The Victories of the British Armies Vol. II

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THE

VICTORIES

OF

THE BRITISH ARMIES;

WITH ANECDOTES ILLUSTRATIVE OF
MODERN WARFARE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

" STORIES OF WATERLOO," " CAPTAIN BLAKE," " WILD
SPORTS OF THE WEST," " THE BIVOUAC," &c.

" It is the memory -which the soldier leaves behind him, like the long train
of light that follows the sunken sun. * * * When I think of death, as a thing
worth thinking of, it is in the hope of pressing one day some well -fought and
hard -won field of battle, and dying with the shout of victory in my ear that
would be worth dying for; and more, it wonld be worth having lived for!"

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,

in <rfcman> to
1839.

I

MAY 22 58

LONDON :

PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY,
Bailor House, Shoe Lane.

CONTENTS

OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

SALAMANCA.

Results of the Battle. Operations. Surprise at Majalahonda.

Capture of the Retiro. Occupation of Madrid . Page 1

CAPTURE OF MADRID.

Reasons for abandoning Madrid. Clausel driven back. Siege of
Burgos commenced. Horn-work of San Michael stormed. Second
Assault fails. Continuation of the Siege. First Line carried by
Assault. French Sally successful, Fourth Assault fails. Siege
raised . . . . . . . 13

RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

Retreat commences. Affair at Harmosa. The Canon passed.

Excesses at Torquemada. Affairs of the Pisuerga and Villa
Muriel. Retreat. Affair at Huebra. A British Division en
dangered. Irregularities of the Army. Produces a strong official
Rebuke. Lord Wellington s Honours increased. Army goes into
Cantonments for the Winter . . . . . . 21

VOL. ii. b

CONTENTS.

ADVANCE FROM THE DOURO TO THE ZADORRA.

British Army organized anew. Reinforced from England.
Relative Strength and Positions of the rival Armies. Joseph re
tires. General Appearance of the French Corps d Armee. Wel
lington suddenly advances. His bold and successful Operations.
Beautiful Scenery. Affairs of Saint Milan, Osma, and the Bayas.
Joseph enters Vitoria . . . . . . 36

VITORIA.

City of Vitoria. French Position. Opening, progress, and
close of the Engagement Field of Battle . . . 47

BATTLES OF THE PYRENEES.

Joseph Buonaparte retreats into France. Pamplona blockaded,
and San Sebastian besieged. Battles of the Pyrenees . 62

.

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

Mountain Bivouacs of the Allies. Siege of San Sebastian re
sumed. Town taken by Assault. Affair of San Marcial. Castle
invested. The Garrison surrender. Operations of the Anglo-
Sicilian Army 75

BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO.
Battle of the Bidassao. Fall of Pamplona . . 87

CONTENTS. V

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

French and English Positions. Wellington advances. The left
Wing of the Allies attacked. Soult defeated The French Mar
shal attacks the right, and is severely repulsed by General Hill.
Sir Rowland drives the French from their Position, and Soult re
tires within his Lines. Defection of German Regiments, who come
over to the Allies 97

BATTLE OF ORTHEZ.

Weather changes. Operations recommence. Harispe driven
from his Position by Wellington. Preparations for passing the
Adour. Guards and Rifles cross over are attacked, but maintain
their ground until reinforced. Soult takes a Position at Orthez.

109

TOULOUSE.

Termination of the Conference of Chatillon. Wellington deter
mines to reduce Bayonne. Soult marches on Toulouse, and Wel
lington pursues him. Description of Toulouse. Passage of the
Garonne effected, Battle of Toulouse. Subsequent events and
movements . . . . . . . . 118

SORTIE OF BAYONNE.

Bayonne invested. Sortie on the Night of the 13th. Thouve-
not driven back. Wellington advances. Soult sends in his ad
herence to the Provisional Government. Wellington visits Paris
and Madrid. The Army returns to England. Duke of Welling
ton takes his seat in the House of Peers 126

yi CONTENTS.

NAPOLEON S RETURN. BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.
Napoleon s Return. His enthusiastic Reception. Makes mighty
efforts to restore the Military Power of France. Duke of Welling
ton arrives in Brussels and takes the command of the Allies.
Belgium. Napoleon leaves Paris. - - Drives in the Prussian Out
posts. Ney attacks the Prince of Orange. Wellington moves to
his assistance. Battle of Quatre Bras . 138

MOVEMENTS OF THE 17TH JUNE.

Napoleon arrives at Frasnes, and Wellington retires towards
Waterloo. Cavalry Affair at Genappe. The Allies take their
Position. Dispositions of the different Corps. The Field of Battle.

161

BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

Morning of the 18th. Armies in each other s presence. Open
ing, progress, and close of the Battle. Losses sustained. Subse
quent Operations. -Conclusion . . . . . 167

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

MODERN WARFARE.

Defeat of Colonel Bailey .... Page 199

Effective Strength of the Egyptian Army . . .204

Exploit of a French Frigate . . . . 205

Strictures on the Advance by the British . . .206

Difficulties of Baird s March against Janssens . . 207

Anecdotes of the Calabrian Insurgents . . . .208

Origin of the Guerillas . . . . . . 211

CONTENTS. Ml

Casualties at Rolica ...... ib.

Casualties at Vimeiro ...... ib.

Sufferings on the Retreat 212

Destruction of Treasure ...... ib.

Bivouac at Betanzos . . . . . . 213

Explosion of a Magazine . . . . . .214

Memorials of Sir John Moore ..... ib.

Supposed cause of Sir John Moore s Failure . . .215
Exaggerated Accounts of the French . . . ib.

Memoir of the Guerillas . . . . . .217

Siege of Zaragoza . . . . . . 231

Bridge of Amarante . . . . . . .236

Visit to Cuesta s Camp . . . . . .239

Cuesta s Obstinacy . . . . . . .24-2

Traits of good feeling between the Armies . . . 243
Siege of Gerona ........ 253

Fall of Gerona ....... 255

Julian Sanchez . . . . . . . .257

Affair with a French Patrol . . . . . 259

Cavalry Affair . . . . . . . .261

Anecdotes of the Battle of the Coa .... 262

Fall of Almeida . . . . . . . .263

Busaco ......... 264

Anecdote of Busaco ....... 266

Sufferings of the Spaniards . . . . . 268

Concealment of Property .269

Spanish Devotion . . . . . . . 270

Capture of the French Hospitals at Coimbra . . . ib.
Torres Vedras . 271

viii CONTENTS.

Anecdotes of plundering . . .

Villa Formosa .274

Anecdote of a Dog . . . . .275

Fuentes d Onoro . . . . . . . 276

Anecdote of Brennier s Escape . . . . .277

Investment of Badajoz ...... 278

Siege of Badajoz ....... ib.

Polish Lancers at Albuera . . . . . 282

Character of Le Marchant . . . . . .283

The Wounded at Albuera 284

Lord Wellington s Attention to the Wounded . .285

ElBodon 288

Marmont s Mistake 290

Fall of Tarragona . . . . . . . 291

Siege Practice and Range of Battering Guns . . .293

Character of General Crawford . . . . . 29 1

Character of General Mackinnon . . . .297

Marmont s confidential Despatch to Berthier . . 299

Anecdotes of the Storm of Ciudad Rodrigo . . .300

March from Rodrigo ...... 304

Summary of the Sieges . . . . . . 305

Remarks on the Fall of Badajoz . . . 307

Napoleon s Political and Military State . . . ib.

Bivouacs ........ 309

Te Deum at Salamanca . . . , . .312

Official Returns ....... ib.

Affair at Castrejon . . . , . . .313

Salamanca ........ ib.

Anecdotes of Salamanca. ... 315

CONTENTS. IX

Battle of Salamanca . . . . . . 317

Casualties of Salamanca ...... ib.

Wellington s Private Letters . . . . . 318

French and Allied Casualties . . . . .321
Segovia ........ 322

San Ildefonso ........ ib,

Allied Bivouac . . . . . . . 323

Surrender of the Retiro . . . . . .324

Cavalry Surprise . . . . . . . 325

Passage of the Bridge of Burgos ..... 326

The Retreat from Burgos . . . . . ib.

Spanish Outrages . . . . . .331

Letter addressed by Lord Wellington to Commanding
Officers of Regiments, dated Freynada, the 28th

November 1812 332

Blowing-up of the Castle of Burgos . . . .337

Vitoria ......... 338

Anecdotes of Vitoria . . . . . * .340

Siege of San Sebastian ...... 341

Pursuit of Soult ....... 343

The Wounded removing to the Rear . . . 345

Anecdotes of the Siege of San Sebastian . . . 346

Anecdotes of the Storm ...... ib.

Wellington s Aversion to bombarding a Town . .348

Surrender of the Castle of San Sebastian . . . 349
Singular Anecdote . . . . . . .351

Pyrenean Scenery, &c. . . . . . . 352

Artillery in the Pyrenees ...... 354

Defection of the Germans . . . 355

CONTENTS.

Friendly Relations existing between the French and

English in the South . . . . . .356

Flotilla entering the Adour ..... 359

Effect of Field Rockets . . . . . .360

The Wounded removing to the Rear . . , 361

Action between a French and English Cruiser . .362

Rockets ......... 363

Citadel of Bay onne . . . . . . .365

Battle of Toulouse . . . . . . . 368

Curious Occurrence . . . . . . .369

Anecdote ib.

French Artillery Practice 370

Casualties . . . . . . . . 372

Military Convention of the 18th April 1814 . . .373

Last General Order to the Peninsular Army . . 379

Napoleon s Plan of Attack 381

Battle of Ligny . 382

Anecdotes of the wounded and missing . . .387

Hougomont ... . .... 391

Charge of the Heavy Dragoons ..... 392

Infantry at Waterloo . . . . . . 393

Field of Waterloo at Noon on the 1 9th . . . H.

Anecdote of Vandamme . . . . 393

Wellington s Army 399

Anecdote of Colonel Ponsonby . . . . . 40

Napoleon s Tactics in the Waterloo Campaign . .401

THE

VICTORIES AND CONQUESTS

OF

THE BRITISH ARMY

SALAMANCA.

Results of the battle. Operations. Surprise at Majalahonda.
Capture of the Retiro. Occupation of Madrid.

SALAMANCA, whether considered with regard to
its merits as a battle, or its results as a victory,
stands foremost among the Peninsular contests.
Many and peculiar traits distinguish it from
every previous encounter. It was coolly and ad
visedly fought, by commanders confident in them
selves, satisfied with the strength and materiel of
their armies, jealous of each other s reputation
and stimulated, by every longing after military
gloiy, to exhaust the resources of their genius
and experience, to secure a successful issue. No
thing could surpass Marmont s beautiful manoeu
vring for consecutive days, while moving round
the British flank, except the countervailing ra
pidity with which his talented opponent defeated

VOL. II. B

21 SALAMANCA.

every effort to outflank him, and held the Mar
shal constantly in check. At two, on the 22nd,
the French Marshal threatened an attack ; at four,
he was himself the assailed. The same mistake
that lost Marengo, involved ruin and defeat at
Salamanca. One false movement, that might
have been easily corrected before a slower leader
could see and seize the momentary advantage,
brought on a crisis that clouded the French des
tinies in Spain, by removing the delusory belief
that their arms should eventually prove in
vincible.

A conflict, close and desperate like that of Sala
manca, conferred a sanguinary victory, while it
involved a still bloodier defeat. The allied loss,
in killed and wounded, exceeded five thousand
men, and this, of course, fell chiefly on the British.
The Portuguese, comparatively, suffered little
and the Spaniards, being entirely non-combatant,
had very few casualties to record.* The only
post in trusted --and most unhappily to their
charge, was the castle of Alba ; and this was aban
doned without a shot, leaving Clausel a safe re
treat, while its vigorous occupation must have
produced his total ruin.

The French loss was never correctly ascer
tained. Two eagles, eleven pieces of cannon,
seven thousand prisoners, and as many dead sol
diers left upon the field, were the admitted tro-

* Details," &c.

SALAMANCA. 3

phies of British victory. Among the command
ing officers of both armies, the casualties were
immense : of the British,* Le Marchant was killed ;
Beresford, Cole, Leith, Cotton, and Alten wound
ed. The French were equally unfortunate. The
generals of brigade, Thomieres, Ferey, and Des-
graviers were killed. Marmont, early in the day,
mutilated by a shell ;f Bonnet severely, and Clau-
sel slightly, wounded.

The light division, when morning dawned,
continued its advance, crossing the Tormes at
Huerta; while the heavy Germans, under Bock,
overtook the French rear-guard in position on
the heights of La Serna, protected by some
squadrons of hussars. These were dispersed by
a charge of the llth and 16th while the heavy
brigade rode directly at the squares, and broke
them by a furious onset. Numbers were cut
down others saved themselves by throwing away
their arms, hiding in the woods, and afterwards
joining the retreating columns. In this spirited
affair nearly one thousand prisoners fell into the
hands of the victors.

As a cavalry exploit, that of La Serna has

* " Details," &c.

f It broke his right arm, wounded him in the side, and
obliged him to be carried from the field in a litter, by relays
of grenadiers, as any rougher method of conveyance was in
tolerable. After the marshal was removed, Clausel supplied
his place with high credit to himself, both during the engage
ment, and in the retreat on Valladolid.

B 2

4 SALAMANCA.

rarely been equalled, and never, in its brilliant
results, surpassed. Bock s casualties were compa
ratively trifling, amounting in killed and wounded
only to some seventy or eighty men.

Clausel, who commanded en chef after Mar-
mont was disabled, retreated with great rapidity.
Viewed from the summit of La Serna, the French
exhibited a countless mass of all arms, confusedly
intermingled. While the range permitted it, the
horse artillery annoyed them with round-shot
but, by rapid marching, they gradually disappear
ed while, opportunely, a strong corps of cavalry
and a brigade of guns joined from the army of
the north, and covered the retreat until they fell
back upon their reserves.

Although Salamanca was in every respect a
decisive battle, how much more fatal must it
not have proved, had darkness not shut in and
robbed the conquerors of half the fruits of vic
tory? The total demolition of the French left
was effected by six o clock, and why should the
right attack have not been equally successful?
Had such been the case, in what a hopeless situa
tion the broken army must have found itself!
The Tormes behind, a reserve of three entire divi
sions, who during the contest had scarcely drawn
a trigger, ready to assail in front nothing could
have averted total ruin and to the French, Sala
manca would have proved the bloodiest field on
record. One great error stripped victory of its

SALAMANCA. 5

results. Either the small force by which the Ara-
piles was defended had been undervalued, or in
competent means employed by Lord Wellington
to carry it. Unfortunately a Portuguese brigade
had been intrusted with that service. They were
admirably led on conquest was on the wing
around them everywhere the advance of the
British was triumphant their numerical force
was five times greater than that of the defenders
of the height ; but the attack was feebly made,
and, on the show of a determined resistance, as
quickly abandoned. This unexpected reverse in
duced Bonnet s corps to rally and by it, the
fourth division was suddenly and unexpectedly
assailed. A plunging fire from the Arapiles fell
upon their flank and rear the tide of battle
turned the fourth gave way and, as yet un
tamed by British steel, the enemy cheered loud
ly and rushed on and had not Clinton s divi
sion been promptly carried into action, it is hard
to conjecture what serious results might have
arisen from this singular repulse. Finally, the
battle was restored and won but an immense
waste of blood and time supervened. The pro
tracted struggle entailed on the victors a des
perate loss, and secured the vanquished from
total ruin. Favoured by the darkness, Marmont s
routed columns removed themselves from the
field, while guns and trophies* were secured by

* Mr. Southey, alluding to the eagles taken at Salamanca,

6 SALAMANCA.

the retiring army, that, with one hour s light,
must have fallen into the hands of the con
querors.

Still, and with all these mischances, Salamanca
was a great and influential victory. Accidental
circumstances permitted Clausel to withdraw a
beaten army from the field, and a fortunate junc
tion of those arms, which alone could cover
his retreat, enabled him, with little loss, to out
march his pursuers, preserve his communications,
and fall back upon his reserves. But at Sala
manca the delusory notion of French superiori
ty was destroyed. The enemy discovered that
they must measure strength with opponents in
every point their equals. The confidence of
wavering allies was confirmed ; while the evacu
ation of Madrid, the abandonment of the siege

gravely observes. " It is said that more than ten were cap
tured, but that there were men base enough to conceal them,
and sell them to persons in Salamanca, who deemed it good
policy, as well as a profitable speculation, to purchase them for
the French."

Nothing can exceed the absurdity of this statement. The
capture of so many trophies could not have been achieved with
out a correspondent notoriety and those who were fortunate
enough to win them, knew that the gallant deed would secure
both honours and promotion. Is it probable, that the daring
spirit who rushed into the deadly melee and seized the proud
emblem of victory, would barter it, when won, for a paltry con
sideration? It is indeed a sweeping slander on British sol
diers, to insinuate that out of ten brave and devoted men for
brave and devoted they must have been to do that deed eight
were the sordid wretches which Dr. Southey has depicted them.

SALAMANCA. 7

of Cadiz, the deliverance of Andalusia and Cas-
tille from military occupation, and the impossi
bility of reinforcing Napoleon during his northern
campaign, by sparing any troops from the corps
in the Peninsula all these great results were
among the important consequences that arose
from Marmont s defeat upon the Tormes.

The joy evinced by the inhabitants of Sala
manca, at the total discomfiture of their French
oppressors, was only equalled by the despair with
which the regressive movement of Lord Wei-

**-*

lington from the line of the Agueda had pre
viously been witnessed. From all the high
grounds about the city, the changes of the fight
had been watched with painful anxiety ; and
when the struggle ended and the day was won,
mules and cars loaded with refreshments were
despatched from Salamanca to the field of battle,
where they arrived before break of day. Hos
pitals were prepared for the reception of the
wounded, and every exertion employed to as
suage the sufferings of their gallant allies. High
mass was celebrated in the cathedral,* and a wild
display of popular exultation was everywhere
visible in the streets. All had assumed the ap
pearance of a carnival ; and the guitar and cas-
tanet were heard at midnight in the same square
that, a short period before, had started at "the
beat to arms."

* Details," &c.

8 SALAMANCA.

Lord Wellington, who had been present while
mass was celebrated for his victory,* without de
lay commenced his march southward, and moved
as rapidly as he could, in the vain hope of over
taking the enemy s rear-guard. Clausel, intend
ing to join the army of the north, fell back on
Arivalo; but Joseph Buonaparte, on learning
Marmont s defeat, had retreated himself and thus
Clausel was obliged to change his line for that of
the Camino Real, in order to cross the Duero at
Tudela. There, too, he failed in effecting his ex
pected junction with the troops that had gar
risoned Madrid ; and abandoning his hospitals at
Valladolid, he fell back at once on Burgos.

The British advance was unopposed. Every
where the conquerors were received with vivas;
while fruit, wine, and every refreshment they
could command, were liberally supplied them by
the Spanish peasantry. At Valladolid all hope of
coming up with Clausel ended ; and Lord Wel
lington halted on the 30th of July to enable
the rear to close. Then turning at once, he
quitted his previous route, and took the road to
the capital.

* " I was much struck with the simplicity of the Duke of
Wellington s attire, who wore a light grey pelisse coat, single-
breasted, without a sash, and white neck-handkerchief, with his
sword buckled round his waist, underneath the coat, the hilt
merely protruding, with a cocked hat under his arm. He
stood with his face towards the altar during the prayer offered
up for the success of our arms." Leith Hay.

SALAMANCA. 9

Nothing impeded the victor s march as he
moved direct on Madrid. On the 6th of August,
Wellington halted at Cuellar, leaving Clinton s
division there, with the regiments that had suf
fered on the 21st most severely, to observe any
movement that Marmont s corps might make.
Next morning he moved upon the capital, while
Hill s division marched on Zafra.

Nothing checked Lord Wellington s movement
on Madrid. On the 7th of August he reached Se
govia; and on the 9th, San Ildefonso,* the magni
ficent summer residence of the Spanish monarchs.
There he halted to allow his right to come up;
and among the exquisite groves and gardens that
formed a favourite retreat to a kingly race for
centuries, the conquerors of Salamanca rested.
On the llth, the march was resumed ; and as the
passes of the Guadarama were undefended, the
allies entered New Castille without any opposi
tion, and halted within a march of Madrid.

After a careful reconnaissance in company with
his lieutenant, Marshal Jourdan, Joseph Buona
parte declared that the capital was untenable, and
retreated on Aranguez, after leaving a garrison
in the Retiro.f

On the evening of the llth, the army of Lord
Wellington was comfortably bivouacked three
miles in the rear of Majalahonda. The Portu-

* " Details," &c. t " Details," &c.

10 SALAMANCA.

guese cavalry, under D Urban, forming the ad
vanced guard, were pushed forward a mile be
yond the village, in which two regiments of Ger
man dragoons, and Macdonald s brigade of horse-
artillery, were posted to support them. Some
trifling skirmishing had taken place during the
day, between the Portuguese cavalry and the
French lancers, who formed part of Joseph s Buo
naparte s escort, but it led to no serious result.
No hostile movement was apprehended all fore
told a quiet night when suddenly the horse-
artillery opened in front of the village, and an
nounced that the outposts were attacked. In a
few minutes it was ascertained that the Portu
guese dragoons had given way. Their flight was
most disgraceful; they rode off at speed, without
crossing a sabre, leaving their brave supporters,
the horse-artillery, surrounded by the enemy.
Nor was theirs a momentary panic the fugitives
dashed through the village of Majalahonda, with
out an attempt to rally while many of the star
tled horsemen were cut down before they could
reach their saddles, and their colonel was killed in
the act of dressing. But still, though surprised, the
Germans maintained their well-won reputation ;
these gallant troopers charged as they best could ;
and in small bodies, sword in hand, met, checked,
and at last fairly drove back the lancers. The
cowardice of the Portuguese on this occasion was
indefensible they had scarcely a casualty to

SALAMANCA. 11

show while, of the brave men who fought so
gallantly, half-armed and surprised, two hundred
were put hors de combat, one hundred and twenty
horses earned off, and three guns taken. The
cannon were recovered but, to use the words of
an amusing writer, whose military descriptions
are lively and characteristic* " It was one of
the most disgraceful and unlooked-for events that
had taken place during the campaign. To be
beaten at any time was bad enough ; but to be
beaten by a handful of lancers on the eve of our
entering Madrid, almost in view of the city, was
worse than all !"

Next day Wellington entered the capital, amid
the enthusiastic acclamations of such of the inha
bitants as remained. The Retiro was immedi
ately invested and after a show of resistance,
surrendered on the morning of the 14th. Besides
two thousand prisoners, one hundred and ninety
pieces of cannon, nine hundred barrels of powder,
twenty thousand stand of arms, two millions of
musket cartridges, and the eagles of the 13th
and 51st regiments, fell into the hands of the
victors. A large supply of cables and cordage
was fortunately discovered in the Casa del Cam-
po ; and with these materials the broken arch of
the bridge at Alcantara was repaired by the Royal
Staff corps.

* Mr. Grattan, author of Reminiscences of a Subaltern."

12 SALAMANCA.

The occupation of Madrid carried out the ef
fects produced by the victory of Salamanca.
French domination received a death-blow and
the power of Napoleon a shock, from which it
never afterwards recovered.

13

CAPTURE OF MADRID.

Reasons for abandoning Madrid. Clausel driven back. Siege
of Burgos commenced. Horn-work of San Michael stormed.
Second assault fails. Continuation of the siege. First
line carried by assault. French sally successful. Fourth
assault fails. Siege raised.

THE occupation of Madrid was among the most
brilliant epochs of Peninsular history, and from
circumstances it was also among the briefest.
The conquest of the capital was certainly a splen
did exploit. It told that Wellington held a
position and possessed a power, that in England
many doubted, and more denied ; and those,
whose evil auguries had predicted a retreat upon
the shipping, and finally an abandonment of the
country, were astounded to find the allied leader
victorious in the centre of Seville, and dating his
general orders from the palace of the Spanish
kings. The desertion of his capital by the usur
per, proclaimed the extent of Wellington s suc
cess ; and proved that his victories were not, as
had been falsely asserted at home, " conquests
but in name."

Without entering into military history too ex
tensively, it will be only necessary to observe,

14 CAPTURE OF MADRID.

that on many expected events which should have
strengthened his means, and weakened those of
his opponents, Lord Wellington was miserably
disappointed. Maitland s diversion on Catalonia
proved a failure.* Ballasteros exhibited the im
potent assumption of free action, and refused
obedience to the orders of the British General.
Hill was obliged to leave Estremadura, to cover
the three roads to Madrid. The Cortes, instead
of straining their energies to meet the exigencies
of the moment, wasted time in framing new con
stitutions, and in desultory and idle debates, and
Wellington, removed from his supplies his mili
tary chest totally exhausted his communications
menaced, was imperatively obliged to open others,
and secure assistance from the only place on which
reliance could be reposed the mother country.

It was, indeed, full time to move. The Spa
nish army were driven from Gallicia, and Clau-
sel threatened to interrupt the communications
of the allies with Portugal. Lord Wellington,
therefore, decided on marching against the army
he had beaten at Salamanca ; and leaving Hill s
division to cover the capital, he left Madrid on
the 1st of September, and crossing the Douro
on the 6th, moved on Burgos by Valencia.

That night Clausel abandoned Valladolid, and
after crossing the Pisuerga, destroyed the bridge
of Berecal. Anxious to unite with Castanos,
Wellington waited for the Gallician army to come

* " Details/ &c.

CAPTURE OF MADRID. 15

up while Clausel leisurely retreated through the
valleys of Alanzan and Pisuerga, as remarkable
for their beauty and fertility, as the endless suc
cession of strong posts which they afforded to a
retiring army.

Clausel, after an able retreat, took a position at
Cellada del Camino and to cover Burgos, of
fered battle to the allied commander. The chal
lenge was promptly accepted ; but the French
General, discovering that a junction of twelve
thousand Spaniards had strongly reinforced his
antagonist, prudently declined a combat, retired,
and united his own to Souham s corps, which
numbered above eight thousand men. This re
serve had been organized by Napoleon s special
orders and was intended to remedy any discom
fiture which might befal Marmont in the event
of his being defeated by the allies.

The British entered the city of Burgos, from
which the French had previously retired, after
garrisoning the castle with two thousand five
hundred men, under the command of General
Dubreton. Twelve thousand allied troops, com
prising the first and sixth British divisions, with
two Portuguese brigades, sat down before the
place- -while the remainder of Lord Wellington s
army, amounting to twenty-five thousand effective
troops, formed the covering army of the siege.

The castle of Burgos was a weak fortress, on
which French ingenuity had done wonders in

16 CAPTURE OF MADRID.

rendering it defensible at all. It stood on a bold
and rocky height, and was surrounded by three
distinct lines, each placed within the other, and
variously defended. The lower and exterior line
consisted of the ancient wall that embraced the
bottom of the hill, which CafFarelli had strength
ened, by adding to it a modern parapet, with
salient* and re-entering flanks. The second was
a field retrenchment, strongly palisaded. The
third a work of like construction, having two
elevated points, on one of which the ancient keep
of the castle stood, and on the other, a well-
intrenched building called the White Church ;
and being the most commanding point, it was
provided with a casemated work, named in ho
nour of Napoleon. This battery domineered all
around, excepting on its northern face, where the
hill of St. Michael rising nearly to a level with
the fortress, was defended by an extensive horn-
work, f having a sloping scarp and counter
scarp, the former twenty-five feet in height, the
latter, ten. Although in an unfinished state, and
merely palisaded, it was under the fire of the
castle and the Napoleon battery. The guns,

* In fortification, the salient angle is that which turns from
the centre of a place ; while the re-entering, points directly to
wards it.

f A horn-work^ is a work having a front and two branches.
The front comprises a curtain and two half bastions. It is
smaller than a crown-work, and generally employed for effect
ing similar purposes.

SIEGE OF BURGOS. 17

already mounted, comprised nine heavy cannon,
eleven field-pieces, and six mortars and howitzers ;
and, as the reserve artillery and stores of the army
of Portugal were deposited in the castle of Burgos,
General Dubreton had the power of increasing
his armament to any extent he thought fit.

Two days passed before the allies could cross
the river. On the 19th the passage was effected,
and the French outposts on Saint Michael were
driven in. That night, the horn work itself was
carried after a sanguinary assault the British
losing in this short and murderous affair up
wards of four hundred men.

From the hill, now in possession of the allies,
it was decided that the future operations should
be carried on, and the engineers arranged that
each line in succession should be taken by assault.
The place, on a close examination, was ascer
tained to be in no respect formidable ; but the
means to effect its reduction, in comparison, were
feebler still. Nothing, indeed, could be less ef
ficient three long 18-pounders, and five 24-
pound howitzers, forming the entire siege artil
lery that Lord Wellington could obtain.

The head-quarters were fixed at Villa Toro.
The engineering department intrusted to Colonel
Burgoyne, and the charge of the artillery to
Colonels Robe and Dickson.

The second assault, that upon the exterior wall,
was made on the night of the 22nd by escalade.

VOL. II. C

18 SIEGE OF BURGOS.

Major Laurie of the 79th, with detachments from
the different regiments before the place, formed
the storming party. The Portuguese, who led
the attack, were quickly repulsed and though
the British entered the ditch, they never could
mount a ladder. Those who attempted it were
bayoneted from above while shells, combusti
bles, and cold shot were hurled on the assailants,
who, after a most determined effort for a quarter
of an hour, were driven from the ditch, leaving
their leader, and half the number who composed
the storming party, killed and wounded.*

After this disastrous failure, an unsuccessful
attempt to breach the wall was tried, in which, of
the few guns in battery, two were totally disabled
by the commanding fire of the castle. The engi
neers resorted, of necessity, to the sap and mine.
The former, from the plunging fire kept up from
the enemy s defences, and which occasioned a fear
ful loss, was speedily abandoned but the latter
was carried on vigorously and the outward wall
mined, charged,! and, on the 29th, exploded.

At twelve o clock at night the hose was fired,
the storming party having previously formed in

* The eventual success of the French has been ascribed, it
is hard to say with what truth, to their finding on the person
of a dead officer, a full detail of the siege operations, as ar
ranged by the British engineers.

f The mine was loaded with a thousand pounds of powder,
and, for fifteen feet, tamped with bags of clay

SIEGE OF BURGOS. 19

a hollow way some fifty paces from the gallery.
When the mine was sprung, a portion of the wall
came down, and a sergeant and four privates,
who formed the forlorn hope, rushed through the
smoke, mounted the ruins, arid bravely gained
the breach. But in the darkness, which was in
tense, the storming party and their supporting
companies, missed their way and the French, re
covering from their surprise, rushed to the breach,
and drove the few brave men who held it back
to the trenches. The attack, consequently, failed,
and from a scarcity of shot no fire could be turned
on the ruins. Dubreton availed himself of this
accidental advantage and by daylight, the breach
was rendered impracticable again.

Still determined to gain the place, Lord Wel
lington continued operations, although twelve
days had elapsed since he had sat down before
the place. A singular despondency, particu
larly among the Portuguese, had arisen from
these two failures ; while insubordination was
creeping into the British regiments, which pro
duced a relaxed discipline that could not be over
looked, and which, in general orders, was conse
quently most strongly reprobated.

The siege continued ; and, on the 4th of Oc
tober, a battery opened from Saint Michael s
against the old breach, while the engineers an
nounced that a powerful mine was prepared for
springing. At five o clock that evening the fusee

c 2

20 SIEGE OF BURGOS.

was fired. The effect was grand and destructive
-one hundred feet of the wall was entirely demo
lished, and a number of the French, who happened
to be near it, were annihilated by the explosion.
The 24th regiment, already in readiness to storm,
instantly rushed forward, and both breaches were
carried, but, unfortunately, with a heavy loss.

A lodgment was immediately made, and pre
parations made for breaching the second line of
defence where it joined the first.

On the 5th, early in the evening, the French
sallied with three hundred men. The attack was
too successful one hundred and fifty of the
guard and working party were killed or wound
ed the gabions overturned the works at the
lodgment injured and the intrenching tools
carried off.

That night, however, the damage was repair
ed the sap was rapidly carried forward and at
last, the British had got so close to the wall,
that their own howitzers ceased firing, lest the
workmen should be endangered by their shot.
The guns on Saint Michael s battery had also
breached with good effect, and fifty feet of the
parapet of the second line was completely laid in
ruins. But, in effecting these successes, a heavy
loss was inflicted on the besiegers and of their
originally small means for carrying on a siege, the
few pieces of artillery they possessed at first, were
now reduced to one serviceable gun.

SIEGE OF BURGOS. 21

The weather had also changed, and rain fell in
quantities and filled the trenches. A spirit of
discontent and indifference pervaded the army.
The labour was unwillingly performed, the
guards loosely kept, and Dubreton again sallied
furiously, drove off the working party, destroy
ed the new parallel, carried away the tools, and
occasioned a loss of more than two hundred men.
Among the killed, none was lamented more than
Colonel Cocks, who having obtained promotion
most deservedly for previous gallantry, died at
the head of his men, while rallying the fugitives
and repelling the sally.

Three assaults had failed, but still the allied com
mander did not quit the place in despair. Prepa
rations for another attempt were continued and
the exertions of the engineers, of whom one-half
had fallen, were redoubled. Heated shot was tried
against the White Church unsuccessfully ; while
that of San Roman was marked as the more vul
nerable point, and a gallery commenced against it.

On the 17th, the great breach was again ex
posed by the fire of the British guns, and the
ramparts on either side extensively damaged.
A mine beneath the lower parallel was success
fully exploded, and a lodgment effected in a
cavalier,* from whence the French had kept up
a destructive fire on the trenches. It was held

* A Cavalier, is a work in the body of a place, domineering
the others by ten or twelve feet.

SIEGE OF BURGOS.

but for a short time, as the enemy came down
in force, and drove the besiegers from it. On
the 18th the breach was reported practicable,
and a storm decided on. The signal was arrang
ed to be the springing of the mine beneath the
church of San Roman. That building was also
to be assailed, while the old breach was to be
attempted by escalade, and thus, and at the same
moment, three distinct attacks should occupy the
enemy s attention.

At half-past four the explosion of the mine
gave the signal. A countermine was immedi
ately sprung by the French, and between both,
the church was partially destroyed, and Colonel
Browne, with some Portuguese and Spanish
troops, seized upon the ruined building. The
Guards, who had volunteered a detachment,
rushed through the old breach, escaladed the se
cond line, and, in front of the third, encountered
the French in considerable force while two hun
dred of the German Legion, under Major Wurmb,
carried the new breach, and pushing up the hill,
fairly gained the third line of the defences. Un
fortunately, however, these daring and success
ful efforts were not supported with the prompt
ness that was needed. The French reserves were
instantly advanced came on in overwhelming
force cleared the breaches of the assailants and
drove them beyond the outer line, with the loss
of two hundred officers and men.

SIEGE OF BURGOS. 23

San Roman was taken the following night by
the French, and recovered again by the British.
But with this affair the siege virtually termi
nated and Lord Wellington, by imperious ne
cessity, was obliged to retire from a place of
scarcely third-rate character, after four attacks
by assault, and a loss of two thousand men.

In war, the bravest and the most prudent mea
sures are frequently marred or made by fortune.
Lord Wellington, with very insufficient means,
was obliged to attempt the reduction of Burgos ;
and although skill and gallantry were displayed
in every essay, obstacles arose which checked the
most daring efforts ; and all that science and de
termination could effect, were vainly tried to over
come difficulties physically insurmountable. Had
Wellington possessed the requisite materiel for the
conduct of a siege, Burgos would have been taken
in a week.

But let justice be done to its defenders. Much
was expected from them and assuredly, the go
vernor and garrison of the castle of Burgos real
ized the high reliance placed upon their skill and
heroism by their countrymen.

On the 18th, the British corps united. On
the 20th some trifling affairs occurred between
the outposts and on the 21st the siege of Bur
gos was regularly raised, and Lord Wellington
issued orders for retiring from before the place.

RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

Retreat commences. Affair at Harmoza. The Carion passed.
Excesses at Torquemada Affairs of the Pisuerga and Villa
Muriel. Retreat. Affair at Huebra, A British division
endangered. Irregularities of the army, produces a strong
official rebuke. Lord Wellington s honours increased.
Army goes into cantonments for the winter.

A RETREAT was unavoidable ; and, to be suc
cessful, it must be rapid. Two roads were open ;
and by either Lord Wellington might fall back.
The longer of the two, was by the bridge of
Villaton and by taking it the allies would be
safe from present interruption. The other, crossed
the river of Arlanzan at Burgos and by follow
ing it the retreat would be shortened a day s
march but to gain that road, the army must
defile directly beneath the guns of the castle.

By this latter route, however, Wellington deter
mined to retire. The strictest secrecy was ob
served, while all was prepared for a night-march ;
and when darkness had shrouded the besiegers
and the besieged, the position was quietly aban
doned ; the infantry defiled across the bridge in
perfect silence while the wheels of the gun-

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 25

carriages were muffled with straw, to prevent their
being overheard by the French sentinels, and thus
provoke the fire of the place.

There is no doubt that this dangerous passage
would have been accomplished without disco
very, had not some guerilla horsemen rashly
galloped over, and betrayed to the garrison the
movement of the allies then in progress. In
anticipation of the attempt, the guns of the works
having been already trained upon the bridge,
the first discharge from the French artillery was
destructive ; but the range was lost after a round
or . two, and in the darkness it could not be
recovered. By this bold and \v ell-planned man
oeuvre, Lord Wellington extricated his entire
baggage and field equipage ; and the allies were
placed on the other side of the Arlanzan, and in
the direct line of their retreat, with a loss com
paratively trifling.

That night the infantry reached Hormillas and
Cellada del Camino, and the cavalry, Estepar and
Villa Baniel while Souham remained in perfect
ignorance of Wellington s retreat until late in the
evening of the 22nd.

On the 23rd, the infantry, after a long march,
crossed the Pisuerga at Cordovillas and Torque-
mada ; but the rear-guard were overtaken and
attacked. Although greatly overmatched, the
British cavalry made a bold stand, and for a time
disputed the passage of the Harmoza. But they

26 RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

were obliged to retire, as fresh squadrons of the
enemy moved rapidly forward.

Part of the English dragoons crossed a marshy
rivulet, leaving Anson s cavalry and the German
light infantry as a rear-guard. The French came
on with great impetuosity, and were charged and
checked by the llth light dragoons and horse
artillery ; but their numbers prevailed the Eng
lish were forced back the guerilla horse com
pletely routed and some prisoners were made.
After much severe and desultory fighting, in
which the fierceness of the pursuers was fully
equalled by the obstinate resistance of the re
treating horsemen, the British cavalry were driven
back upon the Germans under Halket. Fortu
nately they had gained a position and assisted
by the fire of the artillery, their fusilade fell on
the left flank of the French with such murder
ous effect, that, failing in three determined charges,
they were at last forced to fall back behind the
heights, allowing the British rear-guard, without
further molestation, to retire.

Wellington having crossed the Carion on the
24th, was joined by a brigade of the Guards.
The weather was bad, the means of transport
wretched, the sick and wounded were beyond
the Duero, and thus circumstanced, the allied
commander determined to make a stand. The
allies, therefore, occupied a range of heights, with
the Carion in their front, and their right wing
resting on the Pisuerga.

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 27

Torquemada had witnessed a most disgraceful
scene of riot and confusion on the part of the
British. There, immense wine-stores were found
and plundered and it was computed, that at one
time, twelve thousand men were lying in the
streets and houses in a state of helpless intoxi
cation. Nor was the boasted sobriety of the
French proof against the temptation these well-
stored cellars presented. On their subsequent
occupation of the town, Souham w r as obliged to
stay his march for twelve hours, for his own
corps numbered more drunkards even than that
of Lord Wellington had done.

The 25th was given as a halt-day to the troops,
while necessary preparations were made for con
tinuing the retreat, and interrupting the passage
of the Carion. All the bridges were ordered to
be blown up but the mines were in some cases
so defective, that they failed entirely, and allow
ed the French an easy passage, while others of
their troops crossed by the fords. The working
and covering parties at Banos and Palentia were
made prisoners, and a quantity of baggage pick
ed up by the enemy s light cavalry. At Pis-
uerga, the corps that Souham pushed forward
was attacked and driven back ; and at Villa
Muriel, after a sharp contest, the enemy were
obliged to retire, and abandon the bank of the
river that they had succeeded in occupying for
a time.

28 RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

On the 26th, having repaired the bridges,
Souham crossed the Carion in pursuit of the
allies. On the 27th he was in force in front
of Cabezon, and showed himself in such strength,
as determined Lord Wellington at once to
fall back behind the Duero, and still further
behind the Tormes, in the event of his being
closely pressed by the enemy. On the 28th, the
French General extended his right to outflank
the allies, and advanced against the troops who
held the passes over the Pisguera and the Duero.
Unable to maintain the bridges, they were effec
tually destroyed ; and a town and wood, behind
that of Tordesillas, were occupied by the regi
ment of Brunswick Oels, until the Germans were
driven from both by the French, who effected the
passage of the Duero with uncommon gallantry.*

On the 29th, Wellington, after destroying the
bridges at Valladolid and Cabecon, passed the
river bv those of Tudela and Ponte Duero. The

w

passage of the French at Tordesillas obliged him
instantly to move to his left, and take a position
near Rueda. There he remained until joined by
Sir Rowland Hill upon the 5th of November
who, after leaving a corps in Alba de Tormes,
had fallen back before Joseph Buonaparte and
Marshal Soult, with scarcely any loss. Welling
ton, having effected this object, and united
himself with his detached corps, retired on the

* " Details," &c.

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 29

7th to Torricilla, and, on the 8th, halted in front
of Salamanca.

Meanwhile the armies of the north, south,
and centre, had formed a junction on the right
bank of the Tormes and on the 10th attacked
the town and castle of Alba, but without success.
Passing the Tormes at Lucinas on the 14th,
Soult, who commanded in chief, took a position
on the wooded heights of Mozarbes. That even
ing the hostile armies were in each other s pre
sence ; a distant cannonade and some trifling skir
mishing took place; and, on the 15th, Lord Wel
lington formed beside the Arapiles and offered
battle, which was declined. The enemy extend
ed to the right, threatening to interrupt the
communications with Kodrigo and from the im
mense disparity of his force,* Wellington was
obliged to move promptly by his right, and seize
the roads leading into Portugal.

The weather was desperate rain fell in tor
rentsthe roads were rendered almost impassable
the men were knee-deep in the sloughs and
the transport of the guns and baggage had be
come a work of infinite difficulty. The imposing

* The united French corps numbered seventy- five thousand
infantry, twelve thousand cavalry, and two hundred pieces of
cannon ; while the whole of the allied force that Lord Wel
lington could place upon a battle-field, did not exceed fifty-
five thousand Anglo-Portuguese, of which five thousand only
were horse.

30 RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

steadiness with which the British rear-guard re
tired before the French advance, checked any
attempt that Soult might have entertained of
pressing the retreat so closely as to bring Lord
Wellington to action, and especially on ground
that he himself would select on which to make a
stand. Ciudad Rodrigo was gained on the 18th,
and the frontier crossed upon the 20th. The
17th had passed in continued demonstrations of
attack, and frequent skirmishes. Not daring to
assail the columns, every advantage that a wooded
country would permit, was seized upon to cut
off stragglers and secure baggage. In many at
tempts on both, the enemy were successful ; and
a British general of division, Sir Edward Paget,
was carried off while literally in the centre of
his own brigades.

The main body of the allies had already crossed
the Huebra, when the French infantry and artil
lery came up in force, and obliged the cavalry to
cross the fords. A delay in retiring the light
division from the position they had been placed
in on the edge of the forest, brought on a sharp
affair. The British, however, effected the pas
sage of the river with inconsiderable loss and
every effort the French made to carry the fords
failed, owing to the steadiness with which they
were defended. The firing was kept up till dark
-and although the light and seventh divisions
were exposed, in column, to a plunging fire from

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 31

thirty guns, their loss was miraculously small, as
" this clayey soil, saturated with rain, swallowed
the shot and smothered the shells."*

On the 18th, the retreat was continued Lord
Wellington having given the necessary direc
tions as to the line of march which the different
divisions of his army should pursue. His orders
were disobeyed and serious results had nearly
been occasioned. Happily, his Lordship disco
vered the irregularity of his subordinate officers
in time to avert disastrous consequences. The
retreating brigades were completely arrested by a
flooded river and with great difficulty were
extricated, from what would have been, very
shortly, a desperate and hopeless position. Indeed,
so critically were they situated, that the light
division, composing the rear-guard, were obliged
to cross a gulley by single files, effecting the
passage by means of a fallen tree.

Here the retreat virtually closed. The weather
improved ; and having fallen back upon his re-
scources, Lord Wellington was enabled to re
cruit his exhausted soldiery. Abundant fuel,
dry bivouacs, and plentiful rations, produced a
speedy change; and men wearied and worn down
by privations and incessant fatigue, rapidly re
covered their health and spirits. The moment
the enemy had abandoned the pursuit, the light
cavalry and guerilla horse were despatched to
search the woods and rescue such sufferers as

* Napier.

32 RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

survived. Their efforts were attended with suc
cess and more than fifteen hundred wounded or
disabled men were brought into the hospitals and
saved.

The total casualties sustained by the troops
during the siege and subsequent retreat of Burgos,
were very numerous and in no point are mili
tary writers and official returns more at variance,
than in the respective estimates they form of the
losses of the allies. Where such immense discre
pancy exists, it is hard to come to anything like
an accurate conclusion. The French asserted
that the allies lost twelve thousand men, hors de
combat ; the English reduced it to little more than
twelve hundred. Between these extremes, the
mean is more likely to prove correct ; and there
can be little doubt, all casualties included, that in
the siege and subsequent operations to the 29th
of October, seven thousand men were sacrificed.

The retreat from Burgos was not only remark
able for the sufferings they endured, but also for
the insubordination exhibited by the soldiery.
The mass of the army became drunkards and
marauders. The wine-stores in the towns and
villages on the line of march were broken into
and despoiled of their contents ; and multitudes,
through inebriety, either perished or were made
prisoners. In Valderoso alone, two hundred and
fifty men were found drunk in the cellars and,
of course, they fell into the hands of the French.

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 33

Drunkenness produced cruelty and many of the
peasantry hitherto well affected to the allies,*
perished by the hands of infuriated savages, who
seemed reckless whether friend or foe became the
victim of their ferocity. Napier says, that on

the first dav s march from INI ad rid he reckoned

>

seventeen murdered peasants, either lying on the
road or thrown into the ditches.

Another mischievous breach of discipline had
become very general. Numerous herds of swine
were found among the woods and the soldiers
broke from their columns, and commenced shoot
ing pigs wherever they could be found. The
spattering fire kept up in the forest by these
marauders, frequently occasioned an unnecessary
alarm, and thus disturbed the brief space allow
ed for rest to the exhausted soldiers. Nothing
but the greatest severity checked this most dan
gerous offence and though some of the delin
quents, when taken " red-handed" and in the very
fact, were hanged in the sight of their guilty
comrades, the evil was but partially abated by
the example; for hunger had made the starving
soldiery indifferent to the desperate consequences
their offending was certain to draw down.

The excesses committed during the retreat,
drew from Lord Wellington an official letter,
addressed to the commanding officers of regi-

* Details," &c,
VOL. II. D

34 RETREAT FROM BURGOS.

ments, that occasioned at the time considerable
dissatisfaction. Probably, the terms in which
his censure was conveyed, were stronger than
they should have been. The sufferings of the
troops were great beyond belief -men march
ing night and day, under an incessant deluge,
knee-deep in mire, without shelter or a place
to rest upon, their whole sustenance a scanty
ration of over-driven beef, frequently devoured
half-raw yet, while they could not be justi
fied in acts of violence and rapine, still they
might urge much in extenuation of crimes com
mitted under the influence of want, misery and
despair !

Honours, in the mean time, were most deserv
edly conferred upon the able, but unsuccessful
besieger of Burgos. At home, Lord Wellington
was advanced to a Marquisate in the peerage,
while Parliament added I00,000/. to assist him
to support this dignity. He was also appointed
to the Colonelcy of the Blues, and the rank of
Duke of Vittoria was conferred upon him by
the Prince Regent of Portugal, with emolu
ments attached valued at 15,000 dollars annually.
The honour bestowed upon him the Marquis of
Wellington accepted but the income, with be
coming dignity, he respectfully declined.

After the French retired behind the Tormes,
the allies took up their winter cantonments.

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 35

Hill passed the Sierra de Gata, and established
his corps in the province of Coria, with posts
at the passes of Bejar and Banos. The remain
ing divisions were comfortably disposed of part
of the brigades occupying quarters in the dis
trict of Beira, while the others were cantoned
upon the banks of the Douro.

D 2

ADVANCE FROM THE DOURO TO

THE ZADORRA.

British army organized anew. Reinforced from England.
Relative strength and positions of the rival armies. Joseph
retires. General appearance of the French corps d armee.
Wellington suddenly advances. His bold and successful
operations. Beautiful scenery. Affairs of Saint Millan,
Osma, and the Bayas. Joseph enters Vittoria.

WINTER passed away- -the army recovered from
its hardships and Lord Wellington was inde
fatigable in perfecting the equipment of every
department, to enable him to take the field effi
ciently when the season should come round, and
active operations could be renewed again. In its
minuter details, the interior economy of the re
giments underwent a useful reformation. The
large and cumbrous camp-kettles were discarded,
and small ones substituted in their place ; while
three tents were served to each company, afford
ing, particularly to the sick and disabled, a means
of shelter in the field, that hitherto had been
wanting.

Nothing could surpass the splendid state of

ADVANCE FROM THE DOUKO. 37

discipline this period of inactivity had produced
while the allied army reposed in winter quar
ters. Its materiel was now truly magnificent;
powerful reinforcements had arrived from Eng
land; the Life and Horse Guards had joined the
cavalry ; and that arm, hitherto the weakest,
was increased to nineteen efficient regiments.
The infantry had been recruited from the militias
at home the artillery was complete in every re
quisite for the field and a well-arranged corn-
missariate, with ample means of transport, faci
litated the operations of the most serviceable
force that had ever taken the tield under the
leading of an English general.

Previous to the opening of the campaign in
May 1813, the Anglo-Portuguese army num
bered close upon seventy thousand men of all
arms, and were cantoned in the neighbourhood
of the Douro. Murillo s corps occupied Estre-
madura ; Giron held the frontier of Gallicia ;
O Donel was stationed in Andalusia; Elio on
the frontiers of Murcia and Valencia ; and the
Due del Parque, with a strong corps, held posses
sion of La Mancha.

The French, at that time, might have pro
bably mustered one hundred and fifty thousand
men in Spain. Madrid and Toledo were in the
occupation of the armies of the Centre and the
South, which were spread over the central pro
vinces. Valladolid had the head-quarters of the

38 ADVANCE FROM THE DOURO

army of Portugal; the line of the Douro was
carefully observed, while Suchet occupied Va
lencia and Catalonia ; and a part of the army of
the North was quartered in Aragon and Biscay.

Never did a leader take the field under more
promising auspices than those with which the
allied commander opened the campaign of 1813.
The Spanish troops were strong in numbers, and
improved considerably in discipline ; and the gue
rilla leaders in great force, and ready for daring en-
terprize. Summer was coming fast ; a rich and
luxurious country was before him, every re
quisite prepared for his march ; his troops flush
ed with victory ; and his opponents dispirited
by constant discomfiture. Even the opening
movements tended to increase these feelings for
the British were preparing to advance, and the
French already retrograding. No wonder, then,
that the brilliant hopes of his country were fully
realized ; and that the career of English conquest
continued almost without a check ; and the fields
of France saw her banners float in victory, until
the last struggles at Orthes and Toulouse attested
the invincibility of Wellington and his island
soldiery !

While the allies were preparing to march, Jo
seph Buonaparte put the army of the Centre into
motion, and, followed by those of the South and
Portugal, retired slowly on the Ebro. As they
were not pressed by the British light troops, the

TO THE ZADORRA. 39

enemy s corps moved leisurely towards the fron
tier, accompanied by enormous trains of equipage
and baggage.

The appearance of the French army was rather
picturesque than military. It was crowded in
its march, and too fanciful both in the character
of its equipment and the variety of its costume.
The line and light infantry excepted, few of the
regiments were similarly dressed. The horse-
artillery wore uniforms of light blue, braided
with black lace. The heavy cavalry were ar
rayed in green coats with brass helmets. The
chasseurs and hussars, mounted on slight and ac
tive horses, were showily and variously equipped.
The gendarmerie a cheval, a picked body cho
sen from the cavalry at large, had long blue
frocks, with cocked hats and buff belts ; while
the elite of the dragoons, selected for superior size
and general appearance, were distinguished by
bear-skin caps, and wore a look of martial deter
mination, that their past and future bearing in
the battle-field did not belie. Each regiment
of the line had its company of grenadiers and
voltigeurs even the light regiments having a
company of the former. The appearance of the
whole force was soldierly and imposing the ca
valry was indeed superb ; and the artillery, as to
guns, caissons, and appointments, most complete ;
and, better still, their horses were in excellent
condition.

40 ADVANCE FROM THE DOURO

Both armies were in the highest state of effi
ciency. To both the undivided attention of their
commanding officers had been directed, and yet
in their respective equipments, a practised eye
would detect a marked dissimilarity. With the
British everything was simple, compact, and li
mited, as far as its being serviceable would ad
mit, while the French were sadly incumbered
with useless equipages and accumulated plunder.
Those of the Spanish noblesse who had acknow
ledged the usurper, now accompanied his retreat,
- state functionaries, in court-dresses and rich
embroidery, were mingled with the troops, ca
lashes, carrying wives or mistresses, moved be
tween brigades of guns ; while nuns from Castile
and ladies from Andalusia, attired en militaire
and mounted on horseback, deserted castle and
convent, to follow the fortunes of some soldier
or employee. Excepting that of his great bro
ther when retreating from Moscow, no army
since the days of Xerxes was so overloaded with
spoil and baggage as that of Joseph Buonaparte.

Although this abuse had not escaped the ob
servation of many of the best officers in the
army of the usurper, the facility with which
these enormous ambulances were transported en
couraged rather than repressed the evil. Look
ing on Spain as a conquered country, the means
necessary to forward their convoys were unscru
pulously seized, and every horse and mule con-

TO THE ZADOIlllA. 41

sidered the property of the finder. The roads
were good the retreat unmolested on the 10th
no enemy had appeared, and the allies were re
maining quietly in their quarters. The apathy
of the English General was extraordinary and
prisoners were asked by their French escort, " Was
Lord Wellington asleep ?

But nothing could exceed the astonishment of
Joseph, when, on the evening of the 18th, he was
informed that the allies, in considerable force,
were actually on the left bank of the Ebro ! The
French dispositions were rendered useless, and an
immediate night-march became unavoidable. The
drums beat to arms the baggage was put in
motion and the entire of the French corps
which had occupied Pancorbo, or bivouacked in
its vicinity, were hastily collected, and moved
rapidly towards Vittoria.

Lord Wellington s sudden advance was equally
brilliant in conception and execution. While he
had thrown five divisions over the Douro, to
move through the Tras as Montes, upon Zamora,
Hill was marching over the mountain district
of Estremadura on the Tormes, and Lord Wel
lington on Salamanca, with two Anglo-Portu
guese, a Spanish division, and a strong cavalry
corps. The right wing of the allies took a posi
tion between the Tormes and the Douro while
Sir Thomas Graham, with the left, passed over a
most difficult country, and surmounting every

42 ADVANCE FROM THE DOURO

obstacle that bad roads and dangerous rivers
could present, threatened the right of the French
by Carvajales and Miranda.

On gaining the frontier, Graham secured his
communication with the Gallician corps under
Giron. The French retired from the Esla, and
the left wing of the British crossed it on the 31st
of May. A difficult and defensible river was
safely passed, and the enemy retreated, after
blowing up the bridges of Zamora and Toro.
At Morales, the French rear-guard was over
taken and brought to action. Colonel Grant,
with the hussar brigade, completely overthrew
it, killing a considerable number and capturing
above two hundred men. Julian Sanchez was
equally successful, having surprised a French
picket at Castronuno.

No movements during the Peninsular campaign
exceed in brilliant effect the rapid advance of the
allied army from the Douro to the Bayas. Jo
seph had been obliged to abandon the capital,
and fall back on Burgos. This was a necessary
measure to ensure a concentration of his corps
d armee, but still it was considered doubtful
whether Lord Wellington would continue his
onward march, and, under all circumstances, ac
tually become assailant.

