advancing columns. Yet Laval still pressed forward, until
Wheatley's brigade advancing, firing and deploying, came
in contact with them ; then the 87th Regiment, commanded
by Major Gough, making a desperate charge, completely
overthrew the 8th French Regiment, capturing their Eagle.
In the meantime Laval, moving forward his right wing,

13

194 IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA. [Ch.

whom lie strengthened with a battalion of grenadiers,
attempted to turn Wheatley's left flank ; but Colonel Belson,
with the 28th Regiment, who formed the left of Wheatley's
brigade, coming up, forming and firing by companies, kept
back his left wing in a diagonal direction, and by making
a vigorous charge of the whole regiment served Laval in
the manner in which the French general would have served
him ; he completely turned his flank.

At this period the strife was fierce, but, the British cheer
passing through the entire brigade, the whole line now
pushed forward. A general charge took place, and Laval's
division were upset. Wheatley's brigade, now bringing
forward their left, and whilst in full pursuit, fell in with
the enemy's corps of reserve, who were instantly put to
flight at the point of the bayonet. In the meantime the
Guards, led on by General Dikes, pushed gallantly forward
with lengthened step and lofty bearing ; and I make bold
to say that never did the household troops witness a day
more honourable to their corps, nor one upon which they
more brilliantly maintained the glory of their prince.
Surmounting all difficulties presented by the roughness
and inequalities of the ground, heedless of the enemy's
menacing attitude, reckless of the murderous fire which
swept their still unformed ranks, they bore steadily onward
and having crossed a deep broad and rugged ravine, wherein
many a gallant soldier fell to rise no more, they climbed
the opposite bank. Here they were encountered by Rufin's
left wing and Rousseau's grenadiers, which latter gallantly
descended from their position to give that reception which
to such a warlike visit in martial country was due. But
the Guards having gained firm footing on the base of the
hill, and no obstacle opposed save men in arms, British
blood and British prowess soon prevailed. The chosen

XVII.] BATTLE IN THE BALANCE. 19s

grenadiers recoiled from the shock, liufin, or rather Victor
who was present, tried to retrieve the disaster by bringing
forward his right ; but these were furiously attacked
and driven backwards by the remnant of Browne's flank
battalion, now amounting to nearly two hundred men and
one wounded officer. Both the enemy's flanks were thus
turned round in rear of his centre.

And now the battle for a moment hovered in the zenith
of its glory ; the contending foes were not above ten yards
asunder, and scarcely were the enemy seen to move.
Tenaciously maintaining their hold of the hill, they fought
with desperation, defending every inch of ground ; for the
precipice was near. Their hardiest veterans stood firm ;
their bravest officers came forth displaying the banners of
their nation ; the heroic example of Marshal Victor was
imitated by all. Conspicuous in the front the marshal
was recognised by both armies waving his plume in
circling motion high above his head, to fasten his troops
to the hill ; but his gallant deeds and surprising valour
were vain against his more than equal foe. General
Graham at this critical moment darted to the front, and
by one short word, loud and inspiring, made nought of
all the marshal's bravery and combinations. The word
was, " Charge ! " Like electric fluid it shot from the
centre of the British line to the extremities of its flanks,
instantaneously followed by the well-known thundering
British cheer, sure precursor of the rush of British
bayonets. The Guards and flankers now rushed forward,
when with loud and murmuring sounds Rufin's whole
division, together with Rousseau's chosen grenadiers, were
instantly in whirling motion rolled down into the valley
below, leaving their two brave generals mortally wounded
on the hill, which was now in possession of their blood-

196 IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA. [Ch.

stained conquerors. The battle was won ; and tlie gallant
Graham triumphantly stood on the bristling crest of
Barossa's blood-drenched hill.

Now, since both flanks of the enemy had been turned,
they came back to back on the plain ; and this steadied
them, so that they continued to fire. I therefore requested
Colonel McDonald, our Adjutant-General, to allow me,
with the survivors of the 28th Regiment's flank companies,
to go out and skirmish with the enemy, whilst our line
should be got ready to advance. To this, with the
concurrence of Colonel Browne who had just rejoined
the battalion, he consented. We then moved forward.
I saw no other troops go out. Colonel Browne was now
the only officer with the remaining part of the flank
battalion. After skirmishing for a short time, we were
recalled. On our return. Colonel McDonald remarked that
Major Northcote, having come up with the Rifles, would
cover the line ; that he therefore recalled us, especially as
Colonel Browne wished to have me with the battalion, at
the same time saying in the most flattering manner that
he should never forget my services throughout the day,
and would always be ready to testify to them when
called upon.

The enemy's divisions, now united, were soon formed,
and seemed determined to seize the boar by the tusks ;
but the boar was now metamorphosed into a lion. On
Major Duncan arriving with his guns and sending some
beautifully directed shots with mathematical precision to
dress their line. Marshal Victor retired his troops beyond
the noxious range. The hill being gained, and the enemy
inclined, although ashamed, to retreat. General Graham
sent his aide-de-camp Captain Hope to General Beguines,
requesting him to bring up the two Spanish regiments

XVII.J COLONEL PONSONBY. 197

originally attached to the British division ; even this
turned out unpropitious. When Duncan's fire prevailed
on the enemy's column to retire, Colonel Ponsonby, of
the Quarter-Master-General's Department, by permission
of General Graham sought out the allied cavalry and
brought away the German hussars. Having wound round
the western point of the disputed hill, they were seen
sweeping along the plain in beauty of battle ; and it is
my firm belief that had they not appeared at that
moment we should have been immediately in motion to
the front. We gave the Germans a cheer as they passed
in front of our line, now formed. The enemy's cavalry
turned round and faced them stoutly, their commander
placing himself some distance in their front. As the
Germans closed on the enemy our cheers were enthusiastic.
The brave French leader was instantly cut down ; our
cavalry charged right through their opponents, then
wheeling round charged them from rear to front, one
red coat always conspicuous. Colonel Ponsonby. The
French dragoons thus broken, Rousseau's grenadiers came
to their support, and forming square covered the horsemen
in their retreat. Again the British troops were on the
point of advancing, when a staff officer came galloping up
to say that a fresh column of the enemy were coming on
the right flank of the Guards. This information alarmed
us. Looking through my glass and observing them for
an instant, I assured Colonel McDonald that they were
Spaniards and that I knew the regiments. However some
hesitation followed ; thus the Spaniards who betrayed us
in the morning deceived us in the afternoon. It was
General Beguines who, glad to get away from La Pena,
was hastily advancing with the two regiments before
mentioned.

198 IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA. [Ch.

A second column were seen advancing from the opposite
direction — Chiclana. This was supposed to be Yillatte's
division, who had not been engaged during the action,
having remained near the Almanza creek, in front of
General Zayas. But they turned out to be the sick,
marched out from the hospitals of Chiclana, who thus
succeeded as a ruse in covering the retreat of the vanquished
Victor.

Although at this critical juncture every British soldier
felt confident that a strong body of six hundred Spanish
cavalry, fired by the example of the gallant Germans, would
ride forward against the reeling columns of the retiring
enemy, yet they never appeared. Abandoning their calling
as soldiers they remained behind, mouthing the pebbles
of the beach and thus preparing with oratorical efiect to
extol as their own those heroic deeds in which they bore no
part and from which they studiously kept aloof.

Notwithstanding the arrival of Beguines, General Graham
evidently saw the difficulty and danger of making an
advanced movement. The enemy, though beaten and having
sufi'ered severe loss, still retired with a stronger force in
the field than the British numbered before the battle com-
menced. Villatte's division were fresh, and could easily have
joined Victor. Our army was crippled, half its numbers
being put hor^s de combat', and the survivors had been
for twenty-four hours under arms, sixteen of which had been
passed in marching, and chiefly during the previous night.
After having gained so brilliant a victory, and defeated the
enemy at all points, the British general fully expected that
La Pena, awaking from his torpor, would take advantage
of Victor's overthrow and lay the drowsy Spaniards on the
track of his discomfited and retiring columns ; but he was
mistaken — such was never La Pefia's intention. At the

XVII.] WHERE WERE THE SPANIARDS? 199

time when Colonel Browne took up his position on the
hill, the principal part of the Spanish artillery were moved
along the beach road and halted about midway between
the two points whence the enemy could move on to attack,
the one by the western point of Barossa, the other by the
eastern side of Bermeja. On this position they halted,
but with their drivers mounted, ready to start at a moment's
notice for that point, whence the enemy advanced 7iot.
Thus, when Victor was perceived advancing against Colonel
Browne, the great guns flew along the beach road, nor
stopped until Bermeja was left far in their rear. Later,
when the British troops were exposed to the hottest fire,
perilously situated, their rear left open to attack by the
early flight of the Spaniards ifrom the hill, yet La Pefia
gave no aid, although, had he moved forward by the eastern
side of Bermeja and come on the! 'plain in that direction
towards Chiclana, he would have got in rear of Marshal
Victor, when the whole French army must have been
destroyed or taken. But neither [the roaring of cannon,
his duty towards his allies, the pride of his profession, nor
the independence of his country was sufficient stimulant
to rouse him forward into action : La Peiia was determined
not to move. Yet when subsequently cashiered for his
disgraceful conduct, he had the unparalleled impudence
to declare that it was a great hardship to be dismissed the
Service after he had gained so brilliant a victory with
the allied army. And soon after the battle General Cruz-
Murgeon unblushingly asserted in the public prints at
Cadiz that he took both prisoners and guns during the
action. Colonel Ponsonby, who undertook to refute this
unfounded statement, asked me (all the other guns captured
being accounted for) whether any Spaniards even seemingly
assisted or were in sight when the gun, which he said he

200 IN THE BATTLE OF BAROSSA. [Ch. XVII.

saw me in the act of charging, was captured. I replied
that there was not a Spaniard in the field at the time, and
that with the exception of himself and Colonel McDonald,
the Adjutant-General, who rode past at the time, no
individual of any corps was in sight of the flank battalion
when the gun was taken, not even the Guards, who, though
immediately on our right, were shut out by the interveniug
inequalities of the ground. But with respect to his taking
four guns. General Cruz-Murgeon was partly right, the
term " taking " only being erroneous. After the action
was over, the Spanish general found his own guns on the
same spot where he had abandoned them in the morning,
silent and cold, though they should have been loudly
pouring forth their hottest fire against Eousseau's division
when they were advancing against Colonel Browne's position.
This I said that I was ready to prove, having seen the guns
after the Spaniards had fled. This statement being made
public, the controversy ceased, and Cruz-Murgeon shrank
from the paper warfare as disreputably as he had fled from
the field.

Until late in the evening the British general maintained
his position on the hill, when, seeing no prospect of a
forward movement on the part of the Spaniards, he, as
soon as it was dark, to prevent his movement being
discovered by the enemy, retired down to Santi Petri
point, and passed over the bridge of boats into the Isla
de Leon.

CHAPTER XVIII.

WE EETURN TO TAEIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON.

rr^HUS terminated the celebrated battle of Barossa, by
-*- Spaniards termed the bloody fight of the wild boar,
fought under extraordinary difficulties against a gallant
foe more than double in number, by harassed British
troops, whose gallantry called forth the admiration of
all Europe and the malignant jealousy of their allies —
a battle which immortalised the genius and valour of the
commanding general, who coolly directed our movements
until all was prepared .for the bayonet, when, laying aside
the personal prudence of the experienced old commander,
he displayed the vigour and impetuosity of the young
soldier, leading us on to the final glorious charge. It
was during this charge, and when the Guards and flank
battalion united on the top of the hill, that Colonel Browne
and I again met, he on the left of the household troops
and I on the right of the flank battalion, with whom, from
the departure of the colonel until his return, I was the
only officer and consequently in command. The time
of my command, as well as I can recollect, was about
an hour, and that during the hottest part of the action.
After mutual congratulations, my gallant colonel shook
me cordially by the hand, declaring that he never could
forget my services on that day, and adding that, should
we both survive the action, he would in person present
me to General Graham and bear full testimony to my

202 TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON. [Ch.

conduct thronghout the whole day. The colonel was
fully aware that, had the author of these Memoirs lagged
behind in consequence of a wound received early in the
action, he, on his arrival on the hill, instead of finding
nearly two hundred bayonets of the flank battalion well
into the charge which reeled the enemy off the hill, would
not have had a single man of that battalion present to
command, and must consequently have been still a
volunteer with the Guards. I reported to him my having
charged and taken the howitzer. Here I feel called upon
to state that when Colonel Browne parted to join the
Guards there were not ten men of the flank battalion to
be seen and not above four or Rve standing near us ; there
was nothing for him to command, and I feel thoroughly
satisfied that it was by sheer bravery he was moved.
Although the battalion when they originally moved forward
had not the slightest prospect of success, still it was
absolutely necessary for the safety of the British army
and the Spanish cause to push us forward ; and had
we not undauntedly pressed on to attack Rufin in his
position, that general would have come down in perfect
order on the British troops, then in a confused mass and
so entangled in the pine forest as to render any attempt
at formation totally impracticable. To await an attack
under such circumstances must have been attended with
the most fatal results.

The extremely critical situation in which the British
troops were placed cannot be more forcibly expressed than
by General Graham's own words in his orders of the
following day :

"IsLA DE Leon, March 6thy 1811.

** The enemy's numbers and position were no longer
objects of calculation, /or there teas no retreat left''

XVIIL] LOSSES IN OUR BATTALION. 203

Under these circumstances to hesitate in pushing forward
the flank battalion, not only as select troops, but also as
the only British troops regularly formed, since they had
not yet been entangled in the pine forest, would have
shown culpable weakness and want of resolution, although
the movement was consigning us as a body to certain
destruction. At the commencement of the action our
battalion formed a little more than a tenth of the army ;
yet at the close of the action our casualties both in officers
and men amounted to nearly a fourth of the entire loss
sustained, although every regiment was well into the fight.

The officers killed and wounded in the flank companies
of the 9th and 28th Regiments alone exceeded a fifth of
the total loss of officers; they were sixty-two, and of
the flank companies there were thirteen, six of the 9th
and seven of the 28th. But the carnage which the flank
battalion sufi'ered was never brought before the public. The
casualties which took place in the different flank companies
were in the official despatches put under the heads of their
different regiments ; thus the officers killed and wounded of
the 9th Regiment flankers were returned as a loss sustained
by the 9th Regiment, although at the time the 9th
Regiment were doing garrison duty in Gibraltar ; and the
28th Regiment, who formed the extreme left of the line,
returned eight officers killed or wounded, whereas seven
of those were of its flank companies with Colonel Browne's
battalion, who were led into action on the extreme right,
though the Guards having moved by our rear and sub-
sequently forming on our right, we at the close of the
battle stood between the two brigades.

The battle, although it lasted little more than two hours,
was extremely fierce and bloody, and its results marked
the gallantry of the two nations by whom it was fought.

204 TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON. [Ch.

Two thousand French, with three general officers, were
either killed or wounded; and they lost six guns and an
Eagle. The loss on our side consisted of ^ve lieutenant-
colonels, one major, sixteen captains, twenty-six lieutenants,
thirteen ensigns, one staff, fifty-one sergeants, eleven
hundred and eighty rank and file, making a total of twelve
hundred and ninety-three put ho}'s de combat But of all the
army the severest loss sustained was by the grenadiers and
light bobs of the 28th Regiment ; and it may truly be said
that the young soldiers who filled 'up the vacancies left
in those companies by the veterans who fell in the
mountains of Galicia or at Corunna or who sunk through
the swamps in Walcheren, were this day introduced to
a glorious scene of action. Two-thirds of the men and
all the officers lay on the battlefield : one alone of the latter
was enabled to resume his legs, for he had no bone broken ;
he continued through the fight, — 'twas the system of the
old Slashers.

The flank officers of the 28th Regiment who fell in the
battle were Captain Mullins, Lieutenant Wilkinson and
Lieutenant Light (Grenadiers) ; and Captain Bradley and
Lieutenants Bennet, Blakeney and Moore. Poor Bennet
was shot through the head whilst gallantly cheering on the
men through an incessant shower of grape and musketry.
On seeing him fall I darted to the spot and too plainly
discovered the cause. It grieved me that I could not stop
for an instant with my dearest friend and first companion
of my youth ; but friendship, however fervid, must yield
to imperative duty. The men were fast falling and it
required the utmost exertion to keep the survivors together,
exposed, as they then were, to a murderous fire of round-
shot, grape and musketry. My exertions at the moment
were rather limping, as I had just been struck by a grape-

XVIIL] FRIENDSHIP AND DEATH. 205

shot under the hip, which for a moment laid me prostrate.
I could only cast a mournful look at Bennet, poor fellow.
It may be that our firm friendship conduced to his fate.
A vacancy occurred in the light company a few days before
the action, and I saw that Bennet would willingly fill it up ;
but it was an established rule, at least in the regiment, that
a senior lieutenant could never be put over the head of a
junior already serving in the light company. Perceiving that
his delicacy prevented his asking, I prevailed upon Colonel
Belson to appoint him, although my senior. With the
battalion two officers only were wounded. Captain Cadell
and Lieutenant Anderson. In the flank companies no
officer escaped, and poor Bennet fell, to rise no more. But
after all man must have a final place of rest, and the
appropriate bed of a soldier is the battlefield ; and it will
be some consolation to his friends to know that never did
a soldier fall more gallantly or on a day more glorious, and
never was an officer more highly esteemed when living, nor,
when he fell, more sincerely regretted by the whole of his
brother officers. He was wounded about noon on the 6th ;
the brain continually oozed through the wound ; yet
strange to say he continued breathing until the morning
of the 7th, when he calmly expired with a gentle sigh.
A marble slab was subsequently erected in the chapel of
the Government House at Gibraltar, to the memory of
Bennet and of Lieutenant Light of the Grenadiers, by their
affectionate brother officers who unfeignedly regretted the
early fall of the two gallant youths.

A few days after the battle the 28th Regiment returned
to Gibraltar and the flank battalion to Tarifa, where we
joyfully reoccupied our old quarters in the houses of the
truly hospitable inhabitants. I was billeted in the house
of an old priest, Don Favian Durque. His sister, an old

2o6 TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON. [Ch.

maiden lady, lived with him, and it is impossible to
express the kindness and attention which I received from
both. When the old lady heard that the grape-shot which
struck me had first passed through an orange, a ration
loaf and a roast fowl, with tears in her eyes she knelt
down and with religious fervency devoutly offered up
her thanks to the Blessed Virgin, who, she said, must
have fed the fowl which so miraculously saved my
life.

A week had not elapsed after our return to Tarifa when
Colonel Browne received a letter from General Graham
requesting that he would recommend any officer of the
flank battalion who had distinguished himself in the late
action. This was in consequence of some circumstances
having come to the general's knowledge, principally
through his Adjutant-General, Colonel McDonald, and his
Quartermaster-General, Colonel Ponsonby, as well as
through his aide-de-camp. Captain Calvert. Colonel
Browne then recommended me to the general.

Having had occasion to go to Cadiz on private affairs,
1 carried the colonel's letter, upon presenting which the
general delayed not a moment in sending a report on
the subject to the commander-in-chief, with a strong
recommendation ; and during my stay in the Isla I had
the honour of dining every day at the general's table.
In Colonel Browne's letter, which he read to me, the
capture of the howitzer is stated, but is not mentioned
in General Graham's report. In fact he could not well
have mentioned it, having already reported the capture of
all the guns in his official despatch. I cannot help think-
ing that had Colonel Browne not forgotten his promise
to me, solemnly and spontaneously pledged on our meeting
on Barossa Hill, and had he mentioned my name to General

XVIII.] CASTILIAN PURITY. 207

Graham before that gallant officer sent off his despatches,
my promotion to a company would not have been the
result of a subsequent action.

We remained at Tarifa a few months longer, continually
fighting for our bread (the crops), when many a lively
and serious skirmish took place. It is a pleasant little
town, and famous as the point where the Moors made their
first descent into Spain, invited by Count Julian to avenge
the insult offered to his daughter, the beautiful Florinda,
by Roderick the last of the Visigoth monarchs. When
the Moors had been expelled from Spain, a watch-tower
was erected here, in which towards evening a bell rings^
every hour until dark ; it then sounds every half hour
until midnight, — from that hour until three o'clock in the
morning it rings every quarter, and after that every Rye
minutes until daybreak. This custom continued down to
the period when we were quartered there and probably
does so to the present time ; and this bell to our great
annoyance hung close to the officers' guardroom.

Nothing offends a Spaniard, particularly in Andalusia ^
more than to insinuate even that he is in any way connected
with the Moors. Should you through doubt ask a Spaniard
to what country he belongs, he answers that he is a pure
and legitimate Castilian, not intending to say that he is a
native of either of the Castiles or that he was born in
wedlock, but giving you to understand that his veins are
not contaminated with any mixture of Moorish blood.
Yet in Tarifa, where they are most particular on this-
point, they still continue a Moorish custom peculiar to that
town and not practised, I believe, in any other part of
Spain. The ladies wear a narrow shawl or strip of silk,,
called a mantilla, generally black ; the centre of this^
strip is placed on the crown of the head, the ends

208 TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON. [Ch.

hanging down in front of the shoulders, the deep fringe,
with which they are trimmed, reaching close to the ankle.
So far this dress is common throughout Spain ; but in
Tarifa the ladies cross the mantilla in front of their faces,
by which the whole countenance is concealed, with the
•exception of one eye ; this is done by dexterously lapping
the mantilla across at the waist, and so gracefully that
the movement is scarcely perceptible. I have seen many
English and even Spanish ladies of the other provinces
endeavour to imitate this sudden and graceful movement,
but never without awkwardness ; whereas every female in
Tarifa accomplishes it in a moment. This temporary
disguise is resorted to when the ladies go out to walk ;
and so perfect is the concealment and the dress of the
ladies so much alike, that the most intimate acquaintances
pass each other unknown. Thus accidents may happen
iind husbands fail to know their own wives.

Spanish ladies in general are very fine figures, for
which reason, as I have been told, their under garments,
far from flowing, are very narrow, and tied down the front
with many knots of fine silk ribbon.

The order for the flank companies to join headquarters
having arrived, after a long and happy sojourn we bade a
final adieu to this pleasant and hospitable little town, and
proceeded to Gibraltar.

After remaining a few days in Gibraltar to exchange our
tattered Barossa clothing for a new outfit, which the flank
companies had no opportunity of doing previously, the
regiment sailed for Lisbon on July 10th, on board two men-
of-war ; but a calm setting in, we were carried by the
current to Ceuta on the African coast. Dropping anchor,
the officers landed to dine with our old friends, the 2nd
Battalion 4th or King's Own, who were quartered there ;

XVIII.] SCENES OF LOVE AND WAR. 209

but tlie weather promising fair, Blue Peter and a gun
summoned us on board before the cloth was removed.

Next morning we found ourselves off Tarifa. The whole
population were on the beach kissing hands and waving
kerchiefs in the breeze ; we recognised them all ; and a
recollection of the many happy days we passed there, where
so oft we played and sang and danced the gay fandango,
called forth from all a tear or sigh. The Tarifa ladies were
famed throughout Spain for their beauty. But the charmed
city soon receded from our view ; and on we plodded
listlessly, until we came abreast of Barossa Hill, when we
all hurried on deck and drank a flowing bumper with three
times three cheers to the health of the gallant Graham.
Continuing our course towards the land, where dwell the
brown maids with the lamp-black eyes, we arrived at
Lisbon on the 20th and next day disembarked.

Our field equipments were immediately put in prepara-
tion ; our baggage animals were procured as soon as the
market supplied, and as cheap as the Portuguese sharpers
would sell, who next to Yorkshiremen are the greatest
rogues known in regard to horses. Our wooden canteens
were well soaked, securely to keep in what the commissaries
cautiously served out. A portable larder or haversack was
given to each to carry his provisions in, and a clasp knife
which was both fork and spoon. Our little stock of tea,
sugar and brandy was carefully hoarded in a small canteen,
wherein dwelt a little tin kettle, which also acted the part
of teapot ; two cups and saucers (in case of company), two
spoons, two forks, two plates of the same metal, a small
soup-tureen, which on fortunate occasions acted as punch-
bowl but never for soup. This was termed a rough-and-
ready canteen for officers of the line only. Hussars,
lancers and other cavalry captains would doubtless sooner

14

2ip TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON. [Ch.

starve than contaminate tlieir aristocratic stomachs with
viands, however exquisite, served on such plebeian utensils ;
however a frjdng-pan was common to all ranks.

Our equipment being completed, the march was announced
for August 1st. Many conflicting sentiments jarred in our
breasts the night before. Thoughts of the bloody battles
we had gained and the prospect of a glorious campaign
before us were gloomed by the recollection that not long
before we had taken the same route with Sir John Moore
at our head ; that since that period the ranks of the
regiment had been thinned or swept away at Corunna,
Oporto, Talavera, Albuera, Barossa. Many a gallant soldier
and sincere friend had been laid low since last we met at
Lisbon. With these recollections we sat down to table, and
eating seemed but a work of necessity, which passed in
mute action. The cloth being removed, a bumper was
proposed to the memory of the immortal Moore. It was
drunk in perfect silence and, as it were, with religious
solemnity. The martial figure and noble mien of the
calumniated hero stood erect in the imagination, and was
perfect in the memory of all ; but a painful recollection of
the mournful state in which we last beheld him saddened
every countenance. We seemed to see him borne in a
blanket by the rear of the regiment, the moon acting as
one big torch to light the awfal procession as it moved
slowly along, our men falling around him as if anxious,
even in death, to follow their gallant leader, and the enemy's
guns firing salvos as if to cheer the warrior's last moments.
He knew that they were beaten. Thus Sir John Moore
bade his final adieu to the regiment, all shattered save his
martial spirit and lofty mind, — these were unbroken and
remained inflexible. He yielded his last breath with a sigh
of love for his countiy and of yearning for his profession.

XVIIL] TO THE MEMORY OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 211

After this toast was drunk tlie band with muffled drums
played, " Peace to the Fallen Brave " ; but either the
instruments were out of tune or our souls not tuned to
harmony. The music sounded mournful and low ; a dark
gloom like a Pyrenean cloud hung cold, damp and clammy
around ; we tried to shake it off but in vain.

Our next bumper was to the memory of our late gallant
comrades, who gloriously fell since our last march from
Lisbon, gallantly maintaining the honour of their country
and corps. This toast was also drunk in solemn silence,
while many an eye swam at the recollection of scenes and
friends gone for ever. I thought of my poor friend, Bennet.
This toast led to the mention of several anecdotes, wherein
the deceased bore the principal part. The gallant feats
of our departed friends insensibly revived sentiments of a
less mournful nature ; the foggy vapour somewhat cleared
away.

Our third and last bumper was " To our next happy
meeting ; and whosoever's lot it be to fall may the regiment
soon and often be placed in a situation to maintain the
glory of their country, and may they never forget the
bravery and discipline which won the * back-plates.' " This
sentiment was received with wild enthusiasm, and so loudly
cheered by all that gloom and melancholy were frightened
out of the room. The festive board gradually resumed
its wonted cheerful tone ; the merry song went round
drowning the doleful funeral dirge ; past misfortunes and
useless regrets were forgotten. We sat late and drank deep,
and thoughts of the fair and of future glory alone occupied
our minds. Heedless of the obstacles opposed to reward
of personal merit by an all-grasping aristocratical inter-
ference, our heated imaginations presented nothing but
blood, wounds and scars, ribbons and stars to our dancing

212 TARIFA AND THENCE TO LISBON. [Ch. XVIIL

vision now becoming double and doubtfal ; and at last
we retired — but to prepare for advance. Such was the
custom of gallant gay soldiers the night previous to opening
a campaign ; in their breasts the reign of ennui is but short,
and they spurn presentiments and foreboding, harboured
only by the feeble nerve, the disordered brain, the shattered
constitution, or by those whose vices conjure up frightful
phantoms to their troubled conscience.

CHAPTER XIX.

WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN.

"VTEXT morning at dawn we commenced our second
"^ campaign in Portugal. Crossing the Tagus, we
continued our route through the Alemtejo, and arrived at
Villaviciosa on the 10th. Here we joined our 2nd Battalion,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie. It was
the first meeting of the battalions since our separation
at the Curragh of Kildare in 1805, and was very interesting.
The old veterans of the 1 st Battalion with measured phrase
recounted their feats in Denmark, Sweden, Holland,
Portugal and Spain, cunningly leaving many a space to
be filled up by the warm imagination of their excited young
auditors. On the other hand the gallant striplings of the
2nd Battalion, with that fervent and frank ingenuousness
so inseparable from youth and so rare in advanced man-
hood, came at once to the bloody fight. They long and
often dwelt upon the glorious battle of Albuera ; they told
of the Spaniards coming late ; that Blake would neither
lead nor follow ; of brigades being cut up through the
over-anxiety of their commanders ; of colours being taken ;
in fine, of the battle being all but lost, until their brigade,
commanded by their gallant Colonel Abercrombie, in
conjunction with the brave Fusiliers, came up and by a
combined and overwhelming charge bore down all oppo-
sition and tore away the palm of victory already twining
round the enemy's standard.

213

214 WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN. [Ch.

The two battalions had been so severely cut up, particu-
larly at Barossa and Albuera, that one battalion alone
remained efficient for service. All the men of the 2nd
were transferred to the 1st. Their officers and sergeants
returned to England ; but since Colonel Belson was obliged
to go home for the benefit of his health, Colonel Aber-
crombie was retained. And now, and contrary to my
wishes, the colonel appointed me to the command of a
battalion company ; but he pledged himself that whenever
the regiment should be about to come in contact with the
enemy, I should have it at my option to join the light
company.

We shortly afterwards removed to Portalegre, General
Hill's headquarters. Here we remained some time
enjoying all the luxury of campaigning, inviting even to
the most refined cockney, keenest sportsman, or most
insatiable gourmand. Kaces were established, partridge-
shooting was good, and General Hill kept a pack of
foxhounds, and entertained liberally. He felt equally at
home before a smoking round of beef or a red-hot marshal
of France, and was as keen at unkennelling a Spanish fox
as at starting a French general out of his sleep, and in
either amusement was the foremost to cry, '^ Tally ho ! "
or, " There they go ! " As his aide-de-camp, Captain Curry,
was married, the amiable Mrs. Curry always dined at the
general's table, so that we neither forgot the deference
due to beauty nor the polished manners of the drawing-
room.

But a union of so many sources of happiness is transient
in the life of a soldier. Towards the middle of October a
division of the French 5th Corps, commanded by General
Gerard, moved through Estremadura to collect forage and
provisions for the army at Portugal, crossing the Guadiana

XIX.] ADVANCE OF GENERAL HILL. 215

at Merida, and approaching tlie Portuguese frontier near
Caceres and Aliseda. In consequence the British troops
marched out of Portalegre on the 22nd, and the head of
our column reached Albuquerque in Spain on the evening
of the 23rd. General Hill was here informed that the
enemy had retired from Aliseda to Arroyo de Puerco, and
that Aliseda was again in possession of the Spaniards.
However, to secure that country, Aliseda was entered
on the night of the 24th by a British brigade, some
Portuguese artillery, and a portion of cavalry ; whilst at
Casa de Santillana, about four miles distant, a similar
force was stationed. The enemy's advanced guard were
driven out of Arroyo de Puerco on the morning of the 25th
by the Spanish cavalry, commanded by Count Penne
Yillamur ; the fugitives moved upon Malpartida, their
main body being still at Caceres. The British and
Portuguese troops following the route of Villamur's
cavalry, after a forced march which continued throughout
the night of the 25th, arrived on the morning of the 26th
at Malpartida; and here we learned that the enemy had
during the night moved upon Caceres. During this
morning General Hill was informed that Gerard, with
the main body of his troops, had moved from Caceres,
but in what direction none could tell. In this uncertainty^
together with the inclemency of the weather and the
fatigue caused by our previous night's forced march,
the general judged it expedient to halt for the day.
The Spaniards however moved on to Caceres. Towards
night the general having received positive information
that the French had directed their course upon Torremocha,
we were put in motion at three o'clock on the morning of
the 27th ; but during our march we were informed that
the foe had evacuated Torremocha that very morning,

2i6 WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN. [Ch.

with tlie avowed intention of occupying the town of Arroyo
Molinos for that night. All our information seemed to
be at variance ; yet all was perfectly correct. General
Hill now bent his line of movement, and by a forced march
arrived late that evening at Alcuescar, unperceived by the
enemy. Both armies marched nearly in parallel lines
during the greater part of the day, and not very far
asunder ; but intervening mountains and a thickly wooded
country prevented each from seeing the other.

We now felt certain that the enemy, whom we had so
ardently and arduously sought, were at length within our
reach. Our advanced post was not above two miles from
Arroyo Molinos, where Gerard rested in fancied security,
flattering himself that he had deceived us by his move-
ments, and that we were then at Caceres, toward which
we had bent our course in the morning.

On arriving at Alcuescar we were all excessively fatigued
from our forced marches ; but while we were pitching
our tents and anticipating some repose, I received an
order to proceed to San Antonio, between six and seven
miles distant, to carry despatches to General Hamilton,
who commanded a Portuguese brigade halted at that
place. I strongly remonstrated, pointing out that during
a halt of some hours by which the whole army gained some
repose, I had been sent far into the country to collect in-
formation from the peasantry ; that carrying this despatch
did not fall to me as a regular tour of duty ; and above
all, that I felt excessively unwilling to proceed to the
rear at that late hour, knowing that the army were to
move during the night and would more than probably be
engaged before the dawn. However all my remonstrances
were vain. Lieutenant Bailey, then on the quarter-master-
general's staff (now commandant in the Island of Gozzo),

I

XIX.] AN ANXIOUS MISSION. 317

told me that I was particularly selected by General Hill
to carry the despatch ; that his orders were peremptory ;
and that not a moment should be lost in communicating its
important contents to General Hamilton. Bailey then read
the despatch, which imported that, from the position which
the British army occupied, the enemy could not possibly
escape except through San Antonio. General Hamilton
was therefore directed to place every car and cart in his
possession, and everything which he could collect in the
place, as an obstacle across the road, and in every way to
impede the enemy's progress, should they attempt to pass
him during the night, and thus to give time to the British
troops to come up on the first alarm. The despatch was
read to me with the view that, should I be pursued by
any French cavalry patrols, I should tear it, and if I
fortunately escaped, deliver its contents verbally, or if
I were driven out of my road, communicate its import in
Spanish to any peasant I might meet, who could perhaps
creep his way to San Antonio, although I should not be
able to get there. I had an order from General Hill to
the Spanish General, Giron, to furnish me with a party of
dragoons. The Spanish general offered me three men
when like Phocion I remarked that for the purpose of war
they were too few and for any other purpose too many.
I therefore took only one man, strongly recommended as
a guide, and set off in very threatening weather for San
Antonio.

Arriving there without any adventure and safely deliver-
ing my despatches, I immediately wheeled round to regain
the camp, when, in addition to the lateness of the hour
and the difficulty of finding my way through a dense
forest, the darkened clouds suddenly burst and torrents of
rain poured down, accompanied by a tempest of wind so

2i8 WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN. [Ch,

furions as nearly to blow me off my horse. All traces
of onr route having disappeared, I called to the dragoon
to go in front and point out the way, upon which he
very coolly but respectfully replied that it was for the first
time in his life he was there. My rage and consterna-
tion at this astounding declaration was such that I could
have shot the fellow. I asked him how he could think of
coming as a guide through a thick forest, and over ground
with not one foot of which he was acquainted, beset too
by the enemy's patrols ; and expressing my conviction that
he must be a countryman of mine, I asked him if he were
born in Ireland. The man replied that he was not selected
as a guide ; that he and the other dragoons, whom I had
declined taking, were simply warned as an escort, but the
word guide was never mentioned. As to his place of
birth, he, after appropriate adjustment in his saddle and
assuming true quixotic mien, announced himself a
" Castillano puro " ; but judge my mortification at his
asking me, with simplicity apparently genuine, if Ireland
was in Portugal ! I indignantly darted my spurs into the
flanks of my unoffending high-spirited Andalusian steed,
which, although never attached to the commissariat, I had
selected from the breed of Bucephalus or bullock-headed,
still common in Andalusia, and remarkable for the bones
which protrude above the eyes and resemble stumps
of horns.