But the French leaders were astray when they
fancied that the allied General would remain in
active. Quickly as the Douro had been crossed,

TO THE ZADORRA. 43

the Carrion and the Pisuerga were as rapidly
passed over. The enemy fell back on Burgos
to concentrate, having occupied the heights above
ttarmoza with a strong corps. On the 12th,
Hill s division and the cavalry obliged Count
Reille to fall back and on the next morning; the

o

French retreated on Miranda, after abandoning
Burgos and blowing up the castle.

" It can hardly be imagined what additional in
terest even a brilliant operation will acquire from
local circumstances, and the character of the
country through which the line of march runs.
The advance to the Zadorra exhibited, at every
point of view, scenery beautiful as diversified. In
it there was a singular combination of romantic
wildness mingled with exquisite fertility. One
while the columns moved through luxurious
valleys, intersprinkled with hamlets, vineyards,
and flower-gardens ; at another, they struggled
up mountain ridges, or pressed through Alpine
passes overhung with toppling cliffs, making it
almost difficult to decide, whether the rugged
chasm which they were traversing had been
rifted from the hill-side by an earthquake, or
scarped by human hands. If the eye turned
downwards, there lay sparkling rivers and sunny
dells ; above rose naked rocks and splintered pre
cipices ; while moving masses of glittering soldiery,
now lost, now seen, amid the windings of the
route, gave a panoramic character to the whole,

44 ADVANCE FROM THE DOUIIO

that never can fade from the memory of him who
saw it."*

Pancorbo had been regularly garrisoned; and
to force the Ebro, with a numerous and efficient
army occupying its banks, would have been
equally tedious in operation, and uncertain in
results. Wellington, with admirable skill, sud
denly branched to his left, and moved rapidly
towards the sources of the river ; and, on the
14th and 15th, crossed it safely by the moun
tain bridges of San Martin and Puente de Arenas.
Of course, the march, from the nearly impassable
character of the line of country over which it
ran, required the determination and esprit of
British soldiers to accomplish. It was gallantly
achieved ; and that too, by a route hitherto un-
attempted by an army, and which everywhere
presented the most formidable positions that a
retreating corps could wish to hold. Yet Wel
lington s march was unopposed, and until the
18th, no hostile collision interrupted the order of
the allied movements.

Two French brigades were overtaken by the
light division. They had taken a position on the
heights of Saint Millan ; and although the ground
was most unfavourable for an attack, nothing
could surpass the dashing gallantry with which
the British light troops assailed the enemy. The
road by which it was necessary to attack, was

* " The Bivouac."

TO THE ZADORRA. 45

rugged, steep, and narrow, overhung with crags
and copse-wood ; while a mountain stream pro
tected the French front, and some straggling
cottages increased the difficulty of advancing, by
affording cover to the voltigeurs who had formed
behind them. After a sharp fusilade, the enemy
gave ground, and the light brigade was pressing
forward, when suddenly, a fresh column debouch
ed from a ravine, and appeared on the flank of
the assailants. Both rushed on to gain the crest
of the hill and both reached the plateau together.
The 52nd, bringing their left flank forward in a
run, faced sharply round, and charged with the
bayonet. The conflict was but momentary ;
the French broke, threw away their knapsacks,
and fled to gain the neighbouring high grounds,
leaving their arms arid baggage, and nearly three
hundred of their number hors de combat.

On the same day, Jourdan suddenly attacked
Graham s corps at Osma, but he was driven back
on Espejo ; and falling farther back, the French
took up a strong position behind the Bayas, with
their right on the village of Sabijana ; but they
held it only till next day, when being attacked
in front, and their left turned, they fell back and
united with the corps d armee in front of Vittoria.

That city, on the evening of the 19th, displayed
a singular spectacle of hurry and alarm confu
sion and magnificence. Joseph Buonaparte, with
his staff and guards, the entire of his court, and

46 ADVANCE FROM THE DOURO.

the head-quarters of the army of the Centre, ac
companied by an endless collection of equipages,
intermingled with cavalry, artillery, and their
numerous ambulances, occupied the buildings
and crowded the streets. An unmanageable mass
of soldiers and civilians were every moment in
creased by fresh arrivals, all vainly seeking for
accommodation in a town unequal to afford a
shelter to half their number.

" But a yet stranger scene was enacting in Vit-
toria. While the city was brilliantly illuminated
in honour of the pseudo-King, and a gayer sight
could not be fancied than its sparkling interior
presented ; beyond the walls, an army was taking
a position, and a multitude of the peasants were
forced by the French engineers to assist in throw
ing up field defences, and assist those who had
ruled them with an iron hand to place their guns
in battery, and make other military dispositions
to repel the army of the allies, who were advan
cing to effect their deliverance."*

* The Bivouac."

VITOKIA.

City of Vitoria. French position. Opening, progress, and
close of the engagement. Field of battle.

VITORIA is a city of great antiquity, and the capi
tal of the province of Alava. It stands in a valley
surrounded on every side by high grounds, while
in the distance a lesser range of the Pyrenees is
visible. Its name is derived from some forgot
ten victory, or, as some assert, from one achieved
by its founder, Sancho VII. In front of this
city* Joseph Buonaparte concentrated his corps
d armee on the night of the 19th, to cover the
town and hold the three great roads leading from
Lagrona, Madrid, and Bilboa, to Bayonne.

* It is remarkable that, within sight of this ground, the bat
tle of Najara was fought, in which Edward the Black Prince,
acting as the ally of a bad man, defeated the best troops of
France, under their most distinguished leader, Bertram du
Guesclin, who was come in support of a worse. It is also
remarkable, that the Prince of Brazil, before the battle of
Vitoria was fought, should have conferred the title of Duque
de Victoria upon Lord Wellington. Southey.

48 VITORIA.

The day of the 20th was occupied by Lord
Wellington in bringing forward his detached
brigades, and making a careful reconnaissance of
the enemy. Although, generally, the position
selected by Marshal Jourdan was strong, and
certainly well chosen to effect the objects for
which he risked a battle, still it had one mate
rial defect. Its great extent would permit many
simultaneous efforts to be made by an attacking
army ; and, accordingly, on the following day,
the allied leader, with admirable skill, availed
himself of this advantage and a most decisive
victory was the result.

In point of strength, the contending armies
were nearly equal, each numbering from seventy
to seventy-five thousand men, the allies exceed
ing the French, probably by five thousand. Per
fect in every arm, more splendid troops were
never ranged upon a battle-field. Both armies
were ably commanded, nominally, Joseph was
gnral-en-chef but Jourdan chose the ground,
and directed every disposition.

The morning of the 21st broke in glorious
sunshine. The atmosphere was cloudless and
from the adjacent heights the progress of the
battle could be distinctly viewed, except when
smoke-wreaths for a time hid the combatants
from many an anxious looker-on.

The French corps occupied a line of nearly
eight miles, the extreme left placed upon

VITORIA. 49

the heights of La Puebla, and the right resting
on an eminence above the villages of Abechuco
and Gamarra Mayor. The centre was posted
along a range of hills on the left bank of the
river ; while a strong corps, resting its right flank
upon the left centre, was formed on the bold
high grounds which rise behind the village of
Sabijana, The reserve was placed at the village
of Gomecha ; and the banks of the Zadorra, and
a small wood between the centre and the right,
w r ere thickly lined with tirailleurs. The first line
consisted of the armies of Portugal and the South ;
and the army of the Centre, with the greater por
tion of the cavalry, formed the reserve. That
part of the position near the village of Gomecha,
having been considered by Jourdan his most vul
nerable point, was defended by a numerous ar
tillery. The bridges were fortified the commu
nications from one part of the position to the
other were direct a deep river ran in front
the great roads to Bayonne and Pamplona in
the rear- -while, to arrest Wellington s career, and
preserve the immense convoys within the city,
or on the road to France, loaded with the plun
der of a despoiled capital and a denuded country,
the psuedo-King determined to accept the battle,
which the British leader was now prepared to
offer.*

* " We chanced to meet a Cure on the French side of the
Pyrenees, at whose house General Merle had been quartered,

VOL. II. E

50 VITORIA.

During the Peninsular campaigns, there was
no battle fought that required nicer combina
tions, and a more correct calculation in time and
movement, than that of Vitoria. It was impos
sible for Lord Wellington to bring up, to an im
mediate proximity for attack, every portion of his
numerous army, and hence many of his brigades
had bivouacked on the preceding night a con
siderable distance from the Zadorra. Part of the
country before Vitoria was difficult and rocky ;
hamlets, enclosures, and ravines, separated the
columns from each other ; hence some of them
were obliged to move by narrow and broken
roads, and arrangements, perfect in themselves,
were liable to embarrassment from numerous
contingencies. But the genius that directed
these extended operations, could remedy fortui
tous events, should such occur.

At daybreak, on the 21st, Wellington s disposi
tions were complete, and the allied army in mo
tion. Sir Rowland Hill, with the second British,
Amarante s Portuguese, and Murillo s Spanish di
visions, was ordered to storm the heights of La
Puebla, occupied by the enemy s left. The first
and fifth divisions, with Pack s and Bradford s

shortly after the battle, who said that the general was furious,
exclaiming against Joseph, and vowing that the materiel of
three armies (those of the South, the Centre, and of Portugal)
had been sacrificed to save t /f/?y putaines and their baggage."
Peninsular Recollections.

VITORIA. 51

brigades, Bock s and An son s cavalry, and Lon-
ga s Spanish corps, were directed to turn the
French right, cross the Zadorra, and seize on the
Eayonne road. The third, fourth, seventh, and
light divisions, were to advance in two columns
and attack Vitoria in front and flank, and thus
oblige Jourdan either to come to a general en
gagement, or abandon the city and sacrifice his
valuable convoys.

At dawn of day, Joseph placed himself upon
a height that overlooked his right and centre.
He was attended by a numerous staff, and pro
tected by his own body-guard. Wellington chose
an eminence in front of the village of Arinez,
commanding the right bank of the Zadorra, and
continued there observing through a glass the
progress of the fight, and directing the move
ments of his divisions, as calmly as he would have
inspected the movements at a review.

The attack commenced by Hill s division mov
ing soon after daylight by the Miranda road, and
the detaching of Murillo s Spanish corps to carry
the heights of La Puebla, and drive in the left
flank of the enemy. The latter task was a diffi
cult one, as the ground rose abruptly from the
valley, and towering to a considerable height,
presented a sheer ascent, that at first sight ap
peared almost inpracticable.

The Spaniards, with great difficulty, although
unopposed, reached the summit ; and there, among

E 2

52 VITORIA.

rocks and broken ground, became sharply en
gaged with the French left. Perceiving that
they were unable to force the enemy from the
heights, Sir Rowland Hill advanced a British
brigade to Murillo s assistance ; while, alarmed for

O

the safety of his flank, Jourdan detached troops
from his centre to support the division that held
La Puebla. A fierce and protracted combat en
sued the loss on both sides was severe and
Colonel Cadogan fell at the head of his brigade.
But gradually and steadily the British gained
ground ; and while the eyes of both armies were
turned upon the combatants, and the posses
sion cf the heights seemed doubtful still, the
eagle glance of Wellington discovered the for
ward movement of the Highland tartans, and
he announced to his staff, that La Puebla was
carried.*

The village of Sabijana was the next object
of attack, and a brigade of the second division
stormed it after a short but determined resistance.
As that village covered the left of their line, the
French made many efforts to recover its posses
sion ; but it was most gallantly retained until
the left and centre of the allies moved up, and
the attack on the enemy s line became general.

While Sabijana was repeatedly assaulted, the
light division formed in close columns under
cover of some broken ground, and at a short dis-

* The Bivouac."

V1TORIA. 53

tance from the river. The hussar brigade, dis
mounted, were on the left ; and the fourth divi
sion in position on the right, waiting the signal
for advancing. The heavy cavalry formed a re
serve to the centre, in event of its requiring sup
port before the third and seventh divisions came
up ; and the first and fifth, with a Spanish and
Portuguese corps, were detached to occupy the
road to Saint Sebastian, and thus intercept the
enemy s retreat.

Presently, an opening cannonade upon the left
announced that Sir Thomas Graham was engaged,
and Lord Dalhousie notified his arrival with the
third and seventh divisions at Mendonza. The
moment for a grand movement had come Lord
Wellington saw and seized the crisis of the day,
and ordered a general attack on the whole extent
of the French position.

The light division moved forward under cover
of a thicket, and placed itself opposite the enemy s
right centre, about two hundred paces from the
bridge of Villoses and on the arrival of Lord
Dalhousie, the signal was given to advance. At
this critical moment an intelligent Spaniard op
portunely came up, and announced that one of the
bridges was undefended. The mistake was quick
ly seized upon. A brigade, led by the First Rifles,
crossed it at a run and, without any loss, esta
blished itself in a deep ravine, where it was com
pletely protected from the enemy s cannonade.

54 VITORIA.

Nothing could be more beautiful than the ope
rations which followed. The light division car
ried the bridge of Nanclaus, and the fourth that
of Tres Puentes ; the divisions of Picton and
Dalhousie followed, and the battle became ge
neral. The passage of the river the movement
of glittering masses from right to left, far as the
eye could range the deafening roar of cannon

- the sustained fusiiade of infantry all was
grand and imposing; while the English cavalry,
displayed in glorious sunshine and formed in line
to support the columns, completed a spectacle,
grand and magnificent beyond description.

Immediately after crossing the Zadorra, Col-
ville s brigade became seriously engaged with
a strong French corps, and gallantly defeated
it. Pressing on with characteristic impetuosity,
and without halting to correct the irregularity a
recent and successful struggle had occasioned,
the brigade encountered on the brow of the hill
two lines of French infantry regularly drawn
up, and prepared to receive their assailants.
For a moment the result was regarded with
considerable apprehension, and means actually
adopted for sustaining the brigade, when as
that event seemed inevitable- -it should be re
pulsed by the enemy. But valour overcame every
disadvantage, and the perfect formation of the
French could not withstand the dashing onset of
the assailants. Their rush was irresistible on

V1TORIA. 55

went these daring soldiers, " sweeping before
them the formidable array that, circumstanced
as they were, appeared calculated to produce an
nihilation."

While the combined movements of the different
divisions were thus in every place successful, the
attack on the village of Arinez failed, and the
88th were repulsed in an attempt to storm it.
Here the French fought desperately and here
alone the fortune of the day wavered even for
a moment. Nothing could exceed the obstinacy
with which the village was defended ; but, under
a severe fire, Lord Wellington in person directed
a fresh assault. The 45th and 74th ascended the
height; the French were fairly forced out at the
point of the bayonet, and Arinez, after a san
guinary struggle, was won.

Meanwhile the flank movements on Gamarra
Mayor and Abechuco were effected with splendid
success. Both villages, having bridges across the
river, were filled with troops and vigorously de
fended. Gamarra Mayor was stormed with the
bayonet by Oswald s division without firing a
shot; and, undercover of the artillery, Halket s
German light infantry, and Bradford s Portuguese
Cacadores, advanced against Abechuco. Nothing
could be more gallant than the assault. The
French were dislodged from the village with
heavy loss, and the bridges left in the undisputed
possession of the victors.

56 VITORTA.

The whole of the enemy s first line were now
driven back, but they retired in perfect order,
and re-forming close to Vitoria, presented an
imposing front, protected by nearly one hundred
pieces of artillery. A tremendous fire checked
the advance of the left centre ; and the storm of
the guns on both sides raged with unabated fury
for an hour. Vitoria, although so near the com
batants, was hidden from view by the dense smoke
while volley after volley from the French in
fantry thinned, though it could not shake, Pic-
ton s " fighting third."

It was a desperate and final effort. The allies
were advancing in beautiful order ; while confu
sion was already visible in the enemy s ranks, as
their left attempted to retire by eschelons of di
visions - - a dangererous movement when badly
executed. Presently the cannon were abandoned,
and the whole mass of French troops commenced a
most disorderly retreat by the road to Pamplona.

" The sun was setting, and his last rays fell
upon a magnificent spectacle. Red masses of
infantry were seen advancing steadily across the
plain the horse-artillery at a gallop to the front,
to open its fire on the fugitives - - the hussar
brigade charging by the Camino Real while
the second division, having overcome every
obstacle, and driven the enemy from its front,
was extending over the heights upon the right,
in line, its arms and appointments flashing glo-

V1TORIA. 57

riously "in the fading sunshine of * departing
day/"*

Never had an action been more general, nor
the attacks in every part of an extended positon
more simultaneous and successful. In the line
of operations six bridges over the Zadorra were
crossed or stormed. That on the road to Burgos
enabled Lord Hill to pass; the fourth division
crossed that of Nanclares ; the light, at Tres Pu-
entes ; Picton and Dalhousie passed the river
lower down ; while Lord Lyndoch carried Abe-
chuco and Gamarra Mayor, though both were
strongly fortified,, and both obstinately defended.

Driven completely through Vitoria, the French
never made an attempt to rally. The formation
of their army was totally destroyed, and its dis
organization completed. Indeed, no defeat could
have been more decisive the deroute was general :
and an army, at sunrise perfect in every arm, had
become at evening a mixed and helpless mob.
Even at Ocana and Medellin, the raw, undisciplin
ed, and ill-commanded Spaniards had never been
more completely routed. Very few of the infant
ry retained their muskets,f and many threw away

* The Bivouac."

f " From the number of muskets left on the field, the
wounded must have been very great : wounded men invari
ably get quit of everything that incumbers their retreat;
but a musket is scarcely ever to be seen whole, as the first
comer always snaps it across the small of the stock." Penin
sular Recollections.

58 VITORIA.

their whole accoutrements in order to expedite
their flight. All were abandoned to the conque
rors the travelling carriage of the pseudo-King,
with his wardrobe, plate, wines, and private cor
respondence, were found among the spoils. In
deed, Joseph himself narrowly escaped from being
added to the list ; for Captain Wyndham made
a bold dash at " The Intruder/ with a squa
dron of the 10th hussars, and firing into the
coach, obliged him to leave it, and ride off at
speed under the protection of a strong escort of
cavalry.

Night closed upon the victors and the van
quished and darkness and broken ground fa
voured the escape of battalions flying from the
field in mob-like disorder, and incapable of any
resistance, had they been overtaken and attacked.
Two leagues from Vitoria the pursuit was re
luctantly given up, but the horse-artillery, while
a shot could reach the fugitives, continued to
harass the retreat.

The whole baggage and field equipage of three
distinct armies fell into the hands of the con
querors. One hundred and fifty pieces of can
non, four hundred caissons, twelve thousand
rounds of ammunition, and two millions of
musket-cartridges, with a thousand prisoners, were
taken. The casualties on both sides were heavy.
The British lost five hundred killed, two thou
sand eight hundred wounded ; the Portuguese

VITORIA. 59

one hundred and fifty killed, nine hundred
wounded ; and the Spaniards eighty-nine of
the former, and four hundred and sixty of the
latter. The French loss, of course, was infinitely
greater; and even by their own returns it was
admitted to amount to eight thousand : but,
prisoners included, it must have exceeded that
number considerably.

On the morning of the 22nd, the field of battle,
and the roads for some miles in the rear, exhi
bited an appearance it seldom falls within human
power to witness. There, lay the wreck of a
mighty army ; while plunder, accumulated dur
ing the French successes, and wrung from every
part of Spain with unsparing rapacity, was reck
lessly abandoned to any who chose to seize it.
Cannon and caissons, carriages and tumbrels, wag
gons of every description, were overturned or de
serted, and a stranger melange could not be ima
gined, than that which these enormous convoys
presented to the eye. Here, was the personal
baggage of a king; there, the scenery and decora
tions of a theatre. Munitions of war were mixed
with articles of virtu and scattered arms and
packs, silks, embroidery, plate, and jewels, mingled
in wild disorder. One waggon was loaded with
money, another with cartridges while wounded
soldiers, deserted women, and children of every
age, everywhere implored assistance, or threw
themselves for protection on the humanity of the

60 VITORIA.

victors. Here, a lady was overtaken in her car
riage in the next calash was an actress or fille-
de-chambre, while droves of oxen were roaming
over the plain, intermingled with an endless quan
tity of sheep and goats, mules and horses, asses
and cows.

That much valuable plunder came into the

hands of the soldierv is certain ; but the better

v

portion fell to the peasantry and camp-followers.
Two valuable captures were secured a full mili
tary chest, and the baton* of Marshal Jourdan.

Were not the indiscriminating system of spo
liation pursued by the French armies recollected,
the enormous collection of plunder abandoned at
Vitoria would appear incredible. From the high
est to the lowest, all were bearing off some valu
ables from the country they had overrun ; and
even the King himself had not proved an excep
tion, for, rolled in the imperials of his own coach,
some of the finest pictures from the royal gal
leries were discovered. To secure or facilitate
their transport, they had been removed from
their frames, and deposited in the royal car
riage, no doubt, destined to add to the unrivalled

" It was rather more than a foot long, and covered with
blue velvet, on which the imperial eagles were embroidered ;
and it had been tipped with gold, but the first finder had se
cured the gold for himself. The case was of red morocco,
with silver clasps, and with eagles on it, and at either end the
Marshal s name imprinted in gold letters." Southey.

VITORIA, 61

collection, that by similar means had been ab
stracted from the Continent, and presented to the
Louvre. Wellington, however, interrupted the
Spanish paintings in their transit and thus saved
the trouble and formality of a restoration.*

* The Bivouac."

BATTLES OF THE PYRENEES.

Joseph Buonaparte retreats into France. Pamplona blockaded,
and San Sebastian besieged. Battles of the Pyrenees.

THE disordered state in which the Erench army
appeared before the gates of Pamplona, rendered
it advisable to forbid them entrance, and their re
treat was necessarily continued. Graham, with
the left corps of the allies, had endeavoured to
cut off Foy ; but, though he failed in effecting
it, he forced him, after abandoning Tolosa, to
cross the frontier. Hill s corps followed the
French on the Pamplona road ; and another part
of his army was detached by Lord Wellington
against Clausel by Logrono, while a second corps
moved rapidly on Tudela to interrupt his retreat.
By marching on Zaragossa, Clausel retired into
France by the pass of Jaca ; but, in this hasty
operation he lost all his artillery, and was obliged
to abandon a redoubt with its garrison, which
some time after, fell into Mina s hands. Pancorba
surrendered to O Donel, and Passages to Longa ;
Castro and Gueteria were evacuated ; and south

BATTLES OF THE PYRENEES. 63

of the Ebro, every post, one after the other, was
yielded to the Spaniards.

Successes followed the march of the allies. Su-
chet retired from Valencia on the 6th of July ;
and Joseph Buonaparte was driven from the val
ley of San Estevan on the 7th, by Hill and Lord
Dalhousie, the first marching by the pass of Lanz,
while the other turned the right of the enemy.

Wellington was now in possession of the passes
of the Pyrenees ; and in the short space of two
months had moved his victorious army across

V

the kingdom of Spain, and changed his can
tonments from the frontier of Portugal to a
position in the Pyrenees, from which he looked
down upon the southern provinces of France.

Napoleon received intelligence of Lord Wel
lington s successes with feelings of undissembled
anger and surprise. To recover the line of the
Ebro was his instant determination he knew
the dangerous effect the presence of a British
army on the frontier of " beautiful France" must
of necessity produce ; and Marshal Soult was spe
cially despatched from Germany, to assume the
chief command of the beaten army, and, if pos
sible, restore its fallen fortunes.

Wellington foresaw the coming storm, and
turned his immediate attention to the reduction
of Pamplona and San Sebastian. From the
strength of the former, and the excellent condi
tion of its defences, the allied commander decided

64 BATTLES OF THE PYRENEES.

on a blockade ; and it was accordingly closely in
vested by General Hill. Redoubts were thrown
up within fifteen hundred yards of the place,
armed with the cannon taken at Vitoria, and to
the Spanish army under O Donel the conduct of
the blockade was intrusted.

Graham, with his corps augmented to ten
thousand men, was directed to besiege San Sebas
tian ; and, on the llth of July, he sat down be
fore the place.

San Sebastian is built on a peninsula, its wes
tern defences washed by the sea, and its eastern
by the river Urumea, which at high water rises
several feet above the base of the escarp wall. A
bold and rocky height, called Monte Orgullo,
rises at the extreme point of a narrow neck of
land and on its summit stands the citadel of La
Mota.

Eight hundred yards distant from the land-
front, the convent of San Bartolemeo, with a re
doubt and circular field-work, w r ere garrisoned.
These advanced posts were strongly fortified
and, as it was determined to breach the eastern
wall and storm it afterwards at low water, when
the receding tide should permit an advance by
the left of the Urumea, it became necessary, as a
preliminary step, to dislodge the enemy from the
convent.

On the 14th of July, the guns in battery open
ed a heavy fire on San Bartolemeo; and by the

BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES. 65

next day the walls of the building were injured
considerably. Another battery, erected beyond
the Urumea, fired with equal success upon the
bastion ; and on the 17th both works were car
ried by assault. Batteries, armed with thirty-
two siege guns and howitzers, opened on the
town wall from the sandhills ; and on the 25th
two breaches were effected, one of thirty yards
extent, and the other of ten. A mine was also
driven under the glacis and its explosion was the
appointed signal for an assault upon the breaches.

At first, the astounding noise distracted the
garrison, and enabled the advance of both storm
ing parties to gain the breaches ; but the French
recovered from their panic, and poured such a
fire of grape and musketry on the assailants, that
the breach was heaped with dead and dying, and
the allies were driven back to the trenches with a
loss of above six hundred men. The loss of the
British, from the 7th to the 27th of July, amount
ed to two hundred and four killed, seven hun
dred and seventy-four wounded, and three hun
dred missing.

This severe repulse, added to the certain intel
ligence that Soult was preparing to strike a grand
blow, induced Lord Wellington to issue imme
diate orders to raise the siege.

Circumstances, indeed, rendered that step un
avoidable. The French were already in motion
Soult had forced the passes on the right, penetrat-

VOL. II. F

66 BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES.

ed the valleys of the Pyrenees, and was marching
to relieve Pamplona.

Lord Wellington had a most extensive, and,
consequently, a very difficult position to defend,
his corps d armee covering an extent of country
extending from flank to flank over sixty miles
of mountains, without lateral communications, or
the means of holding a disposable reserve in the
rear of passes, all of which must be defended, as
the loss of one would render the defence of the
others unavailing.

After issuing a spirited proclamation to his
army, Soult lost no time in commencing opera
tions. His corps had been organized anew,
strongly reinforced, and strengthened in every
arm, and more particularly in artillery. To re
lieve Pamplona, it would be necessary to carry
the passes of Maya and Roncesvalles ; and accord
ingly, the French Marshal suddenly assembled
the wings of his army and a division of the centre,
at St. Jean Pied de Port ; while D Erlon, with
the remainder of the corps, concentrated at Es-
paletta.

By feints upon the smaller passes of Espagrie
and Lereta, D Erlon masked his real attempt,
which was to be made upon that of Maya, by
a mountain path from Espaletta. From several
suspicious appearances an attack was dreaded.
Some light companies had consequently been
ordered up and with the pickets, they were as-

BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES. 6?

sailed at noon in such force,* that, though sup
ported by the 34th, 50th, and 92nd, they were
driven back on a height communicating with
Echalar, when, reinforced by Barnes s brigade of
the seventh division, they succeeded in repulsing
the attack and holding their ground again.

The affair was very sanguinary. One wing of
the 92nd was nearly cut to pieces. All the regi
ments engaged highly distinguished themselves
and the 82nd in particular. The allies lost nearly
two thousand men, and four pieces of artillery.

Soult s advance on Roncesvalles was made in
imposing force ; but his movements were seen, and
the necessary dispositions made for defeating them.
General Byng, who commanded, sent Murillo s
Spanish division to observe the road of Arbaicete,
by which the pass of Maya might have been
turned on the right ; and descending the heights,
placed his own brigade in a position by which
that important road might be covered more effec
tually. Soult, however, directed his true attack
upon the left. Cole was overpowered and driven
back - but the Fusilier brigade sustained him,
and the attack throughout being met with steady
gallantry, was eventually defeated.

On Byng s division the French Marshal di-

* In fact, the picket was surprised the advanced videts
upon a height in its front having been overpowered by the
heat, had fallen asleep, and thus allowed the French to approach
the picket without giving an alarm,

F 2

68 BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES.

reeled his next effort ; and with a force so su
perior, that, though obstinately resisted, it proved
successful, so far as it obliged the weak brigades
of the English General to fall back upon the
mountains, and abandon the Arbaicete road,
while Murillo s Spaniards were driven on the
fourth division. Necessarily the whole fell back
at night-fall, and took a position in front of
Zubiri.

Picton s division united with the fourth next
morning, and both fell leisurely back as the
Duke of Dalmatia advanced. Picton continued
retiring on the 27th, and that evening took a
position in front of Pamplona to cover the block
ade. General Hill having already fallen back on
Irurita.

Nearly at this time Lord Wellington had come
up ; putting in motion the several corps which lay
in his route to the scene of action and at one end
of a mountain village he pencilled a despatch, as
a French detachment had entered by the other.
Having despatched the order, he galloped to the
place where Picton s divisions were drawn up
the third, on the right, in front of Huarte, and
extending to the heights of Olaz -and the fourth,
with Byng s and Campbell s brigades, formed
on the left; their right on the road from Ron-
cesvalles to Zubiri, and the left commanding
that from Ostiz to Pamplona. The reserve was
formed of the corps of Murillo and O Donel

BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES. 69

while, on the only ground on which cavalry could
act, the British dragoons were formed under Sir
Stapleton Cotton.

Soult had occupied the high grounds in the
front of those held by the allies. In the evening
he made an effort to possess a hill occupied by a
Portuguese and Spanish brigade on the right of
the fourth division. These troops steadily re
sisted the attack, and, supported by a British and
Spanish regiment, repulsed the French, until
darkness ended the firing on both sides.

Pack s division came up on the 28th, and took
a position in the rear of the fourth division, cover
ing the valley of the Lanz. The village of Sorau-
ren in their front was held by the French ; anrl,
in considerable force, they moved forward, and
thence attacked the sixth division. But this move
ment was exposed to a flanking fire, that obliged
the enemy to retire after suffering a serious loss.
On the left of the division, a regiment of Portu^
guese Cacadores were driven back by a simul
taneous attack but Ross s brigade came rapidly
forward, and completely repulsed the French. On
the right, a renewed effort partially succeeded, as
the Spanish regiments were deforced ; but the
40th came to the charge, and cleared the hill of

o ~

the enemy.

The French Marshal s efforts had been direct
ed against the whole of the heights held by the
fourth division. In almost all he was repelled

70 BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES.

but on the right of the brigade of Ross, Soult
was for a time successful, and Campbell s Portu
guese regiments, unable to bear the furious and
sustained attack, lost ground, and allowed the
enemy to establish a strong body of troops within
the allied position. Of necessity, General Ross,
having his flank turned, immediately fell back.
Wellington saw the crisis, and the 27th and 48th
were directed to recover the ground with the
bayonet. Ross moved forward in support, a
brilliant and bloody struggle terminated in the
total repulse of the French division, which, with
severe loss, was precipitately driven from the
height it had with such difficulty gained. At
this period of the fight, Pack s brigade advanced
up the hill. The French gave up further efforts
on the position, and a long, sanguinary, and de
termined contest terminated.

The fourth division in this affair had been
most gloriously distinguished. The bayonet,
in every trying exigency, was resorted to; the
charges were frequent, and some regiments, the
fusiliers (7th and 23rd), with the 20th and 40th,
repeatedly checked an advance, or recovered lost
ground, by " steel alone."

Hill s division had marched by Lanz, and Lord
Dalhousie from San Estevan on Lizasso, and
reached it on the 28th, The seventh division
moved to Marcelain, and covered the Pamplona
road. Soult, failing in his efforts on the front of

BATTLE OF TIJE PYRENEES. 71

the position, determined to attack Hill s corps,
turn the left of the allies, and thus relieve Pam
plona.

D Erlon had reached Ostiz on the 29th, and
Soult detached a division from his own position
to strengthen him. During the night of the
29th he crossed the Lanz, and occupied the
heights in front of the sixth and seventh divi-

o

sions, and withdrawing the corps hitherto posted
opposite the third English division, his left wing
closed in on the main position of the mountain,
directly in front of the fourth division. D Erlon s
corps, now considerably strengthened, communi
cated by the right of the Lanz with the heights
occupied by their left.

These dispositions of the French Marshal were
at once penetrated by Lord Wellington, and he
decided on driving the enemy from the main
position., which, from its importance, was very
strongly occupied.

Picton, crossing the heights from which the
French corps had been recently withdrawn, turn
ed the left of their position on the road to Hon-
cesvalles, while Lord Dalhousie advanced against
the heights in front of the seventh division, and
gained their right flank. Packenham, with the
sixth division, turned the village of Sorauren, and,
assisted by Byng s brigade, carried that of Ostiz.
These flank movements were executed with admi
rable rapidity, and enabled Cole, with part of the

72 BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES,

fourth division, to assault the front of the enemy s
position. His attack succeeded. The French
gave way, a noble chain of posts was forced on
every side, as well by the dashing gallantry of
the troops as the excellent dispositions of their
leader.

The French had endeavoured to outflank Ge
neral Hill ; but Pringle s brigade manoeuvred on
the heights above the La Zarza road, and as the
enemy extended by the right, they observed a
parallel direction. During these movements front
attacks were frequently and furiously made, and
always repulsed by the bayonet. Sir Rowland
steadily maintained bis position behind Lizasso,
until a strong corps, detached by D Erlon, suc
ceeded in filing round the left flank of the
British brigades. No result of any importance
ensued for Hill leisurely retired on a moun
tain position at Eguarras, a mile in the rear, and
every attempt made by D Erlon to dislodge him
proved a failure.

That night, Soult, discomfited in his numerous
and well-sustained attacks on every position of
the allied lines, fell back, and was vigorously
pursued by his opponent. Two divisions were
overtaken at the pass of Donna Maria, and brought
to action. Although most formidably posted,
they were driven from their ground by the second
and seventh divisions while at another point,
Barnes s brigade made a daring and successful

BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES. 73

attack on a corps of much superior strength,
formed in a difficult position.

Wellington continued the pursuit to Irurita,
the French retiring rapidly towards the frontier,
from whence they had so confidently advanced,
and on which they were as promptly obliged to
recede. In their retreat through the valley of
the Bidassao, the enemy s loss in prisoners and
baggage was considerable. A large convoy was
taken at Elizondo, and on the night of the 1st
of August, the entire of the French corps were
driven from the Spanish territory, and the British
bivouacs once more established on the same
ground which they had occupied previous to the
advance of the Duke of Dalmatia.

During a continued series of bold operations,
and constant and sustained attacks, the loss on
both sides could not but be immense. Soult s
amounted to at least eight thousand, and Wel
lington s to eight hundred and eighty-one killed,
five thousand five hundred and ten wounded,
and seven hundred and five missing. That the
French Marshal was perfectly confident of suc
ceeding, could be inferred from the tone of his
address to the army, and the mass of cavalry
and immense park of guns,* with which he had

* On the night of the 28th, Soult took the precaution of
sending his artillery into France, or, there is no doubt that
many of his guns would have been added to the immense park
already captured from Joseph at Vitoria.

74 BATTLE OF THE PYRENEES.

provided himself, and which, as they could not
be employed in mountain combats, were evi
dently designed to assist in future operations
that should succeed his deforcement of the allies
from the Pyrenees, and the raising of the block
ade of Pamplona. That garrison had sallied on
the 28th and seized on several batteries ; but
these were immediately recovered, and the sortie
defeated by the division of Don Carlos. Nothing
could have been more annoying to the French
Marshal than that he should have actually
reached within one league of the blockaded for
tress, and never be permitted afterwards to open
the slightest communication with its garrison.

75

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

Mountain bivouacs of the allies. Siege of San Sebastian re
sumed. Town taken by assault. Affair of San Marcial.
Castle invested. The garrison surrender. Operations of
the Anglo-Sicilian army.

AFTER the retreat of Soult, the British and their
allies resumed the positions from which they had
been dislodged by the advance of the French
Marshall and re-established head-quarters at Le-
zeca. A short period of comparative inactivity
succeeded : immediate operations could not be
commenced on either side, the enemy had been
too severely repulsed to permit their becoming
assailants again ; while, on the other hand, Wel
lington would not be justified in crossing the
frontier and entering a hostile country, with Pam
plona and St. Sebastian in his rear, and garrisoned
by the French.

Nothing could be more magnificent than the
positions of the British brigades. For many a
mile along the extended line of occupation, huts
crowning the heights or studding the deep val
leys below them, showed the rude dwellings of the
mighty mass of human beings collected in that At-

76 SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

pine country. At night the scene was still more
picturesque. The irregular surface of the sierras
sparkled with a thousand watch-fires, and the
bivouacs of the allies exhibited all the varieties
of light and shadow which an artist loves to
copy. To the occupants themselves, the views
obtained from their elevated abodes were grand
and imposing. One while obscured in fog, the
hum of voices alone announced that their com
rades were beside them,- -while at another, the
sun bursting forth in cloudless beauty, displayed
a varied scene, glorious beyond imagination. At
their feet the fertile plains of France presented
themselves, above, ranges of magnificent heights
towered in majestic grandeur to the skies, and
stretched into distance beyond the range of
sight.*

Although no military movements were made,
this inactive interval of a vigorous campaign was
usefully employed by the allied commander, in
organising anew the regiments that had suffered
most, concentrating the divisions, replacing ex
hausted stores, and perfecting the whole materiel
of the army. Those of the British near the coast,
compared with the corps that were blockading
Pamplona, lived comfortably in their mountain
bivouacs ; indeed, the task of covering a blockade
is the most disagreeable that falls to the sol
dier s lot. Exposed to cold and rain, continually

* " The Bivouac."

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 77

on the alert, and yet engaged in a duty devoid
of enterprise and interest, nothing could be more
wearying to the troops employed ; and desertions,
which during active service were infrequent, now
became numerous, and especially among the
Spaniards and Irish.

The siege of San Sebastian was renewed. Guns,
formerly employed, were re-landed, the trenches
occupied again, and a large supply of heavy
ordnance and mortars, received opportunely from
England, were placed in battery. Lord Wel
lington was reinforced by a company of sappers
and miners and the navy, under Sir George Col
lier, assisted him with both men and guns, The
batteries were consequently enlarged and a fu
rious sortie by the garrison on the night of the
24th producing little effect, on the 26th, a crush
ing fire opened from fifty-seven pieces of siege
artillery.

On the same night the island of Santa Clara,
situated at the entrance of the harbour, and par
tially enfilading the defences of the castle, was
surprised and stormed by a mixed party of sailors
and soldiers, and its garrison made prisoners.
On the 27th, a second sortie on the whole front
of the isthmus failed entirely, and the assail
ants were instantly driven back. The siege and
working artillery* had been now augmented to

* "The French lost many men by our spherical case-shot; and
they attempted to imitate what they had found so destructive,

78 SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

eighty pieces and on the 30th the breaches were
so extensively battered down, that Lord Wel
lington issued orders that they should be assault
ed, and the next morning was named for the at
tempt.*

In the annals of modern warfare, there is no
conflict recorded so sanguinary and so desperate
as the storming of that well-defended breach.
During the blockade, every resource of military
ingenuity was tried by the French governor and
the failure of the first assault, with the subsequent
raising of the siege, emboldened the garrison,
and rendered them the more confident of holding
out until Soult could advance and succour them.
The time from which the battering guns had
been withdrawn, until they had been again placed
in battery, was assiduously employed in con
structing new defences and strengthening the
old ones. But though the place when reinvest
ed was more formidable than before, the besieg
ers appeared only the more determined to re
duce it.f

Morning broke gloomily an intense mist

by filling common shells with small balls, and bursting them over
the heads of the besiegers ; but these were without effect."

" Men were now invited to volunteer for the assault, such
men, it was said, * as knew how to show other troops how to
mount a breach/ When this was communicated to the fourth
division, which was to furnish four hundred men, the whole
division moved forward." Southey.

f " A mortar battery was erected to shell the castle from
across the bay, while a storm of round and case-shot was

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 79

obscured every object, and the work of slaughter
was for a time delayed. At nine the sea breeze
cleared away the fog ; the sun shone gloriously
out and in two hours the forlorn hope issued
from the trenches. The columns succeeded,*
and every gun from the fortress that could bear,
opened on them with shot and shells. The ap
pearance of the breach was perfectly delusive
nothing living could reach the summit no cou
rage, however desperate, could overcome the
difficulties, for they were alike unexpected and
insurmountable. In vain the officers rushed for
ward, and devotedly were they followed by their
men. From intrenched houses behind the breach,
the traverses, and the ramparts of the curtain,
a withering discharge of musketry was poured
on the assailants, while the Mirador and Prince
batteries swept the approaches with their guns.
To survive this concentrated fire was impossible ;
the forlorn hope were cut off to a man, and the

maintained so vigorously, that in a short time the fire of the
enemy was nearly silenced."

In a tempest of thunder, lightning, and rain, and amid the
uproar of elemental fury, three mines, loaded with sixteen hun
dred pounds of powder, were sprung by the besiegers, and the
sea wall completely blown down.

The storming party was composed of volunteers ; and they
were given by the light, first, and fourth divisions, the brigades
of Hay and Robinson, and the cacadores of General Spry.
Robinson s brigade led the storm, and General Leith com
manded the division.

80 SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

heads of the columns annihilated. At last the
debouches were choked with the dead and wound
ed, and a further passage to the breach rendered
impracticable, from the heap of corpses that were
piled upon each other.

Then, in that desperate moment, when hope
might have been supposed to be over, an ex
pedient unparalleled in the records of war was
resorted to. The British batteries opened on the
curtain and the storming parties heard with sur
prise the roar of cannon in the rear, while, but
a few feet above their heads, their iron shower
hissed horribly, and swept away the enemy and
their defences.

This was the moment for a fresh effort. Another
brigade was moved forward and favoured by an
accidental explosion upon the curtain, which con
fused the enemy while it encouraged the assail
ants, the terre-plain was mounted, and the French
driven from the works. A long and obstinate
resistance was continued in the streets, which
were in many places barricaded but by five in
the evening opposition ceased, and the town was
in the possession of the British, Seven hun
dred of the garrison were prisoners, and the re
mainder, either disabled in the assault or shut up
in the castle.

The unfortunate town seemed alike devoted
by friends and enemies to destruction. The con
querors were roaming through the streets the

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 81

castle firing on the houses beneath its guns. In
many places fires had broken out and a storm
of thunder, rain, and lightning, added to the
confusion of a scene which even in warfare finds
no parallel.

The assault of San Sebastian cost a large ex
pense of life, there being seven hundred and
sixty-one killed, one thousand six hundred and
ninety-seven wounded, and forty-five missing,
and in that number many valuable officers were
included. The head of the engineer department,
Sir Richard Fletcher, was killed- and Generals
Leith,* Oswald, and Robinson were returned in
the list of wounded.

The Spanish corps of Friere formed a part of
the covering army, and occupied the heights of
San Marcial. Their front and left flank were
covered by the Bidassao, and their right appuied
upon the Sierra de Hay a. On these heights
Longa s guerillas w r ere posted, and the first divi
sion in rear of Irun. The reserve was behind
the left.

The French showed themselves at Vera on the
30th, and in consequence Generals Inglis and

* " A plunging shot struck the ground near the spot where
Sir James was standing, rebounded, struck him on the chest,
and laid him prostrate and senseless. The officers near thought
that certainly he was killed ; but he recovered breath, and then
recollection, and, resisting all entreaties to quit the field, con
tinued to issue his orders." Southey.

VOL. II. G

82 SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

Ross were moved, the former to the bridge of
Lezeca, and the latter to a position on the Haya
mountain, while a Portuguese brigade secured it
from being turned on the right.

Two of the enemy s divisions forded the river
on the morning of the 31st, and, in the front of
the Spanish left wing, mounted the heights with
determined gallantry. On this occasion the Spa
niards behaved with courage worthy of their once
chivalric name. Coolly waiting until the French
divisions had topped the heights, they rushed
forward with the bayonet, and bore them dow r n
the hill. So completely were they broken by
this sudden and unexpected charge, that, driven
into the river by the impetuosity of their assail
ants, many missed the fords and perished."

Undismayed by the repulse, a pontoon bridge
was thrown across the Bidassao, and passing four
teen thousand men, the French advanced again
with renewed confidence against the Spanish lines.
Wellington, in person, was present on the hill
his appearance was enthusiastically hailed and
deeds afterwards attested how powerful the in
fluence of that presence proved. Before the
French could gain the summit, the Spanish bat
talions boldly advanced to meet them ; a bayonet
rush was made the enemy recoiled the allies
pressed them closely a panic resulted some
rushed into the deeps of the Bidassao, and were
drowned ; others succeeded in finding the fords

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 83

and escaped. A multitude hurried towards the
bridge ; it soon was choked with fugitives
the pressure became too heavy for the pontoons
to support it suddenly sank and of those upon
it at the moment, few indeed gained the other
bank in safety.

A renewed discomfiture, attended with such
fatal consequences, and achieved by troops they
had hitherto despised, astonished and chagrined
the French officers ; while the allied leader, sur
prised by this brilliant display of unwonted he
roism, bestowed his highest commendation on the
Spanish troops.

A simultaneous attack was made on the road
leading to San Sebastian by the right of the Haya
mountain, which runs past the village of Oyar-
zum. As the position was defective, the Portu
guese brigade, which with Inglis corps had been
intrusted with its defence, fell back on the bold
and rocky ridge on which stands the convent
of San Antonio. Here, too, the French efforts
were unavailing, and the enemy retired in despair.
In the mean time heavy rains had caused a
mountain flood the river became impassable,
the fords could not be crossed, and the bridge
of Vera offered the only point by which they
could retreat. That passage could not be effect
ed with rapidity and before one half of the
French column had defiled, the light divisions
were on the banks, and had opened a severe

G 2

84 SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN.

and constant fire. This, with other losses, made
the effort to relieve San Sebastian a most in
felicitous attempt. Two generals and fifteen
hundred men were lost on these occasions, and
that, too, by a signal repulse from a force in
variably mentioned by the French Marshals as
contemptible.

Vigorous measures were in preparation for the
reduction of the castle of San Sebastian. From
the height of its escarpe, and the solidity of the
masonry, La Mota could not be assaulted with
any certainty of success and a regular invest
ment was requisite to obtain the place.

On the 1st of September the mortar-batteries
commenced throwing shells ; and, as the castle
was indifferently provided with bomb-proof case
mates, a considerable loss induced the governor*
to offer a capitulation, but the terms were not such
as could be granted. Batteries with heavy ord
nance were erected on the works of the town,
and on the 8th opened with such terrible effect,
that in two hours the place was unconditionally
surrendered. The garrison amounted to eighteen
hundred men, of whom nearly a third were dis
abled.

San Sebastian was held to the last with excel
lent judgment and dauntless gallantry. Indeed,
the loss of the besiegers bore melancholy confir
mation of the fact, for the reduction of that

* General Rey.

ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY. 85

fortress cost the allies nearly four thousand men.
*****

Before we record the triumphant entrance into
the French territory by the allied troops, it may
be necessary to casually notice the proceedings
of the Anglo-Sicilian army in the east of Spain.

Lord Wellington had arranged, as a part of
the military operations of the brilliant campaign
of 1813, the liberation of Valencia, by forcing
Suchet from that province, and obliging him to
abandon afterwards the line of the Lower Ebro.
This was perfectly practicable. The Spanish
commanders were in force in Catalonia, Del
Parque in Murcia and Grenada, the coast was
open to the English shipping and Sir John
Murray could embark at Alicant, and land his
army on any part of Catalonia that he pleased.

In pursuance of this plan, Sir John Murray
appeared before Tarragona on the 2nd of June,
landed next morning, and invested the place.
His opening operations were successful. Fort
Balaguer, after a day s bombardment, surrendered ;
and the French were confined to the possession of
the inner defences of the town.

The siege was proceeding with every promise
of a successful result, when Murray, learning that
Suchet was advancing from Valencia, and Ma-
thieu from Barcelona, raised it with such unne
cessary precipitation, that nineteen battering guns
were abandoned in the trenches, and the in fan-

86 ANGLO-SICILIAN ARMY.

try and cavalry reimbarked with an ill-judged
haste, that at the time not only produced con
siderable dissatisfaction among the troops, but
afterwards subjected Sir John Murray to a court-
martial. That it was a most uncalled-for proceed
ing on the part of the English General was sub
sequently ascertained, for at the same moment
Murray, Suchet, and Mathieu were actually re
tiring from each other. Murray suspected that
he should be exposed to a combined attack
Mathieu dared not venture singly on the Eng
lish and Suchet, having left his artillery at
Tortosa, feared to attack while unprovided with
that most essential arm.

Lord William Bentinck s subsequent attempt
on Tarragona, when Suchet retreated from the
Ebro into Catalonia, was equally unsuccessful.
Having moved from Villa Franca and advanced
across to Ordal, on the night of the 12th of
September, he was furiously attacked, and driven
back on the main body, with a loss of four
guns, and a thousand men hors ck combat. The
British retreated, pursued by Suchet and Decaen ;
and, after an affair between the Brunswick hus
sars and a French cuirassier regiment, highly
creditable to the former, the English returned to
Tarragona, and the French to their cantonments
on the Llobregat. Lord Wellington resigned
the command to General Clinton, and resumed
that which he had previously held in Sicily.

BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO.

Battle of the Bidassao. Fall of Pamplona.

THE capture of San Sebastian permitted the
allied leader to prepare for a decisive movement
so soon as the reduction of Pamplona would war
rant his advance across the frontier. The enemy
were strongly posted on the right bank of the
Bidassao in front of Vera, and preparatory to
assuming the offensive, Wellington determined
to force that position and occupy it himself.

Every arrangement was made with his habitual
secrecv. The fords were sounded and marked

w

by fishermen, who created no suspicion, as, to all
appearance, they were following their customary
avocation, and hence their proceedings were un
noticed by the French videts. All was prepared
for the attempt and at midnight, on the 6th of
October, the British divisions got silently under
arms. A storm was raging furiously thunder
was pealing round them lightning in quick and
vivid flashes flared across the murky sky the
elemental uproar was reverberated among the
Alpine heights above and a wilder night was

88 BATTLE OF THE BADASSAO.

never chosen for a military operation. Gradually
the tempest exhausted its fury the wind fell
the rain ceased - an overwhelming heat succeed
ed - - and when the morning broke, the leading
brigades, at seven different points, plunged into
the Bidassao ; while a rocket rose from the an
cient steeple of Fontarabia, and the signal was
answered by a combined movement from the
heights of all the divisions there drawn up in
order of battle.

Perfect success crowned this daring essay. The
leading columns were nearly across the river be
fore the French fire opened. Ground, difficult
and broken in itself, had been carefully strength
ened with numerous field-works; but all gave
way before the desperate valour of the assailants.
The light division, with the Spaniards under
Longa, carried the intrenched position of Puerta-
de-Vera. Redoubt and abattis were stoutly de
fended ; but from all, in quick succession, the
enemy were driven at the point of the bayonet.
Night fell- -the attack had everywhere succeed
ed - and the victors bivouacked on the field they
won; and, for the first time, the allied forces
slept upon French ground.

Here the British commander established him
self, and awaited the fall of Pamplona, which
Soult s repeated defeats rendered inevitable. The
garrison still obstinately held out; and when their
provisions were nearly exhausted, it was rumour-

BATTLE OF THE BADASSAO. 89

ed that they intended, rather than surrender, to
blow up the works, and take their chance of es
caping. But an assurance from the Spanish com
mander, Don Carlos, that, should the place be
destroyed, he would hang the governor and of
ficers, and decimate the men, prevented the at
tempt ; and, on the 30th of October, the garrison
yielded themselves prisoners of war, and the place
surrendered.

Winter had now set in, and a season of un
usual severity commenced. The allies were sadly
exposed to the weather, and an increasing diffi
culty was felt every day in procuring necessary
supplies. Forage became so scarce, that part of the
cavalry had nothing for their horses but grass ;
while the cattle for the soldiers rations, driven
sometimes from the interior of Spain, perished
in immense numbers by the way, or reached the
camp so wretchedly reduced in condition, as to
be little better than carrion. Resources from the
sea could not be trusted to ; in blowing weather
the coast was scarcely approachable, and even in
the sheltered harbour of Passages, the transports
could with difficulty ride to their moorings, in
consequence of the heavy swell that tumbled in
from the Atlantic. The cold became intense,
sentries were frozen at their posts, - - and a picket
at -Roncesvalles, regularly snowed up, was saved
with great difficulty. All this plainly showed
that the present position of the allies was not

90 BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO.

tenable much longer, and that a forward move
ment into France was unavoidable.

But great difficulties in advancing presented
themselves ; and, all things considered, success
was a matter of uncertainty. Soult s army had
been powerfully reinforced by the last conscrip
tion ; and for three months the French Mar
shal had been indefatigable in fortifying the
whole line of his position, and strengthening his
defences, wherever the ground would admit an
enemy to approach. The field-works extended
from the sea to the river, as the right rested on
St. Jean-de-Luz, and the left on the Nivelle.
The centre was at La Petite Ilhune and the
heights of Sarre\ The whole position passed in
a half-circle through Irogne, Ascain, Sarr6, Ain-
houe, and Espelette. Though the centre was
commanded by a higher ridge, a narrow valley
interposed between them. The entire front was
covered with works, and the sierras defended by
a chain of redoubts. The centre was particularly
strong, as a regular work, ditched and palisaded,
protected it.

To turn the position, by advancing Hill s corps
through St. Jean Pied-de-Port, was first deter
mined on ; but, on consideration, this plan of
operations was abandoned, and, strong as the cen
tre was, the allied leader resolved that on it his
attack should be directed, while the heights of

BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO. 91

Ainhoue, which formed its support, should, if
possible, be simultaneously carried,

A commander less nerved than Lord Welling
ton, would have lacked resolution for this bold
and masterly operation. Everything was against
him, and every chance favoured the enemy. The
weather was dreadful the rain fell in torrents,
and while no army could move, the French had the
advantage of the delay, to complete the defences
of a position which was already deemed perfect
almost as art and nature could render it. Nor
did their powerful works produce in the enemy
a false security. Aware of the man and the
troops which threatened them, they were always
ready for an attack. Their outpost duty was
rigidly attended to. Before day their corps were
under arms and the whole line of defences con
tinued fully garrisoned until night permitted the
troops to be withdrawn.

At last the weather moderated. On the 7th,
Ainhoue was reconnoitred by Wellington in per
son, and the plan of the attack arranged. No
operation could be more plain or straightfor
ward. The centre was to be carried by columns
of divisions, and the right centre turned. To all
the corps the respective points of attack were as
signed, and to the light division and Longa s
Spaniards the storming of La Petite Rhune was
confided. The latter were to be supported by

BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO.

Alten s cavalry, three brigades of British artillery,
and three mountain guns.

The 8th had been named for the attack, but
the roads were so dreadfully cut up, that neither
the artillery nor Hill s brigade could get into po
sition, and it was postponed for two days longer.
The 10th dawned, a clear and moonlight morn
ing. Long before day, Lord Wellington, and
several of the generals of division and brigade,
with their respective staffs, had assembled in a
small wood, five rmndred yards from the redoubt
above the village of Sarre", where they only wait
ed for sufficient light to commence the attack.

Nothing could exceed the courage and rapi
dity with which the troops rushed on, and over
came every artificial and natural obstacle. The
third and seventh advanced in front of the vil
lage. Downie s Spanish brigade attacked the
right, while the left was turned by Cole s, and
the whole of the first line of defences remained
in possession of the allies.

On this glorious occasion, the light division
was pre-eminently distinguished. By moonlight
it moved from the greater LaRhune, and formed
in a ravine which separates the bolder from the
lesser height. This latter was occupied in force
by the enemy, and covered on every assailable
point with intrenchments. As morning broke,
the British light troops rushed from the hollow
which had concealed them. To withstand their

BATTLE OF THE BID ASS AO. 93

assault was impossible work after work was
stormed ; on they went with irresistible bravery,
and on the summit of the hill united themselves
with Cole s division, and pushed forward against
the intrenched heights behind, which formed the
strongest part of the position. Here a momen
tary check arrested their progress the support
ing force (Spanish) were too slow, and the ground
too rugged for the horse artillery to get over it
at speed. The rifles were attacked in turn,
and for a moment driven back by a mass of the
enemy. But the reserve came up; again the
light troops rushed forward the French gave
way and the whole of the lower ridge was left
in possession of the assailants.

For four hours the combat had raged, and in

t

every point the British were victorious. A more
formidable position remained behind, and Wel
lington combined his efforts for a vigorous and
general attack.

This mountain position extended from Mon-
darin to Ascain. A long valley, through which
the Nivelle flows, traverses it ; and as the ground
is unequal, the higher points were crowned with
redoubts, and the spaces of leveller surface occu
pied by the French in line or column, as the
nature of the ground best admitted. Men in
clined to fight never had a field that offered so
many advantages ; and there were none, save the
British leader, and the splendid army he com-

94 BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO.

manded, who would venture to assault equal
numbers, posted as the enemy were.

The dispositions were soon complete the word
was given and in six columns, with a chain of
skirmishers in front, the allies advanced to the
attack.

To carry a strong work, or assail a body of
infantry in close column, placed on the crest of an
acclivity that requires the attacking force to halt
frequently for breathing-time, requires a desperate
and enduring valour which few armies can boast.
Such bravery on that occasion characterized the
allied divisions. Masses posted on a steep height
were forced from it by the bayonet, though hand
and foot were necessary to enable the assaulting
party to reach them. Redoubts were carried at
a run, or so rapidly turned by the different
brigades, that the defenders had scarcely time to
escape by the rear. Nothing could resist the
dash and intrepidity of the British ; and over the
whole extent of that formidable position, on no
point did the attack fail.

The French were driven from their works, and
forced in great confusion on the bridge of the
Nivelle. One redoubt, from its superior strength,
had been obstinately maintained but the regi
ment that occupied it was completely cut off from
retreating, and all made prisoners.

In every other point the British attack suc
ceeded. Hill s division carried the heights of

BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO. 95

Ainhoue, the whole of the redoubts falling to
the British and Portuguese under Hamilton ;
while Stewart drove the enemy from a parallel
ridge in the rear and the divisions, by a united
attack, forcing the enemy from their works at
Espelette, obliged them to retire towards Cambo ;
thus gaining the rear of the position originally
occupied, and forcing Soult s centre on his right.

The French Marshal formed in great force on
the high grounds over Ascain and St. Pe, and
Lord Wellington made instant dispositions to
attack him. Three divisions, the third, sixth,
and seventh, advanced against the heights two
by the left of the Nivelle, and one, the sixth,
by the right bank. As the position was exceed
ingly strong, the enemy determined to hold it
to the last, and maintained a furious cannonade,
supported by a heavy fire of musketry. But the
steady and imposing advance of the allies could
not be repelled and the French retired hastily.
The right of the position was thus entirely cut
through and though for months the Duke of
Dalmatia had been arming every vulnerable point,
and his engineers had used their utmost skill in
perfecting its defences, the British commander s
dispositions were so admirably made and so gal
lantly carried out, that his numerous and most
difficult attacks were crowned with brilliant suc
cess, unalloyed by a single failure,

Night ended the battle, - - the firing ceased,

96 BATTLE OF THE BIDASSAO.

Soult retreated, and covered by the darkness
withdrew a beaten army, that had numbered fully
seventy thousand men. His killed and wounded
exceeded three thousand, besides a loss of fifty
guns, and twelve hundred prisoners. The allies
reckoned their casualties at two thousand four
hundred killed and wounded ; which, the nature
of the ground, the strength of its defences, and
the corps d armke that held it considered, was a
loss comparatively light.

97

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

French and English positions .Wellington advances. The
left wing of the allies attacked. Soult defeated. .The
French Marshal attacks the right, and is severely repulsed
by General Hill. Sir Rowland drives the French from their
position, and Soult retires within his lines. Defection of
German regiments, who come over to the allies.

SOULT halted his different corps in the intrench
ed camp of Bayonne, and Wellington cantoned
his troops two miles in front of his opponent, in
lines extending from the sea to the Nivelle, his
right stretching to Cambo and his left resting on
the coast. This change in his cantonments was
productive of serious advantages. His wearied
soldiery obtained rest, and many comforts which
in their mountain bivouacs were unattainable;
and though the enemy possessed unlimited com
mand of a well-supplied district for their forag
ing parties, and the surface over which Lord
Wellington might obtain supplies was necessa
rily circumscribed, his direct communication with
the sea, and a month s rest in tolerable quarters,
recruited his exhausted army and produced the
best results.

But Wellington merely waited to mature his
VOL. n. H

98 PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

preparations arid, to extend his line of supply,
he determined to seize the strong ground be
tween the Nive and the Adour, and confine
Soult to the immediate vicinity of his own
camp. Accordingly, on the 9th of December,
the left wing of the allies, advancing by the road
of St. Jean de Luz, gained the heights domineer
ing the intrenchments of the French. The right
forded the Nive above Cambo while, by a bridge
of boats, Clinton crossed at Nostariz, and obliged
the enemy, to avoid being cut off, to fall back on
Bayonne. At night, the French having retired to
their posts within the fortified position they had
occupied, Hope, with the left of the allies, recross-
ed the river to his former cantonments, having
a direct communication open with Sir Rowland
Hill, who had taken a position with his divi
sion, his right on the Adour, his centre in the
village of St. Pierre, and his left appuied on the
heights of Ville Franque. Murillo s division was
in observation at Urcuray, and a cavalry corps at
Hasparren.

The relative positions of the rival armies were
greatly different. Soult possessed immense ad
vantages ; his corps d armee were compactly bi
vouacked, with easy communications, every faci
lity for rapid concentration, and the citadel of
Bayonne to protect him if he found it necessary
to fall back. The allies extended over an irre
gular line intersected by the Nive, with bad

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR. 99

roads, that rendered any rapid reinforcement of a
threatened point altogether impracticable. Hence,
Wellington was everywhere open to attack and
Soult could fall on him with overwhelming num-

o

bers and force an unequal combat, while but a
part of the allies could be opposed to the com
bined efforts of the enemy. The French Marshal
was aware of this and it was not long before
he endeavoured to profit by his advantage.

The left of the allies, under Sir John Hope,
had the fifth division (Hay s) posted on the
heights of Barouillet, with Campbell s Portu
guese brigade on a narrow ridge immediately in
their front. At Arcangues. the light division

O " O

was formed on a strong height, at a distance of
two miles from the fifth. The positions were
separated by the low grounds between the hills,
and the corps were consequently unconnected.
Although both were strongly posted, still, in case
of an attack, each must trust entirely to its own
resources, and repulse the enemy without count
ing on support from the other.

Early on the 10th of December, Soult appear
ed on the road of St. Jean de Luz, and in great
force marched directly against the allied left.
The light and fifth divisions were simultaneously
assailed ; the former driven back into its in-
trenchments, and Campbell s brigade forced back
upon Hay s at Barouillet. The intermediate
ground between the allied positions was now in

H %

100 PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

the possession of the enemy, and thus Soult was
enabled to attack the right of the fifth with
vigour. Although assailed in front and flank,
the allied division gallantly withstood the assault ;
and when the position was completely penetrated,
the orchard on the right forced and occupied
by the French with overwhelming numbers, the
British and Portuguese held the heights, and,
while whole sections fell, not an inch of ground
was yielded.

Another and a more determined effort was
made by the French Marshal, and made in vain.
By a bold and well-timed movement of the 9th
British and a Portuguese battalion, wheeling
round suddenly and charging the French rear,
the enemy were driven back with the loss of a
number of prisoners. Fresh troops were fast ar
riving the Guards came into action and Lord

O

Wellington reached the battle-ground from the
right. But the French had been repulsed in their
last attempt so decisively that they did not ven
ture to repeat it. Evening closed the firing
gradually died away and the allied divisions
held the same positions, from which Soult, with
an immense numerical superiority in men and
guns, had vainly striven to force them.

The slaughter was great on both sides and
wearied by long-sustained exertion and weak
ened by its heavy loss, the fifth division was re
lieved by the first, who occupied the post their

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUll. 101

comrades had maintained so gloriously. The
fourth and seventh were placed in reserve, and
enabled, in case of attack, to assist on either
point, if Soult, on the following morning, as was
expected, should again attempt to make himself
master of Barouillet.

Nothing could surpass the reckless gallantry
displayed by the British officers throughout this
long and sanguinary struggle. Sir John Hope,
with his staff, was always seen where the contest
was most furious ; and the only wonder was that
in a combat so close and murderous, one remark
able alike in personal appearance and " daring
deed," should have outlived that desperate day.
His escapes indeed were many. He was wound
ed in the leg contused in the shoulder- -four
musket-bullets passed through his hat, and he
lost two horses. General Robinson, in command
of the second brigade, was badly wounded and
Wellington himself was constantly exposed to
fire. Unable to determine where the grand effort
of his adversary should be directed, he passed
repeatedly from one point of the position to the
other and that life so valuable to all beside,
seemed " of light estimation" to himself alone.

The next sun rose to witness a renewal of the
contest. In their attack upon the light division
at Arrangues, the French, driven from the de
fended posts the chateau and church-yard af
forded, retired to the plateau of Bassusarry, and

102 PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

there established themselves for the night. Dur
ing the forenoon some slight affairs between the
pickets occurred ; but at noon the fusilade having
ceased, the allies collected wood, lighted fires, and
cooked their dinners. At two, a considerable
stir was visible in the enemy s line, and their
pioneers were seen cutting down the fences for
the passage of artillery. Soult s first demonstra
tion of attack was made against Arrangues, but
that was only to mask his real object. Present
ly his tirailleurs swarmed out in front of Ba-
rouillet, attacked the British outposts, drove the
pickets back, and moving in strong columns by
the Bayonne road, furiously assailed the heights
of the position. The wood-cutters, surprised by
the sudden onset of the French, hurried back to
resume their arms and join their regiments ; while
the enemv, mistaking the cause of this rush to

mf * C2

their alarm posts, supposed a panic had seized
the troops, and pressed forward with increased
impetuosity. But the same results attended their
attempt upon the first as on the fifth division;
and the French were driven back with heavy
loss. In the contests of two days not an inch of
ground was yielded, and the left wing of the
allies remained firm in its position, when night
brought the combat to a close.

During the 12th, Soult still continued in front
of the heights of Barouillet, and preserved
throughout the day a threatening attitude. No

u

f \

. ..&<.**"

A.I

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR. 103

serious attack, however, was made ; some sharp
skirmishing occurred between the pickets, and
darkness ended these occasional affairs.

The grand object of the French Marshal, in
his sustained attacks upon the allied left, was to
force the position and penetrate to St. Jean de
Luz. Although so severely handled in his at
tempts upon the 10th and llth, the bustle visible
along his line, and the activity of the officers of
his staff during the morning of the 12th, showed
that he still meditated a fresh effort. The im
posing appearance of the allied troops on the
heights of Barouillet, induced him to change his
intention ; and he made arrangements to throw
his whole disposable force suddenly upon the
right wing of the British, and attack Sir Rowland
Hill with overwhelming numbers.

This probable attack had been foreseen by Lord
Wellington and, with his accustomed caution,
means had been adopted to render it unsuccessful.
In the event of assistance being required, the
sixth division was placed at HilPs disposal ; and
early on the morning of the 13th, the third and
fourth divisions moved towards the right of the
allied lines, and were held in readiness to pass
the river should circumstances demand it. As
Lord Wellington had anticipated, Soult marched
his main body through Bayonne during the
night of the 12th, and at daylight pushing for
ward thirty thousand men in columns of great

104 PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

strength, attacked furiously the right wing of the
allies.

Hill had only fourteen thousand British and
Portuguese to repel the French Marshal s assault,
but the ground he occupied was capable of being
vigorously defended. On the right, General
Byng s brigade was formed in front of the Vieux
Monguerre, occupying a ridge, with the Adour
upon the right, and the left flanked by several
mill-dams. General Pringle held the ridge of Ville
Franque with his brigade ; the Nive ran in front
of his left, and his right also appuied on several
mill-dams. The brigades of Generals Barnes and
Ash worth were posted on a range of heights op
posite the village of St. Pierre while two Por
tuguese brigades were formed in reserve imme
diately behind Ville Franque. The general form
of the line nearly described a crescent and
against its concave side, the efforts of the French
Marshal were principally directed. The position
extended from the Adour to the Nive, occupying
a space, from right to left, of four miles.

The outposts stationed on the road from Bay-
onne to St. Jean Pied de Port were driven back
by the enemy s tirailleurs, followed by the main
body of the French, who mounted the sloping
ground in front of the British position, and sup-
ported by another division, which moved by a
hollow way between the left centre and Pringle s
brigade, came forward in massive columns. Sir

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR. 105

Rowland Hill at once perceived that Soult s
design was to force his centre, and carry the
heights of St. Pierre. To strengthen that part of
the position, the brigade of General Byng was
promptly moved to the right of the centre, leav
ing the Third (Buffs) regiment and some light
companies at Vieux Monguerre \vhile a Portu
guese brigade was marched from behind Ville
Franque to support the left. The sixth division
was apprised of the threatened attack, and an aide-
de-camp despatched to order its immediate march
upon the centre.

The French came on with all the confidence
of superior strength, and a full determination
to break through the British position, and thus
achieve upon the right, that object which they
had twice essayed upon the left in vain. Ex
posed to a tremendous fire of grape from the
British guns, and a withering fusilade from the
light infantry, they pressed steadily on, and, by
strength of numbers, succeeded in gaining ground
in front of the heights. But further they never
could attain, as the supporting brigades joined on
either flank, and every continued essay to force
the centre was repulsed. A long and bloody
combat, when renewed, produced no happier re
sult, for the allies obstinately held their position.
The Buffs and light companies, who had been
forced by an overwhelming superiority to retire for
a time from Vieux Monguerre, reformed, charged

106 PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

into the village, and won it back at the point of
the bayonet when, after exhausting his whole
strength in hopeless efforts to break the British
line, Soult abandoned the attack, and reluctantly
gave the order to fall back.

Not satisfied with repelling the enemy s attack,
Hill in turn became the assailant, and boldly pur
sued the broken columns as they retired from
the front of the position. On a high ground in
advance of his intrenched lines, Soult drew up
in force, and determined to fall back no further.
The hill was instantly assaulted by Byng s bri
gade led on by the General in person. Un
checked by a storm of grape ; and a heavy fire
of musketry, the British, reinforced by a Portu
guese brigade, carried the height, and the French
were beaten from a strong position with a serious
loss in men, and the capture of two pieces of
cannon.

The third and sixth divisions came up as quickly
as distance and difficult roads would permit- -but
the contest was ended ; and Hill,* unassisted by
any supporting troops, had, with his own corps,

* " This glorious battle was fought and won by Sir Rowland
Hill with his own corps, alone and unassisted. Lord Welling
ton could not reach the field till the victory was achieved,, and
as he rode up to his successful general, he shook him heartily
by the hand, with the frank remark, < Hill, the day s your
own. He was exceedingly delighted with Sir Rowland s calm
and beautiful conduct of this action, and with the intrepid
and resolute behaviour of the troops." Sherer.

PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR. 107

achieved a complete and glorious victory. Every
effort, continued with unabated vigour for five
days, and with decided advantages on his side,
had signally failed and the Duke of Dalmatia
was forced again to retire within his fortified lines
between the Nive and the Adour, while the allies
pushed their advanced posts to the verge of the
valley immediately in front of St. Pierre.

In these continued actions the loss on both
sides was immense. In the casualties of the 9th,
10th, llth, 12th, and 13th of December, the
total, including four generals, amounted to five
thousand and sixty-one hors de combat.

The French loss was infinitely greater it is
but a moderate estimate to place it at six thou
sand men. Indeed, no contests, sanguinary as
most of them had been during the Peninsular
campaigns, were attended with greater loss of
life and those well-accustomed to view a battle
field, expressed astonishment at the slaughter the
limited spaces, on which the repeated struggles
had occurred, exhibited at the close of every
succeeding engagement.

Soult, defeated in the presence of thousands of
his countrymen, and with every advantage lo
cality could confer, had no apology to offer for
the failure of his attacks and if any additional
mortification were necessary, the defection of the
regiments of Nassau - Usingen and Frankfort
would have completed it. After the first attempt

108 PASSAGE OF THE ADOUR.

upon the allied left, these regiments abandoned
the service of Napoleon ; and, on an assurance
of their being sent home, they came over in a
body to the fourth division.

The winter had now set in with severity and
ended all military movements for a season. The
roads were impassable from constant rain, and
the low grounds heavily flooded. The French
took up cantonments on the right bank of the
Adour ; while the allies occupied the country
between the left of that river and the sea. Every
means were employed to render the troops com
fortable in their winter quarters and to guard
against surprise, telegraphs were erected in com
munication with every post, which, by a simple
combination of flags, transmitted intelligence
along the line of the cantonments, and apprised
the detached officers of the earliest movement of
the enemy. Abundant supplies, and the ad
vantage of an open communication with Eng
land, enabled the army to recruit its strength
and, with occasional interruptions of its quiet,
the year 1813 passed away and another, " big
with the fate of empires," was ushered in.

109

BATTLE OF ORTHEZ.

Weather changes. Operations recommence. Harispe driven
from his position by Wellington. Preparations for passing
the Adour. Guards and Rifles cross over are attacked, but
maintain their ground until reinforced. Soult takes a posi
tion at Orthez.

THE intrenchments into which Soult, on the
failure of his attempts upon the allied positions,
had withdrawn his troops, covered the approach
to Bayonne on the side opposite to Anglet, re
taining however, the village and the range of
heights from the Biarits to the Nive. This strong
camp rested its left flank on the river, below the
Chateau de Marrac and its walled gardens the
whole position forming the segment of a circle,
of which the cathedral of Bayonne might have
been considered a centre, the extension being from
the Nive to the Adour, opposite the Chateau de
St. Bernard.

Soult prolonged his line to the confluence of
the Bidouse below Guiche, and established head
quarters at Peyrehorade, at the junction of the
Gave de Pau with the Gave de Oleron. The right
of the French army was commanded by Count

110 BATTLE OF ORTHEZ.

Reille, the left by Clausel, the centre by D Erlon,
and a division at St. Jean Pied de Port, by Harispe.

Six weeks passed on. The weather was too in
clement to allow movements to be made on either
side and the French Marshal was occupied in
defending his extensive lines, and the allied Ge
neral in preparing secretly for passing the Adour.

In February the weather changed the cross
roads became practicable and Lord Wellington,
with his characteristic promptness, commenced
preparatory movements for the execution of his
grand conception.

To distract the attention of Soult from the
defence of the Adour, Wellington threatened
the French left on the Bidouse, and directed
Hill s corps against that of Harispe. The latter,
leaving St. Jean Pied de Port garrisoned, fell
back on Hellete ; retiring subsequently on the
heights of La Montague, and next day, uniting
with another corps. Thus strengthened, Harispe
formed in order of battle on a very strong po
sition to the right of Garris.

The road, however, communicating with the
bridge of St. Palais was uncovered and though
evening had come on, and the second division,
and a Spanish corps under Murillo, were alone
in hand, Lord Wellington determined to force
the position. The Spaniards were desired to
march rapidly on St. Palais, while, with Stew T -
art s division, the heights should be carried. The

BATTLE OF ORTHEZ. Ill

attack was gallantly made, the enemy offered a
brave resistance, but the position was stormed
in fine style, and held against every effort the
French could make for its recovery. The contest
continued until darkness had shrouded distant ob
jects, while the battalions still fought with such
furious obstinacy, that volleys were interchanged
within pistol range, and the bayonet frequent
ly resorted to. Finding it impossible to force
those enduring troops from the ground they
seemed determined upon keeping, Harispe, before
Murillo could seize the bridge, succeeded in re
tiring his beaten corps. Falling back upon the
Gave de Mauleon, he destroyed the bridge of
Navarette ; but the river was forded by the Bri
tish, Harispe s position forced, and his division
driven behind Gave de Oleron.

Soult instantly destroyed the communications,
and rendered the bridges over the Adour im
passable. The centre of the allies being now in
force on the Bidouse, and concentrating on Sau-
veterre, the French Marshal retired from Bay-
onne, leaving a powerful garrison behind him
for the protection of that important city.

All necessary preparations for the passage of the
Adour had been completed, and from the co-ope
ration of the British navy much assistance was ex
pected. That hope was fully realized ; and the
noble exertions of the English sailors on the

o

eastern coast of Spain, at St. Sebastian, and at

BATTLE OF OUTIIEZ.

Passages, were crowned by the intrepidity with
which the bar of the Adour was crossed. Un
daunted by the failure of the leading vessels, which
perished in the surf- -with death before their eyes,
and their comrades swamping in the w r aters on
came the succeeding chasse-marees. At last the
true channel was discovered. Vessel succeeded
vessel, and before night a perfect bridge was
established over the Adour, able from its solidity
to resist a river current, and protected from any
effort of the enemy by a line of booms and spars,
which stretched across the river as a security
against fire-ships, or any other means which the
French might employ for its destruction.

Before the flotilla had entered the Adour, or
the pontoons had arrived from Bedart, the Guards
attempted a passage of the river, by means of
small boats and a temporary raft formed of a
few pontoons, and worked as a flying bridge,
by means of a hawser extended from the oppo
site bank. As the strength of the tide inter
rupted this precarious mode of passage, when
only six companies, with two of the 60th rifles,
and a party of the rocket corps, had crossed, the
position of this small body, isolated as it was,
and open to the attack of overwhelming num
bers, was dangerous in the extreme. Colonel
Stopford, however, made the best dispositions in
his power for defence, and formed with one flank
upon the river, and the other appuied upon a

BATTLE OF ORTHEZ. 113

morass, while the heavy guns that had been
placed in battery on the other shore, swept the
ground in front of the position with their fire.
As had been truly apprehended, an attack was
made. The French advanced with fifteen hun
dred men, and the Guards and rifles received
them steadily the rocket corps, on either flank,
opening with this novel and destructive projectile.
A few discharges completely arrested the enemy s
advance, and they hastily retired from the attack;
while, at the turning of the tide, reinforcements
were ferried over, and the position secured until
the following evening, when the whole of the
first division, with two guns and a few troops of
dragoons, succeeded in effecting a passage.

Bayonne, in the mean time, was closely invest
ed, and the garrison forced back from the villages
in front of their lines, by Sir John Hope. Lord
Wellington, having secured the attention of Soult
by a formidable demonstration on his front, en
abled Sir Rowland Hill to pass the Gave de Ole-
ron unopposed, and thus turn the left flank of
the French Marshal. Soult instantly retired and
took a position behind the Pau, establishing his
head-quarters at Orthez. Picton, with the third
and light divisions, had followed Hill ; Clinton,
with the sixth, had crossed between Laas and
Montford ; and Beresford observed the enemy at
Peyrehorade closely, and kept them within their
intrenchments.

VOL. II. I

114 BATTLE OF ORTHEZ.

Lord Wellington decided on an immediate
attack. The French were very strongly posted.
The left wing, commanded by Clausel, rested
on the Gave, and occupied the town of Orthez ;
the centre, under D Erlon, was formed on the
heights in the rear ; while the right wing ex
tended behind St. Boes, and held that village.
Harispe s division was placed as a reserve in the
rear, and crossed the great roads leading to Bour-
deaux and Toulouse.

On the 27th, Wellington commenced his ope
rations. The allied left wing, composed of the
fourth and seventh divisions and Vivian s brigade,
under Marshal Beresford, attacked the enemy s
right at St. Boes ; while the third and sixth
divisions, under Sir Rowland Hill, with Lord
Edward Somerset s light cavalry, were directed
against Soult s left and centre. The British move
ments were ably executed. Hill crossed the
river in front of the French left, and turned their
flank the enemy holding their ground with great
obstinacy, while the allied attack was as remark
able for its impetuosity. A final and protracted
struggle ensued but the French, unable to sus
tain the combined assault of the allies, com
menced retreating by divisions, and contesting
every inch of ground as they abandoned it.
Hill s parallel march was speedily discovered
and as that movement threatened their rear, the
order of the retreat was accelerated, and gra-

BATTLE OF ORTHEZ. 115

dually assumed the character of a flight. The
British pressed rapidly forward the French as
quickly fell back both strove to gain Sault de
Navailles and though charged by the English
cavalry, the enemy crossed the Luy de Bearne
before Hill could succeed in coming up.

The defeat of the 27th was decisive. The
French loss in killed and wounded was immense.
Six guns and a number of prisoners were taken ;
the troops threw away their arms, many deserted
altogether, and few defeats were marked by more
injurious results to the vanquished, than those at
tendant upon that of Orthez.

The allied loss amounted to two hundred and
seventy-seven killed, one thousand nine hundred
and twenty-three wounded, and seventy missing.

One circumstance occurred during this obsti
nate contest that displayed the readiness of Lord
Wellington s decisions, and the rapidity with
which he adopted measures to meet any inci
dental exigency.

A Portuguese battalion in advancing had been
so roughly received, that it broke and fell back
upon a brigade of the light division, who suc
ceeded in covering its retreat. The nature of the
ground on which the right of the enemy was
posted, from its narrow front, confining the attack
to a line of but two battalions ; while a heavy
battery of guns and a converging fire of musketry
swept its approach and rendered the boldest efforts

116 BATTLE OF ORTHEZ.

of the assailants unavailing in carrying the height.
Wellington perceived the difficulty, and in a
moment changed his method of attack. Walker,
with the seventh division, and Barnard, with a
light brigade, were pushed up the left of the
height to attack the right of the French at its
point of junction with the centre; and Picton
and Clinton were directed to advance at once,
and not, as they had been originally ordered,
await the result of Beresford s attempt upon the
hill. The whole face of the battle was thus sud
denly changed the heights were speedily won-
and the enemy, after a fierce resistance, driven
fairly from their ground, and forced from a most
formidable position.

That night the French retired to Hagetman,
and, joined by the garrison of Dax, fell back on
St. Sever, and afterwards on Agen Beresford
advancing by Mont de Marsan, and Hill in the
direction of Aire. Heavy rains favoured the
French retreat, by impeding the advance of the
alliesand it was the 2nd of March before Hill
overtook them in front of Aire.

Although posted on formidable ground, Sir
Rowland instantly and successfully brought them
to action. The second division, with De Costa s
Portuguese, advanced to the attack ; the former
by the road to Aire, and the latter by the
heights upon the left of the enemy. The
movement of Stewart s division was most bril-

BATTLE OF ORTHEZ. 117

liant; and though the Portuguese behaved gal
lantly and won the ridge, they were attacked
furiously, unable to hold the ground, deforced,
and driven in great confusion from the height.
The French followed with a strong column, and
the consequences threatened to be disastrous,
but the success of the second division permitted
Sir Rowland to detach Byng s brigade to the
assistance of De Costa ; and in place of assailing
a broken corps, the enemy s columns were con
fronted by one in equal order, and already buoy
ant with success. The result was what might be
expected. The French were charged and beaten
from the field the town and the position aban
doned the Adour hastily crossed a number of
prisoners made, and a regiment cut off and obliged
to retire to Pau.*

Soult pursued the line of the right bank of the
Adour, and concentrated at Plaisance and Mau-
bourget, to await Lord Wellington s attack but
finding the road to Bourdeaux uncovered, the
allied General marched his left wing directly on
that city. On Beresford s approach, the garrison
evacuated the place, crossing over to the right
bank of the Garonne ; and the authorities and in
habitants generally assumed the white cockade,
and declared themselves in favour of the Bour
bons.

* The allied loss in this spirited affair was only twenty
killed, one hundred and thirty-six wounded, and two missing.

118

TOULOUSE.

Termination of the conference of Chatillon. Wellington de
termines to reduce Bayonne. Soult marches on Toulouse,
and Wellington pursues him. Description of Toulouse.
Passage of the Garonne effected. Battle of Toulous e.
Subsequent events and movements.

THE celebrated conference at Chatillon termi
nated on the 19th of March, and the allied Sove
reigns determined to march direct upon the
capital, of which they obtained possession on the
31st. The intelligence of this momentous event
had not reached the south of France and Lord
Wellington made immense preparations to enable
him to invest and reduce Bayonne. Fascines
and gabions were obtained in abundance a large
supply of siege artillery, with shot and shells, was
landed at Passages from England scaling-lad
ders were constructed in the woods the site of
the batteries marked out and all was ready for
an investment.

One division being considered sufficient for the
protection of Bordeaux, that city was intrusted
to the care of Lord Dalhousie, and Marshal Beres-

TOULOUSE. 119

ford was recalled, and joined the army with the
remainder of his corps.

Soult had manoeuvred to draw the allies from
Bordeaux ; and his corps-d armee occupied posi
tions on the right bank of the Adour, with ad
vanced pickets in the town of Tarbes.

On the 20th of March, Hill s division was
directed to attack the left wing of the enemy,
after driving their outposts from Tarbes, while
Clinton, with the sixth division, and Ponsonby
and Lord Edward Somerset s cavalry brigades,
should cross the river between Vic Bigorre and
Rabastens, and, by turning the right of the
French, gain Soult s rear. To guard against this
menaced attack, the French Marshal retired
under cover of the night, and fell back upon
Toulouse, destroying the bridges as he passed
them.

The unavoidable difficulty in crossing flooded
rivers, and moving pontoons over roads nearly
impassable from heavy rains, delayed the allied
march. Soult, therefore, reached Toulouse in four
days, while Wellington, by great exertion, was
only enabled to arrive before it in seven.

Toulouse stands on the right bank of the Ga
ronne, which separates it from a large suburb
called Saint Cyprien. The eastern and northern
sides of the city are enclosed by the canal of
Languedoc, which joins the Garonne a mile be
low the town. On the east of the city is the

120 TOULOUSE.

suburb of Saint Etienne ; on the south that of
Saint Michael, and on that side the great road
from Carcassone and Montpellier enters the town.
The population was estimated at fifty thousand
souls and it was generally understood that the
inhabitants of Toulouse were secretly attached to
the Bourbons.

The city is walled and connected by ancient
towers. But these antiquated defences would
avail little against the means employed in modern
warfare. Soult, therefore, intrenched the faux-
bourg of Saint Cyprien constructed tetes du pont
at all the bridges of the canal threw up redoubts
and breastworks, and destroyed the bridges
across the Ers. The southern side he considered
so secure as to require no additional defences,
trusting for its protection to the width and rapi
dity of the Garonne.

The first attempt of the allied leader to throw
a pontoon bridge across the river w r as rendered
impracticable by the sudden rising of its waters.
Higher up, the passage was effected, but the
roads were quite impassable and Lord Welling
ton determined to lay the pontoons below the
city, which was accordingly done and Beresford,
with the fourth and sixth divisions, was safely
placed upon the right bank.

This temporary success might have been fol
lowed by disastrous consequences. The Garonne
suddenly increased a flood came pouring down,

TOULOUSE. 121

the swollen river momentarily rose higher and
to save the pontoons from being swept away, the
bridge was removed, and the divisions left un
supported, with an overpowering force in front,
and an angry river in their rear. Soult neglected
this admirable opportunity of attacking them ;
and on the second day the flood had sufficiently
abated to allow the pontoons to be laid down
again, when Frere s Spanish corps passed over, and
reinforced the isolated divisions. The bridge
was now removed above the city, to facilitate
Hill s communications, who, with the second di
vision, was posted in front of the fauxbourg of
Saint Cyprien. The passage of the third and
light divisions w r as effected safely and Picton
and Baron Alten took up ground with their re
spective corps in front of the canal, and invested
the northern face of Toulouse.

Early on the morning of the 10th, the fortified
heights on the eastern front of the city were
attacked. Soult had placed all his disposable
troops in this position and thus defended, no
thing but determined gallantry on the part of the
assailants could expect success.

The bridge of Croix d Orade, previously se
cured by a bold attack of the 18th hussars, en
abled Beresford and Frere to move up the left
bank of the Garonne, and occupy ground in front
of the heights preparatory to the grand attack,
The sixth division was in the centre, with the

122 TOULOUSE.

Spaniard s on the right, and the fourth British
on the left. The cavalry of Sir Stapleton Cotton
and Lord Edward Somerset, were formed in
support of the left and centre; and Arentchild,
now in command of Vivian s brigade, was at
tached to the left flank, while Ponsonby pro
tected the right. The light division occupied
the vacant ground between the river Garonne
and the road to Croix d Orade ; its left abutting
on the division under Frere; and the third its
right resting on the river communicated with
Hill s corps upon the left by means of the pon
toon bridge. These divisions those of Hill,
Picton and Alten were ordered to attack the
enemy s intrenchments in front of their respec
tive corps, simultaneously with the grand assault
upon the heights.

The fourth and sixth divisions moved obliquely
against the enemy s right, carried the heights, and
seized a redoubt on the flank of the position ;
while the fourth Spanish corps, directed against
the ridge above the road to Croix d Orade, ad
vanced with confidence, and succeeded in mount
ing the brow of the hill. But the heavy fire of
the French batteries arrested their onward move
ment. They recoiled became confused and
sought shelter from the fury of the cannonade
in a hollow way in front of the enemy s position.
The French, perceiving their disorder, advanced
and vigorously charged. Frere vainly endea-

TOULOUSE. 123

voured to rally his broken troops and lead them
on again : they were driven back confusedly on
the Ers, and their derout appeared inevitable.

Lord Wellington saw and remedied this re
verse. Personally, he rallied a Spanish regiment,
and bringing up a part of the light division, ar
rested the French pursuit, and allowed the broken
regiments time to reorganize. The bridge across
the Ers was saved Frere reformed his batta
lions, and the fugitives rejoined their colours.

Beresford immediately resumed the attack two
redoubts were carried --and the sixth division
dislodged the enemy, and occupied the centre of
their position. The contest here was exceedingly
severe Pack, in leading the attack, was wounded
and in an attempt to recover the heights by the
French, Taupin, who commanded the division,
was killed. Every succeeding effort failed and
the British held the ground their gallantry had
won.

Picton had changed a false into a real attack
upon the bridge over the canal of Languedoc
nearest its entrance into the Garonne but the
tete da pont was too strong to be forced, and he
fell back with considerable loss. On the left, Sir
Rowland Hill menaced the fauxbourg of Saint
Cyprien, and succeeded in fully occupying the
attention of its garrison, and prevented them
from rendering any assistance when Soult was
most severely pressed.

124 TOULOUSE.

In the mean time, Beresford having obtained
his artillery, resumed offensive movements, and
advanced along the ridge with the divisions of
Cole and Clinton. Soult anticipated the attack,
and threw himself in front and flank in great
force upon the sixth division ; but the effort fail
ed. The French Marshal was driven from the
hill the redoubts abandoned the canal passed
-and, beaten on every point, he sought refuge
within the walls of Toulouse.

Few victories cost more blood than this long
and hard-contested battle. The allied casualties,
including two thousand Spaniards, nearly ex
tended to seven thousand men. Several regi
ments lost half their number, and two, the 45th
and 61st, their colonels. It was impossible to
ascertain the extent to which the French suf
fered. Their loss was no doubt commensurate
with that of the victors. Of their superior officers
alone, two generals were killed, and three wound
ed and made prisoners.

On the night of the succeeding day, Soult,
alarmed by Wellington s movements on the road
to Carcassone, retired from the city, which next
morning was taken possession of by the allies.

There was seldom a bloodier, and never a more
useless battle fought, than that of the 10th of
March.

On the evening of the 12th, an English and
French field officer. Colonels Cooke and St.

TOULOUSE. 125

Simon, arrived at the allied head-quarters with in
telligence that, on the 3rd, hostilities had ceased,
and the war had virtually terminated. A cou
rier, despatched from the capital with this im
portant communication, had been unfortunately
interrupted in his journey ; and in ignorance of
passing events, the contending armies had wasted
their best energies, and lost many of the bravest
on both sides, in a bootless and unnecessary en
counter.

Soult, on having the abdication of Napoleon
formally notified to him on the night of the 13th,
refused to send in his adherence to the Bour
bons, merely offering a suspension of hostilities,
to which Lord Wellington most properly object
ing, instantly recommenced his pursuit of the
French Marshal s beaten divisions. The advance,
however, was not continued. Soult acknowledg
ed the provisional government and a line of
demarcation was drawn between the allied troops
and those of the Duke of Dalmatia.

An unnecessary expenditure of human life can
not be regarded without deep regret, bordering
upon abhorrence. Surely enough of blood had
been shed uselessly at Toulouse,* but it was de
stined that more should flow.

* The allied loss, according to official reports, was five hun
dred and ninety-five killed, four thousand and forty- six wound
ed, and eighteen missing.

SORTIE OF BAYONNE.

Bayonne invested. Sortie on the night of the 13th. Thou-
venot driven back. Wellington advances. Soult sends in
his adherence to the Provisional Government. Wellington
visits Paris and Madrid. The army returns to England.
Duke of Wellington takes his seat in the House of Peers.

THE British and French officers having passed
through Bordeaux, forwarded a hurried notifica
tion to Sir John Hope, announcing the termina
tion of hostilities ; but, unfortunately, no accre
dited person was despatched. Of course, Sir
John waited for orders from Lord Wellington ;
but he communicated the important intelligence
he had received to the French outposts and as
the siege guns had not arrived, no jealousy should
have been entertained by Thouvenot, who com
manded the garrison of Bayonne. Like Soult at
Toulouse, that general, however, wantonly pro
voked an affair, from which no glory resulted to
himself, and much blood was unnecessarily wasted.

On the night of the 13th, two deserters came
over to the allied outposts, and gave information
that the whole of the garrison were under arms,
and prepared to make a sortie early on the fol-

SORTIE OF BAYONNE. 127

lowing morning. At three o clock the British
regiments were formed and ready to receive the
enemy and a false attack was presently made on
the outposts in front of Anglez. In the dark
ness, which was intense, the firing was too appa
rent in its feebleness, not to betray that the
attempt was but a feint, and intended only to
mask a more determined effort. The true attack
was speedily made. The allied pickets in front
of the citadel were partially surprised and, rush
ing forward, two French columns with their cus
tomary impetuosity broke through the line of
outposts stationed between St. Etienne and St.
Bernard, while another powerful column moved
upon the former village, and the whole line of
pickets on the right bank of the river became
seriously engaged.

A deep hollow way leads through St. Etienne,
enclosed in some places by high banks, and at
others by garden walls. The ground about St.
Etienne is everywhere confined, and the com
munications are few and difficult. Hence, when
the advanced line was broken, many of the pickets
were totally cut off. In their attempts to retire,
several murderous affairs ensued when finding

o

themselves desperately situated, they resorted to as
desperate means. Some fought their way through,
and succeeded in escaping more, however, pe
rished in the attempt,- -and heaps of dead, both
French and English, lay crowded together in

128 SORTIE OF BAYONNE.

spaces of little extent, and the bayonet wounds
by which they had mutually perished, betrayed
the ferocity with which the British had resisted
to the last.

As it might be naturally supposed that the
grand object of the sortie would be the destruc
tion of the bridge of vessels over the Adour, Lord
Saltoun placed himself in readiness to repel the
expected attack, and occupied in force the con
vent of St. Bernard, which he had already strongly
fortified. The first division, moved forward to sup
port the picket, was cannonaded by the French
gun-boats, which dropping down the river had
covered the sortie. The enemy came forward in
imposing numbers- -the whole of the village of
St. Etienne fell into their hands and while
giving orders for the defence of some important
buildings, Major-general Hay was unfortunately
killed.

On the first alarm, Sir John Hope, with his staff,
hastened towards St. Etienne and not aware that
the village was already in possession of the enemy,
and that his pickets had retired, he entered the
hollow road as the shortest way to reach the scene
of action. In a few minutes the enemy s column
was discovered in the feeble light, and the Gene
ral wheeled round to extricate himself from the
threatened danger of being taken. It was now
too late- -the French infantry hurried on, and
commenced firing within a dozen yards Sir

SORTIE OF BAYONNE. 129

John s horse was killed, and falling on his leg
prevented him from rising. Two of his staff dis
mounted to assist him, but they too were severely
wounded, and rendered unable to relieve the Ge
neral and the whole fell into the hands of the
enemy.* Sir John was immediately hurried to
Bayonne, and on the road was again wounded
in the foot by a shot from the English pickets*
Other prisoners, of lesser note, had fallen into
the hands of the French, during the darkness
and confusion incident on a night attack among
these was Colonel Townshend, who commanded
the pickets of the Guards.

The first brigade of Guards was now desired
to support the right flank, and the second direct
ed to recover the ground that lay between it and
the village of St. Etienne. Finding the attack
confined to the centre of the British lines imme
diately in front of the citadel, the third battalion
of the Guards was detached, under Colonel
Stuart, to regain the hollow road, and drive the
enemy from the fields in its rear.

These attempts were finally successful. The
Coldstream and First Foot Guards rushed for
ward on opposite flanks, cheering loudly as they
charged and the French, alarmed lest they
should be cut off from Bayonne, rapidly retired

* " It appeared that the French were only able to extricate
Sir John Hope by drawing his leg out of the boot, which
was afterwards found under the horse s side."- J3atty.

VOL. II. K

130 SORTIE OF BAYONNE.

over the glacis of the citadel, suffering consider
able loss* from the musketry of their pursuers.

The contest at St. Etienne had been main
tained with great obstinacy. A company of the
38th, commanded by Captain Forster, occupied
and held a house in that village, against every
effort the enemy made to dispossess them. The
little garrison were sadly reduced, when a brigade
of Germans under General Hinuber, recovered
the village, and saved the remnant of the gallant
band.

A night attack is always attended by an awful
grandeur that it is almost impossible to imagine
or describe and, in effect, nothing could exceed
the sortie from the citadel of Bayonne. The
deeper flashes of the cannon, the sparkling of the
musketry, the sudden bursting of the shells, after
describing curves of light in their transit,f and
the brilliant illumination occasionally produced
by the fire-balls thrown from the fortress to direct
the range of its artillery, were singularly con-

* " When the enemy were driven out of St. Etienne, a field-
piece was brought to bear on the retreating columns, and no
less than thirteen rounds of grape and cannister shot were fired
at them with effect as they retreated down the great road to
St. Esprit. The slaughter at this point was terrific."- Batty.

\ A shell by daylight is occasionally visible. " The twenty-
four inch mortar fired at intervals during the day. The shell
was distinctly seen making its curve, and alighting with
great precision. In the air it had the appearance of a huge
cricket-ball, and had, apparently, little velocity." Siege of
Antwerp.

SORTIE OF BAYONNE. 131

trasted with the darkness of the night, which,
after these brief and brilliant displays, appeared
gloomier and denser than before. Presently, a
fascine depot became ignited by the bursting of a
shell, and several houses at the same time caught
fire and burned furiously, throwing a lurid glare
over a field on which death was busy. To com
plete this fearful picture, the thunder of one hun
dred guns, and the bursting of shells, united with
the cheering of the combatants and the cries of
the wounded all, in point of horror, rendering it,
as a scene of slaughter, perfect.

On both sides the sortie of Bayonne entailed
a deplorable loss of life. Independent of pri
soners, the British numbered fully five hundred
killed and wounded, while the French loss was
estimated at eight hundred and fifty. Several
superior officers fell and a great number of
subordinate rank were reckoned among the killed
and wounded.

" Towards the close of the action, the moon
had risen, and as dawn broke over the scene of
battle, a spectator could discern the dreadful havoc
that had been made. The French and English
soldiers and officers were lying on all sides, either
killed or wounded ; and so intermixed were they,
that there appeared to have been no distinct line
belonging to either party."*

* " After the engagement was over, the outposts and their
officers freely met each other, when the British expressed

K C 2

132 CONVENTION CONCLUDED.

The command of the left wing devolved on
Major-general Colville, and the rival armies
continued to observe each other with the most
jealous vigilance.

Lord Wellington never relaxed his active move
ments ; and Soult having refused to acknowledge
the provisional government, the allied commander
advanced. The bold and decisive measures of
the allied leader doubtless hastened the Duke of
Dalmatia in making his decision- -and, on the
arrival of a second official communication, Soult
notified his adherence, and hostilities ceased.
Suchet had already shown him the example and
Toulouse displayed the white flag. A line of de
marcation was made by commissioners between
the rival armies, and a regular convention signed
by the respective commanders. On the 27th,
Thouvenot was instructed by Soult to surcease
hostilities and acknowledge the Bourbons the
lilies floated over the citadel and saluted by
three hundred rounds of artillery, Napoleon s
abdication, and the restoration of the Bourbons,
were formally announced.

a becoming regret at the unnecessary loss of life the night
affair had so uselessly occasioned. The French treated it with
a levity that by no means raised them in English estimation.
It was merely a light affair nothing but a petite promenade
militaire,; and not the slightest expression of regret was utter
ed for the many of their comrades who were lying thick upon
the field." Batty.

ADVANCE ON PARIS. 133

In the north of France, Napoleon s downfal
had been hurrying rapidly to its close. The
congress at Chatillon finally concluded its sit
tings on the 19th of March --and on the next
day, Buonaparte was severely repulsed in a
general engagement with the allies at Arcis.
Even the repeated reverses he had latterly en
dured, could not extinguish that audacity of
action for which the French Emperor was so
remarkable. With a ruined army, he threw him
self behind the Marne on the 22nd, regardless of
the enormous corps d armee collected in his front,
and whose numbers were quite adequate to crush
a force like his, weakened by defeat, and dis
heartened by the defection of the southern pro
vinces. Directing his march on St. Dizier, he
declared " that he should reach Vienna before
the allies entered Paris." If this mad project
were devised only to interrupt their advance
on the French capital, it failed entirely, the
allied corps marched steadily on Paris Mar-
mont and Mortier w r ere driven back upon that
city and the capital was regularly invested on
the 29th.

Affairs had now reached a crisis. To defend
the city with a corps not mustering twenty
thousand men, would have been, with every as
sistance attainable from the inhabitants and gen
darmerie, an act of madness. On the 30th, the

134 NAPOLEON DEPOSED.

allies carried the heights of Bellevue. The mar
shals retired- -Joseph, the ex-King of Spain,
quitted the capital and the city, evacuated by
the regular troops, capitulated.

Failing in his effort at distracting the allied
generals in their advance, Napoleon, after a smart
affair, decided to countermarch on Paris but
the Prussian corps, that held Vitry, completely
barred the direct line of march, and obliged him
to take a circuitous rout. Having put his army
again into motion, Buonaparte travelled post,
and when within four leagues of Paris, learned
that his capital was actually in possession of the
allies. After much indecision he determined,
with what troops he could collect, to march from
Fontainbleau to Paris on the 3rd of April. But
his history was already politically closed by a
decree passed on the preceding day by the con
servative senate. His deposition had been so
lemnly pronounced- -the soldiery were liberated
from their allegiance- -all confidence, civil and
military, was destroyed and a throne, erected
on the ruins of kingdoms, and cemented by seas
of blood, crumbled into nothingness, and,

" Like the baseless fabric of a vision,
Left not a wreck behind,"

With political events we have no business, and
it is sufficient to cursorily observe, that arrange-

ALLIES RETIRE FROM FRANCE. 135

ments were effected for Napoleon s retirement
from public life to the " lonely isle/ where he
might still, in fancy, " call himself a King." To
this secluded spot, many of his old and devoted
followers accompanied him. Peace was generally
proclaimed over Europe ; tranquillity restored in
France ; the " Grand Nation," to all appearance,
contented itself with the change of government ;
the allied sovereigns retired with their respec
tive corps, each to his own dominions ; and the
victorious army of Wellington quitted the French
soil, on which it had consummated its glory ;
and received, on landing on the shores of Bri
tain, that enthusiastic welcome which its " high
deeds" and boundless gallantry deserved from a
grateful country so well.

Lord Wellington quitted Toulouse on the
night of the 30th of April, and reached Paris
safely on the morning of the 4th of May. His
reception by the restored monarch and the allied
Sovereigns was most gratifying. None had done
so much for the deliverance of Europe ; none,
when all beside, with few exceptions, " blanched
from the helm," so fearlessly persevered, regard
less of disheartening abandonment abroad and
more evil auguries at home. Advanced to a
dukedom, the allied General had gained every
honour to which a British subject was admissi
ble while every court in Europe had already
marked their admiration and respect, by pre-

136 WELLINGTON S KETURN HOME.

senting to the Liberator of Spain the insignia of
the highest orders at their disposition.

The flattering reception bestowed upon the
English Duke in the French capital detained
him but a brief space from his high command.
He left Paris on the 10th hurried to Toulouse-
arranged everything for a short absence and
hastened to Madrid to welcome the deposed mo
narch, who, through his instrumentality, had been
replaced upon the throne. The honours already
conferred upon the Duke by the Provisional
Government were confirmed by Ferdinand, and
the rank of Captain-General of Spain added to
the rest. On the 5th of June he quitted Madrid,
reached head-quarters on the 10th,-- reviewed
those splendid divisions to whom so often he had
pointed out the path of victory, and, in a modest
and plainly- writ ten order, bade his companions
in arms farewell and returned to England " the
admired" of his own, and the " envied one" of
his opponents. His general order was dated the
14th of June,* and on the 23rd he landed at
Dover and proceeded to the capital.

It is a singular, and, we believe, an unprece
dented occurrence, that when presented to the

* It was a strange coincidence, that on that day twelve
months, the Duke was employed in issuing orders for the con
centration of his army, to crush the second and last effort of
him who, for so many years, had swayed the destinies of em
pires.

;

HIS HONOURS. 137

House of Lords, four patents of nobility, name
ly, those of Viscount, Earl, Marquis, and Duke,
were severally read, when, for the first time,
Wellington took his seat among the assembled
Peers of Britain.

138

NAPOLEON S RETURN. BATTLE
OF QUATRE BRAS.

Napoleon s return. His enthusiastic reception. Makes mighty
efforts to restore the military power of France. Duke of
Wellington arrives in Brussels and takes the command of the
allies. Belgium. Napoleon leaves Paris. Drives in the
Prussian outposts. Ney attacks the Prince of Orange
Wellington moves to his assistance. Battle of Quatre Bras.

A FEW months passed away -Europe was
apparently at rest its military attitude was
gradually softening down and all the bellige
rent powers, weary of a state of warfare, that
with slight intermission, had lasted for a quarter
of a century, enjoyed the repose which the over
throw of Napoleon s power had produced. But
this state of quietude was delusory it was the
treacherous calm that precedes a tempest. Un
tamed by adversity, that ambitious spirit was
gathering strength for another effort France
was ready to receive him- -past victories would
thus be rendered useless Europe convulsed again

- and none could foresee what strange events
the descent of Napoleon might produce.

No recorded career parallels that of Napoleon
Buonaparte ; and in the history of kings and con-

NAPOLEON S RETURN. ^ 139

querors, the strangest story was his own. He
seemed the shuttlecock of Fortune. She placed
him " on a pinnacle of pride merely to mark her
own mutability." Hurled from the sovereignty
of half the world, his star had lost its ascendency,
apparently to rise no more, when, by the hap
piest accident, his voyage from Elba was unin
terrupted his landing unopposed an enthusi
astic welcome everywhere was given to the in
truder legions congregated at his bidding the
empire was offered and accepted and the first
intelligence of his descent, was closely followed
by a formal acknowledgment of his restoration
to the sovereignty of France.

Napoleon landed in the Var on the 1st of
March, and on the 19th he slept in the palace of
Fontainbleau. Louis had abandoned the capital,
and in a few hours the dynasty of the Bourbons
seemed forgotten. None opposed the return of
the exile his decrees were absolute, his wishes
anticipated. The splendour of military parade
delighted the soldiery, while the theatric glitter of
a champ de Mai, was admirably adapted to catch
the fancies, and win the momentary attachment
of a gay and thoughtless people. The whole
pageant, in scenic effect, was suited for those
whom it was designed to lure and on the 17th
of April, Napoleon was formally restored to that
empire, from which the same " sweet voices" had,
but a few months before, so formally deposed him.

140 NAPOLEON S RETURN.

Parisian adulation, and the military devotion
be received from the moment his foot touched
the shore at Cannes, did not blind him to " com
ing events." A vain effort to make terms with
the allied powers was scornfully rejected. At
Vienna, his overtures were treated with disdain,
and his letter to the English Regent was return
ed with the seal unbroken. He saw from all
these premonitory occurrences, that a storm was
about to burst, and lost no time in preparing
for a determined resistance. A powerful army
alone could avert the danger and, with his cus
tomary tact, Napoleon made prodigous efforts to
restore the military strength of the empire, which
the Russian, German, and Peninsular campaigns
had during the last years so miserably weak
ened.

French vanity was successfully appealed to,
the memory of past victories recalled, and mar
tial glory, that powerful touchstone of national
feeling, successfully employed to win the people
to his standard. The younger of the male popu
lation were called out by ordonnances, and the
retired veterans collected once more around those
eagles, which, in prouder days, had entered half
the European capitals in triumph.

The military power of France was organized
anew. Commissioners, specially employed, en
forced the operations of Napoleon s decrees in
every department of the kingdom. The Imperial

NAPOLEON S RETURN. 141

Guard was re-established the cavalry increased
and remounted- -that powerful arm, the artillery,
by which half the victories of the French army
had been achieved, was enlarged and improved
and, in a time inconceivably short, a most splendid
corps d armee, perfect in every department, was
ready for the field.

While Napoleon was thus engaged, Welling
ton, having signed on behalf of the Prince Re
gent the treaty of Vienna, arrived at Brussels
on the 5th of April, to take command of the Bri
tish army. There, the troops of the Prince of the
Netherlands, with those of Nassau and Bruns
wick, were placed under his orders the whole
forming the Anglo-Belgic army.

The Prussian corps d armee were cantoned in
and about Namur and Charleroi while Ostend,
Antwerp, Tournay, Ypres, Mons, and Ghent,
were occupied by the allies. The position of the
Anglo-Belgic army was extended and detached
for the preceding harvest in the Low Countries
had been unusually deficient ; and of course, the
British and Belgic cantonments covered an ad
ditional surface to obtain the requisite supplies.

The allied corps in June were thus dispos
ed - Lord Hill, with the right wing, occupied
Ath. The left, under the Prince of Orange,
was posted at Brain e-le-Comte and Nivelles.
The cavalry, under the Marquis of Anglesea,
were established round Gramtnont; and the re-

142 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

serve and head -quarters, under the Duke, were
quartered in Brussels.

Belgium, for centuries, had been the seat of war.
Every plain, every fortress, had its tale of martial
achievement to narrate. Within its " iron fron
tier" there were few places which had not wit
nessed some affair of arms the whole country
was rife with military reminiscences, and destined
yet to prove the scene where the greatest event
in modern warfare should be transacted. As a
country, Belgium was admirably adapted for
martial operations : the plains, in many places
extensive, terminated in undulated ridges or
bolder heights ; while the surface generally ad
mitted the movements of masses of infantry. Ca
nals, rivers, morasses, and villages, presented
favourable positions to abide a battle, and diffi
cult ones for an advancing army to force while
the fortresses everywhere offered facilities for re
tiring, and serious obstacles to those who must
mask or carry them when advancing.

To a commander, circumstanced like Wel
lington, great perplexity, as to the distribution of
his army, must arise. The mode and point of
Napoleon s attack were alike involved in mys
tery. He might decide on adopting a defensive
war, and permit the allies to become the assail
ants. This course was not a probable one but
where he would precipitate himself was the diffi
culty. He was already in great force around

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. ] 43

Maubeuge and Binch, and consequently, Nivelles
and Charleroi were equally exposed to aggression.
On the right, he might attack Namur with
Girard s corps; or, with D Erlon s, advance on
Courtrai by Lille ; while leaving the wood of the
Soignies on his right, he could reach Brussels by
Mons and Braine-le-Comte, thus gaining the rear
of the allies, and favouring an insurrectionary
movement of the Belgiums, an event on which he
placed considerable reliance. All these move
ments were open to Napoleon and had he adopt
ed others than he did at the opening of the
campaign, that more fortunate results would have
attended them, are now subjects only for military
speculation.

Mean while, after leaving Paris on the 12th,
and inspecting Laon as he passed, he reached
Avennes on the 14th. The respective corps had
moved instantaneously from their cantonments,
and with admirable precision united themselves
on the Belgic frontier, and to them Napoleon
issued his celebrated address. A slight change of
the poet s words would best describe it

" It was his boldest and his last !"

The dangerous proximity of Brussels to the
point where Napoleon s corps d armee were con
centrating, naturally produced an anxious in
quietude among the inhabitants and visitants.
The city was filled every hour with idle ru-

144 BATTLE OF QUARTRE BRAS.

mours, but time alone could develope Napoleon s
plans.