We still moved forward and after wandering some time
in the dark perceived a fire. This was cautiously ap-
proached. The dragoon, being in front, was challenged by
a sentry, whom he declared to be French ; and instantly
turning we both galloped off. We were wandering to and
fro, scarce knowing where we were; but the Sierra
Montanchez, rearing its head high above the trees and

XIX.] A NIGHT ADVENTURE. 219

appearing black amidst the dark clouds, prevented us at
least from turning our backs to the place we sought, and
warned us not to approach too near lest we should come
upon the French army. Again we discovered a fire, which
we conjectured to be that of a piquet. It rained torrents ;
the wind blew furiously tearing the trees from the roots.
Troops of howling wolves stalked around ; and although
they sometimes passed nearly between our horses' legs,
we durst not fire even in our own defence, lest in so doing-
we should awaken the attention of a more formidable foe.

Soaked through with rain, not knowing where I was, 1
struck my repeater, which I never failed to carry, and found
that the army would be in motion in little more than an
hour and a half. I became desperate ; I resolved at all
hazard to ascertain our true position. With this deter-
mination I alighted, leaving my cloak on the saddle, since
it was too heavy to support from the quantity of rain it
had imbibed ; my pistols I carried in my breast, to keep
the locks dry. The Spaniard I prevailed upon to remain
behind, between thirty and forty paces distant from the fire
which burned in our front, with orders not to move unless
he should hear a shot fired, when he should take it for
certain that I was attacked ; then he was to ride forward
at full speed, taking care not to leave my horse behind.
All thus arranged, with doubtful step I approached the fire.
My preceding the dragoon arose neither from personal
bravado nor from want of full confidence in the Spaniard,
who, I felt convinced, would do his duty gallantly : in fact,
I had some difiiculty in prevailing upon him to remain
behind ; and he anxiously pleaded to accompany me,
although he still felt ofi'ended at being taken for a
Portuguese-Irishman. My taking the lead was in conse-
quence of the haughty Castilian having been too proud to

220 WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN. [Ch.

learn any language but his own ; and I happened to have
had a tolerably good acquaintance with the languages of
the four nations whose troops were in the field, English,
French, Spanish and Portuguese. Silently and cautiously
I moved forward, until I arrived within a few yards of
the fire ; then lying down flat on the ground, and forming
a kind of funnel with both hands close to the ground and
laying my ear thereto, I now plainly heard words which
I joyfully discovered to be Portuguese. Getting on my
legs I approached the fire with confidence. A Portuguese
sentry, lowering his bayonet, demanded who I was ; this
being soon explained, I holloaed out to Don Diego, the
Spanish dragoon, who instantly galloped forward with his
sabre drawn, but not forgetting my horse. Upon asking
the Portuguese corporal, who commanded the piquet, where
the English were encamped, I was much astonished at his
replying, *' Here." I could discover no sign of an army
or a camp, until moving forward about forty yards in the
direction which the corporal indicated, I came upon the
very spot upon which my own tent had been pitched.
Here I found Lieutenant Huddleston, of the company, lying
under the folds of the tent, which had been blown down.
I asked the cause of the darkness which reigned around
and which was the chief cause of my wandering for some
hours close to the army without being able to discover
it. He told me that immediately after my departure a
general order was issued that not a light should be lit,
except one in the commissariat tent, and that only while
they served out an additional allowance of rum, granted
in consequence of our long march and the dreadful state
of the weather ; and that the furious tempest, which I must
have encountered in the forest, blew down almost every
tent, which added to the obscurity.

I

XIX.] A SILENT CAMP. 221

I had still upwards of two miles to ride through incessant
wind and rain to reach the village of Alcuescar, where the
generals took up their quarters with the light companies
of the division and some Spanish cavalry. Immediately on
arriving there I reported to General Hill my having
executed the duty with which I was entrusted. This report
I made through Captain Clement Hill, the general's-
brother and aide-de-camp. He told me that the general felt
excessively well pleased at my having succeeded, wondered
at my having returned so soon, or at all, in such dreadful
weather, and directed that I should not depart until I had
dined (rather a fashionable hour, past one in the morning),
adding with his usual urbanity that he regretted not being
able to see me, as he was engaged with two Spaniards, who
were making communications of a very important nature.

Having swallowed some cold roast beef and a tumbler
of port, I retired to the next house, where fortunately
the light company of the 28th Regiment were stationed.
Here I procured food for my wearied horse ; but, although
steeped with rain, I could make no change in my dress,
my baggage being upwards of two miles in the rear, where
the regiment were encamped. Change of stockings I could
procure, but my boots teeming with water I durst not take
off, knowing that I should not be able to draw them on
again.

Shortly afterwards the army from the camp came up and
joined us. Company states being collected, the adjutant
told me that the colonel remarked that No. 1 — the company
to which I had been attached — was not signed by me.
I had previously fallen in with the light company. I
immediately signed the state and fell in with the battalion
company. I perceived that the colonel rather avoided me.

All being prepared, the light companies of the brigade

222 WE AGAIN ADVANCE INTO SPAIN. [Ch.

were ordered to advance. I could restrain my feelings no
longer, and went to the colonel, reminding him of the
promise which he made when I was unwillingly appointed
to the command of a battalion company in Portugal ; and
repeated what I then said, that since October 14th, 1808
(the day we marched from Lisbon under Sir John
Moore), to the present time the light company, although
they had been innumerable times in fight, had never fired
a shot nor seen a shot fired when I was not present,
and I trusted that I should not now be left behind. " Oh !
there it is, Mr. Blakeney — every one wishes to leave me.
You are more respectable commanding a company with the
regiment than 2nd in a company detached." Being rather
hurt at the (for the first time) cool manner in which he
addressed me, I merely bowed and said that with whatever
company I was ordered to serve I hoped to be able to do
my duty. The colonel rode away, but immediately returned
and said : " Blakeney, I very well recollect my promise,
but thought you would never mention it. I wished to have
you near myself. However I now speak to you as your
friend : do as you please ; either join the light company
or remain, but do not hereafter say that I marred your
prospects, which on the contrary I pledge you my honour
I would most willingly advance." Encouraged by the
colonel's friendly and sincere manner, as well as by the
kind regards which he always showed towards me, I felt
emboldened to express my sentiments freely ; and although
I held Colonel Abercrombie in the highest estimation, as
indeed did every officer in the regiment, I told him candidly
that I wished to join the light company. Shaking me
cordially by the hand, " God bless you, my honest fellow ! "
said he, "and may every success attend you." Another
officer was appointed to command the battalion company ;

XIX.] AGAIN WITH THE LIGHT COMPANY. 223

and monnting my horse I soon overtook the light bobs,
who greeted me with a cheer, saying that they knew Mr.
Blakeney would not remain behind. This anecdote, in
itself of no consequence, I introduce, as it gives me an
opportunity of doing justice to the noble feelings of the
gallant generous Colonel Abercrombie, of whose disin-
terested friendship I soon had a still stronger proof.

CHAPTER XX.

IN THE BATTLE OF AKEOYO MOLINOS.

A BOUT dawn, weather still dreadful and favoured bv a
"^--^ dense fog, the troops were formed under rising ground
within half a mile of the enemy, who, strange to be
said, did not present even a single vedette. They occupied
Arroyo Molinos, a small town situated under the
northern extremity of Sierra Montanchez, a broad chain of
mountains which receded from Arroyo in a semicircular
form, its extreme points being upwards of two miles asunder.
It is everywhere impassable, even by goats, except within
about a quarter of a mile of its eastern point, where persons
desperately situated might by climbing, scramble across.
The road leading from Arroyo Molinos to Merida lies at
right angles to that from Alcuescar, while the road to
Medellin intersects the one leading from Merida to Trujillo.
To prevent the escape of the enemy by any of these roads
was the anxious care of the general. The rising ground,
under which our troops united, prevented our near approach
being discovered by the enemy and favoured the distribution
of the army for the attack.

Major-Gen eral Howard's brigade, composed of the 1st
Battalions 50th, 71st and 92nd Regiments, one company
60th Rifles, and three six-pounders, supported by Morillo's
Spanish infantry, formed the left column, and, commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, were pushed forward direct

224

Ch. XX.] THE FRENCH SURPRISED. 225

upon the town ; the 50th and the guns remained a short
distance in reserve. Colonel Wilson's brigade, consisting
of the 1st Battalion 28th, 2nd Battalions 34th and 39th
Eegiments, one company 60th Rifles, the 6th Portuguese
regiment of the line, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Ashurst, with two six-pounders and a howitzer, formed
the right column. The cavalry, commanded by Sir William
Erskine, formed a third column ; these were placed in the
centre, ready for any emergency. All being prepared, all
suddenly moved forward, favoured by the elements, which,
but a few moments ago furiously raging, now as if by
command became perfectly calm and the dense fog ;
clearing away, our left column were absolutely entering
the town before the enemy were aware of our vicinity.
Although one of their brigades had marched an hour
previously for Merida, their main body were only now
getting under arms to follow. The 71st and 92nd
Regiments cheered and charged through the town,
making a few prisoners, but had some men cut down
by the opposing cavalry. The enemy, driven out of the
place, formed in two columns on the plain outside, under
the base of Montanchez, protected by their cavalry.
Casting a glance to the north, they perceived the 50th
Regiment with the guns advancing. The fire from the
71st Light Infantry, issuing from the gardens, disturbed
their close formation ; and in the meantime the 92nd
Regiment filed through the streets and formed line
on the enemy's flank, who, upon this double assault,
commenced a rapid retreat, as they thought, reducing
the front of their columns, who were headed by their
cavalry. This, advance or retreat, was performed with
such celerity that they were soon lost sight of by our left
column.

15

226 IN THE BATTLE OF ARROYO MOLINOS. [Ch.

At this juncture the Spanish cavalry commanded by
that active officer, Count Penne Villamnr, rode into the
plain and separated the enemy's horsemen from their
infantry. The count steadily, though not furiously,
maintained his part until the British cavalry came up, who,
in consequence of the rude darkness of the night and
roughness of the roads and ground, had been delayed in
their advance. There was also an equestrian Spanish band,
clothed like harlequins and commanded by a person once
rational, but now bent on charging with his motley crew
the hardy and steadily disciplined cavalry of France ; and
yet, however personally brave their commander, Mr.
Commissary Downy, little could be expected from this
fantastic and unruly squadron, who displayed neither order
nor discipline. Intractable as swine, obstinate as mules
and unmanageable as bullocks, they were cut up like
rations or dispersed in all directions like a flock of scared
sheep.

The British cavalry having at length come up, ac-
companied by the German hussars, the affair became more
serious. A brisk charge by two squadrons of the 2nd
Germans and one squadron of the 9th English Dragoons
led by Captain Gore, the whole commanded by Major
Busshe of the Germans, put the French cavalry to flight.
Their infantry still pushed forward with uncommon
rapidity, yet in perfect order, fancying without doubt that
all their danger was left behind. But as they approached
the eastern horn of the crescent range of the Sierra
Montanchez, by passing round which they expected to gain
the Trujillo road, they were met directly in front by our
right column, headed by the light companies of the 28th,
34th and 39th Regiments. Here a rather unfortunate
circumstance took place. About ten minutes before we

XX.] THE FRENCH DASH FOR SAFETY. 227

saw the head of the enemy's approaching column^ four of
their guns whipping at speed crossed in front of the
light companies who formed the advance guard of our
column. We were immediately ordered to follow and try
to overtake them ; and we consequently brought forward
our left shoulders and attempted a double quick movement
through ploughed ground, soaked by several days' previous
rain, every step bringing the men nearly up to the knee
in clammy mud. When we had made a mock run for
eight or ten minutes. General Hill, who saw the movement,
ordered ns to desist, as the cavalry would take the guns ;
they were soon afterwards captured by the 13th Light
Dragoons.

We now brought up our right shoulders and faced the
enemy's column, the head of which was by this time close
at hand. A low ridge or rising ground was between us,
and, the 28th Light Company leading, I galloped up the
ascent, urged by the ambition natural to youth to be the
first to meet the foe. In this however I was disappointed ;
for on gaining the summit I discovered immediately on
my left General Hill with his aide-de-camp, the late
Colonel Curry, attended by one sole dragoon. The light
company came quickly up and commenced firing (the
enemy not above a hundred yards distant), upon which the
general showed his disapprobation in as marked a manner
as a person could do who never, under any excitement
whatsoever, forgot that he was a gentleman ; at
this moment he felt highly excited. The enemy per-
ceived it impossible to pass by us, and as our left column
were moving up in their rear every eye was casting
a woeful look up the side of the dark and stubborn
Montanchez, which forbade access ; they saw no mode
of escape. Becoming desperate, and arriving at where

228 IN THE BATTLE OF ARROYO MOLINOS. [Ch.

the monntain began to dip, they made a rash at the
broad and high stone wall which ran along its base,
and tearing open a breach, the head of their column,
led by General Gerard, entered the opening at the very
moment that the light company topped the rising ground
and saw them. Thus did Gerard make his escape, which
he could not have effected had we not been sent trotting
after the guns, by which we lost upwards of twenty minutes*
time.

But there was still a remedy left, had it been taken
advantage of, as will afterwards be shown. I observed
the displeasure which our men's firing gave the general,
who at the moment used the remarkable words, " Soldiers,
I have done my duty in showing you the enemy ; do you
yours by closing on them." Upon this truly eloquent and
inspiring appeal, which must have fired the breast of the
most phlegmatic, I instantly placed my cap on the point
of my sword, and waving it over my head I rode between
the contending troops to prevent the light company from
firing, exhorting them to come on with the bayonet, a
weapon which they well knew from experience the enemy
could never resist. The men whom I addressed, 28th Light
Company, had fought at Barossa and Albuera, and some
still there were of the hardy old veterans of Galicia. I
mention the 28th Light Company, since they were the
company who led and whom I commanded ; they instantly
obeyed the call, and I need scarcely say that the other
light companies of the brigade were not less prompt.
All knew the efficiency of the weapon mentioned, and
knowing it came forward undauntedly, although at the
moment the odds against them were fearful. The three
companies could not muster two hundred bayonets ; the
column to be charged amounted to nearly fifteen hundred

XX.] INTO THE SIDE OF GERARD'S COLUMN. 229

As the captain of the company, not knowing the enemy
to be so near, had remained behind to behold a charge made
by the harlequin equestrians, I had an opportunity of
leading the 28th Light Company into the body of General
Gerard's column, the head having unfortunately previously
escaped through the breach in the wall.

Having brought the company in collision with the enemy,
and being a pretty fair fox-hunter and well mounted, I
jumped the wall, my horse carrying me stoutly over,
although, with the exception of few and short intervals,
1 had been on his back for six and thirty hours. The wall
being crossed, absurd as it may appear, alone I met the
then head of the enemy's column. A scuffle ensued ; I
lost my horse and cap, but not my sword.

My address to the light company, as well as what
followed, was in the presence of General Hill, who as
I write commands the army in chief ; and I trust to escape
a suspicion of exaggeration in my recital of what took
place, for however inclined I might feel to extol my own
services on the occasion, anything I could allege would fall
short of Lord Hill's testimony, stated in his letter to Lord
Fitzroy Somerset, Military Secretary, dated Portalegre
November 24th, 1811.

Soon after I crossed the wall, Lieutenants Potter, 28th,
and Sullivan, 34th Regiments, at the head of some men of
their respective light companies, charged through the breach,
now almost choked with French, when all who had not
previously escaped were made prisoners ; and Lord Hill
may recollect that, whilst as yet only the light companies
of Colonel Wilson's brigade were come up and engaged,
his lordship made upwards of a thousand prisoners, who
threw down their arms, all or most of whom would have
escaped had not those companies undauntedly and quickly

230 IN THE BATTLE OF ARROYO MOLINOS. [Ch.

rushed forward. Had we been so fortunate as to come
up twenty minutes sooner, General Gerard and every man
in his army must inevitably have been taken. No military
enterprise throughout the Peninsular War was more
judiciously planned or more promptly executed.

The light companies now pushed forward in pursuit
of Gerard and the fugitives ; every yard we advanced
prisoners were made. Having continued the chase to
beyond the crest of the hill, I was amazingly surprised
at seeing Gerard descending down the road leading to
Merida, about two hundred yards beneath us ; he was
accompanied by very few men, for the ground was broken
and rocky and very difficult to pass over. Some French
officers, who rushed through the wall on horseback, had
been immediately obliged to dismount, and, formation of
any kind being impossible, groups of the enemy continually
descended in small numbers, who, on reaching the road,
ran forward to join those who had already arrived. But my
astonishment was caused at seeing a squadron of British
cavalry drawn up on the road who moved not at all,
although within a hundred yards of where Gerard and the
enemy descended in these small bodies from the mountain.
Some time afterwards I asked the officer who commanded
the squadron how it was he did not charge the fugitives,
remarking that he lost an opportunity which most probably
would never again present itself, that of taking prisoner
the enemy's commanding general. He replied with perfect
seriousness that his orders were to halt on that road, and
that therefore the escape of the enemy was no affair of
his ; that had he been ordered to charge, he would have
done so willingly. This I firmly believe ; and he was not
very long afterwards killed while gallantly charging with
his regiment. What increased my astonishment was that

XX.] LOSSES OF THE FRENCH. 231

the enemy descended on to the road exactly in his front,
and moved away from him ; for the squadron were drawn
up to face the direction which the French took, being the
only one by which they could escape.

The British loss in the action was trifling : seven rank
and file killed ; seven oflScers and between fifty and sixty
rank and file wounded. On the part of the enemy, General
Gerard's corps were almost totally destroyed or dispersed.
General Le Brun, Colonel the Prince D'Arenberg, both
of the cavalry, Colonel Andree, Adjutant-General, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Yoirol, and another lieutenant-colonel whose
name I forget, Gerard's aide-de-camp, one commissary,
thirty captains and subalterns, and upwards of fifteen
hundred rank and file were made prisoners. The whole
of their guns, waggons, baggage and magazines were
captured. Their loss in killed and wounded could not be
ascertained from the nature of the ground, but it must have
been considerable. The light companies were firing
during four hours, while they chased the fugitives up the
hill of Montanchez and down the other side until we
nearly reached the road. When General Morillo returned
next morning, having continued the pursuit all night, he
reported that, exclusive of those who fell on the plain,
upwards of six hundred dead or dying were found in the
woods and among the mountains.

In consequence of the severe fatigue which the army
had suffered immediately before the action, as well as the
necessity of bringing the prisoners together, the light
companies were called in. On arriving on the plain I was
not a little surprised at the general greeting I met from
the whole regiment, who with the 34th had been some
time in the plain. When the regiment had approached
the breach in the wall, my horse was found in possession

232 IN THE BATTLE OF ARROYO MOLINOS. [Ch. XX.

of a French soldier and my cap at the foot of the hill
where it had rolled down. I was consequently put down
as either among the slain or made prisoner ; and upon
this Colonel Abercrombie had said that he was excessively
sorry for the circumstance, but that it was all my own
seeking, because I declined remaining with him.

CHAPTER XXI.

I AM MADE BEAK-LEABEK.

^T^HE troops now entered the town of Arroyo Molinos,
and I proceeded directly to the Prince D'Arenberg's
quarters, to which I was called by General Hill, who
requested that I would accompany the prince to Lisbon,
and this too at the prince's request. Upon my expressing
an unwillingness thus to go to the rear, the general paid
me a very flattering compliment, saying that had he not
deemed it necessary to retire in a day or two at the
farthest, he would not request, nor even consent to my
leaving the army even for a day ; but that Soult's corps
were advancing, which rendered it necessary for him to
retire. Colonel Rook, the adjutant-general, being present,
asked me with what escort I would undertake the charge,
and if I thought twenty men sufficient. I offered to be
responsible for the prince's safe conveyance with four men
and two dragoons. Rook replied that he would double the
number of infantry which he proposed, but could not grant
a single dragoon. I then consented to go with a corporal
and six men of my own regiment. He agreed to the
number but not to the regiment ; the bulk of the prisoners
were to be escorted by a suitable detachment of the 34th,
and he could not break up a second regiment. And so
with Corporal Hughes and six men of the 34th I com-
menced my march for Lisbon.

233

234 I AM MADE BEAR-LEADER. [Ch.

I very soon repented of having taken so small an escort,
not on account of the prince, but of the French commissary,
whom, at the particular request of the prince, I allowed,
though unwillingly, to accompany him ; had I foreseen the
annoyance and danger which his presence caused I
certainly should have refused the request. In proceeding
through the Spanish frontier we passed through the same
towns which Gerard occupied during his foraging, or rather
marauding excursion immediately before ; and it required
all my exertions to protect the commissary from being torn
to pieces. The peasantry collected round the houses where
we halted for the night, loudly demanding the commissary ;
and although I harangued them and pointed out the
national disgrace that would attend any outrage committed
on the prisoners, and the insult it would be to England
whose prisoners they were and consequently under her
protection, still I felt it always prudent to make the guard
load in their presence, and to place double sentries over
the house, with orders, loudly delivered, to shoot any who
should attempt a forcible entrance.

Although the escort consisted but of ten persons, the
corporal and his party of six, my servant, batman, and self,
and the prisoners amounted to the same number — viz., the
prince, a captain of his regiment, his secretary, two cooks,
his Swiss coachman, three other servants and the com-
missary— still I allowed them all to carry arms. I felt no
dread of their escaping, being fully convinced that they
were much more inclined to remain my prisoners than
think of escape, for they were fully aware that they would
be torn to atoms by the enraged peasantry ; moreover the
prince, in whose honour I confided, held himself responsible
for all. I remarked to the prince with a smile in the
presence of the whole party, that I felt certain his pledge

XXL] ESCORTING PRINCE D'ARENBERG. 235-

was not endangered, stating the reasons above mentioned ;-
yet I told him plainly that if his authority were not suffi-
cient to oblige the commissary (who was present) to keep
more retired, and not with imprudent gasconade to present
himself at the doors and windows and thus irritate an
enraged population, I should reluctantly be compelled to
make him a close prisoner and place a sentry over him, not
so much for his safety as for that of others, whom I held in
higher consideration. But although I gained my point, yet
until I got across the Spanish frontier I was in continual
alarm, all owing to our graminivorous companion. Albeit
though this commissary certainly was as impertinent and
forward a fellow as I ever met with, still he could not in
justice be held personally responsible for the outrages which
drew upon him this general odium ; for when he robbed
the peasantry of all their grain, cattle and provisions of
every kind, and as much specie as he could grasp, he acted
under superior command ; he was therefore but a simple
machine. But the lower orders, solely interested in present
good or evil, rarely investigate the remote cause which
produces the present effect.

The last Spanish town through which we passed was
Valencia de Alcantara ; and here I had the honour of
reporting our arrival to the captain-general of the province,
General Castanos, a fine fat jolly-looking fellow. Being
about to quit the Spanish territory next day, the prince
and I entered into a conversation about the general
character of the inhabitants.

In allusion to the late action and the movements which
led to that event, I warmly expatiated on the praiseworthy
fidelity of the Spaniards, particularly those of Arroyo
Molinos and Alcuescar, in never having communicated our
near approach to the French army. The prince replied

236 I AM MADE BEAR-LEADER. [Ch.

that they did not nse snch fidelity as I imagined, for the
night previous to the action two Spaniards came to his
quarters in Arroyo Molinos and informed him that we
were much nearer than the French general seemed to be
aware of; that upon this he immediately imparted the
information to Gerard, who replied : " Prince, you are a
good and active soldier, but you always see the English in
your front, rear and flank. I tell you they are eight leagues
distant, for I know to a certainty that they were seen in
the morning marching hastily towards Caceres, thinking
to find us .there ; and so confident do I feel as to the
certainty of what I tell you that I shall delay the march
to-morrow an hour later to give the men more time for
repose." Much hurt at the general's remark, which had
the appearance of insinuating that he entertained a dread
of encountering the English, the prince returned to his
quarters. About an hour before dawn next morning the
general sent for him, according to custom, to take a glass of
old rum ; this he declined, the conversation of the previous
evening being still painfully in his recollection. In less
than an hour afterwards he heard a loud and confused cry in
the streets, when instantly his adjutant darted breathless
into the room holloaing out, " Mon prince ! mon prince !
nous sommes attrapes ! " The English were driving
through the town. At the heels of the adjutant in rushed
Gerard, aghast and foaming at the mouth, and exhorted
the prince to use every exertion to get the cavalry out of
the town. " Ha ! " said the prince, " do I always see the
English where they are not ? " ^^ For the love of God,"
replied Gerard, " do not add to my distraction. This is not
a time for badinage or reproof; exert yourself to the
utmost or we are undone. The English are forcing
their way through the town. Get the cavalry out and

XXL] FROM SPAIN TO PORTUGAL. 237

form on the plain as quickly as possible." The rest I
knew.

Next morning we left Valencia before dawn and were
soon in the Portugnese territory. The prisoners now
breathed freely, not having felt very secnre during our
route through Spain. The mountains we had now to cross
were very steep and excessively difficult of ascent^
especially with a wheeled vehicle. The prince travelled
very comfortably in a handsome carriage taken at Arroyo
Molinos, in which fortunately he was always accom-
panied by his graminivorous friend, whom the prince
and I used facetiously to call Bucephalus. Four large
Spanish mules which drew the carriage being insufficient
to haul it up those hills, I directed that a couple of bullocks
which were ploughing alongside the road should be added
to the team. The harnessing was attempted in a violent
manner by the Swiss coachman, an immensely stout and
large person ; but one of the animals becoming very restive,,
severely wounded him with one of his horns. The wound
was excessively severe and dangerous, but being ignorant
of technical terms I must decline attempting a description^
The coachman, becoming furious from pain, drew his sabre,,
and cutting and slashing right and left so wounded the
bullock that I ordered the guard to disarm him, and never
after allowed him to carry any other weapon than his
whip, although he frequently entreated the prince to inter-
cede for the recovery of his sabre. The owners having
interposed, the animals were quietly harnessed, and after
a long pull we at last reached the summit. Owing to
its great height and the season being rather advanced
(the middle of November), the atmosphere was excessively
cold. We halted on this our first Portuguese mountain
for some hours, and I cannot forget our delicious repast.

238 I AM MADE BEAR-LEADER. [Ch.

upon roasted chestnuts and goats' milk, plentifnlly supplied
by the Portuguese shepherds. Thunderstruck on hearing
that one of their guests was no less a personage than a
prince, they crowded round the blazing fire before which we
were feasting to have the illustrious stranger pointed out,
no doubt expecting to see in a person of such exalted rank
-something superhuman.

Continuing our route tranquilly and without any adven-
ture, we arrived at Portalegre, which again became General
Hill's headquarters. Here we halted for a few days, during
which we were visited by Prince Pierre d'Arenberg, who had
procured General Hill's permission to come and see his
brother, in whose regiment he was a cornet. Prince
Prosper felt some delicacy in conversing with him except
in my presence ; but as I received no decisive instructions
on the subject, I declined intruding on their conversation ;
and feeling in no way anxious to pry into their family
concerns, I remarked to Prince Prosper that he had nothing
of military consequence to communicate, and as to the
treatment which he met with from the British it was but just
that he should have an opportunity of declaring it to his
brother, free of all restraint which my presence might
impose. The princes expressed their thanks in the
warmest manner ; and Prince Prosper remarked that it was
well that he should have a private opportunity of telling
his brother of the kind and generous manner in which he
had been treated, which was of such a nature that, re-
counted in the presence of an Englishman, it must have
th.e appearance of exaggeration and flattery, and more
particularly if told in my presence, who stood first in
courtesy and generous conduct. I imbibed the potion and
retired to the next room.

before we continued our route towards Lisbon, Colonel

XXL] A LETTER OF GENERAL GRAHAM. 239

Abercrombie sent me a message from Albuquerque to say-
that, not being present at wbat took place with the light
company in the late action, it being detached from the
battalion, he could not directly recommend me for my
conduct on the occasion ; but he requested me to forward a
memorial of my general services through him, thus giving
him an opportunity of giving his testimony to my services
throughout. This generous communication I of course
acted upon immediately ; and I wrote to Lord iLynedoch
on the subject, from whom I shortly after received the
following letter : —

"Lbgiora, Novemler lUh, 181 L
" My Deah Blakeney, — I did you all justice, I assure you,
before at the Horse Guards, and have just written again to
Colonel Torrens to remind him of all I said after Barossa, and
to request that he will state my testimony to the Duke of York
in aid of your memorial. Excuse this hasty scrawl, And believe
me truly yours

"Thomas Graham.
"Lieutenant Blakeney, ^Wi Foot"

However flattering such a letterjwas to me, or must be to
any officer however high his rank, when coming from such
a person as Lord Lynedoch, yet it is not from motives of
vanity that I give it publicity, but rather to reflect its true
merit back to the pure fount whence it sprung. Any
attempt at eulogy from so humble an individual as myself
could add but little to the brilliancy which his splendid
achievements throw around Lord Lynedoch. I shall there-
fore confine myself to saying, in the unsophisticated phrase
of an old campaigner, that the zealous oflicer who willingly
and conscientiously discharges his duty, though naked of
other patronage or support, will always find in his lordship
his most willing supporter and unswerving friend. Here

240 I AM MADE BEAR-LEADER. [Ch.

will be seen an officer, higli in rank and still higher in
reputation, commanding a corps of the most uniformly
victorious army which ever graced the military annals of
any nation whatever, writing in familiar language to a
subaltern officer, showing anxiety for his interests and
using every exertion to forward his promotion from no other
motive than the belief that he had fully discharged his
duties to his king and country to the utmost of his
abilities. I had no introduction from influential friends
to his lordship, nor had I the honour of his acquaintance
previous to the expedition from Tarifa and the occurrences
which took place in the battle of Barossa. No doubt
generals in high or chief command willingly forward the
claims of officers whom they consider deserving while they
continue to serve under them ; but I am ignorant of any
other instance where claims on patronage have been invited
and called for, such as in the letter written by Lord
Lynedoch to Colonel Browne at Tarifa, requesting the
name of any officer of the flank battalion under his command
who had distinguished himself at the battle of Barossa.
How much more in unison with the genius of Britain and
with the spirit of her free and liberal institutions, and how
much more nobly is the general employed who, like Lord
Lynedoch, diligently and openly seeks through his ranks
for objects worthy his protection, than he who indefatigably
searches for pretexts for a clandestine representation,
generally a misrepresentation ! And it is not a little to
be wondered at that England, which ever was and ever
will be inimical to the introduction of the inquisition in
any country, should harbour that wicked and degrading
institution throughout every branch of her Service which
is smoothly termed " confidential reports," thus turning
the Army in particular, whose constitution is based on

XXI.] AGAINST CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS. 241

the most scrupulous adherence to the highest and nicest
principles of honour, into a graduated corps of spies from
the ensign up to the general. Great Britain does not
reflect that by encouraging these confidential or clandestine
reports she is inflicting an insulting and severe censure
on the laws and morals of the nation, as not being sufficient
to govern by open and legitimate means.

To remove an officer from the Service upon a confidential
report is both unjust and impolitic, and answers no good
end. It is but natural to suppose that when a senior officer
accuses a junior by means of clandestine reports, with
the hope of having him removed from the Service without
trial, that this dark mode of procedure arises from inade-
quacy of matter to bear him out, or for reasons still darker
than the foul means adopted. But supposing even that
it should be made evident to His Majesty that the officer
so reported is unworthy of continuing in the Service, is
it politic to remove him from it without assigning a
<jause or making his delinquency public ? When a robber
or even murderer is executed, it is not from a vindictive
motive, it takes place as a dreadful warning to deter
others from committing a similar crime; therefore due
punishment cannot be made too public, or its imperative
necessity too strongly impressed on the minds of the
people. The injustice of these secret proceedings was
clearly shown at Malta in 1821, at which time I was
quartered there. A commanding officer in the garrison
«o blackened the characters of a large portion of his
officers through confidential reports that it was determined
to have the greater number of them removed from the
Service. This was discovered by means of a lady of the
regiment, who carelessly said to another that she would
;soon see the junior captain become the senior ; this being

16

242 I AM MADE BEAR-LEADER. [Ch.

repeated soon became known throughout the corps, when
the officers fortunately arrived at the true cause of the
threatened removal. Consequently, and very naturally,
they spoke openly. To avert the evil they asserted that
tyranny, oppression and falsehood had been used towards
them. This coming to the knowledge of the commanding
general, Sir . Thomas Maitland, he ordered a court of
inquiry. He clearly stated that from the reports which he
had received from the commanding officer he had intended
to recommend that many officers of the regiment should
be removed from the Service ; but in consequence of its
coming to his knowledge that the commanding officer
was far from immaculate, and that oppression or unfounded
reports might have been resorted to, he thus gave the
officers an opportunity not only to exonerate themselves
from the charges alleged against them, but also to declare
their grievances. What was the consequence ? One
subaltern was brought to court-martial by the commanding
officer and was acquitted ; but the commanding officer
was brought to trial upon two-and-twenty grave charges,
on one-and-twenty of which he was found guilty, and as
a matter of course publicly dismissed the Service.

So much for confidential reports. Who can count the
number of high-spirited noble and gallant youths who
have fallen victims, or whose prospects have been blasted
through this dastardly mode of proceeding? It is the
noble-minded and high-spirited alone who call for pro-
tection against such an iniquitous system ; the fawning
and servile are sure to escape, and not unfrequently with
rewards. The duties of a commanding officer are manifold ;
and he who does not execute them with temperance, justice
and impartiality is not for that responsible post.

I had the good fortune of being intimately acquainted

XXL] GENERAL ROSS AND SIR E. BLAKENEY. 243

with that gallant and sterling soldier, General Ross, who
should be held up as a model for commanding officers of
regiments. He at once was the father and brother of
every officer in his corps, and was on the most familiar
and intimate terms with every officer down to the junior
ensign ; yet none ever dared or attempted to take the
slightest liberty which could be considered, even by the
severest martinet, as derogatory in the slightest degree to
the respect due to the commanding officer or injurious to
the maintenance of the strictest discipline. The respect
entertained by all for Colonel Ross was entirely matter of
sentiment and good feeling. The lively, though sometimes
imprudent sallies of a glowing mind were by him rather
laughed away than harshly or even seriously chided ; the
feelings of a gentleman were never wounded in cooling the
fervid ebullitions of youth. He felt fully sensible that the
military laws, as sanctioned by his country, were sufficient
for the ends desired, and therefore never resorted to the
cowardly subterfuge of stabbing in the dark by means of
clandestine reports, which are never resorted to except by
those who from meanness of capacity or want of resolution
shudder at a fearless and open discharge of their duty, or
whose vicious and vindictive natures induce them to strike
the deadly blow unseen. Such a liberal and just command-
ing officer did exist, I know, in the person of the late
General Ross when commanding the 20th Regiment ; and
such a commanding officer does exist, I have been told,
in the person of Sir Edward Blakeney, commanding the
Royal Fusiliers.

CHAPTER XXII.

I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLEB.

A FTER a short halt at Portalegre Prince Pierre re-
^ turned to his regiment, and we continued our route
to Lisbon. On arriving at Abrantes Prince Prosper was
splendidly entertained by Colonel Buchan, who commanded
there. The roads being here impassable for a carriage,
that in which the prince travelled was left behind ; and
we proceeded in a comfortable boat down the Tagus to
Lisbon, where we safely arrived.

The orders which I received immediately on my arrival
were that the prince should never leave the Duke de
Cadoval's palace, in which we were lodged, except in my
company ; and I was never to go out with him in other
than my scarlet uniform. These orders came direct from
the Duke of Wellington. The strictness with which I
was directed to attend so particularly upon the prince did
not arise from any want of confidence in his parole ; it
was the better to protect him, for such was the state of
public ferment at the time in Lisbon that nothing but
British protection could save him from public and most
probably serious insult and outrage. This state of general
excitement was caused by reports in the Spanish papers,
as also by the assertions of many Spaniards then in Lisbon,
that when Ballesteros was defeated by the French at

244

Ch. XXIL] on NAPOLEON'S IDEA OF ZEAL. 245

Ayamonte, the prince, who served there with his regiment
of cavalry, cut many hundred Spaniards to pieces who were
unarmed and who never carried arms in their lives. At
his own particular request I showed him the Spanish
gazettes in which his alleged cruelty was most severely
reprobated. On perusing the papers he remarked with a
laugh, " How stupid these Spaniards in thinking that by
thus abusing me they do me injury! The fools are not
aware that the more they accuse me of cruelty the stronger
will be the conviction in the breast of the emperor that 1
did my duty zealously." I merely asked if the emperor
required such mode of performing duty. A momentary
reserve ensued ; it was but of short duration. In truth,
from the commencement of our acquaintance to our parting
we lived on the most friendly and intimate terms, and
seemed more like two intimate young gentlemen of equal
rank than simple Mr. and a Serene Highness.

The prince was entertained by all the British authorities
in Lisbon. On one occasion he was invited to dine with
Major-General Sir James Leith, but I was not included
in the invitation. The prince would rather have declined,
but I persuaded him to go, and accompanied him to
Sir James's house. Asking for an aide-de-camp, I gave
the prince to his care, telling him that I expected that
he would not return except accompanied by an officer :
I then immediately retired. I was very happy at having
this opportunity of going out to see some old friends ; I
had many, having been twice previously in Lisbon. On
my return, which was rather late, I found the aide-de-camp
asleep on the sofa, and the prince sitting by his side
laughing. On awakening he told me that he received Sir
James Leith's positive injunctions not to quit the prince
until my return home ; and he gave me a very polite

246 I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLER. [Ch.

message from the general, stating his regret that he was
unacquainted with the mutual obligation that existed
between the prince and me or he would certainly have
invited me to dine. Sir James called next day, and
repeated what the aide-de-camp had previously said. A
nearly similar occurrence took place the second time we
dined with Marshal Beresford.

These invitations were highly honourable to me ; but
it was complete servitude, and made me as much a prisoner
as the prince, with the additional weight of responsibility.
The strict obligation of always accompanying the prince
in my uniform interfered with many amusements. In
going to the theatres he was instantly recognised and
rudely stared at ; and even had we risked going in plain
clothes, contrary to our instructions, there still remained
an obstacle. The prince wore mustachios, by which he
would be immediately known, and with these he was very
unwilling to part. I told him that if he shaved them
off, I should run all hazard and accompany him in plain
clothes in some of our nocturnal rambles. After urgent
expostulations on my part and profound sighs on his, he
consented to have them removed. He sat down before a
mirror, determined, despite of cavalry pride, to cut down
the long, long cherished bristly curls of war. His hand
trembled. He shrank from the first touch of the razor,
yet he bore the amputation of the right wing with tolerable
fortitude ; then, turning to me with a deep sigh, he held
up the amputated member clotted with lethal soap. He
looked mournful and pale ; but however I may have com-
miserated his grief, for the life of me I could not refrain
from laughing aloud at the appearance of his face with
one mustachio only, which, deprived of its old companion,
appeared double its former length. I requested him to

XXII.] SAD END OF A MOUSTACHE. 247

give the hanger-on no quarter, but instantly to cut him
down ; the operation soon followed. The mustachios were
washed, cleaned and dried, then carefully wrapped up in
silver paper and forwarded with a pathetic letter to the
duchess, his wife. The prince declared that he never again
would act the soldier either for Napoleon or any other.
This determination arose entirely from his being tired of
the army, not from cutting off the mustachios, which act
bore no analogy to the story of Delilah ; and although I
was instrumental in cutting off the hairs of war if not of
strength, he never found in me a Philistine. A tailor was
now sent for to make him a brown-coated gentleman.

We now felt no obstacle to our enjoyment of many
amusements from which we previously were debarred.
For such was the metamorphosis from the splendid cavalry
uniform, highly decorated breast, blackened and curled
whiskers and mustachios and the fierce toict-ensemble to
the simple brown coat and the plain civic face, that had
I not been present at the barbarous deed, I scarcely could
have believed him to be the same person ; and such was
my reliance on his word that I felt no hesitation about his
going out, even alone.

The prince entertained very liberally whilst in Lisbon ;
when he was not dining out, there were twelve covers at his
table for the officers, his fellow prisoners, who were invited
in rotation. One officer alone, a lieutenant of artillery, was
never invited. It was alleged that when we attacked on
the morning of the action, this unfortunate young man,
who commanded the artillery, had no matches lit, and that
had he been prepared we must have lost more men in
killed and wounded while filing through the town ; in
consequence, he was cut by every French officer in Lisbon.
I felt much for him, and mentioned to the prince that

248 I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLER. [Ch.

where they were all alike unfortunate, it appeared invidious
to single out one for neglect ; for whatever his fault
might have been, it could not have had the slightest effect
in changing the result of the action. The prince, although
a stern soldier, somewhat relented ; but there was such a
person as Napoleon to be taken into consideration. How-
ever, he mentioned the circumstance to General Le Brun,
expressing an inclination to become reconciled to the
artillery officer. Le Brun would not listen to it, alleging
that it would be setting a dangerous example to look over
or in any way countenance gross neglect of duty, at the
same time casting a scowling look at me, knowing that it
was I who spoke to the prince on the subject. Annoyed
at his obduracy and a little nettled by his indignant
look, I asked him if he did not think that, had there been
mounted patrols on the look-out to give alarm in proper
time, the artillery officer, thus warned, would have had his
guns in battle array ; instead of which, we came absolutely
into the town without encountering a single French dragoon.
The general treated my observation with haughty silence ;
but the French adjutant-general, also a prisoner, being
present, darted a fiery glance at Le Brun, and would no
doubt have applied his censure of the artillery officer to
himself, had he not been restrained out of consideration
for the prince, who was second in command of the
cavalry. Le Brun was disliked by all from his haughty
and overbearing manner. When after the action the
officers made prisoners were required to sign their parole,
Le Brun refused, saying that the word of a general of the
French was sufficient. Our quartermaster-general. Colonel
Offley, a gallant and determined soldier, a German by
birth, soon settled the affair in a summary way by giving
orders that if the general refused to sign his parole, he

XXII.] FROM LISBON TO ENGLAND IN TWO HOURS. 249

was to be marched with the bulk of the prisoners. This
order cooled the general's hauteur : he subscribed.

On one occasion, when a large party of French officers
dined with us, the prince asked me to what town in
England I thought it likely he would be sent as prisoner
of war. This I could not possibly answer. He then
asked which I considered the second town in England.
I said that from a commercial point of view we generally
ranked Liverpool next to London ; but as places of fashion-
able resort Brighton, Bath and Cheltenham ranked much
alike. I inadvertently asked him which he considered
the second town in France. " Rome," said he, " ranks
the second and Amsterdam the third." I remarked that
then we had no longer an Italy or a Holland. " Yes,"
replied the prince, " we have both ; but by a late edict
of the Emperor those two towns are annexed to France^
but it is not the policy of England to recognise it." I
made a low bow. In compliment to me, I suppose, the
prince changed the topic immediately, saying that he
dreaded a ship so much that he would sooner fight the
battles of Talavera and Albuera over again than undertake
so long a voyage as that to England. I told him to
quiet himself on that head, for he might get to England
in two hours. The whole company stared, but particularly
Le Brun, who was always a standing dish at the prince's
table. Speculation ran high. A balloon was generally
suggested, but the velocity even of this was doubted. I
denied the agency of a balloon, and maintained that
it was to be accomplished by wind and water solely. As
I still withheld an explanation, the prince got off his
chair, and flinging away his little foraging cap said, " If
you do not tell us I shall give you a kiss, and I know
that you would sooner get a slap on the face than be

2SO I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLER. [Ch.

kissed by a man." On his advancing towards me, I requested
that he would sit down and I would give him an explanation
which I felt persuaded would convince all present that
my assertion was perfectly correct. At this a general laugh
followed. The prince being re-seated, I addressed him
thus : " In less than two hours after you leave the
quay, you will have got rid of all the boats which impede
your passage down the Tagus, and immediately after you
will steer clear of Fort St. Julian at the influx of the
river. You are then at sea and arrived; for by an old
edict, recognised by every sovereign in Europe, * All the
seas are England.'" The whole company endeavoured,
although awkwardly, to force a laugh, except Le Brun,
whose scowling frown indicated his chagrin, and I fancied
that I distinguished the word bctise muttered between
his teeth. I longed for an opportunity of paying him oif ;
it soon occurred.

Le Brun called next morning, as usual big with nothing.
Perceiving that he wished to be alone with the prince,
I retired to the next room. Soon after the prince requested
me to come back. He was much excited, and flinging
his cap on the floor, " Only think," said he, " what the
general has been telling me as an undoubted fact. Some
rascally Portuguese has persnaded him to believe that
above a hundred sail of French line of battleships have
appeared before Cadiz ; that the British squadron, stationed
there, were compelled to fly ; that the fortress must
immediately surrender, and consequently all Spain must
soon be in our possession. In the first place," added the
prince, "all the navy of France do not amount to the
number which the general says are before Cadiz, without
taking into consideration the utter impossibility of their
being enabled to form such a junction unmolested in the

XXII.] UN GROS CANARD. 251

face of the British navy. If a corporal of my regiment
told me such a story, believing it, I should turn him into
the ranks." At this remark the general became highly
indignant, and the prince's excitement much increased.
To restore tranquillity I asked the general about the
appearance of the person who gave him the important
information ; and nodding assent to his description, I
exclaimed, " The very man v^ho spoke to me this morning."
" There," said the general, happy to have anything like
corroboration ; " and what did he tell you ? " I looked
round with much apparent precaution, and after anxious
pressing on his part and affected hesitation on mine, I
got quite close to the prince and the general, who took
a chair. I then in a low tone of voice, our three heads
nearly touching, said : " When I came to Lisbon this same
Portuguese was pointed out to me as a person who always
possessed much information, but sold it dearly." All this
time the prince was staring at me, knowing that I bore
no great affection for the general. *' But," said the general,
"what information did he give you? " " He told me that
he knew to a certainty, from a source which could not
be doubted — I think you said one hundred ? " " Yes," re-
plied Le Brun, " one hundred sail of the line." " He told
me," I resumed, " that there were two hundred thousand
British troops absolutely on the boulevards of Paris, but
not a single soul could tell whence they came. I gave my
informant six gros sous : how much did you give, mon
general ? " At this the prince absolutely became convulsed
with laughter. The general darted from his chair, snatched
up his hat, and turning his head half round gave us the
most ungracious bonjour that I ever heard escape the
lips of a Frenchman, and then strode out of the room.
Scarcely had he left when the prince ran forward and

252 I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLER. [C.h.

absolutely embraced me, saying that I bad done bim tbe
greatest favour wbicb I could possibly confer, as be felt
sure tbe general would torment bim no more. He wa»
rigbt ; Le Brun never again called.

About tbis time a very laugbable scene took place in
Lisbon. An announcement was published in tbe papers
tbat an English officer would walk across tbe Tagus with
cork boots. At tbe hour specified tbe concourse was
immense ; twenty thousand persons at least were collected
at Belem, the place indicated. Every boat on tbe Tagus
and every vehicle in the town, of whatever description,
was hired for several days previously. A Portuguese guard
were posted to keep tbe cork-boot platform clear, and a
military band attended ; it was in fact a magnificent
pageant. At length the hour of execution arrived, but no
cork boots ; hour after hour passed, but still the principal
actor was wanting. The spectators, wearied by fruitless
expectation, began to retire ; and here the ingenuity of
the hoax was displayed— for when some thousands bad
moved off, a sudden rush was made towards tbe platform*
Those who retired instantly returned, but only to be disap-
pointed. This ruse, strange to be said, repeatedly suc-
ceeded ; back came the crowd, but the great Earl of Cork
never came forth. At length and after dark all retired
in tbe worst possible temper ; many did not reach their
homes until after midnight, although Belem was not more
than five miles from Lisbon, such was the throng both on
the Tagus and along the roads. Next day all Lisbon was
in uproar at being thus insulted by the English, who denied
all knowledge of tbe aflair ; and in reply to a remonstrance
made by the Portuguese Government on the subject to the
English authorities, it was asked rather acrimoniously how
such an absurd article bad been permitted to appear in tbe

XXII.] CANARD AUX BOTTES. 253

public prints when the censorship of the press was entirely
in the hands of the Portuguese Government. This was
rather a poser, and the afiair died away in languid laughter.
The time having arrived for the prince's departure for
England, Captain Percy, in whose ship he was to proceed,
mentioned to me that he had some hope of procuring an
exchange between the prince and his father, Lord Beverley,
who was detained in France ; requesting also that I would
ascertain from the prince what he wished put on board for
his little comforts. The prince in reply commissioned me
to tell Captain Percy that as to the exchange he felt fully
persuaded that Napoleon, although the uncle of his wife
the duchess, would never consent to the exchange ; that
as to his comforts on board he felt extremely obliged to
Captain Percy for his polite and kind attention, and the
only thing he requested was a little old rum. I delivered
his message, but told him that it was scarcely necessary,
for there was always sufficient rum on board a man-of-war.
On parting, he told me that whenever I should come to
Brussels 1 should have no formal invitation to his father's
palace ; I should live there and invite whom I pleased,
for I must consider myself as a master in the house. How
I treated him while we lived together as prisoner and
guard may be seen in a letter which I had the honour
of receiving some years afterwards from his late Royal
Highness the Duke of Kent.

It was at my option to accompany the prince to England ;
1 was strongly recommended to do so, and the prince warmly
urged me to the same effect. The bait was tempting ;
but although better success would undoubtedly have attended
a campaign in the luxurious Green Park, surrounded by
magnificent mansions, traversed by splendid equipages,
studded with groups of noble courtiers and glittering

254 I CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAOLER. [Ch. XXIL

flatterers, yet I preferred the uncompromising discharge
of my duty and the wild scenery and extensive plains
of Spain, in company with my gallant companions of the
war, whose hearts were open as the boundless tracts they
traversed, their friendship fervid as the genial sun which
glowed over their heads, and their sincerity pure and
unsullied as the mountain breezes they inhaled. All this
was good enough for me.

CHAPTER XXIII.

I GET MY COMrANY AND PROCEED TO BADAJOZ.

f~\^ the departure of the prince I immediately joined
^-^ my regiment at Albuquerque. On my arrival I had
the honour of dining with General Hill. He congratulated
me on my good fortune in carrying the prince safely to
Lisbon, remarking that had I not been able to harangue
the peasantry in their native language, sixty soldiers
instead of six would scarcely have been a sufficient guard.
The general had heard from several Spanish officers of
the difficulty and danger which I had encountered. He
then congratulated me on the certainty of my immediate
promotion ; was pleased to say that I should soon reap
the reward which I so well merited, and then handed me
the following letter, which he requested me to keep by me : —

"Gallegos: January \6th, 1812.
"Sir, — I am directed to transmit to you the annexed extract
of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Torrens, in reply to your
recommendation in favour of Lieutenant Blakeney.

" The Commander-in-Chief will take an early opportunity of
recommending Lieutenant Blakeney for promotion.

*' I have the honour to be, etc.,
"FiTZROY Somerset,

*^ Military Secretary.
" Lieutenant-Genbral Hill."

Towards the latter end of February my name appeared
in the Gazette^ promoted to a company in the 36th Regiment,

25s

2 56 I PROCEED TO BADAJOZ. [Ch.

dated January 16th, 1812. After endeavouring in vain
to accomplish an exchange back into my old corps, I
forwarded a memorial to the Duke of Wellington applying
for permission to join the 1st Battalion 36th Eegiment,
then in the Peninsula. His Grace answered that he could
not interfere with the appointment of an officer from one
battalion to another ; that being promoted I must join
the 2nd battalion, to which I properly belonged ; and
that I must therefore proceed to England and report my
arrival to the adjutant-general. A copy of this answer
was forwarded from headquarters to the officer commanding
the 1st Battalion 36th Eegiment, then at Almendralejo.
It was matter of surprise to many that whilst hundreds
of officers were vainly applying for leave to go to England,
I could not procure leave to keep from it; but such, no
doubt, were the arrangements between the Horse Guards
and the army in the Peninsula.

In the beginning of March General Hill moved upon
Merida, endeavouring to surprise a detachment of the
enemy there stationed. He approached within a short
distance without being discovered ; but an advanced guard
being at length perceived, the enemy hastily evacuated the
town. As we neared the place we saw their rearguard of
cavalry crossing the bridge. Our cavalry and light artillery
had previously forded the Guadiana, and it was confidently
expected would soon come up with the retiring foe. No
longer doing duty with the 28th Eegiment, I rode over the
bridge as the German dragoons were closely pressing on
the enemy's rear, passing by their flank. I soon came in
view of their main body. They proceeded hesitatingly,
having no doubt been informed by their patrols that our
cavalry had already forded the Guadiana. They halted on
a conical hill, or rather rising mound, which they occupied

XXIII.] THE AFFAIR OF MERIDA. 257

from its base to its summit, apparently expecting to be

charged. I immediately wheeled round and returning at

full speed informed General Hill of what I had seen. The

general, whose coolness was never more apparent than

when the full energy of the mind was called into action,

replied in his usual placid manner : " Very well ; we shall

soon be with them. Gallop over the bridge again and tell

General Long to keep closer to the wood." Instantly

setting off I soon recrossed the bridge, at the far end of

which I met Lord Charles Fitzroy returning after having

delivered a similar message. The cavalry general's reply

was that he wished to keep clear of the skirts of the wood,

when one of us remarked that the wood must have skirts

more extensive than a dragoon's cloak to keep them at

such a distance. The enemy, perceiving how far they

kept away, descended from the mound on which they had

expected to be charged, and rapidly pushed forward without

any molestation ; for as our dragoons moved they still more

deviated from the enemy's line of march, and seemed to be

en route for Badajoz. Had our cavalry closed upon the

wood and even menaced a charge, the progress of the enemy

would have been impeded ; but had our cavalry and light

guns, by which they were accompanied, pushed forward

rapidly, which they could have done since the plain was flat

and level, and headed the enemy, they would have kept them

until our infantry came up. But nothing of the kind was

attempted, and so every French soldier escaped, though

every one ought to have been made prisoner, and this

affair of Merida would have been more complete than even

that of Arroyo Molinos ; for when I reported the position

of the enemy to General Hill, they were not more than two

miles distant from our advanced guard. This affair caused

an era in the life of General Hill ; for I heard many of his

17

258 I PROCEED TO BADAJOZ. [Ch.

oldest acquaintances remark that before the evening of
this day they never saw a cloud upon his brow.

All hopes of being permitted to remain in the Peninsula
having vanished, I resolved to return to England. With
heavy heart I parted from the regiment in which I first drew
my sword, in which my earliest friendships were formed and
my mind modelled as a soldier. In Colonel Abercrombie's
quarters at Merida many of the officers were assembled.
Sorrowful, I bade adieu to my gallant old comrades, and
quaifed a goblet to their future success whilst I clasped the
colours to my breast — those colours which alone throughout
the British army proudly display the names of the two
bloodiest fought battles in the Peninsula, Barossa and
Albuera ; and in each of these battles the regiment claimed
a double share of the glory. At Barossa, while Colonel
Belson at the head of the 1st Battalion charged and turned
the chosen grenadiers forming the right of the enemy's line.
Colonel Browne of the regiment, at the head of their flank
companies, united with those of two other corps, commanded
the independent flank battalion ; and this battalion, the first
in the battle and alone, suffered more casualties both in
officers and men (I allude particularly to the flankers of
the 28th Regiment) than triple that sustained by any
other battalion present in that memorable fight. At
Albuera the 2nd Battalion of the regiment were led by
a gallant officer. Colonel Patterson ; and the brigade in
which they served, that which with the brigade of the
gallant Fusiliers turned the wavering fortunes of the day,
were commanded by the gallant Abercrombie, the second
lieutenant-colonel of the regiment.

Next morning at parting the light bobs gave me a cheer.
I distinguished among them some few of the old ventrilo-
quists of Galicia ; but on this occasion their notes were, 1

XXIII.] FAREWELL TO THE SLASHERS. 259

believe, genuine. I bade a mournful farewell to the old
Slashers, and bent my steps towards Badajoz, then about
to be besieged. The next evening (March 15th) I came
before the place ; and very opportunely Lieutenant
Huddleston of the 28th Regiment, my brother officer in
the battalion company which I commanded for a short
time, arrived on the same day, being appointed to serve
in the Engineer department. He willingly shared his
tent with me ; and Sir Frederick Slavin, also of the 28th
Regiment, then adjutant-general of the 3rd Division, intro-
duced me to General Picton, who did me the honour of
saying that I should always find a cover at his table during
my stay before Badajoz. General Bowes, with whom I had
the pleasure of being acquainted at Gibraltar, gave me a
similar invitation. Thus, finding myself comparatively at
home, I felt in no way inclined to proceed too quickly to
Lisbon.

During the siege I assisted generally in the trenches.
On March 16th everything was finally arranged, and on
the following evening the different divisions and regiments
prepared to occupy their respective posts. All the troops
being assembled, generals and commanding officers in-
spected their brigades and regiments in review order.
The parade was magnificent and imposing. The colours
of each regiment proudly, though scantily, floated in the
breeze ; they displayed but very little embroidery. Scarcely
could the well-earned badges of the regiments be discerned ;
yet their lacerated condition, caused by the numberless
wounds which they received in battle, gave martial dignity
to their appearance and animated every British breast
with national pride. The review being terminated, a
signal was given for each corps to proceed to that spot of
ground which they were destined to open. The whole moved

26o I PROCEED TO BADAJOZ. [Ch.

off. All the bands by one accord played the same tune,
which was cheered with shouts that bore ominous import
and appeared to shake Badajoz to its foundation. The
music played was the animating national Irish air, St.
Patrick's Day, when the shamrock was proudly clustered
with the laurel ; and indeed, though these two shrubs are
not reckoned of the same family by proud collectors in
the Cabinet, veterans hold them to be closely allied in
the field. Never was St. Patrick's day more loudly
cheered or by stouter hearts, and never was the music
more nobly accompanied nor with more warlike bass ; for
all the troops echoed the inspiring national air as proudly
they marched to their ground. Phillipon maintained an
incessant fire of cannon, roared forth in proud defiance
from the destined fortress ; and Badajoz being now
invested on both sides of the Guadiana, the operations of
the siege were eagerly pressed forward.

On the 19th, during the completion of the 1st parallel,
a sortie was made by the besieged soon after mid-day.
Fifteen hundred of their infantry, screened by the ravelin
San Roque, formed between that opening and the Picurina
or small redoubt. They immediately pressed forward and
gained the works before our men could seize their arms,
while at the same time a party of cavalry, about fifty, the
only horsemen in the fortress, got in rear of the parallel.
The confnsion was great at the first onset. Those on guard
and the working men were driven out of the trenches, and
the cavalry sabred many in the dep6ts at the rear ; but the
mischief being quickly discovered was soon remedied.
The Guards being reinforced immediately rallied and drove
the enemy out of the works at the point of the bayonet,
when many lives were lost. A part of the embankment
was thrown into the trenches, and the enemy carried away

XXIII.] CAPTURE OF FORT PICURINA. 261

almost all the entrenching tools found in the parallel.
We lost one hundred and fifty men in killed and wounded
during this attack.

The siege was now carried on without interruption,
nothwithstanding the severity of the weather, which
frequently filled the trenches with water ; and so great
was the fall of rain on the 22nd that the pontoon bridge
was carried away by the Guadiana overflowing its banks,
and the flying bridges over that river could scarcely be
worked. This threatened a failure of the siege, from
the difficulty of supplying the troops with provisions and
the impossibility of bringing the guns and ammunition
across. Fortunately for the attack of the fortress how-
ever the disaster was remedied by the river falling within
its banks.

The morning of the 25th was ushered in by saluting
the garrison with twenty-eight pieces of cannon, opened
from six different batteries ; and in the evening Fort
Picurina was stormed, gallantly carried and permanently
retained. The enemy made a sortie on the night of the
29th, on the right bank of the Guadiana against General
Hamilton's division, who invested the fortress on that
side ; they were driven back with loss, and on this occasion
the besiegers had no casualties.

On the last day of March twenty-six pieces of ordnance
from the 2nd Parallel opened their fire against Fort
Trinidad and the flank of the protecting bastion, Santa
Maria. This fire continued incessantly, aided by an
additional battery of six guns, which also opened from
the 2nd Parallel on the morning of April 4th against
the ravelin of San Roque. On the evening of the 5th
Trinidad, Santa Maria and the ravelin of San Roque were
breached.

262 I PROCEED TO BADAJOZ. [Ch.

Preparations were made to storm the town that night ;
but reports having been made by the engineers that strong
works had been erected for the defence of the two breaches,
particularly in rear of the large one made in the face of
the bastion of Trinidad, where deep retrenchments had
been constructed and every means resorted to which art
and science could devise to prevent an entrance, the attack
was therefore put off. Many hundred lives were spared,
but for twenty-four hours only. All the guns in the
2nd Parallel were now directed against the curtain of
Trinidad ; and towards the following evening a third breach
appeared ; and the storming of Badajoz was arranged
in the following order for the night of the 6th. The 4th
division under command of Major-General the Honourable
C. Colville, and the light division under Lieutenant-Colonel
Barnard, were destined to attack the three breaches opened
in the bastion of Trinidad, Santa Maria and the connecting
curtain. Lieutenant-General Picton, with the 3rd or
fighting division, was directed to attack the castle, which,
from the great height of its walls and no breach having
been attempted there, the enemy considered secure against
assault. The ground left vacant by the advance of the
4th and light divisions was to be occupied by the 5th
division, commanded by General Leith, with instructions
to detach his left brigade, under General Walker, to make
a false attack against the works of the fortress near the
Guadiana, as also against the detached work the Pardaleras.
Brigadier-General Power, commanding a Portuguese
brigade on the opposite bank, was ordered to divert by
making false attacks upon a newly formed redoubt called
Mon Coeur, upon Fort St. Cristoval, upon the Ute du porvt
and upon I forget what else. With these instructions
the troops moved forward from the entrenchments about

XXHL] NIGHT ATTACK ON BADAJOZ. 263

ten o'clock at night to attack the destined town. The
3rd Division, under Picton, preceded the general movement
about a quarter of an hour for the purpose of drawing
away the enemy's attention from the openings in the wall,
since these were considered the only really vulnerable
points of the fortress. The 4th and light divisions pushed
gallantly forward against these breaches, and were not
discovered until they had entered the ditch. During their
advance the town was liberally supplied with shells from
our batteries, and the upper parts of the breaches were
continually fired upon by light troops placed upon the
glacis to disperse the enemy and prevent their repairing
the broken defences. This fire was but slightly answered,
until the two divisions mentioned were discovered entering
the ditch, when they were assailed by an awful cannonade,
accompanied by the sharp and incessant chattering of
musketry. Fireballs were shot forth from the fortress,
which illumined the surrounding space and discovered
every subsequent movement.

The dreadful strife now commenced. The thundering
cheer of the British soldiers as they rushed forward through
the outer ditch, together with the appalling roar of all
arms sent forth in defiance from within, was tremendous.
Whenever an instant pause occurred it was filled by the
heartrending shrieks of the trodden-down wounded and
by the lengthened groans of the dying. Three times were
the breaches cleared of Frenchmen, driven off at the point
of the bayonet by gallant British soldiers to the very
summit, when they were by the no less gallant foe each
time driven back, leaving their bravest officers and fore-
most soldiers behind, who, whether killed or wounded,
were tossed down headlong to the foot of the breaches.
Throughout this dreadful conflict our bugles were con-

264 I PROCEED TO BADAJOZ. [Ch.

tinually sounding the advance. The cry of " Bravo !
bravo!" resounded through the ditches and along the
foot of the breaches ; but no British cry was heard from
within the walls of Badajoz save that of despair, uttered
by the bravest, who despite of all obstacles forced their
way into the body of the place, and there through dire
necessity abandoned, groaned forth their last stabbed by
unnumbered wounds. Again and again were the breaches
attacked with redoubled fary and defended with equal
pertinacity and stern resolution, seconded by every resource
which science could adopt or ingenuity suggest. Bags
and barrels of gunpowder with short fuses were rolled
down, which, bursting at the bottom or along the face of
the breaches, destroyed all who advanced. Thousands of
live shells, hand-grenades, fireballs and every species of
destructive combustible were thrown down the breaches
and over the walls into the ditches, which, lighting and
exploding at the same instant, rivalled the lightning and
thunder of heaven. This at intervals was succeeded by an
impenetrable darkness as of the infernal regions. Gallant
foes laughing at death met, fought, bled and rolled upon
earth ; and from the very earth destruction burst, for the
exploding mines cast up friends and foes together, who in
burning torture clashed and shrieked in the air. Partly
burned they fell back into the inundating water, continually
lighted by the incessant bursting of shells. Thus assailed
by opposing elements, they made the horrid scene yet more
horrid by shrieks uttered in wild despair, vainly struggling
against a watery grave with limbs convulsed and quivering
from the consuming fire. The roaring of cannon, the
bursting of shells, the rattle of musketry, the awful
explosion of mines and the flaring sickly blaze of fireballs
seemed not of human invention, but rather as if all the

XXI I I.J HELL ON EARTH. 265

elements of nature had greedily combined in the general
havoc, and heaven, earth and hell had united for the
destruction alike of devoted Badajoz and of its furious
assailants.

In consequence of untoward disasters, which occurred at
the very onset by the troops being falsely led, their numbers
were seriously diminished and their compact formation
disorganised. The third or last opening in the curtain was
never attempted, although this breach was the most prac-
ticable, as it had been made only a few hours before, and
thus there had been no time to strengthen its defences.
Owing to this ruinous mistake, the harassed and depressed
troops failed in their repeated attacks.

CHAPTER XXIV.

AT BADAJOZ.

A T length the bugles of the 4th and light divisions
-^^^ sounded the recall. At this moment General Bowes,
whom I accompanied in the early part of the fight, being
severely wounded, and his aide-de-camp, my old comrade
and brother officer Captain Johnson, 28th Regiment, being
killed, as I had no duty to perform (my regiment not
being present), I attended the general as he was borne to
his tent. He enquired anxiously about poor Johnson, his
relative, not being aware that this gallant officer received
his death-shot while he was being carried to the rear in
consequence of a wound which he had received when
cheering on a column to one of the breaches.

Having seen the general safely lodged, I galloped off
to where Lord Wellington had taken his station. This
was easily discerned by means of two fireballs shot out
from the fortress at the commencement of the attack,
which continued to burn brilliantly along the water-cut
which divided the 3rd from the other divisions. Near
the end of this channel, behind a rising mound, were Lord
Wellington and his personal staff, screened from the
enemy's direct fire, but within range of shells. One of
his staff sat down by his side with a candle to enable the
general to read and write all his communications and
orders relative to the passing events. I stood not far

266

Ch. XXIV.] WELLINGTON AT BADAJOZ. 267

from his lordship. But due respect prevented any of us
bystanders from approaching so near as to enable us to
ascertain the import of the reports which he was continu-
ally receiving ; yet it was very evident that the information
which they conveyed was far from flattering ; and the recall
on the bugles was again and again repeated. But about
half-past eleven o'clock an officer rode up at full speed on
a horse covered with foam, and announced the joyful tidings
that General Picton had made a lodgment within the
castle by escalade, and had withdrawn the troops from the
trenches to enablie him to maintain his dearly purchased
hold. Lord Wellington was evidently delighted, but
exclaimed, " What ! abandon the trenches ? " and ordered
two regiments of the 5th Division instantly to replace
those withdrawn. I waited to hear no more, but, admiring
the prompt genius which immediately provided for every
contingency, I mounted my horse. I was immediately
surrounded by a host of Spaniards, thousands of whom,
of all ages and sexes, had been collecting at this point
for some time from the neighbouring towns and villages
to witness the storming and enjoy the brilliant spectacle,
wherein thousands of men, women and children, in-
cluding those of their own country, were to be shot,
bayoneted or blown to atoms. Notwithstanding the
hundreds of beautiful females who closely pressed round
and even clung to me for information, I merely exclaimed
in a loud voice that Badajoz was taken and then made the
best of my way to the walls of the castle ; their height
was rather forbidding, and an enfilading fire still continued.
The ladders were warm and slippery with blood and brains
of many a gallant soldier, who but a few moments pre-
viously mounted them with undaunted pride, to be dashed
down from their top and lie broken in death at their foot.

4268 AT BADAJOZ. [Ch.

As soon as General Picton bad arrived at the walls lie
instantly ordered them to be escaladed, frightful as was
their height. Ladder after ladder failed to be placed
^.gainst the walls, their determined bearers being killed.
But Picton, who never did anything by halves or hesita-
tingly, instead of parsimoniously sending small parties
forward and waiting to hear of their extinction before
fresh support was furnished, boldly marched his whole
division to the foot of the walls ; and thus, without loss
of time, by immediately supplying the place of the fallen,
he at length succeeded in rearing one ladder. Then having
his reserves close at hand, scarcely was a man shot off
when an equally brave successor filled his place ; and in
this manner those who mounted that one ladder at length
made a lodgment. This being firmly established, the fire
from within slackened ; many ladders were soon reared
and the whole of the 3rd Division entered the castle.
The Connaught Rangers were said to be the first within the
wall. In consequence of some misconduct. General Picton
had changed the name " Rangers " to "Robbers." After
the storming of the castle a private of the corps called
out half-drunken to the general, '' Are we the ' Connaught
Robbers ' now ? " " No," answered Picton ; " you are
the ^Connaught Heroes.'"

The confusion in the castle was awful all night long.
All the gates had been built up but one, and that narrowed
to the width of two men. On this straight gate a terrible
fire was directed from outside and in. The 3rd Division
first fired on the French and, when they had gone,
continued to fire on their own comrades of the 5th Division,
who had entered the town on the opposite side by escalading
the bastion of San Vincente. This capture was opposed as
fiercely and made as bravely as that of the castle. The

XXIV.] MEETING OF THE 3RD AND 5TH DIVISIONS. 26gt

3rd Division having taken the castle about half-past eleven^
Picton received orders to maintain it nntil break of
day, when he was to sally forth with two thousand men
and fall on the rear of the breaches, which it was intended
should again be attacked by the 4th and light Divisions.
The party who carried the ladders of the 5th Divisioa
lost their way and did not come up until after eleven
o'clock, which necessarily made General Leith an hour late
in his attack on the bastion of San Vincente, so that before-
he entered the town the castle was in possession of the
3rd Division. The enemy who defended the breaches,
being no longer attacked in front, turned all their force
against the 5th Division as they advanced from their captured
bastion along the ramparts. As soon as General Walker's-
brigade of this division gained the interior of the fortress,
they moved forward along the ramparts, driving everything
before them until they arrived not far from the breach
in the Santa Maria bastion ; here the enemy had a gun
placed, and as the British troops advanced a French gunner-
lit a port fire. Startled at the sudden and unexpected
light, some of the foremost British soldiers cried out,.
" A mine, a mine ! " These words passing to the rear, the
whole of the troops fell into disorder, and such was the-
panic caused by this ridiculous mistake that the brave-
example and utmost exertions of the officers could not
prevail upon the men to advance. The enemy, perceiving
the hesitation, pushed boldly forward to the charge, and
drove the British back to the bastion of San Vincente, where
they had entered. Here a battalion in reserve had been
formed, who, in their turn rushing forward to the charge,
bayoneted or made prisoner every Frenchman they met,,
pursuing those who turned as far as the breaches. The^
3rd and 5th Divisions interchanged many shots, eack

270 AT BADAJOZ. [Ch.

ignorant of the other's success and consequent position ;
and both divisions continued to fire at the breaches, so
that had the 4th and light divisions made another attack
many must have fallen by the fire of both divisions of their
comrades.