The first intelligence of a threatening move
ment on the part of the French Emperor, was
forwarded to the Duke of Wellington, when
Blucher learned that Zeithen s corps was attack
ed. The despatch reached Brussels at half-past
four but as it merely intimated that the Prus
sian outposts had been driven back, the informa
tion was not of sufficient importance to induce
the British commander to make any change in
the cantonments of the allied army. Nothing in
fact could have been more masterly than the
manner in which the different corps were already
disposed. From necessity, they were extended
over a large surface but still they were so sta
tioned as to admit a concentration of the whole
within four-and- twenty hours, or a junction with
the Prussian right, should a flank movement be
found desirable.

A second despatch reached the Duke at mid
night, and its intelligence was more decisive than
the former. Napoleon was across the Sambre
and in full march on Charleroi and Fleurus.
Orders were instantly issued for the more de
tached corps to break up from their cantonments
and advance upon Nivelles, while the troops in
Brussels should march direct by the forest of
Soignies on Charleroi. Thus there would be a
simultaneous reunion of the brigades as they ap-

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 145

preached the scene of action, while their com
munication with the Prussian right should be
carefully secured.

Blucher s second despatch was delivered to the
British General in the ball-room of the Duchess
of Richmond. That circumstance most probably
gave rise to the groundless report that Welling
ton arid the Prussian Marshal were surprised
but nothing could be more absurd than this sup
position. Both commanders were in close and
constant communication, and their plans for a
mutual co-operation were matured. Where the
intended attack if Napoleon would indeed ven
ture to become aggressor should be made, was
an uncertainty, and it was arranged, that if
Blucher were assailed, Wellington should move
to his assistance, or, in the event of the British
being the first object with Napoleon, then the
Prussian Marshal should sustain the Duke with
a corps, or with his whole army, were that found
necessary. Nothing could be more perfect than
the cordial understanding between the allied
commanders and the result proved how faith
fully these mutual promises of support were
realized.

A defensive war was better suited to the mi
litary resources of France, and more likely to
excite national spirit, than a forward movement;
but still, with his characteristic daring, keeping
the Prussians for a time in check, Napoleon

VOL. II. L

146 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

might penetrate to Brussels by the road of
Charleroi. It would have been undoubtedly a
dangerous experiment- -but circumstanced as he
was, even with one hundred thousand Prussians
on his flank, it was not improbable that the trial
would be hazarded.

Two hours after midnight the gaiety of "fair
Brussels" closed "the drum beat to arms, and
all was hurry and preparation." Momentarily the
din increased, " and louder yet the clamour grew,
as the Highland pibrock answered the bugle-call
of the light infantry."* The soldiery, startled
from their sleep, poured out from the now de
serted dwellings ; and the once peaceful city ex
hibited a general alarm.

The sun rose on a scene of confusion and dis
may. The military assembled in the Place
Royale ; and the difference of individual charac
ter might be traced in the respective bearings
of the various soldiery. Some were taking a
tender many, a last leave of wives and children.
Others, stretched upon the pavement, were list
lessly waiting for their comrades to come up :
while not a few strove to snatch a few moments
of repose, and appeared half insensible to the din
of war around them. Waggons were loading and
artillery harnessing ; orderlies and aides-de-camp
rode rapidly through the streets; and in the
gloom of early morning the pavement sparkled

* "Stories of Waterloo."

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 147

beneath the iron feet of the cavalry, as they hur
ried along the causeway to join their respective
squadrons, which were now collecting in the
Park.

The appearance of the British brigades as
they filed from the Park and took the road to
Soignies, was most imposing. The martial air of
the Highland regiments, the bagpipes playing
at their head, their tartans fluttering in the
breeze, and the early sunbeams flashing from
their glittering arms, excited the admiration of
the burghers who had assembled to see them
march. During the winter and spring, while
they had garrisoned Brussels, their excellent con
duct and gentle demeanour had endeared them
to the inhabitants ; and " they were so domesti
cated in the houses where they were quartered,
that it was no uncommon thing to see the High
land soldier taking care of the children or keep
ing the shop of his host." * Regiment after
regiment marched off the organization of all
most perfect:- - the Rifles, Royals, 28th each
exhibiting some martial peculiarity, on which the
eye of Picton appeared to dwell with pride
and pleasure as they filed off before him. To
an indifferent spectator a national distinction
was clearly marked : that of the Scotch bespoke
a grave and firm determination while the light
step and merry glance of the Irish militiaman,

* Paul s Letters."

148 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

told that war was the game he loved, and a first
field had no terrors for him.

Eight o clock pealed from the steeple clocks ;
all was quiet the brigades, with their artillery
and equipages, were gone the crash of music
was heard no longer the bustle of preparation
had ceased and an ominous and heart-sinking
silence succeeded the noise and hurry that ever
attends a departure for the field of battle.

Napoleon s plan of penetrating into Belgium*
was now so clearly ascertained, that Wellington
determined to concentrate on the extreme point
of his line of occupation. His march was accord
ingly directed on Quatre Bras, a small hamlet
situated at the intersection of the road to Char-
leroi, by that leading from Namur to Nivelles.

This village, which was fated to obtain a glo
rious but sanguinary celebrity, consists of a few
mean houses, having a thick and extensive wood
immediately on the right called Le Bois de Bos-
su. All around the wood and hamlet, rye fields
of enormous growth, and quite ready for the
sickle, were extended.

* " To the left wing, under Marshal Ney, was assigned the
dangerous honour of encountering the British. The words
Nous mure/ions contre les Anglais" passed uncheered along the
column, when its destination became known. The ill-omened
sounds checked not indeed the spirits of the brave, but it
was associated with too many fatal recollections, to elicit even
a single shout of anticipated triumph from the most sanguine
of that enthusiastic host." -Campaign of Waterloo,

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 149

After a distressing march of twenty- two miles
in sultry weather, and over a country destitute of
water, the British brigades reached the scene of
action at two o clock. They found the Prince
of Orange with a division of his army endeavour
ing to hold the French in check, and maintain
a position of whose great importance he was so
well aware. The Prince, unable to withstand the
physical superiority of Ney s corps, had gradually
lost ground the Hanoverians had been driven
back and the Bois de Bossu was won and occu
pied by the enemy.*

To recover this most important wood, from
which the French could debouche upon the road
to Brussels, was the Duke s first object. The
95th were ordered to attack the tirailleurs who
held it ; the order was gallantly executed, and
after a bloody and sustained resistance the French
were forced to retire.

On the left, the Royals and 28th were hotly
engaged, and on the right the 44th and High
land regiments were simultaneously assailed.
The battle now became general. Before the Bri
tish could deploy, the French cavalry charged

" And here we come to the first accusation preferred by
Napoleon against Marshal Ney. The exile of St. Helena
charges that gallant and intrepid officer, with having lost many
hours of valuable time by delaying the attack on Quatre Bras
till three o clock in the afternoon, though Napoleon himself,
whose army had a shorter distance to traverse, only began the
attack upon Ligny at the same hour." Campaign of Waterloo.

150 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

furiously the tall rye masking their advance
and favouring the attack. Generally these charges
were unsuccessful, and the perfect discipline
and steady courage of the English enabled
them to repel the enemy. Lancers and cuiras
siers were driven back with desperate slaughter
while whole squadrons, shattered in their re
treat, and leaving the ground covered with their
dead and dying, proved with what fatal preci
sion the British squares sustained their fusilade.

The efforts of the French to break the squares
were fierce and frequent. Their batteries poured
upon these unflinching soldiers a storm of grape,
and when an opening was made by the cannon,
the lancers were ready to rush upon the devoted
infantry. But nothing could daunt the lion-
hearted English nothing could shake their stea
diness. The dead were coolly removed, and the
living occupied their places. Though numbers
fell, and the square momentarily diminished, it
still presented a serried line of glittering bayonets,
through which lancer and cuirassier vainly en
deavoured to penetrate.

One regiment, after sustaining a furious can
nonade, was suddenly, and on three different sides,
assailed by cavalry. Two faces of the square
were charged by the lancers, while the cuiras
siers galloped down upon another. It was a try
ing moment. There was a death-like silence ;
and one voice alone, clear and calm, was heard.

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 151

It was their colonel s, who called upon them to
be " steady." On came the enemy ! the earth
shook beneath the horsemen s feet ; while on
every side of the devoted band, the corn bending
beneath the rush of cavalry disclosed their nume
rous assailants. The lance blades nearly met
the bayonets of the kneeling front rank the
cuirassiers were within a few paces yet not a
trigger was drawn. But, when the word " fire !"
thundered from the colonel s lips, each side
poured out its deadly volley and in a mo
ment the leading files of the French lay before
the square, as if hurled by a thunderbolt to
the earth. The assailants, broken and dispersed,
galloped off for shelter to the tall rye, while a
constant stream of musketry from the British
square, carried death into their retreating squad
rons.

But, unhappily, these furious and continued
charges were not always inefficient. On the right,
and in the act of forming square, the 42nd were
attacked by the lancers. The sudden rush, and
the difficulty of forming in corn reaching to the
shoulder, gave a temporary success to the assail
ants. Two companies, excluded from the square,
were ridden over and cut down. The colonel was
killed,- -half the regiment disabled- -but the re
mainder formed and repulsed the charge ; while
those detached in the melee fought back to back
with desperate coolness, until the withering fusi-

152 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

lade of their companions dispersed the cavalry,
and enabled them to rejoin their ranks.

The remaining regiments of the Highland
brigade were hotly pressed by the enemy : there
was not a moment s respite : for no sooner were
the lancers and cuirassiers driven back, than the
French batteries opened with a torrent of grape
upon the harassed squares that threatened to
overwhelm them. Numbers of officers and men
were already stretched upon the field, while the
French, reinforced by fresh columns, redoubled
their exertions, and the brave and devoted hand
ful of British troops seemed destined to cover
with their bodies that ground their gallantry
scorned to surrender. Wellington, as he wit
nessed the slaughter of his best troops, is said to
have been deeply affected ; and the repeated re
ferences to his watch, showed how anxiously he
waited for reinforcements.

The Bois de Bossu had continued to be the
scene of a severe and fluctuating combat. The
95th had driven the French out but under a
heavy cannonade, and supported by a cavalry
movement, the rifles were overpowered by num
bers, and forced to retire fighting inch by inch,
and contesting every tree. Ney established him
self at last within the wood and ordered up a
considerable addition to the light troops, who
had already occupied this important point of the
position.

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 153

The contest was at its height. The incessant
assaults of the enemy were wasting the British
regiments, but, with the exception of the Bois de
Bossu, not an inch of ground was lost. The
men were falling in hundreds death was busy
everywhere but not a cheek blanched, and not
a foot receded ! The courage of these undaunted
soldiers needed no incitement but on the con
trary, the efforts of their officers were constantly
required to restrain the burning ardour that
would, if unrepressed, have led to ruinous results.
Maddened to see their ranks thinned by renewed
assaults which they were merely suffered to repel,
they panted for the hour of action. The hot
blood of Erin was boiling for revenge and even
the cool endurance of the Scotch began to yield,
and a murmur was sometimes heard of, " Why
are we not led forward ?"

And yet, though forward movements were de
nied them, the assailants paid dearly for this waste
of British blood. For a long hour, the 92nd
had been exposed to a destructive fire from the
French artillery that occasioned a fearful loss.
A regiment of Brunswick cavalry had attempted
to repel a charge of cuirassiers, and repulsed
with loss, were driven back upon the Highlan
ders in great disorder. The hussars galloped
down a road on which part of the regiment was
obliqued, the remainder lining the ditch in front.
The rear of the Brunswickers intermingled with

154 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

the headmost of the French horsemen, and for
a while, the 92nd could not relieve them with
their musketry. At last the pursuers and pur
sued rode rapidly past the right flank of the
Highlanders, and permitted them to deliver their
volley. The word " fire !" was scarcely given, when
the close and converged discharge of both wings,
fell, with terrible effect, upon the advanced squad
ron. The cuirassiers were literally cut down by
that withering discharge, and the road choked up
with men and horses rolling in dying agony
while the shattered remnant of what but a few
moments before had been a splendid regiment,
retreated in desperate confusion to avoid a re
petition of that murderous fusilade.

At this period of the battle, the Guards, after
a march of seven-and-twenty miles, arrived from
Enghein, from whence they had moved at three
in the morning. Exhausted by heat and fatigue,
they halted at Nivelles, lighted fires, and prepared
to cook their dinners. But the increasing roar of
cannon announced that the Duke was seriously
engaged, and a staff officer brought orders to
hurry on. The bivouac was instantly broken up
the kettles packed the rations abandoned
and the wearied troops cheerfully resumed their
march again.

The path to the field of battle could not be
mistaken ; the roar of cannon was succeeded by
the roll of musketry, which was every step more

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 155

clearly audible ; and waggons, heaped with
wounded British and Brunswickers interspersed,
told that the work of death was going on.

The Guards, indeed, came up at a fortunate
crisis. The Bois de Bossu was won ; and the
tirailleurs of the enemy, debouching from its
cover, were about to deploy upon the roads that
it commanded, and thus intercept the Duke s
communication with the Prussians. The fifth
division, sadly reduced, could hardly hold their
ground --any offensive movement was impracti
cable, and the French tirailleurs were issuing
from the wood. But on perceiving the advanc
ing columns they halted. The first brigade of
Guards, having loaded and fixed bayonets, were
ordered to advance and, wearied as they were
with a fifteen hours march, they cheered, and
pushed forward.* In vain the thick trees im
peded them, and although every bush and coppice
was held and disputed by the enemy the tirail
leurs were driven in on every side. Taking ad
vantage of a rivulet which crossed the wood, they
attempted to form and arrest the progress of the
Guards. That stand was momentary they were
forced from their position, and the wood once
more was carried by the British.

* " The undismayed gallantry of the Guards was the more
remarkable, as they were composed chiefly of young soldiers
and volunteers from the militia, who had never been in action."
Mudford,

156 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

Their success was, however, limited to its oc
cupation; the broken ground and close timber
prevented the battalion from forming ; and when
it emerged of course in considerable disorder
from its cover, the masses of cavalry drawn
up in the open ground charged and forced it
back. At last, after many daring attempts to
debouch and form, the first brigade fell back upon
the third battalion, which, by flanking the wood,
had been enabled to form in square, and repulse
the cavalry, and there the brigade halted. Even
ing was now closing in the attacks of the enemy
became fewer and feebler a brigade of heavy
cavalry w r ith horse artillery came up and, worn
out by the sanguinary struggle of six long hours,
the assailants ceased their attack, and the fifth
and third divisions took a position for the night
upon the ground their unbounded heroism had
held through this long and bloody day.

Thus terminated the fight of Quatre Bras and
a more glorious victory was never won by British
bravery. Night closed the battle and when the
limited number of the allied troops actually en
gaged is considered, this sanguinary conflict will
stand without a parallel. At the opening of the
action at half-past two, the Duke s force could
not have exceeded sixteen thousand his whole
cavalry consisting of some Brunswick hussars,
supported by a few Belgian and Hanoverian guns.
From the great distance of their cantonments from

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 157

the field of battle, the British cavalry and horse
artillery arrived late in the evening. Vivian s
brigade (1st Hanoverian, and 10th and 18th hus
sars) came up at seven o clock but the rest only
reached Quatre Bras at the close of the action*
having made a forced march from behind the
Dender, over bad roads for more than forty miles.
Ney, by his own account, commenced the action
with the second corps and Excelman s cavalry
the former numbering thirty thousand, strong in
artillery, and its cavalry, increased by that of
the second corps, amounting to three thousand
six hundred. The French Marshal complains
that the first corps, originally assigned to him,
and which he had left at Frasnes in reserve, had
been withdrawn by Napoleon without any inti
mation, and never employed during the entire day
and thus, as Ney writes to Fouche, " twenty-
five or thirty thousand men were, I may say,
paralyzed, and idly paraded during the battle,
from the right to the left, and the left to the
right, without firing a shot." All this admitted,
surely his means were amply sufficient to have
warranted a certain victory ? In numbers his
cavalry were infinitely superior his artillery was
equally powerful ; while in those important arms
Wellington was miserably weak and all he had
to oppose to his stronger antagonist, were the
splendid discipline and indomitable courage of
British infantry.

158 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

The loss sustained by the British and their
allies in this glorious and hard-contested battle
amounted to three thousand seven hundred and
fifty hors de combat. Of course the British suf
fered most severely, having three hundred and
twenty men killed and two thousand one hun
dred and fifty-five wounded. The Duke of
Brunswick fell in the act of rallying his troops,
and an immense number of British officers were
found among the slain and wounded. During an
advanced movement the 92nd, after repulsing an
attack of both cavalry and infantry, a French
column, retreating to the wood, halted and turned
its fire on the Highlanders, already assailed by a
superior force. Notwithstanding, the regiment
bravely held its ground until relieved by a regi
ment of the Guards, when it retired to its original
position. In this brief and sanguinary conflict,
its loss amounted to twenty-eight officers and

< o

nearly three hundred men.

The casualties, when compared with the num
ber of the combatants, will appear enormous.
Most of the battalions lost their commanding
officers and the rapid succession of subordinate
officers on whom the command devolved, told
how fast the work of death went on. Trifling
wounds were disregarded and men severely
hurt refused to retire to the rear, and rejoined
their colours after a temporary dressing. Picton s
was a remarkable instance of this disregard of

BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS. 159

suffering ; he was severely wounded at Quatre
Bras, and the fact was only ascertained after his
glorious fall at Waterloo.

The French loss, according to their own re
turns, was " very considerable, amounting to four
thousand two hundred killed or wounded ;" and
"Ney in his report says, " I was obliged to re
nounce my hopes of victory ; and in spite of all
my efforts, in spite of the intrepidity and devo
tion of my troops, my utmost efforts could only
maintain me in my position till the close of the
day."

Ney fell back upon the road to Frasnes. The
moon rose angrily still a few cannon-shot were
heard after the day had departed ; but gradually
they ceased. The fires were lighted, and such
miserable provisions as could be procured were
furnished to the harassed soldiery ; and while
strong pickets were posted in the front and
flanks, the remnant of the British with their
brave allies, piled their arms and stretched them
selves on the field.

While the British held their battle-ground, the
Prussians had been obliged to retire in the night
from Ligny. This, however, was not ascertained
until morning as the aide-de-camp despatched
with the intelligence to Quatre Bras had un
fortunately been killed on the road. Corps
after corps arrived during the night, placing the
Duke of Wellington in a position to have become

160 BATTLE OF QUATRE BRAS.

assailant next morning had Blucher maintained
his position and repulsed Napoleon s attack.

The night passed- -the wounded were remov
ed* the dead partially buried ; disabled guns
were repaired, ammunition served out, and all
was ready for " a contest on the morrow."

The intelligence of the Prussian retreat of
course produced a correspondent movement and
the Duke of Wellington, to maintain his com
munications with Marshal Blucher, decided on
falling back upon a position in front of the vil
lage of Waterloo, which had been already sur
veyed, and selected by the allied leader as the
spot on which he should make a stand.

* " The wounded who had been collected during the night,
were early in the morning sent off to Brussels. Every atten
tion was bestowed upon them by the inhabitants. Wellington
had taken the necessary precautions to secure them rest and
relief; and the reception of the British wounded at Brussels,
formed a striking contrast to the abandonment of the French
sufferers at Charleroi. Napoleon left them to their fate ; and
such as escaped death among the ruins of Ligny and St. Amand,
perished, for want of assistance, in the deserted streets of
Charleroi." Stories of Waterloo.

161

MOVEMENTS OF THE ITTH JUNE.

Napoleon arrives at Frasnes, and Wellington retires towards
Waterloo. Cavalry affair at Genappe. The allies take
their position. Dispositions of the different corps. The
field of battle.

NAPOLEON had reached Frasnes at nine o clock
on the morning of the 17th, and determined on
attacking the allied commander. Still uncertain

o

as to the route by which Blucher was retiring, he
detached Grouchy in pursuit with the third and
fourth corps, and the cavalry of Excelmans and
Pajol, with directions to overtake the Prussian
Marshal, if possible, and in that case bring him to
action.

While Buonaparte delayed his attack until his
reserve and the sixth corps came up, his abler an
tagonist was preparing to retire. This operation
in open day was difficult, as the Dyle was in the
rear of the allies, and the long and narrow bridge
at the village of Genappe, the only mean by
which the corps d armee could effect its passage.
Wellington disposed some horse-artillery and dis
mounted dragoons upon the heights, and leaving

VOL. II. M

162 MOVEMENTS OF THE 17TH JUNE.

a strong rear-guard in front of Quatre Bras, he
succeeded in masking his retreat until, when dis
covered, it was too late to offer any serious inter
ruption to the regressive movement of the allies.
While the rear of the columns were still defiling
through the narrow streets of Genappe, Napo
leon s advanced cavalry overtook and attacked the
rear-guard, and a sharp affair ensued. The 7th
Hussars, assisted by some squadrons of the llth
and 23rd Light Dragoons, charged the French
horsemen boldly but they were repulsed ; and a
second effort was bravely but ineffectually attempt
ed. The Life Guards were instantly ordered up,
and led in person to the charge by Lord Angle-
sea, who was in command of the British rear
guard. Their attack was decisive the enemy
were severely checked, and driven in great dis
order back upon their supports. No other at
tempt was made by the French cavalry to em
barrass the retreat of the allied columns and
except by an occasional cannonade, too distant to
produce any serious effect, the remainder of the
march on Waterloo was undisturbed by the
French advance.

The allies reached the position early in the
evening, and orders were issued for the divisions
to halt and prepare their bivouacs. The ground
for each brigade was marked out the troops
piled their arms, the cavalry picketed their horses,
the guns were* parked, fires lighted along the

MOVEMENTS OF THE 17TH JUNE. 163

lines, and all prepared the best mode of shelter
ing themselves from the inclemency of the wea
ther which scanty means would afford them in
an exposed position like that of Waterloo.

All through the day rain had occasionally
fallen, but as night came on, the weather became
more tempestuous. The wind rose, and torrents
of rain, with peals of thunder and frequent light
ning, rendered the dreary night before the battle
anything but a season of repose.

While the troops bivouacked on the field, the
Duke of Wellington with the general officers
and their respective staffs occupied the village of
Waterloo. On the doors of the several cottages
the names of the principal officers were chalked
" and frail and perishing as was the record, it
was found there long after many of those whom
it designated had ceased to exist ! "

The ground on which the allied commander
had decided to accept battle was chosen with
excellent judgment. In front of the position the
surface declined for nearly a quarter of a mile,
and rose again for an equal distance, until it ter
minated in a ridge of easy access, along which the
French had posted a number of their brigades.
The intermediate space between the armies was
covered by a rich crop of rye nearly ready for the
sickle. In the rear, the forest of Soignies, inter
sected by the great roads from Charleroi to Brus
sels, extended ; and nearly at the entrance to the

M %

164 MOVEMENTS OF THE 17TH JUNE.

wood, the little village of Waterloo was situated.
The right of the British was stretched over to
Merke Braine, and the left appuied upon a height
above Ter le Haye. The whole line was formed
on a gentle acclivity, the flanks partially defended
by a small ravine with broken ground. The farm
house of La Haye Sainte, in front of the left
centre, was defended by a Hanoverian battalion
and the chateau of Hougomont, in advance of
the right centre, was held by a part of the Guards
and a few companies of Nassau riflemen. This
was the strongest point of the whole position ;
and the Duke had strengthened it considerably,
by erecting barricades and perforating the walls
with loopholes, to permit the musketry of its
defenders to be effectively employed.

Wellington s first line, comprising some of his
best regiments, was drawn up behind these posts.
The second was still farther in the rear, and, from
occupying a hollow, was sheltered from the fire
of the French artillery. The third was formed
of the cavalry : they were more retired still, and
extended to Ter le Haye. The extreme right of
the British obliqued to Merke Braine and cover
ed the road to Nivelles, while the left kept the
communication with the Prussians open by the
Ohain road, which runs through the passes of
Saint Lambert. As it was not improbable that
Napoleon might endeavour to reach Brussels by
marching circuitously round the British right, a

MOVEMENTS OF THE 17TH JUNE. 165

corps of observation, composed of the greater
portion of the fourth division, under Sir Charles
Colville, was detached to Halle ; and conse
quently those troops, during the long and bloody
contest of the 18th, were at a distance from the
field, and remained non combattant.

The allied dispositions were completed soon
after daylight, although it was nearly noon before
the engagement seriously commenced. The divi
sion of Guards under General Cooke, was posted
on a rise immediately adjoining the chateau of
Hougomont, its right leaning on the road to
Nivelles; the division of Baron Alten, had its
left flank on the road of Charleroi, and was drawn
up behind the house of La Haye Sainte, The
Brunswick troops were partly in line with the
Guards and partly held in reserve ; and the Nas
sau were generally attached to Alten s division.
Some of the corps in line, and a battalion acting
en tirailleur, occupied the wood of Hougomont.
This corps d armee was commanded by the Prince
of Orange.

The British divisions of Clinton and Colville,
two Hanoverian brigades, and a Dutch corps
under the command of Lord Hill, were placed
enpotence, in front of the right.

On the left, the division of Picton, a British
brigade under Sir John Lambert, a Hanoverian
corps, and some troops of the Netherlands, ex
tended along the hedge and lane that traverses

166 MOVEMENTS OF THE 17TH JUNE.

the rising ground between the road to Charleroi
and Ter le Haye. This village, with the farm of
Papilotte, contiguous to the wood of Frichemont,
was garrisoned by a post of the Nassau contin
gent, commanded by the hereditary Prince of
Weimar. The whole cavalry were under the
immediate direction of the Earl of Uxbridge, and
the artillery commanded by Sir George Wood.

No part of the allied position was remarkable
for natural strength, and where the ground dis
played any advantages, they had been carefully
made available for defence. The whole surface
of the field of Waterloo was perfectly open ; the
acclivities of easy ascent. Infantry movements
could be easily effected artillery might advance
and retire, and cavalry could charge. On every
point the British position was assailable ; and the
island soldier had no reliance but in "God and
his Grace" -for all else depended on his own
stout heart and vigorous arm.

167

BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

Morning of the 18th. Armies in each other s presence.
Opening, progress, and close of the battle. Losses sus
tained. Subsequent operations. Conclusion.

THE rain still continued, but with less severity
than during the preceding night; the wind fell,
but the day lowered, and the morning of the
18th* was gloomy and foreboding. The British
soon recovered from the chill cast over them by
the inclemency of the weather; and from the
ridge of their position calmly observed the ene-

* Napoleon passed the night of the 17th in a farm-house which
was abandoned by the owner, named Bouquean, an old man of
eighty, who had retired to Planchenoit. It is situated on the
high road from Charleroi to Brussels. It is half a league from
the chateau of Hougomont and La Haye Sainte, and a quarter
of a league from La Belle Alliance and Planchenoit. Supper
was hastily served up in part of the utensils of the farmer that
remained. Buonaparte slept in the first chamber of this house :
a bed with blue silk hangings and gold fringe was put up for
him in the middle of this room. His brother Jerome, the Duke
of Bassano, and several generals, lodged in the other chambers.
All the adjacent buildings, gardens, meadows, and enclosures,
were crowded with military and horses. French Detail.

168 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

my s masses coming up in long succession, and
forming their numerous columns on the heights
in front of La Belle Alliance.

The bearing of the French was very opposite
to the steady and cool determination of the British
soldiery. With the former, all was exultation
and arrogant display ; and, with characteristic
vanity, they boasted of their imaginary success
at Quatre Bras, and claimed a decisive victory at
Ligny.

Although in point of fact beaten by the British
on the 16th, Napoleon tortured the retrograde
movement of the Duke on Waterloo into a de
feat ; and winning a field from Blucher, attended
with no advantage beyond the capture of a few
disabled guns, he declared in his despatches the
Prussian army routed and disorganized, without
a prospect of being rallied.

The morning passed in mutual arrangements
for battle. The French dispositions for the at
tack were commenced soon after nine o clock.
The first corps, under Count D Erlon, was in
position opposite La Haye Sainte, its right ex
tending towards Frichermont, and its left lean
ing on the road to Brussels. The second corps,
uniting its right with D Erlon s left, extended
to Hougomont, with the wood in its front.

The cavalry reserve (the cuirassiers) were im
mediately in the rear of these corps ; and the
Imperial Guard, forming the grand reserve, were

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 16*9

posted on the heights of La Belle Alliance. Count
Lobau, with the sixth corps, and D Aumont s
cavalry, were placed in the rear of the extreme
right, to check the Prussians, should they advance
from Wavre, and approach by the defiles of
Saint Lambert. Napoleon s arrangements were
completed about half-past eleven, and immediately
the order to attack was given.

The place from which Buonaparte viewed the
field, was a gentle rising ground* beside the
farm-house of La Belle Alliance. There he re
mained for a considerable part of the day, dis
mounted, pacing to and fro with his hands
behind him, receiving communications from his
aides-de-camp, and issuing orders to his officers.
As the battle became more doubtful, he approach
ed nearer the scene of action, and betrayed in
creased impatience to his staff by violent gesti
culation, and using immense quantities of snuff.
At three o clock he was on horseback in front of
La Belle Alliance ; and in the evening, just before

* The eminence on which Buonaparte was while he gave
his orders during the battle, is part of the territory of Flanche-
noit. It is called the Field of Trimotio, and is the property
of several individuals : it is not far from the farm of Caillou.
Buonaparte retired to this house for a moment during the
battle. After he had lost it, endeavouring to avoid the crowd
in the great road,, he threw himself into the orchard opposite
this farm-house to get the start of the mass of fugitives. A
part of these being closely pursued sought refuge in the build
ings of the farm ; they were set on fire, and several of them
reduced to ashes. Letters of a French Officer.

170 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

he made his last attempt with the Guard, he had
reached a hollow close to La Haye Sainte. Wel
lington, at the opening of the engagement, stood
upon a ridge immediately behind La Haye, but
as the conflict thickened, where difficulties arose
and danger threatened, there the Duke was found.
He traversed the field exposed to a storm of balls,
and passed from point to point uninjured, and
more than on one occasion, when the French
cavalry charged the British squares, the Duke was
there for shelter.

A slight skirmishing between the French
tirailleurs and English light troops had con
tinued throughout the morning, but the advance
of a division of the second corps, under Jerome
Buonaparte, against the post of Hougomont,* was
the signal for the British artillery to open, and was,
in fact, the beginning of the battle of Waterloo.
The first gun fired on the 18th was directed
by Sir George Wood upon Jerome s advancing
column ; the last was a French howitzer, at eight
o clock in the evening, turned by a British officer
against the routed remains of that splendid army
with which Napoleon had commenced the battle.

Hougomontt was the key of the Duke s posi
tion, a post naturally of considerable strength,
and care had been taken to increase it. It was
garrisoned by the light companies of the Cold-

* " Details/ &c. t Details," &c.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 171

stream and 1st and 3rd Guards;* while a de
tachment from General Byng s brigade was form
ed on an eminence behind, to support the troops
who defended the house and the woodf on its
left. Three hundred Nassau riflemen were sta
tioned in the wood and garden ; but the first at
tack of the enemy dispersed them.

To carry Hougomont, the efforts of the second
corps were principally directed throughout the day.
This fine corps, thirty thousand strong, comprised
three divisions ; and each of these, in quick suc
cession, attacked the well-defended farm-house.
The advance of the assailants was covered by
a tremendous cross fire of nearly one hundred
pieces, while the British guns in battery on the
heights above returned the cannonade, and made
fearful havoc in the dense columns of the enemy
as they advanced or retired from the attack. Al
though the French frequently occupied the wood,
it afforded them indifferent shelter from the mus
ketry of the troops defending the house and gar
den ; for the trees were slight, and planted far

* The loss of the Guards, in killed and wounded, in the
defence of Hougomont, amounted to twenty-eight officers, and
about eight hundred rank and file. The foreign corps (Nassau
and Brunswickers) lost about one hundred.

t The proprietor of the ruins of the chateau of Hougomont
has caused all the woods to be felled. Those trees, torn by
a thousand balls, and that observatory, the witnesses of so
much glory and so much suffering, have vanished for ever.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

asunder. Foy s division passed entirely through
and gained the heights in the rear ; but it was
driven back with immense loss by part of the
Coldstream and 3rd Guards, leaving in its dif
ferent attempts three thousand of its number in
the wood and garden.*

At last, despairing of success, the French ar
tillery opened with shells upon the house: the
old tower of Hougomont was quickly in a blaze ;
the fire reached the chapel, and many of the
wounded, both assailants and defenders, there pe
rished miserably. But still, though the flames
raged above, shells burst around, and shot plough
ed through the shattered walls and windows,
the Guards nobly held the place, and Hougomont
remained untaken. f It was computed that

* The attack against the position of Hougomont lasted, on
the whole, from twenty-five minutes before twelve until a little
past eight at night.

t " Within half an hour one thousand five hundred men were
killed in the small orchard at Hougomont, not exceeding four
acres. The loss of the enemy was enormous. The division of
General Foy alone lost about three thousand ; and the total loss
of the enemy in the attack of this position is estimated at ten
thousand in killed and wounded. Above six thousand men of
both armies perished in the farm of Hougomont: six hundred
French fell in the attack on the chateau and the farm; two
hundred English were killed in the wood; twenty-five in the
garden ; one thousand one hundred in the orchard and mea
dow ; four hundred men near the farmer s garden ; two thousand
of both parties behind the great orchard. The bodies of three
hundred English were buried opposite the gate of the chateau ;
and those of six hundred French were burned at the same
place." Booth.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 173

Napoleon s repeated and desperate attacks upon
this post cost him eight thousand men. The
British lost fourteen hundred.

The advance of Jerome on the right was fol
lowed by a general onset upon the British line.
Three hundred pieces of artillery opened their
cannonade, and the French columns in different
points advanced to the attack. Charges of ca
valry and infantry, sometimes separately and
sometimes with united force, were made in vain.
The British regiments were disposed, individu
ally, in squares, with triple files, each placed suf
ficiently apart to allow its deploying when requi
site. The squares were mostly parallel, but a few
were judiciously thrown back; and this disposi
tion, when the French cavalry had passed the
advanced regiments, exposed them to a flanking
fire from the squares behind. The English ca
valry were in the rear of the infantry, the artil
lery was in battery over the line. Waterloo may
be easily understood by simply stating, that for
ten hours it was a continued succession of attacks
of the French columns on the squares ; the British
artillery playing upon them as they advanced,
and the cavalry charging them when they re
ceded.

But no situation could be more trying to the
unyielding courage of the British army than this
disposition in squares at Waterloo. There is an
excited feeling in an attacking body that stimu-

174 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

lates the coldest and blunts the thoughts of dan
ger. The tumultuous enthusiasm of the assault
spreads from man to man, and duller spirits catch
a gallant frenzy from the brave around them.
But the enduring and devoted courage which
pervaded the British squares when, hour after
hour, mowed down by a murderous artillery, and
wearied by furious and frequent onsets of lancers
and cuirassiers ; when the constant order, " Close
up! close up!" marked the quick succession of
slaughter that thinned their diminished ranks;
and w^hen the day wore later, when the remnants
of two, and even three regiments were necessary
to complete the square, which one of them had
formed in the morning to support this with
firmness, and " feed death," inactive and unmov
ed, exhibited that calm and desperate bravery
which elicited the admiration of Napoleon him
self.*

* Probably the statement of an enemy will bear the noblest
testimony to the measureless bravery of the British infantry:
General Foy thus notices them : " We saw these sons of Al
bion, formed in square battalions, in the plain between the
wood of Hougomont and the village of Mount Saint John;
to effect this compact formation, they had doubled and re
doubled their ranks several times. The cavalry which sup
ported them was cut to pieces, and the fire of their artillery
completely silenced. The general and staff officers were gal
loping from one square to another, not knowing where to find
shelter. Carriages, wounded men, parks of reserve, and aux
iliary troops, were all flying in disorder, towards Brussels.
Death was before them, and in their ranks ; disgrace in their

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 175

At times the temper of the troops had nearly
failed; and, particularly among the Irish regi
ments, the reiterated question of- -"When shall
we get at them ?" showed how ardent the wish
was to avoid inactive slaughter, and, plunging
into the columns of the assailants, to avenge the
death of their companions. But the " Be cool,
my boys !" from their officers was sufficient to
restrain this impatience and, cumbering the
ground w r ith their dead, they waited with des
perate intrepidity for the hour to arrive w r hen
victory and vengeance should be their own !

While the second corps was engaged at Hougo-
mont, the first was directed by Napoleon to pe
netrate the left centre. Had this attempt suc
ceeded, the British must have been defeated, as
it would have been severed and surrounded.
Picton s division was now severely engaged ; its
position stretched from La Haye Sainte to Ter
la Haye ; in front there was an irregular hedge ;
but being broken and pervious to cavalry, it

rear. In this terrible situation, neither the bullets (boulets,
cannon-balls) of the Imperial Guard, discharged almost point
blank, nor the victorious cavalry of France, could make the
least impression on the immovable British infantry. One might
have been almost tempted to fancy that it had rooted itself
in the ground, but for the majestic movement which its
battalions commenced some minutes after sunset, at the mo
ment when the approach of the Prussian army apprised Wel
lington he had just achieved the most decisive victory of the
age." Foy.

176 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

afforded but partial protection. The Belgian in
fantry, who were extended in front of the fifth
division, gave way as the leading columns of
D Erlon s corps approached the French came
boldly up to the fence and Picton, with Kempt s
brigade, as gallantly advanced to meet them.

A tremendous combat ensued. The French and
British closed ; for the cuirassiers had been already
received in square, and repulsed with immense
loss. Instantly Picton deployed the division into
line; and pressing forward to the hedge, received
and returned the volley of D Erlon s infantry,
and then crossing the fence, drove back the ene
my at the point of the bayonet. The French
retreated in close column, while the fifth mowed
them down with musketry,, and slaughtered them
in heaps with their bayonets. Lord Anglesea
seized on the moment, and charging with the
Royals, Greys, and Enniskilleners, burst through
everything that opposed him. Vainly the mailed
cuirassier and formidable lancer attempted to
withstand this splendid body of heavy cavalry :
they were overwhelmed ; and the French in
fantry, already broken and disorganised by the
" fighting third," fell in hundreds beneath the
swords of the English dragoons. The eagles
of the 45th and 105th regiments, and upwards
of two thousand prisoners, were the trophies of
this brilliant charge.

But, alas ! like most military triumphs, this

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 177

had its misfortune to alloy it. Picton fell ! But
where could the commander of the gallant Third
meet with death so gloriously ? He was at the
head of his division as it passed forward with
the bayonet ; he saw the best troops of Napoleon
repulsed ; the ball struck him, and he fell from
his horse; he heard the Highland lament an
swered by the deep execration of Erin ; and
while the Scotch slogan was returned by the
Irish hurrah, his fading sight saw his favourite
division rush on with irresistible fury. The
French column was annihilated and two thou
sand dead enemies told how desperately he had
been avenged. This was, probably, the bloodiest
struggle of the day. When the attack com
menced, and it lasted not an hour, the third di
vision exceeded five thousand men ; and when it
ended, it scarcely reckoned eighteen hundred !

While Picton s division and the heavy cavalry
had repulsed D Erlon s effort against the left, the
battle was raging at La Haye Sainte, a post in
front of the left centre. This w r as a rude farm
house and barn, defended by five hundred Ger
man riflemen ; and here the attack was fierce and
constant, and the defence gallant and protracted.
While a number of guns played on it with shot
and shells, it was assailed by a strong column of
infantry. Thrice they were repulsed ; but the
barn caught fire, and the number of the garrison
decreasing, it was found impossible, from its ex-

VOL. II. N

178 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

posed situation, to supply the loss, and throw in
reinforcements. Still worse, the ammunition of
the rifle corps failed and reduced to a few cart
ridges, their fire had almost ceased.

Encouraged by this casualty, the French, at the
fourth attempt, turned the position. Though the
doors were burst in, still the gallant Germans held
the house with their bayonets; but, having as
cended the walls and roof, the French fired on
them from above, and, now reduced to a handful,
the post was carried. No quarter was given, and
the remnant of the brave riflemen were bayoneted
on the spot.

This was, however, the only point where, dur
ing this long and sanguinary conflict, Buonaparte
succeeded. He became master of a dilapidated
dwelling, its roof destroyed by shells, and its
walls perforated by a thousand shot-holes ; and
when obtained, an incessant torrent of grape and
shrapnels from the British artillery on the heights
above, rendered its acquisition useless for future
operations, and made a persistence in maintain
ing it, a wanton and unnecessary sacrifice of hu
man life.

There was a terrible sameness in the battle of
the 18th of June, which distinguished it in the
history of modern slaughter. Although desig
nated by Napoleon " a day of false manoeuvres,"
in reality, there was less display of military tactics
at Waterloo, than in any general action we have

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 179

on record. Buonaparte s favourite plan, to turn
a wing, or separate a corps, was the constant
effort of the French leader. Both were tried
at Hougomont to turn the right, and at La Haye
Sainte to break through the left centre.* Hence,
the French operations were confined to fierce
and incessant onsets with masses of cavalry and
infantry, generally supported by a numerous and
destructive artillery. Knowing, that to repel
these desperate and sustained attacks, a tre
mendous sacrifice of human life must occur,
Napoleon, in defiance of their acknowledged
bravery, calculated on wearying the British into
defeat. But when he saw his columns driven
back in confusion when his cavalry receded
from the squares they could not penetrate
when battalions were reduced to companies by
the fire of his cannon, and still that "feeble
few" showed a perfect front,f and held the
ground they had originally taken no wonder
his admiration was expressed to Soult " How

* " The Marshal told me, during the battle, that he was going
to make a great effort against the centre of the enemy, while
the cavalry should pick up the cannon, which did not seem to
be much supported. He told me several times when I brought
him orders, that we were going to gain a great victory."
Drouet s Speech.

t Several remonstrances from general officers were sent in
to the Duke of Wellington, to retreat. His question was,
" Will they stand?" " Till they perish," was the reply. " Then
I will stand with them to the last man."

N 2

180 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

beautifully these English fight ! but they must
give way !"

And well did British bravery merit that proud
encomium, which their enduring courage elicited
from Napoleon. For hours, with uniform and
unflinching gallantry, had they repulsed the at
tacks of troops who had already proved their
superiority over the soldiers of every other nation
in Europe. When the artillery united its fire,
and poured exterminating volleys on some de
voted regiment, the square, prostrate on the
earth, allowed the storm to pass over them.
When the battery ceased, to permit their cavalry
to charge and complete the work of destruction,
the square was on their feet no face unformed-
no chasm to allow the horsemen entrance- -but
a serried line of impassable bayonets was before
them, while the rear ranks threw in a reserved
fire with murderous precision. The cuirass was
too near the musket to avert death from the
wearer. Men and horses fell in heaps each at
tempt ended in defeat and the cavalry retired,
leaving their best and boldest before that square,
which, to them, had proved impenetrable.

When the close column of infantry came on,
the square had deployed into line. The French
were received with a destructive volley, and next
moment the wild cheer which accompanies the
bayonet charge, announced that England advan
ced with the weapon she had always found irre-

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 181

sistible. The French never crossed bayonets
fairly with the British ; when an attempt was
made to stand, a terrible slaughter attested Eng
land s superiority.

But the situation of Wellington momentarily
became more critical. Masses of the enemy had
fallen, but thousands came on anew. With des
perate attachment, the French army passed for
ward at Napoleon s command and although each
advance terminated in defeat and slaughter, fresh
battalions crossed the valley, and mounting the
ridge with cries of " Vive TEmpereur !" exhibit
ed a devotion which never had been equalled.
Wellington s reserves had been gradually brought
into action and the left, though but partially
engaged, could not be weakened to send assistance
to the right and centre. Many battalions were
miserably reduced ; and the third division, already
cut up at Quatre Bras on the evening of the 18th,
presented but a skeleton of what these beautiful
brigades had been when they left Brussels two
days before. The loss of individual regiments
was prodigious. The 27th had four hundred
men mowed down in square without drawing a
trigger ; it lost all its superior officers ; and a soli
tary subaltern who remained, commanded it for
half the day. Another, the 92nd regiment, when
not two hundred were left, rushed at a French
column and routed it with the bayonet ; and
a third, the 33rd, when nearly annihilated, sent to

182 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

require support none could be given; and the
commanding officer was told that he must "stand
or fall where he was !"

Any other save Wellington would have despair
ed ; but he calculated, and justly, that he had an
army which would perish where it stood. But
when he saw the devastation caused by the inces
sant attacks of an enemy who appeared determined
to succeed, is it surprising that his watch was fre
quently consulted, and that he prayed for night
or Blucher ? When evening came on, no doubt
Buonaparte began to question the accuracy of his
" military arithmetic," a phrase happily applied
to his meting out death by the hour. Half the
day had been consumed in a sanguinary and in
decisive conflict ; all his disposable troops but the
Guard had been employed, and still his efforts
were foiled ; and the British, with diminished
numbers, showed the same bold front they had
presented at the commencement of the battle.
He determined, therefore, on another desperate
attempt upon the whole British line ; and while
issuing orders to effect it, a distant cannonade an
nounced that a fresh force was approaching to
share the action. Napoleon, concluding that
Grouchy was coming up, conveyed the glad tid
ings to his disheartened columns. But an aide-
de-camp quickly removed the mistake and the
Emperor received the unwelcome intelligence that
the strange force, now distinctly observed de-

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 183

bouching from the woods of Saint Lambert,
was the advanced guard of a Prussian corps.
Buonaparte appeared, or affected to appear, in
credulous; but too soon the fatal truth was as
certained.

While the delusive hope of immediate relief
was industriously circulated among his troops,
Napoleon despatched Count Lobau, with the sixth
corps, to employ the Prussians, and, in person,
directed a general attack upon the British line.

Mean while the Prussian advance had de
bouched from the wood of Frichermont, and
the operations of the old Marshal, in the rear of
Napoleon s right flank, became alarming. If
Blucher established himself there in force, un
less success against the British in his front was
rapid and decisive, or that Grouchy came prompt
ly to his relief, Buonaparte knew well that his
situation must be hopeless. Accordingly, he di
rected the first and second corps and all his ca
valry reserves against the Duke, the French
mounted the heights once more and the Bri
tish were attacked from right to left.

A dreadful and protracted encounter followed ;
for an hour the contest was sustained, and, like
the preceding ones, it was a sanguinary succession
of determined attack and obstinate resistance.
The impetuosity of the French onset at first
obtained a temporary success. The English light
cavalry were driven back, and for a time a number

184 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

of the guns were in the enemy s possession, but
the British rallied again the French were forced
across the ridge, and retired to their original
ground, without effecting any permanent impres
sion.

It was now five o clock ; the Prussian reserve
cavalry under Prince William was warmly en
gaged with Count Lobau. Bulow s corps, with
the second, under Pirch, were approaching rapid
ly through the passes of Saint Lambert; and
the first Prussian corps, advancing by Ohain, had
already begun to operate on Napoleon s right.*
Bulow pushed forward towards Aywire, and,
opening his fire on the French, succeeded in
driving them from the opposite heights.

The Prussian left, acting separately, advanced
upon the village of Planchenoit, and attacked
Napoleon s rear. The French maintaining their
position with great gallantry, and the Prussians,
being equally obstinate in their attempts to force
the village, produced a bloody and prolonged com
bat. Napoleon s right had begun to recede before
the first Prussian corps, and his officers, generally,
anticipated a disastrous issue, that nothing but
immediate success against the British, or instant

* Bulow died on the 25th of February 1816, of an inflamma
tion of the lungs, at Koenigsburg, of which city he was gover
nor. On his death the King of Prussia paid the most marked
compliment of respect to his memory, by ordering every officer
of his army to put on mourning for three clays.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 185

relief from Grouchy, could remedy. The Im
perial Guard, his last and best resource, were con
sequently ordered up. Formed in close column,
Buonaparte in person advanced to lead them on ;
but dissuaded by his staff, he paused near the bot
tom of the hill, and to Ney, that " spoiled child
of victory/ the conduct of this redoubted body
was intrusted. In the interim, as the French right
fell back, the British moved gradually forward ;
and converging from the extreme points of Merke
Braine and Braine la Leud, compressed their ex
tent of line, and nearly assumed the form of a
crescent. The Guards were considerably advan
ced, and having deployed behind the crest of the
hill, lay down to avoid the cannonade with which
Napoleon covered the onset of his best troops.
Ney, with his proverbial gallantry, led on the
middle Guard ; and Wellington, putting himself
at the head of some wavering regiments, in
person brought them forward, and restored their
confidence.

As the Imperial Guard approached the crest
where the Household troops were couching, the
British artillery, which had gradually converged
upon the chaitssee, opened with cannister-shot.
The distance was so short,* and the range so

* "When the Imperial Guards, led on by Marshal Ney, about
half-past seven o clock made their appearance from a corn-field,
in close columns of grand divisions nearly opposite, and within
a distance of fifty yards from the muzzles of the guns, orders

186 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

accurate, that each discharge fell with deadly
precision into the column as it breasted the hill.
Ney, with his customary heroism, directed the
attack ; and when his horse was killed on foot,
and sword in hand, he headed the veterans whom
he had so often led to victory. Although the
leading files of the Guard were swept off by the
exterminating fire of the English batteries, still
their undaunted intrepidity carried them for
ward, and they gallantly crossed the ridge.

Then came the hour of British triumph. The
magic word was spoken " Up, Guards, and at
them!" In a moment the Household brigade
were on their feet : then waiting till the French
closed, they delivered a tremendous volley, cheer
ed, and rushed forward with the bayonet, Wel
lington in person directing the attack.

With the 42nd and 95th, the British leader
threw himself on Ney s flank, and rout and de
struction succeeded. In vain their gallant chief
attempted to rally the recoiling Guard ; and driven
down the hill, they were intermingled with the
old guard, who formed at the bottom in reserve.

In their unfortunate melee, the British cavalry
seized on the moment of confusion, and plun-

were given to load with cannister-shot, and literally five rounds
from each gun were fired with this species of shot, before
they showed the least symptom of retiring. At the twenty-
ninth round, their left gave way." Letters of an Artillery
Officer.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 187

ging into the mass, cut down and disorganised the
regiments which had hitherto been unbroken.
The British artillery ceased firing, and those who
had escaped the iron shower of the guns, fell be
neath sabre and bayonet.

The unremediable disorder consequent on this
decisive repulse, and the confusion in the French
rear, where Bulow had fiercely attacked them,
did not escape the eagle glance of Wellington.
" The hour is come !" he is said to have exclaim
ed, as, closing his telescope, he commanded the
whole line to advance. The order was exultingly
obeyed ; and, forming four deep, on came the Bri
tish. Wounds, and fatigue, and hunger, were all
forgotten, as with their customary steadiness they
crossed the ridge; but when they saw the French,
and began to move down the hill, a cheer that
seemed to rend the heavens pealed from their
proud array, as with levelled bayonets they
pressed on to meet the enemy.

But, panic-struck and disorganised, the French
resistance was short and feeble. The Prussian
cannon thundered in their rear the British bay
onet was flashing in their front and unable to
stand the terror of the charge, they broke and
fled. A dreadful and indiscriminate carnage en
sued. The great road was choked with equi
pages, and cumbered with the dead and dying ;
while the fields, as far as the eye could reach,
were covered with a host of helpless fugitives.

188 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

Courage and discipline were forgotten ; and Na
poleon s army of yesterday was now a splendid
wreck a terror-stricken multitude! His own
words best describe it " It was a total rout !"

Never had France sent a finer army to the
field and never had any been so signally de
feated. Complete as the deroute at Vittoria had
appeared, it fell infinitely short of that sustained
at Waterloo. Tired of slaughtering unresisting
foes, the British, early in the night, abandoned the
pursuit of the broken battalions and halted. But
the Prussians, untamed by previous exertion,
continued to follow the fugitives with increased
activity nothing could surpass the unrelenting
animosity of their pursuit ; plunder was sacrificed
to revenge and the memory of former defeat
and past oppression produced a dreadful retalia
tion, and deadened every impulse of humanity.
The VCB victis was pronounced and thousands
besides those who perished in the field, fell that
night by the Prussian lance and sabre.

What Napoleon s feelings were when he wit
nessed the overthrow of his Guard the failure
of his last hope the death-blow to his political
existence, cannot be described, but may be easily
imagined. Turning to an aide-de-camp, with a
face livid with rage and despair, he muttered in
a tremulous voice " A present c est fmi! sauvons
nous;" and turning his horse, he rode hastily off

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 189

towards Charleroi, attended by his guide and
staff.

#

In whatever point of view Waterloo is con
sidered, whether as a battle, a victory, or an event,
in all these, every occurrence of the last century
yields, and more particularly in the magnitude of
results. No doubt the successes of Wellington
in Spain were, in a great degree, primary causes
of Napoleon s downfal ; but still the victory of
Waterloo consummated efforts made for years be
fore in vain to achieve the freedom of the Conti
nent and wrought the final ruin of him, through
whose unhallowed ambition a world had been so
long convulsed.

As a battle, the merits of the field of Waterloo
have been freely examined and very differently
adjudicated. Those who were best competent to
decide, have pronounced this battle as that upon
which Wellington might securely rest his fame-
while others, admitting the extent of the victory,
ascribe the result rather to fortunate accident than
military skill.

Never was a falser statement hazarded. The
success attendant on the day of Waterloo, can
be referred only to the admirable system of re
sistance in the General, and an enduring valour,
rarely equalled, and never surpassed, in the sol
diers whom he commanded. Chance, at Water-

190 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

loo had no effect upon results ; Wellington s
surest game, was to act only on the defensive.
His arrangements with Blucher, for mutual sup
port, were thoroughly matured, and before night
the Prussians must be upon the field. Bad wea
ther and bad roads, with the conflagration of a
town in the line of march, which, to save the
Prussian tumbrils from explosion, required a cir
cuitous movement all these, while they pro
tracted the struggle for several hours beyond
what might have been reasonably computed, only
go to prove, that Wellington, in accepting battle,
under a well-founded belief that he should be
supported in four hours and when single-handed
he maintained the combat and resolutely held
his ground during a space of eight 9 had left no
thing dependent upon accident, but, providing for
the worst contingencies, had formed his calcula
tions with admirable skill.

The apologists for Napoleon lay much stress
on Ney s dilatory march on Quatre Bras, and
Grouchy s unprofitable movements on the Dyle.
The failure of Ney upon the 16th will be best
accounted for, by that Marshal s simple statement.
His reserve was withdrawn by Napoleon and
when the Prince of Moskwa required, and or
dered it forward, to make a grand eifort on the
wearied English, the corps " was idly parading"
between Quatre Bras and Ligny; and during
the arduous struggles at both places, that splendid

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 191

division had never faced an enemy nor discharged
a musket. Ney s failure in his attack was there
fore attributable to Napoleon altogether for had
his reserve been at hand, who can suppose that
the exhausted battalions of the allies, after a
march of two-and-twenty miles, and a long and
bloody combat, must not have yielded to fresh
troops in overpowering masses, and fallen back
from a position no longer tenable ? To Grouch y s
imputed errors, also, the loss of Waterloo has been
mainly ascribed both by Napoleon and his ad
mirers. But neither was that Marshal s conduct
obnoxious to the censure so unsparingly bestowed
upon it nor, had he disobeyed orders and acced
ed to the proposition of his second in command,
would a movement by his left have effected any
thing beyond the delay of Napoleon s overthrow
for a night. By following Girard s advice, and
marching direct on Waterloo, the day would
have ended, probably, in a drawn battle or even
Wellington might have been obliged to retire
into the wood of Soignies. But in a few hours
Blucher would have been up in the morning
the Anglo-Prussian army would have become as
sailant and with numbers far superior, who will
pretend to say that Napoleon s defeat upon the
19th, w r ould not have been as certain and as signal
as his deroute at Waterloo, upon the fatal even
ing that closed upon a fallen empire and a last
field.

192 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

The allied loss* was enormous, but it fell in
finitely short of that sustained by Napoleon s
army. Nothing like an accurate return was ever
made but from the most correct estimates by
French and British officers, upwards of five-and-
twenty thousand men were rendered horn de com
bat ; while multitudes were sabred in their flight,
or perished on the roads from sheer fatigue, and
in deserted villages for want of sustenance and
surgical relief.

On the 19th the Duke of Wellington was again
in motion, and having crossed the frontier, he

Return of killed and wounded, with an abstract of the
disposal of the wounded from the War-office, July 1815.