From both within and without, as has been said, a
constant fire was kept up at the narrow and only entrance
to the castle. This entrance was defended by a massive
door, nearly two feet thick, which was riddled throughout ;
and had the 3rd Division sallied forth during the confusion
and darkness, they must have come in contact with the
5th Division, when no doubt many more lives would
have been lost before they recognised each other. This
was fortunately prevented by Picton being ordered to
remain in the castle until morning.

The scenes in the castle that night were of a most deplor-
able and terrific nature : murders, robberies and every
species of debauchery and obscenity were seen, notwithstand-
ing the exertions of the officers to prevent them. Phillipon
expecting that, even though he should lose the town, he
would be able to retain the castle at least for some days,
had had all the live cattle of the garrison driven in there.
The howling of dogs, the crowing of cocks, the penetrating
cackle of thousands of geese, the mournful bleating of
sheep, the furious bellowing of wounded oxen maddened
by being continually goaded and shot at and ferociously
charging through the streets, were mixed with accompani-
ments loudly trumpeted forth by mules and donkeys and
always by the deep and hollow baying of the large
Spanish half-wolves, half-bloodhounds which guarded the
whole. Add to this the shrill screaming of afi'righted
children, the piercing shrieks of frantic women, the groans
of the wounded, the savage and discordant yells of

XXIV.] SURRENDER OF PHILLIPON. 271

drunkards firing at everything and in all directions, and
the continued roll of musketry kept up in error on the
shattered gateway ; and you may imagine an uproar such
as one would think could issue only from the regions of
Pluto ; and this din was maintained throughout the night.

Towards morning the firing ceased ; and the 4th and
light divisions passed through the breaches over the
broken limbs and dead bodies of their gallant comrades.
A great part of the garrison were made prisoners during
the night by the 5th Division ; but Phillipon, with most
of the officers and a portion of the men, retreated across
the Guadiana into Fort Cristoval. He demanded terms
of capitulation next morning ; but Lord Wellington gave
him ten minutes to consider and straightway prepared
the guns to batter the place. However, that was prevented
by Phillipon surrendering at discretion.

As soon as light served and communication between
the castle and the town opened, I bent my way along
the ramparts towards the main opening in the Trinidad
bastion. The glorious dawn of day, contrasted with the
horrible scenes which I had witnessed, filled the mind
with joy. The sun rose in majesty and splendour, as
usual in the blooming month of April, which in that
climate is as our May. The country around was clothed
in luxuriant verdure, refreshed by recent dew, which still
clinging to each green leaf and blade in diamond drops
reflected the verdant hue of the foliage upon which it hung
till diamonds seemed emeralds. A thousand nameless
flowers, displaying as many lovely colours, were on all
the earth. Proudly and silently the Guadiana flowed,
exhibiting its white surface to the majestically rising orb
which gave to the ample and gently heaving breast of
the noble stream the appearance of an undulating plain of

272 AT BADAJOZ. [Ch.

burnished silver. On its fertile banks the forward harvest
already promised abundance and contentment even to the
most avaricious husbandman. The fruit trees opened their
rich and perfumed blossoms ; the burnished orange borrow-
ing colour of the sun glowed in contrast with the more
delicate gold of lemon ; and everywhere grey olive trees
spread ample boughs — but here, alas ! they were not the
emblems of peace. Every creeping bramble and humble
shrub made a fair show that morning ; birds sang in
heaven ; all sensitive and animated nature appeared gay
and seemed with grateful acknowledgments to welcome the
glorious father of light and heat. The lord of creation
alone, " sensible and refined man," turned his back on
the celestial scene to gloat in the savage murders and
degrading obscenity that wantoned in devoted Badajoz.

When I arrived at the great breach the inundation pre-
sented an awful contrast to the silvery Guadiana ; it was
fairly stained with gore, which through the vivid reflection
of the brilliant sun, whose glowing heat already drew the
watery vapours from its surface, gave it the appearance
of a fiery lake of smoking blood, in which were seen the
bodies of many a gallant British soldier. The ditches were
strewn with killed and wounded ; but the approach to the
bottom of the main breach was fairly choked with dead.
A row of cJiB^aux de /rise, armed with sword-blades,
barred the entrance at the top of the breach and so firmly
fixed that when the 4th and light Divisions marched
through, the greatest exertion was required to make a
sufficient opening for their admittance. Boards fastened
with ropes to plugs driven into the ground within the
ramparts were let down, and covered nearly the whole
surface of the breach ; these boards were so thickly studded
withs harp pointed spikes that one could not introduce a

XXIV.] DEAD AT PEACE, LIVING AT PLAY. 273

hand between them ; they did not stick out at right angles
to the board, but were all slanting upwards. In rear of
the chevaux de /rise the ramparts had deep cuts in all
directions, like a tanyard, so that it required light to enable
one to move safely through them, even were there no
opposing enemy. From the number of muskets found
close behind the breach, all the men who could possibly
be brought together in so small a place must have had
at least twenty firelocks each, no doubt kept continually
loaded by persons in the rear. Two British soldiers only
entered the main breach during the assault ; I saw both
their bodies. If any others entered they must have been
thrown back over the walls, for certain it is that at dawn
of the 7th no more than two British bodies were within
the walls near the main breach. In the Santa Maria
breach not one had entered. At the foot of this breach
the same sickening sight appeared as at that of Trinidad :
numberless dead strewed the place. On looking down
these breaches I recognised many old friends, whose society
I had enjoyed a few hours before, now lying stiff in death.
Oppressed by the sight which the dead and dying pre-
sented at the breaches, I turned away and re-entered the
town ; but oh ! what scenes of horror did I witness there !
They can never be effaced from my memory. There was
no safety for women even in the churches ; and any who
interfered or offered resistance were sure to get shot. Every
house presented a scene of plunder, debauchery and blood-
shed, committed with wanton cruelty on the persons of
the defenceless inhabitants by our soldiery ; and in many
instances I beheld the savages tear the rings from the
ears of beautiful women who were their victims, and when
the rings could not be immediately removed from their
fingers with the hand, they tore them off with their teeth.

18

274 AT BADAJOZ. [Ch.

Firing through the streets and at the windows was in-
cessant, which made it excessively dangerous to move out.
When the savages came to a door which had been locked
or barricaded, they applied what they called the patent
key : this consisted of the muzzles of a dozen firelocks
placed close together against that part of the door where
the lock was fastened, and the whole fired oif together into
the house and rooms, regardless of those inside; these
salvos were repeated until the doors were shattered, and in
this way too several inhabitants were killed. Men, women
and children were shot in the streets for no other apparent
reason than pastime ; every species of outrage was publicly
committed in the houses, churches and streets, and in a
manner so brutal that a faithful recital would be too indecent
and too shocking to humanity. Not the slightest shadow
of order or discipline was maintained ; the officers durst
not interfere. The infuriated soldiery resembled rather a
pack of hell-hounds vomited up from the infernal regions
for the extirpation of mankind than what they were but
twelve short hours previously— a well-organised, brave,
disciplined and obedient British army, and burning only
with impatience for what is called glory.

But whatever accounts may be given of the horrors
which attended and immediately followed the storming of
Badajoz, they must fall far short of the truth ; and it is
impossible for any who were not present to imagine them.
I have already mentioned that neither the regiment to
which I was just appointed nor that which I had just left
was at the siege. I therefore could have had but little
influence in controlling the frenzied military mob who
were ferociously employed in indiscriminate carnage, uni-
versal plunder and devastation of every kind. Three
times I narrowly escaped with life for endeavouring to

XXIV.] HELL-HOUNDS OF SAVAGE WAR. 275

protect some women by conveying them to St. John's
Church, where a guard was mounted. On one occasion, as
Huddleston and I accompanied two ladies and the brother
of one of them to the church mentioned, we were crossed
by three drunken soldiers, one of whom, passing to our
rear, struck the Spanish gentleman with the butt-end of
his firelock on the back of his head, which nearly knocked
him down. On my censuring the fellow's daring insolence
in striking a person in company with two English oJficers,
another of the men was bringing his firelock to the
present, when I holloaed out loudly, " Come on quick with
that guard." There was no guard near, but the ruse
luckily succeeded, and so quickly did the soldiers run
away that I felt convinced that their apparent intoxication
was feigned. On another occasion a sergeant struck me
with his pike for refusing to join in plundering a family ;
I certainly snapped my pistol in his face, but fortunately
it missed fire or he would have been killed. However
the danger which he so narrowly escaped brought him to
his senses ; he made an awkward apology and I considered
it prudent to retire. By such means as these, by the risk
and humanity of officers, many women were saved. We
did not interfere with the plundering ; it would have been
useless.

One circumstance, being of a very peculiar nature, I shall
relate. During the morning of the 7th, while the excesses,
of which I have given but a faint idea, were at their height,
Huddleston came running to me and requested that I would
accompany him to a house whence he had just fled. The
owner was an old acquaintance of all the officers of the
28th Regiment, when a few months previously we were
quartered at Albuquerque, where he lived at the time.
Huddleston conducted me to the bedroom of this man's

276 AT BADAJOZ. fCH.

wife. When we entered, a woman who lay upon a
bed uttered a wild cry, which might be considered as
caused either by hope or despair. Here were two British
soldiers stretched on the floor, and so intoxicated that when
Huddles ton and I drew them out of the room by the heels
they appeared insensible of the motion. The master of
the house sat in a corner of the room in seeming apathy ;
upon recognising me he exclaimed, with a vacant stare,
" And why this, Don Roberto ? " Having somewhat
recovered from his stupor, he told me that the woman on
the bed was his wife, who was in momentary expectation
of her accouchement. In my life I never saw horror and
despair so strongly depicted as upon the countenances of
this unfortunate couple. Several soldiers came in while
we remained ; and our only hope of saving the unfortunate
lady's life was by apparently joining in the plunder of the
apartments, for any attempt at resistance would have
been useless and would perhaps have brought on fatal
consequences. I stood as a kind of warning sentry near
the bedroom door, which was designedly left open ; and
whenever any of the men approached it, I pointed
out the female, representing her as a person dying of a
violent fever ; and thus we succeeded in preserving her life.
Huddleston and I then set to work most actively to break
tables and chairs, which we strewed about the rooms and
down the stairs. I remained for some hours, when I
considered that all was safe ; for although many marauding
parties had entered, yet on perceiving the ruinous appear-
ance of the house, and considering that it must have
already been well visited, they went off immediately in
search of better prey. We even scattered a shopful of
stationery and books all over the apartments, and some of
the articles we held in our hands as if plunder, for the

XXIV.] SOLDIERS RETURN TO SANITY. 277

purpose of deceiving the visitors. I recollect taking np
some coloured prints of Paul and Virginia ; these I after-
wards presented as a trophy of war to an old friend, Mrs.
Blakeney, of Abbert, Co. Galway, as the sole tangible
remembrance of the storming of Badajoz. I frequently
called at the house during the two following days and
was happy to find that no further injuries were sufiered.
Huddleston's servant and mine slept in the house. We
ourselves retired to the camp as darkness approached, for
to remain in Badajoz during the night would have been
attended with certain danger, neither of our regiments
being in the place. The sack continued for three days
without intermission ; each day I witnessed its horrid and
abominable effects. But I shrink from further description.
On the morning of the fourth day (April 10th) the 9th
Regiment were marched regularly into town. A gallows
was erected in the principal square and others in different
parts of the town. A general order was proclaimed that
the first man detected in plundering should be executed ;
but no execution took place. The soldiers well knew how
far they might proceed, and no farther did they go. The
butcheries and horrible scenes of plunder and debauchery
ceased in Badajoz ; audit became an orderlyBritish garrison.
During the sack the Portuguese troops plundered but
little, for as they had not been employed in the storming
the British soldiers would have killed them had they
interfered with the spoil. But during the three days' transfer
of property they lay hid close outside the town, where
they awaited the British soldiers, who always came with
a sheet or counterpane filled with every species of plunder,
carried on their heads and shoulders like so many Atlases ;
and as these always left the town drunk and lay down
to sleep between it and the camp, the artful Portuguese

278 AT BADAJOZ. [Ch.

crept np and carried away everything, and thus they
finally possessed all the plunder. I witnessed this mean
jackal theft a hundred times ; and, without feeling the
slightest affection for those second-hand dastard robbers,
I enjoyed seeing the British soldiers deprived of their
booty, acquired under circumstances too disgusting to be
dwelt on.

The storming of Badajoz caused a severe loss to the
British army. The 3rd and 5th Divisions, who successfully
escaladed the walls, lost either in killed or wounded six
hundred men each ; and the casualties suffered by the
4th and light Divisions amounted to upwards of ^ve
hundred more than the loss of the successful escalading
divisions.

The great loss caused in the ranks of those who attacked
the breaches was due to their having been erroneously
led on to an unfinished ravelin, constructed in front of
the centre breach, that of Trinidad. This work had been
a good deal raised during the siege, and being mistaken
for a breach, which in its unfinished state it much resembled,
the 4th Division gallantly mounted and soon reached the
top. Here they were severely galled by a destructive fire
from the whole front ; a deep precipice and wet ditch
intervened between the ravelin and the breaches. Astonished
and dismayed the men began to return the enemy's fire^
At this critical moment the light division, who had been
led as much too far to their right as the 4th Division had
been to their left, came up ; and unfortunately they also
mounted the fatal deceptive ravelin. All was now confusion
and dreadful carnage was passively suffered by those
devoted troops. The officers, having at length discovered
the mistake, hurried down the ravelin and gallantly showed
the example of mounting the Trinidad and Santa Maria

XXIV.] MARMONT'S JEALOUSY OF SOULT. 279

breaches, followed by tlie bravest of the men ; but the
formation as an organised body being broken, only the
excessively brave followed the officers. On arriving at
the top of the breaches, which were stoutly defended, so
weak a force were consequently hurled down to destruction.
The utmost disorder followed. Thus the attacks on the
three breaches, where alone Badajoz was considered
vulnerable, all failed of success ; while those defences
which both by the besiegers and besieged were deemed
almost impregnable, were gallantly forced. Such are the
vicissitudes of war, especially in night attacks. At dawn
on the 7th there was no dead body near the last made
and most vulnerable breach — a proof that by error it was
never attacked.

Immediately after the fall of Badajoz the chief part
of the army moved towards the north of Portugal, where
Marmont had collected his corps. However, all his exploits
consisted in a distant blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo and
some romantic attempts against the fortress of Almeida.
Failing in his attempts against those two places, he marched
upon Castello Branco, threatening to destroy the Bridge
of Boats at Villavelha ; but on the advance of Lord
Wellington to attack him he retired out of Portugal and
thus terminated his inglorious incursion.

Fortunately for the operations carried on against Badajoz,
Marmont's jealousy of Soult was such that he ignored all
his remonstrances and did not unite with him ; he continued
obstinate and Badajoz fell.

Marshal Soult arrived with his army at Llerena on April
3rd, and on the 4th Lord Wellington made arrangements
to receive him. His plan was to leave ten thousand men
in the trenches and fight the marshal with the re-
mainder of his army ; but Soult, either feeling diffident

38o AT BADAJOZ. [Ch. XXIV.

of his strength or still in the hope that Marmont would
bend his course southerly, arrived at Villa Franca, but
thirty miles from Llerena and the same distance from
Badajoz, only on the 7th, thus taking four days to march
thirty miles in haste to relieve a beleaguered fortress. On
his arrival at Villa Franca on the 7th, he was informed
that Badajoz had fallen that morning, or rather the night
before, and that Phillipon had surrendered at discretion.
He then, like Marmont, retired and moved into Andalusia.

CHAPTER XXV.

AFTER SOME ADVENTURES BY SEA AND LAND I JOIN MY
NEW REGIMENT IN THE PYRENEES.

A LL tlie troops, except those left to repair and garrison
-^^ Badajoz, having moved oiF, I proceeded immediately
to Lisbon. Here I remained as short a time as possible, not
from over anxiety to see England, but because, although I
had the horrors of the sacking of Badajoz in painful recollec-
tion, I felt greater horror at the idea that I might be taken
for a Belemite. During the splendid campaigns which
took place in the Peninsula from 1808 to 1813 many British
officers were collected at Belem, and with peculiar tact so
contrived as always to remain in the rear of the army.
Some were unwillingly kept back from debility of con-
stitution or through wounds, but a large majority were
inflicted with a disease which, baffling the skill of learned
doctors, loudly called for a remedy far different from that
of medical treatment. This patrician band, amounting to
the incredible number of upwards of a thousand, were
formed into an inefficient depot at Belem, a suburb of
Lisbon, distant thence about five miles. That this over
prudent body was not exclusively composed of wounded
will appear when it is known that the greater number of
its members had never seen nor heard a shot fired during
the whole of the eventful period mentioned, far more
cautious indeed than the smooth-faced Roman patricians

281

282 ADVENTURES- 1 JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch.

who fled from tlie slingers at Pliarsalia. This careful band
did not venture so far even as the skirts of the fight ; and
it might truthfully be said that the movement of the whole
army was attended with less difficulty than the movement
of a single Belemite to the front. The complaint or disease
of which they complained they invariably attributed to the
liver ; but medical men after careful analysis attributed
it to an affection of the heart, founding their conclusions
on the fact that whenever any of those backward patients
came forward, the violent palpitations of that organ clearly
proved that it was much more affected by the artificial fire
in the field than was the liver by the physical heat of
the sun.

A ludicrous scene took place in Lisbon whilst I was
there, in which one of these gentlemen of the rearguard
made a very conspicuous, though not happy figure, and so
caused much merriment. Prevailing upon himself to fancy
that he was deeply in love with a young and beautiful
Portugese lady of noble birth and ample fortune, he was
unwearied in his addresses. These, as it would appear,
were not disagreeable to the amiable fair ; but her parents
entertaining quite different sentiments, used every endeavour
to cut off all communication between the lovers. Notwith-
standing, our hero, active and persevering in the wars of
Venus as passive and quiescent in those of Mars, was not
to be shaken ; and finding that his visits to the lady's
house were no longer desired, he became incessant in his
attendance at a post taken up opposite to a particular
window in the rear of the mansion wherein the lady resided.
Here a telegraphic correspondence was established between
the lovers. This being discovered by the vigilant parents,
means were adopted to prevent the appearance of their
daughter at the propitious window. Finding however

XXV.] WITH LOVE'S LIGHT WINGS. 283

that the hero was not to be diverted from his purpose, and
that he continued to attend every evening about dusk in
the vicinity of the window, they determined to bring about
by stratagem that which neither threat nor remonstrance
could effect.

In the meantime the champion, more of love than of
war, relaxed not in his dusky visits, although uniformly
disappointed. Fancy then his ecstasy one evening, after
such continued vexations and as he was about to depart,
at again beholding the cherished object of all his solicitude
present herself at the accommodating window. His heart
bounded at recognising the high bonnet with pink ribbons,
so well remembered. Half frantic with delight he
rapturously pressed his hands to his heart, then applying
them to his lips shot them forward in the direction of the
lovely fair. Here his happiness was increased tenfold at
perceiving that his angel, who on former occasions but
doubtingly countenanced his love, now with fervour
apparently equal to his own repeated all his amorous
gestures ; this he naturally attributed to pure affection,
heightened by long separation. His amorous expressions
also were repeated, so far as the distance which separated
them allowed him to distinguish words, although as he
afterwards related he fancied the intonation of the voice
an octave higher than usual and the sudden interruptions
rather hysterical ; but this he attributed to the flurried
state of her mind at the moment. All tended in his
excited imagination to show the great interest she felt at
the interview. Urged by these sentiments, he hurried
forward ; his charmer hurried from the window. Excited
to the highest pitch and considering the retreat from the
window, which was left open, rather an invitation than a
repulse, he determined to enter ; and fortunately discovering

284 ADVENTURES— I JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch.

a short ladder in the garden, left as he thought through
accident or neglect, with its aid he boldly entered the room.
The obscurity here being greater, he could barely see the
loved object of his search quickly retire to a large arm-
chair ; to this he promptly followed, and throwing himself
upon his knees held forth his clasped hands in a suppli-
cating manner, when lo and behold ! the doors were
suddenly thrown open and a numerous concourse of ladies
and gentlemen with lights hurried into the room before
the lover had time to resume his upright position. Fancy
his confusion and amazement at beholding in the first
person who entered the object of all his affections, and his
horror and consternation when turning round to the object
before whom he knelt, he found his closed hands firmly
clasped by a large Brazilian monkey I This ape was the
particular favourite of the young lady, and on this occasion
was dressed by order of her parents in the precise apparel
which they had seen their daughter always wear during
the balcony interviews. Thunderstruck and abashed as
he regarded all the objects round and as the shrill voice
and chirping hysterical sounds flashed on his memory now
dreadfully explained, he fully represented wild despair
and abject humility. Yet he still clung to the hope
that the young lady would try to extricate him from his
degrading dilemma, when she thus addressed him : " Ah,
faithless wretch ! — not content with endeavouring to betray
me alone, but also to attempt seducing the affections of
my favourite, my darling monkey ! Begone, wretch, nor
let me ever more behold thy odious presence I " and
darting at him a glance of the utmost disdain she flounced
out of the room. Now, becoming furious at his ludicrous
situation, and scarcely knowing how to vent his rage, he
drew forth his sword from under his cloak and in a

I

XXV.] A JULIET OF BRAZIL. 285

menacing attitude prepared to attack the innocent object
at whose feet he had so lately knelt, and to whom he had
so ardently poured forth the fervency of his passion. The
imitative animal, instantly snatching up a large fan which
lay on the armchair and little knowing his danger, immedi-
ately assumed a similar menacing attitude, when a loud
cry burst forth from all, " Shame, shame, to enter the lists
against a poor defenceless monkey ! " This was too much to
be borne, and the beau, the dupe of stratagem, followed the
example of the young lady by leaving the room, with this
difference — the young lady proudly and slowly went up-
stairs, but our hero with an entirely opposite feeling rushed
hurriedly down. There was thought of remonstrances to
the British authorities ; but it being ascertained that this
tender man of war was not quartered in Lisbon, but a
Belemite who in amorous mood strayed away from his
tribe, no military investigation took place. However
the affair becoming the topic of general merriment, the
gallant gay Lothario could not endure the derision to
which he was exposed. But what annoyed him most was
the report that he had fought a duel with a monkey. He
therefore determined to join the army and resigning the
voluptuous court of Venus ranged himself at last under
the rigid standard of Mars ; thus what the hero of the
Peninsula failed to accomplish was brought about by a
Brazilian baboon, the forcing of a Belemite from out his
safehold to the field of war.

Having remained but a very few days in Lisbon, I pro-
ceeded to England and reporting myself at the Horse
Guards was ordered to join the 2nd Battalion of my regiment,
quartered at Lewes. Thence I was immediately sent on
recruiting service; but having shortly after procured my
recall, I applied to His Royal Highness the Duke of York

286 ADVENTURES— I JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch.

for leave to join the 1st Battalion of the Regiment then in
the Peninsula, although I belonged to the 2nd Battalion
at home. His Royal Highness was pleased to grant my
request ; this was facilitated by there being at the time
three captains of the 1st Battalion in England. I now pro-
ceeded to Portsmouth to procure a passage to Lisbon.
Here I found there was but one transport ready to sail for
the Peninsula ; this being a horse transport was filled with
those animals and dragoon officers, to whom alone the
cabin was dedicated. However, Colonel Sir James Douglas,
Colonel Belnevis, Majors Leggatt and Arnot, infantry officers,
having arrived before me at Portsmouth had contrived to
get berths, but there was none left for me ; even the floor
was portioned off. My application for a passage was there-
fore negatived ; but after repeated entreaties to Captain
Patten, Agent of Transports, he permitted me to sail in
the vessel, with the proviso however that I should pledge
my word of honour not to take that precedence in choice
of berths to which my rank entitled me ; in a word, not
to interfere with the convenience of the cavalry officers,
who were all subalterns. From my anxiety to return to
Spain and impatience of delay, I hesitated not a moment
in agreeing to the proposal.

Our voyage proceeded prosperously until we approached
the Bay of Biscay, when entering on its skirts and in
very rough weather we fell in with a British man-of-war.
Perceiving us alone, she very genteelly undertook to protect
us. In pursuance of this disinterested act she made signals
for us to follow her movements, in obeying which we
entered much deeper into the bay than the master of the
transport or any other person on board could account for.
While we were steering thus for a considerable time,
certainly very wide of our true course, an American privateer

XXV.] A THREATENED FIGHT BY SEA. 287

with a prize in tow hove in sight, when our kind and
voluntary protector immediately left us, making his course
for those vessels, which on his approach separated taking
different directions. But the British man-of-war turning
his back on the hostile privateer, allowed her to depart
without any molestation ; and considering perhaps that he
best served his country in doing so cliose the prize for
chase, by the capture of which salvage would reward his
patriotism. The three vessels were soon out of sight.
The man-of-war and the prize we never saw more ; but
towards evening the privateer was again discovered bear-
ing down upon us. Approaching within gunshot she lay
to on our starboard bow. Having four guns aside which
were shotted and everything ready for action, we also
played the bravo, and reefing our mainsail also lay to.
Colonel Douglas, as chief in command, took no particular
station ; Colonel Belnevis, Major Leggatt and Major Arnot
commanded the starboard guns ; the bow gun, same side,
was allotted to me. When we had silently broadsided
each other for some time, the privateer, seeing our vessel
full of troops and moreover double her size, dared not
hazard an attempt at boarding, and perceiving our four
guns aside did not fire into us ; while we, on the other
side, had many reasons for not wishing an action. Perceiving
however the hesitation of the enemy, we put the best face
on the affair and resolved stoutly to bear down direct
upon her. On our approaching the privateer crowded all
sail and to our infinite satisfaction bore away, repeating-
the same signals made by our faithful commodore in
the morning — i.e,, to follow her movements ; and this too
with the English flag flying. To say the truth we were
in miserable fighting trim ; for although we had four
guns aside, we dreaded their explosion more than the shot

288 ADVENTURES— 1 JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch.

from our enemy. The locks of these guns were but very
imperfectly fastened on ; and through some extraordinary
oversight no medical officer had been embarked.

The wind having much increased and we being in the
centre of the bay, the vessel rolled awfully. Water-casks,
portmanteaus, hencoops breaking from their lashings
fearfully traversed the decks, and obeying only the rolling
of the vessel threatened broken limbs to all who came
in their way. These obstacles and many others of a minor
kind gave particular annoyance to the cavalry officers,
who being dressed for professional fight and mostly being
but a short time in the Service, wore -their spurs uncon-
scionably long and consequently detrimental ; for many
things which otherwise would have crossed the deck,
fastened on the spurs, and their owners in the confusion
of the moment could not account for the closeness with
which they were charged, forgetting that their own weapons
dragged the encumbrances after them. All things con-
sidered, we were well pleased at not being obliged to fight ;
our nerves could not have been doubted. The infantry,
four field officers and one captain were veterans often
proved in action ; and the gallantry of the dragoons could
not for a moment be called in question, for they showed
themselves gamecocks even to the heels. The name of
one of these officers I mention from his peculiar and
melancholy fate. Lieutenant Trotter, 4th Dragoon Guards.
At the Battle of Waterloo he gallantly took a French
dragoon officer prisoner in single combat. While conducting
him to the rear (of course on his parole and therefore
permitted to ride). Trotter never thought of being on his
guard ; but the assassin, watching an opportunity when
Trotter turned round, drew out a pistol which he had
concealed in his breast and shot poor Trotter through

XXV.] A STRANGE PROTECTOR. 289

the head. He instantly fell dead but the murderer
escaped.

When we had succeeded in lashing the water-casks,
portmanteaus and coops, and recooping the fugitive poultry,
and having fortunately got rid of both our foe and our
protector, we, to make use of a military phrase, brought
up our left shoulders to resume our proper course, from
which we had been diverted, nay, ordered to deviate by
the insidious interference of a man-of-war. The master
of the transport calculated that by obeying his signals, our
voyage was considerably prolonged. Thus was the public
Service retarded and British troops placed in a perilous
situation by a person whose bounden duty it was to protect
them, yet who first led us into danger and then left us
to our fate in a comparatively defenceless transport while
he himself turned his back on friend and foe and went
in search of a prize. Few such instances have occurred
or are likely to occur, since such conduct is surely as
repugnant to the feelings of our brave sailors as to
our own.

During the rest of our voyage we met with no further
adventure. After our encounter I told Colonel Douglas
that having been now called upon duty I was entitled to
a choice of berths according to my rank, in which Douglas
fully agreed ; but as I had pledged my word to Captain
Patten that I should not interfere with the dragoon officers,
I continued my usual dormitory, which was on the hay
put on board for the horses.

On our arrival at Lisbon, Colonel Douglas ascertained
the name of our convoy and that of the captain. He
declared at the time that he would report the whole
transaction to the Commander-in-chief. Whether he did
so or not I cannot say, as I never after had the pleas are

19

290 ADVENTURES— I JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch.

of meeting Mm but once, and that on the Pyrenees and
under circumstances which precluded much conversation :
he was bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound which
he had just received in the neck. I recollect being told
on our arrival at Lisbon by a gallant old naval officer, who
was highly indignant at the affair, that we were taken
in convoy because our voluntary protector did not belong
to the station, and therefore took the opportunity of offering
his services as a pretext for trespassing on Sir Richard
Keats' cruising ground.

Having remained in Lisbon barely long enough to
prepare equipment necessary to take the field, I now
marched from that capital for the fourth time ; but
although superior in rank I did not feel more happy. On
former occasions I proudly fell into the ranks of as fine
and gallant a corps as ever moved forth to battle ; I
laughed and joked with old comrades whom I sincerely
esteemed. Our march was enlivened with martial music,
and we enjoyed each other's society when the daily march
was over. That was a walk of pleasure ; but now the
contrast was woeful. Silent and alone I left Lisbon. I
had a dreary march of some hundred miles before me ;
heavily therefore I plodded along and always in dread
of being taken for a Belemite. At last however I for-
tunately fell in with an artillery officer, a lieutenant
who was proceeding to the army with a relay of mules
for the guns. My new acquaintance being also proficient
in more languages than one, we could, as occasion required,
and without dread of detection, pass as natives of different
countries ; and through the general information acquired
by the curious traveller who has wandered far, we were
enabled to act in many capacities. In some measure there-
fore to brighten the gloom and break the monotony of our

XXV.] PLANNING AN ELOPEMENT. 291

long and dreary march, we exerted our ingenuity in frequent
varieties of calling.

In our playful frolics we acted many parts ; but to
recount all the occurrences which took place during this
extraordinarily long march would be impossible ; yet, lest it
should be imagined that I wish to insinuate that fortune
smiled upon all our juvenile and thoughtless freaks and
to show that, as all who adventure much, we also shared
her frowns, I shall relate one anecdote. Approaching the
Ebro, we were billeted in the house of a hidalgo a short
way from the town of Keynosa. In the mansion of our
noble host dwelt two beautiful young ladies, nieces of a
High Church dignitary, then absent at Madrid. With one
of these fair ladies the lieutenant of artillery becanie
desperately enamoured, and his love seemed to be returned.
A mutual attachment was confessed ; a union was mutually
agreed upon ; and the fair Iberian heroically determined
to knit her fate with that of her lover and confiding in
his honour resolved on an elopement. That my friend's
intentions were perfectly honourable I had no doubt ; but
to induce a Spanish bishop to give the hand of his niece
to a heretic was not to be thought of. Under these circum-
stances I of course lent my aid, seeing that my companion
was determined at all hazard to carry her ofp. The elope-
ment was fixed for the morning dawn. The heroine, the
better to elude discovery, determined to travel for a stage
or two in male attire ; to this I contributed a new hat.
In this hat were closely crammed a pair of doeskin inex-
pressibles belonging to the great gun officer, which were
privately consigned to the fair lady and by her kept in
her room until required. One of our servants was to
accompany the lady and gentleman, who were to start at
daybreak, each riding in a man's saddle and as men do,

292 ADVENTURES-I JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch

to which the lady made no objection. In truth Spanish
ladies see nothing either morally or physically wrong in
this mode of travelling. The principal object to be attained
was to lull the suspicions of the family, particularly that
of the young lady's aunt and of her elder sister, whose
vigilance was roused by certain telegraphic glances which
passed between the incautious lovers. To forward this we
invited the whole family that night and generously supplied
them with mulled wine highly spiced and sweetened and
qualified with a liberal portion of brandy. This punch
royal was plentifully supplied ; and to say the truth the
beverage was freely quaffed by all to a very late hour,
when at length all retired to rest. The anxiously looked-
for dawn having appeared, we beheld the little lady
emerging from her room fully equipped for travelling.
Her costume certainly caused some mirth. My friend's
doeskins not being sufficiently ample, were ripped down
the rear ; but for security, as well as to prevent untoward
accidents, the young lady had established a communication
between the separated parts of the dress by cross-lacing
or frogging, such as may be seen across the breast of a
hussar's blue frock. My hat was tastefully perched on
the crown of her head, rather on one side and made fast
to a net or caul in which her hair was confined, an arrange-
ment not unfrequently adopted by men in Spain. Thus,
with the addition of a pair of top or jockey-boots (also mine)
and a handsome whip, she had all the appearance of a
smart and fashionable little postilion. Her white jacket
was also slit and frogged, but in front and for a similar
reason. Now as we lightly tripped downstairs a confused
noise was heard through the house, a violent retching
caused by the previous night's dissipation ; all were indeed
aroused; and as we were hurrying our little postilion

XXV.] AN ELOPEMENT PREVENTED. 293

towards the stables we were overtaken by the ever vigilant
annt and a host of servants. Protestations of honourable
intentions were vain ; the poor little postilion was made
prisoner and marched back to the hoase, while we slunk
off crestfallen and abashed.

Moving silently along we arrived that night at Reynosa
and were billeted in different houses. Next day we visited
the interesting little hamlet Fontebro, so called from its
being close to two springs, whence that noble stream the
Ebro derives its waters ; this was three miles distant from
Reynosa. On our return we dined with the gentleman
at whose house I was quartered, a most hospitable person ;
his wife was equally hospitable ; they cordially invited
us to remain some days. We met a large party of ladies
and gentlemen at dinner and were highly entertained, as
is generally the case at all foreign tables where people
meet to eat, drink and be merry, rather than to watch what
others eat and drink and criticise their manner of doing
so. I once heard a fine gentleman ask the person next
him at a dinner-party and in hearing of the person who
caused the remark, " Can you fancy anything so vulgar
and ill-bred as to be helped twice to soup ? " The answer
was pungent and laconic, " Yes, remarking it."

In the midst of our hilarity a servant entered with a
parcel directed to the two English officers who had arrived
at Reynosa the previous evening. For some reason or
other I felt no inclination to open it ; but the good couple
of the house insisted that we should stand upon no ceremony,
but examine its contents. When I loosened the string
with a faltering hand, the first object which presented
itself was my hat, with a pair of jockey-boots stuffed into
it, the hat so soaked and squeezed that it appeared more
like a dirty wet sponge than a cover for the head ; next

294 ADVENTURES— I JOIN MY NEW REGIMENT. [Ch

came the little white frogged jacket, which caused a good
deal of laughter. On my showing some reluctance to explore
further, the lady of the house, next to whom I sat, put her
hand into the little bag and to our confusion drew forth
my friend's mutilated buckskins with the hussared rear
face ; these she held up to full view, whirling them round
and round for the benefit of all eyes. The roars of laughter
now became absolutely hysterical ; we endeavoured to join
in the general mirth, but I fear our laughter partook some-
what of Milton's grin. Hundreds of questions were now
asked in a breath — where did they come from ? to whom
did they belong ? why cut them up ? with many other
curious enquiries, especially from the ladies. Seeing that
any attempt at plausible explanation would most likely
be doubted, we considered it better truly to relate the
principal circumstances, glossing them over as well as
we could. Our account but increased the mirth, especially
among the fair, who wondered at our having been at all
abashed at what should only cause a hearty laugh. One
asked which of us helped to lace up the young lady, as
she could not see to do it herself ; and other like questions
they asked which I cannot now call to mind. They all
pathetically lamented the disappointment of the poor young
would-be fugitive who was all ready. The affair certainly
created much merriment ; but we could not conceal even
from ourselves that the merriment was entirely at our
expense. Thus ended our last adventure, with a loss to
my friend of a pair of doeskin tights cut up for a lady, and
to me of a pair of boots and a new hat, for the water with
which it was saturated had ruined it beyond repair.

Next morning before dawn we crossed the Ebro and
continued our march towards the army, perfectly cured
of our frolics. Passing through Vittoria a few days after

i

XXV.] ARRIVAL IN THE PYRENEES. 295

the celebrated battle there fought, I halted for a day to
visit many old comrades, seventeen officers of the 28th,
who had been wounded in the action. After cordially
condoling with them all I went on again ; and after a march
of six hundred miles at length joined the army in the
beginning of July on the great barriers placed by nature
to separate France from Spain. The consequences of
the victory at Vittoria still continued to operate. The
enemy were thrust backwards at all points, and about the 7th
or 8th of the month the entire frontier of Spain, from the
celebrated Roncesvalles to the fortress of San Sebastian
on the Bay of Biscay, was, with the exception of Pampeluna
and one or two minor places, occupied by the victorious
allies. In this position the triumphant army remained
tranquil for a short time, except for the operations carried
on in the investment and siege of San Sebastian and of
Pampeluna.

CHAPTER XXVI.

FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES.

OOON after the battle of Vittoria the titular king,
^^ Joseph, returned to Paris and was replaced in the
chief command of the French army of Spain by the Duke
of Dalmatia. On July 12th this marshal arrived at
Bayonne from Dresden, despatched thence by Napoleon.
Soult, inferior to no officer in France (except perhaps the
emperor), either in judgment or activity, immediately set
about remodelling his army ; and to revive their confidence
and rouse their drooping spirits, cast down by repeated
disasters, he determined to make an offensive movement
against the position maintained by the allies. After ten or
twelve days passed in continual preparations for carrying
out his plans of relieving Pampeluna and if possible
raising the siege of San Sebastian, he on July 25th simul-
taneously attacked the passes of Roncesvalles and Maya ;
and such was the weight of his columns that he broke
through those passes, obliging the allies, after hard fighting
and disputing every inch of ground, to retire, which move-
ment continued the whole of that day and part of the night.
On the 26th the enemy again came on and a good deal
of fighting took place. The allies still retreated and
directed their course towards Pampeluna. Soult was close
at hand. The 4th Division under General Cole had passed
Villaba, within three miles of Pampeluna, in full retreat,

296

Ch. XXVI.] ADVANCE OF SOULT. 297

«ar]y on the morning of the 27th, closely followed by
General Picton with the 3rd Division, and both divisions
closely followed by Soiilt. This induced the garrison of
Pampeluna to make a fierce sortie ; and General O'Donnel,
who commanded the blockading troops, seeing Soult
rapidly advancing and the two British divisions as rapidly
retreating, and becoming naturally much alarmed, com-
jnenced spiking his guns and destroying his magazines,
when fortunately Don Carlos D'Espana with his division
arrived at the critical moment ; he immediately drove back
the garrison and reassured O'Donnel. Soult now fully
expected to relieve Pampeluna in a few hours and appear-
ances were much in favour of his doing so ; in fact it was
all but accomplished.

Picton, now perhaps reflecting that his retreat in the
morning, together with that of Cole whom he commanded,
was more precipitate than need called for, and perceiving
the crisis at hand and all that depended on the affair,
suddenly halted and placed his division across the outlets
from the valleys of Zubiri and Lanz, thus screening
Pampeluna. At the same time he ordered General Cole
to occupy the heights between Oricain and Arietta ; but
that general, observing a hill which stood forward about
41 mile in advance and commanded the road to Huarte,
moved forward to possess it, with the concurrence of
Picton who now saw its importance. Soult, who was close
^t hand, also saw the importance of possessing this hill,
which as the armies were then situated was the key of
Pampeluna. He immediately pushed forward a strong
-detachment with accelerated pace to gain the hill ; and
^0 exactly simultaneous was the rush of the contending
parties that while the enemy were ascending one side
dole's advanced guard were mounting the other. Two

298 FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES. [Ch.

Spanish regiments, part of O'Donnel's blockading troops^
already posted on the hill and seeing the hostile troops
approaching the summit, made a furious charge on the
enemy's ascending strong body and gallantly bore them,
down the hill. Soult lost the key. His heavy columns
soon came up, flushed with what they considered a victory^
as they had driven before them two British divisions ; but
their career was suddenly checked on seeing the mountains
in their way crowned by ten thousand troops of Cole's
division ; and not two miles further back stood Picton with
a still stronger force, the 3rd Division, resting on Huarte.

Soult having now his troops in hand commenced a^
general attack. His first and most vigorous effort was
against the Spanish hill immediately on the right of Cole's
division ; but the gallantry of the Spaniards was repeated
and the enemy thrust down the hill. At this moment Lord
Wellington arrived from the valley of Bastan, where he had
left General Hill to deal with Count D'Erlon. Although
he witnessed the victorious gallantry of the Spaniards, yet
perceiving the great loss they sustained and the importance
of maintaining the hill, he ordered the 4th English Regiment
to their support. A general skirmish now commenced
along the whole front, which continued until one of the
customary Pyrenean visitors, a dense fog, put an end to
the firing for the day. Various movements took place
on both sides and throughout almost all the divisions
during the night and next morning. About noon the
enemy gathered at the foot of the position ; and a cloud
of skirmishers pushed forward and ascended the hill like
the flames and smoke of a volcano that could not be
contained. At the same time Clauzel's division burst forth
from the valley of Lanz, and pushing forward rapidly
turned Cole's division, and were doubling in his rear when

XXVI.] STUBBORN FIGHTING. 299

a Portugese brigade of the 6th Division suddenly appearing
checked them in good time ; and at the same instant the
6th Division, who came into line that morning, formed
in order of battle across the front of the enemy. Thus the
French column, who moved forward with intention to
turn the left of the allies, now found themselves in a sore
predicament ; two brigades of the 4th Division attacked
them on the left ; the Portuguese brigade galled their right ;
while the whole body of the 6th Division overwhelmed them
in front and with a loud cheer and deadly charge sent
them headlong off the field, which was strewed with their
dead. This part of the fight was thus terminated. But
higher up the hills the battle continued with increased
fury ; every hill was charged, taken and retaken repeatedly ;
nor were the French less forward than the British in
repeating their charges. The 6th Division, in which I
served with the 36th Regiment, after having quitted those
in the valley, now climbed the rugged steep and lined
with the troops above just becoming victorious ; and a
few more charges decided the fate of the day. The enemy
withdrew at all points. They stated their loss to be no
more than two general ofiicers and eighteen hundred killed
and wounded ; but it was generally rated much higher. The
allies had upwards of two thousand men killed and wounded.
The 29th was respected as a military sabbath by both
armies, neither firing a shot throughout the day ; but this
calm was the immediate precursor of a violent storm. On
the morning of the 30th a furious attack was commenced
against General Hill's corps, which led to a battle at
Buenza. D'Erlon had twenty thousand men, the allies
scarcely half that number. Hill maintained his ground
for a long time ; but, his left being turned, he retired,
losing five hundred men. Being joined by Campbell and

300 FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES. [Ch.

Morillo he offered battle ; but Soult, who had come up,
declined the fight. On the same morning at daylight
another combat commenced at Sauroren ; and this combat
lasted much longer and was far more severe than Hill's.
Here the 6th Division suffered severe loss in charging
the enemy, who retired reluctantly, but too far to return.
They were now driven from the whole of their position and
beaten at all points.

In these battles of the 30th the alJies suffered a loss
between killed and wounded, including some taken prisoners,
of nearly two thousand men. The loss on the enemy's
part was far greater ; their killed and wounded alone
surpassed that of the allies, besides three thousand made
prisoners. Soult now turned his face towards France. At
ten o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Hill came
up with his rearguard between Lizasso and the Puerto.
Turning round, they halted and made good battle ; but
their position was forced. Fortunately for them a thick
fog prevented an effective pursuit. The allies lost about
four hundred men and the enemy about the same number.
On August 1st and 2nd the enemy were in full retreat for
France ; and although, wherever encountered they suffered
defeat, yet they were never in flight ; and on these two
days we suffered a loss of at least one thousand men put
hors de combat ; and we were on the point of suffering
another and a more severe loss.

On August 2nd, the last day of the fighting, the Duke
of Wellington hurried to Echallar to reconnoitre the
enemy and consult his maps, taking a party of the 43rd
Light Infantry as a guard ; but the enemy unobserved,
discovering the party sent a detachment to cut them off.
A Sergeant Blood of the 43rd with some of the men, being
in front, perceived the enemy coming on at speed ; and

XXVI.] WELLINGTON ALMOST CAPTURED. 301

seeing the danger in which the duke was placed, dashed
down from rock to rock roaring out the alarm. The diike
instantly mounted and galloped off ; the French came up,
but only in time to fire a volley after him.

Both armies now reoccupied pretty nearly the same
positions which they held previous to the attack of July
25th ; and thus terminated the fighting commonly called
the battles of the Pyrenees ; and never were battles
more fierce or harassing. The principal encounters were
at the point of the bayonet. We and they charged altern-
ately up and down the sides of rugged and rocky mountains,
exposed to the excessive summer heat of July and at the
same time to the cold of winter. Dripping with perspiration
from hard fighting and scorching sun in the valleys, we
had immediately to clamber up to the tops of high
mountains and face the extreme cold naturally to be
found there and dense fogs, which soaked through us and
are more penetrating and oppressive than heavy rain ; and
this change we suffered more than once in the day, our
constitutions thus undergoing a similar ordeal to that
which I have heard is resorted to in perfecting chrono-
meters, which, to prove their qualities of compensation, are
moved in rapid succession from an oven to an ice-house
and vice-versd.

During these combats we, with the Spaniards and
Portuguese, lost between killed, wounded, and taken
seven thousand three hundred officers and men. The
enemy on their part lost upwards of thirteen thousand
and about four thousand prisoners. This short but bloody
campaign lasted but nine days, one of which, the 29th,
was dedicated to rest and peace ; on the other eight days
ten distinct battles were fought and hotly contested. I
cannot enter into or attempt a full description of those

302 FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES. [Ch.

combats, fought along positions always intersected by lofty
mountains which generally confined the view of regimental
officers to their respective corps. Even staff officers
scarcely knew what was passing beyond the limits of their
brigades or divisions ; and consequently the information
necessary to furnish accurate detail must depend on the
narratives of many, and thus would far exceed the just
limits of these modest Memoirs. Throughout those
combats the Spanish fought with the greatest bravery,
as did the Portuguese. It was remarked at the time
that had Picton with the two divisions under his command
continued to retreat for two hours longer on the morning
of the 27th, Soult would inevitably have gained the double
object which he had in view, the relief of Pampeluna and
the animation of his drooping troops ; for although he
might have been compelled to retreat immediately after-
wards, he could have boasted of beating back the allies
and succouring the beleaguered fortress, and averred that
his subsequent retreat was preconcerted to guard the
French frontier. And this renewal of the spirit and con-
fidence of his troops might have been attended with double
disadvantage ; for it may be remarked of opponents
throughout animated nature that as one becomes elated by
success, the other in equal ratio becomes depressed ; and
though physical strength remain intact, moral influence is
shaken.

Some changes in posting the divisions now took place.
General HilFs corps formed on the heights above Ronces-
valles ; and the 6th Division lay down in front of the Maya
Pass. The contending armies now again remained tranquil,
although our lines were not far asunder, but in no part
so close as at the Maya Pass, where the advanced sentries
of both lines in many places, particularly at night, were

:XXVI.] HOSTILE SENTRIES IN CONTACT. 303

not ten yards asunder. In this novel mode of campaigning
we continued for upwards of three months. At the com-
mencement some fieldworks were thrown up by us and
soon abandoned ; but during the whole time of our stay
there the enemy were incessant in fortifying their lines
from the base of the mountains to their very summit, upon
which their strong forts and redoubts were constructed.

While we were in this position no acts of hostility took
place save at Pampeluna and San Sebastian, although our
mutual piquets after nightfall were in some parts in the
same field, occasionally separated by a partial wall or small
stream and frequently by nothing which might show a line
of demarcation. Slight or, as they were termed, china walls
were the most frequent barriers. In many instances the
advanced sentries were almost in contact ; yet so well
was civilised warfare understood that they never interfered
with each other and scarcely ever spoke. The usual words,
*^ All's well, " were never cried out. This monotonous roar
was superseded by " stone chatters " — white polished stones,
about two pounds' weight each, were placed on the spot
where each sentry was usually posted at night, and he
struck them against each other twice in slow time. This
was repeated along the chain of sentries. Should any sentry
neglect this for more than five minutes, the next sentry
instantly struck the stones three times and quickly ; this
rapidly passed along the line and a visit from the piquet
immediately followed. By these means we were sure that
a sentry could not sleep nor be negligent on his post for
more than five minutes at a time. It was rather remarkable
that whatever signals our sentries made were immediately
repeated by those of the enemy. In visiting these advanced
sentries, I sometimes spoke to French officers performing
B, similar duty, although this, strictly speaking, was not

304 FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES. [Cb.

sanctioned. On those occasions I often got a small flask
of French wine ; the manner in which this was procured
was rather curious. The French officer put down his flask
and retired a few paces, when I advanced and emptied it
into my wooden canteen ; I then replaced the flask and my
friendly foe took it up after I had retired. This may
appear strange to the civil reader and upon reflection so
it did to ourselves ; nor could we well explain how it was
that two officers familiarly conversing within a few yards
should entertain such absolute horror of coming within
touch J as if it were equal to high treason ; but such was
the case. It would seem that warfare bore close affinity ta
the plague ; so long as you avoided contact all was safe.
It was prohibited under the heaviest penalty that soldiers
should ever exchange a word with the enemy. At this
time the army was very scantily provisioned ; and many
disgraceful desertions took place to the French who were-
well supplied.

On one of my visits to the sentries, when I had got my
flask of wine, the French officer asked me, apparently as a
commonplace question, when we intended to attack them,
adding, *' You need have no hesitation in telling us, for we
know you intend it, and we are prepared night and day to
receive you." I replied that as to his preparation to receive
us his present generosity gave earnest ; but as to the time
when the attack should take place, I was totally ignorant.
I added that Lord Wellington was too well acquainted with
natural consequences not to know that he who betrays
himself by divulging his secrets cannot reasonably depend
on another for fidelity ; and that he who threatens openly
will be counteracted secretly ; that in either case defeat
is generally the result. After this I never entered into-
conversation with any French officer.

XXVI.] CAPTURE OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 305

Whilst our right and centre were in this state of
tranquillity, towards our left, especially near San Sebastian,
the war was carried on with the greatest activity. This
fortress, after one or two failures and very severe losses
on our part, was at length taken by storm on August
31st. The small castle which crowned Monte Orgullo
held out until September 9th, when it capitulated, the
gallant governor having obtained honourable terms.
Immediately after the storming the town was set fire to
in all quarters ; and the most shocking barbarities, such
as are scarcely credible, were perpetrated by the British
soldiers on the unfortunate inhabitants of all ages and
sexes.

Early in August Soult had meditated a strenuous attack
to relieve San Sebastian, but the scattered and disorganised
state of his army caused much delay. At last, when all
was ready, he was about to assault the allies on August
30th, but something prevented which induced him to defer
the attack until next morning. On August 31st therefore
at daylight, the enemy rushed forward with the usual
impetuosity attending their first attack, bearing down all
before them. Their front column, directed by General
Keille, made great progress up the heights to San Marcial,
while Lamartiniere's division assailed to the right ; and
when their skirmishers had gained two-thirds of the hill and
were checked, their dense column were moved forward.
Then the Spaniards, who were posted there, undauntedly
coming forward, vigorously charged the French column and
sent them headlong down the hill.

During this time the head of Yillatte's column, having
crossed the fords at the foot of the hill on rafts and boats,
ascended the ridge and more vigorously renewed the fight,
and gained the left of the Spanish line. The 82nd English

20

3o6 FIGHTING IN THE PYRENEES. [Ch.

Eegiment moved forward a short distance to maintain the
post. At this moment Lord Wellington appeared, when
the Spaniards, scarcely kept steady by their own officers,
now shouting forth a cheer of recognition rushed forward
to the charge with such impetuosity that these opponents
too were swept down the hill as if by a torrent. Some
pontoon boats which came to their rescue, becoming over-
loaded by the fugitives in their hurry to get away, were
sunk, when many were drowned ; and the breaking of the
bridges to allow the boats to come to the rescue decided
the combat at that point, with the loss of many hundreds
of the enemy. Soult, who beheld this defeat from the
mountain called "Louis XIV.," determined to try in another
quarter ; but it was several hours before the scattered
masses could be collected and the bridges repaired. This
effected, he sent the remainder of Villatte's reserve over the
river, and uniting it with Foy's division urged on a more
formidable attack at Vera. In this combat he was not
more successful ; but although beaten at all points, still
he hesitated not. He determined to make a third attack,
for he had plenty of troops still left. He had forty thousand
men collected in the morning ; he attacked with thirty
thousand ; and the allies in action amounted to only ten
thousand. But the heavy cannonade clearly heard from
San Sebastian during the morning now ceased, for during
the combats above mentioned, San Sebastian had been
stormed and taken without any interruption from without.
The movements of Soult previous to his attack were in
appearance confused, but they were designedly so, with
a view of deceiving Wellington ; but the latter was well
informed on the night of the 29th what Soult's plan was ; and
he consequently sent orders to the Maya Pass to move the
troops there stationed forward on the morning of the 31st

XXVI.] SOULT AND WELLINGTON. 307

to keep D'Erlon's corps ^occupied, and prevent his sending
any reinforcement to aid Soult's attack. Sir Charles Colville
therefore moved out with the 6th Division. We had a
sharp affair and lost some fifty or sixty men ; no other
part of the right or centre of our line was disturbed.
Wellington felt perfectly secure in the strength of
his position. A brigade of Guards had come up from
Oporto ; and three fresh regiments had just arrived
from England and formed a brigade for Lord Aylmer.
Soult, having received in the cour«e of the day
(31st) a report of the storming and capture of San
Sebastian, no longer hesitated ; he retired, determined
to assemble his forces and prepare for a more general
action. In these latter combats Uhe enemy lost three
thousand five hundred men, the English and Portuguese
one thousand, the Spaniards sixteen hundred, all in the field;
but the whole loss of the allies on this day, including the
storming of San Sebastian, exceeded five thousand. Both
armies now fell into their former positions, and for some
time tranquillity was observed.

CHAPTER XXVII.

IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE.

' Lj^ARLY in October the Duke of Wellington, having
-*— ^ San Sebastian now secure in his rear and fore-
seeing that a great battle must soon be fought, de-
termined to push forward his left wing, gain the lower
Bidassoa and the great Rhune mountain and thus establish
a part of his army within the French frontier. The better
to conceal his design, which was rather hazardous,
continual manoeuvring took place from right to left of
the allied lines, which completely succeeded in deceiving
the enemy. Everything was so well arranged that not
the slightest appearance of an attack was discovered. On
the morning of October 7th the 5th Division and Lord
Aylmer's brigade proceeded to the fords ; and still the
enemy perceived no change, the tents in the allied camp
being left standing. The 5th Division soon crossed the
stream, and had formed on the opposite bank without
firing a shot or a shot being fired at them, so completely
were the enemy taken by surprise. A signal rocket was
now fired from Fontarabia, when the batteries along the
whole line of our attack opened against the enemy, who
were driven from their different posts before they well
knew what was passing ; and so little did Soult con-
template an attack in that quarter, always expecting it

308

Ch. XXVII.] SHORT CUT UNDER FIRE. 309

from Roncesvalles, that on the 6th he reviewed D'Erlon's
division at Ainhoa, and remained that night at Espelette.
Next morning, although a false attack was made against
D'Erlon's position, yet Soult having heard the cannonade
from San Marcial, instantly discovered the true point of
attack and hurried thither ; but before he arrived at the
scene of action all his positions on the Bidassoa were
carried ; and although his presence corrected many errors
and gave surprising confidence to his troops, yet he
never could regain what was lost during his early
absence. He loudly complained of want of vigilance in
his generals ; and not without just cause, for they were
nowhere prepared.

Meanwhile the 6th Division continued the false attack
on D'Erlon. Colonel Douglas with a Portuguese brigade
was sent further on to the left, and the 36th Eegiment
were ordered to be in readiness for his support. Colonel
Leggatt, who commanded us, sent me to find Douglas and
inform him that the regiment were ready when required.
Douglas had attacked and gallantly carried a post strongly
occupied on the crown of a hill, at the foot of which 1
arrived just as he was led down, having been severely
wounded in the neck. After the usual congratulations
of old friends I delivered my message. He requested me
to ride up the hill and see what was going forward,
adding that the position was gallantly carried and it
would be a pity to lose it. Topping the hill I found
the Portuguese warmly engaged ; but the enemy were
advancing in force on two sides of the hill. I rode back
to Douglas, who was slowly moving to the rear, and he
asked me to go as fast as possible and report ; there was
no time to be lost. Taking the nearest direction towards
the regiment, I was compelled to pass in front of a line of

3IO IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE. [Ch.

the enemy's skirmishers, who had been winding round the
hill. They displayed the courtesy of their nation by dis-
charging a general salute ; its only result was a shot
through my great coat and one in my saddle-bow. Having
safely run the gauntlet and though in great haste, yet
resolving to show the polite nation that we yielded as
little in courtesy as in arms, I turned round and taking
off my hat bowed low. The firing ceased and they gave
me a loud cheer. Hurrying forward, I soon joined the
regiment who were already in motion. Pushing on with
the light company, to whom I acted as guide, and arriving
at the point where I had saluted the skirmishers, we fully
expected to be engaged ; but to our surprise the French
were retreating, leaving the hill in possession of the
Portuguese. It appeared that as soon as our regiment
began to descend from the lofty hill upon which they were
formed, they were perceived by the enemy, who, taking them
no doubt for the head of a strong column, considered
it prudent to retire. The regiment having come up,
ascended the hill, where we remained until towards dark,
and then retired, leaving the post to the Portuguese.
The loss of the Portuguese was rather severe, upwards
of a hundred and fifty men hors de combat. But the
spirited attack made by Douglas, the British regiment
moved up to his aid, and the false attack of the whole
6th Division completely succeeded in deterring D'Erlon
from making any attempt to succour the French right wing,
where the true attack was raging and where his support
was most necessary.

During all these movements and combats, which lasted
nearly three days, the allies were invariably successful ; and
all the objects proposed were fully attained. The fighting
was desperate and well maintained on either side. On

XXVIL] COURAGE OF SPANISH SOLDIERS. 311

fording the Bidassoa, Halket's light Germans drove up all
the enemy's advanced parties close to the summit of the.
Croix des Bouquets ; but this being the key of the position,
the enemy were strengthening it continually from the first
onset both with guns and troops : so that when the
Germans approached, the position had become so strong
that Halket, having lost many men during his ascent, was
brought to a stand. At this critical moment Colonel
Cameron with the 9th Regiment, having arrived just as the
Germans were checked, put them aside and making a
desperate charge gained the summit. The enemy's guns
had just time to retire through their infantry, who also
quickly retreated to a second ridge. The approach to this
was narrow ; but Cameron reducing his front quickly
followed. However, the enemy having the start were soon
formed, and the approach being winding with sharp tarns,
they poured a destructive fire both in front and flank into
the regiment. Yet this did not retard their quick advance
for a moment ; while the enemy seemed no way moved by
the vehement advance of Cameron until the regiment
approached within a few yards, when a loud cheer and
rapid charge so astonished them that they scarcely knew
what they were about until they found themselves borne
off the hill. Thus the 9th Regiment gallantly carried the
key of the position, but with a heavy loss both in oifficers
and men, the usual result of unswerving bravery. But
were I to relate the gallant deeds of all throughout the
whole of these operations, it would be necessary to enumer-
ate all the British corps employed ; nor was the bravery
displayed by the Spaniards less daring. Courage was never
wanting to the Spanish soldiers ; but confidence in their
chiefs was rare. Through the battles of the Pyrenees
their divisions were intermixed with those of the British,

312 IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE. [Ch.

not formed aloof in a separate corps, as at Talavera and
Barossa, nor depressed and held back by such paralysing
commanders as Cuesta and La Pefia. They now, conjointly
with their brave allies, fought forward ; and well did they
maintain their line. On the 8th, after General Giron with
a body of Spaniards had driven off the French outposts
on the road from Vera to Sarre and was charging up a
hill near Puerto and pressing on abreast with the British
troops, he was suddenly checked by a strong line of
abattis, defended by two French regiments sending forth
a heavy fire. The Spaniards became irresolute, but main-
tained their ranks. At the moment Lieutenant Havelock,
of the 43rd Kegiment, who was on the staff, witnessing the
check and unable to curb his excitement, taking off* his
hat and holloaing to the Spaniards, applied his spurs and
dashed over the defence in among the enemy. At this the
whole line of Spaniards broke into cries — " The little fair
boy ! — Forward with the little fair boy I " and they tore
through the abattis, and furiously charging the two French
regiments drove them up the hill and over and hurried
them into the embrace of General Kemp's ascending
brigade, who sent them waltzing with graceful velocity
round the base of the hill. But although gallant example
will almost always ^x wavering resolve and give impetus
and immediate decision to calculating courage, yet it but
seldom succeeds in eliciting bravery out of cowardice. The
surest criterion by which to judge of the gallantry and
steadiness of the Spaniards during those operations is by
reference to the casualties they suffered. It is true that
a body of men may suffer great loss even in running away,
but in the present instance there was no retreating ; all was
fighting forward ; and when men advancing or standing
still suffer severe loss, it is a certain proof of bravery and

XXVIL] INADEQUACY OF SPANISH OFFICERS. 313

firmness. The loss of the enemy during these last combats
was fourteen hundred men ; and that of the allies, British,
Portuguese and Spaniards, sixteen hundred ; and of this
number eight hundred were Spaniards.

Most persons who have written on the campaigns in
the Peninsula represent the Spanish army as ragged, half-
famished wretches ; nor did I refrain from such epithets on
seeing the miserable troops commanded by the Marquis
Romana in the campaign of Sir John Moore ; but on
reflection no blame could be attached either to their
immediate commanders or to the soldiers for their motley
appearance. The scandal and disgrace were the legitimate
attributes of the Spanish Government. The members of
the Cortez and Juntas were entirely occupied in peculation,
amassing wealth for themselves and appointing their
relatives and dependents to all places of power and emolu-
ment, however unworthy and unqualified ; and although
it was notorious that shiploads of arms, equipments,
clothing and millions of dollars were sent from England
for the use and maintenance of the Spanish troops, yet all
was appropriated to themselves by the members of the
general or local governments or their rapacious satellites,
while their armies were left barefoot, ragged and half-
starved. In this deplorable state they were brought into the
field under leaders many of whom were scarcely competent
to command a sergeant's outlying piquet ; for in the
Spanish army, as elsewhere, such was the undue influence
of a jealous and covetous aristocracy, that, unsupported by
their influence, personal gallantry and distinction, however
conspicuous, were but rarely rewarded. This is a pernicious
system, especially with an army in the field ; for injustice
and neglect powerfully tend to damp and dispirit the ardour
even of the most zealous and devoted, and discourage that

314 IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE. [Ch.

laudable ambition which is the lifespring in the breast of
a true soldier.

Again the armies became tranquil except at Pampeluna.
Shortly before its surrender it was ascertained that the
Governor-General was in the habit of sending despatches
to Soult by a woman. A general order was therefore
issued to the covering divisions to have all women
coming from the rear and going to the front searched.
Soon after this order was received, a woman who
passed into the camp of the regiment came howling to
the commanding officer, who, not comprehending a word
she said, sent for me to interpret. This was attended
with some difficulty, the Basque dialect being but imper-
fectly known and the woman totally ignorant of any other.
However it appeared that this woman, suspected of carrying
despatches clandestinely, came simply to dispose of a
pannier of bread and a small basket of eggs. In passing
the quarter-guard she was stopped and searched, during
which search all her bread and eggs were taken away by
the men of the guard, commanded by a lieutenant of
the regiment. Payment was not forthcoming, for the simple
reason that the troops, being six months in arrear of pay,
not a sixpenny piece was to be found amongst the men.
On my reporting the affair as it occurred, the colonel
ordered the officer to pay for the bread and eggs out of
his private finances, at the same time giving him and the
whole guard a severe but well-merited reprimand ; for
besides the plundering of the woman, which might have
been attended with serious inconvenience by deterring
others from bringing supplies to the camp, the woman
came from the front ; and this must have been seen by the
whole guard. On my paying the woman for her bread
and eggs as directed, she loudly demanded remuneration

XXVII.] SURRENDER OF PAMPELUNA. 315

on other accounts — loss of time, torn garments, etc. ; but
strictly confining myself to the colonel's instructions I
declined entering into her others affairs, at which she
appeared much disappointed. There were at that period
many females searched with scant ceremony, but whether
or not any despatches of the nature expected were ever
seized I never heard.

Soult having failed in every attempt to throw succour
into Pampeluna, it surrendered on October 31st, after a
gallant defence of a few months, during which many
successful sallies were made. The covering divisions being
now at liberty, a forward movement was decided upon ;
but the first days of November were excessively boisterous
and rainy. On the 6th and 7th, the earliest period when
a movement could take place, the right wing under Sir
Eowland Hill were pushed into the valley of Bastan, pre-
paratory to a general attack which was intended for next
day ; but the heavy rain which fell on the evening of the
7th and next day rendered the roads again impassable,
and so the battle of the Nivelle was delayed for two days.

On the evening of the 9th the 6th Division descended
through the Pass of Maya, which we had guarded with
such anxious care for upwards of three months ; and
marching the whole of that night we found ourselves on
the memorable morning of November 10th close in front
of the enemy's position, which they had been incessantly
strengthening during the whole of that period. It was
still dark ; and here we halted in columns, awaiting the
progress of our left and left centre, who were pushed
forward before daybreak. At length the auspicious dawn
appeared, cheering and renovating after a harassing night
march over deep and slobbery roads. Although in our
present position we appeared to be well sheltered by forest

3i6 IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE. [Ch.

trees, yet as soon as the misty haze of dawn was dispelled
by clearer light our columns were discovered by the enemy's
redoubts, which frowningly looked down from the heights
above. After a short cannonade, which they immediately
opened, their range became so accurate that their shells
were falling amongst us rather quickly, causing many
casualties. I saw one shell drop in the midst of a Portu-
guese regiment in close column immediately in our rear ;
it blew up twelve men, who became so scorched and
blackened that on their fall they resembled a group of
mutilated chimney-sweeps. The 36th Regiment lost
several men by the bursting of shells. Sir H. Clinton,
who commanded the division, perceived that although the
huge trunks of the trees amid which we were formed
might stop a solid round-shot propelled horizontally, yet
their open branches afforded no protection against shells
descending from a height above us. Considering therefore
the place no longer tenable, he marched us out of the wood
and drew up in line on its skirts in full view of the enemy's
redoubts, judging that even this open exposure would not
be attended with so severe a loss as continuing to be
shelled in column.

We now had a fiill view of the splendid scenery in front
and the active warfare on our left ; and I had an opportunity
of witnessing a good deal of what was passing. A long
narrow strip of ground, flanked with a wall on either side,
not far from us, separated the combatants on our left.
The British troops frequently advanced and were driven
back ; so did the enemy, and so they fared. Often did
French officers advance into the field bearing their standards
to animate their followers ; but they instantly fell and were
as instantly replaced. At last the British troops, disdaining
the protection of the wall, rushed in a body into the field

XXVII.] ADVANCE OF THE 6th DIVISION. 317

and carried it. I can see plainly before me now Colonel
Lloyd, who commanded the 94th Regiment, mounted on a
large jet black charger, waving his hat to cheer on his men
and riding up to the bayonets of the enemy close behind
their wall. I saw him fall. His men were up at the
instant and dearly avenged their commander's death. I
felt double regret at his fate, having had the pleasure of
being intimately acquainted with him when he was in the
43rd Eegiment.

The order at length arrived about ten o'clock for the
6th Division to advance. Wrought up to the greatest
excitement from being so many hours without moving,
exposed to a fire of shot and shell and musketry from the
breastworks of enemies partly concealed, and seeing the
battle advancing upwards on our left, we now eagerly
rushed forward. Proceeding rapidly we soon waded the
Nivelle immersed above our middle, the men carrying their
pouches above their heads, and immediately drove back
all the enemy's piquets and outposts on both banks of the
river without deigning to fire a shot. Some few we
bayoneted who were too obstinate to get out of our way in
time. Thus far advanced, the glorious scene became more
developed. High up the mountains the blaze from their
forts and redoubts was broad and glaring, while the mountain
sides presented a brilliant surface of sparkling vivid fire,
never ceasing but always ascending as our gallant troops
rushed forward ; and nearly two hundred pieces of artillery
angrily roaring forth mutual response, echoed from
mountain to mountain, rendering the whole scene truly
magnificent.