Killed on the spot, non-commissioned and privates, 1715
Died of wounds . . . 856

Missing, supposed killed . . . 353

Total . . 2924
Wounded . . 6831

Total killed and wounded . 9755

Abstract of the disposal of wounded :

Wounded by amputation ... . 236

Discharged . . . 506

Transferred to the veteran battalion . . 167

Rejoined their regiments . . . 5068

In hospitals, under cure, 10th April 1816 . . 854

Total wounded 6831

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 193

marched upon the French capital by Binch, Mal-
plaquet, and Cateau Cambresis. Colville s divi
sion, composed of part of the sixth British and
sixth Hanoverians, took the advance of the army,
and carried Cambray by assault on the evening
of the 24th. Peronne la Pucelle was on the fol
lowing day stormed by the Guards and on the
30th, the Duke of Wellington s light cavalry
were close to the walls of Paris.

Grouchy s corps d armee, amounting to forty
thousand men, when detached on the 17th by
Napoleon to prevent a junction of the Prussians
with the British, reached Gembloux immediately
after Blucher s rear-guard had quitted that place
on its route to Wavre. At Baraque, early next
morning, the French cavalry overtook the Prus
sians, and attacked and drove them back. At one
o clock a heavy cannonade was distinctly heard-
and Gerard urged Grouchy to leave a corps of ob
servation in front of the Prussians, and march di
rect on Waterloo, while Vandamme pressed the
Marshal to move at once on Brussels. Grouchy,
however, was determined to obey the strict letter
of his instructions, and made every effort to bring
the Prussians to action. At six in the evening.

c?

one of many officers, despatched by Napoleon
to order Grouchy to march to his assistance, suc
ceeded in finding the Marshal and delivered the
order of the Emperor. It was now six o clock.

VOL. II. O

194 BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

The Marshal crossed the Dyle and moved rapidly
towards Waterloo but all there was lost ; and
at daybreak, on learning the fatal news, Grouchy
abandoned his line of march, repassed the Dyle
in four divisions, and joined the cavalry of Excel-
mans at Namur on the following morning. The
Marshal, for a time, held that town ; while his
rear-guard, commanded by Vandamme, checked
the Prussians and then retiring by Dinant, he
brought his corps safely to Paris after a march
of eight days, and by a retreat that his enemies
admitted to be conducted with admirable skill.

Meanwhile, Blucher, having masked the for
tresses of Mauburge, Landrecy, and Phillipville,
took possession of St. Quentin, and Zeithen ad
vanced to Guise. On the 29th he halted in front
of the French position between St. Denis and
Vincennes having succeeded in gaining a day s
march on his indefatigable ally the Duke of Wel
lington.

On that evening Napoleon quitted the capital
never to enter it again. Hostilities ceased im
mediately the Bourbons were again recalled,
and placed upon the throne and Europe, after
years of anarchy and bloodshed, at last obtain
ed repose- -while he, " alike its wonder and its
scourge," was removed to a scene far distant

o

from that which had witnessed his triumphs
and his reverses and within the narrow limits

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 195

of a paltry island, that haughty spirit, for whom
half Europe was too small, dragged out a gloomy
existence, until death loosened the chain, and
the grave closed upon the Captive of Saint
Helena.

o 2

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES,

ILLUSTRATIVE OF

MODERN WARFARE.

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

DEFEAT OF COLONEL BAILEY, page 13.

ON the 24th July 1780, the cavalry of Hyder
Aly, being within nine miles of Madras, a des
patch was sent off to Colonel Bailey, who was
in the Northern Circar, with a force of about
three or four thousand men, to join Sir Hector
Munro s army at the Mount at Madras. .Most
unfortunately, however, this order was subse
quently changed, and Colonel Bailey was direct
ed to proceed direct to Conjeverone. On his
way to join Sir Hector Munro, he fell in with
a detachment of Hyder s army, under the com
mand of his son Tippoo, consisting of thirty
thousand cavalry, eight thousand foot, and twelve
pieces of cannon. Notwithstanding the vast
numerical superiority of this force over that of
Colonel Bailey, considerably weakened by a
mutiny in the first regiment of cavalry, which
it had been found necessary to march prisoners
to Madras, they were most decisively repuls
ed. This victory, splendid as was the achieve
ment, was dearly bought ; since, by again dimi
nishing the effective strength of this little army,

200 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

he considerably added to the dangers and diffi
culties of his situation. At this juncture Colonel
Bailey sent off a messenger to Sir Hector Munro,
informing him of the precarious state in which
he found himself. In consequence, a detach
ment was sent to Bailey s assistance, under the
command of Colonel Fletcher, consisting of the
flank companies of the 73rd, two of European
grenadiers, and eleven of Sepoys, making alto
gether about a thousand men.

Dreading an attack, Colonel Fletcher avoided
it by altering his line of march, and making
a wide detour, which, although it added to their
fatigue, ensured their safety, and enabled them
to join Colonel Bailey on the morning of the 9th,
having, nevertheless, fallen in with Hyder s pickets
close to his position at Perambaukum. The
troops of this detachment, wearied as they were,
were permitted to halt only till the evening, when
the whole force marched under the command of
Colonel Bailey to join Sir Hector Munro. Hyder
had again obtained the most correct intelligence
of their movements, and taking advantage of
the necessary delay in the return of this gallant
body of troops, enfiladed every part of the road
by which they were to march with artillery, and
placed his best infantry in ambuscade at every
available point. The English troops had not pro
ceeded more than four miles, when an alarm was
given that the enemy was on their flank. They

DEFEAT OF COLONEL BAILEY. 201

immediately formed, but finding the attack was
not serious, continued their march. The road
lay through an avenue of banyan trees, with a
jungle on either side, and upon their entrance
into this road they were again attacked on their
flanks by the enemy s opening two or three guns,
and commencing a fire of some musketry from
the thick part of the jungle. They instantly halted,
and immediately afterwards endeavoured to take
the guns, but the darkness frustrated their efforts.
And then it was that Colonel Bailey determined
to halt till daylight; a determination at first
sight incompatible with the admitted necessity
of making the march by night, and which, while
it not only afforded an opportunity to the enemy
to draw off his cannon to another and stronger
point, which the English had inevitably to pass
in the morning, practically announced to Tippoo
the exact position in which he had checked them,
and, moreover, suggested to Hyder the import
ance of advancing, in order to take advantage
of their unexpected halt. Colonel Bailey s words,
explanatory of his decision, which he addressed
to Captain Baird, were ; " I am determined to
halt till daylight, that I may have an oppor
tunity of seeing about me." At daylight they
accordingly recommenced their march, and as the
column moved out of the avenue into the plain,
a battery of eight guns opened upon it, sup
ported by a strong body of cavalry and infantry.

202 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

Bailey immediately ordered Captains Kennedy
and Gowdie, with the native grenadiers, to attack
them ; they did so, and succeeded in taking most
of the guns, and in driving back the troops who
supported them. But at this moment the heads
of the different columns of Hyder s army ap
peared- -Hyder having passed Sir Hector Munro
in the night moving down upon the line, which
induced Kennedy and Gowdie immediately to call
off their detachment from the captured guns to
join the main body. At this juncture Bailey
formed his force, consisting of little more than
three thousand men, in line upon the bank of an
old nullah, or water-course, and opened his guns
upon the enemy ; but Hyder, too powerful an
antagonist for a mere handful of men, so dis
posed his immense army as completely to sur
round him, and commenced a destructive fire
upon him from his artillery in every direc
tion. The various descriptions of this memorable
and most unequal contest all agree in confirm
ing the belief, that vast as was the disparity
between the contending armies, and although
Hyder had upwards of seventy pieces of cannon
in the field, the day would have been won by
the English if the fortune of war had not been
so decidedly against them. The enemy were re
peatedly and continually repulsed, their infan
try gave way, while their cavalry were falling
in all directions, and it is said, Hyder was only

DEFEAT OF COLONEL BAILEY. 203

prevented from retreating by the persuasions
of Colonel Lally, who represented to him that
retiring would bring him in contact with Sir
Hector Munro, who was in his rear; and at
this moment, and while the English were actu
ally sustaining the combined attack of Hyder
and his son Tippoo, two of their tumbrils ex
ploded, and in an instant the brave men, who
were on the eve of gaining one of the most splen
did victories ever achieved, were deprived of their
ammuniton and the services of all their artillery.
In this helpless and dreadful state, under a heavy
and tremendous fire of cannon and rockets, these
gallant, but unfortunate soldiers, remained from
half-past seven until nine o clock. The slaughter
of the British began to be tremendous, as the ene
my closed in upon them on every side. Colonel
Fletcher had carried off the grenadier company
of the 73rd, to support the rear-guard, and was
never heard of more. Hyder Aly came with his
whole army on their right flank, charging them
with columns of horse, while the infantry kept
up a heavy fire of musketry. These were fol
lowed by the elephants and Mysore cavalry,
which completed the overthrow of the gallant
band of heroes. In the midst of this, Colonel
Bailey, wounded as he was, formed his men into
a square, and without ammunition, received and
repulsed thirteen different attacks of the enemy s
squadrons. At length the case became evidently

204 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

hopeless, and the Sepoys, under Captain Lucas,
having been broken and dispersed, Colonel Bailey,
seeing that further resistance was vain, tied his
handkerchief on his sword as a flag-of-truce, and
ordered Captain Baird, who was now second in
command, to cease firing. Hyder s officers re
fused to attend to Colonel Bailey s signal, point
ing to the Sepoys, who in their confusion were
still continuing to fire ; this, however, being ex
plained, they agreed to give quarter, and Colonel
Bailey directed Captain Baird to order his men
to ground their arms. The order was of course

o

obeyed, and the instant it was so, the enemy s
cavalry, commanded by Tippoo Saib in person,
rushed upon the unarmed troops before they
could recover themselves, chopping down every
man within their reach.*

EFFECTIVE STRENGTH OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY,

page 47.

Guards, Major-General Ludlow.

1st, or Royals,

2nd battalions
54th, 92nd,
8th,
13th,

- Major-General Coote.

-Major-General Craddock.

90th,

Abridged from Hook s " Life of Baird."

STRENGTH OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY. 205

2d, or Queen s ^

50th,

79th,

18th,

30th,

44th,

89th,

Minorca,

De Rolde s,

Dillon s,

-Major-General Lord Cavan.

Brigadier-General Doyle.

- Major-General Stuart.

RESERVE.

40th, Flank Comp.
23rd,

28th

} Major-General Moore.
42nd,

58th,

Corsican Rangers,

Detach, llth Drag. ^

12th Dragoons, >- Brigadier-General Finch.

26th Dragoons,

Artil. and Prince s, Brigadier-General Lawson,

EXPLOIT OF A FRENCH FRIGATE, page 47.

On the morning of the 2nd of March, a frigate
was seen standing into Alexandria. Pursuit was
unavailing; she reached the harbour, and hoist
ing French colours, proved unequivocally her na-

206 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

tion. It will scarcely be credited that a French
frigate, finding herself unexpectedly in the midst
of an English fleet, should have been so capable
directly to disguise herself, as to continue unsus
pected on her course with it, which she did the
whole day before, answering the various signals
made, and yet never attracted the smallest sus
picion ; nevertheless it is a fact, and must remain
on record as an honourable anecdote to the credit
of the French captain of the Regenere e. During
the night a brig, the Lodi, also entered, but
which was not then known.*

STRICTURES ON THE ADVANCE BY THE BRITISH,

page 55.

si Happy would it have been, however, if the
army had never advanced beyond the first cap
tured position as far as that it had gloriously
triumphed. The loss which it had sustained
was inconsiderable ; but it was a fatal movement
which brought it so entirely within cannon-shot
of the second position, and where it was halted
so long If, instead of finally abandoning so im
portant an object, part of the army had been
marched to the left, obliquely over the ground
which lay between Lake Maadie and Lake Ma-
riotes, subsequently inundated, and then formed

* Wilson.

BAIIID S MARCH AGAINST JANSSENS. 207

to the right, when the left reached the turn of
Pompey s Pillar, then attacking the south front
of the position, whilst the right of the eastern
front was attacked at the same time, no doubt can
now exist of its having been easily carried, and
most probably the town of Alexandria. Old and
New Forts Cretin and CafFarelli could have op
posed but little resistance ; and if they had held
out, must have surrendered long before the ar
rival of General Menou."f

DIFFICULTIES OF BAIRD s MARCH AGAINST

JANSSENS, page 75.

" It is utterly impossible to convey to your
lordship an adequate idea of the obstacles which
opposed the advance and retarded the success
of our army.

A deep, heavy, and dry sand, covered with shrubs,
scarcely pervious by light bodies of infantry ; and
above all, the total privation of water, under the
effect of a burning sun, had nearly exhausted
our gallant fellows in the moment of victory ;
and with the greatest difficulty were we able to
reach Reit Valley, where we took up our posi
tion for the night." J

f Wilson. J Baird s Despatches.

208 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ANECDOTES OF THE CALABRESE INSURGENTS, page 90.

Manhes, steadfast in his purpose, and closing
his ears to pity, became, by the severity of his
measures and the novelty of his punishments, the
terror of the Calabrese. He was never known to
relax from love of gain ; and it is but just to
wards his character to state, that individual inte
rests were never considered in his proscriptions.
Faithful to the views of Murat, he accomplished
by persevering activity in less than six months
what others had only begun in six years.

Manhes, after having ascertained, commune by
commune, the number of wandering brigands, sus
pended all labour throughout the country. The
workmen and their cattle were collected in the
villages under protection of the regular troops,
and the punishment of death was decreed against
any individual found in the country with provi
sions, unless belonging to the armed columns.

The principal possessors of property received
orders to arm and march against the brigands, and
were made answerable, number for number, and
head for head, not to return to their homes with
out bringing with them, dead or alive, the bri
gands of their respective communes.

Pursued by famine and the bayonets of their
enemies, the greater number of the fugitives sold
their lives dearly. The remainder of these un-

CALABRESE INSURGENTS. 209

fortunate creatures, reduced to the last extremity,
preferred a certain but immediate death, to the
sharp and protracted sufferings of fear and fa
mine. A prodigious number of them were shot.
The heads and limbs of the condemned were, after
their execution, fixed on pikes, and the road from
Reggio to Naples was garnished with these dis
gusting trophies.

The river Crati, upon the banks of which a
crowd of these victims was executed, and which is
very shallow at Cozenza, presented for a long time
the disgusting spectacle of their mutilated bodies.

The following anecdotes show the determined
spirit that animated the leaders of the band.

" Parafanti could not be secured till dead with
a hundred wounds. Perched on the ledge of a
rock, which afforded him a certain degree of pro
tection, his thighs fractured but his arms free,
he sacrificed many to his vengeance. Not one
of his discharges failed of effect. His head was

o

exposed at Rogliano, his birth-place.

" Another, who had taken refuge in a mill, set
it on fire himself, with his last cartridge, to pre
vent his being taken alive.

" Nierello was assassinated on the road of Ni-
castro by one of the civic guard, who pretended
to surrender himself to him.

" Paonese, the terror of the environs of Gaspa-
rena and of Montanio, fell a sacrifice to the co
lumns of Manhes and Masotta, Mescio, Giacinto,

VOL. II. P

210 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

and Antonio, with many others, shared the same
fate.

" Murat was not, like his predecessor, lavish of
amnesties, nevertheless, he authorized some ; and
it was observed, that the brigand chiefs who took
advantage of them, became the most formidable
and bitter persecutors of those in whose dangers
and whose crimes they had participated.

" Benincasa, chief of the band of St. Braggio,
fleeing with four companions from a French de
tachment, was stopped by the swelling of the
river Angitola ; they tried to effect their passage
on a bullock-car, which, however, was stopped
in the middle of the current. To a summons to
surrender, they only returned discharges of their
muskets. At last, after a long and desperate re
sistance, being all wounded, and having expend
ed their ammunition, they mutually assisted each
other in falling into the river, where their mangled
bodies were afterwards found.

" A brigand chief, of the band of Foggia, was
condemned to have his wrist severed. The ex
ecutioner having failed in the first blow, the
sufferer begged to be permitted to do it himself.
He coolly cut off his hand at one blow, and, turn
ing to the executioner, said, f Endeavour to learn
your trade better."

* Memoir of Stuart s Campaign in Calabria.

GUERILLAS.

ORIGIN OF THE GUERILLAS, page 97-

" At this time, also, that system of warfare be
gan, which soon extended through Spain, and
occasioned greater losses to the French than
they suffered in all their pitched battles. The
first adventurers attracted notice, by collecting
stragglers from their own dispersed armies, de
serters from the enemy, and men who, made de
sperate by the ruin of their private affairs in the
general wreck, were ready for any service in
which they could at the same time gratify their
just vengeance and find subsistence."

CASUALTIES AT ROLICA, page 105.

Killed .... 70

Wounded . . . 335

Missing .... 74

Total . "479 f

CASUALTIES AT VIMEIRO, page 115.

Killed ..... 135

Wounded . . 534

Missing .... 51

Total. .

* Soutbey. t Wellington s Despatches. J Ibid.

P 2

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

SUFFERINGS ON THE RETREAT, page 135.

" A few were got away, but many were so
tired and lame from sore feet, that they did not
care if the French sabres and bayonets were at
their breast, so completely did most of them give
themselves up to despair. The rear-guard was
at length forced to retire and leave these unfor
tunate people to their fate. Some of these poor
fellows who had thought better of it, and were
endeavouring to overtake their countrymen, were
unmercifully sabred by the French cavalry, many
of them in a defenceless state.

" One of the handsomest men in the grenadier
company, of the name of M Gee, was coming
along the road lame from an accident, his firelock
and pack having been taken by his messmates to
enable him to keep up ; he was, however, over
taken by two French dragoons, and, although un
armed and helpless, was inhumanly cut to pieces
almost within sight."*

DESTRUCTION OF TREASURE, page 135.

" Under these circumstances Sir John Moore de-

,cided that the whole should be thrown down the

mountain ; most judiciously considering, that if

the casks were broken the men would make a

* Cadell.

SIR JOHN MOORE.

rush for the money, which would have caused
great confusion, and might have cost the lives of
many. The rear-guard, therefore, was halted;
Lieutenant Bennet, of the light company 28th
regiment, was placed over the money, with strict
orders from Sir John Moore to shoot the first
person who attempted to touch it. It was then
rolled over the precipice, the casks were soon
broken by the rugged rocks, and the dollars fall
ing out, rolled over the height a sparkling cascade
of silver. The French advanced guard coming
up shortly after to the spot, were detained for a
time picking up a few dollars that had been scat
tered on the road."*

BIVOUAC AT BETANZOS, page 140.

" We bivouacked on the heights above Be-
tanzos. Here we met with a God-send for the
night. Just as we had taken up our ground, we
found a number of waggons laden with dry bul-
locks -skins, on their way to Corunna ; we made
beds of some and covering of others, which gave
us for once a dry sleep." f

* Cadell. f Ibid.

214 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

EXPLOSION OF A MAGAZINE, page 142.

" The French were in as great a panic as we
were, their army was under arms, and aides-de
camp flying in all directions. In a short time
everything was quiet, but a shower of white
ashes began to fall, and continued for some time
afterwards."*

MEMORIALS OF SIR JOHN MOORE, page 147-

The following simple inscriptions are the only
memorials which as yet have marked the field
of Corunna, or the grave of the departed Gene
ral :

A la Gloria

del

Ex mo S r D. Juan Moore, Gen 1 del Ex* Ingleso,
Y a la de sus valientes compatriotas,

la
Espaiia agradecida.

On the other side,

Batalla de Coruna a 18 de Enero,
A no 1809.

Marshal Soult also ordered the following in
scription to be engraved upon a rock, near the
spot where Sir John Moore fell :-

* Cadell,

SIR JOHN MOORE. 215

Hie cecidit Johannes Moore, Dux Exercitus,

In pugna Januarii xvi. 1809,
Contra Gallos, a Duce Dalmatian ductos.

SUPPOSED CAUSE OF SIR JOHN MOORE S

FAILURE, page 149.

" A striking instance may be selected in the
various accounts of the train of disasters which
preceded the fall of a much-esteemed officer at
the commencement of the war. Every sufferer
on that occasion taxed the natives with having
been in some mode or other the authors of his
misfortunes; and the numerous military friends
of that respected chief, influenced by his des
ponding feelings, and desirous to exonerate his
conduct and sustain his reputation, even went
farther, representing the Spaniards not only as
apathetic and cowardly, but as totally devoid of
good will."*

EXAGGERATED ACCOUNTS OF THE FRENCH,

page 150.

Disastrous as Sir John Moore s campaign
proved, the French accounts circulated over the
Continent grossly exaggerated the real loss of our
army, and heavy indeed it was. " Three British

* Jones s Account of the War.

216 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

regiments," they said, " the 42nd, 50th, and 52nd,
had been entirely destroyed in the action and Sir
John Moore killed in attempting to charge at
their head with the vain hope of restoring the
fortune of the day. The English had lost every
thing which constitutes an army, artillery, horses,
baggage, ammunition, magazines, and military
chests. Of eighty pieces of cannon they had landed,
they had re-embarked no more than 12, 200,000,
weight of powder, 16,000 muskets, and 2,000,000
of treasure, (about 83,000/.) had fallen into the
hands of the pursuers, and treasure yet more con
siderable had been thrown down the precipices
along the road between Astorga and Corunna,
where the peasantry and the soldiers were now
collecting it. Five thousand horses had been
counted which they had slaughtered upon the
way five hundred were taken at Corunna, and
the carcases of twelve hundred were infecting the
streets when the conquerors entered that town.
The English would have occupied Ferrol and
seized the squadron there, had it not been for the
precipitance of their retreat, and the result of the
battle to which they had been brought at last.
Thus, then, had terminated their expedition into
Spain ! Thus, after having fomented the war in
that unhappy country, had they abandoned it to
its fate ! In another season of the year not a man
of them would have escaped ; now, the facility of
breaking up the bridges, the rapidity of the winter

GUERILLAS. 217

torrents, shortness of days, and length of nights,
had favoured their retreat."

MEMOIR OF THE GUERILLAS, page 151.

The Spanish armies in the course of the Pe
ninsular campaign had met so many and discou
raging defeats, that their military reputation sunk
below the standard of mediocrity. They were
despised by their enemies, and distrusted by their
allies ; and whether from the imbecility of the
government, the ignorance of their leaders, or
some national peculiarity, their inefficiency be
came so notorious, that no important operation
could be intrusted to them with any certainty
of its being successful. As an organized force,
the Spanish army was contemptible ; while, in de
sultory warfare, the peasantry were invaluable.
With few exceptions, the history of Spanish ser
vice would be a mere detail of presumption and
defeat; while their neighbours, the Portuguese,
merited the perfect approbation of their officers,
and proved worthy of standing in the battle-field
by the side of British soldiers.

The irregular bands, termed Partidas and
Quadrillas, partly formed from peasant volun
teers and smugglers, and enlisted and paid by
government, were embodied originally by order
of the Central Junta. At first their numbers

218 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

were few, and their efficiency as military par
tisans not very remarkable but as the Spanish
armies declined in strength and reputation, the
guerillas proportionately increased. The most
determined spirits would naturally select a life
of wild and desperate adventure* and a love
of country and religion, an unextinguishable
hatred of oppression, inflamed the passions of a
people, proverbial for the intensity of feeling
with which they regarded even an imaginary in
sult. They had now deep and heart-burning in
juries to stimulate them to hatred and revenge,
and the ferocity with which they retaliated for
past and present wrong, gained for these formi
dable partisans a name that made the boldest of
their oppressors tremble.

A brief sketch of this wild and devoted con
federacy, so connected with the Peninsular ope
rations during that arduous struggle, will not be
irrelevant.

" There was in the whole system of guerilla
warfare a wild and romantic character which,
could its cruelty have been overlooked, would
have rendered it both chivalrous and exciting
and men, totally unfitted by previous habits and

* " Successes of this kind made Mina dangerous in more
ways than one to the invaders. Germans, Italians, and even
French, deserted to him. In the course of five days, fifteen
hussars came over with their arms and horses, and fourteen
foot soldiers."- - Life of Mina.

GUERILLAS. 219

education, suddenly appeared upon the stage, and
developed talent and determination, that made
them the scourge and terror of the invaders.

" But theirs was a combat of extermination,
none of those courtesies, which render modern
warfare endurable, were granted to their oppo
nents, - - the deadliest hostility was unmitigated
by success, and, when vanquished, expecting no
quarter from the French, they never thought
of extending it to those who unfortunately be
came their prisoners. A sanguinary struggle was
waging, and vcz victis seemed, with ( war to the
knife, to be the only mottos of the Guerilla.

" The strange exploits of many of these daring
partisans,* though true to the letter, are perfectly
romantic ; and their patient endurance, and the
deep artifice with which their objects were affected,
appear to be almost incredible. Persons, whose
ages and professions were best calculated to evade
suspicion, were invariably their chosen agents.
The village priest was commonly a confederate of
the neighbouring guerilla, the postmaster betray
ed the intelligence that reached him in his office,
the fairest peasant of Estremadura would tempt
the thoughtless soldier with her beauty, and
decoy him within range of the bullet, even child
hood \vas frequently and successfully employed
in leading the unsuspecting victim into some

* The Bivouac."

220 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

pass or ambuscade, where the knife or musket
closed his earthly career."*

In every community, however fierce and law
less, different gradations of good and evil will be
discovered, and nothing could be more opposite
than the feelings and actions of some of the gue
rillas and their leaders.

Many of these desperate bands were actuated
in every enterprise by a love of bloodshed and
spoliation, and their own countrymen suffered as
heavily from their rapacity, as their enemies from
their swords. Others took the field from nobler
motives ; an enthusiastic attachment to their coun
try and religion roused them to vengeance against
a tyranny which had now become insufferable,

- every feeling but ardent patriotism was forgot
ten, private and dearer ties were snapped asun
der, homes, and wives, and children, were aban
doned, privations, that appear almost incredible,
were patiently endured, until treachery delivered
them to the executioner, or in some wild attempt
they were overpowered by numbers and died re
sisting to the last.

Dreadful as the retaliation was which French
cruelty and oppression had provoked, the guerilla

* " Many of the Guerilla leaders were accompanied in the
field by females, who, as is not unfrequent in camps, wore male
attire. These, after a time, habituated to danger, became

very daring, frequently fighting amongst the foremost, on
which circumstance most of the tales of the bands being com
manded by Amazons had their origin." Jones,

GUERILLAS. 221

vengeance against domestic treachery was neither
less certain nor less severe.* To collect money
or supplies for the invaders, convey any informa
tion, conceal their motions, and not betray them
when opportunity occurred, was certain death to
the offender. Sometimes the delinquent was
brought, with considerable difficulty and risk,
before a neighbouring tribunal, and executed
with all the formalities of justice ; but, generally,
a more summary vengeance was exacted, and
the traitor executed upon the spot. In these
cases, neither calling nor age were respected
and, if found false to his country, the sanctity
of his order was no protection to the priest.

The daughter of the Collector of Almagro, for
professing attachment to the usurper, was stabbed
by Urena to the heart, and a secret correspond
ence between the wife of the Alcalde of Birhue-

* In this pursuit the Corredigor of Cervera was taken at
tempting to escape with the enemy ; a man who had joined
the French, and, with the malevolence of a traitor, persecuted
his own countrymen. He had invented a cage in which to
imprison those who did not pay their contributions, or were
in any way obnoxious to him : it was so constructed as to
confine the whole body, leaving the head exposed to be buf
feted and spit upon ; and sometimes this devilish villain
anointed the face of his victim with honey to attract the flies
and wasps. * To-morrow, said Eroles in his despatches, the
Sefior Corregidor will go out to parade the streets in this same
cage, where the persons who have suffered this grievous tor
ment may behold him : Discite justiciam moniti, et non tem-
nere Divos ! The capture of this man was worth as much,
in the feelings of the people, as all the preceding success."

222 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

da and the French General in the next command,
having been detected by an intercepted despatch,
the wretched woman, by order of Juan Martin
Diez, " the Empecinado,"* was dragged by a gue
rilla party from her house, her hair shaven, her
denuded person tarred and feathered, and dis
gracefully exhibited in the public market-place,
and she was then put to death amid the execre-
ations of her tormentors. Nor was there any se
curity for a traitor, even were his residence in
the capital, or almost within the camp of the
enemy. One of the favourites of Joseph Buona
parte, Don Jose Riego, was torn from his home
in the suburbs of Madrid, while celebrating his
wedding, by the Empecinado, and hanged in
the square of Cadiz. The usurper himself, on
two occasions, narrowly escaped from this des
perate partisan. Dining at Almeida, some two
leagues distance from the capital, with one of the
generals of division, their hilarity was suddenly
interrupted by the unwelcome intelligence that

* " Various explanations have been offered of this name.
One account says, that upon finding his family murdered by the
French, he smeared his face with pitch, and made a vow of ven
geance. Another, that he was so called because of his swarthy
complexion. But in the account of his life, it is said that all
the inhabitants of Cashillo de Duero, where he was born, have
this nickname indiscriminately given them by their neighbours,
in consequence of a black mud, called pecina, deposited by a
little stream which runs through the place ; and the appella
tion became peculiar to him from his celebrity." Southey.

GUERILLAS. 223

the Empecinado was at hand, and nothing but
a hasty retreat preserved the pseudo-King from
capture. On another occasion, he was surprised
upon the Guadalaxara road, and so rapid was the
guerilla movement, so determined the pursuit,
that before the French could be succoured by
the garrison of Madrid, forty of the royal escort
were sabred between Torrejon and El Molar.

A war of extermination raged, and on both
sides blood flowed in torrents. One act of cruel
ty was as promptly answered by another ; and
a French decree, ordering that every Spaniard
taken in arms should be executed, appeared to
be a signal to the guerillas to exclude from
mercy every enemy who fell into their hands.
The French had shown the example ; the Junta
were denounced, their houses burned, and their
wives and children driven to the woods. If pri
soners received quarter in the field, if they fell
lame upon the march, or the remotest chance of a
rescue appeared, they were shot like dogs. Others
were butchered in the towns, their bodies left
rotting on the highways, and their heads exhibit
ed on poles. That respect, which even the most
depraved of men usually pay to female honour,
was shamefully disregarded, and more than one
Spaniard, like the postmaster of Medina, was
driven to the most desperate courses, by the vio
lation of a wife and the murder of a child." *

* Southey.

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

It would be sickening to describe the horrid
scenes which mutual retaliation produced. Seve
ral of the Empecinado s followers, who were sur
prised in the mountains of Guadarama, were
nailed to the trees, and left there to expire slowly
by hunger and thirst. To the same trees, before
a week elapsed, a similar number of French sol
diers were affixed by the guerillas. Two of the
inhabitants of Madrid, who were suspected of
communicating with the brigands, as the French
termed the armed Spaniards, were tried by court-
martial, and executed at their own door. The
next morning, six of the garrison were seen
hanging from walls beside the high road. Some
females related to Palarea, surnamed the Medico,
had been abused most scandalously by the escort
of a convoy, who had seized them in a wood ;
and in return the guerilla general drove into an
Ermida eighty Frenchmen and their officers, set
fire to the thatch, and burned them to death, or
shot them in their endeavours to leave the blazing
chapel. Such were the dreadful enormities a
system of retaliation caused.

These desperate adventurers were commanded
by men of the most dissimilar professions. All
were distinguished by some sobriquet, and these
were of the most opposite descriptions. Among
the leaders were friars and physicians, cooks and
artisans ; while some were characterized by a de
formity, and others named after the form of their

GUERILLAS. 225

waistcoat or hat. Worse epithets described many
of the minor chiefs, truculence and spoliation
obtained them titles ; and, strange as it may ap
pear, the most ferocious band that infested Bis
cay was commanded by a woman named Mar
tina. So indiscriminating and unrelenting was
this female monster in her murder of friends and
foes, that Mina was obliged to direct his force
against her. She was surprised, with the greater
part of her banditti, and the whole were shot
upon the spot.

Of all the guerilla leaders the two Minas were
the most remarkable for their daring, their ta
lents, and their successes. The younger, Xavier,
had a short career but nothing could be more
chivalrous and romantic than many of the inci
dents that marked it. His band amounted to a
thousand and with this force he kept Navarre,
Biscay, and Aragon in confusion ; intercepted
convoys, levied contributions, plundered the cus
tom-houses, and harassed the enemy incessantly.
The villages were obliged to furnish rations for
his troops, and the French convoys supplied him
with money and ammunition. His escapes were
often marvellous.* He swam flooded rivers deem-

* " He himself was in the most imminent peril, a party of
hussars having surrounded him : and one of them aimed a blow
which he had no other means of avoiding but by stretching
himself out upon his horse. The horse at the same moment
sprang forward and threw him ; he recovered his feet and ran ;

VOL. II. Q

226 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ed impassable, and climbed precipices hitherto un-
traversed by a human foot. Near Estella he was
forced by numbers to take refuge on a lofty
rock; the only accessible side he defended till
nightfall, when, lowering himself and followers
by a rope, he brought his party off without the
loss of a man.

This was among his last exploits ; for, when
reconnoitring by moonlight, in the hope of cap
turing a valuable convoy, he fell unexpectedly into
the hands of an enemy s patrol. Proscribed by
the French as a bandit, it was surprising that his
life was spared ; but his loss to the guerillas was
regarded as a great misfortune.

While disputing as to the choice of a leader,
where so many aspired to a command to which
each could offer an equal claim, an adventurer
worthy to succeed their lost chief was happily
discovered in his uncle, the elder Mina. Edu
cated as a husbandman, and scarcely able to read
or write, the new leader had lived in great retire
ment, until the Junta s call to arms induced him
to join his nephew s band. He reluctantly acced
ed to the general wish to become Xavier s suc
cessor ; but when he assumed the command, his

the horse, whether by mere good fortune, or that, in the wild
life to which Mina was reduced, like an Arab he had taught
the beast to love him, followed his master, who then lightly
leaped into his seat, and, though closely pursued, saved him
self." Life of Mina.

GUERILLAS. 227

firm and daring character was rapidly developed.
Echeverria, with a strong following, had started
as a rival chief; but Mina surprised him had
three of his subordinates shot with their leader
and united the remainder of the band with his
own. Although he narrowly escaped becoming a
victim to the treachery of a comrade, the prompt
and severe justice with which he visited the
offender, effectually restrained other adventurers
from making any similar attempt.

The traitor was a sergeant of his own, who,
from the bad expression of his face, had received
among his companions the sobriquet of Mal-
carado. Discontented with the new commander,
he determined to betray him to the enemy, and
concerted measures with Pannetti, whose brigade
was near the village of Robres, to surprise the
guerilla chieftain in his bed. Partial success at
tended the treacherous attempt ; but Mina de
fended himself desperately with the bar of the
door, and kept the French at bay till Gustra, his
chosen comrade, assisted him to escape. The
guerilla rallied his followers, repulsed the enemy,
took Malearado, and shot him instantly ; while
the village cure and three alcades implicated in
the traitorous design, were hanged side by side
upon a tree, and their houses rased to the
ground.

An example of severity like this gave confi
dence to his own followers, and exacted submis-

Q 2

228 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

sion from the peasantry. Everywhere Mina had
a faithful spy every movement of the enemy
was reported ; and if a village magistrate receiv
ed a requisition from a French commandant, it was
communicated to the guerilla chief with due
despatch, or woe to the alcade that neglected it.

Nature had formed Mina* for the service to
which he had devoted himself. His constitution
was equal to every privation and fatigue, and his
courage was of that prompt and daring character
which no circumstance, however sudden and
disheartening, could overcome. Careless as to
dress or food, he depended for a change of linen
on the capture of French baggage or any acci
dental supply ; and for days he could subsist on
a few biscuits, or anything chance threw in his
way. He guarded carefully against surprise
slept with a dagger and pistols in his girdle ; and
such were his active habits, that he rarely took
more than two hours of repose. Remote ca
verns were the depositories of his ammunition
and plunder ; and in a mountain fastness he es
tablished an hospital for his wounded, to which

* " The French attacked Mina a few days after his exploit
before Estella, near Arcos. His inferiority in numbers was
compensated by his perfect knowledge of every foot of the
ground, experience of his officers in their own mode of
warfare, and his confidence in all his followers. After an
action which continued nearly the whole day, he drew off in
good order, and scarcely with any loss, having killed and
wounded nearly four hundred of the enemy." Life of Mina*

GUERILLAS. 229

they were carried on litters across the heights,
and placed in perfect safety until their cure could
be completed. Gaming and plunder were pro
hibited, and even love forbidden, lest the guerilla
might be too communicative to the object of his
affection, and any of his chieftain s secrets should
thus transpire.

Of the minor chiefs many strange and chival
rous adventures are on record. The daring plans,
often tried and generally successful, and the hair
breadth escapes of several, are almost beyond
belief. No means, however repugnant to the
laws of modern warfare, were unemployed ; while
the ingenuity with which intelligence of a hos
tile movement was transmitted the artifice with
which an enemy was delayed, until he could be
surrounded or surprised, appear incredible. Of
individual ferocity a few instances will be suffi
cient. At the execution of an alcade and his son
at Mondragon, the old man boasted that two
hundred French had perished by their hands ;
and the Chaleco, Francis Moreno, in a record of
his services, boasts of his having waited for a
cavalry patrol in a ravine, and by the discharge
of a huge blunderbluss, loaded nearly to the muz
zle, dislocated his own shoulder, and killed or
wounded nine of the French. The same chief
presented to Villafranca a rich booty of plate
and quicksilver, and added to the gift a parcel
of ears cut from the prisoners whom on that oc
casion he had slaughtered.

230 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

Profiting by the anarchy that reigned in this
afflicted country, wretches, under political ex
cuses, committed murder and devastation on a
scale of frightful magnitude. One, pretending
to be a functionary of the Junta, made Ladrada
a scene of bloodshed. By night his victims were
despatched; and, to the disgrace of woman, his
wife was more sanguinary than himself. Casta-
nos at length arrested their blood-stained career ;
and Pedrazeula was hanged and beheaded, and
Maria, his infamous confederate, gavotted.

Castile was overrun by banditti ; and one gang,
destroyed by a guerilla chief named Juan Abril,
had accumulated plunder, principally in specie,
amounting in value to half a million of reals.
One of the band, when captured by the French,
to save his life discovered the secret, and offered
to lead a party to the place where the treasure
was deposited. His proposal was accepted. An
alguazil, with an escort of cavalry, proceeded to
the wood of Villa Viciosa, and there booty was
found worth more than the value affixed to it by
the deserter. Returning in unsuspecting con
fidence, the party were drawn into an ambuscade
by the Medico, who had been acquainted with
the expedition ; and of the escort and officials,
with the exception of five who managed to
escape, every one was butchered without mercy.

Such were the wild and relentless foes to whom
the invaders were exposed such were the Spa-

GUERILLAS. 231

niards, who had made themselves remarkable for
patriotism and endurance surpassing courage,
and unmitigated cruelty.*

SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA, page 155.

" Before the further actions of the British are
narrated, a few pages will be well bestowed to
recount the heroic, but unconnected efforts of
resistance made by the Spaniards themselves, of
which the siege of Zaragoza stands foremost.
Immediately after the repulse of the French in
the preceding summer, Palafox directed the exe
cution of various defensive works, which, thrown
up in haste, and executed with greater zeal than
judgment, gave more the appearance than the
reality of additional strength to the place ; yet,
in the defence of them, Palafox added much to
his previously high fame, this second defence
being far more arduous than the former; as thirty-
six thousand men were employed in the attack,
and such a provision of artillery and stores brought
against the town, as rendered success certain.
From the day succeeding the unfortunate action
at Tudela, constant skirmishing and small affairs
of posts took place, whilst the French were
bringing up the supplies for the attack ; which

* Abridged from " The Bivouac."

232 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

having accomplished, the siege commenced on
the 20th December, by the assault and capture of
the outposts of the Torrero and Casa-blanca ; and
by an attempt to lodge in the suburbs on the
left of the Elbro, from which, after several hours
fighting, and a dreadful slaughter of the Spa
niards, the French were ultimately repulsed. On
the 10th January a violent bombardment began,
and frequently three thousand shells were thrown
into the devoted town in twenty-four hours. On
the 26th, fifty-five pieces of heavy ordnance bat
tered the newly-raised works of the enceinte, and
quickly formed a practicable breach : the French
vigorously assaulted it the following morning,
and, after a desperate resistance, gained the sum
mit; where, however, they could not maintain
themselves, as the citizens, from behind an inte
rior retrenchment, kept up an incessant fire, and
every moment sallied forth and fought hand to
hand with the troops and workmen endeavouring
to form the lodgment. In these fierce encoun
ters, women and priests were observed among the
foremost and most courageous ; and openly to
contend with such enthusiasm was hopeless. The
besiegers, therefore, confined themselves to the
slow but certain operations of the sap, and by
its insidious advances on the 6th, penetrated into
the principal street, named the Corso, where the
buildings are of great solidity. Then the con
flict assumed the greatest degree of obstinacy-

SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA. 233

each house became a citadel, and required to be
separately attacked ; mining was the art employ
ed, and the courage of the unpractised Arragonese
failed before the skill of their more experienced
antagonists. They nevertheless made the most
surprising efforts : when forced from one room
they renewed the combat in the next ; and fre
quently, when driven inch by inch out of a build
ing, Palafox, by a desperate and bold offensive
movement, recovered it, and the enemy had the
same resistance a second time to overcome. But
courage alone is of little avail against courage
and science united : daily and hourly the French
made some advance ; and when exertion was
most required, a pestilential disorder, arising from
the number of the unburied slain, broke out
among the defenders, causing far more havoc
than the sword. At last the heroic Palafox him
self sickened, and affairs became desperate. Still
the constancy of these dauntless Spaniards re
mained unshaken ; and a priest of the name of
Ric, by his personal example and the enthusiasm
he inspired, directed the defence of the few re
maining streets with undiminished bravery; and at
last, on the 20th February, after thirty thousand
citizens had buried themselves under the ruins of
their houses, he, by firmness of conduct, forced
Marshal Lannes to promise good treatment to the
survivors.

" The garrison, fifteen thousand in number,

234 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

marched out, and laid down their arms, after a
resistance of fifty-two days open trenches, twenty-
three of which were a war of houses. The town,
on entering it, presented a dreadful and melan
choly spectacle: entire districts of it were de
molished by repeated explosions, and presented
merely a mass of ruins, thickly spread over with
mutilated limbs and carcasses; the few houses
which fire and the mine had spared, were riddled
by shot and shells ; their interiors were cut through
with communications, the walls loop-holed, the
doors and windows barricaded, and the streets
blocked up with numberless traverses. The dirt,
corruption, and misery, attending the crowding
together of more than one hundred thousand souls
into a city calculated for only forty thousand, with
all the hardships attendant on a long siege, had
generated a frightful epidemic, more relentless
than the sword.

" In the midst of the ruins and bodies with
which the streets were filled, were observed here
and there crawling along a few inhabitants, pale,
emaciated, and cast down, who seemed on the
point of following their dead comrades whom
they had been unable to remove. From an enu
meration made at the commencement and at the
termination of this extraordinary and terrible
siege, it has been ascertained that in fifty-two
days, fifty-four thousand individuals perished ;
being two-thirds of the military, and the half of

SIEGE OF ZARAGOZA. 235

the inhabitants or refugees. The loss of the be
siegers did not exceed three thousand.

" In no place would they have imagined them
selves so secure as in Zaragoza itself, which had
been so wonderfully defended and delivered, and
which they believed to be invincible through
the protection of Our Lady of the Pillar, who
had chosen it for the seat of her peculiar wor
ship. During the former siege, prints of that idol
had been distributed by women in the heat of
action, and worn by the men in their hats both
as a badge and an amulet. The many remarkable
escapes and deliverances which had occurred were
ascribed not to all-ruling and omnipotent Pro
vidence, but to the immediate interference of the
Magna Mater of Zaragoza.

" Palafox himself had been trained up with more
than common care in the superstition of the place ;
he and his brethren in their childhood had been
taken every day to attend mass in the Holy
Chapel where the image was enshrined, dressed
at such times in the proper costume of the In
fantes, as a mark of greater honour to the present
goddess. An appearance in the sky, which at other
times might have passed unremembered, and per
haps unnoticed, had given strong confirmation to
the popular faith. About a month before the com
mencement of the first siege, a white cloud appear
ed at noon, and gradually assumed the form of a

236 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

palm tree ; the sky being in all other parts clear,
except that a few specks of fleecy cloud hovered
about the larger one. It was first observed over
the church of N. Lenora del Portillo, and moving
from thence till it seemed to be immediately
above that of the pillar, continued in the same
form about half an hour, and then dispersed. The
inhabitants were in a state of such excitement,
that crowds joined in the acclamation of the first
beholder, who cried out, a miracle ! and after the
defeat of the besiegers had confirmed the omen,
a miracle it was universally pronounced to have
been, the people proclaiming with exultation that
the Virgin had by this token prefigured the vic
tory she had given them, and promised Zaragoza
her protection as long as the world should en
dure."*

BRIDGE OF AMARANTE, page 159-

" In all this view of the case, the loss of the
bridge of Amarante is a great misfortune, and is
the greater from the manner in which is was lost.
Our friend says, it was carried by the French
making two false attacks on the right, under
cover of which they mined the barricade on the
bridge, which was very strong, and blew it up in
the morning at daylight ; threw a column over it,

* Southey.

BRIDGE OF AMARANTE. 237

which surprised the Portuguese asleep ; and they
were unable to blow it up as was intended. The
French carried everything before them."*

" To call off the attention of the Portuguese
guard, some twenty men were stationed to keep
up a fire upon the intrenchments, so directed as
not to endanger the sappers, who had volunteered
for the real service of the hour. It was a service
so hopeful and hazardous as to excite the liveliest
solicitude for its success. The barrel was covered
with a gray cloak, that it might neither be heard
nor seen, and the man who undertook to deposit
it in its place wore a cloak of the same colour.
The clear moonlight was favourable to the ad
venture, by the blackness of the shadow which
the parapet on one side produced. In that line
of darkness the sapper crept along at full-length,
pushing the barrel before him with his head, and
guiding it with his hands. His instructions were
to stop if he heard the slightest movement on
the Portuguese side : and a string was fastened
to one of his feet by which the French were
enabled to know how far he had advanced, and
to communicate with him. Having placed the
barrel, and uncovered that part where it was to
be kindled, he returned with the same caution.
Four barrels, one after the other, were thus ar
ranged without alarming the Portuguese. The

* Wellington s Despatches.

238 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

fourth adventurer had not the same command of
himself as his predecessors had evinced. Possessed
either with fear, or premature exultation, as soon
as he had deposited the barrel in its place, instead
of making his way back slowly and silently along
the line of shadow, he rose and ran along the mid
dle of the bridge in the moonlight. He was seen,
fired at, and shot in the thigh. But the Portu
guese did not take the alarm as they ought to
have done ; they kept up a fire upon the entrance
of the bridge, and made no attempt to discover
for what purpose their intrenchments had been
approached so closely.

" Four hours had elapsed before the four barrels
were placed: by that time it was midnight, and
in another hour, when the Portuguese had ceased
their fire, a fifth volunteer proceeded in the same
manner with a saucisson* fastened to his body;
this he fixed in its place, and returned safely. By
two o clock this part of the business was complet
ed, and Laborde was informed that all was ready.
Between three and four a fog arose from the river
and filled the valley, so that the houses on the op
posite shore could scarcely be discerned through it.
This was favourable for the assailants. The sau-
cisson was fired, and the explosion, as Bouchard
had expected, threw down the intrenchments, and

* Saucisson, is a pipe or hose filled with gunpowder, which
reaches from the chamber of the mine to the gallery. It is
used for firing mines, bomb-chests, &c. &c.

VISIT TO CUESTA S CAMP. 239

destroyed also the apparatus for communicating
with the mine. The French rushed forward :
some threw water into the mine, others cleared the
way ; the fog increased the confusion into which
the Portuguese were thrown by being thus sur
prised : they made so little resistance that the
French lost only nine men."

VISIT TO CUESTA S CAMP, page 172.

" Our arrival at the camp was announced by
a general discharge of artillery, upon which an
immense number of torches were made to blaze
up, and we passed the entire Spanish line in
review by their light. The effect produced by
these arrangements was one of no ordinary cha
racter. As the torches were held aloft, at mo
derate intervals from one another, they threw a
red and wavering light over the whole scene,
permitting, at the same time, its minuter parts
to be here and there cast into shade ; whilst the
grim and swarthy visages of the soldiers, their
bright arms and dark uniforms, appeared pecu
liarly picturesque as often as the flashes fell upon
them. Then there was the frequent roar of can
non, the shouldering of firelocks, mingled with
the brief word of command, and rattling of ac
coutrements and arms, as we passed from bat-

* Southey.

240 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

talion to battalion ; all these served to interest
the sense of hearing to the full as much as the
spectacle attracted the sense of sight. Nor was
old Cuesta himself an object to be passed by
without notice, even at such a moment and under
such circumstances as these. The old man pre
ceded us, not so much sitting on his horse as
held upon it by two pages, at the imminent
hazard of being overthrown whenever a cannon
was discharged, or a torch flared out with pecu
liar brightness; indeed his physical debility was
so remarkable, as clearly to mark his total un-
fitness for the situation which he then held. As
to his mental powers, he gave us little opportu
nity of judging; inasmuch as he scarcely uttered
five words during the continuance of our visit ;
but his corporal infirmities alone were at absolute
variance with all a general s duties, and showed
that he was now fit only for the retirement of
private life.

" In this manner we passed about six thousand
cavalry, drawn up in rank entire, and not less
than twenty battalions of infantry, each consist
ing of perhaps from seven to eight hundred men.
These formed but one portion of the army, the
rest being either at the bridge of Arrobispo, or
in position along the Tagus ; and they were all,
with a few exceptions, remarkably fine men :
speaking of them in the aggregate, they were
little better than bold peasantry, armed partially

VISIT TO CUESTA S CAMP.

like soldiers, but completely unacquainted with
a soldier s duty. This remark applied fully as
much to the cavalry as to the infantry. The
horses were many of them good, but their riders
manifestly knew nothing of movement or dis
cipline ; and they were, as well on this account as
on the score of a miserable equipment, quite unfit
for general service. The artillery, again^ was nu
merous, but totally unlike, both in order and
arrangement* to that of other armies ; and the
generals appeared to have been selected accord
ing to one rule alone, namely, that of seniority.
They were almost all old men ; and except
O Donaju and Largas, evidently incapable of
bearing the fatigues or surmounting the difficul
ties of one hard campaign <

" The place at which we paid this visit, and
witnessed these events, was called Casa del Pu-
ertos ; where the head-quarters of the Spanish
army were established in a wretched hovel. We
alighted here after the review had ended, and as
soon as we entered, Cuesta, who seemed quite
overpowered by fatigue, retired to rest; but he
returned again at eleven o clock to supper, and
sat with us till past midnight. He sat, however,
as he always did under similar circumstances, in
profound silence, neither seeking to take a share
in the conversation, nor, apparently at least, pay
ing the slightest attention to it.

" After a secret conference between Cuesta and

VOL. II. 11

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

Sir Arthur ended, dinner was announced ; and
we sat down, at three o clock, to about forty
dishes, the principal ingredients in which were
garlic and onions. Our meal did not occupy us
long ; and on Cuesta retiring, as was his custom,
to enjoy his siesta, we mounted our horses, and
rode out into the camp. By this means we were
enabled to see more of the regiments separately,
than we had seen during the torch-light review.
We saw, however, nothing which served in any
degree to raise our opinion of the general effi
ciency of our allies ; and we returned to our host
at a late hour, more than ever impressed with the
persuasion, that if the deliverance of the Penin
sula was to be effected at all, it must be done,
not by the Spaniards, but by ourselves."*

CUESTA S OBSTINACY, page 174.

" I find General Cuesta more and more im
practicable every day. It is impossible to do
business with him, and very uncertain that any
operation will succeed in which he has any con
cern. O Donoju expresses himself to be heartily
tired of him, and has declared that he will quit
him at the first moment he is unsuccessful. He
has quarrelled with some of his principal officers ;
and I understand that all are dissatisfied with

* Lord Londonderry.

TRAITS OF GOOD FEELING. 243

him, for the manner in which he has conducted
his operations near this place.

" He contrived to lose the whole of yesterday,
in which, although his troops were under arms,
and mine in march, we did nothing owing to the
whimsical perverseness of his disposition ; but
that omission I consider fortunate, as we have
dislodged the enemy without a battle, in which
the chances were not much in our favour. His
want of communication with his officers of the
plan settled with me for the 22nd, and his ab
sence from the field, were the cause that we did
the French but little mischief on that day ; and
of these circumstances his officers are aware." *

TRAITS OF GOOD FEELING BETWEEN THE ARMIES,

page 180.

Between the British and French, even in mili
tary duty, the courtesies of society were respect
ed, and an interchange of kind and gentlemanly
civilities was not infrequent, as will be evidenced
by the following anecdotes :-

" While Hasparen was the head-quarters of the
fifth division, the pickets of both armies avoided
every appearance of hostility. Each occupied a
hill with sentries about two hundred yards apart.
The French on one occasion pushed forward their

Wellington s Despatches.

R

244 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

videttes, and seemed as if they designed to trespass
on the neutral ground. The captain of the Eng
lish picket reported this encroachment, and re
ceived orders not to allow it. On the following
morning, he observed that the French vidette
had been advanced about fifty yards, and he
thought it most advisable to demand an inter
view with the French captain of chasseurs. A
peasant was despatched, and returned with a mes
sage, that the commandant would wait upon the
British officer immediately ; and, in a few minutes,
the parties met on the neutral ground. The Briton
stated the orders he had received and explained,
that, to avoid so lache a proceeding as to fire
upon a vidette, he had solicited a meeting with
the brave chasseur. The Frenchman expressed
himself in the most flattering terms, and begged
that the hussar might point out a situation which
would be agreeable to him. A thorn bush, about
one hundred yards behind the spot the French vi
dette was posted upon, was mentioned as equally
advantageous for the security of the French picket;
while it would be such as the hussar was per
mitted by his orders to allow. The chasseur gave
orders accordingly, the vidette was placed at the
very spot which was recommended, and the
Frenchman, having expressed his satisfaction at
the interview, produced a bottle of cogniac ; two
or three officers on each side now joined the
party; a happy termination to the war was

TRAITS OF GOOD FEELING. 245

drunk ; and the captain, whose name was (we
think) Le Brun, said, he trusted that it would
not be the fate of war to bring into collision the
parties who had met in so amicable a manner."

Again. " I have known several instances of
right feeling evinced by the enemy, worthy of
gentlemen who are above turning into individual
strife the quarrels of the two countries. While the
light division was at Gallegos, some greyhounds
belonging to an officer strayed into the enemies
lines, and an opportunity was found, by means,
of the first flag of truce, to request their being
returned. The answer was favourable, stating
that they should be sent in on the first opportu
nity. A day or two after the enemy made a re-
connoissance, and when their skirmishers were
thrown out, the greyhounds were seen in couples
in the rear, and on the first carbine being fired,
they were let slip, (the dogs of war ?) and came
curveting through the whistling balls to their old
masters."*

There seemed to have existed between these
noble armies an honourable confidence, that was
often tried and never violated.

A descriptive passage of the aclvance across the
Pyrenees runs thus : " We perceived, not twenty
yards off, a wounded voltigeur extended on the
ground, and a young comrade supporting him.
The Frenchman never attempted to retreat, but

* " Recollections by a Subaltern."

246 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

smiled when we came up, as if he had been ex
pecting us. Good morning, he said ; * I have
been waiting for you, gentlemen. My poor friend s
leg is broken by a shot, and I could not leave
him till you arrived, lest some of these Portu
guese brigands should murder him. Pierre/
he continued, as he addressed his companion,
here are the brave English, and you will be
taken care of. I will leave you a flask of water,
and you will soon be succoured by our noble
enemy. Gentlemen, will you honour me by
emptying this canteen. You will find it excel
lent, for I took it from a portly friar two days
ago.* There was no need to repeat the invita
tion. I set the example, the canteen passed from
mouth to mouth, and the monk s brandy vanish
ed. The conscript for he had not joined above
a month replenished the flask with water from
a spring just by. He placed it in his comrade s
hand, bade him an affectionate farewell, bowed
gracefully to us, threw his musket over his
shoulder, and trotted off to join his regiment
which he pointed oat upon a distant height. He
seemed never for a moment to contemplate the
possibility of our sending him in durance to the
rear ; and there were about him such kindness
and confidence, that on our part no one ever
dreamed of detaining him."*

Again. " From the 3rd until the 12th of July

* " The Bivouac."

TRAITS OF GOOD FEELING. 247

the two armies remained in presence of each
other, encamped on the sides of a river, which at
times is a formidable sheet of water, but which
was then little more than an insignificant stream.
Nevertheless, although both armies kept their
guards on their respective sides of the water,
and that the movements of each were cautiously
watched, not one life was lost, nor one shot fired
by either army.

" Indeed, so different from hostility was the con
duct of both nations, that the French and British
lived upon the most amicable terms. If we want
ed wood for the construction of huts, our men
were allowed to pass without molestation to the
French side of the river to cut it. Each day the
soldiers of both armies used to bathe together in
the same stream, and an exchange of rations,
such as biscuit and rum, between the French and
our men, was by no means uncommon."*

The reverses which attend even successful war
fare occasionally require its rigours to be softened.
The French and English felt this and those
who had the misfortune to be prisoners or wound
ed, received the greatest care circumstances would
allow, and had baggage or money conveyed to
them from their friends with strict fidelity. The
tables of the commanding officers were open to
their captives -their wounds were carefully dress
ed and in some cases their escape connived at.

Reminiscences of a Subaltern."

248 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

A parole of honour insured the fullest liberty to
the giver ; but when it was not required or was
refused, the prisoners were subjected to the least
possible restraint consistent with security, and
treated with gentlemanly attention.

" During three days that some British officers
were at Castel Legos as prisoners of war, with a
very slender guard, indeed almost nominal, they
were treated by General Villatte with the utmost
kindness. He sent dinner to them from his own
table, with abundance of wine. His aide-de-camp
and brother-in-law, Captain Cholet, visited them
twice each day, to see that they wanted for no
thing; and two, and sometimes three, surgeons
visited them (by order) twice a day to dress their
wounds. In fine, the greatest possible kindness
and attention were shown to them ; and even
their escape, on the night of the 31st of August,
was easily effected, if not connived at, as the
French retired without insisting on the officers
being taken away, although carts had been pro
vided."

But a noble instance of an enemy s humanity
remains to be recorded and with a similar in
stance of humane feeling displayed to a friend
and not an enemy, we shall close these anec
dotes.

" When the assault on St. Sebastian failed, and
our troops retreated to the trenches, the enemy
advanced beyond his defences, or clustered on

TRAITS OF GOOD FEELING. 249

the ramparts, shouting defiance, and threatening
a descent in pursuit. To check this movement,
an animated fire of round and grape was opened
from our battery, the thickest of which fell on a
particular part of the breach where lay a solitary
grenadier of the Royals, shot through both legs,
and unable to extricate himself from his awfully

9f

perilous situation. His fate appeared inevitable ;
when a French officer stepped forward, walked
coolly through the hottest of our fire, lifted his
wounded enemy in his arms, and bore him off,
himself unhurt."

The subsequent history of Colonel St. Angelo,
as the gallant Frenchman was named, is curious,
and instances the vicissitudes of fortune to which
a soldier is exposed. On the fall of the fortress
he was sent a prisoner to England, but, as his
humanity well deserved, he was instantly liberated
and sent home. On his arrival in Paris, Napoleon,
having been apprised of his gallant conduct, pro
moted him to a regiment on service in the Penin
sula. Thither he repaired joined his new regi
ment, and in an attack on our posts was a second
time made prisoner. Thus, as a prisoner he had
visited England had resided in Paris been pre
sented to the Emperor promoted to a regiment
and made a prisoner again and all within the
space of six weeks from the taking of Saint
Sebastian !

The following interesting anecdote is thus told

250 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

by Mr. Grattan : " Nearly at the opening of the
battle of Salamanca, a considerable body of the
enemy s tirailleurs pressed forward to that part
of the ridge occupied by the third division, and
immediately in front of the 88th regiment, the
light infantry company of which, commanded
by Captain Robert Nickle, was ordered to drive
back this force : he did so in the most gallant
manner; but the enemy could ill brook such a
defeat, the more annoying, as it was witnessed
by the whole division, as also by a considerable
portion of one of the enemy s corps d armee. A
reinforcement, commanded by an officer of dis
tinction,, rushed forward to redeem the tarnished
honour of their nation, while some of the bat
talion-men of the Connaught Rangers, seeing the
unequal contest their light infantry company
were about to be engaged in for the French were
upwards of one hundred to sixty of ours has
tened to take a part in the fray. The detach
ment of the 88th lay behind a low ditch, and
waited until the French approached to within a
few yards of them ; they came on in gallant
style, headed by their brave commanding officer,
who was most conspicuous, being several paces
in front of his men. The soldiers of the two
armies, posted at a distance, and lookers-on at
this national trial, shouted with joy as they be
held their respective comrades on the eve of en
gaging with each other. But this feeling on the

TRAITS OF GOOD FEELING. 251

part of the French was of but short duration, for
at the first fire their detachment turned tail, and
were what they themselves would term * cul-
butes, leaving their brave commandant, with
many others, mortally wounded behind. Captain
Robert Nickle ran up to his bleeding opponent,
and rendered him every assistance in his power.
He then advanced alone, with his handkerchief tied
on the point of his sword, which he held up as a
token of amity, and, thus re-assured, some of the
French soldiers returned without their arms, and
carried away their officer with them. They were
delighted with the considerate conduct of Captain
Nickle, and embraced our men on parting."*

" The terms of mutual respect in which the
British and French soldiers held each other, and
the friendly intercourse it frequently led to, have
been noticed by every writer on the Peninsular
war. Nor was this confined to out-post duty only
the soldiers engaged on which seemed by a tacit
agreement, and as a point of honour perfectly
understood on both sides, to have agreed to avoid
the unnecessary destruction of life ; and, as far
as consistent with duty, perhaps a little beyond
what was strictly so, to testify the respect with
which they had inspired each other. The officers
of the two armies were also not unfrequently
thrown into situations where they had the oppor
tunity of evincing similar feelings. Of this an

* " Reminiscences of a Subaltern."

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

instance comes to the writer s* recollection, as hap
pening, among others, at the battle of Fuentes
d Onoro. On the morning of the 5th, when the
French made their attack upon the right of our
position, the writer of this note was at the time
in conversation with an officer of a picket of the
enemy in his front, where there was no prospect
of the lines being immediately engaged ; seeing
the state of things which then ensued, after a
mutual exchange of civilities, both parties retired
to their respective posts, and were soon after
engaged in warm conflict."

The following anecdote is highly honourable
to the Duke of Belluno : When Victor entered
the townf he found some of the wounded, French
and English alike, lying on the ground in the
Plaza. After complimenting the English, and
observing that they understood the laws and
courtesies of war, he told them there was one
thing which they did not understand, and that
was how to deal with the Spaniards. He then sent
soldiers to every house, with orders to the inha
bitants immediately to receive and accommodate
the wounded of the two nations, who were lodged
together, one English and one Frenchman ; and
he expressly directed that the Englishmen should
always be served first.

* Mackie. f Talavera,

"^fc*

253 ;

SIEGE OF GERONA. page

" Every day now added to the distress of the
besieged. Their flour was exhausted wheat they
had still in store, but men are so much the slaves
of habit, that it was considered as one great evil
of the siege that they had no means of grinding
it : two horse-mills, which had been erected, w r ere
of such clumsy construction, that they did not
perform half the needful work ; and the Geronans,
rather than prepare the unground corn in any
way to which they had not been accustomed, sub
mitted to the labour of grinding it between two
stones, or pounding it in the shell of a bomb with
a cannon-ball. For want of other animal food,
mules and horses were slaughtered for the hos
pital and for the shambles ; a list was made of all
within the city, and they were taken by lot.
Fuel was exceedingly scarce, yet the heaps which
were placed in cressets at the corners of the
principal streets, to illuminate them in case of
danger, remained untouched, and not a billet was
taken from them during the whole siege. The
summer fever became more prevalent ; the bodies
of the sufferers were frequently covered with a
minute eruption, which was usually a fatal symp
tom : fluxes also began to prevail.

* * * * *

" Augereau now straitened the blockade; and,

254 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

that the garrison might neither follow the ex
ample of O Donnell, nor receive any supplies,
however small, he drew his lines closer, stretched
cords with bells along the interspaces, and kept
watch-dogs at all the posts. The bombardment
was continued, and always with greater violence
during the night than the day, as if to exhaust
the Geronans by depriving them of sleep.
# # * # *

" There did not remain a single building in
Gerona which had not been injured by the bom
bardment ; not a house was habitable ; the people
slept in cellars, and vaults, and holes, amid the
ruins ; and it had not unfrequently happened
that the wounded were killed in the hospitals.
The streets were broken up, so that the rain-water
and the sewers stagnated there; and the pesti
lential vapours which arose were rendered more
noxious by the dead bodies which lay rolling
amid the ruins. The siege had now endured
seven months ; scarcely a woman had become
pregnant during that time ; the very dogs, before
hunger consumed them, had ceased to follow after
their kind ; they did not even fawn upon their
masters ; the almost incessant thunder of artillery
seemed to make them sensible of the state of the
city, and the unnatural atmosphere affected them
as well as human kind. It even affected vegeta
tion. In the gardens within the walls the fruits
withered, and scarcely any vegetable could be

FALL OF GERONA. 255

raised. Within the last three weeks above five
hundred of the garrison had died in the hospitals :
a dysentery was raging and spreading ; the sick
were lying upon the ground, without beds, almost
without food ; and there was scarcely fuel to
dress the little wheat that remained, and the few
horses which were yet unconsumed."

FALL OF GERONA.

" Gerona surrendered on the 10th December,
after a memorable defence of six months, which
places the name of the governor, Don Marian
Alvarez, on a level with that of Palafox ; and
some particulars of his heroic conduct deserve to
be recorded. The town stands low, at the con
fluence of the Ona and Ter rivers, which cover
and protect the northern side ; and on the oppo
site quarter the approaches are commanded by
a small square fort of ninety toises exterior side,
situated on a height of five hundred and fifty
yards from the place called Montjuic. In this
petty work, Alvarez, not having altogether five
thousand men under his command, defied for
three months the utmost efforts of General St.
Cyr with twenty thousand French. Sixty pieces
of heavy ordnance fired against the fort inces
santly for twenty-two days, which, besides effect
ing an enormous breach, levelled all the upper
works. The enemy then offered terms, which

* Southey.

256 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

being rejected, they gave the assault, and were
repulsed with loss. During the three succeeding
days the besiegers batteries thundered without
intermission, and on the fourth morning they
again tried the force of arms. Several heavy
columns advanced to the breach and persisted in
their attempts to ascend it with so much courage
and obstinacy, that success was long balanced,
and on their repulse, sixteen hundred killed
and wounded remained in the ditch. After this
effort, the French, finding all open attacks use
less, resorted to the sap and the mine, and one
entire month passed in the dispute of a ravelin,
which (after several attempts to form a lodgment
in it had failed) remained, as if by tacit agree-,
ment, unoccupied by either party, and all per
sonal conflict ceased. The fire of artillery and
the mine, however, gradually levelled the walls,
and blew up the very interior of the place ; when,
there being no longer anything worth disputing,
the garrison withdrew on the llth of August.

* # # # #

" The walls of Hostalrich fell shortly after
wards, an ignoble conquest to the same officer.
The siege commenced on the 20th January, and
the place was contested with the greatest obsti
nacy till the 12th May following, when the brave
garrison, having consumed their last day s food,
sallied out to cut their way through the blockad
ing corps* A large proportion nobly fell in the

JULIAN SANCHEZ. 257

attempt; amongst others the heroic Don Juan
de Estrada, the governor ; but many hundreds
restored themselves to liberty." *

JULIAN SANCHEZ, page 201.

" A little before midnight Sanchez collected his
troops in the Plaza ; the two of his company who
were married men, took their wives behind them;
they sallied out, and their leader, in the spirit of
Scanderbeg, instead of contenting himself with
merely effecting his own retreat, charged a post
of cavalry, routed them, and carried away eight
prisoners with their horses. The two women
were armed with pistols ; and one of them, by
name Maria Fraile, saved her husband by shoot
ing a dragoon who was about to attack him on
one side."

One of Julian s exploits is thus related : " It
was the custom of the French garrison of Bada-
joz to send out their cattle every morning beyond
the walls for the purpose of grazing, under the
protection of a guard, which at once tended them,
and watched the movements of our parties. Don
Julian determined, if possible, to surprise the
herd ; for which purpose he concealed his people,
day after day, among the broken ground on the

* Jones s Account of the War.
VOL. II. S

258 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

bank of the river, not far from the town ; but the
guard proved for a time so vigilant, that no op
portunity occurred of effecting his design. At
last, however, an accident occurred which en
abled him to accomplish, not only his original pur
pose, but one which he did not dream of accom
plishing. It so happened, that on the morning
of the 15th of October, General Regnaud, the
governor of the place, rode out, attended by his
staff and a slender escort, and ventured in
cautiously to pass the Agueda, at the very
spot where Don Julian s ambuscade lay con
cealed. He was instantly surrounded by the
Spanish cavalry and made prisoner; and, as if
fortune had determined to reward the latter for
their patience, the cattle appeared at the same
moment at a sufficient distance from the walls to
authorise an attack. The attack was made with
the most perfect success, and both Governor and
cattle were conveyed in triumph to our head
quarters. In a native of any country, except
France, such an unlucky coincidence would have
produced a degree of gloom not to be shaken off;
but by General Regnaud his misfortunes were
borne with the utmost philosophy and good-hu
mour. He became a frequent guest at Lord Wel
lington s table, and we found him an extremely
entertaining as well as intelligent companion."*

* Lord Londonderry.

259

AFFAIR WITH A FRENCH PATROL, page 202.

" The enemy s force did not exceed thirty ca
valry and two hundred infantry ; but they were
advantageously posted in an open space, just be
yond a narrow defile ; and to reach them it was
necessary to thread that defile in a long line. The
consequence was, that though the hussars who
led, formed up in succession as they got through.,
and charged their opponents with great gallantry,
they effected nothing more than the dispersion of
the handful of horse ; for the infantry had time
to form a square, and not all the efforts of our
people could succeed in breaking it. The hussars
rode bravely up to the bayonets, but were re
pulsed by a volley closely thrown in, which killed
or wounded upwards of a dozen men. The re
mainder wheeled off, and pursuing the French
cavalry, made way for a squadron of the 16th.
These galloped forward, but also took to the left,
and leaving the infantry uninjured, joined in pur
suit of the cavalry. When the last charge was
made, the French square was without fire, every
man having discharged his piece, and none having
been able to load again ; but when a third at
tempt was made, they were better prepared to
receive it. It fell to the lot of Colonel Talbot of
the 14th to lead this attack. It was made with
daring intrepidity ; but the enemy remained per-

260 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

fectly steady, and reserving their fire till the
bridles of the horses touched their bayonets, gave
it with such effect, that Colonel Talbot, with
several of his men, were killed on the spot. The
rest drew off upon which General Crawfurd,
despairing of success by the exertions of cavalry
alone, despatched an orderly to bring up a detach
ment of the 43rd, which chanced to be at no
great distance.

" Whilst this was doing, the enemy s little
column began its retreat, which it conducted with
singular steadiness and great order. The 14th
dragoons seeing this, prepared to launch another
squadron against it ; and it was already in speed
for the purpose, when Colonel Arenschild, of the
hussars, observed cavalry advancing both in front
and flank, and checked the movement. It was
much to be regretted afterwards that he took this
step, for the horse which alarmed him proved to
be detachments from our own people on their
return from pursuing the enemy s dragoons, the
whole of whom they had captured. The French
infantry lost no time in availing themselves of
the indecision of our cavalry. They marched on,
and returned to their main body, without having
lost a single prisoner, or suffered in killed or
wounded."*

* Lord Londonderry.

261

CAVALRY AFFAIR, page 205.

" They passed Azava at sunrise, and their caval
ry, driving in our advanced videttes, came on with
great rapidity ; three regiments on the direct road
from Gallegos to Almeida, and two by a path to
the left, with the view of turning our right flank.
There were two pieces of cannon, of the horse-
artillery, stationed at a small brook, about half
a mile to the rear of Gallegos. These instantly
opened upon the French column ; but though
the fire was well-directed, and evidently galled
them, it did not succeed in stopping them. Our
cavalry, in the mean while, formed in the rear of
the guns, sending out three or four squadrons,
with the hussars, to skirmish ; and rather a sharp
contest took place near a bridge which crossed
the brook. The French made a dash to secure
it, and passed some officers, with about thirty or
forty men, to the other side ; in accomplishing
which however, as the bridge was extremely nar
row, they were compelled to defile from column.
An opportunity was thus afforded of attacking
them to advantage, which was not permitted to
escape. Captain Crackenbourg, of the German
hussars, an officer of gallantry and high character,
saw in a moment the predicament into which
they had thrust themselves. He instantly drew
out two divisions of the hussars, and charging the

262 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

body which had passed the bridge, cut down their
officer, and drove the rest, with the loss of several
killed and wounded, back upon the column. The
affair was accomplished in an instant, but the
promptitude and vigour which characterised its
execution both merited and received the appro
bation of all present. The brave men were sa
luted by the cheers of their comrades as they re-
turned, and the officer s name was justly and ho
nourably mentioned at head-quarters."*

ANECDOTES OF THE BATTLE OF THE COA, page 208.

" At this moment the right wing of the 52nd was
seen marching towards the bridge, which was still
crowded with the passing troops. M Leod, a very
young man, but with a natural genius for war,
immediately turned his horse round, called to the
troops to follow, and taking off his cap, rode with
a shout towards the enemy : the suddenness of
the thing, and the distinguished action of the
man, produced the effect he designed a mob of
soldiers rushed after him, cheering and charging
as if a whole army had been at their backs, and
the enemy s skirmishers, astonished at this unex
pected movement, stopped short. Before they
could recover from their surprise, the 52nd cross-

* Lord Londonderry.

BATTLE OF THE COA. 263

ed the river, and M Leod, following at full speed,

gained the other side also without disaster."
*****

" During the fight, General Picton came up
alone from Pinhel. Crawfurd desired the support
of the third division, it was refused, and, excited
by some previous disputes, the generals separated
after a sharp altercation. Picton was decidedly
wrong, because Crawfurd s situation was one of
extreme danger ; he durst not retire, and Massena
might, undoubtedly, have thrown his reserves by
the bridge of Castello Bom upon the right flank

of the division and destroyed it."

*****

" It was at first supposed that Lieutenant Daw-
son and half a company of the 52nd, which had
been posted in the unfinished tower, were also
captured ; but that officer kept close until the
evening, and then, with great intelligence, passed
all the enemy s posts, and crossing the Coa at a
ford, rejoined his regiment. "f

FALL OF ALMEIDA, page 210.

" The Colonel reports, that the explosion of the
magazine destroyed the whole town, made a
breach in the place, blew all the guns, excepting

f Napier.

264 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

three, into the ditch, destroyed all the ammuni
tion, excepting ten or twelve barrels of powder,
and killed or wounded the greater part of the
artillerymen. The garrison, till this accident,
had sustained no loss, and was in the best order
and spirits, and had no thoughts of surrender,
and expected to hold the place for two months.
The Colonel talks highly of the conduct of Go
vernor Cox.

" The Major commanding the artillery was the
person employed by Cox to settle the capitula
tion for him. He went out and informed the
French of the exact state of the place after the
explosion, and never returned ! ! Massena has
made him a colonel ! !"*

BUSACO, page 2

" It is the only place in that kingdom where the
bare-footed Carmelites possessed what, in monas
tic language, is called a desert; by which term
an establishment is designated where those bre
thren, whose piety flies the highest pitch, may at
once enjoy the advantages of the eremite and the
discipline of the cenobite life, and thus indulge
the heroism of ascetic devotion in security. The
convent, surrounded by an extensive and almost
impervious wood, stands in what may be called

Wellington s Despatches.

BUSACO. 265

the crater of the loftiest part of the ridge ; its
precincts, which included a circumference of
about four miles, were walled in. Within that
circuit were various chapels and religious stations;
and on the summit of the mountain, which is
within the inclosure, a stone cross was erected of
enormous size upon so huge a foundation that
three thousand cart-loads of stone were employed
in constructing its base. The cells of the bre
thren were round the church, not in a regular
building, but accommodated to the irregularities
of the ground, and lined with cork, which was
everywhere used instead of wood, because of the
dampness of the situation. Every cell had its
garden and its water-course for irrigating it, the
cultivation of these little spots being the only re
creation which the inhabitants allowed themselves
as lawful. In one of these gardens the first cedars
which grew in Portugal were raised. It was
indeed one of those places where man has con
verted an earthly paradise into a purgatory for
himself, but where superstition almost seems
sanctified by everything around it. Lord Wel
lington s head-quarters were in the convent ; and
the solitude and silence of Busaco were now
broken by events, in which its hermits, dead as
they were to the world, might be permitted to
partake all the agitations of earthly hope and
fear."*

* Southey.

266

ANECDOTE OF BUSACO, page 217.

" At this time the 45th were engaged with num
bers out of proportion, but they gallantly main
tained their ground. The 5th, 74th, and 83rd,
were likewise attacked; but the 88th, from the
nature of their situation, came in contact with
the full body of the enemy, and, while opposed
to three times their own number in front, were
assailed on their left by a couple of hundred rifle
men stationed in the rocks. Colonel Wallace
changed his front, but had scarcely reached the
rocks, when a fire, destructive as it was animat
ed, assailed him. The moment was a critical one,
but he never lost his presence of mind. He or
dered his two first companies to attack the rocks,
while he pressed forward with the remainder of
his regiment against the main body. The 8th
Portuguese were close on the enemy, and opened
a well-directed fire, while the 45th were perform
ing prodigies of valour. At this moment the
88th came up to the assistance of their comrades,
and the three regiments pressed on : a terrific
contest took place ; the French fought well, but
they had no chance with our men when we grap
pled close with them ; and they were overthrown,
leaving half of their column on the heath with
which the hill was covered.

" The French, ranged amphitheatrically one

BUSACO. 267

above another, took a murderous aim at our sol
diers in their advance to dislodge them officers
as well as privates became personally engaged in a
hand-to-hand fight. Captain Dunne fought with
his sabre, while Captain Dansey made use of a
firelock and bayonet ; he received three wounds,
and Captain Dunne owed his life to a sergeant of
his company named Brazil!, who, seeing his officer
in danger of being overpowered, scrambled to his
assistance, and making a thrust of his halbert at
the Frenchman, transfixed him against the rock
he was standing on.

" Although they combated with a desperation
suited to the situation in which they were placed,
the heroes of Austerlitz, Esling, and Wagram,
were hurled from the rocks by the Rangers of
Connaught."f

" The 88th arriving to the assistance of their
comrades, instantly charged, and the enemy were
borne over the cliffs and crags with fearful rapi
dity, many of them being literally picked out of
the holes in the rocks by the bayonets of our

soldiers." t

*****

" Referring to their conduct on this occasion,
the Duke of Wellington observes in his despatch,
that he never witnessed a more gallant attack than

f " Reminiscences of a Subaltern."
J Lord Londonderry.

268 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

that made by these two regiments on the division
of the enemy which had then reached the ridge
of the Sierra. In addition to this flattering testi
mony of his Grace, and in further evidence of
the gallantry they displayed, it will be sufficient
to state, that the loss sustained by these two corps
on the occasion amounted to sixteen officers,
seven sergeants, and two hundred and sixty-one
men, being nearly one-half of the whole British
loss in the battle." *

SUFFERINGS OF THE SPANIARDS, page 224.

" Fifty thousand of these fugitives found sup
port and consolation in the hospitality and kind
ness of the citizens of Lisbon ; but an equal num
ber, who fled to the left bank of the Tagus, long
remained exposed to the weather; and a large
proportion miserably perished from hunger and
disease before relief could be administered. Hard
as was their lot, it was far more happy than that
of the villagers in the rear, and on the skirts of the
enemy s cantonments, whose habitations, plun
dered of everything, and occasionally occupied
by detachments of French, afforded their owners
no supplies, and only a precarious shelter. Many
of these wretched creatures passed the whole sea-

f Mackie.

SUFFERINGS OF THE SPANIARDS. 269

son of winter exposed to its inclemencies in the
neighbouring woods or mountains, subsisting
merely on roots and herbs ; and on the advance
of the allies returned to their homes, their bodies
emaciated from abstinence, and their intellects im
paired by long continued apprehension ; amongst
them were girls of sixteen, who, become idiots,
resembled in person women of fifty. Numbers
of children of either sex, who had survived the
severe trial, flocked to the road-side as the army
approached to demand relief; appearing so thin,
pale, and haggard, that many a hardened veteran
was observed to turn from the sight with disgust,
as he compassionately bestowed on them a por
tion of the biscuit intended as his next day s
support."*

CONCEALMENT OF PROPERTY, page 224.

" The patron of a house, occupied by an officer
of the adjutant-general s department, on arriving
for other purposes, requested the servants to re
move for a short time one of the horses out of a
stall, where it had been standing for some days.
As soon as the animal was removed, he proceed
ed to dig, and speedily exhumed three thousand
crusada novas, which he had buried some months

previous." t

* Jones s Account of the War.
f " Life on Service."

270 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

SPANISH DEVOTION, page 224.

" The monks of Alcobaca performed on this
occasion towards the British officers their last act
of hospitality. Most of them had already de
parted from the magnificent and ancient abode,
where the greater part of their lives had been spent
peacefully and inoffensively, to seek an asylum
where they could ; the few who remained pre
pared dinner for their guests in the great hall and
in the apartments reserved for strangers, after
which they brought them the keys, and desired

them to take whatever they liked.

# . * * # *

" Leiria was forsaken by its whole population :
a city thus deserted offered such temptation that
discipline could not be maintained in the retreat
ing army without some examples of severity,
and one British and one native soldier were
punished with death for breaking into a chapel,
and plundering it."f

CAPTURE OF THE FRENCH HOSPITALS AT COIMBRA,

page 226.

" Above one hundred and fifty officers and five
thousand men were made prisoners by this well-

f Southey.

SPANISH DEVOTION. 2?1

timed enterprise; three thousand five hundred
muskets were taken, nearly the whole of which were
charged, and hence the number of effective men
may be estimated."

[A curious inference of Doctor Southey. Surely
the muskets of wounded men would be just as
likely to be found loaded, as those of soldiers
who had escaped unhurt.] M.

TORRES VEDRAS, page

After driving the allied rear-guard from So-
bral, " the French w r ere pursuing their advan
tage," says Doctor Southey ; " when a peasant
fell into their hands, who, unlike his countrymen,
answered without hesitation all the interrogato
ries which were put to him ; he told the com
mander that they were close upon the British
lines, and pointed out to him where the batteries
were, in constructing which he had himself
laboured. Had it not been for this warning,"
&c. [Surely works that extended nearly thirty
miles, for which fifty thousand trees had been
allotted on which three thousand artillerymen
and engineers, and seven thousand peasants, had
laboured and on whose armament three hun
dred and nineteen heavy guns had been em
ployed ; works like these could not have been in
volved in all this mystery, and their very locality

272 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

kept a secret from an officer like Massena, who
commanded the most unbounded sources of infor
mation ?]- -M.

ANECDOTES OF PLUNDERING, page 242.

The French soldiers had been so long accus
tomed to plunder, that they proceeded in their
researches for booty of every kind upon a regular
system. They were provided with tools for the
work of pillage, and every piece of furniture in
which places of concealment could be constructed
they broke open from behind, so that no valu
ables could be hidden from them by any con
trivance of that kind. Having satisfied them
selves that nothing was secreted above ground,
they proceeded to examine whether there was
any new masonry, or if any part of the cellar or
ground-floor had been disturbed ; if it appeared
uneven, they dug there : where there was no such
indication, they poured water, and if it were
absorbed in one place faster than another, there
they broke the earth. There were men who at
the first glance could pronounce whether any-
thing had been buried beneath the soil, and
when they probed with an iron rod, or, in default
of it, with sword or bayonet, it was found that
they were seldom mistaken in their judgment.
The habit of living by prey called forth, as in

ANECDOTES OF PLUNDERING. 273

beasts, a faculty of discovering it : there was one
soldier whose scent became so acute, that if he
approached the place where wine had been con
cealed, he would go unerringly to the spot.

" Wherever the French bivouacked, the scene
was such as might rather have been looked for
in a camp of predatory Tartars than in that of a
civilized people. Food, and forage, and skins of
wine, and clothes and church vestments, books
and guitars, and all the bulkier articles of waste
ful spoil, were heaped together in their huts with
the planks and doors of the habitations which
they had demolished. Some of the men, retain
ing amid this brutal service the characteristic ac
tivity and cleverness of their nation, fitted up
their huts with hangings from their last scene of
pillage, with a regard to comfort hardly to have
been expected in their situation, and a love of
gaiety only to be found in Frenchmen. The
idlers w r ere contented with a tub, and, If the
tub were large enough, three or four would stow
themselves in it /"*

It would appear that the English had some
little experience in this line of business as well as
the French.

" Some of the dragoons, with a quarter-master,
immediately mounted and followed the French,
who were now approaching their goal, and took
little notice of these few horsemen. The quarter-

* South ey.
VOL. II. T

274 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

master, however, saw an opportunity of doing a
little business ; observing, among those who lagged
in the rear, one man with a ledger in the slings
of his knapsack, he naturally concluded that such
gear in the French, as in our service, belonged to
those who carried the purse, and, on the strength
of this analogy, he by degrees approached him
of the ledger, and returning his sword, and ad
vancing at speed, he pounced upon his prey, and
seizing him by the collar, shook the musket out
of his hands, and bore him off. He proved to be
a paymaster s clerk, and carried sixty doubloons,
then worth about four guineas each."*

VILLA FORMOSA, page 242.

" For some time we contented ourselves with
keeping pointers and greyhounds, and indulging
as often as opportunities offered in the sports of
shooting, coursing, and fishing ; but now a taste
for hunting began to prevail amongst us, and fox
hounds and harriers, more or less numerous and
good, were established in the different divisions
of the army. At head-quarters we were for
tunate enough to become possessed of an ex
cellent pack, which afforded us much amusement,
and occupied time which otherwise would have

* The Hussar."

ANECDOTE OF A DOG. 273

hung heavily on our hands. In our quarters we
lived gaily and well : a spirit of good-fellowship
and hospitality everywhere prevailed ; and in
them, war, balls, private theatricals, and agreeable
parties, were things of continual occurrence." *

ANECDOTE OF A DOG, page 253.

After the battle of Barossa, the wounded of
both nations were, from want of means of trans
port, necessarily left upon the field of action the
whole night, and part of the following day. Ge
neral Rosseau, a French general of division, was
of the number ; his dog, a white one of the poodle
kind, which had been left in quarters upon the
advance of the French force, finding that the
general returned not with those who escaped
from the battle, set out in search of him ; found
him at night in his dreary resting-place, and ex
pressed his affliction by moans, and by licking
the hands and feet of his dying master. When
the fatal crisis took place, some hours after, he
seemed fully aware of the dreadful change, attach
ed himself closely to the body, and for three days
refused the sustenance which was offered him.
Arrangements having been made for the inter-

* Lord Londonderry

T 2

276 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ment of the dead, the body of the General was,
like the rest, committed to its honourable grave ;
the dog lay down upon the earth, which covered
the beloved remains, and evinced by silence and
deep dejection his sorrow for the loss he had
sustained. The English commander, General
Graham, whose fine feelings had prompted him
to superintend the last duties due to the gallant
slain, observed the friendless mourner, drew him,
now no longer resisting, from the spot, and gave
him his protection, which he continued to him
until his death, many years after, at the General s
residence in Perthshire.

FUENTES D ONORO, page 259.

The final charge that decided the possession
of the village, on the evening of the 5th, was
made by the 88th. That it was a splendid affair
may be inferred from the praise bestowed upon
it by a man, who for some unknown reason de
tested that gallant regiment, and sought every
opportunity of exhibiting his feelings of dislike.

Speaking of the attack on Fuentes d Onoro,
Picton, in a letter to his uncle, says : " It was
defended in the most determined manner by the
71st, 24th, and 79th. About two o clock, how
ever, these regiments began to give way, and fell
back on more defensible ground in the rear of

BRENNIER S ESCAPE. 277

the village ; when at this moment the 88th, under
Colonel Wallace, and led on by Major-general
Mackinnon, was ordered to move up and sup
port them. This was done in admirable order ;
and they made so overwhelming a charge through
the streets, that they drove the enemy from the
village with immense loss." In fact, the charge
of the 88th was so brilliant and decisive, that
the French never ventured to enter the streets
again.

Page 261. Official return of casualties at Fuentes

d Onoro, 3rd and 5th May 1811.

Killed 235 ; wounded 1,234 ; missing 317 ;
total 1786.*

ANECDOTE OF BRENNIER S ESCAPE, page 268.

When Brennier s escape was reported to Picton
by an Irish officer, the general, never remarkable
for suavity of temper, hastily inquired, " What

the devil were the th doing ?" " Faith,"

returned his informant, " I suppose they were

asleep." "Asleep! What then was the th

about?" and he named the next regiment in
the line. " Devil a one of me can tell," replied
the Irishman coolly ; " but maybe they were

watching the th, for fear somebody would

waken them !"

Wellington s Despatches, vol, vii. p. 528.

278 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

INVESTMENT OF BADAJOZ, page 268.

" Observing that all the interior of the castle
could be seen from a small fort situated on the
heights of Christoval, on the Portuguese side of
the Guadiana, and that the back of the front de
fence of the castle might be enfiladed from thence,
it became clear, that should the fort be reduced,
and heavy batteries erected within it, no body of
men, exposed to their fire, could stand to dispute
a breach in the wall, which formed the sole de
fence of the castle. That wall, from its unco
vered position, appeared liable to be battered
down from a distance ; and as, when in posses
sion of the castle, the resistance of the town must,
under its commanding influence, cease, Badajoz
might by this mode of attack be captured in a
fortnight."*

SIEGE OF BADAJOZ, page 269.

Much of the success of a siege depends on the
quality and endurance of its battering train, as well
as the accurate service of the guns. In some of
the sieges undertaken by the Duke of Welling
ton, his artillery were miserably deficient and

* Jones s Account of the War.

SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. 279

the wonder is how, with such inadequate means,
he effected successful results in such brief time,
and under the greatest disadvantages. A French
Engineer, in alluding to the sieges, makes the
following observations : " There sat down before
the place a besieging army of fourteen or fifteen
thousand men, including three thousand Spa
niards, and two thousand Portuguese militia ;
and the artillery to be employed amounted to
forty pieces, among which are to be numbered
four 10-inch and six 8-inch howitzers. Of mor
tars we possessed none ; eight, therefore, out of
the ten howitzers were directed to be used as
such ; and our guns, of w r hich two were 24-poun-
ders, and four 16-pounders, were all brass, and
of Portuguese manufacture. The engineers stores
collected on the occasion comprised three thou
sand five hundred entrenching tools, sixty thou
sand sand-bags, six hundred gabions, a very few
fascines, and an extremely inadequate quantity
of splinter-proof timber and planks; whilst, in
dependently of the officers, there were attached
to the department, one hundred and sixty-
nine men of the line, to act as overseers, forty-
eight carpenters, forty-eight miners, and twenty-
five rank and file, of the corps of royal artificers.
The chief engineer and principal director of
the operations was Lieutenant-colonel Fletcher.
Major Dixon, of the Portuguese artillery, was at
the head of that department ; and Captains Ross

280 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

and Mac Leod were put in charge of two depots,
which were established on each side of the river."

# * * * *

" The first siege of Badajos by the English, being
attempted with forty bronze cannon of Portu
guese construction, the whole were rendered un
serviceable in a very short space of time, though
loaded with powder not more than one-third of
the weight of the balls, and discharged at the
moderate rate of once only in eight minutes ; and
the siege miscarried. The English attributed the
quick deterioration of the cannon to the strength
of their powder, and consequently they determin
ed to have no parks but such as were composed
of cast-iron cannon from England. The latter was
the description of artillery which they employed
when they attacked Ciudad Rodrigo in the Ja
nuary following. They established their bat
teries at a distance of about 500 yards (metres),
from the escarp, and fired upon it incessantly,
until they had opened two practicable breaches ;
this they effected in two-and-thirty hours and a
half s firing, and they carried the place in five
days. There was not a single cannon which
burst, or suffered injury, though each was fired a
very considerable number of times in constant
succession. The siege of Badajoz was resumed a
second time, and the breaching batteries were
established at about 710 yards distance (metres}.
The number of cannon brought to bear was

SIEGE OF BADAJOZ. 281

sixteen 24-pounders, twenty -four 18-pounders, and
six mortars of five inches and a half diameter.
The attack began on the 30th of March, and by
the 6th of April three practicable breaches were
effected ; that in the curtain was forty feet broad ;
that on the flank ninety feet ; and the third,
which was on the face of the bastion, was 1 50 feet.
The number of hours firing was 104, and the num
ber of projectiles discharged 35,246. The results
were the same during this siege as at the siege
of Ciudad Rodrigo ; not a single cannon burst, or
became unserviceable, though the 24-pounders
were fired in constant succession, at the rate of
1249 discharges each."

" The siege of St. Sebastian affords a third in
stance of the extreme endurance of English cast-
iron cannon. The breaching batteries, which
were established at a distance of about 660 yards
(metres) from the place, opened a breach 100
feet broad in the escarp, against which they were
directed, and it was rendered practicable on the
third day after the firing was first opened. The
batteries were composed of thirty-four cannon,
of which twenty were 24-pounders. The same
batteries being opened the next morning, to make
a second breach, effected one of thirty feet in
breadth, after fifteen hours and a half s firing.
During this interval each cannon discharged from
300 to 350 shot without being injured. Had it

282 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

been required to produce the same result with brass
cannon, three times as many cannon would have
been necessary, supposing the ordinary rate of
firing to have been observed. During this siege,
which was twice resumed, several of the pieces
withstood the discharge upwards of 9000 times in
uninterrupted succession, without experiencing
any material damage. Their fire was so accurate
at the last attack, that they were employed in
throwing shrapnel-shells, filled with powder and
balls, over the heads of the besiegers, for the pur
pose of driving away the besieged who lined the
top of the breach. It was one of these shells
which set fire to a quantity of obusses and bombs
that stood on the rampart, and occasioned an ex
plosion, which created so much confusion in the
place as to produce its fall."*

POLISH LANCERS AT ALBUERA, page 276.

" During the hottest of the action, Marshal
Beresford exposed himself with a degree of intre
pidity, which could hardly fail of spreading an ex
ample of heroism around. He repeatedly dragged
the Spanish officers from their ranks, compelling
them to lead their men forward, and show them
the way ; and when individually charged by a
Polish lancer, he grappled his adversary by the

* Thierry.

CHARACTER OF LE MARCHANT. 283

throat, and threw him from his saddle. A very
different fate attended the personal exertions of
the Portuguese staff. They, too, were charged
by a single lancer, who knocked down one with
the butt of his pike, overset another man and
horse, and gave ample employment to the entire
head-quarters before he was finally despatched.
These heroes declared that the man seemed pos
sessed by an evil spirit ; and that when he fell at
last, he literally bit the ground."

*****
* Fields far on the rear of the allies were
strewed with the bodies of Polish lancers who
had penetrated singly beyond the contending
parties. These desperadoes galloped about in all
directions, spearing the wounded men and their
defenceless supporters."!

CHARACTER OF LE MARCHANT, page 280.

General le Marchant was a native of Guern
sey, and first attracted the notice of the late
Duke of York, by assiduous attention to the duties
of his profession, and a subsequent introduction of
a new system of sword-exercise into the British
cavalry. He was greatly instrumental in esta
blishing the Royal Military College, of which he
became Lieutenant-governor. In 1811 he was

f Jones s History.

284 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

made a Major-general, and joined the army of
Portugal, in command of a brigade.

The death of his lady obliged him to come
home ; but immediately on the arrangement of
some domestic affairs, he resumed his former com
mand, and returned to the Peninsula. His son,
an ensign in the Guards, was beside him when he
fell. His country marked how highly it estimated
Le Marchant s value, by the munificent provision
it made for his family, upon whom a pension of
1,200 a year was settled at the suggestion of
George IV, then Prince Regent.

THE WOUNDED AT ALBUERA, page 283.

" The wounded of both armies were brought
in promiscuously, and many of them laid in the
streets and in the squares, till shelter could be
allotted them ; even for this inevitable neces
sity no order having been taken by the Spanish
authorities. It is worthy of notice, that a greater
proportion recovered of those who were left a
night upon the field than of such as were earlier
housed ; and this is explained by the effect of
free air in preventing fever."

285

LORD WELLINGTON S ATTENTION TO THE WOUNDED,

page 290.

" In case 1 should move, I must leave behind
me two-thirds of the small quantity of ammu
nition 1 have remaining, having been obliged to
give all the Portuguese carts, which had hitherto
carried the ammunition, to move the wounded,
and not having been able to procure in this
country means of transport for anything."*

The following is a graphic but faithful descrip
tion of a military hospital after a battle :

" In the yard of a quinta, or nobleman s house,
I looked through the grating and saw about 200
wounded soldiers waiting to have their limbs
amputated, while others were arriving every mo
ment. It would be difficult to convey an idea
of the frightful appearance of these men ; they
had been wounded on the 5th, and this was the
7th ; their limbs were swollen to an enormous
size, and the smell from the gun-shot wounds
was dreadful. Some were sitting upright against
a wall, under the shade of a number of chestnut-
trees, and, as many of them were wounded in the
head as well as in limbs, the ghastly countenances
of those poor fellows presented a dismal sight.
The streams of gore which had trickled down their

* Wellington s Despatches, vol. v. p. 36.

286 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

cheeks were quite hardened with the sun, and
gave their faces a glazed and copper-coloured
hue ; their eyes were sunk and fixed ; and what
between the effects of the sun, of exhaustion, and
despair, they resembled more a group of bronze
figures than anything human. There they sat,
silent and statue-like, waiting for their turn to
be carried to the amputating tables. At the
other side of the yard lay several whose state
was too hopeless for them to sit up ; a feeble
cry from them occasionally, to those who were
passing, for a drink of water, was all they
uttered.

" A little farther on, in an inner court, were the
surgeons. They were stripped to their shirts and
bloody. Curiosity led me forward : a number of
doors, placed on barrels, served as temporary
tables, and on these lay the different subjects
upon whom the surgeons were operating ; to the
right and left were arms and legs, flung here and
there without distinction, and the ground was

dyed with blood."

*****

" In an inner room was a young officer shot
through the head, his was a hopeless case. He
was quite delirious, and obliged to be held down by
two men ; his strength was astonishing, and more
than once, while I remained, he succeeded in
escaping from the grasp of his attendants. The
Scotch officer s servant soon after came in, and

HOSPITAL SCENE AFTER A BATTLE. 287

stooping down inquired of his master how he
felt, but received no reply ; he had half turned
on his face ; the man took hold of his master s
hand it was still warm, but the pulse had ceased
he was dead." )

*****
" We were about to leave the room when we per
ceived a paillasse in the corner, which had hitherto
escaped our notice; a pelisse of the 18th hussars
served as a coverlet, a little round head was upon
the pillow ; a vivid eye, with the countenance of
a deadly pallid hue, bespoke a wounded Irish
man. Do you belong to the 18th? Yes,
plase your honour ; (the right hand at the same
time carried up to the forelock.) Are you
wounded ? Yes, plase your honour ; (again the
hand to the head.) Where? - - Run through
the body, plase your honour. (We verily believe
he said twice through the body, but cannot charge
our memory.) Are you in pain ? Och ! plase
your honour, I m tolerably asy ; the Frinch
daacter blid me, and to-morrow I shall see the
old rigirnent. It is needless to say that we were
deeply interested in this gallant fellow, who bore
his dangerous wounds with so much composure ;
and it is a pleasing sequel to this anecdote to be

able to state that he finally recovered."

*****

" Two singular cases of contusion of the brain
were observed at this time in the hospitals : one man

t " Reminiscences of a Subaltern."

288 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

did nothing but count, with a loud and deliberate
voice, from forty to seventy, always beginning at
one number and ending at the other, and this
incessantly through the whole night. Another
continually uttered the most extraordinary blas
phemies and curses, exhausting the whole voca
bulary of malediction, without any apparent emo
tion of anger. This case did not prove fatal, but
the man was left in a state of helpless idiocy."

EL BODON, page 295.

" Nothing but the greatest discipline, the most
undaunted bravery, and a firm reliance on their
officers, could have saved those devoted soldiers
from total annihilation. They were attacked with
a fury unexampled on three sides of the square ;
the French horsemen rode upon their bayonets;
but, unshaken by the desperate position in which
they were placed, they poured in their fire with
such quickness and precision, that the cavalry
retired in disorder."

******

" At the charge made by the whole of the
French cavalry at El Bodon on the square formed
by the 5th and 77th regiments, a French officer
had his horse shot under him, and both fell
together. The officer, although not much hurt,

EL BODON. 289

lay on the ground as if dead, and in this situ
ation would, in all probability, have escaped,
as the French infantry were fast advancing to
the relief of their cavalry, had it not been for
a German hussar, one squadron of whom were
engaged in the conflict, who rode up to the
spot, and made a cut at the officer lying on
the ground ; on which, he immediately sprang
up, and, with his sword at the guard, set the
German at defiance. Another of the King s Ger
man hussars then galloped up, and desired the
French officer to surrender, which he refused to
do. The appearance of the officer in this position
was truly heroic : he stood without his cap ; his
head was bare, and some marks of blood were on
his face. From the fine attitude he presented,
and being a tall, athletic man, he strongly im
pressed the beholders with the belief that he
would defend himself against both the hussars.
At this time, Ensign Canch, of the 5th, ran out
of the square, and was proceeding rapidly to the
place, in the hope of inducing the officer to sur
render himself a prisoner ; but the hussars, find
ing they were baffled, and could not subdue
this brave man with the sword, had recourse to
the pistol, with which they killed him, to the
great regret of the British regiments that were
looking on. This affair took place about half
way between the square already mentioned
and the French cavalry, who were hovering

VOL. II. U

290 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

about, after being repulsed by the 5th and 77th

regiments.

" We were informed by a prisoner taken at the
time, that the officer who defended himself so
gallantly against the two hussars, was an Irish
man, and the major of his regiment." *

MARMONT S MISTAKE, page 296.

" Marmont contented himself with making an
exhibition of his force, and causing it to execute
a variety of manoeuvres in our presence ; and, it
must be confessed, that a spectacle more striking
has rarely been seen. The large body of cavalry
which followed us to our position, and had
bivouacked during the night in the woods ad
joining, were first drawn up in compact array, as
if waiting for the signal to push on. By and by,
nine battalions of infantry, attended by a propor
tionate quantity of artillery, made their appear
ance, and formed into columns, lines, echelons,
and squares. Towards noon, twelve battalions
of the Imperial Guard came upon the ground in
one solid mass ; and as each soldier was decked
out with feathers and shoulder-knots of a bloody
hue, their appearance was certainly imposing in
no ordinary degree. The solid column, however,

" * Reminiscences of a Subaltern."

MARMONT S MISTAKE. 291

soon deployed into columns of battalions a
movement which was executed with a degree
of quickness and accuracy quite admirable ; and
then, after having performed several other evo
lutions with equal precision, the Guards piled
their arms, and prepared to bivouac. Next came
another division of infantry in rear of the Guards,
and then a fresh column of cavalry, till it was
computed that the enemy had collected on this
single point a force of not less than twenty-five
thousand men. Nor did the muster cease to go
on as long as daylight lasted. To the very latest
moment we could observe men, horses, guns,
carriages, tumbrils, and ammunition-waggons,
flocking into the encampment ; as if it were the
design of the French General to bring his whole
disposable force to bear against the position of
Fuente Guinaldo."*

FALL OF TARRAGONA, page 304.

" The French batteries opened at daylight on
the 28th June, and by ten o clock a practicable
breach was formed : the besiegers then appeared
perfectly quiet, firing only an occasional round
or two ; but when the heat of the day was a little
past, they suddenly rushed to the assault. The
defenders made but a slight resistance, and in a

* Lord Londonderry.

U 2

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

few minutes the French columns were in the
streets, and immediately gave loose to every
species of licentiousness. Some thousands of the
citizens perished by individual atrocity ; whilst
a continued fire from the batteries swept away
crowds of trembling fugitives, who fled to the
sea-side and sought refuge in the boats of the
squadron. The British seamen gallantly rescued
many within reach of the very sabres of the
enemy s dragoons, who charged amongst the
defenceless mass, cutting and slashing in every
direction. In a word, it was a French army
licensed to pursue its own inclinations ; and scenes
such as are read with distrust in the ancient
historians, are attested by some thousand wit
nesses yet alive to have been acted here." *

General Suchet s own statement is as follows :
" The rage of the soldiers was increased by the
obstinacy of the garrison, who expected to be
relieved, and who were prepared to sally out.
The fiftieth assault made yesterday in the middle
of the day to the inner works was followed by
a frightful massacre, with little loss on our side.
The terrible example, which I foresaw with
regret in my last report to your Highness, has
taken place, and will be long remembered in
Spain. Four thousand men were killed in the
streets; ten or twelve thousand attempted to
save themselves by getting over the walls, a

* Jones s Account of the War.

RANGE OF BATTERING GUNS. 293

thousand of whom were sabred or drowned : we
have made 10,000 prisoners, including 500 offi
cers, and in the hospitals remain 1500 wounded,
whose lives have been spared."

SIEGE PRACTICE AND RANGE OF BATTERING GUNS,

page 315.

The probability of hitting the same object at
different ranges, with the same gun, may be con
sidered to be in the inverse ratio of the distances
respectively ; the advantage, however, being al
ways in favour of guns at or under the line of
metal.

The probabilities of hitting objects of various
size, the gun and range being the same, are some
what in the ratio of the square roots of the sur
faces fired at.

Of any given number of rounds, with 24-poun-
ders of nine feet six inches, under favourable
circumstances, the range being accurately ascer
tained, the object on, or nearly on, a level with
the gun the traverse or trunnion axis of the
gun being horizontal, the following proportion
of shot may be expected to hit without grazing :

Range in yards . . 600 | 900 | 1200 [ 1500 | 1800
A six feet target, 36 square ft. f | \ | f | |
A nine feet target, 81 square ft. -J- | f- | i ^ \ -f^

294 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

Ranges of a 32-pounder long gun, 9J feet, charge lOlbs. lloz.
powder, single shot, initial velocity 1600 feet.

Elevation in Degrees.
RL | J | 1 | 1| | 2 | 2| | 3 | 3J | 4 | 4| | 5 | 5} | 6

Range in Yards.

100 | 390 | 670 | 900 | 1000 | 1250 | 1390 | 1515 | 1630 | 1740 | 1850 | 1955 | 2055

First Differences.
280 | 230 190 | 160 140 125 115 110 110 105 100

Second Differences.
50 40 30 20 15 10 5 5 5

CHARACTER OF GENERAL CRAWFORD, page 319.

General Crawford entered the army at an early
age, and had seen much and varied service. In
the short interval of peace, he visited the Con
tinent to improve himself in the scientific
branches of his profession, and afterwards served
in two Indian campaigns under Lord Cornwallis.
After some unimportant employments on the
Continent, he joined the disgraceful expedition
against Buenos Ayres, and subsequently served
with the army of Sir John Moore, in command
of the light brigade. After the retreat, he joined
Sir Arthur Wellesley the morning after Talavera,
and became most deservedly a favourite of that
commander.

Crawford s military talents are admitted to
have been of the first order. An enthusiast re
garding martial glory, he sought every oppor-

CHARACTER OF GENERAL CRAWFORD. 295

tunity to distinguish himself. In the affair of
the Coa at Busaco and Fuentes d Onoro, he
established an undying reputation. Wellington s
despatch contained his well-earned eulogy and
the breach before which he fell, was fitly chosen
as a last resting-place for the fearless leader of
the gallant light brigade.

The following very able sketch of the respec
tive dispositions and abilities of Crawford and
Picton, places their characters in a striking light.
We agree with Colonel Napier, in awarding to
Crawford the possession of higher military talents
than Picton ever exhibited and we are con
vinced, had both lived, and both been employ
ed in active service, that Crawford would have
showed himself the abler officer. To compare
either to Wellington, is nothing but egregious
folly. Both undoubtedly were brave, ready, and
intelligent but to name them with the master
spirit of the age, is an act of very injudicious
friendship.

" Picton and Crawford were, however, not
formed by nature to act cordially together. The
stern countenance, robust frame, saturnine com
plexion, caustic speech, and austere demeanour
of the first, promised little sympathy with the
short thick figure, dark flashing eyes, quick
movements, and fiery temper of the second; nor,
indeed, did they often meet without a quarrel.
Nevertheless, they had many points of resem-

296 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

blance in their characters and fortunes. Both
were inclined to harshness, and rigid in com
mand ; both prone to disobedience, yet exacting
entire submission from inferiors ; and they were
alike ambitious and craving of glory. They both
possessed decided military talents were enter
prising, and intrepid ; yet neither were remark
able for skill in handling troops under fire. This,
also, they had in common, they both, after dis
tinguished services, perished in arms fighting
gallantly, and being celebrated as generals of
division while living, have since their death
been injudiciously spoken of as rivalling their
great leader in war. That they were officers
of mark and pretension is unquestionable, and
Crawford more so than Picton, because the latter
never had a separate command, and his oppor
tunities were necessarily more circumscribed ;
but to compare either to the Duke of Welling
ton, displays ignorance of the men, and of the
art they professed. If they had even compre
hended the profound military and political com
binations he was conducting, the one would care
fully have avoided fighting on the Coa, and the
other, far from refusing, would have eagerly prof
fered his support." *

* Napier.

297

CHARACTER OF GENERAL MACKINNON, page 319-

General Mackinnon was the younger son of the
chieftain of Clan Mackinnon. He was born near
Winchester, and commenced his military educa
tion in France. At fifteen he entered the army,
served three years as lieutenant in the 43rd ? raised
an independent company, and exchanged into
the Coldstream Guards. In Ireland he was
brigade-major to General Nugent, and served
at the Helder, in Egypt, and at Copenhagen. In
1809, he joined Sir Arthur Wellesley, was pre
sent at the passage of the Douro, and had two
horses killed at Talavera. At Busaco he re
ceived thanks upon the field and after some
sharp affairs with the French rear-guard during
Massena s retreat, led the last charge in person
at Fuentes d Onoro, \vhich left the British in
undisputed possession of the field.

In Mackinnon s character there was no trait
wanting to form the perfect soldier. To the high
est intellectual endowments, he united, " a gentle
manner, with a dauntless soul." Married to a
woman worthy of a brave man s love, his passion
for military glory had allowed him little space
to enjoy that quiet happiness that generally waits
on wedded life. His selected profession demand
ed the sacrifice a command was offered - - he
accepted it, and left a happy home. At last his

298 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

health declined a change of air was recommend
ed he reluctantly consented to leave the Penin
sula for a season and, for the last time, revisited
England.

Walking one evening in the garden, his lady
led him to a spot where, with all a woman s
pride, she had planted a laurel to commemorate
every action in which her beloved one had been
victorious. Mackinnon, deeply affected, turned
away, whispering, " Alas ! love, the cypress will
be the next !"

No leader was ever more deeply regretted.
The brigade immediately under his command
adored him ; and those who survived the explo
sion, dug a grave inside the breach, and there
hastily entombed the body of their gallant gene
ral. After the confusion ceased, the officers of
the Coldstream Guards raised his honoured re
mains, and interred them at Espeja with military
honours.

But this lamented chief found a mourner even
in an enemy. During Mackinnon s earlier resi
dence in France, Napoleon, then a military student
in Dauphin e, formed an intimacy with the family
of the deceased. Consequently, he became a re
gular visiter at their chateau, and it would appear,
that in after days of pride and power, he never
forgot the hospitality offered to him, when he
was but a nameless cadet. At the peace of
Amiens he invited the family to visit France

MARMONT S DESPATCH TO BERTHIER. 299

and when he heard Mackinnon named among
those who had fallen at Ciudad Rodrigo, it is
said that Napoleon betrayed unwonted regret at
the decease of a youthful friend, who seemed to
hold a place in earlier affections, before war and
conquest had " steeled his heart, and seared his
brow."

MARMONT S CONFIDENTIAL DESPATCH TO BERTHIER,

page 320.

" THE letter in question was dated from Merida,
at a period posterior to the relief of Badajoz, and
the conseqvient retrogression of our divisions. It
began by informing his Excellency the Prince of
Neufchatel, that having succeeded, in conjunc
tion with the Duke of Dalmatia, in raising the
siege of Badajoz, the writer had since directed his
undivided attention to the reorganisation and re-
establishment of discipline in the army of Por
tugal. The system of requisitions, and the irre
gularity of supply, had been carried, it was con
tinued, to so great a height, that the army was
become little better than a rabble of banditti ;
nor could anything be attempted, with the slight
est prospect of success, till the method should be
entirely changed, and the troops provided and
paid in such a manner as to render them both
contented and manageable. To accomplish this

300 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

the Marshal was then devising plans ; and he
earnestly pressed for instructions and assistance
from the Emperor in carrying them into execution.
" In addition to this despatch from Marmont,
a letter from General Tresion, chief of the staff,
was likewise intercepted ; but it contained little
calculated to interest, except an explicit declara
tion that the French troops were unable to cope
with the English, and that their best chance of
success lay in manoeuvring."*

ANECDOTES OF THE STORM OF CIUDAD RODRIGO,

page 321.

" The first men that surmounted the difficulties
the breach presented, were a sergeant and two
privates of the 88th. The French, who still
remained beside the gun, whose sweeping fire
had hitherto been so fatal to those who led the
storm, attacked these brave men furiously a
desperate hand-to-hand encounter succeeded.
The Irishmen, undaunted by the superior num
ber of their assailants, laid five or six of the gun
ners at their feet. The struggle was observed
and some soldiers of the 5th regiment scrambled
up to the assistance of their gallant comrades
and the remnant of the French gunners perished
by their bayonets.

* Lord Londonderry.

STORM OF CIUDAD RODRIGO. 301

" Lieutenant Mackie, who led the forlorn-hope,
had miraculously escaped without a wound and
pressing over the dying and the dead/ he
reached the further bank of the retrenchment,
and found himself in solitary possession of the
street beyond the breach, while the battle still
raged behind him."*

The following anecdote is descriptive of those
personal affairs that the melee attendant on the
first entrance of a defended town so frequently
produces. The actor, since dead, was a personal
and an attached friend of the author.

" Each affray in the streets was conducted in
the best manner the moment would admit of, and
decided more by personal valour than discipline,
and in some instances officers as well as privates
had to combat with the imperial troops. In one
of those encounters, Lieutenant George Faris, of
the 88th, by an accident so likely to occur in an
affair of this kind, separated a little too far from
a dozen or so of his regiment, found himself op
posed to a French soldier, who apparently was
similarly placed : it was a curious coincidence,

* The selection of anecdotes connected with an Irish re
giment might appear a national partiality : but at this period
of the campaign the Rangers had been heavily engaged. Their
casualties, from the investment of Rodrigo to the fall of Ba-
dajoz six-and-tvventy days amounted to twenty-five officers
and five hundred and fifty-six men !

302 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

and it would seem as if each felt that he indi
vidually was the representative of the country to
which he belonged ; and had the fate of the two
nations hung upon the issue of the combat I am
about to describe, it could not have been more
heroically contested. The Frenchman fired at,
and wounded Faris in the thigh, and made a
desperate push with his bayonet at his body, but
Faris parried the thrust, and the bayonet only
lodged in his leg ; he saw at a glance the peril of
his situation, and that nothing short of a miracle
could save him ; the odds against him were too
great, and if he continued a scientific fight, he
must inevitably be vanquished ; he sprang for
ward, and seizing hold of the Frenchman by the
collar, a struggle of a most nervous kind took
place; in their mutual efforts to gain an advan
tage, they lost their caps, and as they were men
of nearly equal strength, it was doubtful what the
issue would be. They were so entangled with
each other, their weapons were of no avail, but
Faris at length disengaged himself from the grasp
which held him, and he was able to use his sabre;
he pushed the Frenchman from him, and ere he
could recover himself he laid his head open near
ly to the chin : his sword -blade, a heavy, soft,
ill-made Portuguese one, was doubled up with
the force of the blow, and retained some pieces
of skull and clotted hair ! At this moment I
reached the spot with about twenty men, com-

STORM OF CIUDAD RODRIGO. 303

posed of different regiments, all being by this
time mixed pell-mell with each other. I ran up
to Faris he was nearly exhausted, but he was
safe. The French grenadier lay upon the pave
ment, while Faris, though tottering from fatigue,
held his sword firmly in his grasp, and it was
crimsoned to the very hilt." *

It is strange how the lighter occurrences of hu
man life ridiculously intermingle with its graver
concerns. An officer with a shattered leg crawl
ed into the corner of a traverse to avoid the rush
of friends and foes, each equally fatal. Presently
the contest changed from his neighbourhood, and
the adjacent streets were deserted.

An hour passed none disturbed his melan
choly rest when a footstep was heard, and an
88th man staggered round the corner with a
bundle of sundry articles he had managed to
collect. Unable to get further he placed it be
neath his head fixed his bayonet and lay down
to sleep in peace. In a few moments a Portu
guese-camp follower peeped round the corner,
looked suspiciously about, substituted a truss of
straw for the bundle, and absconded with the
plunder the drunken Ranger had, as he imagin
ed, so carefully secured.

* G rattan.

304 PETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

MARCH FROM RODRIGO, page 321.

"Ill as I was, in common with many others,
who, like myself, lay wounded, and were unable
to accompany our friends, I arose from my truss
of straw to take a parting look at the remnant of
my regiment as it mustered on the parade ; but,
in place of upwards of seven hundred gallant
soldiers, and six-and-twenty officers, of the former
there were not three hundred, and of the latter

but five !

* * * * *

"The drums of the division beat a ruffle; the
officers took their stations ; the bands played :
the soldiers cheered; and, in less than half an
hour, the spot which, since the 17th of the pre
ceding month, had been a scene of the greatest
excitement, was now a lone and deserted waste,
having no other occupants than disabled or dying
officers and soldiers, or the corpses of those that
had fallen in the strife. The contrast was indeed
great, and of that cast that made the most un
reflecting think, and the reflecting feel. The
sound of the drums died away ; the division was
no longer visible, except by the glittering of
their firelocks: at length we lost sight of even
this ; and we were left alone, like so many out
casts, to make the best of our way to the hospi
tals in Badajoz." *

* " Grattan. Reminiscences," &c.

305

SUMMARY OF THE SIEGES, page 3%5.

" The town of Badajoz contains a population of
about 16,000, and, within the space of thirteen
months, experienced the miseries attendant upon
a state of siege three several times. The first was
undertaken by Lord Beresford, towards the end of
April 1811, who was obliged to abandon opera
tions by Soult advancing to its relief, and which
led to the battle of Albuera on the 16th of May.

" The second siege was by Lord Wellington
in person, who, after the battle of Fuentes
d Onoro, directed his steps towards the south
with a portion of the allied army. Operations
commenced on the 30th of May, and continued
till the 10th of June, when the siege was again
abandoned ; Soult having a second time ad
vanced in combined operation with the army of
Marmont from the north. The allies continued
the blockade of the town till the 17th, when
they recrossed the Guadiana, and took up a
position on the Caya.

"The third siege, again undertaken by Lord
Wellington in person, was begun on the 17th
of March 1812, and continued without inter
ruption till the 6th of April, when it fell by
assault, after a most determined and gallant re
sistance on the part of the French."*

* Mackie.
VOL. I. X

306 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

" G. O.page 342.

Camp before Badajoz, 7th April 1812.

1. " It is now full time that the plunder of
Badajoz should cease.

" G. O.

2. " The Commander of the Forces has ordered
the provost-marshal into the town ; he has orders
to execute any men he may find in the act of
plunder after he shall arrive there/

G. O.

" Camp before Badajoz, 8th April 1812.

3. " The Commander of the Forces is sorry to
learn, that the brigade in Badajoz, instead of
being a protection to the people, plunder them
more than those who stormed the town.

6. " The Commander of the Forces calls upon
the staff-officers of the army, and the command
ing and other officers of regiments, to assist him
in putting an end to the disgraceful scenes of
drunkenness and plunder, which are going on
in Badajoz."

" G. O.

" Fuente Guinaldo, 10th June 1812.

7. " The Commander of the Forces is sorry to
observe, that the outrages so frequently com
mitted by soldiers when absent from their regi
ments, and the disgraceful scenes which have

REMARKS ON THE FALL OF BADAJOZ. 307

occurred upon the storming of Badajoz, have had
the effect of rendering the people of the country
enemies instead of friends to the army.

REMARKS ON THE FALL OF BADAJOZ, page 343.

" Description, however, conveys but a faint
idea of the imposing nature of such mode of
defence. The doors of success were certainly
thrown open ; but they were so vigilantly
guarded, the approach to them so strewn with
difficulties, and the scene altogether so appalling,
that, instead of its being a disparagement to the
troops to have failed in forcing through them,
is it not rather a subject for pride and exultation
that they had firmness to persevere in the at
tempt till recalled?"*

NAPOLEON S POLITICAL AND MILITARY STATE,

page 346.

" At the period of the re-capture of Ciudad
Rodrigo and Badajoz, Buonaparte stood on the
pinnacle of fame and power : his empire stretched
from the Elbe to the Pyrenees, and from the
shores of the northern to those of the Adriatic
Sea : whilst throughout all continental Europe

* Jones s Account of the War.

x 2

308 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

his military supremacy was admitted and feared.
As proof of the latter assertion, it need only be
recalled to memory, that the various arbitrary
decrees which, in the arrogance of uncontrolled
authority, he from time to time issued, to cramp
and confine the industry of the world, were obey
ed without a hostile movement. The powerful
and the weak equally yielded them a full though
reluctant compliance : even Russia, doubly se
cured against his interference by her immense
extent and distant situation, deemed it prudent
to submit ; till at length the prosperity of her
empire being threatened by a long adhesion, she
endeavoured, by friendly representations, to ob
tain an exemption. These failing in effect, the
discussion had, at this time, assumed the charac
ter of angry remonstrance, the usual precursor
of war; but, as a long series of overbearing con
duct and insulting replies had failed to drive
her into open resistance, it cannot be doubted
that it depended on Buonaparte, by conciliatory
and friendly attention, to preserve her as an
ally. No external interference, or the appre
hension of it, therefore, existed, to divert his
attention from the affairs of Spain ; and the im
partial historian, of whatever country he may be,
is bound to record, that those brilliant triumphs
over the French armies were obtained by the
Portuguese and British, when Buonaparte was
in amity with all the rest of the world, and his

BIVOUACS. 309

military empire in the zenith of its strength
and glory."*

BIVOUACS, page 352.

" Our bivouac, as may be supposed, presented
an animated appearance ; groups of soldiers cook
ing in one place ; in another, some dozens col
lected together, listening to accounts brought
from the works by some of their companions
whom curiosity had led thither ; others relating
their past battles to any of the young soldiers
who had not as yet come hand-to-hand with a
Frenchman ; others dancing and singing ; officers
servants preparing dinner for their masters, and
officers themselves, dressed in whatever way
best suited their taste or convenience, mixed
with the men, without any distinguishing mark
of uniform to denote their rank."

* * * -:4 #

" The whole appearance of what had been a
French bivouac for a fortnight was perfectly
characteristic of that nation. Some clever con
trivances for cooking, rude arm-racks, a rough
table, and benches to sit round it, still remained ;
while one gentleman had amused himself by
drawing likenesses of British officers with a
burnt stick, in which face, figure, and costume,

* Jones s Account of the War.

310 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

were most ridiculously caricatured ; while an
other, a votary of the gentle art of poesy, had
immortalized the charms of his mistress in dog-
grel verses, scratched upon the boards with the
point of a bayonet."f

*!*. Jil .& 4&

7K 7F Tfc Tp"

" In bivouacs, the squabble for quarters is
extended and transferred to a choice and dispute
for the possession of trees ; and I have heard of
officers being, sorely against their will, flushed
like owls, and made to decamp from an ever
green oak, or other umbrageous tree.

" Nothing more exemplifies the vicissitudes of
a soldier s life, than the different roofs that cover
our heads within a week : one day we have all
the advantages of a palace, and the next the dirt
and misery of the worst chaumiere, sometimes
even in the same day. A fortnight ago, just
after the battle of Orthez, opposite Aire, our
regiment being in the advance, we established
ourselves in a magnificent chateau, certainly the
best-furnished house I have seen since I left
England, decorated with a profusion of fine or
molu clocks. Just as we had congratulated our
selves on our good luck, and prospect of comfort,
and I had chosen for myself a red damask bed,
an awful bustle was heard, indicative of no good,
as was speedily proved to our discomfiture.
Whether it was a judgment upon us for looking

f The Bivouac."

BIVOUACS. 311

so high as a chateau, on the principle of those
who exalt themselves being abased, I leave to

O

divines to decide; but we quickly learned, that
in consequence of the fourth division treading on
our heels, and Sir Lowry Cole having as sharp
an eye for an eligible chateau as ourselves, he
had ordered his aide-de-camp to oust all its in
mates under the rank of a major-general.

" Though possession, in civil matters, is said to
be nine points of the law, it does not hold good
in military affairs ; and as the articles of war, as
well as the gospel, teach us to avoid kicking
against the pricks, like the well-bred dog, (I dare
say you have heard of,) we walked out to pre
vent being more forcibly ejected.

" This highly satisfactory incident took place in
a shower of rain ; and the only building near the
manor-house was a mill, belonging to the estate,
and into this we crept, and were doomed, instead
of splendour, quiet, and cleanliness, and the har
monious chiming of the or-molu clocks, to put
up (certainly not to be satisfied) with the bare
walls, the eternal clack of the mill, and a con
siderable loss of good English blood, from the
attacks of thousands of hostile French fleas."*

* " Hussar s Life on Service."

312 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

TE DEUM AT SALAMANCA, page 361.

" The scene was grand and impressive, the spa
cious, noble building crowded to excess, and the
ceremony performed with all the pomp and splen
dour of Catholic worship. The pealing organ
never poured its tones over a more brilliant,
varied, or chivalrous audience. To describe the
variety of groups would be endless : the eye,
wandering through the expanse of building, could
seldom rest twice on objects of similarity. All
the pomp of a great episcopal seat was displayed
on the occasion. Contrasted with the sombre
dresses of the numerous officiating clergy, the
scarlet uniforms of the British were held in re
lief by the dark Spanish or Portuguese costume.
The Spanish peasant, in all the simplicity and
cleanliness of his dress, appeared by the rnusta-
ched and fierce-looking Guerilla; while the nu
merous mantillas and waving fans of the Spanish
ladies attracted attention to the dark voluptuous
beauties of Castile." *

OFFICIAL RETURNS, page 306.

Allied casualties in the sieges of San Vincente,
Las Cayetanos, La Merced, and on the heights

* Leith Hay.

AFFAIR AT CASTREJON. 313

of Villares, from the 16th to the 27th June,
inclusive.

Killed 115; wounded 412; missing 13;
total 540.*

AFFAIR AT CASTREJON, page 364.

Casualties of the allies on the 18th July 1812.
Killed 95 ; wounded 393 ; missing 54 ; total
542.f

SALAMANCA, page 374.

" An error of one of their generals gave him the
opportunity he desired, availing himself of which,
he fell upon them like a thunderbolt ; and the
issue of the attack was as decided a rout upon
the part of the French, as was, perhaps, ever ex
perienced by any army. Their broken and dis
comfited masses, swept away before our victorious
troops, were precipitated upon the Tormes, in
crossing which many were drowned. Had it not
been for the protection afforded them by the night
immediately coming on for it was four in the
evening before the action commenced few of
them could have escaped. As it was, although
prevented following up the victory to the full

* Wellington s Despatches. t Ibid.

314 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

extent, the trophies of the day were two eagles,
twelve pieces of cannon, and 10,000 prisoners.

" It has been said, how far with truth the Edi
tor is not aware, that the Duke of Wellington
has been heard to express himself to this effect,
* that if required to particularise any of the bat
tles in which he commanded for the purpose, that
Salamanca is the one on which he would be best
contented to rest his reputation as a general.
When we consider the infinite skill with which,
during the previous operations, he out-manoeuvred
his opponents, rendering their superiority of num
bers of no avail, the eagle-eyed sagacity that saw
the error of the French commander, and the
promptness and decision with which he turned it
to his purpose, ending, as it did, in the total dis
comfiture and rout of the enemy, it is by no
means improbable that such is his opinion, al
though it may never have been so openly ex
pressed. On comparing it even with the most
brilliant of his other victories, such, no doubt, will
be the opinion of most military men.

" The allied loss in the battle of the 22nd, and
previous operations, was nearly 6,000 ; the Spanish
proportion being two men killed and four wounded" *

* Mackie.

315

ANECDOTES OF SALAMAN 7 CA, page 376.

" Capt. Broth erton, of the 14th dragoons, fight
ing on the 18th at Guarena, amongst the foremost,
as he was always wont to do, had a sword thrust
quite through his side ; yet, on the 22nd, he was
again on horseback, and being denied leave to
remain in that condition with his own regiment,
secretly joined Pack s Portuguese in an undress,
and was again hurt in the unfortunate charge at
the Arapiles. Such were the officers. A man of
the 43rd, one by no means distinguished above
his comrades, was shot through the middle of the
thigh, and lost his shoes in passing the marshy
stream; but, refusing to quit the fight, he
limped under fire in rear of his regiment, and,
with naked feet, and streaming of blood from his
wound, he marched for several miles over a coun
try covered with sharp stones ! Such were the
the soldiers ; and the devotion of a woman was
not wanting to the illustration of this great day.

" The wife of Colonel Dalbiac, an English lady
of a gentle disposition, and possessing a very deli
cate frame, had braved the dangers and endured
the privations of two campaigns, with the patient
fortitude which belongs only to her sex ; and in
this battle, forgetful of everything but that strong
affection which had so long supported her, she
rode deep amidst the enemy s fire ; trembling, yet

316 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

irresistibly impelled forwards by feelings more
imperious than horror, more piercing than the
fear of death ."f

*****
" At the sale of some deceased officer s effects at
Salamanca, the man who officiated as auctioneer
on one occasion, on producing a prayer-book as
the next lot for competition, remarked, that " he
must indeed be a brave man who purchased it, as
that was the fourth time during a month he had
submitted it for sale."

Napier.

DETAILS AXD ANECDOTES. ( VOL. II.)

BATTLE OF SALAMANCA, page 2.

" THE soldiers endured much during the first
two or three days after the battle, and the in
ferior officers sufferings were still more heavy and
protracted. They had no money, and many sold
their horses and other property to sustain life ;
some actually died of want ; and though Welling
ton, hearing of this, gave orders that they should
be supplied from the purveyor s stores in the
same manner as the soldiers, the relief came too
late."

Casualties, British, Portuguese, and Spanish.

British. Portuguese. Spanish.

Killed . . 694 . . 304 . . 2
Wounded . 4270 " . . 1552 . . 4
Missing . . 256 . . 182 . .

Total 5220 2038 6

Grand total 7264,

CASUALTIES OF SALAMANCA, page 3.

Lord Wellington was contused on the thigh
by a spent ball, which passed through his holster.

318 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

Throughout most of the day, himself and staff
were constantly exposed to the fire of the enemy.
General Cotton s misfortune was still more an
noying, as he was wounded in the dark by the
mistake of a Potuguese sentinel.

WELLINGTON S PRIVATE LETTERS, page 5.

The following passages are extracted from two
letters addressed by Lord Wellington to Earl
Bathurst and Sir Thomas Graham, dated from
Flores de Avila, on the 24th and 25th July
1812. The light and playful manner in which
he alludes to the glorious victory just achieved
is extremely characteristic of " the great Captain."

" I hope that you will be pleased with our
battle, of which the despatch contains as accurate
an account as I can give you. There was no mis
take ; everything went on as it ought ; and there
never was an army so beaten in so short a time.
If we had had another hour or two of daylight,
not a man would have passed theTormes; and,

as it was, they would all have been taken if

had left the garrison in Alba de Tormes,

as I wished and desired ; or having taken it
away, as I believe, before he was aware of my
wishes, he had informed me that it was not there.
If he had, I should have marched in the night

WELLINGTON S PRIVATE LETTERS. 319

upon Alba, where I should have caught them
all, instead of upon the fords of the Tormes."

*****
" I took up the ground which you were to have
taken during the siege of Salamanca, only the
left was thrown back on the heights ; it being
unnecessary, under the circumstances, to cover the
ford of Saint Martha. We had a race for the
large Arapiles, which is the more distant of the
two detached heights which you will recollect
on the right of your position : this race the
French won, and they were too strong to be
dislodged without a general action. I knew that
the French were to be joined by the cavalry of
the army of the North on the 22nd or 23rd,
and that the army of the Centre was likely to
be in motion. Marmont ought to have given
me a pont d or, and he would have made a hand
some operation of it. But, instead of that, after
manoeuvring all the morning in the usual French
style, nobody knew with what object, he at last
pressed upon my right in such a manner, at
the same time without engaging, that he would
have either carried our Arapiles, or he would
have confined us entirely to our position. This
was not to be endured, and we fell upon him,
turning his left flank ; and I never saw an
army receive such a beating. I had desired the
Spaniards to continue to occupy the castle of
Alba de Tormes; had evacuated it, I

320 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

believe, before he knew my wishes ; and he was
afraid to let me know that he had done so ; and
I did not know it till I found no enemy at the
fords of the Tormes. When I lost sight of them
in the dark, I marched upon Huerta and En-
cinas, and they went by Alba. If I had known
there had been no garrison in Alba, I should
have marched there, and should probably have
had the whole. Marmont, Clausel, Foy, Ferrey,
and Bonet, are wounded badly. Ferrey, it is
supposed, will die. Thomiere is killed. Many
generals of brigade killed or wounded. I need
not express how much I regret the disorder in
your eyes since this action. I am in great hopes
that our loss has not been great. In two divi
sions, the third and fifth, it is about twelve hun
dred men, including Portuguese. There are
more in the fourth and sixth ; but there are many
men who left the ranks with wounded officers
and soldiers, who are eating and drinking, and
engaged in regocijos with the inhabitants of Sala
manca ; I have sent, however, to have them all
turned out of the town. I hope that you re
ceive benefit from the advice of the oculists in

London.

" Believe me, &c.

"WELLINGTON."

Lieut.-gen. Sir, T. Graham, K.B."

" P. S. Beresford s wound is not dangerous.
Leith s arm is broken, and, his wound painful.

CASUALTIES OF SALAMANCA. 321

Cole s wound is through the body, and it is ap
prehended will be tedious. Cotton s is through
the fleshy part, and the two bones of his arm.
It may be a bad wound if there should be
haemorrhage." *

FRENCH AND ALLIED CASUALTIES, page 8.

" On the 1 8th of July, the army of Portugal
passed the Douro in advance. On the 30th it
repassed that river in retreat, having in twelve
days marched two hundred miles, fought three
combats and a general battle. One field-marshal,
seven generals, twelve thousand five hundred
men and officers had been killed, wounded, or
taken ; and two eagles, besides those taken in the
Retiro, several standards, twelve guns and eight
carriages, exclusive of the artillery and stores cap
tured at Valladolid, fell into the victor s hands.
In the same period the allies marched one hun
dred and sixty miles, and had one field-marshal,
four generals, and somewhat less than six thou
sand officers and soldiers killed or wounded."

* Wellington s Despatches.

VOL. II.

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

SEGOVIA, page 9.

Segovia, a celebrated town of Old Castile,
where are many remains of Moorish and Roman
antiquity. Among the former is the Alcazar,
once the palace of the Moorish kings, and after
wards of Ferdinand and Isabella, but which since
their days has been used as a state prison. This
building stands on a rock, rising some hundred
feet above the river, which winds round nearly
three-fourths of its base, and is cut off from the
town on the remaining portion by a deep ditch
and defences. The aqueduct, said to have been
built by Trajan, is to be seen at different points
between the town and Ildefonso, where the water
is obtained ; but the most remarkable feature of
this structure is the portion in the suburb of the
town, consisting of two rows of arches one above
the other, nearly two hundred in number, the
whole being formed of large blocks of stone,
fitted into and supporting each other without
cement, having thus withstood the ravages of
time for eighteen centuries.

SAN ILDEFONSO.

San Ildefonso is a village fifty miles north of
Madrid. Here is situated the palace of La
Granja, a favourite summer residence of the

BIVOUAC AT ILDEFONSO. 323

royal family. The building and gardens, with
the numerous jets (Teau, were formed after the
model of the palace and gardens of Versailles,
by the Bourbon dynasty on their accession to
the throne of Spain. The palace is situate at
the bottom of the Sierra Nevada, an attached
ridge of the Guaderama, in a recess on the north
side of the mountain, which rises to a consider
able height, covered with trees to its summit,
and to the east and west ; thus sheltering it at
all times from the scorching heats of summer.
The front of the building looks to the gardens,
which rise before it, till they terminate in the
craggy, pine-covered summit, adding much to
the picturesque beauty of this delightful resi
dence. The whole presents a scene, certainly,
much more calculated to remind the beholder of
the verdure and freshness of a more northern
clime than of the burning fields and sultry sun
of Spain.

ALLIED BIVOUAC, page 9.

" From our bivouac in the woods of Ildefonso,
at daybreak on the 10th of August, we began
to ascend the mountain ; the road winding among
stately pines and rugged precipices, at every
point presenting behind us a prospect in every
way worthy to arrest the attention. From the
summit we commanded a boundless view of the

Y 2

324 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

country we had lately traversed, interesting from
being the scene of our past toils and victories;
while in our front lay one not less so from its
novelty, from the many striking objects that pre
sented themselves to the eye ; but, above all,
awaking feelings the most intensely interesting,
from our near approach upon the capital of Spain,
a flying and dispirited enemy in our front ; with
exhilarated spirits we descended the wooded skirts
of the mountain, the palace of the Escurial to
our right, while more distant lay Madrid, with
its hundred globe-topped spires, the indications
of former Moorish sway. Encamping in the
neighbourhood upon the 12th, we moved into
the city the following day."*

SURRENDER OF THE RETIRO, page 9.

" We invested the place completely on the
evening of the 13th ; and in the night, detach
ments of the seventh division of infantry, under
the command of Major-general Hope, and of the
third division of infantry, under the command of
Major-general the Hon. E. Pakenham, drove in
the enemy s posts from the Prado, and the Bota
nical Garden, and the works which they had con
structed outside of the park-wall ; and having
broken through the wall in different places, they
were established in the palace of the Retiro, and

* Mackie.

CAVALRY SURPRISE. 325

close to the line of the enemy s works enclosing
the building called La China. The troops were
preparing in the morning to attack these works,
preparatory to the arrangements to be adopted for
the attack of the interior line and building, when
the governor sent out an officer to desire to capi
tulate, and I granted him the honours of war." *

CAVALRY SURPRISE, page 10.

" We had a devil of an affair on the evening
of the llth. The French, two thousand cavalry,
moved upon the Portuguese cavalry ; D Urban
ordered them to charge the advanced squadrons,
which charge they did not execute as they ought,
and they ran off, leaving our guns (Captain
M Donald s troop). They ran in upon the Ger
man cavalry, half a mile or more in their rear,
where they were brought up ; but they would
not charge upon the left of the Germans. These
charged and stopped the enemy ; but Colonel de
Jonquiers was taken, and we have lost a good
many of these fine fellows. There are twenty
killed, and about as many wounded and prison
ers. We likewise lost three guns of McDonald s
troop in the Portuguese flight, but the French
left them behind."t %

* Wellington to Lord Bathurst, Madrid, 15th Aug. 1812.
f Wellington s Despatches.

326 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

PASSAGE OF THE BRIDGE OF BURGOS, page 24.

The complete success of this bold manoeuvre
offers many reflections on the futility of attempt
ing to stop the march of troops by the fire of
artillery in the night. In this instance, the good
order and silence with which the allied army
filed under the walls of the castle, was rendered
of no avail to them by the conduct of a party of
guerilla cavalry, who, unused to such coolness,
put their horses to their speed, and made such a
clatter that the garrison took the alarm, and
opened a fire from the artillery directed on the
bridge: the first discharge was, as might have
been expected, very effectual ; but the gunners
immediately afterwards lost their range and di
rection, and their fire only served to make the
carriages file over the bridge with more speed
than usual.

THE RETREAT FROM BURGOS, page 32.

" It is scarcely possible to imagine what power
ful effect the excitement consequent on active
warfare produces upon those who under different
circumstances would evince apathy or irritability.
Men nursed in the lap of luxury, and accustomed
from childhood to all the elegances of upper life,

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 327

submitted to every privation without a murmur ;
while others, whose constitutional indolence was
proverbial, seemed actuated by some secret im
pulse that spurred them to exertion, and roused
a latent energy that was surprising even to them
selves. Persons who at home would have dread
ed injurious circumstances from a damp shoe,
were too happy, on service in the Peninsula, to
find the shelter of a roof and luxury of wet litter
after a ten hours march over muddy roads in
rain, and storm, and darkness ; and those whose
Apician tastes were not unfrequently outraged by
the culinary ofFendings of the most gifted mess-
cook, cheerfully discussed the ration cut from the
reeking carcass of an over-driven ox, and exchang
ed claret and champaign for aqua ardiente and
vin du pays, flavouring more strongly of the goat
skin than the grape."

It is true, that when cantoned the army were
spared from these annoyances. The strict eye
kept by Lord Wellington over the commissariat
at these times, secured a plentiful supply of neces
saries for the troops, and under huts or canvass
they were tolerably protected from the weather ;
but at the sieges, the retreats, and the rapid ad
vances in bad weather, nothing could surpass
the misery endured through cold and heat, hun
ger and thirst, continued fatigue, and all the ills
the soldier s life is heir to.

Bright as the hour of triumph appears to the

328 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

conqueror brilliant as the foughten field that
ends in victory " the tale of war still bears a
painful sound," and many a heart-rending story
of distress might be narrated attendant on the

C5

storms of Badajoz and Rodrigo, and the retreats
to Corunna and the Lines. The state of the sick,
the worn-out, and the wounded, were pitiable.
Unable to extricate themselves, numbers, " with
vulnerable wounds," perished of cold and hunger
in the ditches of the captured fortresses or, after
struggling to the last, died on the line of march,
abandoned of necessity by their comrades, and
ridden over or cut down by merciless pursuers,
who had neither leisure nor inclination to extend
succour to these deserted sufferers.

In speaking of the retreat from Burgos, an
infantry officer says, " The privations which the
army suffered were unusually severe : I saw many
a brave fellow lying on the road, dying from fa
tigue, famine, and the inclemency of the weather.
On one spot, about one hundred English and Por
tuguese soldiers lay extended after the retreat.
One miserable instance, was a soldier of the Ninety-
fifth ; having marched as far as he was able, at last
he sunk from exhaustion, and crawled upon his
hands and knees, until he expired."

Another thus describes his misadventure. " We
travelled the whole of that night, our army in
full retreat, and the French in close pursuit ; the
weather wet and miserably cold, and the roads so

RETREAT FROM BURGOS. 329

drenched, it was up to the middle in mud ; the
animals were knocked up, and I unfortunately
fell into the hands of the enemy, a French hussar
regiment, who treated me vilely.

"They knocked the cart from under me, sabred
the men, and dragged me into the middle of the
road ; stripped me, tearing my clothes into shreds,
and turning me over with their sabres, plundered
me of what little I had remaining ; tore a gold ring
from my finger, and then left me naked, to perish
with cold and hunger.

" I lay in this miserable state two days and
nights, with no mortal near me, except dead ones ;
one of which lay with his head upon my legs,
having died in that position during the night pre
ceding, and I was too weak to remove his body ;
I could not raise myself, I was so reduced.

" In this suffering state I continued to exist,
which I attributed to some rum, of which I
drank a considerable quantity from a Frenchman s
canteen, who was humane enough to let me do
so, when I explained to him that I was a British
officer : the rum soon laid me to sleep. The
Frenchman was a hussar, and appeared to belong
to the regiment who had treated me so inhu
manly in the morning (it was now past dusk).
I begged him to take me up behind him. He
shook his head ; but kindly took an old blanket
from under his saddle, covered me with it, and
then rode off."

330 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

In this wretched state the narrator was disco
vered by an Irish soldier, who turned out a true
Samaritan.

" The poor fellow found me literally in a state
of starvation, and took me upon his back (for I
was quite helpless), to the village ; begged food
for me from door to door ; but the inhuman Spa
niards shut them in our faces, refusing me both
shelter and food, at the same time they were
actually baking bread for the French. However,
my fellow-sufferer, by good chance, found a dead
horse, and he supplied me with raw flesh and
acorns ; which, at the time, I thought a luxury,
believe me, and devoured, when first given me,
in such quantities, as nearly put an end to my
sufferings."

A very creditable exception must be made in
favour of the Spanish women, who, during the
Peninsular campaign, exhibited the greatest kind
ness towards the British, and afforded to the sick
or wounded soldiery the most disinterested and
devoted attention. In the higher classes this feel
ing was frequently indulged, even at the risk of
family or personal proscription ; and it would ap
pear that among the humbler grade a warm sympa
thy existed towards their deliverers. " Two girls,
daughters of the baker of the village, notwith
standing the threat of punishment to those who
should relieve me, absolutely did, two or three

SPANISH OUTRAGES. 331

times, bring me a little food saved from their own
meals,"*

SPANISH OUTRAGES, page 33.

" The Spaniards, civil and military, began to
evince hatred of the British. Daily did they
attempt or perpetrate murder ; and one act of pe
culiar atrocity merits notice. A horse, led by
an English soldier, being frightened, backed
against a Spanish officer commanding at a gate ;
he caused the soldier to be dragged into his
guard-house and there bayoneted him in cold
blood ; and no redress could be had for this or
other crimes save by counter violence, which was
not long withheld. A Spanish officer, while
wantonly stabbing at a rifleman, was shot dead
by the latter; and a British volunteer slew a
Spanish officer at the head of his own regiment
in a sword fight, the troops of both nations look
ing on ; but here there was nothing dishonourable
on either side." f

" Two of the handsomest men of the light
company, M Cann and Ludley, were billeted in
a house containing a mother and her daughter,
when one evening a Spaniard came in and in
vited them- to take some wine with him, during

" Military Recollections of Four Brothers." f Napier.

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

which, it is supposed, in a fit of jealousy, he took
the opportunity of stabbing them both to the
heart. The assassin made his escape before the
alarm could be given, as also did the mother and
daughter ; but our men were so exasperated, that
they attacked the house, and in twenty minutes
there was not one stone left upon another." *

LETTER ADDRESSED BY LORD WELLINGTON TO COM
MANDING OFFICERS OF REGIMENTS, DATED FREY-
NADA, THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER 1812, page 34.

" Sir, I have ordered the army into canton
ments, in which I hope that circumstances will
enable me to keep them for some time, during
which the troops will receive their clothing, ne
cessaries, &c. which are already in progress, by
different lines of communication, to the several
divisions and brigades. But, besides these ob
jects, I must draw your attention, in a very par
ticular manner, to the state of discipline of the
troops. The discipline of every army, after a
long and active campaign, becomes in some de
gree relaxed, and requires the utmost attention
on the part of the general and other officers to
bring it back to the state in which it ought to be
for service ; but I am concerned to have to ob
serve, that the army under my command has

* Cadell.

LETTER TO COMMANDING OFFICERS. 333

fallen off, in this respect, in the late campaign, to
a greater degree than any army with which I have
ever served, or of which I have ever read. Yet
this armv has met with no disaster ; it has suf-

*/

fered no privations, which but trifling attention
on the part of the officers could not have pre
vented, and for which there existed no reason
whatever in the nature of the service ; nor has it
suffered any hardships, excepting those resulting
from the necessity of being exposed to the in
clemencies of the weather, at a moment when
they \vere most severe. It must be obvious,
however, to every officer, that from the moment
the troops commenced their retreat from the
neighbourhood of Burgos on the one hand, and
from Madrid on the other, the officers lost all
command over the men. Irregularities and out
rages of all descriptions were committed with
impunity ; and losses have been sustained which
ought never to have occurred. Yet the neces
sity for retreat existing, none was ever made
in which the troops made such short marches ;
none on which they made such long and repeated
halts ; and none in which the retreating armies
were so little pressed on their rear by the enemy.
We must look, therefore, for the existing evils,
and for the situation in which we now find the
army, to some cause besides those resulting from
the operations in which we have been engaged.
I have no hesitation in attributing these evils to

334 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

the habitual inattention of the officers of reoi-

o

ments to their duty, as prescribed by the standing
regulations of the service, and by the order of
this army. I am far from questioning the zeal,
still less the gallantry and spirit of the officers of
the army : and I am quite certain, that as their
minds can be convinced of the necessity of mi
nute and constant attention to understand, re
collect, and carry into execution the orders which
have been issued for the performance of their
duty, and that the strict performance of this duty
is necessary to enable the army to serve the coun
try as it ought to be served, they will, in future,
give their attention to these points. Unfortu
nately, the inexperience of the officers of the
army has induced many to conceive, that the
period during which an army is not on service is
one of relaxation from all rule, instead of being,
as it is, the period during which, of all others,
every rule for the regulation and control of the
conduct of the soldiers, for the inspection and
care of his arms, ammunition, accoutrements, ne
cessaries, and field-equipments, and his horse and
horse-appointments, for the receipt and issue and
care of his provisions, and the regulation of all
that belongs to his food, and the forage for his
horse, must be most strictly attended to by the
officers of his company or troop, if it is intended
that an army a British army in particular shall
be brought into the field of battle in a state of

LETTER TO COMMANDING OFFICERS. 335

efficiency to meet the enemy on the day of trial.
These are the points, then, to which I most
earnestly entreat you to turn your attention, and
the attention of the officers of the regiments
under your command, Portuguese as well as
English, during the period in which it may be
in my power to leave the troops in their canton
ments. The commanding officers of regiments
must enforce the orders of the army, regard
ing the constant inspection and superintend
ence of the officers over the conduct of the men
of their companies in their cantonments ; and
they must endeavour to inspire the non-commis
sioned officers with a sense of their situation and
authority ; and the non-commissioned officers
must be forced to do their duty, by being con
stantly under the view and superintendence of
the officers. By these means, the frequent and
discreditable recourse to the authority of the pro
vost, and to punishments by the sentence of
courts-martial, will be prevented ; and the sol
diers will not dare to commit the offences and
outrages, of which there are too many complaints,
when they know that their officers and their non
commissioned officers have their eyes and atten
tion turned towards them. The commanding
officers of regiments must likewise enforce the
orders of the army, regarding the constant real
inspection of the soldiers arms, ammunition, ac
coutrements, and necessaries, in order to prevent,

336 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

at all times, the shameful waste of ammunition,
and the sale of that article, and of the soldiers
necesssaries. With this view, both should be
inspected daily. In regard to the food of sol
diers, I have frequently observed and lamented, in
the late campaign, the facility and celerity with
which the French soldiers cooked, in comparison
with our army. The cause of this disadvantage
is the same with that of every other descrip
tion, the want of attention of the officers to the
orders of the army, and to the conduct of their
men ; and the consequent want of authority over
their conduct. Certain men of each company
should be appointed to cut and bring in wood,
others to fetch water, and others to get the
meat, &c. to be cooked ; and it would soon be
found, if this practice were daily enforced, and a
particular hour for seeing the dinners, and for the
men dining, named, as it ought to be, equally as
for the parade, that cooking would no longer
require the inconvenient length of time it has
lately been found to take, and that the soldiers
would not be exposed to the privation of their
food, at the moment at which the army may be
engaged in operations with the enemy. You
will, of course, give your attention to the field-
exercise and discipline of the troops. It is very
desirable that the soldiers should not lose the
habit of marching ; and the division should march
ten or twelve miles twice in each week, if the

CASTLE OF BURGOS. 337

weather should permit, and the roads in the
neighbourhood of the cantonments of the divi
sions should be dry. But I repeat, that the
great object of the attention of the general and
field-officers must be, to get the captains and
subalterns of the regiments to understand and to
perform the duties required from them, as the
only mode by which the discipline and efficiency
of the army can be restored and maintained dur
ing the next campaign.

" I have the honour to be, &c.

" WELLINGTON."

" To - , or the Officer commanding the ."

BLOWING UP OF THE CASTLE OF BURGOS, page 43.

" But the hurry, and fear, and confusion, with
which their preparations were made, defeated this
malignant purpose. Several mines failed ; some
which were primed did not explode; others
were so ill managed that they blew the earth
inwards ; and as the explosion took place some
hours sooner than was intended, the destruction
which was intended for their enemies, fell in part
upon themselves. Many of their men, who were
lingering to plunder, perished as they were load
ing their horses with booty in the streets and
squares, and three or four hundred were blown

VOL. n. z

338 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

up in the fort. Above one thousand shells had
been placed in the mines : the explosion was dis
tinctly heard at the distance of fifty miles ; and
the pavement of the cathedral was covered with
the dust into which its windows had been shiver
ed by the shock. The town escaped destruction
owing to the failure of so many of the mines,
but the castle was totally destroyed, gates,
beams, masses of masonry, guns, carriages, and
arms lying in one heap of ruins ; some of the
mines had laid open the breaches, and exposed
the remains of those who had fallen during the
siege."

VITORIA, page 47.

" The city of Vitoria is said to have obtained its
present name from a victory gained by Leuvigil-
dus XVI, King of the Goths, over the Swevians,
whose kingdom he conquered and added to his
own, so early as towards the end of the sixth
century. Its vicinity, however, having been the
scene of the successful operations of Edward the
Black Prince, in restoring to his dominions Don
Pedro the Cruel, King of Castile, this will, it is
hoped, be sufficient to justify the allusion to the
name as twice associated with the glory of the
English arms.

"The battle which overthrew Henry and re
stored Pedro to his kingdom, was fought be-

VITORIA. 339

twixt Navarette and Nejara, on the right bank
of the Ebro ; but Froissart, in his Chronicles,
mentions that before the Prince had crossed that
river, he occupied for six days a position in front
of Vitoria, probably near the scene of Welling
ton s victory. He further mentions, that while
in this position, Don Telo, Henry s brother,
having advanced to reconnoitre the Prince s
army, fell in with a body of English under Sir
Thomas Felton, who, being much inferior in
numbers, in the proportion of one hundred and
sixty lances and three hundred archers to six
thousand of the enemy, took possession of a
height, where they defended themselves till the
whole of the English knights, after perform
ing prodigies of valour, were killed or made pri
soners, none escaping, except a few boys by the
fleetness of their horses.

" It may be mentioned as a curious incident,
that during the battle, when Lord Wellington
was giving directions for the third division to
attack a height in possession of the enemy, the
Spanish General Alava, who during the war
was personally attached to Lord Wellington s
staff, remarked that the hill in question was, by
the tradition of the country, known as the Al-
tura de los Ingleses, or Hill of the English : this
is supposed to be the hill alluded to in the Chro
nicles." *

* Mackie.

340 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ANECDOTES OF VITORIA, page 58.

" A squadron of the German hussars, how
ever, overtook and engaged their rear-guard, near
Pamplona : the enemy employed against the
hussars the only long gun he had remaining ;
the hussars forced back the enemy ; and as the
gun was retiring on the high-road, a carbine
shot struck one of the horses, which becoming
unruly, the gun was dragged from the cause
way and upset. The hussars immediately took

possession of it."

*****

" The country was too much intersected with
ditches for cavalry to act with. effect in a pursuit;
and infantry, who moved in military order, could
not at their utmost speed keep up with a rout
of fugitives. Yet, precipitate as their flight was,
they took great pains to bear off their wounded,
and dismounted a regiment of cavalry to carry
them on. And they carefully endeavoured to
conceal their dead, stopping occasionally to col
lect them and throw them into ditches, where
they covered them with bushes. Many such re
ceptacles were found containing from ten to

twenty bodies."

*****

"At one period of the pursuit, an officer of
Lord Wellington s personal staff, having carried an

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 341

order towards the left of the army, on returning,
brought with him a long Spanish blade, about a
third of which from the point was covered w r ith
blood. This had been found on the field, and
was, from its singularity of shape, recognised as
the sword of Lord Tweeddale. During the con
fusion, and in the eagerness of pursuit, he had,
at the head of some heavy dragoons, penetrated
into a lane filled with the enemy s cavalry, and
became outnumbered and overmatched at a time
when extrication was impracticable. With that
determination which marked his conduct on
every emergency, he charged the French dra
goons, and was overwhelmed in the melee. In
sensible, and trampled under foot, a considerable
time elapsed before he was discovered, when,
bruised and wounded, he was withdrawn from
among the heaps of dead men and horses that
encumbered the narrow road."

SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN, page 64.

" Here a battery was erected ; the covered-
way to it passed through the convent, and the
battery itself was constructed in a thickly-peopled
burial-ground.

" A more ghastly circumstance can seldom have
occurred in war, for coffins and corpses, in all
stages of decay, were exposed when the soil was

342 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

thrown up to form a defence against the fire
from the town, and were used, indeed, in the de
fences; and when a shell burst there it brought
down the living and the dead together.

u An officer was giving his orders when a shot
struck the edge of the trenches above him ; two
coffins slipped down upon him with the sand,
the coffins broke in their fall, the bodies rolled
with him for some distance, and when he re
covered he saw that they had been women of
some rank, for they were richly attired in black
velvet, and their long hair hung about their
shoulders and their livid faces.

" The soldiers, in the scarcity of firewood, being
nothing nice, broke up coffins for fuel with which
to dress their food, leaving the bodies exposed ;
and, till the hot sun had dried up these poor in
sulted remains of humanity, the stench was as

dreadful as the sight."

* * * * *

" Well do I remember the evening of that
sultry day in July 1813, when the last fascine
was secured to the parapet, the last traverse com
pleted, and the last twenty-four pounder was
wound with toilsome march through the deep
sands, and placed on its platform. The next
morning s dawn beheld us moving in dark line,
like a centipede, threading the crooked labyrinth
of the trenches, to take post in the left of the
grand breaching battery, where it lay crouched

PURSUIT OF SOULT. 343

on the low, sandy beach, and ready with its
breath to crush the proud battlements of this ill-
fated city."

PURSUIT OF SOULT, page 7%.

" On the 31st of July, Soult continued retreat
ing, while five British divisions pressed the pur
suit vigorously by Roncesvalles, Mayo, and Donna
Maria. Nothing could equal the distress of the
enemy, they were completely worn down ; and,
fatigued and disheartened as they were, the only
wonder is, that multitudes did not perish in the
wild and rugged passes through which they were
obliged to retire. Although rather in the rear of
some of the columns, the British light brigades
were ordered forward to overtake the enemy ;
and, wherever they came up, bring them to im
mediate action. At midnight the bivouacs were
abandoned, the division marched, and, after
nineteen hours continued exertions, during which
time a distance of nearly forty miles was traversed,
over Alpine heights and roads rugged and diffi
cult beyond description, the enemy were over
taken and attacked. A short, but smart affair,
ensued. To extricate the tail of the column, and
enable the wounded to get away, the French
threw a portion of their rear-guard across the
river. The Rifles instantly attacked the rein-

344 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

forcernent, a general fusilade commenced, and
continued until night put an end to the affair,
when the enemy retreated over the bridge of
Yanzi, and the British pickets took possession
of it. Both sides lost many men, and a large
portion of French baggage fell into the hands
of the pursuing force, who had moved by St.
Estevan.

" That night the British light troops lay upon
the ground ; and next morning moved forward
at daybreak. Debouching through the pass at
Vera, the hill of Santa Barbara was crossed by
the second brigade, while the Rifles carried the
heights of Echaiar, which the French voltigeurs
seemed determined to maintain. As the moun
tain was obscured by a thick fog, the firing had a
strange appearance to those who witnessed it from
the valley, occasional flashes only being seen,
while every shot was repeated by a hundred
echoes. At twilight the enemy s light infantry
were diven in ; but long after darkness fell, the
report of musketry continued ; until, after a few
spattering shots, a death-like silence succeeded,
and told that the last of the enemy had followed
their companions, and abandoned the heights to
their assailants."*

* The Bivouac."

345

THE WOUNDED REMOVING TO THE REAR, page 75.

" The peculiarity of the prospect was heightened
by a long train of Spaniards, carrying officers and
soldiers to the rear, who had been wounded in
the late engagements, and who w r ere always re
moved to proper hospitals as soon as it could be
done with safety.

" The care of the sick and wounded necessarily
employed a number of men ; and they could
nowhere receive such able attention as in the
general hospitals established within the Spanish
frontiers.

" The rugged mountain-road was not passable
for spring- waggons, on which the wounded are
usually conveyed to the rear, and they were
therefore carried in blankets fastened at the sides
to a couple of poles, and thus borne on the
shoulders of the peasantry.

" This mode of conveyance on bad roads is far
preferable to that of spring-waggons ; but, as it
required four men to carry one sick person, the
transport of the small number of them gave the
train a formidable appearance when seen extend
ed for so great a length along the windings of
the mountain track."*

* Batty.

346 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ANECDOTES OF THE SIEGE OF SAN SEBASTIAN,

page 77.
*
" The 17th was Buonaparte s birthday ; three

salutes were fired from the castle of St. Sebas
tian on the eve preceding, as many at four in
the morning, and again at noon ; and at night the
words, Vive Napoleon le Grand! were displayed
in letters of light upon the castle; it was the
last of his birthdays that was commemorated by
any public celebration."

*****

" Sailors were employed in constructing batte
ries, and never did men more thoroughly enjoy
their occupation.

" They had double allowance of grog, as their
work required ; and at their own cost they had
a fiddler ; they who had worked their spell in
the battery, went to relieve their comrades in
the dance ; and at every shot which fell upon the
castle they gave three cheers."

ANECDOTES OF THE STORM, page 80.

" The enemy still held the convent of St. Teresa,
the garden of which, enclosed as usual in such
establishments with a high wall, reached a good
way up the hill toward their upper defences, and
from thence they marked any who approached

STORM OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 347

within reach of fire, so that when a man fell,
there was no other means of bringing him off
than by sending the French prisoners upon this

service of humanity."

*****

" The town presented a dreadful spectacle both
of the work of war and of the wickedness which
in war is let loose.

" It had caught fire during the assault owing
to the quantity of combustibles of all kinds which
w r ere scattered about. The French rolled their
shells into it from the castle, and while it was in
flames the troops were plundering, and the people
of the surrounding country flocking to profit by
the spoils of their countrymen.

" The few inhabitants who were to be seen
seemed stupified with horror ; they had suffered
so much, that they looked with apathy at all
around them, and when the crash of a falling
house made the captors run, they scarcely moved.

" Heaps of dead were lying everywhere, Eng
lish, Portuguese, and French, one upon another ;
with such determination had the one side attacked
and the other maintained its ground.

" Very many of the assailants lay dead on the
roofs of the houses which adjoined the breach.
The bodies were thrown into the mines and other
excavations, and there covered over so as to be
out of sight, but so hastily and slightly, that
the air far and near was tainted, and fires were

348 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

kindled in the breaches to consume those which

could not be otherwise disposed of."

* * * # *

" The hospital presented a more dreadful scene,
for it was a scene of human suffering : friend and
enemy had been indiscriminately carried thither,
and were there alike neglected. On the third
day after the assault, many of them had received
neither surgical assistance nor food of any kind,
and it became necessary to remove them on the
fifth, when the flames approached the building.
Much of this neglect would have been unavoid
able, even if that humane and conscientious dili
gence which can be hoped for from so few, had
been found in every individual belonging to the
medical department, the number of the wound
ed being so great ; and little help could be received
from the other part of the army ; because it had
been engaged in action on the same day."

WELLINGTON S AVERSION TO BOMBARDING A TOWN,

page 84.

" I am quite certain that the use of mortars
and howitzers in a siege, for the purpose of what
calls general annoyance, answers no pur
pose whatever against a Spanish place occupied
by French troops, excepting against the inha
bitants of the place ; and eventually, when we

SURRENDER OF SAN SEBASTIAN. 349

shall get the place, against ourselves, and the
convenience we should derive from having the
houses of the place in a perfect state of repair.
If intended to use his mortars and how
itzers against any particular work occupied by
the enemy, such as the cavalier, their use would
answer his purpose. If he knew exactly where
the enemy s intrenchment was situated, their use
might answer his purpose. I say might, because I
recollect that, at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, our
trenches were bombarded by eleven or thirteen
large mortars and howitzers for ten days, in
which time thirteen thousand shells were thrown,
which occasioned us but little loss, notwithstand
ing that our trenches were always full, and, I
may safely say, did not impede our progress for
one moment." *

SURRENDER OF THE CASTLE OF SAN SEBASTIAN,

page 84.

" On the 10th, the Portuguese were formed in
the streets of the ruined city, the British on the
ramparts. The day was fine, after a night of
heavy rain. About noon the garrison marched
out at the Mirador gate. The bands of two or
three Portuguese regiments played occasionally,
but altogether it was a dismal scene, amid ruins

* Wellington s Despatches.

350 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

and vestiges of fire and slaughter, a few inhabi
tants were present, and only a few."

*****

" Many of the French soldiers wept bitterly ;
there was a marked sadness in the countenance
of all, and they laid down their arms in si
lence. The commandant of the place had been
uniformly attentive to the officers who had been
prisoners. When this kindness was now ac
knowledged, he said that he had been twice
a prisoner in England ; that he had been fifty
years in the service, and on the 15th of the
passing month he should have received his dis
mission ; he was now sixty-six, he said, an old
man, and should never serve again ; and if he
might be permitted to retire into France, instead
of being sent into England, he should be the
happiest of men. Sir Thomas Graham wrote
to Lord Wellington in favour of the kind-heart
ed old man, and it may be believed that the ap
plication was not made in vain."

*****

" Captain Saugeon was recognised at this time,
who, on the day of the first assault, had descended
the breach to assist our wounded. These, said
he, pointing, * are the remains of the brave 22nd ;
we were two hundred and fifty the other day,
now no more than fifty are left. Lord Wel
lington, upon being informed of his conduct,
sent him to France. Eighty officers and one

SINGULAR ANECDOTE. 351

thousand seven hundred and fifty-six men were
all the remains of the garrison, and of these
twenty-five officers and five hundred and twelve
men were in the hospital."

SINGULAR ANECDOTE, page 86.

" The best of the story is, that all parties ran
away. Maurice Mathieu ran away ; Sir John
Murray ran away ; and so did Suchet. He was
afraid to strike at Sir John Murray without his
artillery, and knew nothing of Maurice Mathieu ;
and he returned into Valencia either to strike at
the Duque del Parque, or to get the assistance
of Harispe, whom he had left opposed to the
Duque del Parque. I know that in his first
proclamation to his army on their success, he
knew so little what had passed at Tarragona,
that he mentioned the English General having
raised the siege, but not his having left his artil
lery. He could therefore have had no commu
nication with the place when he marched ; and
he must have known of the raising of the siege
afterwards only by the reports of the country." *

* Wellington s Despatches.

352 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

PYRENEAN SCENERY, ETC., page 89-

" Mont La Rhune is a remarkable spot, and its
possession had been obstinately contested in the
campaign of 1794, because its summit served as
a watch tower, from whence the whole country
between Bayonne and the Pyrenees might be
observed.

" The mountain itself is within the French ter
ritory, but there is a chapel, or, in Romish lan
guage, a hermitage on its summit, which used
to be supported at the joint expense of the vil
lage of Vera in Spain, and of Sarr6, Ascain, and
Urogne, in France ; people of different nations
and hostile feelings being there drawn up toge
ther by the bond of their common faith."
*****

" Mont La Rhune was obstinately contested by
the two nations in the revolutionary war ; and it
was now a subject of congratulation, as well as
surprise, to all the officers of the army, that this
formidable position of the enemy had been gained

with such comparatively small loss."

*****

" In so great an extent of country as the army
now occupied, and especially in one so divided
by ranges of lofty mountains, the events which
took place, even in continuous divisions of the
army, were scarcely known to each other, until

PYRENEAN SCENERY. 853

the arrival of Gazettes from England brought
the details of the various operations, with lists

of the killed and wounded."

*****

" The mortality was considerable, but not to be
compared with that which, in 1512, carried off the
greatest part of the army of Francis the First,
nor to that which, in the revolutionary war in
1794, compelled the left wing of the French
army to retreat to St. Jean Pied-de-Port, being
unable to withstand the inclement weather of the

passes of the Pyrenees."

* # * * *

" The valley through which this boundary river
passes, may justly be considered as affording some
of the most romantic and beautiful scenery, per
haps, in all Europe, uniting, in a remarkable de
gree, the various characters of the sublime, the
beautiful, and the picturesque. At every bend
of the river, the road along its banks brings us
suddenly on some new and striking feature. The
pleasing combination of wood and rock, over
hanging the beautifully winding stream, contrast
ed with the barren grandeur of the mountain
summits which tower above them, present an
infinite number of delightful prospects. The oak,
the chestnut, and the walnut are the most con
spicuous trees along the valley and the slopes of
the inferior hills ; whilst among the crevices of
the rocks, the evergreen box-tree grows with sur-

VOL. II. 2 A

354 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

prising luxuriance, and by its deep verdure re
lieves, while it contrasts in a very beautiful man
ner, the bright silver tints of the surrounding
rocks, clothed with lichens.

" A small chapel stands on this hill, and the
French fortified it, and continued the line of
intrenchments from thence to the sea. The most
vulnerable points of the enemy s position, if any
might be called so on this part of his line, were
strengthened by abbatis ; and as the country was
well wooded, and had numerous orchards, these
defences were multiplied upon every part of his
line. The cutting down of whole rows of or
chard-trees was a serious evil to the unfortunate
inhabitants, who, however, had almost to a man
fled the country.

" The buildings, though thinly scattered over
the country, are picturesque, and, like most of
the Spanish houses, have large projecting roofs.
Glazed windows are rarely seen, shutters being
almost everywhere the substitute. There are but
few vineyards in this vicinity, excepting on the
slopes of Jaysquibel, near Fontarabia,but about the
houses the vine is everywhere reared. The inha
bitants are a strong and well-proportioned race,
having jet-black hair, black eyes, and deep brown
complexions. The women, many of them tall
and with handsome features, wear their hair in a
huge plait, which hangs down the back below the
waist ; but neither sex were observed to have

ARTILLERY IN THE PYRENEES. 355

those " ears of uncommon size" which Buffon
says Nature has given to the inhabitants of the
banks of the Bidassoa.

" The evenings generally were remarkably beau
tiful : the splendid colouring of the immense
amphitheatre of mountains in the glowing rays of
sunset, is beyond description." *

ARTILLERY IN THE PYRENEES, page 92.

" The successful result of the battle was owing
in no inconsiderable degree to the able direction
of the artillery under Colonel Dickson. Guns
were brought to bear on the French fortifications

o

from situations which they considered totally in
accessible to that arm.

" Mountain guns on swivel carriages, harnessed
on the backs of mules purposely trained for that
service, ascended the rugged ridges of the moun
tains, and showered destruction on the intrench-
ments below. The foot and horse-artillery dis
played a facility of movement which must have
astonished the French, the artillerymen dragging
the guns with ropes up steep precipices, or lower
ing them down to positions from whence they
could with more certain aim pour forth their fatal
volleys against the enemy."

* Batty.

2 A 2

356 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ACTION BETWEEN A FRENCH AND ENGLISH CRUISER,

page 97-

" Whilst the left wing remained encamped on
the heights in front of Urogue, an event oc
curred which, though trifling in importance, ex
cited considerable interest in the troops who were
witnesses of it. A French gun-brig was dis
covered by one of our cruisers coasting the bay
between the mouth of the Adour and St. Jean
de Luz ; it was a beautiful morning, the plains
of France were visible to a great extent, and the
Bay of Biscay was gently ruffled by a light
breeze ; the English squadron could be discern
ed in the offing, but a schooner had contrived to
beat up within gun-shot of the enemy, and a
brisk cannonade was kept up for a considerable
time from both vessels. All eyes were turned
eagerly to witness the result of this little combat,
which took place within view of both the hostile
armies ; the result was cheering to the allied
troops, for after the firing had been kept up for
some time, the French took to their boats and
set fire to the vessel to prevent its falling into
the hands of the English. As the flames con
tinued to spread, the guns, which had been left
loaded, got heated, and fired off from time to
time ; at length she blew up, scattering masts and
spars to a great distance around. The smoke
caused by the explosion assumed the singular ap-

DEFECTION OF THE GERMANS. 357

pearance of a large tree with roots, stems, and
umbrageous branches : it was so dense that the
light breezes were a long time in dispersing it.
The disparity of force between the two vessels,
and the disgraceful results of this little exploit,
must have proved highly mortifying to the
French army."*

SUNDAY AT ST. JEAN DE LUZ, page 98.

" The Marquis of Wellington, accompanied by
all his staff, was in the constant habit of attend
ing divine service, which was regularly performed
every Sunday, in a square formed by the brigade
of Guards, on the sandy beach of the beautiful
bay of St. Jean de Luz. The circumstance at
tracted the notice of the inhabitants, who, on
many occasions, were struck with admiration at
the perfect order with which every custom and
regulation in use in our well-disciplined army
was observed."!

DEFECTION OF THE GERMANS, page 108.

( A Frankfort officer now made his way to the
outposts of our fourth division in the centre of
the allies, and announced the intended defection,

* Batty. f Batty.

358 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

requiring a general officer s word of honour that
they should be well received and sent to Ger
many : no general being on the spot, Colonel
Bradford gave his word ; means were immediately
taken to apprize the three battalions, and they
came over in a body, thirteen hundred men, the
French not discovering their intentions till just
when it was too late to frustrate it."

FRIENDLY RELATIONS EXISTING BETWEEN THE FRENCH
AND ENGLISH IN THE SOUTH, page 108.

" The French officers and ours soon became in
timate : we used to meet at a narrow part of the
river, and talk over the campaign. They would
never believe (or pretended not to believe) the
reverse of Napoleon in Germany ; and when we
received the news of the Orange Boven affair in
Holland, they said that it was impossible to con
vince them. One of our officers took " The Star"
newspaper, rolled a stone up in it, and attempted
to throw it across the river; unfortunately the
stone went through it, and it fell into the water:
the French officer very quietly said, in tolerably
good English, " Your good news is very soon

damped!"|

*****

" During the campaign we had often experienced

f Batty.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH COURTESIES. 359

the most gentleman-like conduct from the French
officers. A day or two before the battle, when we
were upon our alarm-post, at break of day, a fine
hare was seen playing in a corn-field between the
outposts ; a brace of greyhounds were very soon
unslipped, when, after an excellent course, poor
puss was killed within the French lines. The
officer to whom the dogs belonged, bowing to
the French officer, called off the dogs, but the
Frenchman politely sent the hare, with a message
and his compliments, saying, that we required it

more than they did."

*****

" They used to get us such things as we
wanted from Bayonne, particularly brandy, which
was cheap and plentiful ; and we in return gave
them occasionally a little tea, of which some of
them had learned to be fond. Some of them
also, who had been prisoners of war in England,
sent letters through our army-posts to their sweet
hearts in England, our people receiving the let
ters and forwarding them." f

****

" A daring fellow,, an Irishman, named Tom
Patten, performed a singular feat. At the bar
rier there was a rivulet, along which our lines of
sentries were posted. To the right was a thick
low wood, and during the cessation of hostili
ties our officers had again become intimate with

t Surtees.

360 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

those of the French, and the soldiers had ac
tually established a traffic in tobacco and bran
dy in the following ingenious manner. A large
stone was placed in that part of the rivulet
skreened by the wood, opposite to a French
sentry, on which our people used to put a
canteen with a quarter dollar, for which it w r as
very soon filled with brandy. One afternoon
about dusk, Patten had put down his canteen
with the usual money in it, and retired, but,
though he returned several times, no canteen
was there. He waited till the moon rose, but
still he found nothing on the stone. When it
was near morning, Tom thought he saw the
same sentry who was there when he put his
canteen down, so he sprang across the stream,
seized the unfortunate Frenchman, wrested his
firelock from him, and actually shaking him out
of his accoutrements, recrossed, vowing he would
keep them until he got his canteen of brandy,
and brought them to the picket-house. Two or
three hours afterwards, just as we were about to
fall in, an hour before daybreak, the sergeant
came to say, that a flag of truce was at the bar
rier: I instantly went down, when I found the
officer of the French picket in a state of great
alarm, saying, that a most extraordinary circum
stance had occurred (relating the adventure), and
stating, that if the sentry s arms and accoutre
ments were not given back, his own commission

FLOTILLA ENTERING THE ADOUR. 361

would be forfeited, as well as the life of the poor
sentry. A sergeant was instantly sent to see
if they were in the picket-house ; when Patten
came up scratching his head, saying " He had
them in pawn for a canteen of brandy and a
quarter dollar;" and told us the story in his way ;
whereupon the things were immediately given
over to the French captain, who, stepping behind,
put two five-franc pieces into Patten s hand. Tom,
however, was not to be bribed by an enemy, but
generously handed the money to his officer, re
questing that he would insist on the French cap
tain taking the money back.

"The Frenchman was delighted to get the fire
lock and accoutrements back, and the joy of the
poor fellow who was stripped of them may be
conceived, as, if it had been reported, he would
certainly have been shot, by sentence of court-
martial, in less than forty-eight hours." *

FLOTILLA ENTERING THE ADOUR, page 112.

" A halberd was set up, with a handkerchief
fixed to it, and upon this point the chasse-marees
boldly stood in for the river. Mr. Bloye, the
master s mate of the Lyra, led the passage. His
boat was lost, and the whole of the crew drown
ed : several others shared the same fate. Captain

* Cadell.

362 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

Elliot, of the Martial, with the surgeon of that
vessel and four seamen, and two belonging to the
Porcupine, were amongst those who perished.
Three transport-boats, with their crews, were also
lost. All eyes were turned to witness the vessels
plunging through the huge waves that rolled over
the bar. A Spanish chasse-maree had nearly
struggled through the surf, when an enormous
wave was seen gradually nearing the vessel ; and,
just before it reached it, raising its curling ridge
high above the deck, with one fatal sweep bore
it down to the bottom. A moment after parts
of the shattered vessel rose to the surface, and
exhibited the wretched mariners clinging to its
fragments : some were drifted till they actually
got footing on the shore, and, as it was flood-
tide, hopes were entertained of saving them by
means of ropes thrown to them ; but another
tremendous wave rolling majestically on to the
beach, in a moment bore them away for ever." *

EFFECT OF FIELD ROCKETS, page

" A few rocket men were hastily sent across the
river, and posted on the sand-hills to aid in re
pelling the enemy ; and two guns of the troops
of horse-artillery were so placed on the left bank
of the river, as to be able to flank by their fire

* Batty.

ROCKETS. 363

the troops coming on to attack the front of the
Guards.

" The enemy came on a little before dusk of
evening with drums beating the pas-de-charge,
and driving before him the pickets sent out by
General Stopford to reconnoitre. The Guards
awaited the approach of the French columns till
within a short distance of their front, and then
commenced a well-directed fire ; the guns on
the left bank began to cannonade them, and the
rockets on the sand-hills were discharged with
terrific effect, piercing the enemy s column,
killing several men, and blazing through it with
the greatest violence. The result was the almost
immediate rout of the French, who, terror-struck
at the unusual appearance, and at the effect of
the rockets, and the immovable firmness of the
little corps, made the best of their retreat back
towards the citadel, leaving a number of killed
and wounded on the ground. This gallant little
combat closed the events of the day."*

ROCKETS, page 113.

A twelve-pounder rocket laid on the ground,
and discharged without a tube, by simply apply,
ing a match to the vent, will run along the
ground four or five hundred yards, seldom rising
higher than a man s head ; and then, alternately

* Batty.

364 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

rising and falling, will continue its course with
such effect, as, after ranging 1200 yards, to pierce
through twenty feet of turf, and explode on
the other side, scattering the seventy-two car
bine balls, with which it was loaded, in all
directions. No barricade could for an instant
retard its force; and should it by any accident
strike against a stone, or any obstacle which it
cannot pierce or overturn, it will bound off, and
continue its terrible course.

They are of various dimensions, as well in
length as in calibre, and are differently armed,
according as they are intended for the field or for
bombardment, carrying, in the first instance,
either shells or case-shot, which may be exploded
at any part of their flight, spreading death and
destruction among the columns of the enemy ;
and in the second, where they are intended for the
destruction of buildings, shipping, stores, &c. they
are armed with a peculiar species of composition
which never fails of destroying every combus
tible material with which it comes in contact:
the latter are called carcass-rockets.

The powers of this weapon are now establish
ed upon the best of all testimonies, that of the
enemy ; a striking instance of which occurred at
the siege of Flushing, where General Monnet,
the French commandant, made a formal remon
strance to Lord Chatham respecting the use of
them in that bombardment.

ROCKETS. 365

The form of all the different kinds of these
rockets is cylindrical, and they are composed of
strong metallic cases, armed, as before stated,
either with carcass composition for bombard
ment and conflagration, or with shells and
case-shot for field-service. They are, however,
of various weights and dimensions, from the
eight-inch carcass, or explosion-rocket, weighing
nearly three hundred weight, to the six-pound
shell-rocket, which is the smallest size used in
the field. The sticks which are employed for
regulating their flight are also of different lengths,
according to the size and service of the rocket,
and which, for the convenience of carriage, are
stowed apart from the rocket, and so contrived as
to consist of two or more parts, which are con
nected to it, and to each other when requisite,
with the utmost expedition.

They are divided into three classes, heavy,
medium, and light, the former including all
those of above forty-two pounds, which are deno
minated according to their calibre, as eight-inch,
seven-inch, six-inch, &c. rockets ; the medium
include all those from the forty-two pound to the
twenty-four pound rocket; and the light, from
the eighteen-pounder to the six-pounder, inclusive.
The carcass-rockets are armed with strong iron
conical heads, containing a composition as hard
and solid as iron itself, and which, when once
inflamed, bids defiance to any human effort to

366 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

extinguish it, and, consequently, involves in an
inextinguishable flame every combustible material
with which it comes in contact. The forty-two
pounder and thirty-two pounder carcass-rockets
are those which have hitherto been chiefly em
ployed in bombardments. The penetration of
the thirty-two pound carcass-rocket, in common
ground, is nine feet, and in some instances where
they have been employed, have been known to
pierce through several floors, and through the
sides of houses : this is the smallest rocket used
in bombardment, and the largest employed in
the field, the more usual size for the latter ser
vice being the twenty-four, eighteen, twelve, and
six-pounders. The ranges of the eight-inch,
seven-inch, and six-inch rockets, are from 2,000
to 2,500 yards ; and the quantity of combustible
matter, or bursting powder, from twenty-five to
fifty pounds ; and from their weight, combined
with less diameter, they possess a greater power
of penetration than the heaviest shells, and are
therefore equally efficient for the destruction
of bomb-proofs, or the demolition of strong
buildings.

The largest rocket that has yet been construct
ed has not, we believe, weighed more than three
hundred weight.

The forty-two and thirty-two pounders are
those which have hitherto been principally used
in bombardment, and which, for the general

CITADEL OF BAYONNE. 367

purposes of that service, are found quite suf
ficient, as they will convey from seven pounds
to ten pounds of combustible matter each, and
have a range of upwards of three thousand
yards. The thirty-two pounder rocket may be
considered as the medium rocket, being the
smallest used in bombardment as a carcass or ex
plosion rocket, and the largest used with shot or
shell in the field ; but as the twenty-four pounder
is very nearly equal to it in all its applications in
the latter service, being quite equal to the propel
ling of the Cohorn shell, or twelve-pounder shot,
it is, from the saving in weight, generally pre
ferred to the thirty-two pounder. The eighteen
pounder, which is the first of the light nature
of rockets, is armed with a nine-pound shot or
shell ; the twelve-pounder with a six-pound ditto ;
the nine-pounder with a grenade ; and the six-
pounder with a three-pound shot or shell. From
the twenty-four pounder to the nine-pounder
rocket, inclusive, a description of case-shot rocket
is formed of each nature, armed with a quantity
of musket or carbine balls put into the top of the
cylinder of the rocket.

CITADEL OF BAYONNE, page 113.

The citadel of Bayonne is a truly formidable
work, standing on a commanding hill upon the
right bank of the Adour, and greatly elevated

368 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

above all the other defences of the city, nearly
fronting the mouth of the Nive. It is almost a
perfect square, with strongly-built oreillon bas
tions at the four angles. A double range of bar
racks and magazines enclose a quadrangular space
in the centre called the place cTarmes, the sides of
which are parallel with the curtains of the citadel-
The north-east, north-west, and south-west
bastions, are surmounted by cavaliers which ap
pear to be well armed with cannon mounted
en barbette.

BATTLE OF TOULOUSE, page 124.

Return of the killed, wounded, and missing,
of the army under the command of Field-Marshal
the Marquis of Wellington, K. B., at the battle
of Toulouse, April 10, 1814.

Rank

Officers. Serjeants. and Total Loss.

File.

Killed . 31 . 21 . 543 . 595
Wounded 248 . 123 . 3675 . 4046
Missing 3 . 15 . 18

The above loss as under :

Killed. Wounded. Missing.

British . . 312 . . 1795 . . 17

Spanish .. 205 .. 1722 .. 1

Portuguese . 78 .. 539 . .

Horses . . 62 . . 59 . . 2.*

* Wellington s Despatches.

369

CURIOUS OCCURRENCE, page 126.

" The left wing had but just established itself
in its position surrounding Bayonne, when the
attention of the whole corps was directed to a
singular appearance, which Buonaparte, in his
imitation of the Romans, would not have failed
to convert into an omen of good success. It was
an immense flight of large eagles, which kept
hovering in the air and continued in sight for
several days. Occasionally they were seen to
alight on the low sandy beach between the
Adour and the rocky coast about Biarits ; at
length the assembled multitudes rose high in the
air and flew off in a direct line towards Orthes.
It is not improbable that they were the same
flight of birds which for months after the battle
of Vitoria were seen constantly frequenting that
scene of action, sometimes in such numbers as to
make it alarming, if not dangerous, to roam singly
over the field."

ANECDOTE, page 126.

" The enemy erected a tall mast on the cavalier
of the south-west bastion, supporting a sort of
round top, boarded at the sides, for the purpose
of placing there a sentinel, who was thus enabled

VOL. II. 2 B

370 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

to overlook the positions of the allies all round.
This was a subject of great jealousy to our
soldiers, who were anxious to see the first cannon
directed against so dangerous an overseer, whom
they always designated by the name of Jack in
the box. Many of them amused themselves in
drawing rude sketches on the garden walls and
sides of the houses with burnt sticks, apparently
consoling themselves by representing * Jack in his
box, with outstretched arms, in the moment of
expiring from a cannon-shot, which was duly
depicted : their animosity was, in fact, very parti
cularly directed against this, as they called it, un
fair advantage." *

FRENCH ARTILLERY PRACTICE, page 127.

" Occasional instances occurred which showed
the extreme accuracy of the French artillery-men
in pointing their cannon, and afforded the most
convincing proofs of the absolute necessity of
keeping our sentinels in places where they could
not be discovered, and where, through holes
pierced for that purpose in the garden walls, or
through the hedges, they could observe the ene
my s movements without necessary exposure. A
soldier of the German Legion had been posted
at the angle of a large house, with directions to
look round the corner from time to time, but on

* Batty.

MILITARY CONVENTION. 371

no account to remain exposed. Unfortunately
he placed one leg beyond the angle of the build
ing, and in a moment afterwards it was carried
off by a cannon-shot. This might have been
accidental, but a second and third instance im
mediately following served to convince us it was
not so. A soldier of the light infantry, belong
ing to those stationed at St. Bernard under the
command of Lord Saltoun, was posted behind
a breastwork dug across the road which leads
from the suburb of St. Etienne towards Bouraut,
not far from the bank of the Adour. This road
was looked down upon from the citadel, and was
guarded with extreme jealousy by the enemy.
The soldier was desired occasionally to look over
the breastwork, but always to conceal himself
again as quickly as possible ; he, however, had
the rashness to stand boldly upright on it, and
was instantaneously killed by a cannon-ball, which
literally cut him in two.

" A similar instance of their accuracy in firing
occurred on the 23rd of February, when Colonel
Maitland s brigade took shelter behind the sand
hills on the borders of the marsh in front of the
intrenched camp. A drummer in the 3rd bat
talion of the First Guards had got upon the
summit of the sand hill, but had not been there
many moments before a cannon-shot, fired from
a battery of the intrenched camp nearest to the
Adour, pierced the ground directly underneath

2 B 2

372 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

his feet, and brought down the frightened drum
mer headlong amongst his comrades below, who
were much amused on discovering that he had
not sustained the slightest injury."

CASUALTIES, page 131.

" At the close of the action, the dead and
wounded, along the high road and on the ground
adjoining it, were lying thicker than perhaps, in
an equal extent, on any field of battle which took
place during the war, not excepting Waterloo,
although the latter continued eight hours, whilst
this was over in three. Lord Wellington, in
riding over the ground, remarked, that he had
never observed so large a number of killed in so
small a compass."

Heturn of the killed, wounded, and missing,
in the operation of the army, under the command
of Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington,
K. G., in a sortie made by the garrison of Bay-
onne, on the morning of the 14th of April 1814.

Rank
Officers. Serjeants, and Total. Horses.

File.
Killed 8 . 3 . 139 . 150 .

Wounded 36 . 28 . 393 . 457 . 1
Missing 6 . 7 . 223 . 236 . 0.*

* Wellington s Despatches.

373

MILITARY CONVENTION OF THE 18TH APRIL, 1814,

page 132.

Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington and
the Marshals the Duke of Dalmatia and the Duke
of Albufera being desirous of concluding a sus
pension of hostilities between the armies under
their respective orders, and of agreeing upon a
line of demarcation, have named the undermen
tioned officers for that purpose; viz. on the part
of the Marquis of Wellington, Major-General
Sir George Murray, and Major-General Don
Luis Wimpffen ; and, on the part of the Duke
of Dalmatia and of the Duke of Albufera, the
General of Division, Count Gazin.

These officers having exchanged their full
powers have agreed upon the following articles.

ART. I.

From the date of the present convention there
shall be a suspension of hostilities between the
allied armies under the orders of Field-Marshal
the Marquis of Wellington, and the armies of
France under the orders of Marshal the Duke of
Dalmatia and of Marshal the Duke of Albufera.

ART. II.

Hostilities shall not be recommenced on either
part without a previous notice being given of
five days.

374 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ART. III.

The limits of the department of the Haute
Garonne, with the departments of Arriege, Aude,
and Tarn, shall be the line of demarcation
between the armies as far as the town of Buzet,
on the river Tarn. The line will then follow
the course of the Tarn to its junction with the
Garonne, making a circuit, however, on the left
bank of the Tarn opposite Montauban, to the
distance of three quarters of a league from the
bridge of Montauban. From the mouth of the
river Tarn, the line of demarcation will follow
the right bank of the Garonne, as far as the
limits of the department of the Lot and Garonne,
with the department of La Gironde. It will
then pass by La Reole, Sanveterre, and Rauzan,
to the Dordogne, and will follow the right bank
of that river, and of the Gironde, to the sea. In
the event, however, of a different line of demar
cation having been already determined by Lieu-
tenant-General the Earl of Dalhousie and Gene
ral Decden, the line fixed upon by those officers
shall be adhered to.

ART. IV.

Hostilities shall cease also on both sides in
regard to the places of Bayonne, St. Jean de Pied
de Port, Navarreins, Blaye, and the castle of
Lourdes.

The Governors of these places shall be allowed
to provide for the daily subsistence of the garri-

MILITARY CONVENTION. 375

sons in the adjacent country, the garrison of
Bayonne with a circuit of eight leagues from
Bayonne, and the garrisons of the other places
named within a circuit of three leagues round
each place.

Officers shall be sent to the garrisons of the
above places to communicate to them the terms
of the present convention.

ART. V.

The town and forts of Santona shall be
evacuated by the French troops, and made over
to the Spanish forces. The French garrison will
remove with it all that properly belongs to it,
together with such arms, artillery, and other
military effects as have not been the property
originally of the Spanish government.

The Marquis of Wellington will determine
whether the French garrison of Santona shall
return to France by land or by sea, and, in either
case, the passage of the garrison shall be secured,
and it will be directed upon one of the places or
ports most contiguous to the army of the Duke
of Dalmatia.

The ships of war or other vessels now in the
harbour of Santona, belonging to France, shall be
allowed to proceed to Rochfort with passports
for that purpose.

The Duke of Dalmatia will send an officer to
communicate to the French General commanding
in Santona the terms of the present convention,
and cause them to be complied with.

376 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ART. VI.

The fort of Venasque shall be made over as
soon as possible to the Spanish troops, and the
French garrison shall proceed by the most direct
route to the headquarters of the French army:
The garrison will remove with it the arms and
ammunition which are originally French.

ART. VII.

The line of demarcation between the allied
armies and the army of Marshal Suchet, shall be
the line of the frontier of Spain and France, from
the Mediterranean to the limits of the depart
ment of the Haute Garonne.

ART. VIII.

The garrison of all the places which are oc
cupied by the troops of the army of the Duke
of Albufera shall be allowed to return without
delay into France. These garrisons shall remove
with them all that properly belongs to them, as
also the arms and artillery which are originally
French.

The garrison of Murniedro and of Peniscola
shall join the garrison of Tortosa, and these
troops will then proceed together by the great
road, and enter France by Perpignan. The day

b

of the arrival of these garrisons at Gerona, the
fortresses of Figueras and of Rosas shall be made
over to the Spanish troops, and the French
garrisons of these places shall proceed to Per
pignan.

MILITARY CONVENTION. 377

As soon as information is received of the
French garrisons of Murviedro, Peniscola, and
Tortosa, having passed the French frontier, the
place and forts of Barcelona shall be made over
to the Spanish troops, and the French garrisons
shall march immediately for Perpignan. The
Spanish authorities will provide for the necessary
means of transport being supplied to the French
garrisons on their march to the frontier.

The sick or wounded of any of the French
garrisons who are not in a state to move with
the troops, shall remain and be cured in the
hospitals where they are, and will be sent into
France as soon as they have recovered.

ART. IX.

From the date of the ratifications of the pre
sent convention, there shall not be removed from
Peniscola, Murviedro, Tortosa, Barcelona, or any
of the other places, any artillery, arms, ammu
nition, or any other military effects belonging to
the Spanish government. And the provisions
remaining at the evacuation of these places shall
be made over to the Spanish authorities.

ART. X.

The roads shall be free for the passage of
couriers through the cantonments of both armies,
provided they are furnished with regular pass
ports.

ART. XI.

During the continuance of the present conven-

378 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

tion, deserters from either army shall be arrested,
and shall be delivered up if demanded.

ART. XII.

The navigation of the Garonne shall be free
from Toulouse to the sea, and all boats in the
service of either army, employed in the river,
shall be allowed to pass unmolested.

ART. XIII.

The cantonments of the troops shall be arrang
ed so as to leave a space of two leagues at least
between the quarters of the different armies.

ART. XIV.

The movements of the troops for the establish
ment of their cantonments, shall commence im
mediately after the ratification of the present
convention.

The ratification is to take place within twenty-
four hours for the army of the Duke of Dal-
matia, and within forty-eight hours for the army
of the Duke of Albufera.

Done in triplicate at Toulouse on the 18th of
April, 1814.*

(Signed) (Signed) (Signed)

G. MURRAY, Luis WIMPFFEN, DE GAZAN,

M. G. & Q. M. G. Gefe de E. M. G. Le Lieut. General.

De Campana de los
Exercitos Espanoles.

(Approuve) (Confirmed) (Approuve)

LeM.Duc WELLINGTON. M. Due De

D ALBUFERA. DALMATIA.

* Appendix F, Account of the War in Spain and Portugal,
page 433.

379

LAST GENERAL ORDER TO THE PENINSULAR ARMY,

page 136.

" Adjutant-General s Office,
Bordeaux, 14th June, 1814.

" The Commander of the Forces, being upon the
point of returning to England, takes this oppor
tunity of congratulating the army upon the re
cent events which have restored peace to their
country and to the world.

" The share which the British army has had in
producing these events, and the high character
with which the army will quit this country, must
be equally satisfactory to every individual be
longing to it, as they are to the Commander of
the Forces, and he trusts that the troops will con
tinue the same good conduct to the last.

" The Commander of the Forces once more re
quests the army to accept his thanks.

" Although circumstances may alter the rela
tions in which he has stood towards them for
some years, so much to his satisfaction, he assures
them he will never cease to feel the warmest in
terest in their welfare and honour ; and that he
will at all times be happy to be of any service to
those to whose conduct, discipline, and gallantry,
their country is so much indebted."

(Signed) " E. M. Packenham, A. G."

* Wellington s Despatches.

380

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

A LIST OF REGIMENTS WHICH SERVED IN THE PE
NINSULA that were not present at Waterloo,
with the number of honorary distinctions they
are permitted to bear on their colours for their
services in that country and the South of
France.

5)

3rd Dragoon Guards

5th do. .

3rd Light Dragoons

4th

14th

9th Lancers

2nd Foot

3rd

5th

6th

36th

37th

38th

39th

43rd

45th

47th

48th

50th

53rd

57th

58th

59th

60th

61st

JJ

5?

y)

4

7th Foot

4

9th

4

10th

6

llth

6

20th

1

24th

8

26th

7

29th

12

31st

8

34th

10

62nd

1

66th

10

67th

7

68th

12

74th

14

76th

4

81st

11

82nd

8

83rd

7

84th

6

85th

6

87th

5

88th

16

91st

8

9
9
1
7
5
8
7
5
7
7
1
9
2
6

11
3
2
7

11
2
3
7

11
9

To the above may be added the 94th and
97th regiments, with others disbanded before
permission to assume the badges was conceded,
but equally deserving of distinction with those
on whom they were conferred.

381

NAPOLEON S PLAN OF ATTACK, page 145.

" I had, resumed the Emperor, combined a
bold manceuvre, with a view of preventing the
junction of the hostile armies. I had combined
my cavalry into a single corps of twenty thousand
men, and appointed it to rush into the midst of
the Prussian cantonments. This bold attack,
which was to be executed on the 14th with the
rapidity of lightning, seemed likely to decide the
fate of the campaign. French troops never cal
culate the number of an enemy s force : they care
not how they shed their blood in success : they
are invincible in prosperity. But I was compelled
to change my plan. Instead of making an un
expected attack, I found myself obliged to en
gage in a regular battle, having opposed to me
two combined armies, supported by immense
reserves. The enemy s forces quadrupled the
number of ours, I had calculated all the dis
advantages of a regular battle. The infamous
desertion of Bourmont forced me to change all

o

my arrangements. To pass over to the enemy
on the eve of a battle ! atrocious ! The blood of
his fellow-countrymen be on his head ! The ma
lediction of France will pursue him ! "*

* Voice from St. Helena.

382 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

BATTLE OF LIGNY, page 159-

From its immediate connexion with the battles
of Quatre-Bras and Waterloo, a brief sketch of
the sanguinary engagement at Ligny will be
given.

Although burning to commence his attack
upon his old and formidable antagonist, the bad
roads and inclement weather that delayed Bil
low s march, prevented the completion of Napo
leon s dispositions until the day was far advanced.
Blucher s* position embraced the heights between
Bry and Sombref, with the villages of Ligny and
St. Amand in front. The ground was well adapt
ed for defence, f the surface being undulated
and broken, and covered with farm-yards and
orchards. The villages were naturally strong,
standing on the crest of a ravine, skirted by trees
and copse-wood.

At three o clock Napoleon s order of battle was
completed, and Vandamme s corps commenced

* Blucher s earlier career was in the service of the Prussian
monarch. He left it on his own solicitation, and his discharge
is curious and characteristic. Frederick wrote the following
note, and addressed it to the commandant of his regiment :

" Captain Von Blucher has leave to resign, and may go to
the devil as soon as he pleases. " FREDERICK."

f The entire position measured about four miles from right
to left, and was occupied by nearly 70,000 infantry and 9,000
cavalry, with 252 pieces of artillery : of nearly similar strength
were the forces of the assailants.

BATTLE OF LIGNY. 383

the engagement by attacking the village of St.
Amand.

The French leader s judgment was correct
in selecting the right of the Prussians for his
first effort. It was the more assailable, because
Blucher, anxious to secure his centre at Ligny,
had concentrated his best troops there ; and from
the Prussian position being considerably in ad
vance of Quatre-Bras, had Napoleon effected his
object, and turned the right flank, he must cer
tainly have succeeded in cutting off the commu
nication between the allied commanders, as he
would have possessed the great road from Namur
to Nivelles, Napoleon s calculations were just;
and the Prussian centre was materially weakened
by sending succours to the right.

At first the impetuosity of the French attack
was successful, and Petit Amand was carried by
Lefol s brigade with the bayonet. Blucher in
person re-attacked the village, and in turn the
French were expelled. These varying successes
led to a murderous conflict. Girard s * division
came to Vandamme s support, and succeeded in
gaining the churchyard, while Blucher held the

* From the similarity of sound, the names of Gerard and
Girard have been frequently confused. The latter commanded
a division of the reserve (2nd corps) under Vandamme; Ge
rard had the 4th corps, or army of the Moselle. Girard was
killed in the attack on St. Amand : Gerard survived the cam
paign, and subsequently was General en chef at the siege of
Antwerp.

384 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

heights above the village in such force as render
ed any forward movement of the French imprac
ticable.

From this conflict on the right the battle gra
dually extended, until the opposing armies were
generally engaged : Ligny was furiously assault
ed, while Grouchy endeavoured to turn the Prus
sian left at Sombref.

Nothing could equal the fury with which every
part of the position was assailed but the obsti
nacy with which it was defended. Every orchard
and enclosure was only to be carried after a san
guinary encounter. The villages were furiously
contested ; the combatants fought hand-to-hand ;
regiment met regiment with the bayonet ; and
Ligny, within the space of five hours, was six
times won and lost. This seemed the chosen
field of slaughter; the streets were heaped with
dead ; reserves, coming from either armies as bat
talions, one after another were annihilated. Two
hundred pieces of cannon poured their torrents of
round and grape upon the village. The French
columns at last gained ground : the Prussian
charge of cavalry failed in repulsing them ; and
in attempting to repel the cuirassiers, Blucher was
dismounted, and escaped death or captivity by a
miracle.*

* The French cavalry followed up their success, and then it
was that Blucher so narrowly escaped captivity, - - a fate that,
to him, would have been worse than death itself. His horse, a

BATTLE OF LIGNY. 385

Evening came, --the battle raged with un
abated fury both armies fighting with desperate
fierceness, and as yet no decisive advantage gain
ed. The French were masters of the burning
village ; the mill of Bussey and heights com
manding Ligny were still occupied by the Prus
sians.

These Napoleon determined to carry by a
grand effort, and the Imperial Guard, the reserve
of the fourth corps, and a brigade of cuirassiers,
under a storm of artillery, traversed the village
and assailed the mill and heights ; a desperate
encounter ensued. The Imperial Guard attacked
the Prussian squares with the bayonet, while at

beautiful grey charger, the gift of the Prince Regent of Eng
land, had been wounded: it broke down, and fell just as the
lancers turned to fly from the pursuing enemy. " Now, Nos
titz, I am lost ! " said the gallant rider to his aide-de-camp, at the
moment that he sunk beneath the dying steed. Count Nostitz,
who, in the confusion, had alone remained by his side, instantly
leaped to the ground, and, sword in hand, stood over his fallen
chief, while the whole body of the French cavalry passed on,
totally unmindful of the group. Before, however, the Count
could take advantage of the calm, and extricate the General
from beneath the dead charger, the Prussians had turned upon
their pursuers, and forced the cuirassiers to retrograde as fast
as they had come ; so that the whole of the broken rout again
rushed by the fallen marshal. As soon as the Prussians (who
knew nothing of what had happened to their leader) arrived,
Nostitz seized the bridle of a non-commissioned officer s horse,
and, with the aid of the soldier, placed the bruised and almost
insensible con zander in the saddle, and hurried him from the
field.

VOL. II. 2 C

386 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

the same moment the rival cavalry were charging.
Neither party would yield ground ; the ground
was heaped with corpses, blood flowed in torrents,
and still the battle raged. Darkness, however,
favoured the advance of a French division, which
had made a circuitous movement from the vil
lage, the Prussians found their flank turned and
the enemy on the point of attacking their rear.
Without a reserve, for that had been already
detached to strengthen the right, and having
ascertained that Wellington could hardly main
tain himself at Quatre Bras, and that Bulow
could not get up in time, Blucher determined
to retreat on Tilly and unite himself with the
fourth corps. At ten o clock the order to fall
back was given, and the centre and right retro
graded in perfect order. Forming again within
a quarter of a league of the field of battle, they
recommenced their retreat; and, unmolested by
the enemy, retired upon Wavre, while the
French occupied the ground the Prussians had
abandoned, and bivouacked on the heights.

Zeithen, who commanded the right of the
Prussians, evaded Vandamme s attempts to de
tain him and fell back, keeping his communica
tions with the centre unbroken, while Theilman
repulsed Grouchy s attack upon Sombref, and
after holding the village of Bire during the
night, retreated at daylight and formed a junc
tion with Bulow at Gemblaux.

BATTLE OF LIGNY. 387

" Blueher s retreat was most judicious. He cal
culated that the English commander must fall
back from Quatre Bras, and accordingly by re
tiring upon Wavre, his line of retreat was parallel
with that of Wellington upon Waterloo.

" It may be anticipated that the loss sustained
in this long and desperate conflict was on both
sides tremendous. Buonaparte stated his killed
and wounded at three thousand men ; but it has
been clearly ascertained that it amounted to
double that number. The Prussians suffered
dreadfully. They left fifteen thousand men
upon the field and they may be stated as
having perished ;* for the unrelenting ferocity
with which both sides fought, prevented quarter
from being asked or given. Fifteen pieces of
cannon, which Blucher had abandoned, comprised
the trophies of the victory, if a battle gained
under such circumstances, and unattended with
a single important result, deserves that title."

ANECDOTES OF THE WOUNDED AND MISSING, page 160.

" Went to the hospitals, and saw at the doors
prodigious crowds of females, waiting to admi-

* Each army had lost about twelve thousand men in killed
and wounded ; few or no prisoners were taken by either party :
the field of battle, with about thirty dismounted guns, were the
only trophies that remained in the hands of the French.

9 n 9
\* m

388 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

nister succour to the wounded : officers and pri
vates were found lying indiscriminately together,
but very clean ; females of rank attending them
with surprising zeal. Saw soldiers slightly wound
ed, in the field, using the French cuirasses as
frying-pans to dress their victuals. In one place
saw thirty-six out of seventy-three who had lost
either a leg or an arm, besides flesh wounds. Vi
sited another hospital, containing four hundred and
twenty wounded, half English and half French ;
all well taken care of, and very clean. They had
all Port wine and strong soups ; but many were
in a dying state; others, the sight quite gone.
Returning, witnessed a shocking sight, i. e. the
dead drawn along by fish-hooks. They were

going to be buried in the fields by peasants.

*****

" Met waggons full of wounded, crying out from
extreme suffering. The water everywhere quite
red. There were twenty thousand wounded at
one time in Brussels. All the wells at Waterloo
spoiled by throwing men into them. Churches
still full of wounded. No inhabitants round Wa
terloo. We took a large quantity of camphor
with us as a preventive against infection. Were
much annoyed by the incalculable swarms of car
rion flies, preying on the carcasses of the horses
which still lie unburied. Owing to the dry wea
ther, the ground cracks or opens, and as the
bodies of the men buried are not above a foot

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 389

below the surface, they may still be seen in many
places. The Prussians obliged the peasants to
bury the dead at the point of the bayonet ; many
were put to death for refusing. Since, horses and

men have been burnt together.

*****

" Coming from Waterloo passed forty waggons
of wounded crying out ; the men had been in
cottages, and not able to be moved before ; many
died instantaneously ; others were in a putrid
state a kind of living death !

7^ 7[f 7& V ~ ~

" On the field among the wounded, we disco
vered a French soldier, most dreadfully cut
down the face, and one of his legs broken by a
musket ball ; common humanity induced me to
offer him assistance; he eagerly requested some
drink ; having a flask of weak gin and water
I had taken purposely for the wounded, I gave
it him, and could not help remarking how many
thousand had suffered for the ambition of one
man. He returned me the flask, and looking
with a savage pride on the dead bodies that lay
in heaps around him, he cried, as strong as his
weakness would allow him, * Vive Napoleon. 1 la

gloire de la France !

*****

" An officer of the 2nd Life Guards was amongst
the number missing after the battle ; more than
three weeks passed away without bringing any

390 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

tidings of him, and he was supposed to be dead ;
but, to the astonishment of everybody, he walk
ed one day into Brussels in a most deplorable
condition. His beard, the growth of a month,
swept his breast ; his face was burnt a bright ma
hogany colour ; he had never been washed, and
he was clothed in the most miserable rags. He
had been taken prisoner by the French, and had
been hurried away with them in their flight. For
three or four days they had compelled him to
accompany them ; when he had fortunately made
his escape in some lonely part of France, he did
not know where, and had literally begged his

way back to Brussels."

*****

" An officer of the Enniskillen dragoons, who
had fallen from his horse in consequence of a
severe wound, found himself, on recovering his
senses, placed between the wheels of a French

gun which was blazing away over his head."

*****

The following noble trait of British humanity
deserves to be recorded:

" At the conclusion of the battle, there was not
a drop of water to be had upon the field, and the
poor wounded men were dreadfully tormented
with thirst. Fatigued as our officers must have
been with the incessant toil of this glorious day,
numbers of those who were wounded, mounted
their horses, galloped to Waterloo, a distance of

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 391

at least two miles, and returned to the field with
as many canteens as they could carry full of
water, for the relief of the wounded."

HOUGOMONT, page 170.

" Hougomont* is comprised of an old tower, and
chapel, and a number of offices, partly surround
ed by a farm-yard. It had also a garden, inclosed
by a high strong brick-wall ; and round the garden,
a wood of beech, an orchard, and a hedge, by
which the wall was concealed ; in another part,
there was a pond, serving as a moat. Steps were
taken to strengthen these means of defence by
loop-holing, or perforating the walls, for the fire
of musketry ; and erecting scaffolding, to give
the troops within an opportunity of firing from
the top of the wall. The enemy s cannon could
only be brought to bear upon the upper part of
the walls and buildings, and the great damage it
received was by shells."

* Its name, according to ancient tradition, comes from the
circumstance, that the hill on which is at present the neigh
bouring plantation, was covered with large pines, the rosin of
which was in great request. The place was hence called
Gomont, for Gomme Mont, or Mont de Gomme. This chateau
has existed for ages, and belonged to the family of Arrazola
Deonate.

392 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

CHARGE OF THE HEAVY DRAGOONS, page 176.

" At this critical and awful moment, Lord Ux-
bridge galloped up ; the three regiments of
cavalry were in the most masterly style wheeled
into line, and presented a most beautiful front of
about thirteen hundred men : as his lordship rode
down the line, he was received by a general shout
and cheer from the brigade. After having taken
a short survey of the force and threatening at
titude of the enemy, and finding the Highland
brigade, although still presenting an unbroken
front, upon the point of being on both sides out
flanked by an immense superiority of numbers,
his lordship determined upon a charge, which, for
the wonderful intrepidity of its execution, and
its complete success, has rarely been equalled, and
certainly never surpassed. The Royals appeared
to take the lead, while the Greys preserved a
beautiful line at speed ; more to the left over the
cross-road, near which spot their brave chief,
Colonel Hamilton, fell. The charge was splendid.
The French completely broken, the eagles of the
45th, and 105th taken, and near three thou
sand prisoners swept away to the rear by the
Inniskilleners."

393

INFANTRY AT WATERLOO, page 180.

" The declination of ground was most favourable
to the infantry who, under a tremendous cannon
ade, were thus, in a great measure, sheltered by
their lying down by order. On the approach-
the majestic approach of the French column,
the squares rose, and with a steadiness almost
inconceivable, awaited, without firing, the rush
of the cavalry ; who, after making fruitless efforts,
sweeping the whole artillery of the line, and re
ceiving the fires of the squares as they passed,
retired, followed by, and pell-mell with, our own
cavalry, who formed behind our squares, and ad
vanced on the first appearance (which was unex
pected) of the enemy s squadrons."

FIELD OF WATERLOO AT NOON ON THE

page 187-

" On a surface of two square miles, it was as
certained that fifty thousand men and horses were
lying! The luxurious crop of ripe grain which
had covered the field of battle was reduced to
litter, and beaten into the earth ; and the surface,
trodden down by the cavalry, and furrowed deep
ly by the cannon wheels, strewn with many a
relict of the fight. Helmets and cuirasses, shat-

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

/

tered fire-arms and broken swords ; all the variety
of military ornaments ; lancer caps and Highland
bonnets ; uniforms of every colour, plume and
pennon ; musical instruments, the apparatus of
artillery, drums, bugles; but good God! why
dwell on the harrowing picture of a foughten
field ? each and every ruinous display bore

mute testimony to the misery of such a battle."

# # # * *

" Could the melancholy appearance of this
scene of death be heightened, it would be by
witnessing the researches of the living, amidst
its desolation for the objects of their love. Mo
thers and wives and children for days were oc
cupied in that mournful duty; and the confu
sion of the corpses, friend and foe intermingled
as they were, often rendered the attempt at re
cognizing individuals difficult, and, in some cases,
impossible."

^F T yfl jjfc vfc

" In many places the dead lay four deep upon
each other, marking the spot some British square
had occupied, when exposed for hours to the
murderous fire of a French battery. Outside,
lancer and cuirassier were scattered thickly on
the earth. Madly attempting to force the ser
ried bayonets of the British, they had fallen in the
bootless essay, by the musketry of the inner files.
Farther on, you traced the spot where the ca
valry of France and England had encountered.

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 395

Chasseur and hussar were intermingled ; and
the heavy Norman horse of the Imperial Guard
were interspersed with the grey chargers which
had carried Albyn s chivalry. Here the High
lander and tirailleur lay, side by side, together ;
and the heavy dragoon, with green Erin s badge
upon his helmet, was grappling in death with the

Polish lancer."

* * * * *

" On the summit of the ridge, where the ground
was cumbered with dead, and trodden fetlock-
deep in mud and gore, by the frequent rush of
rival cavalry, the thick-strewn corpses of the
Imperial Guard pointed out the spot where
Napoleon had been defeated. Here, in column,
that favoured corps, on whom his last chance
rested, had been annihilated ; and the advance
and repulse of the Guard was traceable by a
mass of fallen Frenchmen. In the hollow below,
the last struggle of France had been vainly made ;
for there the old Guard, when the middle bat
talions had been forced back, attempted to meet
the British, and afford time for their disorganiz
ed companions to rally. Here the British left,
which had converged upon the French centre,
had come up ; and here the bayonet closed the
contest.

396

EFFECTIVE STRENGTH of the BRITISH, KING S GERMAN,
and HANOVERIAN ARTILLERY, previous to the 16th, 17th,
and 18th June 1815.

Troops and Brigades.

Ordnance.

N. C.
Officers

To what

& Men.

attached.

About

Major Bull s troop

* *

6 hy. 51

in. how.

175

Lieut, -Col. Smith s ditto .. .. ..

5 do. 6 pr. 1 hy. do.

175

Lieut. -Col. Sir R. Gardiner s

5 do. 6 pr. 1 do . .

175

To the

Captain Whinyate s

* *

6 do. 6 pr. & rock

175

cavalry.

Captain Mercer s

*

5 nine pr

. 1 hy. how.

175

Major Ramsay s

*

5 do.

do. ...

175

^.

Capt. Sandham s brigade, R. B. A. . . . .

5 do. . .

. do. ...

200

1 Jst

> <l f\

divi-

r\ i T\

Major Kuhlman s troop, K. G. H. A.

5 do. ..

. do. ...

175

S&UjLJL Ali"

j faiitry.

Capt. Bolton s brigade, R. B. A.
Major Symphen s troop, K. G. H, A.

5 do.
5 do.

. do. ...
. do. ...

200
175

I 2d do.

Major Lloyd s brigade, R.B. A.
Major Cleeve s do. K. G. A. . .

5 do. ..
5 do.

. do. ...
do. ...

200
200

I 3d do.

Major Brome s do. R B. A. . .

5 do.

do. ...

200

\ At-Vi f\n

Capt. de Rettberg do.

11 A* *

5 do. ..

. do. ...

200

/ ^4111 U.O.

Major Rogers do. R. B
Capt. Braun do. H A.

.A. .. ..

5 do.
5 do. ..

. do. ...
. do. ...

200

200

\ 5th do.

Major Anytt s do. R. B. A.

5 do. ..

do. ...

200

6th do.

Lieut. -Col. SirH. Ross s troop, R. B. H. A.
Major Beane s .. do. do.

5 do. ... do. ...

5 light six pr. 1 do.

175
175

(^ In re-

/ O f \\*\T f\

Capt. Sinclair s brigade, R, B. A.

5 nine pr. 1 do.

200

j serve.
J

3,750

RECAPITULATION

OF ORDNANCE.

9 Pounder.

Lt. 6-Poundei

Hy. Howitzer

Total.

3 nine pounders trps.

15

3

18

B. Horse Artillery 1

4 six do. light troops

...

20

4

24

I

1 howitzer, troops

...

6

6

K. G. H. Artillery

2 nine pounders, do.

10

...

2

12

British Artillery. .

7 do. brigades

35

...

7

42

K. German Artillery

1 do. do. ..

5

*

1

6

Hanoverian ditto . .

2 do. do.

10

...

2

12

Total ..

75

20

25

120

397

AMMUNITION expended on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of June.

TROOPS
AND BRIGADES.

NUMBER OF ROUNDS EXPENDED.

}

WthJune.

IT th June.

18^ June.

!) Pounder.

c - j

>o t
5 1 ^O

e r" 1 <

1 $~

iM

o ; ** ~ l

h

V

*c

a

3

o

to

C5

i

G Pounder.

H
^
O

^

03
4 ^

s-

9 Pounder.

>4
* _ T
-a Heavy

5} In.

(S How.

Troops of Royal British 1

Lt.-Col. Sir R. Gardiner s
_ _ Sir \V r m Smith s

forse

Artil

lery.

t

113
588

560*
436

*

* *

* *

*

5
82
266

84

83
30
44

54
58

78
115

25

59

39
13

Major Bull s

Captain Mercer s

113|

...

15

566

584
328

314
335

1,049

467
641

259

411

605

438
315

Late Major Ramsav s

37

Lieut. -Col. Sir H. Ross s
Late Maior Beans s

King s German Horse A)
Major Kulhman s

tiller,
130

y-

*

31

Brigades of British Artill
Captain Sandham s

ery.
8

11

Late Major Lloyd s
Major Brome s at Halle w

RfXTprs ")

94

ith th

90

after
1

e 4th
battl

30

divis
11

3.

97
ion.
23

23

4

(Tnptfr < ifiiiipf? f\ n v

Captain Sinclair s
Brigade of King s Germ

Captain Cleeves s
Hanoverian Brigades.

Captain De Rettberg s ...
___ Biaxin s

an A
205

270
157

r tiller

*

>

*

.

y-
17

24

7

*

...

*
*

TOTAL ...

954

120

270 ...

53

6,312

1,697

l,035t

* On the 17th, 21 rockets, and on the 18th, 52 ditto, were expended,
t Total rounds expended, 10,441.

398

DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

RETURN OF FRENCH ARTILLERY TAKEN AT
WATERLOO, page 192.

12-pounder guns . 35

6-pounder ditto . . 57

6-inch howitzers . 13

24-pounder ditto . .17

Total cannons 122

12-pounder waggons
6-pounder ditto .
Howitzers ditto

Total

Spare gun carriages.

12-pounder . . 6 Forage waggons

Howitzer . 6 Waggons of Imp. Guard

6-pounders . . 8

Total
20

Grand total

74
71
50

195

20
52

72
409

ANECDOTE OF VANDAMME, page 194.

" After being informed of the loss of the battle
of Waterloo, Vandamme remained constantly with
the rear-guard : it was under these circumstances
that he was severely wounded in the belly by a
ball ; notwithstanding his pain and loss of blood,
he still remained on horseback. When he reach
ed the village, where the army had just halted,
he dismounted from his horse ; his breeches were
full of blood. A surgeon offered to dres^s his
wound Let rne alone, said he ; I have some
thing else to do. He immediately began to
examine the map, and to write his orders."

399

WELLINGTON S ARMY.

An army hastily drawn together, composed of
the troops of various nations, amongst which were
counted several brigades of inexperienced militia,
was the force the Duke of Wellington had to
oppose to one of the most formidable and best-ap
pointed armies which France ever produced.

Every officer and soldier, I am persuaded, did
his duty ; but the Duke of Wellington alone
was capable of giving union to such a force. No
other man living could have rendered the service
which he performed with an army so composed.

The British cavalry and artillery of this army
were superb and magnificent ; superior, perhaps,
to any force of the kind which the world had
ever seen ; and Marshal Blucher, who reviewed
the former a short time before the opening of the
campaign, declared that he had not given the
world credit for containing so many fine men.
The infantry, who, after all, carried away the
foremost honours of the day, were inferior in
point of men ; there were many second batta
lions, composed entirely of lads and recruits that
had never seen a shot fired.

400 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

ANECDOTE OF COLONEL PONSONBY.

Colonel Hon. F. C. Ponsonby, in gallantly
heading the first charge of the 12th dragoons,
about eleven on the 18th, was disabled succes
sively in both arms by sabre wounds. The reins
dropped from one hand and his sword from the
other. While in this situation he was knocked
off his horse by a violent blow on the head which
stunned him ; he there lay for some time in a
state of insensibility. On recovering his senses,
he found himself with his face to the ground,
literally biting the dust. Raising himself to look
about him, he was observed by a French lancer,
who exclaimed " Ah ! brigand, tu ties pas mort
done! and thrusting his lance twice through his
body, left him for dead. The weapon having
passed through his lungs, he was immediately
deprived of speech ; so that, on two foreign sol
diers coming in succession to plunder him, he
could only make a faint noise, to prove that he
was still alive. They, however, pursued their
object, and took even his segars, and left him
to his fate. A French officer of tirailleurs with
his men halting where he lay, stooped down and
addressed him feelingly on the state of his
wounds ; the Colonel expressing a wish in the
best manner he could to be removed to the rear,
said he could not then, but that he should soon
be back, when he would assist him, as the Duke

BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 401

of Wellington was dead, and that six English
battalions had surrendered. The Colonel com
plaining of thirst, he put a bottle of brandy to
his mouth ; to this act of humanity he attributes
his strength to go through his sufferings. A
tirailleur, however, made a breast-work of his
body and fired over him several times, gaily
speaking to him all the while.

NAPOLEON S TACTICS IN THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN.

Buonaparte has been severely censured for
daring to attack Wellington and Blucher* simul
taneously. Had different results attended the
battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny, probably mili
tary criticism on Napoleon s bold plans would
have been more favourable. Ney seems certainly
to have pointed out a safer course, and his idea
of first overwhelming the British, and afterwards
taking the Prussians in detail, might have been
more successful had it been adopted. But even
admitting, in part, that Napoleon s " arrange
ments were erroneous, they still were worthy
of the vigorous and martial spirit that planned
them. His great mistake may be traced to a
mind that refused to be controlled by cold cal
culation. He aimed at more than he could ac
complish. With limited means he acted upon a

General Berton, in what he calls his f< Precis Historique
militaire et critique des Batailles de Fleurus et de Waterloo,"
says, that the French dispositions for the battle of Ligny
evinced " le chef-d reuvre du coup-d oeil militaire/ which he
afterwards calls ^ le genie de la guerre."

VOL. II. 2 D

402 DETAILS AND ANECDOTES.

great and comprehensive scheme ; and, disdain
ing to recognise his weakness, he pursued an
object demanding ampler resources than he
possessed. This was sufficiently proved by the
result ; for he was unable to gather the fruits
of his triumph over the Prussians, whom he
permitted to retreat without the slightest inter
ruption. His army contented itself with re
maining upon the ground it won so hardly, with
out even an attempt to harass the slowly retiring
columns of the enemy.

There have been conflicting statements as to
whether Buonaparte did or did not know that
Bulow was in force in the rear of his right.
Ney says, that Labedoyere brought him a mes
sage from the Emperor, that Grouchy, at seven
o clock, had attacked the extreme left of the
Anglo-Prussian army, while Girard states that
at nine in the morning Napoleon knew that a
Prussian column, which had escaped the Mar
shal (Grouchy) was advancing in his rear.
Gneisenau affirms, that the fourth Prussian
corps (Bulow s) moved from Dion-le-Mont by
Wavre on Saint Lambert at day-break. Certain
ly Buonaparte might have been acquainted with
its advance, in the day ; whether he was or was
not, its arrival at Waterloo in the evening de
cided that day and his destiny.

THE END.

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