Having crossed the Nivelle, we rapidly advanced to-
wards the forts and redoubts above Ainhoa, destined
to be carried by the 6th Division. The hill which

3l8 IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE. [Ch.

we, the 36th Regiment, faced was the steepest I ever
climbed. The ground over which we had to pass had
been intersected for months with incessant labour and
French resource ; every five yards exposed us to a new
cross-fire and deep cuts, which furnished graves for many
a gallant British soldier. The brambles all through were
so high and thickly interwoven and the inequalities of
the ground so great as to prevent those who were not ten
yards asunder from seeing each other. We moved forward
in line ; there was no road. Under such circumstances
but little order could be preserved ; and, as must be
expected where all were anxious to advance, the strongest
and most active gained the front. In this disordered order
of battle the regiment advanced against the heavy-armed
battery and principal redoubt. This was the goal which
we kept in view, the prize, to obtain which the regiment
unswervingly and rapidly ascended the mountain, from
whose summit it thundered destruction all around.
Between us and the base of this battery, to which we
at length drew near, a small and rather clear space
intervened. I shot forward alone with all the velocity
I could command after so rapid an ascent, and arriving
immediately under the fort I perceived the enemy regularly
drawn up behind trees cut down to the height of about
five feet, the branches pointing forward, forming an
abattis. I immediately turned about, and after receiving
an appropriate salute retraced my steps with redoubled
speed. I seized the king's colour carried by Ensign
Montgomery, which I immediately halted ; and called for
the regimental Colour Ensign, McPherson, who answered,
"Here am I." Having halted both colours in front of
the foremost men, I prevented any from going forward.
By these means we shortly presented a tolerably good

XXVIL] MY LEG SMASHED. 319

front, and gave the men a few moments' breathing time.
The whole operation did not take above ten minutes ; but
the men coming up every instant, each minute strengthened
the front. At this exciting moment my gallant comrades.
Lieutenants Vincent and L'Estrange, who stood by my
side, remarked that if I did not allow the regiment to
advance, the 61st Regiment would arrive at the redoubt
as soon as we should. I immediately placed my cap on
the point of my sword and passing to the front of the
colours gave the word, " Quick march. Charge ! " We
all rushed forward, excited by the old British cheer. But
my personal advance was momentary ; being struck by a
shot which shattered both bones of my left leg, I came
down. Vincent instantly asked what was the matter.
I told him that my leg was broken, and that was all.
I asked him to put the limb into a straight position
and to place me against a tree which stood close by ; in
this position I asked for my cap and sword, which had
been struck from my hand in the fall ; and then I cheered
on the regiment as they gallantly charged into the redoubt.
The fort being carried, the regiment pursued the enemy
down the opposite side of the hill, whilst I remained
behind idly to look around me. The scene was beautifully
romantic and heroically sublime. Groups of cavalry were
seen judiciously, although apparently without regularity,
dotted along the sides of every hill, watching an opportunity
of falling on the discomfited foe. Our troops gallantly
bore on over an unbroken series of intrenchments, thickly
crowded with bayonets and kept lively by incessant fire.
The awful passing events lay beneath my view; nor was
there aught to interrupt my observation save a few bodily
twitches, the pangs of prostrated ambition, and the shot and
shells which barst close, or nearly cut the ground from

320 IN THE BATTLE OF NIVELLE. [Ch.

under me. Alone I la}^ reclined, being unable to maintain
an upright position ; and thus I had a good opportunity for
melancholy contemplation, not unmixed with patriotic joy
as I reviewed the battle which tended slowly upwards.
The deadly strife was surprisingly grand ; yet the sublimity
of the scene defied all attempt at description. The wreck
and destruction of men and matter was strewn around ;
the piteous life-ending moans of the wounded writhing in
torture, and the loud yelling fury of the maddened com-
batants, repeated by a thousand discordant echoes, were
truly appalling, especially to a person who being put out
of the fight could be only a spectator of the tumult. The
fierce and continued charge of the British was irresistible,
nor could they be checked ; onward they bore, nor stopped
to breathe, rushing forward through glen, dale and forest,
where vivid flashed the fire and bright gleamed the steel.
Yet they seemed to chase only the startled red deer,
prowling wolf or savage wild-boar, until they arrived at the
steel-bristling strongholds of the foe. Now they occupied
the same level upon which I lay. Here the battle raged
in its utmost fury ; and for a short time it became
stationary. The contending foes were the soldiers of the
two most warlike nations of Europe and the most steadfast
in mutual jealousy and aversion. The British legions
impetuously rushed forward on the native soil of France,
resolved to uphold till death the honour and glory of their
country. Those of France with equal bravery and resolution
determined to resist to the last this insulting intrusion
on their soil. Thus mutually stimulated to madness, they
met with a shock tremendous. France nobly maintained
her well-earned military fame ; but her surprisingly valiant
deeds proved vain in this bloody border strife, where noble
emulation wrought up to the highest pitch the Percy and

XXVII.] THE FRENCH THRUST OUT FROM SPAIN. 321

Douglas and a third not nerveless arm, all now dealing
forth deadly blows under one and the same banner. What
foe could resist their united attack or penetrate the shield
formed of the Kose, Shamrock and Thistle when closely
bound together in a union strong as lasting ? What foe
could triumph over Wellington, who, born in Ireland,
with the keen policy of Scotland, adopting England and
combining the genius of all three, was the one appropriate
chief to wield their united strength in the field ? A
force constituted of such moral and physical strength,
and led by such a man could not long be withstood. The
star of the three united nations shone victorious on the
summits of the lofty Pyrenees, gilding the tall pines which
capped their heads for miles and foreboding downfall to
Imperial France, since it was the star of true liberty and
national independence. The French on their side with
broken brand and fallen crest reluctantly gave way, sullenly
retiring within their national boundary, no longer in-
valnerable.

21

CHAPTER XXVIII.

I BETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND, AND TRAVEL IN A COACH
OF THAT COUNTRY.

n^HIS memorable battle, which introduced the victorious
British army and their allies into France, commenced
before daybreak and continued until after dark. The enemy
were beaten back from their strong frontier position, losing
fifty-one guns, two thousand prisoners, stores incalculable and
some thousands killed and wounded ; the nature of the ground
prevented the number of these from being ascertained, —
it must have been immense. As to our regiment's advance
up the hill to the attack, it may perhaps be alleged that
I should not have urged forward the colours so rapidly nor
have been so far in front. Our advance, considering the
steepness of the hill, was certainly rather rapid ; but had
we not thus rapidly advanced, as in a continued charge
through breastworks, we should have lost double the
number of men ; and it certainly would not have fallen to
the proud lot of our regiment alone to have stormed and
carried the enemy's great redoubt ; and this we did, as
may be gathered from the remark made by Vincent and
L'Estrange about the 61st Regiment. But it is of little
consequence whether I kept up with the colours or the
colours came on at my pace ; anyway it affords proud
consolation to reflect that it was in front of them I fell.
Immediately before entering the redoubt, Montgomery^

322

Ch. XXVIIL] winning a step in the service. 323

who carried the king's colour, furled the sheet round the
staff, which he used as a lance, and thus armed gallantly-
charged in amongst the foremost bayonets. Being a
powerful and athletic person (afterwards lieutenant of
Grenadiers), he made good use of his silk-bound weapon,
and never did blood-stained royal banner bear more honour-
able testimony of personal prowess in war. I know not
what became of the staff ; it should ever be kept with the
regiment and accompany it into action. Besides common
promotion arising from casualties, one captain of the
regiment got the brevet rank of major ; he was not in the
action, but I, who was serving voluntarily and had a
leg shattered while charging at the head of the regiment,
was neglected. Being subsequently asked if I did not get
the brevet step for my voluntary services and wound, I
answered no, but that I got a permanent step and that was
a lame one.

From the Duke of Wellington's despatch relative to the
battle of the Mvelle the following extract is copied :
" While these operations were going on in the centre,
I had the pleasure of seeing the 6th Division, under
Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, after having crossed
the Nivelle and having driven in the enemy's piquets on
both banks, and having covered the passage of the
Portuguese division under Lieutenant-General Sir John
Hamilton on its right, make a most handsome attack upon
the right of the Nivelle, carrying all the intrenchments
and the redoubt on that flank." In justice to the regiment
I beg to remark that if the attack of the division was most
handsome, that of the 36th Regiment must have been most
beautiful, for it was this regiment which managed to take
the lead and single-handed carried the redoubt.

Immediately after the redoubt was taken, under which

324 I RETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND. [Ch.

I fell, another fort on our right, not yet attacked, turned
some of its guns against the one just captured ; and their
shot and shell ploughing the ground all around me nearly
suffocated me with dust and rubbish. Those who were
not very severely wounded scrambled their way down the
hill ; but I might as well have attempted to carry a mill-
stone as to drag my shattered leg after me. I therefore
remained among the dead and dying, who were not few.
My situation was not enviable- After some hours Assistant-
Surgeon Simpson of the regiment appeared. I then
got what is termed a field dressing ; but unfortunately
there were no leg splints ; and so arm splints were sub-
stituted. Through this makeshift I suffered most severely
during my descent. Some of the band coming up, I was
put into a blanket and carried down the hill ; but as we
proceeded down this almost perpendicular descent, the
blanket contracted from my weight in the middle, and then
owing to the want of the proper long splints the foot
drooped beyond the blanket's edge ; it is almost im-
possible to imagine the torture which I suffered. Having
gained the base of the hill towards dark, a cottage was
fortunately discovered and into this I was carried.

Up to the noon of this day I congratulated myself on
my good fortune in having served in the first and last
battle fought in Spain, and proudly contemplated marching
victoriously through France. I recalled too with pleasure
and as if it were a propitious omen, that on this day five
years ago I first trod Spanish ground. On November 16th,
1808, we marched into Fuentes de Ofioro, under the command
of Sir John Moore. Then I was strong hale and joyous,
with the glorious prospects of war favourably presented to
view ; but the afternoon of this, the fifth anniversary,
proved a sad reverse. On this day I was carried out of

XXVIIL] DRESSING A WOUND. 325

Spain, borne in a blanket, broken in body and depressed
in mind, with all my brilliant prospects like myself fallen
to the ground. Such is glorious war.

After the field dressing Simpson departed in search of
other wounded persons ; and on his report of my wound
two or three other medical officers sought me, fortunately
in vain, that they might remove the limb. On the 4th
day I was conveyed to a place where a hospital was
established ; but the inflammation of the leg was then so
great (it was as big as my body) that no amputation could
be attempted. A dressing took place which was long and
painful, for I had bled so profusely while in the cottage
that a cement hard as iron was formed round the limb, and
before my removal it was absolutely necessary to cut me
out of the bed on which I lay. After a considerable time
passed in steeping with tepid water, the piece of mattress
and sheet which I carried away from the cottage were
removed ; and now began the more painful operation of
setting the leg. Staff-Surgeon Mathews and Assistant-
Surgeon Graham, 31st Regiment, were the operators.
Graham seized me by the knee and Mathews by the foot.
They proposed that four soldiers should hold me during
the operation ; to this I objected, saying with a kind of
boast that I was always master of my nerves. They now
twisted and turned and extended my leg, aiming along it
like a spirit level. The torture was dreadful ; but though I
ground my teeth and the big drops of burning perspiration
rapidly chased each other, still I remained firm, and stifled
every rising groan. After all was concluded I politely
thanked Mathews, carelessly remarking that it was quite
a pleasure to get wounded to be so comfortably dressed.
This was mock heroism, for at the moment I trembled as
if just taken from the rack ; however, it had a strange effect

326 I RETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND. [Ch

upon Mathews, who told Lavens that he feared I was
somewhat deranged from the great loss of blood and
agonising pain which I suffered. Lavens, Assistant-Surgeon
of the 28th Regiment and an old messmate, only laughed
and offered to be responsible for the soundness of my
intellect if no other cause than bodily pain interfered.
Some time afterwards Mathews told him that the inflam-
mation had much subsided and he thought that amputation
might safely be performed ; yet I appeared so strong,
doing so well and in such good spirits, he felt some little
inclination to give the limb a chance, if he could believe
that my good spirits would continue. Lavens, whom I
saw every day, replied that he need not dread low spirits
on my part under any circumstance, and as to the difference
between the loss of life and that of a limb he felt convinced
it would be no great matter to me. If therefore he thought
the preservation of the limb depended on corporeal or
mental constitution, he recommended the trial. Mathews
told all this to me, when I willingly concurred in the
attempt to save the leg. It had served me well during
many a long and weary march, in many a lively skirmish
and some hard-fought battles, particularly whilst in the
28th Light Company ; I therefore felt extremely unwilling
to part with it. One feels regret at losing even a favourite
walking-stick ; what then must the feeling be at losing a
faithful leg ? The trial was decided on ; but in justice to
Dr. Mathews I feel called upon to declare that he most
fully pointed out the imminent danger attending the
experiment. Thus far I have entered into detail in con-
sequence of a remark made to the General Medical Board,
Drs. Weir, Franklin and Car, who said, when I appeared
before them in London, that the medical officer who saved
my leg was in no way borne out in making the attempt,

XXVIII.] A GENEROUS SPANIARD. 327

for there were ninety-nine chances to one against my life.
It is true that the wound was as severe as could possibly
be inflicted ; the tibia and fibula were both shattered, and
the orifice made seemed the entrance to a quarry of bones,
fi ve-and-thirty pieces of which exfoliated and kept the
wound open for several years.

When I was carried out of the field my whole fortune
consisted of one crusado novo, a Portuguese silver coin value
three shillings. This I had much difficulty in persuading
the poor cottagers to accept, not from a consideration that
the sum was an inadequate remuneration for the mutilation
of their mattress and whatever food they supplied, but solely
from pure motives of generosity. They wept at my parting,
and prayed to every saint in heaven or elsewhere for my
speedy and perfect recovery. On my arrival therefore
in hospital, I possessed not a single farthing ; and in my
situation other nourishment was required than that of a
ration poand of bread and beef. My host, Don Martin
D'Echiparre, continually sat by my bedside. Looking upon
him as a generous and liberal person, I, after a few evenings,
candidly confessed my pecuniary embarrassments, requesting
him to lend me a few dollars and offering him my gold
watch until I should receive a remittance from the pay-
master. He replied, " Do you take me for a Jew ? I never
lend less than a hundred guineas ; these you may have
when you please." This I considered a bombastical evasion
and declined his offer. Next morning he made his usual
visit and approaching close said in a low voice, "You
refused last night to take a hundred guineas ; take at least
these fifty," and he held them forth. I told him that so large
a sum was both superfiuous and useless ; however, after a
good deal of controversy, he consented to lend me so small
A sum as ten guineas.

328 I RETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND. [Ch.

After a lapse of three montlis an order was received to
remove the hospital depot to St. Jean de Luz. What was
to be done ? I had received no remittance ; consequently
I had no means of repaying the ten guineas, six of which
were already spent — one more was absolutely necessary
to defray the cost of my removal to St. Jean de Luz, which
would take four days. I was to be carried in a litter borne
by inhabitants, to pay whom would require the greater part
of the guinea. To pay back the remaining three would
be but a poor return ; but my truly noble and generous
host having entered the room, relieved me from my un-
pleasant dilemma. After expressing his deep regret at my
departure, he thus addressed me : " Being aware that you
have had no remittance from the army ; and knowing from
the hospitable and generous manner in which you have
entertained the many officers who continually came to see
you, in which hospitality I nightly participated with
pleasure, that you must want money, I put these four
farthings in my pocket for you," presenting four Spanish
doubloons. " I offer you," continued he, " this small sum
because of your obstinacy in refusing the hundred guineas ;
but if you will accept that sum and another hundred in
addition, you would please me much more. Do not pay
me from St. Jean de Luz nor from England, but only
when you get home to your friends in Ireland ; and if you
never pay, it will be of no consequence whatever." How-
ever I declined to accept either hundreds or doubloons :
and after mutual protestations of sincere friendship and
regard, we bade each other a final farewell and parted
with unfeigned regret. This anecdote I relate as highly
honourable to the country in which it occurred. D'Echiparre
was a Frenchman by birth, but a Spaniard by adoption,
and in the Spanish language we always conversed. He

XXVIII.] A POSTCHAISE, BUT NO ROAD. 329

was a Valladolid merchant and had realised upwards of
ten thousand pounds, which in that part of the country
was considered a handsome fortune.

On my arrival at St. Jean de Luz I was so fortunate
as to procure two months' pay (not in advance for we were
seven months in arrear), when I immediately sent the ten
guineas to my generous host.

The time having arrived to get rid of the cumbrous sick
and wounded officers, we were removed to los Pasages and
there embarked in a transport bound for Portsmouth ; but
the wind proving contrary prevented our entering the
channel and we were compelled to put into Bantry Bay
in Ireland. Here we anchored close to a village, if I
recollect right, called Castletown, and put up at an inn
kept by the widow Martin. The wind continuing very
boisterous and contrary, we resolved to travel overland
through Ireland. Enquiring for a postchaise, we were
informed that there was a postchaise, but that some miles
of the road were as yet unfinished, and consequently not
carriageable. Upon this we dropped down to the village
bearing the name of the bay. Here having learned that
the road was perfectly good, we landed our baggage and
went ashore ; but now to our great dismay we found that
this village had no postchaise. In this dilemma we
decided to place our baggage on pack-saddles and to travel
as in Spain. The operation of packing had commenced,
when looking into the courtyard I discovered a hearse.
Upon enquiry the waiter said : " Please, yOur honour, it is
an ould lady who died here lately, and her friends thought
they would bury her proudly ; so they sent to Cork for
the hearse and it is going back to-day to Bandon." I
sent for the driver and immediately concluded a bargain ;
he engaged to carry us to Bandon in the hearse ; and thence

330 I RETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND. [Ch.

we were to have two postchaises to take ns to Cork for
a sum agreed npoii. The pack-saddling was relinquished ;
and the whole party, consisting of Captain Taylor, 28th,
with a broken thigh, Captain Girlston, 31st, a broken arm,
Captains Bryan and Cone, 39th, sick leaves, and Captain
Blakeney, 36th, a broken leg, entered the hearse. Our
first stage was Dnnmanway, where we made a tremendous
meal ; the innkeeper complimented us by saying that he
never saw travellers in a hearse make so hearty a break-
fast. Our appearance must have been extraordinary ; for
as we moved along in the carriage of death, but not with
its usual pace, the country folk, abandoning their legitimate
avocations, ran after us for miles.

On our arrival at Bandon thousands of the inhabitants
followed and impeded our way. I recollect that a regiment
of militia quartered there ran like others to see the novel
show, when hundreds of the rnnabout crowd cried out to
them : " Get ye out of the way I What have ye to do with
the honours of war ? Look there ! " and they pointed to
our crutches, which stuck out from the open hearse in
all directions, like escutcheons emblasoning the vehicle
of death. At length we got safe to our inn, attended as
numerously as if the hero of the Peninsula himself had
been present. Here I called upon a lady who lived close
to our inn — a Mrs. Clarke. She had two sons in the army,
with both of whom I was intimately acquainted, particularly
the eldest ; he was a brother officer of mine in the 28th
Regiment and was afterwards removed to the 6th Regiment,
in which he lost a leg. To him we are indebted for that
valuable publication, The United Service Journal, The
other I knew in the 77th Regiment; he also had been
severely wounded in the leg, so that the lady had seen both
her sons on crutches. When she saw the rough crutches

XXVIII.] A ROAD, BUT NO POSTCHAISE. 331

which I carried, or rather which carried me, she offered
me a pair more highly finished, belonging to one of her
sons ; but since mine were made of the halberts of two
sergeants who lost their lives charging into the redoubt
under which I fell, I declined the lady's very polite offer.

Next morning we set out for Cork ; and being actually
enclosed within postchaises we contrived to screen our
honours of war from public notice and therefore were not
cheered to our hotel. At Cork the party separated, each
making his way to England as best he could. On my arrival
in London, I waited on Sir Henry Torrens, military secretary
to His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief. I men-
tioned to the secretary my intention of memorialising the
Duke of York for promotion by brevet, in consideration of
my voluntary services and severe wounds received whilst so
serving. Sir Henry after hearing my statement said that
I was perfectly right, but at the same time advised me to
procure testimonials of my services from my different com-
manding officers in support of my memorial. With this
advice I willingly complied, conscious of my having on
every occasion endeavoured to perform my duties to the
fullest extent of my abilities. After such encouragement
from so high an authority as the Commander-in-chiefs
secretary and firmly relying on the nature of the testimonials
which I should receive, I considered my promotion certain.
I immediately wrote to Colonel Cross, commanding 28th
Regiment at Fermoy, and to Colonel Browne (late 28th),
commanding 56th Regiment at Sheerness. With their
replies and a memorial to His Royal Highness, I waited
on the secretary; but on presenting them, he, without
even opening them, said : " Recollect, Captain Blakeney,
that I did not promise you promotion. I cannot give away
majorities." I replied that I did not apply for a majority ;

332 I RETURN WOUNDED TO IRELAND. [Ch. XXVIIL

I only asked for the rank by brevet, which was throughout
the army considered as a reward for meritorious officers
when regimental promotion might be attended with diffi«
culty. I received no answer. Chagrined and disappointed
because, when the secretary had told me that I was right
in making a memorial and had advised me to get my
commanding officer's testimonials, he now opposed that
memorial before he even submitted it to the Commander-
in-chief, I retired with strong impressions, which I now
decline to state. In a short time I received an answer to
my memorial stating that I could not at the present
moment be promoted by brevet, but that I should get a
majority when a favourable opportunity offered. Unbounded
confidence was not inspired by this promise from the
Horse Guards, particularly after what had passed on the
subject. How far this diffidence was justified may be
seen in the sequel.

The above statement may appear extraordinary ; but
between the time of my first interview with Sir Henry
Torrens and the arrival of those testimonials from my
various commanding officers, which the secretary had
suggested, the star of Napoleon had begun to set. His
abdication soon followed ; war was no longer contemplated ;
and the claims of officers, of whatever nature, were
abandoned to a heartless neglect.

CHAPTER XXIX.

AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS.

A FTER remaining in London at a heavy expense while
I awaited tlie answers of my commanding officers
and the result of my memorial, I left town and joined the
2nd Battalion of the regiment, then quartered at Lewes.
Here I remained for some time ; and then being still on
sick, or rather wounded, leave, I visited my old acquaintance,
the Prince d'Arenberg, from whom I had received repeated
and pressing invitations. Arriving in Brussels, I found
that unfortunately he was then in Italy. When I was
rather weary of Brussels but unwilling so soon to go
back to England, especially as the prince was shortly
expected to return, some particular friends. Sir John
Burke of Glenesk, Sir William Elliot and Lord Bury,
aide-de-camp to the Prince of Orange, determined on an
excursion to Paris, and I was prevailed upon to accom-
pany them. We travelled in Burke's private carriage.
The early part of our journey was excessively agreeable ;
but on drawing near the capital we encountered an extra-
ordinary number of vehicles of every description and on
approaching a small town within a post or two of Paris
towards dark, we met a train of from thirty to forty carriages.
Upon asking the cause of this great concourse, a Mrs.
Atchison, whom with her two amiable daughters we had
known at Brussels, exclaimed from one of the carriages,

333

334 AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS. [Ch.

" What, are you not aware that Napoleon will be in Paris
to-morrow?" and she added that every British subject
there was hastening away as fast as post-horses could be
procured, which was attended with much difficulty and
delay. Thunderstruck at this information, for not a word
even of Napoleon's escape from Elba was known two days
before at Brussels, we immediately stopped ; and as soon
as we could procure change of horses we proceeded to
Cambray. Here the party separated : Mrs. and the Misses
Atchison escorted by the two baronets leisurely proceeded
to Brussels ; Lord Bury and I shaped our course with all
speed for Ostend, on our way to England. We were
detained at Cambray until towards dark by the difficulty
of procuring post-horses ; but just as we were about to set
forward, a French officer carrying, as he stated, despatches
of utmost importance, galloped into the yard, his steed
covered with foam. He immediately demanded a horse,
and the authority which he carried left the postmaster no
choice ; he immediately provided one. I asked the officer
a few questions as to the sentiments entertained in the
capital and of the nature of his despatches, but I could
procure no direct reply. As I was getting into Lord
Bury's cabriolet, with his lordship and his private servant,
I chanced to mention that our route lay through Lisle,
when the man of despatch at length opened his mouthy
saying that he also was bound for Lisle, and that if we
would take him into our carriage and let the servant ride
his horse, he would engage to pass us through the different
enclosed towns which lay in our route, at which without
his intervention we should be detained if arriving after
dark. This proposal was made in consequence of the
inclemency of the weather, which was tremendous,,
incessant heavy rain, accompanied with high winds,.

XXIX.] NAPOLEON HOME FROM ELBA. 335

thunder and awful lightning. Though Bury felt reluctant
to expose his servant to the raging elements, yet our great
anxiety to get clear of the French territory overcame every
other consideration.

During our progress I asked our new companion many
questions, but he would appear much fatigued and slept, or
feigned to sleep, the greater part of the time ; however^
he kept his word in passing us through the towns. On
presenting his credentials the drawbridges were dropped,
we entered, changed horses and passed on without our
passports being looked at until we arrived at Lisle. Here
our companion left us with scant ceremony. Being no
longer under the protection of the man of despatch and
having arrived after dark, we were not permitted to leave
the fortress until morning. We afterwards learned that
this officer, who sat so very comfortably in Lord Bury's
carriage between two British officers, was at the time the
bearer of disaffected despatches to induce the two Generals
liallemande to declare in favour of Nai)oleon.

Our night at Lisle was restless ; but fortunately we got
off next morning without meeting any obstruction, and
having soon entered the Belgian territory felt a degree of
security which previously we considered very doubtful.
Our feelings somewhat resembled those experienced by
the Prince d'Arenberg after crossing the Spanish frontier
into Portugal.

Although now freed from dread of detention, yet we
relaxed not in posting forward to Ostend. On arrival Lord
Bury waited on General Vandeleur, commanding the British
troops there, and related the circumstances attending our
journey. The general was excessively astonished and
appeared somewhat startled, not having had the slightest
knowledge of Napoleon having left his island ; indeed he

336 AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS. [Ch.

seemed rather incredulous. Bury requested that I should
be sent for to the hotel, where I was making hasty pre-
parations for our departure to England. On appearing, I
confirmed Lord Bury's statement, adding that from all I
could collect along our route, or rather flight, I felt
perfectly convinced that Napoleon was at that moment in
Paris. Courtesy, and I believe courtesy alone, induced the
general no longer to appear incredulous. At the same
time he begged us to be very cautious as to what we
should say, for if what we had heard were true he would
find himself in rather an embarrassing position among
the Belgians, who seemed much inclined towards the
government and person of Napoleon.

Being politely dismissed by the general we proceeded
to England, and landing at Ramsgate pushed forward to
Canterbury. Here we halted for breakfast, when hundreds
collected round the hotel since a report was spread that the
Due de Berri had just arrived from France, whom they
were anxious to behold ; but upon learning that it was the
English Lord Bury, not His Royal Highness the French
Due de Berri who had arrived, they retired rather dis-
appointed. That night we arrived in London, but not a
soul would give credence to our account ; and Napoleon
was victoriously sitting on the throne of France and in the
heart of the capital some days before even his departure
from Elba was known in London.

Immediately on my return I applied to Sir Henry
Torrens for a staff appointment in the army of Belgium ;
and I asked that, should His Royal Highness not have
an opportunity of appointing me at present, he would be
pleased to permit my proceeding there, as from my acquaint-
ance with many general officers under whom I had had the
honour of serving, I felt emboldened to think that I should

XXIX.] THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO FOUGHT. 337

be employed. This letter was written to Sir Henry Torrens
at his own request ; but as he was a few days afterwards
sent to Brussels to confer with the Duke of Wellington,
I repeated my request to Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw, Military
Secretary ad interim. To this application I received an
answer to the effect that the commander-in-chief was
sensible of my zeal for active service, but had no present
opportunity of employing me on the staff, nor could he
comply with my request for leave of absence. It may be
necessary here to state that at that period a general order
had been issued strictly prohibiting all officers on leave
of absence from leaving the kingdom without the special
permission of the commander-in-chief. My leave of
absence which terminated on the 24th of the month was
renewed as a matter of course, but not without the pro-
hibition mentioned.

My regiment being in Ireland and not ordered to the
Netherlands, I still remained in London urging my request,
but to no purpose. In the meantime the battle of Waterloo
was fought ; and the 36th were ordered to reinforce the
duke's army. I now procured permission to proceed direct
from London. Major-General Sir William O'Callaghan
was ordered out at the same time ; and as we had
been intimately acquainted in the Peninsula, I now acted
as his aide-de-camp. In this way I anticipated the arrival
of the regiment in Paris by at least a month, which gave
me full opportunity, uninterrupted by regimental duties,
of examining the discipline, dress and movements of the
different armies then in Paris, particularly as they passed
in review order.

This review was a splendid spectacle. Each crowned
head of the powers engaged had nominally a regiment in
the army of each brother sovereign ; and each in his turn

22

338 AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS. [Ch.

marched past as colonel of his regiment, saluting with due
military discipline the crowned head to whose army the
regiment belonged. The Emperor Alexander wore his
cocked hat square to the front, kept firm on his head by
a black ribbon tied under his chin. When he saluted in
marching past his chosen master, he shot his right arm
at full length horizontally from his right shoulder, and
then curving the arm with tolerable grace to the front
he touched the upper part of his forehead with his hand,
the fingers closed together and the palm turned downwards.
His appearance was soldier-like ; yet he seemed not a hardy
veteran, but rather a good-humoured, well-conditioned
English yeoman than the representative of Peter the Great.
Contentment, apparently uninterrupted by thought or reflec-
tion, seemed to sit on his unruffled brow. The King of
Prussia wore his hat fore and aft. In saluting he sent
his right hand perpendicularly upwards, the palm turned
towards his face, his fingers stiff and their tips brought
suddenly against the point of his hat. Sullenness was
portrayed on his countenance. His figure was tall ; but
I saw nothing lofty about him save his station, which, had
it not been hereditary, would never have been his. He
was what we call in a horse wall-eyed. Nothing indicated
the determined warrior, polished courtier or profound
statesman ; and during the whole time in which I presumed
to regard him I do not recollect that a single thought of
the Great Frederick flashed on my mind. The Emperor
Francis wore his hat neither square nor fore and aft ; the
right cock was brought rather forward. In saluting, his
right arm was slowly brought up to meet the fore part of
his hat, to touch which his fingers were bent into a bunch.
His stature was scarcely above the middle size, his face
melancholy and overcast ; it did not appear to be that

XXIX.] A PAGEANT OF EMPERORS. 339

sullen melancholy which indicates disappointed ambition
— it seemed rather to be produced by painful recollec-
tions of happy scenes and feelings which, like blooming
youth gone by, can never return. His deportment was
that of an over-thoughtful, but an affable gentleman ;
dejection he combated, but could not shake off; he would
appear happy, but failed in the endeavour. His former
deadly foe and conqueror (a fortunate revolutionist emerged
from obscurity) was now united to the child of his affec-
tions, the descendant of the Caesars. The overthrow of
the one must drag down the other. Unwillingly then
he drew his sword, for whatever he might have previously
suffered he now made war against his daughter and her
husband. These conflicting feelings must have harassed
his very soul ; his position was cruelly embarrassing ;
and it was impossible to witness his distress and not
participate in his feelings. His appearance throughout
proclaimed him an unwilling actor in the gorgeous show.
He alone seemed to reflect that players sometimes act the
part of kings, but that here the farce was reversed.

It struck me as rather singular and wanting in delicacy
that every band of music in the Austrian, Russian and
Prussian armies, while they marched past the group of
kings, played the tune by us called The Downfall of Paris ;
but I subsequently learned that among the nations mentioned,
as also in France, the music bore a quite different name
and meaning.

During these reviews the troops of the foreign nations
marched from Paris through the Place Louis Quinze ; and
passing through the Champs Elysees filed off into the
suburbs. The last review, or rather march past, was by
the British troops. The line of route was now reversed.
Our troops, proudly following the tattered flags but upright

340 AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS. [Ch.

standards of Britain, debonclied from the Champs ElyseeSj
and after marching past filed through Paris. The music
played at the head of every regiment was the inspiring
tune " The British Grenadiers." The duke took his
station close to the Place Louis Quinze, towards the entrance
from the Champs Elys^es. He was dressed in the uniform
of a British field-marshal ; he grasped a mamaluke sabre,
the hand which held it resting on the pommel of his saddle.
In this position he remained for some hours during the
marching past of the troops ; and although he evidently
saw all, yet he moved not at all ; and during the whole
time (for I was near) even his sword moved not an inch
from its original position. All the working was in his
mind ; his body was absolutely still.

As the British troops moved forward they called forth
general admiration; and, candidly speaking, their appearance
was splendid in the extreme. This opinion is not prompted
by either partiality or prejudice ; but having had the
opportunity of previously beholding the parade of the allied
troops, all showing stage efiect rather than the free use
of the limbs, I could not avoid noticing the contrast
between them and the British soldiers, whose movements
were in strict conformity with the intention of Providence
in providing joints to be freely used for the easy carriage
of the body. It was this manly, free and firm step which
induced the Emperor Alexander after the reviews were
over to declare that he would introduce the British dis-
cipline and system of drill into his army, since the English
movements were more in conformity with the natural struc-
ture of man. Even the dress of the British soldier was
calculated more for comfort and use than for mere outward
appearance, and yet was far from being unseemly.

The Russian troops appeared like rampant bears ; the

XXIX.] THE IRON DUKE. 341

Prussians like stuffed turkeys ; the slow-going Austrian s
were in figure, countenance and appearance altogether
characteristically Germanic ; the French, from their being
well inured to fire and moving with such little up-and-
down steps making but little progress to the front, brought
to mind that species of animal called turnspit in the active
performance of his duty. But the object of general regard,
and that which attracted the attention of all, was the hero
who led the British troops through an unparalleled series
of brilliant campaigns and victorious battles. The all-
seeing eagle eye which illumined his countenance, the
aquiline nose which stamps talent on the countenance of
man, together with the peculiar length of upper lip, marked
him apart. In all he seemed the Roman of old — save
in pomp.

Shortly after the reviews the 36th Regiment arrived
in Paris, and on the same day Sir William O'Callaghan's
aide-de-camp, his nephew, Captain Colthurst, made his
appearance. The general being thus provided, I joined
my regiment. We were quartered at Montmartre, the
theatre of Marmont's fidelity. Subsequently we encamped
in the Bois de Boulogne ; thence we moved into cantonments
not far distant from Versailles. A part of the regiment were
quartered in the Chateau of the Postmaster-General of
France. His history so far as it relates to his attachment
to Napoleon, his imprisonment and the mode of his escape
aided by a British general officer lately reinstated in rank,
is already well known.

Towards the close of December 1815 the regiment was
ordered home. We passed through Paris on the day that
Marshal Ney was shot ; whether our presence there during
that melancholy occasion was accidental or designed I
cannot say, but it was probably designed. His death was

342 AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS. [Ch.

worthy of his former undaunted character, which gained
him the title of " Le brave des braves." Disdaining to
have his eyes bandaged he commanded the soldiers
appointed for his execution to fire ; and shedding bitter
tears they obeyed his order, by which France was deprived
of the bravest and brightest genius who ever led her armies
to victory. On the second restoration of Louis XVIII. a
general pardon was granted by proclamation in his name
to all French subjects then residing in Paris ; but by a
strange construction of words it was argued that Ney was
not included, although at the time he did reside in Paris,
if a soldier be considered as ever residing anywhere.

Soult, although he fought in the ranks of Napoleon at
Waterloo, yet made so noble a defence that the Due de
Eichelieu durst not push the prosecution ; yet His Grace
declared that it would be an abuse of mercy to pardon Ney.
He was found guilty of high treason, upon which verdict
he was executed. But against whom or what was the
treason ? Not against France, in whose defence or for
whose aggrandisement he fought five hundred battles, and
never drew his sword against her. His treason then
consisted in his unfortunate choice of allegiance between
two individuals : one, the Emperor selected by the French
nation and under whose standard all the armies of France
were ranged ; the other a king indeed but a nominal one,
a king who fled his country on the approach of a foreign
invader, as Napoleon actually was on coming from the
Island of Elba. This king too was opposed by the nation
upon whom he was foisted, as he himself gratefully but
imprudently proclaimed by declaring that next to God
he owed his crown to the Prince Regent of England. This
insult to his countrymen was deeply felt all through France,
and cannot be more forcibly expressed than by the manner

XXIX.] EXECUTION OF MARSHAL NEY. 343

in which the French at the time proclaimed him as " Lonis
XVIIL, King of France and Navarre, by the grace of three
hundred thousand foreign bayonets." As traitor against
this king, Ney was executed ; but, had he been spared,
the monarch's crown would have been the brighter, and the
bravest of the brave have been spared to his country.

In our route to Calais the detachment of the regiment
to which I belonged passed through the village of Cre^y,
where we halted for a day. Natural curiosity, not unmixed
with national pride, induced some of us to visit the plains
glorious to Edward III. and the Black Prince. Our guide
pointed out the little tower in which the victorious Edward
is stated to have taken post during the battle ; it had all
the appearance of having been a windmill. The glorious
days of the Edwards and Henrys flashed on our imagina-
tions : days when the warlike monarchs led their gallant
troops in person and by their heroic example fired them to
deeds of glory ; days when personal merit was promptly
and impartially rewarded. Rewards for gallant deeds of
arms did not then depend upon a county election. The
chief who witnessed and who consequently could best jadge
possessed the power to reward without reference to the
jarring interests of voters at home.

On surveying the extensive plain, our guide pointed out a
mound, distant from the windmill about two miles. Here
it was, he said, that the French army made their last
desperate effort. A small chapel is built on the site, called
" La Chapelle des Trois Cents Corps Nobles," to commemo-
rate the fact that where the chapel stands three hundred
nobles of the contending armies fighting fell. On returning
to our billets I signified to the man of the house my wish
to visit the hallowed spot next morning, as it was then
too late in the day. Upon this our good host entertained

344 AT THE GRAND REVIEW IN PARIS. [Ch. XXIX.

US with many legendary tales of the chapel, and said
amongst other things that the door could never be kept
shut. My evident incredulity rather displeasing him, he
protested most solemnly that bolts and locks had been
repeatedly put on the door to endeavour to keep it shut,
but to no purpose : it was always found wide open in the
morning ; and as to watching it, none could be found
sufficiently daring to make the attempt. Notwithstanding
the solemn assertions of our good host, I told him that I
was determined to proceed to the chapel next morning and
shut myself within its mysterious walls. When he had
used many arguments to dissuade me from my purpose
but found me still determined, he remarked that there was
one difficulty in my shutting myself up there, since, in
in consequence of the fact that the chapel could never be
kept closed, it had been without a door for more than a
century. Much disappointed, but still perceiving by the
solemn manner of my host that his account of the chapel
was not intended as a jest, I told him that I should
certainly go there next morning and nail a blanket against
the doorway, to witness the consequence of closing the
chapel ; and this foolish act I was determined to carry
into execution, but as we received orders that night to
continue our march at daybreak next morning, my quixotic
enterprise was frustrated. The impossibility of closing
the chapel was religiously believed by every inhabitant of
the place, not excluding the parish priest.

We embarked at Calais and descended at Ramsgate and
Dover, and thence proceeded overland to Portsmouth, which
we garrisoned until the year 1817, when we embarked for
the Island of Malta.

CHAPTER XXX.

AT BKUSSELS WITH DUKE d'aKENBERG.

TN 1819 I procured leave of absence to proceed to
-^ England ; and in tliis year I repeated my visit to
Brussels. I found Prince Prosper at home and received
the most marked attention from the old duke, his father.
Here it may not be irrelevant to mention that Napoleon,
as contributing to fortify his unwieldy empire, insisted on
the Prince Prosper marrying a Miss Tacher, a niece of
Josephine, and transferred to him his father's title, Duke
d'Arenberg, at the same time by a similar arbitrary act
compelling the old unduked duke to assume the title
of a baron of the French empire. This was one of
Napoleon's master strokes of policy. Prince Prosper was
now married to his second wife having been previously
divorced from his first duchess, Miss Tacher that was, to
whom the mustachios had been sent from Lisbon.

At the old duke's table I had always a cover ; and a
groom and a pair of horses were exclusively at my service.
The duke was a remarkably fine old man, but had been blind
for many years when I had the honour of making his
acquaintance. The calamity occurred through the following
lamentable circumstance. At his father's house, celebrated
for hospitality, a large party of friends were entertained,
for whose greater amusement rural sports were resorted

345

346 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch.

to. The wild-boar hunt was generally selected, .in which
the duke, then a young man, took great delight ; but as
one of the guests, who was charge d'affaires of the British
Court, expressed an unwillingness to join in the boar hunt,
preferring partridge-shooting, the young duke in courtesy
gave up his favourite amusement and joined his friend,
for whom he entertained the greatest esteem. All being
arranged, the parties set forth, and on their arrival at
Enghien, a considerable estate belonging to the duke about
fi ve-and-twenty miles from Brussels, the sport began. The
duke took his station behind a hedge ; and his English
friend screened himself behind a neighbouring fence. The
cover being veiy close, beaters were sent in to drive out
the birds, as in woodcock-shooting in England. A rustling
sound being heard by the Englishman, who had the boar
hunt, which took place in the same parts, still in his mind,
he fired through the fence and lodged the contents of
his gun in the face of his friend. At a cry of distress from
the duke, the Englishman broke his way through the
fence, when fancy his horror at perceiving his dear friend
prostrate on the ground, his figure recognised, but all
his features disguised by blood and his eyes incapable of
seeing his agonised friend. Nearly frantic at witnessing
the dreadful result of his incautious fire, he holloaed out
for assistance ; and on the arrival of some domestics he
instantly ran into the town of Enghien, and ordering a
postchaise drove off to Brussels, nor stopped he, except
to change horses, until he arrived at Ostend, where he
instantly embarked for England, never again to return
to the Netherlands. The two faithful friends never more
beheld each other, one because he was blind, the other on
account of a horror which he could never overcome. The
duke was carried to Brussels and the first medical aid

XXX.] A NOBLE SERVITOR. 347

which the Netherlands could produce immediately consulted.
The most eminent physicians and surgeons of France and
England were sent for, but to no purpose — the vision was
for ever destroyed.

During my visit at Brussels, by the duke's desire, I
passed a few days at Enghien. Being alone, I was enter-
tained by an old family steward, who always resided there.
The family mansion having been burnt, its place was
supplied by two handsome pavilions. The old domestic,
who had been previously advised of my visit, was the
most respectable person for his station whom I ever met ;
in truth, he appeared a perfect gentleman of the old school,
as well in dress as in address. Nearly seventy chill
winters must have passed over his head, but although
those rigid seasons left many a rough stamp behind, his
sympathy and warm heart gave ample testimony that an
equal number of genial summers had done their part. His
white hair was bound with black ribbons and formed a
massy queue, extending some way down his shoulders ;
yet, silvered as were his venerable locks, he was highly
powdered too, — this always gives a peculiarly dressy appear-
ance. His coat was of the old-fashioned cut, sloping
backwards from the lower part of the breast to the
extremity of the skirts and bearing large steel buttons.
His waistcoat was of a similar cut, having long low-
flapped pockets, below which were short velvet breeches,
black silk stockings and polished shoes with large silver
buckles. To be attended by such a personage during
dinner distressed me very much. I should have felt more
easy if in place of serving he had sat down and borne
me company ; this I proposed, but no remonstrance of
mine could prevail upon him to acquiesce. He remarked
that he could never so far forget his duty and respect as

348 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch.

to sit at the same table with his lord's guest, and moreover
that I should be without the attendance which he had
received orders to give. I then proposed that the young lad
;who always rode after me should wait. To this he objected,
unless I ordered it, which I declined to do, perceiving
by a half-muttered expression that it would be indecorous
to introduce a stable groom into the dining-room. After
dinner, which I hurried over, I insisted on his placing a
second wineglass and obliged him to sit down, Stating that
there were many circumstances relative to his lord with
which I wished to become acquainted, and for which I
had the duke's authority. This he considered as a mandate
a,nd sat down ; yet such was the distance at which he
placed his chair from the table that he imposed upon
himself the obligation of standing up whenever I prevailed
upon him to take his glass of the good wine, which I
had always to pour out for him.

During my stay at Enghien this respectable gentleman-
butler related many anecdotes of gallant deeds performed
by the Dukes d'Arenberg, but as was natural dwelt
most upon those scenes which took place in his own time.
Next morning he conducted me to the spot where the fatal
accident deprived his lord of sight. The old man was
of the shooting party ; and with tears in his eyes he
described the whole scene most minutely and pathetically.
Having seen all the grounds, I returned to the pavilion ;
but on that day too I could not prevail on the old man
to sit down to dinner, and finding him inflexible and
being hurt at seeing so old and so respectable a person
on his legs whilst I sat at dinner, I determined to depart
next morning. On coming away I cordially shook the
good old man by the hand, and would most willingly have
made some donation, but I could not presume to offer him

XXX.] THE FRIEND WHO SHOT HIM. 349

money, knowing how much, it would hurt him; I should
as soon have offered such an affront to the duke.

When I returned to Brussels the good old duke asked
me with the greatest coolness if I had seen the spot
where he was deprived of sight. He seemed to treat the
circumstance with perfect indifference ; but he evidently
felt great emotion whenever the name of his unhappy friend
was mentioned, and I repeatedly heard him say, " My
poor friend I he suffers more than I do." Some years
after the accident took place the duke visited England^
and calling upon his friend, who happened to be out, left
his name and address. When the other returned and saw
the duke's card, he instantly ordered post-horses and
departed for Italy, not being able to summon fortitude
sufficient to encounter that friend whom he so highly
prized. The duke suffered much by this disappointment ;
for although deprived of the power of seeing him, still
it would have afforded him the greatest consolation to
press to his bosom the friend whom he now more than
ever esteemed. Not long after the duke travelled into
Italy, where he was doomed to experience a similar
disappointment. Happening to visit the same town in
which his friend was living for a time, he paid him a
visit, but not finding him at home did not leave his card,
as he hoped to meet him another time ; but when the
friend returned and heard from his servant a description
of the caller, he instantly set out for England. They
never met after the sad accident ; and they both departed
this life nearly at the same moment.

During the duke's sojourn in England he ordered a
machine to be made entirely imagined by himself, which
in his lamentable state enabled him to play at whist, a
game to which he was very partial and which afterwards.

350 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch.

principally contributed to bis amusement. It was a small
mabogany box about eigbteen incbes long, six incbes deep,
and tbe same in breadtb ; it screwed under tbe leaf of
tbe table in front of wbere tbe duke sat to play ; in its
side were four rows or little cbannels, and in eacb cbannel
were tbirteen boles corresponding witb tbe number of cards
in eacb suit ; in eacb of tbese boles was a movable peg,
wbicb could be pusbed in or pulled out. Tbe pack being
dealt out, a page, wbo sat close to tbe duke, sorted bis
cards, placing tbem in suits and in order of value from
left to rigbt, eacb suit being separated from tbe otbers
by tbe duke's fingers, between wbicb tbey were placed
by tbe page. Beginning from tbe left witb spades, bearts,
diamonds and clubs in order, tbe peg corresponding witb
eacb card in tbe duke's band was drawn out, so tbat tbe
duke passing bis fingers over tbe macbine learned eacb
card in bis band by means of tbe corresponding peg.
Eacb of tbe otber players named tbe card wbicb be played.
For instance, tbe person sitting on tbe left of tbe duke said,
'* I play tbe seven of bearts " ; tbe next, " I play tbe ten " ;
tbe tbird, " I play tbe queen," wben tbe duke exclaimed,
" And I play tbe king," and infallibly down came tbe
king. I never saw bim make a mistake. Wben be bad
played a card be pusbed in tbe peg corresponding to tbat
card. On one occasion baving bad tbe bonour of being
bis partner against tbe Marquis de Grimelle and anotber,
I won a napoleon, wbicb I bored and kept in memory of
baving won it witb a partner totally deprived of sigbt.
The duke was mucb pleased at my doing so.

Tbe duke entertained in princely style. His table
displayed tbe choicest viands, tbe rarest productions of
tbe seasons and tbe most exquisite wines. I remarked
tbat on fast-days tbere was a particular kind of wbite soup

XXX.1 LETTER FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT. 351

always placed before the abbe who was attached to the
family. Curiosity induced me to ask Prince Prosper, next
to whom I always sat, of what this select soup consisted.
The prince replied in a suppressed tone of voice that it
was extracted from frogs ; " For," said he, " the (Church
has decided that those animals are not to be considered
as flesh : but yet, since the soup thus produced is not
sufficiently rich, a couple of pounds of veal are added ;
and although he is fully aware of the deception practised,
the abb6 is so good a person that he pardons the cook
and absolves him from all sin."

My leave of absence allowing me to remain no longer
at Brussels, I returned to England. At parting, the good,
the truly noble old duke presented me with a letter
of introduction recommending me to the protection of
H.R.H. the Duke of Kent ; and although, as I have
stated, he had been blind for many years, yet I saw
him write the concluding one or two lines and subscribe
his name to this letter.

On my arrival in London, finding that the Duke of Kent
was then at Sidmouth, I presumed to write to him, enclosing
Duke d'Arenberg's letter. In my letter to His Royal
Highness I gave a short summary of my services, at the
same time stating that an introductory letter from so
humble an individual as myself to a personage of such
exalted rank could have no other object than that of
soliciting His Royal Highness's protection in forwarding
my military promotion. By return of post I was honoured
with the following reply :

'♦ Sidmouth, January 8^Zf, 1820.

" The Duke of Kent was favoured last night with Captain
Blakeney's letter of the 6th instant, including one from his
esteemed and illustiious friend the Duke d'Arenberg, and he

352 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch.

feels anxious not to lose a moment in assuring Captain Blakeney
that if he possessed the means or influence necessary to expedite
his promotion they should instantly be exerted to the utmost
in his behalf both from the friendship and esteem he bears the
good duke through whom he has been introduced to him, and
from conceiving Captain Blakeney's statement of his services
to warrant his friendly interference in his behalf ; but the fact
is that the duke cannot interfere with any point regarding army
promotion beyond the limits of his own corps, the Royal Scots,
in which, from the circumstance of its having been during the
whole war double the strength of any other regiment, there are
too many claimants upon him for long and faithful services for
it to be in his power to hold out the slightest expectation to
Captain Blakeney of being able to bring him into that corps.
This he can assure the captain is a matter of real regret to him,
and he trusts when he says so that Captain Blakeney will give
him credit for his sincerity. In concluding this letter, the duke
feels it an act of justice to the good Duke d'Arenberg to observe
that it is impossible for any gentleman to plead more warmly
the cause of another than His Serene Highness has that of
Captain Blakeney, or to state more strongly the obligations he
owes him for his liberal and friendly conduct towards the Prince
Prosper whilst that nobleman was a prisoner of war under his
charge. If Captain Blakeney should happen to be in town when
the duke returns to Kensington, which will probably be the
end of March or beginning of April, the duke will have great
pleasure in receiving him and in explaining the matter more
fully to him viva voce than it is possible for him to do in a
letter, however extended the length of it might be. Should
Captain Blakeney have occasion to address the duke again
previous to his arrival, he is requested to leave his letter at
Messrs. Kirklands, No. 88, Bennet Street, St. James's.

" Captain Blakeney, ZQth Eegiment."

I scarcely need say that such a letter as this from the
son of my Sovereign was to me most highly flattering,
and on it was founded the delusive expectation of presenting

XXX.] LETTERS OF GRAHAM AND ABERCROMBIE. 353

myself before His Royal Higliness and verifying the
statement of my services as advanced in my letter. I
applied at the Horse Guards for copies of the different
recommendations forwarded from time to time in my favour
by general and other officers, as well as of those which
accompanied my memorial presented to H.R.H. the Duke
of York in 1814. These were very liberally given to me,
and are as follows :

From the Right Honourable General Lord
Lynedogh, G.C.B.

'•ISLA DB Leon, March 30^, 181L
" Sir, — I have the honour to state to you that I have just
received a report from Lieutenant- Colonel Browne of the
28th Regiment, who commanded the flank battalion which so
greatly distinguished itself in the action of the 5th instant
(i.e., at Barossa), of the eminent services of this officer. All
the other officers of the regiment left wounded, and himself
severely hurt by a contusion, he continued to animate and keep
the men of those companies together during the hottest fire,
giving the lieutenant-colonel the most essential assistance.
As Lieutenant Blakeney is a lieutenant of July 1805, I trust
this statement will be most favourably considered by the
commander-in-chief, and that this officer will soon reap the
reward of such distinguished conduct.

'*I have the honour, etc., etc., etc.,
"Thomas Graham,
" Lieutenant-General.
"Colonel Torrens, Militaiy Secretary."

From the Honourable Colonel Abercrombie, C.B.

"Albuquerque, November 20th, 1811.
" Sir, — I have the honour to enclose to you herewith a
memorial which has been transmitted to me by Lieutenant
Blakeney belonging to the battalion under my command, and

23

354 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch

which I request you will be good enough to forward to Major-
General Howard.

"As far as I had an opportunity of judging of the merits
of Lieutenant Blakeney, I have every reason to be well satisfied
mth him as an officer of great zeal and activity. His exertions
at the battle of Barossa obtained him the approbation of
Lieutenant -General Graham, by whom he was recommended
to the commander-in-chief for promotion.

" His conduct also in the late action with the enemy at
Arroyo de Molinos was very conspicuous, and did not, I believe,
pass unnoticed by Lieutenant- General Hill.

" I have the honour to be, etc., etc., etc.,

" Alexander Abercrombie,
*' Lieute7iant' Colonel 2^th Regiment.

" Colonel Wilson, etc., etc., etc., commanding the BHgade."

From the Right Honourable General Lord Hill, G.C.B.

"PORTALEGRE, November 2ith, 1811.
" My Lord, — I had an opportunity of witnessing Lieutenant
Blakeney's zeal and gallantry at the head of the light infantry
which formed the advance guard of General Howard's column
at Arroyo de Molinos on the 28th ultimo. I have therefore
much pleasure in forwarding and recommending his memorial
heremth enclosed.

" I have the honour to be, etc., etc., etc.,

" R, Hill,
" Lieutenant-General.
"Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Military Secretary"

From Lieutenant-Colonel Browne, C.B., late 2Stk
Regiment, commanding 66tk Regiment.

" Sheernbss, October Wi, 1814.

" My dear Blakeney, — I have to acknowledge yours of the

28th ultimo, and am happy to bear testimony to your gallant

conduct as an officer whenever an opportunity offered, which

was conspicuous in the battle of Barossa, so much so that it

XXX.] LETTERS OF HILL, BROWNE, AND OTHERS. 35s

was the cause of my recommending you to the protection of
Sir Thomas Graham. And believe me, my dear Blakeney, your
ever sincere friend,

"T. F. Browne.
"Captain Blakeney, d6th Regiment.^'

Fkom Lieutenant-Colonel Cross, C.B.

" Kilkenny, August 2'ird, 1814.
"Sir, — Understanding that Captain Blakeney is about
memorialising His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief
for the rank of major in the army, founding his claims on his
services and wounds, I have great pleasure in bearing testimony
to the fact of his having twice volunteered to serve with this
battalion in the Peninsula before he was effective; and that
upon every occasion after his joining that the regiment was in
fire his conduct was highly meritorious, and his gallantry when
it was the proud lot of the battalion to charge and carry the
enemy's redoubt on the heights of Andaya on November 10th
was most conspicuous; and on this occasion it was his great
misfortune to receive the severe wound under which he is still
suffering, and I accordingly with great respect presume to
recommend his case to the favourable consideration of His Eoyal
Highness the Commander-in-chief.

" I have the honour to be,
" William Cross,
" Ideutencmt- Colonel 3Qth Eegiment,

" Major-General Torrens, Military Secretary."

From Major-General Sir Charles Belson, K.C.B.
"Fermoy Barracks, Augmt 12nd^ 1814.
" Sir, — Captain Blakeney of the 36th Regiment (late of the
28th Regiment) having written to me for testimonials of his
services whilst under my command, to be submitted to you, I
have the honour of stating that he entered into the 28tb
Regiment very young, and that he served with it until March
1812 in the campaign under the late Sir John Moore, on that
retreat and at the battle of Corunna. He was in the light

356 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch.

company, and distinguished himself particularly at the Bridge
of Betanzos. His conduct was also conspicuous at Arroyo de
Molinos, and was noticed by Lieutenant- General Lord Hill upon
that occasion. I beg to add that he is an officer who will put
himself forward and distinguish himself whenever he may be
employed, and to recommend him for such reward or promotion
as His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief may be pleased
to grant.

** I have the honour to be, etc., etc., etc.,

"C. Belson,
** Lieutenant- Colonel, commanding 28<^ Regiment
" Ma jor-General Torrens, Military Secretary"

The above letter, which was enclosed to me, was accom-
panied with a note containing the following few words :

" My dear Blakbney, — I hope the enclosed will answer your
purpose (and in justice I could say no less) to promote your
wishes. I have not time to say more.

"Your friend,
"C. Belson.

" P.S. — The first troops that leave this country will be your
old friends, the 28th."

The above strong testimonials I never had an opportunity
of presenting to the illustrious personage for whose perusal
they were intended. The Duke of Kent did not survive
to return to the capital. His Royal Highness expired at
Sidmouth, the place from which he did me the honour of
writing the letter quoted, the last perhaps which he ever
either penned or dictated. Thus in the general calamity
which afflicted the nation by the death of His Royal
Highness, I was in common with the whole of my fellow
subjects doomed to mourn a great national loss ; and for
myself deplored the untimely fate of a royal and generous
prince, who would have extended his protection to me, as
his letter, I think, clearly demonstrated.

XXX.] H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK MAKES A NOTE. 357

In the early part of the year 1820 a partial brevet took
place to reward meritorious officers, whose names through
oversight had been passed over. I presented myself to
H.R.H. the Duke of York, and asked to be included.
His Royal Highness replied that the partial promotion
contemplated was intended as a reward for services
performed in the field. I took the liberty of remark-
ing that it was for services performed in the field I
applied for promotion, adding that 1 should not value
promotion otherwise obtained. The duke then said that
in mentioning services overlooked, allusion was made to
those officers whose names were mentioned in despatches.
In reply I felt emboldened to remark that, although my name
was not mentioned in despatches, yet, besides other strong
testimonials, I was strongly recommended for distinguished
conduct in two different actions by the generals who
respectively commanded in each, than whom the British
Army cannot boast more brilliant military characters —
Lords Hill and Lynedoch. His Royal Highness was
pleased to make a pencil note, and bowed. I retired ; and
of the import of that note I remain to this day ignorant,
as I never had further communication on the subject.

During my interview with the Commander-in-chief I
presented the Duke of Kent's letter, which was returned
next day without comment. Against the presentation
of this letter I was strongly advised ; but guided by my
own sentiments and feelings, I would not be dissuaded.
I considered that whatever difference of opinion might
have subsisted between the illustrious personages, all
unfriendly feelings would cease in the breast of the survivor.
Yet, though I felt chagrin at the little notice taken of
His Royal Highness's letter, I consoled myself a little with
the thouojht that the infant Princess Victoria, coming in

358 AT BRUSSELS WITH DUKE D'ARENBERG. [Ch. XXX.

nature's course to the throne, might perhaps be pleased
to take into consideration that which her royal sire had
expressed so much anxiety to promote. But the royal
brothers now lie side by side in peace, and so close that

"The vet'ran's sigh, to gallant York that's sent,
GHdes trembling o'er the breast of virtuous Kent";

and the time has gone by for vexing either with my
claims.

CHAPTER XXXI.

I MAKE MY BOW.

T^ISAPPOINTED in all my well-founded hopes, for
^^ such I thought them, I departed to rejoin my
regiment at Malta. Landing at Calais, I proceeded to
Paris and thence continued my route to Marseilles. On
the day we arrived at Avignon, where a large garrison
was stationed, it happened that the commandant dined at
the table cPhote. I sat opposite to him, conversing with a
young Spanish nobleman attached to the Spanish Embassy
at the British Court, who took this route to return to
Spain. Having met him in the diligence, I had soon
discovered him to be a Spaniard, and in his language our
discourse was maintained. During dinner the Peninsular
campaigns became the topic of general conversation, in
which I joined with the commandant, whom I soon
recognised as an old opponent. He did not recognise me.
Nine years had elapsed since our last meeting ; he saw
me walking lame into the room ; and I was in mailcoach
trim. HavingI with apparent carelessness asked him if
he knew the Prince Prosper d'Arenberg, he answered
in the affirmative, and that they were particular friends.
He added that they were both taken prisoners in the same
action. He then asked if I had been in Spain during the
period of the campaigns. I said yes, when he remarked
that perhaps I was in the Spanish Service. I told him

359

36o I MAKE MY BOW. [Ch.

that then, as well as now, I served in the British army.
He asked if I were an Englishman ; and when I said
yes, he remarked in that complimentary strain peculiar to
well-bred Frenchmen, that one rarely meets an individual
speaking the languages of three different nations and with
such exactness as to pass for a native of each. The Spanish
attacM, not to be second in courtesy, attested the justice
of the assertion so far as it related to Spanish, declaring
that until that moment he took me for his countryman.
The commandant then broke into the Spanish language,
which, to say the truth, he spoke far from well ; nor did
I ever meet a Frenchman who could speak it without
causing a smile from his auditors. Continuing his broken
and ill-pronounced Spanish, at which the attacM smiled
and looked at me, the commandant said that he spoke
in that language because he had taken me for a Spaniard,
on which I replied that for a similar reason I spoke to
him in French. He instantly fixed his eye on my
countenance ; he was beginning to recognise me. He then
quickly asked me if I knew Lord Hill ; and where I first
became acquainted with Prince Prosper. I told him that
I had the honour of knowing his lordship, and that my
first acquaintance with the prince was at Arroyo Molinos
in Spain. His eyes now opened wide and with apparent
emotion he asked if he might take the liberty of asking
my name, which I had no sooner mentioned than, starting
from his chair and striding round to where I sat, to the
no small astonishment of all present, he embraced me
warmly, saying that he would not kiss me, for he had not
forgotten Lisbon. He now presented me to the whole
company, which was numerous, as the British officer who
made him prisoner, and whom he had so often mentioned
as a "grand petit diable." He went on to tell how he

XXXI.] MY FORMER PRISONER. 361

was made prisoner ; bnt this I decline to repeat, as it was
rather too florid in description and too flattering to me,
I will pnt it briefly and in plainer words.

It may be remembered that in the action of Arroyo
Molinos, on October 28th, 1811, 1 jumped over the wall,
through a breach in which the head of the French
column had passed and the rest were following. Before
my leap I had noticed a martial figure nobly mounted,
evidently the chief of a corps, leading on the French 40th
Regiment of the line. He was not more than five or six
paces from the breach, while I was from ten to twelve
yards from it. Perceiving that he must pass through
before I could come up, wild with excitement and conscious
also that the commanding general was looking on, I rode
at the wall, and having cleared it instantly turned round
to the breach into which Colonel Voirol had just entered
and was passing through. We met face to face and
instantly commenced a martial duet. We were both
superbly mounted, but the rocky nature of the ground
was such that our horses were totally unmanageable. We
soon fell, or rather dragged each other to the ground,
when, true to the immutable laws of nature, I as the
lighter and more trivial remained uppermost. On falling,
I must instantly have been forked to death by the many
Frenchmen around me ; but all were too intent on flight
to look to others, and immediately after Voirol and I
came to the ground the most advanced soldiers of the
28th and 34th Light Companies charged through the
opening in the wall, as I have before described. General
Howard (now Lord Howard of Effingham) coming up, I
said, " General, here is a colonel for you ; take him in charge.
I cannot stop ; I must go on with the light bobs." In the
encounter I had received a blow on the head, which knocked

362 I MAKE MY BOW. [Ch.

off my cap and set it rolling down the rocks. I pushed
on bareheaded till I picked up a French foraging cap.
After we returned in the evening from the pursuit of the
fugitives, I found both my horse and cap. This was the
scuffle which I mentioned in describing the battle ; and
I now detail the circumstances, because my captive now
supported my story, which critics might pronounce absurd,
of an individual scuffling with a whole column.

The commandant, Colonel Yoirol, was as fine, upright
and soldierlike a person as could be seen, measuring
upwards of six feet in height and proportionally well
built in every respect. His antagonist of Arroyo Molinos,
besides being of slight figure, was beneath the colonel in
stature by some inches ; therefore it was perhaps that
during his description of the manner in which he was made
prisoner, he was scanned with dubious glance by all. The
natives of France look with a very jealous eye upon any
foreigner whose martial prowess is put in competition with
that of the " Grande Nation Militaire." This feeling was
still more apparent among the ladies, of whom there were
many present ; for the women of France feel if possible
more enthusiastic for military greatness than even the men ;
and comparing battles with what they read of tournaments
in romances, fancy that tall and robust figures must be
invulnerable against any of slighter mould. But Voirol's
gallantry was too well established in the French Army to
suffer from the misconception of table cThSte critics.

My gallant old friend cordially pressed me to remain
with him for at least a few days ; but as I was travelling
by diligence and my leave already expired, I felt compelled
to decline his hospitality ; and I determined to depart after
dinner, not having time even to visit the hallowed shrine
where Petrarch mourned in pathetic numbers his incredible

XXXL] A PENSION GRANTED AND WITHDRAWN. 363

love for the wrinkled old wife of another. But poetiy must
have some object, real or ideal, in view to keep excitement
continually on the stretch. The hour of departure being
announced by the conductear, the commandant accompanied
me to the door of the diligence, and again cordially shaking
hands I departed for Marseilles, where I embarked for
that military hotbed, Malta.

Some time after my arrival I was visited by a most
severe attack of ophthalmia. My right eye became more
like a ball of fire than an organ of vision ; the dreadful
pain in my head entirely banished sleep for so long a period
that I dread to mention it. I heard the clock of St. John's
Church strike every hour and half hour, day and night, for
a period of two months. I was bled, blistered and physicked
to the last extremity, and bathed in warm baths until I
often fainted from weakness ; in addition to this, I had
one hundred and ninety-five leeches applied inside and
outside the eyelids. However, through a strong natural
constitution I recovered; and by the unremitting care of
Staff-surgeon Lindsay and Assistant Staff- surgeon Kennedy,
who attended me, the ball of the eye was preserved, but
its vision was lost. In consequence of this loss His
Majesty was graciously pleased to grant me a pension.

In 1 822 the regiment was removed to the Ionian Islands ;
having remained there until 1826 we were ordered home ;
and on arriving in England we moved into Lancashire.
Soon after this the regiment was ordered to Ireland, and
landed at Dublin, where we did garrison duty for some
time.

At this time I was directed to appear before the General
Medical Board, to have, as I supposed, the pension granted
me for the loss of vision confirmed ; but to my utter
surprise it was discontinued, although the Medical Boai-d,

364 I MAKE MY BOW. [Ch.

as also the certificate of Doctor Guthrie, the medical
gentleman employed by Government in similar cases,
attested the loss of nsefnl vision. Upon my waiting on
the Secretary of War, I was given to understand that the
Government had decided that no pensions should henceforth
be granted for the loss of limb or other injury, except
for actual wounds in the field. It is true that I had
received neither a bayonet wound nor musket-ball in the
eye ; but as a proof of the correctness of Doctor Guthrie's
testimony, to this day (fourteen years since the injury took
place) I am obliged, to enable me to see clearly with the
left or sound eye, to close the defective one. But the
Secretary of War may have fallen into error in giving his
reasons for depriving me of the pension ; for persons were
indicated to me who continued to receive pensions for
injuries, though they were never wounded in their lives.
However, I would not quote names, lest in so doing, for
the purpose of strengthening my own claims, I might
endanger the interests of others.

The withdrawal of the pension disconcerted me much ;
for fully relying on the royal grant being as permanent
as the injury for which it was made, I had married a
Venetian lady of the famous family of Balbi. The
pension I had looked upon as some remuneration for my
long and arduous services.

Besides what I considered the injustice shown towards
me throughout, there were other considerations which
powerfully wrought on my feelings and rendered my position
extremely irksome. I mounted the castle guard in
Dublin as lieutenant in 1805 ; and now in 1828, after
three and twenty years, I mounted the same guard as
captain only. This was known and remarked by many
friends and acquaintances ; it was known too that in

XXXI.] A VETERAN AT THE GOOSE-STEP. 365

the brilliant campaigns which took place in the interim
I had been present and serving in two distinguished corps ;
and I discovered, or fancied I discovered, something
bordering on doubt as to my military character in the
countenances of all who regarded me. To account for my
non-advancement, or remove the doubts consequently
entertained, was out of my power. Decorum prevented
my entering into detail of my own services. To speak
frankly, I was ashamed of my slender rank after such
a length of service ; yet in conscience I could not accuse
myself as the cause.

But my severest ordeal was yet to come ; and to support
this all my philosophy and long-tried patience were
insufficient. After remaining some time in Dublin the
regiment was ordered to MuUingar ; and here, as it would
appear, my second childhood commenced. I was compelled
to fall in with a squad composed of young officers, who
for the most part entered the Service many years after
H.E.H. the Commander-in-chief had noted my name for
a majority, and with soldiers who knew not yet how to
shoulder their firelocks. In this respectable company I
was condemned to be taught how to march — a branch
of military tuition from which I had considered myself
emancipated at least twenty years before. In this ordeal
I was chased through the barrack square by an ignorant
disciple of Euclid, commonly called a dress sergeant,
armed with a colossal pair of widely yawning com-
passes. This scrutiny of my steps after I had carried a
musket-ball in my leg for fourteen years ; after I had
marched as a boy in one of the most distinguished
regiments in the Service from Lisbon to Corunna, under
the best drill and strictest disciplinarian in the army. Sir
John Moore; after I had crossed and re-crossed Spain

366 I MAKE MY BOW. [Ch.

and Portugal in different directions without the mathe-
matical precision of my paces having ever been found fault
with ; — after all this, and after twenty-four years* service,
to be brought up by a pair of compasses in the barrack
square of Mullingar was an indignity which I imagine
that human nature in its most subservient state could not,
nay, should not willingly submit to. Disgusted by this
Mullingar ordeal, which might be repeated again and again
for the good of the Service^ I formed the determination
of immediately retiring from that Service. Add to this
contemptuous treatment of old officers the suppression of
the old-established institutions of the corps ; the celebration
of such martial fetes as the anniversary of the battles of
Salamanca, Nivelle and Toulouse. Those were days upon
which it was the custom of the regiment that all the men
should wear the laurel, all the officers, whether married or
single, should dine at the mess-table and guests be invited,
thus giving an opportunity for those tales of war which
transmit a noble martial feeling into the glowing breast
of the aspiring young warrior who burns to prove the
temper of his steel. Sentiments such as these glowed in
the breasts of the young boys who joined the 28th Regiment
in 1803, 1804, and 1805, while with suppressed breathing
we rapturously listened to the old officers who lately
returned from Egypt told of the gallant feats of arms
they witnessed and shared, and so inspired us that our
heated imaginations pictured soldiers in fight as of more
than mortal size, and we longed " to follow to the field
some warlike chief" to lead the way to glory.

In the 28th Regiment the anniversaries of the battles
in which the corps had served were strictly observed as
days of jubilee and proud recollection. The month of
March in particular was one of revelry in commemorating

XXXI.] OLD DAYS OF GLORY. 367

the battles fonght in Egypt on the 8th, 13th and 21st. The
17th, the Feast of St. Patrick, was not forgotten ; and to
these was subsequently added the 5th, the anniversary of
the celebrated battle of Barossa ; so that in March we^
had five days of celebration, which filled our hearts with
joy and on the following day our head with aches. The
inspiring war-cry, " Remember Egypt ! *' was after the
return from that country always used when leading inta
action. The regiment may now use the names of many
other places wherein they fought and distinguished them*
selves ; but I doubt if the mention of any subsequent
battle will act so powerfully on the minds of the men as
the soul-stirring words, " Remember Egypt ! " and " The
backplates ! "

Why this war against old officers and long-established
institutions ? On the return of the victorious army from
the Peninsula and later from France, a crowd of Green
Park martinets rushed into the Service, who, looking upon
any distinction gained by others as a reflection on them-
selves, seemed to be stimulated by sentiments like those-
of the Chinese emperor, who destroyed all existing records,
in the hope that he might be considered as the first who^
had reigned.

On the return of the regiment to Dublin, I, in pursuance^^
of my determination to retire, procured twelve months'
leave of absence to proceed to the Island of Corfu ; but
previous to leaving England I made a last effort at the
Horse Guards. In an interview with Lord Hill, finding
there was no prospect of promotion, I took the liberty
of telling his lordship that it was not my intention ever
again to return to perform the duties of captain. His
lordship remarked that he did not see how that could
be, as officers on procuring leave of absence were required

368 I MAKE MY BOW. [Ch.

to sign a declaration that they would neither exchange
nor resign before rejoining their regiments. I told his
lordship that I should find out a remedy ; and on an
explanation being demanded, I said that I should forego
my year's leave and send in my resignation immediately.
Upon this, his lordship with that kindness and feeling
which endeared him to all, and which gained him the title
of " Our father " from every soldier in the 2nd Division
of Lord Wellington's army, a title more honourable than
all the well-earned brilliant stars which decorated his breast,
recommended me not to be too precipitate. 1 could not
avoid remarking that his lordship could hardly accuse me
of precipitancy when I had waited for promotion which
had been put off from time to time for fourteen years, and
at the expiration even of that extraordinary length of
time His Royal Highness's pledge still remained unredeemed.
Lord Hill declared that he could never pay the Duke of
York's legacies. I told his lordship that I resigned all
claim to the legacy, and rested my claims on their own
merits, upon which the General-in-chief desired me to
write to him, and he would see what he could do for me.
In consequence of this favourable omen I wrote to his
lordship, enclosing a copy of my memorial presented to
the Duke of York in 1814, together with the testimonials
which accompanied it. To this letter I received a renewal
of the old statement, that I was still noted for promotion
on a favourable opportunity; and so I became fully con-
vinced of the truth that deep scars, fractured bones and the
strongest testimonials were of no avail unless bolstered
by other support. I hesitated no longer ; and although
senior captain of my regiment I renounced my year's leave
of absence and immediately forwarded my resignation.
Thus the author of these Memoirs left the Army. He

XXXL] UNEQUAL FORTUNE. 369

served at the siege and capture of Copenliagen; he was
for twelve days in constant fight during Sir John Moore's
retreat to Corunna, and at the end of this campaign he
fought at the battle of Corunna in that division of the
army who drove the whole of the enemy's cavalry off
the field and turned his left wing ; he was for more than
twelve months at Tarifa continually engaged with the
enemy*s foraging detachments, and he was in both attacks
on the strong post of Casa Vieja ; he served in the
ever memorable battle of Barossa in that flank battalion
(to use the words of Lord Lynedoch) " which so greatly
distinguished itself in the action " ; he served in the
action of Arroyo Molinos, and he was present at the
siege and storming of Badajoz, where valour's self might
stand appalled ; he served through the Pyrenees as a
volunteer, where more continued hard fighting occurred
than elsewhere throughout the whole Peninsula campaigns,
and finally fought in the great battle of the Nivelle, in
which he had a leg shattered. Innumerable skirmishes in
which he was engaged and in which light companies are
so frequently employed need not be mentioned. Of his
conduct in these many actions the testimonials of com-
manding officers and colonels of regiments are a sufficient
witness. And yet after serving for a quarter of a century,
with feelings harassed by neglect and petty vexations, he
felt himself driven to retire, and that without the slightest
badge or mark of military service save those indelibly
imprinted by the searching weapons of the more considerate
foe. Whether he has been dealt with as might be expected
from a liberal, just and great nation is a question humbly
submitted to his Sovereign and his country.

24

INDEX

Abbot, a stingy, 41
Abercrombie, Lieut.-CoL, 213, 214,

222, 223, 232, 239, 258
Abrantes, 244
Adams, Drummer, 192, 193
Ainhoa, redoubts of, 317
Alaejos, 31
Alba de Tormes, 30
Albuera, 258 ; losses of the 28tli

Regiment at, 214.
Albuquerque, 216, 239, 255
AlcaU de los Gazules, 153, 157,

164
Alcuescar, 216, 221 ; fidelity of the

Spaniards at, 235
Alemtejo, 30, 213
Alexander, the Emperor, 338
Algesiras, 135, 137, 141, 169
Aliseda, 215
Allen, Capt., 145
Almanza Creek, 198
Almeida, 279
Almendralejo, 256
Andalusia, 152
Anderson, CoL, 122
Anderson, Lieut, 205
Andree, Col, 231
Anglona, the Prince of, 177
Anstruther, Gen., 31

Antwerp, Fouche throws an army
into, 131

Army, a partial remodelling of the
31

Arnot, Major, 286, 287

Arroyo de Puerco, 215

Arroyo Molinos, 216, 233, 360, 361 ;
battle of, 224-232 ; fidelity of the
Spaniards at, 235, 236

Ashurst, Lieut.-CoL, 225

Astorga, 43 ; march into, 44 ; de-
parture from, 47 ; report that
Napoleon had entered, 64, 65

Atchison, Mrs., 333, 334

Ayamonte, 245

Aylmer, Lord, 307; his brigade,
308

Badajoz, 259 ; the Duke of Dal-
matia ordered to reduce, 152 ;
siege of, 260-280 ; horrors of the
storming, 272-276 ; a trophy
from, 277 ; losses of the British
at, 278

Bailey, Lieut, 216, 217

Baird, Gen. Sir David, wounded,
122 ; at Nogales, 61 ; at Corunna,
113, 115, 116 ; his corps, 32, 37,
49,65

371

372

INDEX

Balbi, Signorina, 364
Ballesteros, defeat of, 244
Bandon, 330
Bantry Bay, 329

Barbate, the River, 154, 156, 158,166
Barnard, Lieut.-Col., 193, 262
Barossa, 35 ; battle of, 42, 189-200 ;
critical position of the British
troops at, 202, 203
Barossa Hill, 187, 209 ; tower and

ridge of, 183
Bastan, 315
Bath, Lieut.-Col., 193
Bathurst, Lord, 144
Batz, Fort, captured by the British,

131
Bayonne, arrival of the Duke of

Dalmatia at, 296
Beguines, Gen., 163, 167, 183, 184,
196, 197 ; ordered to attack
Medina Sidonia, 153 ; captures
Medina, 159 ; retires from it, 164
Belcher, Lieut, 135, 136
Belem, 252, 281
Belnevis, CoL, 286, 287
Belson, Col., 150, 169, 171, 194, 205,

Sl4, 258
Bembibre, 48, 49

Benevente, 37, 39; confusion in,
40 ; evacuated by the rearguard
of the reserve, 44 ; degrading
scenes at, 49, 50
Bennet, Capt., 68
Bennet, Lieut., 204, 205
Berasin, the Heights of, 300
Beresford, Marshal, 246
Bermeja Castle,' 181, 183, 184, 186
Bernadotte declines to surrender

the French fleet, 131
Berri, the Due de, 336
Betanzos, 90, 93, 96, 98 ; crossing
the bridge of, 94 ; occupied by
the French, 99

Beverley, Lord, 253

Bidassoa, the Lower, 308, 311 ;
Soult's positions on, carried, 309

Biscay, a privateer in the Bay of,
286, 287

Blakeney of Abbert, Mrs., 277

Blakeney, Robert, appointed to an
ensigncy in the 28th Regiment,
1 ; promoted, 2 ; ordered to
Exeter, 2 ; at Colchester and
Harwich, 6 ; serves in the Danish
campaign, 6-13 ; ordered to
Sweden, 14 ; sails for the Penin-
sula, 17 ; has a narrow escape,
97 ; chased by a French patrol,
134 ; his share of salvage-money,

139 ; thanked in public orders,

140 ; employed in carrying des-
patches, 141, 144, 146, 167 ; Col.
Browne promises to present him
to Gen. Graham, 201 ; wounded,
204 ; recommended to Gen.
Graham, 206 ; goes to Cadiz,
206 ; appointed to the command
of a battalion company, 214 ;
ordered to take Prince d'Aren-
berg to Lisbon, 233 ; joins his
regiment at Albuquerque, 255 ;
gazetted to a company in the
36th Regiment, 255 ; bids adieu
to the 28th Regiment, 258 ; goes
to Lisbon, 281 ; joins his regiment
at Lewes, 285 ; transferred to
the battalion in the Peninsula,
286 ; wounded at the battle of the
Nivelle, 319 ; travels in a hearse,
329, 330 ; waits on Sir Henry
Torrens, 331 ; sets out for Paris,
333 ; applies for a staff appoint-
ment in the army of Belgium,
336 ; visits Brussels, 345 ; copies
of recommendations in his favour,
353-356 ; has ophthalmia at

INDEX.

373

Malta, 363; married, 364 ; retires
from the army, 367, 368; liis
services, 368, 369

Blakeney, Sir Edward, 243

Blood, Serg., 300

Bowes, Gen., 147, 148, 259 ; wounded
at Badajoz, 266

Bowles, Capt., 154, 164 ; his com-
pany, 163

Bradby, Capt., 109

Bradley, Capt., 204

Bristol Channel, wrecks in the, 4

Britannia, the brig, 2

Browne, Major (afterwards Col.),
86, 129, 133, 1.35-137, 140, 146,
150, 151, 154-156, 158, 159, 167,
170, 206, 240, 258, 331 ; appointed
Lieut. -Gov. of Tarifa, 144; em-
ploys the Tarifa Volunteers, 145 ;
ordered to attack Casa Vieja,
153 ; ordered back to Tarifa, 160 ;
to occupy the western point of
Barossa, 183-188 ; at the battle
of Barossa, 189-202

Bryan, Capt., 330

Buchan, Col., 244

Bunbury, Mr., 4.

Burke, Sir John, of Glenesk, 333

Burrard, Sir Harry, 20

Burrows, Capt., 2 ; his incapacity, 3

Bury, Lord, 333-336

Busshe, Major, 226

Caceres, 215, 236

Cadell, Ensign Charles (afterwards
Lieut.-Col.), 2, 84, 205

Cadiz, 162, 163, 167 ; sortie from,
168, 169

Cadoval, Palace of the Due de, 244

Calcabellos, 49, 51, 52, 54, 57;
encounter at, 58, 59

Calvert, Capt. (afterwards Lieut.-
Col.), 42, 186, 191, 206

Cambarros, 47

Cameron, Capt., 103, 104 ; his com-
pany, 102
Cameron, Col., 311
Campbell, Gen., 133, 137, 147, 149,

153, 169, 299
Campbell, Sir Guy, 150
Car, Dr., 326

Carlos d'Espana, Don, 297
Carrion, the, 33, 34, 35
Casa di Santillana, 215
Casa Vieja, Col. Browne to attack
153, 154 ; La Peiia's move to-
wards, 177
Castanos, Gen., 235
Castello Branco, 279
Castletown, 329
Castro Gonzolo, destruction of the

bridge of, 37, 41
Castro Nuevo, headquarters at, 32
Cathcart, Lord, 2, 8
Cattegat, capture of a Danish

frigate in the, 7
Cerro de Puerco Ridge, the, 182

183
Ceuta, 208

Charles V. and the Spanish lan-
guage, 28
Charles XII. of Sweden, 8
Chatham, the Earl of, 127 ; returns

from Holland, 131
Chiclana, 163, 180, 182, 198 ; Mar-
shal Victor's advance from, 184,
186
Chiclana wood, the, 193
Cintra, the Convention of, 20
Ciudad Rodrigo, 28, 279
Clarke, Mrs., 330
Clauzel's Division, 298
Clinton, Sir H., 316, 323
Colbert, Gen., 59 ; failure of his

charge, 61
Colchester, 6, 14, 127, 128, 133
Coldstream Guards, the, 130 ; de-
fend Fort Batz, 131

374

INDEX.

Cole, Gen., 296, 297, 298

Colthurst, Capt., 341

Colville, Maj.-Gen., the Hon. C,
262, 307

Combemartin, 3, 4, 5

Comus, H.M.S., 7

Cone, Capt., 330

" Confidential Reports," 240-242

Congreve rockets, 10

Connaught Rangers, the, 268

Constantino, 81, 82

Coote, Sir Eyre, 1

Copenhagen, fall of, 11, 12, 13

Cork, arrival at, 331

Corunna, a movement to decided
upon, 36 ; retreat to, 31-100 ;
arrival at, 102 ; the reserve falls
into position with the army at,
110 ; arrival of transports at,
111 ; conduct of the inhabitants
of, 112 ; preparations for em-
barkation at, 114 ; battle of, 114-
123 ; embarkation of the British
army at, 118, 124

Cre9y, 343

Craufurd, Gen. Robert, 37, 39

Croix des Bouquets, the, 311

Cross, Col., 331

Cuesta, Gen., incapacity of, 168

Curragh of Kildare, the, 2 ; an
episode at, 148, 149

Curry, Capt. and Mrs., 214

Curry, Col, 227

Dacres, Doctor, 91
Dalmatia, the Duke of, 31 ; ordered
to Estremadura, 152 ; in com-
mand of the French army in
Spain, 296. {See also Soult)
Dalrymple, Sir Hugh, 20
Danish Campaign, the, 7
Danish frigate, capture of a, 7
D'Arenberg, Col. Prince, 231, 333,
345 ; conducted to Lisbon, 233,
244-253

D'Arenberg, Prince Pierre, 238, 244

D'Arenberg, the Duke, 345-351

Deal, 128

Debelle, Gen., 32

D'Echiparre, Don Martin, 327, 328

Denmark, the Royal Princesses
of, 9

D'Erlon, Count, 298, 299, 310 ; his
corps in the Pyrenees, 307 ; re-
viewed by Soult, 309

Desnouettes, Gen. Leffebre, 43, 44

Diego, Don, 220

Dikes' Brigade, Gen., 191

Dikes, Gen., 193, 194

Disney, Gen., 31, 105

Douglas, Col. Sir James, 286, 287,
289, 309, 310

Dover, 128

Downy, Mr. Commissary, 226

D'Oyly, Capt., 105

Drunkenness, prevalence of, 54

Duncan, Major, 193, 196, 197

Dunmanway, 330

Durque, Don Favian, 205

Ebro, the, 294

Echallar, 300

8th French Regiment, the, 193

18th Dragoons, the, 32

82nd Regiment, the, 170, 179, 305

87th Regiment, the, 193

El-Burgo, arrival of the reserve at,
101 ; ordered to evacuate, 105

El-Burgo, bridge of, 99 ; destruc-
tion of, 101 ; repaired by the
enemy, 110

Elliot, Sir William, 333

Elopement, a projected, 291

Elsinore Castle, 6

Elvina, 115, 118, 120, 121 ; death
of Sir John Moore at, 116

Enghien, 346, 347, 348

English, Lieut., 109

Erskine, Sir William, 225

INDEX.

37S

Esla, the River, 37, 38 ; forded by

the enemy's cavalry, 43
Espeletta, 309
Estremadura, 30, 214
Exeter, two Spaniards at, 125, 126

Farrel, Serg., 171

Fascinas, 154, 164

5th Regiment, the, 24

15th Hussars, the, 32, 33

50th Regiment, the, charge of at
Elvina, 121 ; at Arroyo Molinos,
224, 225.

52nd Regiment, the, 31 ; at
Benevente, 41 ; at Calcabellos,
56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62 ; on the
retreat to Corunna, 100 ; at
Corunna, 115, 117

Figueira, landing at, 17

Fitzroy, Lord Charles, 257

Florinda, 207

Flushing, siege of, 130 ; capitula-
tion of, 131

Fontarabia, 308

Fontebro, 293

41st Regiment, the, 133

42nd Regiment, the, at Elvina 121,

47th Regiment, the, 137

Fouche throws an army into
Antwerp, 131

4th Regiment. {See King's Own)

14th Regiment, the, 115, 118

Foy's division, 306

Franceschi, Gen., 32 ; his light
cavalry, 94 ; at Corunna, 113,
115

Francis, the Emperor, 338

Franklin, Dr., 326

Eraser, Gen., advance of his divi-
sion on Astorga, 43 ; position of
at Corunna, 113, 115, 117

Frederiksborg, 10

French 5th Corps, the, 214

Fuentes de Onoro, march into, 26,

28
Fury Bonih, the ship, 14

Gallegos, 80

Gambier, Admiral, 8

General Medical Board, the, 326,
363

Gerard, Gen., 214, 216, 228, 229,
230, 236 ; loss of his corps at
Arroyo Molinos, 231

German Hussars, the, 177, 178, 197,
226

Gibraltar, 133,205 ; Lieut. Blakeney
sent to, with despatches, 141, 144,
146, 167

Gibson, Capt., 15

Girlston, Capt., 330

Giron, Gen., 217, 312

Godwin, Capt., 146

Gomm, Capt., 96

Gonzolo Bridge, the, destruction
of the, 37, 41

Gore, Capt., 226

Gottenborg harbour, 15

Gough, Major, 193

Gozzo, the Island of, 216

Graham, Gen., 177, 178, 179; in
command of the British troops
at Cadiz, 152 ; directs operations
from Tarifa, 153, 160 ; advocates
a sortie from Cadiz, 167 ; gives
up the command to his ally, 168 ;
sails from Cadiz, 169 ; at Tarifa,.
170-172 ; his advice disregarded
by Gen. La Peiia, 180; his
preparations for the battle of
Barossa, 183-188 ; at the battle,
189-200; his orders after the
battle, 202

Graham, Surg., 325

Grajal del Campo, 33, 34, 35, 36

Grenadiers, the, 77, 97, 98

Grimelle, the Marquis de, 360

376

INDEX.

Guadiana, the, 214, 256, 261, 271

Guarda, 22, 24, 26

Guards, the Brigade of, 86, 121, 190,

191,194, 195,197,307
Guia, the River, 56, 57, 61
Gustavus of Sweden, 16
Guthrie, Dr., 364

Halket's Light Germans, 311

Hamilton, Gen., 216, 217, 323 ; his
division at Badajoz, 261

Harwich, 6, 14

Havelock, Lieut., 312

Herrerias, 64, 66, 68, 69

Hill, Capt. Clement, 221

Hill, Gen. Lord, 215, 216, 217, 221,
227, 229, 233, 255, 256, 257, 298,
299, 300, 367, 368 ; his corps,
302

Hill, Lieut., 104

Hill, Sir Rowland, 315

Holland, expedition to, 129 ; mor-
tality of the British troops in,
132

Hope, Capt, 196

Hope, Gen. Sir John, 30, 37, 119,
214; advance of his division
on Astorga, 43 ; position of his
division at Corunna, 113, 115 ;
commands the expedition to
Holland, 129, 130

Howard, Gen. (afterwards Lord
Howard of Effingham), 361

Howard's Brigade, Maj.-Gen., 224

Huarte, 297, 298

Huddleston, Lieut., 220, 259, 275,
276

Huelva, the River, 29

Hughes, Corporal, 233

Humlebek, 8

Hunt, Capt. A., R.A., 181

Ilfracombe, 3, 5

Isla de Leon, 181 ; Gen. Graham
proposes a sortie from, 153;
Gen. Beguines' anxiety about,
159 ; the sortie postponed, 160 ;
entrance of the British General
into, after Barossa, 200

Johnson, Assist.-Surg., 161, 162
Johnson, Col., 150, 151
Johnson, Robert, 2 ; killed, 266
Joseph Bonaparte, 296
Julian, Count, 207

Keats, Sir Richard, 128, 129,

130, 140, 153, 160
Kemp's Brigade, Gen., 312
Kennedy, Surg., 363
Kent, H.R.H. the Duke of, 253,

351, 356
Kirig Charles^ the, 8
King's Own Regiment, the, 18, 81,

115 ; Sir John Moore's approval

of their action at Corunna, 120 ;

embark for Gibraltar, 133 ; at

Ceuta, 208
Kinsale, 1

Labaneza, 44

Laborde, Gen., 112 ; his division
join main French army off
Corunna, 111 ; at Corunna., 115

Tjacy, Adj.-Gen., 183

Lallemande, the Generals, 335

Lamartinifere's division. Gen., 305

Lanz, valley of, 297, 298

La Pena, Gen., 169, 177, 181, 198,
199 ; sluggishness of, 152, 153 ;
obstinacy of, 168 ; arrives off
Tarifa, 175 ; distrusted by the
British, 179 ; disregards Gen.
Graham's advice, 180, 183 ; his
retreat from Medina, 182

Lardizabal, Gen., 177, 182

INDEX.

377

Laval, Gen., 193, 194

Lavens, Surg., 326

Zawma frigate, the, 129, 130, 131

Le Brun, Gen., 231, 248-252

Leggatt, Major (afterwards Col.),

286,287,309
Leith, Maj.-Gen., Sir James, 245,

246, 262, 269
Leon, 36

L'Estrange, Lieut., 319, 322
Lewes, 333

Light, Lieut., 161, 204, 205
Lindsay, Surg., 363
Lisbon, 208, 209, 233, 244-253, 281 ;

an amusing scene at, 282, 290
Lizasso, 300

Llerena, arrival of Soult at, 279
Lloyd, Col., 317
Loftus, Capt., 147
Long, Gen., 257
Lorge's Dragoons, 115
Los Ayres, 114, 115
" Louis XIV." Mountain, 306
Louis XVIIL, 342, 343
Love, Lieut., 41, 42
Lugo, march to, 85 ; the British

army in position at, 86 ; retreat

from, 88
Lundy Island, 2
Lynedoch, Lord, 239, 240. (See also

General Graham.)

McDonald, Col., 196, 197, 200,
206

M'Kenzie, Lieut.-Col., 112

McPherson, Colour Ensign, 318

Maitland, Sir Thomas, 242

Mallow, 2

Malpartida, 215

Malta, 363; "Confidential Re-
ports" at, 241

Mancilla, 36

Marmont, Gen., in the north of

Portugal, 279 ; retires, ih. ; his
jealousy of Soult, ih

Matthews, Staflf-Surg., 325, 326

Maya Pass, the, 306, 315, 296, 302

Mayorga^ 33, 37

Meacham, Capt., 144, 166

" Meacham's Blind Nuts," 144, 145,
157

Medina Sidonia, 153, 155, 158, 179,
181 ; captured by Gen. Beguines,
159; captured by the French,
164 ; La Pena's retreat from, 182

Merida, 215, 225, 256, 258; the
affair of, 257

Merle, Gen., 62 ; loss sustained by
his division, 64

Mero, the, 101, 113, 118

Mitchell, Lieut,, 137, 154, 165

Mole, Col., 147

Mon Coeur redoubt, the, 262

Mondego, the, 17

Monkstown, 2

Monte Orgullo, 305

Montgomery, Ensign, 318, 322

Moore, Lieut., 204

Moore, Sir John, 14, 115 ; placed
under arrest by the King of
Sweden, 16 ; reaches the British
fleet, 16 ; receives news of Sir
A. Wellesley's victory at Rolica,
17 ; appointed commander of
the forces, 20 ; his address to his
officers and men, 21 ; relations
with his officers, 25, 26 ; true
cause of his retreat, 36 ; com-
plains of the want of discipline,
52 ; his views on Gen. Paget's
position at Calcabellos, 60, 61 ;
retires before Soult, 87 ; issues
an order censuring the want of
discipline, 87 ; directing opera-
tions in person, 101 ; at Corunna,
111, 112, 116; death of, 116;

378

INDEX.

effect of his death, 119 ; character
and bearing, 120 ; circumstances
of his death, 121-123 ; outcry
against in England, 126 ; his
imowledge of the Spanish
character, 169

Moors, the, 207

Morillo, Gen., 231, 300

Morillo's Spanish Infantry, 224

Mullingar, 365, 366

Mullins, Capt., 204

Murgeon, Gen. Cruz, 183, 184 ; his
part in the battle of Barossa,
199, 200

Napier, Major, 121

Napoleon, marching from Madrid,
36 ; celerity of his movements,
38 ; his dictum at Waterloo, 63 ;
reported to have entered Astorga,
64, 65 ; his idea of zeal, 245 ;
news of his escape and return
to Paris, 334

Neufch^tel, Prince of, an inter-
cepted despatch from the, 31

Ney, Marshal, execution of, 341,
342

Nichols, Col., recaptures Palavia
Abaxo, 115

9th Dragoons, the, 226

9th Regiment, the, 133, 170, 191,
203, 204, 311 ; marched into
Badajoz, 277

91st Regiment, the, 31, 100

92nd Regiment, the, 224, 225

95th (Rifles) Regiment, the, 31, 53,
58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 69, 82, 83,
84, 100, 102, 103, 115, 117

Nivelle, crossing the, 317 ; battle
of, 318-321 ; French losses at,
322

Nogales, 61, 67 ; arrival at, 70, 75

Northcote, Major, 196

Oats, Private, 97, 98

O'Brien, Serg., 172

O'Callaghan, Maj.-Gen. Sir

WiUiam, 337
O'Donnel, Gen., 297, 298
O'Donoghue, Capt., 137
Officers, claims of, 332
Olivenza, the Duke of Dalmatia

ordered to reduce, 152
Oricain, 297

Paget, Gen., 31, 35, 76, 77, 80,
91, 95, 100, 101; censures the
conduct of the troops, 53, 54, 55^
56; his position at Calcabellos,
57, 60; his encounter with a
paymaster, 78, 79; strict orders
of, 88; orders the reserve to
evacuate El-Burgo, 106, 107;
his connection with the 28th
Regiment, 109, 110; at Corunna,
115, 116; Sir John Moore's
testimonial to his character,
123; Ms services unnoticed in
England, 125

Paget, Lord, 32, 33, 37, 43, 48

Palavia Abaxo, skirmish at, 112 ;
taken by Gen. Laborde, 115 ;
retaken by Col. Nichols, ib., 118

Pampeluna, 295, 296, 303, 314;
sortie from, 297 ; surrender of »
315

Panniers, battle of the, 91

Pardaleras, the, 262

Paris, the Grand Review in, 337-
341

Parsonstown, 2

Patten, Capt., 286

Patterson, Col, 258

Peniche, the roadstead of, 18

Peninsula, the first day's march in
the, 19

Percy, Capt., 253

INDEX.

379

Pbillipon at Badajoz, 260 ; surren-
ders, 271
Picton, Gen., 259, 262, 263, 267,

268, 269, 297; his retreat at

Pampeluna, 302
Picurina redoubt, capture of the,

261
Plunder, articles of, 92
Plymouth, 124
Ponsonby, Col., 197, 199, 206
Portalegre, 214, 215, 238, 244
Portsmouth, 14, 124, 133, 344
Portugal, rainy season in, 24
Portuguese and Spanish, contrast

between, 27
Portuguese sharpers, 209
Potter, Lieut., 229
Powder, a great explosion of, 111
Power, Brig.-Gen., 262
Power, Capt., 147
Prussia, the King of, 338
Puebla, arrival of the reserve at,

32
Puerto, 300, 312
Pyrenees, fighting in the, 296-307 ;

losses in, 301

QuELUZ, the plains of, 19 ; break
up of the British camp at, 22, 26
Queues, abolition of, 17

Reille, Gen., 305

Reserve, formation of a corps of,

31
Reynosa, 293
Rhine Mountain, the, 308
Richelieu, the Due de, 342
Rifles, the, 196, 224, 225
Roach, " Gentleman," 72
Roderick, the last of the Visigoth

monarchs, 207
Rolica, victory of Sir A. Wellesley

at, 17

Romana, the Marquis of, 35, 36
44 ; his troops, 313

Roncesvalles, 295, 296, 302, 309

Ronda, 153

Rook, Col., 233

Ross, Col. (afterwards Gen.X 51,
243

Rousseau, Gen., 188 ; his grena-
diers, 188, 191, 194, 195, 197

Royal City Regiment (of Spain)
the, 177, 183

Rueda, surprise of the enemy's
outpost at, 32

Rufin, Gen., 188, 189, 202 ; his
division, 191, 193, 194, 195

Sahagun, 32 ; headquarters at

33
S. Antonio, 216, 217
S. Cristoval, Fort, 262, 271
S. Helens, 17
S. Jean de Luz, 328, 329
S. Juan, H.M.S., 139, 140, 141
S. Lucia, 118
S. Marcial, 305, 309
S. Maria Bastion, the, 261, 262, 269,

273, 278
S. Martin del Rio, 28
S. Roque Ravelin, the, 260, 261
S. Sebastian, 295, 296, 303, 308;

stormed, 305, 306, 307
S. Vincente, the bastion of, 268, 269
Salamanca, march to, 22 ; entrance

into, 29 ; advance of the British

army from, 31
Saldaiia, 33

ScUsette frigate, the, 129
Santa Maria, 153
Santarbas, arrival of the Reserve

at, 32
Santi Petri, the River, 153, 182,

183, 184
Sarre, 312

38o

INDEX.

Sauroren, fight at, 300

Savage, Private, 105

Schelde, forcing the passage of the,
131

Sebastiani, Gen., 181

71 8t Regiment, the, 224, 225

73rd Regiment, the, 42

Seville, the Duke of Dalmatia
marches from, 152

Shaw, Lieut.-Col., 337

Sierra Montanchez, the, 218, 224,
225, 226, 227, 231

Simpson, Assist.-Surg., 324, 325

6th Portuguese Regiment, the,
225

67th Regiment, the, 193

Skerrett, Col., 133

Slavin, Sir Frederick, 259

Somerset, Lord Fitzroy, 229

Soult, Marshal, 36, 308 ; approach
of his advance guard, 38 ; ap-
proach of his heavy columns, 80 ;
his arrival before Lugo, 87 ; his
advanced guard, 94, 107 ; at
Corunna, 112 ; his position, 113 ;
dangerous situation of his army,
117 ; his corps advancing, 233 ;
arrives at Llerena, 279; retires
into Andalusia, 280; remodels
his army, 296; at Pampeluna,
297, 298 ; retreats, 300 ; dis-
organised state of his army, 305 ;
his tactics, 306 ; prepares for a
more general action, 307 ; his
positions on the Bidassoa carried,
309 ; his defence when charged
with treason, 342. {See also
Duke of Dalmatia)

Sound, the, 6

South Beveland, the Island of, 130,

131
Spain, march of Sir John Moore's
army for, 22

Spaniards and Portuguese, contrast

between, 27
Spaniards, dislike of by the British

soldiers, 35 ; their want of good

feeling towards the British, 40,

41 ; their character, 168, 169
Spanish door, a, 71
Spanish generals, tactics of, 182
Spanish soldiers, courage of, 311,

312
Sparks, lieut., 185
Spithead, 17
Stanhope, Major, 121
Stewart, Lieut.-Col., 224
Stockholm, Sir John Moore at, 16
Stovin, Sir Frederick, 10, 21, 136
Stralsund, 16
Stuart, Gen., 8
Stuart, Gen. Charles, 32, 43
Stuart, Lord William, 129, 130, 131
Sullivan, Lieut., 229
Sweetland, Mr. William, 140

Tacher, Miss, 345

Tagus, crossing the, 23, 213, 252

Talavera, 35, 168

Tarifa, 207, 208, 209 ; march to,
133; withdrawal of the French
from, 136; regiments ordered
to, 137 ; threatened by a second
attack, 146; a campaign from,
152-166 ; British troops sail for,
169 ; conviviality at, 170 ; arrival
of Gen. La Pena off, 175 ; depar-
ture from, 177 ; return to, 205 W m

Tarifa, the plain of, 164 J

Tarifa Volunteers, the, 144, 157,
158, 160

Taylor, Lieut., 28th Regiment
(afterwards Capt.), 104, 330

Taylor, Lieut, 9th Regiment, 146,
147

10th Hussars, the, 32, 33, 37, 43

INDEX.

381

13th Dragoons, the, 227

30th Regiment, the, 133

34th and 39th Regiments, the, 225,
226, 233

36th Regiment, the, 256, 309, 316,
318 ; ordered to reinforce Well-
ington's army, 337; arrives in
Paris, 341 ; removed to the
Ionian Islands, and subsequently
to England and Ireland, 363

Toro, 32

Torre la Peiia, 164

Torremocha, 215

Torrens, Col. Sir Henry, 239, 255,
331, 336, 337

Trafalgar Bay, 138, 180

Trinidad, Fort, 261, 262, 271, 278

"Trois Cents Corps Nobles, La
Chapelle des," 343

Trotter, Lieut., fate of, 288

TurnbuU, Serg., 172

20th Portuguese Regiment, the,
193

20th Regiment, the, 31, 51, 100

28th Regiment, the, 82, 85, 100,
102 ; ordered to Kinsale, 1 ; re-
moved to Parsonstown and the
Curragh of Kildare, 2 ; on garri-
son duty in Dublin, 2 ; in Den-
mark, 6-13 ; ordered to Sweden,
14 ; go to the Peninsula, 17 ;
with Sir A. Wellesley's troops,
18; inspection of, 20; losses of,

► 24 ; form portion of a reserve
corps, 31 ; a band of ventrilo-
quists in, 45 ; reprimanded by
Sir John'' Moore, 53 ; at Calca-
bellos, 57, 61 ; in charge of the
bridge of Betanzos, 94, 95 ;
ordered to retire from El-Burgo,
106 ; efficiency of during the
retreat, 108, 109 ; return to Eng-
land, 124; ordered to Holland,

127 ; arrival in, 129 ; return to
the Peninsula, 133 ; ordered to
Tarifa, 137 ; garrisoned at, 169
at Barossa, 188-200 ; their losses
at Barossa, 203, 204; sail for
Lisbon, 208 ; at Arroyo Molinos,
225-229 ; celebration of anniver-
saries in, 366

United Service Jourival^ The^ 330

Valencia, 37

Valencia de Alcantara, 235, 237

Valladolid, 31, 32

Vandeleur, Gen., 335

Vejer, 154, 161, 163; capture of an
English merchant vessel near,
137; retaken, 138; move of the
British army towards, 179, 180

Ventriloquists, a band of, 45, 46

Vera, 306, 312

Victor, Marshal, 133, 136; result
of his inactivity, 181 ; advances
from Chiclana, 184, 186 ; at
Barossa, 195, 196, 198, 199

Victoria, the Princess, 357

Villaba, 296

Villa Formosa, 26

Villa Franca, arrival of the Com-
mander-in-Chief at, 52 ; destruc-
tion of stores at, 66; arrival of
Soult at, 280

Villamur, Count Penne, 215, 226

Villapando, arrival of the reserve
at, 32

Villatte's Division, 198, 305, 306

Villa velha, the pass of, 22 ; bridge
of boats at, 279

Villaviciosa, 213

Vimieiro, 17

Vincent, Lieut. 319, 322

Vittoria, 294, 295

Vivian, Capt., R.N., 139, 140

382

INDEX.

Vwrol, Lieut.-Col., 231, 361, 362

Walcheren, the Island of, British
troops land on, 130

Walker, Gen., 262; his brigade,
269

Walloon Regiment, the, 177, 183

Weir, Dr., 326

Wellesley, Sir Arthur (afterwards
Lord Wellington), 17, 20, 168, 244,
266, 279, 321, 340 ; at Badajoz,
266, 267 ; his arrangements to
meet Soult, 279 ; arrival at Pam-
peluna, 298 ; nearly captured,
300 ; effect of his appearance on
the battlefield, 306 ; his success-
ful manoeuvring, 308 ; extract
from his despatch on the battle
of the Nivelle, 323 >

Wench, Col., 116
Wheatley, Col., 193, 194
Whittingham, Col., 177, 183 184,

185
Wilkinson, Lieut., 204
Wilmot, Capt., 22, 23, 24, 29
Wilson's Brigade, Col., at Arroyo

Molinos, 225, 229
Woodford, Lieut.-Col., 130

Yarmouth, 16

York, H.R.H. the Duke of, 239,

Zante, the Island of, 42
Zayas, Gen., 181, 182, 198

command at Cadiz, 169
Zubiri, the valley of, 297, 298

Printed by Hazel], Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylwljury.