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The Life of a Regiment

the

History of the Gordon Highlanders

The Life of a Regiment

);

the

History of the Gordon Highlanders

From its Formation in 1794 to 1816 by

Lt.-Col. C. Greenhill Gardyne

Edinburgh : David Douglas, Castle Street 1901

\Ali Hjtktt rtstrvtd\

V.

PREFACE.

In the year 1896 I was asked by the Gordon Highlanders' Association in Aberdeen to give a lecture on the origin and history nf their regiment. It was afterwards suggested by the late General J, C. Hay, Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. J. Scott Napier, commanding the 2nd Battalion, and others, that 1 should write such a history of the regiment as would tend to keep up the memory of individual officers and soldiers, and of the traditions which, in the days of long service, were told by veterans to recruits on the line of march or round the barrack- room fire, but which are apt to be forgotten when generations of soldiers succeed each oilier more quickly, and when their time and thoughts are taken up by the more varied intellectual and physical occupations of modern military life.

It happened that in my youth I heard many stories of the French War \ 1 took delight in the tales of old officers and soldiers (my iirst salmon was caught under the auspices of a Waterloo sergeant), and when 1 joined the 92nd tifty years ago, my instructors liad Ijcen themselves drilled by Peninsular and Waterloo men, so that the traditions of those times were atill well known in the ranks ; and though I afterwards served much longer in another regiment, the impression left by these tales never altogether faded from my memory.

The late Mrs (jameron Campbell of luverawe ; Sir Charles Setou, Bart. ; Lieut-Colonel Stewart of Achnacone ; and Mr Innes have kindly lent me letters written during tlie various campaigns. I have received gi-eat assistance from Mrs MacDonell of Keppueh, who knew many of the old officers personally, the Karl of March, Sir F. C, MacKenzie, the late Colonel Ewen MacPherson, C.B., of Cluny ; Kev. Canon H.

VI

PREFACE.

MacCoU, the Rev. T. Sintoii, Dores ; Mr F. J. Grant of the Lyon Office ; Mr MacPherson, banker, Kingussie ; and others. The original Order Books, which had been lost, were found by General Alastair Maclan MacDonald and entrusted to me. I had some years ago read a Jom^ual kept by Quartcnn aster- sergeant MacCombie, and I have in my possession that kept by Sergeant Duncan Robertson, a most iutelligeut Athole man. Also the *' Military Memoir" of a 92nd officer, printed at Edinbur<^li in 1823. The name is not given, but I have reason to believe he was Lieutenant James Hope, nephew to Lord Hopetoun, Colonel of the 92nd, who was promoted ensign from volunteer private in 1809. From these and similar sources I have taken the life and ideas of the regi- mental family at various times.

I have been at pains to tiave the illustrations of uniform and costume correct, and they are taken as far as possible from contemporary sketches in the British Museum, by British and French artists, the drawings being done by Messrs R, Hope, H. Payne, and R. Sirakin. I am indebted to the courtesy of Messrs Blackwood & Sons for tlie permission to use the plans of Vittoria, Orfches. Quatre-Bras, and Waterloo from Alison's " History of Europe," plans being also taken from Napier's " History of the Peninsular War," and others.

In matters of general history, it has been my object merely to give the reason for the various expeditions in which Lhe regiment took part, and in describing the operations, to contine myself as far as possible to the part taken by it. Many of the details as to nationality, dress, messing, and recruiting are of little interest to the general public, but they often show how the interior economy and discipline of a Highland regiment were carried on, and the tone of good feeling which prevailed among officers and men. The book is intended principally for the present and succeeding generations of the Gordon High- landers, though as a by-way of Highland and military history, it may have some attraction for those interested in such

PREFACE. Vll

subjects. It is my intention to carry on the story of the 92nd to 1881 ; then to give an account of the 75th Kegiment from its formation till it became the First Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, and afterwards to continue the history of both battalions to the present time.

Those who read will not require to be told that I have no claim to be a practised writer, but I believe I have been accurate as to facts and details. If these tend to increase the respect for the Highland soldiers of former days, and to stimulate their successors to imitate their gentleness in peace and their manliness in war, I shall not altogether have lost my time.

C. G. GARDYNE.

Glenforsa, Isle of Mull, November 1900.

CONTENTS.

OHAPTER I.

PAGE

State of the Highlands in the end of eighteenth century 1-2

Biskilting Act — Anecdotes 3

Industries — Wages — Manners. 4-8

Connection of the Dukes of Gordon with Lochaber, etc 8

Regiments raised by the Fourth Duke 9-14

CHAPTER II. 1794.

Raising of the Gordon Highlanders 13-15

Assistance given by Lochiel and other Highland gentlemen 14

Prevalent names of recruits, and numbers from various

counties 16-17

Population and recruiting in Inverness-shire in the end of the

eighteenth and nineteenth centuries compared 17-18

List of original officers 19-21

Regiment embarks at Fort-George for England 21

Uniform and arms 21-23

Numbered 100th Regiment 24

CHAPTER III. 1794.

Gibraltar 26

Names and parishes of original sergeants 27

Curious Orders 27-31

Corsica 31

Status of volunteers 31

Plaid and kilt no longer in one 32

Discipline 33

Lieut. -Colonel Lord Huntly prevents the regiment being drafted 34

He becomes colonel, and Major Erskine, lieut. -colonel 35

Expedition to Elba 36

Return to Gibraltar — adventurous voyage 37-38

Status of pipers 39

Sergeant-major promoted adjutant 40

X CONTENTS.

PAGE

Dislike of Colonel Erskine to corporal punishment 41

Increased pay of army 42

Portsmouth 44

CHAPTER IV. 1798.

Irish Rebellion 46

Gratitude of inhabitants to Highlanders for their humanity 49

Extraordinary march 50

Number changed from 100th to 92nd 52

Service and nationality of officers and men 56

Address to officers, N.-C. officers, and soldiers by inhabitants of

Athlone 59-60

Expedition against Holland 59

CHAPTER V. 1799.

Embark at Ramsgate 62

Soldiers' wives 62

Colonel the Marquis of Huntly takes command, the lieut.-colonel

ticting under him 62

Sergeant Evan Cameron and fourteen men drowned in landing

at the Helder 62

Capture of Dutch fleet 62

First man killed, in action of 10th September 64

Action of 19th September 65

Battle of EgmontH>p-Zee 66

Anecdotes 67-69

Names of officers killed and wounded, and of N.-C. officers and

men killed or died of wounds 72-75

Letters from Captain Cameron 78-84

CHAPTER VI. 1800.

Yarmouth 86

Wounded officers astonish John Bull 86

Corporal MacKinnon, the Gaelic bard 87

Details of dress 87

A detachment to form part of First British Rifle Corps 88

Expedition to Ferrol 89

Sir Alexander Cameron of Inverailort 90

Beer money 90

Drafts from Highland Fencibles 91

Expedition to Quiberon 92

Minorca 92

CONTENTS.

XI

PAOR

Merry meeting with 42nd 92

Good feeling of officers and men 92

ExpeiUtion to coast of Spain ,..., 93

Gaiters introduced 94

Asia Minor 95

Turkish Highlander 96

Battles of Aboukir and of Mandora 96-104

Donald Mor Og 99

An unlucky tailor 104

Death of Lieut. -Colonel Erskinc 105

CHAPTER VTT. 1801.

Battle of Alexandria 109-111

Death of Abercromby HI

MacKinnon's poem — the bard wounded 113

Regiment reduced by casmdties and sickness 113

Encamps at Aboukir 113

Marches to Rosetta and along the Nile 114

Tobacco plant makes bml kiiil brcith llii

Affair of Rainalieh and skirmishes 116

French convoy taken 116

Dost storro 1 17

Surrender of Cairo by the French , 1 18

Quartermaster-sergeant Donald McBarnet promoted ensign... 121

Regiment returns to Alexandria 121

Affair of the Green Hill ., 122

Siege and capitulation of Alexandria 122

Names of killed and died of wounds in the campaign 124, I2r>

Malta 127

CHAPTER Vni. 1802.

Kilkenny

Peace of Amiens. Belfast

128 129 130

Regiment receives thanks of Parliament 1 30

Glasgow 130

Prize-money 131

Recruiting 132

2nd Battalion formed and goes to Ireland 134^ 13^

The Sphinx adopted as crest ):i9

XU CONTENTS.

PAGE

Old customs as to pipers 140

Nelson's funeral 1 43

Sir John Hope becomes colonel vice the Marquis of Huntly 144

Harvesting by soldiers 145

Extra pay for length of service 145-146

High bounties 1 46

Nationality and average height of men 1 47-148

CHAPTER IX. 1807.

Expedition to Denmark 150

1 st Battalion 92nd in Sir Arthur Wellesley's Brigade 151

Leads the attack at Eioge 156

Incidents 156-160

Capitulation of Copenhagen and capture of the Danish fleet.... 160

Hairdressing 162

Prize-money 162

Embark for Sweden. Leave Sweden, and land in Portugal 166

Convention of Cintra 167

CHAPTER X. 1808.

Sir John Moore appointed to command the army 169

Lisbon, Abrantes, Portalegre — agreeable life " . 169-170

A joke about the Highland dress of 92nd nearly leads to serious

results 171

Enter Spain at Badajos 172

Combats 173

Retreat from Toro to Corunna... 174

Hardships and adventures by the way 175

Paymaster in difficulties 182

Humane conduct of soldier's wife 182

Combat at Lugo 184-185

Men make ** cuarans" out of hides of dead horses. 187

Battle of Corunna 189-192

Death of Sir John Moore and of Lieut.-Colonel Napier 191-194

CHAPTER XI. 1809.

Adventure of Colonel Lamont and his orderly 195

Strength and coolness of British soldiers render their fire the

most destructive known 1 96

Officers write home as to men from their own districts 198-199

CONTENTS.

xin

ay of the people on seeing the haggard faces and i-agged

clothing 199

Letter from Sir David Baird nmveying thanks of Parliament... 201 Lieut.-Colone! John Cameron from 2nd Battaiion takes com- mand of 1st, and Lieut.^Colonel Lamont of 2nd 202-203

Breakfa&t mess established. ,, 203

Queues abolished 204

Walcheren expedition 207-209

Great sickness 211

W.wdhridge 214

CHAPTER XII. 1809.

1st Battalion excused all duty 215

Great attention to the invalids 215

Jubilee of King George III 216

Uniform — When and how worn 217

Widows and orphans. 218

Surgeon Dunn 219

Canterbury 224

Lbbon 230

Lines of Torres Vedraa 228-231

CHAPTER Xni. 1810.

Skirmishes 232

Effects of Walcheren ague 232

Brigaded with 50th and Tlst 232

BritiBh and French fratemiae 234

Retreat of Massena 234, 238, 239

Portuguese retaliate* French cruelty 235, 236, 240, 247

Hunting 237

Alcantrinho 237, 240

Skirmish of Pombal 243

Combat of Redinha 244

Combat of Sabugal 248

Adventure of Staff officer 251

CHAPTER XIV. 1811.

Jbergaria , 252

little of Fuentes d'Onor 263

Tacidents 253

rawik.

An angry piper 25^

Letters deHcribing the action 257

Names of killed 259

Almeida 260-261

Barba del Puerco 261

The bivouac 26^

Sports— Amusements 264-

Honourable conduct of a soldier 26&-

General Hill advances into Spain 26&

Incidents 266-267

CHAPTER XV. 1811.

Surprise of Arroyo dos Molinos 269

Letters as to the action 270-272

Sergeant captures a prince 278

List of killed 274

Cheerful prisoners 276

Prize-money 276

Return to Portugal 276-277

Christmas festivities interrupted 278

March en route for Merida 278

Gallant French captain 279

Highlanders eat Frenchmen's New Year dinner. 280

Merida 281

Skirmishes at Albuquerque, etc 283

Spanish assassin 285

Surprise of Almarez 286

Two gallant privates , 289

CHAPTER XVI. 1812.

Strength of Hill's forces and of Drouet's 292

Outposts 292

Incidents 293

Affair of Berlenga 295

Manner of quartering a division 296

Reels and fandangos 297

Soldiers' wives 298

A "droothy" captain 299

Pleasant marching 302-303

Toledo 304

Incidents 305-306

CX)NTENTS. XV

PAOK

Ar&njuez 306

Skirmishes ;... 307

Hill retires before King Joseph and Soult 307

Defence of Alba de Tormes 309-311

Names of killed 312

CHAPTER XVII. 1812.

Hill joins Wellington on retreat from Burgos 313

Cavalry charge 92nd 314

Names of kiUed 314

Hardships 314

Bugler saves the biscuit 315

Pork chops 315

Colonel Cameron's letter 316

Quartermaster-sergeant Cameron promoted to commission 317

Lieutenants and ensigns of 13th Veteran Battalion to be all

from N.-C. officers 317

Corea and comfort 318

Establishment of military chaplains 321

Qoartermaster-sergeant Kenedy promoted to commission 324

Bancs 325

Dancing parties and Highland games 326

Melancholy occurrence 326

Campaign of 1812 327

Aflfeir near Salamanca 329

Sheep's heads 329

Skirmish near Burgos 331

Cross the Ebro 332

CHAPTER XVIII. 1813.

Battle of Vittoria 335

Incidents 338

Anauction during a battle 342-343

Daring conduct of British soldiers 344

Names of killed 346

Pursuit to Pampeluna 347

Skirmishes at Almandos and Elizondo 348-350

CHAPTER XIX. 1813.

Disposition of French and allied armies 352-353

Combat of Maya 354-362

b

XVI CONTENTS.

PAGE

Fire-discipline 357

A brave Frenchman 358

Devoted Highlander 358

A faithful servant 359

Piper Cameron 360

Nationality of battalion 363

List of killed 364-365

Norman Stewart 365

Incidents 366

CHAPTER XX. 1813.

Retreat towards Pampeluna. 367

Grood feeling between officers and men 367

Dinner lost 367

Combat of Buenza 368-369

Captain Seton. 369

Gallant privates 370-371

MacDonald of Dalchoshnie and the Portuguese 37 1-372

Warlike minister 373

Combat of Donna Maria 373

Incidents 373

List of killed 374

Sir W. Stewart and theGordons 376

Rank of colour-sergeant instituted 377

Roncesvalles 377

Volunteer John Clarke promoted ensign 377

Private discharged on being promoted in 87th 377

Enemies exchange courtesies 377

Incidents 378

Blockhouse defended 379

Battle of Nivelle 379-380

Cambo taken 381

CHAPTER XXI. 1813.

Hill forces passage of the Nive 385

Basque farmers similar to Scotch 385

Battle of St Pierre near Bayonne 387-391

Splendid charge of the Gordons 388

Three brave pipers 388

Incidents and letters •. 392-394

CONTENTS. XVll

VAOR

Sergeautruiajor Duncan MTherson promoted ensign 395

Urt 396

StJeandeLuz 396

Actions at Helette and Garris 396-397

Death of Major Seton 397

Combat of Arriverete 398

Lord Wellington and Privates Webster and McGillivray 400

Battle of Orthes 400-401

Meeting of 42nd, 79th, and 92nd 402

Combat of Aire 402-403

letter of thanks from Mayor of Aire, for good conduct of battalion 404

CHAPTER XXII. 1814.

Good discipline of allied army 405

Skirmish at Vic Bigorre 405

I^arsuit of French 405-406

Battle of Toulouse 406-407

reaceof 1814 410

I*rivate M'Intosh marries French heiress 410

1st Battalion marches to Bordeaux 410

Kmbark for Cork 412

Fermoy 412

Account of 2nd Battalion 414

Recruiting, etc., till its reduction, October 1814 415

CHAPTER XXIII. 1815.

Napoleon escapes from Elba 421

The regiment embarks at Cork, and lands at Ostcnd 421

Meeting of Highland regiments 421

Orders 422

Regiment in 9th Brigade, Sir Denis Pack's 422

Wellington and Blucher's inspection at Brussels 422

Party of N.-C. officers dance at the famous ball 424

March to Quatre-Bras 425

Battle 426

Incidents 427-433

Death of Colonel Cameron, his character 434-437

Retreat to Mont St Jean 438

XVlll CONTENTS.

PAOK

CHAPTER XXIV. 1816.

Battle of Waterloo 441

Strength of allied army 442

Strength of French army, their accoutrements and uniforms 443, 446

" Scotland for Ever " 448

Incidents 449-455

Final advance '. 456

Gordons bivouac at La Belle Alliance 457

List of killed in battles of 16th and 18th Juno 458-460

Their counties and length of service 460

Incidents illustrating the popularity of Highlanders in

Belgium 460-463

CHAPTER XXV. 1815.

Anxiety in England 464

How news of victory arrived...... 464

March to Paris and battle expected 466

Convention of Paris 466

Regiment enters the city 467

Encamps at Olichy 467

Honours and rewards to troops 467

Review before the allied sovereigns 468, 470

Emperor of Russia's curiosity as to Highland dress 469

St Germains 472

Return to England 474

Received by a guard of honour of 150 wounded men of all

regiments at Colchester 474

Hull 475

Arms browned 475

March to Edinburgh 476

Incidents 476-479

"Scotland for Ever" 477

Notes of veterans 479-485

Nationality of 42nd, 79th, and 92nd at Waterloo 485

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

^^m Copy of the original regimental breast-plate worn by " Faesie-

^^H fern," now in the possession of Mrs Cameron Lucy of

^^P Oallart Cover}

^^H Original uniform of Gordon Uighlandors. Otficer's bonnet from

^^H contemporary portniit. (The chevrons on the sergeant's

^^^1 arm ure in error, as iliat rank was distinguished hy lace

^^H on the shoulder-knot till 1797.) Coloured Hate... Frontwpi

^^H Feathered bonnets. — 1. Montgomerie's Highlanders about 1760,

^^^H from pf>rtrait at Eglinton Castle, 2. 76th Rc«imcnt

H^B (M'Donald's Highlanders), about 1784, from portrait in

M'Innes' •• Brave Sons of Skye." 3. Regiment unknown, about 1789, from portrait at Eglinton Cagtle

Vignette in TitU-Page

Trophy of arms 12

RecruiU on the way to join facing 16

Trooper, private of Light Infantry and officer of infantry,

17t>4 25

Gibraltar from an old drawing , 45

Piper, 1798 61

On the Sandhills of Holland 86

French soldiers, 1801, Kgypt facing 106

Regimental uniform, 1808-1810. Cohmred Plate „ 162

Creek of Maceira Bay, where 9'2nd lauded 168

On tlie road to Corunna f<icing 182

Vidette, 7th Hussars, 1808 194

Girl of Guarda. Armed peasant. Officer of Portuguese

infantry. Peasant of Torres Vedras 231

Guerillas under Don Julian Sanchez and Spanish Grenadier.... 251

XX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

hritiNli Light Dragoonu luid French Dragoons, 1812. Thebeur- tikin ortp waB worn by the compctgnie d'elite, which formed

part of a French Dragoon regiment facing 276

HoUliorH of iHt Brigade, 2nd Division, 50th, 60th, 71st, and 92nd Heginionts and Portuguese infantry, 1812. Coloured

JiaUt facing 312

In biUotaat Banoa. „ 332

Kntmu(X« to Elizondo on the Bidassoa 351

Paw of Maya from the north or French side, taken from above

Urdax facing 354

l«a Hhuno Mountain, from near St Jean de Luz, showing the

tidd irf battle of the Nivelle. facing 380

Krwieh ptvMauts of the Pyrenees. 384

Tho coutn« of Hill s position from the Bayonne side, showing th« rtvid down which the 92ud charg^, and the coppice

wikkI defeiuleil by the 50th and Portuguecse. facing 390

Tht* throo pipors at St Pierre ,. 394

iUtnlott Highlanders at BnuseK li^I5. Coioureti PiaU „ 423 Tho haiuWt of QuatrK><Bra^ from a sketch done thrve we«ks aft«>r the ltatt]<\ shi^wing graves of tiHKe vho fvll ou the

16th. 440

TVl*** ^rf lb* FWnoh army. Waterioo. 1^15. tVoMma

/t.»A^ f^i^ 446

tyj>*» \Vf Irtish anuy, \VaierUx\ 1>K\ Us Koy^ Dn^n^ios. piiUkM^ Royal H^w^ ArfiLWry. ls« Kv>y:Al ^<v>«5w Kor»I H\>rj«> i«iutfvi& !^ch Kilie Cvqptk Cc)i»itMnMSx i.«»yr^

C^jCt^mr^ FitMtit^ ^Jtcimf 447

**5x\»«l*ttd fk* Kvw'^-. .. 44*

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XXI

FAOI

MAPS AND PLANS. Part of Europe, showing the boundaries of France and adjoin- ing countries before the Revolution bettveen 12 and 13

Map of Aboukir Bay and Nile facing 100

Battle of Alexandria „ 108

Map of Portugal, Spain, and the south of France

between 168 and 169

Battle of Fuentes d'Onor, 6th May 1811 facing 254

Plan of the action at Arroyo dos Molinos, 28th October

1811 /acing 268

Battle of Yittoria, 21st June 1813 between 334 and 335

Battle of St Pierre, 13th December 1813 facing 386

Battle of Orthes, 27th February 1814 bettoeen 396 and 397

Battle of Quatre-Bras, 16th June 1815 „ 426 and 427

Battle of Waterloo, 1 8th June 181 5 „ 440 and 441

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT;

OR,

THE ORIGI^^ AND HISTORY OF THK GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

CHAPTER I.

It would be of great service to the author if those who have journals, letters, or other documents connected with the 75th Regiment (now 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders) from 1789 to 1881, or with the services of the 92nd in the Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Afghan War, or Boer War 1881, would com- municate with Lieut.-Col. C. Gardyne, Glenforsa, Aros, N.B.

Mviupbcu wjf tilts vru vein men b lu consiuermj^ me ireHiinent oi tlie forfeited estates and tlieir proprietors after the faihire of the rising in 1 745, and was chiefly determined, apparently, hy the use of the (taelic lan^niage and the Highland dress.

Till 1 745 — " Bliadhna Thearlaich," t us it is called in the Flighlands — the cliiefs and gentry exercised nhnost absolule power on their estates. Their quarrels were frequently settled JLS " in tlic good old times of yore, when lUickler was defendant and jilaintiff was Claymore "; and their people unhesitatingly hacked tliem without tlic slightest iinpiiry into the merits of

• Stewart's *' HiglilaiKlers of Scotland." t The " Year of Charles."

A

,\

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT;

OR,

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THK GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

CHAPTER I.

liEFOijK <uilerin<,' on the history of a Highland regiment, it may not he out of ]»lace to consider the state of tlie Highlands ;it the period vvlien it was raised.

The mountainous and thinly peopled part of Scotland known as the " Highlands " included the Western Isles from Lewis in the north to Bute and Arran in the south, and the nifiinhuul north and west of the " Highland line." This was (Inuvn from Bute, by the Firth of Clyde, to Leven in Duin- hartonshire ; by Ardoch and Dry men in Stirlingshire, to near Donne, Crietl", and Dunkeld in Perthshire; Airlie, Prosen, and (rlenesk in Angus; (Henmuick and Edinglassie in Aberdeen, P»aIIindalloch and Craigellachie in Banll"; and, taking in part of Moray and nearly the whole of Nairn, included along with these parts of counties tlie whole of Argyll, Inverness, IJoss and Cromarty, Sutherland and Caithness, with, perliaps, the exception of the distiict immediately around AVick.* This was the line of demarcation between Highlands and Lowlands ailopted by the (Jovernment in considering the treatment of the forfeited estates and their proprietors after the failure of the rising in 1 745, and was chiefly determined, apparently, by the use of the Gaelic language and the Highland dress.

Till 1 74o — " lUiadhna Tliearlaich," t us it is called in the Highlands — the chiefs and gentry exercised almost absolute p*>w«ir on their estates. Their quarrels were frequently settbid as " in tlie good old times of yore, when Buckler was defendant ami plaintilV was Claymore " ; and their ])eople unhesitatingly l»ackrd thoin without the slightest iixpiiry into the merits of

* Stewart's " Frighlamlers of Scotland." + The " Year of Clmrlcs."'

A

♦

4 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

chiefly by soldiers and sportsmen. It is the recognised mili- tary uniform of the north.

At this period (1794) the land continued, as formerly, to be let out in large tracts by the lairds to gentlemen " tacks- men," * often their kinsmen ; and the smaller tenants paid rent in money, kind, or labour, not to the laird, but to the tacksmen, who were, in fact, middlemen, and had great power over the tenants and cottars on their farms. Cattle were the principal stock of the country, sheep-farming being introduced only about this time, and not becoming general until much later. Drovers collected great herds, and employed a number of active gillies to drive them to the southern markets. There was little other employment, and little money ; even well on in the 19th century ploughmen's wages were £2, 10s. for the half-year. Few could speak English.

The Caledonian Canal was not made till after Waterloo. There was no field for emigration except Canada, and to get there was difficult 'and costly. There were no county or burgh police, now a favourite employment with young Highlanders ; tlie Post Office was in its infancy,f and the railways, which now employ an army of men, did not exist. The kelp industry and the lierring fishery occupied part of the island population ; illicit distillation (for whisky had begun to replace ale as the favourite drink of the Highlanders), oak-barking in spring, or shearing the corn in the neighbouring lowlands in autumn, gave a questionable or occasional employment to some on the mainland, but there was practically no outlet except the army for enterprising young men.

In 1793, the Rev. J. L. Buchanan published an account of the state of the Western Isles, where he had spent nine years as missionary minister from the Church of Scotland, commissioned by the S.P.C.K. In the introduction he apologises to his readers for any grammatical errors, as he had seldom spoken

* Tacksmen, from having a "tack" or lease of the lands, in distinction to the small tenants, who had no leases. The forfeited estates were restored in 1784.

t At this period only three postmen were employed in Liverpool, at 7a. a week each, and four in Glasgow. The salary of the postmaster at Arbroath was only £20 a year, and of a clerk in the Glasgow Host Office £30. — Hyde's "One Hundred Years by Post."

THE GOUDON UHaiLANDEKS.

Cnglish during lliat [jeriiMl. He deserihes the hut.s uf the

siuali Uniiinls as " reuiiukably naked, open, destitule ul" funii-

ture;" they sleep in a blanket in any corner: cows, goata, iind

sultry have the common benefit of the lire. The wiuduw.s

Iff but hule^ made thi-uugh the thutcfj imm<tdiutely uhove llif

lide walls. In gentlemen's kitchens, which are sepaiute from

he main house, men and women all sleep together. Men's

noiiey wages are from lOs. Lo 40s. u year, and uuL of it to

ay for damage by carelessness^ Two meals daily is usual for

^niall tenants and scailags* Salt is very scarce, and their

_diet of fish and potatoes, or sometimes, if in good cireuni-

^tancea, broth with bread, potatoes, and mutton, is often eaten

without salt ; barley ar here meul the only bread, and not

always that. The land is worked with the " cas clnoni " and

' cas direach." The scallag is sometimes formally tied up

and flogged. Mr Buchainiu gives credit tn the rjiinisler of

Tvgheary, in North Uist, who has also a large farm, h»r

*• never having Ijeen known to kick, beat, or scourge, or in

any way lift his hand against his scallwjs in Llio whole euiuse

of his life." The acallay builds his own house witli sutls and

wockI. If he is sent to another jtarl of the farm, he carries his

caWs with him and forms a new hut. He works four or five

«luy.H for hi!< nuister, and on the sixth cultivates a pateli of

Itod for himself; he is nllowed brogues of hoi-se or cow-hide

or jiealskin to wear in carrying .seaware over rocks, etc., hut

oflen goes barefoot, with perhaps " mogans." i.e., hose-legs and

Iwrv feet. He is also given tartan hose, a coarse cunt and a

Wimket or two. Mr Buchanan .says the large Ifiudowuers are

generally more considerate to thcii' i>eoi>le than tlie sruuller

liirds or tacksmen, though miniy of these are very kindly.

AiHonj; the proprietors he mentions as kind tita.sfcr.^ — the word

a|>[>iiei| by small tenants to the laird — are ihe Ihike of Aigyll

*4nl MacKenzie of Torridou. He notices the change from

servitude to freedom in Lewis, hi ought about by MacKenzie,

'die present noble-minded proprietor." He alludes to the

••xample set by Lord MacDonald of Sleat, vvhieli lie hoiies will

soon Ik* followed by others, of taking the small tenants out of

the control of the tacksmen, and giving them holding.s direct

" Farmseni-aiiti.

6 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

from himself at a fixed rent in money or kind, which makes them, he remarks, much more comfortable and independent. This seems to be the beginning of " crofter holdings " in the west ; but the word " crofter " is not mentioned, and appears to be unknown till introduced from the south at a later period. He also praises MacDonald of Boisdale as an honourable gentle- man and a great agricultural improver, who distributes justice and preserves peace and order among his people, like a prudent and kind master of a family, and is loved and esteemed accordingly.*

In describing the people generally he says, " They have a fine vein of poetry and music, vocal and instrumental ; liad the lani,'uage been more generally understood, the Gaelic music would have been introduced on every stage on whicli taste and elegance prevailed." They are also spirited dancers, using the violin for dancing in the house, the pipe for weddings, funerals, etc., and in great houses the piper plays before the door at meal-times. He mentions that the High- land Society of London gives prizes for i)ipe-music. The men were handy at making implements of husbandry, etc. They wear, he says, the short coat, the philabeg and short hose, l)Ounets sewn with black ribbon around the brim and a slit behind, with the same ribbon in a knot. Their coats are commonly tartan, striped with black, red, and other colours, after a pattern made l)y themselves or other ingenious con- triver ; waistcoats commonly of the same, but the " feilabegs " 1* are often of fine Stirling plaid, if their money can afford them. When going herring fishing they dress sometliing like sailors. Tiicy tan tlicir brogues with tlie root of the tormentilla, which tliey dig from tlie hillocks by the sea ; the poorer sort often go baiefoot even in winter. The people, he continues, retain a certain dignity of manner, constantly addressing each other as " duineuasal " and " bheanuasal " (gentleman and gentlewoman), raising their bonnets on meeting.

He complains of tlie scarcity of church services, mentioning one i)arisli church where there was only occasional worship of any sort, and where the (.'ommuni(.)n had not been dispensed

* A son of Boisdale raised many men in Uist for the Gordon Highlanders, of winch he was major. t KiltB.,

TlIK CUKIHJN IIKJHLANDKKS.

fi>r .severul year.s. A liiUHlicd years ago there was oJily i>t»e EsUiblisliud Church iu a ptirish perha])s Lliirty milus luag, so that attendance coiikl iiol be very reguhir. Tlif Itoiuaii Catholic Church was then, as it still is, strong in certain districts of Inverue.ss, HauH', and Aberdeen, as was the Episcopal Church in some parts of the Highlands where it has how few adlierents.* But thougli imbued with a strong religious Bentimeut, I doubt if the Higldauders of that time could be called " kirk-gieedy."

Mr Uuehaiian's remarks refer to the Weat Highlands ami Islands, but the above description applies more or less to the whole Higlilands, where the life was one of hardship, teiupei-ed \»y intelligenl and tiveu intellecLual amusements — music, poetry, dancing, and, in the long winter eveniug.s, story- telHo^ by the dim light of the peat hre, tales of warlike deeds handed down from generation to geueraticm. I have heard them told in tiie present day, in probably the self-same words lis were used iu the " Fifteen," the " Forty-live," round the Vnvouac fires in the Peninsula, or in the herring boats olJ" Burra Head.

The Highlanders were distinguished from their Lowlaml neighbours by a natural courtesy of manner, which is re- niarke<l upon by a French traveller who visiteil the. Highlands in 1786. He describes the ]teople as "poor but Iionest " ; he luid never seen " sucli civility without the shadow of servility, such plain frankness without the least rudeness, such ai poverty and such contentment.'* He also mentions their pride iu being an old and uncomjuered race.i" They were not, however, without the love of gain common to mountaineers, and were perhaps deficient iu that strong sense of fairplay vrhf61i is an attriljute of the Saxon.

Iu summer the young men and wunicn went to tlie " aris " in the higher grazings to make cheese and butter for winter nsv, practising feats of strength and agility in the evening, or playing the fiddle, the pipe, or the trump ; rather despising,

• AiUst the •' Forty-five," the miljtttry were cinployeJ not only iu putting down the Highland ilreaa, hut in aireating Kpiscopftl and Roman Catliolit.- clvrjty if found holdiuju; divine service. This was not un account of their relJgioQR teu«'tM, hut ln'cauue they were inHieronls of the tmnse of Stewart.

t LcUurt /fo«r— August 189*.>.

8 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

perhaps, than respectiug the " dignity of labour," * but obedient to parents and to tliose whose autliority they recognised and respected. A people, in short, whose feelings, traditions, and present circumstances rendered them ready to join the army as a profession at once honourable, profitable, and suited to their inclinations.

Encouraged, no doubt, by the gallant service rendered by the first regiment of Highlanders, the 42nd, Mr Titt, when Prime Minister, about 1757, had recommended the King to attach the Highlanders to his Government by employing them in his service,t and in iiis celebrated speech in Parliament nine years later, he says — " 1 sought for merit wherever it was to be found ; it is my boast that I was the first Minister who looked for it and found it in the mountains of the North. I called it forth, and drew into your service a hardy and intrepid race of men, who, when left by your jealousy, became a prey to the artifice of your enemies, and had gone nigh to have overturned the State in the war before the last. These men in tlie last war were brought to combat on your side ; they served with fidelity, as they fought with valour, and conquered for you in every part of the world.''

Having thus brieily touched upon the state of the High- lands in the latter part of the last century, we will now consider the connection of the ducal house of Gordon with these districts. Soon after the reign of lioljert I3ruce, the Gordons obtained, in addition to their property in the Low- lands, the great possessions in liadenoch and Strathspey which had formerly belonged to the Cummings. They also secured, by purchase or royal grants, estates and superiorities in Lochaber formerly possessed by the once powerful Lords of the Lsles, so that the Gordon lands and lordships extended from the shores of Loch.Eil on the west coast of Scotland,

* A woman whom I met in Sutherland in ISfiD, who was then 105 years old, and still active and in full possession of her sens :s, told me that when she was a young woman the only trades thought worthy of a man were soldiering and droving. Another at Acharacle, Ardnaniurclian, who was grown up before Waterloo, said as there was little work, numbers went to the army ; «that the kilt was commonly worn, and young men turned out very smart on Sunday in tartan coats and often red waistcoats. t Stewart's " Highlanders of Scotland."

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 0

to Speymuutli on the east. Coitsequeiitly, the political power of the family was enormous, and its intluenee among the neighbouring Highland gentry very great.* In tlie ease of the fourth Duke, wlio raised the Gordon Jliglilanders, his personal popularity among all classes, added to his territorial influence, ensured the success of the efforts by which three regiments were raised by him between 1759 and 1793.

The first of these was the 89th Highland Regiment, raised by the family intiuence of the young Duke, who was a captain in it, while his two brothers. Lord William and lAyrd George, were respectively lieutenant and ensign. The regiment was commanded by his step-father, Major Morris.

Upwards of 900 men were assembled at Gordon Castle in December 1759, and marched to Aberdeen. They went from there to Tortsmouth and embarked for the East Indies, December 1760. The Duke wished to accompany them as his brothers did, l)ut King George 11. objected to his doing so, Siiying that a Scottish Duke had more iniportant duties at home than the command of a company in India.

A detachment of this regiment, under Major Hector Muiirn, took an active part in suppressing the mutiny at Patna. The 89th distinguished itself at the battle of Buxar in 1704, where the enemy lost 6000 killed and wounded and 130 pieces of cannon. Soon after the regiment was ordered home, and it was reduced in 1765. The men of this corps were remarkable for their fidelity and good conduct.

At this time, though the Militia had long existed in England, there was none in Scotland ; but what were culled P'encible liegiments were raised at various times, some for service in Scotland only, others for the defence of the three kinj^oms while the regular army was engaged alaoad, and in 1709 some were even raised for service in Europe and Amcrica-i* They were disciplined and armed in ihe sani<' manner as trooi)S of the line ; Fencible ollicers lanked junior to those of the line, but took precedence of the Militia.;};

'The Duke of Gordon was called by the Highlanders " Coileacli an taulih tuath,"' i.e., "The Cock of the North." He was also hereditary Constable of the Castle of Inverness.

+ Miiifary Jounial, Nov. ISOO. Vol. ii., p. 659.

t Militia was introduced in Scotland by Act of Parliament in 1797, and

10 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

Ill 1778 the Duke of Gordon raised a Fencible Regiment in the counties of Inverness, Moray, Banff', and Aberdeen — a very efficient corps, which was reduced in 1783.*

The country being again in danger in 1793, the Duke raised another regiment of Gordon Fencibles, and his commis- sion as colonel was dated March 3rd. The uniform was the full Highland garb. Upwards of 300 men were raised on the Gordon estates in Lochaber, Badenoch, and Strathspey, an equal number on other estates in these neighbourhoods, and 150 men from the Lowland parts of Aberdeenshire, Banff", and Elgin.t

The following account is taken from the personal remin- iscences of an officer of tlie Royal Marines, who acted as quartermaster to this regiment, and who set out to Aber- deen to join, after making arrangements for accoutrements, etc. for the regiment in London. " I found Lieutenant- Colonel Woodford, formerly of the Guards, an active clever officer and a great disciplinarian, in command. Recruits daily arriving, the clans of Cameron, M'Pherson, M'lntosh, and Frazer had joined their standards to the Gordons. In a month we were ready for inspection, 600 strong, and formed a fine body of young men. We went to Edinburgh, where the forming of Hank companies excited no little jealousy among several of the Highland officers, especially one young chief, wlio had no conception, when he brought fourscore of his clan as volunteers, that they were to be disunited, and Siiid in the iiiess-rooin, ' If the commanding officer dared to draft any of his men to other f!om panics, he would order his piper to sound liis gathering, and march them back to Lochaber ; ' that his men were gentlemen, and he would not have them associate with ' Botich nam brikis.'"J It had to be ex})lained that his men were now soldiers and must go to the company tliey suited, and that a court-martial might prove a disagreeable commencement to his own military career.

when put in operation later was opposed by riotous proceedings in the Highlands, under the erroneous impression that the ballot was used to enable the (;;rown to remove the people from Scotland.— " Military Forces of the Crown " (C. M. Clode).

* Stewart's " Highlanders of Scotland."

t Jhid. This regiment was also called the " North Fencibles."

Z " Churls with breeches."

THE GORDON lIIGllLANDKRa 11

Til the spring of 1795, on account of the alarm of in- vtxsion, it was thought necessary to order the regiment U) England, along with seven other regiments of Feiicibles raised for the defence of Scotland. This was done without con- sulting the colonels, though the express condition in their letters of service was that they were only to be ordered out of Scotland " in case of actual invasion of the island." The men therefore objected to go, and were to be seen in knots talking in Gaelic witii an air of mystery. The lieutenant-colonel marched them by detachments to the chapel and, ascending the pulpit, lectured them, but without any effect in allaying the suspicion that they were being imposed upon. He did not understand the Highland character. At last an express was sent to Gordon Castle. The Duke arrived in forty- eight hours : the regiment was paraded ; he explained in a few w^ell-cliosen words the nature of the service refjuired, that they were called for the defence of their country, and he trusted that any soldier who was such a dastard as to refuse such service would step out of the ranks and he should have his discharge. Though raised for the defence of Scotland, England was now in danger, and none but cowards would refuse the call. They would find him at their head. The men waved their bonnets, crying that they were ready to follow hi.s Grace to the world's end, and they embarked at Leith in high s]:)irits.

The King, never having seen a Highland regiment, ordered them to London (in 179G), wliere he reviewed them, and expressed himself much gratified at their appearance. The Duchess of Gordon and her daughters were present among the royal group, wearing Highland bonnets and Gordon tartan phiids. The royal family particularly noticed the sergeant- major, DugaM (.'am[)bell,* who is described as "a most superb specimen of the human race."

Tliis regiment returned to Scotland in 1796, and was reduced.

Tlie three corps mentioned al)0ve may l)e considered as

* Sergeant-Major DugaM Campbell was promoted ensign, ami was after- ward.s appointed adjutant of the 92ud ((iordoii Highlanders), in which he became a celebrated character.

12

THE UFE OF A REGIMENT.

the forbetirs of the distinguislied national regiment whose conduct in war has done much to preserve the blessings of peace at home, whose conduct in peace has upheld the char- acter of their country wherever duty has called them, and whose ciireer of upwards of a hundred years it will be my endeavour to describe.

— T" — ^- — — . — .

'I 1' A H 1' Of J

^^-'' E U E 0 ? £

cnAPTEi: IT.

TllK French Kevolution was at its height when, in Fubnmry

1793, the RL'piiblic dechired war iijTfainst (hvul I'ritaiii mu\ Holland. It biTaiuf ueffssarv Ut iiicrensc the Ipritish army, and again the patrit)tisni i»f the hukc nf (Jurdon induced hint to come to thv aid of th« (iovt-nimt'iil . hy olferinj,* to niisc ii fourth regiment: this time, as in the ease of the S\h\\ Hii;h- landei-s, for general service.

He reeeivctl authority to do m on iJie lOth of Fidiiuary

1794, and the command was given to liis son, llie Mnrqnis of Huntly, who had served as captain in the 42nfl Itoyid High- landers, and was then a captain and Ht'iiteuiuU-eolonel in the 3rd Guards.* Tire l)iik<' hiuj.self, and liis son, rook a ]iersonal interest in the recruiting, and the relehrated Ihichess Jean, f\ still a Ix^antifnl woman, lent to it all the prestige of her hig!i' position, and all the graee and eharin of manner for which shi* was famed alike in (Jourt and cottage.

She ntde to the country fairs in Highlarnl Vtonnet''' and regimental jacket (it was not nniisual, in iliosc ilnys nf niililary enthusiasm, for ladies to wear the uniforni nf their husbands' or brothers' regiments). J It is told how she gavi^ a kis.s to the men she erdisted~a fee more valued than Llie coin hy which it was aceompanied, as in the case of a smart young farmer at Huiitly market, who took the shilling and the kiss, and tlien paid " smart," ^ saying, " A kiss fn>m your (Jrace is well worth a pound note."

Sometimes she is said to have placed a guinea between her lips. II There was in a Highland village a young hlai-ksunth,

* Now ScotB (Guards.

+ The tionnet slie wore, though (k'im<Iejl of its nri»ameiit« aurl font hers, now in ixrtsjeasion of thr 2«nt IkittAlion <iooluii If ighlancttr.s (late !l'2o«l).

* Kay'a " Fortrftite." § H a recruit repente<l hio hnrji^iin beToro Iming nwoni in, he paiil £\,

ilwl " Kinart money." 11 The Duchess* rccniits were proud of iMiiiig unlLsit-d liy nut* v,Un ua.s tlio grwtart lady in their world, and it isnntural thcyflhould hnvc honsU-il of thu fact ;

14 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1794

remarkable for his strength and good looks. Recruiters for the Guards and Line had in vain tried to enlist him, but he could not resist her Grace ! He took the kiss and the guinea : but to show it was not the gold that tempted him, he tossed ' the guinea among the crowd.*'

Commissions were given to gentlemen in the north for raising a certain number of men, the field officers and generally the captains having previous army service. P»ut so great had been the drain on the Highland population for some years, that it was no longer easy to recruit a battalion quickly from them alone. In the present instance it was rendered the more difficult, because, as we have seen, a Fencible Regiment had been raised by the Duke of (iordon in the preceding year, and the 79th, or Cameron Highlanders, had just been raised by Mr Allan Cameron, son of the tiicksman of Erracht, largely in the same districts where the Duke of Gordon's influence lay. This regiment has had a similar glorious career to the Gordon Highlanders, and a lively feeling of friendship always existed between tlie two corps. Lochitd, Chief of the Cameron Clan, liowever, had not approved the venture of his kinsman of "]^>racht, but used all his infiuence in favour of the Gordon regiment,+ the Duke being to a certain extent his feudal superior, and also his personal friend. In this Lochiel was greatly assisted by his uncle, ^Ir Cameron, tacksman of Fassiefern, who.se son John received a c^iptain's commission in the (iordons, and afterwards became its most distinguished commander. He was closely connected with such Highland chiefs and gentlemen as Cluny MacRhei'son, MacNeil of liarra, MacDonald of (Uencoe, Campbell of Barcal- dine, and others, who helped him in raising his quota of men. J

when, in after years, one of them wjis wounded, a Highland comrade would cry, "Och cha n'eil ach poy eile o'n lihan Diuc ! " or, as an Aberdonian would facetiously put it, " Mind, lad, ye got a kiss o' the Duchess o' (Jordou for that ! "

* Told by Oeneral Sir John Gordon, K.C.I J.

t Letter from Donald Cameron, Ks(j. of Lochiel.

X " V'our recruits leave this tomorrow if the wind proves fair. They will answer well, as they are all smart young boy.s. In case of their being reduced, I l)eg you to be at pains to prevent their enlisting in any of the old regiments, but to pack them off lionn- us soon as possible, as it would be a great satisfaction to their parents, in case of lu'ace. It was by way of a great favour to us that they allowoil them to go. ' f A. //. — There were twelve

1794] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 15

It is not surprising, therefore, to find that, such strong influence being exerted in its favour, the Gordon regiment obtained more recruits in the Highlands than the 79th had done in 1793,* but still some of the officers had to complete their quotas from other parts of the country.

When a new regiment was raised, the custom was to embody it, not in the country districts where the men were enlisted, but in some garrison town where they could con- veniently be inspected by a general otticer, and passed as fit for service. In this instance, Aberdeen was the rendezvous.

One can imagine the difficulty of bringing lads from the distant islands of Barra, Uist, and Skye in open boats to the mainland, to join those from the " rough bounds " of Arisaig, Ardnamurchan, and Lochiel; the long marches, cheered by song or pipe, through Highlands and Lowlands, ere their tired feet trod the " plainstanes " of the Cxranite City. How they would gaze with astonished admiration at the buildings and the shops of a great town !

Here the embryo soldiers probably had their first experience of the tented field, as there was at this time a considerable encampment near Aberdeen.t

The regiment was embodied on the 24th of June l794,;j: and was inspected the following day by Lieutenant-General Sir Hector Munro, the same officer who served as Major in the first regiment raised by the influence of the Duke of Gordon at the battle of Buxar, thirty years before.

This first parade must have presented an appearance mon^ picturesque than military, for, except some of the officers and

recruits in this batch.] — Letter from Mrs MacNeil of Barra to Captain John Cameron, dated at the Island of Barra, June 1794.

•The "79th Register," compiled by John Ford, lieutenant 79th Regi- ment, from documents in possession of the regiment, in 1SI7. gives the number of Highlanders as 278, out of the 600 passed when they were embodied ut Stirling, February 1794.

t There were at this time hardly any barracks in Scotland, except those in the Highlands, built 1718 to 1728, viz., at Kilahimen (Fort- Augustus), for 300 men, aftterwards increased for a larger number ; at Ruthvon, in Hadenoch, for 250 men ; at Bemera, in Ross, for IfiO men ; at Invcrsnaid, for 100 num, and two or three smaller ones. Rooms to be made 18 feet by 17 feet, live beds for ten men in each. — Clode's " Milit.ary Forces of the Crown."

X Cannon's " Historical Records,"

16 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1794

sergeants, they had no uniform. There were the lads from the Highlands in their tartan coats and kilts, with " cuarans," i.e., brogues of home-dressed skin, on their feet; the Lowland loons in grey breeches, ribbed stockings, and low-heeled shoes ; and all with the round blue bonnet, then universally worn in the north of Scotland, while here and there an Irishman's " caubeen " would give variety to the headgear. There was something of the same feeling that was exhibited when the Gordon Fencible Regiment was embodied in the preceding year. Tlie men who had come from Highland districts with a captain they knew and confided in, objected to Iw removed from liis immediate command, and these officers had to explain the necessity of the Hank companies being selected from the whole, promising still to look after their interests.*

When their Centenary was celebrated by the Gordon iriglilanders in Glasgow in 1894, a newspaper much read in i\ui liighlands conmiented upon the small number of Gordons among its members, and inferred that when raised the regiment was to a large extent composed of men of that name. This is an entire mistake. It was called the " Gordon High- landers," not because it was a regiment of Gordons, but because it was a regiment of Highlanders raised by the Duke of Gordon. Among the non-commissioned ofticers and soldiers there were, in 1794, just twenty Gordons. MacDonald was the name most largely represented in the ranks, Cameron the next ; t there were several Ander.sons and other similar cogno- mens, and the names of all the Highland Clans are to be foun<l on the first muster-roll.

I have been unable to find any pamde state or muster- roll during the few days the regiment remained in Aberdeen ; but I counted the recruits of 1794 from the Description lioll, and 1 found that, out of 749 whose places of birth or enlist- ment are given, 241 were from Inverness-shire, 92 from Ab(!rdeenshir(^, 58 from BanHshire, 38 from Argyll, with consideral)le contingents from (.'aithness, Sutherland, lioss,

• " Memoir of Colonel .John Cameron," 4to, 18r)8. Privately printed.

t In the muster-roll, December 1797, three years later, there appear six Kvan Camerona, six Alexander C'amerons, six John Camerons, besijles two or three each of many other Christian names among the N.-C. otiicersand soldiers.

ITM]

THE GOKDON mCHLANDERS.

17

Ay, Nairn, Perth, iiiul Stirling shires. Kincardine, though part of the new *' teiTitoritil " district, produced ordy fniir men, while nearly every county in Scotland had one or two recruits to its ci-edit. There were 1 5 Englishmen, 1 Welsli- mnn, 45 from Ireland, 26 from Eihnlmrgh, and 54 from CJlasgow ; * but many of those from the last two places appear from their names to have heen Hi<,'hlrtnders in search of employment, nnd a few of those from Trcland, bearing such names as M*Millnii, (Jrimt, lialfour. lujiy have really l>een from the Scotch Fencibles quartered there. There w»'re besides the above-mentioned recruits, 23 whose places of birth or enlistinent are not given. Their names are Cash,

' Cameron (2), Oonnacher, T'ommn, Cliristie, Canipl>ell, Hordon (2), (irant (2). Gunn. Kenedy, Kincaid, M'Nicol, M'Kay, M'Arthur, Mackie, Murk, Munro, Murray — making altogether 772. which, if not absolutely correct, is as nearly sr> as ])ORRiblo, lnverue.ss-shire. therefore, can Iwjast of having supplii^d imjirly

I a third of the whole.

Indeed, the number of soldiers furnished l»y this counly

L during 1793-4 seems perfectly wonderful; for not only did

I it supply nearly the whole of the " Gordon Fencibles," a large numl»er to the <'!uneron Highlanders, and nearly one-third of I he Gonlon Highlanders, but also the majority of the " Fraser

I Fencibles," and a considerable part of the "Inverness Fencibles."

I and of the 97lh or " Strathspey " Regiment, and. besides all these, gave recruits to tht; 42nd and other regiments. At the presi^-uit day, though the county possesses one excellent and Ihoroughly Highland battalion of nulilia, it gives but vory

Liew recruits to the armyjl" the reason for this falling ott' being ft diminished population,! but is to be looked for in the

[changed circumsUmces and ideas of the people,

• The municipality of Glugow hud for mAoy years encouragod the ' Immigration of young Highlanders. (Gaelic churche», imth Protestant and Roman futholie, had hecn cwtuhliahed for their benefit, and the JnHux of MiKhlAudera to the city had been ever increasing.

t In ISlK-t thd number of natives of Inverneaa-fihire enlisted in the county I for the regular army wrw 22; iu 1894, II ; in 18115, 8. — Jiftuni ffom AV;;/- im'.mtnl Di^rwl, (No doubt more natives of the county were enlistcMi in [I'lMgow and other places.)

X The population of Invemeasshire wjis, in iMOl. 72.072; in 1H91, 88,362,-^ \TahU of Cenjttui for SrcKlntuL

B

IS

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

{1794

General David Stewart, in his " Highlanders of .ScoLlaiid " (which was written about 1820, while many of the original ofticers and soldiers were living, who was himself in j^arrison at Gibraltar along with the Gordons in 179C, and who had, therefore, good information), puts the proportion of Highlanders among the original recruits at three-fourths of the whole. It is diflieult from the Description Roll lo decide exactly, beciiuse, though the place of birth is generally given, it seems to have been often taken for granted that the recruit was born where he was enlisted, especially in such towns as (ilasgow or Edin- burgh. For instance, a man named Colin M'Kenzie is entered as a native of Minorca, Spain ! But I afterwards di.scovered him to be a transfer from a regiment quartered there. A proportion of those enlisted in the south were, from their names, evidently Highlanders: while, as there was at that time no attraction for strangers in the Highlands, those enlisted there were no doubt nativea. Still, judging from the roll, I would put the proportion of Highlanders at rather less than three-fourths.

The first recruits of the Gorflon Highlanders were not tall men on the average. They were aged from eigliteen to thirty- five years; Init 1 find several younger, and one man of forty.

They were generally of respectable families * and e.xcellent character. General David Stewart describes them as "Mora!, well-principled, and brave; they have never failed in any duty entrusted to tliem " — ii character which, with rare exceptions, has always been kept up by their successors. Many of them were the sons of those who had been out with Trince Charlie, and were filled with the traditions of that chivalrous peiiod. Most of them were unaccustomed to what would now lie crdlcd ordinary comfort, much less to luxury, and were accordingly well fitted to bear the hardships of a European campaign.

The bounty t" appears to have been three guineas to

• From contemporary letters and oral eAidence.

t It waa not uncommon iu the Highlands for officers enlisting men from their own or thoir fiithers' oatfttoH or farms to arrange that the parents of the recruit shouM enjoy some little advantage, such as grazing; for an extra cow, etc. A corrcapondeoce between the M.irqui8 of Hutitiy and Major Alexander Stewart, 93th (Rifles), January 1804 (formerly of fJordon Highlandonj), shows that an onsign, for a lieutenancy, raised eighteen men, and received iive

17M]

THE GORDON EIGIUANDEBS.

19

ordinary recruits, and five guineas to men who had served in Feucible liegimeuts.

The following is a list of the origiual oflicere who were, with perhaps one exception, Scotchmen, the mnjorily of thaui ))eitig Highlanders : —

LlEDTKNANT-OoLONKL COMMANDAITP.

<»eorge. Marquis of Huntly, had servetl in the 42nd Royal High- landers ftnd 3rd Guards In Flanders, and at the sie^je of Vnleneiennes ; afterwards general, and euhmol successively of the 92nd. 42nd, 1st Royal Scots, and 3rd Guards; died, 5tli Duke of Gordon, 1836.

Majors.

Charles Erskine of Cardross, had served in the 25th, I6thj and 77th Regiment's in the war against Tippoo Sahib in India, and against the French at Martinii|ue ; killed in Egypt, 1801.

Donald MacDonald of Boisd.ale, h.ad served in the 76th Regiment (or MacDonald's Highlanders); died 1795.

Captains. Alexander Napier of Blackstone, from lieutenant 7th Fusiliers ;

killed at Corunna, 1809. Jubn Cameron, son of Fassiefem, h.id heon ensign in the 2Cth

Regiment, and lieutenant in Captain CuujpbfU of Ardchattfin'F

Independent Highland Company ; killed at Quatre-Bras, 1815. Honourable John Ramsay, son of the Earl of Dalhouaie, from

lieutenant 57th Regiment ; died colonel, half-pay. Andrew Pation, from lieutenant 10th Regiment ; retired. William Macintosh of Aberarder ; killed in Holland, 1799. Alexander Gordon, son of Lord Rockville ; killed atTalavera, 1809,

when lieutenant-colonel 83rd Regiment. Simon MacDonald* of Morar, had .served in the American War in

MacDonalds Highlandera, then the 76th Regiment ; retired

as major, 92nd.

goineM for each who wm approved, and the officer puid for any deficiency £20 per man.

• Ou one occasion, when a charge was ordered, a man of his company fttalted in front of this officer. Lieutenant MacDonald having asked what lironght him there, he answerod, •' V'ou know that whea I engaged to be a •ot<lier I protnii»o«t to be faitliful to the King and to you ; and while I Btand here neither Imllet nor bayonet .-shall touch you except thrmigh my body." Till* chivftlrooH aoldrer was bom on bis officer's »:'Btftte, and wna descended of th« same famiJy.— Stewart's " Highlanders of Scotland."

20 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1794

Captain-Lieutenant,* John Gordon, came from 81st Regiment ; retired as major.

Lieutenants.

Peter Grant, came from a Fusilier regiment ; died at Keith, major half-pay, 1817.

Archibald MacDonell, Inch, Lochaber, came from 79th High- landers; died in Lochaber, lieutenant-colonel of Veterans, 1813.

Alexander Stewart of Achnacone, afterwards in 67th Regiment and 95th Rifles ; died in Appin, 1854, lieutenant-colonel.

John MacLean of Dochgarroch, promoted from 1st Royals, lieutenant-colonel 27th Regiment, 1808 ; died, lieutenant- general, K.C.B., 1825.

Peter Gordon; died 1806.

Thomas Forbes, Newe ; killed at Toulouse when lieutenant-colonel 45th Regiment, 1814.

Ewan MacPherson, Ovie, Badenoch, came from 78th Highlanders ; died 1823, lieutenant-colonel retired. Governor of Sheemess.

George Gordon (half-brother of Lord Huntly), came from 6th Dragoons, retired colonel ; died at Glentromie, Badenoch.

Ensigns. Charles Dowle; killed in Egypt, 1801.

George Davidson ; killed at Quatre-Bras, when captain 42nd, 1815. Archibald MacDonald, Garvabeg, Badenoch, retired lieutenant;

died in Canada. Alexander Fraser; killed in Holland, 1799. William Todd, son of the factor at Fochabers, retired. James Mitchell, Auchindaul, Lochaber, lieutenant-colonel 92nd Gordon Highlanders, C.B., retired 1819; died in Lochaber, 1847.

Chaplain. William Gordon.

Adjutant.! James Henderson, came from an Independent Company; died 1796.

* Captain-lieutenant seems to have been senior lieutenant, and com- manded the colonel's company.

f Adjutant was a separate rank at this time. There were no regimental paymasters prior to 1798. The first in Gordon Highlanders was Archibald Campbell, appointed January 1800. N.B. — Several of the officers were not actually gazetted till later.

C^UAKTKKUASTKR.

Ptefer Wilkic; iliecl 1806.

SURGRO!».

Williain Findl;iy ; died in Egypt, 1801.

The men having received a few iiocessarieH at Abenletni. the regiment marclied on June 27 Lh for Forl-Oeorge, where it cmburked on July 9lh, uud landed al SouLfutiupton on the 16th of Au«j;nst, after a voyage of five weeks! Longer than woiUd now he occupied by a voyage to India. They were encamiied on Netley Comuion, and briga<led witli the 78th, •JO lb, and 97th liegiments.* Here they were instructed iii the first principles of discipline and drill, and received their ann&. clothing, and appoiutinents, which were as follows : —

They wore the full Highland dresa or " breawin an- fht'ilidh " — that is, phiid an<l kilt in one, called in Kegimental Orders "the belteil plaid." f The oHicer.s had twelve yards, or ruther six yards double- width, of Gordon lartan, but of ratlier a smaller ■n'U than was afterwards used. The rank anil iile liad a smaller cpiantity. The ofliccr's purse was badger skin, having a silver rim round the lop, and six silver-mounted

• There were in Netley Cjunp the 7th Dragoon Utiardk, the fith, 9th, 13th, I7lb, anil 24th Dragoonn, Htul the 78th, 90th, 97th, 98th. and lOOth Rcgiujeiita of foot. The Uarnick De|nrtxnent was instituted in 179*2. At that date all the imrrack accommodation in (ivesLt Britain and the Channul Islauds (in forty-three fortrossep and garrisons) woiitfl only house 20,847 men of artillery and mfaniry. The troops were constantly under canvas, even in winter, oftUJiing loud complaiutfl, or they were billeted. When in billets, either uu the march or in atationury quarters in England, the cavalry soldier j>aid (Jd, a d»y tn the innkeeper out of liin pay of Sd. ; the infantry soldier paid 4d, out of hia |i*y of fnl., for which the innkeeper had to supply them with food and beer. In camp, instead of lieer. they had bread itt reduced price, and au allowance in money wius aUo given in camp and quiirtcrs for necessaries. — XfiJiiary Jounm/. Vol- i., p, 477.

\ Few people in the present day know how tliis ancient garb was worn. It was put on in the following manner : — The belt wai< liiirl down .and the plaiil over it, the centre of the plaid bcin^ over the hell : it wils then neatly pleated acrcMs the Injlt, bnt leaving u p.-irt at each end unpleated ; the l>clt was then (asienod round the WAi«t, «o that the lower half of the plaid formed thv/fiie or kilt, of which the unpleated pari became the apron, and the up;>cr half, fitUing over the belt, formed the hrrttfaH or plaid, which was fa«tei>od on the left nhoulder, or it could \>v thrown round the shoulders as a chink. \iy loiiaeniug the belt, the whole became ii, blanket or plaid. {Plaide is the (Gaelic word for bLuiket.)

22 THE LIFB OF A REGIMENT. [1794

white tassels.* The purses of the rank and file were of grey goat skin, with six white tassels, f The hose of all ranks were cut out of the strong red and white tartan cloth known in the Highlands as " cathdath " or " battle colour," which was worn by all Highland corps, and by the better class of civilians when in Highland dress. The rosettes and garters were scarlet ; the sash was crimson, and was worn over the left shoulder by both otticers and sergeants. • The officers wore a gilt gorget. All ranks had long hair, tied behind with a black ribbon, and powdered on Sundays and special occasions, and on guard. Neither moustache nor whisker was worn.

The head-dress consisted of the round bonnet then commonly worn in Scotland, but cocked and ornamented with ostrich feathers, and having a diced border of red,. white, and gieen, said to represent the " fess cheque " in the arms of the Stuart kings. It had a hackle fastened over the left ear by a black cockade, with regimental button on it. This hackle was white for tlie Grenadier Company, green for the Light Com- pany, and for the battalion companies the lower half was red and the upper white.

The jacket was scarlet for officers and sergeants, and red for the rank and file, with lapels turned back with yellow, showing the waistcoat, and laced two and two; lace silver with blue thread in the centre ; silver or plated buttons, with the number of the regiment in the centre. Epaulets — two for all ranks of officers, | of silver bullion, having two stripes of yellow silk in the centre of the strap, with a gold-embroidered thistle and a binding of blue round the edge. The N.-C. officers and men had white tufts for battalion companies and wings for tiank companies. The officers' waistcoat was scarlet, laced with silver, the N.-C. officers' and men's white, these being the origin of the mess- waistcoat and white jacket worn now by officers and men respectively. §

* Cannon's "Records."

t Described to me in 1852 as "speckled" by Pensioner Corporal John Innes, Tom a Mhulin, Gleulivat, one of the recruits of 1794. Cloth hose were worn iu the regiment till 1849-50, when the material, but not the colour, was altered.

t Except in Highland regiments, only field officers wore two epaulets.

§ I have no evidence of the dress of the drummers and band in 1794, bnt

17W]

TUB GOltDOK I1IGHLA.NDEIJS,

23

The ollieers were aruieil witli Lhe Hij^lilaiitl elayiuore, worn 0,1 ihe back, iu a biift belt, fnsttjueU by au uval liruust-plate of silver, having a crown imd thistle, aurroimded by the words "Gordon Highlanders"; they had also a silver-mounted dirk. The sergeants with clayiiiure iuul pike. The rank and tik* carried flint-lock muskets, the bari-els brightly polished, and Ixiyonets. All musicians wctc iinned with the claymore. The knapsacks were of goat-skin.

Perhaps some extracts froni tjarrison and Keyitnental Orders may show better than words of tiiiue the condition and development of the corps.

The first IJegimental Orders I find are dated August 17th, 1794. They ai-e about a caplaiii and subaltern of the day being appointed in future, and as to iheir duties, iuid thai each oHieer ia to supply himself with a book, in which he i.s to insert m his own handwriting' all Ikegimeutul Orders, and .so not plead the neglect of the orderly sergeant for being ignorant of them. These books to be inspected by the commanding otlicer every Siuiday.

The men to dine at one o'clock, till the regiment gets into H regular way of messing. An oHicer of a company to attend to see the dinners are well cooked.

l/>rd Huntly is soiTy that the present undisciplined state uf the regiment makes it necessary for him to order tlie otHcers to attend strictly to eveiything eoneeruing tlieir C()ini»auiea, but hopes that by their own attention he will soon ]^e able to relieve them of a great part of their trouble.

Minute directions as to telling ort' and sizing a company,* "as some ollicers may be unacquainted with the method of sizing I hem."

Olhcers commanding conjp:tnies to let the quartermaster know i»ow much hose tartan they require to complete every man to three pairs.

At tbi« time they wore numbered the Hundredth Regiment.

they probably wore then, aa thoy eertoiuly did a few years later, yellow jackets tunietl ap with ret! for drummers, and white witli yellow facinge for the band.

I Pipen wort! then, and till nbout ISUO, the sninc iinirortii an the rank and tile. • There were t«in coiapanieii at thia period. The ccdonel, lient. -colonol, mid

I senior tUAJor of a re^jinieut each had a coni|iatiy.

24 TlIE UFB OF A REGIMEl^T. [1794

The title " Gordon Highlanders " was continued along with the number in all Eegimental Orders and Eetums, but in Horse Guards or General Orders and in the Army List it was not used — simply 100th Regiment. The first use of the number was in G.O., August 20th, 1794 — "The 100th Regiment gives the guards and orderlies to-morrow." No doubt a certain number of N.-C. officers and men who had served before were capable of this duty.

All the officers were drilled every day by the adjutant, and they are recommended to get some person to instruct them in marching and giving the word of command.

A sickness among the men is attributed to want of salt, and "companies that have already cleared with the pay- master are to supply themselves with that article," while officers of companies in a less solvent position are " to advance 6d. each lo their men, which they will stop when their settle- ment takes place."

Orders as to squad drills and sergeants' duties explained.

The cost of the men's rations was — meat {I lb.), 1/9 a- week; bread, 8id. ; meal or vegetables, 4d. ; and 8^d. for washing, hair-powder, etc.

G,0., AiLgmt "I'drd, 1794. — " Officers commanding corps will see that divine worship is not omitted to-morrow. Infantry to wear powder on Sundays, liecruits unclothed not excepted."

11.0. of same date, as to officers being properly dressed by the 31st, and their "hair cut agreeable to Lord Huntly's order." OlHcers commanding companies to supply immediately men that want them witli regimental kilt and hose. " Those wlio have at present breeclies or trousers to be first provided " — evidently most of tlie men had their own kilts.

At this time the first court-martial sat, a Sergeant Munro being reduced to the rank and pay of a private sentinel.

On the 24th tliey were supplied with "nabsacks" {dc) and Icatlier stocks. " No velvet stocks nor any that are tied in front are to be allowed."

They had " small horses " placed by commanders of com- panies for the men to dry their belts on, " and they are not to hang belts on the horses for the arms."

CHAPTEli III.

We now come to the second period in the life of the youthful regiment, when service in the Mediterranean was gi-adually to prepare it for the prominent part it afterwards played in the stirring events of the time.

On the 5 th September they embarked at Southampton for Gibraltar, where they arrived on the 26 th, and disembarked on the morning of the 27th, lauding at the " Itagged Staff."* The effective strength was 3 field - officers, 7 captains, 9 lieutenants, 6 ensigns, 4 stafi", 29 sergeants, 21 drummers, 727 rank and file. Here their education in drill and interior economy was continued. White trousers were served out to the men,t who seem previously to have had only the Highland dress. Only the ilank companies had as yet got feathers for their bonnets. Mention is made of otiicers and men parading in their " belted plaids." The orderly othcer wore white breeches and boots.

Having in the last chapter given the names of the officers of 1794, with any particulars which are known regarding them, it may be interesting to the regiment to have a list of the sergeants of that' year also. I have accordingly copied their names from "The Muster KoU of H.M. 100th Regiment of Foot (or Gordon Highlanders), 183 days, from June 25th to December 24th, 1794, included," and have added all the particulars I could gather from other regimental papers.

They seem nearly all to have been drawn from remote districts, and it speaks well for tlie education given at the period in the parish schools of Scotland, that no less than five of their number were afterwards promoted to commissions in the line or embodied militia.

• Garrison Orders, Gibraltar, September 26th, 1794.

t Major Henry (Knight of Windsor), who enlisted in 79th when raised, told me that fatigue trousers were first served out when they went abroad. A great joke was to get the Highland lads who had never worn them to put them on backside foremost for the officer's first inspection.

17WJ

THE GORDON HIGHLANDEltS.

n

The list, which gives a fair itka of the districts from which the regiment was recruited, is as follows ; —

Bjuis.	Kamb.	TOWK OR Pauish.	OODMTY.	Remabks.
SerpMQt-	Thonutf ThoniiKm	AnnAit	DunifritM	Game frani Qlst Rt^ment,
Major				promott'U ncljuUut Nov. mi, 1796
Qiur,.	LaehUii MUcPbersoii	TiRggHn	Inverness
S«!T)^at
8ri^«u)t	Dug&Ul Ouiiorou	Rilnjallic	In ve menu	Promoteil ensign, East MidiUtifX MiUtift, May
				1801
tv	Altir, Caiuirroti	RilnmllJe	Inveriiexii
n	John Davit?	Teryui.xslu	Ahonlecn
	Altixr. Dr>l»ie	B.;Uit.	Elgin	Killt!<l lit EgTHoiit ■ oji-Zi'f,
	Ptelur Forguwiou	Kihimllie	Invenii'SM	ProniiiU'il ijusign, llunfn'W MilitlA
	(rt><)r^ lloploti	C'nl«r»cli	Al»enk!i'n
	WilliAni Hiiy	Rlij-nic Dunlin	Al>tnk'fU
, ,	AinUcw Uoilitigswortli	iJubliu	Came from 46tli Ui;ginn.'til,
				nin.stciuu
.,	Joliu Kcijuedy	Kiiigiistiiu	luvi'ines*
••	Aligns MocBdiit	Moy	Invwrn-sii	Cftinis from 42ml Royal HigUlaijilcra
,,	Aluxr. MiieGri'gnr	rji4$|fnii	Invfrnc«8!«
It	Alexr. Mstilulyrc	Ai'<lt:UtA)en	Argyk-
	Aiigufl Moclutoisli	W'KXy	Invfrness
	Jiihii Mftclntoith	AJwrtarf	InvenieMt	Pnunotc<l in West luilin Ikgiiiient, 1805
••	Laclilati Mucltitonli	Lnggnn	InvL-rnesji	Drowntil in GiFiralUr Bay, Ot:L INUi, ISO)
»«	KL-iititrtb Mnclutoati	Dmtje«»	Cnitliue!y.s	Cnrnf Jroiii -iUtli Ki-ginn^nt, killi')! at E^iout-op-Zec, 17iHI
	r^mirjui M.TfKinlpy	Loi'ligoil	Argylf
	JuiJi's \I;icI'1ktsoii	Ljiggnu	Invt-riiesN
	l>..ll.kl.l .M.H PlltTJMItl	KitlgMKsil-	Inv^Tiiess	1
	.l<>}iii .Miit-K»--uut;	Bolf.ikiiic	Invertie«s
	.Fames Murtiii	Kiiietlinioiit	A)i<ir4ccii
	.lobij Mit.hell	Boifl'lK-lW	I^inltHigfiM	•
	.I.iiii"'- K(_»ia	lioMfllltiVtiU	HdSS
	Joliii K' yiiolik	CnSmt'li	lilnntT
	DuuaM Stf wart	BInir in Atliole	Pertli	ProiiiottMl RiIjuLant, 'J1>lli May ISOti
	Alexr. SteWftrt	Kilutoniv&ig	InveTne»^
	Williaut Sinclair	Rejiy	CaitliuesH	Dmwnic'i] at tlii' bulling in Hollaml, 17i)[r(ius privalu)
	:1	Diiuliehify Alit-nU:tMi	IdlVMTtK^S AImT'Ii'i.-h
••	\-<m	Bcllie	Baull

Extracts from Kegiraental Orders, 100th Fiegiini'iiL (or Gordon HighlaiulcrH), 20th October 1794, (librullar. Otlicers to act their watches by I he adjutaut'a, that they may be exact to time on parade.

28 THE UFB OF A RSGIMENT. [1794

N.-C. officers or soldiers never to go into the town without a pass.

The companies always to be inspected by their respective officers, and they will be pleased to proceed with them as follows : — When the company is fallen in and dressed, it will receive the word of command — "Fix bayonets; shoulder arms; open pans; slope arms." The officer will then go through the company and inspect the locks. When that is done, he will order, •' CaiTy arms ; shut pans ; order arms ; to the right face ; draw ramrods." Each man will then draw his ramrod, and as the officer comes opposite to him he will ram it down, and after he has returned it, he will face to his front. The officer will then inspect every part of the men's dress, and Lord Huntly particularly orders that the men's faces and hands are all washed and their hair combed, as there can be no excuse for dirtiness. After each man has been looked at, the company will stand easy.

November Ist. — A fatigue party of twenty men to be em- ployed every morning in cleaning barracks. Lord Huntly was ashamed of the state they were in.

KoU to be called at 8 p.m.

Officers in future, wlieii they mount guard, will be pleased to wear gloves ; a pattern will hv. seen at the adjutant's quarters.

November 2nd. — In order to acconmiodate officers, Loi*cl Huntly has no objection to tlieir making up frock jackets, whicli tliey may wear when off duty ; a pattern will be shown. Tliey may likewise wear round Hatts (sic), and a small Durk (sic), sucli as Lord Huntly lias got. Batliing parades and strict orders as to sanitary matters.

November Qih. — Lord Huntly, understanding that most of the officers wish to mount guard in the belted plaid, he shall give orders for their mounting in that dress.

The Grenadiers and Liglit Infantry will mount guard in bonnets, and the l)attalion companies in leather caps. The Grenadiers will have a white feather, and Captain Cameron will endeavour to procure green ones for the Light Infantry.

November 9th. — Each man to pay Id. a- week to the sergeant-major for pipe-clay ; also to pay for hair-powder, soap, and oil for light.

1795 J

TUB GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

29

Ihcemhcr 29th. — Every olficer nttoiuliii^ the gcnoml ptirade to lie dressed in the belted jihiid.

Tlie quarteriaaster will divide idl tho (liose) tartan equally among the companies. The ineu will he charijed far these hose, and the two pairs they ftrt? annually eiititk-d to from the colonel will be serve<l oiu u* fhem when tlk^ convoy arrives.

In December 1794, thu' ri'^fiiuent rereived its colours on Windmill Hill. After their eoii.secration by the *,^arri.son chaplain, the Marquis of Muntly made an impressive addres.s. calling the attention of the ofHeers and men to tfie duties which their King and country expected fruui them, uiid to the hononrs which he trustecil (hey Wfiuhl acquire under these banners.

The first, or King's colour, was the great Union ; the second, or regimental colour, was of yellow silk. In the centre of both the number" 100," suriiiounted by a crown and the words " Gordon Hij^hlanders," the whole within a wreath of thistles and roses.*

It appears tlie men were often euiployt^d on various work- ing ptirties, for which they wert! paid, but which must have interfered with their military <nlucation.

R,0., Gihraliar, January 29th, 1795. — -There will be no parade this afternoon, as the men are t-nqiloyed lieaving down the La Lutliie frigate. f

The N.-C. ortieers are positively ordered to discontinue the practice of selling liquors in their own houses.

Gibraltar, Fehruary Bth, 1795. — No otHccr is to ajipcar with a white stock or neckcloth, and iheir Jiukets are to be hooked through the frill at the top and across the breast, not only on parade, hut at all other times.

February loth. — No otiicer will nppcjir on court-martiid duty except in regimental waistcoat, breeches, and boots. The first officer who disobeys this order shall be desired to wear the al»ove dress on nil occasions.

In March, Lord Hunlly relnikes N.-C. officers for allowing sentries to relieve one another.

• Cftunon'a "Historical Rcconl."

t A/<a Lutine WM aftcrwunis wrecked, anil nil on l»o;irJ wore lost, tngfiXu-v with £300,000 of tretksure whjoh she was cnrrying.

30 THE UFE OF A REGIMENT. [1795

Bounties to recruits had risen by the competition of officers raising men, and this practice is checked by War Office Circular, February 21st, 1795 :—

My Loru, — The high bounties offered to the new levies being judged extremely prejudicial to the recruiting for the navy, and His Majesty having in consequence thereof signified his commands that the bounty given to recruits enlisted for general service shall not exceed fifteen guineas, and that the bounty to recruits for the Fencibles shall not exceed ten guineas, etc. I have the honour to be,

My Lord, Tour Lordship's most obedient Servant,

(Signed) M. Lewis. To Lieut. -Colonel the Marquis of Huntly,

100th Regiment of Foot.

April Srd. — Lord Huntly hopes the companies will vie in trying which shall be in the best order, and it is recom- mended to the men to punish one another when any berth in the barrack-room is found dirtier than it ought to be. He repeats the order that no man is to appear in his new jacket or belted plaid but on duty. He expects the officers at parade to be clean and dressed like officers ; he will not punish the whole for the slovenliness of one, and anyone who comes im- properly dressed may expect to be ordered to wear upon all occasions the uniform directed for regimental duties. No officer is to be seen with strings in his shoes, except with the belted plaid.*

April 12th. — Officers to be particular that the men are well dressed, caps or bonnets well put on and jackets hooked through the shirt at the top across the breast, that uniformity may be established as much and as soon as possible.

May 4th. — Sergeant Ferguson of the Light Company, on account of his not having made up his books agreeably to order, is removed to the 6 th Company, and Sergeant Stewart appointed in his room ; and as Lord Huntly considers it an

* The meaning of this is not clear, but in Duncan Ban's well-known Gaelic song of that time in praise of the Highland dress, he mentions thongs as the proper fastening of the brogues, and alludes to shoe buckles as an inno>'atioii.

17«5I

THE GORDON niGIlLANDEBS.

31

honour belongiug to a Hank coinpaTiy, he will lemovt' a N.-C. otHcer who at any tiruu beliavu.s improperly.

May Sth. — The men to Imve their shirt trills well ironed and hair widl powdered for the review.

The Highlaud dress iippeurs not to have l)een considered a correct costume for dnnciug, as ihe Orders of May 9th desire "the otticers to appt'iir in helti-d plaids ut tlio Couiniauder-in- ChiefvS dinner* on Mondny, Iml Lord Hunlly begs Lheiii to appear at the l»al] on Monday eveniuj^^ in white brecclies."

Ju7ie 4th.- — At the request of the captains of companies, the men wore allowed a bottle of black strapf each and fresh provisions, it being the King's birthday.

Ji.O., June 9th. — Lord Huntly appoints 4ubn Miicllu'rsou of the Grenadier Company and Alex. Clark of the Light * 'oni- pany to do duty as volunteers. J

At this time the rej^iinent was held in readiness to proceed to the Island of Corsica.

The regiment, consisting of ten companies, embarked on the 1 Ith June, and in Carrison (h'ders of the 10th the Coinnian<ler-in-Chief expresses " his approbation of their iijoijd conduct and regularity of discipline sincL' he has hail Lhe honour of commanding them." They landed at Tiastia nn llic nth July.§

Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, || had separated from France, and in 1794 tendered the soverei;.^nly of the island to King George 111., and iinitetl itself to (Jreal Hritain. A body of Corsican troops was nddetl tn our army, their officers ranking junior to those of the regular liritish anny. The island was governed by a Vi(;eroy (Sir Gilbert KHiot), who, on the 27lh July, inspected the regiment in belted

• The «tjnner-hour Wfts in the afternoon.

i A sort of port, stronger, no lioubt, Uian their tlaily ration of wiiiu.

J Volttntecre in this aeu.se apptuir to liuve been men of superior education, vrhoenliatcd and served in the ranks as private soldicrw, Imt without |(aj' and at their owii er|>en80, in the hope of getting eonnnissioiia. They were included in tH« riink and tile. The two men in queetiou aeem, from their attcistatioua, to liAvc been till this time ordinary privates, and were enlisted at lAggtui aud Kiligii«»ie, hut volanteens generally enlisted ns sueh.

g UtiK trannptjrt ha<I "very nigh l*eii titken hy the French fleet, who pMaetl ai in the uight." — Lrll^r from fair. C Cnmcrnn, lOOth }it>jnm»t.

R Nfti>oleon was lM>rn at Ajaccio, iu Corsica, AuguBt liith, I701>.

32 TIIE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1795

plaids. Judging from the Regimental Orders, that form of the Highland dress was seldom, if ever, again worn by the rank and file, though it is mentioned later for the officers. After- wards the " feile-bheag," or little kilt, was used, that is, the lower half of the belted plaid, permanently pleated and stitched ; but so essential to the full Highland dress was the " breacan " * or upper half considered, that the remembrance of it was kept up by the ornamental plaid still worn by all ranks in full dress ; though it is not made, as it formerly was, and as it might still be, to form a light cloak for the shoulders when required.

Highland soldiers seem to have borne a character for honesty in Corsica, according to Carr's " Caledonian Sketches," published in 1807, where it is stated that "While Corsica was in our possession, the Governor's butler, on great fetes and public occasions, used to request that some of the men without breeches miglit have charge of the plate during the entertainments." Cirrapes, however, seem to have been a great temptation to the young soldiers, and they were cautioned against trespassing in the vineyards, under pain of court- martial.

Lord Huntly keeps his eye on all ranks. " Officers will be pleased to put their swords in their belts, and not walk about with them in their hands."

Ensign MacDonald, who seems to have been slack in his orderly duty, " is to be officer of the day till further orders."

Any woman refusing to wash for the men is to be turned out of barracks, and her rations stopped ; 6d. a week to be paid for each man's washing.

Some of the young Highlanders seem to have thought being on sentry over French prisoners was much the same sort of duty as herding cattle from the corn at home, and Lord Huntly cautions them against such unsoldierlike conduct as sitting at their posts.

Officers when not on duty or parade may wear any kind of black hat they please with a feather in it. No soldier to

* I met a pensioner, in 1857, who hod worn the " breacan an fheile," or belted plaid, in the 42nd. He said it looked well on a tall man, but rather like a bundle of clothes on a little man.

1795]

THE GORDON lUGIlLANDERS.

33

appear in the streets without side arms. Volunteers in future to attend all parades.

Fault is found with want of cleanliness in hospital and barrack -rooms, and officers are desired to be very particular, on account of the men's health.

Grape-stealing and other slight irregularities having ceased, Lord Huntly. in Regimental Orders of August 23rd, returns his warmest thanks to the oflicers for their great attention to their companies, and is certain that, as long as they exert themselves, he must have great satisfaction and credit from the regimeut. Lord Ilnntly is happy to see that for some days past the men have returned to their former good liehavtour, and hoj>es they will continue beliaviiig in the same manner, as they will then be a credit to their country, and may depend on having every indulgence iind kiuchiess shown them that is in his power.

The regiment was now in a state to perform all duties, and detachments were sent to various places. Major Erskino is Commandant of St Fiorenza, where prisoners, both Froncli and Turks, were confined.

A War Office circular, October 2nd, 1795, pennits N.-C. officers and soldiei-s to send letters home for 1<].,* signed outside by the commanding officer.

Seplrmhrr 9th. — In consequence of the good conduct and regular l»ehaviour of John Cnmeron of the Ist Compnny, ever since he joined the 100th Kegiment, he is again appointed sergeant, and Lord Huntly hopes that in future sergeants will be more careful of the languagt' they make use of to one another, and that they will not trouble their officers with every triHing dispute they may have together.

At ihis time bonnets U^ complete the regiment iirrived, and Lord Huntly orders officers commanding companies imme- diately to provide feathers, that they may be made up. " Tx)rd Huntly will make a present of one feather to each man."

R,0., Bastia, December l^tk, 1795. — As Lord Hunlly expects to leave this in a day or two, he begs leave to return t*» the officers his warmest acknowledgments for their uniform

• The charge for civiliwis' letters from the Mediterranean waa— for a single iihe«t,2s. liL: and for 1 oj5.,88. 4d.— "One Hundred Yearaby Post," J. W. Ilydc.

0

84

THK UFB OF A REGIMENT.

[1795

support and attention to the regiment ; and also to express to the N.-C. officers and soldiers his most gi-ateful thanks for their regular and good ctindiiet. since he hiid the hununr of commanding them, and to assure the oHicers and soldiers that their interest will always be his study, and that no exertions on his part will he wanting to prevent the Gordon Higlilanders from being drafted.*

That he kept his word is proved by the fact that no instance can he found of men from the (Tordon Tlighlunders bein*4 drafted, though several regiments in garrison wiih Lhem at Gibraltar shortly after, including the 42nd Uoyal High- landers and 90lh Regiment, were so treated. f

RO., Bastia, Deccmher 22 nd, 1795.— Major Erskiue takes the earliest opportunity of coraraunicating to the officers his anxious wish that the discipline of the 100th Regiment should be cjirricd on as pleasantly as possible during the short time he is to have the honour of commanding it, and he begs to assure them that nothing in his power shall he wanting that can contribute to their comfort and happiness. He takes the same opportunity of informing the N.-C. otficei's and soldiers that he will bo happy to show them every indul- gence consistent with propriety, to make up in some degree for the loss they will sustain by the absence of Lord Huntly,J to whom they should ever consider themselves iudebLed for his exertions in their behalf.

Mention is now made of the " musick " § practising regu- larly : and whereas hitherto each company had its own tailor and shoemaker, eacli charging his own price, there was now a tailors' shop and shoemakers* shop, the former presided over by a master tailor, while the shoemakers were looked after by

* At this period the (iovomment were in the habit of drafting men fmm one regttnoat to another, un<l to this the IligbhititJers atrongly objected. It wa«, therefore, a great advantage to a corps to have at their head a man of inffictcnt influence at headquarters to prevent tiiis. It appears that there had been a risk of the Ciordon Highlanders being drafted, as, in a letter dated November 28th, 1705, Captain J. ijordou writeu : — "It ia exceedingly lucky that we have escaped being drafted ; the Marquis would have been in a perfect fury."

+ Garrison Orders, 19th May 1797.

X The ship ou which Lord Huntly was going home wha taken by a French privateer : hut he was roloaaed on paying a ranaom. § liand.

I7M]

THE GORDON lUGIILANDEKS,

35

Sergeant Macintosh, and their charges were fixed " as in the 42nd and other Highland regi in tints."

R.O., February 1st, 1796. — As to-mon*ow is Lord Huntly's birthday, all the stopt wine will be issued to the men to drink his Lordships health.*

It appears from the Regimental Refcnru, Febi-uary 1st, that there were over 100 men sick.

HainlR'ssini' must have been a serion.s business in those days. Each company had a barber, who found soap and hair- jiowder. and was paid lid. a-week by eacli man. The hair was Well greased, combed out, powdered, and tied behind. The soldiers sat on a liench one liehind the other, and tied each olher*s tails, takinj.? it in tuni to lie powdered. So the juni<tr had to be np betimes, the .senior being k-ft to the last. " Hair to lu' jnst long enough at the sides to friz a little, and behind an inch below the rosette." Both officers and men were clean shaved.

R.O., May 2\st. — The companies to parade every after- noon at four, in any tlress they pleiise, that their hair may Ixj inspecleil by an otiicer. Lord Hiuitly's company is excepted from this parade, on account of having paid more attention to their hair than others.

On the 3rd May 1796, Lieut.-Colonel the Marnnis of Huntly was promoted colonel of the regiment, and Major Erskiue, lieiit. -colonel commandant. On the loth, the greater part of the regiment marched to CorLe to suppress a rebellion which had broken out there. They had much severe man"'hing in a dilhenlt mountainous country, uml wore ihaiiki'd in General Ordors foi- tlieir exertions and good cunduet during the aljove service.

At this time there was an npinioii prevalent with the military authorities that the Highland dress was nnhealtliy for soldiers in a hot climate, and Lieut.-Colonel Erskine appears to have Hhared this prejudice. While at IJastirt, the men's belted plaids were made into tartan trousern, to be worn with buckled iilioos on guard, and into tartan jackets for fatigue. They had alflo grey trousers, or white in the hot weather It appears

• A coroinon minor |iQtii»hmeiit was to atop a man's dnily allowunct; of IU|Uor, which, acconling to the i^tiktion, consisted of wine, lieer, or rum.

36 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1796

that the change of dress did not conduce to the health of the men, but, according to General David Stewart, had the con- trary effect. It was certainly disliked by the men, who, after a time, made known to the colonel their wish to return to the kilt, and it was resumed.

A draft of recruits joined at Bastia, under Captain M'Donald. In July Lieut. -Colonel Erskine obtained leave of absence.

R.O., Bastia, July 2Sth, 1796.— Lieut-Colonel Erskine having made a most favourable report to Lord Huntly of the great attention of the officers, and of the general good conduct of the N.-C. officers and soldiers during his absence, he takes this opportunity of returning them his best thanks, and trusts the reports which he shall from time to time receive from Major Napier will be equally good.

Major Napier accordingly took command, and in Orders of July 29th, he "hopes that whenever Lord Huntly or Colonel Erskine meet the regiment again, they may find it in the same good order as when they left it. The regiment is so much obliged to Lord Huntly for his great exertions for them, that Major Napier hopes they will take a particular pride in be- having in such a manner as they are certain will always give him great pleasure."

On the 14th August, a detachment of 1 field officer, 2 captains, 4 subalterns, 7 sergeants, and 208 rank and file, was held in readiness to embark on a secret expedition. In con- sequence of the unanimous wish of the officers and men. Major Napier requested the Commander-in-Chief to permit the whole regiment to take part in this service, to which he received the following reply : — " The Commander-in-Chief is sensible of the zeal and laudable motives which have induced the officers and men of the 100th llegiment to offer their services on the present occasion, and he desires Major Napier to express his best thanks to them, as well as his assurance that he will be ready at all times to testify his satisfaction at their general good conduct and appearance, although circumstances will not, at this time, allow him to avail himself of their services to the extent they offer them."

The expedition proved to be against Porto Ferraio in the

17961

rHK COIIDUX HKillLANDERS.

S7

isle ol ElUi. It was cotiiplr-li'ly HUfcessful, and without loss to the tnjops engaged, the Island of Klba remuiuiug in possession of (.tnjat BritJiin till given up at the Treaty of Amiens, 1802.

Ji.O.j August 21-9/. — The major having found the barrack- rooms, without exception, in the most infamous condition, he directs the orderly otticer to be particularly attentive to their being perfectly clean and swept, and not to allow old hose, shoes, etc. to be under the beds. Orderly N.-C. oHicers ot dirty rooms to attend drill tiU further oixlei-s.

Ji.O., Aiojuat 2btk. — As the regiment is to embark im- mediately for Gibmltar, olUcers commanding companies will be pleased to provide anything they think will be wanted for the meo during the voyage.

The success of the revolutionary party in Trance, and the brilliant career of their countryman, Najjoleon Bonaparte, had encouraged the French partisniis among the Torsieans, and the ii»habitants began to repent their union with liriuun. The Britisli Government, therefore, seeing that the advantage of pcjssessing the island was small, while the cost of keeping it would be greAt, decided to sever the connection, and gi'udually to withdraw the troops.

Oarritan Orders, Basfia, Srptn7ihcr 5th, 1796. — The 100th lU'giment being to depai't for Ciibraltar, Lieut.-Geueral de Burg cannot sutt'er them to leave Corsica witliout testifying his approbation and satisfaction of their general good conduct and soldier-like behaviour since he has had the honour bo command them. At the same time, he desires they will accept his best wishes for their success and welfare on all occasions, Lieut.- Generul l>e Burg pledges himself to those men of the 100th Itegiuent who are detained aa artiticera, that he has no in- tention of placing them in any other corps whatever, and that he will forward them to their regiment the moment they can be spared from the puldic works thuy are now employed in.*

On Heptember 6th they embarked — 1 Held otticer, 5 captains, 7 lieutenants, 5 ensigns, 3 stati', 37 sergeants, 21 drumxuers, and 706 rank and file — on the transports Grmihy,

• Tbi» refere to a nnniber of trfwlearnen— Bmitba, carpentera, mMona, etc. — who worr employefl. and M'ho had evidently Ixjen afraid they might be dxalted to itnotlitir corps Lf oace iteparated from ihvir uwu.

38 THE LIFE OP A REGIMENT. [1796

Estlier, Elizabeth, and Bonis, protected by seven nieu-of-war under Admiral Mann. In those days of slow post and no telegraph, the Admiral was unaware that war had been de- clared by Spain against Great Britain,* till he was fired upon by tlie Spanish fleet, which was greatly superior in force. Our Admiral made all sail for Gibraltar, but the Granhy was taken, having on board 2 staff otiicers, 3 sergeants, and 48 rank and file of the regiment, f who were made prisoners of war. Thus the first loss sustahied by the Gordon Highlanders was in a naval engagement.

The following account of this affair is given by Captain Vivian of the 28th Regiment, then at Gibraltar, in a letter dated OctoR-r 22nd, 1796 : —

The Spanish fleet had passetl by this a fortnight since. At that time war was not declared, and they pretended to say it was not aljout to be ; but in a few days they met Admiral Mann and itinnediately gave chase to him, })ut he happened to be nearer the Rock than they were, and owing to their prime sailers being afraid t<i engage without the whole fleet, he got off. An 80-gun ship, an uncommon sailer, was ahead of her fleet and coming up fast with a transport, wlien Admiral Mann made a signal to the Hector to put about and take lier in tow. Tliougli the Hector was a league astern of tlie fleet, as soon as the 80-gun ship saw her put about, she did the same, and ran for the Spanish fleet. They had fifteen sail to the British seven. The only thing they took was an hospital ship belonging to the 100th Regiment.}

After this adventurous voyage, the regiment landed at Gibraltar on the 4th October.

KO., October 5th. — Each company to have a set of types to mark their clothing.

* lu 1795, Prussia had concluded a peace with the French Republic, and iu consequence of the United Provinces of Holland having leagued with Franco, (ircat Britain had taken possession of the Cape of Good Hope and Ceylon (then Dutch colonics). The former allies of Great Britain hod now been converted into enemies. VViir was declared by Holland, which had been constituted the l>atuvian Republic, against Great iiritain in May, and Spain followed the example in October. — Cannon's "Historical Records."

t In the Orders at Bastia, August 31 st, for the distribution of companies to ships, is-— O'ravit!/ — The Marquis' and Captain M' Donald's, 154 men. This may, however, have been changed, the above being the number given in Cannon's " Historical Record " as being taken prisoners.

:J: " Lord Vivian." A Memoir. By the Hon. Claude Vivian.

17881

THE <;ORDUN UliJIILANDKKS.

39

October 7f.h. — Orticers will l)e plwisetl to coiiiiilete all their men's bonnets witli black ribbon of the saniu kind ihey formerly had, that they may be enabled to wear their bonnets properly, and not down on their heads like a night-cap.

As it is uncerUiin if the men are to be charged for tlieir provisions on board ship, oliieers of conipiinies are to ehurge them ',\d. fur each day, which will be repiUfl if the provisions are not charged for.

October '20th, — The men's hair not to be powdered, but well greasc<l. and tied the same as if they were powdered. The scarcity of Hour, which was often used by the men as hair powder, seems to account for this order.

The regiment was umler canvas. A marquee was allowed for each iield-otlicer and captain, to 3 lieutenants, and to 4 eiiBigus or surgeon's mate. One tent to a N.-C. officer and 9 men, or 3 married couples. Vivian writes — " The troops are encamped on the south front for fear of the town being set on fire by the Spaniard.^." Many men were employed on the works and in other ways, receiving extra pay, which must have made the duly heavy on others.

AO., October i8th, — All constant workmen and servants not with officers of the regiment to pay two reals a-week pistreen money.*

HJX, October 27th. — in consequence of the hard work the men have had in cleaning their encamping ground, and also of their good behaviour since tliey landed, the major desires that the quartermaster will be pleased to buy wine, to be [)aid for oul of the pistreen fund. Each iium of l!ie fatigue party to get a pint.

The pipers are to attend all fatigue parties. This is Lhe first mention of pipers in orders. At this time, though the pipers were a most inn«3rtant part of a Highland regiment, and were held in the highest esteem by oHieers and men, they were nut recognised by the authorities, and had no separate rank as the thummers hacL They were purely a regimental, not an army, institution.!

• What wnia pistriion money? Prubably from "pi8trina,''a bake-honse. It wa* |)rob«b1y uaod for the benefit of the men, in brcud or otherwise, and ■een* to have been pt'culiar to (tibrnttar. " Pistarceo " is mentioned aa the name of a coin in " Mciico of To- Day," by C. F. Lummis.

t Pipers received rimk und pay the same a« drumniers only about 1853.

40

TUE LLFfi OF A fiEGlMEHT.

tl797

A dispute as to precedenoe haviug arisen between the piper and the drunimer of a company of u Higlilund regiment, and the captain deciding in favonr of the latter, the piper ex* postulated, saying — " Oh, sir, shall a little rascal that beats a slieepskin take the right liaTid of me that am a musicUiiL ? " *

Nfwembrr 29ik. — To-morrow being St Andrew's Day, oHicers paying companies will be pleased to advance one day's pay immediately after parade, which will be at two o'clock.

In the Garrison Orders, Gibraltar, the promotions arc given, and among them, December 9th, 1797: — lOOtli liegimeut — Sergeant-Major Thomas Thomson to be adjutant, vice Henderson deceased.

The same Gazette shows that the i>osition of army chaplain might he purchased in those days.

42nd Foot, — M. Ualder, clerk, to he chaplain, by piircliase^ vice Watson, who retired 23rd November.

Sergeant John M'lutosh vfus made acting sergeant-major, his appnintmeut being confirmed in March, " to receive pay from tlie date of Adjutant Thomson's promotion, and also the additional pay winch Adjutant Thomson i-eceived from the regimental fund.''

ILO., GihniUar, Mmj 'IQlh, 1797. — Major Napier, wishing to establish in the regiment a badge of b«.Miour for those men who have never been found guilty by a court-martial of any crime or irregularity sfnce the regiment was embodied, requests officers commanding companies will send in a list to his quiirters of such as come under that description.!

From the Garrison and Regimental Orders al tliis time, it appears that the soldiers of the 42nd and 100th iJegiments were served out with round hats with feathers to be worn on giiard. The officers to supply tliemselves with the same, and a foraging cap for each man. Tlie hats J to be worn on guard, but l>onnets at evening parade. They had pads and false taila (clubs of hair), for which they paid 3 reals 12 quartos each, but false shirt frills are forbidden.

* Carr'8 '* Caledonian Sketches. " f Good conduct badges or pay did not then exist.

t General D. Stewart saya tUcsc hatti were found by tlic 42nd to be very useless and inconvenient.

1T973

TUB (iOWJON lUGHLAJSDEIta.

In April a draft oi recruits arrived.

liy IJegimental Orders of Mareli loth, 1797, ti Sergeants' Mess was eslabliahed for the first time, " and the major hopes lliey will alwayf* conduct it in so proper a imumer as never to r^juire his interference/'

On the 6th April, Lieut. -Colonel Erskine rejoined, and gives credit to Major Napier for the " improved ajipearance of the corjK*/* Imt regret.H that his first orders should Lie for a court- martial on son^e men for " rioting in the streets and very un- soldierlike conduct" There were great temptations to excess at Gibnilt^r, where wine was clieap, antl free indulgence in it aH'ected the conduct of many men of the garrison. In tlii' journal of a private of the Gordon Pligldanders, he laments that many of Ids comrades had taken to gambling, and 1 liud Uegimenlal Orders on the subject.* There were many general and district courts-martial in Garrison Orders, but few, how- ever, on men of the 100th.

A soldier of the 28th is sentenced to receive 1000 lashes for desertion. These V)rutal punishments in the army were only a redection of those in civil life, at a lime when men were hung for stealing a sheep, and when an unfortunate debtor was confined in a crowded aiul loatlisome jail till his debt was paid, which often meant till his life's end. Colonel Erskine and his officers seem to have had ii great aversion to the infliction of c«>rp<jral punisliiiient, and tliough the law (ibliged regimentul courts-martial to order it, the culprit's captain often begged him off, and the commanding officer would appear to have been glad of a good reason for remiti ing that part of tlio sentence.

HO., May 1797. — hieut.-Colonel Erskine has always pleasure in attending to the requests of ollicers in favour of any man of genend good character wh<i may be unfortunately confined under sentence of court-martial, but begs they will not apply in favour of one whose crime is such as makes it incompatible with his duly as commanditig uflicet to fuigive. He has told the legiment a thousand times, and he once more

• A military writer of the day regrets that more attention is not pnid to \ caeoanging athletic exerciaea and games, such as would give a healthy oxcitc- ment and amnaement. The men had gaiderxa, however, nnd the Onlprs show that the King sent a present of seeds for the eoldicra' gardenii.

42 THE UFE OF A KEGIMENT. [HW

repeats it, tliat he will forgive no man whatever who is guilty of being drunk on guard, sleeping on his post, of being abusive to N.-C. officers, or of stealing.

M.O., August 2Qth. — At the regimental court-martial held this day, was tried Alex. Kenedy of the Light Company for refusing to go sentry when ordered by the corporal, for which crime he was ordered to receive 300 lashes. On account of his character, the commanding officer pardons him on this occasion ; but he desires the regiment to remember that nothing but Kenedy's remarkable good character would induce him to forgive his disobedience of orders, which no plea whatever can justify, and any soldier who receives an order that may be improper, will always get redress by complaining through the regular channel.

Again. — Robert Robertson and Daniel Ross of Major Mac Donald's company are sentenced to 250 and 200 lashes respectively; but at the request of Major MacDonald, the corporal punishment is remitted by the commanding officer, but both men are sent to the Prevost,

Recruits lately joined appear never to have received belted plaids, and are credited with one year's allowance of tartan, deducting what was allowed them in their kilts. Sergeants' tartan cost Is. 9d. and privates' Is. 6d. a yard.

JW., June 29th. — Dirty barrack-rooms to be cleaned by the pioneers, and the N.-C. officers and men off" duty belonging to the dirty room are to pay — sergeants 2s. 6d., drummers Is., privates 6d. ; the money to be equally divided between pioneers and regimental hospital.

June 25 th, 1797. — The King, considering the low rate of pay of subalterns of infantry, which is inadequate to their necessary expenses, orders an increase of Is. a day to ail lieutenants, ensigns, adjutants, and quartermi^ters. And tlieir pay is no longer to be sul)jeet to deductions for pound- age, hospital, and agency as heretofore.

The pay of the infantry soldier, which had been 6d.,* as the old song says —

O happy the soldier who lives on his pay,

And spends halfa-crown out of sixpence a day —

* Before 1794 the infantry soldier's pay was Gd., but he had an allowance of 2i^d. daily for necessaries and bread money. In 1795 these were increased

ITSTT]

TUE GORDON mGIILAKDKRS.

4.H

waa tliis year increased to Is., and tlie liborul idluwuncL* «»t small beer was continued ; there was a stoppage, however, on hotne service of 6^d, per day for food, and on foreign service of 6d, -a day when rationed and 3 id. a day wht^n not rutioned l»y the public.

RO., Gazette, July 5th, 1797. — lOOtli Kuj^nment. Volun- teer Gordon MacHardy to be ensign without purchase, mce M'Donald, promoted in the 51st Foot.*

Augtutt 30(?A. — Lieut-Colonel Erskiue hopes thai the melancholy accident thai happened lust uii»ht lo Robert Chisliolm of Captain l.Tores company, ami the consequences that are likely to follow to William Henderson, who was the cause of his death, will prevent soldiers of the regimeut mftkiuj^ free use of tlieir Imuds ; for even if Heudersuu should escape with his life, for which he must be tried, it must be dreadful for any honest man that, by unjustifiable violence, he has been the cause (jf arioiher man's death.

Henderson was found not guilty of wilful murder, and returned to his duty.

At this time Captain J. Cameron, Lieutenants Arch. M'Donnell and Jas. Henderson, Ensigns W. M'l'herson and •John M'Pherson, and five sergeants were employed to recruit in Scotland.

H.O., Septevtbrr lOih. — The major, in going round barracks, Is requested to give auy directions he nuiy think necessary for the health and comfort of the men.

Oclohrr 22tul. — The recruits this day drawn into corn- panies must at tirst be treated at drill and apou every occasion witli the gi'catest lenity.

Nuvemher \^th. — Lieut. -Colonel Erskine, having heard

to 4d., bat the soldier was liable to dedaction for his mess of 3b. a week, or OfL ft day. In 1797 theae allowances were increased by 2d., the whole being outittolidtttcd into la. a rlay, the deductiou for mesa hciug iucreaaetl to a smni not cxcecdiug An. a week.

* l^utxlou MtioHardy was the son of x^Aretits in good circumstances in the oeiglibourhood of Toniiiitoul, Banffshire. He was educated in Pmnue for the RotnAn Catfiuiie pi-ieHtliood, but, hearing that hi» hrothera hud enliiited in the Gordon Hightandera, he gave ap the idea of taknig holy orders, Jiud, following tbcar example, joined aa a volunteer. His superior education and eonduct gained a commission. — Tn/r/ tnj hi« f/rantl-nfphtw, Jamtut MacHardy^ projnietor cj'UuL Uordon AriM Bultl, ToiniiUout.

44 THE UFE OF A REGIMENT. [HllS

that the men wish to wear the Highland dress, cannot agree to it at present, being afraid of their health, and because they have lately paid for blue pantaloons, but he promises that as soon as possible their request shall be granted.

December IQth. — That any man who may unfortunately have got into a scrape, or who has merited to be returned as a bad character, may have an opportunity of recovering himself, Lieut. -Colonel Erskine will call for a return on the 4th June next, when he and every officer will be glad to hear of any reformation, and every man will be returned as of good character who has behaved well in the intermediate period.

At this period the men were ordered to be inoculated,* and officers are to explain to those averse to it the nature of the operation and the danger of smallpox.

Ii.O., February 22nd, 1798. — The men to be supplied with proper puffs for powdering their hair.

ILO., Gibraltar, March Uh, 1798. — As the regiment is to embark on Friday, Licut.-Colonel Erskine trusts the men will conduct themselves with the same regularity they have hitherto done on sucli occasions. Upon no occasion is the discipline of a regiment so conspicuous as in embarking and disembark- ing. Lieut. -Colonel Ei-skine is convinced of the regard the soldiers of the 100th liegiment have for their own character and the credit of their regiment, and lie is confident they will conduct themselves as before. He is sorry to say that there are a few men who have no regard for their own character or that of the regiment, and if such men indulge in intemperance, they will be seriously punished on board ship.

On the 16th March 1798, the regiment embarked on board of the transports Ailian<^, Queen, Siwjleton, Minerva^ Marij, and Jane. Tempestuous weather drove them for shelter into the Tagus, and it was only after a boisterous passage of two months that the regiment disembarked at Portsmouth on the loth May.

Thus ended their first tour of Mediterranean service.

* Inoculation had been recently introduced into England from Turkey, by the influence of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and was, till the discovery of vaccination, the best known means of mitigating the scourge of smallpox.

CHAPTER IV.

At Hilsea Barracks, Lieut-Colonel Erskine granted the request of the regiment to return to the Highland uniform, which has never since been departed from, and on May 19 th the quarter- master is desired to issue to the companies a sufficient quantity of tartan for kilts and hose. The kilt of those days had at least the advantage of lightness and economy, but was a scant covering compared with the voluminous garment which is now worn. The quantity ordered " as sufficient for a kilt " being 3f yards for the Grenadier Company, and 3^ yards for the other companies ; J yard for a pair of hose.*

Meanwhile it would appear that the long voyage had given some officers a taste for naval costume.

It.O. — Lieut.-Colonel Erskine begs to remind those officers who have bad memories that nankeen pantaloons and half- boots is the uniform in wliich they were ordered to appear on regimental parade. He hopes he will never see a repetition of what he saw last night — an officer coming to inspect his company dressed like a sailor.

In July 1797, Lord Malmesbury had been sent for the second time to Paris to negotiate a peace, but the demands of the French Directory rendered the attempt abortive. On the l7th October a treaty of peace was signed between France and Austria, and Great Britain was thus left to continue the con- test single-handed against France and her allies.

In 1796 the French had already turned their eyes to Ireland as tlie part of the British Isles where they could most seriously harass the British Government. Accordingly a fleet was fitted out at Brest, having on board about 14,000 troops, which sailed December 17th, and, evading the British cruisers, neared Bantry Bay on the 22nd, the plan being to land there and march to Cork, forty-five miles distant, before the Irish Govern-

* On the 5th April 1798, Captain J. Gordon, on recruiting service at Coynachie, writes—" We have upwards of forty recraits in this country, and generally very good."

17S6]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

47

raent had notice of the expedition. Heavy gales from the east, however, scattered the fleet, and prevented a hmding. Me^in- while news of their arrival having been received in Duhliu, steps were taken to oppose them. A council of war on board the French fleet decided that, under these circumstances, and as the inhabitants of that part of Ireland showed no disposition to revolt, they shoidtl sail towards the Shannon ; but a fearful storm arose on the 28th, the scattei'ed vessels steered for France, and the danj^er of invasion was avei'ted for the time.* But French emissaries travelled through the country, who fanned into flame the discontent whicli sniotildered among a large part of the population, and culminated in the Irish llebellion of •* the year ninety-eight, when our troubles were great."

In consequence of these uuhappy circumstatices. tlie Gordon Highlanders were hurriedly ordered tr) Ireland, and, embarking in ships of war at Suuthsea JJeach on May Slst. they arrived at l)ul>1in on the 15th June, and were ipiartered in barracks. Here limy formed part of a large garrison of r^ular and fencible corps Among ihe hitter were such now forgotten regiments as the Angus and the lieay Fencibles, the Dumfries Dragoons, the Ancient British Dragoons, etc. The troops were held ready to march at a mtuuent's notice, and all was carried on as in an enemy's coimtry. Soldiurs were ordered not to speak to any man in plain clothes unless buying in a shop, and only to be out of liarracks before 10 am. Otlicers are desired to pay great attention to the men being well fed, as they have so much duty.

A.G. Offii'i, Dublin, Juur 16^A, 1798.— His Majesty lias been plejised to appoint Colonel the Marquis of Htuitly, 1 00th R4.^giment, to serve as brigadier-general on the Stuff of the army of this kingdom. It is, therefore. (Jeneral Lake's orders lluit lie be oljeyed as such.

The C4ordon Highlanders formed part of the hrigaile commanded by their colonel.

• **Antobiograpby of \Volfe Tone. " Ttjia uttempt ou Irelnnd wvus conniicte«t with K Bclieme for the invasion of Kngloiul. A Ixxly nf al>out 1200 Freucliiiitiij vere to have Mccnded the Avon ftinl humeiJ Bristol, Init hjiving Ki^ntled in Petnl»rokenhire, tliey siirrviiiiered to a force of FYmcibles hikI Militia uikIct tho Kftrl of CttWilor. The two frigate-s that brought tlicm were cipturoil. — Htinic'g •• History of Kngland,*" continuation of (Murray, 18Gr»).

48 THE LIFE OF A BEGIMENT. [1798

R.O., June 20th. — On account of there being so few otlicers with the regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine directs that Volunteers M'Pherson, MacDonald, Clark, and Cameron shall in future fall in as supernumerary officers, and are to be obeyed as such.

No officer to appear in the streets without his cross-belt and sword, except tield-offieers, who, for convenience in riding, may wear a waist-belt.

On June 21st, Lieut.-General Lord Lake defeated the rebels at Vinegar Hill, but they were encouraged to continue their resistance by expected aid from France.

On July 2nd, the regiment marched at a moment's notice, being conveyed on carriages, and encamped at Gorey on the 7th.

The General Orders are stringent that the peaceful part of the inhabitants shall be well treated ; that horses captured from the rebels, having generally been taken by them from the peaceful inhabitants, are not to belong to the captors, but are to be returned to the rightful owners; and the Regimental Orders desire that the people l)o treated with kindness, and all milk, etc. paid for ; but the men are discouraged from making acquaintances.

JIO. — No man to be allowed to marry a woman of the country. Lieut.-Oolonel Erskine informs the soldiers that no marriage without his consent can be lawful, and no woman will be allowed to embark with the regiment but those that came with it.

The dreadful cruelties of the rebels had given rise to reprisals on the part of the troops, and especially of the yeomanry of the country, and the peasantry were subjected to all the horrors of civil war. The exceptional conduct of the Gordon Highlanders at this time, as witnessed by the following letter, has been a matter of honest pride to the regiment ever since.

RO., August. Idth, 1798. — Lieut.-Colonel Erskine is ex- tremely happy that the following letter from the Dean of Ferns to the Marquis of Huntly, expressive of the good conduct of the regiment during their stay at Gorey, should be inserted in the Regimental Orderly Book : —

17M1

THE GORDON nTGFTLANDEliS.

49

M¥ lAjRn, — I have the honour of enclosing to you that part of the prooeMlings in the hist Ve8try held inCroi*ey wherein your Lordship and your re^ment are mentioned. This mark of our reapect and gratitude should have been sooner expressed and conveyed to you, had not oar calamitous situation delayed the calling of a Vestry^ which we conceived the most regular mode of expressing our senti- ments collectively. It may be pleasing to your Lord.ship to hear that, in the attendance of my parish, I have heard all the poor k)ud in the praise of the hone^sty and humanity of the privates of your regiment. They not only did not roh them of the wretched pittance that wa« left by the reliels, but refused such triflinfj presents (i»f provisions, etc) jus were tifTwred them,* saying their King paid tliLini nobly, t and enabled theui to supply every want at their own H expeiue. ^B I have the honour to he,

^H With groat respect,

^H Your L<»rdship's obedient Servant,

^ (Signed) Pbtrr Brown,

^^^^^^^B DeAn Fonu.

^^p "We, the loyal inhabitants of the parieh and vicinity <ti Goroy,

in Vestry assembled, beg leave thus publicly to acknowledge the goo«JueH8 and hunianity evinced by the Marquis of Huntly eluring his short stay amongst us. We are proud to atld that during that short stay rapine cea;4e<;l t*» be a system, and the confidence of the people

tin the honour of government began to revive. We should be w.mt- ing in gratitude if we omitted our testimony that the humanity of the colonel was emulated by the soldiers, and we reijuejjt the 11 00th Regiment to accept our thanks for the moderation and honour which marked the conduct of every individual officer and private who onposed it. ^m (Signed) Pktkr Brown, Hector.

^m J. Jrrman, Churchwarden.

• The journal of a private soldier of tlif regiment mentions the |K)verty of the people, arnl that his comrftdes, though they often had the opportunity of taking by force wlmt they liked, never took even a drink of batter-milk with- out paymg for it.

t The pAy and allowanctis of a. aoldicr no tloubt were "noble," oomiiured

to those of Post OflBce employi-a in the Highlanda. In I7M the runner frf»m

|Xnr«meM to Loch Carron, a distance of over tilty tniles, was paid 5a., aud from

llnvemcM to Dunvcgon in Skye, a much greater distance, 7s. lid. for the week's

) work.— J. W. Hyde (" One Flundred Years by Post ").

O

50

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1798

Further testimony Lo ihe high chamcter of the Gordon Highlanders is given in the " History of the Rebellion." After describing the devastation and phmdering sustained by the inhabitaut-s, without distinction of loyalist or " croppy," the author continues : — " On the arrival of the Marquis of Huntly, however, with his regiment of Scottish Hij^hhinders, the scene was totally altered ; its behaviour wns such as, if it were universal araoug soldiers, would render a miliUiry government amiable. To ihe astonishment of the {until then miserably harassed) peasantry, not the aiuidlesi tritle wouKl any of these Highlanders accept, without payment of at least the full value." *

July 2,9 th. — The regiment marched and encamped in the Glen of Email, where lifty men were discharged. On August 10th, the lieut. -colonel and 300 men marched to Torl»ny and encamped ; on August 24th, the regiment marched to Blessington.

Rtl, Blesmiffton, Avffust 2 4 Ik, 1798.-— The long roll will beat to-morrow morning at three o'clock, when the rents will be immediately struck and the carts loaded. At half-past three the pipes will go along the line, when the battalion will fall in.

The French Directory having undertaken to support the Kebellion with men and arras, (Jeneral Ilumliert with about 1200 troops, uU experienced soldiers, lauded at Killala. bring- ing arms and uniforms for the rebels, whom they expected to join them. They behaved with great moderation and civility to the loyal inhabitants, but were disappointed in the number and quality of ihe Irish volunteers. Comparatively few joined their standard, but with them they marched to Castlebar, where they defeated the British troops opposed to them.

The (lordon Highlanders were kept constantly on the move, every precaution being taken on the march to preserve discipline and to keep the men in condition. On one occasion the regiuieut marched ninety-six Irish miles in three successive days, with arms, ammunition, and knapsackB.f The otticers of

* '* History of the RoboUion in Ireland in the year 1798," Sml Edition. i Stewart's " Highlamlers of ScatlaiKl."— Forty English miiea a day seems nlmoat beyond the |>ower of even a h<n\y of picked men ; at the same time,

17fl81

THE GOEPON mOHIANDERS.

51

companies were never to be all out of camp together, soldiers not without a pass after 10 a.m. The Orders are ilated at Balliuamoin, Ballinahinn, Carrick-on-Shanuurij Crophill, etc., moving every day till .Septeinljer 16th, when they camped at Moat.

Meanwhile, the united Freuch and rehel forces, after rout- ing the British troops under General Hutchinson at Castlebar, rtttd l)een defeated by Lieut-General I>ord Luke, on the 8tJi September at liulliuanmck, where the French troops sur- rendered as prisoners of war. A week later the Uocht\ whip of the line, with eight frigates and 3000 troojis sailed from Brest, but was intercepted off Lough Swilly, and all but two frigates were taken by the British. A third Freuch expedition succeeded in reacliing Ireland, but, learning the fate of its predecessors, returned without landing its tToops, and the famous Irish riei>elIioa was practically at an end.

The regiment was not engaged against the French at CastlelKir or Ballinamuck, and their different affairs in pursuit of the reliels are too various to he given in detail ; but their csonduct and discipline were so remarkable that Major-Ueneral .lohn Moore, in Orders of September 25th, 1798, after re- buking the irregularities committed by the troops generally, added: — "The major-general must, in justice to the I 00th Regiment, state that hitherto he has had no complaint (tf any one of them, nor has he ever met them in town after the retreat lieating." *

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were given to the troops " for their meritorious exertions on the present im- portant crisis."

A.-G. Ofict\ Dublin, September 2 Is/., 1 798.^Knsign Dougald

' Sir J. Sinclair, in his " ObservatioiiH on the Military Sygtein of Oreat BritAiii " (1793), says that in ITiiLihlaudl regiments tbu men are bo peculiarly •dive au«I fit for encountering tlu; ImnlaliipM of war, ami ovorcoming the 4liflicultie« of marcljjng in a mountjiinoua eouutryl thut they ought, perhaps, to b« formed into light infantry battaliona. He also meiilioiift that they are inclined to deprive themselvea in order to send money to their {larenta.

• This WM the beginning of the mutual -re«p«ct between General Moore asd th« Gordon HigbliuiderBt which lasted till he fell at Coruona.

52

THE IJFK OF A REGIMRNT.

[1798

Campliell,* of the North Feucihles, is appoitiied tu do duty as adjutant of the 100th Regiment till His Majesty's pleiisure is known, aud to he ol>eyed as such.

Ill the Orders of October llLh, the coats were ordered to be buttoued down to the waist ; till this period they had been open, showing the waistcoat. The men's whitti; wnist- coats seem after this to have been used with sleeves as fatigue jackets, though still worn under the coat in cold weather.

Willie the regiment was at Moat, the then Olst, 92nd, 93rd, 94th, 95th, 96th, 97th, and 99th Regiments were dis- banded, the 98th or Artj;yllshire Hitchlunders became the 01st. and the Gordon Highlanders ijecame the 92nd, " un<ler whicli number they have often distinguished themselves, and on twenty-six occasions on whicli they met the enemy, from 1799 to 1815, the latter invariably gave way before them. This fact has, in a very particular manner, attracted the notice of the brave and experienced enemy to whom this country was so long opposed." f

A.-0. OJke, Dublin, (Moher 16M. 1798. — It ia His Majesty's pleasure tliat the 100th Regiment shall in future be numbered the 92nd, and that it be placed on tlie same estabhshment with regard to field officers as other regiments of the line.

(Signed) G. Hewitt, Adjutant-General

Three field oiticers had companies, as appears frorn—

E.O., Odoh^ 2 Is/. — Coi-poral Stronach of the colonel's to be sergeant in the same company. Corporal Cameron of the major's to be sergeant in Captain Cameron's company. Cor-

• Tliia is the hanikome aergeant-nmjor mcntioneil in the account of the North Fencihiea raised by the Duke of Gordon \n 17J>3. Pryor Gordon, in his " Memoirs and ReminiBcences," mentions that he waa visiting at (jordon C'tiatlti whon T)oug»ld, deserting the forge to wield the claytnore, u&int> from Locbaber to enlist, and says thnt iu his Highland drees he was a perfect model for a ectdplor. His father wan a dirk and pistol maker at Fort- William, and also rented » farm of the Duke of iJordon. He soon rose to corporal, Bergeaot. Bergeant-inajor, and cnaign, and became a ffimouB cliar- octer in the R'2nd, with which he served in all the carnjwiignH till after Water- loo, retiring ou full pay a-s brevet-major. Ho was ctdebnited in the regiment for his worahip lf>oth of Baocbua und Mars.

t Stewart's " Highlanders of Scotland."

TIIK COHlHtN lHUlILAXDEltS.

53

"poral M'Kinnon «jf the lieut.-uolont'rs to be attached to the major's.

On October 30th, the 92nd marched to Athlone, and were quartered partly in ])aiTacks and partly in billets, the pipes being ordered to play round the town half-an-hour before parade. General Moore was in command of t!ie garrison.

October 24/'^.— Volunteer Charles Cameron, 92nd Foot, is appointed adjutant of the 4th Light Infantry Battalion.

At Athlone there was what Lituit. -Colonel Erskine calls " an aiua^iijg sick list," which he believes procoeils froji» drinkin«;, particularly whisky, and cautions the men against excess.

Gitzette of October llth. — Brevet LieuL-Colonel Jamea Robertson, from the 72nd Foot, to be lieut.-colonel in the a 2nd FooL*

The olHcers apparently still mount guard in the belted plaid, and one is ordered to fall in every day " till he knows how to march otf a guard like an ollicer."

R.O. — The men's clothing being much worn by exposure in the late severe duty, othcers arc t" get cloth ti> patch it, till the new coats and kilts are taken into wear.

Gazttte, November 22rul — Ailjutant Donald Maclkmald, from half-i>ay of the late 100th Kegiment, to he adjutant 92iid Fotit, viat Thomson, wlio exclianges.

Dtcemher lOth. — Ensign l>ougald Campbell to be adjutant in 92nd Kegiment, vicf MacDonald, whose appointment does not take place.

The Perthshire Highland Kegiment (Fencibles) being dis- banded at Limerick in February, but allowed to enlist in any other regiment with a bounty as for recruits, Captain Mac Lean f

• This officer must have been on the Staff, as Lieut. -Colunel Erskine con- tit)ue« to coimnand the regiment.

•f Captain MacLean had been in temporary command of the Grcoadiera iluriug Captain Ramsay's ubitencu, and the commanding officer, in a later cr, luMurcs Captain MacLeaii that, on account of thy great attention he I ]Mud tu that «->onipaiiy, and the actions !ie hail iiseil in getting »o many men the Perthshire Fencibles, ho shall lie appointed to the (.'renadiera, should they ever happen to be vacant while he commands. There were diBhraun among these Perthshire Voiuntcers,

m

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[I'm

and a [vnrty were sent to enlist such as should volunteer for the 9liiid, and returned with G4 ruen.

MM., January 14</t, 1799. — Lieut.-Colonel Erekine par- tii'.ularl}' desires that ofhcers and N.-(\ oHicers will pay the greatest attention to pointing out to those ruen of the Perth- shire Fencibles who have just joined the duties that will be required of them, and that^ until such time as they arc per- fectly acquainted with their characters, they will treat them with that kindness and lenity which every recruit and every man not aequaintt'd with l!io system of the regiment is entitled to. They are all to receive enough of plaid tartan for a kilt, and of hose tartan for two pairs of hose. They, or the recruits lately joined fi-oni Scotland,* are nob to he charged with the kilts and hose served out to them. They are also to be 8upi)lied with false tails, and have their hair cut in the regimental form.

Men were also received from the Reay Fencibles.

A number of men were at this time discharged untit for service, being scut to Chatham ; the commanding officer desires oliicers to see they have good coats to go away in.

Gamtic. — Georfje Gumming, f of the (xreuadier Company, was, on February Ist^ 17(19, promoted ensign iu the North Keneible Highlanders.

The dislike entertained by Colonel Erskiue and iiis otlicera to the intliction of corporal punishment is again evident. At Athlone several soldiers are sentenced to it by regimental court-martial, but it generally happened that, on " the strong application of his captain/' or *' on account of many recom- mendations in his favour." the corporal punishment was remitted. Tiie lieut.-colonel. at the same time, took these opportunities to request oiticers not to induce him to refuse their requests, by applying in favour of any of their men who liuve been guilty of a serious breach of military disci- pline, and he generally ended with good advice to the men.

* There ii no mention of a. (]ep5t all this time, Recrutta seem to have rtimaiiiod with the parties, whicli were under officers, tiU sent direct to the regimeut,

I It doua not appear that this man was a sergeant. He belonged to Kirk- niichael, Buuffshirc.

ITWJ

THE CiOKDON HIGHLAJ^DEKS.

55

One of the kind coloiier» rensons for not flogging a man seems rather original : —

RO.,May I9th, 1 7 9 9.— Corj^oral Buchanan of the Light Company is reduced by court-martial for allowing sentries to relieve eiich other. For paiticniar reasons which appeared, the court did not sentence him to corporal punislimenl, wliieh the comraiEsion of such an nnrailitary crime would certainly have merited. The lieut. -colonel is sorry that a corporal, of whom he entertained so good an opinion, should have so far forgot himself, and hopes it will be a warning to him in future. At the .sjinie court-martial was tried Donuld M'Kiunon, for allow- ing himself to be relieved without the corporal, and he was sentenced to one humlred lashes. The punishnient awarded is Si* trifling* for an oJlence attended with so had con.stMjLicnccs, that the commanding officer remits it entirely.

He then goes on to explain what might be the conse- ijuences of such conduct. Lient.-Colonel Ei-skine seems to have been quite as attentive to the health and comfort of his men as he was to their discipline and appearance.

Dinner was then the only regular meal ; the men just took a snack as they chose in the morning and evening ; and it was only in the spring of 1799 that all the companies are " to be provided with knives and forks as the Grenadiers have."

At this time Volunteer Charles Cameron, f who had been priraai'ily made adjutant of a light hattidion. was appointed ensign in the 92nd, vice Dowd. Volunteer Alexander Clark to 1*o ensign 92nd, vue William MacPheison. Volunteer John MacPherson to be ensign 92nd, Ww John Macl*herson.

The nationality of officers of tiie regiment is given in a General Keturn of the name, country, age, and service of the

* One hundred Uusbes would hardly be couBidertMl a triflm<j punishment in luodcro days !

t tTiarles C'auitron liecame i\ most tliatinguished officer iii the 3rd Regiment. lie belonged to Kilm.illie, Inveme-sa-shirc. (Note ou De«cription Roll signed by Col. J. MacDonald. ) Alexajjder (.'lark belonged to Kingussiu, Inverness ; John Macrhcraou to Laggou, Inveniesa. There ia also n man named Ronald M'I)on«ld. from South Uist, Inverueas, opposite whose name in the Descrip- tion tU)ll is "to ensign," but no date or regiment given. He uutisted May 17B4. These men aeem originally to have enlisted ii« ordinary recruits.

56

THB UFE OF A REGIMENT.

11799

officers of His Majesty's 92nd Begiment or Gordon Highlanders, reviewed at Athlone, April 14th, 1799 : —

English. 4	Scotch. 31	Irish. 2
0 0 0 1	1	o o o o	Chaplain. Adjutant. Quartermaster. Surgeons.

5 35 2

And of N.-C. officers and soldiers at the same date : —

Years OF Agk.	Mkn. 2 18 34 38 69 104 204 264 98 841	COUNTEY.	MSN.	Ykabs Sbkvicb.	Men.
55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 18 Totals,	English . . Scotch . . Irish . . . Foreigners* .	47 764 37 3 841	30 25 20 15 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1	1 4 7 20 29 2 4 6 588 61 19 41 59 841

RO., March 7th, 1799. — Lieut-Colonel Erskine is ex- tremely sorry that the charges to be made against the men on the 24th iust. shall be so heavy, but as he knows every good soldier prides himself on the neatness of his head-dress, and particularly every Highlander on the smartness of his bonnet, he is confident they would wish that their money should be dis- posed in that way, rather than in many others, in which neither their own pride nor the credit of their regiment is concerned. He is the more convinced of this from the expense of the

* The " foreigners " seem to be Colin M'Kenzie, Alexander M'Arihor, and John M'Pherson, entered as from the parish of Minorca, Spain, labourers, but had served in the 73rd, 44th, and 66th Regiments, and been tranaferred from them.

t7SQ9

THE GOBIKIN 1HGHLANL»ER8.

57

bonnets not being ueai-ly so gieal as in any other Highland regiment that he has heard ot", which will show that lie has attended as much as possible to tUeir cbeapnt'ss. Th«^ follow- ing is the expense of the bonnets, with ditlerent articles that are chai'ged : —

To 1 large feather, . . , . „ 6 small do. at Is. 'Id., ,, 1 hackle, . . . . .

„ 1 bour-skin, dyebig, . „ Canvas, wire, thread, and work.

8.	d.
3	0
8	0
1	5
0	3.^
0	8

13 -l.l

Otticers to be cai-eful that deductions aw made for any featliors a man has supplied himself with. Forage caps, 28. 6d. each ; rosettes. 2d. ; all in British currency.*

B.O.j March, 21.sf. — The captain of the day reported the liarnick-room of the Light Infantry Company to he especially dirty. The orderly -sergeant of that company was tried by court-martial and sentenced to be suspended for two months. To be read in the presence of all tlie N.-C\ ollieei's.

KO. — Lieut -Colonel Erskine will go rountl harracks to see the dirtVrent messes sit down to dinner. All officers to be with their companies.

li.O., March. — Extra shoes to be kept for the men, in case of the regiment being suddenly ordered to take the Held,

B.O. — Knapsacks not to be put on too low, that the men may more easily get at tlieir powder in priming and loading.

K.O., April \si. — Number of Hints to be specitied to com- plete the battalion to two tiiuts a man.

On April Isl the regiment wanted to complete 172 rank and tile.

li.O., April 7th. — The regiment will parade to-morrow to fire Ijall, twelve rounds a uian.f

On the Gth May, His Majesty signified his pleasure that

* At thia period, and until 1825, Irish ooiuage wtut depn^cintcd to the extent v\ f^l per ceiit.

t This i« the drat notice of firing bull, though blank cartridge ia previously mentioned.

58 THE UFB OF A REGIMENT. [1799

the establishment of the 92nd Regiment should be forthwith augmented to 1000 rank and file.

B.O. — Men are to be subsisted at the rate of 5s. 5d. Irish per week ; no man to be subsisted at less than 5s. Irish.

Those otiicers who wish to have the new regulation High- land sword * will be pleased to send in their names to the Orderly Room.

In May 1798, General Bonaparte had been sent by the French Directory on an expedition to Egypt. On the way, Malta, then governed by the Grand Master and Knights of the Order of St John, was surprised and seized, and thus one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, so essential to his communica- tions from Egypt to France, was placed in his hands. He took Alexandria after slight resistance, and the victory of the Pyramids opened to him the gates of Cairo. Egypt belonged to Turkey, and the Sublime Porte, incensed by the unprovoked invasion, declared war against France, and fonned an alliance with Russia. The fleet which had conveyed the French troops to Egypt was destroyed by Admiral Nelson at Aboukir on the 1st August, so that a large portion of the army of France was cut off from Europe, and confined to the territory it had conquered on the Nile.

In November 1798, the Island of Minorca surrendered to the British arms.f

In March 1799, the French declared war against Austria, and the Russians, under Suwarrow, rapidly recovered all the conquests made by Jionaparte in Italy, except Genoa, The Irish Rel>elliou having been put down, and it being unlikely that the F'rench would again risk an invasion of Ireland, the British (iovernment felt secure in that quarter, and was enabled to continue the contest elsewhere. In December 1798, (ireiit Britain secured the co-operation of Russia for the prosecution of a Continental expedition.

In the unfortunate campaign in Holland of 1794, the Prince of Orange and the Duke of York had been compelled to retire before the overwhelming armies of France, and,

* Probably brass-mounted, instead of steel.

t Minorca had been in possession of the British at various periods, bat was at this time part of the Spanish dominions.

THE GORDON UIGHLANOBRS.

though tlie Dnteh at first tried to dcfond tht'insflvt's, u larj^e portion of the nation was willing tu fraternise with tlie French- The Stadtholder und a great number of the better class fled to England, and Holland aubmitted to the duitiinion [ of France almost without resistance.

Of all the military undertakings calculated to cripple the

Kepublic of France, and to turn the fortune of war in favour

of Great Britain, uone appeared more attractive to the Cabinet

of St James's than the restoration of the Stadtholder. This

measure was not only directed against every reniaiiung succour

, and resource that France could draw from Holland, l>at would

toTce her to employ a considemble body of troops intended to

' au<^ment the army of the lihiue. would make an important

I diversion by opening tlie campaign in the Low Countries with

I a force attached to the Orange interest, and, if successful, a

political separation between Kraiiee and Holland must take

place, and England once more secure the guarantee of her

influence on the Continent.*

A joint expedition against Holland was accordingly jire- pareil, and it was agreed that tlieitt Britain should furuihih 13,000 troops and a fleet, and Itussia 17,000 men. The Gordon Highlanders were selected to take part in this import- ant service ; and the young regiment, which liad gained such golden opinions for its honourable conduct from the popula- tion among whom it had been sent to keep order, was for the rtrst time to have tlie opportunity of sliowing that it could be equally trusted to uphold the honour of its country before a foreign foe.

G.O., Athlotu, \2th Juae 1799. — The 92ud Itegiment to march agreeal»lc to route to Cork. 1st iJi vision to-morrow inoniiug at whatever hour Lieut.-Culoncl Krskiue will appoint. The regiment marched in two diviaiuns, and encamped at Monkstown on the 24th and 26th of June. They were relieved at Athlone by the Glengarry Fencibles.

The following address and answer weie published in Orders at Monkstown ; —

" At a meeting of the inhabitants of Athlone and vicinity,

• The aualysia of military events relative to the kle expedition to Holland. — ** Auii. Jomiial, Vol. ii."

60 THE LIFE OK A REGIMENT. [1799

on the 15th June 1799, Thomas Mitchell, Esq., in the chair, the following address to Lieut. -Colonel Erskine, commanding His Majesty's 92nd Hegiment in this garrison, was unanim- ously agreed to."

Sir, — We heard with concern that His Majesty's 92nd Regi- ment, which you have commanded in this garrison, has been ordered to march for the purpose of joining those troops intended for a foreign expedition, but however we may regret your departure, we are not surprised that a regiment so eminently conspicuous for its steadiness and discipline should be selected for an arduous enter- prise. We have during your continuance amongst us experienced a polite attention from the officers of your regiment ; and the un- interrupted peace and tranquillity which have prevailed in this town and neiglibourhood evince the attention of tlie soldiers under your command.

Permit us, therefore, to return you our thanks, and to request that you will convey the same to the officers, N.-C. officers, and soldiers of your regiment.

By order of the meeting,

(Signed) Thomas Mitghkll.

Sir, — I have the honour of receiving the address of the inhabit- ants of Athlone and its vicinity. 1 shall not fail to communicate to the officers, N.-C. officers, and soldiers of the 92nd Regiment the approbation which their conduct has met with, and which must be most flattering and pleasing to them, as it is to me, who has the honour to coumiand them.

I have the honour to be, with respect, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant, (Signed) Charles Erskine,

Lieut. -Colonel, 92nd Regt. Thos. Mitchell, Vice-Sovereign, Athlone.

The above address, with Lieut.-Colonel Erskine's answer, was, by resolution of the Corporation, published three times in the Athlone Hercdd and Dublin JEvcning Post.

RO., Camp at Monkstovm, Jidy Ibth, 1799. — The regi- ment will hold itself in readiness to embark to-morrow on

17W1

THE GORDON HIGHLAUDERS.

61

the following transports (five ships). They embarked at Covu of Cork, landed ut Dovlt on July ^"JOth, ;uul oiicaniped at Kar- ham Downs, where the iruops f«*r the expediti<»n to Holland were assembling under the orders of Lieut.-General Sir Italph Al^ercromby. The reginjt-nt was pkucil in Live 4Lh ISrigude, consisting of the 2nd Uattalion 1st liuyals, and the 25th, 49th. 79th, and 92nd Regiments, under AInj<*r-(Ieneral Moore.

R.O., Camp, Barhani Dowiu, '.With Juli/ 1790. — The regi- ment to parade at ten to-morrow with all necessaries, ammuni- tion, blankets and camp kit, all to be inspected in the most minute manner.

Otticers to wear their bonnets on duty and on all parades.

The regiment was now put on the Kni,dish establishment.

On August 1st there were present and fit for duty 717 m«n out of a total of 764, and at tliis time they received four men from the 9tli Foot, two from tfie (33rd. and lifteen from the 62ud.

S

FiPKR, 179S.

CHAPTER V.

The regiment embarked at Ramsgate on the 8th August, with an effective strength of 1 colonel, 1 lieut.*<Jolonel, 2 majors, 6 captains, 12 lieutenants, 7 ensigns, 5 staffs, 40 sergeants, 21 drummers, and 730 rank and file.

Women were not allowed to go with the transports, and General Moore mentions in Orders that a " sett of gentlemen " who were present at the embarkation of the 4th Brigade had offered to pay all the soldiers' wives' passages to London, and also to give 2s. 6d. to each.

Colonel the Marquis of Huntly joined his regiment on this expedition, taking command in the field; but he after- wards, in Regimental Orders, " desires that all reports of every description may be made to Lieut. -Colonel Erskine, in like manner as if he had the whole command of the regiment. The lieut. -colonel will fill up all vacancies of non-commissioned oilicers, and in every respect consider himself as commanding, except with respect to signing returns, which must be done by Lord Huiitly himself."

The army effected a landing below Patten on the Holder, on the 27 th August, in the face of a considerable body of French and Dutcli troops. A melancholy accident occurred during the landing, one of the boats being upset, and Sergeant Evan Cameron and fourteen rank and file of the Gordon High- landers being drowned.

The enemy having abandoned his fortifications, and evacu- ated the town of Holder, it was occupied by our troops. A numerous train of heavy and field artillery was found in this important post, and the troops were warmly thanked by Sir Ralph Abercromby. The 92ud, though among the first ashore, were not actively engaged with the enemy, and suflTered no loss, except from tlie misfortune mentioned above. On the 30th, the Dutcli Heet in the Texel surrendered, and hoisted the colours of the Prince of Orange.

1799]

THE GORDON HIGIILANDERS.

G3

The thauks of botli Houses of rarliament were afterwards unanimously accorded to Sir li. Abereromby and the olticers, uou-pommissioned otticors, and soldiers For tbo. action of Sep- tember 27th, " thereby seuuriii*^ the command of the principal port and arsenal of the Dutch Kepublic, atul aflbrdinj^' H.M. Heet the means of rescuin}^ from tlie Frctich tlie naval force in the Texel."

On the 2nd September, the army took up a position on the Zuyder-Zee, and the troops were placed in cantouiiieiits, the 92nd being in advance of the right, at Oudc Sluys. Here, as is customary in the Britisli army, strict orders were given for the protection of the lives and property of the iiilialiitants.

The service un which the army was to he employed ditl not permit camp equipaj^e to be carried, but only such small articles as are usually curried liy soldiers, and one small portmanteau for each othcer. The Commander-in-Chief " rests assured that every temporary sacrifice will be bome with the cheerfulness which tends to secure the success of the British army," and adds that when the army marches without camp equipage, more tlian the usual allowance of spirits will be made to the men. There seems to have Ijcen no re^'ular commissariat, Jis commanding otHcers of regiments are recommended to purchase bullocks to be driven alonij; with them for the use of their respective coi-ps.

During the time the army remained here, the usual atten- tion to arms and af>pcarance on parade was requiretl of the regiment. The false tails nnist have been very troublesome appendai^es — many had lost them, but their hair was to be neatly combed back and tied. At evening parade, after a day's march, the battalion companies were lo put on their clubs, and the Hank companies their plaits, but on the line uf march tfiey need not wear them. At the same time, more warlike duties and precautions were not neglected ; pickets were advanced in front of the army at night, and neither oHicer nor soldier was allowed to lie down to sleeiv, but to sit with their anns in their hands.

At daylight on the morning of the 10th September, the French and r)utch forces under General Ihnne attacked the pickets, and ihe action soon became general; they were

64

THE LIFE OF A RKTilMENT.

fl799

repulsed by the British, ami iu Orders from hea<l<iuarters. Sltagjiu liourg, of that evening, Sir lEalpit Abercroinby thanks his troops " for their noble and steady conduct," and .\raJor- ijleneral Moore, who wns himself wounded, told the 92ud llmt their conduct made him proud of bein^ their countryman.

On this occasion the (Jordon Highlanders lost theii- first comrade " killed in action," Private Makolni Ferguson.* Captain the Hon. John Itamsay and six or seven rank and file wore wounded.

The Russians joined the expedition about September 13th, and on Septeinher 14th, Field-Marshal His Itoyal Hi.i,diness the Duke of York landed and took comiiiaud of the army. General Sir Italph Abercromby remaining in command of the division, in which was Major-(Jeneral Moore's Brigade, of which the Gordon Highlanders formed a part.

In General Orders of the 16th, a letter was published addressed to Sir Ralph, by express command of His Majesty, and signed " Henry Dundas,'* expressing the anxiety felt by His Majesty And by the public, respecting the expedition. " the sense His Majesty entertains of the steady and enter|irising bravery of the army under your command, in the arduous an<l ever memorable action of the 2'7th ult," " High as the British army stood before this, it will be impossible that the lamliug at the Helder Point, preceded and attended by so many un- toward difticulties, aiul the battle by which it was immediately followed, should not attract the admiration of Europe, and raise their chamcter still higher in every part of the world, as it has already done in the eyes of their sovereign and their country- men." The King goes on to lament the loss of valuable olhcers and soldiers which attended the glory of that day, and expresses his anxiety for the wounded. He compliments Sir Ralph on the " cool Judgment, military order, and .superior altilities " he had displayed, and praises the " perfect harmony and unanimity which prevailed iK^tween the land and sea forces."

The Duke of York, being at the head of 35,000 men, and being aware that extensive reinforcements werc advancing to support the Republicans, resolved to move forward and attack the enemy.

• Ferguson wm a native of North Uiat.

1799]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

65

The force was divided into four columns, the nature of the ground precluding the employment of large massea The first, 8000 Kussians and a British brigade, waa to advance by ihe Sand-dyke against Bnme's left, resting on the sen. The second, 7000 men, of whom 5000 were British, was charged with the attack of the French centre. The third, under Sir J, Pulteney, was intended rather to make a diversion than a real att<ack, unless in case of unlooked-for success ; and the fourth, under Sir Ralph AI)ercronil(y, was destined to turn the enemy's right.

On the morning of the 19th September the troops stood to their arms at four o'clock, and the army advanced to the attack, which wjw at first successful at all points; but the Kussians, after having captured Bergen in the most galliiuL style, failed to hold it ; tempted by plunder they broke their ranks, and they being driven back, the places acquired by the other columns had to be abandoned, and the army withdrew to its former position at Zype.

In this action 60 officers and 3000 men and 16 pieces of cannon were taken from the enemy, which sufficiently proves that no advantage had been gained by them.*

In General Orders of the 20th September, H.RH. the Duke of York compliments the troops on " the distinguished and spirited exertions which added new lustre to the British arms. The column under Sir Kalph Abercromby, after a most fatiguing march, possessed the city of Hourn; but, from the doubtful situation of affairs on the rigjat, could not in prudence advance further. H.Il.H. will not fail to represent to His Majesty the sense he entertains uf the services of the generals and different corps engaged on this occasion."

On the 22nd was published to the army a letter of thanks from the City of London. " To Lieut. -Gencnil Sir KoJph Abercromby, K.B., and the generals, officers, and soldiers under his commaud, for their gallant and e&sential services in effecting a landing on the coast of Holland, driving the enemy from their strongly fortified situation, thereby render- ing it practicable for the squatlron of His Majesty's ships to coiui»el the surrender of the Dutch licet in the Texel, and that • "Alison's History." Vol. iv., p. 151.

06

TTTE UFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1799

he be presented by the Court (of Common Council), as a token of their sense of the important service thereby rendered to this country, with the freedom of the city, and with a sword of the value of 100 guineas."

Moore's Brigade occupied farmhouses and barns, and he and the regimental otlicers spared no pains to ensure the comfort of their men so far as the nature nf the service allowed.

By General Order of the 27th, all pieces of ordnance, colours, and tumbrils taken from the enemy are to he de- livered to the British artillery, and the paymaster of the artillery is to pay to the regiment that took them the follow- ing rewards : —

For each common howitzer, £20 : for each tumbril, £10 ; for each colour standard, £10. All hoi"ses taken are to be paid for if fit for the pubhc service, but no small-anns are to paid for except, those of deserters, who are to be paid for their arms.

From the 20th September the opposing armies remained within their Gntronchments, sti*engthemng their lines of de- fence ; the enemy having meanwhile increased hi.s numbers by the aiTival of French reinforcements.

G.O.^ October IsL — -llegiments are immediately to cook one day's provisions, and comiminding olhcers will take measures to be able to move at short notice.

H.O., October \$t. — The regiment will fall in to-morrow so as to close upon the 25th Kegiment, and enable the brigade to move forward at three o'clock The same orders and directions as when the regiment la.st marched.

At this date the 92nd had present and fit for duty 30 sergeants, 21 drummers, and 662 rank and file.

On the 2nd October the Duke of York made another attempt on the French and Dtitch position between Bergen and Kgmont-op-Zee. The combined attacks were made in four columns. " That under Sir Ralph Abercromby, comi>osed of 13 battalions, 8^ squadrons of cavalry, a half-trooi> Royal Horse Artillery, and some field-pieces, formed on the dyke and licach which connect the sandhills of Patten to those of Camperdown. By 6.30 a.m. the infantry stood in colnnni of companies, the artillery on the right, and the cavalry on the

17»1

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

67

right of alL At seveu o'clock General Coote's, General Hutchiuaon's, Colonel MacDonald's, and General Moore's Brigades moved, The first turned at Camperdown immedi- ately to the left, and proceeded on the road to Sclioreldani. Tlie second moved on the ridge of the sandhills which com- manded that road ; the third entered and marched in the centre of the sandhills, inclining to the left. General Moore's Brigade formed the more immediate advance guard of the column by penetrating into the sandhills directly, and keeping continually his right Hank on the hills which rose from the beach.

" The French, though in possession of Camperdown Hill, an elevation of alKJut 300 feet, did not make any resistance to this firet movemenD, but fired a signal gun and retired skirmish- ing, when the advanced brigades got possession of the entrance to the sandhills, the main column proceeded forward, occasion- ally reducing its front when the beach became very narrow on account of the tide. The right tlank of the cavalry was con- tinually in the water. The column proceeded in this way for six or seven miles, the troops much harassed and fatigued in consequence of the nature of ihc soil, which yielded at every step up to their ankles.

•' The French had now lined some high sandhills with a body of riflemen, who began to keep up a very smart fire upon the British ; shortly they were considerably reinfoi-ced, and they galled our troojjs from almost every eminence and outlet of the multitude of sandhills. In spite of all, our troops advanced with that ardour and perseverance which so eminently dis- tinguish the British soldier. Though perfectly unacquainted with the system of sharp-shooting (and it is impossible not to lament the want of that species of warfare in our array), though galled on all sides by offensive weapons that did their mischief partly unseen and always at a distance; though momentarily deprived of the encouraging presence of their officers by wounds they received, and though they were themselves neither equipped for light servici', nor had t!ie advantage of a light body for that purjjose; notwithstanding this combination of unfavour- able circumstances, our brave countrymen persevered and fought their way for four miles. We should be unjust to omit on this occasion the honourable testimony which has

68

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

(17£>9

been given from every quarter of tiie personal courage and good example of their leaders.

"It was a country most favourable to tbe French system of making war, and gave them a decided advantage over an invading enemy. If we except their Grenadiers, the troops employed on this service were under the size of our rear mnk batt^^liim men.

'* General Moore's Brigade having suffered immensely Iwth in men and officers, i*egimenta from the main column were continually thrown into the hills, which measure became the more indispensable, as thi* force of the enemy hourly increased upon us. Only the 92nd Regiment and some of the Guards remained with the cavalry and artillery on the beach. The French, taking advantage of every strong post which cum- manded the beach, kept up a galling fire ; they brought two guns from Egmont-op-Zee, which were advantageously planted. and cannonaded the column on the beach and the cavalry. A strong body of French also appeared on the heights above Bergen. The British on the sandhills were exhausted by fatigue and want of water, and weakened by loss of men. In vain did they attempt to storm the enemy's position, they were beaten back, but their innate intrepidity seemed to rise in proportion as the resistance they met became more formid- able and destructive ; they repeated the attack with unab.ale<l fury, and though their ranks were thinned, no symptom of fear or disorder appeared amongst them. The remainder of the column was ordered to charge, the whole instantly pushed forward against the post, which formed towards the Ijcach an amphitheatre of hills, the tops of which were defended by the enemy. Our troops rush through a most tremendous fire of musketry, gain pos8es.sion of the heights and drive the enemy to a considerable distance. By this time Colonel MacDonald's Brigade had arrived, and became instantly engaged on the left. About half-pasfc four o'clock the enemy gave way and retired on all sides, but as Bergen was not taken and the British were considerably advanced, Sir Italph determined to take up his position for the night, and not push forward to Egmont- op-Zee till the day following.*

* Partial acrount nf the aclion fought in North Holl&nd on the 2iid Oetolier 1799 ; liy in oflBcer engaged in Sir R. Alwraromby'B Divinon.— Jfi/. Journal, Vol. ir.

175»]

TUB <.;oia>ON IIIUIILANDERS.

69

" Our gims IniU been advanced to check the Fn.'iicli iutillery, and two troops of Ihc 15tli Light Dragoons guarded tliem, being ooQcealed by sandhills, when 600 French cavalry, thinking the gTina unprotected, charged them, and were actually engaged Mrith the gunners when the two troops of the 15th diished into the French, and drove them ofl". The French, ashamed of being repulsed by such a handful of men, rallied and ail- vauced again, when a third troop of the 15 th, which had been ordered to advance, came up. cliarged, and drove them ott' half a mile. The wliole British cavalry had now reached the scene of action, but it waa too late to attempt more. When the last charge was made it was near six o'clock. The cavahy passed the night on the beach in line with the infantry on the sand- hills, where neither horses nor men had any water."

The Duke of York, in his dispatch of October 4th, states — "The points where this well-fought battle were principally contested were from the sea-shore in front of Egraont, extend- ing along the sandy desert or hills to the heights above Bergen, and it was sustained by the British columns under those higldy diatiuguished officers. General Sir Ilalph Abercromby and Lieut.- General Dundas, whose exertions, as well as the gallantry of the brave troops they led, cannot have been surpassed by any former instance of British valour."

The following description of the part more immediately played by the Gordon Highlanders is taken from Cannon's "Historical Record": — "The 92nd Regiment was ordered to escort twenty pieces of artillery to the front along the sea- shore. In the performance of this duty it wjts attacked by a column of nearly 6000 men, when a most sanguinary conJlict ensued, immedijitely under the eye of General Su- lialph Aber- cromby.* Trusting to their superior numbers, the French udv-iuiced with resolution, and fairly met the bayonets of tlie regiment. Colonel the Marquis of Iluiitly was wounded in this memorable charge,+ which completely overthrew the

* 8ir Ralph'd ton Aerved in the ranks of the Ciordon Higblfttidera at EgXDont-op-2^e as a volocteer. — Letter /rorn James Er»kxnt o/ Cardrosx, dnted 0€tcUr*MtK, 179i».

t 'Vhe Priuce of VViJes presented the Marquiii of Huntly with a Highland ■mff-mull, set in gold with a Gaelic inHcription. in memory nt his conduct on UiM ocGMion.

70

raS LIVE OF A EEGIUENT.

[1799

enemy and preserved the guns; the command then devolved upon Lieut.-Colonel Erskine.

"The French centre waa supported by the town of Alkmaar,* and Sir Ridph Abercromby had passed Bei-gen, in order to turn the French position at Alkmaar, to which place the 92nd, immediately after the brilliant affair before recorded, advanced. As the men fought hand to hand, the conflict was signalised by many feats of individual bravery and devoted courage.

" It may be observed that this is one of the few in- stances on record of crossing bayonets by large bodies. Even the supernumerary rank of the 92 nd on this occasion was bayoneted. Among the number Lieut. Gordon M'Hardy was killed, and Lieut. Donald M'Donald (who afterwards succeeded to the command of the regiment at Waterloo) received three bayonet wounds."

A private soldier of the regiment, in his journal published afterwards, mentions, as an instance of the fierceness of the figfit, that when searching for the killed and wounded among the sandhills, they found a Highlander and a Frenchman fast locked together in the death grip.

A B>ench writer also says — " I^s deux partis se cbargeront plusieurs fois a la baionnette avec la plus graude fureur." " On remarqua le courage et I'addresse des raontagnards Ecossais qui combattaieut dans les inoudations, et franchis- saient avec agilite tons les obstacles pour gagner le flanc des troupes qui leur etaient opposces." "•" And in the Military Jaurtial, 1799, Vol ii., p. 146, in describing the action of October 2nd, it is said : — " The courage and activity which were exhibited by the Scotch Highlanders J on this occasion drew the attention and excited the admiration of both sides.

• The country behind the aandhills liehind Alkmaar is flat and intersected by dykes, ditches, and canals, aud part of it had been inundated by the Fronch.

t "The two parties charged eaoli other aevcra) times with the bayonet." " People remarked the courage and address of the Scotch mountaineers who fought in the tnumlatioca, and overcame with aglHty all obstaclefl,, to gain the flank of the troops opposed to them,"— Duma*' " Precis des 6vtoeine&B Mili- taires," Vol. ii.

t The T9th and g2nd.

1799]

TIIK GOJUXtN IIIGHLANDEitS.

Theae brave fellows were seen up to their middles in witter straggling to outflank the troops that were opposed to tliem, and dai-iug with wonderful intrepidity not only the elements, but manfully and dexterously pushing forward in the midst of a severe and giilliog lire."

Had war correspondents accompanied our urmy then, no doubt many heroic actions would have been made public which were only heard of by the comrades of the actors, or in the glens and villages where they related them on their return.

Perhaps Private Norman Stewart summed up the ]ier- formauce of his comi*ades as well as a more otfieial dispatch, when he told an English inquirer, *' Ilka lad shot a shentleman to hersel."

The Gordon Higlilanders had proved themselves as firm in fight as they were " polite " and " orderly " in quarters. They had won their first honour, the royal authority being given to bear the word " Egmont-op-Zee " on the regimental colour and appointments. They may have afterwards equalled, but they could never excel, the conduct displayed in this their first great battle.

An incident well known in the regiment may be here related. Major-General Moore, having been severely wounded in th« course of this eventful day, was lying on his face stunned and apparently dead ; as his senses were returning, lie heard two soldiers of the Gordon Highlanders say, "Here is the* general, let us take him to the doctor." and, having done so, they aaid, "We can do no more; we must join the lads, for every man is wanted." On his recovery, the general inquired for these men, and oHered a reward of £20, but no one clainied iL It was therefore supposed either that they were killed, or were prevented l>y the feeling common among Highlanders, that it is wrong to take money either for preserving the life of a friend, or for taking the life of an enemy.* General MtKjre remarked that " it was a noble trait of the regiment that no man in its ranks came forward to personate the parties and claim the reward." In any case, the circumstance says mach for the honourable feeling of the men.

In 1804, (ieneml Moore, on being made a Knight of the * Soe note ou Moore's death at Coruoua.

12

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

Bath, wrote to the commanding otHcer,* that being as a knight entitled to supporters to his coat of arms, he had chosen a light infantry soldier for one, being colonel of a light infantry regiment, and a Highland soldier fur the other, " in gmtitude to, and io commemoration of " these two soldiers, adding, " I hope the 92nd will not have any objections, as I have com- manded them, and aa they rendered me such a service," and he asked to have a correct drawing of the uniform.

That night the Gordons had to lament the loss of many a comrade who would see Lochaber no more.. The regiment had 3 officers, 2 sergeants, and 65 rank and tile killed in action ; 12 officers were wounded (of whom Captain M'Lean was alsoa taken prisoner), 208 N.-C. officei"s and soldiei*s were wounded, of whom 29 died of their wounds, and 38 were taken prisoners of war, of whom some were wounded. So that out of the 33 officers (including the staff) and 713 K-C. officers and men who were fit for duty on the morning of October Ist, 15 officei"S and 313 N.-C. oHicers and men were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner by the evening of the 2nd I

Officbrs Killed. Captain William M'Intosh. Lieutenant George Fraser. „ Gordon M'Hardy.

Officbrs Woundbd. Cfolonel the Marquis of Huntly. Captain John Cameron. „ Alexander Gordon. „ John M*Lean. „ Peter Grant. Lieutenant Nornmn M'Leod. „ Charles Cbad.

„ Donald McDonald.

„ Charla"! Canieron.

J, John M*Pherson.

Ensign George William Holmes. », James Bent.

The following list of N.-C. officers and soldiers killed or

• The letter is addremed to Lieut. -Colonel Napier of Blackatone, 92nd Regimeut.

1799]	TUfi OORDON IIIGHLANDKRS.	^H
died of	wounds is taken from the " Ecturi	of Trieii of the ^^H
92nd Regiment (or Oordon Highlanders)	killed, wounded, ^^^|
dead of wounds, and missing in consequence of the acLiou ^^|
which 1	Look place in Holland on the 2nd October 1799, as ^^H
also those that were drowned at tlie landing on the 27bh ^^|
August	1799. Chelmsford,	15th November 1799."* ^^|
i		KiLLBD.	^H
Rakk axd Name.	Parish.	^^^H
Sergnan	L William Gtirdoti .	Urquhart	Rdis^ ^^^I
ti	Kenneth M*Intosh	Durness . .	Caithness ^^^|
Corporal I>ona]d Froser .	Calder	^^^H
»»	John Hendry	Alloa . . .	Clackmannan ^^^H
♦J	Hugh Poller	Bally Qve . .	^^^H
Private James Aiulerstm .	Paisley . .	^^^H
»»	Andrew Banner .	Spey mouth ,	Mrirny ^^^H
•1	Duncan Cameron .	Kilmallie	Tnverue8ii ^^^|
»i	Roderick Chinliolni	Kilniallie	Tuvernoss ^^^H
^^^^^H	James Dfriiiie . .	Weymouth .	England ^^^H
^^^^r	Alexander Dobbio	Bellie . . .	Moray ^^^|
^^^^L	James Donald .	Huntly . .	Al>erdeen ^^^|
^^^^^^^k	John Dunwin .	Dr.llar . .	Clackmannan ^^^|
^^^^^^^1	Maluoliu Ferguson	, North Uist ,	InvernuBS ^^^H
^^^^^^^H	James Fraser . .	Rhynie .	Al )e rdeen ^^^H
^^^^^^	John Fraser	Ai-dersier	Inverness ^^^^|
^^H	John Goddes	Raffiu . . .	^^U
^^^H	Donald Gilliea . .	. Duriniah . .	Inverness ^^^|
^^^B	Alexander Galloway	.	8ttrlin,!4 ^^^H
^^^1	John Grant .	Kirkuiichael	^^H
^^H	William Hosack .		TnvtM'ness ^^^H
^^^P	James Jamiusou	Fetteresso .	Kincardine ^^^|
^^^H	Gilbert Kemp .		Alierdeen ^^^|
^^^H	William Le^ilie .	Achanduun .	^^M
^^^H	Matthew Loche« .	■ . . . .	Somerset ^^^|
^^^H	Donald Lowe .	Morven .	A rgyll ^^^1
^^^^L	Gilbert MacCormack	Kilmodan	^^H
^^^^^H	Angus MaeDonald	Boleskin . .	Inverness ^^^^H
^^^r	Ronald MacDouald	, Soutli Ui.st .	^^^^1
^^^B	Ewan M 'Donald .	Munir . .	Inverness ^^^^|
^^^H	Andrew MacFarlaue	Gorbala	Lanark ^^^H
^^^ * NaiRM of tlu>iie drovnied are i	aot giveu hero, but fi	ve of tlie fifteen were ^^^H
L Eroin lAvcrneaB-ahire.

^	THK LIFE OF A IlKt^lMKNT. KlhLKD—contintied,	[1799 1
^^^^^H	Rank akd Name.	Parish.	CODNTr. 1
^^^^f^ Private John MacKiiy .	. . Kilernan.	Ross ^^^fl
^^^^^^M	John MacKinnon	. . Muli ....	-^I'gyii ^H
^^^^^^	Donald M'Lean	. Kiltarity . .	Inverness ^^|
^^^^^^^^^H	Charles MacLeay	. . Girvan . . ,	^^H
^^^^^^^^H	Archibald MacMai	ster A rdnam u rchan .	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^H	James M'Neill .	. . Barra ....	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^^H	Roderick M'Neill	. . Barnt ....	Inverness ^^|
^^^^^^^^^^H	William MacPhers	ioti ICingussie	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^B	Jamea MacQuoen	, . St Nicholas . .	A berdeen ^^|
^^^^^^^^^H	Angus MacPliee	. Kilraallie . .	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^H	Alexander MacPh	ee . Eilmallie . .	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^H	John Mathiesou		Inverness ^^|
^^^^^^^^^H	John Micham		^H
^^^^^^^^^H	William Millar	Dunnet .	Caithness ^^H
^^^^^^^^1	Andrew Morrison	Muthi] . . .	Perth ^H
^^^^^^^^^^1	Eljenezer Monteitl	1	Stirling ^^H
^^^^^^^^^H	Andrew Plamon (?	)	Falkirk ^^M
^^^^^^^^H	Duncan Rankin*	Kilmallie . .	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^1	William Reid .	. Urtjuhart	Inverness ^^|
^^^^^^^^1	John Roxburgh	Newton Stewart	Galloway ^^H
^^^^^^^^^P	Peter Simpson .	. Old Maohar . .	A be r li ee n ^^H
^^^^^^^^V	Alexander Stuart	Kincardine .	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^H	James Stuart .	. Sleat ....	Inverness ^^H
^^^^^^^^^B	James Stuart ,	Mortleigh	BiinS ^H
^^^^^^^^H	James Sutherland	. ThurHO . ,	Caithness ^^|
^^^^^^^^^H	John Taylor	Fori'es	Moray ^^H
^^^^^^^^^H	David Thomson		Falkirk ^H
^^^^^^^^^H	John Watson .	. Cromarty . .	Ross ^^H
^^^^^^^^^^^^n	AlexandtM" Wood	,	Abertleen ^^H
^^^V The above 60 names	arc all I lin<l in the litHurn, biu the |
^^^H " Historical Hecord " mal^	:es the uumber 65,	and regimental 1
^^^^^^ record	agrees.		J
^^^^K	Dii	5D OP Wounds.	J
^^^^^^	Rank and Name.	PaH18H.	Cor.NTT. ^^1
^^^^1 Bnrgeant Alexander GoHon	. Cairney . . .	Aberdeen ^^M
^^^^1 Corpora	1 Dtmald MticPhersi	n . Kin^usaie	Inverness ^^M
^^^H Private	Alexander Barkly	, Kinethmont . .	Aberdeen ^^B
^^^^^■^^	Thomas Blain .	. Giflbrd . . .	Haddington M
^^^^^^^^^^^^K	Nob in Return, but roe	ationed by Captain Cameron as killed. ^^H

Died of Wounds Rahk AMD Nans. Private John Bremner . .

„ Norraan Buchanan*

„ AJhm Cameron

„ Ewan Cameron (2"<'

„ Donald Cattanach

,» Donald Catherwoo<l

„ John Duahble . . .

„ Thomati Edmonston .

„ George Elswj^rth . .

„ Charles Fergutson .

„ James Forbes . . .

„ Alexander Gow , .

„ John Grant ....

„ Donald MacE^iehau .

„ John MacEachan . .

„ Donald Mac In tyre

r„ John M'Pherson . .

„ John Martin . . .

„ W. Nichol ....

„ James Rankin . . .

„ Alexander Reynolds .

„ JameH Robertson . ,

„ John Stuart

„ Angus Sutherland

„ James Wood t

Devon Balfron

Dorset

Inveravon Gen vie Inveravon

Strath

Monir

Siiutb Uist

Duriiiish

Innerat

Mortlich

Airdrie

Kirkmichael Lagie . .

England Stirling England Armagh

Banff

Banff

Inverness

InverncHS

Inverness

Inverness

Inverness

Banff

Lanark

Falkirk

Stirling

Banff

Sutherland

Glasgow

which are ciilled Lieut. -C'<<h*tiel

k

In the Ueturn they are ;j;iven hy companies,

the Colonel's (formerly Captain M'liittvsh's),

Erakine's, Major Napier's, Captain John Cameron's, Captfiin

Ramsay's or (irenadiers, Captain Pa ton's (»r Li^^diL, (Japtain

Gordon's, (.'aptain M'Lean's. Captain MacUonald's (formerly

Colonel's), Captain Grant's.

The troops passed the night on the gromnd they had won. ITie distance from Patten to Egmont is about fifteen miles, and the army had fought its way over ground sometimes of deep, yielding sand, and sometimes deep in water. They were worn out with fatigue, tliose on ilie sandhills by the sea had no

* N. Buchanan is mentioned later as d.o.w. priaoner. t Cannon's " History" gives the return of killed as 65, aud wotinded 208. ^8ee Appendix.)

7$

THK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1799

water, and the state of the country was siicli that waggons for Uie wounded could not be brought forward till late next day.

Meanwhile, Oenenil Bnine, finding himself outflanked by the British column under l^ir Ralph Abercroniby,* and finding his centre menaced, drew hack his line to a position stronger than that he had left. On the 3rd October the order had just been given for the troops to send for their rations, when a rej»ort was made that the French were retiring from Egmont- op-Zee. Not a moment was to be lost. The troops slootl to Ihcir arms, and marched forward without expressing a murmur, IcAving tl»eir provisions on the ground. It was expected that a strongly armed battery would have to be carried by assault, but the French had retired two hours, and were not overtaken in a pursuit of three miles. The British entered Alkmaar and pushed their advanced posts forward, so as lo stand parallel with those of the French-Dutch army. They were OAUtoneil in birns and huts, but tlie remainder of the 92n<i bivouacked that night on the ground near Egmont. The troops had suffered nlmost as much as human nature could endure, but their etlbrts hud been crowned with success.

Sir lUlph Abercromby's Division did not sutler in the

^ tiottou of the 3nl, the brunt of it falling on the other British

divisions and on the Kussiana. The French-Dutch sullered

fliVei^ly. and we took 5 00 prisoners.

Chi the -ith and 5 th October the two armies rested on ibeif Arms, but on the 6th an attack was iimdu by the Duke ol York on the entire front of the enemy's line. In the bt^ttlKg of the engagement the Anglo- Kussian iirniy made IMVWmI ftUOOessful impressions against the enemy, took Aekcrs- Kulk WhI advanced to Castricum ; but the action becoming |^«- * ^' lu-nd lirune, availing himself of u fuvounible open- Ill^, '.A ut the head of his cavalry, and broke the Anglo- l^u^u hue, and they were driven back with considerable iMlk Itt ihia successful advance General Brune had two Imw« alMi under him.

\h« Mipi^ment lasted till night, when the French-Dutch

• Ml«Sj*r»^<««nU Moore boing womided on the 2iid, Majnr-Oeneral Knox, 1^^ Hk likkv RMiiAtt oolunm. was romoveil to command the 4tb Brigade of

iTiS]

THE GORDON RIGIILANDKRS.

77

wrmy returned to its original position, but the issue of the

'■little, though by no means decisive, was in their favour.

They had rendered the British attack abortive, an attack on

I which depended not only the success of their enterprise, but their means of subsistence, as no provisions could be obtained in the situation of the Anglo- Russian army, whose position is described by the Duke of York in Orders of the 8th as ono of " insupportable hardship." A Council of War, assembled by the Duke of York, decided that the army could not maintain itself in its present posi- tion, and they accordingly retired behind Zype. Although in this new position the army was not more than six or seven miles from where they disembiirked, its communications were * rendered impracticable by the continual rains that had fallen, the breaking up of the roads, and overllowiug of the dykes and wuiaU.* Tlie French, under Bnine, entered Alknmar on the 8th, and his right column, under fJeneral Daendcis, entered Hoom on the 9 th. The Anglo- Russians retreated from |Enkhiiiaen and Medemblick, after having destroyed the Limber ind dockyards, some ships of the Dutch East India Company, ad most of the public stores ; but they were obliged to leave their wounded for want of conveyance, t

The rear-guarfl was attacked, and (.Teneral Daendels threatened the left ; and there was constant skirmishing. On the 12th and 13th the Anglo-Russians occupied ground near Zype, before Patten, Wjirmenknyzen, Dirkslioorn, and Winkel ; >ine in huts and some in tents covered with straw and ^Lranches. Here an arini.stice was proposed, and the terms were concluded at Aikmaar on the 18th, It wns agretul that hostilities should cease, that the allied army should re-embark and leave Dutch territory by November lst,J that 8000

^H • The men were employed in ropairitig the roads ami dykes — for which ^^Hkey were allowed "working rnoaey " — "on accouat of the severity of the ^b|tti«r."

^^Hb^ It appears that, ahhongh the women were not allowed to ivocompany the

^^w&p», tome had contrived to follow them, ami Ihoae who hud no children

w<ere given employment, if they wished it, as nurses for the wounded. The

rit*rs were to return to England, and to receive two guineas each on arrival en«kl« them to get home. ; In General Orders, October 20th, H.R.H. "has the aatiflfactioa to Announce to the troops that it has been found advanUgeous to both armica to

78

THB UFB OV A REGIMENT.

[1799

French and Dutch ])risoners should be given np, ttinong them Admiral de Winter, who had been taken prisoner at the uaval battle of Camperdown in 1797.

General Bruiie's plan of defence, of which the iiiuudatioa of the country by ciitthig the canals formed an importani part, was ao good that, notwithstanding the well-concerted niaua?uvres of the British generals and the valour of their troops, this victorious army was checked within six miles of the field of battle, and the enemy, though beaten, obtained a decisive supt^riority. Great Britain had, however, accomplished half her object in the capture of the Heet.*

The Gordon Highlanders, reduced as they were in number took part in all the operations of the campaign without further^ loss in officers or men. The regiment received a draft, as on October 9th mention is made in Orders of " the men who have lately joined being posted to companies."

At this time Lieut.-Colonel Erskine commanded the Brigade. Major-General Knox being otherwise employed.

Tlie following letters from Captain John Cameron to his father at Fassiefern give a graphic account of part of this campaign as seen by a eonipany officer, and serve incidentally to show the interest taken by the officers in their men.

Letter from Captain John Cameron to his father at Fassiefern : —

OcDESLUia, 3rfl Sejttcmber 1799. We set sail from the Downs on the 13th of August, and on the 15th we were in sight of Isle Showen, when such a violent tempest arose aa drove us out to sea, where we have tos-sed alxiot at the mercy of the winds ftnd waves till the 21st, when we again came in mglit of lan<l, and anchored that night in .sight of the entrance of the Toxel, in company with Admind Duncan's fleet and the Russian fleet. On the morning of the 22nd we weighed and stood in

enter into an agreement and cessatiou of arms, the object of which, on our part, is the undisturbed evacuation of a country in which, h'orn the untoward circumHtanceii of the weather and lateneaa of the season, it is found impractic- fthle any longer to carry on offenaive ojwrationB, and on that of the enemy to pre\-ent the execution of strong inoaaurea of severity and destruction, which it appeared in our power to execute, but which are repugnant to Britiah feel- ing and practice,"

* Prize-inouey was afterwards given to the soldiers and Bailors for the capture of the Hutch fleet and arsenals.

I7W1

THE GORDON IIIGHLANriERS.

79

towanis the land, when a violent current had nearly driven us on the Uack, a dangerous shoal in the entrance of tht? Texel. We were immediately ohlige<l to bear up anil I'oine to anchor. About an hoar after, it blew a perfect hurricane from the north-wpst, which endangered the whole fleet. However, after the loss of about twenty anchors, we got to sea again, where the horrorB of the scene w»?it? indescriliable, and our situation l>ecanie truly unpleafnint ; but at l.'ist, aft^r failing in another attempt Ut got inshore, on the evening of the 2Gth our fleet were all safely moored in a line extending from within four miles of Canipcrdown on the right to ibe Ijattery on the Main at the entrance of the Texel on the left. Our gunboats and all the ships of war (jia the enemy themselves afterwards acknowledge*!) were extremely judiciously placed, an<l moored so close inshore us effectually u» protect our landing.

The situation of the country is very unfavourable to a landing if opposed by a spirited enemy. The beach, to l>e sure, is smooth anti hard, but there is constantly a great swell upon it,

Aboat tifty paces from the beach a doul>le row of sand heights extend themselves from C/imperdown on the right to a battery vithin two miles of the Helder on the left, forming the extreme point on one side, as Toxt^t, a small village on the island of Texel, the other, to the entrance of the Texel or Zuyder-Zee. The is so narrow that but one aliip can pass at a time, and it will admit the largest ships, yet were a 74 by any accident to turn crossways in entering, her stem and stern would be on the bank, whilst there might be twenty fathoms water under her waist. In this entrance the Dutch frigates were moored in line at a place eallet^l Vew Deep ; about three miles further in lay the Dutch fleet under Admiral Hory. They were covered by a considerable hattery At the extreme point of the entrance, being at the end of the saml height, and another Isetwixt that and the Helder, supposed U) l>e the strtmgest in Holland, mounting '>2 pieces of onlnance, 24 of thenj 24-pounders. Parallel to the siind heights lies one of the moat immense plains 1 ever beheld — a dead flat, but partially dividwl from the heights by an ugly, though narrow, lake or marshy swamp, nejirly opposite to the right of our fleet. There was a trifling kind of work with a few guns placed in the interval of the Hand heights, cjdle<l Pitten. The Dutch army was posted in front of Pitten, with the marsh in front, their left and rear covered by part of the Zuyder-Zee. A division of them occupied a post with a flag- utaffon the sand huighU above Pitten, ami they had almost 2000 men ip tlie l)attery at the point and Helder. About daylireak on the

80

THE LIPK OF A RKGIMKNT.

(1799

morning of the 27tli we began to get into the boats, and at four the 3rd Brigade and a battfdion of Guards and the reserve were engaged with the enemy in the interval betwixt the heiglits, below Pitten, on the sejvsiile. 1 happened to be amongst the first of our regiment that landed, with two companies, and was ordered to march to the riag-statf on the heights alwvo Pitteti (where the battle then rage<l), there to remain till furtlicr orders. When we got to the heights, we foun*l them hotly engaged about a rjuarter of a mile from us on our right. There and on the left, to wliitih wc were removetl an hour or two after, we remained idle spectators of the whole action, which lasted with great fury on both side* till four in tlie afternoon. Sir Ralph exposed himself like a boy for a long time iu the hejitof Jiction, which animated the troops in an extraordinary degree ; but, not- withstanding, the victory was not immediately very complete, as General Daeudilio retired without confusion, without interruption, and without being followed ; but, indeed, they had a great train of artillery, and we had not got any landed, ami our left was not engaged, being reserved for the attack of the batteries, which was the main object ; but, to our astonishment, about eight at night they evacuated them without firing a shot,spiktr5g their cannon and iHiLurning to their army, and we iuimediately took poiuiesaion. Major Gordon was sent with my cotirpany and another to take puBseasion of the Dutch arsenal at Newark, where we saw our fleet oblige the Dutch fleet to surrender, and where we met with more attention froui the Dutch Admiral Boser than ever I met with in any part of the world. Never as long as I breathe will I forget the kindness of the honest B, and his beautiful Irish wife.

The Dutch army are returning towanb Alkmaar, and our first line have advanced this far after them, about fourteen miles fi-om Newark, which is about thi*ee miles from Helder. Our regiment compose the left of General Moore's Briga<ie, which is the left of the first line of the army, and opposed to the riglit of the Duteh army.

From the same to the sama

Fribosnhof, nth SejitenUttr 1799,

I wrote you very fully from Oudesluis, the place we were last in, about eighteen miles from tli is, gi ving as far as 1 could some account of our movements. I forgot to mention one very melancholy circum- stance that took place as we lamie<l in this country. A boat, cfirry- ing part of Captain (rore's company of ours, overset, by which means 1 sergeant and 14 privates of oui-s, a midshipman and 7 seamen wei*e drowned. I am extremely sorry to say two of the men were Barra

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

81

men, Donald M'Kinnon and Alexander M'Leod — poor fellows, their fcite was rejilly hard. We left Oudeslttis on the 5th and marched to this place, from which Major Napier was advanced with twu com- paniee, one of which was mine, to the villages in front, and about eiglit

• miles distant from Alkmaar. There we had an opportunity of seeing the enemy daily, and of skirmishing with their advanced posts. On the 8th we were reliered and returned here. On the evening of the 9th I was sent out with a picket of reserve of eighty men, with some artillerynien and a howitzer, in rear of our frtrmer postB. At tlie village during the night the enemy were pretty quiet, except when tliey kept beating their drums and sounding bugles constantly. About daylight General Moore came up on his way ttj the advanced posts, and on my inquiring if I should return to my picket, he said not this day. Soon aft^r an extreme smart firing commenced on the right of the line of the army. In about half-an-hour the genera! re- tamed and told me he pereeivefl the enemy intended to attj^ck the whole line. He had scarcely spoken when the firing became violent at the advanced posts at the villages, and the general toltl me to form my picket so as to cover the retreat of the advanced posts. The situation was an extremely advantageous one. Our men were placed on the reverse side of a pretty high dyke, just so far up as to he able to see well over it, with the howitzer on the top. The adranced posts l>egan immediately to retiru, and the enemy pursued with great activity, consiiiering the place being completely inter- sected with canals, and the bridges all broken down. The general remained on the very spot where I was formed with my picket. enemy hatl now forced all the advanced posts, and aliarp- ters from their advance began to try their hand, when the Royals appeared and soon after formed. They had scarcely formed, (,oiir regiment also came up, and my picket joined their com- '^And the action commenced. This battle was a severe onp whUe it lasted, and was equally severe throughout the whole line. Three battaUons of Grenadiers supported by field pieceu attacked

\ oar poet three different times, but were very soon repulsed, each lime with great slaughter, and, which is very extraordinary, with httle or no loss on our aide (owing, I believe, to our being so well ■hdtered by Uie dyke), as we had only one man killed, and Captain Bamsay and six or seven men wounded. The man who was killed was, poor fellow, a Uist man of my company. 1 had also a man wounded, kje man. General MfKjre was wounded In the finger, and Captain nsay in the thigh, hut the escapes on all sides were wonderful. Tb« unemy took at least four or five hours retiring from the time

82

THE LIFE OF A RRGIMKNT.

[1799

they commenced tbeir retreat, aiitl filed ofl* pretty regularly iowards AlkiDaar, whifh was at least ten miles distant. This action, I think, reflect* great lustre on the BritiKJi arms, and adds much to the char- acter of Sir Ralph. General Moore's compliments to our regiment were, I think, beyond measure high and flattering. He said that to- day he waa indeed proud of being a Scotchman, and that he never saw so much bravery joined U> such a reJidy obedience of orders. Our conduct to the prisoners, upwartls of tifty of whom we took, was truly meritorious, as we extended mercy to all, even to villains who were skulking behind ditches and in hop fields, and taking their deliberate aim hours after the action. One fellow in particular fired at one of our sergeants as he passed from one company to another, and that instant held up his hands for mercy, which was shown him. Another fellow fired at three of our officers and im- mediately surrendered.

From the same to the same.

Dbsltf, near St ■

-, North Holland,

October 4<A, 1799.

It is with infinite concern and even reluctance that I find my- self bound to write to you on the present occasion, as my letter must be one continued detail of the most tragical, though glorious, events. About three o'clock on the morning of the 2nd, the column of the allied army under Sir Ralph Abercromby, of which General Moore's Brigade (to which you know the 92nd belong) formed a part, commenced its march in order to attack the enemy by a flank movement. Our march was along the seaside w^ith a range of very high sandhills on our left, which extend all along the cofist. The passage is in some places so narrow that we could march but by half companies, and often only six or seven men abreast. The in- tention waa that our column was to tfike Egmont-op-Zee, which lay about thirteen or fourteen miles distant on an angle of these sand- hills, and by which the enemy's whole position would be exposed, as it flanks Alkmaar. During the march, and till we came in view of Egmont, the enemy were continually retreating before us and evacuating their posts on the hills with \'ery little fighting, but then it was that the battle raged with great fury on both sides. Our situation at first was really a cruel one. We were a good deal exposed to their fire without having it in our power to return it, as they were screened by the sandhillK, and several of uur regiments were engaging them between us and them. During this period we hod twenty men wounded, and poor Lord Huntly received an ugly wound

THE GOKDON tnGHULNDERS.

83

in the shoulder. Our right wing was now ordered by Sir Ralph to charge them, which tht^y did with the bayonet. However, imr left was soon obliged to support our right, when, after a most obstinate resistance, we drove them from sandhill t/O sandhill about two miles back» but, God knows, not without considerable loss. The remains of the 92nd continued on that ground all night and last night also, and were tliis morning, I am told, to join the column in storming Egmont. You will see by the papers the loss we have austainetl ; it is painful and horrible to me to think of it. There is, I hope in God, not much fear for tlie wounderi officers anil men, as any of them (Heaveidy Creator, rest their souls !) that were severely wounded died from the coldness of the night in the tield. Of the poor lads that left the country with me, an far as I can yet leani,, there is killed — Alexander M'Phee and Angus M'Phee, and Duncan Rankin ; wounded — Sergeant M'Kinnon, Corporals Duncan and Richard Evans. Lieutenant D. M 'Donald, Duncan's friend, is amongst the worst wounded of the officers that have sur\nvcd. He has got two thrusts of a bayonet through his brcust. Of my company I do not exactly know the lo.ss, but when I left the field I could find but tive or six of them that were not either killed or wounded- Charles Cameron, my only officer, was wounded half-an- hour before I was ; piwr Hugh Achreachten and Captain Cam|ibel], I>untroon,* were killed very early in the day within Hfty paceti of but alas ! it was not in my power to see two such intimate friends put decently under ground. T am just at this moment told that there are thirty-six of my company still to the fore. Late in the evening I received a slight wound in the knee ; you may easily suppose it is a slight one, when I remained an hour with the regi- ment, charged once with them after I got it, and did not leave it till they forced me to the doctor. The clutching the docloi" liswl at me to get out the ball was infinitely worse than the wound itself, and disabled me so much that I was obliged to be moved back to the cantonments, t

From the same to the same.

YaRMOLith, 2nti Norrmhfr 1799. I wrote you immediately after the action of the 2mi October, tttioning some of the particulars of that dear-bought glory which

* One of the 79th.

t He seemc to h&ve made Ughi of tfiis wound purposely, n<] it appears be

» laid np a long time by it.

84

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

(1799

the 92nd acquired that day, but I believe I forgot to mention Ewati Cameron, Glensuilach, lieing pretty severely wounded, though now doing well (as all the wounded are). His brother Allan, Glen- coe's old f^ervant, died of his wounds the day after the action ; little Dougald Cameron, from Dochonassie (Mr Ross's regimental weaver, who belonged to my company), fought like a lion that day ; though wounded in three ditferent places, one being through and through his body, he refused to quit the iield till the action was o%'er. ile WEis sent to England in one of the hospital ships.

A Story was told me many years ago by an old man at Ballachulish of Ewen MacMillan, Captain Cameron's foster- brother, who was a soldier in his company and his servant. Ewen was a good shot and skirmisher, liaving been accastonoed to deer-stalkiug * at home. Ouii day on outlying picket in Holland, when the French rillemen were annoying them l)y firing from shelter, and at greater distances than the High- landers' smooth-bores coald reach, MacMillan, seeing one of the enemy take cover at a place where he thought he could get within reach unseen, proceeded without permission to leave his post and stalk the Frenchman, crawling along the back of a wall, till, thinking himself sure of his aim and resting his musket on the wall, he was about to fire, but the Frenchman was too sharp for him and fired fifst, the bullet cutting off part of his ear. Not disconcerted by this near shave, he fired in return, wounded his adversary, and lief ore the latter had time to reload,! rushed in and bayoneted bim ; then running back to his comrades, and pointing to his bleeding head, in an aggrieved tone said to his captain in his native tongue : —

" Am bheil sibh a faicinn gu'de a rinn Mac an Diabhul sin onn?"

* In those dftys when strangers were seldom seen in the Highlands, and flliootings or fiahings were of no letting value, though the Game Laws were more severe than now, little notice was taken if the people took a deer or a salinoi) for their own sport and use, ao loag aa they did not come for them toal near the laird's resideooe. The feeling on this subject ia emhodied in the Gaelic ' saying, " Slat aa a. choille, Breac as an liunhe, Fiadh as an fhireach. M«L<irIe as nach do ghabh duine riabh nAire." — " A stick from the wood, a trout from the poot, a deer from the hill (sky-line), thoft that a man was never oshameil of."

t Loading an old-fashioned rifle was often a work of time ; the bullet hod to be rammed home often with a mallet.

CHAPTER VT.

On the 28th October ihe regiment marched l«» ColenzugI>}', near the Helder, and embarked ou board H.M. ships Kent and Mtmarck, laudiug at Yannouth next day with an effective strength of 24 sergeants, 20 drmnmers, and 446 rank and file; and were billeted in the town. In Orders of the 29th, the fol- lowing regiments are ordered to Ipswich — 2nd liattalion Royals, 25th Regiment, 92nd Regiment (or Gordon Highlanders).

RO., Yannmiih, '6rd Nfmmber 1799. — The regiment will march to-morrow morning at half-past seven o'clock. The pipes will go round the town at seven.

No sooner, however, liad they arrived at Ipswich than they were ordered to Chelmsford, a three days' march. Such of the cunvalewcents among the wounded as were able walked under charge of a sergeant ; the others went on waggons. Captain Cameron, in a letter dated November 8th, gives an amusing account of the journey of some of the wounded officers: — " Captain Grant with his arm broken, Lieutemmt G. Fmser with a ball still lodged in his head, and your humble servant on crutches, set oiY from Yarmouth in a post-chaise together, with a stout fellow in his Highland dress mounted sometimes behind, sometimes before. You will readily conceive what an exhibition this appeared to honest John I'.ull I every minute expected to l»e asked what was to be paid for the show." *

At Chelmsford they were again under the orders of Major- Geiiernl Moore, U\ whom the commanding ol^icer applied for leave to let a certain proportion of the men g<» on pass to Scotland for part of t!ie winter. The journey was not so costly aa might be thought, as the Carron Company ran packets

• III R letter from ChelniBford, November 28th, "Captain M'Lcan. who was wounded luid takon prisoner, htia been aeut hack, and haa just jnineti tis ftlmoet perfectly recovered. Hi« accoiuitB of the treatrnent he received are not much to the credit of the French." Captain Cameron goea ou to mention the condition of such of the wounded as belonged to bis father's neighbourhood, for ths benefit of their friends, and aa to money aeiit through him by one of them to hb pareuts.

1800]

THE GORDON mGIILANUEllS.

87

from London to the Forth. These vessels were ariuiicl, for fear of privateers, and gave free passage to soldiers on furlough on their engaging to help to defend them.

While at Clielmsford, the bard MacKinnon, who was a corporal in the Gordon Highlanders, composed his well-known poem describing the battle of the 2nd October, which, with another on the Egyptian campaign, is given in the Appendix. They are considered among the iinest and most spirited pieces in the Gaelic language.

Soldiers' letters signed by the commanding othcer were allowed to go at a c!ieap rate of postage.*

On January 1st, 1800, the regiment wanted U) complete 381 men.

li.O.. January 9th. — Oificers will appear in grey pantuloona, half-boots, bonnets, sash, and gorgets, f when the regiment is oniered to parade in marching order; the grey pantaloons to have red binding on them.

By Horse Guards Order of February Zn\, 1800, hair- I, powder was ordered to be discontinued by His Majesty's com- ' mand. This must have been an iniiuense relief to the army, for although no gentleman of fashion was in those days con- sitiered properly tumed out without it, it was very troublesome to tliose who did not aspire to that title. They, however, still wore false queues, " if their own hair does not admit of being tie<l in that form."

Here the regiment received canvas knapsacks painted yellow, having a circle of red in the centre, in which the crown and thistle, with the words " Gordojj Highlanders," were inflerted,

RO. — The bonnets to be fifteen inches in height, reckoning bvni the bottom of the velvet to the top of the feathers. The heckle to be worn upright, and to be of an equal height with the black feathers,J

* The rep^olar rate from England to Scotland was. for a eingle sheet Ik Sd., for I o£. 3s. 1 Gorgets were worn on duty till lit25.

t Pciwiorer Coqjoral lones, <«lenlivftt, who served from 1794 lill after Wjiterloo, told me that at one time they wore their feather» long "(railing ow«r OOT ahouldera," aa he expressed it, wliile, he said, the 42Dd wore them very tbort. Fiahions change, as the n2nd certainly wore the feathers shorter 4t » later period.

ad

THE UFE OV A REGLMEKT.

[1800

In February, a detaehrneiit of artillery with drivers, hoi-ses, and guiis was attached to the regiment, an(J forty men were selected to learn the exercise of the guns, Eiisigii Campbell being put ill charge of the whole. All the iiieu were aftei-warda taught guu-drill.

During the spring a few volunteers from Feiicibles were received, and also recruits. The colonel had power to discharge men, and " by Lord Hunlly's order," a man la discharged " having found another man in his place."

EM,, February 22nd, — The men who have been fixed upon Lo be detached as riflemen will take with them their new clothing, and they will immediately set about cocking and making up their new bonnets. The officers will take care that they be tieatly cocked.

IW,, Fdirnary 24:th. — The detachment of riflemen will irjarcb to-murrow at ten o'clock under uoinnuirid of Ensign Cameron. The major expects that the detachment will con- duct themselves in such a manner as to do credit to the regi- ment they belong to, and that Ensign Cameron will so exert luui- aelf on the morch, and after he has arrived at Horsham, that his detachment will appear as respectable in the corps they are to join, as the regiment has always done among other regiments.

The meaning of the above Order was that II.R.H. the Coimuander-in-Chief had been impressed by the rapid move- ments and accni-ate fire of the enemy's riflemen, an<l by the execution tliey had done in Holland ; he therefore determined to constitute a sinnlar corps as part of the British establish- ment. The eonnuanding oHicers of fourteen regiments of the line were directed to select from each 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 30 privates, and 1 person qualified for a bugler, to compose a rifle corps; and to send in to the Conmiaiulcr-in-Chief the names of 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, and 1 ensign willing to volunteer for this service.* These detachments were, assembled at Horsham, under Colonel Coote Maninngbani of the 41st Regunent, A.D,C. to His Majesty, and Colonel Steuart of the 67th,f as an " Experimental Corpa" Three companies of these

* Military Journal, Febmary 1801. — Willouglxby Verner's "Rifle Brigade ; " Sir VV. Cope'B " History of Rifle Brigade."

t Colonel Coote Manniugham, &nd Lieut. -Colonel tfae Hon. W. Steuart of

IWOl

TUK UUK1>UN UIGULAKDKKS.

89

rilleiiieii, made up of the detacliiiteiits of the Jioyals, 2;3r(l, 25th, 27th. 79th, and 92iKi liegiuieuts, under Licut.-Coloiiel Sl«murt, embarked with the force under Sir J. M. Pultoney, ami landed at Ferrol in Spain on the 25tli Auj^ust 1800 ; they covereil the advance, and particularly distinguisheil themselves in the two skimiishes wliich took place near that fortress, the Spaniards being defeated in both. Colonel Steuart was dan- gerously wounded, also 2 captains, 1 subaltern, and 8 rank and file, of whom some die<l of wounds. This was the first day a British riflemnn ever fired a shot at an enemy.*

The 79 th and 92nd detacliiuents fornit'd the Highland CJoiupaay, wearing their own ihess. When the Ilifle Corps was afterwards fonne<l, the ollicers and men of the " Experi- mental Corps " were allowed to volunteer for it, but with two exceptions the men of the Gordon Highlanders electeil to re- turn to their own regiment. Lieutenant Alexander Clarke, Ensigns Charles Cameron ami A. Cameron vohmLeered, however; bat Lieutenant Clarke was killevl in Egypt, and only the two eusigxis donned the " green jacket " as lieutenants. The latter f

the C7th (formerly of the 42ud Regiment), fourtli son of the Rarl of Galloway, had addreatwd a letter to the Secretary for War urging ** the importance of having iu the Brituh army a regiment armed with a rifled arm." The " Ktperiineutal Rifle Corps" being a Bucee»s, it was determined to niiao a " Corpa of Riflemen." This corps had a great many nr en from the Scottinh Fe&cible« ; out of it grew the 95th Rifle Regiment, which became the RiHc Brigade. — W. Verner'a " Rifle Brigade."

[Tlie rifle nsed by the " Experimental Rifle Corps," 1800, was supplied by a L<indon gnnmaker named Kscekiet Baker ; known as the " Baker Rifle." It. waa '2 feet 6 inches long in the barrel, 7 grooved, and rifled one t|uarter torn. The balb were 20 to the lb. ; weight of arms 91 lbs. ; sighted to lOfl jardj, and by a folding >*ight to 200 yards; loaded with Homo dilliculty, and ■malt woo«len mallets were supplied to assist in ramming down the ball. The oocps carrieil a horn for powder and a |K>ucb for bullets. In the stock of rifle waa a btaas box to contain the greased i-ag iu which the ball wan wrapped. A picker to clean the touch-holo and n bru»h were suspended V^y brass chains to the belts. A trinngular sword-bayonet was fixed by a spring. The emooth bore ballets weighed 14 to the lb.— Sm J. Cofk.]

* lliere had previously been only foreigners in British pay armed with the ritte. Tlie HOth were Germaus.

t In the last century, when Knsipn Cameron joined, candidntes for coni- munons were not required to pass diffR-ult examinations, and young Highland MBilciDieii, instead of being sent south, were generally educated at home, and brougitt op among the country people, joining in their ajwrta and also in the work of tlie estate or fann, Young Cameron was clipping a sheep when a

«0

THE LIFE 01'" A REUIMBNT.

[1800

cveiitimlly bccaiiiu General Sir Alexander Cameron, K.C.B., of Iiiverailort, Colonel of the 74th Highland Itegimeut, and his Bou, Aithur Wellington Canieronj served in the 92nd from 1844 till 1876, and coniinanded the regiment in India,

ILO., March 24th, 1800. — As the issue of beer ceased to-day, and as in future the men are to receive Id. a day in lieu thereof, that sum is to be added to their present weekly rate of subsistence,*

On April 10th, 1800, the regiment was ordered to the Isle of Wight, marching in three divisions on the 12th, 14lh, and 15th, and arriving at Newport on the 23rd, where they were quartered in billets, a detach ineut being at West Cowes.

A severe scarcity had followed the disastrous harvest of 1799, and provisions had risen almost to famine prices;! con- sequently, the commanding otlicer allowed married men with families to add to their means by working in the neighbour- hood.

RO., Newport, May 15th, 1800. — -The lieiit.-colonel begs olhcers commanding companies to impress on their men's minds that meat of every kind is procured at present \Nith the greatest difficulty, and they cannot expect to receive it of as good quality as when it was in greater abundance. The soldiers, in looking about them and comparing their own com- fortable position with that of the labouring class of people, the produce of whose labour does not admit of their buying meat at all, should submit with cheerfulness to bear, in common with the people in general, their share of the dearth and scarcity whicli at present unfortunately exists.

IW., Neufporl, 17 tk May, — The regiment to be ready to

letter waa broaght to him, then a rare event in the distant Highlftnds. It anmnmceil hia commiBaion in the Gordon HighlamlerB. "Cha ruisgmi caomich tuilleadh." 'Til clip no more aheep, " bamI he, tossing aside the shears, and left the Highlands, to i*eturti a general, with a " vSir " to his name. Lieutenant Alexander Stewart, an original ollicer of 92nd, became captain in Rifle Corps.— See Appendix.

• The pay of the soldier, which in 1797 had been incrensjed from M. to la. a day, with allowance of bucr or wine, has been iucreafled at various times, genemlly by w.iiving rleiluctioos and adding ndvantages, aa better clothing, biirrack and hoBpital accommodation. The Id. boer nioucy was given till 1867, when it stopped on an increaHO of money being gi%'en.

t Atisou.

1800]

THK GORDUN HIGH LAN DERij.

91

embark at an liour's notice. Officers to have only one port- manteau, and no women or children to go, but they are to receive an allowance from Government.

Eacli company to cany a box for the new feathere which are to be served out on arrival at their dcstiuation.

The British Government had determined to send a secret expedition to France, of which the Gordon Highlanders were to form part. They embarked on ahips of war on the 27 th of May at Cowes, but did not sail till the 30th, In the interval they were joined on board ship by a large draft of volunteers from Highland Feucible Regiments, especially the Caithness, a regiment recruited chiefly in that county and Ross-shire.* Nineteen recruits had also joined from Scotland during the month, but the regiment was still below its establishment of 1000 rank and file, the emlmrkatiou strength being: — 1 lieut.-eolonel, 2 majors, 7 captains, 16 lieutenants, 6 ensigns^ 6 staff, 36 sergeants, 22 drummers, and GOO rank and file. Several men had returned from French prisons, but 28 of those wounded in Holland, who had noL yet recovered, and 8 who were still missing (supposed to have been killed or died of wounds) are stnick oft' the strength. There were also recruiting parties in tlie north, and those attaclied to the •• Rifle Corps."

• Slew»rt'« " Highlandera of Scotland." MiL Jounnxl, November ISOO. H.M. thought fit to Older the 2Ii>t, 7l8t, 72nd, 71Hh, and 112nd Regioieiita to bo filled up by volanteers from Scotch Fencible Regiments in Ireland. Houoty 10 guineaa, unlunited seni'cc, and the colouela eouJd appoint an officer to un ensigncy in the line for every fifty men who volunteered. The numbers wked from each were : —

Aberdeenshire .	100	Princess Cha-rlotte of
AnguB	IOC	Walea' Highlanders	100
Dumbarton	100	Argyle	100
Frooer	km	Breodalbane	150
Elgin	100	Clanfllpine	1,50
Glengarry	100	Fife-shire .	\m
Lochaber .	150	Inverness ,	150
Nortli LowUnd	100	Reay	150
Rose and Cromarty .	100	Rothesay and Caithness	200
T»y . , . .	100

The latter was palled Rothesay and Caithness because the Prince of Wales hod allowed his title a3 Duke of Rothesay to be added. The 300 men of this regiment went to the 79th and 92ud ; the 92nd also got men from the Clan- alpiae and Lochaber Fenciblcs, etc.

92

THE UFK OF A KKGIMENT.

tlSM

Their destination proved to be ajrtimst the forts in (iiiiberou Bay, where it was expected the Royaliat party of tlmt district would join them.

The troops, consisting of artillery, infantry, and royal marines, were in three divisions, commanded by Colonel the Earl of Dallioasie, Lieut. -Colonel Erskine, and Lieut.-Colonel Clephan. Erskine'a Division consisted of the 1st Battalion 20th Regiment and his own regiment (the 92iid), with three aix-pounderH anil two howitzers.

On the 7th of June the expedition disembarked at the Isle of Houat, in Quiberon Bay, where they encamped, and were constantly exercised in heavy nmrchiiig oriler, recruits included, to prepare them for tlie expected " most active ami honourable service." "It is not necessary," say the General Orders, " to ask the men to do their duty bravely, but whosoever is catcbed pkindering or marauding after landing will sudor death."

On the 18tb of June the regiment embarked on \x>an\ H.M.S. Terrible, destined with others to attack tlie fortress of Belle-Isle, but the orders were coimtcrmanded on the 19th, and they returned to the Isle of Houat next day, without having landed on the niainknd of France. " Embarking and disenibarkinjT, vessels running foul of each other, such is what we are engaged in," writes an otticer ; as the song says —

At the siege of Belle-Isle

I was tliere all the wliile ;

I wa.s there all the while

At tlio siege of Belle-Isle.

The Gordons returned to camp at Isle of Houat, hut they had little rest for the soles of their feet on land. On the 23rd they were on board H.M.S. I}iadem, bound for Fort Mahon. in the island of Minorca, wliere a large force was assembling.* They arrived cm July 20th, but remained on board ship till the 7th August, when they landed and occupied barracks. Here they found the 42nd lioyal Highlanders, who received them with the hospitality so characteristic of the Scot abroad. Wine flowed, the quaint old streets of Mahon re-echoed Highland toast and song, and no doubt many a Highland head ached next morning !

* General Sir Ralpli Abercromby took the command on August 4th.

18001

THB GORDON HIGHULNDERS.

93

R.O.^ Auffu^ Sth. — The lieut. -colonel will uot take any pttrticiilar notice of the irregularitiev<i whioh happened last uight, on account of the men meeting so many of their friends, but he expects not to have anything more happcEiing of the same nature*

All ofticera of the 42nd and 92nd had two epaulettes. while officers of the other rogiments in f^arrison under tiotd rank had hut one, so their men presented arms to the Hir;;h- land Bubal terns, till cautioned in Garrison Orders how to distinguish theuL

The men were not so healthy as they had been at sea.f which was attributed to excess in wine and in the delicious fruits with which Minorca abounds ; but, though they in- dulged occasionally too freely in the juice of the grape, the Highlanders did not forget the old folks at home. When there were neither savings banks nor postal orders it was nnt easy for a soldier to send money. According to Sergeant I>uncan Robertson's journal, most of the Gordon Higldanders belonged to the estates of their oflicers, and they seem to have entrudted to them, as their natural guardians and friends, the money they wished to send to their parents. In Captain Camei-on's letters T find constant reference to this practice, mentioning the sums belonging to each luiin, with liis name or the by-name by which he was distingiiished at home from others of the same name — as " Ewen dubh Tailear," *' Ewen dubh Coul," both men of the name of Ewen Cameron, etc.

The regiment embarked on the 30 th August, forming part of the gi"eatest artuament which had left Britain during lh« war^ which was collected in the Straits of (Jibraltar, ntcnac- ing the coasts of Spain. The united fleet consisted of twenty

* The influx of bo many troops aeema to have caused vearcity of freah meat m Minorca. The magiHtnites, with the approval uf tlie Commander-in- Chief, filed the price. Th» naval an<l military hoapitala were tirat served, then wluit was abaolutely necessary was allowed to the aick of the town, one- filth of the remainder wa« set apart for the supply of the town— no more than I lb. to any one family, while three-fifths was apportioned to the army and nmrj.

t Very great care was taken to keep the lower decks clean and well aired, and the bixlding was brought on deck in dry weather.

; AUson.

u

THR LIFE OF A REGBreNT.

[1800

sail of the line, twenty-seven frigates, and eighty-four transports, having ou board about 20,000 foot soldiers. This fornjidalile force appeared off Cadiz on the 5 th October, but, ftnding that yellow fever was raging in the city, tlie British commanders, dreading the contagion among the troops which would result if the city were taken, countermanded the orders to land, decided to withdraw from the enterprise, and returned to Gibraltar.

l>y Uegimental OrderH of September 23rd, on board the Stateli/, the men of the regiment were ordered to have " half gaiters " made ; hitherto they seem only to have had their hose,

October 31s^,— The discharge of Sergeant Donald Mac- Kinnon, of the recruiting company, is mentioned, which is the only reference to any kind of depot.

After remaining a short time on board ship at Gibraltar, where they lost Sergeant Lachlan Macintosh, who was drowned in the l)ay, the regiment proceeded to Minorca,* and, after a fortnight's stay, sailed again on the 2 let November, and anchored at Malta on December Ist.f Here the troops were landed as often as possible for exercise. The detachment of rifiemen rejoined, and the regiment received a di-aft of recruits and volunteers from the Fencibles. Officers are desired to make most ndnute inquiries into the wants of these men, and to provide them with everything that can be procured. There was evidently some difficulty in fnlHlling these onlers, and old l>onnets and jackets had to be made up for them ; " and collect all the yellow cloth they can, so that at all events they may have yellow cuffs and collars."

At Malta the regiment furnished four carpenters, two masons, and one blacksmith to be employed under the chief cn^rineer.

<

• Minorca, which had been off and on in Britiah poesesBion for about a hundred years, wafl finally given up to Spain by treaty in 1803. There are still mnny remains of the Britiah occupation in the island. Knglieh expreasioas and names are adopted into the language of the people. There is aUo a family of FVaaers owning an estate^ descended from a Highland officer who married the heiress.

t Malta, having been closely blockaded by the British for two years, had surrendered in Scptemlier 1800, the French being permitted to march oat with till- linnoiirs of wrtr.

18001

THE GORDON HIGFfLANDERS.

95

Ai iliis lime 6 otticers, 7 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 15 privates were employed recruiting' hi Scotland.*

Meanwhile the French army which had been left by Kapoleon in Kgypt, consisting of about 30,000 men, with about 15,000 Copts, Greeks, and Arabs as allies, was in possession of that country, and tlie I'ritish Government determined to wrest it from I hem.

It was intended that three armies should co-operate. The Tarks were to march across the desert from Asia Minor ; a body of British troops umler Sir David P.aird was to 1m> brought from India by the Ked .Sea ; and the main army of the British was to be landed on the opposite shores. This last and most important body was part of that which hud been harassing the coasts of France and Spain, and which was now assembled at Malta, about 15,000 strong, under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby.f

The 92nd numbered 730 N.-C. officer? and rank and file on January Ist, 1801.

Tlie regiment sailed for Marmorice Bay, on the coast of Asia Minor, and arrived at that line harbour early in January, The exjiedition remained there in expectation of Turkish reinforcements and horses for the cavalry. There was much sickness in the army, which, with the exception of sljort iiitervalB, had been at sea, often in very bad weather, since May 1800, All the sick were encamped on shore, and Foments were successively encamped while their ships were being cleaned ; the rest landed daily, practising disembarking, and for exercise and bathing. Great attention was paid to their bealtl), every man being obliged to wear ilannel next his akin, etc. At this place they experienced a fearful storm, which continued three days and nights, the hailstones being as Urge as walnuts. Many ships were drifted on shore, tents were blown away, antl horses broke loose, causing great con- foaiou and sufTering to the invalids.^ A good market was

* TbeM seem to hare ooniposeil the Recruiting or Uth Company.

\ At Malta officers and men of the " ExpcrimentaJ Rifle Corps " rejoined tbeir r^ments. 8ir R. Abercromby took witb him only tbe troops for un- limited service ; thane enlisted for fterviee liiniled to Kurope lie left,

: R. T. Wilson's " Hiator>' of the Kxpedition to Kgyp»."

96

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

ri8oo

established, where sheep cost a dollar each, and plenty of fniit and vej^etablcs could he had at cheap mtes, the good conduct and fair dealing of the soldiers giving confidence to the inhabitants.

In February, Volunteer Mungo Macpherson, of the 92nd. waa promoted ensign in the 42nd.

A curious story was told of two officers of the 92iid, who, while at Marniorice, met during a walk a very magniliccntly dressed Turk, followed by a number of rebainera. One of the ofticere, with British contempt for this display of Oriental grandeur, and thinking it possible the granilee might under- stand English, but certainly would be ignorant of Gaelic, said to his companion, " Co a ghalla is mathair d'on chu leisg so ? " Wliat was his astonishment when the Turk answered, " Seadh a' ille agus gu*de an seoi*sa mathair dh'araieh thiisa mar chuilean." *

After mutual apologies and explanations, the Celtic Turk dined on board with the officers, and afterwards sent boatloads of fruit and vegetables for all the men. His name was Campbell, and, having in a quarrel killed a school-fellow at Fort-William, he had tied the country, entered the Turkish service, and had risen to high position.

At last Sir Ralph, tired of wailing for the Turks, determined to attack the French with the force under his immediate command, and set sail on the 22nd February, the voyage lieing enlivened by the capture of several French ships laden with luxuries for their army, which afforded a seasonable supply to the British. On the 2nd March f this magnificent array of nearly 200 ships cast anelior in the Bay of Alnrnkir, near Alexandria, at the spot where Nelson had, three years before, defeated the French fleet.

• Dr Clark, in the " Memoirs of Colonel J. Cameron," gives it trunsUted more politely than it waa told to me in the original :— " Do you see the fellow with the tail ? It is easy telling who his mother was, the lazy dog ! " '• Ay, my lad, and what sort of mother may own you for her whelp* "

t On the 2nd March a French frigate, whioh turned out to be the Jti^lneHe, was seen ataiiding into AlGxandrm. She had found herself during the night iiocxpectedly among the British fleet, .and actually continued her course with it anauspectod till she hoisted French colours as she Bkmd in to Alexandrin. — ff. 7*. Wilson.

1801]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

97

On the 1st March, at sea off Akxandria, the 92nd Ijad only 49G rank and lile present and Ht for duty, 129 being sick present, 38 in hospital, and others left in various places.

The General Orders as to a landing express the satisfaction of the Commander-in-Chief with the behaviour of the troops in their transactions willi the inhabitants at Maruiorice Hay ; he trusts the same e.xeniplary conchict will l>e continued, and the manners, customs, and religious opinions of the people most rigidly respected. The rejtnmental prepamtions for land- ing included puttinj^' leather pciiks to their liouiiets, and giving iuto store their greatcoats, fatigue jackets, and trousers, taking with them two shirts, a blanket, razor, and cleaning materinls. The landing, which had been delayed by stormy weatlicr, was effected on the morning of the 8th. The troops, with thdr muskets unloaded, took their places silently in the boats, each boat containing fifty men, while armed vessels covered the 6anks as liie line rowed vigorously towards the shore. The I French, confident iu tlie strength of their position on the [ heights al>ove the beach.* had not ihfuigbt it necessary to I opjiose so ditlicult an operation with a large force ; but it was comi)oaed of artillery, cavalry, and infantry, while the guns on the fort of Aboukir also commanded the lauding.

They allowed the invaders to approach within easy rsinge, then opened so heavy a fire of shot, shell, grape, and musketry that the water was ploughed up by it, and the foam was like surf rolling on breakers. Several boats were sunk, and the lo6B among the crowded crews was severe, causing momentary confusion ; but the sailors pulled hard, the soliliers sat silent I and steady, their arms in their hands, anxious for the moment to use them, and the line pressed forward with sucl^ precision that the bows of almost all the first division struck the sand at the same time.f The troops instantly jumped into the water, which in many places reached their middles, loading

* The smidhills rose in one part to a height of 180 feet. The French had I men and twelve gunt. — 7?. T. Wilson.

t Alison. The lamltng wa« effected by the Reserve under Major-Geoeral e, the Brigarlc of (Guards (Coldstream and 3rd (luardn) under Major- Geaeral lion. J. Ludlow, and part (including the 92nd} of Major-(>eneral Cootc't Brig)ide, who commanded tlie whole, about 5500, all infantry. The JH>ldi«n Gftnied sixty round* of ammunition and two s[»are flints each.

O

98 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1801

and forming as quickly as they could. The French cavalry charged, and advancing into the water, made havoc among the British, till they, overcoming all difficulties and falling into line, with loud cheers drove the horsemen before them. The 23rd and 40th rushed up the heights without firing a shot, but charging with the bayonet two battalions which crowned it, and taking three pieces of cannon.

The 42nd formed as on parade, then mounted the position notwithstanding the fire from two guns and a battalion of infantry. They were then attacked by cavalry, which they quickly repulsed. The 28 th also distinguished themselves. The Guards had hardly got out of their boats when they were suddenly charged by cavalry from behind the sandhills, but the 58th, already formed on their right, checked the cavalry by their fire, giving the Guards time to present a front, when the cavalry again retreated with loss. The 54 th and Royals landed at the instant that 600 infantry were advancing through a hollow against the left flank of the Guards, but on seeing the fresh arrival they fired a volley and retreated.

The exaltation at this moment cannot be described. The French, finding the heights carried, and General Coote advanc- ing with his brigade, ran from all points of their position, but maintained a retreating fight for about an hour, when the whole of the British troops were established on the heights, though weaker by 500 men killed and wounded. The enemy had lost 300 men and 8 pieces of artillery.

The Gordon Highlanders did not meet with such deter- mined opposition as did the regiments on their right, but they did considerable execution, and pursued the enemy for some distance, when they were ordered to halt and pile arms.

This brilliant opening had most important effects on the fate of the campaign ; the gallant conduct of the troops, and the rapidity of their success in sight of the whole fleet, filled the soldiers, many of whom were young and inexperienced, with confidence in their own prowess, even against these veterans of France, of wliom some regiments, from their con- stant career of victory in Italy, were called " The Inviucibles."*

G.O., Aboukir Heights, March 9th, 1801. — The gallant be- * AUson.

I80I]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

99

»

haviour of the troops in the action of yesterday claims from the Commander-in-Chief the warmest praise that he can bestow. It was with particular satisfaction that he observed that conduct marked equally by ardent bravery, and by coolness, regularity, ami order.

Afli^r thanking Major-Generals Coote, Ludlow, and Moore, and Brigadier-General Oakes, wlio cornnianded the troops en- gaged, he goes on to ucknovvli'dge " the effective assistance received from the navy on this occasion, in consequence of the judicious arningements made by Adriiinil lxm\ Keith."

No doubt many feats of individual bravery were performed, aud long remembered. It is still told in Brae Lochaber how Donald Cameron, known as DoTiald Mor Og, a man remarkable for his great strength, was on this occasion attacked liy a French liragoon, when Donald, paiTying the French tiiaii's blow, trans- fixed him with his bayunet, and lifting him fnun the saddle threw him over his shoulder among his comrades, crying, " Sin agibh fhearaibh, sp^ic a dh' Abereromby ! " *

When the Gordons halted, the heat of the day, and the powcler getting into their mouths iu biting off heads of cart- ridges, had mafle them very thirsty, when, to their relief, they found iu the huts which had been occupied by the enemy not only plenty of water, but camp kettles on the fires, containing mutton, poultry, and everything in preparation for a good dinner, which the French liad intended to enjoy after they hail

• •' There, men, 'b a blow for Aborcromby ! " Donaltl, when he bad left the v^^ment, wim often viajte<] by the Duko of Oor<ton (who, aa Marquis of HuAtly, bad been his coiotiol) wljen pitasiog through hi» Lochalxir estates, and would prc«8 on his old commander the best hia cottage afforded, treating him with the rexpectfiil familiarity which is characterUtic of the oldfavHhioned HighUoder. Donald waa a good deer-stalker ; shootings were not let then, aad hia frigid the Duke did not allow him to )>e interfered with. Donald Mor Of eMne of a fighting family. His father, Donahl Mor Cameron, carried Lochtel'a standard at Prcstonpana. In crosaing the moss then existing there, at the beginning of the action, the men got out of order, and Lochiel OTtJCTcil them to halt and dress their ranks, when Donald Mor cried, "An Diabbul 'halt' na 'dress' bhios an so an diagh ; leigibh leis na daoine dol tur an agltairt f'had s'tha iad blath J" "Gum bwinnachadh Dia thu," Answered Lochiel, "biodh mar a tha thn agradh." "The devjl a 'halt' or 'dram' will there be to-day; let the men go on while their blood is up." " God blesa you, let it be as you say," — and the clan njslied on to victory. — TWrf bjf the Rev, A. SttwaH, Nttfur Loehaber.

100

THK LIFE OF A REorSTKNT.

ri8oi

driven the British back to their ships. Though not eaten by those for whom it was cooked, the feast was not wasted ; ilie Higlilauders did it ample justice, and cracked many a joke on the excellence of the Frenclitnen's cuisiiit, and the mortification they would feel at losing so good a meal.*

They passed the night on the sandhills (where Sir Ralph had taken up a position about three miles forward, liis right on the sea and his left on Ltike Maadieh), a bitter wind blowing on them from which they had no protection but their ordi uatv elotheSj and stood to their arms an hour before daylight, when the Commander-in-Chief, noticing their cold condition,. ordered a gill of rum to each man. The 92nd were then ordered to advance with a party of cavalry, under Lieut. -Colonel Erskine and Major M. Wilson. After an hour's march they arrived at a battery on an eminence which they were to attack, but the enemy had anticij)ated thc^m and carried oJf their guns. Here they had a line view of Alexandria, and luillcd to refresh.

Meanwhile every exertion was made to complete the dis- embarkation of the cavalry, artillery, and stores. Tlie castle of Aboukir was iuve.sted, and entrenchments thrown up round the camp. The sick and wounded were sent on board ship.

The army remained here till the 12th; the advanced posts skirmished, Imwever, occasioiiiilly, and a surgeon and twenty men of the Corsicjjn Kangcrs were taken by a sudden dash of the enemy's cavalry.

G.O.,AhoHtir Heights, March IIM. 1801. —The main body of the army is considered for the present as forming three lines, as follows: — 1st line. Brigade of (iuards, Major-Geneml Ooote's Brigade and Major-Ueneral Finch's; 2ud line, Major- Geueral Craddock's and Major-General Lord Cavan's ; 3n\ line, Major-General Stewart's and Major-Geiieral Doyle's.

The army will advance to-morrow morning at eight o'clock according to the above order. The Brigade of Guanls march- ing from their right and head the first column, they will pro- ceed along the road near the sea-beach, leaving the Redoubt of Mandora to their left, and will be directed on the iiag-stafif about two miles in front of it. Fifty dragoons from General Finch's Brigade will join the Guards. The mounted men of * Sergeant Robertson.

"Jl

■ II uf

in

• 1 its

with

.>• way

'isitiou,

• [uickly

]>ilchiiig

■. tliough

:ii.Li eating

i. k, and on

all kinds and

::o men ; tmt of

•>. (.'to., tlisit nut

. fl hy cHl'ctM of

:i<-hnH>nt8 of tlio

J Wli Keginii.-nts of

r intiu>f thuni at

•.ii.» Were drai:i5'«*d ::ii<)iintt;d to aliuiit W'lUon'ii •• History

mi]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

101

Geoeral Finch's, followed by CJeneral Coote's, marching also Irom the right, will lead the secuiid colmim. They will pro- coed a.long the I^ke, leaving the Redoubt of Mandora to their rights They will march on a couspiciious green hill in front of ift^udora. Lieut.-Colouel Mmray will couduct them. The brigatles on the right of the second and third line^ will follow the C» iiards, and the brigades on the left will follow General Cootts's. etc. etc.

The 92nd were in Major-General Coote's Brigade, along witik the lat Koyals and the 1st and 2nd battalions 54th It^'ginoent.

t>uring the first two days at Aboukir the men had suffered JLjTeatly firim thirst, till they found springs by digging in the sand near the sea.

The army moved forward on thi^ evening of the 12th, and

cam** in sight of the enemy strongly posted on high ground in

^hoat of an old lloman camp, with his right to the canal of

Meactiadria, and his left towards the sea ; tliough weaker in

ufa-Tilry than the British, he had more cavalry and artillery.*

^"^iijg this forward movement the 9 2nd were e.\ tended as

ki'^Uiishera in advance of the left, and exchanged shots with

^^^ enemy's cavalry, who skirmished witli them all the way

^'^ tlicy formed line within cannon sliot of the French position,

I and yf^YQ allowed to rest and refresh ; but they were quickly

I f'>^|)elled to retire to a safer distance by round shot pitching

amoijg them, which, however, did no great execution, though

^^^ poor fellow had his head carried away while sitting eating

^i^a supper, t

The Gordons at this time had mom than 200 sick, and on

* The Brituh army, including 1000 sick, 600 MaltcM, amt all kinds and

"itwrtptiona of people attached t« an army, amounted to 15,330 men ; but of

ttme BO many were left on bojird ship for care of sick, atorea, etc., that not

i'lOOO fighting men landed, and these were afterwardi reduced by effeota of

•enuT They were weak in cavalry, which conaisted of deUichmeuta of the

/Ith Light DrasfooM and Henipacii'a Hussars, the ]2t1i and 26th Regiments of

) Ltght Dragoons (of whom only a few had horsea, the plan of mounting them at

[ilamioric* not having been very Hucceasful). The few guna were dragged

I through the sand by sailors. The French army in Kgypt amounted to about

2,180 men, exclusive of the Coptic batUliona. — FL T. WiLsou's «' History

f the Expedition to Egypt."

t Sergeant Robertson.

102

TlIK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[ISOI

the mornin^^ of the 13th had not «iiiile 350 rank and tile on parade. They had been all the preceding night on picket in front of the enemy, and had not heeu allowed to lie down or take off their knapsacks, and were very glad of the allowance of rum which was served out at daylight. They were also ordered to leave their packs iu charge of weakly men, one from each company.*

The enemy had received a reinforcement of two half- brigades of infantry and a regiment of cavalry from Cairo, and other corps from Rosetta, making their total force alnnit 6000 men, of which 600 were cavalry, with between 20 and 30 pieces of cannon. Their position was on very commanding ground, the approach to which formed a glacis for the whole range of fire from their numerous artillery. f

As Sir Ralph Abercromby had determined to turn iheir right, the British army marched in two lines and column of regiments from the left, the resen'e covering the movement on the right, and keeping parallel with the first lina

It had not advanced out of the wood of date-trees in front of Mandoru Tower hefoie the enemy left the heights and moved down by their right, commencing a heavy fire of musketry, and from all their cannon, on the 92nd regiment, which formed the advanced giiiard of the left column. At the same time the cavalry, under General Bron, charged down on the 90th Eegi- meni, forming the advanced guard of the right column. This regiment firmly maintained its ground, and, allowing the cavalry to approach, fired such a volley as completely altered their direction ; they then passed on to the 92nd, which regiment, with steady pi-ecisiou, fired a volley with teirible effect. Wounded horses were galloping about, some without riders, some with their wounded masters, their feet entangled in the stin-ups, dragged along by the maddened steeds, while the bayonet did its work among those of the dismounted who re- fused to surrender, aud among the few dragoons who reached the ranks of the regiment. J

"The discipline and steadiness of the 90th Regiment were

* Cuptaiii J . Cameron's letters aud Sergeant Robertaon.

+ R. T. Wilson.

X Sergeant D. Etoliortaoti.

1801]

THK GOBtJON HIGHLANDERS.

103

most honourable and praifieworthy." "The conduct of the 92nd had been no less meritorious. Opposed to a treinendous fire, and suffering severely from the French line, they never speeded a fool, but maintained the contest alone until the marinefi and the rest of the line came to their support." *

On the approach of the supports, the 02nd were ordered to lie down and allow the 17tl) and 79th to pass over them, the army pushing on with the greatest vigour, but with the strictest regularity. The French kept up a constant fire of nius-

elry and artillery, hut did uot again oppose in line, but only tirailleura. The Gonlons now proceeded to the left, where the Dillon Kegiment was closely engaged near the old tower of Mandora, where the French liad two guns protected by in- fantry and cavalry, which, in spite of their eflbrts, were captured

ad turned against themselves. For this exploit, the QOlli, l2nd, and Dillon Regiments were honoumbly mentioned in General Orders next day, and afterwards received the Royal

Whority to liear the word Mandtmi on their colours and 3intment8,f

On the heights before Alexandria, Sir Ralph, wislting to follow up his success and to carry the position to which the French had now retire<l, advanced across the plain. General Hutchinson with the second line moved forward towards the left to secnre a rising ground known as the Green Hill ; General Moore was directed to the right, that both ilanka might be assaulted at once, and the first line remained in the plain rather to the right. During this movement the 90th, 92nd, and Dillon's Regiments, still keeping to the left, found the enemy inclined to make a stand on the Green Hill, but with the assistance of the 44th, they compelled them» after a

• B. T. Wilson.

t Sir Ralph, in hiBdispatch dated " Camp before Alexandria. March Ifitb, ISOI." in clesuribiiig the a^^tion uf the 13th March, mentions tht- iKith and 92&d a» having *' Iwhaved in such a manner as to merit the praise both of oouraige &nd dificipline " ; no other regiment is named. The 90th ami 92Dd And Dillon's were the only regiujentfi which received authority t<> bear Mawiom. Dillon's, which was oonipoBcd of foreigners, was afterwards re- daoed. The Camerouians (ScottiBh Riflea) and fJordon Highlanders are, therefore, the oidy two corps in the army who huve Mandora among their honours.

104

TtlE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1801

warm coutest with the bayonet, to abondon their position and rt'lire to ihe works in front of Alexandria, from which the enemy began to play from all their fiehl artillery and heavy ordnance. Ttie army continued under the most terrible and destructive fire for a long lime, whilst Sir Kalph recounoitred tlie enemy's ptisitiun, but Lliey patiently endured this ex- terminatin{T jfire. *' If a word was heard, it only contained a wish to be led to the assault." *

Ai length Sir Ilii\\ih ilecided it would not be prutlent to attempt forcing; the heights, which apjieared to be commanded by Fort Cretin ; and for want of artillery he could not have maintained them. The army was therefore withdrawn at sun- set, still marching as if on parade, and occupied that position from which it had driven its opponents, and which was soon to be the tlieatre of its .i^dory and revenge. Sergeant Kobertson, in liis Journal, thus describes the situation of the Gordons after the contest on the Green Hill : — " We i*eceived orders to rest ourselves, but were not permitted to remain quiet, for the French commenced a heavy cannonade upon us (we being pretty close to the works), by which many were killed, and which compelled us to retire as far as the heights the French quitted in the morning. During this retrograde movement, I observed a ball carry off' both the feet of one poor fellow, and another who, imagining a ball was spent, in attempting to stop it had his leg carried away above the knee. The latter was a tailor in the 92 nd/'

The regiment liivouacked in sight of Alexandiia and of the objects of historic renuwn which surround it. The nights are veiy cold in Egypt in March, which is the more trying fmni the contrast witli the heat duting the day. The men had only a light blanket, and many of them made holes in ihe soft dry sand, covering themselves with it. The evening was spent in the melancholy duty of collecting the wouTjde<l and burpng the dead, friend and foe alike, (hir men uoticetl that nearly every Frenchman had a pack of cards on him. The loss of the Biiti.sh army was about 1100 men killed and wounded. The French from their position did not suiler so much, losing 500 in killed and wounded ; four field pieces were taken and a

• R. T. Wilsoa.

ISOl]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

105

great quantity of ammunition. Sir Kalph Abercromby had a borw shot midur liiuL

G.O., I4th March 180 L — The Commander-in-ChieF has

d» greateat satisfaction in tlmnkiug the troops for their

dierlike and intrepid conduct in the actiuii of yesterday.

He feels it is peculiarly incumbent on him to express his moat

rfecl satisfaction with th»i steady and <:^alknt liehavioiir of

&rjor-Geueral Ciaduck's Brigade, and lie tlcsircs that Major-

Ceneral Cradook will assure the officers and men of the

POth Regiment that their merilorious conduct commands his

adminitiou.

To the 92nd Regiment and Regiment of Dillons an equal of praise is due, and where it has been so well earned, 1 Commander-in-Chief has the greatest pleasure in bestow- it.

The Gordon Hij^ldanders had 1 1 officers wounded (of whom died of their wounds), 22 N.-C. otiicers and soldiers were killed, and 77 N.-C. officers and men were wounded.*

In a letter dated Egypt, March 15th, 1801, " from a hole in the sand," Captain Cameron writes : — " Wo had 1 1 ut!ic<;rB, 8 sergeants, and 119 rank arul Hie killed and wounded," which coincides with Cannon's Kecord. Captain Camej'on tneutiouft among other wounded who are doing well, " a poor pittle boy not quite fourteen, son lo our Quartermaster Wilkie, ad ensign in the regiment," "As to the lads that left tie country' with me they have been very lucky tin's time, only two of then] have been wounded, and those not Sangnruusly. Eweu Coura son is one, antl Alexander Kennedy he other."

Lieut-Colonel Erskine was wounded early in the day by a ; shot, which mangled his thigh. At first hopes were eiiter- of his recovery, but he sank after the amputation of t!ie ab and die<l in a few days. He had asked his brother bfficers to let him carry to the grave a gohl locket wliieh he rore round his neck, containing a lock of his sister's hair and ^f the lady to whom he was engaged.

In 1894 a soldier of the garrison of Alexandria, while aployed on some excavations in the sand, found the skeleton * Caunon'fl " Hifltorical Record."

106 THE LIFE OF A BEGIMENT. [I80I

of a man, having only one leg and with a gold locket on the neck. He wrote mentioning the circumstance to the Times newspaper, and Colonel Erskine's story being well known both to his regiment and his family, there was no doubt the remains were his. They were re-interred in consecrated ground at Alexandria, and a suitable monument to his memory erected at the mutual cost of the officers of the Gordon High- landers and Mr Erskine of Cardross, the locket being kept by the latter as an heirloom.*

" In him the Service lost one of its best officers,*' writes an officer of his regiment, and there can be no doubt that his thorough knowledge of his profession, his high sense of duty, the impartiality with which he carried on discipline, com- bined with his kindness and attention to the welfare of his men, had the best effect on the character of the regiment, with which he had served since it was raised. His portrait still hangs in the officers' mess-room of the 2nd Battalion Grordon Highlanders.

On the death of Lieut-Colonel Erskine, the command de- volved upon Major Napier.

* The last letter ever written by Sir Ralph Abworomby to a private individual waa to Colonel Erskine's father, telling him of his son's wound. — •• Prospect of Private Life of the Gentry, 1784 to 1804."

c*^

FRSNCH SOLDIKBS, IbOl, EciYPT.

to face page IM.

U H A P T E R VII.

The amiy remained stationary froui the 13th till the 20th. Tents were brought, which defended the men from the sun by day and the dew by night; a market was established where freish provisions could be bought, sheep being sold for half a dollar, or about 2a. 3d. each. Ostriches also were sold at a dollar, these being principally bought by the Highland soldiers, in order to add extra feathers to their bonnets, in wliich tliey took great pride.*

In addition to the severe military duties necessary in a position so close to the enemy, the army was constantly em- ployed in constructing batteries, bringing up the guns, pro- visions, and firewood, consisting of date palms, which woidd scarcely burn when it was obtained. The want of horses or camels was distressingly felt, as all had to be dragged or rolled through the sand by soldiers and sailors.

At first they had no water, but every regiment was ordered to dig for it, and the 13th found a copious supply by hitting on an ancient aqueduct arched over, the existence of which was unkncjwn to the natives.

Several skirmishes took place at the outposts^ a soldier of the 92nd being wounded on the 17th, and in one of them our cavalry lost 2 olhcers wounded and 3 taken, 7 men killed, 6 wounded and 12 taken, and 42 horses killed or wounded — a great loss to an anny very ill provided with that arm.

On the 20th a column of infantry and cavalry was seen to enter Alexandria, and an Arab chief gave warning of the arrival of General Menou, the French Commander-in-Chief, with a large army, and of his intention to surprise the British camp.

The wounded Gordons Iiad been sent on board ship, and some to Rhodes, and the regiment was so reduced by sickness, especially ophthalmia, and by the casualties of the 13th March,

* Sergeant Eoberteoa.

108

THE LIFE (IF A REGIMENT.

[1801

that it was, iu Geueral Orders of the 20th, ordered to march (the Couiiniinder-iii-Uhiers guard excepted) to Aboukir * at four o'clock next moruing, there to rest and recruit its strength.

B.O., March 20th, 1801. — Major-Cfeneral Coote feels ex- treme conccru that the 92tid Rt^giinenfc is ordered to march to Aboukir; he hopes they will soon return to the army, and cannot part with that corps without requesting that the olticers and men will accept his best thanks for their attention to their duty since they have been under his command.

On the morning of the 21st the army, as usual, was under arms at three o'clock.f All was quiet for half-an-hour, when the report of a musket was heard on the extreme left, then a cannon and scattered musketry. A tliick mist hun^' over the plain, through which the dawn of day was hardly perceptible. The 92nd, muslerin^' little more than 150 eft^ctive men,;j; had just begun their march to AlMruikir, when these shuts were heard, and the regiment was htalted.

The meu openly expressed their wish to be placed in line, but tlve tJonnnander-in-Chief, who was near, called the oHicers round him. told them the firing was only an affair of outposts, and that they must proceetl on their route; but as the firing extended to the right, the boom of camion, added to the rattle of musketry, followed by loud shouts, showed the real attack to be in that direction. Sir Ralph monnted his horse, and was about to ride to the scene of alarm, when, at the loud calls from the ranks to permit them to take their part in the fray, he consented to their request, and Major Napier immediately countermarched the regiment in order to resume his former station in the line,§ As the Gordons arrived, they had liarely time to form between the Itovals and the 1st and 2nd Bat- talions of the 54th, when they heard through the mist the French drums beating the charge. The brigade was on rising

• 'ilie aiege of thu Fort of Aboukir had been tielayed on account of the acaroily of ammiuiition. It suneinkretl ou tlie 18th.

t They paraded every niotning before daybreak. " Any officer late to be put under arrust ; any man found with accoutrements off during the night to be tried by a drum-head Court -roartiaL" — R,0.

X Captain J. Cameron.

§ R. T. VVilfion and Sergeant Robertson.

i

1901}

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

109

?To\md, and their general, cautioning them to be cool and steady, waited to receive the atluek.

When the enemy came near enough fur the umsketa to t*?ll, the liricjade poured in a volley which staggered them, hut they bravely continued to advance till the IJiitish prepared to eluirge. At the flash of the steel the French fell back, but advanced again, and this was repeated more than once, while they* still kept up a musketry fire. Finding the rwl-euuls could not be forced from their position, the enemy brought up two field pieces loaded with grape, which had murderous effect ou the British brij^ade. The latter threw out skirmishers as the French retii-ed, the rest of the men being ordered to lie down to avoid the grape shot which (lew like liail, till one of the guns burst, or the aminunition' exploded, killing the gntiuers, whose bodies could be seen blown into the air. The ^■Ptlier gun was then drawn off, their infantry retiring with ^^p<ivalry protecting their rear. Fortunately fur them there ^V^cts no artillery in that part of the Brittslii hue to give them ^^a p-arting salute.

The brigade in which the 92nd was placed had to their left rear the 8th. 18th, 90th, and 13th Kegiments; on their immediate right were the Guards, to the right and rear of the 'Guards were Derrol's and Dillon's llegiments, aud on the right b'otit of these were Stuart's,* the 42nd aud 28th Kegiments. The wfiole of the above formed for a time the front line of the ^Hiish anny.

Meanwhile the battle was raging with still greater fury on

me Rritish right. The enemy had advanced against the Eoman

"^ns, but were met by so heavy a fire that they fell back

^^ confusion, their general being killed. A strong fresh

'^^lunin. however, ut once advanced and, carrying on the

"^'Veu troops, renewed the attack in greater force on the

^^^t> and tlank of the British who were defending the ruins.

^"•^iiou (the French (Aunmander-in-Chief) siipporteil this attack

"Jagraml charge with all liis cavalry on the right and right

^Ire. The 42nd was suddenly charged in Hank by the

^f^uch horse and broken, but the Highlanders formed in

* b«TToV», DHloii'tt, ukil Stttart'a were all foreigners serving in the British •ray.

no

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

risoi

little groups, standing back to back, and bravely resisted the Dragoons. The 28 th were maintaining the fight to their front, when hearing French shouts behind them, the rear rank had just time to face about when it was assailed by a French regiment, which had got round under cover of the mist, and these gallant men, standing back to back, maintained this extraordinary contest for a considerable time.

Sir Halph, who had proceeded to the right on the first alarm, had sent his aide-de-camps with orders to different brigades, and whilst thus alone he was attacked by some French Dragoons and thrown from his fiorse. An officer then rode at him and attempted to cut him down, but the veteran general seized the sword and wrested it from his hand, and at that moment the otticer was bayonet<?d by a soldier of the 42nd.

A singular incident happened soon after, an aide-de-camp to General Cradock, whilst going with orders, had his horse killed. Seeing Sir Sydney Smith,*' he asked to mount his orderly's horse, when just aa Sir Sydney was turning to tell the man to give it, a cannon ball struck oH' the dragoon's head.

Sir Ralph was wounded in the thigh, but only mentioned pain from a blow on his breast, supposed lo have been received in the scuffle witti the French Dragoon, and when the cavalry were repulsed, he walked to the redoubt on the right of tlie Guards, from which he could view the whole field of Vmttle.

A second charge of cavalry was attempted, but completely failed. The guns in the Briti.sh battery had exhausted their ammunition, and some of the infantry on Ixifch sides were in the same condition ; in one instance they actually pelted stones at each other, and a sergeant of the 28th was killed by one of these unusual weapons at the redoubt.

While this was going on to the right, a column of Grena- diers had advanced aa soon as day dawned, supported by a heavy line of infantry, to assault the centre,, and tried to turn the flank of the Guards ; but the officer commanding them wheeled back some companies and checked this movement, and the advance of General Coote's Brigade compelled them to retreat,

* Captain Sir Sydney Smith, R.N., was in command of the saitors who were landed from the fleet.

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS,

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I

B(j terminated the important operations of this eventful day.

neral Menou, finding that everyone of his movements had fiiiled, and that no serious impression had been made upon the British, retired in very good order to the heights of NicopoHs in his rear, under cover of the cannon placed on that formidable position. The want of cavalry, artillery, and ammunition on tbe part of the British was fortunate for the Frencli, whose low would otherwise have been very much greater. By ten o'dock a.m. the action was over.

Sir Ralph had remained in the battery, where several times lie had been nearly killed by cannon shot. He had continued walking about, paying no attentif»n to his wound. Officers lameand received Ids orders without liuowing from his appear- ance that he was wounded, unless when they saw the blood trickling down his clothes. It was only when exertion was 110 longer necessary that his spirit yielded to nature ; he Ije- came faint, and was carried Ijy a party of the Gordon High- landers, who formed his permanent guard, to a boat, cheered hy the feeling expressions and blessings of the soldiers as he pftsswi. He was taken on board Admiral Lord Xeifch's ship, the F(mdroyant, where he died on the 28 th Mai-ch, leaving a "«ne enshrined in the grateful recollectiun of bis country.* He was succeeded in the command of the army by Major- general Hutchinson, but before his death he desired that officer 'othitiik the whole of the troops '* for their conspicuous and "rilhant conduct in the action of the Slat, which has dismayed *D iiisolent enemy, has raised the glory of their country, and ••tftbliahed their reputation for ever."

The ultimate effects of the battle of Alexandria, though '•ot immediately apparent, were very great and far-reaching. " increased the contidence of the British soldiers, and revived '^6 military spirit of the nation, which supported it through ^he arduous conflict awaiting it, which lasted almost without '"teriuission till it culmiiuited in the battle of Waterloo. It ^ight Continental nations that the army of Britain was to ^ respected as well as the navy ; it delivered Kgypt from the 'feach yoke, and decided to some extent the fate of the civil-

* .Sir Ralph was brother to Colonel Abercromhy, who miaed the 75Ui 3i|phUad Regiment, now tU« Ut Battalion Gordon Highlanders.

112

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[ISOl

ised world. The prophetic eye of Napoleon at once discerned the luaguitude of its cotiseqiieiices, and he received the int«lli- geijce of the disaster at Alexandria with a degree of anguish only equalled by that experienced from the shock of Trafal<,'ar.*

In this battle the British army had an ellective stren^h of less than 10,000 men, including 300 cavalry. They had two 24-ponnders and 'M field-pieces defending their posilion. The French General Iveynier puts the luinihor of tiieir army at 9700. including 1500 cavalry, with 46 pieces of cannon; they hiul also a dromedary corps, all j^icked men, whicli was used in ilie sjime way as our camel corp.s. After the action, when the Gordons were resting, !Sir Ralph Abercromby was carried past, and when it became known that he was dangtjr- ously wounded. " the interest excited was so great that every- one ran to «^fc a sight of him whom we all lu%'ed." f

The men were at once employed to carry the wounded to the boats ; in thi^ humane work French and British were treated with equal care, and these poor fellows, their passion cooled, were to be seen making friends antl helping one another.

G.O., March 2l$t, Camp jimr Alexaiudria. — The works on the left to be completed in the course of this day and nijilit. As it is possible the enemy may be desjMjrate enough to make a night attack, Major-General Hutchinson is under the necessity of requesting that the troop.s may remain with their accoutre- ments, and lie in their blankets in the position they occupy. General officers are to take care not to throw away fire during the dark, but to use tlie bayonet as much as iHtssible, etc.

The loss of the British was 1500 killed and wounded. 1040 Frenchmen wei'e buried on the field, and it was eatimated that they had lo.st in killed, wounded, or prisoners about 4000 men, among them most of their principal oHicers. Two pieces of cannon were taken, and 400 horses were lying on the field; a stamlard was also taken, belouging to a regiment of the " In- viucibles,' emblazoned with the names of Frencli victories in Italy.|

• Alison. f Sergeant Robertson.

X WilBoii. The standard was first taken by Major Stirling of the 42nd. It was given by bim to the charge of Sergeant Sinclair, who, in a subsequest

18011

THE GORDON HIGHLANDKKS.

113

I

^B The Gordon Highlanders lost 3 mnk and file killed, and

P 2 oflicera and 44 rank and file * wounded. Among the

wounded was M'Kinnon the bard. Sergeant MacLean, a

(friend and admirer of the poet, found hini insensible, but seeing ikt he still breathed, had him conveyed on board ship, where he recovered and composed two poems, one describing the land- ing in Egj'pt, the other the battles of the 13th and Slat of March, which are still the admiration of the lovers of Gaelic poetry.f The latter poem is given in the Appendix. On ibe 22nd the CJordons could only muster about 150 rank and file fit for duty. All hands were employed in bringing np giins, even boat carronades being utilised to strengthen the

OIL

G.O., March 22mi. — ^The troops to sleep in their tents this night OS usual. In case the enemy does not attack to-morrow morning, the 92nd Regiment will march to Aboukir at six ck to relieve the detachment of dismounted dragoons who \ in the fort. Accordingly the regiment marched to the Fort of Aboukir. Soon after their arrival the Capitan I'asha, with 6000 Turkish Jdlieg, landed at Aboukir, and encamped near the spot where ^K the French had buried 4000 of his countrymen two years ^1 l*fore, and where the remains wei-e barely covered by the ^1 tting sand.

^F On April 1st. Mr Archibald Cnmpbcll writes from Camp ^L Dear Aboukir P^ort, for Captain J. Cameron, to tell tliat he had H l>eea wounded on the 2l8t, and had just rejoined from ship- ' ^mt\, the rei^nment being fifteen miles from the army to recruit ils strength, having been reduced on the 2l8t to about 150

Ltharge nf cAvalry, wajt wounded, and the standard recovered by the French, Iterwards again taken by a soldier of the Regiment of Minorca or Stuart, I Anthony Lutz, who receiveil the regulated reward, 20 dollars. • Cannon's '* Historical Records."

t Corporal Alexander M'Kinnon the bard was bom in 1770 in Morar, on

t wcat ooaat of Invemess-ahire (where hia father was tacksman of a farm),

I eoUated in the Gordon Highlanders 1794. He was 5 feet 10 inches, and

1*11 of great strength, of amiable disposition, An<l a very good Oaelic scholar.

Wlien he composed a song or poem he would repeat it to his comrades for their

pproval of hia description of the incideuta. (" Beauties of Gaelic Poetry, or

' obair nam Bard.") N.B. — No doubt his songs were sung by the Gordong

I many a bivouac and barrack, and did much to keep up the traditions and

\ de corpt. They are Btiil repeoted in the West HigblandB,

a

114

THE LIFE OF A REGIMBNT.

[1801

effective men, the rest either killed, wounded, or sick of a slight fever which they brought with them, and of which they are now fast recoveriBg. He mentions that they have plenty of good water, good market for meat, fish, and vegetables, eta ; that Lieutenant Clarke from Badfinoch is dead of his wound, and that Captain Cameron desires him to say that *' all the young lads that came from your coimtry escaped in the different actions, except those he mentioned in his last letter, uud also a Corporal Alexander Cameron from Chines, who was wounded on the 21st. They are all doing well,"

On April 1st they had 244 rank and file fit for duty, 250 sick and wounded present in camp, and 103 on board ship; 89 sick or on duty at Khodes, Lisbon, recruiting in Scotland, etc. — total, 686 rank and tile.

Officers commanding companies were desired to see that all couvulescents had fresh provisions, and that all the men had the option, iusteail of their ration of lib. of salt pork, of taking 4d. a day to supply themselves with fresh meat.

The regiment remained here till the 2nd Mayj when, being sufficiently recovered, they marched, currying three days' pro- visions through the desert, where they suflered from want of water, to El ilamed, near Rosetta, which liad been taken in April, when tlie Castle of 8t Julien liad also surrendered to the combined British and Turkish forces.*

General Hutchinson had cut the isthmus which separated Lake Maadieh from the dried bed of Lake Mareotis, and by filling it, to a great degree isolated Alexandria from the rest of Egypt.

The British and Turkish troops advanced along the bonks of the Nile ; at the same time, a flotilla of armed vessels and transport boats ascending, captured an important convoy descend- ing the river for the support of the garrison of Alexandria.

The evacuation of the entrenched camp at Ramalieh and its occupation by the British cut off the supplies from Alex- andria, and prevented co-operation between the French there and their army at Cairo.

Meanwhile the Grand Vizier, encouraged by the defeat of the French, crossed the desert which separates Syria from

• R. T. Wilgoa.

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

115

Egypt At his approach the French drew back to Cairo, where their forces were increased by the arrival of the troops from Kamalieb.* General Belliard moved at the head of 6000 chosen troops to meet the Turkish force at El Hanka,

»but the movements of the Grand Vizier were now directed by British otticers, and after an indecisive action of five hours, Belliard retreated to the capital ; a result so different from any tliat had previously attended their warfare wilh the French, thai it raised the courage of the Ottomans, and disposed them

Ilo trust to the guidance of the British for the future. General Hutchinson advanced to Cairo with part of the English ai-my, and on the 20th of May invested the city on tbe left bank of the Nile, while the Grand Vizier did so on * the right bank; with the result that on the liYtb of June ^^neral Belliard capitulated, on condition that his troops *lioul(i lie conveyed to France with tlieir arms, field-artillery, and baggage. They numbered 13,672, besides the civil ser- '^ails; and they left in the hands of the British 320 pieces t>^ heavy ordnance, besides the field-pieces they carried away

t^ilb them. During the advance to Cairo the Gordon Hi^'hlanders were ^figaded with the 1st Royals, 50lh and 30lh Ri-giments, under General Doyle. Starting from El Hamet on May 8th, they B at once got into the cultivated country, and those who have H M a similar experience will understand the joy and delight ' I'^e/ felt, after being so long scorched in the sandy desert, *ben their eyes once more rested on corn-fields and green gmas. Their first camp was on the banks of the Nile, where they luxuriated in the delicious water-melons and vegetables which abound there. Among them the tobacco plants, looking ' like magnificent cabbages, which none of the Highlanders hud iBeen before, at once caught the eye of the cooks, who thought hey would delight their comrades with real kail broth, and iC€ordingly put what they supposed to be succulent " kail blades " in the c^mp kettles. The results, physical or moral, rere hardly what they expected !

• Rammlieb capitulnted with graaU low to the Britith, but the garrison of I mfantry, 800 cavalry, jvnd 33 guiut escaped towarcis C*iro, except about ) men, who were too drunk io occoiDpaoy them.— R. T, Wil&oa.

116

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1801

The 92nd were employed in the affair of Ramalieh, where a sergeant (James Clark) was wounded. They were amused at the Turks who were in advance ; when one man was wounded, six or seven of his comrades would assist iu curry- ing him to the rear, which practice our men thought might account for their being so constantly Ijeateu by the French two years before.

Their march was enlivened by frequent skirmishes, and after one of these the kindly Scots were horrified at finding a party of Turkish troops engaged in Vmrbaronslj hacking and killing a number of French prisoners they had taken. The Gordons quickly put a stop to this inhuman proceeding, and expressed their detestation of it by soundly thrashiug every- one of their Oriental allies t!iey could catch.

On the 17th May, the men were bathing in the river near Algara, when the alarm sounded. General Doyle's Brigade instantly fell in, and marched off into the desert in pursuit of a large convoy of which an Arab had brougtit intelligence. It was marching from Alexandria to Cairo, escorted by a con- siderable body of troop.Sj who moved by the river at night, and kept tq the desert by day. General Doyle, with 250 of the 12th and 26th Dragoons, led the advance. Tliere was a burn- ing sun above them, and when they got among the loose hot sand, reaching sometimes abtove the ankle, the progress of the infantry was slow and very fatiguing. Many of the men had not had time to till their water-liottlcs, and the rations had not been served out when they marched ; tlieir throats were parched with intolerable thirst, which drove some nearly rnad, whilst others tantalised their imaginations by thinking of the clear streams of their own country ; but they plodded on for about seven miles till they heard firing behind a sandhill. The cavalry had found tlie enemy balled for the day ; a corps of infantry formed his front line, three divisions of the Drome- dary Corps and heavy Dragoons in echelon protected the flanks; on the rigliL Hank was a piece of artillery, and in the centre were the baggage camels.

The Britisli infantry were far behind when the amull force of cavalry approached the French square. They halted at some distance, while Major Wilson, waving a white pocket-

m]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

117

haudkerchief, rode up and asked fur the officer in command CciJonel Cavalier, for that was his name, came forward, when %or Wilson told him he was sent to ofler terras of surrender on condition that his troops should lay down their arms, and be sent back directly to France. The colonel aiiginly ordered hiiQ to retire. The major answered him that it was the /lumauity of his general which iuduced him to otter these terms, aiid reminded Colonel Cavalier of the responsibility . irhich now attached to him. To this the colonel paid no rattention, and Major Wilson was returning to Geueral Doyle rhen an A.D.C. galloped after him, and begged him to go back Colonel Cavalier, who, on his repeating the proposed coudi- ifciong, requested time to consult his otticers. An evident sen- ation of joy was to be observed on the faces of the French Brs, who, though they were veterans of many campaigns, "were demoralised by the unaccustomed reverses of the 13th and 2l8t March. They were sick of Egypt now that they had to play a losing game, and, as they afterwards allowed, when they heard Major Wilson say that they would be at once sent to France, that word hud such an irresistible cHect that [ilooel Cavalier, after trying for easier terms, was constrained surrender. They were marched, escorted by the 250 JUS, afterwards joined by the infantry, to a field close to headquarters at Algam, where they grounded their arms, and oar tired and thirsty soldiers were dismissed to their well- earned meal, washed down, no doubt, by a long drink of rum and water, for tea was as yet an unknown luxury. The con- oy was composed of 569 men — -iufantry, cavalry, and artillery -including 1 20 of the Dromedary Corps, who were the picked aen of the army, and excited imiversal admiration among the British.* One gun and 550 camels with their Arab drivers ecame the property of the captors, as also the horses, which rcjre sold to the commissariat, where they were much needed. There were also a number of asses, which were taken by the aen to carry their knapsacks.

On the 18 th they had the first view of the Pyramids, and the 19th they encountered one of those hot winds called ^irooco, which darkened tlie atmosphere with sand, making it • E, T. Wikon.

118

THE LIFE OF A RKGIMENT.

(IdOl

80 difficult to breathe that several horses and camels died ; the ground was heated like the floor of a furnace, everything metallic became burning hot, and the thermometer was 120 in the shade.* The army halted and pitched their tents, using blankets also as a defence against what one of the Gordons described as " a Highland snowstorm, only sand and heat in place of snow and cold."

On the 22nd May the regiment encamped opposite Cairo, which surrendered on the 27th. Some time after the capitulation of that city, the army of Major-Oeneral Baird arrived, consisting of 3600 British and 2800 Sepoys. They had sailed from Bombay in December, but were delayed by contrary winds. They were accompanied by the usual Indian camp-followers, and the army from Britain were astonished at their admirable arrangements, and the comparative comfort in which they lived.

The regiment remained here till July, and took part in a review before the Grand Vizier. "The British troops, not- withstanding their rags, formed a very martial parade, and the Scotch regiments, from tlieir being ' sans culottes,' particularly excited his wonder." f The men made excursions to the Pyramids, \dsiting the celebrated Sphinx, which was after- wards granted as a crest to the regiment in honourable memory of its gallant conduct in the campaign. They had also freedom to enjoy the sights and amusements of Cairo, where many strange Oriental customs then existed, including a market where, among other commodities, women were sold by auction !

The (.iordons formed part of the escort of the French army of Cairo, who were marched as prisoners of war to the place of embarkation on the Nile, and afterwards the regiment proceeded to Eosetta.

G.O.^ Headquarters Camp iim^r Itnbebo, July 14th, 1801. — Lieut-General Sir John Hely-Hutcliinson, K,B.,| has re- ceived llis Majesty's orders to return the generals, officers and soldiers of the army his thanks for the brilliant services

• R. T. Wilson.

t Ibid.

t General HotohiDBon had lately been made a Knight of the Bath.

IHOIJ

THB GOBDON HIGULANDERS.

119

they have rendered their country ; and for the manner in

which they have sustained and increased the honour of the

British name and the glory of the British arms. You

lauded in Egj'pt to attack an enemy superior in numbers,

provided with a formidable body of cavalry and artillery,

aocuBtomed to the climate, flushed with former victory, and

ftoimated by a consciousness of hard and well-earned renown.

Xotwithstanding these advantages, you have constantly seen

a warlike and victorious enemy Hy before you, and you are

now in possession of the capital. Such are the ettecta of

t order, discipline, and obedience, without which even courage itself must be unavailing, and success can be but momentary Such also are the incitements which ought to induce you to persevere in a conduct which has led you to victory, has acquired you the applause of your Sovereif^n, the thanks of Parliament, and the gi-atitude of your country. To such high authorities it would be superfluous in me to add my testimony ; but be assured your services and conduct k^have made the deepest impression on my heart, and never can ^■be eradicated from my memory. During the course of this ^fturduous undertaking, you liave sullered some privations wliich ■Pyou have borne with the firmness of men and the spirit of soldiers. On such painful occasions no one has ever felt more ensibly than I have done. But you yourselves must know ^hat they are the natural consequences and eflects of war, rhich no human prudence can obviate; every exertion has made to diminish their extent and duration ; they have ed, and I hope are never likely to return. Nothing now tjmains to terminate yotir glorious career but the final ex- pulsion of the French from Egypt, an event which your [country anticipates, and a service which, to such troops as lyou are. can neither be doubtful nor diflicuk. The prevalence lof contrary winds has prevented the arrival of ships from ^England with money ; your pay has been in arrear ; but this ttconvenience is now at an end, and everything that is due be put in course of payment, and discharged as soon as Bible.

The following Order was also promulgated to the army at large: —

120

THE LIKE OF A REGIMENT.

Hm'se Guards, May \8tk, 1801. — The recent events which have occurred in Egypt have induced His Majesty to lay his most gracious comiuauds ou H.ll.H, the Comuiander-in-Chief to convey to the troops emi)loyed in that country His Majesty's highest approval of their conduct, and, at the same time, His Majosty has deemed it expedient that these, his gracious sentiuieutSj should be communicated to every part of his army, not doubting that all ranks will thereby be inspired with ail honourable spirit of ciaulation. Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes that have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, and military system which has given its full energj' to the native valour of the troops, etc.

H.R.H. having thus obeyed His Majesty's command, added his own remarks on the example set to the whole British army by Sir Ralph Abercromby and the troops under his command. " The boldness of the approach to the coast of Aboukir, in defiance of a powerful and well-directed artillery ; the orderly formation upon the beach under the heaviest fire of grape and musketry; the reception and repulse of the enemy's cavalry and infantry; the subsequent charge of our troops which decided the victory, and established a footing on the shores of Egypt, are circumstances of glory never sur- passed in the military annals of the world. The advance of the army on the 13 th of March presents a spectacle of a movement of infantry through an open country, who, being attacked upon their marcli, formed and repulsed the enemy ; then advanced in line for three miles, engaged along their whole front, until they drove the enemy to seek his safety under the protection of his entrenched position ; such had been the order and regularity of the advance. Upon the 21st of Marcli, the united force of the French attacked the position of the British army. An attack begun an hour before day- light could derive no advantage over the Wgilance of an army ever ready to receive it ; the enemy's most vigorous and

I

I

I

I

rejKuited efforts were diiected against the right and centre. Our infantry fought in the plain greatly inferior in tho niunber of their artillery, and unaided by cavalry. They relied upon their discipline and courage. The desperate ittacks of a veteran cavalry joined to those of niunerous iu- faiiiry, which liad vainly slyleil itself invinnble, were everywhere repulsed ; and a cuntlict the most severe, terminated in one of ihe ihOiil signal victories which ever adorned the annals of the British nation. In bringing forward these details, the Com- mander-in-C-'hief does not call upon the army merely to admire, l>ut to emulate such conduct," etc.

G.O., ISth July — Gazdie of 23rd May 1801 — 92m;? Fi>ot. —Quartermaster-Sergeant Donald M'Barnet to be ensign ric« Wilkie, promi-ited.

On the same date (July 18th), the thanks of both Houses of I'jidiament were communicated to the regiment, in common with the other troops in Egypt.

The regiment left Koselta on August 7th, and marched by the heights of Aboukir, arriving at the camp near Alexandria OD the 9th. Here they found a draft of rccmits, who were f'^larly drilled morning and evening.

h,0.. Camp he/We Alexandria, — In consequence of the fwiuctiou of the recruiting company,* Captain I'eter Gordon's c<Jtnpttny will be called Captain Grant's.

Oq the 11th Brigadier-General Hope's Brigade, and on l^e I3ih Major-General Moore's Brigade amved, as did I^eaU-General Sir J. H. Hutchinson on the 15th; he im- mediately determined to besiege Alexandria on tlie eastern •"id western fi-onts, having an army of 16,000 men under ^ command.

On the evening of the 16th, General Coote'a Division ^barked in boats on the inundation for the purpose of attacking on the west, and the same evening Major-General %le'8 Brigade, the 30th, 50th, and 92nd Regiments were ^eld in readines-s to make a diversion in favour of General Ooote, and to gain ground necessary for the progress of the «iege on the western front. General Moore was also ordered »ith a corps of light troops to act on the right. The left

* In monthly retunu this company is alluded to as the 1 1th CoiupaDy.

124 THE LIFB OF A REGIMENT. [1801

ment. The British and Turkish troops had captured 1003 pieces of cannon, besides about 500 that were unserviceable.

The loss of the British in killed and wounded (of whom, however, many died) was : —

Officers killed, including quartermasters, 23.

„ wounded, 169 ; missing, 8. Sergeants killed, 20 ; wounded, 1 49 ; missing, 2. Rank and file killed, 505 ; wounded, 2728 ; missing, 73.

Of that number the Gordon Highlanders had 13 officers wounded, of whom 4 died of their wounds ; 23 N.-C. officers and soldiers were killed in action, and 128 N.-C. officers and soldiers, including Sergeant-Major M'Intosh, were wounded, of whom 36 died of their wounds.*

The names of the officers wounded are as follows : —

On March I3th—

Lieut.-Colonel Charles Erskine, died of wounds. Captain the Hon. John Ramsay.

„ Archibald MacDonald. Lieutenant Norman MacLeod. f

Charles Dowle, died of wounds. Donald MacDonald. Tomlin Campbell, died of wounds. Alexander Clarke, died of wounds. Ronald MacDonald. Ensign Peter Wilkie.

„ Alexander Cameron.

On March 2Ut—

Captain John Cameron.

Lieutenant James Stewart Mathieson.

Killed in Action. Corporal W. Cunningham. Private John Beaton.

„ John MacDonald. „ Donald Beaton,

* One man was killed in action whose name cannot be found. Surgeon Findlay and 63 N. C. officers and soldiers died of disease.

t Lieutenant MacLeod also died from the effects of his wound some time after. He was a son of MacLeod of Eyre in Skye.— M'Innea' '• Brave Sons of Skye," page 172.

1801]

THE GORDON mOHLAKDERS.

125

Killed ly Action — continued.

Private Adam Boyd.

„ George Donaldson.

„ Donald Downie.

„ Duncan Gordon,

„ Andrew Hawley.

,, James Home,

„ Thomas Hutchison.

„ Robert Innes,

„ Stephen Low.

Private James MacCalluni.

„ George MacBeath.

,, Alexander Mac Donald.

,, Duncan MacDonald.

,, John MacLennau.

., Peter Montague.

„ John Nichol.

,, Alexander Ross.

„ Montgomerie Wilson.

DlRD OF THEIR WOUNPS.

IVivAte

Seijeant Charles MacHardy.

„ Thomjia Macpherson. Corporal Hugh Crauford. „ Duncan MacKinlay. „ Lachlan MUue.

Alexandtir 8teuart.

W. Alston.

George Anders<ni.

Alexander Bi'an.

William Brown,

John Cameron,

Charles Campbell.

Alexander Cattiinacb.

John Cunningham.

WUliam Dallas.

W. FrfLser.

William Fyfe.

W. Gibson.

Private Cosmo Gordon.

„ Alexander Gordon.

„ William Gunn.

George Hogg.

„ William Knox.

„ Robert Johnstone.

„ John MacDonald,

„ D. MacKiiilay.

„ James Alaulcan.

„ Henry MacPhee.

„ Alexander Murdoch,

„ David Hi me.

„ J. 8keen.

„ Alexander Smith.

„ William Swan.

„ Arthur Thomson.

,, John Tiplin,

„ George Tod.

Before the garrison of Alexandria were emlmrked for ^^fanCH, the men of the (Jordons got on very friendly terms *"^l the Freuchmen, some of whom couhl speak English. They "''ared their provisions and exchanged articles with each other, **^ both used to laugh heiirtily at the slovenly habits of the ^'i^kish troops, who when on sentry would sit down nnd smoke ^Mr long pipes, giving themselves litth^ trouble about their duty.

From the Kegimental Orders of the 5th Octoher. it appears that the men had generously expressed a wish that

126 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1801

the money due to them for providing themselves with fresh meat in lieu of salt pork, which they had not used, should be given to the widows and orphans of the regiment, who had been made so by the campaign. The lieut-colonel informs them that it amounts to £150, which will be paid to them; that he will be happy to put himself at the head of any sub- scription for so charitable and proper a purpose ; and that the men can subscribe what they wish individually, so that each shall be free to give or not as he likes.

G.O., Camp before Alexandria, October 5th, 1801. — The 23rd, 42nd, and 92nd Kegiments, with detachment Koyal Artillery, will march to-morrow morning at six o'clock to Aboukir for embarkation.

The regiment embarked on H.M.S. BenomriKfe and Modeste Frigate on the 6th October. Since the landing on the 8 th of March it had been engaged in three battles, had taken part in the investment of Cairo and the siege of Alexandria, besides several minor affairs and skirmishes.

The 92nd, in common with the other corps employed in the campaign, afterwards received the Koyal authority to bear on their colours and appointments the Sphiiuc and the word Egypt. They had also won the exceptional honour Mandora* now only possessed by the Scottish Kifles and the Gordon Highlanders.

They had, however, suffered much, and tales of the sore eyes, the flies, the thirst and the sand-storms of the deserts of Egypt are repeated to this day by their descendants on the banks of the Spey.

The Grand Seignior of Turkey presented gold medals to the of!icers, which varied in size according to rank.

R.O., H.M.S. Eenomm^, October 8th, 1801. — The lieut.- colonel was happy to receive the following letter from Captain Probyn, one of the Commander-in-Chiefs aide-de-camps.

Headquartebs, 6th October 1801. Sir, — As the guard of the 92nd who have been doing duty at headquarters are about to join their corps, the Commander-in-Chief

* Egypt and the Sphinx were given June 12th, 1803, and Mandora on Febniary 23rd, 1813. In the officers' mees there was, and probably still is, preserved the horn of an Egyptian ration ox, made into a snuffomall.

I»5 (lirwt^ me Ui express to you his entire apprnbation of the eiempUr/ conduct of the guard in general, and of Borgeanb Mark inpftrticular.*

T have the honour to )>e. Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

(Signetl) J. Probyn, A.D.C,

To the Commanding Oftieer

of the 9-nd Regiment.

The ships anived at Malta on the 19th October, and the lament reuiaiiied there till the 15th November, part only ^•eing landed.

The men's Highland clothing seems to have been entirely wom out, and no tartan being available to renew it. pantaloons of various sorts and colours weixs served out to them. The

Lottic«re, who appear to have been in the habit of going ashore in the Highland dress, are desireii in t Jrders not to do so till the men have it, "but they may wear their lx)nnets." While *t Malta, Sergeants Allardyce and M'Arthur were suspended for four months respectively fronj " rank and pay " by lenience [leourt-raartial. " On December 25th Orders are dated "At sea ofl' Car- lliiiigenH," and on January 2nd Lieut.-Colonel Napier is sorry H *« have to acquaint them that he is informed by Captain ^ M'Kellar (of the Jienomm/i). that from the uncertainty of the *iH it is absolutely necessary to stop one-third of the allow- t^Dce of bread and spirits, which they both lament extremely "tit hope in a few days commimication may be had with the shore. They got supplies at Malaga on the 5th,

* Sir Ralph Abercromby had selected the regimont to fomiah the gu&rd «t hit hea<1qa»rter8 from his first landing in Kgypt, aJtd at hii» denth Lieut.- J««ii»rBl the Hon. J. H. Hutchinaon had continued tberr. Sergenot Mark ;eH to the pariah of Glass.

CHAPTER V I I I.

Akter touching at Gibraltar, they arrived at the Cove of Cork on the 30th January, without further adventure, but remained in quarantine there till February 12th, when they marched for Kilkenny. The effective strength consisted of 1 lieut- colonel, 2 majors, 4 captains, 15 lieutenants, 5 ensigns. 6 staff, 42 sergeants, 22 drummers, and 559 rank and file.

Lieut.- Colonel Napier in Orders " trusts that the regiment will behave with the greatest order, whether on the march or in quarters," and that they will " rememlier that the credit they have already gained will make their conduct the more observed," and cautious them ngainst the temptations of a garrison town. Tbe Regimental Orders show that their con- duct on the march to Kilkenny was excellent, but it is not surprising to find that after a year and eight months, spent almost entirely at sea or on active service, they sliould have celebrated tlteir return to the land of fair women and poLeen whisky by a carouse, which the cnmmanding officer excuses under the circumstances, but " positively assures them " that he will not do so again.

Here they received their new clothing and the *' plaid and hose tartan " * due to them. The lionnets, however, had stood tlie rough work, and only required to have the feathers taken down and washed ^ and new ribbons put on. The regi- ment was medically insi>ecte<l by a staff surgeon on February 25th, when many of the sick and wounded were convalescent, but 4 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer, and 92 privates were disehai^ed as unfit for service. There i.s also a list of 14 drummers and 37 privates *' very stout men and fit for service, but under size," whom Major-General Sir Charles Ross, Bart.,

* The tartan was for injiny years called f>/ait{ tartaii, though intended for kilta as well as plaids, owmg tc the two g&rments having been originally callcui a ptaid.

The regiment received prize-money for Egypt, but the amount does not appear.

1807}

THE GORDON FIIGHLANDKRS.

129

who inspected the regiment on the 25th, recommended to be kept

KO., Kilkenny, bth April. — The following letter is pub- lished:—

Royal Hospital, Dublin. Sir, — I am commanded by the Commander of the Forces to acquaint you that the definitive treaty of jieaee was signed at Ainiens at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 27th ult. by the Plenipo- tentiary of His Majesty and the Plenipotentiaries of France, Spain, and the Bataviun Republic, on wliicb happy occasion the troops under your commivnd will tire a fru'de-joie as usual. I have the honour to be, Sir, ^^^^^^B^ Your most obedient humble servant,

^^I^^P ('"^i^ned) S. Beck WITH.

^P^^xflM. -General Rosii, H Clonmetl.

W The principal features of the Treaty of AinienB were, that Great Britain restored all her conquests during the war except Trinidad, which was ceded to her by Spain, and Ceylon by the ftatavian Republic* Portugal ceded some possessions in OuiAna to France. The territories of the Ottoman I'orte *ere maintained in their integrity. The Ionian Republic was recognised, and Malta was to l>e restored to the Knights of St •^ohii. The French agreed to evacuate the Neapolitan and HoDiJin States, and Great Britain the ports she held in the Adriatic and Mediterranean.

In March a recruiting party f was sent to Athlone, prob- *Wy to get volunteers from the Fencible Corps quartered there ; it was at anyrate withdrawn soon after.

The men received an allowance in money in lieu of the '■lotfiing which they had not got at the proper tinu^, which at this penod was Christmas Day, Recruits had blue pantaloons fer fatigue.

The regiment was ordered to T>ublin, to march in three divisions, under command of Major Gordon.

R.O., Kilkenny, April Qth, 1802. — From the general good

• Holland.

t LieutenA&t Phipps, Sergeant MocLean, Corporal Walker, and John Mac- btfrson. piper.

I

I

130

TIIK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1802

conduct of the riigimeiit, particularly on the last march, and the high character the men get in every quarter, Major Gordon is sensible the men will feel it incumbent on themselves to maintain that character, and nothing marks a good soldier more than regularity and sobriety on the ruare!i.

There were still a good many sick, who were left at Kilkenny in the general hospital, with Sergeant xVlexander Cameron to take care of them. En route, the destination of the regiment was changed to Belfast, where they arrived on the 28th; some companies were quartered in barracks, the others were billeted in the town.

B.O., Belfast, 23rd April 1802. — Brigadier-General Drum- raond makes known to the officers. K-C, officers, and privates who served in Egypt the thanks of both Tlijiises of Parliament, and also to the officers, petty officers. N.-C. officers, and men of the Navy and Marines. Commanding officers of ships and corps are respectfully desired to thank those under their com- mand for their gallant and exemplary behaviour. The follow- ing is from the Speaker of the House of Commons : —

In transmitting these resolutions to Your Royal Highin'ss, I have at the stime time the sincerest satuifaction in bearing testimony to the Kentiiuents of gratitude and adiniratiou witli whicli the House expressed its sense of those services whicli have raised our naval and military glory to a height unknown in former times, and have dis- played so many brilliant and successful examples of valour and enterprise for after ages to admire and emulate,

I have the honour to be, etc.,

(Signed) Charles Abbott, Si»eaker. To Field- Marshal

H.R.H. Tlie Duke of York,

Commander-m-Chief of His Majesty's Forces.

On May 27 th, 70 men were discharged, 68 of them to out-pensiotis ; and the regiment wanted 390 men to complete establishment, the total strength being 610.

Early in June the Gordon Highlanders embarked for Glasgow* this being their first visit to Scotland since they were raised eight years before.

• O.O.f Ihtbliut Aprit 12<A, 1802. —On a regiment arriving in IreUnil, it is to be continued on the Britiab catahltabment up to the end (i.e., 24th inclusive)

im)

THE GORDON lilGilLANDBRS.

131

#

The Orders from May 1802 till July 1804 are missing,

but from the monthly returns and other documents a certnin

amount of information can be gathered. It appears that it

was expected the army would be reduced at the peace, and

that the regiment would be disbanded. Sir John Moore

writ<38 in September to Major Cameron at Glasgow Barracks,

"I am sorry to find it is determined to reduce the 92nd.

Their gallant services entitled them to a better fate." There

were great rejoicings throughout the country at the peace, but

it was soon felt that it could not lust ; Bonaparte evidently

intended to exclude England from all t'ontinental inihience or

foiumerce, and her statesmen did not think it safe to make

considerable reduction in the national establishments.

iquently, the idea of reducing the (lordun Highlaiulers

vras abandoned, and liiey were retained in the service of their

luntry. To some of the men this was a disappointment ; they

expected to be discharged at the end of the war, as had

the case after former wars with several of the Migliland

many of those enlisted ou the esUiles of the

IWTB so understood the terms of their enlistment. Their

experience of soldiering had been of the roughest ; they had

the old Highland idea of a tiglit, and then home again to tend

the cattle, and they demanded their discharge in fulfilment of

what they believed to be their engagement. Lor<l Huntly, as

colonel, arrived in Glasgow and intjuired into the matter,

which ended in a few of the men being found to be entitled to

their discharge, which they received.

At Glasgow on the 24th October 1802, Archibald Camp- bell, Esq., paymaster in the 92nd liegiment, was appointed " our true and lawful attorney for us, and in our name and for our use and benefit to ask, demand, recover and receive," etc., all sums of money that are, or may be due to us in name of rize money, Wunty, or reward, on account of the capture of le Dutch shipping lying in the Zuyder-Zee in the year 1799,

of the military month in which it Khali laud, aud ibe puyiiiiuiter ia to Mttle iiia ftcooaat« with the English \A ar Otiice accordingly, the othcers and men re- eeiring their p*y in English money for the whole period of the pay list ; and CO A regiment embarking from Ireland, it shall coutmuc in like manner upon the Iriah eatabliabmeDt aud be paid in Irish money, the paymaster Bottling his acooonto with the Oovemment of Ireland,

132

THE LIFK OF A REGIMENT.

[1803

and the conquests in Holland made by the British in that year," etc., signed by 28 sergeants, 25 corporaLs, 19 drummers, and 297 privates.

Recruiting was now actively carried on. The standard height was lowered to 5 feet 5 inches ; the levy money was j£6, 6s., of which the recruit received in money and necessaries, £5, 59. ; the ot!ier payments being — for attesting. Is. ; surgeon's fee, 2s. 6d. ; postage and paper, 3s. 6d. ; reward to party. 1 Os. Od. ; and for conducting to place of approval, 3.s. 6d. Hecruits were enlisted at headquarters, and parties were sent to various places, such towns being chosen as were frequented by young men from the north in search of employment, from which they visited the fairs and feeing markets throughout the neighbouring districts.* They also received volunteers from the Highland Fencibles, among them twenty-eight men from the " Regiment of the Isles." f

In the spring of 1803, it became known that extensive military preparations were making in the ports of France and Holland, wliicli it was pretended were destined for the French colonies; but King George III., in a message to Parliament, adverted to the necessity of precautionary measures for the security of the country. Tliis message was received with applause alike by Whig and Tory, who were on this occasion unanimous in the determination to prevent the despotism of Bonaparte from becoming universal tliroughout Europe. The French demanded the expulsion from England of their exiled countrymen, who had availed themselves of her hospitality since the Uevolutiun, and insisted on the immediate surrender of Malta, which had been retained by the British till security

RxcnuTTiNo Stationr. Rank ahv Namu or OmcEui

CoMJtANDIKQ FaRTIBS.

• Fochaberi! .... Major John Gordon.

Dundee Cnptain the Hon. John Rams&y.

Aberdeen .... „ Peter Grunt.

Huntly ..... „ P. Gordon,

Paisley Lieutenant Janies Mitchell.

Stirling ,. Donald MacDonald.

Inverness .... ,, W. M'Kay.

Pertb „ W. Phippa.

Fort-VVilliam .... Ensign Donald M'Barnet. + Letter from Lieut. General R. Vyae to oflBcer commauding ft2nd.

1803)

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

133

I

should be found against a fresh seizure of the island by the I*'reucL. Other causes of irritation existed, and the patrioLic feeling in both countries was intiamed to the highest pitch. A spark only was needed to liglit the blaxe of war ; it was Mpplied by Bonaparte, who publicly insulted the British AinbaaBador in Paris. Thus after a short and feverish peace, the two countries were again plunged into war * and a contest was begun which was only finally decided on the field of Waterloo. Britain stood alone to resist Bonaparte's career of conquest, and he resolved to strike l!ic lirat blow. He asaeoibled an army of 100,000 men at Boulogne for the in- vasioa of Britain, and a host of flat-bottomed boats for their conveyance, while every eiTort was made to hasten the prepara- tions. " Fifteen millions," he is reported to have said, " must give way to forty millions." f " Let us be masters of the Channel for si.x hours, and we are umsters of the world."

It therefore became necessary for Britain to make pro-

lonate exertions to meet the emergency. The Government

evoled all their energies to the task, in which they were

obly seconded by the patriotism and spirit of both Barliament

nd people.

The whole force of the United Kingdom was immediately mobilised, and stationed principally on tlie eastern and southern coasta The military force of the United Kingdom, ,at home and abroad, consisted of 15 0,950 men, of which 98,314 were the regular array, the remainder militia.]}; Tfns number was so infinitely disproportioued to the formidable armj expected to be brought against us,§ that the Government

• Warwu declared on the IStli May, and at once Bonaparte ordered alt Bogliih travellera and rcstdcnte in France, to the number of 10,000, to be arrated and throwai into princn. Thi* unnaual and bftrbaroim act produced a •troDg feeling of animosiiy against him among all classes in liritnin.

+ Alluding to the population of the United Kingdom and of France. P»* Short History of the P^nglish People" (J. H. Ctreeii).

Z Military Transactions of the British Empire for 1803-7, inclusive, ICotnm&nder-in-Chief'a Office (J. W. Cordon, Secretary to Commander in- I Chief).

«t The army of France, without counting the subBidiary forces of Holland, I Switzerland, and t}ie Italian States subject to it« command, amounted to ■427,000 men, besides the National Ouanls and Coast Guards, which were l»b«)ve 200,000.— J /i>on.

lU

THE LIFE OF A KKGIMENT.

[1803

felb it tlniii- duty to increase it by every means the couotry could afFord. The Militia, 80,000 strong, were called out on the 25th of March; on June 28Lh, the House of Commons agreed to the unusual step of raising 50,000 additional men by conscription, under the denomination of the " Army lie- serve Act " ; a certain quota of men from each county were chosen by Imllot, in the proportion of 34,000 for England, 10,000 for Ireland, and 6000 for Scotland, on condition of their serving only in (Ireat Britain and Ireland, but with liberty to volunteer for general service with bounty.* The men raised by this Act in the countiea of Nairn, Inverness, Moray, Band', and Aberdeen were sent to form a 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, which was made up by men recruited in the usual manner. This battalion bec^ime a nursery of good recnuts to supply the casualties consequent on the more active duties of the 1st Battalion, till the peace of 1814.t The 2ud Battalion 92nd Itegiment (or Gordon Highlandei-a) was placed on the establishment on July 9th, 180 34 Lieut.- Colonel J. Willoughby Gordon, from the Staff of the Army, was appointed Lieut.-Colonel of the 2nd Bat- talion, 4th August 1804.

Meanwhile volunteer c<jrps were enrolled in the dif- ferent parts of the kingdom, and sucli was the enthusiasm, that in a few weeks their number amounted to 300,000. § Among them were to be found men of all ranks, professions, and classes, from tlie Prince to tlie peasant. || The voice of political faction was stilled, and Whig and Tory stood as

♦ The Imlloted men were allowed to find aubatitutes, mu\ a« it was incon> venient to many huaiiiesa ineii and others to serve porsonally, tlicy often |>aid large sums to men who wishe^l to join the army to become thetr substituteu, who nftorwA-rdw ftdded to the money thus earned the bounty for voltinteering. Many young men iiuiteriuUy int^reased the comfort of their ]xireuta by these means. A Feuiiisnlar veteran told me, when I admired his comfortable house, that ho and his broil lera had built it for their parents with their Ixmnties, adding : '* Tiiey have rained Scotland, sir, with their Poor-Law ! Lada lippen to tli« 1ft w to keep tlxeir niotbent." ^

I Stewart's " Highlanders," p. 299. t Cannon's "Historical Record." § Alison.

II Among otheiT*. in Edinburgh, was a corps comfvosed of lawyers. Their instructor having or<lered tliem always to step off with the left foot, •* Wli not the right? " asked an advocate, keen for ttrgument. " Because it's H

m

THE GORMN HIGHLANDERS.

135

comrades in the ranks, united in one gruat effort for the preservation of their country.

On June 6th the Gordon Higldanders inarched from Glas- gow, embarked at Leith on the 9th, hmded at Harwich on the 24th, and proceeded to Colchester. On the 1st July they marched to Weely Cross in Essex, where they enx^aiujjed, wyii after going into Weely Barracks. The 2nd battalion vas formed there on Novcnilier 24th ; officers and N.-C. officei-s, with a proportion of old soldiers, being posted to it from the 1st Battalion.

IsT Battauom. 2mt Battjli.ioi«.

0

1

2

10

12

8

0

1

1

1

3

1

I

0

I

ftO

SO

30

3

950

1113

In 1803, field officers ceased to bold companies.

Both battalions were commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Napier.

Majesty's order,'' said the sergeant, adding, '* I would rather drill t«u fooli» th&u one philosopher ! "

The menibers of an Angus corps found great difficulty in rememheriug which was the left and which ihc right foot, till their sergeant hit on the

eof m&rking the left shoes with chalk, and ordered ^'Caulkit fut

Colonel,	1
Lieut.-Colonel,	1
Majors,	o
Captains,	10
Lieutenants,	12
Ensigns,	»
Paynia«t«r, .
Adjutant,
Quart«irm aster,
^Surgeon,
liiSfeistant Surgeons,	2
SergeantrMajor, .
Quartermaster-Sergeant	» 1
Paymaster-Sergean t,
Armourer-Sergeant,
Sergeants, .	50
Corporals,	50
Drummers, .	20
Fifers, . . . .	2
Privates,	950
Total,	1116

1:^.6

THE LIFE OP A REOIMENT-

[1801

On the 15th October the 1st Battalion had 58 EflgUsh, 632 Scotch, 25 Irish, and 1 foreigner* — total, 716 N.-C. officers and men.

The levy money was raised to £10, 10s., of which the recruit got in cash and necessaries £7, 128. 6d., the remainder going to the party and costs. In Novemher 62 recruits and volunteers for geneml service {i.e., from the reserve) joined the 1st Battalion. In the returns of the early months of 1804, considerable iiimibei-s of recruits are menlioned as approved at headquarters, and also as being with the parties, and " approved by Lord Huntly," who was then a major- general on the Staft' of North Britain, but who took an active interest in getting the right stamp of men for liis regiment. A great many reserve men f volunteered into the 1st Battalion for geueml service, and on March 1st the whole of the N.-C. uliicers, drummers, and rank and file of the battalion were for unlimited service, except one drummer.

In May Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of the French.

It.O., July 23rdt 1804. — The regiment is to march to- morrow morning for Colchester, etc. etc. One subaltern from the regiment, and 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, and 12 privates from each battalion for baggage guard.

On August 1st the total strength of the Ist Battalion was 845 men.

M.O., Colcheter, July 2dih. — Officers of the 2nd Battalion are not to carry walking-sticks at church parade.

Battalion Order. — Sergeant Charles MacGregor is sen- tenced by Battalion Court-Marlial to be "suspended from the rank and pay of a sergeant to those of a private sentinel,

* The "foreigner" secnui to have been Donald Cameron, boru at Chttrleatown. U.S.A.

t 235 up t« the 15th May 1804, of whom " 16 are from the rettetxe at- tached to the 42ud Regiment"— Effective Siao and Description Roll, lat Battalion 9*2nd, January lat, 1805. In this roll there are also many men who had served iu — Argyll Militia, Ross-shire Militia, Shropshire Militia, iUcn- garry Fencihlei, lales Fenciblea, Lochaber Fencibles, Independent Company of (rordon Fencibles, MacLeod Fenuibles, Orant's Fencjblea, Clan Alpine Fen- ciblee, North (or Gordon) Fencibles, Caithness Fencibles, Caithness Legion, Reay Fencibles, North Lowland Fencibles.

m]

THE GORDON TIIGHLANDERS.

137

for one month from the date hereof," for not having his com- pany muster-i"oll ready on the 24th inst.* On account of his good character aud the recommendation of the Court, Lieut-Colonel Napier pardons him, but takes the opportHnity of informing officers and N.-C. otticers that no excuse will be taken for neglect of public duties, and that nothing can be so nnmilitary as the cireumstunce of trusting public documents upcm a [uHi-ch to a common carrier, which appears to Jiav c been ihtt case with Sergeant MacGregor.

At Colchester, where there was a large garrisou, the two t«utalioris 92nd dordon Higlilundcrs formed, with the two battalions 42nd Koyal Highlanders, a brigade under Major- general the Hon. John Hope. The lirigade marched and en- caiiiped on Lexden Heatli on the 6th August, only light liig^ being allowed; the 2nd Battaliou 92nd vfAs com- Bunded by Major (Brevet Lieut.-Colouel) Morris.

Here instruction was carried on in outpost and field duties o' all sorts, light infantry and target practice ; but during ^'^t a number of old soldiers were allowed to lake work *iili the farmers. It appears the men sometimes did jobbing work where they were quartered, though it was not encouraged, j,|Dd Boiaetimes forbidden.

Attout this time pressing application was made for rein- ^on?eiiients both in the East and West Indies, which, combined '^th the hostile aspect of affairs in Europe, made it necessary to augment the army. The Government therefore brought ^w^ard a meajsui-e for gi%'ing an addition to the army of '8,951 men, and an inunudiate levy of fifty battalions for nome service, so as to set the regular army at lilierty for dis- pel abroad. The " Additional Force Act " was passed in %, and continued in force till June 1806, when it had

duced u^ the army only 15,771 men.

Id October the men of the 14th Battalion of Ileaerve, Omanded by Lieut.-Colonel Grant, who had volunteered for tral service, were allowed to choose the 42nd, 91st, and 92nd Regiments.

On the 24th October, 1 subaltern officer, 4 sergeants, 4

' SupeiisioQ from rank for a short period seems in those days to have kaeomiDoo Bcnteuce of Courta- Martial for tili^tit oJTeaces.

138

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1S(M

corporals, and 1 druminer from the 2iid Battaliou marched to London, en roiHe for Elgin, where tliey were detached under instructious of tlie Inspector-Gieiieral for the purpose of receiving the men to be raised under the " Additional Force AcL"

On the 26th October Ixjth battalions returned to Weely Burracks, and l>efore the camp broke up, Lieut.-(!eneral Sir J. Craig, commanding the Colchester District, published an order cdmplimentiug the troops on their good conduct, iu which he states " that he has not n^ceived one complaint of irregular or disorderly conduct during the three months they have been ou the ground."

0.0,, IFefly Barracks, ISth Hovemher 1804. — -Officers com- manding battalions will he so good as recollect that the original formation of their corpj^ will always be in three ranks, unless the ten divisions fall in short of twelve complete files each.

Bat men and bat horses to be paraded daily with all they are intended to carry on service ; also the carts for entrenching tools, and all are to be exercised under the quartermaster of the day.

M.O. — The greatcoats of the men when in marching order are to be folded under the Hap of the knapsack.

Ou the 25th October 1804, the 2nd Battalion was held in readiness to proceed by the Inland Navigation to Liverpool, and there to embark for Ireland. It accordingly marched on the 29th, taking only twelve rounds of ammunition and one Hint each man,* returning the rest to store, and leaving their bat horses to the 1st Battalion.

The Ist Battaliou was now brigaded with the 1st 42ud (the 2nd 'i2ud bemg also gone to Ireland) and the 1st 91st The men were all regularly practised in gun-drill — 1 sergeant and 14 gunners from each battalion "whenever ye weather permits."

M.O. — ^Ten men if possible to be iu a mess, and a N,-C. officer at the head of each mess, and to be ye resix>nsible person. The names of every man and his comrade to be posted at the foot of each berth. (Two men slept in each berth.) * Sixty rottjids uid two fliuts was asual for each iuau.

m

THE GORDON DIGHLANBERa

139

The officers, at anjrate, seem lo have returued to the use iif huir-|X)wder, which was atill fiishionable in civil! life.

RO., Ditceinher 22iid, 1804. — Major Cameron directs that 110 ofificer will presume to appear on parade without having his hair tied according to regulation and properly powdered. And by a later Order, officers' hair to be tied two inches from the head, and the tail five inches in length.

HO.. FfhTuary *Ilh, 1805. — The men not to wear great- eottts e-xcept on duty and never on fatigue.

ILO., May 2\$t. — Officers to wear the Highland dress on all duties, and when oil' duty while cassimere or cioth pauta- loooa and half -boots.

Kegimental mounted officers' horse appointments — saddle- doth of the regimental facing, with double row of regimental lice round it. Holsters covered with black bear-skin, the Homing of the bridle covered with ribbon the colour of the saddle-cloth.

H.O., February llth. — The barrack guard to turn out once a day to the commanding officer of the regiment with presented aims, after which it turns out with ordered arms. To field officers of the regiment it turus out once a day with wdered arms, after which it only .stands to arras.

At this time a number of men were ilischarged unfit for service, and were sent home to Scotland, and others, fit only ^or home duty, were sent to a veteran battalion in the Isle of Wight.

Ulothing was now issued in April instead of at Christmas, •^od the battalion received it, with one pair of slioea per man, on April 16th. " Hose, not being now au article of clothing, ^J htt paid for." * At this period the Sphinx was by Kegi- Qientnl Order adopted as the crest to be worn on the bonnets "' place of a regimental button as heretofore.

On the 17th April the battalion was inspected. Field ^''iters and staff in white breeches and boots, the ot!ier officers ^^ Highland dress •, and Major-General Hope, in Order.s of the ^^^K expressed the highest approbation of the " complete and ^^cient appearance of the 92nd Regiment yesterday, as well *8 the precision with which the battalion moved," and he

* There lb ■tUl only three yiirdit and a half of plaid Uutan in each kilt,

140

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1806

"recjuesta LieuL-(Joloiiel Napier to express to the officers and men his sense of the diligence they liave liestowed on the several field duties, and of the proficiency to which they have attained.*

Sergeants were sometimes allowed to resign rather than stand trial.

KO., May 2\sL — Sergeant l^wis MacGregor, having been guilty of an irregularity, Lieut.-Colonel Napier has accepted his resignation.

In May six officers were employed in receiving volunteers from the Scotch MiUtia regiments in England. Three volunteers were also received from the Oxfordshire, and six from the Irish Militia.

At Weely the married men were allowed to live in huts belonging to Government outside banacks, but their wives sometimes aVjused this privilege by selling liquor and allowing disorderly conduct. " Major t 'amerou was perfectly shocked at the infamous scene of gambling he witnessed to-day in rear of the centre huts of the 92ud Uegimont." etc. " On account of the irregularities allowed by Private M'Kean, his hut is to be burned down by the pioneers, and if Mrs M'Keao con- tinues these disgrnceful scenes, she will be drummed out of the regiment."

On the 4th of June, being the King's birthday, the battalion fired three volleys, and drill was dispensed with in honour of the occasion.

R,0. — It is to 1)0 ol>served that when the open column marches past in parade order the drummers on the flanks of divisions are not to roll ; tlie pipers may^ however, be allowed to play.f

At this time a few carpenters and masons were allowed to

* This waa the more satisfactory, aa t.leneral Hope ia by no means so comt>ltmentary iu his* Onler to a regiment he Im*^ inspected the previcua day.

i It was the custam in the regiment till after the Crimean War, when marching past in »low time waa done awiiy, for the piper of each company to play " Faill* am Prioiiaa" or some other salute nn the Hank of hi» company oa it paused the (Jeneral, the band all thu time playing the " Garb of Uld (Jaul.'*

On May 1 1th, in Regimental Ordvra, " Alexander Cameron the piper is to b« taken on the strength of the Or«nadier» as driinnncr from the 2<>th of laat month" (probably to get him drummer 'a pay, to which, as piper, he waa not entitled].

1^)5]

THE GORDON HfGHLANDEBS.

141

volunteer from the reginieiit to the corps of Eoyal Military Artificers with teu guiueas buimty,

R.O., July 1 0/A. — Ctjuiplaiuta having been made in an irregular manner liy Captidu Wails' company, Lieut, -Colonel Napier admonishes the men, " who know perfectly the proper mode to be adopted when they feel themselves to be aggrieved. U appearing, however, that some negligence has taken place on ihe part of Captani Watt, Lieiil.-Colunul Napier has repri- manded him in presence of the held otticei^ and captains of ibe bjitlttlion."

In August a certain number of men of good character Vd large families, are allowed to assist at harvest, but are not to solicit work from the farmers, who arc to apply to the com- mandiug officer if they want men.

At a time when the price of bread varied, according to the ^and district, from 1\<^. to lO^d. for the 41b. loaf,* it

fgreat help to men with children to be able in this way U) add to their means of support.

• lu September 2nd the 1st Battalion, alonji^ with the lat ^2iid, Dlst and 95th (liitios), marched to Colchester, leaving a detachment in charge of the heavy baggage at Wecly, but on ibe 4ih it was ordered to huld itself in jeadiness for embarka- tion, and returned to Weely on the Gth. On the 8th Uciol>er they were again at Colchester for exercise and field days.f ^liil«^ there, they were reviewed at Broxted by ILIML the ^'fJiuinander in-Chief, who expressed his approval of their "soldier-like appearance and correct discipline." On the 18th the Highland regiments returned to Weely, and on the 20th t«e Ist Battalion marched to Tilbury Fort, en route for Ospringe l^niicks, where they arrived November 6th.

liXK. October 2Mi, 1805, W,dy. — In leaving the district and quarters so long occupied by the regiment, Li cut. -Colonel ^^jder hopes and trusts tiiut the regiment will conduct them- ^^'es in a manner worthy of the high character they hold in "^ tirmy, and tlmt they will not, by drunkenness or other-

* Monthly eonnnissariftt prioeii in Order*. In March 1805 it was lO^d.

t Al this period Sumlfty could hardly be called a day of rest It wa» the c^tonito march past in review order after charch, and " evening parade ia to Iw formed with amu at same hour and in Rame manner aa on week-days. "

142

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

wise, give people reiison to suppose that their present cliaracter has been established merely from their appearance in the field or at a review.*

In a letter to tlie commanding officer in November, Messrs (ireeiuvood and Cox, the army agents, inform him that each married woman left behind on eml)arkation is to be allowed £1, Is., and 5s. for each child. In a letter from Uspringe Barracks, Feversham, Kent, Major Cameron writes — " We are waiting here till the transports are ready for us-f We are all of ns this morning in the most extraordinary mixture of joy and sorrow, tor the loss, in the midst of such glorious achieve- ments, of that greatest of men — Nelson." Again, on the 25th December 1805, "to the astonishment of every person here we are still without a word of ninving: the 2nd liattalion of the 79th and we form the brigade of the Honourable Major- General John Hope, commanded ad inicrim by his brother Charles."

Meanwhile Napoleon's plan by which the British fleet was to be divided, and the whole French and Spanish fleets con- centrated to crush the British squadron in the Channel, and protect the vast armament at Boulogne in crossing to the shores of Britain, had been fru.st rated by the death of the Admiral destined to command it, ami by the \dgilance of the British Admirals. Austria, Russia, and Sweden had formed an alliance to wrest Italy and the Low Countries from the Frencli Emperor, who had reluctantly abandoned for the time his dream of the invasion of Britain ; and nmrching the " Army of England," as it was called (now amounting to 150,000 men) towards the i>auube, lie forc<!d an Austrian army to capitulate at Ulm, three days before Nelson's victory of the 21st October at Trafalgar.

* I ilfi not find oucc iii (iencral or Brigade Ordera ftiiy fault found with the 9*2nd by general officers, which ia by no nieaiiB the case with every regiment in the district.

t They had proliably heen intended to form part of the expedition wiiich embarked in November under Lord Cnthcart, landed atCuxhaven and occupied a position on the River U'eaer, for the purpose of joining the Russian and Swedlisli forces in causing a diversion ou the aide of HuUaud ; but the French victory of Auaterlitz in December put an end to hopea for its aucceas, and ' Lord Clathcairt returne<l to England.

* UM]

TlfB GORDON HIGELANEDR8.

143

I

"Englaud has saved herself by her courage," said Pitt, in what were destined to be his last public words. •' She will save Europe by her example." *

The 1st Battalion 92nd inarched to Cimterbury on the 26th November, there to be quartered ; and, instead of Ijeing sent to the Continent, on the 2nd. 3rd. and 4Lh of January 1806, by order from the Conimauder-iii-Chief, the hattalion marche*! in three divisions to London, in order to attend the (uneal of Admiral Viscount Nelson, on the 0th.

Tliey were to return after the solemuity, and to leave everytliing in their present quarters, except " only such articles aa are necessary to their appearance on parade on the day of the funeral. "t There was evidently some diltkaihy as to the " nppearance " they were to make. The men carried new hose and new jackets in their packs, but many of the latter were not ready, and tiie tuilors had a hard time of it, and no ' Sunday out " in London ; they were ordereil to '* bring as ny jackets in the waggon as they can finish on Sunday."

Un the morning of January 9tli, tlie 92nd marched from their quarters in the outskirts of Loudon to the Horse (luards I*WTide, where the troops, consisting of three brigades of iafautry, with cavalry and aitillfry, were furmed for the 'unerul procession, which was led hy a detachment of cavalry *Dd foor companies of light infantry, under Major Cameron ^if the 92nd, immediately followed hy the battalion companies 0^ the 9 2nd and 1st Battalion 70th, the otlier troops follow- '»g.and four Grenadier companies bringing up the rear. " The uiiisic of the 79th to be in front of the brigade, and occasion- *'ly play a few bars of solemn and appropriate music/*

'Hie four light companies under Major Cameron, and an ^fficer and twenty njeii of the 2n<l I>ragoons, were formed inside the railings, to the door of St I'aul's, while the Grenadier ^''ojpanies lined the aisle from the door to the place where the '^ttiaius of the hero were deposited. The rest of the troops l'*88ed Ciu to Mourfields, where they fired three vulteys in the *^y and where refreshments were provideil for them ; they

I returned over London Bridge to their quarters.

144

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1806

" Though the honour was great," says Major Cameron, " the trouble was by no means sHght, as we were under arms from six in the morning till seven at night."

Wliile the Gordon Highlanders were in London, it was announced that their colonel, Major-General the Marquis of lIunLly, had been removed to the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, and Major-Gcneral the Hon. Sir John Hope (after- ward.s the Eurl of Tio]jetoun). from the GOth Regiment, was appointed by His Majesty King George III. to be colonel of the 92nd. Although the otlieiul connection was tluia severed, their first colonel by no means gave up his interest in the regiment The officers were always welcome guests at Gordon Castle, several spent the evening of Lheir days as tacksmen on the Gordon Estates in Lochuber and Hade iioch, where numliers of the veteran soldiers also found comfortable homes.

Up to this period the moiiLhly returns were alwnys headed "92nd Regiment of Foot (or Gordon Highlandei-s); " the last return so heatled is that of July 1st, 1807. The title used afterwards is generally " 92nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot." sometiniea simply " 92nd Regiment of Foot." Still " Gordon Highlanders" was used colloquially in the regiment, and in the Highlands " lleismaid <}urdo«ach" continued to be the usual appellation of the 92i(d.* It is remarkable that by some inadvertence there was, for many years after its forma- tion, no reference in the Army List to the nationality of the regiment.

Instead of returning to Canterbury as they expected, where all their belongings were left, the baltalion marelied to Col- chester in two divisions, leaving London on Satunlay the 1 1th and Monday the 13th of January. A sergeant of each com- pany had to march md Gravesend to Canterbury, to collect and lake particular care of the men's nt'cessaries, and give over the barracks. It is no wonder that Lieut-Colonel Napier tells them " that the duty they are sent upon requires great attention, and may be atteucled with nnich trouble." The officers and men must have been patient indeed, if they

• Abo on recruiting placartla iit various periods ; and the Sphinx with the worda "Uordou Higlilaa<Iers " was the creat ou the regimental writing- paper in 1850. The title is also used by Stewart and other writers in 1815.

won

THB GORDON inGHLANDERS.

146

'ii'i oot use strong language, at such a want of forethought and arrangement on the part of the authorities ! However, recruits, women, and children, with all their possessions, .nached Colchester, where ihe hattalion arrivect on the loth, mdwas inspected on the 19th by Mfijor-General Mihier, in "their new clothing and plumes." Here they were brigaded with the Ist and 2nd Battalions of the 79th, under Brigadier- 'j«neral Dunlop.

On the 1st of February, the total strength of the 1st naltaliou was 945. Soon after, a number of men were sent to the 9th Veteran Battalion at Etlinbuigh,* and others were (lischarged.

While at Colchester, great attention was paid to elementary 'Wl, and the position of the soldier in marching, etc. ; to the ^lealth and comfort of the men, and to carrying on the whole

iem and duty of the regiment with alacrity.

Men of the 2nd Battalion were encouraged to extend their limilal service, and a number of volunteers were received from it iu June by the 1st BattaUon.

In July tlie garrison was reviewed by Lieut. -General the Earl of Chatham.

It was ordered that soldiers' letters should only l)e charged I'l- instead of the usual high rate of postage, which was, from ^'olchester to Scotland, 3s. for 1 oz. weight.

At this time the 2nd Battalion 79th was atlected by

Ahahnia to an alarming extent, and steps were taken to pi^eat the disease spreading, the afleeted battalion being sent '<J encamp.

Lieut.-Colonel Napier keeps ollicer.'s and men up to their *ork, and rebukes the former if the men's rooms and clothing ^i^' not in the best possible order.

2nd August. — Men are allowed to go harvesting, parlicu- rty married men.f

* Veteran Battalioiu are expressly for the reception of meritorioua soldiers, *ko, hy irouii<l!», iufirmity, or age, we become unfit for the raorw iictive duties °' thr line, but who retain aufficieot atrength for the less laborioua duty ^ garriBon. — Militat-y Journal.

t The price of bread had f&lleu to 7^d. in Essex and 6|d. in I^orfolk the *J'>. loaf ; gooil beef and mutton 7:fd. per lb. In 1806 the pay of reginjentnl (jfficcTi and N.-C. oHioepi was incrcJiKed, and corporala and privtttes of infantry

K

146

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1807

On August 26tlii the Higlilaud Brigade (1st and 2nd 79th and 1st f>2iid) inarched to Weely, and Sergeants Ounn. Alexander Cameron, and Donahl MacDonald were sent re- cruiting to Chelmsford, the Ross-shire and other Militia Regi- ments being in that district.

Return giving the country of oflieers, N.-C. oHlcei'S, <lrum- mers, and privates of the 1st Ikttaliou 92nd Regiment or Oordon Highlanders, September 2nd, 1806.

N.-C. Officers,

OWIOERS.		Drummers, AND Privates.
English	1	63
Scotch	. 28	938
Irish	4	33
Foreigners .	!•	0

Total,

34

1034

On October 3rd the Highland Brigade marched to Col- chester, and were reviewed by H.Il.H. the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, who expres.sed his " highest approbation of their appearance in the field this day," and desired his Onler to that effect to be read to the men at evening roll-call. Next day they returned to Weely.

Horse Guards, October 27th, 1806. — Sergeants to have collars and eufla of the regimental facings on their greatcoats.

B.O., Odober 2 Is^.— Soldiers of the Highland Brigade to be allowed two months furlough to go to Scotland, to the extent of twenty men per battalion.

In November the men were exercised in firing ball, fifty rounds a man. Corporals to have brushes and prickers for the arm9.t

In February 1807, the levy money for infantry recruits was £18, 12s. 6d., of which the recruit received in necessaries and cash £11, lis. The remainder went to the party and for incidental expeuses.j

were allowed additional pay at Id. a day after seven years' service, and 2d.

after fourteen yean' service ; two yesjrs' service in the East or West Indies

counted as three yearn elsewhere.

• WMlIiam Charles Umnt. I To clear the pan and vent,

J The levy money for cavalry recniitB was. £15, is. 6d. , and for boys

€10, Ifm. ll^^iyn' pay had lately been increased from 8d. to lOd. a day.

THE GORDON HlGIILANDgBS.

U7

Ophthalmia now existed iii the 92nd as well as in the 79 th, and, with the view of checking this complaint, seven companies of the 1st 79th and the 1st 92nd marched on 3rd Februan* t<.» Harwich, the 92nd leaving all their ophthalmia ciLses liehind at Weely, and every precaution being taken to prevent the disease spreading by infection, all suspicious cases Vieing at once separated till seen by the doctor.

The men were desired to scour all their old clothing, and

to wear their new kilts and waistcoats till it was dry, and also

to wash their hair ; " they will not be expectetl to wear tlieir

\)ad8 at every parade, but to tie their hair neatly with a

atrbg."

R.0,, 3rd March 1807, Haru?ich Barracks.'—The com- manding officer having observed several of the ofticers appear- ing with handkerchiefs tied with large knots in front, also ^ shirt appearing very much above the handkerchiefs, he particularly forbids the practice, except at evening parties, otherwise he will l>e under the necessity of ordering them to ippear again in their leathern stocks. Otiicers are requested •JOt to leave the barracks unless dressed in every respect ^inientally.

Od tlie 4th March the battalion was inspected by Brigadier- benenil Warde, who expressed his approbation.

The following is the general return of their countiy, height, 1 and lime of service : —

COCVTBY.	Srro'ts.	CORP'Lfl.	Drum'rs.	Privates.
%lish		0	2	1	59
Scotch		52	48	19	802
Irinl. . .		2 0	0 0	2 0	31
foreigners	. . .	0
		54	50	22	892
HKfOHT.
* feet 2 and	upwards	0	0	0	8
6 feet and upwards .	3	1	0	31
SfeetU	♦J	4	2	0	26
5 feet 10	If ♦	10	1	0	35
5 feet 9	If	7	9	o	41
5 feet B		9	15	1	105
S f«^t 7		7	5	5	128

48 TUK LIFB OF A	REGIMENT.		[18
Hkiqht.	Sbro'ts.	Corp'ls.	DRnu'aa.	Pmvati
5 feet 6 and upwards	8	8	3	184
5 feet 5 „	4	9	5	163
Under 5 feet 5	2	0	5	170
Boy	0	0	0	1
	54	50	22	892
Age.
55 years and upwards	0	0	0	1
50	1	0	0	7
45	1	2	0	21
40	4	3	0	53
35	9	1	0	81
30	23	14	1	164
25	15	22	1	214
20	1	8	10	284
18	0	0	5	55
Under 18 ....	0	0	5	2
	54	60	22	892
Service.
30 years and upwards	0	0	0	1
25	1	0	0	0
21	1	0	0	3
18	0	0	0	2
14	0	0	1	7
12	31	13	5	203
10	4	6	1	26
8	6	5	2	70
7	3	8	1	47
6	1	4	2	61
4	2	5	0	88
3	2	5	2	220
2	1	4	7	89
1	1	0	0	40
Under 1 year . .	0	0	0	12

54 50 22 892

Total N.-O. oflBcers, drummers, and privates, 1018.

On March 5 th the battalion marched to Colchester, where the officers " are on all occasions to wear the bonnet, with the exception of mounted officers."

THE OOUDON HIGItLASDKUS.

149

Tliey were inspected by Major-Ueneral (Jrosvenor on the

I til, retarniug to Harwich a few days later, iiuder ihe com-

i.£tnd of Lieut.-Colonel I^mont, and on the 27th April the

'l»a.ttaliou returned to Weely, where new bonnets were issued

_ to the men, who were ordered to take down the feathers and

tskke them up on the new Ijonnets, and to wear the old

|t»<3iiuet8, without feathers, as foraging caps. In May a draft

" of 32 rank and file, described as of good appeai-ance^ was

r'eccived from the 2nd Battalion.

By letters from the Adjutaiit-fieneral, ILILH. the Com- tnnnder-in-Chief directs ** that the serj^'eants must be taken from the regiment generally, without reference to the battalion in wliipli the vacancy may occur, and exclusively from the taeii who are enlisted without limitation. This is not, how- ever, to have a retrospect to men engaged for a limited service who Iwve already been appointed sergeants or coi-porals," etc. "H.R.H. is pleased to approve of your leaving it to the dis- cretion of the otticer commanding the 2nd IJafctalion to appoint a certain number of men of limited service to be corporals." To Major-rieneral the Hon. Sir John Hope, or ofUcer com- taandiiig 1st Battalion 92ud Regiment.

The corporal puinshments in the army and navy were at iHis tiaie very severe, especially for desertion, absence, and tuaking away with regimental necessaries. It seems almost iticreilible that it should have Ijeen necessary for the King to "express his opinion," as he did in December 1806, '* that no Mrp^wl punishment should exceed 1000 lashes"] Coriioral jwiislmient appears, however, to have been comparatively rare ii the 9 2nd.

CH APT Ell IX.

Wjiile the fTordoii Highlanders were thus quietly preparing themselves at home for the future service of their country abroad, Napoleon, who had defeated a Kussian aud Austrian army at Auaterlitz, taken possession of Vienna, and conquered Prussia, had in the summer of 1807 made peace witli Kussia at Tilsit, and forced Sweden, the only ally England retained on the Continent^ to renounce lier alliance. He had made one brother King of Holland and another King of Najjles, and now having command of the whole of Western Europe, determined on the entire exclusion of British commerce from the Continent, trusting to defeat her by the rtiin of her manufactures. Notwithstanding the precautions taken by the Emperors of Fmnce and Russia to conceal their designs, the British Government !iad been made aware of their detcr- miuution to seize the fleets of Denmark and Portugal, and thus destroy the maritime supremacy of Grefit Urituin. To prevent this, an expedition was at once secretly prepared to demand the surrender of the Danish fleet, with a promise that if it was given up without resistance, it would be returned at the close of the war.

In this expedition the 1st Battalion of the (lordon High- landers was selected to take part. A draft was received from the 2nd Battalion, consisting of 103 rank and Kle — good- looking young men.

Bn^jadt Orders, Weelt/ Barraeks, July 2f*fk, 1807. — -The lat Battalions 79th and 92ud Regiments are to march to- morrow morning at five o'clock for embarkation at Harwich. They will be formed in the barrack-tield at Harwich for the inspection of Sir David Baird, after which they will im- mediately embark on board ships which have been named for each regiment, etc. Men to have sixty rounds Itall cartridge and two flints each. Regiments to have a surticient number of camp colours, each regiment a difierenfc colour, so that

m]

TUK UOKIMjK IllUULANDKlt^

151

each Ixxit may liave one ou disembarking before au enemy {92nd flags red, 79 th red and gi-eeu). Field otlicers allowed 2cwt. of biiggage, captains and stafl' l^ cwt., subalterns 1 cwt.

Hie strength embarked was 3 field otticers, 10 captains, 20 subalterns, 5 staff, 48 sergeants, 19 drummers, 981 rank and file.

H.O. — Lieut.-Col. Napier desires that oHicers commanding (liltereiit ti-ansports on which the 92ud are embarked will pay l«rticnlar attention to the ' cleanliness of the 8hij)s ; they will keep lx>th men, women, and children on deck during the day whea weather permits; bedding to be brought on deck in fine weather, and men to dine on deck. Ships to be fumigated three times a week.

Officers had an embarkation allowance in money, and a 'Irawback allowed to the merchant on wine purciia.scd by them.

Water was precious on board ship in those days. A sentry *>«s put on it, no perstm to take any without leave from the officer of the wat<:h, except cooks or otticers* servants, who iM)- take drinking water to the cabin. Soldiers to drink at ti»e cask, or if they want to cook anything they must show it ou a dish to the otticer of the walch before tliey can get water. No bajsina of water to wash allowed.

Major-General Burrard was in command of the expedition till tlie arrival of Lord Cathcart. Tlie troops were divided into:~

The Ist Division, Lieut.-General tJ. Ludlow, consisting of Brigade of Guards, tlie Hou. Major-General Finch; the 28th ttQil 79th liegiments, Brigadier-Genera! Ward.

2tid Division, Lieut.-General Sir D, Baird. consisting of the 4th itud 23rd Kegimeuts, Major-CJeneral Grosvenor ; the 30Ui, 50th, and 82nd Uogiments, Major-General Spencer.

The Reserve, under Major-General Sir Arthur VVellesley, ""<! <'olonel Stewart acting llrigjidier-General, coustsfced of the ^^rd, 52nd, 92nd, and 95th Regiments.* " The two battalions of lh« German Legion to be under the command of their own ^''Jor-General if they have one with theiu ; if not, under the senior otficer till farther orders.'^ f

This WM the beginning of the regimcnt'e service under Wellington, which contioueil with little intermiseiou till the occupation of Paris, ISI5. 1 Then was alao cavadry And iirtillery.

152

THB LIFE ))F A liEGlMENT.

riSOT

Ou Auyust, 12lh, a curious Brigade Order explaius that tJie troops may be ordered to land with or without knapsacks, and that if it is determined to land without them, the men " must wear their trousers over their breeches and leggings," and any other articles in their greatcoats or haversacks. This, of course, did not apply to the Highlanders.

KG., AagiLst 12 th. — The men will land in their new clothing, and orticers in the Highland dress.

KG., Attffust 14^/f. — The plaids to be immediately made into wide-mouthed troupers, as light as possible ; should the i quantity be too small for a large man, they can make the head I bands of their old trousers. The trousers to be folded with the greatcoats when they have on their packs, and in the picks J when they have on their greatcoats. IH

li.a, HMX aoHath, Amjust 12M. 1807.— The ordinary^ formation of the Reserve under the command of the Right Hon. Sir Artliur Wellesley is as follows: — The 1st Battalion 95th on the rlglit, the Ist 43rd. then the 2nd 52ud, tlien the Ist 92ud and 2nd 9rjth ou the left. Circumstances may render necessary a deviation from this formation, of which due notice will be given.

a.il, H.M.S. '• Prm£€ of IVaits," AwjuM 1 bth, 1 807.— Notice i is t!ms early given to the army that the Danish territory is to | be considered as that of a Power with which war has not been declared, and that all oHicers in command will be held most strictly responsible that tlie persons and properties of indi- viduals, subjects of his Danish Majesty, shall be protected as strictly as tliose of His Majesty's, or as those of any foreign Power in alliance with Cireat Britain where the seat of war might happen to be. Force and military operations ai"e to be i directed against those who oppose us in arms, and to the enforcement of such restrictions as it may be found neccBSfiry to impose upon the inhabitauls. At the same time, it is to be understood that hostility and vigorous resistance may Ijc expected on the part of the Danisii troops. These, of course, are to be repelled in the most vigorous manner, and, as usual, whenever it is practicable, by the bayonet in preference to fire.

Any waggons, horses, forage, cattle, or provisions that may

beppessetl or Lakcii are to l>c reported in the lir.st iiistaucu to the oHicer commandiiig the brigade, in writing, who will be called upon to transmit the same.

The fleet, consisting of 25 sail of the line and convoying transports with 27,000 troops,* after passing Elsinore, anchored ijwideof Croaingsberg Castle ; and the Danish CJovurnment waa sumtooued to surrender its fleet into the keeping of liritain, to \»i held as a deposit, and restored at a general peace. The offer being refused, the island on whit;h Copenhagen stands waa invested by the ships, and on Sundiiy morning, the 16th At^iat. at tive o'clock, a landing was etlected by the troops awr the village of Welbeck.

The Light Company of tlie 92nd was the first that tom-lied Danish grinind, but except a party of dragoons, who galloped off as 800U as the Highlanders jumped from their boats, there was uo enomy to be seeii.f The regimnnt ndvnnoed for some 'li»lniic« through a wooiled country, and halted in the oi)eu beyond till the three divisions were landed. Here Private James I)uncan was accidentally shot.* He was a fine young *«jl<lier, and his untimely death caused gi*eat grief to his comrades.

When the troops were orderi'd to advance, the resei-ve moved on the right Ity Alarum, having Ikidle on the left, by l*yngby. Sir G. Ludlow's Division in the centre marched towards the Hermitage, Sir L>. Haird's towards Chariot teiiburg, eUL "The right of the army will be supported upon the lakes Ityngby, the left by the sea. Pickets of '2nd line to be placed in rear, the chain of posts fronting towards Crouingsberg Cwtli', The Reserve will also place pickets to cover the "ght of the army."

iUaervc Order, Aiujusi l<)th, 1807.- — Position of Frywgt. J^*o companies of each of the 43rd, 52ud, and 92nd Kegiraeuta I Ua picket this day.

JlO., JftLfiirn, Atuftuil ISth. — The 1st and 2nd companies will march this day at eleven o'clock, the 1st to Herlem to

• Mfthui's *• InfiueQce of Sea Power upoa the French Revolution and

t Sergeant RoberUon.

' H<'giiiicutal Hcturu luid iSergcaot Robertson.

154 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1807

occupy it, the 2nd to Bredding for the same purpose. They will post pickets at night to prevent surprise. Immediately on arrival of the Ist Company at Herlem, Captain Seton will detach a subaltern and twenty men to Gladsan, there to remain in the same manner.

Other villages were occupied by cavalry, artillery and in- fantry; great care was taken that the inhabitants should be well treated, and that complaints should be immediately attended to. Batteries were constructed at the windmill to the left of the line, and working parties of 200 men from each of the 43rd, 52nd, and 92nd Kegiments, with arms and accoutrements, were employed, being relieved by others in the middle of the day, and so on night and day. The troops were ordered to be formed till further orders two deep instead of three deep, as was usual. All supplies abandoned by the proprietors were taken possession of by the Commissariat, and payment made when the persons entitled to it could be discovered.

General Orders of August 23rd give detailed instructions for an attack which is to be made on the enemy the next day, and the 92 nd is one of the regiments named to take part in it. On the morning of the 24th, cavalry, infantry, and artillery were under arms before daybreak, and advanced towards Copenhagen, halting near the suburbs ; but the plan of attack was not carried out, and the regiment returned with the reserve to its cantonments. In the course of the day information was received that some Danish troops were at a neighbouring village, and the 92nd were sent to dislodge them. The advance guard, entering the street very quietly, found no troops, but only a sentry, who had fallen asleep at his post, and was frightened out of his wits when he woke to find himself in the hands of a Highland sergeant ! Tiie detachment to which he belonged had gone, having neglected to relieve him. While in these cantonments, Colonel Napier, when taking a ride, fell in with a number of waggons laden with ammunition, escorted by a small body of soldiers. He told them that our troops were close at hand, on which they surrendered to him, and he marched them in as prisoners.* * Sergeant Robertsou.

TUK (i<mi"»ON H!<JIILANl>KUS.

155

B/eserm Orders^ August 2oth. — Corps to march to-uiorrow irning. etc. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery lo take up ters at various places. " the 92nd at Kleitoftc." RO., AugvM 2Qth, 1807. — The men will iTuracdiately «i:»^Dk two days' provisions, and one day's rum will be served • '•-^a- 1. Officers to make every possible inquiry for maps of the

runtry at all times. They marched on the morning of the 27 th, and for once ^"V^e conduct of the regiment gave pain to its commander.

E.O., AttgiiM 27th, near liosHlde. — Lieut. -Colonel Napier

twig observed with extreme concern the bivd conduct of ♦,n'eat

»l>tut of the regiment in regard to plundering the houses on

™^ the road. The regiment used to be a pattern to others ou all

marches, but they have now shown a very diilereut one. A

great deal has been done through mere mischief and wauton-

Mss, and he is sorry to l>e obliged to say ihe officers have not

done their duty in preventing il. He desires that on a

march, olticers and N.-C. officers may keep their sections

I perfectly formed, and though they may march easy and un- coiistrjiined, the regiment must be kept in that formation. It is strictly forbidden to any man to go into a house ou the marcli, or when in cantonments into any house but his own. If the otticets are attentive they can prevent this, and are to report ^J offender, who will be punished immediately when the regiment halts. Tlie necessity of the case, and the wimtou conduct of the men make it necessarj' for Lieut.-Culonel ^Vifir to adopt, reluctantly, this line of conduct.

■ Poultry were evidently an attraction, antl had been found

^'ih some of the soldiers. And another- Order says. " The goose »i>d fowles found yesterday are to be divided among some poor P^ple, viz., the woman who lias been defrauded by some '*'«'>, and another poor woman in the house with Captain

The misconduct was not confined to one regiment, for

^if Arthur Wellesley regrets the necessity of rusortiog to

urea of severity, but he is so fully convinced tliat soldiers

P^ty of marauding are unfit for any service, that he is

<*«tenfiined to put a stop to their dijjgracefid pmetices," It

•* iiM^itesled that requisitions upon the country may be

15«

TIfK Lli.K «J1' A CKOIMKNT.

[mi

coiitiuod solely to articles uocassary far ihe public service, and uol exteuded to those private conveniences which it is always intended should be paid for by the individuals. Receipts to be given for all articles received on requisition, and every receipt signed by the commantling officer of the regiment,

ReMi^ve. Order, Aiigmt 2Sth, RosHldc Kiwc, — The troops will march to-morrow morning by the left in the same order as yesterday morning. The 92ad to furnish a company for the rear guard. Men's packs to be carried in waggons.

On the 29th, Sir Arthur Wellesley, having sent round Raron Linsingen's Brigade to fall on the enemy's left Hank, tiirnself advanced to attack the Danish army drawn up near the town of Kioge, with their artillery on a rising ground, and cavalry on the flank. They had entrenchments in their rear, and between them and the British ran u high road through the plain. The Qliiid was on the road, the 4ord to its right, the 52nd on the left, their front covered by skir- mishers of the 95th Rities and the Light Company of the f>2i)d, and also liy the fire of our artillery. The Liglit Com- pany of the 92nd, being on the left of the Kitles, came in contact with the Danish cavalry, but they galloped off on the first tire of our guns. The line advanced, the 92nd leading the attack ; the Danes retired to their entrenchments, which the Highlanders charged and carried successfully ; they pur- sued the enemy into the town of Kioge, the Danes retiring and tiring on tliem, but fortunately shooting high. The 92nd returned their fire in the street with eflect. The enemy had placed a gun at tlie end uf the street, but just before the gunner applied his match to it, he was knocked over by one of the Gordons, and they immediately, as they did at Mandora. turned it on the enemy, whose retreat became a rout. The regiment took a general and many other officers, the general calling ont, " Old Nelson, old Nelson," to conciliate his captors.*

The 92nd had two privates, William Dallas and James Grant, killed, and one private wounded.

The following is an extract from Major-Cieneral Sir Aiahur * Sergeant RoberUou.

1807] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 157

Wellesley's dispatch to Lieut.- General Lord Cathcart, dated Kioge, August 29th, 1807 :—

"I therefore thought it proper to make the attack in an echelon of battalions from the left, the whole covered by the Ist Battalion 95th Regiment, and by the fire of our artillery. It fell to the lot of the 92nd Regiment to lead this attack, and they per- formed their part in the most exemplary manner, and were equally well supported by the 52nd and 43rd. The enemy soon retired to an entrenchment which they had formed in front of a camp on the north side of Kioge, and they made a disposition of their cavalry upon the sands to charge the 92nd in flank, while they should attack the entrenchment. This disposition obliged me to move Colonel Redins' Hussars from the right to the left flank, and to throw the 43rd into a second line, and then the 92nd carried the entrenchment, and forced the enemy to retreat into the town in disorder. They were followed immediately in the most gallant style by Colonel Redins and his Hussars, and by the ist Battalion 95th Regiment, and by the whole of the infantry of my corps. I cannot close this letter without expressing to your Lordship my sense of the good conduct of the troops ; all conducted themselves with the utmost steadiness. But I cannot avoid to mention particularly the 92nd Regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Napier, the 1st Battalion 95th, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Beckwith, the British artillery under command of Captain Newhouse, the Hanoverian Hussars under Colonel Redins, and the Hanoverian Light Artillery under Captain Sympter, as corps that had particular opportunities for distinguishing themselves."

Reserve Order, Headquarters, Kioge, Aiigust 30^A, 1807, six o'clock a.m. — Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley has much pleasure in expressing his satisfaction with the conduct of the troops in the action of yesterday. All behaved in a manner deserving the approbation of their superior officers. And the major-general has not failed to report their conduct in the most favourable manner to the Commander-in-Chief. But it is particularly incumbent on him to notice and report on indi- viduals who had opportunities of distinguishing themselves. Among these are the Ist Battalion 95th Regiment under Lieut-Colonel Beckwith, and the British Artillery under Captain Newhouse, in covering the advance of the infantry, and the former in the attack on the town of Kioge. The

158

TlIK LIFK OF A KKGIMENT.

11807

92nil Uegiiiieiil under Lieub.-Colonel Napier, io the nttack of the enemy in their camp, and the regular and orderly maimer in wliich they marched througlt Kio^e, and farmed beyond it. The Hussars under Colonel Uedins throughout the day, and particuUirly in the charge at the town of Kiogc, and the Light Artillery of the Legion under Captain Syiiipter, in covering the advance of the infantry, and supporting the charge of cavalry into the town.

The Order goes on to mention the Honourable Captain Blacquier and Brigade-Major Campbell, and to tliank Major- Gencral Linsiugen and Brigadier-General Stewart, for the assistance he received from them in the formation and execu- tion of a plan by which the enemy's force in the field has been defeated and dispei-aed.

(Signed) W. Cotton, A. A. General.

Extract from dispatch from Sir A. Wellesley to Lord Cathcart, 29th August, half-past 10 p.m.

After remarks aa to the prisoners — "Gur loss has been very small. We have lost no English officer, and but few men of the 92ud and 95th. Some otticers of Hussars have been wounded. The rout of the enemy appears complete. We have prisoners coming in every moment."*

O.O., Ilmdqt farters, Hilinnup, 30//^ Aiufmt 1807. — Tlie Commander-in-Chief congratulates the army on the brilliant success which has attended Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley and the detachment under his command in attacking and totally defeating a large body of the enemy collected at Kioge. The enemy's cannon, a general oHicer, and a great number of prisoners and military .stores were taken, and the pursuit is still continued,

G.O., September Ist, Headquarters, Hilinaup.- — The Com- mander-in-Chief of the Forces desires to express in the strongest manner his thanks to Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and the oflicera and men under liia command, for the judgment, valour, and discipline exhibited in the two attacks made upon the enemy in the general action of the *29th ult. at Kioge. The detail of this afTaii- as reported by

• VVelliiigbon's •' Diipatches," Ist Edition, Vol. ii'.

IWl

TITK GORDON niGHLANDKRS.

159

luajor-general will be laid before His Majoyty at the rliest possible opportunity. In the action of Kioge the enemy, who numbered over 12,000 men, lost several hundred in killed and wounded, and 1200 prisoners, l)esi<ies artillery, staadardci, waggons, and horses. It was the only general action connected with the fall of Copenhagen. On September 1st the place was summoned,

»and the sfime terms ofiered as before — viz., that the Heet must be surrendered to the keeping of Great Britain, to be returned H a general peace. This offer l>eing again rejected, tlic horn- pidmeat l)egan on the 2nd, both by sea and land ; the inhabitants sustained it with heroic resolution for three days, when, the town having caught fire, and much of it being burnt I down, a Hag of truce was sent to tlie British outposts on tlie 5th to treat for a capitulation. Rut the time for ctiual ne£|olmtion wa.s past, and the British wmdd agree to nothing short of the unconditional surrender of the whole Heet. with the artilleiy and naval stores contained in the place, which t^nns were agreed to on September 7th.* The magnificent prize consisted of 18 ships of the line, 15 frigates, 6 brigs, and 25 gimboats, besides 2 sail of the hue and 3 frigates which had been destroyed; 3500 pieces of artillery were taken and (quantities of stores. The piize- moncy due to the troops engaged was estimated at £960.000.t Th« Island of Heligoland was also captured, and bfiame a depca for English goods to Ije smuggled into the Continent.

'file regiment was cantoned at Blessiiigherg and at Osted ; I'^'o men receiveil a daily ration of 1^ lb. of wheateii brisad or - D). of rye-bread ; ollicersof conipaniea made their own arrange- "ifnts for supplying their men with meat, "the men to be ;ed as cheap a rate for it as possible." Sir Arthur Wellesley requested the troops to be careful ^t to injure the harvest, and the soldiers seem to have made 8^1 friends with the farmers and other.s in whose houses tlioy *6i'e cantoned. The Danes and Scots had many tastes in

* "The rage of Napoleon at this intelligence was terridc." — ("The ''ttoleBl'* Hume," London, ISflS.)

NoTK.— No honours were given to regimentB for this campaign. The fi*k»hjrc |4yth) arul RiHe Brigade hear Copenhagen, Iiaving been on Nelron's kill ISOl. t AJiaon, I'haptor U,

160 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT, [>807

common, especially the love of liquor and music* There was a good deal of drunkenness, which Colonel Napier attributes to the practice of the women bringing brandy and wine from Roskeld, " and Mrs Semple of the 1st Company having been found in the act, her provisions are to be stopped ; " and in the case of another, whose conduct had been still worse, " it was the intention of Lieut. -Colonel Napier that she should be drummed through the quarters of the regiment, but out of respect to the character of her husband, the lieut.-colonel will be satisfied with her disappearance for ever — and he gives her forty-eight hours to do so."

The Grenadiers seem to have given the commanding officer nearly as much trouble as the ladies. The parish clergyman's ducks having been found in their cantonments, the corporal and twelve men, in whose apartment the ducks were dis- covered, had to furnish a guard and prevent any Grenadier passing out till the culprit who stole the poultry is given up. And the officers of the company are not to leave their cantonments.

G.O., September 7th, 1807. — The Commander of the Forces congratulates the array on the capitulation of Copenhagen, which includes the capitulation of the Danish fleet. The Grenadier detachments of the army will march into the citadel at four o'clock this evening. A detachment will also embark at the same hour to occupy the dockyard, etc. All hostilities will cease.

G.O. — Officers are requested to discontinue the practice of shooting deer in the woods of His Danish Majesty. Danish officers are to be complimented by our guards and sentries as officers of allied armies.

On September 18 th Sir Arthur Wellesley left for Eng- land, and his command was taken over by Brigadier-General Stewart.

The troops were drilled to a uniform field exercise and firelock exercise, " no deviation such as may have been ordered

* Sergeant Robertson mentions that the fanner in whose house he lived was giving them a tune on the violin the night on which Copenhagen was partly burned ; on seeing the flames he threw down his instrument, bewailing the conflagration of the capital of his country.

1807] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 161

by general officers commanding particular districts." The 43 rd, 52nd, and 92nd " are permitted to act as light infantry accord- ing to the rules and instructions approved and practised by light infantry."

All the outposts were now called in, and on the 23 rd September the 2nd Battalion 52ud, and 1st Battalion 92nd marched to Roskilde Kroe, and next day joined the army before Copenhagen.

Reserve Order, Blessirigberg, September 22nd. — Prize lists to be made up as soon as possible.

On the 28th September a despatch from Viscount Castle- reagh, His Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the War Department, was published to the army expressing His Majesty's approbation of the conduct of his troops, both British and Hanoverian, and of the harmony and zealous co-operation which had prevailed in all departments of the naval and military service. The Commander of the Forces thanked the general and other Staff officers and the regiments for their " patience, discipline, and exertions, to which, under Providence, he is indebted for the complete success of the whole expedition."

G.O. October I6th, 1807. — The baggage of the 92nd Regiment is to be embarked at the jetty head near the citadel this afternoon at three o'clock.

Distribution on board ships : —

Minotaur 336

Neptunus 600

Iris 200

1136

The regiment embarked on the morning of the 17th, and sailed on the 21st. The crews of the English men-of-war were divided among the prizes, the soldiers assisting in work- ing the ships. The Neptunus, a fine new Danish 84-gun ship, by a mistake of the pilot, ran on a sandbank and was wrecked. Some merchantmen, under convoy of the Sybil frigate, passing, came to their aid ; the stores were got out of the ship, and the men were landed on the island of He wan, belonging to Sweden,

L

Smimbiitai, UniioRa, I808-I810.

162

THE LIFE i)F A REGIMENT.

ri806

where they remained fourteen days, when ships came from Engkiut Lu take them oiX, The weulher was intensely cold, and, being unprepared for it, the men suttered severely. However, they landed safely at Chatham on the 24th November, and niarehed to join the rest of ihe regiment at Weely Barracks.

By Horse Guanls Order of 8th Deeeiiiber all drafts from 2nd Hattalious are to be made under tlie inspection of a general olhccr, iu order that a fail" and equal draft may be made in such a manner as to keep both battalions etlicient for foreign service.

IIO. — Oliicers commanding companies will immediately get tlieir men to sign a power of attorney for Archibald Campbell, Esq., late paymaster of the regiment, to empower him to dmw their prixe-money. Men going on furlough to sign before they go.

At tliis time the battalion subscribed for a Garrison Lying- in Hospital for soldiers* wives.

RO., Wedy Barracks, January 23rrf, 1808. — Corporal James Gray of the Light Company is appointed sergeant in llie same company vice Dugald Cameron, promoted Lo a com- mission in the Koyal East Middlesex Regiment of Militia.

In March the quartermaster is desired to serve out 3 J yards of kilt tartan tor each man ; the men to have their kilts neatly made up, but are not to make their old kilts into pantaloons, but are to wear them till further orders. From this it appeal's they sometinifs fiiul tartan and sometimes gray cloth fatigue trousei'S.

The Higliland Brigade, consisting of the 1st Battaliims 79th and 92nd, marched tn Ctdchester tm the 22 nd Marclj, leaving the 2nd 79th at Weely.

Hair-dressing was still a serious business : —

" The hair two inches from the liead queued within one inch of the end, of which one inch of hair is to be below the lace of the neck of the coat. The double knot of ribbon to be one inch in length, and ilie single ends to be two inches. It is also wished that the side locks be set buck with a little pomatum, as well as that of the forehead, but in no case to be stiJTeued with soap."

As it wfis expected that the troops might l>e ordered on

	1
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^PI^^^K^	' 9M 1
^^^^^^^H ^^^1^1^^^^^^^^^^^ 1^^ ^	"*' 1
^^^^^^H iu«iii<rrAi. CiW, IIM>M1*^	^^J

18081

Tire GORDON HlGllLANDKRa

163

^•live service at the shortest notice, they were regularly exer- cised in marching short distances of frniii six to twelve miles. Officers are desired to see that the men have good dinners, and that everyone has a knife, fork, and spoon. Up to this time dinner was the only meal of which oilictal notice was taken, hut a breakfast me^s was now recommended to be ijitroduccd as a salutary i-egulation, to which otticers commanding battalions art? rtjquested "to turn their most anxious attention," and the Order gives a recipe for a pottage made of either milk or small beer with oatmeal, suet, and molasses, which is highly recctm- mended. to cost 7d. for six men.

The sentence of Court-martial on Lieut. -General Whitelock, commander of the expedition for the reductimi of the pntvince of Bueu'is Ayres, was published, " for shamefully abandoning and delivering up to the enemy the strong fortress of Monte Video, which was c«jmmitted to his chai*ge," and which was " siilh- ciently garrisoned and prnvisioned ;" for which he was sentenccil " to be cashiered, and declaimed totally unfit and unworthy to serve His Mnjesty in any military capacity wliatever." This was read at the head of every regiment, as were the sentences for various causes on several otticers commanding battalions, and on other Mdicers f^r drunkenness, but none of tljeia belonged to the tiordon Highlanders.

The raiment had not much time for rest or eujuyment of their prize-money, for on the 19lh April thoy were held in [ readinass for immediate embarkation. Ensign Hector Iniies, [in a letter to his family at Loauhead, CuUen, says: —

CoLCHKSTER, 24^ Aprtf 1808. We received our route yesterday to march to Harwich for im- mediate end>arkation, our destination supposed to be Norway in I the first instance. The town is a scene of diHsipatioii, the soldiers [having a great deal oi money. I could live but iudilferently in England on an ensign's pay ; living is extremely expensive, 14s. a- we^k for dinner without beer ; no supjver, tea, etc. England seem.s a delightful country in some wayn, but I would rather live in .Scotland.

JLO. — The men who have not fired ball, including a draft lately joined from the 2nd Battalion, are to fire fifteen rounds.

NcrrK.— In 1808 recmits might enlist for a limited or unUmited [)cno<1 at Ithnr option.

164

THE LIFE OF A TlKGrMENT.

Tliey were to lake with them on service sixty rounds and three tlints a man.

Six women per company to embark with their children.

On 28th April 1808, the 1st Battalion marched to Harwich. "They will march in old clothing and new bonnets and kilts, and carry new coats and trousers in the packs."

They embarked the same day with a strength of 3 field otlicers, 9 captains, 22 subalterns, 4 stafl', 50 sergeants, 22 drummers, and 934 rank and hie, and sailed on May 4th for Yaruumtli, the place of rendezvous appointed for the troops destined to form the armament under Lieut.-General Sir John Muore, consisting of 10,000 men intended to assist Sweden in muintaininq her independence, which was menaced by Fi-ance and Russia. At Yarmouth the expedition was joined by Major-General the Hon. Sir John Hope (Colonel of the 92nd) as second in command.

On May 18th Mr Innes writes from Gottenburgh Iloads :

We arrived here yesterday iti great health and spirits after eight days from Yarmouth ; we are to go up the Baltic to Uike po-^ession of the islands of Zealand and Buresholm ; we are in fine spirits and impatient for a landing. We have about 15,000 men, and will have 50,000 Swedeti co-operating with us. Sabs, can live better abroad than in England, and we have an allowance of wine. On our voyage we drove a Danish Indiaman ashore and captured some small craft.

June 2nd. — Lieut.-Colonel Murray, A.G., was sent with dis- patches to the King at Stockhohn, and on his return was ordered ininiediately to England. The. CommaudtT of the Forces and Staff' have lodgings in Gottenburgh, and have landed their horses, buti few otlicers are allowed to land.

During their stay the troops woi-e exercised in disembark- ing and embarking in boats, and the men had plenty of fresh fish to vary the salt pork and biscuit.

Negotiations were carried on between Sir John Moore and the King of Sweden, for the purpose of concerting opera- tions; but as it appeared that the views of the Swedish Monarch as to the disposal of the forces dittered gi-eatly from the intentions of the British Government, the expedition waal

TlIK tiiiUltON HtGHLANDEItS.

16o

recalleil, to be employed in ttie oi)eratious iii the Spanish I Peninsula.

The Heet accordingly sailed on July 3rd, with orders to

I rendezvous at Yarmouth, but were met by a dispatch vessel

[with orders which changed their desliuatiou bo the Downs;

Ivrbere they arrived after a rough passage ou July 20th, and

[proceeded to Spithead, wliere a draft i>f seventy r«uk and file of

good appearance joined froiu the lind Battalion. Here they

[took in provisions and water for six weeks; neither otiicers

' nor soldiei's were allowed to laud. They had been nearly

three months at sea, generally on salt provisions and there

were several cases of scurvy among the men, these being sent

ashore to Gosport Hospital.

At this period political interest was centred in Spain ami Portugal. In October 1807, France and Spain hud agreed Lo divide Portugal between them ; the Portuguese Royal Fiunily liad ded for refuge to Brazil, and a French army under Junot I entered Lisbon. No. sooner was Napoleon in possession of thai country, than he induced the weak Charles IV., King uf %ia, to meet him at Bayonne, where he e.xtui'ted from him, and from his son Ferdinand, a renunciation of the Spnniah thiitue in his own favour.

It was declared tliat the Spanish Bourbons had eeascd to nsiiju. Joseph Bonaparte, who had been crowned King of Naples, was removed to Spain, whilst Najjoleon's brother-in- l«w, Murat. took his place at Naples.* A French army at once invatied Spain, and Joseph Bonaparte entered Madrid on •Itily 20th, 1S08. The Spaniards imnicdiiitely rose against ih'i French usurper, established a " supreme J unla of Spain 'ind the Indies" at Seville, and proclaimed Ferdinand VI 1. as Kiti|i. The news of the rising was received throughout BriUiin with joy ; Wiiig and Tory agreed in the determination to ''I'pport the Spaniards and Portuguese, and to strike a bold *tifikf to rescue the world from the power of Napoleon. Sup- pl'fts in profusion were sent to the Spanish Ivoyalists, and a ^Hiall army of about 10,000 men, under Sir Arthur Welleslcy, W48 sent to the Peninsula. The first efforts of the patrints

* N»poliroti Imil hIso niivle his brother I.oui» King of HolUnd, ahiI a. ihinl I'miicr, Jcioiutt, becaiuc Kin^ of Westphalia.

166 THE LIFB OF A REGIMENT. [1808

were successful ; in July a French force which had invaded Andalusia surrendered to the Spaniards at Baylen.* Joseph Bonaparte was driven out of his new capital, and had retired to Vittoria, when the British army, reinforced by General Spencer from Cadiz, and numbering about 14,000 men, landed near Figueras, in Mondego Bay, on the 1st of August. On the 15 th, the first British blood which flowed in the Peninsular War was drawn in a skirmish at Obidos. Wellesley defeated Laborde in the combat of Eolicaon the 1 7th, and in the battle of Vimiera t on the 21st had forced Junot to retreat, and was about to follow up his success, when Sir Harry Burrard, who had left the fleet on which Sir John Moore's troops were enibarked, and had arrived that morning, but had generously declined to take the command from Sir Arthur during the battle, gave orders for the army to halt and remain in position at Vimiera, till the reinforcements under Sir John Moore should arrive. On August 22nd Sir Hew Dalrymple arrived from Gibraltar and assumed the conmiand of the anny, so that in thirty hours a battle had been fought, and three generals had commanded the forces.

The 1st Battalion 92 nd, along with the troops under Sir John Moore, after a calm and slow passage, arrived at Mondego Bay on the 21st of August, and were to land there on Sunday the 22nd, when an express from Sir Arthur Wellesley arrived, and the transports proceeded to Maceira Bay, where the 1st Battalion landed on the 27th, with great difficulty, owing to the swell on the rocky coast ; several boats were upset, but none of the regiment were drowned. They at once marched inland, and pitched their tents close to the battlefield of Vimiera, which exhibited a horrible spectacle, strewn as it was with dead bodies, which the inhabitants were burning, accord- ing to the custom of the country.^ They were told that very large sums of money were found in the knapsacks of the French soldiers, who had pillaged the country in all directions.

* The bravery and 8tea<lines8 of the veteran Swiss and Walloon Guards in the Spanish service conduced greatly to the defeat of the French.

t It was at Vimiera that Clarke, a piper in the 71st, severely wounded in the leg, and unable to walk, continued to play, saying, ' ' Deil hae me an' the lads want music." A monument was afterwards erected by his regiment over Clarke's grave at Fort-Cleorge. t Enaiga Hector Innes.

18081

THK UOKDUN MKIULANHEKS.

167

Next day they inarched twelve iiiiks Lu Jvamelli, " lialf- nmied " by tlie sun, and in the night were '' hali'-drowned by l<irrent3 of rain ; " their roiiLe lay through a country of bleak hills ami fertile valleys, where the siiperahundanee tit fruit sent mnia to the sick list. They were at a small village near Torres Vedras on 30 th August, on which day the famous Con- ventiuij of Ciutra was signed, hy which it was arranged that the French should evacuate the whole kingdom of Tortugal, and be conveyed to France with tlieir field artillery, and sixty rounds of airtjjmuition for each gun, all other artillery and amniuniLion t<» be (lelivt-red up to the British ; they were to carry with tliem cavalry horses and private property ; their sick and ^^'|^ll(led to be taken care of till fit t<» he sent to France, and tlie fortresses of Elvas, Almeida, F'eniche, and Palmela to be delivered up as smm as Eritish detachments could take posses- sioii of ihem. Also the Kussian t!eet in Lisbon Harljour, which had U'ttij blockaded by Adujiral Sir Charles Cotton, U* be con- ^eytxl to Britain with all its stores, and to remain in deposit ^iJI six months after a general peace, but their (dticers and •^•^ws t«i be returned at once to Russia ; also the Spanish troops "1 custody of the F"rench anuies to be liberated.*

This C(»nvention was received witli imlignation both in the ^*«»iiiJ5ida and in the British Islands. The Portuguese, who "2d been in no huriy to confront the invader in the field, were

L^il ill their complaints of an aTi-angemenfc by which they were ^•""^-'d from his presence. The Spaiuarda complained that the lilierat^j Frenchmen would reappear on their frontier, and it **is said, with some truth, that the clause allowing private prn- S^^^y to be removed would enable the Freneli to carry ofl' the ipods which formed their ill-gotten gains ; while in Britain ""■people had been raised to the highest pitch id' enthnsiasm "y the decisive victories of Bolica and Vimiera, and expected 'lothing less than to see Mai-shal Junot and 20,000 French soldiers arrive as prisoners at Spithead. So general was the Condemnation that the Government consented to a Court of Inquiry. Sir Hew Dalrymple, Sir Harry Burrard, and Sir Arthur Wellesley were ordered home and a])peared beforn the Court, which, after full investigation, arrived at the couclusioD

• Alison.

168

THE LIFE <JF A UEGIMENT.

[1808

that, considering the extraordinary manner in whicli three general officers had been successively invested with the direc- tion of the army, it was not surprising that the victory of Vimiera had not been more vigorously followed up ; and that unquestionable zeal and firmness had been exhibited by all three generals. But, notwithstanding this acquittal, neither Sir Hew Dalrymple nor Sir Harry Burrard were again employed in any important command, and it required all the family influence, and all the early celebrity of the liero of Assaye and Vimiera * to save the future conqueror of Napoleon from being cut short on the threshold of his career, for no fault whatever of his own, by the very people upon whom he had conferred an inestimable benefit, t

The 1st Battalion 92 nd marched from Torres Vedras to Lisbon, where they remained till the French troops were em- barked, when they were moved ten miles to Campo Sancta, and encamped there, being brigaded with the 36 th and 71st Regiments in the Division of Sir John Hope (colonel of the regiment).

• Alison's "History." Wellesley had l>eeii thanke<l by both Houses of Parliament for the victory of Vimiera.

t Napoleon was no t)etter pleased with the Convention of Cintra. "I was about," said he, " to send Junot to a Court-martial, but happily the Eng- lish got the start of me by sending their generals to one, and thus saved nie from the pain of punishing an old friend."— Aliton.

Crrrk of MArRiRA Bay, whkre 1>2»i> lasdko. (From BredfunrH Sketches during the Ezpeditiuii. )

II

II

I

-« ^KY .\»\«.VR t.V»v. ,■;••■'

C H A r T E R X.

Ox OctolMir 26 th a liispatdi from En;,'l!ind arrived at Lisbon, Al»|X)intinf,' LieuL-(4eiierul Sir John Mnore * to command ttie ifnole iirmy whitJi was to co-operate witli the Spanish troops '"'' the north of Spain, consistint^ of 30.000 infantry and 5000 <">valry_ ^ff[l\^ artillery, part of them coming direct from En;<- wnJ, and the remainder to be re^ntnents draftt^d from the *™y then in Portugal. The dithculties of the British ^'eneral were j^rejit: thr roads thro\i<rh I'ortugal were very bad; t!ie '^Jiy 8eas<»n was setting in ; transport was hardly to he '^'^tuiufd, because the Government had sent little money to I*)' for it ; time pressed, for a great French army was cross- «>g the Pyrenees.

Mtxjrt? urged on the pieparations, so that the headquarters *'t'« the main body tiuitted Li slum un October 26tli, and tollowtMj the road by Abrantes, Almeida, and Ciiidad Kodrigo, "tilt; Sir John Hope's Division marched by Talavera and ^Jailrid Sir David Baiid's forces had landi-d at ('oruuna on ^tober 13th, and were to cct-operate with ^[oore in the nonli.

Meanwhile the 92iid had marched along the bank of the %ii5 twenty and twenty-tivc miles everyday, through a most

* Sir John Moore waa lnorn at Glasgow, Novemlwr 13th, 1761, and won ••^"lated at the public school and University of thiit city. He then travelled »linni| ^md gained a knowledge of ('Diitinental Iniigiiageg, and acqiuired tlmt •■Uvity and elegance of manner for which lie was ifiiuirkatile ; in 1770 lie joined "k SIst Regiment at Minorca as ensign, .ind afterwanls distinguished himself wtbe West Indies under Sir Ralidi Al>ercroiti!>y, who charjioterised tiia condia-t •• "the a«l miration of the wholearmy." Heacivud in the Rebellion in Ireland, rtlaiul 1799, in Egypt 1801, when he was twice wounded, but declined to Hiicfield. He had been selected lo iiistnict Light Infantry Regiments * *n improved .system of drill ; he had comiuaudcd the army in Sicily and "W expedition to the fJivltIc, from which he had just returne<l. He was brave, chivalroqg^ (ind high spinttid, and coninmnded the resiiect nf the soldiers, to "I* iucroue of whose comforts he devoLud a large pati. of his attention. — ^^i*m and othcra.

170

TUE LIFE OK A UKGIMENT.

|18()S

agreeable coimtiy, but under a very hot suu, aiirl, crossing the river at the town of Abrantes, arrived at rortalegre on the 1 1 th October.

Mr Innes writes from Potalegre on October 24th : —

We pAssed through aome of the principal towns in Portugnl. They seem at present pretty miserable ; war is the ruin of a country. We had a fjreat upportumty of sieeing the country and the cusU>ms of the inhabitants ; they put me in mind of the people of .Scothuid (as I have heard) twenty yeara ago, Wo have received marked attention since we arrived in tliis town. It is a considerable place, almost on the confines of Spain, and in time of peace it has consider- able commerce ami manufactures. We are billeted on the natives, who are very civil, and we live like the sons of kings, but I am sorry to say not very economically ; however, time passes agreeably. We need something to recruit our spirits; we were very low when we landed at the idea of not being engaged, but thti honour now awaits us. Tlie trotips in Lisbon have been unhealthy, but ''oum*' has as yet been in high health and spirits. We have not lost a mau since we landed, and' we are upwards of 1000 strong. I rise at seven, breakfast at nine, read or walk about the town, dine at mess at three, panide at five, and since we came we have for the most part passed our evenings at the Convent of St Bernardo, one of the richest in Portugal. Our nmsie goes down, and we spend the night in dancing ; in the convent there are several ladies for their educa- tion ; I believe they are the iinest women I ever saw. There seems to be much trade with Ireland, and we have etiten Irish butter mostly since we landed.

(hi the 26Lh October the battalion moved from its very pleiiaant quarters, most of the women of the regiment being sent buck to Lisbon. The route was by Elvas to Badajos, where they entered Spain and passed the night in barracks, being received by thi- people with an enthusiastic welcome.

Captain Seaton of the 92nd writes from Elvas on October 31st:—

We are now under good officers, Moore and Hope, and having good heads of departments, there is no fear of the rest ; the soldiers would tight the devil, (Hur regiinetit inarch from Lucon on the 3rd, and all the army is now in motion, nKt\iug by parallel colunms

1906)

THE GOltDCiN UlUIIL/VNUEItS.

171

lowarxls Vttlhwlolul ; oufs is the right division under (feneral Hope. WcHhillranke a det^jur of sixty miles by being t>n the right. W« go onthejjrefit road leading to Madrid, and turn off forty miles from liiftt capital, leaving it on our right. Wo have underwent a great many luirdships and privations alrea<ly, and many more, of course, trebofore us, but we have the prospect of glory, which to a soldier is greftt. John Bull is a queer genius and not «isy pleiised ; a bloody gHzette he likes, and I hope our exertions in Spain will be more satisfactory to him than in Portugal. We have a fine army, wi*Ii appointed and well disciplined, able and willing to perform e:iploiUt hitherto deemed impossible.

Tlie next halt wa.s at Truxillo, where an occnrrence took place which gave ihe Gordons a good deal of annoyance. I>«iug the only regiment there that wore the Highland garb, the people, struck by its novelty, wished to know to what cwiuiliy its wearers belonged. The 7 1st had lately been at BuenoH Ayres in S<:nUh Anieric-a, where they had leariicd a little Spanish, and by way of a joke some oif them siud that the 92nd were bad cliaructers, nnd that their drens was the fflwk of their disgrace. The Spaniards, indignant at such a *8tof "Ladrones " being sent to their country, refused U> have ^nydeahngs with them, the Mayor of the town dcelimiiig even l^' 'iirnish rations. When this silly and mischievous report fBCBiue known to the men through an interi)i-eter, a deputation frwm each company, with the quurlernuister at their head, went ^^ the commanding ofhcer and laid the case before him. telling hJ'u that they had been robbed of their honour, and tliat unless '«!g^l satisfaction was given them they would take the law into their own hands. The connurtudiiig ofticer went to General "•^pe^who was at Truxillo, us was also the colonel of the 71 at. *^ iiiqairy was made, and the perpetrators of this foolish j<tke, *hi(J) had led to more serious results than they probably iu- ti'nded, were punished ; and so ended an aflkir which might resulted in a dangerous feud between two di.stinguished

«, who afterwards becaniti fast friends, and stood by e^ich "l^erin all the combats of the PeninBular War.* Wlicii the

* Sergemnt Rolwrtaon and "Military Memoir" by a tJ'ind officer. The ilithv] lAt«ly, on )t«iitg madti Light Infantry, been ordered to give up the Hljbkud dread, with the exception of the pipers.

172

THE LIFE OF A IfEGIMEN'l

[1S06

inhabitants understood the trutJj, bhey did all in their power to shdw their regret at the trejitiiieiit the Ilighlaudei-s had received, making theim free of their vineyards and wine- cellars.

At Novelcamero the men were presented by the Military Junta with red cockades to show Lhey had emhmced the Spanisli cause.* Next day, marching tlirouj^h a fruitful dis- trict, they arrived at the Palace of the Escurial, which the nieu were allowed to visit, with its magniticcut pictures and rich deeoratioDS.

While here tlio quartermaster was sent to Madrid, some twenty miles distant, to get a supply of shoes and necessaries, of which they stood in need ; hut owing to information re- ceived tliere (probably of the approaclx of the French), he had to return without accomplishing his purpose, and the men had to continue their journey in shoes worn to the wells.

Captain Seaton wi-ites from Escurial : —

Noi'emfvr 25th. We entered .Spain at Biidajoz on the 2nd inst., and were received by the inhabitants with shouts of *• Viva Gran Britannia," •• Viva los Ingleses," etc. I never saw people so completely enthusiastic as they are ; even the women and young children join in the general cry. We met with a g'rejit deal of hospitality from all descriptions of people ; the poor were willing to give what little they had, and the rich were profuse, and heaped Hbundariiee of everything upon us. We have ha<I long and very fagging marches, yet, strange to tell, our regiment has not left a man behind from sickness or any other cause since we left Elvas. This division will form a junction with Sir John Moore, who is at Salamanca with 15,000 men. It is six days' march from here. We have to go over an immense mountain covered with snow. There itj no doubt but Buiift parte is in SpaiJi. So mttx^h the better, we all s>ay. We expect a general engagement a few days after our junctiun. It will be adreatlful conflict ; we are all anxious for it and in the highest possible spirits.

Ou the 20th l^ovembcr Sir David Haird had with great ditliculty arrived at Astorga, four days' uiarch from Salamanca,

• I'u3stbly this may be tfao orijfin of the red cookude worn by the Light Company tilt flauk compunieH were done Away with.

INOKJ

THE GORD»)N IIIGHLANDEKS.

17:;

no that the British army, only 30,000 men in all,* was split into tliive <iivisions — at the Escurial near Madrid, at Sala- imiica, and Astorga, aliout eighty or ninety miles distant from each other. The weather at this time was very severe and the iLiirchcs long. A more robust set of men never took the field ; their discipline was admirable, and there were very few stragglers, f

Napoleon with 180,000 veteran troops was near Vittoria. The French had, in the meantime, defeated and dispersed the Spnish armies ut the battles of Espinosa, Burgos, and Tudela, !ii»l were rapidly concentrating on Madrid. On the 2nd l^t^ember Napoleon appeared before that city, and on the ■1th it capitulated and was in the possession of the French trooj>8.

While these disasters were accumulating in Spain, the tliree divisions of the British army had at length joined loTCes, but Sir John Moore was perplexed by the imperfect information he received, and by the utter inciipacity of the Spu^sli troops to contend with the common foe,. The in- leUifj'ence of the defeat of all the armies of Spain appeared ho iliirniinu; that orders were given to retreat. The oHicers and soldiers were filled with dismay, and ojjenly declared it would '* b<;tu»r to lose half the army than to retire without striking « hlow. The gallant Moore himself recoiled from the mourn- f^l decision, and these feelings, both of the general and his troops, were wrought to the highest pitch when they heard of

* Retara of Sir J. Moore's Army, December 19th, 1808. Adjatant- ''<ncr»r» morning stote of that day : —

Cavalry

Artillery

bifaittry

Deduct .

Frr roil Dtmr.

2,278

1,358

22,222

25,858 2.275

23.583

UoMrrrAL.

182

97

3,756

4,036

DnACiiBO.

Total.

1.687

3,254 1,455

26^871

31,580

j Mfn cuiiipoBhi^ four /8nl Ungt., len tn Pnrtujjnl. ( b«tuiSioi.»,vu..- K^,^^ „ V Between Villa. I Toul namber | 5l«i ,, J-

I tinder antis. f^.'iOlh „ )

francn Lugo,

nml

NuTK. — Of 66 guns, 42 were attached to the divisiona, the remain<{cr in "*Tve.— Napier, Vol. i. (Appendix).

^ Napier's " History of the F^eninHuln-r Wnr, "

174

THK UFB OF A UEGLMENT.

(180S

the advance uf the French ou Mudrkl, aud of the enthusiastic preparations made tor the defence of the capit^il by its in- habitants. Tfiese and ntlier circumstances led him to recon- sider the position ; and after anxious reflection he decided to give vent to the native courage of his character by suspending the order lo retire, and notwithstanding the disheartening iiitelli.iienee of the fall of Retire, and the perilous situation of Miidrid, he resolved to attack the corps which kept open the communication between France anfl that city ; au operation which lie foresaw would force Bonaparte to turn back in order to oppose the liritish, and would thus be a powerful diversion in favour of Madrid in case it held out, and of the southern provincas to enable them to rise and organise their forces.

He commenced his advance with 23,000 men against Soult, who commanded a division of the 200,000 men under Napoleon's orders in Spain. In case of the necessity of retreat, magjizines were formed on the road to Lisbon, and at Benevente, Astorga, and Lugo.

(Jn December 13th, the cavalry of the advanced ptists surprised a body of French cavalry and infantry at Kueda, killing or taking almost the whole number. On the 14th, the news of llie fall of M:idrid reached the army by means of an intercepted di.spatch from Napoleon.

At Toro, on the 16th, information was received that the Spanish General Romaiia, who had been invited to co-operate with the liritish, instead of doing so, was iii full retreut towards the mountains of Galicia, his troops from hunger and fatigue having dwindled away to 8000 disheartened fugitives. Nevertheless, the British forces continued to advance. On the 21st December, the united divisions were estnblished at Sahagun, at whicli town Lonl I'aget, with 400 Hussars i>f the 15th, had totally defeated 700 French Dragoons, killing from 15 to 20, and taking 2 lieut. -colonels, 11 other officers and 154 men prisoners, in twenty minutes.*

Sir John Moore's plan was to move during the night of

* Dr Neales, Pl^ysician to the Forcen, in his " Letters from Portugal and StMkint" uyi tlio^t ^^fi brass helmets of the French Drsgoons withetood sabre cuts, and tbey were BeldJoTn woundeil on the head, while our men in fur caps had frightful head wound« : but our horses fairly upset those of the French,

18IS1

TBE r.onnoN hiohlaxdeus.

175

the 23rd, so as to arrive at the Uiurioii by dayliglit on the 24th. fiia'e tl»e bridge, siiul ffiU upon the main body <»f Smilt's l^)f^llS. But itn th« oveuing of the 23rd, trustworiliy iiitelli- gcDce was received that the whi>le French armies from various part* of Spain were in movement to crush the British. Among the coiivergin^i^ forces 60,000 men and 150 guns, having fifU-eu days' pmvisions in carts, were reviewed on the 19th by tbe Ernperor at Madrid, and <m the evening of the 22nd 50,000 »»f them were at the foot of the Guadarama Mountains. Deep snow choked the pass, and after twelve hours of in- elleciiinl toil their general reported the road impracticable ; but Napideon, rebuking liini Kercely, personally urged on the culumus, and the passage was eflected amiilst storms of hail aiid sWt, the cold and fatigue so intense that many soldiers aud draft animals died during the two days the operation l«stftL On the 26th Napoleon was at Tordesillas. •' If the liritish pass to-day in their position they are lost," he wrote ;

Sir John Moore had become well aware that his position •*ft untenable ; without the aid of the Spanish nrmies, he *"ould soon have been surrounded by the overwhelming legions ^^ France. He had, however, gained the political object of ^vintr Andalusia by drawing the French powi-r on himself.

Xotwitlistanding his rapid march, having scarcely rested Q'ght or day, Napoleon was twelve hours too late ; the British *«-*re across the Esla ! Their heavy baggage and stores were "lovud to tfie rear, but the reserve, the Light Brigade and cavalry, remained at Saliagun, pushing their patrols up to the enemy's lines, and skirmishing to hide the retrogi*ade marcfi. '^n the 24th General Hope with two divisions fell buck by

'orga, and General Baird by Valencia de 8an Juan, where ''Wa ferry -l»oat over the Esla, which he crossed on the 26th, aiMJ took post on the other side, Muore wilh the reserve and 'ight brigades followed Hope's column to Valdci*a3.

*kieh Were ilightcr, and many of the priitoners' hoP8«4S had sore backs. MsHy "f llie priftonera* feet were froat-bitten, but those whose wounds were slight 'UDctid oDil atnuftcd thcinaelvea grinaing through the wiuilawa at the Hpauiards, » would have killed them but for the Britiali guard. They wen? attended I Well as our owii men. "The Town of Saliagun " is new the regimental rof the I5th HussarB, and is aung on the anniversary in mttnnory of tfjis »pIoit.

176

THR LIFE HF A RKCIMENT.

Sci^tisinl Koltertsun's -luunml gives some account of the particular luoveiueiits of the 92nd since we left them at the Escurial, from which ijuarter they resumed their route for Valludulid, crossed the Guadarama Pnss, whem, on the top of one of the mfjuiitaius which divide the proviiioea of (Hd and New CasTile, the figure of a lion is placed holding a ball in its paw. They descended into Old Castile, but diverged from the road to Valladolid, as the French were advancing by that way towards Madrid. So little information had the British, that the French advanced guard was in sight before they were aware of its approach. In the evening they reached a village, the Alcalde (or Mayor) of which came with the inhabitants to light them in with torches, and they were put* into a monastery for the night. The Fathers, with the kindest in- tentions, lighted the charcoal stoves to warm them, and some of the sfildiers. not understanding their management, were nearly suflbcatcd. but recovered on being carried to the oj^n air. The battalion continued its march to Alba de Tormes, where they haUerl ; while here they heard the report that they were surrounded by the French, and were to commence a retreat into Portugal This report was contradicted, but as the men had no map, they did not know whether tliey were advancing or retiring. Continuing their luoveoient towards Burgos, they met at Toro a party of dragoons belonging to General liaird's Division lately arrived from Corunna, who had just had a skirmish with the enemy, and had taken some waggons of stores which they were escorting.

On December 24tli some of the sei-geauts had an exciting adventure at Villada, where they had been sent on in advance of the Imttalion to draw billets. On entering the little town they found it occupied by a patrol of French cavalry. Serge^nta did not carry firearms ; there were only six or seven of theia armed with their pikes and claymores. Like true soldiei^s they never thought of retiring to wait till tlic troops came up, but adding Scotch caution io British bravery, they went warily. It was market-dny, and the town full of people, who did not know to which side the Highlanders belonged, so all was quiet on their part Finding that the Frenchmen, unaware that any liritishers were within miles, were regaling themselves in

1808] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. lV7

a wine house, their horses being tied to the rings which were, and in parts of the Continent still are, commonly placed in the wall for that purpose, the plucky sergeants, quietly keep- ing the side of the causeway, reached the tavern ; and it was only when they had the bridles in their hands that the astonished dragoons, hearing some noise, looked out to find their steeds in the possession of men in feathered bonnets and kilts !

The Frenchmen had their carbines with them, but the sergeants " took the first word o' flytin'," rushed in and disarmed them; and though a few hurried shots and many oaths were discharged at them, none of them were hurt, and they took the patrol — a N.-C. officer and five privates — prisoners with their horses. When the Spaniards saw what they had done, they seemed frantic with joy, and gave the sergeants anything they liked, bringing them warm gloves, as it was very cold.

When the troops came up to Villada on the 24 th, they were much fatigued on account of the state of the roads, which were deeply covered with snow. The men were ordered to clean themselves, as they were expected to halt for some time ; but all of a sudden, the same evening, they were ordered to fall in in marching order. Columns were formed outside the town, ready for the expected engagement. It was a beautiful moonlight night, but so cold that they could only keep warm by walking about till morning, but " every heart beat high with the thought that we were to measure arms with the great Napoleon. The notion entertained by the British army was, that the great victories gained by him had been over raw and undisciplined troops. Every man felt confident of his own prowess when compared with a French soldier's, and nothing was more earnestly wished than an opportunity of engaging, and an order for battle."

Such being the spirit of the British rank and file, one can imagine their surprise and mortification when a Staff officer arrived with an order to prepare to return to England. All the horrors of a retreat of several hundred miles over bad roads in winter weather appeared to their minds. " All ranks '

M

178

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1808

called out to atop and fight and not to mn away (as we termed it), which would be a disgrace to the British army."* The troops were in the highest state of vigour and spirits, and an unbroken series of LriUiaut successes at the outposts had given rise to an unbounded confidence in their own prowess, likely to have produced glorious results, if not met by overwhelming otlds-t But they were not aware, as their general was, that Bueh absolutely overwhelming odds were against them.

By this timely retreat Sir John Moore reached Benevente, and the hazardous operation of crossing the swollen torrent of the Esla, over plonks laid across the broken arches of the bridge of Castro, was successfully perfoimed in the dark by General Crawford with the rear guard, not, liowever, without fighting, in which the Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard rode close up to the bridge, and capture*! some women and baggage. Instances occuned of great bravery and devotion on the part of soldiers of the rear guard. Napier tells of two. John Walton and Ricliard Jackson were posted in a hollow road beyond the bridge, at a distance from their picket. If the enemy approached, one was to fire and run back to give notice if they were few or many ; the other was to maintain his ground. A party of cavalry following a hay-cart stole close up to these men and suddenly galloped in with a view to kill them and surprise the post; Jackson fired, but was: overtaken and received twelve or fourteen wounds in an instant ; he came staggering on notwithstanding his mangled state and gave the signal. Walton, with equal resolution and better fortune, defemled himself with his bayonet, and wounded several of his assailants, who retreated leaving him unhurt; but his cap and knapsack, his Ixilts and his musket, were cut in about twenty places, his bayonet was bent double, his musket notched like a saw from the muzzle to the lock. Jackson escaped death during the retreat, and finally re- covered of his wounils.

Again, at Benevente several thousand infantry slept in the long galleries of an immense convent; the lower oorridors were tilled with the horses of the cavalry and artillery, so thickly packed that it was scarcely possible for a single man

' Sergeant RoburtooQ.

t Alison.

im]

THK GORDON HIGHLAyDETiS.

179

to pass between them, and there was but one entrance. Two officers returning from the bridge, being desirous to tiud shelter for their men, entered the convent, and perceived with horror that a large window shutter being on fire and the flames ipreading to the rafter above, in a few minutes the straw under the horses would ignite, and 6000 men and animals would inevitably perish in the flames. One of the officers (Captain Lloyd of the 43rd), a man of great activity and presence of mind, made a sign to his companion to keep iiient, and springing on to the nearest horse, ran along the kiks of the others till he cnrae to the flaming shutter, which lie lore off its hinges and threw out of the window ; then» re- teraing quietly, awakened some of tlie soldiers and cleared tie passage without creating any alann, which, in such a CMC, would have been sis destructive as the flames.*

The army remained two days at Benevente, and as few of the stores collected there could be removed, after supplying the immediate wants of the troops the rest was destroyed.

Meanwhile the 92nd, with Hope's Division, had com- menced their retreat on Christmas Day, and marched by Majrorga, where, arriving after dark, they found the doors and windows barricaded by the inhabitants, who would not let tlie men in or sell them food. Irritated by such iuhospitality on * winter night, they broke open the doors, and so frightened the people that the news, spreading from village to village, lind tt bad effect on the feeling of the country people towards them. Spanish enthusiasm, in the north at anyrate, had evaporated, says Dr Neales ; the people of Mayorga woukl render no assistance, and were too ignorant to know why we

I in tlie country.

At Valderas they were put in a convent, and no one was allowed to go out. At Benevente they lay where they could on the stairs and passages of the great convent described aliove. Here they got a supply of shoes and blankets, and ^dly had they marched, when the rear and baggage guards ^nj skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry ; " but,'* says St^rgeant Robertson, " when they came on, our dragoons showed that though retreating, it was not from fear." * Napier, and ** Life of a 8ergeaut/'

180

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1809

The (Usciplioe of even the beal regiments had become relaxed, and disorders equally fatal to the army and to the inliHbitaiits had commeiiiced. At a misemble little village where they were quartered after leaving lienevente. some of the Grenadier Company of the 92nd, either from carelessness or wanton mischief, set fire to a house, and the wliole village burnt down ; but as the French were close upon them, the was no time to investigate and bring the perpetratoi*s to punishment- On the battalion overtaking the troops in front of them, they found them engaged in destroying a quantity of stores ; among the rest was a cask of rum. A young man named liruce got drwnk, fell into the cask and was dead before he could be extricated. Their next quarters were at Bembibre. Here in many of the houses there were Spanish soldiers dying or dead of a fever, which two of the regiment caught and died ; but tlie great wine-vaults of this place proved more fatal to the army than either sword or sickness ; di'unkenness appeared in its most friglitfiil colours, and when the rear guard arrived with unbroken ranks, they had to force their way through a crowd of Fkitish and Spanish soldiers, stragglers from many regiments, who I'eeled out of the houses, or lay on the roadside, an easy prey to the enemy's cavalry, who thundered in close pursuit* The inclemency of the weather aud rapidity of the retreat had diminished the strength of the soldiers, while their spirit had been depressed by the thought of retiring before the enemy.

A 92nd pensioner used to relate that at one halt a man, overcame by wine and fatigue, went to sleep close to the tire and was fearfully burnt befoie his comrades noticed that he had rolled into it. However, he was put into a sick-cart and finally got safe home to Badenoch.

On the 1st January 1809, Napoleon look |)os3ession of Aatorga. On that day, 70,000 French infantry, 10,000 cavalry, and 200 pieces of artillery were there united. The congrega- tion of this mighty force, wldle it sJiowed the power and energy of the P'rench monarch, attested also the genius of the British general, \vho with a handful of men found means to arrest t\w. course of the conqueror, and to draw him with

]m

THE iiORUuN HH;HLANDE1{S.

181

the flower of his aruiy to this remote part of the Peninsula, at the moment when Portugal find ypain were prostrate beneath the strength of his hand. " That Spain being iii her eitremity, Sir John Mooru had snccourfd her, and in the hour of weakness interct'pled the Uaw which was desceudutg upon her, no man of candour can deny." *

In ten days Napoleon liad broii|j:ht this great artuy from Madrid to Astorga, 200 uiiles over anowy niounlaina, autl his ictioB was the greatest con»i)liment lliat he (.-ould pay to the piDwtss of the British troops, and deinoiistruted the importance of the stroke deUvercd by tlieir commander. While Napoleon *u riding with the advanced posts in the pursuit, he was overtaken by a courier. The dispatch broiiglit biui intelligence ^ the accession of Austria to the European confederacy. He ^llunce handed over the pursuit of the British to Soult, and returned to France.

The Gordons spent New Year's Day 1809 in anything but acheerful manner; marching towards Villafranca, their clothes worn to shreds, their shoes and hose worn out, ofiicers and soldiers overrun with vermin, bearing alike the extremities of cold and hunger. At Villafrauca they lay in the sUibles of an inn, and the straw and soil seemed to the tired soldicra so wmfortable and warm, that it required all the authority of their ofticers to get the men to move. Sir John Moore was constantly with the rear guard, doing his best to arrest disorder ttiid protect the retiring euhmina. At Villafrauca a combat took place, in which the pursuers were repulsed with the loss <>f their general, Colbert, and several hundred men. When- t'Ver the British soldiers found themselves before the foe ttey pulled themselves together, and the rear guard, l>eing constantly in that position, retained their discipline. " The conduct of the soldiers generally had been good, but at ^'illufrauca it became extremely bad, and in order to check •Juiragcfi it became necessary to make an example. Three soldiers of the 7 th Hussars had been detected in the act of weaking open a box and stealing wearing apparel of the in- ^iiliitanta. These poor fellows drew lots, and one was shot ; h« had previously been a good soldier/'f

* Napier. t Vivian's "Memoira."

182

THE LIFE OP A REGIMENT.

[1809

From Villafranca to Lugo is seventeen leagues (more than fifty miles), over an immense mountain. Hundreds of stragglers who were weakened by their excesses at Bembibre and Villafranca died or were taken or shot by the enemy ; want of shoes causeil many to fall behind or loiter in the villages, where they were taken ; want of rest, want of food, wretched roads, and heavy nvin or snow filled up the sum of their miseries. Tlie rear guard found houses filled with stragglera of various regiments, who would not or could not come on. An officer telling them the enemy would cer- tainly shoot or take thera, they said, " You may shoot us, sir, or they may shoot us, but we cannot stir." Fine fellows, with bleeding feet, totally incapable of keeping up, others whose spirit was better than Iheir strength striving to the last lo join theii* battalions ; women knee deep in mud crying pil- eously for help which could not be given.* Sergeant Ilobert- sou says that on the mountains they found the caiTiage of the paymaster-general, whose wife was with him, hopelessly stuck in the mud. The Highlaudei'S had often envied this comfort- able conveyance, drawn by good Euglisl» horses, as they baid to open out on the march to let it pass ; now it was left on the road, and the lady and her husband had to tramp on as best they could. At Nogales they passed the military chest* which the oxen could drag no further, and rather than let k fall into the enemy's hands, the casks containing £25,000 worth of dollars had the heads knocked out and were rolled down the precipice into the wooded ravine below, f On the roadside a soldier's wife was lying newly delivered of a fin© boy — the mother was dead. A woman of the 92nd took up the helpless little one. Several men of the regiment were made prisoners this day •, the next day the weather and roads were both better, and tliey arrived at Lugo on the 4th January. J

At Lugo the troops got two days' rest, and Sir John Moore

* Vivian'a " Memoira."

+ 8omo eontriveil to piuk up part of the money, and a woman, who had rolled a quantity in a cloth and tied it round her wai«t under her dress, WM afterwurda tlrowned ; asdhe stepped an board ship at Corunna from a boat, ah« fell into the aea, aud the weight of the gold aaok her.

J Sergeant RoWrtson.

TILE GOKDON HIGHLAN

183

Ml ._..„„.

^^Hq soldiers for the previous want of (liscipliue, and at the sajne time aiiuounced his iutenLiou to ofl'ur battle. *' It has

|t>een well said that the British army may be gleaned in a ^^etreat, but cannot be reaped ; whatever may be their niisery, the soldiers will always be found clean at a review and ready at a fight." * As if by enchantment disorder ceased, faces bright-

Ieiied, arms were cleaned, stragglers came up, and 19,000 men bivouacked in order of battle in a strong position in front of the town, ready and willing for the fray.f The Gordons, who were lodged in a convent at Lugo, had jast got a ration of flour served out, but before they had time to make scones, they tunied out and formed in a field to tlie left of the road in front of the town, where they remained the ; n^ht "Everyone," says Duncan Kobertsou, "was happy that we had got the French in line, as we longed very much to fight, and abhorred tlie thought of running away, as we had been doing for some time past. About ten o'clock next morn- , ing. as the rain was beginning to fall, the French extended ! their line and beat the charge. They occupied a ploughed field, and we were posted on a heath, a small river running in the hollow between us. A farmhouse lay at the foot of the [ rising ground, having a few stacks of corn about it. The i company to which I belonged was ordered to take possession. of it, and General Hope accompanied us. While moving down,

■ the French fired one of their cannon, the ball falling close Ijeaide us, when the genenil, good humouredly, took oH" his haD and saluted the gunner ; as there was only one subaltern with

■ the company, I got command of a section. When we came to the house we found a party of the French there before us, and a strong reinforcement coming to their iissistance. However,

Kthey did not think fit to wait and receive us, and after a few ruimds on both sides they fell back, and we occupied the farm, but were not allowed to remain in quiet possession ; as the enemy came upon us in overpowering numbers, we fell back

I

• Napier.

t 1500 rnen )md fallen in Bctiou or dropped to the rear, but three fteah batteliouA, which hod been left by Sir I>. Buinl in liia advance, joined the army betwe«n \'iUAfrancA and Lugo.

184

THE LIFE OF A RKr.IMBNT.

the breadth of a field, and posted ourselves l>t'hiiid a stone wall, from whence we opened fire. The French attempted lo charge us, but were driven back. On our left was a cart-i*oad between two high hedges, and while the party in front were keeping us in play, about forty went up this road, while those in front made a feint of retiring so as to decoy us between two fires. I happened to look round hoping for help, when I saw the otlier party of the enumy forming at the head of the field not fifty yards from us. It sti'uck me at once to get into the lane and cut them off from their own line; my section jumped into the nad, formed, and prepared to charge; wlien they saw this they ran down ou us, we gave them a volley, and eighteen fell killed and wounded. On seeing the fate of their comrades, twenty- two laid down their arms and were taken prisoners. Another detachment came to the rescue, and the sergeant commanding it got hold of one of our men, when I leaped back and drove my pike through his body ; the others ran off. We were now thoroughly drenched with rain, and when night came we were relieved by an equal proportion of the regiment. A number of apples were found in the farmhouse, which were greedily devoured. In the evening we got our beef served out, but having neither bread nor salt, it made rather an unsavoury supper. Although the weather was cold, we slept very com- fortably beside large fires we had kindled in the open air." * The above experience of one company probably gives a fair idea of that of the battalion, and of the army generally.

On the morning of the 7th January, Marshal Soult had arrived at the head of some 12,000 men. His troops had suffered by the rapid marches, and he waited till his columns came up, to form them in order of battle along a strong mountainous ridge opposite the British. As he was prevented by the giound from seeing what numbers were opposed to him, he advanced some troops and guns, and opened fire on the centre, which was silenced by a reply from fifteen pieces. This satisfied him that he had more than a rear guard to deal with. He then made a feint on the right,

* Cotnfort ia a comparative quantity 1

NoTJt.— The officers and men guuerully got au allowance of ruui Ht the eud of a march.

tm

THE GORIKjN HKSHLANDERS.

185

and iMiDt a column of infantry and five guns iigamst Lhe left. ITiey were gaining the advantage over aur ouLpoals when Genenil Moore arrived, rallied them, charged and broke the adverse colunni, with an estimated loss to the French of belwecu 200 and 300 men. It being evident Lhat the British lueant battle, the Ihike of Dahnatia (Sowlt) hnstened lhe march of the divisions iu bis rear, and at daybreak on the 8th the two armies were still embattled, but Soult deferred ibe attack till the 9th. The British impatiently awaited the assault, and blamed their adversary for delaying the eon test ; but darkness fell without a shot being fii-ed, and with it fell the British general's hope to engage his enemy on equal terms. What was to be done ? His army had been sent to assist Spain, but the armies of that nation had been defeated Ijefore l« could arrive to their assistance. Tliere was but one day's bread for his army at Lugo, no transport for reserve ammuni- liwi. no hospitals or provisions, no second line. He was iu a position to fight- one buttle for the purpose of defeating his enemy and being allowed to embark without farther molesta- tion; two battles, even if victorious, wouhl have been de- fltruclion.* For two whole days Sir John Moore had offered batik, which was suffieient to rally tlie iroups, restore order, wd preserve tlie reputation of tlie army. Marshal Xey with J^s column of the French army might soon turn his position ; it was impossible to remain longer at Lugo. The general deter- tnined to decamp in line night, and by stealing a march to leave ^ult so far behind as to allow the British ti-oops to reach their ships at Corunna iu peace. He ordered the fires to be Ifept bright, and exhorted the troops to make a great exertion, *hich he trusted would be the last required of them. The country immediately iu rear was inlersected by walls and in- tricate lanes : precautious were taken to maik the right roads b/ placing bundles of straw at certain distances, and officers *«re appointed to guide the columns; but just as the army started, a terrific storm of wind and sleet blew away the ttiarks, and the guides lost the direction. Two of the divisions l<«t their way, and at daybreak found themselves still near Lugo, Fatigue and depression of mind, together with the

* Napier.

186 THB UPE OF A REGIMENT. [1809

want of shoes, made stragglers numerous. The general of a leading division, thinking to relieve his men during a halt in the night, unfortunately desired them to take refuge from the weather in some houses a little way from the road. Com- plete disorganisation followed this imprudent act.* From that moment it became impossible to make the soldiers of the division keep their ranks ; plunder succeeded, the example was infectious, and what with real suffering and evil pro- pensity, encouraged by this error, the main body of the army arrived at Betanzos on the evening of the 9th in a state very discreditable to its discipline.

On the 10 th the enemy's cavalry skirmished with the troops who were destroying the bridge of Betanzos. Moore now assembled the army in one solid mass. They had lost more men in the march from Lugo than in all the rest of the retreat; still, when the French cavalry appeared, a body of stragglers, of whom a sergeant took command, defended them- selves in a rather open country against 400 horsemen, who were following and skirmishing with theuLf On the after- noon of the 11th the army arrived at Corunna, after an orderly march under the personal direction of the Commander- in-Chief, demonstrating that inattention and want of experience in the officers, was the true cause of the disasters which had afflicted the army.

The Gordons spent a miserable night after leaving Lugo, and next day rested at noon, cold and hungry, on a heath, the men pulling turnips to eat. At evening they resumed their dreary journey, the men lame and footsore, many of them

* The following ia an extract from General Orders at Benevente, December 27th : — " The Commander of the Forces has observed with concern the extreme bad conduct of the troops at a moment when they are about to come into contact with the enemy. It is disgraceful to the officers, as it strongly marks their negligence and inattention." He refers to the Orders of 15th October and 11th November, and desires that they may be read at the head of every company in the army. " He can feel no mercy towards officers who in times like these neglect essential duties, or towards soldiers who injure the country they are sent to protect. It is impossible for the general to ex- plain to the army his motives for the movements he directs ; when it is proper to fight a battle he will do it, and, meanwhile, he begs the officers and soldiers to attend diligently to discharge their part."

t Vivian's " Memoirs."

imi

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

187

iMrclimg in excruciating pain ; others, however, had made sandals frum the skins of cavalry horses that had been shot ; Ser^Gant Kobertsou's journal mentions this, and a pensioner in Badeiioch, named John Cattanach, said that he and many others made " ciiarans," as used in the Highlands, when their shoes were done. Another old man said he saw oBicera iduiost barefoi>L On this uiareli the wife of Sergeant Charlea Mikoijregor, with her three boys, who were earned in creels on a donkey, fell out of the line and were never more heai-<i of.

The battalion arrived at Belanzos in miserable plight,

oSioers and men half asleep as they rode or walked along, the

colour of their cluthca (uirdly disiingiiishable through the

mud with which tliey were encrusted. Tliey went into good

qaarters in the suburbs of Corunua, where they lived in plenty

and were supplied with ammunition. When the roll was

called they were over 190 men short of the number who

nuLrched on Christmas Doy. Of these, however, many rejoined

at Coranna, others made tbeir way into Portugal and joined the

troops left there ; the rest had been killed or taken by the

French, and some of them were never heard of again.* The

ny had marched about 300 miles since December 24th.

It had been at hrst the intention to embark at Vigo, where

the transports had arrived. The general, as soon as Corunna

hiid been decided on, ordered them round to that place, but

contrary winds delaiue<l them, and tlius tlie last exertion

n^'le by the army was rendered fruitless. When the troops

ffeiched the heights from which Corunna is visible, all eyes

^'tre directed to the bay, hoping to see the friendly tieet, but

they were doomed to disappointment — nothing but a few

constera were in sight.

As the various brigades came up they were distributed ia the town and at the village of El Burgo, and Moore at once wuseil the defences to be repaired and strengtiiened. The inhabitants, to their honour, clicerfully joined in the work, in

• Napier Rays with regard to strugglers from the army — " Of the whole Dumber above 800 contrived to escape to Portugal, and being united with the «ick left by the regiments In that country, formed a corps of 1876 men oniler the name of ' the battalion of detachmentii,' and did good service at Oporto and Talavenu"

188 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1809

bright contrast to the apathy latterly shown by most of their countrymen. A large magazine was found in Corunua con- taining arms, ammunition, and stores, which had been sent from Great Britain to the Spaniards months before, and which were lying unused by a nation invaded by 300,000 enemies, and possessing 100,000 soldiers unclothed and unarmed,* a notable instance of the improvidence of the Spanish authorities. Among these stores were many thousand new muskets, for which the British troops now exchanged their old rusty and battered weapons, which, with the fresh amnmnition, rendered their fire very superior to that of the enemy in the ensuing battle.

At a magazine three miles from the town, 4000 barrels of powder were deposited, and a smaller quantity was in a storehouse at some distance. To prevent these falling a prey to the enemy, they were both exploded on the 18th. The smaller one blew up with a terrible noise that shook the houses in the town, but when the train reached the larger magazine there ensued a crash like the bursting of a volcano ; the earth trembled for miles, the rocks were torn from their bases, and the agitated waters rolled the vessels as in a storm ; a vast column of smoke and dust, shooting out fiery sparks from its sides, arose perpendicularly and slowly to a great height, and then a shower of stones, bursting out of it with a roaring sound, killed several persons who remained too near the spot. A stillness only interrupted by the lashing of the waves on the shore succeeded, and the business of war went on.f

As the ground in front of Corunna is impracticable for cavalry, and as many of the horses left alive were foundered, these poor worn out animals were reluctantly ordered to be shot ; their riders, whom they had carried in the constant and successful combats and skirmislies, showed great sorrow at parting with their equine friends,J but it was thought better

♦ Napier. t Ibid.

X R. Blakeney (" A Boy in the Peninsula") says he saw troopers iu tears when obliged to shoot their horses during the retreat, owing to the hoofa being worn away, and no shoes to be had for them. Blakeney, who was on rear guard, also says that excess was the cause of many men falling out, and that many stragglers were robust plunderers.

ISOO]

THK GORDON HIGULAKDERS.

189

than leaving them to become draft horses to the French or to weuir out their existence in a Corunrin cart. 0£ 751 horses the 7tb Hussars took to Spain, they only brought 70 back to England ;* of the number lost, however, some were drowned by tk wreck of a transport.

On the evening of the 14th the ships from Vigo entered the harbour, and the dismoiintecl cavalry, the sick, the women wml children, and all the best horses, with fifty-two pieces of artilierv, were embarked during the night, eight British and four Spanish guus being retained on shore. Meanwhile the French ttd appeared, and some guns had opened on the Engliali posts al El Burgo, hut had been silenced by superior tire. On the lath Laborde's Division arrived, the French occupied tlie ridge erjclosing the British jiosition, and towards evening tlie pickets opposite the French right were actively engaged. During the wight Souk established a battery of eleven guns on the rocka *'hichfonwed the left nf his line of battle. Laborde's Division *M posted on the right ; Merles Division was in ttiu centre, Menuot's Division fonneci the left. The position was covered '1 front of the right by tlie villages of Palavia, Almxo, and I'ortosa, and in front of the centre by a wood ; the left was strongly posted on the Iieighls where the 11 -gun bsittery was ^tablishetl. The distance frunii tbe battery to the right o' the British line was about 1200 yards, and midway the village of Elvina was held by tlu^ IJritish pickets.

The late arrival of the transports, the increasing force of ^^ enemy, and the disadvantageous nature of the ground ^e the difficulty of the embarkation so great, that several general officers proposed tu the Cunjmauder-in-Chief that he *'iould negotiate for leave io retire to his ships upon terms. The army had suHered, but not front defeat; its situation was dangerous, but not desperate ; Moore's high spirit and clear judgment revolted at the idea, and he rejected the advice ^thoiu hesitation. t

Tlie encumbrances of the army having beeti shipped, all Wtts prepared on the morning of the 16th to withdraw the figliling raen as soon as darkness would permit them to do so on.vjen.

• Vivian.

t Napier.

190

TEIK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[isog

But a more glorious termiuation to their campaign awaited the Britiali troops. About two o'clock in the afternoon a general movement was observed along the whole French line. The British infantrj-, 14,500 strong, occupied the inferior range of hills, the right was formed by liaird's Division, and approaclied the enemy ; while the centre and left were of necessity withheld in such a manner that the French battery on the rocks raked the wliole line. CTcneral Hope's Division, in which were the 92ud,* was on the left, and occupied strong ground abutting on the muddy bank of the River Mero ; the reserve was drawn up near the village of Airis in rear of the centre, and commanded the valley which separated Baird's Division from tlie French cavalry. These were kept in check by a regiment from the reserve, which thus became the extreme right of the army, and a chain of skirmishers connected this regiment with the right of Baird's line. These dispositions were as good as the nature of the ground would admit of, but the advantage was all on the enemy's side. His light cavalry, under Frauceschi, reaching nearly to St Christopher, a mile in rear of Baird's position, obliged Sir John Moore to weaken his fi-oul by keeping back Fraser'a Division till Soult's plan of attack should be completely developed. The only advantagt^ on the side of the British lay in the new firelocks and fresh ammunition which many of them had received.

Soult's attack began by a heavy fire of artillery, covering three solid maases of troops descending to the assault. A cloud of skirmisherti led the way and drove back the British pickets ; the village of Elvina was carried by the first column, which then divided, one half attacking Baii'd in front, tlie other turning his right The second column made for the centre, the third engaged the left by the village of Palavia Abaxo.

The French guns overmaLohed the few British 6-pounders, and their shot swept the position to the centre. Sir John Moore ordered General Paget to carry the reserve to where the detached regiment was posted, to turn the left of the

• General Hope 'a Diviaion cotiBisiod of Major-General HiU'g Brigacle, the 2uJ or Queen's, Utli i«id 32iul Rcgiiiiente, n.m\ Colonel Crawford's Brigade, the 3llth, 7l8t, ami 9'2ad or Gordon Highlaodera.— Stewurt's " Highlandors of Scotland."

im]

TBS GORDON HiailLANDEES.

191

French attack, and menace the great battery. Then, directing Fra^er'a Division to support Ptiget, lie threw back the 4 th Begiinent, which formed the right of Baird's Division, opened a heavy fire upon the Hank of the troops penetrating up the valk)', and with the 50th and 42nd, met those breaking through Elvina. A severe scrambling figiit ensued among wails and hollow roads. A battalion of the Guards was brought up to till the space left vacant in the line by the SOth and 42nd ; the latter, mistaking the general's intention, retired, and at that monieiit the enemy being reinforced, renewed the fight, and Elvina became the scene of a second atinggle ; this being observed by the Commander-in-Chief, he caused the 42nd lo return. " Highlanders, rcMuember Egypt ! " he said, as they gladly advanced to the attack.

riic line of skirmishers, supported by Paget's Reserve, vigorously checked the advance of the enemy's troops^ while the 4lh Regiment galled their flank ; the centre and left of the army also became engaged. Sir David Baird was wounded, and a furious action raged along the whole line. Sir John Moore, while watching the result of the fight about Elvina, WW struck on the left hreast l>y a cannon shot, and was thrown from his horse ; he rose to a sitting postnre, his countenance unchanged and his eye still fixed on the regiments ^ftgaged in his front ; when satisfied that they were gaining ground his face brightened, and he suirered himself to be c^inied to the rear by four soldiers of the 42nd.* His shoulder was shattered to pieces, his arm hanging by the skin, the ribs over ttie heart broken, and the muscles of his hreast torn into long strips. As the soldiers placed him in a Wauket, the hilt of his sword entered the wound, and Captain Bardinge, a Staff oHicer, attempted to take it off, but the ^yingnian stopped him, saying, " It is as well as it is. I had

* The deacendants of Alexander M'Kny of t!ie 92nd olaim that he was oiie of the men who carried Sir John, stating that th*ir inforirtAnta woo Jiiaics M'Kay, a younger brother of the said Alexander, and Corpoml William M'Kiy, who was in the 42mL Aa the 92nd were not in that jjart of the field, Alexunder M'Kay could only have l>een prei'ent &b an orderly, or posaibly he vu ODf of the two men who earried Sir John at Bergen-op-Zee, and would

r Dot clAiiii the reward. Alexander M'Kay belonged to Sutherland, and died u

lihe triutvd servant of a lx>ndon bank.

192 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1809

rather it should go out of the field with me," and in that manner Moore was borne from the fight.

During this time the British were rapidly gaining ground ; the reserve, overthrowing everything in the valley, and obliging the French Dragoons, who had dismounted, to retire, turned the left and approached the great battery. On the left some companies of the 14th and 92nd carried Palavia Abaxo ; the fight for Elvina ended in favour of the British, and at night the French were falling back in confusion. Sir John Hope, upon whom the command of the army had devolved, gave orders to embark, and the operation was completed without confusion or difficulty. The pickets kindled fires, and were themselves withdrawn at daybreak on the l7tL

Thus ended one of the most celebrated retreats in history, which remains an example of ability in the general and, the temporary indiscipline notwithstanding, of courage in his troops. Soult (Duke of Dalmatia), the ablest of Napoleon's marshals, said, " Sir John Moore took every advantage that the country afforded to oppose an active and vigorous resist- ance, and he finished by dying in a combat that must do credit to his memory." * This generous opponent erected a monument over Moore's grave at Corunna,

Napoleon declared that his talents and firmness alone had saved the British army from destruction, and Wellington was of the same opinion.

Napier in his history attributes the want of discipline during part of the retreat to want of experience on the part of regimental officers and soldiers, and a N.-C. officer of the 9 2nd agrees with him when he says — " It is well known that a finer body of men (in appearance at least) never left the British shore. No expense was spared to complete them with every requisite necessary for the expedition. We were not inured to this sort of warfare, and did not know how to conduct ourselves. The British soldier when at home has everything provided for him, and does not know how to live without all the conveniences to which he has been accustomed — and the consequence was, that when the army was reduced to live on scanty allowance, and to suffer privation to which

* Napier.

I4091

TFIK GORDON HIGHLANDKB8.

193

it' had not been accustomed, it went into disorder. Not one in ten of U3 was used to campaigning, whereas the French had lately come from Germany, where they had been imired to ha^x-dship for some years. They entered Spain as invaders, we AS allies ; hence, if provisions were to be got in any way, they W'ere not deterred from taking them."

In the Battle of Corunua, the 92nd was posted on the left O^ the line near the sea, and protected hy a steep hill in their fcpont ; as a battalion they were not materially engaged^ but ^ieut.-Colonel Napier (92nd) was field otticcr for the day in Command of the outposts, of which a detachment of his regi- ment formed part.

Ensign Hector Innea thus describes what he saw when un

picket with his company : — " Our sentries were close to the

^'rt?ncli. CV)lonel Napier sent me to General Hope, distant

about two miles, to inform him of the local situation of our

ix^ition, distant about three miles from our regiment and

hngnde. I went accoutred with my trusty claymore and

pistol, with ray stockings all down. 1 had to pass quite close

to the enemy, and through a turnip field, which annoyed me a

great deal more. When I returned I found they had not

attacked us, so Tulloch (his cousin in another regiment) and 1

sat down and ate some cohl beef as salt as Lot*s wife, but we

were aoon roused from our meal by some shots which fell at

our gide, and my servant who had brought the dinner was

tuortally wounded. The husiness began about half four,

wlien the enemy rushed down instantaneously in crowds in all

^liiuctions, firing smartly on the pickets (ours on the left).

I~ Jor a while we withstood vigorously their attacks. However,

^iflg overpowered by numbers, we retired with loss, and afterwards i-allied and took post behind a hedge. I do assure jou we had some fun ; you would have laughed hail you seen Itow we scampered with Jack Freocbamn at our heels ; but ^"rtune favoured us. I conuimnded a few but trusty men, *lio after three hours were successful We charged through the village along with two companies of tlie 14th Uegiment, who, I am rather pitpied to find, get all the merit. We certainly gave them a complete thrashing. I had the curiosity ■ to examine the enemy's position, and was struck with astonish-

194 THE UFE OF A REGIMENT. [1809

ment to see the awful carnage ; they were lying actually all above one another."

Sergeant Eobertson says that Colonel Napier was giving orders to carry the village, when a shot struck him in the groin ; one of the men immediately bound up the wound with his shirt and carried him to the rear, but he died shortly after. " Although we were twice driven from the post we re- turned to the attack with redoubled fury, and at last retained it in defiance of all the efforts of the enemy to dislodge us. Exasperated at being thus repulsed, the French sent down a strong reinforcement upon us to drive all before it, but General Hope, perceiving the movement, ordered two com- panies of the 14th to our assistance. Then came the tug of war; there was little or no firing, but fair hand-to-hand fighting ; night put an end to the contest, the French with- drawing from the village, while we remained masters of it."

Captain Seton's (92nd) account is short and to the point. " The Battle of Corunna was bloody and bravely contested. The French got a devil of a drubbing, though five to one. As they were beat back, they always pressed forward with fresh troops. Night put an end to the action."

ViDiTTK, 7th Husbars, 1808.

CHAPTER XL

By the death of Lieut.-Colonel Napier the command of the Ist Battalion devolved upon Lieut.-Colonel Lamont.* Owing to the death of Moore, and Sir David Baird being wounded. Sir John Hope had assumed command of the army. Colonel Lamont had been sent for by Sir John, and Sergeant Robertson accompanied him as orderly. He says — " We received orders to keep our post till five o'clock in the morning to deceive the enemy, and then to make the best of our way to the ships. It was dusk, and Colonel Lamont and I lost our way, and, before we were aware, found ourselves amongst a French picket. They were busy killing a bullock, but we did not wait to partake of it, and made the best of our way to our own picket" At 5 a.m. on the 17th, the pickets started for the beach as fast as they could. They were observed and pursued by cavalry, but having little more than a mile to go, they reached' the boats just in time. About mid-day the French established a battery on the heights of San Lucia, which fired on the shipping, causing confusion and disorder among the transports ; the merchant seamen, not bargaining for this sort of thing, went below and left the soldiers to do seamen's duty as best they could. Some masters cut their cables, and four vessels went ashore. They were burned, and men-o'-war's boats removed the troops, while the Victory brought her guns to bear on the battery and silenced its noise. Beresford's Brigade kept possession of the citadel till the 18th, when, the wounded being all on board, his troops embarked and the fleet sailed for England.

The death of Colonel Napier was a great grief to the regiment, which he had joined as senior captain when it was raised. He had commanded the 1st Battalion since Colonel Erskine was killed in Egypt in 1801, and both battalions

* Lamont of Lamont, chief of his clan ; he entered the army as ensign, 42nd Regiment, March 1793, was promoted in the Clan Alpine Fenciblee, and afterwards in the 92nd ; retired a Major-General.

196

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

for a time after the 2nd was raised. Strict without naggin^^-^ just without harshness, and considerate without weakness, was a worthy successor to such excellent commanding office as Huntly and Erskiue. His best epitaph is in the words oJ one of his N.-C. officers, who described him as one " whoru every man in the regiment adored, and to whom he was more like an affectionate father then a commanding othc^r."

The regiment lost, besides, LieuL-Colouel Napier, Lieu- tenant Archibald MacDonald, who died of his wounds shortly afterwards; two rank and file were killed, and four wounded.* The whole array lamented the death of the good and gallant Sir John Moore, under whom the Gordon Highlanders had served so constantly, both in peace and war. They had peculiar reasons to love and respect him, and the officers changed the blue line in their lace to black, which is still worn in his memory. After speaking of his mother, and his " satisfaction to know that we have beaten the French," his last words were, " I hope England will be satisfied ; T hope my country will do me justice."

The touching scene of the burial of Sir John Moore, as described both in prose and poetry, will ever live in the hearts of his countrymen.

"The loss of the British army at Corunna was never officially returned, bub was estimated by Sir John Hope at about 800. The French loss 1 have no accurate account of. I have heard from French officers that it was above 3000 men." This number Napier thinks exaggerated, but that it certainly was very great. Ho attributes it to the arms of the British being new, and their ammunition fresh, and that *' the physical strength and coolness of the men render the fire of the English- men at all times the most destructive known." " The nature of the ground also prevented any movement of artilleiy on either side> hence the French column.^ were e.xposed in their attacks to a fire of grope, which they could not return, because of the distance of their batteries."

The misfortunes of the British were, however, not over. A severe gale scattered the transports; some of them were

* 1 OAtmot find their names, and thb Order Boolu and returns of tbia OMnpAign aeem to hnve been Iohu

1809] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 197

wrecked on the shores of England, and others ran to the nearest ports ; so that the inhabitants of the towns along the Channel who had seen the successive expeditions which com- posed Moore's army embark with all the pomp and circum- stance of military display, were struck with horror and dismay when they beheld them return, reduced in numbers, with haggard faces and ragged clothing. As the news spread throughout the country, the fate of these gallant men became a subject of general commiseration, and the hopes of the nation, which had been raised by the victories at Koli^a and Vimiera, and the early successes of the Spaniards at Baylen and Saragossa, were changed to despondency by the late disasters. A cry was raised that Great Britain could never contend with France except at sea ; and this, though in every regular engagement her troops had defeated the veterans of Napoleon, and had only retreated because their numbers were quite inadequate to the task required of them.

But notwithstanding the misfortunes which attended the campaign, it was even more calamitous to the arms of France. One whole corps d'amiie had capitulated, and surrendered the kingdom of Portugal, which was still held by the British ; another had surrendered to the Spaniards at Baylen. The spell was broken, Continental nations discovered that the French armies were not invincible, and Austria prepared to renew the struggle. By drawing Napoleon to the northern extremity of Spain, Moore gave time to the southern provinces to restore their army and strengthen their fortresses, and thus to prepare the way for the campaigns of Wellington, which Great Britain supported with a determined tenacity of purpose not hitherto exhibited by the nation in her Continental expeditions.

The 1st Battalion landed at Portsmouth on the 26th of January, and arrived at Weely in three divisions on the 13th, 14th, and 15th February, The following extracts from letters and journals will give an idea of the difference between the arrival of troops from foreign service in those days, and the comforts which now await them on return to their native land.

Mr Innes, who was, with about 100 of the 92nd, along

198

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

U'

with other troops, on a ship wliich ran aground, but was g**^^ off again, writes from *' In sight of the Isle of Wight, Janua^KT- 23rd, 1809. — I am in perfect health and spirits, but in nig:^3 I lost almost everj^thing."

Captain Seton, at Portsnioiith, January 2.5th, after meLJ* tioning " A passage most dreadful. We are strange figures, a -M dirty, and the most of us ahnost nahed. I hod not a chan^^ of clothes since I was at Lugo on the 6th till last evening* when I bought a shirt and some other things." In a late^ letter he says, " Our men are in a dreadful state ; " again, " the^_^ have got a bad typhus, which has carried ofl' a number sine* our return. Our total loss in Spain and Portugal is 190; "* many regiments have suffered more and few less."

Sergeant Robertson says — " When we landed at Portsmouth I had neither shoes nor stockings, but had to walk along tlw streets barefooted; tlie condition we were in with regard to clothing and cleanliness beggars description. When we came to our billets about six miles from Portsmouth, the inhabitants would not allow us to sleep in their beds, nor sit by the fire- side, on account of the vermin that infested us ; cleaning our- selves was out of the question. When we reached Weely Barracks, where our heavy baggage was lying, I got a suit of clothes I had left, and soon divested myself of my filthy raiment and reduced it to ashes, with the exception of the Highland bonnet and feathers, which I preserv6d."f " Soon after our arrival at Weely, our regiment, along with others that had been in Spain, were seized with typhus fever ; so prevalent was this fatal malady, that an order came from the War Otfice that we should be relieved from duty till further orders, that every article of clothing be burned, and that we should be supplied with everything new. There was also £2 given Lo each of us to provide necessaries. The Lords of the Treasury ordered another £2 to each man who was sickly to purchase anything the doctor thought proper."

* Many of tliesi^ ItK) m*»n afterwards rejoined.

t The heavy baggage had been left when they embarked for Sweden in the preceding May. It is worthy of remark th&t the feathered bonnet, which from its appeanuicc people are apt to think more ornamental than useful, was in this catte, as it was after the Egyptian uaiiipAigii of ISOI, the only part of the olothing which rcniaiued Borviceable,

J

1809] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 199

On January 30th, Mr Innes writes from Colchester: — " We are now on our march to Chelmsford in Essex, a route of about 100 miles, which I find will be extremely expensive. We were landed a parcel of half-starved naked soldiers. You will laugh, perhaps, at the title of ' half-starved,' but believe me it is the case. Our embarkation was so rapid that we had no time for providing comforts, and previous to our embarka- tion we had lain six nights in the fields, feeding on spoiled ship's biscuits and salt beef." On February 16th, having arrived at Weely, he is "just about to inspect a company, some dressed in kilts, some in pantaloons. . . We make certainly a very grotesque figure, but ere long we shall again become quite smart. . . . Our marching in England was extremely pleasant ; all people glad to see us. ... I fell in with some strange adventures. Perhaps at a future oppor- tunity I may relate them. . . . My mother inquires after some men. Glassan, Hay, and Patterson, as likewise Forbes, are quite well and safe in this barrack ; as to Andrew Fother- ingham, I am afraid he is taken prisoner, being absent before we came to Lugo,"*

An Order by Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir John Hope, dated H.M.S. Audacious, January 18th, 1809, of which the following is an extract, was published to the battalion at Weely : —

" The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the Commander of the Forces, and the severe wound that has removed Lieut.-General Sir David Baird from his station, renders it the duty of Lieut.-General Hope to congratulate the troops on the successful result of the 1 6th inst. On no occasion has the undaunted valour of the British troops been more magnificent. At the termination of a severe and fatiguing march, rendered necessary by the superiority of numbers which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered. They have all been surmounted by the troops themselves, and the enemy has been taught that whatever advantages of position or numbers he may employ, there is a natural bravery in the British officers and soldiers that knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that * These were all men from near his home in Banffshire.

200

tHB LIFE OP A REC5IMENT.

[1800

will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by any means whatever.

" The Lieut-Cleneral hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so consitlerable &s iiiiglit have been expected. He laments, however, the fall of the gallant soldiera and valuable officers who have sufTered. He knows it is impossible, in any language he can use, lo increase or diminish the regret the army feels in common with him for its late commander. His career has, unfortunately, been too limited for his country, but sufficient for his own fame. TIeloved by the army, honoured b}^ his sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life devoted tn her service by a glorious dmtli, leaving his name as a raeiiinrial and example to those who follow him in the path of honour, and it is from his country alone that his memory can receive the tribute that is his due."

(f.O., Horse Guards, Ffbruart/ 1st, 1809. — The benefits derived to an army frum the example of a distinguished comniRnder does not terminate at his death. His virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions. Tn this \dew the Oonimander-in-ChieF, amidst the deep and universal regret which the death of Lieut. -General Sir John Muore has oct'a- aioned, recalls to the troops the military career of that illustrious officer for their insLruelion and imittttion. Sir John Moore from his youth embraced the profession with the feelings and sentiments of a soldier. He felt that a perfect knowledge and an exact performatice of the humble, but important, duties of a subaltern officer are the best foundation for subsequent military fame, and his ardent mi ml, while ii looked forward to those brilliant achievements for which it was formed, applied itself with enei^" and exemplary assiduity to the duties of that station. In the school of regimental duty he obtained that correct knowledge of the profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier, and he was able to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline he enforced on others. Having risen to com- mand, he signalised his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with which he

18001

TBI^^IliiDON

HIGHI-ANDKRS.

201

devoted himself to the duties of every branch of his profession obtained him tlie confidence of Sir lialph Abercromby, and he became the compauioii ia arms of that illustrious officer, who tell at the head of his victorious troops in the action which maioUiined our national superiority over the armies of France. Tlie life of Sir John Moore was spent amongst the troops. During tho season of repose his time was devoted to the care and iusiruction of the otlicers and soldiers. In war he cuurted senice in every quarter of the globe, regardless of personal considerations. He esteemed that to which his country called him, the post of honour, and by his undaunted spirit and uu- coiiquemble perseverance he pointed the way to victory. His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a monument ^ his lamented memory, and the Commander-in-Chief feels he is paying the beat tribute to his fame by thus holding Iiim forth as an example to the array.

By order of His Koyal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, (Signed) Harry Calvekt,

Adjutant-tteueral.

On the 30th January, Sir David Baird, in a letter to the officer commanding the 1st Battalion 92nd Regiment, sent copies of letters from the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commuiis, enclosing the resolutions of both Houses oi Parliament, containing the thanks of Parliament to the army Liteiy engaged in Spain ; and Sir David, in communicating this signal mai'k of approbation, adds his " warmest congratulations opon a distinction which you and the corps under your com- mand on tliat day liad a share in obtaining ft>r His Majesty's service." The above was comnumicated lo the othcers, N.-C, [•officers, and private soldiers of the battalion for their disfcin- ignished conduct and exemplary valour displayed in the battle [of Corunna.

The following letter addressed to the Officer Commanding [92nd Kegimeiit, from the A. A. General, Portsmouth, informs him [that ** The magistrates and bankers of this town having ex- a desire of aiding those women lately returned from [Spain who have lost their husbands, and also the children who [have lost their parents, a return of each is to be sent to the [Town-major's cilice with the least possible delay.''

204

THE LIFE OF A UBOIMIRT.

having coffee or stir-about as they choose. Officers on duty to visit the breakfast mess and see tlmfc it is always plentiful." *

Battalion Orders, ApHl lAih. — Lieut.-Colonel Cameron begs to return his best thanks to the officers for the high order in whicli he ftamd ttieir barrack-rooms and the good dinner the men had. He has never seen anything in higher order than Captain Maxwell's company's roociis, or better dinners than his men had.

The soldiers' letters were forwarded by the commanding officer, and he trusts to their honour not to put their names to a civilian's letter for the puq>use of getting it franked.

He is surprised to find gambling in the barrack-rooms, and directs the N.-C. officers to put a stop to it.

This year officers of Fusilier and Light Infantry Regiments, and the light companies of other regiments, were ordered to wear wings in addition to their epaulettes, and in July the following Order for ever relieved the soldier from the tail or club hitherto worn by all ranks; and as the civil population always follow the army in the cut of their hair, the queue was afterwards seldom worn by yiumg men of fashion,

G.O., Horse (Juards, February/ 20tk, 1809. — In conse- quence of the state of preparation for immediate service, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to dispense with the use of queues until further orders. The hair to be cut close to the head in the neatest and most uniform manner, and to be con- stantly combed, brushed, and washed. For the latter essential purpose it is His Majesty's pleasure that a small sponge be hereafter added to each man's regimental necessaries.

In order U\ encourage volunteering from the militia to the line, a War Office Order was issued, 29th April 1809, allowing a proportion of one sergeant and one corporal for every twenty volunteers to enlist, and to be supernumeraries to the estab- lishment until vacancies occur.f

On May 1 3th Captain Archibald Campbell and Lieutenant

* At thiB time the (contract price of the 41b. loaf wilb ll^d. in Cambridge moA S^d. in Essex. A breakioat me^is waa not general throagbont the army till nmny years later.

t In April, tweuty-one volunteers from the Elosa-flhire Militia joined the battalion, and iu May, eleven from the same regiment.

18091

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

205

Angus Fraser were selected for employment iu the arujy of Portugal

Two or three married men in a compauy were now allowed to work between parades, " for eight days, when others will have their turn/'

By this tirae the fever patients had entirely recovered, and the battalion was in good condition and tit for active service; but, however attentive Colonel Cameron was to their comfort, the officers and men found him a strict commanding otficer when strictness was required.

R.O., \lth May 1809. — In consequence of the great drunkenness and absence from parade among the men, the lieut-colonel orders four parades a day instead of two, which h« hopes will have the etlect of making officers look better <^fter their companies, and the men more careful of them- selves.

It must not be supposed that at this period the vice of <ininkeuness was couiined to the army. Intemperate habits were only too common in idl classes ; lords and lairds, states- njen and lawyers, constantly got drunk, and were not ashamed, JHiblic opinion as yet not attaching any disgrace to the pro- pJtediog. One might almost say that the army was the only rfession which adopted a higher standard. R.O., 17 th May. — Sergeant Francis Murray is appointed iint-major in room of Sergeant Maokay, who resigned the fttion. Sergeant Kennedy of the Light Company to be assistant sergeant-major, and Sergeant Sutherland, drill-ser- geant, to act in the above capacities till further orders.

At this time there seem to have beeu few, if any, military chaplains, and the regiment attended divine service iu the Established Church of England, little importance apparently |j_being attached to particular religious tenets. ^1 KO. — Otticers and men who profess the Catholic religion * ^vpnll attend all church parades in future, but previous to the ^■Bervice commencing, they will be indulged by being allowed ^Hto fall out if they wish it, but the commanding officer cannot ^^ta^ the propriety of their doing so.

* There were aeveral Romau Catholic officers, And the regiment uraa jMlgely recruit^ in Roman CfttUolic districts of the Highlauda.

206

THE UFK OF A REGIMENT.

[1809

On the 25th of June a letter of readiuess for immediate embarkation was received.

In the summer of 1809 Great Britain had hardly anj allies in Europe, except Austria (and she was soon obliged to Join the ranks uf the enemy). Portugal and Spain were indeed on our aide, but both were weak, and the latter country was occupied by the French. Russia was now the ally of France, Denmark was against us, Prussia was conquered by Napoleon, his brother was King of Holland, Flanders and Italy were under his sway.

But the aruiy of France was for the moment fully occupied on the Danube and in the Spanish Peninsula, and the British Government determined to support the Austrian struggle, and to divert the French arms, by sending a powerful expedition to the Scheldt

Napoleon had seen the great political importance of Antwerp. He had caused au immense naval arsenal and vast docks to l>e constructed capable of equipping and con- taining half the navy of France. He intended it to be the great naval arsensd of his northern dominions, from which he could at any time threaten the independence of Britain. As yet, however, the necessary repairs of its formidable fortifications were incomplete, and they were defended by a comparatively small garrison. Thii capture of Antwerp was, therefore, the principal object of the Hritisli. Rul though time was precioua, the expedition was delayed till the 28th of July, when the magnificent armament put to sea, consisting of 37 sail of the line, 23 frigates, 33 sloops of war, and 82 gunboats, besides numerous transports, having on board 40,000 troops and two battering trains, aU well found and equipped,* Four chaplains were sent to attend to their spiritual wants.

The army was commanded by General the Earl of Chatham

• Twelve Bqimdrona of cavalry, 40 battalions, besides portiouB of bat- talions of infnntry, and from 80 to 100 pieces of artillery. There were 16 brigades formed iutv 7 divi»*iou«. The divisional commauders were LieuU- Qeiieral Sir Eyre Coote, Lieut, -fJeneral tho Earl of Roaslyn, Lieut. -Oeoenbl Sir John Hope, Lieut, -General the Marquis of Huntly, Lieut. -(ieueral Lord Paget, Licut.-tJeucnvl Maeketizie Fraser, Lieut. -06116™! Grosvenor; Major- (Teneral M'Leod commanded tho Artillery, and Goneral Jerrot the Engiueere. — " Military Memoirs."

1809] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 207

(elder brother of the celebrated statesman, William Pitt). He was a veteran accustomed to the routine of official duty, but without experience as a leader, and without the qualities necessary to the success of an enterprise which demanded decision of character, and activity of mind and body. His appointment was not popular with the nation, or approved by the army, who would have preferred Sir John Hope.

The fleet was under the orders of Admiral Sir Richard Strachan.

The instructions to the Commander-in-Chief were : — " You are, upon the receipt of these our instructions, to repair with our said troops to the Scheldt, and carry into effect the following instructions, in conjunction with the commander of the naval forces. This conjoint expedition has for its object the capture or destruction of the enemy's ships either building or afloat at Antwerp or Flushing, the reduction of the island of Walcheren, and rendering the Scheldt, if possible, no longer navigable for ships of war." *

In order to take part in this expedition the 1st Battalion 92nd marched in two divisions on the 29 th of June for Dover, where it arrived on the 6th and 7th of July. Captain Seton writes from Romford, 2nd July 1809: — "We are so far advanced on our way to Dover, and a great difference between marching in England and Spain. We go through part of London to-morrow, and cross London Bridge to Greenwich." " We are still ignorant of our destination. Lord Chatham is certainly Commander-in-Chief. He may be a very able

statesman, but I am afraid he is a d d bad general.**

" Sir John Hope (our colonel) is to have a large command in it." Again from Dover, July 11th : — " I wish we were at this moment on the banks of the Danube ; I think we would be of the greatest use there. Our destination, of course, remains a secret."

The married women who were left behind were accoptimo- dated with rooms in barracks, or, if they preferred going to their homes, they received £1, Is. and 5s. for each child for the journey.

At Dover the battalion received a draft of 220 men from * Alison. Lord Chatham's Instructions. —Parliamentary Debate.

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[

the 2iid Battalion. They were placed, along with the 2 Regiment, in the 3rd Brigade, commanded by Major-Gen< Sir William Erakine, of Lieut. -General Sir John Ho Division or Corps of Reserve. The battalion mustered sergGiauts, 20 drummers, 974 rank and file, and so healt/ had they become, that at Dover they had not a man hospital, and the inspecting general remarked that he b/r- hardly ever seen a finer looking body of meu.t There we- still a number of men absent in Portugal, who had been lei for duty when the i>aitalion advanced from Lisbon, and othe who had escaped from the retreat ; these were transferred to the 2nd Battalion, as well as prisoners of war in Spain aud Holland, from which it would appear that some of those taken in 1799 had not yet been released.

Colonel Cameron had been exerting himself to get for his men an allowance from Government "for tear and wear of tartan in Spain," and informs tbeni that he now hopes to succeed. He expresses bis " utter astonishment " at learning that some of the companies have scarcely any hose tartan, and thanks Captains Archibald Mac Donald aud M'Pherson for the " care they appear to have taken of their companies in that respect." The commanding ufticer Imd previ(jua]y desired otlicers com- manding companies to provide hose tartan suHicient to make gaiters of it for each man for the campaign, but the men " are never to wear their gaitera except on ii march, or on escort duty."

R.O., Dover Castle, lUk July 1809.— Sergeant Ewen Kenedy of the Light Company is appointed sergeant-major till further orders.

On July 14th the 1st Battalion marched to Deal and embarked, Uolonel Cameron and the headquarters being on H.M.S. Superb, 74 guns. An officer of the regiment gives a touching description of the heartrending scenes aud afifection- ate partings between the soldiers and their wives and children.

The hopes of the whole country were centred on the

success of this unrlertaking ; thousands of spectators from all

parts visited Deal to see the embarkation of the army. Gaily

dressed ladies crowded the beach ; the town was filled to au

* Sergeant Robertson's Joum&l.

1809J

THB GORDON HIOtlLANDEBS.

209

^overflow witli officers, sailors, and soldiers of all corps and

tbeir relations ; the bands on the ships played, the crowds on

HBhore cheered, all was enthusiasm, excitement, and expectation.

This scene of revelry continued till the afternoon of July 27th,

■when the " Blue Teter " was hoisted, recalling the warriora

bom the shore.

The fleet weighed anchor on the 28th, and, whitening the ocetui with its sails, arrived on the coast of Holland next day. On the afternoon of the 30th about 20,000 men, among them the Ist Battalion 92nd, were disembarked on the island of W^oJcheren at a place called Bree-sand. They landed in flat- bottomed boats, forty men in each boat, and each man carry- ing sixty rounds in his pouch, with two spare Hints, and a good flint in his piece ; three days' bread and cooked pork and an. allowance of rum in his haversack ; to land in profound alienee, and in light equipment. The regimental colour to be i c^Tried in the bow of the centre boat, and boats with the H^^Q^k companies to be distinguished by a reil and white Wv^ndant respectively, according to order.

H The boats advanced with great regularity till within a

H *Wt distance of the landing-place, when a cry of " Devil

" ^ke the hindmost " ran along the line, and each put on a

Spurt to be first. Having ejected a landing, part of the

Ipoops under General Fraser were sent against Fort der flack,

» about a mile off, which the enemy evacuated ; the general then continued his offensive movement towards Ter-vere, a ibrtreas which commanded a narrow entrance leading into the channel which separated South Beveland. This place was quickly taken with its garrison of 1000 men, Goes, the capital of South Beveland, opened its gates, and Sir John Hope, pushing rapidly on, appeared before the gates of Bahtz on the evening of the 2nd of August, and that important fortress was taken by the Guards, who formed the First Brigade of Sir J. Hope's Division. Sir W. Erskine's Brigade occupied Ter Goes, St Arcut's Kerk and adjacent villages.

At Goes the Gordons were quartered in the Frenchmen's

barracks, with detachments at various places, the garrison of

Goes being employed to conduct French prisoners to the place

[-of embarkation. At Goes there were several regimental and

0

210 THE UFE OF A REGIMENT. [1809

drumhead Courts-martial, invariably caused by indulgence in Hollands gin ; the prisoners being sentenced to corporal punishment, of which generally only part was inflicted.

R.O., August 10th. — The 92nd to move from present quarters to Capelle and Biesling; the men are not to wear gaiters but on the march or otherwise ordered, and never to wear trousers except on fatigue or night duty.

Lieutenant- Colonel Cameron is much surprised to observe that some of the officers have presumed to alter the regimental bonnet by adding peaks to it, and desires they will not pre- sume to make any innovation on the regimental dress till he thinks proper to order it.

RO., Capelle, August 11th, 1809. — Volunteer Mr James Hope * is to do duty as supernumerary officer in the Grenadier Company, and to be obeyed accordingly till further orders,

B.O., Capelle, August 11 th, 1809. — Volunteer Mr Colin M'Dougall is to do duty as supernumerary officer in the Light Company, and to be obeyed as such till further orders.

Meanwhile, the success and rapid advance of the British to within a short distance of Antwerp, had it been followed up by the Commander of the Forces, must have resulted in the capture of that place and of the French men-of-war there, which were the principal objects of the expedition ; but he, instead of pressing on, unfortunately wasted precious time in reducing Flushing, a subordinate object, which, however, he prosecuted with vigour and success. The garrison of Flushing was commanded by General Monnet, who defended himself with gallantry, but the sallies of the French troops were re- pulsed; on the 13 th August the British batteries opened on the land side with fifty-two heavy guns, while seven ships of the line and a flotilla of bomb-vessels silenced the guns bear- ing on the water, destroying the defences on that side. The town took fire in various quarters, and the French General was obliged to surrender on the 16th, along with 5800 prisoners and 200 pieces of cannon, besides an immense quantity of gunpowder, military stores, etc. The Gordons

• A nephew of Sir J. Hope, colonel of the regiment He was promoted ensign 92n(l in November.

THE GORDON lUGHLANDERS.

211

took no part in tins aetion, but they and the inhabitants of the villages where they were quartered viewed the appalling spectacle from the roofs of the churches and windmills.

The army nnd navy now looked for an immediate advance to prosecute operations a^^^ainst Antwerp. " Language," says an officer of the Grordons, " cannot express in terms sufficiently strong the severe disappointment which all of ns experienced when, instead of being ordered to act a part worthy of the land of mir birth, tlie whole army was kept in cantonments, and in the full eujoymeut of inj^dorious ease, till the troops became so sickly that it seemed a matter of doubt liow far prudence would lend the sanction of her name to any further rnllilary operations against Antweqj."

The Lime lost before Flushing proved fatal to the other objects of the expedition. The French and Dutch Govern- its were indefatigable in their efforts to bring up troops ; 1,000 men, under the celebrated General Beniadotte, were thrown into Antwerp, the batteries were armed, the ditches filled with water, the fleet was removed to a place of safety above the town, and Itatteries armed with ships' guns erected along the approaches fco the place. All this time the splendid British troops were kept inactive in South Bevehind, almost witliin sight of the city which they might have taken. Accord- ing to the well-known epigram —

Lord Chatham, with his sword undrawn, Was waiting for Sir Riclmrd Htrachan ; Sir Richard, longing to ha at 'em, Was waiting for the Earl of Chatham.

About the 20 th of August the troops were attacked by fever and ague, and soon it appeared in the ranks of every battalion of the army. The Gordons were quartered partly in barns, the floors of which were damp (they had arranged to give the farmers the use of the threshing-floors six hours a day), and the pestilential vapours, though not hurting natives, were fatal to the health of strangers. The doctors recom- mended Ijathing, but Sir William Erskine advised a " morning ■ gliiss of brandy on rising, one at breakfast, one after dinner, land another in the evening;" a prescription more congenial

212

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1809

to the tiistes of many in his brigade, which gave them as high an opinion of his medical aa of his military talent *

0.0.^ Auffust 28iA.— Owing to the great increase of sick- ness, officers are to explain to the men that they must avoid eating unripe fruit, cucumbers, etc., or fishing or wading in the ditches, or sleeping out of doors. Smoking is strongly recommended at night and early morning and in damp weather. Battalions and detachments to be regularly exer- cised, and full allowance of spirits to be given, and every precaution taken aa recommended by the medical officers.

G.O., 21st August. — ^Each regiment and company will forthwith prepare prize-lists, in which they will comprehend everyone who was present on the day of the first landing eflccted by the troops.

The Gordons therefore participated in the prize-money.

Under the circumstances it was unanimously decided by a council of war that a further advance was impossible, and the troops were all withdrawn into the island of Walcheren, where 15,000 men were left as a garrison to retain possession of that important conquest, and also for the purpose of keeping the large French array now in Antwerp from being used otherwise. But Austria having been forced to sign a treaty of peace with France in October, and the loss to this gamson by the distemper, since known as the " Walcheren fever," being very great, there was no longer any advantage in retaining it ; and after the works and naval basins of Flushing had been destroyed, the island was finally abandoned before Christmas. Meanwhile the rest of the ai-my, including the Gordon Highlanders, was embarked in the beginning of Sep- tember, their return to England being in sad contrast to the pomp which had attended their departure.

The sick who returned at various times to England from Walcheren amounted to 12,863,t and many of them suflered from its efTects long afterwards.

* " Military Memoira." In the weekly stAtc at Ooea there were :-^

On Aug. 5th, 0 Sergte., 1 Drumr., 9 Rank and File sick. At Cftppelle, Aug. 18th, 0 „ 0 ,, 39 „

Aug. 26th, 0 ,, 0 „ 106 „

After ombarkation, .Sept. 3rtl, ti ,, 0 ,, 250 „ present.

t AlJBon. 100 ,, absent.

CHATTER XII.

Os September 3ril Sir John Hope's Division embarked on transports on the eastern Scheldt and dropped down to the Vere-Gat, where they anchored, and for some reason were

I detained till the 8th, fever and ague increasing so rapidly that befone they reached England more than half the men wore under medical treatment. To prevent it spreading, the worst esses were removed into boats placed under awnings on deck.

The first man who died was a tall handsome Grenadier, and, seeing that his death had a bad efl'ect on the spirits of the other patients, the oilicers endeavoured to soothe their excited feelings by kindly and hopeful words. While one of them was so employed, an athletic Grenadier named Willie Milne, whose body was stronger than his mind, leaped deliriously from his boat bed, and was only prevented by the sentry from throwing himself overboard. Early next morn- ing the officer went on deck expecting to find poor Willie in the last stage of the disease, but instead of finding him soliciting the giim King of Tenors for a respite, he found him pressing his pay-sergeant for a beef and bread breakfast, wliicli, lieing against the doctor's orders, the sergeant was in duty bound to refuse. Then with an appealing look which would have softened a harder heart than that of the worthy K.-C. officer, the convalescent Grenadier said, " Weel, wecl, Sergeant M'Combie, an' ye think the like o* that o'er strong for my puir stamack ; just gang to the cook an' gar him mak' me a drap pamtch, an' gude's sake, sergeant, fo mak' them gey an thick ! " * This request of a man supposed to be

j dying did as much good to his companions in distress by the merriment it created as the pon-idge no doubt did to Willie, who lived for many years on a pension which enabled him to mix his meal as thick as he liked, f

* Pftrliatnentary Papura.

t •• Military Mfttnoira."

214

THE LIFE OF A KEGlMKNT.

[\m

On the lOtb, they cast anchor iu the Downs, whore Colonel Cameron lauded, in order to get permission from the first general officer he could find to land the battalion at once. They sailed next day for Harwich, where, owing to contrary winds, they did not arrive till the evening of the 13th. Here the worst cases of fever were kmded and consigned to the care of the medical staff; some were taken in boats to Ipswich, and on the 14th the battalion landed at Land-Guard Fort and proceeded that day to Woodbridge Ban-acks. ''Never did I witness," says an olficer, " a spectacle more heartrending than the removal of the sick from the transports to the shore, and thence to Woodbridge. The emaciated figures and thin pale faces of the poor sufferers, the agonised groans which the jolting of the waggons drew from their death-like lips, forced, j tears from my eyes as I moved along." mt

Owing to the state of the battalion from sickness, and the men's accounts not being settled, no otiicer was to apply for leave of absence.

E.O. — Lieut-Colonel Cameron strongly reeomnjcnds officers of companies to provide stiiabout witli milk or ale for the men's breakfast, and Mr M'liitosh, acting surgeon to the battalion, is desired to be in the hospital eai*ly and late, and never to be out of barracks for more than two hours at a time, and to make constant reports to the commanding officer : " Officere commanding companies will supply each con- valescent with a pint of porter daily, as Mr M'lntosh think% J it would be good for them." wM

For several weeks the sick list daily increased till fully 400 men were in hospital. Many died, and at fii'st were buried with military honours ; but afterwards, as the medical officers represented the depressing effect of the " Dead March " on their patients, the music at funerals was stopped, and the mournful processions passed on in silence, broken only by the lamentations of comrades or the wailing of a widow tuid lier orphan children. As the pathetic old song has it — " For the Lowlands o' Holland hae twined my love and me."

G.O., Headquarters, Colchester. — The general directs that the utmost attention be given to the troops lately returned from the Scheldt, and recommends the greatest attention to

1809] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 215

cleanliness and moderate exercise, but no long drills or field days.

G.O., September 19th, 1809. — In consequence of the ill- health of the 92nd Regiment, they will be excused from garrison duty for a short time, officers excepted. Battalions returned from Holland to be inspected daily by the surgeon, that the first symptoms of illness may be discovered. No band to play near the hospital.

RO., September 18th and 19th. — All fatigue clothing to be well washed. Men not to go about the barrack square in greatcoats. Convalescents ordered exercise by the surgeon to be marched out regularly by Sergeant Duncan M'Pherson of the 4th Company.

On the 1st October there were sick in the regimental hospital — 4 sergeants, 1 drummer, 4 corporals, and 87 privates ; convalescent in barrack rooms — 9 sergeants, 7 drummers, 17 corporals, and 277 privates, and a large number of sick N.-C. officers and privates were sent for their health to Rams- gate, Deal, Dover, etc. A memo, on the state of October 1st says : —

Of the number in hospital, there are about fifty approaching a state of convalescence ; the remainder in hospital are in the acute state of the disease. The new cases are but few, and generally slight; the number of deaths have been twenty-one of the sick present. As the disease generally terminates in ague, the recovery is likely to be tedious with approaching season of the year. I am of opinion the greater number of the convalescents will not be fit for active service for six months at least, and even for common duty for some considerable time. There is no doubt that the disease has made more progress in consequence of the men not having been completely reinstated in their health from the effects of the fever subsequent to the campaign in Spain.

(Signed) S. D. M<Intosh,

Surgeon 92nd.

The battalion continued sickly throughout the autumn, and Colonel Cameron, who had received leave of absence to the Highlands, writes to his parents that the sickness among his men is so distressing that they must excuse him. " I am so wedded to these poor fellows that I cannot leave them in

216

THE LIFE OF A ItEGIMKNT.

{ISOQ

their present state." He also mentions some of the soldiers belonging to the parts about Locheil where his father lived at Fassiefern, for the information of their families. " The little Bo-man's * son is alive and doing well — he is our quarter- master-sergeant— and Kenedy's son from Moy, Peter More's friend, is our sergeant-major. The Bo-man's son has begged me to forward you (enclosed) one-half of a £ 1 0 note to assist Ms father's family, the other half he will forward to his brother by next post. He is a very sicmr lad." " Poor MacKenzie from Bnllachulish, ox rather from Ounich, wa» taken prisoner in the retreat from Spain, and has not since been heard of." f The colonel also mentions with pleasure that no one of the men who joined along with him had behaved ill or " is even a questionable character."

But though the commanding officer felt for the sick, he had no idea of allowing any want of smartness or inattention to duty among the healthy, whether officers, N.-C. officers, or private soldiers.

The Jubilee of King George III. was celebrated on the 25 th October, One hundred men with a proportion of ofliccrs from each corps in garrison attended a thanksgiving service at church in the town of Woodbridge. The ganison paraded at one o'clock, Itoyal Artillery on the right, 92nd next. Volunteers on their left, the Berwick Regiment and 2nd Hussars (German) on the left of the line. The artillery fired hfty rounds, the other troops firing a feu-de-joic, " the men will give three ' lond huzzas.' " " The Grenadier Company of the 92nd, with the King's colour, will then take post in front a little to tlie right of the main guard, open ranks and present arms as the head of the column comes up to them ; the line will then march past in open column of troops and companies, olRccrs and colours saluting the King's colour of the 92nd."

The joyful occasion was marked by the release from con- finement of all delinquents imprisoned for oflences of a military nature.

Dense masses of the population came to see the review,

• Cattleman.

t ThiB'ra&n, according to hia reUtiona Btill at Oanich, seems to have rejoined afterwards, was at Waterloo, and retired on a pension.

1809]

THE GORDON IIlGHLANDEltS.

217

td by re-echoing the cheers of the saldiery, proclaimed ihe ipularily of Gectrge III. — the father of his people — who Lad completed the fiftietli year of his eventful reign; aud no doubt soldiers and farmers afterwards joined in drinking his health with equal heartiness and cordiality. The oihcers of

>tbe whole garrison dined together at five o'clock^ and a grand b«U finished the rejoicings. The kilt was not then recognised in England as an evening costume. Sir Walter Scott had not yet thrown over it the

I glamour of romance, nor had (Jeorge IV. made it the fashion by appearing in it at Court, as he did at Holyrood in 18L^2. Ii.O., October 24tk, — Ofticers parade to-morrow in the JBighliind dress. StalF officers to he present dressed in white ptntaloons and half-boots. Ollicers will appear in white pantaloons and half-boots at the ball on Thursday evening.

t Colonel Cameron, though a very strict disciplinarian when lie saw occasion for it, took all ranks into his confidence. ILO., Woodhridije, Noveviber 2nd, 1809.— Lieut.-Colonel Cameron thinks it necessary to inform the battalion that upon the promotion of Corporal Christie, he was not aware of Home part of his conduct, which reflects little to his credit K as a soldier, when on the expedition to Portugal, or he would H not have promoted him upon any condition. H Some itwnths after — Ii.O. — Private Alexander Cameron 2ud,of the Grenadier Company, to do duty as corporal, in the ■ Ist Company. In making Private Cameron a corporal, the B commanding ofticer thinks it proper to acquaint the regiment tluit although he has had several very strong recommendations ' ia his favour, yet from his former conduct ho could not have B heen induced to appoint him had not Captain M'Donald, V ^^minanding olHcer of his company, assured him that for some H J-iiae past his conduct had been most exemplary. B Again, from the long aud faithful service of Private John Havie * the commanding othcer is induced to give him another ^rial aa sergeant, and hopes that his future conduct will be 8uch as to show him sensible of such indulgence; and the ^rder goes on to say how much the good or bad conduct of «.'C. officers may influence that of the men who witness it. * John Davie had been one of the original aergeants in 1794.

218

THE UFK OF A REGIMENT.

IIS

luO., November 2iui. — Convalescents to dc supplied wilh^ ilaimel waistcoats, as ordered by Mr M'lutosh, and Lieut.- Colonel Cameron recommends, though be does not order, officers commanding companies to supply them to all their men before the cold weather sets in.

Captains had the whole responsibility of supplying their men with all except the clothing, etc., supplied by the colonel, as appears liy the following Tie^imental Order — " There being a quantity of tartan in store, commanding officers of com- panies are to see that their men do not supply themselves otherwise till this is expended ; afterwards, if commissioned officers of companies prefer supplying their men themselves, the commanding officer will be very pleased with it."

G.O., Ilitrsc Guanh, 15tk November. — His Majesty has been gi-aciously pleased to direct that widows and children of soldiers who have died at Walcheren shall receive double the allowance which is usually given, to assist them in getting to their homes on the common embarkation of troops ; and such as are natives of Scotland or Ireland shall also be provided with a free passage at the public expense.

Statidhtff Orders of Regiment, addition to, Noveviher 19/A, 1809. — When sergeantcies become vacant in the regiment, commanding officers of companies will not recommend for the succession unless called upon to do so. The commanding officer will generally consult them on that head, unless he is perfectly aware of the person most proper to be promoted.

G.O.,Ho7-se Guards, December 4:ik, 1809. — No officer shall be promoted to the rank of c^iptain until he has lieen three years a subaltern ; or major till he has been seven years in the service, of which at least two years us captain ; and no major shall be appointed lieut.-colouel until he has been nine years in the service.

By Christmas the sickness had decreased so much that the daily attendance of the surgeon at parade was dispensed with, but many of the men still required care and attention ; and it was positively ordered by the commanding officer that the moment the smallest symptom of the return of the ague appears, the man He at once taken to the doctor. An othcer writes in praise of the unremitting exertions of the medical

I»I0|

THE GORDON IIJOHLANDEKS.

219

Jlaff of tlie biittuliau, " parLiciilarly Assistant-Surgeon Dunn, whose bnmanity would never permit him to alisent liiiuself from the beds of the poor suiferers so long as his advice could be of my use ; the blessiugs of the soldiers saluted him at eveiy step,"

Up to this time tlie captains and subalterns of Highland regiment*) had worn two epaulettes ; while in all other corps "nly field officers did so, the companj officer having an epttttlette on the right shoulder and nothing on the left. This 'Wictiou was done away by the following order : —

G.O., Horse. Guards, Fdmiary 19^A, 1810. — The captains ^ subaltern officers of Higliland coq^s are to conform to the regulations laid down for regular infantry, and are to subsLi- ^^^ for the epaulette on the left shoulder (which is to be *^ontinued) a strap of the same kind as that of the epaulette, ^•^r the purpose of securing the sash.*

NJi. — Officers of ilauk companies of Guards and other *^try are to wear a wing on each shoulder with a gienade * bugle horn on the strap.

In Kegimental Orders, Colonel Cameron " ventures to nst" giving officers leave to continue their two epaulettes till '^itie 4th (the King's birthday), when all must be according ^ order. It appears, however, that if Highland officers gave •^ the left epaulette, it was for a short time only, as tliey 'Appear with two epaulettes (or wings) in drawings of the ''t'ainsula and Waterloo period.

In January the battalion took part in garrison duty, but

fUiQy ^gpg excused all night duty, only going on guard at

^^ am., and being relieved by a like number of the Berwick

^'ment (Militia) at six p.m. ; and by the .surgeon's advice

*^te was no early drill even in April, but only the usual

de for exercise.

R.O., 2lst March ISlO.f— This being the 21st of March,

^^nt-Colonel Cameron will not degrade the regiment by

^^ering a Court-martial to assemble for trying a man for so

*^«iiou8 a crime as desertion. A Kegimental Court-martial

^ll therefore assemble at eight o'clock to-morrow morning.

* Officers and sergeants of other corps wore the saah round tb« wr t Th« anniveraary of the Battle of Alexandria.

220 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1810

The Sphinx, which had been taken as the regimental crest on the men's bonnets, etc., when the Marquis of Huntly com- manded, was now put on the bonnets of the officers.

RO., AprU 6th, 1810.— All officers will, on the Ist of May, wear a silver Sphinx on the cockades of their bonnets in place of the regimental button now worn. The silver Sphinx to be of the same pattern as that now worn on the undressed caps. Lieut.-Colonel Cameron requests that officers, when they go into company, will appear uniformly dressed, particularly with their belts and sashes on. He calls attention to repeated orders against officers walking about barracks improperly dressed, particularly vnih round Hatts on.

Officers are invariably, and at all times when they wear the gorget, to have their bonnets and feathers on. The commanding officer is much surprised to see men walking out improperly dressed. No man is ever to pass out of barracks without being dressed in his full uniform, with his side arms.

Reference is made to the men showing their belted plaids and kilts, evidently meaning the small belted plaid now worn separate from the kilt. The first mention of the " Highland scarf," or shoulder plaid, as worn by field-officers and after- wards by other officers with trousers, is in Orders for an inspection at Woodbridge.

B.O., 2Qth April 1810. — The battalion will parade to- morrow morning at eleven o'clock ; assembly to sound at half-past ten. Every person to be present in the best possible order — sick and men on duty only excepted. The duty men to be in complete Highland dress.* The convalescents in grey pantaloons, with greatcoats slung. Officers in full Highland dress, with the breasts of their jackets open, and without gorgets. Field and Staff officers in white pantaloons and boots, and mounted officers with the Highland scarf on. Ten rounds for Grenadier and battalion companies; twenty rounds for Light Company. The lieut.-colonel informs the officers that he does not intend to make any alteration in the regimental purses of the officers.

* That is, with plaids and purses, neither of which were worn on ordinary occasions.

1810] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 221

A circular from the Horse Guards at this time- fiuds fault with a fashion prevailing in many regiments of making the coats too tight to wear the waistcoat under them, and the waistcoat too small to he used as a fatigue jacket in summer, as intended. Also, that the stocks are made too high, and uncomfortable for the men.

There was no dry canteen, but married women of good character in the battalion were allowed, " for the support of their families," to sell bread, vegetables, etc. in the barracks.

As many men were still weakly, they were excused guards even by day, and the Berwickshire Regiment was ordered to find all garrison duties ; " the 92nd will, however, furnish the fatigue parties." This continued easy life seems to have been too much of a good thing for the conduct of some among the men. Idleness is the mother of mischief, and there were in those days no recreation or reading rooms to give physical or mental occupation and amusement.

R.O., 30^A Api-U 1810. — As it is evident to the com- manding officer that whatever indulgence he might feel inclined to grant to the regiment is instantly abused, even when given with the intention of re-establishing their health, he is now determined to try the effect of moderate drill with them, and orders two drills a day except Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Soldiers were allowed, under peculiar circumstances, to purchase their discharge by a sum of money in place of substitutes, on the following scale : —

Foe For

LiHiTBD Service. Unlimited SsRvicit.

Soldiers finally approved, £37 50 £47 15 0

First-class boys, . . 25 1 0 . 33 8 0

Second-class boys, .119 0 13 11 0

Calculated at twice the levy money for each recruit.

Up to this time, as far as can be gathered from the Regimental Orders, there had been no instance of mutinous conduct on the part of any soldier of the Gordon Highlanders ; unhappily, such a case now occurred ; but on the man's repentance, and at the request of Colonel Cameron, the

222 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1810

Commander-in-Chief allowed the soldier to volunteer for service in India, and thus save himself and his regiment the discredit of a general Court-martial.

RO., 20th May 1810. — Private George Robertson of the Grenadier Company, having conducted himself in a mutinous and disrespectful manner to Captain Dunbar in the execution of his duty, he applied to the commanding officer for a general Court-martial for him. But out of regard to the regiment, the commanding officer had induced Captain Dunbar to agree to Robertson's voluntary wish, who appeared sensible of his gross breach of military subordination, to allow him to be disposed of to serve abroad, which the Commander-in-Chief was pleased to accede to.

R.O., Woodbridge, 4th June 1810. — The men in future to wear their new clothing. All the old clothing is to be laid aside, with the exception of the kilt, which the men are constantly to wear, except when on duty or otherwise ordered, when they will appear in their full Highland dress. Con- valescents that cannot wear the kilt are never to be seen out of barracks on any account unless regularly marched out of barracks for exercise. Men in hospital to wear old jackets and pantaloons. The commanding officers of companies to explain to their men that on no account whatever is any man to be seen outside barracks without his kilt on and otherwise regimentally dressed. On account of the late sickness in the regiment, the men will be allowed to put on their pantaloons after night/all, but they are on no account to go out of barracks in that dress. Officers are to wear the Highland dress when on garrison duty, and on Sundays. The men are to be careful to preserve their plain bonnets.

These Orders to be read on three successive parades by an officer.

The colonel was evidently not an advocate for matrimony.

RO., June 9th, 1810. — From the strong certificate the commanding officer has had of the young woman, and from Private John Campbell's own good character, he has granted him permission to marry ; at the same time, it is forming a connection which he strongly wishes to recommend every soldier to avoid, and his consent can never be obtained but

1810] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 223

when the most unquestionable certificate can be produced of the moral good character of the female.

It being considered that complete change of air would be of advantage to the invalids, it was determined to move the battalion to Canterbury, and on the 14th of June they were held in readiness.

Sobriety is not the virtue of northern nations, and in the early part of the century it was more even than now a vice common to the English, the Scotch, and the Irish. Though it was more actively discouraged among soldiers, they, having ready money and spare time, were not far behind their civilian compatriots in their indulgence in intemperance ; and the Gordons seem to have found the Saxons* strong ale a very sufficient, though perhaps not so rapid a means of drowning their cares as their own mountain dew. As their regimental poet sang of English quarters, " Far an dhuair sinn leann am pailteas ged bha mac-na-praisich gann oirn." * On the 8 th of July, Colonel Cameron tells the men that should he ever observe the drunkenness he had seen that day, he will adopt severe measures, and will also immediately apply to have the battalion put on duty.

On the 11th of July the 1st Battalion marched to Land Guard Fort, f where they embarked, landed at Ramsgate, and arrived at Canterbury on the 20th.

RO., Headquarters on hoard the " Diligent " Transport, Jvly l^th, 1810. — Lieut, -Colonel Cameron begs leave to return his thanks to the men for their exemplary good conduct upon the march for embarkation, in consideration of which he will for- give the only two exceptions which came under his notice, though they were very glaring ones, in hopes that they will

* " Where we got ale in plenty, though the son of fermentation (whisky) was scarce to us."

t By Act passed 1810, soldiers on the march, in place of having fall diet provided by the innkeepers or others, are only to have one hot meal provided, consisting of IJ lb. of meat weighed before being dressed, 1 lb. of bread, 1 lb. of potatoes or its equivalent in other vegetables, pepper, vinegar, and salt, and two pints of small beer. The Government is to pay 8d. for this meal. The horse soldier is to contribute 7d. and the foot soldier 5d. out of his pay and beer money towards this sum of 8<1., and the soldiers are to receive the difiTer- ence between this 8d. and Is. 4d., the sum formerly paid for full diet, in order to provide themselves with other articles of subsistence.

224

THE LIFE OF A RKGIMKNT.

conduct themselves equally well upon disembark wishes he could thank the officers for their undivid tion to the service upon the march, but he was observe a greater attention on the part of some private concerns than to the service. He will avoid m individuals, but those that marched with loads of 1 furniture may be aware he alludes to them, and he say, next time he marches with the regiment he wil general inspection of baggage previous to the ma assures the officers, that he considers the regiment and affronted by the scramble about baggage, the being more like a regiment of Militia than a regime! Line. . . . Oliicers are requested to be very particuh landing at Uauisgate as to the men being well tu The convalescents to be regularly marched, as manj as possible in the Highland dress.

R.O., July 227ul, Canterbury. — As the regiment inspected by Lieut-General Nicols to-morrow mor commanding officer expects every man will be in possible order in full Highland appointments. ' valescents that wear the pantaloons will be sen hospital to-morrow morning at nine o'clock, there t tni ordered to join their companies. Those that ] the kilt will fall in with their companies properlj Pioneers with their pioneer appointments. Ri oliicers in Highland dress, jackets open, without Field olficera aud Staff officers in white pantaloons boots. Olticere of companies not to pay tfieir men the inspection.

2ALh July.— 'In future at the morning drills an( the men will wear their white jackets, kilts, aud n» caps, in which dress every man to appear till afte when they will resume their regimentals.*

The battalion was also inspected on the 28th I General the Hon. Charles Hope.

On August 1st, 1810, the number of sick in hos

* Tlie usual walking out dress was red jacket, fwither bono without purae. Wheo the purse waa to be worn it waa spcciaU, either " full Highland appointments " or " the men will hjive on tli

\sioi

THE GORDON mGHLANDERS.

225

beea reJuced to 1 lieutcuant, 1 sergeant, 3 coi-purals, and 81 priviitea, and the sick absent — in England, 8 privates; in i>c«tland, 3 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, and 10 privates ; in Ireland, 1 lieutenant and 1 ensign.

Colonel Cameron went on leave, and Major MacDouald

umed the comniaud on the 29th, ami " is very much luorti-

at the very shameful excess of di-unkeiiness to-day, and

what adds to the impropriety and disgrace is its being

I Sunday." He calls on officers and N.-C. officers "to mark

I"* the most severe manner " this shameful conduct, and

>ixlfcr3 a regimental Court-martial for the trial of the principal

offenders.

HO., AugtLst 6/A.— The commanding officer grants per- mission to a few men who are in debt, to work in order to *^leai- themselves.

Av^ust 9tk — Major MacDonald is very sorry to find

*^Ql« of the men still persevere in irregularity, particularly

**^Uie men of the Light Company. One word to the N.-C.

*fl^cere of the Light Company, that they had better look

^«arp, for this is the second instance within a few days

*^^ Several men of that company being brought to punishment,

|j*'^iich they might have prevented if they had formerly done

^eir duty.

D.O.t Canterbury, \^th August 1810.- — In consequence of jhe very precarious state of the weatlier, Lieut. -General Nicole Jrects that everj' possible assistance should be aftbrded by >nQmanding othcers of coi-ps throughout the Kent district ^or expediting the getting in of the corn harvest.

In consefiueuce of this Order, 3 sergeants and 128 rank **^tt<i file of the battalion were allowed leave of absence to work ^t the harvest.

D.O. — Lieut-General Nicols finds it necessary to remind

>ttic«re that one of the first things they are informed of on

Ijoining their corps, viz., that by His Majesty's Orders officers

]wliile present with their corps are to appear only in their

centals.

At Canterbury twenty -one invalids were sent to Chelsea fo before the Pension Board for discharge, their greatcoats. aes, belted plaids and nj?w forage caps being received from

226 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1810

lliem and taken into store. They are all given characters as " good " — " a good man and a good soldier," " a very good man " — except one, " very indifferent," presumably a German musician named Ferdinand Vicarmann.

The foregoing extracts from Orders and letters give a sketch of the life of the Gordon Highlanders on home service at this period.

The 1st Battalion had, as we have seen, been employed during the last two years in Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, and Holland. It was destined soon to proceed again to the Peninsula and to take an active part in the campaigns of the next four years in Portugal, Spain, and France.

The climate of Kent restored the health of the men, and they were now fit, not only for duty at liome, but for active service abroad, though the effects of the Walcheren fever and ague were afterwards felt by many when put to the test of exposure and hardship.

Since the embarkation of Sir John Moore's army at Corunna in January 1809, the French had possessed themselves of that important fortress and of a great part of Spain. The Spaniards had been defeated at all points; Saragossa and Gerona, after heroic defence, had been obliged to Ctapitulate. The Spanish Junta took refuge in Cadiz, which, in February 1810, was invested by a French army, and 6000 British troops assisted in the defence. Marshal Soult had invaded Portugal and stormed Oporto. The small British force left by Sir John Moore, when he advanced into Spain, was concen- trated under Lieut.-General Sir John Cradock for the defence of Lisbon.

The Government felt that the fate of Britain was insepar- ably connected with that of the Peninsula ; that so long as the war was maintained there, it would be averted from the shores of Britain ; and determined to stand by Spain to the last. Large reinforcements were sent to Portugal ; Portuguese troops were raised by conscription, taken into British pay, and com- manded by British ofticers. In April 1809, Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley was appointed to command the army in the Peninsula.

By the famous passage of the Douro he compelled Soult to

1810] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 227

retreat from Oporto — a retreat which was much more dis- astrous to the French than was that of Sir John Moore to the British six months before. The French disgraced this retreat by the most savage cruelty,* and their discipline and conduct were infinitely worse than that of Sir John Moore's army. Their losses amounted to about a fourth of the whole troops that were attacked on the Douro, besides all their artillery ammunition and even a considerable part of their muskets. f The advance of Marshal Victor obliged Sir Arthur to desist from the pursuit of Soult and join the Spanish General Cuesta, who in March had been totally defeated by Marshal Victor at Madellin. The combined forces under Wellesley were attacked at Talavera on the 27th and 28th July 1809, j and the French army, commanded by Joseph Bonaparte, was defeated. § For this victory Sir Arthur Wellesley was raised to the peerage by the title of Viscount Wellington.

After the battle of Wagram (July 1809), Napoleon had reached the height of his greatness, and the peace with Austria enabled him to throw into the conflict in the Peninsula the veteran troops which had been employed on the Danube. In April 1810, he had espoused Maria Louisa, daughter of the Austrian Emperor. He now proposed to subjugate Portugal, as well as Spain, and the army of Portugal, 90,000 strong, under Mas8ena,|| threatened to carry out the proposal.

Ciudad liodrigo and Almeida were captured by the French ; and Viscount Wellington was obliged to fall back on the strong mountainous position of IJusaco, where, on the 27th September 1810, with his British and Portuguese troops, he gallantly repulsed the French under Massena and liaynier,

♦ Alison. t Jbid.

X Private John Steuart of the 92nd appears in regimental returns as killed July 28th ; he was proliably one of the corps of detachments mentioned by Napier p« having done goo<l service in this campaign.

§ On the day after the battle General Crawfurd, with the 43rd, 52nd, and 95th (Rifle) Regiments, arrived. Having been falsely informed that Wellington had been defeated on the 27th, Crawfurd, withdrawing fifty of the weakest men from his ranks, pressed on with the utmost expedition, arriving on the morning of the 29th, these gallant men having in twenty -six hours covered sixty-two Knglish miles, carrying from 50 to 60 lb. each. They left only seventeen stragglers en route, and immediately took charge of the outposts.

,1 Massena, u Marslial of France, Prince of Kssling, and Duke of Rivoli.

228

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1810

with a loss of 1800 killed and 3000 wounded — among them the Generals Foy and Merle. It was the first time the Portu- guese troops had stood victoriously beside the British against the French, and the moral effect on their conduct was most important. Wellington, with the foresight and caution which are as necessary to success in a general as gallantry and activity, had, during the previous twelve months, employed the British engineers in forming the lines of Torres Vedras ; he now retired his army to this stronghold, which the ad- vanced guard reached on the 8 th of October, and by the 15 th the whole army was collected within the lines, now completed and armed with 600 guns.

This was the state of affairs when the 1st Battalion 92nd, commanded by Major Archibald MacDonald, landed at Lisbon on the 8 th October 1810. They had been held ready for embarkation by District Orders, Canterbury, September 9 th, and embarked at Deal, 21st September, on board the ships Audacious, Apollo, and Vestal.*

The officers who landed at Lisbon on October 8 th, when the Gordon Highlanders entered on this memorable and romantic campaign, were : —

Major Archibald MacDonald.

„ Peter Grant. Captain Donald M 'Donald. „ John MacPherson. „ Samuel Maxwell. „ Robert N. Dunbar. „ James Lee. „ Geo. W. Holmes. „ Ronald MacDonald. Lieutenant J. L. Hill. „ John Hill. „ Samuel Bevan. „ John Warren. John Ross.

Lieutenant William Fyfe. „ John Cattanach. „ J. A. Durie.

Allan M'Nab. ,, J. J. Ghisholm. „ Robert Winchester.

Thos. M'Intoeh. „ Donald MacDonald. „ Andrew WOl. EInsign Patrick Leitbam. „ George Mackie. „ A. M'Pherson. „ Ewen Ross. „ T. R. Meade.

* Embarkation Return of Ist Battalion 92nd Regiment of Foot at Deal, 2l8t September 1810: — Colonel, 0: lieut. -colonel. 0; majors, 2: captains, 7 ; lieutenants, 14 ; ensigns, 5 : paymaster, 0 ; adjutant, 1 ; quartennaster, 1 ; surgeon, 1 ; assistant-surgeons, *2 ; sergeants. 48 : drummers. IT: rank and file, 821 ; women, 16 ; children, 4.

m\

THE GORDON JllOHLANDERS,

229

Knsi;;n Get irg«? Gonlim. Adjot^^ut Claud Alexamler. Qtnr. Duncan M 'Far lane.

Surgeon Duncniri M.-iflntush. Assist. IS 11 ryeon Henry Dunn.

„ J. F. M'Robcrt.

Officers Absent. Colunel the Hon. .Sir John Hope, Lieut. -General. Lieut.-Coloael Cameron, on the way t<j join,* Captain J. Setoii, duty at Cantcr))ury.

„ Ewen MacPht-rsoii, duty in PortugJii. », Dougald Campbell, not joined from 2nd Battfl,Ui>n. Lieutenant AnguR Fraser, duty in Portugal. „ H. H. Rose, „ „

„ W. Baillie, sick at Invernesa,

„ Dougald il'Phorson, sick at Laggan, Kingussie.

„ Ronald M'Dtjnell, „ Fort-Williani.

„ Thomas Hobbs, „ King's County.

,, George Marshall, duty at Canterbury.

Alexr. Gordon, „ „

«ign John Mackie, not joined from 2nd Battalion. Luke Higgins, absent without leave. Pttymast^jr James Gordon, un the way to join.

The celebrated lines of Torres Vedras, having the sea on

Itheir left, the jijeat river Taenia ou the right, and the city and

harliour of Lisbon in the rear, consisted of three ranges of

defence. The first, extending from Alhandra on the Tagus to

|lhe»ea at the mouth of the Zizandre, waa twenty-nine miles

|i the second stretched from Quintella on the Tagus to the

the mouth of the St Loreuza, at a distance varying

* Lieut. -Colonel Cameron liati gone on his loiig-ilefcrretl leave, and waa Ifraiise Hhooting at Cliiny in liadenoch when lie heard of the li.itt*iliou being ■Jered for service, and at once started to join. The following extract from a ' from him on arrival in I^ondon shows the dttficiilty and expense of ■*r»veltitig in 1810 :— " I arrived herv at five o'clock this morning. I had an "I'tnide Mid inside place on the mail, aud by ciianging with Ewen (Ewen •I'Milljui, his soldier servant) stage hy stage, we made it out without etopping I York. Guess my travelling expenses, without including one other iota, ' to London, Ewen and I, £36. Ewen is in bed all day ; bnt I have \ in bed since we left Edinburgh, having been at rtll the offices during (In 1810 the time occupied by the mail between luverncas and I was six days. — Hay^9 Po^t Office Ihtolhrjlon^.) After all, he waa too f for the battalton, but joined with '* Ewen " on the 20th October at Torres

230 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1810

from six to eight miles in rear of the lirst ; the third, intended to cover a forced embarkation, extended from Passo d'Arcos on the Tagus to the Tower of Junquera on the coast. Here an outer line, constructed on an opening of 3000 yards, enclosed an entrenched camp, designed to cover the embarkation with fewer troops, should the operation be delayed by weather ; and within this second camp, Fort St Julian's, whose liigh ramparts and deep ditches defied an escalade, was armed to enable a rear guard to protect the army. The nearest part of the second line was twenty-four miles from Passo d'Arcos, and some parts of the first line were two long marches distant; the principal routes led through Lisbon. The second line was the strongest, and it was there that Wellington had originally intended to make his stand ; the first being meant rather to retard the enemy's advance, and to enable the army to take up its ground on the second.

But Massena had delayed so long in reducing Ciudad llodrigo and Almeida, that the British engineers had time to render the first line so capable of defence, that Wellington resolved to abide his opponent there. It consisted of thirty redoubts placed on a ridge of heights, on which were mounted 140 guns ; the gmit fort on Monte Agraca in the centre was perehed on an eminence that overlooked the town of Sobral and the exterior lines, and frtmi it signal posts communicated over their whole extent. A ix>ad ran along the front of the position from Torres Vedras by Kuna. Sobral, and Aruda to Alhandm, and the five highways leading through the barrier were all ivilisadoed ; the left, from the sea to the town of Torivs Vedras, was defendeil by the river Zizandiv, which was unfoixiable ; the ivdoubts weiv armoil with chev(Uix-de-frise ; while the intervening spaces which were not fortified (except where a scarp was exe^nitod along the bi\)w ot the ridge) were formed into encampments for the trv)o^>s. under shelter of the guns of one or other of the works. l>n the whole fifty miles of fortifications, no less than 600 pieces of artillery were moimteil on 150 forts. "Neither the Komaus in ancient, nor Xapolevm in UKKleru times have loft such a proof of their power and perseverance ; and they will rwmaiu in indestruc- tible mtyesty to the end of the world, au enduring monument

1810]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

231

of the grandeur of conception in the chief who could design, and the nation which could execute, such a stupendous undertaking." *

* Alison. Yet at this time, Members of Parliament, backed by a con- siderable part of the British public, entirely without experience of war, and ignorant of the special difficulties he had to contend with, were clamouring against Wellington because he had not followed up his success at Talavera.

(JlKI. OK flUARDA, ARMKfi PEASANT, OfKUER OK InFANTKY, TKASAST OK ToKKKH VeDRAI.

(Prom "Sketcbea in Portugal," l>y tho Kev. Mr Bradford, Cha]ilaiii to the Forces, 1809.)

CHAPTER XIII.

On landing, the battalion found Lisbon in the greatest cold- fusion, and thronged with country people tlying with their goods from the honors of war. Here they had ammunition served out and camp equipment, such as blankets, camp kettles, bill-hooks, spades, pick-axes and felling axes, medicine panniers, etc., with fifteen mules for the battalion with a Portuguese muleteer. The otticers had also thirteen private mules. They marched fr-om Lisbon on the 10th, halting on | the 12th at Sobral, where they met that part of the army under the immediate command of Lord Wellington, who arrived at this time, and fixed his headquarters at Perouegro, a short distance in rear of Sobral, a telegraph being erected on a high rock, so that he could coumiuuicate with every pan of the lines.

Several skirmishes took place, especially near Sobral on the 14th, when, on attempting to dislodge the Tlst * from a field-work, the French troops were repulsed and pursued to their entrenchments. In these affairs the Allies lost about 150 killed and wounded, among them General Harvey; but it does not appear that any of them belonged to the 92nd The loss of the enemy was greater.

The weather was wet and they had no tents, and several men suffered from a retuni of the Walcheren ague ; for the first few days, also, they had cause to curse the commissariat, but afterwards tfie rations were good and regular, and quantities of luscious grapes in the deserted vineyards were to be had for the picking. On the 15 th October they were quartered in some dilapidated houses at Crozeudera, and were brigaded with the 50th and 71st Regiments and a company of the 5th Battalion 60th Rifles, under Major-General Howard, whose brigade was attached to the First Division of the army, which, with the Fourth and Sixth Divisions, was composed of troops

• Tho 71st had left Cnnterbury at the BAine time aa the 92ad. |

THE GORIiON IIIGIILANIiEES,

233

just unived from Eugland and Cadiz. These were posted in a sitioD seven miles long from Zibreira to Ton*es Vedras, under llie immediate command of Lord Wellington himself.* There were about 30,000 British troops in the front line, besides 25,000 Portuguese and 5000 Spaniards. In the rear was a re«erve, consisting of a superb body of British Marines, also Portuguese artilleiy und Militia, while the navy manned the gimliciais on the river Tugits. Siich were the resources pro- videtl by the British Government, that not only did 1 a 0,000 fighting men receive rations within the lines, but the multitude who had taken refuge from the surrounding country occupied by the French, amounting, with the population of Lisbon, to at least 400,000 more, were provided with sub-sistenee^t and tfie troops of every description were never so healthy nor in such high spirits.^ For a month the battalion was employed with the other troops in outpost duty and in strengthening the fortifications.

Meanwhile Massena, whose advance had been delayed by the battle of Busaco, arrived in the middle of October in sight of the formidable barriers, the existence of which lie had only learned shortly before. Astonished at the strength and extent of the works, he devoted some days to reconnoitring the lines; ^'heu, finding them to be impracticable, he disposed his army ^iong their front, when the above-mentioned fighting took pWe at Sobi-al, in which town the whole of his Eiglith Army Corps eventually established its position. General Foy was •BDt to report the circumstances to the Emperor, and ask for uwtnictions.

The French at once set to work to raise entrenchments ^<i redoubts, and the war was reduced tc> a species of blockade.

ena hoped that the British Oovernment and the Portu- Kegency would be intimidated and abandon the contest,^ ^•r that he could feed his army on the country, by spreading

* The First Division mtab under Li«ut.-Gojieral Sir Brent iSpencer.

t Com was bought in Ireland, America, Egypt, and Algiers, and pur- cb««d at any price.

t Alison.

IS Maitsena'a liop« was not without foundatiou. The feam of the British [ Government had been plainly discloecd : and the factious oppoaitiou of some I Biemberaof the Portuguese Regency greatly increased Wellington's difliculties,

234 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1810

movable columns to the rear to seek provisions, and forming magazines at Santarem till reinforcements arrived to his assistance. Lord Wellington, on the other hand, hoped to starve him out before his succour could arrive. Between the two armies there were a number of deserted farms and houses unoccupied by either party ; and in this neutral ground the British and French soldiers constantly met when looking for potatoes and other vegetables, without molesting each other — those who knew a little Portuguese or Spanish using these languages in their intercourse ; and they were to be seen shaking hands and drinking from each other's canteens — " Drink with you to-day ; fight with you to-morrow," they would say laughing ; for the French, though brutal and cruel in their treatment of the country people, respected the red coats, and when not actually fighting with them, were generally friendly and civil.*

The increasing strength of the works, reported by British deserters (unhappily very numerous at this period),t added to his own observation, convinced Massena that it was impossible to force the lines with the troops at his command. His army suffered from sickness and from the vengeance of the Portu- guese, excited by the wanton excesses of. his foraging parties, who had reduced the country far behind him to a desert ; and yielding to necessity, he at length resolved to fall back upon the strong position of Santarem, where a fertile country would afford supplies to his army.

His dispositions were made with ability. The morning of the 15th of November was foggy, and it was only some hours after daybreak that the British outposts discovered that the French army was retiring. All was joy and excitement in the British lines. Wellington immediately directed the Second and Light Divisions to follow the enemy, whose intention was not clearly developed ; it might have been to attack the lines at Torres Vedras ; so he kept the principal part of his army

and this was known in France through the British newspapers. It was on Wellington's calm confidence and firmness alone that the fate of the Peninsula and of Europe depended.

* J. Fergusson and other old Gordon Highlanders.

t Napier.

1810] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 235

stationary at first, but on the 16th, it being clear that no attack was intended, the First Division was brought on to Alemquer, being followed by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, while Hill with the Second Division was ordered to cross the Tagus to head the French from passing that river.

The 92nd had marched on the evening of the 15 th into the town of Sobral, which the French had occupied till the previous night. Close to the town they saw a soldier hanging on a tree and another apparently flogged to death — signs of the revenge which the French had brought on themselves by their treatment of the inhabitants. They also noticed the cleverness of these old campaigners, who had made the enor- mous wine casks of the country into sleeping places for their outposts. Continuing the pursuit, they marched three days, following the Light Division by Alemquer to Cartaxo, where they came up with the French rear-guard. During this advance many prisoners were made, principally stragglers or marauders, and a remarkable exploit is recorded by Napier, performed by Sergeant Baxter of the 16th Light Dragoons, who, with only five troopers, came suddenly upon a picket of fifty men who were cooking. The Frenchmen ran to their arms and killed one of the dragoons, but the rest broke in amongst them so strongly that Baxter, with the assistance of some countrymen, made forty-two captives.

On the 19th, Wellington, supposing Massena to be in full retreat, made dispositions for assaulting Santarem with a small force, thinking he had only to do with a rear-guard. The Light Division advanced between the Rio Mayor and the Tagus, Pack's Portuguese Brigade and the cavalry were to turn the French right, while the First Division (in which was the 92nd) was to attack the causeway which ran through a marsh from the Bio Mayor to the heights on which the enemy liad placed artillery. The columns were formed for the attack, the skirmishers were exchanging shots with the enemy, when it was found that the guns had not arrived ; and Lord Wellington, not quite satisfied with the appearance of his adversary's force, cautiously manoeuvred till evening, when he ordered the troops to retire to their former ground. During the day our men could see the French occupying every advantageous spot, their

236

THK LIPS OF A REGIMENT.

11810

advanced sentries retiiriiiug the tire of our skirmishera : while large bodies of troops could be seen, some under amis, some cooking, while otlieis were felling trees ftnd forming abattis and entrenchments on the opposite hillsides. On the 20th the demonstrations were renewed, but as the enemy's strength and intention to fight on his admiral>ly chosen position was now evident, they soon ceased ; and Masaena having advanced his Second Corps under Clausel towards Itio Mayor, Wellington was oltliged instantly to withdraw the First Division to Cartaxo to check it, the 92nd being quartered near that place at Alniostal, where they remained some days. On this march they found more evidence of the retaliation hy the peasantry on the invaders, in the mangled bodies of French soldiers cap- tured as they had fallen out of their ranks from fatigue or for plunder.

Massena, though he had retired about forty miles, had no intention of retreating further, so long as be could find food for liis troops. He postetl a strong rear-guard at Santarem, a walled city situated on a high hill near the Tagus, one of the strongest positions in Portugal, approachable from the west only l\y the narrow causeway through the marsh formed V>y the Kio Mayor, and Hooded in winter; the main body of his army wan cantoned behind in the rich valley of the Zezere. so disposed as to menace a variety of points, and at the same Lime to command two distinct lines of retreat. There he determined to await additional troops from other parts of Spain. He calculated also on the eH'ect his maintaining his position at Santarem would have on the suftering inhabitants of Lisbon, and on the British Parliament, by rendering the final success of the LSritish so doubtful in appearance.

Wellington on his side had many dilticulties. both militai'y and political, to consider. A successful battle was desirable ; it would relieve the horrible sutferings of the people of Por- tugal, and would silence opposition both in London and Lisbon ; but the attack must be made in a difficult country, the rivere and even the roads rendered impassable by winter rains. But the loss of a serious engagement might cause the opposition to triumph, and the troops to he withdrawn from Portugal, If Massena lost even a third of his force, there were troops at

1810] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 237

band to replace it ; if Wellington failed, the Lines were gone, and with them the whole Peninsula. He would not risk a battle except on advantageous terms, and these were at present not to be had. He determined to remain on the defensive, and to strengthen his position, watching the roads and mining the bridges, so as to render impossible any sudden incursion of the enemy. Torres Vedras was still occupied in force lest Massena might make an attack on that side. Hill was with two divisions on the opposite bank of the Tagus, and by his activity prevented the French from adding to their resources by foraging on that side; the rest of the British army was cantoned along the front opposite the French.

In these dispositions the headquarters of the First Division were at Cartaxo, the 1st Battalion 92 nd being stationed at the neat little village of Alcantrinho, where they arrived from Almostal on 28 th November. The place had been deserted by most of its inhabitants, who had fled from the French and taken refuge in Lisbon; but the Gordons made themselves very comfortable in these winter quarters, and parades, drill, etc., went on in the usual routine, varied, however, by picket duty; while their interest was kept up by the constant rumours of the movements of the French armies in Spain, and the engagements which took place between them and the Spanish commanders.

Lord Wellington, though he was himself fully occupied in improving the discipline and organisation of the Portuguese troops and militia, as well as in quieting the political troubles occasioned by certain disloyal Portuguese, thoroughly under- stood that " all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," and that soldiers, like other people, are the better for a little amusement in their leisure hours. He encouraged games and entertainments among the troops, and, recognising that the chase is the best training for war, he kept a pack of fox- hounds, which hunted the country in rear of the army, but the followers were desired on no account to cross the line between the two armies. The liuntsman was a private in the Cold- stream Guards, who had been in a hunting establishment before he enlisted. One day, after a long run, the fox crossed the line of demarcation ; the oificers pulled up and culled to the

238 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1810

soldier huntsman to do the same. " Where my hounds go I go," said Crane as he galloped on. Having killed his fox, he was about to return to the British outposts, when he was pounced upon by a picket of French dragoons and carried off to headquarters. Massena, however, sent him and his pack back with a courteous note to Lord Wellington.*

Thus the time passed merrily enough ; even outpost duty was not without its interest. The pickets could see at Almeyrini on the left bank of the Tagus the splendid residence of the Marquis de Alorna, once a general in the army of Portugal, who had espoused the cause of the French and now returned as their guide and counsellor. This miser- able man was one of those who fomented Wellington's political troubles. He was resident at Santarem, where, once respected by all, he was now treated with looks of contempt and indig- nation as a traitor to his country. Some of the outposts were so near those of the enemy, divided only by a small river, that they could see the dragoons exercising, men clean- ing their arms, and on a calm day hear what was said by the vigilant officers as they patrolled the opposite bank, with whom our officers often courteously conversed. " One day some of them saluted us from the opposite bank — * Bon jour, Messieurs ' — asked after Lord Wellington, said he had done wonders with the Portuguese, and praised his conduct of the campaign. Then they asked if our King was not dead,f and on our replying ' No,' one said, pointing to another, ' Le general dit que tout le monde aime votre roi George, qu'il a ^tc bon pfere de famille et bon p6re de son peuple' (the general says that everyone loves your King George, that he has been a good father of his family and a good father of his people).

" We quizzed each other ; they asked us how we liked hacalldo and cLzeie for dinner instead of English roast beef; and we, what they did at Santarem without the cafds and

• The Duke of Wellington afterwards bought his discharge, and "Tom Crane " became a well-known authority on hunting, and died as huntsman of the Fife Foxhounds.

t King George III. was at this time suffering from the mental malady from which he never recovered. Shortly after, the Prince of Wales (after- wards George IV. ) was made Ilegent.

1810]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 239

Salles de Spectacle of Paris. They replied, laughing, that they had a theatre, and asked us to come and see the play of that evening, ' L'eutree des Franqais dans Lisbon ' (the entry of the French into Lisbon). One of our party quickly answered that. he recommended to them, 'La rdp^tition d'une nouvelle pi^ce — la fuite des Franqais ! ' (the repetition of a new play — the flight of the French). They burst into a loud, long and general laugh, the joke was too good — too home. Their general then pulled off his hat, and wishing us good day with perfect good humour, they went up the hill." * On another occasion our men were astonished by a French soldier calling over the stream, " How are the jolly old Buffs getting on ? " — evidently a deserter.

One day some French troops were about to kill a bullock, when it broke loose and galloped towards the 92nd, one of whom shot it, and they proceeded to cut up their prize in view of their hungry and disappointed foes. Two French soldiers, waving a white handkerchief by way of flag of truce, came over with a message from their officer that he was sure the Scottish soldiers were too generous to deprive his men of their only provisions ; on which half the beef, with some bread and a bottle of rum, was sent back.

Although the French were ready to chaff and laugh with the British, their conduct towards the natives of the country was very different. Foraging parties of great strength scoured the districts within their reach, driving off herds of cattle, flocks of sheep, and spoil of every description. These excur- sions gave rise to horrible cruelty and excess, which broke down the discipline of the French army, nor were they always executed with impunity. Often they were interrupted by the British cavalry, who, concealing their movements, would watch for a favourable opportunity, and when they saw a party of the enemy busy with the plunder of a village, would swoop down on them, redeeming the cattle, and taking many ofiicers and soldiers. Our dragoons often made large sums of money by these adventures, as all horses captured from the enemy were sold for the benefit of the captors. The French also felt the efiects of their system in the relentless vengeance of

* " RecoUuctioiis of the Peuinsula." iiy Sherer.

240 THE UFE OP A REGIMENT, [1810

the exasperated people, who lost no opportunity of killing, often with torture, any stragglers or small detachments they could master.*

Organised plunder, even in an enemy's country, has never been the system of the British army. It is prevented by stringent rules, and though these may occasionally have been broken under circumstances of privation and temptation, there is a general confidence in our honesty, resulting in more regular supplies than can be obtained by desultory plunder. Still there are black sheep in all flocks, and even in the Gordon Highlanders there were men who, like Donald Caird, sometimes " Found orra things where Allan Gregor fand the tings." t While at Alcantrinho, four of the 92ud went into the country to see what they could pick up in the houses which they believed to be deserted, when to their surprise they found the inhabitants had returned to their homes since the British had occupied the district. Having gone thus far on the downward path, and loath to return empty handed, they flung aside restraint and proceeded to plunder. One of the inhabitants immediately ran off and informed the officer commanding. The roll was called, the men were found absent and confined on their return ; were tried by Court-martial, and sentenced to be shot. Colonel Cameron, however, sorry for the untimely fate which he feared awaited these young men, and believing from his knowledge of them that they might still become trustworthy and good soldiers, before the sentence was promulgated made a strong representation, with any extenuating circumstances, in their favour. I find among his correspondence the following letter : —

Cartaxo, December 25</i, 1810. Dear Sib, — Sir Brant Spencer has directed me to inform you that he has spoken to Lord Wellington respecting the four men of the 92nd Regiment, and that he has every reason to believe that should the result of the Court-martial be serious, Lord Wellington will give it his lenient consideration. The Lieut.-General has thus

• The marauders of our army, at this time very numerous, committed a thousand excesses. The cruelties committed against us seem to the Spaniards legitimate vengeance. Their hatred was profound, ardent, irreconcilable. — Fe.zensac, yeneral in Najmltoii's army. 1 Sir Walter Scott.

1811] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 241

taken the earliest opportunity of communicating to you the result of his application, which he trusts will prove satisfactory.

(Signed) T. Drake,

Captain and A.D.C. To Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, 92nd Regiment.

The result was that the men, after being sentenced to death, were pardoned.

While his troops were enjoying comparative rest through- out the winter, their general was far from being idle. He had, indeed, besides the care and discipline of the allied army under his immediate control, many and great re- sponsibilities on his shoulders. On the 1st of January, Napoleon had caused an army of 70,000, including the young guard, to enter the north of Spain. The army of the centre, under King Joseph Bonaparte, numbered 27,000 ; Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, was in the direction of Cadiz with another large body of all arms, with which he was ordered by the Emperor to march upon Badajos, and, if possible, to assist Massena ; but such were the precautions of Wellington and the activity of the Spanish guerillas, that no communication could be effected between the two Marshals, and each remained in ignorance of the situation of the other. Lord Wellington corresponded with and advised the Spanish generals as to their operations ; they neglected his advice and were defeated. Soult besieged Badajos, and Wellington sent two Spanish divisions to help their countrymen who composed the garrison, but the incapacity of their commander brought destruction on his own force, and finally resulted in the fall of the fortress.

Meanwhile the British Government, roused by the wise and statesmanlike representations of their indomitable general to the far-reaching importance of the war, acceded to his

Note. — In a Monthly Return at Alcantrinho the following note occura : — " Alteration in number of sergeants. The drum-major struck ofif and placed upon the strength of the drummers, agreeable to General Orders of October 20th, 1810." The " Memoir of Colonel Cameron " mentions that at this time the bandsmen were put in the ranks ; the music of the battalion alternating between " the ear-piercing fife and spirit-stirring drum," and the swinging rhythm of the pipe, which was not broken by the accompaniment of a drum till fifty years later.

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

242

request for more troops, without which it was impossible to carry the struggle to a successful issue. General Hill with liis two divisions was still in llie Alemtejo, ou the left bank of the Tagus, where not only did he prevent Masseua from crossing to forage iu that district, but was ready to render assistunce to the Spaniards, wlio were hard pressed by Soult in the neighbouring ^l^ovinw of Estramadura. Wellington's army was still cantotieil between Santarem and Torres Vedras. watching Massena.

That general had during the last three months entirely exhausted the resources of the country he occupied, and when he heard that British reinforcements had landed at Lisbon on the 2nd Jlarch he at once resolved to retreat, and lie carried cmt his resolution in a manner worthy of a great commander. Of the various lines open to trim he chose that which led to the river Mondego and Almeida, First he destroyed the munitions of war and all the guns which could not be horsed : he sent on his sick and baggage, keeping only his lighting men (reduced by sickness to 40,000) in front. When his impedi- menia had gained two days' march to the rear, he commenced his retrograde movement witli the main body of his troops on the night of the 5th March, but he hud previously caused an army corps, and his cavalry under Mai-shal Ney, to assemble near Leira, threatening Torres Vedras, thus preventing Ix)rtl Wellington from taking a decided step lest he should open the lines to his adversary.

The British general was aware that a retreat was im- minent, but it was only at daylight on the 6Lh that the empty camps at Santarem showed that it had begun. Wellington immediately followed the enemy with liis own army, and the Gordon Highlanders marched from their comfortable quarters at Alcantrinho to the appropriate air of " Gabhaidh sinn an rathad nior, olc air mhaith le ct\ch e," * and with the Fii-st Division moved by Golegao to Asseutisse, near Thomar. The

• "We will take the high rc-ui, whether (it leads to) bad or good." This tuae ifl believed to huve been oom posed on the march of the Royalist CUns to the battle of Iiiverlochy, though afterwards adapted to Eoglish words on th« battle of Sheriff Muir. For mfkny years it was UB«d by the Gordou High landers ID marching post to the pipes.

1811]

THE GORDON HIGirLANDEKS.

243

Britiah advanced guard soon came up with the rear guard of the enemy under Ney, and were constantly in contact with tbem.

Napier, who was with the Light Division, and from whose

history the account of these operations is principally taken,

I gives a horrible instance of the calamities which war may

bring upon a country. Near Thomar they discovered a lar^^e

house in an obscure part of the country filled with starving

aple. Above thirt}^ women and children had sunk, and

tttting by the bodies were fifteen or sixteen survivors, of

'hoin only one was a man, but all so enfeebled as to be

DUable to eat the little food the British soldiers had to

fer them. The youngest liad fallen firat — all the eliiklren

fwere dead; the man seemed most eager for life, the women

appeared patient and resigned, and, even in this distress, had

arranged tlie bodies of those that died first with decency and

care.

That part of the army to which the 92 nd belonged con- tinued the close pursuit of the French, in moderate weather, Ihrough a country where the hollow roads were confined by Wooded mountains on either hand, with villages here and there offering strong positions to tlie enemy in which to make Ji stand. He did so on the morning of the 9th, mi a table- land in front of Pombal, where skirmishing took place at the . advanced posts, and the cavalry of the King's Uerman Legion [took some prisoners. Lord Wellington had detached part of army to relieve Badajos, and they were already on the fmarcb. when intelligence being received that morning that rBadajoB was capable of holding out longer, he recalled them. That night the Gordons lay at Peyalvo. Their Division (the ^First) with the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Light Divisions, ^bnd the Portuguese which were attached to each British ^bivision, were assembling in front of the enemy on the 10th, when Massena suddenly retired through the town of Pombal He waa so closely followed by the liritish that, the streets being still encumbered, Ney drew up a rear guard on a heiglit H|>ehind the town and threw a detachment into the old castle. KHe had waited too long. The French army was moving in some confusion in a narrow defile between the mountains and

244 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1811

the River Soure, which was fordable, and the British divisions were in rapid motion along the left bank with the intention of crossing lower down and cutting off Massena's retreat ; but night came on, and the operation terminated with a shai*p skirmish, in which, after some changes of fortune, the French were driven from the castle and town with such vigour that they had not time to destroy the bridge, though it was mined. About forty of the Allies were wounded, and the French loss was somewhat greater.

Daybreak on the 12 th saw both armies in movement, and eight miles of marching and skirmishing brought the head of the British into a hollow way leading to a high table-land on which Ney had disposed 5000 infantry, a few squadrons of cavalry, and some light guns ; behind him was the village of Redinha, situated in a hollow ; it covered a bridge over the Soure, and a long and dangerous defile. Beyond the stream some rugged heights commanding a view of the position in front of the village were occupied by a division of infantry, a regiment of cavalry, and a battery of heavy guns, all so dis- posed as to give the appearance of still greater force. An open plain extended between the French and the position of the British.

Lord Wellington, after examining the enemy's position, directed the Light Division to attack the wooded slopes cover- ing Ney's right. They cleared the woods, and their skir- mishers advanced into the plain ; but the French opened a heavy fire, and their 3rd Hussars charged and took fourteen prisoners. The British had meanwhile seized the wooded heights protecting the French left, but Ney, though he saw that Lord Wellington was bringing the masses of his troops into line, continued to hold his ground with astonishing confidence, and even charged the skirmishers, though there were already cavalry and guns on the plain enough to overwhelm him. In this position both sides remained for an hour, when three shots were fired from the British centre as a signal to advance, and a most splendid spectacle of war was exhibited. The woods seemed alive with troops, and in a few moments 30,000 men, forming three gorgeous lines of battle, were stretched across the plain ; while horsemen and guns spring-

TFIE noKliMN 111. ;n LANDERS.

245

ig forward simultaneously fiLnii the centre and from the left •ing, chargetl under a general volley from the French bat- Llioas ; these were instantly hidden by the smoke, and when "tlnat had cleared away, no enemy was to be seen.

Ney had opposed Fie ton's skirmishers on his left, and at t\\e same moment withdrew the rest of his troops so rapidly that he gained the village ere the British cavalry could reach Viim; he personally superintended the carrying ofi of a dis- mounted howitzer, which he effected with gieat danger and considerable loss. The British Horse Artillery thundering on his rear, and their infantry " chasing like heated blood- hounds, passed the river almost at the same time as the French," * and they fell back on the main body at Condeixa. The British had 12 oiliccrs and 200 men killed and wounded m this combat, and the enemy lost as many, and might have ^«en destroyed had I^ord Wellington not been deceived as to his strength by his skilful arrangements, and so acted with more caution than afterwards appeared to have been neces- Mry Yet the extraordinary facility and precision with ''hicii the British general handled so large a force was a darning to the Frencli commander, and produced a palpable •"fleet upon the after operations.!

On the 1 3th the pursuit was renewed. The French bad obstructed the road by felling trees and constructing palisades, wfiinli impeded the advance of the Allies. They burned the fowu of t'ondeixa, aiul lighted a number of fires, which '•overeil tlie retreating troops with their smoke; but the liritish skirmishers and cavalry closed with their rear, and Afossena himself only escaped by taking the feathers out of his hat and riding through the skirmishers. At dark the pickets were posted close to the enemy. On the niorn- iiig of the 14th the mist was so thick that nothing could be seen, but from the sounds on the hill in front, it was evident that the French were there in force, and General Erskine rashly sent the 52nd Hcgiment forward; they un- consciously passed the enemy's outpo.sts and nearly captured Nfarshal Ney, whose bivouac was close to his pickets. The rattle of nmskctry and the booming of round shot were • Napier. t Ibid.

246

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

{l%$

beard, and the mist slowly rising, discovered the 52nd en-"^ gaged without support in the midst of the enemy's ai*my.

At this moment Wellington arrived, and sent the Light Division to repair Erskine's error and aid the isolated 52nd. The First Division, including the 92nd, the rest of the in- fantry, the heavy cavalry and artillery came up, and Ney retreated, covering his rear with guns and light troops, retiring from ridge to ridge at first with admirable precision, but as the IJritish got within range, the retreat became less orderly ; but he gained the strong pass of Miranda de Corvo, which had been secured by the main body of Massena's array. The British loss was 11 orticei*s and 150 men killed and wounded; the fVench loss was greater, and 100 prisoners were taken by the British. The French aimy vvas now com- pressed between the higher mountains and the Mondego River, and Massena destroyed great quantities of ammunition and baggage, while Marshal Ney still covered the retreat.

The "morning state*' of the 92nd on the 15th is dated " Camp, near Condeixa." Massena had burned the town of Miranda and crossed the Ceira the preceding night, but the fog was so dense on the morning of the 15th, that the pur- suers could not reach that river till late in the afternoon, when they lit their fires, thinking notliing more would be done ; but Lord Wellington, seeing his opportunity, attacked Marshal Ney, who occupied a strong position on the hither side of the river. The Horse Artillery galloped to a rising ground and opened with great eflect; the Third Division charged and overtlirew the left of Ney's troops, while his right was engaged with the Light Division and other troops. Darkness coming on, the French in their panic began to fire on each other, and finally Hed in confusion to the river, in which many were drowned, some were crushed to death on the bridge, and in all their loss was about 500 men. An eagle was afterwards found in the bed of the river. Four othcers and sLxty lucu fell on the side of the British.

Sergeant Robertson of the 92nd mentions that at the place where Massena had destroyed his baggage, he had ordered a number of asses to be destroyed, and the person charged with the execution had, instead of killing them out-

1811] THB GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 247

right, cruelly ham-stringed 500 and left them to starve in agony. Napier also mentions this circumstance. "The mute but deep expression of pain and grief visible in these poor creatures' looks wonderfully roused the fury of the soldiers." British soldiers are notoriously kind to dumb animals, and at that moment no quarter would have been given to a Frenchman. Indeed, Massena's retreat was marked by unlimited violence on the part of his troops, and unlimited vengeance on the part of the Portuguese peasantry. Towns, villages, and corn stacks were burned ; wine which could not be consumed was left running in the gutters ; the people were murdered if they remained, and their property destroyed if they fled from their homes. They formed themselves into bauds sworn to vengeance, who hung on the rear of the French, revenging themselves on any stragglers from the ranks. The Gordons saw not only the dead, but the woui^ded, stripped naked by them, and Napier mentions a peasant whom he saw hounding on his dog to devour the dead and dying.

On the 16 th the Allies halted ; they had in some respects sufl'ered greater privations than the enemy, who had cleared the country of all supplies, and had also carried fifteen days' bread with them, while the Allies depended on a commissariat which broke down under the difficulties. The men of the 92nd had no bread, only beef killed as required, and eaten without salt ; and one day a little rice was served out as a great treat. The soldiers grunrbled to each other as they stumbled along in the darkness of a foggy morning. " The Parliamenl and people at home hear all about the grand Lord and the movements of the army, but they don't know anything about us individuals ; they don't know, for instance, that you

are d d tired and that I have no pao " * (Portuguese for

bread), and they blamed the Commissary-General, but he was not really in fault. The Portuguese Government, notwith- standing the representations of Wellington, would neither feed the Portuguese troops regularly even at Santareni, nor collect the means of transport for the march ; after passing Pombal, many of the Portuguese soldiers were actually without food for * " Kecollections of the Peninsula " and Sergeant Robertson.

248 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [IBll

four days ; * many died, and to save the whole from destruc- tion, the British supplies were shared with them ; thus the Commissary-General's means were overtaxed, the whole army suffered, and their general was obliged to call a halt.

On the I7th of March the 92nd were in " camp near Lasisoa." The French had again taken up a strong position behind the river Alva and on the Sierra de Moita, having destroyed the bridges behind them ; and Massena sent out foraging parties, intending to halt for several days ; but on the 18 th the First, Third, and Fifth Divisions were ordered to advance over the mountains to menace the French left, and they carried out these instructions with wonderful perseverance and strength, while the other divisions cannonaded the enemy on the Lower Alva. The Gordons had hard work during this movement, and the women of the regiment suffered a good deal of hardship. The Staff Corps made a raft bridge over the Alva, and the pursuit continued. Massena recommenced his retreat with great rapidity ; again destroyed baggage and ammunition, and abandoned his more distant foraging parties, of whom 800 were taken. Wellington assembled the whole army at Moita on the 19th; and on the 20th the pursuit was continued by the cavalry and Light Division, while the 92nd, with the greater part of the troops, halted at Moita till pro- visions, which had been sent by sea from Lisbon to the Mondego, could come up to them. The. French reached Celerico on the 21st, where they were reinforced by a division 9000 strong ; and Massena proposed to send his sick to the fortress of Almeida, and then to pass the river Estrella at Guarda ; make a countermarch through Sabugal to the Elga, establish communications across the Tagus with Marshal Soult and with King Joseph Bonaparte, with a view to mutual co-operation. But he could no longer command the obedience of his generals, who were at variance with each other and with him. To such a height did the discord rise between Massena and Ney, that the latter was superseded in his command by General Loison.

By the 28th the troops (including the 92nd) had come up from Moita, and with them the reinforcements, which were

* Napier.

1811] THE GORDON HIGHLANDBBS. 249

formed into a Seventh Division. At Guarda a battle was expected on the 29th, and Wellington disposed his army for the attack of that nearly impregnable position — the 92nd, in the First Division, being placed in the centre. The absence of Marshal Ney, who had so ably commanded the rear guard of the enemy, was at once felt by both armies. On the appear- ance of the allied troops, the position was abandoned without firing a shot ; and the French retired in confusion to the Coa, a considerable river running northwards through ravines and rugged banks, to join the Douro.

On the 1st of April the allied army descended the moun- tains and reached the Coa — the 92nd starting from Alviria, about twenty miles distant. The enemy's troops were disposed on the right bank of the river, and the position occupied by General Reynier's Army Corps at Sabugal suggested to Welling- ton the possibility of cutting it off and compelling it to surrender. The enterprise failed of complete success, owing to the attack being prematurely delivered by the British advanced troops before the other columns, who were confused by thick mist and rain, had reached their posts. A fierce encounter took place, in which the 43rd and two battalions of the 52nd distinguished themselves by the presence of mind of the officers and the furious bravery of the soldiers. They sustained and repulsed repeated attacks of cavalry and infantry, and by the steadiness of their musketry fire silenced two French guns, which opened with grape at 100 yards distance. Keynier had put 6000 infantry, with cavalry and artillery, in motion to storm the contested height, wlien at the critical moment the five British divisions passed the bridge of Sabugal, the British cavalry appeared on the hills beyond the enemy's left, and the Third Division, issuing from the woods, opened fire on lieynier's right, which decided the fate of the day. The French general retreated on Kendo, where he met the Sixth Corps coming to his assistance, but they fell back together, pursued by the British cavalry.

The First and Seventh Divisions being in reserve, the 92nd did not take part in this bloody encounter, which, though it lasted less than an hour, cost the Allies nearly 200 killed and wounded; 300 dead Frenchmen lay heaped together on the

250 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [181 1

hill, and more than 1200 were wounded, so true and constant was the British fire.*

Massena sought rest for liis army behind the cannon of Ciudad Kodrigo, and retreated across the frontier with the bulk of his army to that fortress and to Salamanca, at the same time throwing a garrison into Almeida. One more affair, very creditable to the French, occurred as a. French brigade was marching from Almeida to Ciudad Kodrigo. Suddenly two cannon shots were heard, and six squadrons of British cavalry, with Bull's troop of Horse Artillery, came sweeping over the plain. The French immediately formed squares and retreated, their cavalry on the flanks ; and though the cannon shots ploughed through them, they retained their military order and coolness ; and, gaining rough ground, escaped over the river Agueda, but with the loss of 300 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Massena entered Portugal with 70,000 men ; 10,000 joined him at Santarem, and 9000 on the retreat. He brought only 45,000 of all arms out of the country. He lost, therefore, the enormous number of 45,000 men during the invasion and retreat by want, sickness, and the sword. The British were not weakened to the extent of a fourth of that number ; f and Wellington stood victorious on the confines of Portugal, having executed what, to others, appeared incredibly rash and vain to attempt. J

During these operations the 92 nd had neither officer nor soldier killed in action.

The army was now cantoned in villages on both sides of the Coa, the headquarters of the Gordon Highlanders being at Aldea Ponte, on the frontier of Portugal, about ten miles from Sabugal on the road to Ciudad Kodrigo. On the 9 th of April the battalion entered Spain and was quartered at Albergaria, where they were joined by a draft of one lieutenant and forty- four rank and file from the 2nd Battalion. §

In these places there were good markets, and they enjoyed rest and abundance of good things. Lord Wellington's head- quarters were at Villa Formosa on the frontier not far from

• Napier. t Alison. X Napier.

§ At this period there was a small depot of the Ist Battalion still at Can- terbury ; the 2nd Battalion being in Ireland.

1811]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

251

Almeida, which fortress he closely invested. The remarkable escape at this time of one of Lord Wellington's staff is recorded by Napier. Colonel Waters had been taken prisoner during the retreat ; he had refused to give his parole, and was conse- quently kept in the custody of gens d'armes. When the French army was near Salamanca, he waited till the chief gens d'armes, who rode the only good horse in the party, had alighted, when, giving the spur to his own mount, he galloped off, an act of incredible resolution and hardihood, for he was on a large plain covered for miles around him with the French columns. His hat fell off, and, thus distinguished, he rode along the flank of the troops, some encouraging him, others firing at him, and the gens d'armes, sword in hand, close at his heels; suddenly breaking at full speed betweeu two columns he gained a wooded hollow, and, having thus bafHed his pursuers, reached headquarters on the third day, where Lord Wellington had caused his baggage to be brought, observing that he would not be long absent.

^ -^^ -r^

UUKRILLAi4 INIiKK DoN JULIAM SaNCHKZ, AND SfANItiH OhKNAUIEB.

(Prom Booth'! " Military Coitumes of Europe," 1812.)

CHAPTER XIV.

WnrLE the riordons witli the army uinler Wellington's imme- diate comioauil were driving the French before them from Portugal, General Graham had, on the 6th of Marcli. gained a glorious victory at Barrosa, near Cadi/., which, though it did not relieve that city, obligeil Marshal Soult, who, thanks to the pusillanimity of the commander of the Spanish garrison, had taken Badajoa, to return southwards to Andalusia. Wellington now felt safe in detaching a considerable part of his army to co-operate with Keresford in besieging Badajos and Campo Mayor, and went himself to conduct the operations. But Napoleon had no intention of allowing the British general to gain possession of the frontier fortresses, and he ordered Massena to retrace his steps and advance against him. Accord- ingly the French commander, having received large reinforce- ments, marched from Salamanca in the end of April, and on the 2nd uf May crossed the Agiieda with an army of 50,000 men,* including 5000 inagniJicent cavalry, of which part be- longed to the Imperial Guard, and thirty pieces of artillery, for the purpose of relieving Almeida. Wellington, who had hastened back from the neighbourhood of Badajos, determined to dispute his passage and to put the question to the ordeal of battle.

On the 1st of May the 92nd turned out from All>ergaria and lay under arms till evening, when they marched, and on the 2nd triok post witli the First Division a short distance behind the village of Fuentes d'Onor, where Wellington placed the right of his army, consisting of 32,000 infantry, 1200 cavalry, and 42 guns.f His line extended to Alameda in the centre and Fort Concepcion on the left, a distance of five miles along a table-land lying between the river Turones in his rear

Napier and AHbod.

ilbid.

)Sii3

THE GORDON fllGHLANDEllS.

253

*P^ the river Dos Canas in his front, this position interposing

^t^^eeu the enemy and Almeida,

Fueutes d'Onor is situated at the bottom of a ravine, havin*,^

*^ eld chapel and other buildin<:js on a rocky eudaence over-

^*igin}^ one end of the villaga The 9 2nd hivoiiacked on the '^'^gljl uf the 2nd, and on the morning of tlie .'3rd it was one of "-"^e Uattalions of chosen trotjps * detached from the First and

I'^'hinl Divisions to occupy the village. The French came up in ^Viree columns: the Eighth and Second Corps against the centre ^ud left ; the cavalry, the Sixth Corps, antl Drouet's Division aijainst Fuentcs d'Onor ; the lower town was vigor«ni.sly de- feaded, but the violence of the attack and the tremendous cannonade compelled the liritish to fall back to the high ground ut the chapel, where they gallantly, though with dil1i- culty, maintained their ground. The othcer conmainding fell, and the tight was becoming critical, when Wellington sent the '24lh, 71st, and 79th to their awsistance. By a splenih*! Icharge the French were forced back, and after a severe contest were finally driven over the Dos Casas, which flows through the lower part uf the village. Daring the night the 92nd and other detachments rejoined their divisions, the 24th, 71st, and 79th being left in the village. On this occasion the Light i'ompaay of the 92ud ilistinguished itself, and Liinitenant James Hill and nine rank and file (of whom six belonged to the Light Company) were wounded.

It was here, 1 believe, that, as Cameron the pipe-major giving forth his most warlike notes, u bidlet [jierccHi the of his pipe, causing it to emit a piteous and nnwarlike skirl. Filled with wrath at the insult to his miisic, aod with the desire to avenge the wound of his beloved instrument, he first tied it round his neck, and then, exclaijttiug " liheir sinn ceol dannsaidh eile dhaibh ! " (we will give them a different kind of dance music), seized the musket of a wounded man, and discharging it at the oJVending foe, drew his sword and rushed into the thick of the light amid the laughter and cheers of his comrades.

The 4th of May was partly spent by the troops in march- iag and countermarching to new positions, during which * Napier mid AliaoD.

264

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[181^

manGBUvres occasional shots were exchanged with the enemy The left and centre of the British position was covered by the ravine throu»^h which the Dos Casas runs, but the right wu couipamtively oj>en and exposed tu the attack of all arms,: therefore Wellington occupied ground t»» the right of Fuentes - d'Onor by Poco Velho, near the Dos Casas, where the ground is comparatively Hat, and Imvin*^ a swampy wood near the stream. At Poco Velho the Seventh Division, under General HtmsLou, was posted: to their right rear 3000 Spanish guerillas, under Julian Sanchez, were placed on the height of Navu d'Aver on tlie extreme right ; the British cavalry were on a plateau between Nava d'Aver and the village of Poco Velho, and immediately to t!ie left of the cavalry was the First Division, including the 92nd, which was employed to cover a brigade of artillery, the Light Company and a sub- division of each of the others in its front being warmly engaged throughout the day. The whole line <jf battle was iR)W about seven miles long.

Meanwhile Masyena reconnoitred Wellington's position, his design being to hold the Hritish left in check with his Second Corps, and to turn their right with the remainder of his army. He intended tu raakf his dispositions at night so as to com- mence the attack at ilaybreak on llie 5th, but a delay of two liours occurring, the wliole of his movements were plainly seen.

The Gordons were without provisions when they stood to their arms, anil, but for the hospitality of the Coldstream and 3rd (now Scots) Cluavds, who generously shared with them t!ie contents of their haversacks,* they woult have been ill pi-e- pared to act their part in the drama to which the affair of the :\n\ had been the prelude.

About eight o'clock they could see masses of the enemy's infantry and all his cavalry marching on Poco Vellio, and they were wheeled into line ready to receive theui ; tlie left wing of the Seventli Division, consLsting of British and Portuguese, was driven from the village with loss, and tlie French were gaining ground, when the First and Thinl and part of the Light

' McKiinDDii's "Origin and Services of the Coldatream Gnardii," and

^

BATTLE

UENTES ONORO

1811] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 255

Divisions moved in support. Then the French cavalry passed Poco Velho, forming in order of battle towards Nava d'Aver, from which the guerillas * retired across the Turones, when Montbrun, the French cavalry general, turned the right of the Seventh Division, and charged the British and Portuguese cavalry, about 1000 strong, with about 4000 Cuirassiers. The combat was unequal, and after one shock, in which the enemy were partially checked, and the French Colonel Lamothe was taken fighting hand to hand by General Charles Stewart, our cavalry was driven behind the Light Division. Montbrun then swept with his terrible Cuirassiers round the infantry, now exposed to his attack, but they, rapidly forming squares, treated the armoured horsemen with the confident contempt with which steady infantry in that formation may always regard the onset of cavalry. The Scotch soldiers, as they fired at the steel-clad riders, joked about cracking the " partan's " shells. Such, however, was the swiftness of these magnificent horsemen, that they fell upon part of the Seventh Division before these could form square, but with admirable steadiness, though some were cut down, they took advantage of a loose stone wall, received the attack in line, and repelled it by the excellence of their fire-discipline. A stirring scene was now witnessed by those among the Highlanders who had leisure to admire it. In the milSe, Captain Ramsay's troop of Horse Artillery was surrounded, and the spectators gave them up for lost, when presently a great commotion was observed among the glancing throng of Cuirassiers, " officers and men closing in on a point where a thick dust was rising, and where loud cries, the sparkling of blades and flashing of pistols, indicated some ex- traordinary occurrence. Suddenly the multitude was violently agitated, a British shout arose, the mass was rent asunder, and Norman Ramsay burst forth at the head of his battery, his horses breathing fire, and stretching like greyhounds along the plain, his guns bounding like things of no weight, and the

* Guerillas were irregular troops organised in bands under chiefs who were not officers of the army. Some joined for plunder, some from patriotism, or to revenge the wrongs suffered from the Franch. Scherer mentions one who told him the French had burned his house and killed his father and mother, and that he had sworn not to plough a field or dress a vine till the murderers were expelled from Spain.

258 THE UFB OF A REGIMENT. [1811

Meanwhile a fierce fight had been going on at Fuentes d'Onor. Two hours after Montbrun's cavalry had turned the British right, Drouet, with his whole division, had attacked the three regiments at that post. They made a desperate resistance, but, outnumbered, they were forced back to the upper part of the village ; two companies of the 79 th were taken and their colonel, Cameron,* mortally wounded.

Wellington, having concentrated his force (for his second line was very much shorter than the first), was now able to send considerable support to the regiments at Fuentes, while the French also reinforced their troops, and the contest con- tinued, sometimes in the lower town and on the river banks, sometimes on the rocks round the chapel, the enemy even penetrated beyond ; but the British never entirely abandoned the village, and in a charge of the 71st, 79 th, and 88 th, led by Colonel MacKinnon, against a column which had gained the chapel, they drove them down the street. The 71st had recruited a good deal in Glasgow, and their commanding officer incited them by calling out, " Glasgow lads, clear the Gallowgate ! " which was received with a cheer, and the Imperial Guard was driven back. The ensign who carried one of the colours of the 79th was killed; his covering sergeant called out, " An officer for the colours ! " One came forward, but was immediately struck down. " An officer for the colours ! " again shouted the sergeant, and a third and fourth officer were wounded, till at last the adjutant carried the regimental colours safely till the fight ended with the day.

Such was the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, in which neither side could claim a decided advantage, but Wellington gained his object of preventing the relief of Almeida; and the great convoy of provisions which was waiting at Gallegos in rear of the French, till they could open the way for it,

* The late Mr Lindsay Carnegie, of Boysack, then in the artillery, and acting as A.D.C., was sent with instructions to Colonel Cameron early in the day. Having delivered his message and entered for a few minutes into con- versation, the colonel asked if be was the Lindsay who was known as a great billiard player, and finding he was, a match was arranged to come off when next they met within reach of a billiard table ; but Cameron had played his last game, he died of the wound he received shortly after.

1811] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 259

was unable to enter the fortress, which soon afterwards was abandoned. The loss of the Allies was 1500 men and officers killed, wounded, and prisoners; that of the enemy was estimated at nearly 5000, but Napier considers this to be an exaggeration.

The loss of the 1st Battalion 92nd on the 3rd and 5th of May was 7 rank and file killed, and 3 officers, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 41 rank and file wounded, of whom Sergeant Alexander Cameron, 1 drummer, and 1 5 rank and file belonged to the Light Company ; 1 officer and 8 rank and file died of their wounds. No less than 13 of the wounded and 1 killed were married men. One private was taken prisoner.

Oppickrs Wounded. Major Peter Grant.

Lieutenant Allan M'Nab, died of his wounds. „ James Hill.

Killed in Action.

Corporal John Whiteford. Private John M'William.

Private John Lyon. „ Alex. Robertson.

„ Joseph Leith. „ Thos. Southwell.

„ David Lownie.

Died op their Wounds.

Private Robert Colquhoun. Private Donald Macdonald.

„ . George MacLeod. „ William Turrill.

„ James Fleming. „ Thomas Murray.

„ Donald Urquhart. „ James Dingwall.

In Colonel Cameron's letter alluded to above he says — "Almost all the wounded are lost to the service for ever, as most of them have lost legs or arms. Major Grant has lost his left leg, Lieutenant M'Nab his right arm from the socket, and the left splintered the whole length. Lieutenant Hill severely wounded in the hip, and ball not extracted. Allan M'Nab, the laird's son, has proved himself of the genuine old Highland stamp by an exhibition of fortitude barely human, and which has attracted the admiration of the whole army here. Write the laird * that he is a credit to his

• M'Nab of M'Nab.

260 THB LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1811

country, and that I hope in God he will survive. They all promise well. The French, you will see by the papers, were baffled in all their efforts, and have not meddled with us since, and seem to-day (the 8th) as if retiring. The 71st and 79th Highland Kegiments had an opportunity of distinguish- ing themselves most nobly. Charles Cameron, Errachd's son, behaved most admirably; he was dangerously wounded. I am much exhausted, as we have been for seven days without bag or baggage under the canopy of Heaven without covering of any kind. I with difficulty borrowed this paper. None of the lads from the country killed or wounded, except Claives,* wounded, but not dangerously."

Major Archibald M'Donell, who commanded the detach- ment in front which greatly distinguished themselves, was promoted to the brevet rank of lieut-colonel, and the 92nd afterwards f received the Royal authority to bear the words Fueni^ d'Onor on the regimental colours and appointments in commemoration of the gallantry of the 1st Battalion in that battle.

The Gordons remained bivouacked close to Fuentes d'Onor, and were occupied on the 6 th and 7 th along with the Light Division in strengthening the position, in case the enemy, who remained in their position, should renew the attack. Massena, however, withdrew part of his forces on the 8th, though still maintaining posts at Alameda and Fuentes.

The morning state of the battalion, 8th May, Plains of Almeida, was —

	Srroeants.	Drummers.	Rank and File.
Present and fit for duty	34	12	607
Wounded and sick	8	2	176
On command	7	4	49

49 18 832

On the 1 0th, Massena retired his army across the Agueda to- wards Salamanca. He was himself recalled to France, and Mar- mont assumed the command of the army of Portugal. Almeida,

* A Cameron, son of a tenant of Claives. t In 1829.

1811] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 261

the only place in the country still in possession of the French, was abandoned to its fate ; and its brave commander, Breunier, after destroying part of the defences, evacuated the place during the night of the 10th, and with great bravery and skill, aided by the darkness, broke through the blockade, losing, how- ever, 400 killed or made prisoners by the 4th and 36th Kegiments, who, throwing off their knapsacks, overtook the rear of the column as it was descending the deep and difficult pass of Barba del Puerco. On the other side, the Second French Corps was waiting in order of battle to receive the gallant garrison, of whom 1100 got clear off'.

Next day, Wellington took possession of Almeida with its artillery.

Thus ended the French invasion of Portugal Although the inefficiency of the Government at Lisbon had paralysed the efforts of the country, the British were supported with fidelity and cordiality by the rural population, and the peasantry had agreed admirably with our soldiers. Their sufferings had excited warm sympathy in Great Britain, and Parliament unanimously granted £100,000 for the relief of sufferers by the French invasion, while private subscriptions trebled the amount.*

On the 14th of May the battalion returned from Fuentes to its former cantonments at Albergaria, where orders were received increasing its establishment to 1200 rank and file.

Meanwhile, Marshal Beresford, who was blockading Badajos, having received information that Marshal Soult was advancing from Seville to its relief, raised the siege on the 15th of May, and marched to meet the enemy. On the 16th lie gained the liard-fought victory of Albuera, and Soult, leaving Badajos to its fate, retreated towards Seville. Wellington now gave orders for Badajos to be again closely invested ; and to assist in the operations, the brigade, of which the 92nd formed part, was appointed the first of the Second Division of the army, which was commanded by Lieut.-General Kowland Hill, and was at this time in Spanish Estremadura covering the siege of Badajos.

The battalion, under Lieut-Colonel Cameron, marched at * Aliaon.

262 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [ISII

five o'clock on the evening of the 25 th of May, and continued for two days and nights almost without intermission ; the heat during the day was excessive, and the men were a good deal fatigued ; but Sou It having withdrawn from Badajos, they were allowed a day's rest, and crossed the Tagus at Villa Velha, arriving at Niza on the evening of the 31st. The country about Niza is fertile and beautiful : gardens, vineyards, and cornfields for miles round the city, which is situated on a lofty eminence commanding splendid views towards Badajos and Elvas. Though the days were hot, the nights were delightful, and sleeping in the open no hardship. They bivouacked generally on the edge of a wood for shade, and near a stream. The troops halted in open columns ; arms were piled, pickets and guards paraded and posted, and in a few moments all appear at home. Some fetch stones to form fireplaces ; others, water for the camp kettles ; while the wood resounds with the blows of axes and bill-hooks. Under the trees officers are seen dressing, or arranging green boughs to form shelters. Milk, water-melons, bread, and vegetables are brought from the villages, and soon all are discussing dinner ; the favourite dish being Irish stew of ration beef with onions, pumpkins, and tomatoes. " Nothing could be worse than the clothing of some of the regiments : as red could not be pro- cured, the jackets were patched with grey, white, or brown ; but the perfect order and cleanliness of their arms and appoint- ments, their steadiness on parade, their erect carriage, and their firm and free marching, were all admirable." *

From Niza they proceeded by easy stages ; and crossing the Guadiana above Badajos, near Talavera la Real, on the 8th June, joined the Second Division in camp near Albuera on the 10th, about ten days after the commencement of the second siege of Badajos. While here they witnessed a fearful fire ; a cornfield was accidentally set alight by some Portuguese soldiers, and the flames spread over the burning plains for a distance of about thirty miles, f

Soon after, Marmont, having reorganised the army of Portugal, effected a junction with Marshal Soult. Wellington

* Recollections of the Peninsula, t Alison and Sergeant Robertson.

18111

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

263

I Was preparuil lo liglit Soult alone, and Lad entrenched the

position of Albuera ; but the anival of Marmout giivo the

«ueiny such an overwhelming,' superinrily in arliilery, eavulry,

f^ud infauliy, aa made it necessary to raiae the siege, and witb-

**lraw the Allied army. Accordingly, the .Second Division

^roke up from its bivouac on the ICtli ; marched by Valverde,

'"Gorossed the Guadiana, and arrived at Torre de Monro on the

^Oth of June. The united French armies liud entered Badajos

*^H the 19th, just in time to save the garrison, who vpould have

*^eeri driven by want of provisions to abandon the place they

j-«*ad twice so bravely defended. Wellington, prepared to

f**^cc<2pt battle, drew up his army in fronl of Elvas — his riglit

f "^eiiig below that fortification at the bridge over the Caya, and

'"'is left extending along the bank of that river to beyond the

1*^1" tress of Campo Mayar, a distance of about ten miles. On

■o^ 21st the enemy's cavalry, having crossed the Guadiana,

'^^Xjve in the Allied outposts ; and by a feigned retreat drew

'*^^ British cavalry, who had at first bceu succesaful, into an

'•'^busciide, and took a squadron of the 11th Light Dragoons.

A decisive battle was now expected. The enemy had a

-^iperionty of one-fourth m artillery and infantry, and the

*tvength of his cavalry was double that of tlie British,* whose

*t:.rcngth was greatly reduced by the number of their sick and

"^Vonnded ; f but the men who lined llie bunks of the Caya

^Vure the same stem soldiers who had fought at Albuera and

^^uentes d'Ouor ; and though his own troops were the tlower

r^^f the French army, including a large number of the Imperial

f ^uard, they were conscious of late defeats ; the British had

t,he weight of moral sujveriority, and Souk felt it unsafe to

t.ackle them. He withdrew without tigliting. Wellington,

Qware that till he had possession of all the frontier fortresses,

lie could not advance into Spain, resolved to move with the

"Ijulk of his army, which had la^n reinforced from England, in

the direction of Ciudad Kodrigo ; leaving Hill with 10,000

infantry, 1500 cavalry, and four brigades of artillery, in the

rich district between Villa Viciosa and Bortalegre, which was

free from the Guadiana fever, and where the troops could

* Napier.

t A fevtsr is prevalent a,t that Heoaou in the vulley of the GuAdiana.

264

THE LIFE OF A RKGIMKNT.

[1811

rapidly concentaate for offence or defence. Therefore, the Second Division broke up from the bivouac at Torre de Monro on the 21st July, marched to Elvas, and next day went into quarters about Villa Viciosa; the 92nd, along with the rest of the First Brigade and a brigade of Portugnese, occupied the neat little town of Burba, where was a ph»ntiful supply of wine, vegetables, and fruit to supplement the commissariat rations — a market being held every day during their stay. The 1st of September saw them again on the move, and on the ^^rd they marched into the city of Portalegre, where the whole division was quartered, and where the Gordons no doubt renewed their agreeable relations with the inhabitants, whom they found so friendly when they were quartered here under Sir John Moore. General Hill kept hounds, the otficers had partridge shooting and tisliing, and there were entertainments and amusements for all ranks.

Meanwhile Wellington, with the main body of the army, had invested Ciudad liodrigo. Towards the end of September, Marmont, having received large reinforcements, especially of the Imperial Guard, advanced to relieve the fortress with 60,000 men, of whom 6000 were cavalry, and he had more than a hundred pieces of artillery.* Wellington had 45,000 men of all arms.f and was weak in artillery.

On September 25th the heroic combat of El Boden fur- nished another instance of how impossible it is for even the most daring cavalry to overcame the resistance of steadfast infantry. Another combat took place at Aldea de I'onte under the immediate direction of Lord Wellington, who, on the morn- ing of the 28th, occupied a strong position in an angle formed by the Coa River, which could only be attacked on a narrow front, and Marmont, who had only brought a few days' pro- visions, retired, having victualled and placed a new garrison in Ciudad Kodrigo. Wellington ctintoned his army on both sides of the Coa, and resumed the blockade of the fortress. In the above mentioned actions the Allies lost about 300 men and the French about 600. Alison relates, as an instance of the generous spirit which animated the brave men of both armies, that a French officer was in the act of striking at Captain • Napier. f Alison.

THE OOHDON HIGHLANDERS.

265

FeJton Harvey uf tliu 14th light Dragoons, when, seeing timt

he had but one arm, he at once lowered his point to the .salute

I and {Missed on. Major Gordon, who had been sent with a flag

I of truce by Wellington to Marmont, waa hospitably received,

(dined with the French Marshul, rode with him round tlie out-

&t3, and they freely discussed the prospects of the canijjaign

and the qualities of the troops on lx)th sides : while (lenernl

■iegin'uud, Governor of Ciudad Kodrigo, who had been led into

|n ambuscade by Sanchez' Guerillas and taken prisoner, was a

'frequent guest at Wellington's table, and entertained the com-

tpany by his anecdotes of the French generals and armies. A Wory was told me many years ago by a brother of a Peninsular pordon Highlander, showing that these chivalrous feelings Were by no means confined to tlie higher ranks. I forget on what occasion it happened, but after a battle a French colonel ras lying wounded on the field, when one of the 92nd Approached biiu. Tlie Frenchman could speak English, and, upposing the soldier was coming to plunder him, oflered his 3rse and gold watch, asking his assistance, but the man adignantly answered that he was a soldier and not a robber, ihat he would gladly help him without reward, and carried aim to the surgeon. The colonel showed his gratitude by epiorting the circumstance very favoural>!y to the Britisdi eneral, and the man was promoted corporal. At Elvas, rhere the hospitnls were, the crowded wards were occupied by British and French side by side, wlio were to be seen per- orming little kind offices for each other, using Spanish to fcxpress their wants or their thanks.

While Wellington remained to oppose Marmont and Dor-

enne, and occupied in the still more difficult task of pacifying

nrtv disputes in the Portuguese Govemment, and inducing

bem to feed their own troops, who were paid by Britain, but

ght to have lieen rationed by their own country, Hill was

"still at Portalegre on the frontiers of Estremadura, watching

_fche French under Drouet.

On the 7th of Oclober a draft joined from the 2nd Bat- lion, consisting of 1 mnjor, 2 captains, 4 subalterns, 1 dstant surgeon, and 199 N.-C. otficei'S and soldiera. They marched from Athlone for embarkation at Cork on the

ii66

THE LIFR OF A HKr.IMKNT,

ri8ii

17th August with 248 men. An olUccr who was with thein mentions that at Fermoy an oitler reached them for forty -eight of tht! detaehiiieut to rcturu to Athloue, being eunsidered too young lo undergo ihe fatigues of a campaign, and rekites how some of the poor lads " absolutely shed tears " in their sorrow and disappointment at losing the chance of active service. He also describes the ruined state of the villages which had been occupied by the French, through which they passed iu their march from Lisbon, and the warm welcome they received from the 1st Battalion on their aiTival

When Drouet had retired to Zafra, Hill received orders from Lord Wellington to drive General Gerard's Division of the Fifth Corps away from Caceres, and to re-establish the Spanish troops uuder Morillo in that district, from which Gerard had Forced them to retire ; accordingly, the Second Division broke up from their comfortable cantonments at Portalegre. The 92nd left the women aud baggage in the quarters of tlie corps, with a guard of one subaltern, one ser- geant, and twelve rank and file of the most weakly soldiers. The men were ordered " at all times to march with the wrong side of their kilts dutermost unless when ordered to the con- trary." Passing Allegrete, the last Portuguese town, they bivouacked that night at Codeceii-a, the first Spanish village. Aji oificer of the regiment notices the effect of want of know- ledge of camp life on the part of the dmft lately joined, and remarks that all soldiers should be taught practically field cookery and other incidents of tlie bivouac before being sent on active service. The arms ou this occasion wei*e no sooner piled than the old stagers were off in search of comforts, but the "Jolmny Haws," as all young soldiers were called, sat shivering on their knapsacks in expectation that dinner would be provided for them as at hame, without personal trouble, and the old campaigners were enjoying their meal almost before the new hands had got their kettles on the fire. At night a pouring rain fell ou them, as officers aud soldiers sat or lay round smoky fires with their heads resting on each others* legs — some warming wine in the lid of a camp kettle, others crouching for shelter behind a wall, with their forage caps pulled down over their ears, cursing the commissariat, the

WH] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 267

rain, and the Freucli ; but the cheering rays of the morning sun brought warmth and good humour, and the battalion advanced to the ancient city of Albuquerque, where they learned that the French had retired from Alesada.

On the 24th they reached Cantellana. and the following forenoon found the Third Brigade at Alesada, where they also met some Spanish irregular cavalry in quaint old-fashioned costumes, under Colonel Bownie. Tlie road here was so bud that the guns had to be removed from their carriages and carried up a steep place by the men of the First Brigade. At Alesada they were ordered to cook as quickly us possible, an order which is generally ominous of a long march or a fight. " The bullocks," says an officer, " on which we were to dine were running and jumping about us, but in less than an hour they were amusing us with more interesting leaps in our camp kettles. The soup, just oft* the fire, having been placed before us at the same time that the bugle called us to arms, we were compelled to dispatch it in a state little colder than boiling lead." They started at 4 p.m., in hopes of surprising part of Gerard's Division at Malpartida. The afternoon was fine, but as the sun went down the rain descended in torrents. March- ing at night is not pleasant in the finest weather, but in storm and darkness, over roads deep in mud and water, with deep ruts and stones over which the weary soldier trips and falls prostrate in a puddle, it is the greatest trial of endurance ; so worn out were some of the men at dawn on the 26 th, that had they not expected to meet the enemy they would have broken down. The French, however, had given them the slip, and on arriving at Malpartida they found that the enemy, warned of their danger by three Spanish deserters, had retired from that town, where General Hill ordered his exhausted troops under cover for twenty-four hours of much needed rest and refreshment.

C H A I^ r K K X V.

Early on the 27th, Hill, hoping to intercept the enemy's march, though without being certain of its exact direction, pursLietl hy ii cross road through Aldea del Cano and Casa del Antonio, when he received intelligence that Gerard, ignorant of the movements of the British geneml, whose pursuit he expected on the main road by Caceres, had posted a rear guard at x4tbala, and halted at Arroyo dos Molinos in fancied security. Hill at once made a forced march to Alcuesca. three miles from Arroyo <los Molinos, which he reached in the evening, The two armies, in fact, had been marching on parallel lines not far apart, but each concealed by hills and woods from the sight of the other.

On crossing an extensive plain near Aldea del Campo. the mounted officers started a hare. Several greyhounds were kept by tlic regiment, and after a successful course puss was killed. Finding that the whole battalion enjoyed the fun, and hares being plentiful, the oHicei's continued the sport, which so wonderfully beguilevl the time, that many of the men thought they had not marched above half the distance they liad really come.

The 7l8t occupied the village of Alcuesca, and placed pickets all round to prevent any intelligence* being carried to the French ; but the people felt the British to be their friends, and though every Spaniard in the neighbourhood knew they were at hand, not one betrayed the fact. The 92nd witb the other troops bivouacked in rear of the village — rain and wind continued through the night, and no fires were allowed to be lighted, but the troops without a murmur, though wet to the skin, made the best of their discomfort, keeping their nmskets as dry as they could, and bore their plight like men and soldiers.

At two o'clock nn the morning of the 28th, the orderly sei-geants went round their companiea, and in whispers btide

THE GORDON IIIGnLANDERS.

269

I

I

I

I I I

them prepare for actiyn, the utmost silence being necessary to ensure success, lliough the disitance was short, the broken state of the roads, the inclemency of tlie weatlier, and the darkness of the morning made prtigress slow and caused great loss of time ; but at last the sight of the enemy's lires delighted tlie troops by showing that this time the birds had not flown. The whole moved in one column till they arrived within half a mile of Arroyo, where, under cover of u rising ground, they were formed into columns of attack unseen by the enemy, Gerard, with culpable negligence, having no pickets out on that side.

The left column, commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Stewart of the 50th Hegimeut, was eotuposed of Howards liriji,'nde, viz., the 1st Battalions of the 50th, Tlat, and 92nd, Captain Ulassiers' company 5fch Battalion 60th Itilles, and three Geld pieces, supported by Murillo's Spanish infantry. The riglit column consisted of Colonel Wilson's, the Third Brigade, viz., the let Battalion 28th, the 2nd Battalions 34th and 39th Iiegiments, one company 60th, and the Gth Portuguese Ca<jadores, with two field pieces and a howitzer. Tlie cavalry, 9th and 13th Light Dragoons, the 2nd Hussai's of the King's German I^egion, and the Conde-de-I*enne Villamnr's Spanish Horse, formed a third column under Sir William Erskinu, and was in the centre.* Major-General Howard commanded the whole infantry. The formation Ijeing quickly and quietly completed, the 71st and 92nd and the company of the 60th moved in profound silence directly on the village at quarter distance, the 50th in close column and the artillery being a little in rear as a reserve. The right colunm, having the 39th as a reserve, moved aci-oss the plain to the right of the town, so as to cut off the retreat of the enemy by the roads leading to Traxillo, Merida or Medellin. The cavalry moved between the other two, ready to act wherever its services might be required.

At this moment the storm was succeeded by a calm, the dense fog cleared away about half-past six, just as the left colunm was entering the town. The 71st went to the left tlu-ough some olive groves, where they surprised and took a

• Tbe Second British Brigade hod been ordered to make a detour and , iiad uut come up.

THE LrPK OF A REGIJnKNT.

[1811

body of cavahy in the act of bridling their horses. The 92nd silently entered the main street leading to the market square, where the French were forming for the march, while some battalions were filing out of the village, one brigade having alietidy marched ; then the pipers entering into the humour of the silualion, struck up the appropriate air of "Hey, Johnny Cope, are ye waukin' yet i* " and the music of the bagpipes and the cheers of the charging Highhindcrs were the first intima- tion of their presence. Colonel Cameron, in a letter to Genenil Hope, says — " They (the French) were quietly getting under arms for tlie purpose of pi^oceeding to Merida, and had the attack taken phice two hours earlier as intended, I think every man of them would liave been taken in bed."

The French troops, cavalry and infantry, who were formed, threw themselves across the street, disputing the passage, and firing on the leading sections of the Highlumlers, who dashed forward, and amidst the greatest uproar and confusion drove out of the village those they did not bayonet or capture. The 50th in rear were not idle, and secured the prisoners.

Gerard, who was a brave ofUcer, made the best disposition in his power; he formed the infantry in two large squares just outside the Wllage, where the roads branch off t« Alerida and Medellin, with the cavalry on the left flank of one of them. The 71st extended, lining the walls of the village gardens and vineyards, and peppered their antagonists in good style, having skirmishers opposed to them, who returned their fire most briskly. On getting to the end of the village. Colonel Cameron fimud u considerable ojxtning between the vineyards, which admitted about one-half of the battalion in column. The fire of the P>ench riflemen annoyed the head of the column considei-ably, nor could ihey advance without being exposed to the fire of the 71st, The men were ordered not to fire, which, says an officer, " was extremely galling to the soldiers, who saw their officers and comrades falling around them, but knowing that the success of an enterprise often depends on the manner in which such orders are attended to. the Highlanders, with a patience not ver>* peculiar to their countrymen, waited the arrival of the decisive moment.**

181 1] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 271

Quoting again from Colonel Cameron's letter to General Hope — " However, we got the 71st to cease firing, and to allow us to advance. As each company had cleared the opening, I caused them to deploy to the right into line with the utmost rapidity, as we were then in the presence of the French square of five battalions, which I proposed charging the moment my line was formed. Three companies were scarcely in line when the French square moved off, throwing out a cloud of skinnishers to impede our advance. By this time the other British brigade, composed of the 28th, 34th, and 39th, the British cavalry and Portuguese artillery, having got round the town, were coming up upon their left fiank, and the whole followed in pursuit. Your regiment (General Hope was colonel of the 92nd) conducted themselves much to my satisfaction during the whole time, and under the trying circumstances of not one firelock in ten giving fire when attempted to be used." After mentioning that he had been wounded in the hand while pre- paring to charge, and had his finger amputated "after the business was over" — "poor Captain Donald MacDonald is most dangerously wounded, having Iiis left leg broke, and wounded under the right knee. Captain John Macpherson severely through the left wrist, but in no danger ; Major Dunbar is also wounded ; we had three men killed and seven wounded. The Light Company was not in action, being in occupation of a village some little distance in rear under Lieut. -Colonel M'Donnell. I am not aware what people in Britain will think of this business, but this corps of the army fancy that having obtained such results with so small a loss renders it unique of its kind, particularly on comparison with the fatal and miserable battle of Albuera."

Another officer describes how, as the Highlanders were forming for the charge, the French troops showed something like a wavering in their squares, and, declining the honour intended for them, wheeled to the right about and retired towards the steep hill in their rear. lie mentions that there were several wonderful escapes, and that Colonel Cameron's life was saved by the hilt of his sword.* The captain of

* Colonel Cameron sent the sword home in December. It is now nt Callart, in the possession of his great-niece, Mrs Cameron Lucy. It had been

272

THE LFFE OF A REGIMENT.

flSll

the Grenatiier Compauj having been wounded, the seaior lieuteuiiul, ou assimiing commaud of it, made a false move- ment in deploying, which the Colonel perceiving, he repeated his order in a voice of thunder, and, as was his custom wlien displeased, he struck his left breast with his right hand, which grasped his sword. The last word of his orders had just b<ieii spoken, and his liand liad hardly touched his breast, when a rJHe bullet shattered the middle finger, passed througli the handle of the sword, and struck the breast so violently that, thiukiuf,' he was shot through the body, he relinquished the commaud to Major Mitchell ; but, recovering directly from the faintiiess, again took his place with his hand streaming with blood and the finger dangling by the skin, and remained at the head of his Highlanders to the close of the action.

The guns, having been brought up. made havoc in the French ranks as the 92nd and 71st re-formed and advanced; our dragoons and hussars charged and dispersed their cavalry with great loss, but Gerard, wounded though he was, kept bis infantry together and continued kis retreat along the Truxillo road. The right column of the British was, however, already there, the artillery and cavalry were close on the French Hank. the victorious Iliglilanders were condng fast behind him, his men were falling by tiflies. Gerard's position was desperate, yet he would not surrender ; but, giving the word to disperse, endeavoured to escape by scaling the almost inaccessible rocks which overhung the road. The 39th and Portuguese turned the mountain by the Truxillo road, while the 28th and 34lh Kegimeuts, led by General Howard, followed the enemy, scrambling up the rocks and taking prisoners at every step. An officer of the right column says — " Our shai'e of the business among the rocks \vas a scene of laughter and diver- sion rather than of bloodshed and peril, for though some of the enemy's Grenadiers discharged their muskets at us tiefore they broke them, the danger was too inconsiderable to be tliought of."

The 34th had here an amusing experience of French

a present from his friend the paymuter, son of Mr Gordou, of Croughly, in Strftthaven, a family who have given severml offloera to the Gonlon Uighlanders.

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THB GORDON HIGIfLANDRRS.

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character They were leading up the nioimtuin. ami got mixed up with the French regiment of the same nuiuber, whose officers, as they tendered their sworda on being made prisoners, embraced the officers of the British 34th, sftying —

I '• Ah, messieurs, nous sommes des freres, nous sommea du

treute-quatrieme rt^giment tous deux." " Vous 6te8 des braves."

Les Anglais se battent toujours avec luyaut«? et traiteni bien

I leurs priaonniers." " Ah, messieurs, la fortune de la guerre

[est bien capricieuse." *

The 92nd and other British regiments desisted from the pursuit only because they, with knupsticks and arras, could not

I overtake the 600 Frenchmen who alone escaped with Gerard by throwing away their arms and accoutrements,

Gerard's troops were said to be the finest then in Spain,

I and selected for his expedition, and. as Napier remarks, their resolution not to surrender in such an appalling situation was no mean proof of their excellence.

No enterprise during the war was better planned or cuted, and Hill's Division rejoiced in the triumph of their eral, wliieh, to one of his humane disposition, wns the more grateful that such solid success was gained with little loss to his troops. General Gerard's Corps was almost totally destroyed or disiwrsed, and the trophies of the action were 1300 prisoners, including the cavalry General Le Brun, Colonel the Prince d'Aremberg.f who was a connection of Napoleon, Lieut.-( 'olonel Voirol and another lieut.-eolonel, Gerard's aide-de-camp, one commissary and thirty captains and sulmlterns. All the artillery, waggons, baggage, ammunition, and numbers of horses and mules were also taken ; in the baggage was the military chest with a large sum of money, and another chest with nil the paraphernalia of the Order of

I Masonry.

•*RecollectionB of the Peninsula." " Ah, geoUeaien« we «re brothers ; ' we are both of the 34th Regiment." "You are hrave men." " The BntiBh always fight loyally and treat their prisoners wr'U, " "Ah, geutlenicii, the fortune of war is very capricious."

t "The Prince d'Aremberg is a great card, being a member of the Con- federation of the Rhine and a Prince of the Imperial family."— Letter /rewn WtUiwjton to IlilL

Nt>TK. —Aroused by the sound of the pipes, the Prince csome out half ttffWttseil, when u ««rgeai}t of iho i)'2ii«i seized liiui. lie resist^id, but the acrgcant,

8

274

TIIE LIIE OF A REGIMENT.

[1811

The loss of the 92iid on this occasion was four officers and seven rank and file woonded, and three rank and file killed, viz., Privates John Deuoon, William MacDonald, and — Campbell, a large proportion of the total loss of the Hrilish and Portuguese ir<3ops, which ainounte-d to only seven men killed, and sixty-four officers and men wounded, and Sir W. Erskine's A.D.C. taken prisoner.

The account of the action ^nven above is exactly in acconl- ance with General Hill's dispatch dated at Merida, October 30th, 1811. It is therefore remarkable that the 34th Regiment (which was in the right column, and whose aetiv*' duties, admirably performed as they were, chanced to he required only in making prisoners of tlic troops already defeated by the left eokunn) is the only one which bears An'Oifo do8 Moliiios on its colours, an honour which was granted to them after the death of General liill about 1840. in lieu of a distinction in dress of which they had been deprived, hut which had no relation to this battle. The 92nd. without in any way questioning the good service done by the 34th, felt very stronsly that the facts as i*eported in dispatches show that the 34th had not the same opportunity of distiniiuishiuj; themselves on this occasion as fell to the lot of the 92nd (with the cavalry and 71st), and that to single out a regiment for so conspicuous an honour has the effect of making it appear to the array at large tliat the conduct of other corps engaged had been less distinguished, and this impression is naturally strengthened as time goes on and the circumst^ncea are forgotten. It seems, therefore, very desirable that the subject shfjuM be again brought forward by the colonels of corps concerned, when no doubt the slight inconsiderately

applying the point of his sword, compelled him to move forw&nl as his prisoner. — Stttjeunt. Rof*ertson. The Colonel of the French 34th h»H Iwen pre- ceded by hiB regiment when tiie Firat Brigade entered Arroyo, Rushing from his quarters he luoanted his cliarger und galloped along one of the streets to join it. Colonel Cadogan of the Tlst happened to meet him twd tried to sUyp him by a blow of his sword, ihe Frenchman guarded and hit Cadogan on the head, but the head-dress Raved him : the gullant French Colonel was, how- ever, made a prisoner. He had on various occasions shown great kindness to British prisoners, and this conduct was repaid l)y the marked atteDtion flhowo to him when himself a prisoner, and soon after hi« arrival iu Enghuid he wa» allowed to go home to France. — Memoir of a 92mf officer.

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THE GORDON inGHLANDKR&

275

cast on other troops who were at least equally engaged will be removed by granting them the same houour.*

The Freaoh seem, under all circumstances, to find some method of softening their fate, and are very ready in framing excnaes for any disaster which may befall them. The officer of the Third Brigade, above alluded to, mentions that being on duty over some of the priaonei-s a few days after the buttle, at the close of a day's march, a chapel was allotted to them for the night ; and to see them taking possession of it, he would have thought they were still marching free and in arms, singing, " Grenadiers ici. Grenadiers ici ; Voltigeurs la Ik, Voltigeurs li la;" the grenadiers running to the altar, the voltigeurs to the gallery, [n ten minutes they were all at home — some playing cards, some singing, some dancing ; now a man performing Puncli behind a greatcoat with infinite droller}'. Quieter men were occupied in repairing their clothes and shoes ; while in anothta* part of the church, u seU-elected orator was addressing a gi-oup on their late capture. " Gentle- men," said he (in French, of course), " you are not dishonoured. We have been betrayed. That spy — that Spaniard— sold us." ** How ? " said a rough voice. " Wlio told you that ? " " Sir," replied the orator, " you will permit me to know. I am n PaiTsian, and 1 understand war." This speech was highly applauded. " Yes ; he is right. We have been sold by this villain of a spy. We should have beaten tlie British in a stand-up fight." " Why, certainly," said the little Parisian. Just then the rations appeared, and all rushed to the door singing a chorus about " Bonne soupe, bonne soupe ; " but some of the sergeants and older soldiers, decorated for service, were very sulky, and vented their anger in 'a sort of muttering, smothered swearing. They were all very fine soldierlike men.

The Gordons, when they discontinued the pursuit and the prisoners were collected, bivouacked, with the First Brigade and cavalry, in a wood at St Pedro, about six miles from ^Vrroyo, where double allowance of soft bread and spirits was served out to them with their rations. They had not been long in camp when they became spectators of a most interest- ing scene. A party of twenty-three French dragoons was

• Sec Appendix.

276

TflR UFE OK A RKGIMKNT.

risii

observed moving tasl across the plaio towards Medellm ; immtidiately, a picket of seventeen British dragoons dashed down to intercept them ; both parties were in \iew all the time the mH^e lasted, which was but a few minutes, when the enemy agreed to accompany our dragoons into ciimj), where they were received with three hearty cheers.

At three o'clock on the raoniing of the 29th they quitl<;d St Pedro, and after a long march entered Merida, wet, weary, and hungry. The 30th was a rest-day; and all the horses, mules, and asses captured on the 2Sth were sold by auction in the market-place, and the produce, together with the money found in Gi^rard's military chest, was afterwards divided among the troops actually engaged that day.

Kcport l>y Lieut. -Colonel Stewart, 50th Foot, commanding left column of attack at Arroyo dos Molinos, addressed to Lieut-CVtlunel lirooke, assistant-adjutant general, dated Merida, 29th October 1811 : —

Sir, — In conformity to the orders I received, the village of Arroya de MouHna was attacked at half-past six o'clock ^ ^

morning by the 71st and 92nd Highlanders — the 30th i ^ t

being held in reserve. We were opposed by French cavalry and infantry ; hut our troops, behaving in their usual style of bravery and discipline, and using the bayonet only, stK>n clenretl the t-own of the enemy, I distinctly saw tlie real gallantry, ami in niy hanibh< opinion, the good military conduct of Lieut.-ColoneU the Hun. H. Cadogan and J, Cameron, at the head of their respective corpti. The iattRr officer waa wounded early, but did not for a moment quit the conimand of his regiment until the atlair waa entirely concluded. The 7lRt have taken, and are in possession of, a flag which seems to be a colour of the 40th French Regiment of the Line. (Signed) Cuaalks Stkwart,

Lieut. -Colonel 50th Regiment,

On the 31st they commenced their return journey, halting at Montejo; on November Isl they had a tramp of twenty-one miles to Campo Mayor. On the way they crossed a stream swollen by the late rains, which took the men up to the waist ; then halted at midday to refresh, dancing themselves dry before rousing fires, which, with a bright sun and a stilf glass of grog, banished all traces of their ducking. In high spirits they

1811] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 277

Started again, but only to find, within half-a-mile, another river, broader, deeper, and more rapid than the first, where they got a worse wetting than before. It may be imagined that the choice of such an unfortunate halting-place brought on the quartermaster-general's department a torrent of objurgations as deep and broad as the river that caused it. At Campo Mayor they halted a day ; and on the 3rd moved to the old fortress of Arroncho, and next day, about noon, they re-entefed their old quarters at Fortalegre after twelve days' absence, and terminated their memorable trip into Spain amid the acclama- tions of the multitude. The bells were rung, the city was illuminated at night in their honour, and the inhabitants welcomed the soldiers with every demonstration of gratitude, admiration, and hospitality.

On the 7 th of November, Lieut.-General Hill issued the following General Order at Portalegre : —

" Lieut. -General Hill has great satisfaction in congratu- lating the troops on the success which has attended their recent operations in Estremadura, and in doing so, he cannot but endeavour to do justice to the merits of those through whose exertions it has been obtained. A patient and willing en- durance of forced and night marches during the worst of weather and over bad roads, of bivouacs in bad weather, often- time without cover and without lire, and a strict observance of discipline, are qualities, however common in British soldiers, which the lieut.-general cannot pass unnoticed. Having on this occasion witnessed the exertion of them in no ordinary degree, he feels that nothing but the most zealous attention of commanding officers, the goodwill and zealous spirit of the N.-C. officers and soldiers, could produce such an eliect ; and he requests that they will generally and individually accept his warmest thanks, particularly those corps which were engaged in the action of An'oyo del Molinos, whose silent attention to orders, when preparing to attack and when manoiuvring before the enemy, could not but excite his notice and give them an additional claim on him."

Letters from the Secretary of State, dated December 2nd, and from H.11.H. the Commander-in-Chief, date<l December 6th, were promulgated, expressive of H.K.H. the Trince

278 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1811

Regent's approbation and thanks to Lieut. -General Hill and the troops under his command.

In November the officers and N.-C. officers belonging to the 2nd Battalion, who had come out with the last draft and had been doing duty with the 1st, were sent home to rejoin their battalion, except the medical officer. The 1st Battalion remained quietly at Portalegre, where they were quite on friendly terms with the people, till Christmas. That festive day was spent as usual, and the officers at mess had just picked the bones of the Christmas goose, the glasses were set, and a Merry Christmas to those at home was being drunk, when an orderly entered. The battalion was to be at the alarm post next morning before daybreak ! * and having bid adieu to their fair friends of Portalegre, on the evening of the 26 th the First Brigade occupied Codeceira. Next day they were at Albuquerque, and on the 28 th quitted that city en roiUe for Merida, which had been taken possession of by the French under General Dombrousky. The troops bivouacked near the village of La Rocha under a hill, so that their fires might not be seen, the object being, if possible, to repeat at Merida the surprise of Arroyo.

At daybreak they started under cover of a dense fog. The cavalry, under General Long, preceded the infantry at a considerable distance, and about half-way to Merida they came bump upon one of the enemy's vedettes, belonging to a forag- ing party of 300 infantry and 150 hussars. Before he was made prisoner, the vedette warned his invisible friends by dis- charging his carbine, and on the fog rising the French were seen in square ; they received the charge of our cavalry with admirable firmness, and beat them off with loss ; then retiring in square, intrepidly sustaining charge after charge and taking every advantage of the inequality of the ground ; and, notwith-

* To conceal his design of taking Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellington ordered General Hill to assume the offensive in Estremadura, which had the effect of making 8oult, supposing Badajos to be threatened, concentrate his forces in that di rection . — A lison.

During the period his army was resting in cantonments, Wellington had been incessantly at work improving every department of the British and Portu- guese armies, especially the transport and commissariat service and the military hospitals.

1812] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 279

Standing the fire of two pieces of artillery, by which he lost forty men killed and wounded, Captain Neveux and his gallant little band traversed several miles, till, on their being reinforced from Merida, our dragoons gave up the pursuit.

General Hill in his dispatch expressed his admiration of the courage and prudence of the commander and of the cool- ness and bravery of the Frenchmen he commanded. It furnished another example of how little a body of well-dis- ciplined infantry, under an officer of courage and experience, has to fear from cavalry, even if very superior in numbers.

In the evening the whole corps closed up and bivouacked in front of La Nava, and next morning advanced to Merida, to find that the French had abandoned their unfinished works daring the night, leaving behind them a quantity of bread and com. Here Hill rested his troops on the 31st. Intending to fight Drouet, he marched from Merida on the 1st of January 1812, crossed the Guadiaua and moved towards Almendralejo, where he expected to meet the enemy. Their way led over a barren heath, then over a rich cultivated plain, till, having aacended about five miles, the Gordons halted and enjoyed a delightful view of the country, with the long columns of horse, foot and artillery winding below ; then jogged along again as cheerily as the fatiguing nature of the march would allow, till, near Almendralejo, it was time to prepare for action.

At one o'clock a thick fog enveloped the surrounding

objects, and prevented the general from seeing what the enemy

were about, or what were their numbers. The First Ikigade

(in which was the 92 nd) was ordered to move towards the

town in order of battle. They had not proceeded far when the

cavalry came into contact with the French pickets, which were

instantly attacked and driven in ; the rear l)rigades now moved

up quickly on the left. It appeai-s tliat when the first collision

took place, the French in the town were busy cooking tlieir

New Year's Day dinners and thinking more of beef than of

bullets, but part of them instantly moved in support of their

pickets, the remainder retreating to a rising ground in rear of

the town, where, after a few rounds from the liritish artilk-ry,

the others joined them, and the whole retired to a height nt a

considerable distance, skii-mishing all the way with Hill's Light

280

THE UFE OF A REGIMENT.

[ISIS

Cumpauies. When the main ruliuiiu caiue up, expecting to be hotly leceived, and the fog lifted, they found the French general had withdrawn the main body of his troops to Zafra, leaving only a strong rear-guard to cover his retreat.

During this little aOkir the Highlanders were much amused by the conduct of the Marquis of Almeida, an elderly Spanish nobleman, who, having suffered severely from French rapacity, was their hitter enemy. Being a warm admirer of the British, he had attached himself to Hill's suite, and in compliment to the general he laid aside his Spanish habit and donned a long scarlet coat and a cocked hat, with very long red and white feathers dangling to his shoulders; but hb singular appearance soon ceased to attract notice, and he became rather a favourite with all ranks. On this occasion he had no idea he was so close to his foes till bang, bang went the guns close in front of him. Neitbei- lie nor his horse had bargained for taking so active a part in the redress of his grievances. He stared, his horse reared, and on a third gun being fired, the old marquLs, calling on *' Jesu, Maiia, Jose," and cjisting a glance towartis those around him, which plainly said, " I'm off I " put spurs to his willing nag and was lost U> view in the fog.

When the mist cleared away the rain began falling in bucketfuls ; night was approaching, and, there being no chance of bringing the enemy to close quarters, General Hill gave orders for strong pickets to be posted on all the roads round Almendralejo, and the rest of the troops to march into tlie town. On taking possession of their quarters, many of them found the savoury stews still on the lires which the French had been preparing, an acceptable addition to their rations, which their Spanish hosts were delighted to accept their invitation to join in discussing, adding their country wine to the soldiers' rum, and thus their New Year's Day ended more agi-eeably than it began.

On the 3rd two detachments were sent to dislodge the enemy from Villafrauca and Fuente del Maestro. The one which moved against Villafrauca consisted of the 9th and 13 th Light Dragoons, two pieces of artillery, the 50th, 71st, and 92nd Kegiments, and Captain Blassier'e Company of the

ISli] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 281

60th, under Major-General Howard. The other, under the Hon. Lieut-Colonel Abercromby, was comi)osed of the 2nd Hussars K.G. Legion, 4th and 10th Portuguese Cavalry, and the 28th B^iment (British). Both detachments started at noon. On reaching a height about half-way to Yillafranca, General Howard's Brigade saw the enemy drawn up on a commanding position near the town; Colonel Cameron, with the 92nd, the Bifle Company, and one gun, advanced against the French left flank, while the remainder, under General Howard, moved direct upon the enemy's centre and right flank. Everything looked like a tough tussle. The enemy were prepared, and stood their ground till just when the British were getting near enough to prepare to charge, when, to their great disappointment, the French faced about and walked off towards Los Santos, pursued by the cavalry. General Howard had no intention of letting the enemy pay him back in the coin of Arroyo dos Molinos ; he placed strong pickets on every road leading to Villafranca, the rest being thrown into the town, with orders to remain accoutred so as to turn out at a moment's warning, and to be on the alarm post two hours before day. It was an awful night — rain, hail, and a hurricane of wind — so that the poor fellows on picket joined their battalions in the morning in a deplorable condition.** Those who had been in quarters proceeded to the alarm post, where they were drenched in ten minutes, and after being exposed to the fury of the elements for four hours, the whole returned to Almeiidralejo. Colonel Abercromby s detachment had had a skirmish with a regiment of cavalry which crossed their path, of whom they killed and wounded twenty-one and took thirty-two prisoners.

On the 5th, General Hill retraced his steps to Merida, where the men arrived looking as if they had been six months in the field instead of ten days. Tlie marches had been often through adhesive clay, into which the soldiers sank ; many tore their gaiters to pieces, and some actually left their shoes

* Colonel Cameron, in visiting the picket of his regiment, found that the yonng officer commanding it had placed his men in a iiollow sheltered from the storm, but without keeping a proper lookout, for which he received a aevere reprimand.

282

TlfK LIFK OF A KECIMENT.

[1812

hehiiid Lheni amd trudged along in their hose, which, with knapsacks and accoutremeuts to carry, made it pretty hard work.

Apropos of this very severe march, a 9 2nd otficcr tells the following story of an infantry private who, having on January 5lh partaken too i'reely of the strong wine of Almeadmlejo, found himself very hard put to it to keep up with his column on the subsequent marcli. He contrived to fall out unnoticed at a halt and remained behind when the march was resumed ; then, composing himself to sleep, he enjoyed so long a nap that it was already night when he awoke. He was quite recovered from his intoxication, but Iiis fevered brain at first failed to comprehend how he came to be alone in the dark and in a seemingly deserted place ; hut as he gradually realised the situation, the thought Hashed across him that he would be supposed to have deserted to the enemy. He saw in fancy his name sent in to the adjutant-general, heard the stinging com- ments of his comrades, imagined himself captured by some patrol — the C'ourt-marlial assembled to try him — the sentence of death passed upon him ! During the hours of daikness no satisfactory plan presented itself forgetting back to the colours unnoticed, and he started at dawn to follow the troops, full of dread for the future. Afraid to join by dayliglit, he mude his way to a village three miles from headquarters, and on the opposite bank of the Guadiana. Here J«e heard that twci French stragglers were concealed, and a brilliant idea struck him — he would capture the pair and present them as a pro- piliary ofieriiig to oflended discipline. No sooner said than done ; the villagers helped him to secure the Frenchmen, and he marched them ofi* in triumph, their hands tied behind their hacks. The officer who relates the incident met him at the bridge of Merida, and, seeing him thus escorting two prisoners from a district where no British soldiers were quartered, naturally asked for explanations, whereupon the soldier burst into tears, unalile to utter a syllable, but at length poured forth the foregoiing story. It is added that, as he had hoped, it was considered a sufficient atonement for his escai^ade.

Sir Rowland Hill (General Hill had been made a Knighl of the Bath), having received an order early on the moraing of

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TIIE GORDON HIGH LANDERS.

283

th the/

'the 12th of January to retrace his steps to I'ortalegre, btie

.92nd marched from Merida the same day at 9 a.m. and

bivomwjked behind La Nava. Next night they reposed on

the biinks of a stream under the castle of Zagala; on the 14th

^they halted at iUhuquerque, Alegrete on the 16th, and

rived at Portalegre on the 17th. Next day the men re-

'plenished their kits, and on the lOth moved to Alpalhao on

the way to assist in Lord WeUin^jtoo s operations. At Niza,

on the 2l8t, they heard of the fall of Ciudad iJodrigo, but as

Marmont still showed a disposition to fight, the battalion

advanced to the Tagus on the 25Lh, crossed that river by a

bridge of boats at Villa Vellia, and occupied several villages.

^Kext day ihey entered Castello llranco, where they had the

^mleasure of meeting the French garrison of Ciudad KodrJgo on

^Eheir way to British transports. They remained at Castello

■rhis

I

w

;ranco till February 1st, when, as Marmont had withtlrawn

is army to Salamanca, tliey retraced llieir steps, arriving at Portalegre on the 4th.

I Here they remained, occasionally finding oflicers' escorts for prisonei'8 of war, till the 3rd of March, when Sir Kuwlaud Hill's Division moved to cover the siege of Badajos, which Lord Wellington had now determined tu undertake. Tlie battalion halted for some days in Albuquerque, and on the 16ih, with the rest of Hill's Coqjs, moved on Merida; they spent the night in bivouac. On the 1 7 th, finding that some French cavalry, supported by a tiattaliou of infantry, occupied Merida, Sir iiowland sent his cavalry across the Guadiana by ford below the bridge, to intercept the enemy and enable the

:ifantry to get up. Un the first alarm the French cavalry {led, iaome by the bridge and some by a ford above it, giving notice of the danger to the infantry by diacliarging tlieir carbines.

No time was to be lost, and the First Brigade, 50th, 7lsl, and 92nd moved to the town at the double, and, knowing tl)e place well, they made straight for thu bridge as fast as they could run. Crossing it, they halted a minute to gain breath and then continued the pursuit, but failed to bring the enemy to

ction, and, fast as the British ran, tlie French ran faster, and at last, when our men were completely blown, they gave up the pursuit, having, however, taken a certain number of

284

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prisouerH who coiilil not keep up with their ojinnides. The 92ik! bivouacked on the far side of llie river.

Sir Thomas Graham had crossed the Guadiana on the 16lh at tlic head of the right wing of the covering army, consisting of most of the cavalry antl the First, Sixth, and Seventh Divisions, and was posted on the heights of Llereua.

Lord Wellington invested Badajos the same day. and broke ground tefore it on St Patrick's Day in the morning. The left wing of the covering army was to be on the Guadiau« at Don Benito. At daybreak on the 18th, Hill's Corps crossed the Guadiana, and after mai'ching and countermarching to Almendralejo, etc. etc., with the view to prevent the relief of Badajos on the 2Sth, the cavalry, a brigade of artillery, and the First Brigade of infantry advanced to MedLdlin and Don Benito. Hn rauie the detachment was formed into two columns, the left, under Colonel Cameron, consisting of the 92ud and two Held pieces of artillery, moved against Medellin; the right, under Major-General Howard, composed of the cavalry, the 50th and Vlst, the company of the 60th, and the remaining guns, against Don Benito.

Medullin was occupied without opposition, and General Howard was informed that the enemy had also retired from Don Benito ; he, bpwever, sent Captain Blassier with his riile- men to make sure. The captain was a gallant soldier, but fond of good living, and was making his way tlirough the streets Ihinking more of the goml dinner he expected to find thtre than of an enemy, when, on turning a corner, to their mutual astonishment, he found himself close to a French cavalry patrol, who hail entered the town unconscious that the British were so near. First they gazed at each other, and then proceeded to settle the right of way by sabre cut^ and ritle bullets; the latter had the best of it, and the dragoons wheeled to the right about, leaving some wounded men in the hands of the German riflemen.

The 92nd were posted in an old castle on a hill near the town, from which they could see the memorable plain and hills about Arroyo dos Molinos, and hear the thunder of the guns at Badajos. On the 31st the whole retreated to Quarena, and on the 2nd April they were back at Merida ; on the 6 th they

1812] THK GORDON mOHLANDERS. 285

had again crossed the Guadiana and bivouacked on an emin- ence at the village of Lobon, near Badajos, all these manoeuvres being for the purpose of preventing Soult from relieving that fortress.

In the camp at Lobon, it was known that the assault was to take place that night, and with intense anxiety the troops there listened for the sounds of the terrific conflict ; they feared their friends could never surmount the obstacles placed by the garrison to prevent their passage ; but such was tlie bravery and determination of the stonuers, that though beaten back, again and again they mounted the breaches, maintaining the murderous conflict, till the ditches were literally filled with dead and woimded piled above one another, and at daybreak on the 7th, the garrison sur- rendered, having inflicted on their conquerors a loss in killed and wounded of 3800 British and over 1000 Portuguese.*

Marshal Soult had arrived in the vicinity confident that Badajos could hold out, and he was advancing to give battle to Hill's covering force, which was close in front of him, when on the 7th he heard of Wellington's successful assault of the fortress, and after giving way to a violent fit of passion, at once retreated towards Seville, for he was not prepared to fight the united armies of Wellington and Hill. He was pur- sued by 2000 British cavalry, who, after a brilliant encounter at Villa Garcia, defeated an equal force of French horse with a loss of 300 killed, wounded, and prisoners. As an instance of the feeling of revenge which actuated the Spanish peasantry, a 92nd officer mentions that on the 6th, while walking near Lobon, he spoke to a man who was resting in the shade of a tree, and found that he had come from a village twenty miles distant, for the sole purpose of killing as many Frenchmen as he could after the battle, which was expected to take place at any moment between Hill's force and Soult'a, and he showed the long knife with which he had a.ssassinated eleven French- men on the morning after Albuera. The ofFicers left him, after expressing their disgust at his cold-bloodctl project.

On the 10th April, Wellington, finding that Soult had

• Lieutenant J. Cattaiuich, Jttml, wus eniployorl as nu enyiiieer at Badajos.

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TriE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1813

finally retired iutc Andalusia^ broke up for the north to keep JMannont in order, while the 92iid, with part of Hill's Corps, which now consisted of two divisions of infantry and three brigades of cavalry, marched to AlmendralL^'o to look after their old oppoiieut Drouet, the Count d'Erlon. Here they were joined by a draft of thirty-nine men from the 2nd Battalion, described as " of good appearance," and heit; they remained from the i;Uh April till the 11th May, utilising the time in repniriti^' damage to clothing and apiwintments, in drill, and in making themselves agreeable to the fair residents.

Lieut. -Creneral Chowne, who had lately aaaumed the c/im- raand of the .Second Division, inspected the battalion in heavy marching order — " The men will have on good hose with their rosettes" — on May 10th; and next morning at three o'clock, they marched along with tlie First Brigade, forming part of a force of (JO 00 men under Sir Howland Hill, including 400 cavalry, two brigades of field artillery, a battering train and pontoon equipage, for the purpose of breaking the chain of connnunications between Sonlt's army of the south and that of Marniont in the north. The bridges over the Tagus had been destroyed by one or other of the belligerents, and the only means of crossing possessed by the French was a bridge of boats laid by Marniont at Almarez, where, to secure it, be had constructed three strong forts — Fort Napoleon on the left bank of the Tagus, Fort Ragusa on the right bank, which con- tained many stores and provisions, and Fort Mirabete, about three miles from the river, commanding the only road from Truxillo practicable for artillery. There was also a fortified bridge head or iett-de-pcnit.

It was the surprise of Almarez that Hill was now ordered to attempt. On the ir)th they reached Truxillo, in which town the women of the battalion were left with the baggage, only one mule a company being taken for the officers and one for the camp kettles. As no fires would be allowed on the following night, the men cooke<l provisions for two days, and they were also to carry three days' bread. At midnight the warning pipe resounded through the streets, and at I a.m. on the l(jth, they moved otl" towards Almarez. By sunrise they halted in the shade of a forest which con-

1812] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 287

cealed them from view, where they rested during the day, except that those who were to be stormers were prepareil for their part by running many times up the scaling ladders placed against an old stone bridge. A young officer com- plaining of stiffness in his legs after this unwonted exercise, another answered, " Be thankful, old fellow, if your legs are not stiffer to-morrow ! "

There being three points of attack, the troops were divided into as many columns. The left column, composed of the 28th and 34th Eegiments and the 6th Portuguese Cagadores, under lieut-General Chowne, the centre under General Ix)ng, consisted of the 13th Light Dragoons, the 6th and 18th Portuguese Infantry, while General Howard led the right, viz., the 50th, 71st, and 92nd, and a company of the 60th. Each column was provided with scaling ladders. Howard's Brigade was destined to attack Fort Napoleon and the tite-de-pont.

The whole moved from their woodland bivouac about eight o'clock on the evening of the 16th, but marching at night over mountainous tracks, with cross paths and difficult passes inter- secting them, made such operations extremely uncertain. The right column lost its way, and at the hour intended for the assault it was still five miles from its destination. Sir Kow- land, who was with this right column, deemed it prudent, therefore, to halt on the ridge of Lina, and to order tlie other columns to withdraw from Mirabete. It being found impos- sible to get the artillery forward except l)y the guarded pass of Mirabete, the l7th and part of the 18th having been spent in fruitless attempts to discover an opening through the hills practicable for the guns, Hill determined to leave them on tlie mountains with the centre column, to make a false attack upon the tower of Mirabete with General (.'howne's troops, wliile he himself with the right colunm secretly penetrated by a scarcely practicable sheep path, where in some places only one man could move along at a time ; resolving with the infantry alone to storm works defendc^l by eighteen guns and a powerful garrison !

About 10 p.m. on the 18 th, Howard's Column, reinforced by a second company of the 60tli, the 6th Portuguese and some artillerymen, and led by Sir Rowland Hill, descended the

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THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[181*2

mountain?;, luit though the distance wus only about six miles, the difficulties were great. Eight men at a time carried each scaling ladder, and when one lost his footing, down went the whole party on the steep hillside along which the path lay, causing constant delays, so that the sun was up before the rear had closed up and formed for the attack. This second disappointment caused great depression of spirits among the troops, but on Sir liowland Hill making it known that he would there and then lead thera to the assault, the men resumed their usual gaiety. The foregoing circumstances having altered the situation, Sii* Rowland altered his original plan and divided the detachment. The 50th and a wing of the 71st were to attack Fort Napoleon, under General Howard; the 92nd and the other wing of the 71st were ordered to be ready to help them, or to attack the Utt-dt-pont and Fort Eagusa; while the 6th Portuguese and two GOth companies were held in reserve.

Formed behind a little height a hundred and fifty yards from the fort, the nOth, on a given signal, moved from their concealment between six and seven o'clock on the morning of the 19 th, and advanced to the attack aided by a wing of the 71st. The French were not altogether unprepared, for they Iiad heard that British troops were near, and Fort Napoleon had been reinforced during the night ; but just then the garrison heard the guns of Mirabete answering General Chnwne's attack, and were crowding the ramparts gazing in that direction, when a British cheer made them quickly tuni their eyes to see the gallant ** Dirty half-hundred " bounding over the nearest rising ground. At once they opened a heavy fire of artilleiy and musketry on the assailants in front, while the guns of Fort Itagusa took them in tiank from the opposite side of the river ; but a rising ground close to tlie ramparts soon covered the British, and General Howard, leading the foremost men into the ditch, commenced the escalade. The scaling ladders liad been cut in halves to get them round the short narrow turns in the precipitous descent of the mountains, but General Howard's presence of mind, and the pluck of the soldiers, over- came the difficulty. They Hrst ascended to the Ijenn, which was broiul ; then drawing up the ladders, planted them there,

1812] THE QORDON HI6HLANDEBS. 289

and thus by a second escalade, though many fell back into the ditch, they forced their way over the rampart, and after hard fighting, the 50th and their friends of the 71st established themselves in little more than ten minutes in Fort Napoleon.

Meanwhile the 92nd and the other wing of the 71st moved forward to attack the tite-de-pont, taking advantage of every little knoll which sheltered them from the fire of Fort Eagusa, till they got to a point opposite the left Hank face of Fort Napoleon, when they dashed forward to the titc- de-pont, entering it with the garrison of Fort Napoleon, who, their retreat being cut off, rushed to the bridge, but the guns from the forts (for the British artillerymen had turned tlie guns of Fort Napoleon on Ragusa) were now sharply can- nonading each other, and stray shots had cut away some of the boats, making a gap in the bridge. The fugitives had either to jump into the river and swim for it, by whicli many were drowned, or to surrender to the Highlanders, who were pressing them up to the edge of the chasm.

The passage of the river was now the difficulty. It was solved by some Gordon Grenadiers, who immediately leaped into the deep swirling stream, swam to the other side under fire, and brought back boats, with which the bridge was secured ; the enemy, seized with panic, then abandoned Fort Ragusa, and the success of the enterprise was complete.

The individual gallantry of Privates James Gauld and Walter Somerville, the two men of the Grenadier Company who first leaped into the river, was brought to the notice of Sir Rowland Hill, as having materially forwarded his object upon Fort Ragusa, and he ordered two doubloons (equal to £8) to be given to each of these soldiers on the field. As a seven years' man, Gauld was not entitled to a pension, but the then Duke of Richmond, having heard the above story, wrote to the 92nd Depot in 1853 for confirmation of it. His Grace brought it to the notice of the War Office, and Gauld received a pension for the rest of his life. He was a man of excep- tional physique, and had distinguished himself on other occasions. His family held the farm of Edinglassie, and were a branch of the famous fighting family known as the

T

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THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1812

old Gaulds of Glass, in whieli parish James' descendants still live. Wlial became of Walter Somerville is not recorded.

As soon as the enemy had fairly taken flight, perinissioD was given to the men to help themselves to the good things stored in the fort and uliicers' mess-room, and soon hams. bacon, pickled beef, and other delicacies decorated the bayonets or were stuffed in the hiiversacks of hvnidreds of soldiers, and none were withont a bottle of wine or brandy to wash down the good cheer, in the bivouuc to which they were ordered in the neigh hourhood. Tfie satisfaction of the Gordons in talking over the stirring events of the morning round their camp tirea was not on this occasion marred by regrets for the death of any of their comrades ; they had only two wounded, though the loss of the Allies amounted to 2 officers and Z 1 N.-C. oHicers and soldiers killed, and 1 3 otticers and 1 3 1 N.-C. otticers and soldiers wounded. The total loss of the enemy was about 450, 259 of whom were taken prisoners, including 16 officers and Major Aubat, the Commandant of Fort Napoleon, who, on finding further resistance useless, had surrendered and been allowed to keep his sword. An officer of the storming party rushed in, and, being ignorant of the terms on which the comnuuidaut retained his sword, and also of the French lan- guage in whicfi he tried to explain, made a lunge at hiiu. A mortal wound was the result of this rash and excited act, which caused great commiseration for the unfortunate French- man, to whom every attention was paid, bat he died in ten days, and was buried in the great church of Merida with military honours, the whole of the British officers attending the ceremony.

After removing the wounded, the forts, bridge, and the cannon (eighteen guns were taken) and stores which could not be carried off' were destroyed. The position was of tlie greatest importance to the French, and Wellington, in a letter dated Fuente Guinaldo, 28th May 1812, says, "I doubt their having the means of replacing it (the bridge), or that they will again form such an establishment at that point, licwever important it is to their objects." *

Their general expressed in Orders hia admiration of the • Gurwooii.

1818] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 291

discipline and valour of the troops, and in July a letter from the Secretary of State was published expressing the Prince Event's approbation of their conduct. Sir Kowland Hill gained great credit for the decision with which this daring attack was planned and executed, and in memory of the part taken in it by the 1st Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders afterwards received the Royal authority to bear Almurez on their colours.

Next morning they began their return journey, and on the 2l8t they re-entered Truxillo, where the inhabitants enter- tained them at a grand bull-fight prepared in their honour. Here they halted for two days, which the men employed in washing and cleaning their clothing and accoutrements, tho officers being desired to see this thoroughly done, for it has always been well understood in the 92nd how much a clean and smart appearance increases that feeling of self-respect in the individual soldier which compels the respect of others for his regiment. On the 24th they marched for Merida, and three days later re-entered that pleasant city amid the cheers of the populace and the congratulations of the army left to protect that part of the country.

After drinking the King's health on his birthday, the 4th of June, they took leave of Merida the next morning and moved to Almendralejo. Sir Kowland having received in- telligence that Marshal Soult was likely to pay him a visit, concentrated his troops at a more advanced point, the whole of the infantry moving forward to Zafra, Los Santos, and Sancho Perez, the 92nd being cantoned in the latter. On the 13th of June the interest of the troops was kept alive by a severe and gallant action near Llera, between tlie French cavalry and the British lieavy dragoons, in which the latter bad a loss of 150 men, part of which they repaid in a skirmish two days afterwards.

CHAPTER XVL

Napoleon had withdrawn fraiii Spain a considerable bodj of troops, iucludiug 10,000 of the Imperial Guard, but his generals had still in that country four times as many men as Wellington's allied forces auiouuted to.* AlthoUi^h the report that Soult had left Andalusia was erroneous, he had i*einforced Urouet's army, and that general was advancing against Sir Kowland with 21,000 men, of whom 3000 were first-rate cavalry. Hill's army was slightly stronger in numbers. thoui^h partly composed of Spanish and Portuguese troops. and he was weaker in horse by 1000 sabres.

The enemy having moved from the south, seemed inclined to bring on an action in this advanced position, and thus to divert Wellington's operations towards Salamanca against Marmont, with whom Soult had no direct means of communi- cation since the loss of the bridge at Almarez. Hill deter- mined to fall back on the position of Albuera, and there to give battle. The cavalry retired as the Frencli advanced, and with them the 50th and the 92nd marched to Los Santos on the IGth, and the following evening the whole corps retired and halted behind Santa Martha at sunrise on the 18th. On the 19th they marched and took post in a wood in front of the position of Albuera on the right bank of tlie stream of that name. The village was defended by barricades in the streets and loopholes in the houses, and the ridge by breast- works, every precaution being adopted \>y the prudence and military skill of Sir Rowland to strengthen his position. Cavalry pickets were posted in front of the wood where the infantry were encamped, and the First Brigade, 50th, 71 at, and 92nd were held in readiness to retard the enemy in front of the wood, and give time to the other brigades to take up their ground ; but the French genenil was too strongly impressed with the recollection of the dreadful battle of last

* Ah'son.

1812] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 293

year at Albuera to risk another attack on the same ground ; while Hill, who had shown himself so daring at Arroyo and Almarez, refrained from the temptation of a battle which promised him unbounded fame, " simply because he was un- certain whether Lord Wellington's operations in Castile, then in full progress, would warrant one." " His forbearance must be taken as a proof of the purest patriotism." *

Thus things remained pretty quiet, though, with opposing armies in such close proximity, scenes of interest are sure often to occur. One day some of the 92nd being on outpost duty with a troop of Light Dragoons, the horse of one of the troopers becoming restive (probably provoked by the intention of the rider to desert), he asked permission to take it to the front to quiet it. On leaving the ranks Paddy said to his

comrades, " Now by J s, boys, I'll show you something

you never saw before ; " then he began to thrash and spur his horse, always moving further to the front, his comrades chatting him and his ofticer ordering him to desist ; hut he kept on spurring and swearing, till, having got about one hundred yards from the troop, he turned his horse's head, galloped oft' towards the enemy, and gained the French lines before his enraged comrades could catch him.

The British Government had neglected to supply money for the needs of the army, and Wellington wrote in July, " I have never been in such distress as at present, and some serious misfortune must happen if the (Government do not attend seriously to the subject and supply us regu- larly with money." " As it is, if we don't find means to pay our bills for butcher's meat, there will be an end to the war at once." The pay of the muleteers was a year, and of the officers and soldiers six months in arrear. While at Albuera, however, the 92nd received a supply of neces- saries, and pay up to the 24tli of the preceding March.

Education was not neglected during their periods of rest, and here Corporal MacEwen, of the (Irenadier (.'ompany, was appointed schoolmaster-sergeant. No one was allowed to ])e absent from the camp, and, by Sir Rowland's order, the roll was called by officers of companies four times by day and night at

* Napier.

294

THE LITE OF A RBOIMENT.

[1812

uncertaiu hours. The men weru also ortlered tu make hul« with branches for protection from the sun.

For ten days the enemy gave them little trouble ; but on the 30th, as the First Brigade were busy with their breakfasts, the alarm was given, the kettles were emptied, and away they went to dispute the passage of a body of cavalry approaching the advance post -, but after two hours the enemy retired, and the brigade returned to their camp and set about cooking dinner ; but just as it was ready, a second alarm forced them to stand to their arms and double to the front, where, this time, a skirmish ensued, in which some of the cavalry lost their lives, but the Gordons only lost their dinners ! That night officers and men remained accoutred.

Hill having no longer the same reasons for remaining on the defensive, assumed the offensive on the 1st of July, Moving in one column, his army encamped at Santa Martha and next day advanced in two columns ; the left, in which wa the 92nd, marched against the enemy at Villa Alba, where a combat of cavalry took place, the enemy retiring to a height^ where skirmisliing went on after the arrival of the Kiret Brigade, who, when the enemy finally retired, waded the Guadacia and moved some miles along its bank. In the evening they were proceeding to bivouac, when the enemy's artillery cannonaded them from an opposite height ; but after an exchange of shots and some manceuvring, the French withdrew, having wounded some of the Portuguese infantry and British artillerymen. A 92ud officer relates how at Villa Alba the Highlanders admii'ed the conduct, and regretted the fate, of a hussar of the King's German Legion, who, being attacked by a powerful F>ench dragoon, after a deal of dexterous sword play, killed him just as a second arrived to his as.sistance. To it they went, cut and thrust, till a third dragoon ran his sword through the gallant German, at the same moment that the point of the latter pierced his second antagonist.

From the banks of the Guadacira the battalion marched for two days through an enclosed country by Los Santos, and reached the town of Bienvenita at sunrise on the 5th. An oHicer and N.-G. officer with a spy-glass were posted in turn from each battalion of the brigade to look out from the steeple

1S12] THK GORDON HI6HLANDKR8. 295

and report the approacli of any body of troops. As they entered Llerena on the 7th they were welcomed hy the "Vivas" of the fair inmates of a suburban convent, who waved their handkerchiefs till the bonnets were lost to sight At Llerena the spy-glass on the steeple was again in use. On the morning of the 8th, the tixwps were at the dift'erent alarm i)osts half-an- hour before dawn, and remained till it was completely daylight, when they were dismissed to cook ; after which, Sir liowland Hill, at the head of his wliole corps, marched from Llerena to dislodge the enemy from the position he had taken up at Berlenga. The infantry moved direct upon that place, preceded by the Spanish Horse, while the British cavalry went round to the left in hopes of turning the French right. Six miles from Llerena the Spaniards drove in the enemy's advanced picketH, the French retiring in extended order, and skirmishing very prettily till they joined their main body. The 92nd, with the other infantry, continued to advance so as to arrive at a given point at the hour fixed for the liritish cavalry to attack. As they approached the height on which the French left was drawn up, the latter retired over a deep ravine and took post at a bridge, while their right wing, seeing the left retiring, evacuated IJerlenga and conformed to their movement. Mean- while the enemy's artillery saluted each battalion as it took up its ground, which compliment was returned by the British ; but the hopes of an engagement were disappointed by the non- arrival of the cavalry till the enemy liad withdrawn beyond pursuit. While the 92nd were forming, the parish priest came beside them to see the expected battle, but paid for liis curiosity with his life, being killed ]>y a stray shot.

At the close of this aflair, which in the morning had promised more brilliant results, the troops entered Berlenga, and in the evening bivouacked in its vicinity. Next mortiing they retraced their steps to Llerena. It was piping hot, for at that season the sun in Spain has almost tropical power, and not a drop of water was to );e had except when a half- dried pond enabled the men to scoop out a mouthful of mud and water with the wooden quaichs which most of them carried ; some who could not get even that refreshment were completely overpowered by the burning heat. It may interest some

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[IK12

to know how the quartering of a division in such a town as Llerena was performed. The quartermaster-general preceded the troops, accompanied by the brigade-majors, the qitaiter- masters of battaUons, and u N.-C, officer and intelligent soldier from each company. After marking off several houses for his general and staff, he split the rest of the town between the majors of brigades ; they, in their turn, provided for their generals and ataO', and then made a wliolesale division of streets among the quartermasters of regiments, wlio, after providing for their commanding officers and staff, retailed the remaining houses in equal proportion among the companies, so that when the regiment arrived the quartermaster had simply to tell each captain, " Here 'a a certain uumlier of houses for yoiL** Each battalion provided a subaltern to take charge of its own baggage on the march, each brigade a captain who to<jk charge of the baggage of the brigade, and a field officer looked after the whole baggage of the division.* That of the lieutenant- general and his staff led the way, then that of the brigadier of the leading brigade and bis staff, followed by that of the colonel of the leading battalion of the brigade and regimental staff, then that of the leading company of the battalion, and so on in regular succession. At the close of the day's march, each baggage officer reported to his superior up to the lieutenant-general.

Officers and men soon made themselves at home in their quarters, their comfort depending a good deal on the cordiality of their hosts, some of whom were surly, not without cause» suffering as they often did from the misconduct of iheir self- invited guests, both French and British. But the soldiers, in addition to their l>eef and bread, had generally plenty of vegetables, fruit and wine, and in the smaller towns and villages, where the battalion remained for a time, acquaintances were made, and sometimes romantic attachments were formed with the Spanish girls, whose natural ease and graceful manners made them equally at home both with officers and soldiers. Little dances were arranged in the houses or in the open air, where the Highlanders learned the bolero and the walt^;, while they initiated their partners in the mysteries of * Captain J. Kiucuid, and an officer ot tbo B2ud,

1812] THE GORDON HIGIILAKDEKS. 297

a foursome reel, or showed themselves in the sword dance to be as light-footed as the Spaniards in the fandango. l*aradc was regularly formed at seven in the morning and at 6.30 iu the evening. Inspections in marching order by general oHicers frequently took place, the men having their blankets and greatcoats neatly rolled and folded, their dres» and accoutrements " in the best possible order," " best hose and rosettes " being always particularly mentioned ; and on great occasions their purses on ; but these they never wore wlien marching or fighting, being left with the heavy baggage, or were strapped on the back of the knapsacks. The batmen with the ten company mules, the mule for the entrenchiiig tools, and the sergeants' pannier nmle, formed part of tlie parade. Every Sunday, when stationary, the whole «li vision invariably attended divine service.

The battalion furnished its share of the pickets which guarded every approach to Llerena, and remained undisturbed (except by an alarm which kept them under arms the night of the 18th) till the 20th, when they retired to liienvenita in the morning, and, resuming their march tl»e same evening, arrived at Zafra at sunrise on the 21st. Here they remained till the 28th, when General Hill marched at midnight with the First and Second IJrigades towards Villafranca, where his cavalry were stationed, and which was threatened by the French, who had been largely reinforced. The liattalion bivouacked at daylight in an olive grove near Villafrancji, about three miles from the enemy, and expecteil an immediate trial of generalship between Hill and Drouet. In the fore- noon a brigade of French artillery astonished Lheni by drawing up on a height opposite their bivouac and firing a royal salute, which the otticers at the outposts ascertained was in honour of a victory tliey supposed to have been gained by Marmont over Wellington at Salamanca. lUit Sir IJowlantl Hill immediately afterwards received an express with more aiitiicntic intelligence, and at once published the following ( )rder : —

Villafranca, July 2^ th, 1812. — Captain Maxwell's Ihigade of Artillery will tire a salute of twenty-one guns at twelve o'clock, being in honour of the glorious and important victory gained over the enemy at Salamanca l)y the army under the

29i<

TIIK LIFK OF A ItEUlMKNT.

(18l:»

immediate cammuud of the Earl of Wellioj^toii on the 22ml iiistaiiL. An extra ration of wine or spirits is to be issued to the British and Portuguese troopa to drink the Earl of Wellington's heftlth.

(Signed) J. C. Kook,

Asst-Adj.-Oenerai

The announcement was received with cheers loud enough Ui satisfy the neiyhhouring French outposts uf their mistake. Tliey did not await further proof, but retired before Hill, when he udvauced and took possession of Fuentes-del-Maestre, where the 92 nd bivouacked.

Next morning, however, the enemy attacked our cavalry in front of Villafranca, and the First Brigade was dispatchetl in haste to their assistance. Tlie day was spent in manteuvriug under a broiling sun, marching aud countermarching according to the loovemcuts of the enemy, but without bringing him to close quarters; in the evening the battalion went into canton- meats at Villafranca.

During their marches the troops were accompanied l>y the wives and children of the N.-C. officers and soldiei's, who received rations ; and though they sometimes caused anxiety, both to their husbands and the commanding ofticer, were of great use in nursing the sick, washing the linen of tlie officers imd men, etc., while their presence gave something of a home- like appearance to the camp or cantonments. They generally had donkeys, which they ro^le, or which carried panniers with their children and possessions; they were capital foragers, were as full of t.sprLt-de-vorps as the men, and bore llic fatigues of a campaign with the patient fortitude of their sex. I knew well an old lady who used to tell with pride liow, when a sudden order to march came while the linen of tlie men s!ie washed for was in the tub, she took advantage of the fact that she was billeted on a wood merchant to make a roaring fire, and succeeded in giving every man his dry shirt as he stood on parade, emerging, like Wellington at Fueutes d'Onor, undefeated l>y the diHiculties of the situation. She gave brandy to the wounded in the ensuing engagement, made her husband's breakfast before the fight of the next day, and ended her eventful life as the respected hostess of a hotel in

lSi2] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 290

Arg}'llshirti. Apropos of domestic life in the regiment is the stor^' of a soldier wlio returned from picket duty just before they marched from Bienvcnita to find liimself the father of twin hoys ; gazing at the helpless l>abes, and overwhelmed at the doubly increased responsibility, he exclaimed in accents of pathetic despair, " Gude preserve me, Betty Watt, what can I do wi' them ! "

R.O.,July 23rd. — In future, when any olhcer has occasion to stop the allowance of spirits to any man (as a punishment), the circumstance to be always reported to the command injj otiicer for his coucunence.

The above Order was probably occasioned by a story of Captain Dugald Campl)ell (the handsome sergeant-major of 1799), a gallant officer who had been in every action with the regiment, but who was as " drouthy " as he was bravo, and liked at legist double allowance ; at some bivouacs, how- ever, no liquor was to be bought. The stopped grog was supposed to be taken to the surgeon for the use of the patients, but Dugald, thinking himself as good a judge as a doctor of its disposal, applied it to assuiige his own thirst. On one occasion his company was in such good order tliat he had difficulty in finding any fault, but he pitched on a quiet young fellow, and stopped his spirits for having his belts dirty. On the parade being dismissed the quiet young fellow marched straight up to Colonel Cameron, who, surprised at being approached in such an unusual manner, a^sked what he wanted. " With your leave, sir, T want you to inspec-t nic." The Colonel asked what he meant, and the lad told liim his grievance, saying that he did not so much miml losing bis liquor as his character as a clean soldier. The Colonel investigated the matter, and it was understood thai " Dugald " had a very bad quarter of an hour with his stern chief.

During the hot weatlier the troops were, when practicable, cantoned in a town during the day, " but must invariably be out of the town at night." " Statt" ollicers to make themselves acquainted with all the roads so as to be able to conduct troops in whatever direction they may be ordered to march without going through the town." Kice and barley were issued daily to the men for their use.

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ri8l!2

Uu AugubL Itilh, BreveL-Mujor Eweii Mi'heifloii, 02nd, was appointed Town-Major of Lisbon.

At Villafranca the battaliou remained for nearly a mouth, Hili having been directed to act on tlio defensive, but at the same time to prevenl Brouet from succouring King Joseph. The French ouipusts were close by, iind five companies of infantry bivouacked every night two miles from the town, with Light Companies in advance, and cavalry in advance of them, their orders being not to engage in any- thing serious, but merely to give time to the troops in the town to turn out in case of attack.

One evening, when the right wing of the 92nd was on this duty, irregular tiring was heard in their rear, tlie troops stood to tiieir arms, and Colonel Cameron, whu wns in com- mand, took every precaution, thinking the French had eluded the vigilance of the outposts; but an officer with some men being sent to obtain intelligence, it turned out that the disturbance was caused by the Spaniards firing olT muskets to show their loyalty to King Ferdinand, and tl»eir joy on hearing that King Joseph Bonaparte had Hed, and that the Marquis of Wellington (this title having been conferred on him after Salamanca) had entered Madrid in triumph on thu 12th of August. In consequence of Wellington's success- ful movement on Madrid, Soult raised the blockade of Cadiz, and moved towaids Grenada. King Joseph had retreated to Valencia, and Hill received orders to follow and light Drouet.

Accordingly, on tlie 28th of August, Sir Kowland's Corps, including the 92nd, left VillatVanca and advanced to Usagre, and next night bivouacked near ViUa Garcia. On the 30th the battalion proceeded to Maquilla, leaving Llereud to their riglit ; on the 31sL they entered El Camp- illo and spent the day in the houses, but bivouacked near it for the night. Tiic enemy were i*etreating, and on the lat of September the troops had a very fatiguing march of fourteen hours over a parched, waterless country, under a scorching sun, and entered Zalamea, where they took posses- sion of great stores of grain left behind by the French. Here they met with a datteriug reception from the in-

1812] THE GORDON HIGHIANDRRS. 301

habitants, and the wine casks of the town apologised to the thirsty soldiers for the want of wells in the country. Marching by Quintana and La Hava, the battalion occupied Don Benito on the 4rth and halted. Here there were great festivities in honour of the raising of the siege of Cadiz, the town was illuminated, and the troops had a merry time.

I find in Regimental Orders about this time an expression of the commanding officer's "mortification at the disgrace attached to the regiment from the desertion of Kelly of the 6th Company and Wellbank of the 2nd Company," adding that "he does not dread a repetition of so infamous u crime."

A pensioner of the 92nd used to tell of two men of such bad character that none of their comrades would speak lo them, who finally deserted to the enemy. Some time after- wards one of these men found himself in the front rank of a French battalion, within hail of the 92nd ; for the French, not trusting the deserters they employed, were accustomed to place them in front, where, not daring to be taken, they were bound to fight.* It hap[>ened that the regiment had lately been served out with hose tartan ; the deserter, in bravado, stuck on his bayonet the piece of red and white cloth which he still retained, and impudently waved it at his old corps. The colonel's attention being drawn to it, turninj^ to the men he said — " Will someone send a pill with my com- pliments to cure that scoundrel's impertinence I " Norman Stewart and another crack shot knelt and fired, the " pill " went home, and the deserter's ilag was lowered for ever.

Some men of the First JJrigade had taken melons from the gardens, and " safe guards " were posted in the «^ardens and melon grounds near cantonments.

Colonel Cameron expected all his men to show an example of soldier-like bearing and good conduct, and considered the misbehaviour of even a few as a slur on the whole. He was " much concerned " at the misconduct of some men of the Ist Company at Don Benito, and tells the battalion that a con- tinuance of such behaviour will ensure their being sent "to

• French deserters do not aeem to have l>een alloweil to enter British regimeuts.

302

THK LIFK OF A REGIMENT.

[1812

the ruar, or to Gibraltar." He was a strict discipliuarian, and very particuliir ihnt tliere should be iiu straggling or irregu- larity ou the march, thereby eusuring the comfort of good soldiers und the character of the regiment, while the country people were eucourugt-d by good treatuient to bring in rejpilar supplies.

The retreat of Marshal Sowlt from Cadiz, and of the Cotmt d'Erlon (DroitetJ to join him, rendered Hill's presence in Estreiuadura no longer necessary, and he was directed to move by Alniarez upon Toledo and Aranjuez. for the pur{)ose of covering the capitiil while Wellington k-ft it to lay sie|,'e to Hurgos. Accordingly, the battalion left Don Benito ou the 13th of September, forded the Guadiana, and marched with the First Brigade to Majados, and, moving by Villa Macia, arrived at Truxillo on the l.">th. Here they halted till the 18th, when they bivonacked in the beautiful country near daraceijo, the place where they had remained concealed liefore tlie surprise of Almarez. On the 19th they proceeded througli the Pass of Mirabete, crossed the Tagus by a pon- toon bridge placed near the site of the one they had destroyed in May, and encamped in front of Almarez. The 50th Ijeiug the rear biittalinn of the column of march this day, on crossing the bridge, Colonel Stewart halted and formed line fronting the iHe-de-poni and Fort Napoleon, in the capture of wliich they hrad acted so conspicuous a part; the whole gave three tinies three cheers, the baud nil the time playing " God Save the King " ; they then followed the rest of the brigade, the bund playing "The Downfall of Paris," and " The British Grenadiers."

The line of march continued by Naval Moral, Calzada de Oropesa, and La Gurtera, where they halted a day; marching at midnight ou the 25th, they entered Talavera de la Keina next morning amidst the acclamation of the whole popula- tion, who had not forgotten the battle of Talnvera in 1809, or the Conduct of the British soldiei-s ou that occasion ; and Sir Rowland HiiFs desperate defence of the left of the position was spoken of by all with an admiration which was reflected on the troops now under his command. It was therefore with considerable regret that they took leave of the warm-liearted

1812] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 303

Talaverians on the 27tb, and inarched through miles of vine- yards, the fp^pes, ripe and -delicious, overhanging the narrow- roads in beautiful and inviting clusters. These autumn marches were very different to the summer heat and arid plains of Kstremadura, the peasants selling cheaply wine, peaches, plums and grapes, often giving fruit fur nothing to the soldiers as they passed along, and at night the troops either lay in the village houses, or bivouacked round bright firwood fires ; where groups might be seen listening to uld Highland tales, singing Gaelic or English choruses, such as the Skye soldiers' song * :

Tha mi'n duil Tha nii'n duil

Tha mi'ii duil ri bhi tilleadh Dk' iouiLsuidh Duthaich Mhic LkhmI Far am b og bha mi mireadh. Or—

'* The wind blew the bonnie lassie's plaid awa'."

Or a veteran of Egmont-op-Zee and Egypt would be heard reciting Corporal MacKinnon's poems. Nor were there want- ing songs inspired by more recent adventures, notably om> on Arroyo dos Molino.s, to the tune of "Hey, .lohnny Cope," in which the French Cleneral Gorard took tbo place of liis English prototype.

On arrival at their next halt, Cebollio, the Highlanders had, however, rather a cool reception. The reader may n-.- memlier how in Noveml)er 1808, wlien they entered Spain under Moore, some thoughtless people of the 71st had told the natives that the kilted men were cowards : this, like otlier scandalous tales, had spread further than the inventors of it intended, and had reached Cebollio, while the oontradietioii had failed U) do so, and the villagers looked on them as men totally unwortliy of notice : but the men could now talk .Spanish, and they told the people that they were proud of their distinctive and honourable dress, while the 7 1st were even more anxious than themselves to remove the impression which they deeply regretted their thoughtlessness had created,

* There were many Skye men in the regiment at thi» time.

304

THE LIFE OF A RBGIMICNT.

rj8i2

ao that the people were soon laughing heartily at their mistake, and the country was inundated with Highlanders proceeding by invitation to partake of the fruits of the sur- rounding vineyards.

Next day during the march they passed through five or six considerable towns, in each' of which tliey were received with every demonstration oF welcome, and at Torrejoa, where they halted, Sir Rowland was received by the magistrates iu their robes of office, and the town was illuminated in the evening. At Toledo, where they arrived on the 29th, the (iovernor, the magistrates, the famous guerilla chief El Medico, and many of the nobility and gentry, met Lhem a mile from the gates, congratuhiting their general on the favourable state of fiHairs, and cordially welcoming the tirst British troops who had visited them. When within the walls of this ancieut city, they were received with enthusiasm ; cheering crowds lined the streets, the balconies and windows were filled with ladies waving their handkerchiefs and throwing flowers as the soldiers passed, crying " Viva George III.," " Viva Wellington," "Viva Hill," ^* Viva Ferdinand VII." The troops halted in the principal squai-c, where every house was decorated with flags and gaily coloured cloth ; and in the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated.

Splendid spectacles have generally their comic incident. It was furnished here by a vendor of brandy, who went along the ranks bawling the excellence of his liquor. Thinking Colonel Cameron a likely customer as he stood giving oi-ders in front of his battalion in the square, he approached, roaring, •* Aguardente, Senhor, aguardente," holding out for admiration an enormous bottle. Whack came the cane of the angry Highland chief, the big-bellied bottle was flying in a thousand pieces ; and the spirit merchant bounded into the crowd, in ten-or lest his brains should follow his brandy, while a titter ran along the ranks.

On the 30th the battalion left Toledo (famous for the manufacture of sword blades), crossed the Tagus by the bridge under the walls, and bivouacked in a rich valley twelve miles up the river ; on the 1st of October they occupied Aranjuez, o handsome town atout twenty miles from Madrid, where, pre-

1812] THE GORDON HIGHIJINDBRS. 305

viou8 to the French invasion, the royal family resided for part of the year. Officers and soldiers were permitted to see the apartments of the palace, and three officers at a time were allowed four days' leave to Madrid.

During these campaigns, escorts were often sent to the rear with prisoners of war, or with sick and wounded, some- times bringing back from the hospital men who had recovered, or ammunition, etc. on mules. The muleteer is a great character, a jovial, wine-loving, hardy fellow, sleeping in the open with his pack-saddle for a pillow, a favourite with all the countryside. The peasants were often hospitable to the soldiers. In the mountain districts the Spanish peasants wore sheepskin coats, woolly side out, and kept enormous wolf-dogs to guard their sheep. In the plains they still tread out the com with cattle or mares instead of threshing it. They live frugally, and in the evening sit on stone benches in front of the cottages, singing and playing the guitar. They are fond of dancing. These escort duties were often pleasant excursions. Sometimes officers and soldiers fell in love with the agreeable girls they met in their billets, and many romantic adventures or ridiculous situations ensued. At times when the regiment had changed its quarters, the returning escort might lose its way and meet an enemy, as happened once when, on a sultry day, one of these parties arrived at the summit of a ridge where a grassy hollow invited a halt. The wooded rocks which partly surrounded it offered shado to the tired soldiers, while a spring of cold water quenched tlieir thirst. Presently the glitter of helmets was seen at a corner of the winding road, up which a foraging party of French dragoons wow. advancing. Not knowing which might be the stronger, the officer quickly moved his men and lay in ambush in the wood above, hoping the French would pass, and that he might tlicn resume his march in peace ; Ijut the place was so teHii)tiiig for a halt that the Frenchmen dismounted, watered their horses, and leaving them in charge of one or two of their number, the rest with the muleteers stretched themselves in tlie shade and proceeded to take a pull at the wine-skin. They were few in number, and the Highland officer, Ijaving croi)t to where he could see their an^angements, formed the design

V

306

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1812

of capturiuf; thora ami IIrmV spoil. He Jcsiicd hi.s litllu fi>i*ce trO line the rocks nliovf tlie unsuspecting marauders so as to cover them all. As he approached the rocks, a piper who was with him (probably returuiou convalescent), not un<lerstandiMg that stratii^em rather tlran strength was to be used, was alx>ut to blow the onset, when a tierce, if whispered, rebuke prevented his play from spoiling,' the i^me. Then, as his men suddenly appeared wilJi their lirelocks presented at the astonished dragoons, the young officer called to them in their own tonj^ue, " Surrcndfr, or you are dead men 1 " Their carbines were on their s;:iddles : there wa.s nothing to be done, and they did it ! The Highlanders had the satisfaction of rtgoining their battalion with their prisonei-s, and the price of the horses and mules made a handsome liniiig^ to their sporrans.

These little adventures were not always, however, so much to their credit An old soldier used to relate with preat ^lee how, being one of an escort on a long, hot, and dusty march, they halted and sat down to rest in the shade of some trees by I he road, while their ofhoer retired some little distance out of sight in the wood. Soon there appeared coming up the road a procession of peasants leading asses and mule carts laden with grapes, corn and wine, while a monk in his lonjj robe and bare feet, carrying a cross, led the way. The soldiers supposed he had been collecting tithes ; and thinking they would like a share, jumped up, and without .saying a word liegan to help themselves ; then they heard a peculiar sound from the front, and looking round saw the monk on his knees calling down curses <m their heads ; on which a wiM sort of young fellow named Sandy M'Intosh, reckless of the clerical anathemas, ran across the road, lifted his musket, which was not loaded, and pointed it at the poor monk, who» to their great amusement, sprang to Ida feet, threw dovro the cross, and, kilting his coats, ran away as fast as his legs could earry him. Having taken their toll they lot the carts go, and were much relieved to lind that the olhcer, who had prolmbly been taking a nap, knew nothing of their performance.

The battalion remained at Aranjuez in peace ami ]deiii for three weeks, waiting and hoping for news of tlie captun-

1812] THE GOBDON HIGHLANDERS. 307

Burgos, but a very different experience was before them. In October the army under Sir Rowland Hill, consisting of five divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, with several divisions of Spanish infantry and cavalry — in all, about 40,000 men — were concentrating about Madrid.* Soult, having reinforced himself from the armies of King Joseph and Suchet, was advancing with 60,000 men, including 8000 cavalry and 84 guns, to Sir Rowland's headquarters at Aranjuez ; his advance guard approaching the cantonments on the 22nd October. Wellington was before Burgos ; but the French army near him, under Souham, was also powerfully reinforced, and now greatly outnumbered the Allies, especially in cavalry and artillery.

Hill began his movements in face of tlie enemy on the 23rd, on which day the 92nd marched with the First Brigade from Aranjuez, crossed the Tagus and halted at Colmanar de Orijo. On the 2oth the First Brigade was ordered to protect the bridge of boats at Fueute Duena, nine miles soutli- eastward of Madrid, where they shifted the boats to the right bank, and the destruction of other bridges along the line was also commenced. On the morning of the 27th the enemy appeared on the opposite heights, and part of the First Iirigadi- lined the bank of the Tagus, and kept up a smart tire across the stream, which is here narrower than below Aranjuez ; l)ut the shots were rather long, and little execution was done. In a letter of Colonel Cameron to Sir Jolm Hope he says — " The enemy's cavalry Ijegan to make their appearance on the heights iKjyond the left bank in the most regular, cautious and beauti- ful manner I ever saw. Towards evening they dashnl down to the water's edge, tlieir skirmishers in the most superior style." Another ollicer of the 92nd mentions tliat sonui of tlie men were enjoying a bathe, wlien lliey were warnod of the rapid approacli of the Frencli cavalry. One strong swimmer was on the opposite bank as the enemy came up. when, making a contemptuous gesture, lie plunged in, and was striking out for his own side wlien an angry Frenolmiiiii galloped up, and deliberately levelled liis carbine. To slioot at an uuanned man was so entirely contrary to the eustoni of

* Alison and Colonel Cameron's letters.

308

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1814

civilised warfare, that a groan or shout of iailignatioii burst from the IVitish who were lining the bank, and the dragoon, ashamed of himself, lowered his weapon and rode off.

At ten o'clock that nit^ht t!ie First Rrii»ade broke up from Fuente Duena without beat of drum, marched the whole night and till one o'clock next day, when they occupied the village of Villa Conijos ; the same evenin<4 at seven o'clock they resumed their march, crossed the Taramo branch of tlie Tagus at Ponte Largo* at midniglit ; and at four o'clock on the morning of the 29th, tr.M>k up their ground un a strong position, where they found tlie rest of Hill's army concenti-ated, and where a fight was confidently expected.

The troops stood to their arms at daybreak, but as Soult did not attack^ the men cooked and took what sleep ihry could get, so as to be ready for whatever might hapf>en. It seems that Val de Moro was the position in which Hill intended to tight, and to it his army began to remove on the night of the 29th. " We were all in high spirits," .says Colonel Camei-on, " and I most certainly think had Josc])h and ^?oult come on, the contest would not have been long doubtful, but fate had determined otherwise ; and to the deep mortification (as it is said) of Sir Kowland Hill, he was ordered late that night to proceed f<irthwith to endeavour to effect a junction with Lord Wellington, who was on his retreat from Burgos."

Accordingly, next morning the 92nd passed close under the walls of Madrid, followed by the lamentations of the citizens. Rain poured an the downcast and wearied soldiers, w}io had no tents to shelter them from the storm when they halted for the night on the road to the Eacurial, which they reached on the 21st, and where they were quartered in tiie Palace. On the 1st of November they got to the foot of the

* HiU hiul ordered two arches of the bridge of Ponto LArgn to l»e destroyed, and the engineers were at work as the brigade crosaed. In the darkneaii an officer's horse nmimed liia head against the end of the big <lrum of the? 7 1 at • the hollow sound of the drum, luid the cries and noise occasioned by the kicking And plunging of the terrified steed, gave the idea tn thuao in rear that xUk mine wiu exploding. A panic ensued, whicli, tliough u ended in notlmig worse than some swearing and n guod dwil of taughtor, wni* very near Uavitii! Bcriou.4 results.

18121 THE GORDON HIGIILAN'DERS. 809

Guadarama Pass; and next morning had a stiff' ascent of three hours, and descending the western slope at a quicker pace, bivouacked at Villa Custiue as the sun set. Passing by lUasco Sancho, Foutiveras, Nunio Sancho, and Penaranda de Bracanista, they crossed the Guadarama, and proceeding by Buttaya, Trabancos, and Veutosa, passed through Alba de Tormes and encamped near it on the 7th, having ellected a close communication with Wellington about Cantaravella. The fields near their bivouac were still strewn with the wreck of the battle of Salamanca.* " Joseph and Soult," says Colonel Cameron, " followed us so closely that they did not take time to do much harm to Madrid. They constantly hung on our rear, but did not venture to press on us in the way the Northern Army did on Lord Wellington ; they, however, followed the same plan when we joined his lordship."

Before sunset on the 8th tlie First Brigade, supported by General Hamilton's Portuguese, was ordered to occupy Alba de Tormes and to defend it to the l.ist extremity. An old castle commanded the bridge over the Tormes ; a low dilapidated Moorish wall surrounded tlie town, which was divided into three districts, one of which was given to cucli British regiment (oOtli, 71st, 92nd), the Portuguese being dis- tributed between them. The streets were barricaded. One wing of each battalion lined the walls, the several companies Ijeing told off to their respective posts, the other wing being lield iu reserve in the square, relieving each other at intervals day and night. Colonel Cameron writes — " Wo did what we c ould to improve our situation during the short time left to uh ; I threw an old door across the place where tlie gate once had Ijeen, and barricaded it witli sticks and stones. We had not a single piece of ordnance. Just as the clock of Alba struck two, the French columns moved to the attack, and from that time till night we sustained a liurricane of shot and shell from twenty pieces of cannon. Their riflemen threw tliem-

• Soult, who was present at Queen Victoria's coronvtion in 183S, was delighted to meet F^ord Hill. " What, have 1 found you at last ? " he siiid ; "you whom I followed an long without ever being ahle to overtake you,'" alluding to Hill's masterly retreat from Madrid to Alba-de-Tormes.

:I10

Tltli'LlFK OK A UlfiGIMKNT.

[IHIi

selves iuto the. ditches uud mviues roumi ihe wulls, but their masses nevor forsook the protectiou of their iirtillery, which Wius most dastardly for Soult with 10,000 men."

Before the attack began a Freuf.h ollicer of rank rode uwir to the walls to examine the positiou ; sevcml of tlie 92nd were about to lire at him, but Cameron, whoso chivalrous tmlure slirauk from takin^; sueli an advantage, forliade them Lu shoot It was Sunk himself wlio was thus saved I *

I'he pickets of General Long's British cavalry were driven in on tlie 9th, and on the 1 0th their nuiiu body retired over the Tonnes. It was then the attack commenced. Tht lovvn was completely commanded from the heights ; 8000 French infantry were repeatedly formed for the assault of the l>lace ; ** but," writes an oliicer of the 92nd, " notwithstanding the dreadful showers of shot and shell which plunged and danced in llie streets in every direction, the bold and de- termined manner in which the soldiers who lined the walls did their duty, and tlie linnness of the officers commanding regiments, deterred tlieiu from making the attempt."

While part of the 92nd were lining the wall on the lUth, and continually exchunguig shots with the French skirmishers, who were firing l»riskly, Trivate Norman Stewart, wlio was an extraordiuariiy good shot, and who was sepamted by some little way from his comrades, placed his bonnet oo a stoue 80 as to look aa if it waa still on his head, which, however, he curried to a safe distance ; and proceeded to tire at the enemy with his " brown bess." which he lovingly called his '* wife," aud if a Frenchman advanced nearer than he liked, would say, " Dia, mar dean thu * lialt ' gheibh thu pog o m' bhcau " (" By G-d, if you'll no' halt, you'll get a kiss o* my * wile * **). When the French retired Nonnan took np his bonnet, which was a hopeless wreck ; he tried it on jmiidst the laughter of his comrades, which attracted the attention of Colonel Cameron, who scoldeil him for destroying his necessaries ; but, hearing how it happened, gave him u kindly clap on the

* This incident in mentioned in Qrant'« *' Romance of Ww." It wm, however, told to me l>y an officer loui< before that book wix* written, and is nn instAnce of the gcnei-al oecurncy of the M'riter, who<<e stonce of *' The lligh- lAnders in Spain " were told him by lii» f.'itber, wlio was at thut time an oliicer LU the 92ud.

1^12] THE GOKBON HIGHLANDERS. 311

shoulder, saying in Gaelic that he would give him a new bonnet — " Aye, or two if you want thera."

There was a nunnery in the town much exposed to the fire, and the poor inmates were running in all directions seeking shelter, and invoking all the saints for protection. The French having command of the road by which supplies should have come up, the men were badly oil" for bread; but discovering a store of wheat, they ground it between stones for supper, and next day they found flour and set the bakers to work.

From the 10th to the 14th the brigade held Alba, during which time the enemy manoeuvred along the banks of the Tonnes, as if desirous to cross and bring matters to an issue on that side. An officer and a sergeant with a telescope were always on the castle to report the motions of the enemy, whose hght troops kept up a skirmish the whole time ; but such was the steadiness of the troops that he dared not venture to assault a place assailable at all points, and with no other defence than the brave soldiers of the First Ikigade.

R.O.y Alba de Tonnes, November 12th, 1812. — The pibroch will never sound except when it is for the whole regiment to get under arms ; when any portion of the regiment is ordered for duty and a pipe to sound, the first pipe will be the warning, and the second pipe for them to fall in. The .pibroch only will, and is to be considered, as invariably when sounded, for every person off duty to turn out without a moment's delay.

No. 2. — Captain MacPherson will have charge of the duties of the right wing, and Captain Seton those of the left wing ; the commanding otHcer being occasionally out witli both.

R.O., November Vdth, 1812. — For the working party in front of the line, Lieutenant Winchester. For the lookout at the castle. Lieutenant Hobbs (to report any movement of the enemy). The baggage to be loaded, and assemble in the square, agreeable to Brigade Orders. For baggage guard, Lieutenant Ross.

The main army having gained suflicient distance, and the enemy having crossed the Tormes above Alba, the troops tliere

312 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. t>81'2

were recalled on the 14th. They withdrew iu perfect order, blew up the bridge ; and as the colonel says in his letter, " The last sentinel of the 92nd knocked the Frenchman opposite to him heels over head."

During this trying and determined defence on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, the loss of the defenders was 100 in killed and wounded ; the 92nd had 8 men killed, and Lieutenant Andrew Will and 33 N.-C. ollicers and men wounded, of whom 7 died of their wounds.

Killed in Action. Died of theik Wounds. Private Murdoch Mac Donald. Private W. Rennie.

„ Thos. Macmillan. „ Murdoch MacKenzie.

„ Donald Ross. „ A. MacPherson.

„ David Shairp. „ W. MacDonald.

„ George Simpson. „ Thos. Leitch.

„ George Weston. „ Robert Brown.

„ Walter Moir. „ David Philips. „ George Stewart.

On the 14th of November, Major-General Howard was transferred to the First Brigade of Guards, and expressed in Orders his warmest thanks to Lieut.-Colonels Stewart of the 50 th, the Hon. Cadogan, 7 1st, and Cameron, 92 nd, for their zeal and attention, and to the officers, N.-C. officers and soldiers for their general good conduct on every occasion ; "and it was probably owing to the steadiness of the troops that the enemy did not choose to pursue the attack on this town, which they commenced with so brisk a cannonade and such a superiority in point of numbers on the 10th inst.; " and the major-general expresses his regret at leaving the brigade, and his approbation of Captain Blassier in command of the 60 th Ritie Company.

I

r I*

♦

CHAPTEK XVII.

The battalion, with the First Brigade now comiuauded by Ueut.-Colouel (Brigadier-General) Stewart of the 50 th, rejoined the Second Division on the Ampiles, where Wellington concentrated his united force of 60,000 men, and prepared to give battle to Soult with 90,000. The weather in the evening was horrible; the men were without tents, their clothing worn bare ; provisions were scarce, and of money they had none. The only thing that kept up their spirits was the chance of beating the enemy, whose infantry they could see on a height a mile away, while an immense body of his cavalry was drawn up on the plain below. The Second Division, not having been at Salamanca, were in hopes of taking part in a repetition of that victory on the same ground.

On the morning of the 15 th, the Allies were drawn up in order of battle. All forgot their hardships, and expectation was at its height ; but Soult declined the challenge and manoeuvred to the British right, threatening to cut oft' their communication with Portugal, from whence their supplies came. In con- sequence of this the order to retreat was given, causing gloom and dismay where before tliere were cheerfulness and confidence; but everyone felt satisfied that nothing but the most pressing necessity had compelled their chief to retire before his adversary. Wellington, feeling too weak to attack, and seeing the enemy's cavalry pointing to the Ciudad llodrigo Koad, suddenly formed three columns, and defiled in order of battle before the enemy at little more than cannon shot, carried his army round the French left, and crossed the Valmusa River. In this bold manoeuvre he was favoured by fog and rain, which rendered the lanes and fields by which the enemy moved nearly impassable, while he had the use of the high roads. About 2 p.m. the Second Division marched on the high road to Ciudad Rodrigo, crossing a Hooded plain, where their dress

9 314 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [181'i

gave the Highlanders an advantage, but soon a stream swollen by the heavy rain took the men to the middle. On gaining the rising grounds the 92 nd had entered an open wood, when the F'rench cavalry made a furious charge right up to the bayonets, but were so roughly handled that they took themselves off without doing much damage, nor did they receive serious injury from the Highlanders, whose ammunition was wet, and many muskets would not go off, but they lost some men and horses by the fire of our artillery.

Although they are not noticed in " Cannon's Record," it appears that Private Donald MacLeod was killed on this day ; and Private Andrew Sibbie died of his wounds on the 18 th, though it does not appear on what date he was wounded.

The Gordons bivouacked in a wood behind the Rio Valmusa. They managed to light fires with the wet branches and thus got some large trees kindled, which gave out a good heat.* Bread was so scarce that at one place a Staff officer asked a peasant journeying with his wife and children to Ciudad Rodrigo to sell him a loaf he was carrying, and offered a doubloon (about £4). The man refused, saying, " My little ones cannot eat gold."

On the 16th, l7th, 18 th, and 19 th the allied army con- tinued its retreat. The 92nd bivouacked near Matilla on the 16th, behind the Rio Cuebra on the l7th. During these days the rear-guard was engaged more or less with the enemy. On the 18 th, the battalion bivouacked near Moraes Verde. The French cavalry pressed on them, sometimes riding so close as to bandy wit in Spanish with the British, and any man who fell to the rear was sure to be taken prisoner. As a battalion was halted for rest, they might see a column of dragoons in their brass helmets and white cloaks appear upon the scene, ready to charge; but the infantry stood to their arms, and showed that, though retreating, it would not be safe to molest them. The enemy penetrated in the forest between the columns of march, and once made a dash at a party of officers,

* There were no lucifer matches in those days. Flint and steel and tinder or gunpowder were used to light tires, a man kneeling to fan the flame with the apron of his kilt — the " Highlandman's bellows."

1812] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 315

taking some prisoners, among them Lieut. -General 8ir Artlnir Paget. The rivers were all in spate, and only passable at fords. At. one of these a mule, laden with biscuit, with the proverbial stubbornness of his kin<l, stopped in mid-stream and declined to move. The 92nd had crossed, and part were left t<» guard the passage of commissariat from the pursuing French, who were coming up on the other side. The muleteer bolted, and the precious bread seemed sure to be lost, when a bugler, gathering up his kilt, waded back, mounted the mule behind the panniers, and, leaning forward, sounded the " advance " in its ear; the startled beast obeyed double quick, and as the plucky boy landed, a voice from the rocks above called, " Well done, my lad, you shall have all the biscuit ! " It was Brigadier- General Stewart, commanding the ])rigade, who had been watching the performance, and the narrator, who was in the bugler's company, added, " We had a real good feed that night."

It is customary in Spain to drive the swine into the oak forest to feed on the acorns. One night a fusilade was heard as the hungry soldiers shot the pigs, causing the troops to stand to their arms, thinking the enemy was upon them, which afterwards drew a severe rebuke from the general. Some of the 92nd were about to join in this noisy proceeding, when a young officer said, " Don't shoot them ; stick the beggars ! " His advice saved both their credit and their bacon, and that officer found a pork chop placed liandy for his supper !

" In nine cases out of ten a bivouac is more or less enjoy- able, but from the 15th to the 19th anyone unacquainted with the service could hardly be persuaded to credit the sufferings we endured ; deluged with rain, roads deep and miry, re- peatedly fording rivers and streams, some of them breast high. The ground of our bivouacks soaked, no dry wood to be had, fires smoky and cheerless ; miserably provided, liaving neither bread, biscuit, nor tiour." ''^'' The olUcers and men were to be seen gathering acorns to eat instead of bread with tlie beef which they cooked in the aslies on the points of swords or ramrods, for the camp kettles were with the baggage and often a day's march aliead of the troops, but tliey had bullocks

• Schcrer.

316 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [1812

driven aloug, which, if they arrived in time, were slaughtered as they halted. The marches were not long, but from the circumstances and nature of the ground tliey took a long time, and the men had an immense weight to carry, for the ordinary marching order weighed about 60 lb., besides the blanket; while the feeling of retreat has always a depressing effect, and the difficulty of bringing the various columns along without jostling, and if possible without being attacked, caused long and tiresome halts.

On the 18 th, a handful of Indian corn was issued to each man, which they ground between large stones, passing them from one to another till far on in the night, while the noise banished sleep. On the 19th, the 92nd went into quarters in a miserable little village crowded to excess; the people had little to spare, but the commissary managed to buy potatoes, of which each man got 2 lb. The baggage was here restored, and, miserable as were the cottages, officers and men recovered their gaiety as they roasted chestnuts and boiled their potatoes in the chimney corners.

The enemy had now given up the pursuit; they had gathered a great spoil of baggage and over 3500 prisoners. In the whole retreat of Wellington's army from Burgos, to- gether with that of Hill's from the Tagus, the loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was not less than 9000 men — British, Portuguese, and Spaniards, including those lost in the siege of Burgos. The loss of Hill's army, however, between the Tagus and the Arapiles was only 500 in killed, wounded, and prisoners, including that of the First Brigade at Alba.

It being rumoured that Soult intended to invade Portugal by the valley of the Tagus, Hill's troops were moved as far as Robleda, to which place the 92nd marched on the 20th. An officer of the battalion describes its appearance on parade. He compares the jackets to " parti-coloured bedcovers," the " cloth- ing literally composed of shreds and patches." Colonel Cameron, writing to Sir John Hope of the campaign from the 27 th of October, says — *' Since that time to the 20th November we have been exposed to more hardships than I thought the human frame could bear. Mine, I know, had very nearly yielded. In weather which would have been thought inclement in England,

1812] THE GORDON HlGHLANDERa 317

with the canopy of heaven for a covering, weL, cold, and hungry, we were marching day and night generally. During the days of the 16th, I7tli, and 18th, fifteen poor fellows of the 92nd fell down and were lost. My heart bled for them."

Robleda was a dirty place, and the streets and Innes where they were cantoned were at once cleaned by the battalion.

Ii.O., Robleda, 22nd November 1812. — Ofiicers command- ing companies will please arrange with the batman and servants of their companies to give up their kilts for the purpose of mending the kilts of the duty men ; such batmen and servants as give up their kilts to march in their pantaloons till the new clothing is issued. The shoemakers and tailors to be constantly employed in mending the shoes and clothes of their companies. The commanding officers of companies to report personally as to the state and appearance of their com- panies, and on the arrangement made with the batmen and servants respecting their kilts.

R.O.y Bobleda, 22nd November. — Sergeant-major Ewen Kenedy is appointed to do duty as quartermaster-sergeant, in room of Quartermaster-sergeant Cameron, promoted to a com- mission. Sergeant Duncan Macpherson is appointed to do duty as sergeant-major until further orders, in room of Ser- geant-major Kenedy, appointed quartermaster-sei-geant.

Men who had l)een guilty of any misconduct during the march were ordered for drill. The officers and men received their pay up to the 24th of June.

On November 22nd it was announced that a battalion, to be called the 13th Eoyal Veteran Battalion, is to be formed at Lisbon. Ten companies of 100 rank and file of men from difiercnt regiments who are fit only for garrison duty. The lieutenants to be tnmsferred from the lino, or old (quarter- masters or ensigns who have been N.-(.\ officers. The ensigns to be entirely deserving N.-C. officers. St»rgeant Symon and thirty-six rank and file of tlie 92nd were transferred to this battalion.

R.O. — Prisoners who are not to be tried by Court-martial to be employed on all regimental fatigues, and all prisoners to parade, properly dressed, in rear of the battalion, and to be inspected by the officers of tlieir coin])anies.

318 THE LIFE OF k REGIMENT. [1812

On the 28th of November the 71st and 92nd, under Colonel Cameron, marched to San Payo, and thence across the Sierra de Gate, in lovely weather and through splendid scenery, the road winding, rugged and dangerous, through thick woods overhanging steep precipices and round the boldest rocks, which re-echoed the sound of pipe tune or marching song. They lay that night in Perales, and on the 30th they occupied Casas de Don Gomez. During the march the usual measures were adopted to prevent men from falling out ; one of these was stopping the allowance of wine ; another, which seems a little hard, was not dismissing a company till any straggler belonging to it came in ; but as an old Peninsular soldier said to the writer, " If the officers didna claw us, the general would claw them." They went into quarters on the 1st of December at Corea, a town of about 600 houses, prettily situated on the River Alagon. Here newspapers arrived, and there was plenty of game to shoot. There was a good market, and they were well supplied with food and wine, also with shirts and other necessaries from Lisbon ; but the colonel, not wish- ing to put the men to the expense of new fatigue pantaloons, " will not at present order new ones, and hopes that by a little care and mending they may stand for some time, and such men as have none may make them out of old greatcoats brought by the quartermaster from Lisbon." The names of all N.-C. officers and men who were present with the battalion between the 15th and 19th November are to be sent to the Orderly Room, agreeable to General Order, probably for them to get an allowance for clothing. Many men were in hospital at Corea ; and Lieut-Cxeneral Sir W. Erskine, commanding the cavalry of Hill's Corps, Colonel Stewart of the 50th and Colonel Wilson, 39th, died from the effects of exposure. A good many had died or been invalided from the 92nd during the past year, a return of Walcheren fever and ague being often the cause ; with rare exceptions, the invalids were described as of " good character." At Corea the battalion had resumed its usual smartness. Any man seen walking in the streets in a slovenly manner, or not prf»perly dressed, " to be ordered to his quarters by any officer who meets him."

1812] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 319

At this time Wellington addressed a circular letter to the superior officers of the army. After sayin<^ that he will be able to keep the troops in cantonments for some time, and that clothing and necessaries are on their way to the different divisions, he draws particular attention to discipline, which, he remarks, becomes relaxed in every army after a long and active campaign. He goes on to declare " that discipline had deteriorated during the last campaign in a greater degree than he had ever witnessed or ever read of in any army, and this without any disaster, any unusual privation or hardship, save that of inclement weather ; that officers had from the first lost all command over their men, hence outrages of all kinds and inexcusable losses had occurred. No army had ever made shorter marches in retreat, no army had been so little pressed by a pursuing enemy ; and that the true cause of this unhappy state of affiiirs was to be found in the habitual neglect of duty by regimental officers. He does not question their zeal, far less their gallantry, but their constant and minute attention to the conduct of the soldiers, as well as to their arms, amnmnition and food ; and remarks the facility with which the French soldiers cooked in comparison with our army," etc.

These severe reproaches caused great dissatisfaction. It was felt that in some particulars they were founded on state- ments which were unintentionally inaccurate. The marches, though short as to distance, were long as to time: "the troops, ankle-deep in clay, mid-leg in water, lost their shoes, and with strained sinews heavily made their way, and withal they had but two rations in five days." * " Wellington knew not that the commissjiriat stores he had ordered up did not arrive regularly because of the extreme fatigue of the animals who carried them, and were often not available because the con- ductors, alarmed by reports of the enemy's cavalry, carried ofV or destroyed the field stores." f The destruction of the swine, though it was a serious loss to the unfortunate owners, may be in some measure palliated, beoiiuse that evening the soldiers had nothing but acorns to eat : but no doubt tliere had been great disorder in some parts of the retreat, and nnich of

• Napier. t Ibi«f.

320 THE LIFE OF A REOIMKNT. [1812

the suffering of all arose from these very disorders on the part of some. If soldiers break up the arrangements of their general by want of discipline, they have no right to complain of the misery which those arrangements were designed to prevent. The circular was not strictly just because it ex- cepted none from blame; and those brigades and battalions who knew that they had honestly done their duty felt that their hard working, if unobtrusive exertions had not been appreciated.

With regard to cooking, that most important part of military lore — for an army marches on its belly — a N.-C. officer of the 92nd remarks that the camp kettles then in use were made of strong iron to hold sixteen quarts for twelve men, and were carried on mules ; and when the troops were engaged with the enemy or retreating before him, the baggage often did not arrive till midnight ; but in 1813 they got light kettles, one to six men, which they carried themselves, and then they could cope with the French in cooking as well as in fighting.

An officer of the 92nd admits that discipline was permitted to relax to a criminal degree in some regiments ; " but I cannot allow that the misconduct of one or of a dozen battalions could ever form a good apology for bestowing upon the others a sweeping censure for offences which they knew they had never committed." He believes that if Wellington had taken a little time before giving vent to his indignation, he would have distinguished between the guilty and those who had done their duty under all circumstances. Since, however, this course was not followed, he affirms " publicly and un- hesitatingly, that every officer in the regiment to which I belonged performed their several duties with credit to them- selves and advantage to the service ; and I fearlessly assert that throughout the whole of the retreat, the N.-C. officers and privates obeyed the orders of their oflicers with the same cheerfulness and alacrity for which they have ever been distinguished." Colonel Cameron seems to have been of the same opinion, for in Regimental Orders he ciills attention to the orders of the Commander of the Forces, and " in the most pointed manner " desires that they may l>e enforced

1812]

THE GORDON HIGnLANDERS.

321

Uy the captains of roin panics, iiiitl that they see that the subalterns and N.-C. otliccrs exert themselves " to prevent in the 92nd Regiment what has given occasion to the Conimander of the Forces so stron<;Iy to animadvert opon Lbe conduct of some other corps." Sergeant Ilobertson writes that after the imputation cast on the commanding oflicers, discipline was exercised with the utmost rigour. " Tlie 92nd Wiis not so severely dealt witli as several regiments ; but whetlter we deserved it or not, T cannot say."

R.O., Drrvmher 2Wt. — The commanding oflicer requests oHicers commanding companies will endeavour to give their men as good dinners as they possibly can to-morrow antl something (extra) far breakfast, as it is Christmas Day, and thai they will see them at it.

A letter from the adjutant-general, Horse Guards, to Lord Wellington was published at Corea. His earnest attention is requested by command of IT.U.H. the Commander-in-Chief to a branch of the service front wliich H.R.H. expects the most essential lienefits will be derived ; " I allude to the establish- raent of military chaplains ^m\ the duties which attach to them." The letter continues that the chaplains have " been selected with the utmost care and circumspection by the first prelates of this country." They are to have the pay and allowances of major, and are to receive from all persons that respect which is so justly due to their rank and profession. They are to visit the sick and the hospitals at least twice a week. At divine worship no more are to be assembled at one time than the voic« can reach ; service to close with a " short practical sermon suited to the habits and understandings of soldiers " — "in confonnity with the custom of the Established Church." *

R.O., 2^th December 1812. — The detachment joined this day, under Lieut. Macplierson, to be posted to companies, f

* Regimentol chftplains had been done away thirteen years before* becauM the duty ww not properly performed. There were no paid Presbyterian or Roman CathoUc army chaplainB till a much later period. — Clode'a " Military Force* of the Crown, "

+ In monthly ruturns, dated 25th Jammry IKI.% mention is mad© of Liout. Ronald Mocdonald, two aergeanta, and thirty -six rank and lik aa having joined from the 2ud Battalion then in Scotland, and two rank and file from Portugal.

X

322 THE UFE OF A REGIMENT. [1813

R.O., Corea, Z\st December 1812. — As to-morrow is New Year's Day, the commanding officer recommends it to officers commanding companies to feed their men well by letting them have a breakfast and as good a dinner as they can upon that occasion, and that they will visit them at their meals.

No doubt their Spanish hosts entered into the festivities of the soldiers, who would keep up " first footing " and " Oidche Challuinn " with all the spirit of their country ; the Spanish wine making the best of " plotty," and aguardiente doing duty for mountain dew as the dram which rewards the rhymers in the latter quaint old custom.*

RO., Corea, Brd January 1813. — It is intended to com- mence the regimental school to-morrow. Such N.-C. officers and men as wish to attend it will be allowed leave from even- ing parade daily and from one day's duty each week ; and the commanding officer strongly recommends the officers to advise their N.-C. officers and the young men of their companies to attend the school as a thing which will tend so much to their own advantage hereafter.

Corea, 5th January 1813. — The battalion will march to- morrow morning at eight o'clock, agreeable to this day's brigade orders. First pipe to sound at half-past six.

• On New Year's Eve, known in the Lowlands as " Hogmanay," and as " Oidche Challuinn " in the Highlands, the people gathered at the residence of the principal person of the place and marched round the house three times from east to west (deiseil) chanting an inrocation for a blessing on it and all within, such as —

Beannaich an tigh '■ na bheil ann,

Eadar fhlodh 'tu chlach 'ns chrann,

Moran bidhe 'us pailteaH eadalch,

Sliinte dhaoiue gun robb ann.

At the door each was admitted only after reciting a verse or sentiment (duau), which the mistress rewarded with a dram. A bit of singed wool from the breast of a sheep (caisein Calluinn) was handed round under the noses of the guests, who were supposed to pretend the smell delicious. After this, a man with a bull's or other hide drawn over his head and shoulders entered and ran through the house, the others shouting and laughing and beating him with sticks till he gained the outside. All were entertained by the master, and the night was spent in singing and dancing.

This ceremony, which I have seen several times in the West Highlands, is no doubt very ancient in its origin, and symbolical in character, but is seldom practised of late years. It is, however, still continued in the regiment, though in more modern fashion.

THE liOItDON HIGHLANBKTIS.

323

This unexpected move was caused by an expedition of the French, under General Foy, for the capture of Bejer, a town about half-way between Salamanca and Corea, in order to ascertain if any large body waa collected behind it, for the vivacity of Sir Rowland Hill troubled the French, on whoio his successful enterprises had made a profound iinpresaion, so that his slightest change of quarters caused them to concentrate their troops, expecting one of his sudden blows. Also the enemy was aware that, a large quantity of woollen cloth was in the possession of a tuanufacturer there, and, iH^in^; Imdly off for clothings they intended to seize it.

Sir Rowland Hill, on receiving notice of this intention, at once sent the First Brigade, then under command fif Lieut.- Colonel Cameron of the 92nd, to prevent it. The 7 1st and 6th Caqadores moved fi*om Monte Hermosa to aid the in- habitants of Bejcr, while the 50th and 92nd were pushed forward from Corea to Monte Hermosa. These movements convinced Foy that the rich prize would not be tamely given up, and he thought it prudent to retire.

The (Jordons regretted their agreeable quarters at Corea, for Monte Hermosa was exclusively occupied liy fanners, who in Spain do not generally reside on their farms ; the streets were filthy and in bad repair, the houses had wooden shutters in place of glass in the windows, giving a choice between darkness and a draught, and wore altogether rather comfortless, liut if the farmers were slovenly in their habits, they had an example of the contrary in the Highlanders, whose command- ing olhcer was most particular on that point; the streets were cleaned, and the main guard had orders to confine any man seen in the market not properly dressed with side aims — as an old soldier said, " H you had but ae button on your coat ii bode to be bricht."

The battalion was practised constantly in light infantry drill, and the men were employed in taking down the feather^^i from their old bonnets, and in dressing them and putting them in gootl order for the new bonnets. " They will likewise wash i'iind clean their heckle feathers, as it was not in the command- ing ollicer's power to prwure new ones for them. Every man

324 THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT. [18>3

who has any knowledge of tailor work is to be employed with the clothing. The commanding officer expects that every man is now supplied with good gartering and rosettes."

Monte Hermosa, 2l8i Jamuiry 1813. — Sergeant John M'Combie of the Grenadier C!ompany is appointed to do duty and receive pay as quartermaster-sergeant until further orders, in the room of Quartermaster-sergeant Kenedy, promoted to a commission.

On the 24th, the commanding officer was so well pleased with the schoolmaster-sergeant's report that, unless particularly ordered to the contrary, the scholars are excused morning parade every second day.

The following prices of necessaries may interest soldiers of the present time.

B.O., Monte Hermosa, January 1813. — Prices of articles furnished by Quartermaster MacFarlane, fixed by a board, the tradesmen's bills being produced — Shirts, 6 s. 8d. each ; black gaiters, 2s. lid. a pair; grey trousers, 10s. 6d. a pair; shoe brushes, 2s. 3d. a pair ; gartering, 3d. a yard ; writing paper, 38. 6d. a quire ; a paper of ink-powder, Is. 6d. ; soap, Is. 4d. a lb. ; tobacco, 4s. 6d. a lb. ; a razor, lOd. Hose tartan to be charged to officers commanding companies at 2s. 8d. a yard, and by them to the men at the rate of 2 s. a pair.

On the 3rd of February the battalion was inspected by Sir Rowland Hill in their new clothing ; knapsacks neatly packed, greatcoats and blankets well folded and rolled, canteens well cleaned, etc. The haversacks, being so bad, were not to be worn, and, as the feathers had not been put up, they paraded in " humble bonnets.'^ The men to wear purses, but, as all had not got them, " the front rank men and the flanks of the rear ranks will be completed with purses."

At Monte Hermosa the officers and soldiers of the battalion received their share of prize-money for the captures at Arroyo dos Molinos, and also their pay up to the 24th of September last, the captains to retain a sufficient sum to provide their companies with vegetables. The men were now rich, and " oificers commanding companies are to cause all the wine houses in their cantonments to be shut up at eight o'clock,

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TllK CUUUON UltlHLANDElCS.

325

[jatrols tt» ck*ar thi'. itiiust.'.s afk'i- that hour," imil llm Alcalde JSiiued a piockuuiUuu to iHtiVtsuL the iiihabitunts sulliu^ wiue after that hour. Still, many a jovial eveniug was spent hy the soldiers with their hosts and thuir wives and daughters — dancing, or singing in Spanish, English, and Gaelic. So the time passed, till the second week in February, when General Foy put a stop to their gay doings by making another dasli at iJejer. Sir Kowland Hill, however, received timely notice, and ordered the brigade to advance. When the 7 1st and Ca(jadores occupied Bejer on the 12th of February, Foy was only a few miles from it, but on hearing of the British advance he again retired. To secure the place against futui-e attacks, the 50th and Cacadores were thrown into Bejer as a jHjrmanent garrison; the 71st occupied the vilhige.s of I'uerta de Banos and Candaieria, and the 92nd the town of Banos. The 60th Ptitle Company were quartered in Herbas.

A few days after this attempt had been frustrated, Foy, thinking to gain his object by surprise, advanced again at the head of 3000 picked troops, with so much secrecy that one of the outlying pickets was nearly surrounded before its ottiecra knew thai the enemy was nearer than Salamanca. Driving in the pickets, the French were before the gates of TJejer in a few minutes, expecting an easy conquest of tlie place and the stores it contained. The attack was made witli all the bravery cliaracteristic of their nation, but the entrances were guarded with uullinching courage by the aid 50th; and uutwithstaud- ing Ms superiority of numbers, Foy, after reiterated attempts, was unable to intrude himself into Bejer society, and retired with the loss of a luindred killed and wounded, his A.D.C. being amongst the latter. On the first notice of Foy 'a attack, Cnlonel Cameron, comnianding the Ijrigade, advanced the I>2ml and four compaines of the 71sL, but they were too lale to take part in the action. The 92nd were now cantoned in llanos, which town is situated in a narrow valley surrounded by rugged niountains, on tlie borders of the provinces of Leon and Estremadura. Peiii>k resorted to it from all parts of SpaiFi on account of its hot mineral springs, and the houses were furnished in a superior manner for the aecommodatiou of

tn

THE UFK t)F A REGIMENT.

tl8l3

visitors, so the battalion found themselves in most comfortable quarters. In April a draft of forty-six N.-C. officers and men joined from the 2nd Battalion. The people of Banos were famous for their industry, and for their loyalty to their sovereign and tlie cause of Spain, and the Highlanders and inhabitants were soon on most friendly terms. An officer of the 92nd describes tlie pleasant situation in which *' our merry blades " found tiiemselves on entering Banoa, " where in every house the nut-brown knee and weather-beaten countenance met with nothing but smiles and the most marked attention," " The longer we remained among them the more friendly did the townspeople become, till the soldiers and the Inhabitants of each house messed together as one family, the former furnishing beef, bread, etc., and the latter pork, oil, and all sorbs of vegetables." The spring is a glorious season in Spain, flowers and creepers surround the houses, and the people* sit smoking ami singing in the evening air. The dancing parties were started again, Highland games were practised, and all went happily till a sad event cast its gloom over the battalion.

" In tlie latter end of March, a military execution of a most alth'cting description took place. The crime for which the unfortunate young man was condetuned to die was deser- tion to the enemy, and attempting to stali the N.-C, officer who apptoheuthHi him. A little before the hour of execution, t!»e regiuient was drawn up so as to form three sides of a square, the other side was left open as the place of execution. Tlie schoolmaster-sergeant accompanied the poor lad to the fatal spot, and all the way from the village reail portions of Scripture. On their arrival at the point assigned them, the criminal jfunod very audibly in singing a few verses of a Psuliii, and then, after Bpending a few minutes in prayer, the fatal cap was drawn over his eyes, and the provost-niarshal with his party advanced from the rear to carry the sentence into effect. At tliis awfully aftbcting part of tlie scene the whole regiment, officers and men, knelt down, and, on belialf of him who then stood on the verge of eternity, offered up hunibk' supplication.s to the throne of mercy. In a few

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THE (iOKlJUN llJliJILANDKKS.

327

uiomeiits the i>aity Hrud, auti in aii instaiiL Llii; world closud upon the culprit for ever,"

The above is taken from the memoir of an otticer of the regiment.*

Although there, was no sympathy with the erimtj of desertion to the enemy, there secuLS to have lieen an impred- sion that the man was nut at heart a traitor to his country, but liad l>een led Li> the rash act by a love affair.

While at Banos the men who had enlisted in 1806 fur seven years were given the opijortiinity of renewing their engagements. Men not above thirty-five years of age were allowed to enlist for life, and received sixteen guineas of bounty ; those above tliirty-fivL% for seven years only, and received eleven guineas. These were large sums in those days, sufficient to send a welcome help to the old folks at home, and leave enough lo drink their Itealths in many a cup of Spanish wine. There seems to have been a charm about the constant variety and adventure characteristic of the Penin- sular campaign, which appetiled powerfully to inanly natures and outweighed the occasional hardships and dangers ; and most of those who could do so re-engaged for unlimited service, which also entitled them to a [Mansion.

The delay in opening the new cumiiaign arose from various wuseg. At the close of the campaign of 1812, the cavalry and artillery had lost great numbers of horses, which had to Ix^ rupkced. The clothing and accoutrements of the infantry had to be renewetl ; the heavy camp kettles of the soldiers had been exchanged for light ones carried by the men, and the mules now carried tents, which weru of great advantage at halts, though they did not always an'ive in time to be of use on rapid marclies. Wellington had to wait till men, hoi-ses, money, and military stores could be brought from England ; but these difficulties being removed, and having reorgiinised the Spanish trooi)3 at his disposal, he prepared tu take the Held with as line an army as could be deaired.

The relative strength of the contending forces was no

• Rtigimental Return, let Battalion 92ud. lianos, March 24th, 1813— *' Private George M&ckie aliot by 8«nt«ncc of general Court- martial/"

328

THE LIFK OF A KEGIMENT.

(181.1

longer in favour of the French, whose immbe.i*s had been reduced by drafts to Germany to 231,000 men and 29.000 horses; 30^000 of them were in hospital. Wellinf^'tou had so well used the winter months that nearly 200,000 allied troops were ready to take the field.* Ofiicers and men were iilled with the warlike intelligence gained by the experience of several campaigns ; full of vigoui- and confidence, their bronzed and daring countenances looked danger boldly in the face, as if they C4ired neither for man nor devil ; and their great leader, coniideut that they would grandly execute his well-planned design for driving the enemy to the Pyrenees, rose in his stirrups as he passed the stream which marks the boundary between Spain and Portugal, and, waving his hand, cried, " Farewell to Portugal I " f

The various parts of the great military machine being prepared, an order of readiness to move was received in the middle of May ; and tlie Gordon Highlanders left Banos on the 20Lh, and encamped with the Second Division near Bejer, wlicre they renewed their acquaintance with the regiments from wlmm they had been separated in winter quarters. To show the attachment of the inhabitants to the Highlanders, which he attributes to " the kindred spirit which seems to possess the breast of every mountaineer througiiout the world." an otUcer mentioua the foUowiug fact. When Sir Kowland Hill passed through the town a day or two after the Highlanders had left llanos, a deputation of the principal inhiiltitants waited on him to return thanks for the protection he had uHbrded them against the enemy. The General inquired if they had any complaints to prefer against tlie regiment that had just left them, to which the head of the deputation replied, "Sir Kowland Hill, harl you been here when the Highlanders marched out of our village, our leans would have answered your question."

• Napier. t I but.

NoTK. — Oiiriug the winter the grumblerB of the wmy wrote lliaL VVelltug- tuu had lost hia prestige— that Soult had out-manoeuvred him ; and the »irin- chiiir criticB at homt! uvcn suggested his being recalled 1 Such self-sutficicney is not unknown in the present day among those who are entirely ignorant of the oiroumutanues which govut u a general's actioiu.

TJIK i;01lH0N llICHLiVNDEUS.

:i2 9

On the 23nl ihc Second Division, now ccniiniamk'd by Lieut.-Geueral The Hon. William Stewart, was revifwed by Sir II. Hill ; and on the 24th the 92nd marehud to Fucutero- ble, and continuingj crossed tlie Tormus near Sulaitmuca on the 2t>th, where Wellington and Hill joined forces, and where they had a brush with the enemy, who had retired from the city. The French, under Villatte. though not strong in numbers, were posted advantiigeously, and maintained their position against repeated assaults of our cavalry tuid horse artillery, till the Second Division forded the river in husLe above the city, intending to cut tliein off ; but as soon as Lhey gained footing on the other side, the French retreated in good order, to the admiration of their opponents. The troops, both British and French, suflered much from the intolerable heat. In this atlair the enemy lost about 160 killed and wounded, 140 prisoners, and six guns.

The battalion then encamped with the division half a mile above Salamanca, where they were visited by numbers of the higher class of the citizens. Some of tliem were rather (li.sconcerted by the ladies, whose curiosity induced tliem to pull aside the doors of the tents without the smallest ceremony, iu order to have a full view of '" los Ingleses," who were not all at the moment in drawing-roain costume.

On the morning of the 27th, Hill's troops were informed that the Marquis of Wellington would review them on the murch. He look post with his numerous stalf on a height about four miles from Salamanca, and each Itattaliou marched past in ordinary time. The morning was extremely fine, and the appeamuce of the troops tiuly magnihcent. As each corps passed, Wellington paid them a ilattering compliment, and as t!ie last company .saluted, he turned and said, " Sir Kowland, I will take the gloss oil your corps this campaign " — and he kept his word.

It happened that the commissariat had killed a lot of sheep the day betore, and the heads, not being appreciated by the English troops, had been appropriated by tlie Highlanders, <jf wliom many carried them slung on the backs of their knapsacks ; when the battalion halted to clean and brush

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TlIK LIFK (tV A IJKGIMENT.

[1813

Up before passing the Commander of the Forces, some officers just comc5 out were shocked at the idea of men marching past with sheep's heads dangling at their backs ; but Sergeant Robertsc^n remarks that before the campaign was over, Lliey would liave carried them themselves if tJiey could have got them I Wellington was evidently of the sergeant's opinion; for, after saying that !ie had seldom seen so fine-looking a regiment, he noticed the heads, and remarked, laugliing, that the Highlanders were a day ahead with their ratinns. and lie wished all regiments undei-atood campaigning as well.

The morning state^ IsD Battalion 92 nd, on the 27fch Maj 1813, shows:—

OpFiCKRS Present. Lieut. -colonel, 1 ; major, 1 ; capUirLs, 8 ; lieutenants, 15 ; eoaigns,

5 ; stafl; 6.

Sergeants. Present for duty, 45 ; .sick absent, 3 ; on command, 6. — Total, 51.

Dbouue&s. Present for duty, 15.— Total, 15.

Rank and File.

Present for duty, 820 ; sick present, 16 ; sick absent, 70 ; ou com- mand, 16 ; prisoners of war, 14. — Total, 936.

Sir Thomas flrahurn's Corjis, forming the left of the allied army, had crossed the Douro, ascended the Esla and advanced on Zamora, and now, the line of the Tormes being gained, Wellington pushed forward his troops so as to cover his com- unmicatious witli Ciudad I'odrigo, and keep open communication with Graham. He now left Hill in command, while he him- self went otr to see after his combinations on the Ksla — crossing the Douro in a basket slung on a rojie stretched from rock to rock, the river foaming several hundred feet below ! *

After the review of the 27th, the (iordons eucampcil at Orvada, where the regiments of tlie Second Division took the opportunity to practise brigade drill, which, fiom their sepani- tion during the winter and spring, had been impossible ; and during the few days they rested here, games and amusements

* Napier.

1813]

THK GOUDON lilGHLANDEItS.

331

t I

were promoted, the otHcers taking an active part in the sports. At this place they were joined by the Life Guards and Blues.

Hill was now ordered to advance along the main rond to Burgos, and make the French yield the castle or tight, and ou the 3rd of June the 92nd marched from Orvada^ crossed t!»e Guarena. and encamped at Villa Bueua on its bank. Here 200 French prisoners passed tlieni on their way tu England, having been captured in an action by the Hussar Brigade and Don Julian Sanchez' Spaniards. On the 4th of June they crossed the Toro by a bridge, uf which two arches, which hud been destroyed in 1812, had been rendered passable for one man only at a time by boards laid across ; but so elastic were they, that some men could hardly keep their footing, and General Stewart, who stood at the far end till all had passed, caught the liand of one of the 92nd just in time to save him. The mounted officers and baggage animals crossed by a fortl, some of them summing. That night they euciimped at Morales, ou the road to Valladolid; a fifteen mile tramp brought them to Villa Sexiiiil ou the 5th, where, as there was neither wood nor long grass to boil the kettles, two houses were given by the Chief Magistrate to supply them with fuel, compensation being paid. Lxiaving Valladolid to tlieir right, they encamped at Mueientes on the 6th, and, pursuing the retreating enemy, they encamped on the 7th at Duennas, which the French had just left. At Torquemada (which King Joseph left t!ic previous day), on the Stli, it blew a hurricane and tlie rain pourud. Next day they plodded on up to their knees in mud, and after crossing the Pisuerga, encamped on the bank of that river, (hi i\m 1 1th they only moved forward ttiree miles to Los Valbasaa, and the following day they drew near to Burgos, through a country luxuriant iu corulields and vineyards. Here they expected warm work, and just iis the division hiul taken up its ground and the usual order, " Make yourselves comfortable," had been given, the sound of artillery in front called them to arms, and in a few minutes they were mi the road to the scene of action. Soon they were stopped by a deep little stream, the enemy

332

TIIK LIFK OF A KKr.IMENT.

fl8l3

having destruyud Lhe bridge, but, sunuouuLm;^' the obstacle, they advanced twu miles and halted; for the little tight was over between our liglit troops and horse artillery, and the enemy's rear-guard, in which the latter lost some killed and wouuded and one piece of artillery. The troops, wet and weary, retraced their steps to their camp.

About daylight in the morning a tremendous explosion was heard, which made every man jump to his feet, and soon after they learnt that Joseph had blown up the Castle of Burgos and evacuated the town. The destruction of this fortress was the first fruits of Wellington's atlinirable plan of operaLious ; it was evident the enemy cUd not intend lo join battle south of the Kbro. Sir J. Graham had been successful on the left, and continued to luaiiueuvre and fight to the Ebro, which he crossed on the 14th, and by turning the enemy out of this position, opened a passage for the Centre Division on the loth, and for Hill's Corps on the 16th.

On the 14th of June the battalion marched to Villa Toro, and on the IStli to Villa Esquiar; during these days they came up with some of the enemy and took them prisoners. The road on the 16 th lay through a dreary wilderness ol rocks and stones, till all at once they found themselves look- ing down on the valley of the Ebro, near Arenas, one of the richest, loveliest, and most romantic spots in Spain. The road led down a deep corrie, then in zig-zag down the face of a high and rugged mountain, the rocks re-echoing the wild notes of the bagpipe with very bciiutiful effect. Below they were all among fruit and Uowers, and as tlie division crossed the bridge over the Ebro the music of each battalion struck up the " Duwnfall of Paris," and the happy bund of British soldiei-s made liill and valley resound with their cheers. tSuch was the efifect of the exhilarating scene that many of the men were seen dancing with delight across the bridge.*

The Gordons wended tlieir way a short distiincu up ilie left bank of the river, with inaccessible mountains on their right, the road cut out of the rock which overhung it; then, turning up a lovely valley to the right, encamped at Pesquez.

* Memoir of a (hind utticer and Captain Kiuuaid, 'Xith KiHus.

IKI31

TFIK (jnuiMlX IlIGiri.ANPKKS.

833

Oe the 17th, 18th, ami 19th they continued marching throu<j:h the grandest scenery, the road winding sometimes over steep mountain pasHes. sometimes through hixiiriant orchards and Hower gardens, while hnrac, foot and nrtillery appearing and disappearing as they uuived along with music playing and arms glittering in tlie sun, gave a lively interest to the scene. At the entrance of every village through which the troops passed, they were welcomed by the peasant girls witli garlands of llowers, dancing before them, rewarded, no doubt, by many a compliment in Scots Spanish.

Though the country allurded many excellent defensive positions, the pressure both on his front and round his right Hank by the British left was so great that the enemy dared not take advantage of iheni, but continued to concentrate his forces on Vittoria, The Light Division, however, canu^ suddenly upon a Frcncli corps crossing tlieir path, took their baggage and pursued for some little distance. On the 20t[i the army closed up to within twelve miles of Vittoria, where the French, under King Joseph Eonaparte and Marshal Jourdan, had taken (wsiiion the preceding <lay in order of battle. The 92nd encamped that night at Robeo. "Wellington, wilh extraordinary detcnnination ami rapidity, had mastered the line of the Duero, and placed (Jrabam's Corps upon the Ksla before the enemy were aware of his intention. His Imirable plans had been so well carried out by Ids generals ad by the hardy, high-spirited and well-disciplined troops they commanded, that Joseph had been obliged to retire behind the Ebro ; and had gathered not only his army, but all his baggage, treasure, stores and encum!>ranccs of all sorts, in the valley or basin of about ten miles by eight, at the farther end of which stands the city of Vittoria.

CHAPTER X V T T r.

The long-expected battle was uow imminent, nor were the sides unequal. The AUies had present about 60,000 Au]L,do- PorLiiguese sabrtis and bayonets^ of whom about 22,000 were British (for the Sixth Division, G500 strong, was left at Medina-de-Pomar). They had 90 guna, atid the Spanish auxiliaries numbered 20,000. The French had about 70,000 men, all veteran soldiers, superior to the AUies except the British, and 150 pieces of cannon.

The plain of Vittoria is almost surrounded by hills, and is intersected from east to west by two rugged ridges, which formed strong positions for the French. There was also the liiver Zadora, whicli ran west of the city, and by the Pi of Puebla, to join the Ebro at Miranda, being joined by seve mountain streams by the way. It was spanned by seven bridges, which, though the etiemy had neglected to destroy them, were very susceptible of defence. The Bay as River Ihjwed from the mountains to tlie left of the allied position into the Ebro above Miranda. Hill's Corps was, on the evening of the 20 tb, between these rivei*s near the village of Puebla.

The right of the French occupied the heights in front of the Zadora, above Abechuco, covering Vittoria from approach by the liilbao Road ; their centre extended along the left bank of the Zadora, from Arinez to Puebla de Arlanzon, and fronted the defile of Puebla. A detached corps secured the road to Pampeluna, and Foy was stationed in the valley of Scnori< towards Bilbao.

Wellington, having reconnoitred the enemy's position, made his dispositions for an attack.

Sir Thomas Graham, on the extreme left, with the First and Fifth Divisions, Lonja's Spaniards, and Anson's and Bock's cavalry — in all about 20.000 men. with 18 guns — was to make u circuit by the Bilbao Itoad, and fall upon t!ie extreme ^

ilso I ren^i

4

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BATTLE

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(t r A 1. £ .H

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1813]

THK cniiDnN IIIGHIJVNUKRS.

335

right of the French under Reille, force the bridge at Gamorra Mayor, and intercept the enemy's line of retreat. The centre attack, directeti by Welliugttm in person, consisted of the Third, Fourth, Seventh, and Light Divisions of infantry, most of the artillery and cavahy, numbering in all about 30,000 men. Sir Rowland Hill's Corps, about 20,000 strong, was composed of the Second British Division, Morillo's Spaniards, Sylveira's Portuguese, with some cavalry and artillery. They were destined to force the passage of the Zadora at Puebla, to assail the troops on the heights beyond, to pass the defiles of I'uebln, and to enter the hasin ofVittoria; thus turning the French left, and securing to Wellington the passage of (be Za<lora at the bridqie of Nanclares.

Battle op Vittoria.

Karly on the 2 1st the troops moved from their camps on the Piayaa ; the centre of the army passed the ridge of the Morillas in its front, and slowly approached the Zadora. Hill, having seized the village of Pueblu, passed the river there. The First Brigade of Morilla's Spaniards led up the ascent, their Second Brigade ascended half-way so as to connect the first with the British below ; a stubborn fight was maintained on the heights, and Hill, with the rest of his corps, threaded the long defile of Puebla, and won the village of Subijana de Alava on the other side. Having connected his right with the troops on the mountain, he maintained his position, in spite of the eflbrts of the enemy to dislodge him.

Meanwhile, Wellington had brought the centre divisions down to the Zadora, where they waited till all were ready to attack, when they crossed, not without fighting. By one o'clock, Hill's assault of Subijana de Alava was developed; the smoke and distant sound of artillery far ofl' to the left showed that Graham's attack had also begun. The Third and Seventh Divisions were mpidly moving down to the bridge of Mendoza ; the enemy's artillery opened on tltein, and his light troops commenced a vigorous tire of musketry, while the British riflemen, who had crossed by another bridge, were

336

THE LIFK (►F A KEP.IMKNT.

[1813

between the French cavalry and the river, and were engaging their light troops and gunners so closely that the British artillery, from the other side, were unable to dislin<jjinsli l\wm in their dark uniforms from their foes. Tliia gallant epistxie enabled [>art of the Third Division to pass the brid*^e, while the rest, and the Seventh Division, forded the river higher up. Tlie Frencli abaniloned the ground in front of Villoda.s, and the battle, which had slackened, revived with extreme violence. Hill pressed the enemy on the right, the Fourth Division passed tlie bridge of Nanclares ; the sound of Gmham's advance became wore distinct, and the banks of the Zadora presented a continuous line of fire. King Joseph, iinrling lioth his tlanks in danger, bad given orders to retire by successive masses, and these orders had shaken their confidence, but the Aliies were too close for a regular retrograde movement to be made. The Seventh and a brigade of the Third Divisinns were engaged with the French right in front of Margarita and ireriiiandad, and at the same time Wellington sent the rest of the Third Division.

" Come on, my ragged rascals ! " cried Picton, who cnmnianded them, as tliey donldet! across the front of both armies to seize an important hill in the centre. General Cole, with the Fourth Division, advanced, and the heavy cavalry giilloped up and formed between C^ole's right and Hill's left. The French threw out clouds of skirmishers, and fifty guns played with astonishing activity, being answered by several brigades of British artillery. Both sides were surrounded by smoke and dust, and under its cover the French retired to the second ridge, iait still hob ling Arinez on the main road. Picton's troops plunged into that village nnder a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, and captured three guns; but fresli French troops arrived, and this important post was disputed with terrible obstinacy, till at last the British emerged victorious from the strife. At the same time a conJlict was going on at Margarita, till the French guns were driven away and the village earned. The village of Hermandad was also won, and the whole advanced tigliting.

Meanwhile the French left, hard pressed in front and flank, retreated towards Vittoria ; but the courage of the

ISIS]

THB GOBDON BIGinJLK11in&

887

French soldiers was not quenched, they took advaulAge of ihu broken nature of the ground to renew the contest at every favourable point Keillo maintained his poet on the Upper Zadora, while more than eighty guns massed together sh«>tk the hills and " streamed with fire and smoke, amidst which the dark 6gures of the French gunners were seen bounding with frantic energy." This terrible cannonade kept the Allies in check, and the battle became stationary. The French generals commenced drawing off their infantry, covered by their resolute cavalry. Joseph, finding the royal road to Bayonne blcK?kcd by carriages, indicated the road of Salvatierra hs the line of retreat, and the action resolved itself into a running fight and cannonade. The Frencli i-eached the last defensible height, a mile in front of Vittoriji, about six o'clock ; " behind the city thousands of carriages and non-combitants, men, women, and children, were crowding together in nil the lundncss of terror, and, as the liritish shot went booming overhead, the vast con- course started and swerved with a convulsive movomout, while a dull and fionid sound of distress arose, but there was no hope, no stay, for army or multitude."

The foregoing account of the general events of the Jmlilc is taken from Napier's Historj', but as this work is the history of the Gordon Highlanders, I will now relate more particularly the part taken by their First Battalion in this great victory, as dewribed by an olVicer who cunimi\)itk«il a company that day, a sergeant who was also present, and others.

It has been remarked that people seldom get their fill of food and fighting on the same day, and when tlie dawn ushered in the morning of the 21st of Juno, there was less apjiearanee of breaking fast than of breaking heads, for the bread waa hardly baked when the battalion was ordered to be ready to march at a moment's notice ; but fortunately they were ordered to fall out for two hours, when they again stood to their arras, and marched along the road to Puebla, They still .knew not whether they were to be engaged in pursuing or fighting the enemy, but now all doubt was removed, for the French held the heights above, and they found that they were within three miles of the main hody. A smile of sntisfactioii played on the

y

338

THE LIFE OF A UEiMMENT.

[1813

soldiers' faces — the veterans encouraged the Juniors by telling of former fi^^hts, some calculated Lhe uuinbers of the foe, and all made sure of vietory. At a halt, arms and ammunition were closely inspected, and wliile the captain of tlie First Com- pany was engaged in this duty, a little incident occurred which shows how the natural fear implanteil in most natures may be overcome. A youny lad, who had never been in action before, told him he was so unwell that he would be obliged to fall out. The captain asked wliat was the matter, and received for answer, " A sair wame, sir." The captain walked him up to Colonel Cameron, who, divining his real complaint, took the sick man by the shoulder, and, causing him to face the heights of Puebla, pointed to some French sentries on their summit, and asked if h(? saw them. He replied in the atfirmntive. " Well, my man," said the colonel, '* those fellows are the best doctors in the world for complaints like yours ; " and raising his voice, he continued, " and, by Heaven, if I Uve yov, siuill ctm suit tkmi this day ! " The poor fellow rejoined his companions covered with shame, but during the action was one of the keenest spirits in the fray, and ever after his captain had more difficulty in restraining his courage than he had in rousing it at Vittoria. The olhcer remarks that young soldiers in going into action for the first time should be mixed with old ones, and taught to subdue bodily fear by moral courage, for had this lad been allowed to retire he would ever after have been an unhappy coward, instead of a gallant ami respected soldier.

The battalion, having crossed the Zadora, followed the high road leading to Vittoria, till at a turn they first beheld tlie dark masses of the enemy in order of battle, and our advanced cavalry two or three hundred paces from those of the French, It was a grand spectacle that presented itself. On the right bank Wellingtons troops moving to their stations, on the Highlanders' right hand the Spaniards climbing the steep heights of Puebla, on which the former could sec the Fi*ench posted, supporting strong bodies of infantry, and some artillery in a clump of trees netir the base of the hill. Immediately on their front stood the village of Sabijana de Alava, in which, and on a height to its right, were the centre divisions of the

181 3J

TUE CORDfJN UIlJHLANDKRS.

339

opposing iiriiiy, vvhicli, with immbiirs of cannon, literaliy cuvertid the cuuntry. As Llie French battalions sueoessively appeared, the sight, instead of damping the coiirt^e of the sohliers, seemed to make them more and more delighted, as *' with drums beating and music playing, we advanced as if we were }i,ouig to a common parade or field-day," At about ten o'clock the sound of musketry on the heights announced to 150,000 warriors thai the conflict had Itcgmi — first a few shots, then more continued firing, followed by volleys, accompanied by the British cheer or the French " Vive TEmpercur ! " Morillo's Spaniards liad acted for some time in conjunction with Hill's Coq:)s, and were considered superior to almost all the other Spanish troops, and nearly equal to the Portuguese ; they had, however, little confidence in many of their otticers, but Morillo was a brave man and capable general, and when he commanded, as on this occasion, they behaved with great spirit ; but the superiority in groxuid, and latterly in numliers, would have given the French a decided advantage, had not the 71st Highland Light Infantry and the Light Companies of the division, hutli under Cadogan, arrived to their support ; yet the fight was doubtful Moiillo was woimded, but did not quit the field ; and Colonel Cadogan was turning to cheer his followers, and had just repeated, "Well done, well done, brave Highlanders," when he fell from his horse, mortally wounded, into the arms of Captain Seton, commanding the Light Company of the 92nd. He was a brave officer, of high promise, and beloved by his regiment.

An* green be our Cadogan's grave Upon thy field, Vitfcoria ! •

The position lieing most important, Villatte's Division was sent to succour the French, and so well did they fight that the Allies could hardly hold their ground, till Hill sent the 50th and 92nd to their assistance ; but when they bad almost gained the top they were ordered back. They had descended half-way when they were again stopped, and the battidions separated ; the 50th proceeded to its original destination on the summit, while the 92nd moved across the face of the lull to drive back

• ** Battle of Vittoria."— \V. (ilen.

340

THE LJFE OF A RROIMKNT.

[1813

a body of 1000 Freiicli infantry, which had advanced to form a link in the chain of cominuniciitioii betwotiii the troops at the clump of trces and those who were to capture the heights, ahowl 7000 in number. The soldiers of the aOth and 92ud did not much relish this separation, but there was no help for it, and the former claml>cred up and proceeded alon^' the rid^e till they reached the brink of a ravine which ran across the hill, above and to the left of the eolumu which the 9'2nd were to attack. Here the Spaniards and YlsL lay alon^ the face of the hill, engaged in exchanging fire with the enemy's light troops. The 92ud descended a few hundred yard.s, and directed their march towards their opponents posted on a ridge. They had to pass tbrough fields of wheat taller than the men, over ditches so thickly lined with briars and thorns that blood trickled down many of the soldiers' legs before thc}^ arrived at the base of the ridjje. On crossinj' the last ditch at the foot of the hill, the Jwttalion loadeil, the cnlunel rode along the line, cautioninir his followers botfi in Uaelic and English to be firm and steady, and on no account to throw away their lire. He urged them to Ije silent till the order to charge was given, and then to join in the good old British cheer.

Full of hope and joy, the line advanced slowly and firmly, every moment expecting to see the enemy. Not a whisper was heard, till on arriving a short distance from where the foe was oi'igiually posted, instead of the expected volley, they found that their antagonists had retired during their advance to another height at some little distance ; and with them the hopes of putting the prowess of Frenchman and Scotsman lo the test iKifore an audience of 150,000 men had vani.shed for the time.

Just as they crossed the ridge, General tlie Hon, W. Stewart, commanding the Second Division, arrived. He ordered the battalion to form column at quarter distance, and two Spanish guns to cannonade the enemy at tiie clumi) of trees. Tfiis drew the lire of a Freucli battery, and a sergeant, corporal, and one or two privates were hit. The General said to Colonel Cameron, " Poor Cadogan is mortally wounded ; the French are pushing strong columns towanls our right, they must be opposed." Then waving his hand to his fi^ont. " It

isid]

lllK (iUKLiUN llHillLANUKKS.

341

is oil lIr! heights of ruubla tbti l)iitlle must be fought ; being now senior otlicer of the First l^rigudo, you will instantly pro- ceed thither with your battalion, and assume command on the Iieights. Yield them to none without a written order from Sir Rowland or myself, and defeud your position while you have a man remaining." Then, taking a pencil from his pocket, he wrote the order, the ahot and shell tlyiug about his head all ihe time.

Meanwhile Hill had attacked the French in front of Sabijuna de Alava with the rest of his corps. He was met with llie greatest determination, and the Highlanders from the hill above witnessed the cool bravery of both sides. The liritish advancing to the muzzles of their opponents' pieces l^efore giving tire, their repeated assaults were foiled by the devoted bravery of the defenders till, by praiseworthy per- severance and gallantry, they carried their point. Before the village was taken, the 92nd had arrived on tlie heights, and touched the summit half a mile in rear of the post held by tlie 50lh behind the ravine, of which the western slope was in their possession and that of the 7 1st, while the enemy were on the opposite bank. The enemy was in superior numbers and our position a strong one, but unfortunately the senior otlicer on the heights, after Cadogan's fall, ordered the 7 1st to leave it, to cross the ravine and attack the French on the npposite sidu , and the gallant Light Hobs at once set out on tiieir perilous undertaking. The enemy had two corps of infantry out of sight of the British, and as the 7 1st moved round the nnrthern slope, these corps kept moving round the southern slope, till, being nearly in rear of the 71st, hoping to kill or capture the whole battalion, they poui'ed volleys on them, making many officers and men bite the dust ; and it requireil all the good military qualities which that regiment is well known to possess, to extricate them from their dangerous situation. They were not sparing of their powder, but against such odds all they couhl hope for was to be able to rejoin the oOtli, and this they endeavoured to do; but the French were trying to prevent them, and had partially turned the left iif the 71st, when their friends the 92nd aiiived to take part in the struggle.

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THK Lll'K (tl^ A ItROlMENT.

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On reaching the heights, the Goitloiis halted a minute to close up and take breath, and then, in open column of com- panies right in fronts hurried along at the douhle till within two hundred yards of the 5 0th, whcfi, they formed line on the right centre company without halting. As soon as the four leading companies had tiled far enough to the right for the centre one to have a clear front, Colonel Cameron placed himself on its left, and, telling the men to be steady and sure and to remember their country (" Socair chinnteach 'illean cuimhuichibh 'ur duthaich "), called to the piper to play " The Cameroiis' Gathering," and to the oilicer wlio led it, " Now push forward double quick and give it them sweetly ! "

" During the advance," says the olficer, " a dead silence reigned through the ranks, men's thoughts being employed in the business they were engaged in. Animated by the presence of the cliief , and the warlike sounds of their favourite bagpipe, the men advanced with a front as firm as the rocks of their native mountains, to meet the foe flushed witli a temporary success over their countrymen."

As they approached tlie 50th, the ottieers and men of that regiment joined in cheer after cheer, and the Highlanders arrived at the western brink of the ravine just as the French were ascending it. At once they poured down on them a shower of shot, then re-echoed the cheers of their friends, and rapidly loading, and being joined by the other companies, a second volley was sent into the thickest ranks of the enemy, making them tly precipitately down the brow, the living on their feet, the ilead rolling over and oven This rapid move- ment secured a safe retreat to the 7l3t, who now slowly retired to a position on the right of the 92nd. But the euemy, determined if possible to gain the heights, made another trial ; his beaten troops were moved round the western shoulder of the hill, and a fresh body of infantry carried round the southern, to renew the assault. During tlie interval, ratlier a remarkable incident took place, a public auction amidst the roar of musketry and artillery ! A man named Walsh, whose character was ao bad that not a soldier in the company would associate with him, had annoyed his comrades by the abominable language he used during the ascent, iuid

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84S

when llwy ariivt'd near the 50th had sliockcd lliem by his bkisphemous profauit}', when, as the words were iii hia luoulli, and before anyone had heard the sound of a bullet at that point, ho fell, sFiot through the head. Prepared as they were for sudden but hoiiountble death ou the battletield, his com- rades were horrified at the idea of liis being killed in the very act of uttering a torrent of blasphemy ; but thougli they disliked the man, they felt for his widow and children, and while the battalion was resting after repulsing the French, the pay-sergeant of his company, a corporal and private^ asked per- mission to bring the mans knapsack from the rear, and dispose of its contents for their behoof. The Colonel, pleased with the idea, sanctioned it ; the auction began, the bidding was brisk, and £1, lis. was added to his balance and remitted to the widow. The good feeling exhibited by thie little interlude attracted the admiration of some oflicers of the 50lh who witnessed it.

Shortly after, the head of the Freucli column began to descend the opposite eminence: some skirmishers kept np a smart fire on them, the rest remained in line liehind the brink, sitting down with arms sloped to the rear, the colonel explain- ing that they were to remain in tliat posture till the enemy were within twenty paces, then to stjind up and give them pepper. His orders werc admiral>ly olneyed ; not a whisper was heard while the enemy was crossing the ravine, till they arrived close up, when " the silence was broken on our lails resuming their standing jwsition, and giving their first fire." The scene which followed was an animated one, and, after a rough eucoimter, in which the 50th, 7 1st, and 92nd took part, the French were driven back with considerable loss. A French colonel commanding part of the attack had ilismounted before crossing the ravine ; he was a very corpulent man. and when they retreated, his pace downhill was like the waddle of a tluck, which could not be e.xpected to carry him out of the clutches of a Highlander. He was taken, pulling, panting, antl perspiring, " and our lads were ill-mannered enough to indidge in a hearty laugh at his expense. Seeing he was the butt of the group, he good-hnnuniredly joined in the laugh, saying to a 92ncl officer as he surrendered his .sword. ' Mon Dieu, mon

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THE LIFK OF A REtUMKNT

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Dieu ! wliaL a fool I was to part with my horse ! For want of it I am now yuur merryman,' "

Again the fu^^ntives were withdrawn, and a third column of attack was formed, in order to recover tlie position which they should never have lost. Although this column was even stronger than the others, masses of infantry being collected to support them, they did not show the same spirit as in the two former cases, their eflForts were comparatively feeble, and they were soon repulsed. This the British attributed to tlie state of aflairs in the centre, which had now begun to take an active part in the business of the day.

The eftbrts of the First Krigade and their Allies having been successful on the extreme right, where they now held undisputed possession, and where their presence had a material eflect on the issue of the battle, they had leisure to look down on the magnificent panorama presented to tlieir view not far below. They could clearly see every eminence bristling with the artillery on both sides vomiting tire and death ; thousands of infantry marching against each other ; they watched with excited confidence the lines of red coats cheering as ihey charged, t!ie French firmly waiting with the cry of " Vive I'Empereur 1 " till the British steel was close, when they some- times, but not always, gave way. They could see tlie curling smoke far away to the left, where (xraham's Corps was slowly and with difficulty forcing back the Frencfi right, and Jiear the saivoa of tlicir distant guns; witli the spy-glasses whicfi some carried, they watched the hussars cross tlie river, and could distinguish the combatants and the flashing swords in the tenilile charges of the heavy dragoons against the eijually brilliant French horse. Gradually they oljserved, with pride and pleasure, the enemy giving way. The fields were intt^^r- sei-'.te<l by lUtches and hedges, behind which they extended tlH'.ir line. "Often," says the 92nd otlicer. "during that awful struggle did I witness the British .soldiei-s walk up to the brink of a fence, behind which their opponents were arrayed, and in tlie most cool and determined manner cross their pieces with the latter before they gave their fire. On these occasions the combat invariably assumed a sanguinary aspect, for the ditches were generally too deep for our men to

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cross, ttiid the Freiidi kept up a suittrt tire Lill arlilliiiy and cavalry came to dislod*f;e them."

In this manner they were spectators of the later biittU^. raging beneath, till, between four and five o'clock, the French divisions whom they had driven back earlier in the day to a new position on the hei^dits, seeing that their troops below were falling' back, bej^an a retrograde movement. The First Brigade and two brigades of Portugucsit then 8tood to their arms and advanced, the enemy quickened their ptice till it degenerated into a race downhill, the brigade firing and the men slioutiug to them lo stop, as they gave chase ; but 80 superior wore the French at that game (for the Allies kept their knapsacks, while many Frenchmen threw theirs away), that i[i an hour and a half the pursuers entirely lost sight of them. As a French otlicer who was taken said to one of the 92nd, " I will back my countrymen against any soldiers in the worhl in a race of tliat kind," *

The 92nd continued the pursuit psiat Vittoria till eleven o'clock at night, when they bivouacked in a wood near the road, four or five miles beyond the town. The question of supper is the most importiuit une even ni tlic end of so glorious a day. The road was covered with carriages, baggage waggons, and all the impedimaita of King Joseph's Court an<i army. Hams and provisions of all sorts were to be had fr»r the taking, nor was g<x>d wine wautiug for a sleeping draught, ere the weary Iligldanders lay ilown that summer uiglit lo enjoy their well-eametl repose.

Thus ended the great battle of Vittoria, and never was victory more complete. Never had such an enonnous quantity of military stores and private wealth fallen to the lot of an army. The accumulated plunder of Spain during the five years the French had occupied the country was here colh'cted, and its amount exceeded anything witnessed in modem tttnea. More than five millions of dollai-s were taken in the military chest, but the amount of private wealth cunnol be estimated, and Napier, who was present, says that for miles the pursuem

* ** Frma^iau plus que hoaunea ao trcDir, nmina que fenimea & U retnite '* (the French, more Uian men in the A^lraace, lev Uimi woomu in reUcmt), ia as oU French •»ying. — •* 1815,' by H. Houma/c.

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THK LIKE i)F A KKlilWENT.

[1813

may bt; almost said t-u liave marched ujjuu j^oM iiud silver witliMUt stooping to pick it up ; but the regiments which followed, and were not so warmed in the fight, were less disin- terested, and camp-followers and non-combiitants, as well as many soldiers, took enormous spoil, a dishonourable action on their part, depriving others of their fair share of prize-money ; and as a Gordon's journal remarks of a hussar who showed his boots full of gold coin — " He got it without much risk — a soldier should be able to say when he gets home, ' The wars are o'er and I'm retui*ned, my hands unstained with plunder/ "

Vast numbers of carriages with ladies belonging to the French army, nuns, wives of the generals and oiiicers, actresses — arrayed in the height of luxury and fashion, with their poodles, poll-parrots, and monkeys — filled the roads, which were blocked by guns and waggons, whose drivers had escaped with t!ie Iiorses. Laces and velvets, siiks and satins, valuable pictures, jewels, gold and silver plate, cases of claret and champagne, lay scattered in all directions. Other vehicles were stuck fast in the fields, their occupants in helpless terror ; but the liritish ollicers and soldiers were very considerate, and though they took a share of the provision baskets which most caiTiages contained, the ladies were treated with respect, many »jf them being next day forwarded under Hag of truce to Pam- peluna. King Joseph's carriage and sword of state, Marshal Jourdans baton, the papers and accounts of the army, were taken, with the whole of their artillery except two guns. They lost 0000 men killed and wounded, and nearly 1000 prisoners.

The Allies lost 5176 men in killed, wounded, and missing; of these the British were more than double the nundjcr of ^Spaniards and Portuguese put together. The loss of the 92nd wjis small, having regard to the very important effect of the jiart taken Ijy their brigade on the issue of the battle. The Gordons had 4 privates killed and 1 sergeant and 15 nink and file wounded, of whom 2 privates died of their wounds.

Killed. Private Robert Grant, Private John Macdonald.

Jas. Gmhaui. „ W. Wftlsh.

I Hav OF WonNns.

Corporal T. Watsou.

Private George Gow.

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THE iJDRDON HICIIILANDERS.

347

Their conduct was commemorated by t!ie word Vittoria on their colours, and a niediil whs conferred on their cominantling rjlficer. Colonel Cameron * (who also commanded the brigade after the fall of Colonel Cadogan). Dliicers and soldiers afterwards received their share of prize-money.

In the afternoon of the 22nd, the 92nd moved with tlie Second Division from their bivouac in front of Vittoria. The road, which lay through a corn-covered plain, had a wall on each side, the march being constantly delayed by broken-down waggons and carriages, and all the debris of the French Hight, 30 it was after midniglit when they encamped a few miles beyond Salvatierra. After a very short sleep the bugles sounded, but a good breakfast made the men start as gay as larks, till their gaiety was damped by a pouring rain during five houi*s spent standing under arms, and marching a few miles to Arbcniz, where they encamped. On the 24th they followed the Third, Fourth, and Light Divisions towards Fampe- luna ; a fearful thunderstorm overtook them on the march, and an officer of the 34th was killed, his watch being melted and his sword belt cut into little bits; nine men of the same regiment were struck, but recovered. They encamped that night at Araquil, the 25th at Stornumda, the 26th at Zuaza, and the 27th at Orcayen, three miles from Pampeluna, where they were well supplied in every way. During these marches they saw nothing worthy of notice but the smoking ruins uf houses burned by the retreating French, and one of the two guns they had brouglit from Vittoria, which had been dismounted by our troops in front. In this district is great plenty of good reil wine, wliich helped them greatly to sustain the fatigues of the march.

It had been Wellington's first intention to reilucc Pampe- lunu, but being now so far from Portugal, a new base of operations was required, such as was to be found on the coast of the Western Pyrenees, at liilbao. Santander and San Sebastian ; and tfie cupLure of the latter fortress was of more

• Ou the thauke of Parliaraeot being given peraoually to Sir Willixini Stewart, he said, "I should he ungrateful for the aurvicea renfiered me by Colonel Canieroji Mn\ by UeJieral liyiig on that, nn on uU iK-w»«iy»a, if I wuro not to ftdvert to them ui my preaent place."

348

TIIK t.lF'E <»K A l;t':tiIMENT.

!l8i:i

immeduite importance than the reduction of PampehimTi, which hv now d*jcidu<l lu invest, entrustin|Ji the blockade to O'Donncl's Spaniards. The French, on quitting Panipuluna, which they left strongly garrisoned, retired across the Pyrenees towards their own country in two columns^ one by the Pass of Eonces- valles, the other by that of Maya. The Third and Fourtli iJivisions, the Second Brigade of the Second Division, with stnne Portuguese and Spanish troops, were pushed forward towards the foriiier, and the rest of the Second Division, with a brigade of Hamilton '3 Portuguese, were ordered to proceed against the enemy at Maya. Accordingly, on the 2nd of July, the First, Third, and Fourth Brigades, Second Division, a Portuguese brigade, some artillery and cavalry moved from the camp in front of Panipohma, and encamped in the afternoon near Iai Zarza. Next day, after a wet and weary walk, they camped on a mountain near the village of Lanz, and early on the 4th crossed the Pass of l^nz, arriving about one o'clock at Alniandos, where the column closed up preiiaratory to an attack on the enemy's position at Trueta, three miles off. At two o'clock, the 9 2ud with the First P»rigade, led by General Stewart, entered Ahnandos, turned sh:irp to llie right and lilud Lhi'ough the tiLdds by a footpath, crossed a ravine and the stream runnhig through it, and, scrambling up a steep place covered with loose stones, gained the summit, surprised that the enemy had alhiwed them to do so without resistance.

On seeing them established on the left of the enemy's advanced posts, Sir U. Hill moved the otlier brigades through Almaiidoa to attack the Frencti outposts ; these, however, retired on thrjr m;iiu body, of winch the left occupied a high mountain, the centre the village ai Irueta, while tlieir right extended to the Pidassoa. The Portuguese and French skir- mishers began an animated fire, during which the 50th attempted to carry the village in their usual gallant style, but the French hrougfit up a very superior force, and drove them back. The left wing of the 92ud was pushed forward to their support, the right wing and the Tlst being kept in reserve; Ijut before the Gordons readied the scene of action, the 50th \vm\ \nivt\ onicrcd to retire, Sir llowland not wi.shing to l»ring on a more general affair that evening.

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THE GOHDON I flfiH LANDERS.

349

The troops conked early next morning, and, on the arrival of WtrllingLon at Jioon, inoved against the enemy, who renmiiied in the same position. The First Brigade, forming the right of the little army, asccnrlcd a high, steep, and slippery mountain on their ri<,dit, in urder to throw itself in rear of the enemy s left. It was a stift" climb, but from the top they got a glimpse of France and of the sea, which the men callcid the high roiid to home, and they saluted it with deafening cheer.s, which made the French bestir tliemselves, attributing the demonstration to a different cause. The Light Companies were now detJichcd towards the left tiank of the enemy, supported by the rest (tf the brigade; their centre was attacked at the same time by the other brigades and forced to retire from Inieta ; then the whole (7000) retired towards Elizondo, partly hy t!ie naiTow road and partly by the fields, occasionally turning and firing, constant skirmishing going on from walls, hedges, or houses, our men often Hanking them, and giving them a volley as they left their temporary strongholds, Heie they came on a regiment in red coats, which the men took to be British, till finding tliey were Swiss in the French service, they soon drove them oft". Thus the retreat and pursuit were conducted to Elizondo, where a wall !iad been thrown up across tlie entrance of the town, from which the French annoyed our troops as they closed upon them ; but soon they were forced to yield the entry, nnd the liritish pursued through the streets amidst the loud acclamations of the townspeople, while the church bells rang a merry peal in honour of thoir deliverance. The enemy then took up a position on a high ridge at the head of the valley of the Bastan, and prepared to fight for his hist foothold in Spain. Wellington reconnoitred this position on the 6th and on the morning of the 7th, when orders were given to attack it.

The Second Brigade got under arms about 11 a.m. and ascended by a narrow way to attack the enemy's right on the rock of Maya, five miles distant, liefore arriving, a thick fog came on, which concealed their approach till they were close to the French, who fired down on them; but after a short fight, mostly with the bayonet, the British cleared the mountain of their opponents. Meanwhile, in order to deceive the French

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THE LIFE OK A REGIMENT.

[1813

general, the other brigades riinjained quiet in camp, aud it was only when they heard the firing on the rock, and these brigades advanced, that the enemy slowly retired The First Brigade, fullowed by Ashworth's Portuguese, advanced i-apidly up the valley, passed Maya village at the double, and the Light Companies soon came into contact with the enemy, w!io tried to prevent communication between the main body of the British and their Second Brigade. A smart Jire was kept up, till, after various movements, a considerable body of combatants were brought to close quarters; the 50th were more than once on the point of crossing bayonets, and being hard pressed, the 92nd were sent to help them, but the "Old Half Hundred," with their usual determined pluck, repelled the assault before their Highland comrades arrived. Tlie French General Gazan now made desperate attempts to regain the rock ; nothing could excel the conduct of the Second Brigade, who held it, and the aftair was only ended by the night, which was so dark that when the skirmishers were being called in, many could not find their battalions, and some French soldiers passed our pickets and were made prisoners. The French were oidy about 200 yards from our advance posts, and for hours voices could l>e heard calling out in various languages.

Next day General Gazan made another attempt, but failing as before, ho kept up an irregular fire for some time and then took advantage of another fog to retire, pursued by the Portu- guese, who skirmished with his rear-guard till evening. During the fight of the 7th, throe Spanish peasants of the village nf Maya joined our light troops, and fought splendidly in the heat of the conflict, one being killed and another wounded. Sergeant Rol>ert.son, in his Journal, mentions that in these various aH'airs "we had a number wounded," but whether he alluded to liis batudion or his brigade does not appear certain. The Order Book of that time is lost, and in such returns as are preserved, I find the name of only one 92nd man wounded at Elizondo. Nor does the Journal of an ollicer allude to loss, though he mentions the coolness of a young lad named M'Ewen, and liis facetious rebuke to the bullet which had cut his kmnet just over his ear, before burying itself in the earth behind him.

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THE lUmDUN IIIGIILANDKRS.

351

The pursuers gave thi' French a parting volley iind cheer a8 they tlesceudeil Lht! luouutuins to the fruulier of France, tl»e li.L,'ht troops following them to near Urdax. The Gordon Hi^^ddanders encamped on the hoij^litB of Maya, near the road leading from rinnpeUma to Ikyonne. The surrounding scenery is exactly like the West Highlands of Scotland, and from their camp on t!ie Pyreneau Mountains, they looked (hjwn on the plains of France, and beyond them could see the white sails of the British Heet on the Bay of Biscay. " We fondly hoped," says the sergeant, " soon to descend like a mountain torrent sweeping all opposition before il." They little knew how stern and strong that opposition would iirove.

VT^

•(g^J

%::

:y.

ii

■Ap

'.^r

X

T^:'

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ENTHAtfCR TO Ei.IZMNIh), ON THE DtOAKW^N. (ffOIII tD Ortt;lnAl .tk«'t4'll. I

CHAPTER XIX.

Napoleon was m Germany (where, nnd in Poland, he hin\ about 700,000 French nokliers) when he heard of the battle of Vittoria ; he immediately appointed Marshal Souk* to command the army of 8pain in place of his hrotlier, King Joseph. There were still in Catalonia and Aragon over 00,000 French, and the wliolo force employed against Spain amounted to 180,000 men and 20,000 horses, of which 156,000 were present under arms; but when t!ie garrisons of Pampchitia, San Seltaslian, Payorme, etc. were deducted, Soull h:i<l only 77,500 men present under arm.'?, of whom 7000 were cavalry. This army was divided into throe corps of battle and a reserve. Clauzel cotumamled the left at St Jean Pied de Port ; Drouet, Count il'Erlon, commanded the centre at Espelette and Ainhoa, with an advanced guard at Urdax ; lleille, with the right, was in position overhtoking Vera : while ihe reserve under Villatte guardetl the Pidassoa from its mouth up to I run, where he destroyed the bridge. . The cavalry were on the banks of the Nive and Adonr.f

The position of Wellington's army was as follows : — Byng's Brigade of the Second Division and Morillo's Spaniards wore ou the right, in front of the Pass of Roncesvalh?.s near St Jean Pied de Port. On Byng's left was Campbells I'ortugueae Brigade, supported by the Fourth Division under Cole, at ViscajTet. On Campbell's loft, Hill defended the Rnstan with the rest of the Second Division and Hamilton's Portuguese. Picton, with the Third Division, was at Olague as a reserve Itoth to Hill and Cole. On Hill's left, the Seventh and Light Divisions occupied the mountains from Ecliellar to Vera, and hehiud them at San Estevan was the Sixth Division. Lonja'a Spaniards continued the line of defence from Vera to Giron's position, which extended along the Bidassoa to the sea, and

• Soult had left SpAJn Bome month" before Vittoria. 1 Napiet.

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS,

353

behind Giron was Sir "nioraas Graham with the array besieging San Sebastian. Thirty-six pieces of artillery and some cavalry were with the right and centre, but most of the cavalry were left behind the mountains about Tafalla. The great hospitals were at Vtttoria and Bilbao. The whole force under Welling- ton in Navarre and Guipuscoa, including British. Spani.<5li, and Portugnese, was about 100,000, of whom about 82,000 were present under arms.

The 92nd, under Major Mitchell (for Colonel Cameron was acting as I^rigadier to tlie Kirat Brigade), remained a fortnight in camp, 200 yards to the left of the road where the Atchiola Mountain rises from the pass. They were disturbed only by a tremendous storm of rain and wind, which blew down mo.st of the tents one night, and damaged the arms and accoutrements greatly, besides destroying a good deal of ammunition. The Ylat was 300 yards to the left of the 92nd ; the 82nd, from Barnes' Brigade, Seventh Division, were about a mile up the mountain to the left of the 7 1st ; the 5Dth lay half a nnle from the 92nd down the slope on the Spanish aide, and three l*ortuguese guns were between the 92nd and the road. The Second Brigade, Second Division, were behind, near the village of Maya, having the 34th advanced towards the heights on the right, vvIhmc strong pickets were posted.

It is remarkable how many battles have been fought on Sunday. The chaplaiu attached to the First Brigade had more than once lost his congregation owing to the niovement.s of the enemy, and on Saturday the 24 th of July he visited the camp, and on leaving said, "Gentlemen, we shall have divine service to-morrow, God and the French being willing." With what fearful effect the French interposed will now lie described.

On the 25th, the 92nd had a foraging party with the regimental !unles out early for firewood, which had not yet returned; the rest vveie preparing, in the sunshine of the forenoon, for the expected divine service. Unaware that Soult, wishing to relieve Pampeluna, had l>een eoncentmting troops for a simultaneous attack on Byng at Koncesvalles, on Campbell and Cole near Viscayret, and on Maya, General

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THK LIFE OF A RKCIMENT.

(1913

Stewart was at Elizondo uii that Suuday morning, thinkin«,f all i|uiet in front.

The Col de Maya is three miles broad. There were three pa'ises to defend — at Aretesque on the right, Lassessa in the centre, Maya on the left. General Pringle's l*ngade was to defend Areleaque, and Colonel Cameron's Brigade the Maya and Lassessa Passes. The otlicer relieving the picket at Arcte.sque was told by his predecessor timt a glinipse had l»een obtained at dawn of troops in movement in front. Captain Armstrong of the 7 1st, who was on picket at Maya, also observed troops in motion far away, and reported the circumstance to Colonel Cameron, wfio, with a number of otlicers, proceeded to satisfy himself. After looking througli a spy-glass, a young oHicer remarked that what Armstrong took for French troops was nothing more dangerous than a

drove of buUocks. " By d s, young man, if they're Imllocks

they have bayonets on their horns 1 " said the indignant captain. " Few," adds the otiicer who relates the incident, " had greater reason to remember the correctness of the captain's remark than the individual who provoked it, foi- he was severely wounded in the action that followed by one uf ' Armstrong's bullocks,' as Frenclmien were afterwards denominated by us." *

The Light Companies of the Second Brigade were ordered to support the pickets, and had just formed at the Rock of Aretesque when the Corps d'Armce under (I'Erlon advauced. D'Armagnacs Division mounted the great hill in front, Abbt' followed, and Maransin, with a Third Division, advanced from Lfrdax against the principal pass of Maya, meaning also to turn it by a path leading up the Atchiola Mountain. D'Armagnac's men came on in several columns and foi-ced back the picket with great los.s wpun the Light Couipanies, who with ditliculty sustained the aasault. The alarm guns at Maya were now heard, and General Pringle hastened to the front ; but his regiments, moving hurriedly from diH'erent camps, could only come into action one after the other and by companies, breathless from the steep ascent, Hi*st the 34th,

* On the first alarm the soldiers packed their knapeAoks and uecoutned, ready for orders. — Sergeant Robertson.

"General Stewart was surprised ; his troops were not"— Napier.

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THE GORDON inGITLANDERS.

355

followed by the 39 th and 28 th. But before the two latter could arrive, and notwithstanding the desperate fighting of the picket, the Light Companies, and the 34th, d'Armagnac's troops, supported by Abbe, had by numbers and valour combined established tliemselves un the ridge of the position. Colonel Cameron then sent the 50th to the assistance of the overmatched troops, and that *' fierce and formidable " old i*egiment, charging the head uf an advancing column, drove it clear out of tlie pass of Lassessa. But the French were so many that though checked at one point, they assembled with increased force at another ; nor could General Pringle restore the battle with the 39th and 28th Regiments, which, cut oil' from the others, were forced back, fighting desperately, to a lower ridge crossing the road to Elizondo. They were followed by d'Armagnac, but Abb«i continued to press the 50th and 34th, whose line of retreat was towards the Atchiola, whwe Cameron's Brigade was. " And that officer, still holding the pass of Maya with the left wings of the 7 1st and 92nd liegiraents, brought their right wings and the Portuguese guna into action, and thus maintained the tight ; but so dreadful was the slaughter, especially of the 92nd, that it is said the advancing enemy was actually stopped by the heaped mass of dead and dying." *

It was at this moment that General Stewart reached the field of battle. The passes of Lassessa and Aretesque were lost, that of Maya was still held by the left wing of the 7 1st, but Stewart, seeing Maransin's Division gathering on one side and Abbi'-'s on the other, abandoned it for a new position covering the road to Atchiola, called down the 82nd from that mountain, and sent messengers to the Seventh Division for help. Stewart, although wounded, continued his resistance ; but General Maransin suddenly thrust the head of his division across the front of the British, and connected his left with Abbc', throwing as he passed a destructive fire into the wasted remnant of the 92nd, which even then gave way sullenly. The men fell till two-thirds of the whole had gone to tlie ground, and the left wing of the 71st came into action;

* It was as muah by their own dead as by thoHO of tho 92ad that the French were stopped, aa appears from the following account of a 9*2nd officer. (See p«ge 358.)

366

THB LIFK OF A REGIMENT.

[1813

but one after another all the regiments were forced back, and the tirat position was lost, together with the Portuguese guus. " Abbe's iJivision now I'oUowed d'Armagnac's towards the town of Maya, leaving Maransin's iJi vision to deal with Stewart in his new position, which was held, though the small British force had shrunk in numbers and was short of ammunition, till a brigade of the Seventh Division under General Barnes arrived from Echellar and drove the Freneli back to Maya ridge, wheu d'Erlou, probably thinking larger reinforcements had arrived, recalled his other divisions and united his whole corps. His loss was luOO men and a general.

The above account is taken from Napier's History, who gives, in Appendix No. 4, the following extract from a MS. memoir by Captain Norton, 34th Regiment, showing the situation of the 92nd as it appeared from a distance. *' The ;^9th Regiment then immediately engaged the French, and after a severe contest also rethad. The 50th was next in succession, and they also, after a gallant stand, retired, making way for the 92nd, which met the advancing French column first with ita right wing drawn up in line, and after a most destructive lire and heavy loss on both sides, the remnant of the right wing retired, leaving a line of killed and wounded that appeared to have no interval. The French column advanced up to this line and then halted, the killed and wounded of the 92nd forming a sort nf mmpart ; the left wing then opened its fire upon the column, and as 1 was but a little to the right of the 92ud, I could not help reliecting painfiiily how many of the wounded of their right wing must have unavoidably suHered from the tire of their commdes. The left wing, after doing good service and sustaining a loss equal to the fii'st line, retired."

The following more detailed account of the movements of the 92nd, particularly of the right wing, is taken from the memoirs of the subaltern officer who brought it out of the first part of the action.

* "The force of the enemy in our front yestonUy ia generally eatimate^l »i 14,000 men." •* I »m sorry to say we were so pressed on the height that it was impoasihle to bring away the four guns which were theie ; they were ■piked ttnd thrown over the cliff."— S»r Rowland Hill to the t^narltrmatttr' Omeral, dattd 26(h Jtily 181 a

, ms\

THE GOHDOX HI0IILANDER8.

357

It was after eleven o'clock when the attack on the pickets liegan. As we have seen, the chaise of the 50th, following the 34th and 39lh, checked for a moment the career of the French : hut d'Erlon, availing himself of his great superiority in nuinhers, charged tliese corps in front, at the same time sending strong columns on each tlank to surround tlieni. At this critical period the right wing of the 92nd. nearly 400 strong, under Major .John MacPherson, entered the field and took part in the fray. On their arrival, the Highlanders were a good deal Idown, having advanced a mile and a half mostly at the double. The situation of their friends, however, was such that they formed line without a moment's delay and at once advanced. The enemy, seeing their intention to charge, halted, and thereby afibrdcd the 34th and 50th an opportunity of retiring to re-form their ranks. Enraged at the failure of his attempt to capture these two battalions, the French general now turned his fury against the Highlanders and tried to annihilate them by showers of musketry. They, however, nothing intimidated, returned the fire with admirable steadiness and eftect. Terceiviug that the enemy was acting cautiously, Cameron (Brigadier), wishing to draw him to ground where he could charge him. retired the Highlanders, when the French general, mistakiug the reason for the retrograde movement, pushed forward over 3000 troops, who advanced making the air ring with their shouts of " Vive I'Empereur ! " Conceiving that the enemy had made up his mind to meet the steel, Cameron ordered the Highlanders to halt— front — and prepare to charge. On seeing them halt, the French did the same, and instantly opened a terrific fire of musketry. At this time the space between the combatants was not more than 120 paces, while the enemy numbereil about eight to one. From the 92nd to the French front lint* the ground was almost level, hut in rear of their foremost troops was a narrow ravine, behind which rose abruptly a considerable eminence, Prom the face of which the French fired over the heads of their comrades on the small body of Highlandei'S. These did not, however, return it, but directed the whole of their fire on that part of the enemy's force stationed on the brow of the ravine nearest to themselves, and so coolly and admirably was it

THE UFE OF A REGIMENT.

[181S

given, that in ten minutes the French dead lay literally in heaps. The slaughter was so appalling, indeed, that the utmost efforts of the officers failed to make their men advance beyond their alain. At times they prevailed on a section or two to follow them, but the si^dit of their comrades' mangled corpses was too much, they invariably gave way. One officer rendered himself conspiciums by his repeated and gallant attempts to induce his men to charge the diminishing band of feathered bonnets. He advanced alone about fifteen paces before them, struck his swoid into the ground, and crossing hisJ arms on his breast, stood facing our men. His noble conduct i might have had the efi'ect he desired, a spark from his spirit might have tired the increasing mass of men in the ravine behind him, who might, by sheer weight of numbers, have over- whelmed the Highlanders, had not Private Archibald M'Lean, stepping to the front and kneeliug down, taken deliberate aim and shot him.

The officer from whose memoirs I take this account, and who was present, says : — " To have killed this officer under any other circumstances than those in which the 92nd were placed would have been considered by us as an act of deliberate cruelty, but when the respective nunibers of theJ combatants are kept in view, every impartial man will admit* that the death of the officer was indispensably necessary to our safety. I never felt so much for any individual as for that truly brave man."

During the hottest of the tire, Sergeant Cattanach,* whose place was in rear of the oHicer commanding his company, lapped him on the shoulder, saying he wished to speak to him. On his officer turning, he said, " Oh, sir, this is terrible work, let me change places with you for a few minutes." K^^spect- ing the generous motive of the sergeant in offering to place himself between the bullets and his officer, the latter thanked him, but desired him to attend to his duly in the rear; in a few moments the sergeant: repeated his proposal, but being told , not to mention the subject again, he resumed fiis post with al look of disappointment, and shortly after wjia shot in the gi-oiu. His brother, a private, ran to his assistance, when he

* S«rgeatii CatUuauh belonged to Kiugiuaie.

1813]

THE GORDON FfTGif LANDERS.

359

begged to be laid in rear of the company, but had scarcely spoken when a second bullet killed the brave and warm- hearted sergeant on the spot William l^isset, a private in the same company, was veonnded in the thigh. He quitted the scene of action leaning on his musket, blood Mowing copiously as he hobbled away; but halting at a little distance to look back, and seeing his comrades still supporting the unequal conflict, h*! returned and took his place in the ranks. His otticer advised him to retire and at least get his wound bandaged, when Bigset said, " I must have another shot at the rascals, sir, before I leave you." He fired once, and was about to have a second shot when a ball broke his arm, and he was compelled finally to retire from the field. Many similar instances of devotion no doubt occurred.

This sanguinary combat was sustained for over twenty minutes, during which time more than half the men had been killed and wounded, and all the othcers wounded and carried from the field except two lieutenants, while of the soldiers atill standing many were short of ammunition. No help was in sight, and 3000 against 200 is long oddy ; therefore the senior of the two subalterns decided " under all the circumstances " * to retire, wliicli they accordingly did in perfect order, pursued slowly by the French, who did not take a prisoner hut such as fell by the musketry they poured on them during the retreat. This determined and unflinching stand remains an unsurjnissed example of the i)erfection of steady fire-discipline, dauntless courage, and devoted bmvei-y.

On getting behind the height in front of which they had been engaged, they found the 28th and right wing of the 71 si hastening to their relief. The former attacked the enemy's lending cohnnn.s. liut soon after, moving down the hill, they joined the 34th and 39th in the valley, and the rear of the shattered band of Highlanders was completely unprotected. Under these cirtnimstances tliey, with the 50th, retired to the pass, where General Stewart was Liying to retard the progress of his opponent. He detached the right wing of the 71st, and part of the 50th, to a position in rear, and at the head of the left wings of the 7lat and 92ud awaited the enemy. During • "MUiUry Meuioirs."

360

THE LIFE OK A REGIMENT,

[1813

thia interval Pipe-major CameTon, thinking a little music would be i^Tateful to his comrades, set his drones in order. and made the hills le-echo the " Pibroch Dhonuil Dhu." The eilecL was ebctrical. TJie weary Highlanders were on their legs in an instant anxiously looking to their wounded (reneral (Stewart), who was a few paces in rear, for the order to advance. He at once ordered the piper to atop, and warned them of the fatal consequences that might follow n forwar<l m<ivemenl at tiiat particular moment. Meanwhile the French below were increiising in nuuibers, and in ten minutes the piper, probably impatient of the general's tactics, tuned up again, and again his conmulcs jumped up eager for action. The angry general peremptorily ordered him not to play without orders, on peril of liia life. He obeyed, but was heard nuUteriug, with a sublime cuntidence in the power of his own music, " Mur leig e leom a phiob a chluich cha'u eil Frangeach 's an duthaieh nach bi nuas oirn " (if he'll not let me play, every man in the land of France will lie here).*

The French, after a little skirmishing, brought forward u mass of infantry to overpower all opposition, and Stewart, after a few rounds, withdrew the advanced wings, and marching them through the intervals of the oOtb and 71st right wing, placed thein in position 200 yards in their rear. The enemy followed, and were warmly received by the 50th and 71st, who then retreated through the intervals of the Tlst and 92nd left wings, and thus relieving each other with the utmost regularity, and disputing every inch of ground, they fell biick fully a mile, when, being reinforced by the 82nd, they lialted in a new position, from which they had the mortitication of seeing their camp plundered by the enemy; the batmen and mules wliich had been out in the monnng had been unable to remove all the baggage, and some of them had been taken. An officer mentions how his faitliful servant, Hugh Johnstone, had saved his most valuable articles and money by emptying his knapsack of his own kit, and filling it with his master's valuables.

At the beginning of the action Colonel Cameron detached Captain Campbell of the 92nd with 150 men to the summit

* Told by Private J oho I>ownie and l>y an officer.

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THB GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

361

of the rock of Maya, which was the key »f the position. From this post its garrison i-endertnl cousidemble assisLance. for the face of the hill was covered with whinstoiie rocks, which CainpbeO and his men hurled down on the purauers, frequently with "^Teat effect. Hut neither bullets, bayonets, nor lioulrlers could check the advance of the enemy, who had separated tlie two brigsidea (the Second having retired across the valley of the Bastan).

Fresh troops were advancing from L^rdax. < *ur troops were from 2000 to 2500 men, their opponents 8000 to 9000 ; and about 7 pjii. General Stewart, in order to stop further bloodshed, proposed to retire, and sent an order to the troops on tlie rock to abandon it; hut, before the hearer of the message could deliver it, the cheers of the troops at the base of the hill reached the summit. These were occasioned by the arrival of (reneral Barnes witli the 6th Ueginient and stnne Brunswick infantry. A more seasonable reinforcement was never received. The tired soldiers were resting when it arrived, but rose to cheer — " Our lads were perfectly frantic with joy." (k'ucral Stewart, having regard to Llie extraor- dinary loss and fatigue sustained by them, desired that the 92nd should not join in the cliarge of Barnes* troops. Rut this time the pipe-major was not to be denied. He struck up the charging tune of " The Haughs of Cromdale," * his com- rades, seined witli what in the Highlands is called " mire chath " — the frenzy of l)attle — without either asking or obtaining permission, not only charged, but led the charge, and rushed down on the enemy witfi irresistible force, driving back their opponents in the most spleuditl Ktylc. The power of the national music over the minds of Scottish soldiers was never more conspicuous.

D'Erlon, taking it for granted that such temerity must be hacked by stronger reinforcements than appeared, retired about a mile, and General Stewart made such dispositions as

• This time is older than the battle of Cromdale (1689); the old wordt have more to do with wcdttiiige than warfarci —

Tlia Iwimli ait; ii» GraiiiUtoIi uil«, Air mullach Btinu a' Chronidatl,

Rev. W. Fortyth, Al»ernethy.

362

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

1 1813

would convey the impression that he intended to renew the combat in the morning.

Intelligence was, however, ieeeive{l tluit (Jenerals Cole, I'ieton, and Byng had been eoinpelled by the overwhelming forces of Soult to yield their positions, by wliiuh the right of the army was turned. This rendered the recovery of tlie Col (le Maya useless, and Hill, withdrawing the. troops during the night, posted theui on the heights in rear of Irueta, fifteen uiiles from the scene of action. It now became necessary for Wellington to concentrate part of his army in front of Tanipe- luna, to prevent the relief of that fortress.

Such was the disastrous conHict of Maya, in wliich 2600 Kritish troops not only retained the key of tlieir position for nine homu, despite the utmost eHbrts of about 11,000 of I'onaparte's best infantry, but, on receiving a reinforce- ment of only 1000 men, actually recaptured about a mile uf ground whicli the enemy had actjuired earlier in the day. Il was certainly one of the most brilliant achievements of the whole Peninsular War.

The following anecdote shows the impression made by the conduct of the Gordon Highlanders on the commander of the French army corps engaged. An oHicer relates that a wounded Ihilish Colonel had to be left behind in the valley of Jlastan. ht jiussing through the village, the French CJeneral, Count d'Erlon, called on him, and after condoling with him said, " Pray, Colyuel. how many sans cvlotUs ^ have you in your diviwion ? " " One battalion," answered the Colonel. " One regiment of several battalions I presume you mean, Colonel/* retorted d'Erlon. " No, Oeneral, only one l)attalion, I assure

you," replied Colonel H . The Count, with a smile of

incredulity, then said, " Come now, Colonel, don't quiz me; do tell me candidly how many Highlanders you had in action on

the right of your position on the 25th?" Colonel H

then said earnestly, ** 1 give you my word of honour, Oeneral, there was oidy half a battalion, not exceeding 400 men."

D'Krlon fixed his eyes on Colonel H , and after a pause

said with emotion, " Then, Colonel, they were more than men,

• '* Men without Uf«ccb««," tlie uunie used by the French for the H»^h

lutider^.

1813]

THE GORDON niGlI LANDERS.

36S

for before that Iwdy ot" troops I lost one thousand killed and wouinled."

In coraniemoratiou of the in>blc and devoted [•oiidut't of his regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron was permitted by His Majesly to bear the word " Maya " on the shield of his coat of arniH.

Napier, in his account of the battle, says, " Never did soldiers tight better, seldom so well;" " The stern valour of the Ninety ^second would have graced TheiTnopylae." *

* In hi8 first edition, publiahed 1S40, Napier added after tite word *• Ninety-second " the words ** principftUy composed of IriBhineii." '1'Iuh Btate- ment gave great ofFcnae to the regiment, not because they iit any way disliked or undervalued Iriahinen, but bei^rause the stateaient W4vs inconsiatent with faut And with their tuationality. Colonel J, M 'Donald, then commanding the iWnd, wrote to the author drawing hin attention to the error in his History, " which ynu yonraelf will be anxious to rectify in any further editions of that valuable work. I do not deem any apology necessary for reqiieating tliat you will havo the goodneas to adroit this nnatake. .Should you, however, he under the im- preadiou that the tf2ud waa not principally €onipo«ed of Scntchmien, I shall l>o happy to furnish you with ample proof" ; which he afterwards did, and the ohjectioniible paragraph was left out in later edition* ; an<l in *" Ilattlea uf the PeninBula," note, page ?tOO, Napier writes, *' In my original work, mibled by false information, 1 *>aid the soldiers of the 92nd were all Irish, but their Colonel (M'Donahl) afterwards gave me irrefragable proof by a list of names that they were Scotchmen."

The Monthly Return, dated Heights of Maya, 25th July 1813, gives the nationality of the N.-(J. oUicors and rank and tile of the Firttt Battalion as under : —

SUUiKANTS. DrITMMKKS, CoRPORALS. PRIVATES. UViTAL. PKR CkNT,

English 0 3 0 3;i 3(5 3 49

Scotch 58 13 44 810 9*25 dO

Irish 0 1 3 64 68 6-60

58 17 47 907 tO*20

It bu Heen often aaid tlial Highland roginienta were cnm[tased of Irishmen, and generally with its little reason as on this occasion. As an instance, I remember when serving with the (iordon Highlandora in 1855, an oIjI gentle- man told me he had, whenatioy, been visiting where the Q^ud were quartered in Essex in 1S05; tliat he particularly remembered the tall men of tlic Urcnadior Company, adding, "They were nioatly Irishnten, for I uaerl to hear them talking in the Irish Iwnguugc.'' 1 find the nationality of the N.-C. officers and men of the Crenadier Company, First Battalion 9'2nd Regiment {Gordon Highlanders), on January Ist, 1805, was :— English, 7 ; Scotch, 87 ; Irish, 3.— Total, 97; and of the Scotch, the great mujority were from the northern counties, and many wouhl naturally speak .Scotch (raolic, which is sufficiently like Irish Gaelic to account for the mistake. A list of the oHicors of both battalions of the regiment in IH13 is givou tu the Appendix. It shows nearly nil Scotch, most of them Highlanders, and nearly half from Invernesa-shire.

364

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1813

Many officers and men of the battalion were absent on July 25th on command, sick, priBonets of war, 80 that there were present and fit for duty on that day : — Field -oHicers, 3 ; captains, 7 ; suhalterns, 20 ; stalf, 6 ; sergeiuus, 40 : drum- mers, 15: rank and file, 762. — Total of all ranks, 863. Of whom Ensign Ewen Kenedy was killed in action, and (-'aptain 8. Bevau and Lieutenant Alexander MaeDonald died of their wounds. The other oHicers wounded were — Lieutenant- (.'tdonel -fohn Cameron, Majors Jas. Milchtdl and John MacPherson, f 'apLiiins (r. W. Holmes antl lionald MacDonald, Lieutenants William Fyfe, Donald MacPherson, John A. Durie, James John Cltisholm, Robert Winchester, Donald M'Donald, James Ker Hoss, George (?ordon, John Grant ; Ensigns Thomas Mitchell and (leorgc Mitchell.

It was evidently difficult to make an exact return of the killed in action, as the dead had to be left to be buried by the Kreiicli, and several corrections seem to have lieen made. Altogether I find the names of sixty-seven X.-C. ollicers and men killed. In many case^ the rank i.s torn ofV the original return, and these I have entered as privates.

Names of N.-C otticers flnd soldiers killed in action, 25th July 1813; taken from non-effective return of 25Lh August 1813:—

Sergeant Williarai Cattanacli.

„ James Moore.

„ Alex. Gordon.

Corporal John Mackenzie.

J, William Raymond,

Private Williani Allison.

„ Jus. Allardyce,

„ Jas. Archer.

„ Jas. Burnet.

„ John Campbell.

„ John Campbell.

„ Ja.s. Campbell.

„ John Cameron.

„ Robt. Copland.

„ Donald Currie.

„ Willm. Cunningham.

„ Hugh Cunningham.

Private John Coutts.

„ Alex. Davidson.

„ Roflerick Dunbar,

,, Andrew Dunlop.

„ Willm. Dorrit.

„ Alex. Elder.

„ Angus Fraser.

„ Charles Fraser.

„ John Gordon, Ut.

„ George Gordon.

„ George Gould.

„ Donald Gunn.

„ Jas. Glyn.

„ Robert Hardie.

,, Alexr. Kermack.

„ Jas. Leishman.

„ John M'K&y, lat.

1813]

Tni GOIOOX mQlllAXDKII&

StS

Private AJexr. M*K»y, 4tli Ca Prir»t« IVter M*lUi«w.

Alexr. M*K*j,7thCa Alexr. Mackenzie. Lewis Mackenzie. Donald Mackensie. Jas. Mackenzie. Donald M'Innes. John M'Rae, Dou^d Maodoiigald. Ewen MMphenon. Aiex. Maepherson. John Macintyre- Wm. MDonald^ I at. Wm. M' Donald, 4th. Neil M'AuUy. Peter McMillan. Willu). Mathieson.

Alexr. Morriaoo. John Petrir John Primrose. Arthur Reid. Donald Hiv», 2ml WiUm. Ross, David Reimie. Norman Stewart. Jas. Smith. Oeorge Thumsun. Matthew TruUey. John Williamson, Jius. Watjson. Jas, Wright, J as. Wilson.

Of whom fourteen are given as " supposed killed on July 25tlu" In the morniug state of July 26th. 1813, are eutered um

" sent wounded to the rear " — Field ollieers, 2 ; captains, 1 ; subalterus, 9 ; siutV, 0 ; sergeants, 5 ; rank ami tile, 1261.

It appears that Major Maepherson and three other woMndoil ottieers and several men were able to remain with the battalion. The others went to Vittoria, liilbao, and Suiitamler, aiul thi.s journey of several days by ox-carbs must have been a trying one. The names are given in the return of twenty men a.s taken prisoners between the 25th and 2Tth, .ho that the battalion lost in killed, wounded, and missing about 367 officei-s and men.*

Among the veterans who died at Maya wa.s I*riviile Norman Stewart, the best shot in the l>Qttalion, with whicli he had served in all its many fights. He was a favourite

• Cannon's * ' Hiatorical Record " gives Enaigii K, Kenedy killotl, Lieut, A. Macdonald {died}, and 17 officers woiiiKlud ; hut Captaui Bevtiii it iriuii- tioned m the original return a^ died of wounds, 2Ut Augunt. The otiicr casualties given by Cannon are — M rank ajut Hie killed, *2t)8 wounded, utid 2'i miMing. Kuaigu Eweu Kenedy had lately been promoted froiri quarter- master-sergeant. He l«elonged to Moy, in Lochaber, and was the uupport of a widowed mother, to whom he left considei-uble savingh. Lieut. Alexander Macdonald waa a son of Dalchoahnie. Moat of the killed had 8um» of from J^2 to £12, l:>esidea pri^e-nioney, at their credit, and the addreaa of their heir is generally given.

366

TUE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1813

with both his officers and comrades, a great character, and, as one of his old comrades said, " had not as much English as • would put the pot on the fire/' When an otticer complimented him on his soldier-like behaviour in his first engagement, implying, however, that he had hardly expected it, Norman replied, " (.'ha'n'eil fhios de'n cdaidheamh a bhios 'a an truaill gus an tairneai e *' (it is not known what aword is in the scabbard till it is drawn), lie did not like his first musket, because it kicked, and because it was u " widow," for its former owner hail died ; but when he got a gootl new one lie called it his " wife." and woe betide the French skirmisher who came within reach of her kiss I *

Thougli Lieutenant Fyfe was wounded, his life was saved by the bullet striking his watch, which, however^ he carried till he died at a good old age, near Fochabers.

An instance is recorded by an otticer commanding a com- pany, of the good feeling which has always prevailed between officers and men of the Gordon Highlanders. Fatigued in body by their tremendous exertions on the 25tb, followed by a long night march, iind distressed in miml by the loss of their comrades, they halted on a hillside near Irueta. All were without shelter, but in the course of the day his company erected a beautiful hut, and on their inviting him to enter, he found a neatly-made table grnaning under a loatl of soup, beefsteaks, young potatoes, and a bottle of brandy. He was naturally much gratified by such a mark of attention at such a time, "showing the dispositions of the men I had the honour to command."

* See page 310.

CHAI'TER XX.

D'Erlon remained inactive at Maya vn the 26Lh; but, stimu- lated 1)}' Soulr, he iuivaiiced oti ttie afternoon of the 27th by EUzuiido, and in the evening the 92nd, with Hill'.s troops, retired. Eneh division nf the allied army was i^^'noriint of what had happened to the other; alarming reports were spread ; the narrow glens and roads were blocked with the bagcjage, stores, and artillery of the Sixth and Seventh Divi- sions, which had preceded them, and by the fugitive families of the country people ; so that when it got dark the troops were compelled to halt on one of the lower heights of the pass of Lanz. At daybreak on tlie 28th they resumed their marcli, and at noon halted near La Zarza. Thinking themselves secui'e of a rest for the night, tlie beef was boiling in the kettles, and otlicera and men were washing and shaving the four days* growth on their chins. All was going on tfuietly, when suddenly the bugles sounded the " Fall in ! " In a moment the ground was covered with soup, the half-shaved soldiers stood laugfiing at each other in the ranks, and in ten minutes they were on the road to Pampeluna, near which the tirst battle of Sauroren was being fought, with great determina- tion and loss on both sides. Here the French, 25,000 strong, under Soult, with great gallantry attacked Wellington in a strong position, which he successfully defended.

Being too late to take part in the battle of the 28th, the 92nd hailed near Lizasso and bivouacked, and next day advanced about a mile nearer to Pampeluna. Both armies rested on the 29th without, tiring a shot^ while the wandering divisions on both sides were being brought into the line. Wellington had vindicated his position with 16,000 com- batants; he hud now, including the troops blockading Pam- peluna, 50,000, of whom 20,000 were P»ritish. Hill occupieil strong ground between Lizasso and Ai*estegui, and was well placed for retaking tlie offensive.

368

THE LIFE OF A RKGIMENT.

ri8i»

Soult had been reinforced by 18,000 men, hut finding it impossible to penetrate to Pampeluna, he proposed to make such dispositions as might enable him. tu reHeve San Sebastian. Uu the morning of the :jOth July, Wellington attacked and drove back the enemy in tlie second battle of Saiiroren ; and Soult, seeing his retreat endangered, determined to prevent his tiank being turned by crushing Hill's troops with superior numbers. Fur that purpose he took d'Erlons Corps^ the same truoprt who fought ut Maya> and the division of cavalry in support, not less than 20,000 sabres and bayonets. Hill having barely half that number.

When Soult's attack became obvious, the 92ud, com- manded by Major Jolm MacPherson, moved with t!ie First ISrigade to line the brow of a ridge facing the plain on which the enemy was forming his columns; the Second Brigatle was in support, and two brigades of Portuguese occupied a height on tlie right of the road. The Sth and Light Companies of the 92nd formed a guard to Sir liowland Hill on a height lo the left. A strong boily of French infantry was pushed along the base of the hill with the view of turning Hill's left, and the First Brigade, screened by trees and brushwood, made a corresponding movement along the summit. When the French attempted to ascend at an easier part of the ridge, the 50th halted, the 7 1st e.xtended in skirmishing order, and the 92nd was formed into two divisions ; that on tlie right as a sort of movable column to support where required, while the left tb vision was pushed along the hill top to watch the enemy on the left. One of the officei-s was sent down alone, witli orders t(i give notice of the first appearance of the enemy. After advancing some way, their approach was announced to him by a rustling noise in the bushes, and he immediately gave the alarm ; he was fired at, but escaped. As soon a.s the High- landers arrived, they at once attacked the French Light Infantry, and drove them back with great loss. After tliis our men continued to skirmisli in extended order, till a battalion of grenadiers issued from a wood on their left, and with drums beating and shouts of " Vive rEmpei^eur," advanced to the charge. The Highland skirmishers were at once called in. " We had four small companies, while the French were from

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T1!K GORDON IllUllLANDKKS.

369

500 to 600 strong." Tliinking it k'st to meet theTu half-way, Captain Seton, who coiumauded, stepped iti fioLil uf his little coi-ps and, with his boiiuet in the left hand and his sword in the other, called, " Ninety -second, follow me!" After jiro- ceeding about twenty paces he fell to the rear, as is usual on such occasions, and gave the word " Charge."

"Our lads moved forward with great spiiit to measure bayonets with their opponents. But from such an unequal trial of strength we were most unexpectedly relieved by the 34th Jiegiment, who, coming in sight of us just as we were moving forward, gave three hearty cheers and joined us in our ofleusive movement. Being still superior in numbers, the enemy seemed for a little quite deterndtied to wait nur assault; hut somehow, when we arrived within thirty puces, they wheeled about and retired, hotly pursued by our two little corps. Their loss was considerable ; their commjitidnnt, a line young man with two or three decorations, fell murLidly wounded." *

The enemy, reinforcetl, again advanced. They were oppfjsed with determined bravery, till increased numljcrs enabled theui to outliank HilFs left, and his troops were reluetaijtly obliged to retire alwut a mile from the ridge to some high rocks, from which they hurled deJinnce at the Frencli below.

The Second Itrigadc and other troops were also hotly engaged » and the Highlanders, from iheir rocky fortress, admired the courage of some of the Portuguese troops, who» though forced to retire fighting to a height two miles in rear, on being reinforewl by a brigade of their countrymen, in turn became the assaikuta, and drove the French down the ridge at the point of the bayonet. Mill, having been joined by Campbell nnd Mordlo, again offered battle-, Imt Soult, having gained his object by turning Hill's left and securing a line of retreat, declined it, and thus ended the serious operations in the combat of Buenza, though an irregular fire was kept up till sunset. The Highlander could see the bonfires kindled at night by the garrison of Pampeluna, rejoicing in the hope of relief.

• ''Military Memoirs." 2 A

370

THE UFE OF A EEGIMKNT.

In the two battles of the 30th, the Allies lost in killed and wouudod 1900 men, of whom nearly 1200 were Portu- guese. On the French aide the loss was enormous; two divisions were completely disorganised. Foy's Division was entirely separated from the main body; at the lowest com- putation. 2000 men had been killed and wounded, and 3000 prisoners were taken.

The Gordon Highlanders killed in action were: — Sergeant Jas. Allan, V'orporal Kobert Anderson, Privates John Brookes, William Uougaltl, Hugh Johnstone, David Mintosh, Symmi MacKenzie, Donald Maclean, Murdoch Ross, John Wright, Captain G. W, Holmes, and twenty-six rank and tile were wounded.*

An oflicer mentions that an Order was issued early in the morning of the 30th for all men who could not keep up with their battalion to be sent to the baggage- He selected three from liis company; two went with apparent goodwill, but William Dougald respectfully told him he would rather die than leave his comrades. He had been hit three times by spent bullets on the 25th, and tliough not much minded at the time, the wounds hMl become so inflamed by subsequent exertion that on the 30th he could scarcely drag his right leg after him. '* I shall never forget the exertions he made to keep up with his companions, and the admirable manner in which he performed his duty in action till stretched a lifeless corpse on the heights of La Zarza."

John Brookes, one of the two who quitted the company agreeable to order, had also buen struck by a musket ball on the 25th; it had been turned aside by his leather-stock, but liis throat had become so inflamed that by the 30th he could hardly speak intelligibly. The bravo fellow having obeyed orders with apparent alacrity, his officer was astonished, on going into action, to see him only a few paces in rear on his way to rejoin his company, but had no time to take notice of his disobedience at the moment ; and Brookes conducted him-

* Cannon'a Record says nine rank and 61o weru killed, and Captain G. W. Holmes and twenty-aix rank and tile woundod. The morning atate, Slat July, gives cue captain, twc>nty-.six ruuk and file to rear wouudod. The above ten names of killed ure Uken from ihr Reu'iitieittnl Return.

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TflE OORIHJN HI0HLANDER8.

371

self with iiiw usual spirit nnd gallantry, lill another bullet struck him on the same place aiitl killed hiui ou the spot.* The third man, Hugh Johnstone (the sjitiie who saved his nmfiter's property at the expense of hia own at Maya), had rejoined the company along with P»rookes, and soon after was very severely wounded. He was carried to the rear, but sub- sequent movements placed him in the enemy's hands, where lie remaiju^.d without medical aid till the French retrtated next day, when his master sent a party to carry him to La Zarzu. They attended to him, but he was exhausted from loss of bloody and expired in his comrades' arms, with a smile on his countenance. " Such was the premature fate of as good a soldier and faithful sei-vant as ever graced the ranks of the ISritish army." No doubt examples of chivalrous bravery occurred in the other companies similar to those recorded by this officer in his Memoir.

When the 92nd retired from the ridge where they had been so long engaged, a Portuguese battalion was ordered to cover the retreat, but their conduct proved an exception to the generally conspicuous gallantry of their countrymen in this campaign. In the valley, between the ridge and the rocks to which the 92nd retired, there were some houses which should have been held by t!ie Portuguese^ but of which they allowed the French to get possession, taking the shortest road to safety. Enraged to see tliis post lost by the bad behaviour of his men, their colonel rode up to the standard-bearer, snatched the tlag from his hands, and galloped t«j within one hundred yards of the liouses, where he remained for a considerable time with the enemy's shot Hying about his ears, while he waved the colour round his head to induce his men to follow. f The gallant young colonel (he was only capUiin in the liritish army) was a Highlander, he had both an uncle and a brother in the 92nd, and it was with the greatest difliculty their olficers could prevent the Highlanders from breaking away to render their countryman the aid which bis Poituguese refused ; but the orders were peremptory, and soon they had the plea- sure of congratulating the young commander on his hairbreadth

* Brookes belonged to Old Deer, Aberdecnshiro.

f The Portiigueae troops were always ]cd by liritish otliccrB.

372

THE LIFE (IF A RWIIMKM

(1818

escape from the danger in which his gallantry had placed him, for his cloak and boily-clotliea were pierced in several places by musket halls. His name was John MacDouald of Dal- chosliuie, who many years afterwards comnjanded the Gordon Highlanders.

On the evening of the 29th, the officers of the First Brigade were enjoying that restful day in the shade of a wide-spreading tree, when an officer of the oOth, fresli from Lisbon, passed in all the smartness of new equipment and clean clothes. When he dismounted to report his arrival to the commanding officer, Colonel Fitzgerald of the 60th, then commanding tlie Light Companies of the Second Division, oliered to bet twenty dollars " thai the officer just arrived is either killed or a prisoner within twenty- four hours." The wager was taken and won, for the officer, horse and all, was in the hands of tlie French before the period named ; but Fitz- genild was never paid, for a few hours later he was himself led captive to France.*

Hill's force was now 15,000 men, and Wellington's dispo- sitions were such that the French marshal was placed between two iires, his only line of retreat being by the Pass of Donna Maria, Towards it he began his march soon after midnight, giving the rear-guard io d'Krlon, wJtose divisions, having been hitherto successful, were in good order. They occupied their giTJund opposite Hill's Corps till alwjut eight o'clock on the morning of the 31st, thus giving time for the rest of Soult's army to be well on their way. Hill immediately followed, the pui*suit being led by the First Brigade, Secoiid Division. They carao up with the rear-guard about noon, when serious skirmish- ing took place in the woods. The main body of d'Erlon's troops had by this time gained the pa.ss, the road to which leads up a steep rocky hill covered witfi trees and brushwood. On getting through the wood where they were first engaged, our troops found themselves within three hundred yards of the enemy crowded together on the road. Now was the time for artillery. One field-piece and one howitzer were coming up, but the officer was at a loss for a road through the difficult ground, when Mr Firth, the chaplnin, who was as good a soldier as a • " Military Memoirs."

IBIS]

THK CJOKDON fllGHLANDKKS.

373

[preacher, and liad btiB!i up with the leading' troops, acted as guido to ground from which the guns could open on the enemy with effect. The men were amused at seeing the minister in this new character ; " Gude guide us," cried one of them, " see to the minister leading tlie artillery ! " " I'm sure he a nae business runnin' hiraseV into danger," said another. " Haud yer tongue, ye gowk." answered a third. " He 's the very man that should lie there ; he 'a prepared." *

The first shell knocked down a number of men, and almost every shot took fatal effect, throwing the enemy's rear columns into confusion, so that they scattered through the woods on each side. The infantry was now called on; the 50th ascended the hill to the left of the road ; the 71st, in extended oixier, skirmished with the French along the hillside between the right of the 50th and the road ; while the 92nd took the high road, and attacked the main botly of the enemy in their front ; the Second and Fourth Brigades, Second Division, were in support, and the Seventh Division, uiuler the Earl of Dal- housie, moved by a parallel road to attack the enemy's left flank. Their skirmishers being driven in, the main body, several thousand strong, faced about and made good battle, opening on our troops wilfi a heavy lire of musketry. The 92nd, under Major MacFhersoo. charged in defiance of shot and numbers, but were repulsed with loss. A captain was taken prisoner in the vitltt' and disarmed, but he knocked down the French ollicer who took him with his fist, ran oil', and succeeded in rejoining his company, being, however, shot thntugh the arm as he did so. Again the 92nd cfiarge<l, with tt like result. A third time they led the charge, this time joined by the Second Brigade, and the enemy was at last driven over tlie Tass. The loss of the Allies was under 400 men, that of the French h unknown, and was probably les.s. Lieut.-General Sir Kowland Hill, under whose eye the battalion was engaged, bestowed most flattering encomiums on its gallantry, " and the enemy's defeat was particularly a8cril>ed to the ])ersevering bravery individually displayed in the ranks of the 92nd" t

An officer relates, " At the dose of this day's engagement, • " Military Memoirs." f Caunou's Record.

:n4

THE LIFE OF A KWJIMENT.

ri8i3

I could only muster thirteen privates out of eighty-Lwo N.-C. officers and privates which I caiTied into action six days before ; " and he was himself wounded.

Major MaoFhersoii being severely wounded (his horse was killed under him), the conimaud of the Imttaliim devolved up(»u Captain Seton (who, ihough it is not mentioned in Cannon's Kecord, is entered in the Keginiental Ketuin as " slightly wounded "). The oilier otUcers wounded were Captains Jas. Lee and Douguld Canipbell ; Lieutenant Jas. Hope and Ensign Thomas Mitcliell. Cannon's Kecord gives ten rank and file killed and 69 wounded, but I can only find the names of the following eight N.-C. officers and men killed^ viz. : — Sergeant Charles MacOregnr,* Privates Angus Camp- belt, Alexr. Gow, Eweu Gordon, John Murray (1st), Koderick Koss, Jas. Shaw, Alexr. Watt. The morning state of August Ist gives 3 sergeants, 76 rank and file, "sent to the rear wounded.'*

liesides the three otticers already mentioned, the following N.-C. officers and privates, wounded on the 25th, 30th, and 31st, died of their wounds between July 27th and August 13th inclusive, viz.: — ^Sergeant John Cummiug; Corporals Willm. Leighton and Willm. Craig: Privates Alexr. Clarke, Graham Cattanach, Wilhn. Bain, Willm. Davidson, Thos. Gowrie, Jonathan M'Donald, John MncPherNon, and Jas. Strachan. Though a large proportion of the wounded afterwards rejoined, the battalion did not recover during tlie war from the appalling losses of seasoned soldiers it sustained from llie 25th tu the 31st July 1813.

D'Erlon was not routed, but retreated slowly and in good order, and pursuit was prevented by a thick fog. That even- ing a picket of the Light Company was taken rather cleverly. A body of troops approached, and when challenged, answered " Espagniola." The Highlanders, completely deceived, were surrounded before they discovered their mistake, disarmed, and earned off, each guarded by two men with fixed bayonets. They hail to ford a river, just above a place where it rushed down, dark and deep, between higli rocks wooded on either hand ; as they waded across some of the men agreed to chance

* The sergeimt wlio lost hts wjfu uuil chililreii in lliu rutreal to Curunna *' Tbu«," says Sergeant HolfcrUon, " putting au eud to the wliolu liuiiity."

181.1]

THE IJORDON HIGTILANDEKS.

375

Ihc Ijayooebs and dive for it, and, wliilu their guards were taken up with tiieir uwn footing, these hardj llighlaudera plunged down the rapid, were lost to view among the trees, and regained their battalion. The narrator, J. P^ergusoji, how- ever, said he did not like the look of the bayonets at his side well enough to risk getting one in his inside, and with two or three others was kept prisoner.

No two generals ever commanded both the respect and aiTection of their troops more than Sir Rowland Hill, and the H<in. Sir William Stewart, who commanded tlie Second Division of Hill's Corps, and wiio followed his superior's example both in professional enthusiasm and in consideration for the comfort of his men. To see them contented and happy was tlie delight of both. Sir William, wuimded on the 25tfi, hail been obliged to leave his command, but on hearing of the battle of the 30th, he had a pillow fastened to his saddle so as to keep llie wounded leg from coming in contact with the horse's siile, and rejoined his troops before they came up with the enemy on the iJlst. The enthusiastic elieers of ihe soldiers welcomed him back, but he was soon again severely wounded, and compelled once more, to go to the rear. On his rejoining the division a few weeks afterwards, a party of the Gttrdon Highlanders placed tfiemeelves on the road by which he liad to piiss. When he arrived, one of them stepped forward, and saluting, said, *' Oh General, ye maun drink wi' us." " With all my heart, my men," replied the general to this unexpected request, and, taking the cup, drank to them, expressing his gratiUcation at their attention, and at finding them in such gootl health and spirits. He then rode oil" to the camp, where the rest of the regiment were standing in front of their tents, and received their general and friend with joyous acelamationSj every bonnet Hying into the air as high as its owm^r could heave it. Gratifying as the demonstration no doubt was to Sir William, ii nearly deprived him of an aide-de-camp, whose liorse, unprepared for this Highland welcome, whisked to the riglit about, and gallo[»ed down the hill, to the amusement of the spectators, but the hazard of its rider's neck.*

" '* Military Memoirs."

NoTB.— Sir VVilliairi Stewart, on being (runioiuJl^ thaukvd by I'ttrliauicnt

376

THE LIFE OF A UEUIMENT.

im-A

The evening of the 3l8t was spent in carrying in the wounded and in the sad duty of burying the dead, a mourn- ful time for the remaining Gordnns, who had lately lost so many with wlioni they had been united by bonds of closest friendship. But though, says Sergeant Robertson, they wished these scenes of carnage might be ended, they were none the less ready to do their duty when, on the morning of the 1st of August, they once more entered the valley of the Bastan, and encamped at EHzondo, where they were visited by one of those terrific thuutlerstorins so common in that mountainous region. On the 2nd, the First Brigade took possession of its old grouml on the heights of Maya, aud the opposing armies reuccupied much the same position field by them on the 25th of July. One can imagine the feelings of the Britisli, wliich I have heard expressed by some who witnessed the heartrending spectacle, when they found the unburied corpses of many of -their comrades killed on the 25th, and left by the Freucli a prey to the eagles and vultures. During those nine days several combats had taken place besides those in which the 92nd were engaged; they wei-e all fiercely contested. The encounters were often at the point of the bayonet, charges up and down the rocky mountain sides gave constant oitportunity for individual prowess, while between tlie lighting, with the exception of the 29 tb of July, the troops were in consUmt motion, exposed in the valleys lo the excessive heat of a Spanish midsummer, which made the cold fogs and heavy rains of the high mountain passes the more trying.

In memory of this short but bloody campaign, the 92nd afterwartls received the royal authority to bear the word " Pyrenees " on their colours, and when, after the lapse of many years, the I'euinsular medal was given to officers and men, all the battles were represented by one clas]), Ciohl medals were, however, conferred at the time on Majnr MacPberson, who was promoted Brevet Lieut.-Colonel, and on

for his comiuoL iu tliu Pyrenees, aoid — '* Supportuil as I was l»y my gAlIaiit frienii on my right (^!ftjor-general Pringle), by suoh uorpa as tbe 92ijil Uigh- Latiiltra arMl tlie 5(Hh liritiah Infantry, I ahouUl hnve l»een without cxcuwi if a Itijua tlriii stand hud been made ou the pueitions of the Pyrenees thnn was inJMlc*'

1S13J

TUB GOKDON IlIGHLANIiKKS.

377

Captain Seton,* who now coranmwcled the V>attalioii, whicli wns reduced to about 300 rank and file.f

On the 8th of August the Second Division was relieved at Maya by the Sixth, and the 92nd encamped that evening at Los Alduides on the French frontier. Next day, after a lon^' stiff pull, they encamped on one of the tremendous ridges near Roncesvallcs on which the division on the right of the British liue liail heen engaged on the ^5tli of July. During August the battalion was engaged in making blockhouses and breast works on t!ie commanding points of the position.

It way he here mentioned that in the monthly return for .Fnly, one private had been discharged by authority of the Prince liegent on account of his being promoted in the 87 th lieginient, name not given ; and in September, Volunteer John Clarke, 02nd, was promoted ensign in the regiment.

At this time a colour-sergeant was ajipointeil by War i^thce circukr to each company of infantry, a rank which had not hitherto existed.

A few men kept rejoining from hospital or duty in Spain. On Sejiteniber 13tb, 8 sergeants joined from tfie Second Battalion, and 2 sergeants and 22 rank and file on the 25th.

Meanwhile, on the 31st of August, San Sebastian was taken, where Lieutenant John Koss of the 92nd, serving with SL Portuguese regiment, was killed ; and later, Lieutenant W. Fyfe was promoted captain " mre Arnot, dead of his wounds," but wiiere wounded does not appear.

At Koncesvalles tlie IJritish outposts were near those of the enemy, lait although kept continually on the t/ni vivr, ibe opponents exchanged many little cctiirtesies. The French would otter wine or cigars, while tliey valued more than atiy other atti?ntion a London or Edinburgh newspaper, for their own were so unreliable that " lie lies like a ManiUnr " or " He lies like a bulletin " were common sayings with them. And the French General Foy actually sent an A.D.C. with a Hag of

• In Cannon's Record and other places the name is spelt Scaton.

t Morning state, August 5th : — Field officers, 0 ; captains, 4 ; lieutenants, 7; ensigns, 4; staff, .'i. Sergeants— preseiit, 24; sick alxsent, 14; on <cwn- maud, 10. Urummura — present, 13; sick absent, 1; on conmuind, 1. Hank ail J f ik' — itresent for duty, J<05 ; sick present, 4 ; eick alisent, AH'i ; on com- itKind, 51 -, priaonurs of war, 39.

378

THE LIFE (IF A REGIMENT.

[1SI3

truce asking for a Lundun uewspapor with the details of the late actions.

PaiupL'luuLi ca|jitLi!ated on the 3 let of Octo!»er, which not only kvHatiiKul yoult's inducemenLs to attack, but added llie troops employed iu the blockade to Wellington's effective field force. The 92nd had moved twice durinij October for a few days to the heiglits of Don Carlos, returning, however, to lloncesvalles, where they now had leisure for amusement. Tilts they found in weekly horse and foot races, bull-fights, and in the wine-huuses of the village of Roncesvalles. They nuide beds of brandies covered with ferns and grass to keep them off the damp ground, where " we reposed as eomfortiibly as on the best bed in England." When the weather at last became very bad, the troops were recalled from the heights, save the outlying pickets, and an in-lying picket of 500 men. These suffered greatly from a snowstorm, followed by severe frost on the 28th. ' Snow fell to a greater depth than I had ever seen it in Scotland : " the drifts were twelve feet deep, some of the outlying pickets were covered and had to Ik* dug out, says an olficer of the 92ud; and Sergeant Robertson relates that a picket of the 57th perished, and were only discovered liy the top of the sergeant's liall>erd appearing above the snow. He ;iiso mentions that it was remarked by the general ofllcers " that though the 92nd wore the Highland dress, none of them were frost-bilten." The First Brigade now marched into the village of Roncesvalles, wliere General Hyug (afterwards Earl of Strallbrd) gave up the greater part of his house to the olMcers of the 92nd, and invited them all to dine with him.

The changed aspect of afl'airs now enabled Wellington to carry the war into the enemy's country. He had, by the famous passage of the liidassoa at Fuentarabin and Henchiye, invaded French territory, and he now prupared to attack their fortified positions on the Nivelle from St Jean de Luz on the sea, to Ainhoa below the Pass of Mayn, a distance of about twelve miles. Accordingly, the Second. Tliird, and Fourth Brigades, Second Division, marched from Roncesvalles on the 6l.h of November. The enemy on thai day attacked a Spanish picket a milu in front of the village: tlic Spaniards defended themselves bravely, l)ut were nearly all killed or wounded.

18ISJ

THE GO K DON HIGHLANDERS,

:i79

TUc advuncuil pustt being wiLlHlruwii from tlie riglil of the position to the blockhouse between il and Koncesvalles, the enemy pushed forward a strong reconnoitring party on the afti-rnuiju of lEie 7th, and attacked tlie blockhouse uccupit^il by Captain Holmes and a picket of the 92nd. On the ahinu, the First Brigade came to their assistance, (General Mina and hie Spaniards boing the first to draw tlie attentions of the French, who retired hotly pursued. Tlie 92nd had a private woundec!, and two taken prisoners in the skirmish. Next day at 4 p.m. they moved with the First Brigade, and after a iiiureb in the dark over rough mountain roads, arrived in the village of Ia^s Alduides after midnight. At daybreak on the 9Ui they started to join the division in rear of Maya, wliere the whole country seemed covered with men, horses, cannon, and baggage. Here they rested till 9 p.m., when the advance was resumed ; they pa.S8ed their comrades' grave."? in the memorable pass of Maya, aud stumbling through rough grass, stones and heather, hardly able to keep themselves awake, they reached the Nivelle at 6.30 ajii. on tlie 10th, and the brigade was in tfie act nf crossing liiat little river, when the sound of artillery on the left of the army announced the commencement of the great battle. Here they were allowed to rest before being called into action. On this occasion Wellington hail the superiority in numbers, and he used' it with great ability against Soult's very strong position, which extended along a range of heights from near St Jean de Luz on his right to Ainhoa on his left, which heights were defended by entit3i»chments and redoubts. The First and Fifth Divisions engaged the enemy's right, the Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Light Divisions were directed against his centre, and the Second Division, Hamiliou's Portuguese and Morillo's Spaniards, attacked the redoubts on his left, the Sixth Division being also sent up the right bank of the Nivelle to their assistance. There were two strong redoubts on the French extreme left beyond Aiuhua, rjccupied by a considerable body of infantry; lower down, and behind Ainhoa, were three redoubts, each mouuting several guns of large calibre. It was against this part of the French line that the 92nd, again com- niandwl by Lieut -(\jlonel ('auieron. was led. The battle on the British centre aud left had been hid from their view, but

\%,^;$ ^!i4.c

380

THE lAVK I IF A CKGIMKNT.

fisia

HOW tliu HiglilanJeis could see, ami took part in, the interest- in*^ operations of 26,000 men, under Generals Stewart, Clinton, and Humiltuu, pending the assault of the heights.

The cuuntry was diliicult, and it was eleven o'clock Imfure they got within cannon shot of the redoubts ; but Clinton and Hamilton having turned the right of the enemy a position at Ainhoa, the French immediately opposed to the 92nd mailc little reeistance, running out of the redoubts in confusion ; many prisoners were taken, and their own guns were turned to give them a parting salute. The Highlanders took posses- sion of the Frenchmen's huts, where tliey passed the night very comfortably, being employed during tlie afternoon in collecting and attending to the enemy's wounded.

When, in after years, the regiments engaged were given authority to bear Nivdle on their colours and appointments, the 02nd and other regiments of the First Brigade were not included in the grant. It is true that the principal action was fought, and the great loss sustained, in the centre and on a space of about seven miles ; but the action of Hill's Corps and the Second Division, in which was the 92nd, had an important eflect on the success of the combinations, which failed in no point,* and the fact that the battalion captured the re4bubt with the loss of only one man woumled, in no way detracts from the credit of their bold attack.

The Allies had about 90,000 men; the French 79.000, of whom, however, Foy's Division acted separately. The former liad 2690 officers and men killed and wounded, and Generals Knight and Byng were wounded. The loss of the latter was 4265 olHcers and men, of whom about 1400 were prisoners, and one general was killed ; the field magazines and fifty -one pieces of artillery were taken.

On the day following the battle of ihe Nivelle, the army advanced in order of battle. Sir John Hope, on the left, marched by St Jean de Luz on Bidart ; Marshnl Beresford, in the centre, moved upon Arbonne, and General Hill, cominvmi- cutiJig by his right with Morillo, whu was on the rocks of Mondarain, brought his left forward into communication witli Beresford, and with his centre took pos.ses.sion of Suraido and • Napier, Vol. vi., page 'MS-344,

ISKl]

THK tJORDON lIKniLANDERS.

381

Espelette, facing towards Cambo. Tlic time taken by these movL'iiiiiuts enabled SouU to rally his anuy upon u line at' fortitied camps, his right resting on the coast at liidart, and the left at Ustaritz on the Nive. Foy had driven l>ack Minn's Spaniards on the right of Hill's troops on the 10th, and taken a quantity of baggage, but finding that d'Erlou was giving way before Hill, he retreated during the night, and on the 11th reached Canibo and Ustaritz, ready to defend them against Hill.

About 10 a.m. on the 11th, the 92nd, with the Second Division, quitted the heights from which they had driven the enemy the preceding day, but after advancing three or four miles they halted. The rain, which feU in torrents, rendered tlie country roads impassable for artillery, and no attempt was made to drive the enemy further back. They, however, retired at sunset. The y2nd encamped on a heathery hill near Espa- lette. where they spent a most uncomfortable night, for even cooking was ditlicult, as the wood was too wet to burn. On the 12th, Hill tried to pass the fords of the Nive, and also made a demonstration against Cambo, but the floods rendered the fords impassable, and both places were successfully di'fended by Foy. In these operations the 92nd, witli the First Brigade, moved by Espelette along the road to Cambo, drove back the enemy's pickets to within a short distance of his works, and then ascended a height which overlooked the town and its defences from the right. Sir Kovvlaud recon- noitred, and linding the enemy better prepared ilian he expected, contented himself with driving in their light troops and cannonading the garrison. The 92nd passed the night in the neighbourhood. Their baggage had not yet arrived, and the fires they made roasted one side of a man's body wliile the other was iced by the winter wind. The battalion had one man wounded this day at Espelette.

The baggage arrived on the 13th, but the rain ceased not from the evening of the 12th to the 10th, when the enemy retired over the Nive, destroyed two arches of ttie bridge tn prevent his being followed, and the battalion marched into Cambo, after a skirmish with the enemy's rear-guard.* It

' Sergeant Robertson says two of the Liglit Company were killed on this ocvasion, hut 1 tia not tind iheiii in the existing retuniB.

r^82

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1813

appeared that the French had told their eountrynien that the I'ritish would murder thum, and they found no one in Caiubo hut one ilraj^'oon, who had been left behind^ a bedridden old man and his wife, and a pig — -for the head of the latter a Highland officer paid four dollars. The soldiers did not regi-et the aUsence of the inhaliitants, as they had left their beds, which were a treat to men, many of whom had only been under the roof of a house thirteen niglits out of the last one Inmdred nnd eighty-one days.*

The order books and morning states of this period are lost, but it appears from monthly returns that a pnvnte was dis- charged, November 25th, by authority of the Prince Regent, on account of being promoted to ensign in the York Light Infantry Volunteers, name not given. A draft of 100 rank and file, from the 2nd Battalion in Scotland, joined at Cambo on November 27th, " tlie greater portion of them fine-looking stout young fellows, and proved a great acquisition." At the same time four olticers, who were doing duty with the First Battalion, but who belonged to the Second, were ordered, much to their regret, to join it in Glasgow.

Notwithstanding the harflships, the British army was at this time exceptionally healthy, there being hardly any sick except the wounded, and of these numbers were rejoining the battalion ; one private joined at Cambo '* from reported dead." The troops felt a just pride in contrasting tlieir present position, quartered as victors in a Frencli town, with their situation at the same date in the previous year, when retreating before the French into Portugal.

As soon "as his array entered France, Wellington's lirst care was to establish the system of regular payment for supplies, which had so greatly contributed to his previous success. He issued a proclamation to the allied troops, in which, after re- counting the miseries which the exactions of the French troops had brought upon Spain and upon themselves, he added that it would be unworthy to retaliate on the innocent inhabitants of France. " The officers and soldiers of the army must recol- lect that their nations are at war with France, solely because the ruler of the French nation will not allow them to be at * " Military Memoirs," the author being one of them.

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TFIE GORIJUN IIKJHLANDERS.

383

peace, and is desirous of forcing them to submit to his yoke." A pit^cliimatioii to the same eflect was published among tfie inhal)itant8, who at first would not l>elieve in such motleration. The Spanish and Portu<^iiese soldiers had in many cases suO'ered great wrongs, which they revenged on the Freueh people, but these acts were punished with death, and when Miliars Spaniards conlimied to murder and pillage, Welliiigt*ni sent them hack into Spain, retaining only ihose coniniaiided by Morillo. The confidence of the peasantry became so great that they brought their produce to the British army as being the best market. As an old soldier told uie, " Wellington was awfu' agin' plunder; I've seen the son o' a bailie o' the toun o' Montrose get 300 lashes for stealing a hen ! But he was rieht, for a plundering army is whiles fu' an' whiles fasting."

From the 16th of November to the 8th of December the two armies remained in cantonments. The floods had rendered botli roads and rivers impassable, and the troops at Cambo interchanged civilities with those on the opposite bank of the river ; the French bands played, and conscripts were drilled willdu sight and hearing. Newspapers were constantly ex- changed, till intercourse was interrupted by active operations. One exception occurred to the general politeness of the French- men. A lieutenant of the 92nd was on picket on the broken bridge, and, as he spoke French fluently, thought he would beguile the time by a chat with the otHcer opposite, and desired the sentry to tell him so, with his com|>liHients ; but the Frenchman, instead of agreeing to the proposal, threatumd with violent language to have him s!iot, and when the discom- fited Highlander walked back to his picket-house, a ball struck the door as he entered ; but in general a French officer, if he considered that one of his opponents was on forbidden ground, would courteously salute him, and explain that he must retire.

Quartermaster-sergeant M'Combie, 92nd, in his Journal, refers to the abseuce of personal ill-feeling between tlic British and the French, and mentions one occasion on which they met while foraging and helped each other in the most friendly manner. lie also snys of a French family on whom ho was billeted, *' We were canty an' crouse tliegither.'* I.ietit. Gleig of the 68th (afterwards chaplain -general of the army),

CH AFTER XXL

Thk rivers having subsided, the array was put in motion, and along with Hill's Corps, the 92nd under Lieut.-coloncl Cameron left their quarters in Cambo on the 8 th of December, and forded the Nive under cover of artillery fire. The cuireut was still stronir ; some men were carried oli" their feet, and one, a very short man, William M'Kenzie, would have been drowned had not Colonel Cameron ridden in and saved him ; but the eut-my were surprised and ottered but slight opposition, (rt'uiiral Hill, having won the passage of the Nive, placed the brigade to which the 92ud belonged at Urcaray, to cover the bridge of Cambo, and support the cavalry wliicli were scouring the neif^hbourfny roarls ; with the rest of his troops he marched to the heights of lAtrmenthoa, where the Sixth Division joined him. Ifc was now one o'clock. Soult had extended hi.s line to bar the road to Bayonne and ottered battle, but though a heavy skirmish took place along the front, no general attack was made, the stale of the roads having retarded the rear of Hill's Column. On this day the 92nd had one man wounded. The battalion bivouacked in a wood ; oibcers and soldiers, having been wet to the middle in the river, rose cold and stili' on the morning of the 9th of Decemljcr, and were put into the ucighhoTiring farmhouses, where the inmates did everything in their power to make their unbidden guests coniforlalde. They remained two days with these kind people, who live in much the same style as small fiinners in Scotland. The Highlanders noticed that the men wore the same lliit blue iionnet then general at home (the Scotch have given it up, but in this district of France it is still universal). It is evident that tlie Gordons had ingratiated themselves with their entertainers, whose children told me that they hail often heard their parents speak of t!ie warlike dress and of the mild mannur.s and good conduct of " Les Ecossais."

On the 10th, Uth. and 12th. the French attacked the

2 B

.m€

TlfB LIFE OP A REGIMENT.

[1S13

British on the other side (the left) of the river, but were repulsed on each occasion after very severe fighting. On the 1 1 th the 9 2nd advanced to Petite Moguerre, a village near Bayomie, situated tvetweeu the rivers Nive and Adour, Wellin«^'ton, feeling the want of numhers, hrought back the Spaniards who had been sent to the rear, at the same time taking steps to prevent their plundering; and Soult, finding he could make no impression on Wellington's left, marched with seven divisions to fall upon Hill on the right. That geneml,j who had observed a movement of the enemy on the 12lh, took a position on a front of about two miles. His left, com- pised of the 28th, 34th, and 39th liegiments, under General Pringle, occupied a wooded hill at the Chalteau of Viilefranque. It covered the lately constructed pontoon bridge over the Nive, but it was separated by a stream forming two ponds and a morass from the centre, which was placed on both sides of the high road near the hamlet of St Pierre,* and occupied a crescent-shaped height having thick hedges on the right side, one of which was almost impassable for 100 yards. Here Ashworth's Portuguese and Barnes' British Brigade were posted, the 7l8t on the left, the 50lh in the centre^ the 92nd on the right. The Portuguese were in front of St Pierre, their skirmishers in a small wood covering their right ; twelve guns under Colonels Pioss and Tulloch were in front of the centre looking down the high road, and half a mile in rear Le Cor's Portuguese Division with two guns was held in reserve. The right under Byng consisted of the 3rd, 57th, Slat, and OGth Itegiments. The 3rd was on a height running parallel with the Adour in advance of Vieux Moguerre, where it could only be approached by crossing the lower part of a narrow swampy valley which separates Moguerre from the heights of St Pierre. The upper part of the valley was held by the remainder of Byng's Brigade, and his i>ost was covered by a large millpond which nearly filled the valley. A mile in front of St Pierre was a range of heights belonging to the French, but the basin between was open, and commanded by the Bre of the Allies. The country was too heavy and enclosed for the action of

• Not St Pierre cVIrube, which is close to Bayonno, but the hamlet of St Pierre, property cnllod Loatenia, over two milca from the city.

1813]

THB GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

387

cavalry. The enemy could only approach on a narrow front and by the high road, till within cannon shot, when one by- road branched off to IMngle'a position, the other to where the 3rd Regiment was posted. A Hood on the night of the 12th had carried away the bridge over tJie Nive ; it was soon restored, but on the morning of the 13fch, Hill was completely cut oft" from the rest of the army, while seven French divisione, 35,000 strong, with twenty-two guns, approached him in front, an eighth under General Paris, and Pierre Soult's Division of cavalry metiaced him in rear. To meet the enemy in front he had lesa than 14,000 officers and men with fourteen guna (for the Sixth Division was now on the left of the Nive), and there were only 4000 Spaniards, with Vivian's Brigade of cavalry, to protect his rear. It was a situation to try the nerve of the bravest general.

On the morning of the 13 th of December, the 92nd marched from Petite Moguerre, and on arriving at the high road in rear of St Pierre, were ordered to turn to the right and halt at that hamlet. Soult had formed his order of battle in front of Bayonne under cover of a thick mist. D'Erlon, having d'Armn^ac's, Abba's and Darican's DiviBions, Shane's cavalry and twenty-two guns, marched in front, followed by Foy and Maransin ; the remainder of d'Erlon's command was in reserve. This formidable array was sometimes shrouded by the mist, sometimes dimly seen by the dauntless little army of Allies who waited their attack. At 8.30 the sun burst forth, just as Soult's light troops pushed back the British pickets in the centre, and the sparkling fire of the skirmishers crept up the hills on either ilank, while nearly forty pieces of artillery shook the banks of the Nive and the Adour. Darican directed his division against Pringle ; d'Armagnac was ordered to force Byng's ISrigade ; Abbi^ assailed the centre at St Pierre. Sir William Stewart commanded the troops stationed in front. Sir llowland Hill took his station on Mount Horlope in rear of St Pierre, from whence he could see and direct the movements of alL

Abbe pushed !iis attack with great violence, and gained ground so rapidly with his light troops on the left of Ash worth's Portuguese, that Stewart sent the 71 at and two

388

THE LIFB OF A REGIMENT.

[1813

guns to aid the latter. The French also won the small wood on iVshworth's right, and half the 50th was detached to that quarter. The wood was retaken and Stewart's Hank secured, but his centre was much weakened, and the French ar tiller)' fire was concentrated on it. Abbe then pushed on a column of attack with such power that, in spite of musketry on his flanks and artillery in liis front, he gained the top of the pi^eition, and drove hack the remaining Portuguese and that half of the 50th which had remained in reserve. The British were now in imminent danger, when General Barnes brought forward the 92 nd.

As the battalion cleared the houses of St Pierre, one of the pipers was killed at its head. The right wing quickly extended on the moor to the left ; the French skirmishers fell back before them, while the left wing, led by Colonel Cameron, charged down the road on the two regiments composing the column. " The charge," says Napier, " was rough and pushed home ; the French mass wavered and gave way." The High- landers pursued and took laany prisoners. Abbt* immediately replaced the beaten column with fresh troops, and Soult, redoul)ling the play of his heavy guns, sent forward a Ijattery of liorse artillery, which opened its fire at close range with destructive activity. Cannonade and musketry rolled like one long peel of thunder, and the second French column advanced with admirable steadiness, reg-ardless of their loss by Ross's guns. The Highlanders, unable to resist this accumulation of foes, were borne back, fighting desperately hand to hand, and even charging again and again with most determined fortitude and audacity, till General Barnes ordered them to retire,* while all the time the pibroch " Cogadh na sith " rang in their ear&f Slowly, but with broken ranks, they regained their jKisition behind St Pierre. The Portuguese guns, their P>ritish com-

* '*G«D6ral Bamc« had just sent mo word not to advance further." — Letter from. Cam^Ton. ]

tA letter from Archibald Campbell, Kaq., snggestB that Sir Jolrn Sinclair (President), "ought to communicate to the Highland Society the fact that two out of the three pipera of the 92nd Regiment were kilted while playing ' Cogag nn ahee ' to encourage their comrades;" as one fell another took it up: and that thia "should \m made known all over the Htghlaoda." Mr Campbell wob informed of tliis by a letter from Colonel Cameron.

1813]

THE (lURlKJN HIGHLANDERS.

389

mandiiig olllw^r having fallen, tht»n Umbered up and retired ; and the French skirmishers reached the iiii])enetral)le hedge in front of ^Vsh worth's right, when Barnes, seeing that hard fighting was the only cluuice of saving the day, made the Tortuguese gunners resuuie their fire. The wing of the 50th and the CaQadores gallantly held the wood on the right, hut Barnes was soon wounded, the greater part of his and of General Stewart's staff were disabled, and the matter seemed desperate. The light troops were overpowei^ed by numbers and driven in ; the gunnei-s were falling at their guns, Ashworth's line crumbled l»efore the fire ; the ground was strewn with dead in front, and the wounded crawling to the rear were many. If their .skirmishers could have penetrated the tliick liedge in frouL of tlie Tortuguese, the sviccess of the French would have been certain at this poiut, for the main column of attack still steadily advanced up the causeway, and a second eohunu on its right was already vict.onous, because the colonel of the Tlst had withdrawn that gallant regiment, and abandoned the Portuguese. I*ringle wa.*? bravely huldiug the hill i>f Villefranque against Duricau's numbers, but un the e.xtreme right, the colonel of the 3rd liegiment hail also abaudoned his strong post to d*Armaguae,* whose leading brigade was rapidly turnij;g Byng's other regiments; and now Foy'e and Maransin'a JJivisions were coming up to Ablx-'s support, at the verj' moment when the troops opposed to him were deprived of their reserve.

For Hill, witb admirable decision, when he beheld the retreat of the ;^rd and 71st Regiments, galloped down from his eminence, leaped liis horse over the fence of the road, met tlie latter regiment indignant at being withdrawn from the fight, and turned them back, delighted to renew the combat ; then leading in person one brigade of Le Cor's lieserve to the same i^uarter, sent the other against d'Armagnac on the hill by Vieux Mtvguerre. Thus at the deeisivc moment t\w French reserve was augmented, and that of the Allies was thrown into action as a last resource. Meanwhile Ashworth's Ca^a- dores and the wing of the 50th held the little wooil with

• The colonels couimaDding the 3rd and 7l8t were both dismiBsed the ■ervice.— Napier.

390

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

ri8i3

uutUiichmg courage, never doubling that their tried comrades of the Gordon Highlanders would soon return to their assist- ance; and their confidence was not misplaced, for as soon ns the 92nd had time to re-form its shattered ranks, its gallant colonel, on foot — for his horse had been killed under him — a^^ain led the battalion down the road, with colours flying and bagpipes playing, "resolved to give the shock to whatever stood in the way." * At this sight the British skirmishers on the flanks suddenly changed from retreat to attack^ rushed forward and drove the enemy back on each side; yet the battle seemed hopeless ; Ash worth was liadly wounded, his line was shattered to atoms, and Barnes, who had not quitted the field for his former hurt, was now shot through the body. The 92nd was but a very small body compared with the mass in its front, for some of their companies were extended as Light Infantry, t aw^ the French soldiers seemed willing enoughj to close with the bayonet ; but an officer riding at their hea suddenly turned his horse, waved liis sword, and appeared to order a retreat ; then they faced about and retired across thoj valley in good order, scarcely pursued by the victorious High- landers, 80 exhausted were they by their several desperate encounters. The enemy's retreat was produced by the bold advance of the 92nd, and the returning rush of the skirmishers^ thus encouraged ; but the 71st had returned witli such alacrity to the combat, and were so well aided by Le Cor s Portuguese, Generals Hill and Stewart leading thorn in person, that the French were overthrown there also, at tlie same time that the 92nd came down the causeway in such gallant style. These deeds were witnessed by the French at Villefmnque, where Pringle had given them enough to do, and now, disheartene they fell hack in confusion.

Meanwliik the Portuguese, detached by Hill to recover the Moguerre ridge, had ascended under heavy tire from Sou It's guns, rallied the 3rd Kegimeut in time to stop the First Brigade of French, who had passed Byug's tlank ; and while the fire of musketry and cannon continued, the contending

• Napier.

1^ Two oompanies of tbe 92nd hivd aIbo been doUched before noon to support tbe troope in the left centre.

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THE GORDON HIUHIANDEKS.

391

generals restored their lines of battle. It was now noon. Soult had still Foy s and Marausin's Divisions with which to renew the fight. The ranka of the Allies were wasted with tire, nearly all the stafl* had been killed or wounded, and tlu'ce generals had been obliged by wounds to quit the field. In this crisis Hill drew the 67th from Byng's position to rein- force his centre ; at the same time, the liridge at Villefrunque having been restored, the ^>ixth Division appeared on the mount from which Hill had descended to rally the 71st. It was followed by the Fourth Division, and that hy the brigades of the Third Division; with the Sixth came Wellington, who had hurried from Barrouilhet when the first sound of cannon reached him, but only arrived to witness the close of the battle. Taking in the situation at a glance, he grasped Sir Rowland's hand, exclaiming, " The day is your owa" Hiirs day of glory was indeed complete ; he had played the part of both general and soldier, rallying the 71st and leading the Keserve, " trusting," says Napier, " meanwhile, with a noble and well-placed confidence to the courage of the 92nd and 50th to sustain the tight at 8t Tierre. He knew, indeed, that the Sixth Division was close at hand, and that the battle might be fought over again; but, like a thorough soldier, he resolved to win liis own light with his own troops if he could. He did so after a manner that in less eventful times would have rendered him the hero of a nation."

Colonel Cameron, in a letter dated 1 4th January 1814, says — "General Barnes' Brigade fought without support for eight hours. Five companies of the 92nd, with (ieneral Barnes and myself at their head, charged three dillercnt columns of the enemy in succession ; no sooner had we driven one Ijcfore us than they were relieved by a fresh one." *

Napier, in speaking of Colonel Cameron and his regiment at the critical moment when they were forced back to St Pierre, says — "How desperately did the 50th and Portuguese tight to give time for the 92nd to mlly and re-form behind St Pierre ; how gloriously did that regiment come forth again to charge, with their colours Hying and their national music playing us if going to a review. This was to understand war.

* Catiuou'a Record meationa four dytiuct charges with the bayonet.

392

THE LIFE OP A REGIMENT.

[1813

The man who in that moment aud immediately after a repulse thouglit of such military pump was by naUire a soldier."

Wellington in his dispatch, writing of the First Brigade, says, " They were particularly engaged with the enemy at that point, and these troops conducted themselves admirably/' Next evening Captain Kiucaid lieard him say that " it was the most glorious attiiir he had ever seen."

General Sir K. Hill says in Orders, " Headquarters near Petite Mouguerre, 14th Deceraher 1813. — The Second Divi- sion has greatly distinguished themselves, and its gallantry in yesterday's action is avowed by tlie Coinnmnder of the Forces and the allied army."

Lieut.-general the Hon. Sir W. Stewart. K.B., in his report of the action states, *' Several brilliant charges were made by the Portuguese and British, more particularly by the 92nd Highlanders and 18 th Portuguese llegiment, gallantly directed by Major-general IJarnes." *

In a letter from Sir K Hill, dated January Sth, 1814, to Sir John Sinclair, President of tlie llighljind Society,! acknow- ledging the receipt of the report of the cejiiipctitian of High- land pijiera held at Edinburgh, for the information of the 7 1 at and 92nd liegiments, he continues — " lu justice to these dis-

* Sir William mentions four namea as diHtiiiguishvd aiitoii^' tlio rcgini4<titAl officers of the Britiiih infantry engaged. Lieut. ♦Colonel t*anieron, 92n«l High- Iftndera : I^ieuL-foloupl [>eith, Slat Regiment ; Mftjor \V, A. <I<jrdori, .'iOlh Hcgimetit {ooraniaudJng t!ie light troops of the Firist Brigade), and Captain Oinieron, .Ird BufTs (commanding the light troops of the Third Brigiidu). Major Gordon had aen'ed in the 92nd in Holland, etc. Captain Cameron ha4l been promoted from the ranks of the 92nd.

t Now the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Coloael Cameron gave grejit encouragement to the regimental pipers, some of whom were among the heat in the Highlands, and were succeiisful at varioua tinus in the competitionB held by the Highland Society of Scotland, in the Theatre or Music Hall, Edinburgh, whore the com|>etitor8 were the moat celebrated per- formers, some coming many days' journey from the tliatant Highlands,' ttefore auL'h competitions wore conmion in Scotland. He particuhirly encouraged the si>eeially 7/i;;/i/a«</ airs, and the high class music iCeoI Mor). To thijs nuiy probably l>e attributed the fact that al/ pipers in the Ciordon Highlanders are still taught to play ** Piobairenchd/' and that thi« ancient and eliaracteristically Jli'jhlatul class of pipe music ia still played every day under the windows of tlie otBcers^ quarters before dinner, acoordiog to the custom of the old Highland gentry.

* Carr^ " CaledooJan Bkctchm," and an old offlc«r »Sod,

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

393

tiiiguinhed co!i>s, it aflbrds me the highest satisfaction to slate that they have oa all occasions imitated the example of their warlike ancestors. The conduct of the officers and men throughout these c^iiuiiaigns 1ms been so uniformly good as to render it almost unnecessary for lue to select particular individuals for praise. Lieut-colonel (Jameron of the 92nd does, however, demand that distinction. Durinji; the greater part of the battle of Vittoria he commanded my First Brigade, and also at Maya and other severe operations in the Pyrenees. I aiu also much indebted to hira for leading the gallant ^2nd in several successful cliargea against very superior numbers in the battle of the 13th of lust month near Bayonne."

Extract from letter to Colonel Cameron, tlated Edinburgh. 24th February 1814, signed K. M'Donald, Secretary of the Highland Society of Scotland — " The Directors cannot refrain from expressing their admiration of tlio conduct of the 92nd."

Cameron had just received General Barnes' message lo fall back on St Pierre, which he was gradually doing, when his horse was killed, and he fell under it. llv was clnse to tlie Frencli, and in the press was not at hrat observed, till \m orderly corporal ran back to his aid, calling out that the colonel was killed. He was helping him to struggle out from under the hoi-se, when a Frenchman laid hold of the corporal by the neck; a private ran up and shot him dead, but was himself killed immediately after. "The corporal, however, with extraordinary gallantry,*' persisted in taking his colonel's cloak and saddle with him, exclaiming as he rejoined his comrades, " Fagaidh sinn a chlosach aca, ach cha n'faigh iad an diullnid anns an do shuid fear an Fhasaidhfhearne " (we will leave them the carcaae, but they shan't have the saddle on which Fassifem sat.") *

Alison writes : " This battle, one of tine most bloody and hai-d* fought on both sides which had occun-cd in the whole course of the Peninsular War. cost tlie British 2500 and the French 3000 men." Napier says — " Nor con the vigour of the combatants be denied where 5000 men were killed and

* This incident is atill told in Locbaber, where the credit is given to Private Ewen ban M'Millan, C»meron*B servatit, but the colooers letter only mentions the corporal.

394

THE LIKE OF A HEGIMEKT.

[1813

wounded on a space of one mile square." The French account a^ees ; and Wellington declared that he had never seen a field so thickly strewn with dead. The Gordon Highlanders lost Major John MacPherson (mortally wounded), and Lieuts. Duncan MacPherson, Thomas Mitchell and Alan MacDonald were killed in action. The other officers wounded were — Captains G. W. Holmes, Ronald MacDonald, and Donald MacPherson ; Lieutenants John Catenach, Konald MacDonald, James John Chisholra, Roliert Winchester, and George Mitcliell; and Ensign William Fraser. I tiiid the following tweuty-sLx names of N.-C. officers and men killed in action :—

Sergeant Jas. M'HalBe.

Oorporal Ewen M'Pherson.

„ George M'Pherson.

Private Adam Burnet.

„ Jas. Oheetham.

„ Francis Elliot.

„ Kenneth Fraser.

,, JameB Glass.

„ Peter Gordon.

„ William Johnston.

„ John Lumsdeu.

„ John MacDonald.

„ William MacDougall.

Private Archd. MacLean.

„ Donald MacLeoil.

„ Donald M*Kinjiou 2nd.

„ John Patterson.

„ John Ros8.

„ William Ross.

„ James Roy.

„ Jsuues Reid.

,. John Smith.

,, William Swan.

,, Juhii Stephen.

„ Michael Taylor.

,, Michael Trimble.

Sergeant-major Duncan MacPlit.'r8oji (who was taken prisoner),] six sergeants and 136 rank and lile were wounded, of whot the followini; died of their wounds : —

Private Roljort Allan.

„ Patrick Burke.

„ James Cairns.

„ Archibald Currie.

„ Murdoch Dnviiiatjii.

„ William Dunlmr.

,, Kenneth Friwer.

„ Alexr. Hardie.

„ William Jamioson.

The wounded were taken rank and file, who had also

Private Duncan Johnatim.

„ William Lyon.

„ George Mills,

„ George Macintosh.

„ Alexr Macintosh.

„ Donald MacDonald.

„ Alexr. Ro.s8.

„ Alexr. 8haw.

„ James Wright

to (.'ainbo; one sergeant and four been reported dead, were found to

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THE GORDON HIGITLANDERS.

395

be prisoners of war.* Major MauPherson was a ^'rcat loss to the regiment ; Colonel Cameron placed great confidence in his tact and judgment, and often consulted him when he felt his own fiery temper uiiglit lead him astray.

In commemoration of bliis action, the Gordon High- landers bear the word Nivt on their regimental colour; an honorary badge with Nive was confen-ed un Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, and the senior captain, James Seton, was promoted brevet-major. When Peninsula medals were afterwards given, a clasp Nivc represented all the engagements on both sides of tltat river, t

In the evening the enemy retired to their fortified camp at Ejayoane, and the 92nd went into the quarters they liad left in the morning; but before leaving the field, the Marquis of Wellington personally thanked them for tlieir manly bearing in the action, and ordered them a double allowance of rum.|

Sergeant-major Duncan MucPherson was promoted ensign in the 92nd, December 23rd, and Sergeant David Taylor was made sergeant-major.

The battle of St Pierre had important results. It cut Soult's coranmnicationa witli St Jean Pied dc Port, was a step towards forcing liim to abandon Bayonne, and menaced the navigation of tlie Adour, rendering it difficult for tlie French to get supplies. For the latter purpose the 92nd marclied and encamped at Urt, on tlie bank of the Adour, on the 4th of Jaiiuai7 1814, and went into quarters there on the 8th. Here they liad a troublesome time, not a night passing without soime disturbance. Tlie French supplies were guarded by gunboats, which retui-ned the fire of the infantry pickets on the river bank A frost at length hardened the roads and enabled

• Caimon'fl Record yivea 28 rank and file kilk-il aud 143 wounded, but nerer mentions those died of wounds or prisonera of war.

t The battle of St Herrc ia called "Moguorre" by the Freuch, and U alluded to iu tli« regimental documeuta of the timti an '* tho action near Bayoune." It waa the great acticm which terminated the five days of fighting, chiefly on the left bank of the Nive \ but it was distinct froui thu rest, fought by a Boparate portion of Wellington's forces, and ia well worthy of Rpecial remembranoe in the records of the urmy and of the regiments engaged.

X Sergeant Rol)flrtHon.

396

THE LIFE i)V A KEllIMENT.

ri8i-f

some light arlillery to be l>roughl up, which sank souiu of their boats and rendered the passage very hazardous. There is an island ill the river, on which tjie Fi-encli attenipted to establish a fortified post. Sir Ivowlaud Hill sent a Uag of truce to say that he could not permit them to do so, and, wishing to prevent bloodshed, desired that tliey should leave it. On their refusal, he opened on them with his guns, and Llie musketry of some Portuguese infantry and a wing of tlie 9!ind, when they abandoned the island, which was occupied by a ISritish picket.

On the 20th January the battalion marched for St Jean de Luz, wliere they received their new clothing on the 2:5rd, and returned to their quarters in Urt on the 2(ith.* The 71st, who had relieved the 92nd, now went in tlieir turn for cloth- ing. The enemy had seen the 71st go, and thought it a good opportunity to make a descent on the British. They did so early on the morning of the 27th, when they were warmly received by the 92nd, whose return after dark they had not observed; their attempt proved abortive, and they were obliged to recross the river. In this allair Private W. Charles was killed.! After this, all remained quiet till the 12th of February, when a frost enabled Wellington to advance, and the 92nd, under Colonel Cameron, marched with Hill's Corps, 20,000 strong, for Urcuray, in order to force the passage of the Gaves, rivers which run into the Adour.

Hill's force was in two columns, and that to which the 92iid belonged attacked the enemy under Ocncrnl Harispe at Helette on fclie 14th. In this atlair the battalion had Private Alexander Fair weather killed, and Lieutenant Richard Mac- Donnell and seveml men wounded ; Cannon's Record says seven, Sergeant Robertson says ten. The morning state of the 18th mentions ten as "sick gone to the rear." The sergeant also says eight were killed, and piu-ticularises his " old and Iwiloved comrade and bed-felluw " as " shot through

* Wellington, owing to want of transport, could not send the clothing to the troops.

t Sergeant Robertaon sayn ihiee ama were killed and (en wounded, but they are not in any return I can find.

i

X

B A T T L K 0 K

D H T IJ £ 5

27'^ Fi-Uiiian^ IBM.

AM AMie F Fi-rTitli «■

*^ritTHl^ ^ivriijitrv iUU A ru litter

» r A (. « »

18141

THE GORDON HIGH LANDERS.

397

the Iieart and died almost instantly," whereas Fairweather, according to the Regimental State^ died of his wound next day. On the 15th the battalion inarched in pursuit of the enemy, who took up a position on the heights of Garris, near the town of St Palais, closely followed by the Light Com- panies of the Second Division, who gained a parallel counter ridge, on which Hill's Coqjs was at once establisberl/while his skirmishers descended into the ravine as the evening elose<l in, and two guns fired over them on Harispe's troopa. At this moment Wellington arrived and, addressing the troops near him, said, " You must take the hill before dark ; " * and take it they did. The 92nd, particularly the Light Company, were employed along with other regiments, and the French being ivantageously posted^ though many of them were eoiiHcripts, not only stood the British fire bravely, but charged them with the bayonet, many being wounded in the contest with tliat weapon. They were beaten off', but twice returned to the attack, till Harispe, seeing the rest of the Allies coming on, retreated by St Palais, and Idew up the bridge of the liiilnuze. When the combat ceased, it was so dark that men could hardly see each other. Next morning they found many knap- sacks thrown away by the French.

The enemy lost this day 500 men, of whom 200 were prisoners; the Allies' loss amounted to 160. Uf the 92ud, Major James Seton f was mortally wounded (he died at Cambo), and three rank and file were wounded.

Major Seton had served at the age of fifteen with the 12 th Regiment at tlie sttirming of Seringapatam in 1799, nnd was promoted in the Gordon Highlanders, where he was cjiptain of the Light Company. His letters, which I have quoted, show him to have been an enthusiastic soldier. He was son of Sir W, Seton, of Fitmedden «nd Cushnie, and grandfather of the present baronet. A monument was put up some years ago in the English Church at l?iaiTitz, near Bayonne, to the memory of the IJritish oHicei*s and men killed in France. As there were errors in the names of the officers of the 92nd,

• Napier.

+ Thiis officer's name m more |jroperly "Seton," hat it ia " Seaton " in the Army Liat of 1813, aaid also on the memorial at Bi&rritz.

398

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1814

their tablet was replaced in 1893 by a uew and correct one at the coat of past and present otHcers.

On the 16th February Wellington repaired the broken bridges at St Palais after a skirmish, and in the afternoon the 9 2 rid crossed with Hill's troops and occupied a position in advance, the enemy retiring Ivefore theio, but in good order. Un the 17th, the battalion resumed its march, and alwut 2 p.m. came np with the enemy strongly posted in the village of Arriverete, on the right bank of the Gave de Mauleon, where they were endeavouring to destroy ihe bridge, to which they had set lire. A ford was, however, discovered higher up, by which the 92nd crossed under cover of the artillery, at once charged the troops in the villnge, and after considerable resistance drove them out, and secured the bridge by which llie rest of Hill's troops were enabled to cross. The enemy retired over the Gave il'Dleron, and the battalion, which had ten rank and file wounded in this gallant enterprise, was can- toned in t!ie neighbouring villages. During the action a shell fell among the 92nd while in close column, but did no damage beyond breaking a bayonet! Colonel Cameron's horse was shot on entering the river, and the tradition is that Sergeant Angus Henderson and a Private M'Intosh carried him over.*"

In memory of this occasion, Colonel Cameron was granted by Royal warrant the right to bear as his crest a Highlander of the 92nd, up to the middle in water, grasping a broadsword in his right hand, and iu his left a banner inscribed " 92nd " within a wreath of laurel, with the motto " Amveretc,"

Extract from tlie Alarquis of Wellington's dispatch, 20th February 1814: — "A ford being discovered above the bridge, the 92nd Regiment under Lieut-Colonel Cameron, supported by tlic tire of Captain Heane's troop of horse artillery, crossed the ford and made a most gallant attack upon two battalions of French infantry posted in the village, from which the latter were driven with considerable loss."

The following letter relative to an application to be per- mitted to bear " Arriverete " on the regimental colours was

• HcndcFHon wm long a pensioner at Fort- William, ami M*luU>sh in BAdenoch.

1S14]

THE GORDON HIGilLANDERS.

399

addressed April 13th, 1816, by the Duke of Wellington to Lord Niddry,* colonul of the 92nd: —

My Dbar Lord,— I have received yoar letter of the 2nd re- garding the desire of the 92ml Regiment to bear the word " Arriverete" on their colour, etc., to which I have no objection, and 1 will apply for the distinction, if after this explanation tliey should still df'sire it

Arriverete is a village on the Gtive de MfvuI«5on, at which there ifl a wooden bridge. We had passed the river at other points, but our communication across it was difficult, and the enemy was of such a force at Sauveterre, in the neighlx>urhoo(l, that we could not venture to move along it, and I wkhed to get possession of the bridge before the enemy could destroy it. The 92nd forded the river, and attacked and took the village against a very superioi- force of the enemy in the most gallant style (in the manner in which they have always performed every service in which they have been employed), but without much loss ; there the affair ended ; we were not prepared at that time to do more, and we held that village as a iSte-de-pont till our means were in readiness for our furtlier operations.

These is no doubt but the troops behaved as gaUantly in this affair as they could in any of greater importance, but the result was not of that consequence to the ulterior operations of the anny to have rendered it notorious to the army at large ; and although I re- ported it aa I ought, I know there are many belonging to the army, some oven who were present, w^ho have no recollection of the name of the place which was the scene of the action, and some not even of the action itself.

It appears to me to be beneath the reputation of the 92nd to have to explain for what cause the name of a particular place has been inserted in their colours ; and notwithstanding that on no occasion could they or any other troops behave better than they did upon that, I acknowledge that I am anxious that they should not press the request. But if after this explanation they continue to wish it, I will take care it shall be granted. — I have, etc.

{Signed) Wellington.

Lieut. -General Lord Niddry, K.B., etc. etc.

It is generally considered that while Wellington had the

• Sir John Hope, at that date Lord Niddry, and aftcrflrarda Earl ot Hopctoun.

400

TIIK UFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1814

entire confidence of his army, he had not Napoleon's knack of gaining t!ie affection of his soldiers by personal intercourse with them. There are, however, many insttmces to the con- trary. While the Gordons were marching at ease one day over one of the grassy commons of that part of France, the left hand man of the rear section, one Jock Wehster, from Kingsmuir, Forfar, who, as his friend told me, " wasna blate," liearing the sound of a horse's hoof on the turf, looked over his shonlder, " an' wha but Wellington ridin' canuily by." Jock brought his firelock smartly Lo the shoulder, calling out, " Hoo far will ye tak' us, my Lord ?" " How far do you want to go, my lad ? " " To I'aris, by 0 — d ! " and Wellington rode on laughing. A J) 2nd pensioner at Strone, Kingussie, named M'Uillivray, delighted to relate how, at Quati*e-Kras, where, though wounded, he was still trying to do his duty, Wellington spoke kindly to him^ saying, " You have done enaugh, my man ; make for the rear while your blood is warm."

The battalion remained some days in or about Arriverete, taking part, however, in an attack on the bridge-head occupied by the enemy at Sauveterre. On the 24th of February the battalion forded the Gave d'Oleron near Villeneuve, and on tbe 25th marched on the road to Orthea and encamped at Ijias, near that town.* The allied array under Wellington crossed the Gave de Pau near Peyreliorade below Orthes on the 2Cth and at daybreak on the 27th of Februiiry, except Hill's Corps, which remained on the left bank of the river and menaced the bridge of Orthes and the ford of Souars aljove.

The battle of Orthes began with skirmishing and artillery tire on the right bank of the river. At nine o'clock Wellington commenced the real attack on Soult's position on a ridge of partly wooded hills presenting a concave to the Allies, and having bjiig narrow slopes pushed out towards a marshy ravine which covered most of his front. The battle waa continued on

• Sergeant Robortson nicntionB that a man of iinother regiment was hung on tho 26th for plundering and fighting with French fnrniers, aud Napier also notices this, Wellington was not at this time uneasy as to the power of Soult*B amiy in the Held, bnt he dreaded the danger of a popular riaiog against bis troopa. '* Maintain the strictest discipline ; mthotU thai ?r<r ore fo«l," he U>ld hifl generals. He inade a British colonel quit the army for allowing hU soldiers to destroy the archives of n mnall town. — Napier.

18141

THE GORDON FIIGHLANDERS.

401

the left and centre with unabated fury fur three hours, and at out! tiiuo victory seemed to deckire for the French. It is said that in the exultation of the moment Soult smote his tlii^h, exekiming. " At last I have him ! " * It was a most danuaTfius moment for the Allies, but Wellington, seeing the critical state of matters, suddenly changed his plan of battle : he assailed the dank iind rear of the victorious French. Neither fire nor the marsh, though it took them above the knees, could stop the veterans of the Light Division. At the critical moment Wellington thrust the Fourth and Seventh Divisions, Vivian's cavalry, and two batteries of artillery through St Boes, which changed the aspect of affairs.

Meanwhile Hill, who was with 12,000 cavalry and infatitiy before the bridge of Orthes, received orders, when Weilington changed his plan, to force the passage of the river. Ilill, though unable to force the bridges, forded the river at Sonars just above the town, which he did under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. The First Brigade, in which was the 92nd, led the way. The French posted on the opposite side were driven back, the heiglUs above were seized, the French were cut off from the road to Pau, and the town of Orfches was turmnl, and this at the very time when the fortune of war had changed at the other end of the Britisli line. fSoult, arriving at the moment, saw that the loss of Souars rendered the whole jiosition untenable, and gave orders for a genend retreat. The 92nd then moved on the road to St Sever along the rear of the enemy, whose retreat, at first orderly, now became a con- fused flight ; and the battalion svas conspicuou.? in the pursuit till it halted at Sault de Navailles, and the cavalry finished the business. The loss of the French was six gims and nearly 4000 men killed, wounded, and prisoners; several thousands of the conscripts, however, threw away their arms and esc^iped over the country. The loss of the Allies was 2300, of which 50 with 3 officers were prisoners. f Among the wounded were Wellington (slightly), Generals Walker and Boss. The 92nd, though they hud played an important part in the war- like game, escaped with the loss of Private Findlay Mimro killed, and three rank and file wounded ; one of them, Malcolm • Napier. t IlmL

20

402

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT

[1814

Nicolsou, who lost au arm, hud served with the Gordons from Corunna. Afterwards, as " Calum mi rightaig " (" Stump-armed Mnlrnlra **), he. was a well-known pensioner in Skye, where lie was a tenant in Hi", and died in 1863 at the age of ninety.*

In the pursuit they met the two other kilted regiments. the 42nd and the 79th, "and such a joyful meeting I have seldom witnessed. As we were almost all from Scotland, and haWng a great many friends in all the regiments, such a shaking of hands took place ; the one hand held the firelock, while the other was extended in tht; friendly Highland gi'asp, and then — three cheers to go forward. Lord Wellington was so much pleased with the scene, that he ordered the three regiments to he encamped beside each other fur the night, as we had been separated for some yeai'S, that we might have the pleasure of spending a few hours together." f

The Gordon Highlanders bear the word Ortkes on their regimental colour in memory of this victory. His Majesty conferred honorary badges with the word '* Orthes " on Lieut.- Coluiiel Cameron, who commanded the battalion, and on Major Milchell, who commanded the Light Companies of the brigade, and the latter was promoted lirevet lieut.-colonel.

Ne.xt day the 92nd marched to Samadet, and proceeded to Grenade on the 1st of March ; at two o'clock on tlie 2nd, Hill came up with Villattc's and Harispe's Divisions ttrawn up on a strong ridge in front of the town of Aire, and General Stewart at once fell upon the French right with the First and another British Brigade. A Portuguese brigade attacked the centre, and the other brigades followed in columns of march. The Portuguese gave way on the summit of the height before the charge of the French under Harispe, and the battle was like to be lost ; but Stewart, having won the heights on the right, immediately sent General Barnes with the 50th and 92nd to fielp the Portuguese, telling tliein he was sure they would take - the hill or die there. Forward they went, and on gaining the \ top were received with a heavy fire. " Charge I " was the word ; " Forward, my heroes ! " cried the General. *' and the town will be oura in ten minutes." The vehement charge of these regiments turnetl the stream of battle ; the French were ^ • •• Brovc Sona of Skye." t Sergwvnt RolierlBoii.

1814}

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

403

broken ; yet they mllied and renewed the fight wilii the greatest courage and obstinacy, bill Byng'a Brigade Cfliue up, when Harispe was driven towards the Iliver Lees, aud General Villatte quite througli the town of Aire. The 92nd pursued, and parties of hoth sides crossed each otFier at tlie street corners, where some fell. It was now ilark, and the 92nd were quartered in the town. The French lost many men ; two genei-als were wounded, a colonel of Engineers was killed, 100 prisoners were taken, and the great magazines fell into the hands of the conquerors. The loss of the Tiritiah was 150 killed and wounded, that of the Portuguese about the same ; CJeneral Barnes was wounded, and Colonel Hood killed.

Tlie casualties of t!ie battalion wore — Captain W. Fyfe, Lieutenants J. A Dnrie and Iticharrl MaeDonuell wounded ; one sergeant and two rank and file were killed, and one sergeant and twenty-eight rank and file wounded.* ITis Majesty granted permission to LieuL-Colonel Cameron to bear on his shield the word " Aii-e " ami a view of the town.

Division Orders.

Aire, Jllarrh 3rd, 1814. Lieutenant -General Sir William Stewart congratulates the division on its further advance and success against the enemy. To the admirable conduct of the Fiftietii and Ninety-second Regiments, led by their gallant commanders and by Major-General Barnes, the gixxi fortune of yesterday*8 action is decidedly attributed, which the lieutenant-general has to state Ut Lieutenant-General Sir Ruwland Hilt for the iuforiuatiou of the ComiiianiJer of the Forccii,

GuNERAL Orders.

Al&R, MarcJi 5th, 1814.

Lieu tenant-General Sir Rowland Hill congratulates Lieutonant- General Sir William Stewart, Majnr-tieneral Barnes, and Major- (Jenei'al Byng, on the brilliant part which they liore iu the action of the 2 lid instant.

Tiie f^'dlant and stea/ly conduct of the Fiftieth Regiment under Lieutenant-Oolonpl Harrison, and of thf Ninety-second IVgimont under Lieubenant-Cohmol Cameron, excittHl the admiration nf all who were witnesses of it.

* The nominal lint of kitletl and wounded At thin period is lost.

404

THK LIFE OK A RKGIMENT.

[1S14

AiRK, March Wlh, I8J4. Dkar Sib, — The Mayor and inhabitantji of this town having requested me to convey to you, with their aenliments of gratitude, the ficcotiipanying juidress, I feel inliiiit*^ plensure in so doing, as I deem the sentiments exprcssf?d in it justly due towards you and the flistiuguished regiment under your command. — I have, etc.,

(Signed) William yTKWART,

Lieut. -tieueral. Lieut. -Colonel Cameron,

Commanding Ninoty-Becond HighlanderB.

(Translation).

AlAE, 9th March 1814.

.Sib, — The inhabitants of the town of Aire are not ignorant that if they were preserved from pillage and destruction at the clos<i nf the obstinate and sanguinary conflict of the liud uf March, they are in- ch-hted for such preservation from that oulainity to your honourable conduct, and the strict discipline which you have maintained amongst the troops untler your command.

Penetrated by sentiment.s of the liveUest gratitude towards a commander distinguislie*! by such noble qualities, the town of Aire has charged me u> bo their interpreter in conimuiacatiug their thanks, and to otier you the homage of their esUiem. — 1 have, etc.,

(Signed) Codkoy, Mayor

To Lieut. -Colonel Cameron,

Commanding Ninety -aecood Highlanders.

In the morning the wounded of both sides were placed in un hospital, and tlie magistnitea waited on Geuerid Hill, thanking him and his troops for their forbcamnce in not plundering the town, and for the geneml gocKl conduct of the soldiers, which gave the general, says one of them, as much satisfaction !is his victory. The baitaiion remained in the town for ten days, and the men were provided with shoes and other necessaries.

CHAPTElt XXIL

Meanwfiile SoulL liiid reLreattiJ by Tarbea, haviii<^ tlek'nained Lo muke his next stand art thy fortified position of Toulouse. Misfortune had caused diBcontLMit, in tho French army, who behaved with so much violence on the retreat that tlieir couutryraen contrasted their conduct with the discipline of the An*;lo-Portug:uese, who p;dd for everything on the spot, and Soult wrote to his Minister of War fchat the population " appear more disposed to favour the invaders than to second the army." Many of the inhabitants, indeed, were in favour of the Bourbons and against the Government of Napoleon. In this state of aliaii's, Wellington had been able to detach 12,000 men to take possession of Bordeaux and retain it as a port for the Allies.

Information having been received that Soult was making a movement to his left and menaced the British right, Welling- ton made a corresponding move, and the 92ud left their ([uarters at Aire on the I'Mh of March and advanced on the road to Pau to a position near Garlin, On the 18th the battalion marched to Conchez, the enemy retiring on the approach of the Allies; on the IDbli a skirmisli took place at Vic Bigorre, and the enemy retired across the Adour. The battalion halted at night in front of Vic Higorre. On the 20Lh, the Frencli made a stand at Tarbes, and the (tordons hoped to celebrate the anniversary of the battle of Alexandria by a victory on the 21st; but after a combat in which Hill forced the passage of the Adour, the enemy retreated under a cannonade from that general's artillery. The natui^e of the country, however, prevented a pursuit by cavalry, but the 92ml, with the other troops, continued to advance. At St (jaudens, some French cavalry which were drawn up across the road were overthrown by the loth Light Dragoons. The 92ii(l continued in pursuit by St Julien, constant rain impeding the opcmtions till the 26th, when they halted at Muret. Next

406

THE LIFE OP A REGIMENT.

[18U

day Hills irix>ps were withdrawn to Si Koque, and saw no more of the French Lill they got withiu sight of Toiilouse. The division crossed the Gai-onne by a pontoon bridge, after coDBiderable delay iu its construction, and proceeded to Mire- mont, and ou the 1st of April they marched tifteen miles to Cintagabelle, in order to seize the bridge over the Arriege, the i mention being to attack Toulouse on the south side, while Wellington assailed St Cyprieu ; but the slate of the roads preventing the rapid movement of artillery. Hill wisely renounced the project and recrossed the (Jaronne at St IJoque. Here the battalion stayed till the 5th of April, when it was [jul inio a large :ind handsomely furnished mansion at St Sinjon, lite inmates of which had lied. They stayed in this comfortable situation till the Hoods wbicli had obliged the British general to remain inactive hud subsided, when, leaving Hill with two divisions to distract the enemy's attention in that quarter by menacing the suburb of St (Jyprien on the left bank of the river, Wellington, with the main body of liis army, crossed to the riglit bank on the 9th. Having carefully u.xumined the enemy's position, which was admirably chosen and strengthened by field works, he gave line signal lor battle at seven o'clock ou the morning of the lOlh of April. The 92nd advanced with Hill's troops, who drove in the French outposts, and by a vigorous attack forced the first line of entrenchments covering St Cyprien, and menaced the second line, which was so very strongly fortified that it could not be stormod. For the rest of the day Hill's troops could only remain spectators of the desperate battle wliich was being fought out ou the opposite side of the river. They could see the dangerous Hank march of Beresford'a Corps, the disastrous flight of Freyre's Spaniards ; * how Picton. notwithstanding his instructions only to engage the enemy's

■ Wellington had granted Freyre's requetit to leiul the buttle at Calvinet. At tirbt the S|)aiiini'ilB iulvauecd resolutely, but the tirt: of the Freiivh eauuou and inusktitry thiiuimg tbeir ranks at every atep was more tlian they ooald umlure : tliey wavered, the French charged, and they at laat broke iii hea«l- loug tlij^ht. Wellingtou, who was at huud, covered the paAic-strickeu troops with Tonaonby's cavalry, the Portuguese guns, and a brigade of Uritiab infiintty; the victorious French then retreated to their entrenchment a, having kilU'd iind wuuiidtid I. '^00 Spaniards. Wellington is tsaid to have remarked, " WuU, d me, if ever 1 aaw teu thoosuid men run a race before."

\8H]

TflK lUlKtWN IllGHLANDEKS.

407

iiLteiitiou by ;i feii^'iied attack, impetuously turned it iuto a real one, mid was UeuLeii back from an impracticable redoubt with th« loss ot" 500 killed and wounded, among the former being Colonel Forbes of the 45th, one of the original oliicei-s of the Gordon Highlanders. They conld hear the roar of the guns and the shouts of the combatants when l>eresford repelled the attack of Taupin's Division, and observed the havoc made by the Congrevc rockets,* seldom, if ever, used against nifuntry before. They remaiiiied an inactive but necessary part of the combinatiun while their countrymen of the 42nd led the assault un Columbette, and gained it only tu be overwhehned, and driven out with enormous loss ; re-form- ing, however, with other troops and declining to retire, Cole and Clinton's brigades came to tlieir assistance, and the French were again forced back, fighting hard. The Columbette re- doubt was taken by the 79tli, and at 4 p.m. the Allies, at last successful at all points, had gained the bloodstained heights. Soult withdrew his troops within the second line of defence, and the allied forces fell on the retiring columns till stopped by the tire from the UHrs-dc-punl- un the canah behind which the whole French army was ranged. At the sjime time, Hill on the otlier side of the Garonne drove the enemy from their second line uf defence within the old city wall, so that they were now entirely cooped up within the town of Toulouse.

In this terrible battle the Allies lost four generals and 4659 officers and soldiers killed and wounded, of whom 2000 were Spaniards. The French lost five generals and 3000 oilicers and men killed and wounded, ami one piece of artillery*

The Gordon Highlanders, as we have seen, took but a small part in the tightiug, though they assisted to seize and to lnjld a must important post, thereby having a material edect on the fortune of the day. Cannon's Record does

* "The roariiig of the cannon and the hoi-rilic blazing of the rockets was Bwful ami gruud beyond dc*scri|ition." — I^elt-er from Lieutenant U. Iiinus,

NoTR. — War rockets were invented in 1805 by General Congreve. Sir H. Shrapuell invcitttid t1i« «<pl)ei'iual caae which tuok hia naiau. und wait iirttt used at Viineira. — *• History of Briti)jh Army," iiy rolonel Cooper King.

408

THE LIFE OK A RFAilMKNT.

[1814

not mention any loss to the battalion, and t!ie regimeutal returns of the time are lost. Sergeant Robertson says, " We had only a few wounded, of whom one died after his leg had been amputated." When medals were given to the survivors of the Peninsular War,* the men of the 92nd got the clasp for Toulouse, but it is not on the colours of the regiment.

After the battle the battalion went into cantonments. There was only a slight skirmish ou the 11th, which was passed in getting up ammunition for the jruns. The attack was arranged for daylight next morning, the 92ntl being in orders for sborming.f but Soult, feeling that Toulouse was no longer tenable, silently evacuated the city at night, and con- ducted the retreat with such ability that by daylight his troops were at Ville-Franche, twenty-two miles distant ; he abundoued his magazines, and left his wounded to the Immunity of the liritish. On the morning of the 1 2th. Llie Ol'ud, with the Second Division, was sent in pursuit ; the troops were ordered to put baydcaves in their bonnets and chacos. At the gate ijf the city the Mayor presented the keys to Sir Kowland ICill, and many of the people mounted tlie white cockade, the myal cidour of France. The battalion passini rapidly through the streets and along the road to Ville-Fratiehe : huntlreds of French soldiers, who were unable or unwilling to proceed, were taken prisoners, and after a long march the battalion was cantoned in a village near Ville-Frauche. hi the afternoon intelligence was received of the abdication of Napuleon.

At lirsL Soult refused to consider the news authentic, and tlie outposts were on the point of engaging on the l7th, when, having received ofiieial information, he notified his adhesion ti» the new state of allairs. Had the exi^ress not been delayeil on his journey by the French police, the battle of Tou!(aise would have been prevented. A disbelief of this intelligence also causetl much unnecessary bloodshed at Bayonne, where the garrison made a desperate sortie on the night i>f the 14th of April. In repelling it Lieut. -General Sir Joluj Hope (colonel of the 92nd). who commanded the British, was wounded and taken prisoner.

This was the last action of the Peninsular War, lu

* In 1846.

f Letter froiu Lk'ul. limes.

1814]

THE IJOKDON HIGHLANDERS.

4 09

memory of the part taken by the First Ruttulinii 92iul, wliicli was as distinguisheil as tliat of any hnttalion of the anuy,* the word Petmuntla was, in 1816, added to the distiiictious on the regimental colour.

Since the last campaign opened, about six weeks before, Wellington had driven the French, except the garrison of Bayonne, from the neighbourhood of that city to Tonloitse, a distance of 200 miles, had conquered the whole country from the Pyrenees to the Garonne, had forced the passage of many rivers, defeated Napoleon's best genera! in two pitched battles and several combats, and brought aixiut a revtdution in favour of the IJoiirbon dynasty at Bordeaux and Toulouse. Moreover, he had established such a<bnirable discipline in his army, couj- posed Ihougli it was of the troops of dilferenl nations, thai but few instances of individual plunder had disgraced their steps. There was, consequently, an almost total discontinuanci- uf punishment ; f and so great was tiie confidence of the French peasunlry that they even sought refuge in the British lines from the pillage of their own troops.j

And if Wellington compelled the admiration of the w(>rl(i as a commander, and his troops the respect of the French population by tlieir moderation, " How," says Schercr in his " licctdleetions of the Peninsvdar War," " shall I picture the IJritisti soldier going into action < He is neither heateil by hninily. stimulated by hopes of plunder, nor inflamed by fei-lings of revenge ; he does not even indulge in feelings of animosity ;igainst his foes; he moves forward confident of victory, never dreams of the possibility of defeat, and braves death with cheerful intrepidity." At that time there was no Victoria Cross, no medals were given to any helow the ofKccr command- ing a battalion ; sulialtern and N.-C. othcers or soldiers were selilom, if ever, mentioned in dispatches — their reward for deeds of gallantry was fouml in ihe approval of their superiors and the cheers of their comrades. Many were, however, pro-

* Some regiments had two ami the £).^tb Rif]oa three hattalious

engage*!.

t Wellington lo Royal Coiiimiflsiou on military punishments,

t Alison. Tlie itihuUiluiits of the country spuku of thcin to the author in

the same tit rain.

410

THE LIFE DF A UEUIMENT.

ri8u

moled from the ranks Lo comiiiissious.* In the Army List of IHl-i uo officer of the (Jordon Hi>i;hlunders is meiilioued as Ijaviug a medul except the colonel (Sir John Hope) and Lieut.- Colonel C'anior<)n,t and the latter, though he had conmiauded his buttalion throughout the war und a brigude in sevem] aetioos, and been four times wounded^ was only promoted brevet-colonel in the following June.

On the 20th of April the 92ud eufcered ViUe-Franche, on the 24th marched to Besiege, and on the 25th occupied quarters in Toulouse.

A treaty of peace was made between Great Britain and France. Louis XVIIL was placed on the throne of his aneefitors, and Napoleon was given the Island of Elba for his residence.

At Toulouse all the inhabitants, except those who had been in Napoleon's army, were very friendly to oilicers and men. As one of the latter remarked to me, " The Frenchmen were very kind to us and the French lassies forby ! " Pro- vision.s and wine were plentiful and cheap, so they lived very comfortably. Large hospitals were established by both nations for their wounded, and the Highlanders remarked that tbe British were the best cared for, till on the anival of the Dnc d'Angouleme, nephew to Louis XVIIL, he ordered that the French should be carefully attended to, and not be seen sitting in public places asking alms of the passers-by.

The 9 2nd was appointed to furnish the Duke's guard of honour while he remained ; afterwards they were visited by llie French CSenerals Soult and Suchet. Alktgether their time in Toulouse was most agreeable, aud the hearts of souje were with " the girl I left behind me " when the battalion marched f(jr liordeaux on the 5fch of June. Indeed, a good many men of tlie army were induced by liberal idlers of employment Ut take their discharge and settle in the country. One haiidscmie private of the Gordons named M'lntosli, from Daviot, won the atlections of a lady possessing a considerable estate, and !iis

* Sotno twelve or thirteen aergeants of the b&ttalion and nine or ten Volnutcer privHtcs hftd received commissiona.

{ Thu iiiedalH given to otficcn} by tlie Suitau of Egypt seem not to h»ve beeu uotictid.

Iiil4|

TIIK l;okiion hiuhlandeus.

411

I

I

nephew, a forester in Forfarshire, remarked in rebting his uncle's good fortune, " An' if tliey hail bairna, I'm no' ii far awa' cousin to a French laird."

Tlie battalion uuu'chcd by Auch, where Lhey were put in a banack, the roof of wliicli fell in, but no lives were lost ; though some luen were bruised. Here the Portuguese troops were ordered to return home. For nearly six years they hait gallantly fought side by side with their Britisli comrades, and the parting scene was very affecting, " more like the faiewell between near and dear relations." The giief was heightened by an ordtir that all the women who bad followed the army from Portugal and Spain (" whether married or not," says Sergeant Kohertsou) were to return with the troops belonging to their respective countries and to be rationed by the way. None of them were to be allowed to embark for England.

The battalion continued its march, suffering from the great heat, but enjoying the hospitality of the villages wht^re they were billeted* till the I9t!i of June, when they encamped at Uianchfort, six miles from Bordeaux. They were allowed to visit the theatres and sights of this beautiful city when I hey liked. The 2l8t being the anniversary of Vittoria, every regiment in camp had a laurel tree planted lieside its coloui-s, and every soldier a sprig of laurel in his head-dress. The French authorities, though glad to be freed from Napoleon's rule, objected to the celebration of a victory over their country- men ; but the regiments sent a party from each, headed by its band, to the Coiumander-in-Cliief, telling him that the men wished liberty to celebrate tlie victory ihey !iud gained, in their own way without hindrance. Permission to do so wiis granted, witli particular orders, however, that they were to give no ofleuce to the people by going near villages or farm- houses. There was no parade that day ; dancing and tttber amusements were kept up with the greatest glee, and all forgot the hardships of the past in the enjuynient of the present, and the anticipation of lieing soon restored to home and kindred. In the case of several regiments, their hopes of Iiome were

• " The people are kiod ivDil civil to ik degree." ..." Commonly billeteti on v;ocm1 hoasea, &m\ »Unc with the patron." -Letter from Lieitleiiaiit liiiieb (Juattttrmiuter-Bcrguaiit M'Cumbie'e Journal to sauic effcut.

412

THE LIFE OK A REGIMENT.

flS)4

disiippuiiueil . they were sent ull' to America, where war had broken out betweiin Great Britain and the United .States. TliLM-ti was some talk of the 92nd being of the number, but fortunately they were reserved for events of greater importance.

On the 9th of July the battalion marched, and encamped at Pouillac, and on the 17tb it was conveyed down the Garonne in small craft and embarked in H.M.S. Norgc, 74 guns, which sailed at once and entered the Cove of Cork on the 26th of July. They disembarked at Moiikstown on the 20th, and marched to Fermuy ISarracks. where the thanks of both Houses of Farliament were communicated to the officers and soldiers for " the meritorious and eminent services which they had rendered to their king and country during the course of the war." Richly did the army deserve the thanks of their <*ounlrynien who had long felt that their own and their riiildreo's freedom depended on tlie result of the war, so that its glorious teruiinatiou excited feelinf,'8 of relief and joy among all classes whicfi it is now hardly possible to realise. Wellington was, with the approval of the whole nation, raised to the rank of a duke ; and among rewards to his generals, Sir Howland llill, under whom the 92nd had served so long, was made Lord Hill.

On the 6th of August the balfcalion was inspected by Sir W. Aylett, who expressed in Orders iiis great 8atisfacti<m at its a]>pearance under arms, as well iis its interior economy. The following morning state, dated Fermoy, August 7th, 1814, shows tliat tile prisoners of war had not yet rejoined.

Sehokakts. CoBiMaAui. DauuuKUa. pHiVATie

Total in country (i.e., Ireland)

On foreign atationa < ' ^ ,

( t.Hjaimaiia

In Great Britain

Prisonors of war

0	31	14	545
-	4	—	122
G	2	—	16
4	10	2	92
I	I	—	38

Total effective

51

48

16

873

The Order liook throws some liglit on regimental life of the time. A party of men from the ditfei-ent companies, in fatigue dress, went to market every morning at six o'clock umler a subaltern, a pii>er attending " to play for them going and

I.SI41

TiiE GOKDON IIIGHLANDKRS.

418

coming." The officer to report liis return to l]w caiitain ot the! day, " who will inspect tlie bread and meat of thu tlifl'erent companies and report as to its quality." The coiiiiiiaiuliii*,' otticer is displeased with the itiessing of cerLiiin coiupauies. " They inuat always have pofcatot.'s and beer aL dinner, as well as bread and other vegetables." "He considers it of lUv utmost consequence for the well-being of the rej^dment that no trucking or 8utliu<^ by the N.-U. otVicers amon*^ Lheir com- panies is allowed." He requests "officers to pay as much attention to orders on dress as to those of higher importance." He observes that some wear the heckle feather turned over the bonnet, which is contrary to orders. Gaitei*s are never in be worn except when actually on the march. Officers may wear " stocking hose " (instead of hose tartan), They may ritle out in the old regimental cap till they get the now pattern cap and feather. No officer when walkini^; out is ever to appear otherwise than regimen tally dressed, and is iiol to absent himself from baiTacks for more than two hours " with- out tlie commanding olficer's concun-ence." Ofhcers to wear their jackets buttoned across at morning parade, but buttoned back " to show two or three button-holes of the facing and lace of the lappell " at mess and at evening parade. In summer the pibroch to sound at 5.30 for evening parade at six o'clock- All lettera of inquiry as to deceased soldiers, prisoners ot* war, etc., to be immediately answered by the officer commnud- ing the company to which tlie person inquired for belonged, and all possible information given.

The change from French wine to Iri.sh whiskey wa.s n IkkI one for some of the N.-C. oUicers and soldiers, wh(j probably agreed with the song that the taste of whiskey improves wiili each glass —

01 a h'aon, cha n eil e math

01 a dha, cha'n fhiach e,

01 a tri, chft'n'eil e cli

*Se'n ceathramh righ na riaghailte.

The general " is sorry to remark the number of Courts- martial," which he attributes to the large sums of money in pos.«?ession of the men. It seems a pity that they had not been sent to Scotland, where tht-ir arrears of pay and prize-

414

THE LIFK OF A RECHMKNT.

(1807

money might have been better spent among their friends ati home, and a gcMxi impression of the service would have becnf given. " It is with extreme regret that Colonel Cameron finds himself under the necessity of putting the sentence on Sergeant Wylie into execution. He hopes that this will prove a wiirntng to others, and that he will be saved the mortification of inflicting so humiliating a degradation on men who have served theii- king and countiy so long and so faithfully." Sergeant Wylie was reduced to the rank and pay of a private sentinel for Ijeing drunk on duty. Some time afterwards, however, the^ colonel " is induced to give Private W. Wylie another cliance as a N.-C. officer in consequence of his never having been absent in the rear during the war ; " he is there- fore appniuted corporal.

While at Fermoy a large number of long-service N.-C. oHicers and men were discharged to pension, also many seven years' men who had served their time. Convalescents and prisoners of war rejoined from time to time. In September a draft arrived from the 2nd Battalion ; and in October two captains and tliree lieutenants proceeded to Scotland to take charge of 12 sergeants, 13 drummers, and 160 rank and file transferred from the 2nd Battalion, which was disbanded at Edinburgh on the 24th of October. Tiiey took the colours of the 2ud liiUtalion with them to Fermoy.

I will now give a short account, from the few records available, of the 2nd Battalion since it left Weely on the 29th of October 1804, and embarked at Liverpool for Ireland. The first authentic information is a letter from Major Cameron, commanding at Birr, in the spring of 1806. From there they marched about the end of April to Dublin, where the Duke of Bedford was Lord-Lieutenant, and the Duchess, who was a daughter of the Duke of Gordon, took a lively interest in the regiment and paid great attention to the otlicera. There are letters from Her Grace asking that the band may play at the vice-regal parties, and also from the Marquis of ' Iluntly, saying tliat his sister's letters about the battalion give him very great pleasure.

In Januarj' 1807, the battalion got the route for Scotland,

1K07]

THE GORDON HiaHLANUERS.

415

but to their great ilisappaiiitment it was countL'riiiaiKUnl, and they remained in J Xihliii, The major writes^ " Withoiit going to Scotland the battalion can uovcr hope to recruit 400 more men, as we are expected hy Government to do,"

In June 180Y, a draft of 100 picked men was sent to the 1st liattalion. In Dublin the major regrets the hard duty required of his men and the expense to Ids officers. A Hi*^h- land gentleman is warned of the " shameful extravagance " of his son, whose me&s-bill for drink alone amounted in five weeks to £3, which would not, I fancy, be considered a very large wine bill in the present day. In the end of June the battalion marched to Drogheda, '* but we are to be slationetl in seventeen ditlereiit quarters. Weak as we are, this distribu- tion is dismal." In August they received volunteers from three Scotch militia regiments quartered in Ireland, and at a later date the major mentions that he had received that day from one Scotch militia regiment "43 as fine fellows as ever stept"

Owing to a change of Ministry, the Duke of I{ichmon<l had succeeiled the Duke of P»eilford as Lord-Lieutenant. His Duchess was also a daughter of the Duke of Gordon, and was as proud of the Gordon Regiment as her sister of Bedford. Being on a visit at Slane Castle near Droglieda, the Lord- Lieutenant took the opportunity of reviewing the battalion, " the Duchess making a great work about them ; " and she applied for two regimental bonnets, probably for her hoys to wear. While at Drogheda, the battaliou received much hospitality; among others from Allan (..ameron (Lundavra), a Lochaber gentleman who held an important oflice in t!ie Civil Service there.

It seems that 1806-7 was one of the often recurrent years of scarcity in the Higlilands.* " What a melancholy state the Highlands is in ; it makes my heart sick to think f>f it," says Major Cameron, who was engaged in buying a cargo of meat to send to Lochaber.

November 1807, the battaliou moved to Ballyshannon.

• Dr Gamett mentioDE that the innkeeper at Achtiacraig in Mull rebuked him for wishing to give oats to liis horse when meal wrs wt ^irarrc for t-hriatians. — " Tour in the Hi^hlaiub," 1811, l>y Dr (iamett.

41G

rilK l.IKK OF A REGIMENT.

fl80B

On March 2nd, 1808, the comuiaiuliiig afficur writes from that place, " T have again eomphitud lhit> battalion within Lhf. twelvoiiioDth to 600 and a few more, that is a few more than its establishment, from being a year ago scarcely half that number, but not without great anxiety, much trouble, and s<mie expense." The men were nearly all from the Highlands ; a great number appear to have lieen from the counties of Inverness and Ross.

May 3rd, 1808, the major writes from Ballyshanuou — "We are now 611 rank and file, besides sergeants and drummers, and we have about twenty recruits in Scotland still. The regiment are almost all Scotch, and two-thirds of them can scarcely speak a word of English ; " " but Jis the 1st Dattaliou are going on service, we sliall lose a liundred or two soon.'* Letter writing was a cfistly business in those days. Major Cameron mentions that his postage fr)r the year amounted to nearly £50.

In November 1808 the battjilion had moved to Tuam, and in .lauuury 1809 it was ordered! to Athlone.

lifuL-Colnnel Napier Iiaving been killed at Coruniiu. and Major Uamernn having l>een prumuted lieut.-colonel, he took command of the 1st Battalion, and the commiind of the 2nd devolved on Lieut.-Uolonel Lamont (of Limont), his adjutant being Lieutenant Eweu Campbell (Sonachan).

On the l>anks of the Shannon they wore employed in duties now performed by tlie lioyal Irish 1 •onstabulnry. sucdi as ijuelling faction fights ; and detachments were sent to various places to put a slop to the treasonable pnxieedings of the " Carders," a body of men who administered uu unlawful oath to numbers of people in Koscummon and Calwuy. A subaltern describes his quarters at Jiallymoe Bagol. the only furniture between the clay under hia feet ami the thatch over his head being " large quantities of aoot ausi>ended from the roof in long l)eautifully curled rows as black as the feathers on a High- lander's bonnet ; " but in these places they were received with genuine hospitality by the re3i)ectable inhabitants. At

* In one of Major Catucroa's letters from Tnam, he mentions that Lieu- tenant DudaM Stewart (formerly aergeaiit-iiiajorl had been drowned on n Iwtiting excnrsion while at Lisl>on on thv way to join the Ist Uattalion.

18101

THE GORDON niCH F.ANDERS.

417

ItiiSfDiuiniin, howevfr, m large assemblage of town and rouiitiy people attacked the barracks, hreuldng the wiiulows and threatening to break the heads of the detachment. Eusipn Little, whii commanded, moved out his twenty men, fixed bayonets and char<j;e(i ahmg the market-place, clearing it of the rioters and wounding one of them. Mr Little, being called upon by the (General for a detailed account, wrote a whimsical dispatch, in which, after giving the names of those who had distinguished themselves in the engagement, he concluded, " It now remains for roe to express my siiicere regret tliat the nature of the service on which I liave been engaged will not permit me to recommend any of my brave followers for pro- Tuotion," The ensign, poor fellow, fell in a more memonible battle, that of Quatre-Bras.

It appears from the Order Book of this time, a few sheets of which exist, that small parties under an otticer were often employed in still-hunting, as —

Athlorm, 1 6tk Novtmhtr 181 0. — One subaltern, one sergeant, one corporal, twelve rank and file will ]ifirnde for Excise dufy at three o'clock in the moining in the barrack square, by order of Geneml Montresor. For the above duty Ensign M'Donald.

For every still captured, sergetmts received ISs., corporals 10a 6d,, privates 7s. In the spring of 1811, a party of the 92nd with a few dragoons captured in thirty hours twenty-two stills, for each of which they received the above payments.

The men were taught a regular system of fixing lliuts. Agreeable to general order, twelve men per company were selected as marksmen, size and appearance not to be considered in choosing them, but activity, intelligence, and quickness of sight. A subaltern and two sergeants fniTu each wing to be selected to command tliem when ordered out. Only eight of each company to be ordered out at a tiuie, the rest to ivmain as supernumerariesi to supply casualties. The marksmen of a battalion to be employed for its protection when in line or column from the annoyance of the enemy's skirmishei-s. They are to have half the practice ammunition of the battalion allotted to their use. Targ(»ts to be five feet in diameter, t-ach shot to be pointed out so that the man may correct Ids fault, First pmctice at 100 yards, to lie increased by degrees

2d

418

TOR LIFE OP A REGIMENT.

[ISII

to 200 yaitla. Men to fire stjin(lin<» and kneeling, and may use a rest ; always to bring the piece up to the object. Men to learn to load without halting, and lying on the ground. Marksmen's station in l>attaliou to be on flanks of sub- divisions. When battalion is three deep, they are to be on Hank of front and rear ranks only.

5/A Dcctmhr 1810. — A conimittec consisting of one sergeant, one cor|>oral, and one private will assemble to- morrow at twelve o'clock to report on the quality and good- ness of beer delivered to the troops.

24th Bectmher 1810. — -At a meeting of pay-sergeants held this day by order of the commanding ofMcer, they appear nnaoiraously of opinion that the battalion can be ser%'ed with Ijet'f iuid iniUtoii cheaper than was offered by contract, viz., 4^d. per lb. The commanding officer is, therefore, induced to give it a trial tl)is month.

Otticers commanding companies are most minutely to inspect the meat purchased for their respective compauiea. The troops regularly attended divine service.

9th March 1811. — The men to wear their humble bonnets till the new bonnets are put up.

28//t March 1811. — -At morning parades, garrison parades excepted, oificera and men wiU appear in theii' undressed bonnets, and at evening parades in their feathered bonnets.

?trd April 1811. — Sergeant-major Bryee is a])poiuted quartermaster-sergeant ma Gordon, who has given in his resignation. Sergeant M'Kenzie of the Light Company is appointed sergeant-major.

Kecruiting was carried on principally in the north of Scotland, and always with care as to the class of men taken. The following is a recruiting placard, date alraut 181 1-12 —

TnB Gall.vst Ninety- 8 KcoND

OR GORnON HtOHLAKDKRS

wlio Imvo so often distingui.slied themselves iit Copenhagen, Spain, on t)>e plains of Holland rind Kand.s of Egypt, imd who .ire now with Li<jrd Wollingtou in Portugal, want to got a few spirittHl yoang tneti, lads, afi«l boyK, In whom the greatest encounvgemeni riml Highest h«)uniy will Im« given.

1815]

THK GORDON [Iir.HLANPERS.

419

From the chainicter nf the officers of t!ie regiment w!io aro from this part of the Hi^'iiland.s, they can depend that tho interest and advantage of liigti-spirited and well-camiucted ac>ldiers from this part tif the country will be particularly considered.

Printed at the Journal Office, Inverness.

It was a lonj:c tramp to Itnng recruits tn tfm west of Ireland firmi distrirts north of Invcrnt'ss, from which at thia puriorl the regioient t^ot a great many men of the best class, who filled the vacancies in the let Battalion.

In 1811, the 2nd Battalion was moved to Scotland, and landed at Irvine on the llth Octolier. There are no records to show where it was quartered on arrival in its native land, but in 1813 it was in Glasgow,* from which city it marched on the 1st of August 1814, and occupied Edinburgh Castle on the Si'd. Here it remained till the peace of 1814, when it was reduced on the 24th October, having existed exactly eleven years, for though placed on the establishment from the 9th of July 1803, it was only formed at Weely on the 24th of October of that year. The officers were idnce«l on half-pay ; many of the N.-C. officers and men were discharged to pension, the remainder were transferred to the 1st Battalion, taking with them the colours. The N.-C oPHcers were borne as supernumeraries on the strength of Ist Battalion till vacancies occurred.

Since the formation of the 2nd Battalion, it liad never been necessary to receive volunteers from other regiiaents of the line as had been the case on several previous occasions, and notwithstanding the great drain of constant campaigning, the regiment had been kept complete with men in whose k<'ep- ing its character was safe, both in tjuarters and in the held.

On the 26th and 27th of May 1815, the regiment, iu)W consisting of one battalion, marched to Cork. " The colours of the 2nd Battalion will march with the left wing."

At Cork great attention was paid to putting the barracks into a thorough state of cleanliness. The commanding otlicer

• The battalion seems to have been at Ayr before Uloagow. A letter from Lieutonant Hector Innea, dated Ayr. 2<)th September ISl.'l, says that ho with eii^'lit other ofiicerM are under orders *'to join our brave friends, I may «ay titt rrmaifu of tht NiMltf-Um..'" They were twenty days from Knylaml to Santautjer !

420

THK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1815

warns the officera ^jainst the " shocking practice " of signing without examining papers put heforc them by their N.-C. ofRcera. All copies of muster rolls, etc., to be in the officer's own writing.

There were still one dnimnier and twenty-four privates sick in the reiiinsula ; six sergeants, six corporals, twenty-six privates were recruiting at Inverness, Elgin, etc.*

It appears that a quarrel in a ball-room, resulting in a duel, had tiik^Mi place between two officers, " It is with a feeling of deeper regret than he can express that Colonel Cameron has heard of an occurrence which, as it is the first, of its kind in the 92ud Regiment he has heard of since he has been in command, he sincerely hopes it may be the last." . . . " He has been accustomed to feel proudly conscious of the high sense of propriety of conduct, together with the unanimity and harmony which prevailed among the officers of the 92nd." . . . " It is some palliation that this interruption had proceeded from very young men, of l>ut very short service in the regiment, though by no means a sullicient excuse ; " and the Order continues " that while he has the honour to command the 92nd, be will use his power to rid it of parties concerned in such transiictions either as priucipfila or accessories, the latter being frequently more to blame than the former."

In April the 92nd was inspected, and made " that soldier- like appearance under arms which has ever marked the regiment."

The Orders show that the women were employed to cook the men's dinners.

• On tlie 5th February the eatablishmont is : — Scrgcanta, 65 ; corporaU, 60; dnimmers, 22; pnYJites, IHO; wanting to complete 24.S privat«t.| Redncetl 20th February to fi5 aergeanta, 50 oorporals, 22 drummera, 050l privntcfl, w.-intmj{ to complutu tiO prtvatca : but more N.-C. ofltcurs audi drummera thau the esublisUment were in tliH total effective, iMiing 6upcr-| numerariea from 2nd Itattaliot).

C H A P T E K X X 1 I I.

Meanwhile a ihuntlerbolt had falluu, causing caiiwkunulioii throughout Kurupij. Napoleon had secretly left Elha on the 26th of February. He was accoiiipanied by about 1100 of his guard, wliom he had been allowed to retain in his island kingdom, and with these, under Drouet d'Erlon, lie landed in France near Cannes on the Ist of March. On tlie 20 th lie entered Paris at the head of an army which had joined hiin as he advanced. Louis XVIII. was compelled by the defection of his troops to withdraw from Paris to Ghent; and Najioleon, supported by the army, though not generally by the people of France, a.ssumed hin former title of Emperor of the French. The allied Powers refused, however, to acknowiedgu his sovereignty ; Great Britain agreed to replenish the exhausted treasuries of the Continentiil nations ; preparatiuua for war were at once begun, and the Gordon Highlanders were ordered on active service.

The regiment embarked at the Cove of Cork, Head- quartei-a on the Atlas transport. Tlie embarkation strength was; — Field-oflieers, 3 ; captains, 6 ; lieutenants, 19 ; ensigns, S ; stafl', 4 ; sergeants, 47 ; dritnimera, 16 ; rank and Hie, 621. 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 8 sergeants, and 8 corporals, with the men left, were shortly after formed into a recruiting company, and sent to Scotland.

The reginient lauded in boats near Ostend on the 10th of May, proceetled hy canal to Bruges and next day to tlbent, vvfiere it was quartered. They disembarked in the nuarkct- place on the market-day, and the novelty of the scene made as great an impression on the Highlanders as their garb did on the cimutry people, who treated them very civilly. At Ghent they were joined by the Royal Scots, 42nd, and 79 th, and, .says tfie sergeant, " a happier meeting could not have taken place, .^u many Scotchmen who had fought side by side in Egyivi, Denmark, Spain, and France/" Tlic Ibitish regiments

422

THE LIFE UK A KEGIMENT.

11815

furuisliud II guani at the residoiice of King Louis ; the ofticers were udmitlwd lo dit; ruyal preseiict!. uiid dined at one of the tiibltiS.

Ill Orders tlie couumiiidijiii onicer compliiueiits ilw incu uu their good cuuduut, and losscus tiie palnd duty ou that aceoLml. Thii Peninsular Ite^imentJil Orders as to the line of march are repeated. The two tield-olljcers are to be alternately riding along the flanks of the eohimn to see that the proper order (»f nmrch is utttiuded to ; no man on any pretence to be allowed to fall out without taking otf his knapsack, wliich is to be carried by two of his cunirudes till he rejoins liis company ; officers payinjjj eonipaniea to ride ; officers to provide themselves with baggage animals ; batmen with haggage to he regimeutally dressed, with arms and accoutrements ; tlie women at all times to move along with the bugguge. " From the present weak state of the regiment, theeunniianding officer hopes they (Llie officers) will see the propriety of his re^juesting them not to take their servants to the rear when they go ou duty or otlierwise." *

The regimenL marched at four in the morning of tlie 27th of i\Iay Lo Alust, along with the 2<Sth, 32nd, 42nd, 79th, and 3rd Battalion 9oth, all under the command of Colonel Cameron.f Oji the 28th they entered Brussels, where the 92nd was placed in the Ninth Brigade commanded by Sir Deiiis Puck, K.C.B., along with the iSrd Battalion, let Koyal (Scots), the 42nd, and 2nd Buttulion 44th. The Ninth Brigade belonged to the Fifth l.hvision, which was mider Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Picton, K.C.B.

The regiment was inspected by Sir Denis Pack on the 1st of rhtne, and with the Fifth Division on the 3rd by Fiehl- Murshal the Duke of Wellington, accompanied by Field- Marshal Prince Bluciier. The Duke expressed his approbation of tiieir appearance — " He was happy again to see some regiments that had served with great reputation in the Peninsula." |

• A letter frouj Colonel C^nmeron shows that the regiment was not only weak in immhcrH, but that ^ouiv of the young; ftoldiei-8 were out siiuh strong men OS be wiis (^customed to,

t ftuner.al Onlcrs, 27fli May.

J; Many of the HcMunsuliii- reginwnta wore in AnR-rioxi, ami sniiie iNtttiilinnti employed iii the |>rettent oampaign had no experience of war, and were oom*

I

I

3

M

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1815]

TIIK i;niEl)(lN HtliHJ.ANDERS.

42:i

Tilt.' orders for irr-spectioii desire [»iirticn!ar aUoutioii to be paid to tlie ^^^artering of the hose; best black gaiters tu be worn ; camp kettles, bill-hooks, blankets to be carried.* Oilicers in blue web pantaloons without lace on the seams, and half-boiits, jackets buttoned across, and gorgets. Field- officers with the Highland scarf. The above is no doubt the dress in which the officers of Highlaut! regiments fought at Waterloo, except that the lialf-boots were replaced hy shoes and gaiters (according to Kegimental Orders for the actual line of niai-ch). The N.-C. otiicers and men worn the Highland dress without purses.

While at Brussels each company was divided into three classes or squads, and were exercised in drill according to their proficiency. All were practised in firing l^all and in turning out quickly with tents and bnggage packed.

B.O., Bruxalka, llth Jwu 1815.— Oflieera will find it through life a useful maxim to be rather an hour too soon than one minute too late.

At this time the Headquarters of the Fru.ssinn anny under Marshal Blucher were al Namur ; Wellington wa^ at Brussels, having over 25,000 men in and about that city, but the cantonments of both the allied armies extended to grent distances. Wellingt<ui appears not to have expected an attack before the end of June, and Blucher wrote, *' Wc will soon enter France ; we might stay hei-e a year, for Napoleon will not attack us." But the Emperor liad determined otherwise. Taking every precaution to prevent his movements being reporteil, he left Paris on the morning of the 12th of June and arrived on the 13 th at Avesnes, where he found 122,000 men present under arms, while large numbers were on the way to join. They were seasoned soldiers who had been serving under the king, or who had rejoined the colours at the call of

|n)Hf<I to a great cxteut of very youn)^ soltlicrs nud vulauteens juHt received from militiii ; but it sLould t«; retncinltcred that the militia had be«ii many years undiodied and doing the duty of regularfl, aud tliat in all regiments the N.-C. officure and many of the men were old aoldiers, who etoadied their younger comrades.

• OtnrraJ Otrirrit, DruM^h, Sit/ iVny.— Soldiers' greatcoats to ho takfn into aUiVQ in order to lighten the weight ; only Ulaiiketa to he i:arried on the knapsacks. Men to be paiti daily.

424

THE LIFE OF A UE«^IMENT

(1815

Napoleon, whose urriviil raised their eiiLliusiasni U> Lire highest pitch. lie hoped first to defeat the Prussians, that Welling- ton would then retreat, and that lie would enter Brussels in triumph.

That city was tilled with fashionable non-combatants of all nations ; numbers of British whu had long been eut ofl" from tile Continent were drawn thither by curiosity, or from having relatives in the army, There was no sense of immediate daiigor, " and all went merry as a marrijige boll." Amoug the social L'ntertainnienty none was so much talked of as tiie now historic ball given on the 15th of June by tlie Duchess of Kichiiiond, the same daughter of tfie IJuke of Gordon who, when the 2nd Battalion was in Ireland, " made a great work with them." Colonel Cameron was among the limited number of guests, and a party of N.-C. officers were also invited to show Her (trace's British and foreign friends a specimen of Highland dancing.*

Wellington was aware of the concentration uf the French army, and his troops were all warned to he ready to march at a moment's notice ; but he did not hear till the evening of the I5tl) that Napoleon had crossed the Belgian frontier near lieaumont at daybreak that morning, hud driven the Prussians out of Charleroi, and sent Marshal Ney towards Quatrc-Bius, while he himself folluwed the Prussians, who retired to Ligixy. Historians differ as to the time when Wellington heard of these movements. The 92Ddothcer whose Journal 1 have so often quoted mentions that while walking in the park at seven

* Huvlng huiit-d, wheu I joined tLe regimeDt iu 1851, the tradition that four scrguauta of the l>*2ad daucad u reel aud the &word daucu at the famouD Waterloo bull, I had iho curiusity. iu ISSO, to nsk I.^dy du Koa, a daughter of the Uuku of Kichmond, who was present, if she reraenjl)ered this interijating incident. Her solilter brother had got orders to march : she was ut the mouieul helping his prcp»nitions and had only a faint recollection of it. .She, however, wrutij U) hor younger siater, Lady Louiea Tighe, who uud in a letter dated January 13th, 1889:—

"I well remember the (Jordon Highlanders dancing reels at the ball ; my iijother thonglit it would interest the foreigners to see them, which it did. 1 rxiincmber hearing that some of the poor men who danced in our hoiuu were kdlcd at Waterloo. Tliore wn« quite a crowd to look at the Scotch dancers."

Tho proud murch of thin little |M\rty into the hull, preceded by their pi|a*r», formed a fitting prelude to the deeds that were about to diittiu^nniih their uarb iu the red field of battle. —Circumstautial account of Waterloo, 1816.

1S15]

THE r.OKUON HUSHLANDERS.

425

cj'clock <ju lUii evening of the 15th, Iiu uiuL an aciiuaiiiUuce wliu liml dined wiUi the Duke, who advised him ti> gu home ut once iiud pack up, telling him that during dinner Welliugtuii had leeeived a dispatch from Blucher that he had been utiucked. i)n the clotli beiiij,' removed, His Grace lilled his glass and gave the toast, " Prince Bluchor and the Prussian army ; success to them." He then rose from table and at onc(^ dispatelied the necessary orders to exery division of the army.

Wellington atteniled the ball, thinking that his presence there wttiild have a reas.suring ed'ecL on the people in Brussels; he reiuaiued till past midnight, eouaLantly, however, receiving meaaagea and giving orders privately to the atatr; he then ipiielly withdrew. The officers gradually left the room and Joined their regiments, many of thuiu iu tlieir dancing pumps.

Meanwhile bugles and bagpipes resounded through the streets, and the soldiers came swarming out like beea Four days* bread and biscuit, whicli had been in possession of the quartermasters, was issued on the private parades, but thia was so bulky that many of the men left part with the people on whom they were billeted. A gentleiuan who witueased their prompt turnout wrote, " The Highlanders have considerable tact in domesticating themselves in quarters, and are in general so quiet, sober and orderly, that l!iey become great favourites everywhere ; they nursed the children and gener- ally assisted in the household labour," The Belgians calleil them •' les bons pelit.s Ecossais," and bid them a sorrowful adieu, thinking the kindly Scots, who rocked the cradle and helped to make the soup, would be no match for the tierec- looking French grenadiers.

Tlie whole tu-my had l>een directed to concentrate on lj|uatre-BraSj but tiie Fifth Division, which had assembled iu the park, did not march oil" till sunrise on the IGth, when they left the city by the Namur Gate. A lady mentions seeing tearful purtiugs between soldiers and their wives and children, but that many of the wives marched with the regiments. "The 42nd ami n2tid Highland Regiments marched with their Iwigpipes playing before them, while the bright beams of the sun shone on their polished nmskeUs ami on the dark waving plumes of tlieir bonnets. We admired their

426

THE LIFE OP A KEUIMENT.

Knc athletic forms, their firm, erect, military demeaiiuuf ami uuiliiuuLuil ui'mii. Wc foil pruud Llial Lliey were our country- « men/' | ]

Tliey halted oii the verge of the Forest of Soij^'iiics, cloae' i to the thou obscure village of Walerloo. Here, vvfiile they, j co<jked aud rested, Welliugtoii rode past towards Q iiatre- Brits, ali Iiiiiolet situiited where tluj road fruiii Brussels to Charleroi crosses' i tliiiL from Nivtilles to Naiinir, oigiil(jeii miles from Brussels.

The positiou was important, as it commanded the com* iiiumeLitiou from Nivelles and Brussels with Bhicher's position uL IJgMV. It was held by the rriuee of Orange, with only 7800 bayonets and 14 guns,* and Napoleon had ordered Marshal Ney to take possession of it. The French General had a corps of 19,000 infantry, 3500 cavalry, and 64 guus, and a reserve, of 20,000 men,f who did not, however, come into action ; but he was uncertain what force was opposed to liim. " It might be like a battle in Spain," said Iieille, " where the British only showed themselves at the right moment,' and Ney waited till more of his troops had come up. Wellington arrived at ten oelock, took in the situation, and sent orders to Bictou and the Brunswick Corps to continue their umreh on Quatre-Bras. Accordingly, the 92nd advanced with the division. They met some waggims with Prussian soldiers wounded on the previous day. They moved slowly, lor the heat was excessive and the dust choking ; at (ienappe the inhabitants had tubs of water, and some of them milk, ready to hand to the thirsty soldiers as they passed along the street.

Harilly were they out of the town when the stimulating sound uf cannon freshened them up, so that the men quickened their pace and " Forward " ran through the ranks ; but Colonel Cameron knew lietter than lo allow fiis men to exhaust their energy, and kept them to the ordinary rale. The sounds of strife increased as they neared Qiiatrc-liru.s, where they arrived ab<3ut 2.30, in the nick of time. Wellington had just returned to Quatre-Bras after a meeting with Blucher, who, from the top of the mill of Bussy, had shown him Napoleon taking up his grouutl, iuhI the disposilinns of rjii' I'russiaii army. • Hoawaye. t Jind.

18151

THE GOKDQN HIGHLANDERS.

427

WeUiiigtuu did iiuL upiuove of Lhuse. *' If they figlit here," he remaiked, " they will be daitinably mauled ; " ^ and they were.

The hamlet of Qualre-Bras consisted of three farms and ' two other houaett overlooking t!ie uiidulntiug corn-fields round it. To the east, the road to Naimir was fenced by a bank and diteb ; lees than a mile and a half along this road, and live hundre*! yards south of il, stood tlie farim of Piitinmout ; uu the suutb-wesL of the road to Churleroi, about two miles from Quatre-Bnis, was tSie farm of I'ierrepont, antl half a mile behind I'itirrepunt was the eoppice wood of Bossii, extending baek to the hamleL The large farm uf (remioucourt, three- quarters of a mile along the mad to Charleroi, and close to it, formed, with the otljei' farms and the wood^ natural positions of defence.

Ney had at last Itegun the action by a cannonade on the farm of Piranmont. He then sent a brigade of infantry and Tires' Litucers against it. The Dutcli troops who held it were too few to sustain the attack ; they were obliged by llie infantry to retreat and were routed by the cavalry, so that the I'Yeuch were masters of the position except on the right, which was held by four battalions under Prince Bernard of Sitxe Weimar, and a strong body of French cavalry and infantry were marching to attack these battalions.

It was al thia critical moment that the Pifth Division, followed by the Brunswickers, arrived, and without halting, deployed on the Namur road, the Ninth Brigade next the hamlet, the Eighth farther down the road The 79th formed the extreme left, and the 92nd the right, of the division, which insttiully advanced and became engaged with tlie enemy in the wheat fields towards Gemioncourt. Wellington, however, desired Colonel (Jamernn to form tlie 92nd in line on llie road, with his right resting on the houses of l<>uatre-Bras. His Grace Look his station on foot with his statl at the left of the regimenLf The enemy opened a cannonade on them frotn a battery on a height near liie road to Charleroi , ^ the Duke

• Sir H, Miutwell'B " Life of Wellmgton."

t " Waterloo Letters, " IfiS.

t " I )id you *c« tiijtt, sir ? ■' said a soldier to his officer during this cannonade, us a caiini>ri hall aetit lii.<« (Hninet tlyiiig. He w.-im uot hurt, though he liotl u wilil look, aiid the cuacuMiiou addled iiis bruiiui tor u day or two. During the day

4'JS

THK LIFE UF A KKUlMKNT.

[1S15

onlureil Llie regimeiiL Lu lie down uutlur covtr of the ditch and bank of the ruad, imd he aud Iiis stafl' did the same, Soon the terrible French cuirassiers, under cover of Llieir artillery, with loud cries cume charging up tlie tields in front of the rei^iiiieut, which still remained in line, and was not afraid. Wellington moved in rciir of the centre and said, " O'ind. don't fire until I tell you ; " and when they aune witliin twenty or thirty paces he gave the word. A craahinj^ volley — and the ground was covered with fallen horses and their steel- elud riders, while the rest were galloping away. Many, dis- mounted hut unhurt, tried to escape, but in their jack-boots were no match for the Highlanders , some w^lio resisted with their swords felt the bay<niets of the angry Scots ; those who surrendered were made prisoners.

Meanwhile the rest of the division were sustaining with u4Utd eoiilidunce t!ie repeated charges of the French cavalry, wlio rode lx>ldly up to the huyonets, firing carbine or pistol in tlie hope of breaking the stjuares. Their indefatigable lancers got near the 42ud, who at first mistook them for Allies ; two companies were cut otT before they could form square, and sutl'ered severely, but a number of the lancers got hemmed in between the square and the remainder of the two companies, and were instantly bayoneted. The French infantry, assisted by a powerful artillery and magnificent cavalry, behaved with the greatest galhintry in their endeavours to force their opponents to retire. The liriliah had only a few guns and the mounted corps of the Duke of Brunswick, but they withstood every assault with astonishing firmness; the tide of battle ebbed and flowed, fringed by a foam of French skirmisiiers, and of the Light Companies and marksmen of the British Brigades.

tihelis ircqucutly came dancing to their own uiusic aorosii ihe road whicit tltti iliglilandcis Wciv liiiiug. " VVliuiioati of tlicae ilaugcroua charucWrs iutruilcd huriHuU iiUo our society, a ludicroua acrainble took place for the honour of being iindormoBt in tb« ditch." Another Bind officer says, " This heavy fire waa mainbtkined against U8 in consequbtico of the Duke and his staff being only two or three yards in front of th« 0'2ud, jKirfectly aeen by tho French, (ind be- cause all the reinforcements [wva-sed along the road iii wliich we were. Here t had a rettiarkable opiiortunity of witiu<B»injj[ the Hcitt<j-/roid of the iJiike. who, tmooncemeil at the ahol, Bto<Hl watcliing the vneuiy and yivlng orders with a» nmeh coui]K)8ed calniucsa as if ho were at a re^new. "

181.1]

TTIK GORDON IIItiHl^NHERS.

429

As the day wore on allied roinfoK-ements kept arrivinj[T, hut siiine liad no sLomach for the tight, onci spread dismay rs tin\y Hed by false statements of Krench success. Mercer, marcliinjr with his troop of Hijree Artillery on the Nivelles road towards the scene of action, met nunibci*s wlin cried that all was lost and the British defeated. At lost a (jordon Highlaudor caine limping painfully along, with his musket under his arm and a hullet in his bandaged knee Mercer halted tu ask ftir inft>rni- ation, telling him what the Belgians had said. " It 's a damned lee. They were fechtin' when I cam' awa', an* they're fcchiin* yet." He then sat down on a wall and lit his pipe, wliilr the artillery surgeon extracted the bullet.

The Brunswickers had been stationed near the 92nd, and about four o'clock the Duke of Brunswick led his hussars (who wore black uniforms with a silver death's head in memoiy of his father, who hatl been killed in fighting the Freneb) past the 92nd, to repel some French cavalry who had broken the Bninswick Infantry ; the hussars charged gallantly, but were dis- organised by musketry fire. The Duke was mortally wounded, and they tied before the Bed Lancers and Light Cavalry, who were soon up with them, "cutting them down most horribly," Wellington, who was in front when the hussars charged, was carried away in their flight, and in danger of being taken ; he galloped to the bank lined by the 92nd, and calling to them to lie still, rode at the fence and jumped it, men and all. }[e had his sword drawn, and as soon as the Highlandei-s were between him and his pursuers, he turned round with a confi- deiit smile, and ordered the regiment to be ready. The Hying linmswickers passed round the right tlank close to the bayonets ; the French miuglL'd with them, cutting and slashing. As soon as the Brunswickers had cleared their right, the Grenadier Company wheeled back on the road ; the rest were to tire obliquely on the mass of rapidly advancing cavalry, who, elated at their success, charged them. The Highlanders received them as they did the cyirassiers, with a volley at close quarters. " The volley was decisive. The front of tlie French charge was completely separated from the rear by the gap which we made, and nothing was seen but men and horses tumbling on each other ; their rear retreated, and the front

430

THB LIFE OF A KEOIMKNT.

[1815

dashed through the village, cutting down all stragglers : our assistant-surgeon, dressing a man hehind a house, had his bonnet cut in two and a lance run into his side."* The survivors, not expecting such a finale to their victorioua career, fled in confusion. One of their otticers, having got too far in front of his men, made a neck or nothing dash to escape along tlie rear of the 92nd. Some thought he was riding at tile I hike, and one or two mounted olUcers tried to stop him, but he i»arried tlieir cuts and gallopnd down the line past His (J race, who called out, " Damn it, 92nd, vdW you let that fellow escape ?" Some men of the 6th and 7th Companies turned round, tired, killed his horse, and a ball at the same time passed through both feet of the gallant young othcer Lieutenant Winchester. 92nd, wounded at Waterloo, was afterwards billeted with him in the same house at Brussels for six months, and travelled with him Ui Paris, where he received much kindness from him and his family ; his name was llurgoine. Three others came down the road at full speed on the Grenadiers, brandishing their swords ; two were brought down : an ollicer with bis sword cut tlie hamstring of the other's horse, and he was taken.

Ney had received an urgent dispatch from the Emperor, desiring him to act vigorously, to drive away the British and to second his own attack at Ligny on the Prussians, so as to destroy them wholly. " The fate of France is in your hands." he wrote. Ney saw that his enemy was being reinforced, and that if Napoleon's orders were to l>e canied out, it nmst be now or never. He renewed his efforts on the key of the linsition, and abuut five o'clock the regiment was again chargiHl by two columns of cavalry, who were received in the same rtiJinner an tlieir predecessors, and with the same result. Some •jf tlie defeated euinissiers sought shelter in the farmyard, remained there for sometime unobserved, and finally galloped out and escaped. f

At tliis time the Third^ivision arrived, and prolonged the left of the British line : the Guards also c^me up, and were thrown into the wood of Bossu. As each battalion hurried

• Letter from a wounded ofllcer 92tid, datc<l Itruoaels, 21iit July 1815. t L«tt«r from Wellington.

1815]

TiiF, fioRnoN iin;injv.NDEHs.

4:n

pnst, it was loudly cheeretl by the 92nd, for never was lielp more welcome. Tht' regiment, however, had little respite ; the moat severe contest of the day whs yet to come.

Two hiHi(lrei.l yanls from the Imiiilet was a two-storeyed house beside the road, ami from its rear run a thit-k liedge a short way across a field. On the opposite side of the road was a <,'arden surrounded by a thick hedge. Under cover of a wiiiuonade, two columns of French infantry were now seen ailvancing, one by the Charleroi road, the other by a hollow in front of the wood of l^ossu. The house anil hed^^'c were occu- pied by these troops, while some advanced still nearer to the 92nd, and the main body, 1200 to 1500 strong, took post about a hundred yards in rear of the garden. The coloiiel's tiery temper chafed to ha at them, as he paced impatiently up and down, and he aaketl leave to charge. " Take your time, Cameron, you'll get your Jill of it before night," sai<l tlie Duke, who was again with the regiment, for their position conunanded a general view. Soon he said, "Now 92nd, you must chaige these two columns of infantry I " Instantly the regiment, aliout 600 in number, leaped over the ditch, headed by Colonel Cameron and General Barnes, the latter calling out, " Come on, my old 92nd ! " — for their old brigjidier loved the regiment, and though it was not his duty to charge, " he could not resist tlie impulse," writes a 92nd officer.* The Grenadiers and First ('ompany took the high road, the other companies to tfieir right advanced upon the house and hedge, and soiue upon the garden, the enemy pouring a deadly tire on them from the windows and from the hedge. The oiticer with the regimental colour was shot through the heart, the staff of the colour was shattered in six pieces by three balls, and the stair of the king's colour with one.t Cameron was struck in the groin by a shot tired from an upper window ; he lost command of his horse, the animal galloped Imck to where the colonel's groom was standing with his second horse. There it suddenly stopped, and its rider was pitched on his head on the road,

" It was hot work then," said an old Highlantl soldi«M-,

• "Military Memoir*." General BaroM WM ihljt.'genernL wiinnmiuieil tlie Pirst Hn«nc|e at !^t t'icire. etc., 1814. t Letter from tl2nd oHiccr dtttccl 2bt July 18l,"».

ilu hull

432

THE LIFE OK A KEHIMENT.

[1815

" They were in fche hoose like as raouy mice, an' we couldna get at Lhem wi' mir shoL wIkui their fire was ca'in' iloou iiinny a goot man among us ; but we had seen Cameron fall, an' oot o' that they had to come, or dee where they were ; so we ower the hedge an* through the garden till the hoose was fair sur- rounded, an' they coiildna get a shot oot where we couldna get aiie in. In the end they were driven oot, an' keepit oot. Ay, hilt the Frentdi were hrave men, an' tried again an' again to tiUce it from us, but they only got beaten back for their pains, niul left their dead to fatten the garden ground."

At the house the bayonet did its deadly work, and Cameron was amply avenged by Ins infuriated followers * hut the main body beyond showed no disposition to retire ; they were greatly superior in numbers, and kept up a shower of musketry upon the Highlanders at the hedge, suHicient to appal any but the most experienced soldiers ; and but for the ollicers' attention to their duty, and the encouragement of their veteran comrades, some of the younger men would not have been kept steady under it. Lieut.-Colouel Mitebell, who had succeeded Cameron, was wounded, ami Major Dotiald MacDonald took command. To extricate themselves from this situation part of the battalion was moved round the right si<le of t!ie hou.se aud garden, and part rouud the left, while a thinl passed through the garden and forced the gates under a fire <le.scribed by an officer of the party as " truly dreadful," and which they could not answer ettectively till the whole battalion could be brought to bear upon the enemy. Then the word was given — the thrilling Britisfi clieer, whicli none can hear unmoved, rang out as they levelled their bayonets to the charge. For a few seconds the French awaited the assault, but as they marke«l the steadfast bearing and stern countenances of the rapiilly-upproaching Highlanders, their courage failed them, they gave way, and sought to escape by the liollow up which their left column had advanced.

• "The History of the Wars," doBonhing the battle, Bays—" This heroic ragiment (9'2nd), led on by Colonel Cameron, pcrfonned prodigies of valour." . , , " Ris death rotised the spirit of the Highlanders to fury."

Another account says — '* The bagpipes icrenmed out the notes of the ' Cameroiis' tiathering ' aa they levelled their bayimots und charged witli tbe claatic step learned "O the hillside."

1815]

THE GORDON JIIfiHLANBBRS.

433

As soon as they turned their backs, the 92nd plied them with musketry : " And so well did our lads do their duty, thac at every atep we found a dead or wounded Frenchman." " Never was the fire of a body of men given with finer etfect than tliat of the 92nd during; the pursuit, which continued far fully half a mile." * Being completely separated from the rest of the line, and threatened hy a corps of cavalry, the regiment entered the wood and maintained their position there against all comers till relieved by the Guards, and about eight o'clock they were ordered to retire, and form behind tlie houses at Quatre-Bras. A night under arms, an eighteen miles' umrch, and five hours' fighting is hungry work ; " Malgrc la chiite des empires le diner vient tons les jours ; " the Highlanders cooked their suppers in the cuirasses worn by the cuirassiers they had killed a few hours before, f

la other parts of the field Wellington was equally successful, but the French gave way only foot by foot. Everywhere the mass of dead and wounded — over 4000 FiMjnch and over 5000 of the Allies—ltore witneSK to the fury of the fight.

All firing had ceased by nine o'clock. The French re- occupied the ground they held in the morning; the Allies had maintained their position, and completely defeated and repulsed the enemy's attempt to get possession of it. Wellington in his dispatch .says — '* The troops of the Fifth Division and those of the r»run8wick Corps were long and severely engaged, and con- ducted themselves with the utmost gallantry. I must particu- larly mention the 28th, 42nd, 79th, and 92nd Regiments, and the battalion of Hanoverians."

" About ten o'clock," says an officer, " the pipe-major took post in front of the village." ..." Long and loud blew Cameron, but his efforts could not gather above half of those whom his music had cheered on their march to the battle- field." Of thirty-six officers who went into action only eleven escaped unhurt. Colonel Cameron was mortally wounded; Captain W. Little. Lieut. Jamea J. Chisholm, Ensigns Abel Becber and John Ross MacPherson were killed ; Lieut.-Colonel James Mitchell, Captains G. W. Holmes, Dugald Campbell, and William C. Grant (mortally) ; Lieuts. Robert Winchester, Thos.

• •* Military Memoire." t " Waterloo Letters. "

2 s

4:u

THE LIFE OF A HEGIMKNT.

ri8i5

Holjb.s, ThLiinas M'Intosli. Janies Ker Rtjss, Ronald MacDonald, Hector Munio Iniies, George Logan, John M'Kinlay, (Jeorge Mackie, Alexander MacPherson, Ewen Koss; Ensitfiis John Brauwell, Robert Logun, Angus MacDonald, Robert Hewitt, and Assistant-surgeon John Stewart were wounded; 35 N.-C. otficers and men were killed * and 345 were wounded, of whom many died of their wounds. I have not the morning state of the IGth, but comparing that of the ISth with the number killed and wounded, it seems that about 650-660 sergeants, drummers, and rank and lile went into action.

Sir Thomas Pict4>n, commanding the Fifth Division, on returning to the rear after the action, not knowing how severely the regiment had been engaged till he saw the remnant of it, asked what this was. On being told it was the 9 '2nd, he asked " Where is the rest of the regiment t"

The following is a copy of Major M' Donald's report of the action, written on the spot ;—

Sir, — Colonel Caineron and Lt.-Col, Mitchell having been both severely wounded, I have the honour to report, for your information (not having been under your eye during the whole of the day), that tho y2nii Regiment repulsed repeated attai^ks of cavalry, and by n rapid movement charged a coluniii of the enemy, and drove them to the extremity of the wood on our right. Our loss has been severe, as will be seen by the return of killed and wounded.

I have, etc.

(Signed) Donald M'Donalu.

Major 92nd Commanding. Major-Oeneral Sir Denis Pack, K.C.B.

After Colonel Cameron fell, he was taken on a cart by his faithful foster-brother and servant, Private Ewen M'Mi!lan,t and one of the pipers, to the village of Waterloo, where he died during tlie night. Being told that the British had been

• The oames of the killed and those who died of their wounda are included with those of Waterloo. Cannon does not notice it, hut Captain W. C. Grant died of his wounds at Bmssels. — Stewart's " Highlanders " and " Scots Magazine " <Ohituary).

t M'Millim was afterwards tenant of the farm of Oamas. — " Memoir of Colonel J. Cameron."

1815)

TFIE CORDON HIGHLANDERS.

43 n

victorious, he said, " Then i die happy ; " ntid later, " I trust my dear country will think I have done enough ; I hope she will think I have served her faithfully." His last hour was soothed by the plaintive music which awakes a Highlamler'a deepest feelings and most sacred memories of home and kindred, and his last supplications to the Throne of Gmce were uttered in the mouiitiiin tongue.*

In Colonel Cameron the Cordon Highlanders lost an officer who had served with them in every campaign except Corunna ; he had commanded a battalion smce 1806, and had led them " always to honour and almoat always to victory," His influ- ence had a lasting effect on the character of the regiment. A strict disciplinarian, he understood that prompt ol>ecnence can be enforced without worrying otHcers or men, and that discip- line and drill are but means to the end of making troops cool and handy in times of danger and difticulty. He was deservedly respected by his officers, to whom, however, his manner was rather reserved and distant. Thoroughly knowing his duty, he did not fear responsibility, and *' never allowed the rights or comforts of his men to be disregarded or lost sight of by any- one ; they considered him their best and never-failing friend, and reposed the most implicit and unbounded confidence in him as a commander." f The efiects of his fiery nature were never more severely felt than by the othcers of the commissariat, if his men suttered from any neglect at the hands of that department

A most respectable old soldier, John Downie by name, used to speak of him as being much liked by the good men, " though he made us do our duty ; " "a splendid soldier ; " " his only fault, his reckless bravery." The late Sir Duncan Cameron having heard it stated that his brother sometimes carried discipline to excess, sent for two Ballachulish men who had served in the 92nd. The first was a cunning calculating customer, whose desire was to please by speaking smooth things, and he made out the colonel's character to be so perfectly angelic that Sir Duncan, seeing through him, ordered him off without even showing him the hospitality for which

* " Memoir of Colonel Cameron." t Letter from Captain Fyfe, 92nd.

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T1TE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

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his house was famous. The other was a manly old soldier, who spoke as he thought and felL Sir Duncan questioned him, " De nia uu scorsa duine a bha nam bhrathair ? " " Innsidh mise dhuibh a Shir Donnuchadh ; se Duiue gasda, foghaiuteach, :\ilidh, a bha 'n Colonel Tan, fhad 'sa bha gnothaichean a dol gu math, ach 'se fior dheamhan a bh'ann 'nuair a rachadh camadh na corraige air aimrcidh/* [*' Now, what sort of a mau was my brother ? " " I will tell you, Sir Duncan, Colonel John was a fine, brave, splendid man when duty was well <lone (business went well), but the very devil when anything went wrong {lit., when the bending of the finger)."] Sir Duncan asked no more questions. " Ni sin an gnothach," and dismis-sed him to his dinner in the hall with a £1 note in his pocket. In short, Colonel Cameron may be described as one who used his authority " for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well."

He was a liorn leader of men, besides being a true Highland gentleman, devoted to the music and the jjoetry of his country.*

His remains, which had been interred near the place of his death by his friend Mr Gordon the paymaster, his servant, and a few wounded men, were removed the following year. They were brought to Lochaber by a man-of-war, and were committed to their final resting-place at Kilmallie, on the shore of Locheil, in Argyllshire. Three thousand people of the country attended the funeral, headed by Locheil, MacNeil of Ban-a, MacDonald of Gleucoe, Campbell of Barcaldine, and many other Highland gentlemen.

And Sunart rough and wild Ardgour,

Aud Morven long shall tell, And proud Ben Nevis hear with awe, How, upon bloody Quatre-Bras, Brave Cameron lieafd the wUd hurrah

Of conquest as he fell.f

A raonument was erected to his memory at Kilmallie by an arrangement between his family and his regiment. The epitaph, written by Sir Walter Scott, is given in the Appendix,

* In his pook«t-hook when he died was found a list of the men who joined with him in HM, with notes oa to each. See Appendix. t Sir Walter Scott's " Dance of Death."

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TBI GORDON IllGHLANDEBS.

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A monument was also raised at Kinrara by his first command- ing officer, the Marquis of Huntly, to the memory of Colonel Cameron, Lieut-Colonel Sir R Macara, K.C.B., of the 42nd, also killed at Quatre-Bras, and the other Highland officers and soldiers who fell in the war.

The Duke of Wellington thus expressed himself in his dispatch to the Secretary of State, transmitting the lists of killed and wounded at (^>uatre-Bras and Waterloo : —

" Your Ix)rdship will see in the enclosed lists the names of some most valuahle officers lost to His Majesty's service. Among them I cannot avoid to mention Colonel Cameron, of the Ninety-second, and Colonel Sir Henry Ellis, of the Twenty- third Kegiments, to whose conduct I have frequently drawn your Lordship's attention, and who at last fell distinguishing themselves at the head of the brave troops which they eommanded-

" Notwithstanding the glory of the occasion, it is impossible not to lament such men, both on account of the public and as friends."

In acknowledgment of his distinguished services, Colonel Cameron's father was created a baronet.

Aileau Dal! (Bliud Allan), the bard of Glengarry, com- posed a lament, which is given in the Appendix.

" While I live," says an eye-witness, " I shall ever retain a vivid recollection of the faiTayard at Quatre-Bras on the evening of the 16th and morning of the ITth."* The whole yard was dyed with blood and the walls stained with it. A surgeon stated that at one period of the battle nearly 1000 wounded soldiers were in that narrow space. In those days there were no antesthetics to save the shock of am- putation to the system ; no antiseptics to keep the wound clean. The only means available to the surgeons to prevent hemorrhage was an application of boiling oil or pitcli. There were nu organised ambulances or trained nurses, but the soldiers' wives were always helpful on such occasions. Those of the

* Private Rol>ertB«n, one of the wounded, showed thia officer a life of Sir Willium Wallace which liad bulougc*! t^o a dead Frenuhmaii ; it appeared, he says, that the hisloriea of Bruce and Wallace were as favourite reading with the French eoldiers as with the .Scotch.

438

THE LU'K OF A RE(iTMENT.

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wounded from Quatre-Bras who could walk went to Gcuappc : the others, in carts to Hrussels and Antwerp, where the people vied with each other in their attentions.

About five o'clock in the morning Wellington arrived from Genappe, where he had slept. It was cold, and on dismounting he asked, •' Ninety-second, will you favour me with a little fire?" The men quickly made a fire opposite the door of a - little hut made of boughs of trees, which they endeavoured toj make suitable for the Commander-in-Chief, His Grace expr ing his thanks for their attentions. In this airy residence received definite information that Bhicher, after his defeat Ligny the previous evening, waa retreating on Wavi-e. " Old

Blucher," he said, " has got a d d good drubbing. He

has gone eigliteen miles to the rear ; we must do likewise. 1 suppose they will say iu England that we've been thrashed. I can't help it/'

In passing by Brussels the year before, he had observed the position of Mont St Jean : he now sent word to Blucher that he would establish hiniself there, and expect support from at least one division of Trussiaus. Should he mui-cli at once, or let the troops breakfast ? " I know the French," he said. " They won't attack till they have made their soup." And he decided to let his men rest. Here he gave his orders, and received the Prince of Orange and many other distin- guished officers, among tliem Lord Hill, under whom the 92nd had served so long in the Peninsula, and whom they " dearly loveil for his kind iind fatlicrly conduct towards them." Uthcers and men joined in testifying their regard. Hill approached them hat in hand, much ullected, and going among them spoke to olhcers and men " iu a very kindly manner." The cheers brought Wellington hurriedly out of the hut, but on perceiving the c^iuse, he laughed and seemed " quite delighted with the mark of respect which * her nainsel * had paid to his friend and favourite geneml." Hill gave them a high ehamcter, to which the Duke replied that he himself knew well what they could do, and that by and by he would give them something to keep their hands in use.

All felt depressed when it became known that Blucher had retreated, but Wellington appeared unmoved and couHdeut.

18I6J

THE tiOKJJON HlGllLANDEKS.

4o9

A 92 nd officer describes him walkiug quickly up and down for a time, " dressiid in white pantaloons, half-hooLs, a military vest, white neckcloth, blue aurtout and cocked hat/' his left baud behind his back, and in his right a switch, one end of which he frequuntly put to his mouth ; interrupted often by a courier with dispatches, or stopping to talk witli animation to the Prussian Envoy (MiilHing). About ten o'clock the infantiy were put iu motion, but, to conceal his design froiu the enemy, the Duke kept the Third and Fifth Divisions in front of Qiuitre-LJras till the other troops were well on their way, when they also began their retreat. The 92ud formed the rear- guard of the infantry, whose retreat was by no means hurried, for the Fifth Division halted lialf an hour near Genappe ; during which time some men of the tlivision were tried for wantonly firing away theii- ammunition ijistead of drawing the charge at the cud of the day, a practice dangerous to comrades and apt to give rise to false alarms. While the regiment was ascending the heights in rear of Genappe, the body of the gallant Duke of Brunswick was carried past on a waggon. The liliick HuKsars wfio guarded it pointed out to the High- landers the fatal wound in his bresLst, and swore to avenge the death of their prince.

The cavalry, who had arrived from their various canton- ments after the action of the 16th, covered the movement of the whole. They remained with Wellington, who still watched his adversary from Quatre-liras, till the afternoon, when Napoleon, who now commanded iu person, began to advance iu force. There wa.s a sliarp affair of cavalry * at Genappe ; the Emperor himself coidd Ijc seen by the British rear-guard encouraging the pursuit, " Tirez I Tirez ! Ce sont des Anglais ! ** (Fire ! Fire ! They are English) he cried, with an accent of anger and hate, to the gunners of his advanced guard. f

* In thia aSkir an officer of th« 7th Hussars was wounded and taken before Napoleon, who qiiestiooed him aa to the strength of the BritiBli cavalry. Getting an unsatisfactory wtiftwer, tKe Emperor became angi-y and treated the oJtieer with diauourtesy. Au aide-dii-cami.t iuterfcrcd on behalf of the captive, with whom he withdrew, and whom he treated with the greatest kiudaesa. The next time they met was at the weddixig of the French aide-de-camp, Count de Flahuult, to Barouess Keith of Tullyallan, cousin of the huuar, who was th« father of Captain the Hon. E. ElphinittoQc of the 92nd.

t Houaaaye.

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THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

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The day had become sultry aud black clouds darkened the sky ; the first cannon-shot seemed to break them, peels of thunder and flashes of lightning mingled with the roar of the guns, a perfect deluge of rain turned the roads into water- courses and the fields into a morass ; it was with ditticulty the horses could drag the guns, or the infantry their feet, from the moistened clay. At 1^ Belle Alliance the 92nd were relieved by a corps of foreign troops, when they crossed the narrowjfl valley, but before they took tlieir place in position, the enemy^ were cannonading them from the heights of I^ Belle Alliance. This was between six iind seven p.m. Shortly after, firing ceased on both sides.

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CHAPTElt XXIV.

UN arrival on the position in from of Waterloo on Saturday evening the 17 th, tlie regiment bivouacked in a ploughed field, a picket being thrown out to ks front. Everyone was drenched to the skin, the liaggage could not be found, the peasautH had removed the ropes front the neighbouring draw- wells, ao that a drink of clean water could not be got ; they cut clover in a field to keep them oH' the wet gi'ound, and unless one had something in his haversack, there was nothing to eat. Imagine the situation of a man, cold, wet and hungry, without fire, meat or drink, sitting on a bunch of damp grass with his feet deep in a puddle; a powerful army opposite led by the greatest general of the age — not a situation in which to feel heroic ! *' But," says Sergeant Robertson, '* we tried to cheer our drooping spirits by the thought that we had never run out of the field ; and the call began to pass from one to tlie other what we should do when we had beaten the enemy." A false alarm, owing to Belgian cavalry answering the sentries' challenge in French, caused them to stand to their arms at midnight ; it still rained hard, but the men lay down again in fours, covered by their united blankets. At dayligJit on the morning of Sunday the 18th .lune the troops stood to their arms, shivering with cold ; an allowance of gin was served out, which put some warmth into them, and appears to liave been higlily appreciated ; * beef was also brought. Soon the day cleared and the sun shone out; the regiment was withdnxwn from its position in tlic puddle to a drier one farther to the rear, where the)' were able to light llres and cook, clean their aruis and dry their clothes. Many were fast asleep when the order was given to fall in,

* <* Am bheil sin math, a Dhonnucluiid ? " aak&d a Highland captain of his piper »8 be quaffed tlie reviving apirit. " Nan robh bainne mathur cbo niaith,

bhithinn a' deoghal fathiwit ! " {" Is that good, Duncan?" milk was ao good, 1 would be sueking yet t ")

' If mother's

442

TItE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

(1815

prime and load, and take up theii- positiou ; tiieii Wellington, looking calm and confident, rode along the line on his favourite horse, named after his first European victory, " Copenhagen."

The allied army in position in fi-ont of Waterloo amounted to about 67,600 of all arms* of whom 12,500 were cavalry, with 156 guns; about 24,000 were British, anrl 5800 were of the gallant King's German Legion in British pay. The rest were Hanoverians, Brunswickers, Nassau contingent, Butch and Belgians ; Napoleon, in estimating the chances of success, which he thought greatly in his favour, considered one British soldier equal to one Frenchnian, and one French soldier equal to two of Wellington's other troops. The British were not in conipoailiou and discipline equal to the army which fought on the I'yreuees and at Toulouse, with which its leader said " he could go anywhere and do anything." A large part of that army was in America, and was replaced by battalions which had seen no service ; but several of the most distinguished reninsular regiments were there. Many of the Continental troops had served under Napoleon, the country of others had been conquered by him, and all were inclined to believe him invincible ; Wellington, tfierefore, placed most reliance on the British and tfie Germau Legion, the other troops being posted alternately between them.

The position taken by Wellington was along the ridge, half a mile south of Mont St Jean, a hamlet two miles south of the village of Waterloo, which is nine miles south of Brussels. From the hamlet to the crest of the ridge the ground rises gently, and along tlie ridge runs a road or lane from Wuvre and tJhain on the east, tu Braiue-lti-Leude on the west. This lane crosses the high road from Brussels by La Belle Alliance to Quatre-Bras and Charleroi ; on the east ofj the crossing it was fenced b}' hedges, and on the west it wa

* Alisou. Wellington h*d in additiou troops Btatioued at Hal, Antwer Ostoad, etc., but theae were not engAged.

Oti tbe IStU Juue the ^2nd had preaent : — Field- officer, I ; uapt&ins, 2{ Hubakeriifl, 15 ; sLAtt', 4 ; sergeuntft, 27; drummerB, 12; rank and die, 361.- WeUiugtou's Diaptiluhca.

iV./y. — Severn) otlicent uud men wure able to take tliuir pluces, tltoug 8inartiu|; from wounda at Quatre-Bras. liatmou. baggnge guard, t^urgeou't* orderlies arc included, tbough uot actually in tbo ranks.

THE (JUltDON HIGHLANDERS.

443

formed by a cutting with high banks un each side. These banks and hedges were pierced for the passage of cavah-y and artillery. From this road the ground slopes down into a shallow valley. Alvout three hundred yards down ihe west side of the road to Charleroi stood the farm of La Huye Saiute, and on the other side of the road was a gravel pit. Near La Haye Sainte an abattis was plaeeil across the road, which then crosses the hollow and ascends i^Tadiially to La Belle Alliance on another ridge parallel to that of Mont St JeaiL About twelve hundred yards east of Im Haye Sainte. and tive hundred yards south of the Chain road, were the farms of Papelotte and La Haye, and n little further south was the hauilet of Smohain. At some distance west of the Charlerui road, and alfout tive hundred yards south of the Ohain road, was the chateau of Hougoumont, witii walled garden and woods. Tfie position hod its right thrown back to a ravine neiir Merke Braine, wliich wtis occupied, as were the house and gardens of Hougoumont and the farm of La Haye Sainte, and also Papelotte and La Haye, while a picket of tlie 10th Hussars was jjoated at Smohain. By the left Wellington CM>mniunicated with Blueher at Wavre through Ohain, and the Marshal had promised to support him witti one or more corps as might be necessary.

The French army, 74,000 strong, of whom over 15.000 were cavalry, witli 246 guns, was superior in numbers, in horsemen, and in artillery, and was composed of experienced soldiers of the same nation, animated by an enthusiastic cun- fidence in their leader and in themselves. Napoleon also expected Groucliys Corps of about 30,000 men, which had been sent to observe the Prussians.

The French position was along the ridge or plateau ctf La Belle Alliance, opposite and pai'allel to that of the Allies. The distance from right to left of the army was less than three iiules; at no point were the oi»poni."nts a mile apart, and in some places tliey were much nearei-.

Two men seldom agree in their account of a fox-hunt oi a battle, and I am not going to try to tell exactly what took place on the whole Held ctl" Waterloo, but only on that part of it where the Glordon Highlandeiis were posted, so far as it can

444

THE LIFE OK A REGIMENT.

[1815

be galbored from dispatches, histories, and the letters or reminiscences of those who were present. Suffice it to say generally that the battle was a defensive one on tlie part of the Allies. Wellington's object was to keep Napoleon at bay till the Prossians could join him. Napoleon strove to break 1 through the British before l^hiclver could come up, but he was prevented from attacking till the sun had rendered the wet clay land fit for the operations of cavalry and artillery. At about ten to eleven o'clock * he commenced a furious attack on Hougn union t, held by a few foreign troops and a detach- ment from Byiig's Brigade of Guards, wlio maintiiined the post throughout the day with the ^Tcatest gallantry. This attack was accompanied by a heavy cannonade upon oufj whole line, followed by repeated attacks of cavalry and infantry, occasionally mixed, but sometimes separate. In one of these] the enemy carried the farm of La Haye Sainte, after a desperate ' resistance by the detachment of the King's German Legion who held it. They had expended their ammunition, and the enemy occupied the only communication there was with them. The repeated attacks of cavalry were uniformly repulsed by our artillery and infantry, and they aflbrded opportunities to our cavalry to charge. These attacks were continued till about seven p.m., when the enemy made a desperate ettbrt with cavalry and infantry supported by artillery, to force our left centre near I^ Haye Sainte, which, after a severe contest, was defeated. Wellington observed that the troops retired from tins attack in great confusion, and that the march of j Billow's Prussians by Frischermont upon La Belle Alliance] had begun to take elfect ; and as .Marshal Prince Blueher had joined in person with a corps of his army to the left of our] line by Ohain. he determined to attack the enemy, and advanced the whole line of infantry, supported by cavalry and artillery. Tlie attack succeeded at every point, the enemy was forced from his position, and tied in the utmost confusion.

Many of the Allies kept their ground during the day, aa] firmly as the British and Germans, but others gave way, and some could not be rallied even in second line; some without)

• HJBtorianB differ as to the hour. Wdlington's dispatch says *' about ten o'clock." HouHB»ye Bays about 11.35.

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THE CORDON IIJGHLANDERS.

445

firing a shnt rode otX to Brussels, tilling the city with con- sternation and Jisiuay.

The Fifth Division, commanded by 8ir Thomas Picton, was stationed iniinediately un the left (/.<'., east) of the Charleroi roadp havin<:; Bylaiult's Dutch- P»elgian Brigade in front. The Eighth or Kempt's Brigade formed the right of the division ; the Ninth or Pack's lirigade was some little distance to the left, and in rear of the rHiuiu road on the reverse of the ridge, in the following order: the 1st Royals on the right, 4 2nd, 92nd, and 44th on tlie left, the Light Companies being extended in front. On the left of Pack were Hanoverian and Belgian in- fautr}', some of them holding the farm of Papelotte, supported on the extreme left by Vandeleur's and Vivian's British Light Cavalry, while the Third and other Divisions were on Picton's right. The reserve, including most of the cavalry, was in the rear, and artillery was posted at intervals along the front line. Xapoleon's only feiir had l)een that the Allies would retreat during the night to join the Prussians " Now," he said, " Wellington has thrown the dice, and they are for us." Napoleon had never encountered British infantry. 8oult, who knew their quality, advised liim to hasten Grouchy's recall. " Because you have been beaten Ity Wellington," retorted the Emperor, " you think him a great general. I tell you Wellington is a bad general, and the British are bad troops." He then asked Keille's opinion, as he also had often fought against them in Spain, who answered, " Well posted as Wellington knows how to do, and attacked in front, I look on the British infantry as invulnerable by reason of its calm tenacity and the superiority of its tire, but they do not manoeuvre so quickly ; if one could not vanquish them by a direct attack, one might do so by out-manosuvring them."* Napoleon broke oil' the conversation with an exclamation of incredulity, and proceeded to pass his columns in review as they took up their ground. It was little more than 1000 yards from where the Emperor made this hi.s last inspection to the station of the Gordon Highlanders, who could see the formidable force of their antagonists, and with a telescope could distinguish the gorgeous columns ; the infantry in blue

• UouBsaye.

446

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

llHI;-i

coats, red epaulettes, white breeches and long white gaiters; light infantry in blue, green epaulettes uud hlack gaiters. The Old Guard in campaigning dress, blue pantaloons, long greatcoat and bearskin cap (their full dress, white breeches and gaiters and red plumes, was carried in their havc'rsacks for the expected triumphal entry into Urussels); they had red epaulettes and wore the queue, and had earrings as big as a crown piece. The gunners of the (Juard in bearskins marching beside their twelve-pounders, which Napoleon called his " bellea fiUea " ; cwinissiers with steel helmets and flouting horse-hair, ahort- tailetl blue and red coatees, wliite breeches and high jack- boots, armed with long straight sword and pistol ; gigantic carabineers wearing Grecian helmets with red crests, white coats and breeches, and gilt cuirasses: horse grenadiers in high bearskins and red hackles, in blue turned up with scarlet, and epaulettes and aiguillettes of orange, armed like the cuirassiers. Green and white dragoons, cliasseurs, and hussars, armed with sabre and carbine, whose pelisses and dolmans differed in each regiment; chestnut and blue, green and scarlet, red and sky-blue, grey and blue ; green lancers, lancers with yellow epaulettes on red jackets, and red overalls, armed with lance, sabre and pistol, a brilliant kaleidoscope glittering witli gold and silver.* Their music and their shouts of ** Vive FEmpereur I " could be faintly heard by the High- landers, who fully realised the power they had to contend with, and t!mt the fate of Europe depemled on the result of the approacliing combat.

After this they were visited by the Duke of Richmond, who had ridden from Brussels. After congratulations to officers present on having come safe through the affair of the 16th, he lold them he had just seen the General-in-Chief, and that Prince Blucher was on the march to their assistance. This news produced an extraordinary ellect on the minds of the soldiers ; " but it may fairly be doubted," says the officer to whose memoirs I am so much indebted, " whether the speedy prospect of being succoured by the Prussians, or the two following verses, produced the most powerful effect on the

• Houasaye.

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

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hearts of the Highlanders." Tlie liues were chanted hj the

men, having heen altered to suit the occasion by one of them.

Now 's the day »]itl now 'a tbo liour, See the fnmt of battle lour, See upproaoh Napoleon's power, Cljaius and slavery.

Lay the proad usurper low, Tyrants fall in every foe, Liberty 's in every blow, Let us do or die.

The battle had begun by ei furious attack on Houcroumont, Napoleon hoping that Wellington would weaken his centre to repel it ; but being disappointed in this, and being aware by an intercepted dispatch that the Prnssifins were advancing, he ordered Marshal Ney to force the centre by an attack which was accompanied by a cannonade along the whole line. A battery of eighty guns thundered from its position immediately opposite the 92nd, which suffered some loss. Wellington retired his infantry (except Uylandt's Brigade, and part of the 9 5th, who held the gravel pit) so as to shelter them behind the crest of the ridge, while his artillery remained in advance and replied to that of the enemy for half an hour. About 1.30 four divisions of infantry in echelon, supported by cavalry and led by Ney and d'Erlon, with drums beating and colours Hying, descended into the valley (which was covered with crops of grass and standing corn, and without fences), the cannon-balls crossing each other above them till they ueared the British, when the French guns ceased, but those of the Allies continued tiring. The valley was filled with smoke by the musketry of the light troops who covered the assault on La Haye Sainte. The advanced companies of the 95 th were driven from the gravel pit, and Bylandt's Dutchmen, who had sufiered terribly from artillery tire in their exposed position, were broken, after some resistance, by Donzelot's troops; they finally tied through the Fifth Division, and were no more seen. Picton was shot through the temple as he gave Kempt's Brigade his last order to charge. Donzelot's masses were driven back, but renewed the fight ; so close was

448

THB LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

11815

it thai, ihu wadding of the cartridges remained smoking on the coats of the combatants. The post aljaiuloued by Bylaudt's Bri^Mile was reoceiipied by tti« 13rd Hattalion Royal Scots and thii 2ud 44th ; tliese two weak battalions poured a heavy fire of musketry on tlie assiiilauts, and for sometime maintained their ground with the unHinching courage of true British soldiei-s, but were at last compelled by superior numbers for the moment to give way,* Papelotte had been taken from the Nassau troops who held it. " The situation was very critical," Kempt says in his report ; and no doubt it was so, for had the French columns penetrated the allied line at this point and gained tiie heights, the victory would have been more tlian doubtful.

Tliere had been changes of position by the battalions of Pack's Brigade, and the 42nd was posted at an important spot considerably to the left of the 92iid, who were now reduced to less than 300 men, and were lying down concealed from the French. Marcognet's column, 3000 strong, had passed by Donzelot's right ; his leading regiment had reached the hedge of the Chain road, crying '* Victory ! " when the Gordons were ordered to stand to their arms. Sir iJenis Pack said earnestly, " 92ud, all the troops in your front have given way, you must charge this column." f He then ordered the line to form fours deep, and close on the centre. The enemy on reaching the hedge, thinking themselves victorious, had ordered arms; but becoming aware of the advancing Highlanders, were in the act of shouldering when they received a volley at twenty yards from the 92nd, which they i at once returned. At this moment the Scots Greys, who wer the left regiment of the llnion Brigade (Royal Dragoons, Greys, and Inniskillings), came up, the pipers played, and the regiments mutually cheered each other, calling out, " Scotland for ever ! " The Greys doubled round the flanks, and through the openings made by the Highlanders, as best they could, and both regiments charged together, the wildest enthusiasm per-

• Ciuidod's Record and " Military Memoirs."

t *• Waterloo Letters, " No. 169, and Cannon's Record, probably alludiug to Bylaudt's Brigade. In one account it is put, " Everything I given way on your right and left."

1815]

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS,

449

vading the ranks of each ; many of the Highlauders cauji^ht hold of the Greys' legs ami stirrups to support tliem as they ran, detennined not to be last. " I must own it had a most thrillinj> eliect on me," says one of the Gi^ys, " ' I didna think ye wad hae saired nic sae/ cried some of the High- landers who were knocked down by the hoi-ses, but in our anxiety we could not help it." * " The Highlanders seemed Indf mad, and it was with the greatest dilliculty the oHicei-a could preserve anything like order in tbe ranks." f " 1 never saw the soldiers of the 92nd liegiraent so extremely savage as they were on this oecasioii." J Aii old piper, it was said, in his excited imagination cried out that he saw " Fassiefern" waving his bonnet in front as of yore. § Long after that ilay, indi- viduals who witnessed the charge used to speak of the thrilling sensation which overtiame them when they beheld the small body of bonnets and plumes lost, so to speak, amid a crowd of shakos. ||

Staggered by the Highlanders' volley, charged in front and Hank by cavalry and infantry, paralysed by its own press, the heavy French column coidd make but a poor resistance. The

• J. Armour, Scot* Greye. Aljaon (Appendix), t " Waterloo Letters," No. 39.

J " Military Memoirs." This feeling waa piXMluoed principally, says the author, by a report circuluted the previoua day that the enemy had put to death iu cold blood British and Prueaian prisoners who had fallen into their bande. Towards tbe close of the engageiueut, however, when the French were more to be pitted than feared, they assumed a very different air, and treated the prisoners with the kindness characteristic of the Britiah soldier.

§ This tradition is alluded to in a poem on Waterloo hy David Home Buchan, Esq. :—

Tho spirit, too, of bim is riowii

Who Ind th<! gallaut OordctUB on,

Bold Cauieroii in no more ;

Dcjceodtnt of the gnuit Lochfel,

In honour's Riorions field ho fell.

Wliile all his Iom daplure.

or Tlfilon keen knd verted in spells,

StraiiKe taleg the colonars piper telli.

How be with mor t> of joy tban fear

Again beheld his chiefUiu doB.r,

High riding in s uilsty cloud

While WMf*]! artillery thundereil loud

And broke o'er Wxterloo ;

Tlut though b<t hemrd not there his voice,

Ho 5wvr him wave his bonnet thrice.

I Gleig's *' Battle of Waterloo."

2 F

450

TITR LIFK OF A |{E«;iMKNT.

tiH.'Ti foil bnck ou uno anollier, grouping together 80 closely thii they had hardly room to strike or fire at the Highlanders and horsemen vvhn penetratRil thuir ('onfiisf;cl nniks; thi'. dragoons; traversed these splendid regiments, scaitering them and cutting^ them off as the broken battalions rolled down the slope und^H their blows. " To three miiuites the column was totally

destroyed, and numbers of them were taken prisuners.* ThA

grass field in which the enemy was formed, and which hadi been as green and smooth as the Fifteen Acres in Ph«;pnix Park, was in a few minutes covered with killed and wounded, knapvsacks and their contents, arms and accoutrements, etc. literally strewed nil over, so that to avoid stepping on one or the other was quite impossible ; in fact, one could hardly believe, had he not witnessed it, that such complete destruc- tion could have been etrected in so short a time, t^ime of the French soldiers who were lying wounded were calling out ' Vive I'Empereur I ' and others tiring their muskets at our men who had advanced past them in pursuit of the Oyiug enemy." To those who cried " Quarter ! " '' Prisoner ! " the answer wa

generally — " Well, go to the rear, d ye."

After this brilliant aftkirj the regiment was recalled; Sir Denis Pack rode up and said, " You have saved the dajj— Highlanders, but you must return to your former positioa || there is more work to be done." § As they re-formed, they saw the impetuous career of their countrymen as they encountered^ two batteries half-way up the opposite slope, sabred th^l gunners and drivers, upset the guns into a ravine, and then, intoxicated by success, assailed the great battery. The recall was sounded in vain, they did not or would not hear it. Napoleon also noticed and admired " ces magnifiques chevaux gris," and sent a regimeut of cuirassiers and one of lancers against them. The Greys bad lost their colonel and many

• 2000 prisonera were taken in the charge of the Union Brigade, aloo 1 eagles— one by the Royal Dragoons, the other by the Greys.

t •• Waterloo Letters, " No. 168.

:; 'J'his fanioua charge is the origin of the firm friendship between the Greys and Gordons, which is still oonutantly expressed La mutual acta of good comradeship. Aliaon jiiHtly remarks that they could not have a finer motto on their creata than "Scotland for ever"

§ Cannon's Record.

1S151

TllK CORDON IflGHLANDERS.

451

officers ; their horses were blo^\ n ; every man did what he could, and faced his foes jiianfnlly, " Conquer or die " was tlie word. "At night," wrote Colonel Wyiidham, then a lieutenant of the Greys, " Brevet-major Cheney brought out of action four or five officers and under thirty men. The lancers did us as much mischief as the round sliot and shell." *

Nor had the conduct of the troops on the right been less effective. The infantry repulsed their assailants, the cavalry routed them. Life-guards and dragoons rode across the valley, their swords ringing on the armour of the cuirassiers witfi the " noise of smiths at work." The tight at Hougou- mont still raged, but elsewhere the action was arrested while both parties regained their position.s. During the interval a cuirassier left his regiment and crossed the valley towards the British, who» thinking him a deserter, did not fire; he rode close up to the hedge, stood up in his stirrups, waved his long sword, crying " Vive I'Empereur ! " to the British infantry on the other side, and galloped back unhurt !

At the close of the charge a 92nd officer captured a

* The Frencli General Durutte, speaking of hia lancerB at Waterloo, said, " Never did I ao well aee tlic Huperiority of the lance over the sabre " {Houmjxff.). It waa only after Waterloo that the lance was introduced into the Britiflh arniy, nor did the Lifc-guardH then wear the cuirass.

NoTK. — It i» difficult to give the correct details of this celebrated charge of the Union Brigade, and to reconcile the different accounts of those who trfok part in it at five hundred or even Hfty yards apart, The smoke, the excite- ment, prevented their appreciating events which succeeded each other so rapidly. The Royal DragooDs were on the right, the Inniakitlings in the centre, and the Greys on the left rear. 8ir De Lacy Evans, K.C.B., who was aide-de-camp to General Ponaonby and who was with the right of the brigade, says in " Waterloo Letters," No, 31, "The brigade (? division) you speak of under Sir T. Picton (and afterwtirds under Sir T. Kempt) was successful, as your letter states, but the infantry in our front had, I think, t)«en obliged to give way, at all events it passed rouud our flanks." "The Dutch-Belgian infantry yielded with slight or no resistance to the advancing columns and got quickly t-o the rear, and not in thy stubborn, deliberate way of our infftntry." " Our artillerymen as well as our infantry kept firing into the column as long as possible. The 32nd and 79th had retjained their pontion as we oh«rged past their left, but I am certain their position was some fifty or a hundred yards in front of the hedge." The situation of the 9^2nd before the charge, and the part they took in it, as described aljove, is taken from Cannon's Record, printed by authority, and from the writing of two otiicers and a sergeant of the regiment who were present, etc. There seems to have been no other infantry close to the regiment at the moment.

452

THK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

beautiful oharger; it was richly caparisoned, and its n€ owuer expected to furnish himself with a handsome pair pistols from the holsiers, Imr was by no means disagreeably su prised to find a cold fowl in the one and a liottle of chamj hi the other. Thirsty as they were, he and those with whom he .shared voted it the best glass of wine they ever tasted.

U was now about 3.30. Napoleon determined again to try to drive away the British before the Prussians could arrive. "Heavy," says a 9 2 nd officer, " a.s was the cannonade in the early part of the action, it was tritiing in comparison to what followed;" the balls rolling along the ground towards them, flying over their heads, or carr}nng olf men in the ranks. " Never," said General Alten, " had the oldest soldier seen sucl^ a cannonade." Then Ney and D'Erlon led the second attaclfl a brigade, deployed as skirmishers, ascended the slope east of the Charleroi road, but were driven back. Wellington Ka^ again retired his infantry for shelter behind the crest, adH Ney, seeing this and the escorts of prisoners and wounded going to the rear, thought the British were giving way and ordered a charge of 5000 hoi-semen. But the British Creneral had no idea of retreat; his infantry stood up and formed squares; the artillery horses were sent to the rear, but tl guns remained in action, their fire at close range causing sue destruction to the cavalry coming up at a trot through tl deep ground and standing coni, that the survivors of tl leading squadrons hesitated. Their trumpets again rang ox the " Charge." *' Vive I'Krapereur ! " The gunners ran to tl: shelter of the squares, the guns were taken, but the enemj had not the means of spiking or carrying them off. " Tl; bullets rattled on the cuirasses with the noise of hail on slate roof," yet the musketry, thongh it broke their rank^ did not dismay them. Cuirassiers, lancers, chasseurs rode on, whirling round and between the squares, striking at the front rank with the sword, firing pistols in their face some even throwing their lances at the men's breasts ; * bi] as a breach was made, " L'lo.se up ! " was heard, and the place i the fallen filled. Like wave succeeding wave, sqnadrolj succeeded squadron, but the .squares stood firm.

* Sergeant Robertson au<] others.

18I5J

THE t;uHl>uN lUGlILANDERS.

453

The cavalry even charged squares in the second line. Then Uxbridge sent the Dutch and Brunswick cavalry, who had not been engaged, to charge the enemy in their disorder ; they fell back between the squares, escaping the sabres only to fall under the bullets. They abandoned the plateau, the gunners ran back to their guns, and again the British batteries belched forth their destructive fire. But these gallant horsemen rallied and re-formed in shelter of the ground, then ouce more advanc- ing slowly, but with admirable courage and discipline, under a fire of grape shot, they again crowned the height of Mont St Jeau.

The French on La Belle Alliance, seeing them through the smoke, cried " Victory ■ " Fresh brigades were sent to smash the British by their weight, more than sixty squadrons were advancing ; * it seemed like a sea of steel. Some among the Allies thought all was over, but the squares stood firm.f The gunners felled entii'e ranks as a mower cuts a swathe of grass, ere they ran to the sheltering bayonets ; still the squadrons in rear came boldly on ; charge succeeded charge till the squares seemed submerged in the tide of cavalry, but as the smoke of their fire cleared away they reappeared, hedged with glittering bayonets, while the squadrons receded from thera like waves broken on the rucks.J Ttie squadrons crossed and interfered with each other, their charges became less vigorous ; the atmosphere was like a furnace of fire and smoke ; the horses were blown, men could hardly breathe. Thirteen French cavalry generals were wounded ; Ney had three horses killed under him§ and stood brandishing his sword near an

* Hous-ssiye.

t " During tlie greater part of the time the 9*ind was formed in square. " " Waterloo Letters," No. 168. "Our [egiuient was charged by the euirasaiers of the Guard, am? we gave them a notde pt-ppering." — Letter from a wounded officer 92ml, datt'd BrusHeta, 2l8t July 1815.

X Osaian's poem of " Fingal," traimlated from the (Gaelic by the Rev. Or Rom, is very descriptive of the scene. — " As roll a thousand waves to the ahore, the troops of Suaran advouced. As meets the shore the waves, so the sons of Erin stood Grin. There were groans of death ! the hard crash of conteuding anna. Shicldfl and mails in shivers on the ground. 8words like ligiitning gleaming in the air : tlje cry of battle from wing to wing ; the loud hot eiu- conuter, Chief mixing his strokes with Chief, and man with man."

§ Hoiitisaye. Ney had five Iiorses killed before the end of the day.

454

rilE LIFE 01'" A KEiilMENT.

[1815 irleM

irs,

abaudoued battery ; llie whole field was encumbered wil the dead, wounded men dragging themselves away, riderl horses galloping about frightened by the whistling bullets. Wellington ordered his cavalry forward, and for the third time the French left the plateau.

These attacks continued with little intermission ; in the horsemen, reduced in numbers, pressed their tired chargi against the squares, now protected by a rampart of dead and horses. After these two long and hardly contested hours, the infantry became assured they were invincible ; * it was t hostile cavalry who were demoralised, and retired discourage though not dismayed, from each attack. Nevertheless, the Allies' powers of resistance were severely tried. Papelotte had be^ taken by the French, many guns were without gunne General Ponsonby was killed and his brigade was reduced two squadrons ; several other generals were wounded, most Wellington's stafl' were hors-df -combat, brigades were reduced to handfuls of men. Some of the allied troops had fled to Brussels, some even of the British made the excuse of helping the wounded to the rear; ammunition was short, officers arrived telling Wellington of desperate situations, and asking for orders. " There are no orders, except to hold out to the last man." The state of affairs was summed up by a priva soldier as he bit another cartridge, " The one that kills longe wins."

Ney sent to Napoleon for fresh troops. " Troops ! exclaimed the Emperor ; " Where does he expect me to take them from ? Does he think 1 can make them ? " He had, however, fourteen battalions of his Guard, and others of that chosen body had at four o'clock partially arrested tlie advance of the Prussians. Ttie near approach of the First Prussian Corps now made Napoleon play his last card in the despei-ate game. Seeing the allied line disordered, he desired his batteries to redouble their tire ; he gave the command of tl

• An Engiiieer officer, who liad ridden for protection into a. aquare, reUl that the first time the uuira^siera approached, some of the youug soldiei seemed to be alarme<] and fired high, but they soon discovered they had t! best of it, and welcomed a fresh charge ae a relief from the artillery fire, froi which they suffered iu the iutervahi. *'The Jokes which the men cracked while loading and tiring were very oomicaL"

1

1815]

TUB GORDON UIOIILAN DEUS.

455

attack to Ney, and haraugued his Guards, whose advance was seconded by the other divisions and liy the cavalry.

Wellington passed along his line of battle giving his orders. The brigades were again advanced from their shelter, the reserve artillery was brought to the front, and ordered not to reply to that of the enemy, but to concentrate their fire on the columns of assault.* The centre was strengthened, and the 92nd, which at this time, about seven o'clock, was near the extreme left of the line, was ordered up to the left of the main road near the gravel pit at La Haye Sainte ; they were moving in column at quarter-distance when a shell fell in the midst of the battahon ; the companies in rear of it faced about, and doubled to the rear till it had burst, when they doubled back to their proper distance without any word of command, and arrived in time to take part with the Fifth Division in driiriug the enemy from the crest of the position above La Haye Sainte.

The French Guards advanced in squares, in admirable order, two guns of the Horse Artillery of the Guard with each, and were supported by the whole army. Those who attacked the British right were repulsed after a gallant struggle ; those above La Haye Sainte, who were fighting with the Fifth Division, saw the Guard on their left defeated, and the cries " La garde recule ! " " Nous sommes trahis ! " sounded the knell of the grand army of France. The charge of the British forced many i>en-mell into tlie gravel pit from which they had before driven our troops. The enemy retired in confusion, but still protecting his rear with skirmishers along the other side of tlie gravel pit and of the farm of La Haye Sainte, and many, keeping their formation, still prepared to show a bold front. Then the Gordons could see an extra- ordinary movement on the right of the French, troops dressed like tliem in blue had turned their right, and were advancing. An aide-de-camp came galloping towards the Duke, calling out jis he passed that the first corps of Bhicher's army hud conic. All eyes were now turned on Wellington, who was on the

* "' There 'a Bonaparte, sir," saiilau urtillery olficer to llic Duke, who had ap(>rcMiched ; " I think I can reach him. May 1 try ? " " No, no," replied the Duke : "geoerala commanding armieti tiuvc sumutblug cUc to do than to shoot one another."

456

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1815

edge of the plateau. C^uick to seize the favoumble opportunity? he held his cocked hat high in the air. and waved it forward. The cheers that answered this signal for a general advance were the heartiest of the day. The army moved forwai-d in the order it happened to t>e in, battalions, batteries, and sciuadrons side by side, to the sound of drums, bugles and bagpipes.

At this sight the last divisions of French infantry, a almost all the cavalry, precipitately regained the plateau of Belle Alliance. When Napoleon saw the sudden crumbling his line of battle^ he felt that he was irretrievably beaten, but at first he tried to organise the retreat ; he formed the Ol^H Guard in squares, and sent some squadrons against the Rritis^^ light cavalry, who, cniaparativeiy fre.sh, easily defeated them. The allied troops halted a minute in the valley, and then pressed ou, sweeping all before them ; artillery drivers cut the traces and abandoned their ginis, brigades were l»roken and^ dispersed. All was confusion, rtdieved, however, by man; heroic instances of devotion and discipline. (Jeneral Pelel with the chasseurs of the Gusird, was trying to cover th< retreat of the French right ; they were surrounded by Prussian cavalry and infantry, their eagle was in danger of being taken. Pelet halted his mtn on a rising ground calling, " A moi, chasseurs ! Sauvons Taiglc ou mourons autour d'elle " (To me, chasseurs ! I^t us save the eagle or die round it !) ThoH band of heroes rallied, closed their ranks, and with levelled^l bayonets made a way through their foes, and reached the main line of relreat. .Sergeant Ilobcrtson mentions one division at the house of La Belle Alliance who macle an attempt to stand ; " such was our excited and infuriated state of mind at tbe time, and being Hushed with the thought of victory, we speedily put an end to their resiatance."

Wellington rode with his advanced troops, regardless of bullets from friend and foe which were fulling round him ; when urged nut to expuse him.self so much, he replied, " Never mind, let them fire away ; the buttle 's gained, my life 's of nofl consequence now."

The rout was complete. None gave orders which nono, would have obeyed, each man saved himself as beat he <

18I5J

THE GORDON lUGHLANDERS.

45'

Napoleon Hed, altended by a smiill escort. Grouchy 's Corps remained intact, but when the Emperor quitted Laon for Paris on the 20th, 2000 soldiers assembled at Philippeville and about 6000 at Avesues were all that remained together under arms of the Freueli uniiy engaged at Waterloo.*

Wellington and Blucher met about 9.15 near La Belle Alliance. The bands of the Prussian cavalry played " God Save the King," their infantry soldiers sang Luther's hyum, " Now thank we all oui* God," and the troops mutually cheered each other, Blucher, it is said, wished the battle to be called after La Belle Alliance, in memory of this meeting; but Wellington decided that his victory should be named after the village where his headquarters were established the night before — Waterloo.

The British general represented that his men were ex- hausted and were hardly able to continue the pursuit. '* Leave that to me," replied Blucher, *' I will send every man and horse after the enemy;" and Ziethen continued the pursuit during I he whole night without intenuission, giving no re-st to the weaned and dejected French, of whom only about 40,000 crossed the frontier out of the 74,000 who fought at Waterloo, and these escaped only to disperse; they lost 227 guns. The loss of the Allies (exclusive of the Prussians) on the 18th was 15,380 otticers and men in killed, wounded, and missing, of whom 8481 were British and of the King's German Legicm in llril.iah pay.f The honours of the day must be divided ; the British gained the battle, the Prussians made the victory complete.

The Gordon Highlanders, who were conimanded tli rough - out the day by Major Donald MacDonald (Dalclioshuie), bivouacked by the light of tlie young moon near the place wliere Bonaparte had stood most of the day. J They had to mourn the loss of Sergeant-major Taylor and thirteen utiier N.-C. officers and soldiers killed in action. Capiains I'eter W^ilkie and Archibald Ferrier, Lieutenants liobert Winchester, Donald MacDonald, James Ker Poss, ami James Hope, and ninety-six N.-C. otlicers and men were wounded, of whom many died of their wounds.

* HouAsaye. t Alison. t i^ergeACt Robertson.

460

THK LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

[1815

Private Donald Skinner,

Alexr. Sutherland, Ist, James Thomson, Frederick White, . John Whitaker, Frederick Zieger, .

Edderton, Ross.

Moray.

Renfrew.

Glasgow.

Essex.

Germany (musician).

I have been able to trace the length of service of fifty-five of the above.

Brought forward, 25 men. Enlisted in 1794 .

1798 .

1800 .

1802 .

1803 .

1805 .

1806 .

1807 .

2 men. Enlisted in 1808

2 ,. „ 1809

3 „ „ 1810

4 „ „ 1811 2 „ „ 1812 7 „ „ 1813 1 „ „ 1815 4 „

9 3 2 3 8 4

Carry forward, 25 55

It would appear from a comparison of the names on the prize- roll for Vittoria with that for Waterloo, that the proportion of Highlanders to Lowland Scots was greater at the former than at the latter period.

Tlie wounded were taken to Brussels and Antwerp, but from want of carriage many had to get there as best they could, and sufiered much. The people of Brussels showed great kindness and humanity. Every door was open to them, and the best rooms given up. One gentleman and his sisters nursed and fed thirty officers and men. Monsieur Troyans, a lacemaker, stopped his manufacture, converted his premises into a temporary hospital, furnishing the patients with linen, and giving the attendance of all his workwomen. A soldier's letter mentions that he and others were attended by ladies and gentle- men, who brought them delicacies and waited on them, though they could only understand each other by signs. The Sisters of Mercy also were constantly in attendance at the hospitals, the wounded French being treated with the same attention as the British. Mr 1*. L. (xordon, in his reminiscences, says the Highlanders were particularly favoured. Before, they were

* The German miuician.

181 SI

TRE GORDON RIGHLANDERS.

461

called the " Good little Scots," now they were " The good and brave .Scots." Monsieur Hector, a brewer, visited the field at dawn next day with u diay laden with casks of beer to assuage the sufterers' thirst ; he t'oiuitl a wounded Highlander, wlio had been billeted in his house, lying by the road, faint from loss of blood. The good brewer took him home, and had the satis- faction in a few weeks of seeing his gueat iible to sun hiniself in the park. Mr Gordon spoke to sixteen wounded High- landers who filled a waggon passing his door. " We're u' wan tin' a leg or an ami," they said. He oflered to bring them wine. " We wad ratlier hae a drink o' guid sma' ale," and they got it. There were not enough army surgeons, but a number of civilian surgeons from England arrived as volun- teers. Mr Dorett, in charge of one of thu hospitals in Brussels, extracted a bullet from a soldier's wound, which, however, showed no signs of healing ; poultices and an incision produced a five franc and a one franc piece which had been in his pocket ! The larger coin had been hit in the centre, and was in the form of a cup, "Donald, who belonged to the 92nd Regiment, recovered his health as well as his money." A Scottish lady at Antwerp deBcribes the consternation there on the 17th and 18th, as reports of the retreat from Quatre-Bras, and still more gloomy and desponding accounts from Mont St Jean were circulated- — Complete defeat of the British ! Wellington severely wounded ! All the superior officers killed or prisoners ! The French coluuin."* seen entering Brussels ! * All was panic and dismay. Early next morning, accompanied by a Belgian servant, she walked to the Malines Gate, hoping for news ; she met waggons full of wounded soldiers ; covered litters with serious cases borne silently along on men's shoulders ; officers pale as death supported on their horses ; but none knew the issue of the great battle. Then at a street corner she saw five Highland soldiers (probably from Quatre- Bras) with bandaged heads, arms, or legs, who, regardless of their wounds and fatigue, were throwing up their bonnets and vociferating, " Bony's beat I Hurrah ! hurrah ! Bony's beat ! Hurrah ! " They told the lady that a courier had just passed,

* It waa true (bat a Fronch colanm, over 2000 strong, did enter BrusBele in the afternoon of the I8th, but m prisonerii, not as conquei'ora.

THE UFK OF

462

bringing an account of tht^ complete British victory. townsfolk tried to learn the cause of their tumultuous joy, could not understand the Highland English and the Scotch in which they loudly told that " Bony was beat anL Tunuin' awa' till his ain country as fast as he can gang." 0^| oM lady caught a soldier by the coat, gesticulating and gabbling in her own tongue to induce him to attend to her, but «raa none the wiser for the reply — " Hoots, ye auld gowk, dinna ye hear ? Bony's beat, woman ! Daursay the wife's deaf — I say Bony's beat, woman ; " but when the news was translated, their ecstasy was as great as that of the Highlanders. The lady was greatly impressed by the " great fortitude and uncom- plaining patiencf with which the soldiers in general bore the sufferings;" " not a murmur escaped their lips" as they lay the long jolting waggons. Numbers on foot, almost sinkil from fatigue and loss of blood, slowly and painfully inakii their way along the streets. " Your countrymen are made iron," said a lady in Brussels, and told how she had met wounded Highlander supporting himself by the rails as made his way with ditticulty. She said she feared he was vei badly hurt and offered help, when he drew himself up, thanked" her, and said, " I was born in Lochaber, and I do not care for a wound ; *' but the effort was too much, and he sank on the pavement

The Scotch lady says she had a good deal of conversation with the wounded men of the 42nd and 92nd, some from the Highlands and some from the Lowlands ; their account of the battles was simple and interesting ; they could not be induced to speak of what they themselves had done, or boast of it in any way, but considered it quite as a matter of course, and rather made Ught of their suirerings, laying no claim to the admiration which their modesty increased.* But their con- duet " was the theme of every totigtie. The love and admii

* A soldier of the 92nd who htul been wounded at Quatre-Bras waa observed by au EUiglish gentlem&u lying on the pavement in the sbade of , hotu« in Antwerp, patiently waiting hiii turn to be attended to. The gentia man entered into conveniation, complimenting him highly on hia conduct i that of hia comrades. "Hoot man," replied the Scot, "what for need male' sic a din aboot the like o' that ; what did we gang there for but to feeht ] —Circumstantial details of Waterloo, London, 1S16.

1815] THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 463

ation of the whole Belgic people for the Highlanders are most remarkable." " In short, they are the best of soldiers and of men, according to the Belgians, and the idea they have of their valour is quite prodigious. They never speak of them without some epithet of afi'ection or admiration, 'Ah, ces braves homraes ! Ces bons Ecossais, ils sont si doux, si aimables ! et dans la guerre ! ah, mon Dieu ! comme ils sont terribles ! ' " (Ah, these brave men ! these good Scots, they are so mild, so amiable, and in war, my God ! how terrible they are !) *

The following is an extract from a letter to Sir Walter Scott from Viscount Vanderfosse, first advocate of the Superior Court of Justice of Brussels, dated January 5th, 1816 — "Since the arrival of the British troops on the Continent, their discipline was remarked by all those who had any com- munication with them. Among these respectable warriors the Scotch deserve to be particularly commemorated, and this honourable mention is due to their discipline, their mildness, their patience, their humanity, and their bravery almost with- out example. Constant and unheard-of proofs were given, I do not say of courage, but of devotion to their country quite extraordinary and sublime ; nor must we forget that these men, so terrible in the field of battle, were mild and tranquil out of it."

* "Narrative o! a Residence in Belgium during the Campaign of 1815." AUo " Panl's Letters to his Kinsfolk."

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It umy be imagined with what anxiety news was awai England, ami with what joy am] relief tht* intelligence received of a victory so lui paralleled in importance to country and to Europe. Tidings of passing events could tlien he Hasluid from the other side of the world as they now are. Major the Hon. Henry Percy was almost the only oj of the Duke's ataH' who remained unhurt. He posted to coast, a sailing ves-gel landed him at Dover, from whence drove post haste to London, with t!ie captured French eagl^ sticking out of the windows of the chaise, and presented thtifl with the dispatches, to the Prince Regent.* The mail coaches dressed with hranchcs of laurel announced the great news , the expectant groups collected at every cross road, distribml the few anil scanty papers, which were read out to crow? collected iu the towns and villages ; hut it took days, and i^ the remoter districts even weeks might elapse, hefore it ^l^| known that the great peace-giving hattle was gained.f

Early on the morning of the 19th, all the men who could be spared were sent out to carry the wounded to the roadside, where waggons could be brought to convey them U} hospital, friends and foes being treated alike. One of the 92n^ described the " heart-melting spectacle," the bodies not mer^H scattered over the grountl, but lying in heaps, men and horses together. There are bad men among soldiers as in other professions, and some of the wounded told how they had been

* The most graphic account of the bftttle ia by the Duke him»etf in « letter to Lortl Berosford, one of hia Peninsular g43ueral8 :— " You will Itave heard of our great Imttle of the 18th. Never did I aee auch a pouiidiug match. Both were w bit the boxera call gluttoas. Na()«leon did not mancQUvrc at alL. He jutst moved forward in the old style in cotunia, and was driven off in the old Btyle. The only difTercnce was that he mixed cavalry with his infantry, jmd supported both with an immense «iuantity of artillery, I bad the infantry for some time in squares, and we had the French cavalry walking aliout ua t they were our own. I never saw the British infantry behave so well."

t The news took a mouth to reach the Itl&nd of Coll, Argyllshire.

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

46n

robbeil during the night by plundering acouTidrels in both British and foreign uniforms.

The Gordons had not Ween long employed in their humane duty when they were recalled. The Fifth Division was ordered to cook, and after dinner the regiment inarched in pursuit of the French by the Nivelles road.* At any other time they would have hailed the order with joy, but their rm'nds were now pervaded by a very diflereot feeling. They had to pasa right through the field of battle, French and British calling on them to put an end to their sufferings, not to let them die among strangers. With hearts full of grief at having to leave so many of their brave comrades unburied, or dying with no friendly hand to close their eyes ; with no triumphal nnisic, more like mourners than victors, t!ie regiment moved on, awestruck, and as silent as the deatj that lay around them. " I confess my feelings overcame me ; I wept bitterly and wished I had not been a witness of such a scene," says the honest sergeant whose Journal I quote. f

After marching a few miles through a country whose inhabitants had fled to the woods, they took some prisoners and halted near Nivelles, where the Duke of Wellington came up. He. thanked and praised them for their conduct during the engagement, but he had one fault to find witli tlie 92nd, and that was for being too forward in crossing the hedge in the early part of the action. As it turned out, he said, all was well, but it might have happened otherwise, *' and he urged upon us to pay attention bo the words of command that might be given next day."

The first Regimental Orders after Waterloo are dated at Bavay, 23rd June, where they halted, but they were at Malplaquet and Mons (the birthplace so-called of Mons Meg at Edinburgh Castle) on the 20fch and 21st. On the 20th a General Order was issued guarding the inhabitants of France as far as possible from lo.ss, everything required to be paid fur, but the inhabitants were cautioned to behave peaceably and to maintain no correspondence with the usurper.

' Diviaiou Orders, 10th Juue.

t The tears were also seen oa Welliogton'fl obeekfl when the lists of killed were brought him, and his words expressed deep Borrow rather tliao the pride of victory.

2 G

s are

1

THE LIFE OF

Al Kuglcfooteiii, ou Llii> 24Lh,a Couvi of Inquiry is orde to investigate the CiUiHe (if aliseiire of aevenil men on the 1 6th and 18th inst. ;* also as to those men who have r«'tumed with- out their tirms and accoutrements, the Court to judge wh«t stoppages they should he jnit under. Such of the band aa have lost their instruments will also appear. Suhalterus; named to take eliarge of seven companies which have evidei lost their captains, and they are directe«l, if the companies are strange to them, to lose no time in making them sol acquainted with the men present, and in gaining all the info atiou they can regarding those absent.

Cambray, Peronne, Avesnes and other fortres8€»s were taken by the Allies, but the 92nd were not employed in any affair of consequence. Marching through a pleasant country, they reached St Denis, near Paris, on the 3rd of July, where the French guns fired on them from the fortifications, and a battle was expected, but ou tbe 4th the following Gene Order was issued by the Duke of Wellington : —

The Field-Marshal has great satisfaction in announcing^ the troops under his command that he has, in concert wiUi Field-Marshal Prince Blucher, concluded a military couventjH with the Commander-in-Chief of the French army near Pa^B by which llie enemy is to evacuate St Denis, St Ouen, Click and Neuilly this day at noon, the heights of Mont Martre | morrow at noon, and Paris next day. The Field-Marshal cC gi-atulates the army upon this result of their glorious victoi^ He desires that the troops may employ the leisure of this and to-morrow to clean their arms, clothes, and appoint mei] as it is his intention that they should pa.sR him in revie^w.

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted to the army with the greatest enthusiasm " for its distinguished valour at Waterloo," and the 9lind and other regiments engaged on the 16th and 18th, or on one of those days, were permitted to bear Waftrloo on their colours.

The Highland Society of Scotland passed a unanimous vote of thanks " for the determined valour and exertions dis-

• Men who were left behind iu BruaaelB, or who ha-d gone to the rejir with wounded officers and meu on tlic tTth. Mr Innea in a letter meatioua that h« waa left iit Bruasels to bring on t lione left there, And joined with thea time to take part ut Quatre- Bras.

LIU II

I

iglH wiUi

aA chy,

c^P

tory.

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THE GORDON HIGnLANDaKS.

467

played by the regiment, aucl for the credit it did its couutry in the lueniorable battles of the 1 6th and 18th June 1815."

In acknowled<rraent of the services of the army at Waterloo and the actions immediately preceding it, each subaltern ofiicer, N.-C. officer and soldier was allowed to count two years additional service. Silver medals were, for the first time in the history of the British army, conferred on all ranks.

Lieut. -Colonel James Mitcfiell, who succeeded to the command of the 92nd at Quatre-liras, was appointed a Com- panion of the most Honourable ( >rder of the Bath, and had the Order of St Anne of Russia conferred on him by the Czar. Major Donald Mac Donald, who commanded the regiment at Waterloo, was promoted brevet lieut. -colonel and appointed a Companion of the Bath, and received the Order of 8t Vladimir nf Russia. The share of prize-money tailing to the 92nd regiment amounted to about £5000. t^ub.seriptions were set on foot and liberally supported in London and other places for the purpose of creating a Waterloo Fund, out of whieli immediate relief might be supplied to the families of the faUen, and pensions given to their widows; sums of money were also given from thia fund to wounded officers and soldiers. These honours and gifts were thoroughly appreciated by the troops. Lieutenant Hector lunes writes home — " Our country, I am proud to say, has more than compensated us for our dear-bought victory, but when so appreciated, who would not strive to serve and bleed for such a country ! " All soldiers' letters were sent free, signed by the commanding othcer.

Tlie French troops begun their march to the Loire on the 4th, and by the 6th the whole had proceeded to their destina- tion. Guards were placed at the entrances of Paris, each with two field-pieces loaded in case of disturbance.

Wha keep guard at Vincennes and Marly ? Wha but the lads wi' the bannocks o' barley ; Bannocks o' bear meal^ bannocks o' barley.

The allied armies entered Paris on the 7th, and on the following day Louis XVIII. was once more reinstated on the throne of France. The Gordons, after marching through Paris, encamped behind the neighbouring village of Clichy.

468

Here the regiment was cunipleted witl» knapsacks necessaries ; the tailors were set to work to mend the worn clothinfj ; and when fill their apiwtintments were dew and in good order, N.-C. officers and soldiers had libertj to gi into the city by inrus, a hope being expressed that they wouli not quarrel with any French soldier that might happen to h there — half the ntficers remaining always in camp. Until i market was established in camp, parties were sent into Pari to buy vegetables for their companies. Sir Walter Scott, wb< was one of the many visitors to Paris, gives an entertaininj de3<;Tiption of the Hi^ddanders making their bargains ; th< soldier holding his piece of money between his finger an< thumb with the grip of a smith's vice, and pointing out thi quanlity of the commodity wliich he expected for it ; wbil< the Frenchman, with many shrugs and much chattering diminished the equivalent as more than he could afford. Tte Donald wonld Isegin to shrug and chatter in his turn, anj^ scrape back again what the other liad abstracted ; and so th^ would stand for half-an-hour discussing the point, though neither underaloml a word of what the other said, till the,> could agree upon " le prix juste." " The soldiers," Sir Waltei remarks, *' without exception, conduct themselves in public with civility, and are very rarely to be seen intoxicatod, though the means are so much within their reach ; " and he mentions meeting men of all regiments, and conversing with them in the picture galleries and other public places.

Napoleon, who had left Paris after a two days* 8| concealed himself near the coast, intending to embark America ; but, finding that the P>riti8h cruisers made tl impossible, he surrendered himself on the 15th of July Captain Maitland of H.M.S. Bellrrnphon, which brought him to Plymouth. The island of St Helena was afterwards appointed for his residence. jH

Ii.O., Camp near Paris, ISlh July 1815. — OpportunSf now offering of paying the last tribute of respect to the memory of the late Colonel Cameron, officers will be pleased to wear a black crape round their left arm for one month.

On the 24th of July there was a grand review of the British and Hanoverian troops before the Emperor of Et

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THE GORDON HIGHLAKDERS,

469

in the Place Louis Quinze. Officers were m blue pantaloons and half- boots ; the men in their best hose and new rosettes, without gaitei-s, but with knapsacks packed — blankets, etc.— every second man to carry a brush and towel to take the tUist off on arrival at the ground. To spare the feelings of the Parisians, it was not intended that they should wear laurel, but almost the whole ai-my did mount the emblem of victory. Immediately after the Gordons haii passed the Emperor, their old general Howard, now Lord Howard of Efhngham, who had commanded their brigade at Arroyo dos Molinos and other Peninsular actions, rode up iu plain clothes, congratulated them on the additional honours the regiment had gained, and, glad to be again at their head, rode with the command- ing officer as they returned through the streets of Paris to their camp. He was a great favourite with all ranks who had been with him in Spain. The Emperor of Russia was so much struck by the appearance of the Highland regiments that he afterwards requested that a sergeant, a jiiper, and a private from each of the three (42nd, 79th, and 92nd) should come to the Palace Elysee, where he re.sided. They were conducted by Lord Cathcart to the presence of the Emperor, who made a most minute inspection of their dress and appointments. He pinched Sergeant Campbell's (79i.h) skin to be sure he wore nothing under his kilt, examined his claymore, and asked if they learned any special exercise for the brtjadswurd; also as to their services and families at home. A private was put through the manual and platoon exercise. The pipers played the tune " Cogadh na Sith," the Emperor appearing delighted with the music. Then they were served with refreshments, and each received a present of money. The 92nd men were Sergeant Grant, Piper Cameron, and Private Logan.*

The life of the regiment was now tlie ordinary routine of the camp; divine service on Sundays, with rather an extra dose of drill on week-days, and the Waterloo heroes gnimbled a good deal at being turned out for •* goose-step " at 4 a.m., with parades and field-day.s, regimental, lirigade. or divisional, afterwards. Uolls were made out of all who liad been present * From the account of Sergeant Campbell, who commanded the party.

470

THE Ul'E OK A MBGIMENT.

on tlie. 16th, ITth.ujid 18th .June, " No person to be inclnfl of whom the least douht of his having been pei"sonally presen on oiiL' or other ol these days can be attached. The rolls wU undergo a minute investigation at the War Office." Officers servants and batmen having been on dniy, though not in the ranks, are to be included.

On the 30 th of August Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell ] command.

E.0: — Hose and Ijuckled shoes to l»e worn. The gaiters only on ni!trehe«, but one pair to be consideied ' «i necessaries. Greatcoats to be rolled on the bop, and blanket! on the back of tlie knapsacks as formerly (in Peninsula) OHicers eommaiuling companies to send in returns of widowi and orphans who were rendered such by the casualties in th< actions of the 16th, 17th, and 18th June, and also oj dependent relatives of men killed on those days, with a certificate for each family, also as to prize-tickets being up and signed.*

On the 22nd September there was a grand review of British uiid Hanoverian array on the plain of St Denis. Th€ JJuke of Wellington received the Kmperors of Austria and Russia and the King of Prussia. In the suite of the allied sovereigns were many celebnited men — Prince Blucher, l*riiic^ Schwartzenberg, Field-Mars!ial Barclay de Tolly, Platoff^ Hetman of the Cossacks, the Archduke Constantine of Russiai two sons of the King of Prussia, etc., ail the British aad foreign visitors, but not the Parisians. The operations rep^| sented those of the allied army at Sahimimca. Before moving from the originiil ground, Blucher, Platof!', and other foreign generals came to examine the dress of the three Highland regiments, nnd "cracked their jukes at the expense of the philftbeg, but Donald, instead of j^ettiug sulky, revenged self by his remark.^ on the foreigners, some of whom were uniforms which he consideied nu less singular than his ov Lieutenant Innes wrote that the Russian Emperor " paid

• I liiad letters from officers to their friends b Scotland naking them ta inform thu families of deceased soldiere iiovv to apply for the auma due to (he and giving particular accouuts of tlie hualtli tuid conduct of men belon their own diatricta for the informiition of their parents.

1815]

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471

kilted lads most marked attention, and conversed with st-veral otlicers and men, and was pleased to pay us many veiy Iiand- Bome and highly honourable compliments." Another otiicer mentions that the Arctiduke Uoustantiue rode up to the 92nd, began to scrutinise the dress of the men, and told a young soldier to hand hiin his bonnet, but the Highlandlman had no idea of being ordered by a queer-looking foreigner, and refused. The Emperor, understaudiug that British soldiers were treated with more consideration by their oibcers than the Russians, politely asked the lad to show his bonnet " to this gentleman, my brother," saying in French, " This is a brave regiment," when the man at once took it off and gave it to the Russian Prince, who examined it for some time before returning it to its owner. They then asked Captain Ferrier to let them examine hia claymore.

The French revenged themselves on the allied troops by caricaturing them, and the Highlanders came in for their full share, generally with reference to the admiration of the fair sex ; there were also more respectful paintings of their pic- turesque costume as they were seen walking idjout in the streets of Paris. The drawings represent the feathered bonnet, kilt without purse, and buckled shoes.

There were a few regiuHmtal Courts-martial during their stay at Paris, drunkenness l>eing the usual crime, and there was some trouble with soldiers who robbed the market-gardens and orchards on the »Seine. I tind in Division or Brigade Orders fault found with some regiments for being slovenly on guard, etc., but not with either the 42nd or 92nd. A captain of a company describes with pride his success in reclaiming certain bad cliaraeters from the paths of \nce " without the aid of the eat o' nine tails." He divided his men into squads, and put one of tlie desperate characters in charge of each. The men at lii-st denmrred to being made responsible for the conduct nf others, but after a fortnight bad passed without any thefts or plundering excursions l>eing heard of in the company, they were satisfied that " a remedy had been foimd for the evils which had arisen since the battle of Waterloo/* A number of N.-{ '. ollicei^ and privates wailed on their captain, ajx)logised for their previous grumbling, and thanked him for

472

THE LiFK OK A REGIMENT.

L181.5

what iiu liad Juiiu ; aud some time after, he had the satisfaction of eurolliii'fj four out of the six bad characters in the first class, and of seeiog them draw in the lottery he had estab- lished for five prizes which he gave monthly to men of that class.

About this time each man received a present of a pair of shoes, called iu Orders the " Waterloo donation shoes," but who the donor was does not appear.

On the 29th October the encampment on the banks of the Seine was broken up, and the regiment marched to St Germaiiis. where they were billeted. Here they were able to visit the palace in which they were led to understand that Prince Charles Stuart had died. Lieutenant Innes, iu a letter to his mother, says: — " Many of our Highlanders were greatly afi'ected on entering the chamber where their Prince died.'* It was not, however, really " Bonnie Prince Charlie " wlio died there, Imt bis grundfather, James XL (VII. of Scotland). The incident, however, shows how fresh the memory of the '45 remained iu the sentiment of many of the men, though they served King George so loyally.*

The brigade under Sir Denia Pack left St Germains on the 31st, and were cantoned at Montain\ille and the surrounding villages. On the 2nd November the headquarters of the regiment were at Neuf le Vieux, the companies being scattered at Crecy and other villages ; officers of companies being desired to t^ke particular care that the men were comfortably housed, and that everything they required was paid for on the spot, and no damage done to property. The Prussians were not so particular; but it is not to be wondered at if they meted out to the French people the measure their country hud received when it was invaded by the French

* Tliia sentiment was aptly expresaecl to Meorge III., who, wiahing to see one i.f those who hud bewu out in the *45, a. grim old M' Donald from Knoydart, known as Raontill Mnr a" Chrolen, was brought up and presented to Hie Mnjeaty, who remarked that no doubt he regretted having taken part in the RebeIliou_"Sire," promptly replied M'Donald, "I regret nothing of th«j kind ; " but the King, who had been taken aback by this bold answer, waM ooinpletoly •oftened when the old nmu added, '* What I did for the Prince I' would hove done as hottrtily for your Mttjesty if you had bei'u in the Prince a place."— " Among the Clan Ranalls," by the Rev. C. M'Dooald, prietst oij Moidart.

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army. Two 92nd oilicers were billeted uii a gentleman's house near Montaiuville, where they spent two pleasant days with the family. After doing justice to a substantial breakfast on the morning they marched, they went out to see after the men and baggajie ; on returning to bid adieu, they found the servants busy packing up wine, cold fowls, hain,etc., with which the table was loaded, and to their surprise the butler asked respectfully where they wished him to put tlie parcels. On being told that British officers never carried things oH" from their billets, and receiving a handsome tip and thanks for hia attentions, he first remained dumb with astonishment, and then exclaimed, " You English behave very dillerently to the Prussians J "

On the 10 th November they marched to Monfort and the neighbourhood, where they remained till the 30th, when the brigade was broken up. The 4th Baitaliun Royal Scots, which had joined the brigade some time before, and the 42nd and 92nd, marched independently en route for embarkation at Calais, and the fJnrdons moved to Fontoise. Sir IJenis Pack, in an Order of the 29 Lh, taking leave of the regiments of his brigade, says : " The services rentlered by the 92nd Itegiment in the Uuke of Wellington's campaigns in the Peninsula, and his Grace's late slnjrt and triumphant one in Belgium, are so generally and so highly appreciated, as to make praise from him almost idle ; nevertheless, he cannot help adding his tribute of applause."

The regiment marched by Chambly, Beauvais, Abbeville, Montreuil, and Boulogne. On arriving at the gate of Ofilais on the 17th December, they were surprised to tind it closed against them ; and the commanding officer was informed that the troops (the 28th and 42nd had also arrived) would not be allowed to pass unless each company marched at a distance of a hundred yards from the one preceding it ; the men to reverse their arms, the colours to be kept ciised, and ttie bonds not to play through the town. Instant admittance was demanded and refused ; a second message was sent to the governor, who was probably one of Napjleuii's old officers, giving hini a t[uarter-of-an-hour to open, or take the con- sequences. This brought him to his senses; and the battalions

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discipline and good conduct in quarters. This Order to be read at three successive parades.

In Kegimeutal Orders mention is made of the men being credited with a daily payment called " the Waterloo gratuity penny," The men were " subsisted at the rate of 4d. a day for vegetables, salt, and washing, whirh, witli 6d. for bread and meat, amounts to lOd. per day."

The Waterloo KoU was revised. No man to be entered who was not actually present with the regiment for some part of the period between the 15th of June and 7th July inclusive.

In February they got new clothing, the men to make their kilts with as little delay as possible, and the white waistcoats to have a collar of the same stufi '^ at their option " ; each man was provided with " a good pair of leather gloves."

On the 19th February 1816, the regiment marched for Hull, where it arrived on tlie 2nd March. On the march the men were ordered to wear their kilts inside out, new waist- coats and old jackets, the new jackets to be carried in the knapsacks. They were treated with great kindness on the road, and hospitably entertained in almost every place at which they halted.

The War Ofiice seems to have given long credit in those days. A correspondence took place at Hull between the pay- master (Mr James CJordon) and t!ie fomnussary General, as to whether shoes issued to the regiment in Spain in 1808-9 should be paid for by the regiment. It was decided that they were to be |jaid for at the rate of 6s. 6d. a pair !

All the bonnets were set up afresh, at a cost of Is. 8d. each ; the colonel appears to have given four flat feathers yearly t^o each man, but as they were dear this year he only gave three. Heckles cost the sergeants and " music " 3s. O^d. each, the men of the grenadiers and Light Company Is. 6^d. each, and battalion companies Is. O^d.

Compensation was received for necessaries and musical instruments lost at Quatre-Bras and W^aterloo.

In April 1816 the muvskets, which hitherto had been kept brightly polished, were browned by instructions from the Board of Ordnance.

476

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

On the 23rcl April the Waterloo medals were transmit by order of " the Prince Regent m tht: name and on belialf His Majesty ; " ribbon was also received by which the mednis ' were to be " suspended on the breast on the button-hole of the uniform." Thoroughly as the men of Quatre-Bras and Waterloo deserved their medals, it must have seemed rather hard to their comrades vvlio had fought and conquered from EgmouL-op-Zee to Toulouse that they .sliould have no such distinction. (MednlB were presented to the survivors of these campaigns by Queen Victoria in 1848.)

In May the " Eecruitiug Company "joined from Edinburgh.

There seems to have been some misbehaviour at Hull, absence and breaking out of ban-acks and the like, and the conviction of two soldiers of a more serious crime induced Colonel Mitchell to call attention to it by an order, iu which he re<(ret8 that a Court-martial for such an unsoldierlike and disgraceful offence should be entered on the records. " Since the return of the i-egimeut from foreign service, the command- ing otticer has had every reason to be highly pleased witli the general conduct of ahnost every individual under his command: but unfortunately a few men, regardless of their own character have for a moment sullied the fair reputation of the re^ment and brought upon Lhemselves shame and disgrace.'* He " desires it to be clearly understood that drunkenness will never be received as an excuse for committing a crime, but on the contrary, will be held as an addition to it"

On the 22nd August the regiment left Hull and marched by Berwick-on-Tweed to Edinburgh, being the second visit of the battalion to its native country since its fornialion.* On

* '* The 92nd Regiment or Gordon Highlanders, under comraaud of Lieut. - Colonel MacDnniiUl, and of which that moat distinguiahed officer, th« Earl of Hopetotin, iii colouol, utarcbcHl into Berwick on the 5th and (>th iiaat. on their route to Edinhurgh I 'astlo. They were receiTud with every dejuotistration of joy, ringing of beU«, ladies waving their haudkerehiefs. and iimidst the cheers of the inhahitaiitH in general. The Mayor, in the name of the town, presented a handsome donation to regale the men, with «ui appropriate Bpet-eh to Lieut. - Colonel Moctionftld, who immediately distributed the money and returned ihnnks to the Mayor for this mark of attention on the part of thi' people of Berwick. The aerviee of tiicae hravv ftdlown is not forgotten who bo gloriouaj y maintained the honour of Scotland in the ever momorahle battli- of Waterloo, MB well as on nuiny other hard-fought ficlda. It will be itn]K>ssible ever to

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THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.

the roinl the church l>ells of the En«:;lish vilkfres rang peals of welcome iis they pusstl, niul {\wy were entertained with profuse hoapitaiitj in most of tlie towns where they were billeted. Their reception in the Scottish capital was most j^ratifying ; crowds were assembled on the roatl by which they approached the city, and the throng in the streets was so great that the leading company had ditticiilty in passing along. The 42nd, between which distinguished regiment and the ( Gordons there had always been a friendly rivalry — brothers in arms, but rivals in renown — had lately left the Castle, and n soldier of that regiment, standing looking on, crietl, " This is nothing to the crowd when we came home ; we couM hardly get through thvni at all!" "You should have sent for ns to clear the way for you, as we often did in Spain," was the ready retort of a Gordon Grenadier.*

In Edinburgh the regiment was the object of marked attention, but the ideas of the period on the subject of hospi- tality were rather excessive, and the gentlemen who gave banquets to the troops expressed their gi-atitudo to the soldier for his glorious victory by doing their best to make him gloriously drunk ! Notwithstanding the unanimous admira- tion for the deeds of the British soldier of those days, it has often been repeated that his character for sobriety was indif- ferent. The Duke of Wellington himself had not a very high opinion of oithor the officers or men of his army, at any rate

forget the gallant oharge made by this regiment, who, ruduccd to about two hundred men, and when their commanding officer was totd by Mftjor-^ieneral Sir Denis Pack that everytiiing in their front had given way tf) a column of 3000 men, and that the safety of that part of the position depeodud on the D2nd, this little baud of heroes, leil on by Lieut. -Colonel MaoDonuld and headeti by Sir Denis Pttok. forced their way with the bayonet through this solid column of Napoleon's Imperiul Guards, who, paniu-atruck, began to throw down their arras, which wna boou completed by the coming up of that fine regiment the Scots (Jreys to the osBistanoe of their comradea. calling out " Scotland for ever ! " 1900 priaonera were actually taken by these two weak regiments. "—^'/iwinir;//j Couran/, September 7th, 1816.

* This story wtia tolti to me in 1850 by the then Cluny MacPheraon, who served in the 42iid not many years after Waterloo. It is introduced in *' Scottish Highlands, Highland Clana and Regiments," to the editor of which publication I gave it.

There was no jealousy between Highland regiments. The 92nd bard gave appreciative credit to the 42nd and 79th in hia songs ; as do Peninsular journals to the 71at.

478

THE LIFE OP

REfnMBNT.

e troo

when he first coramamled it, rxeept as to their fighting qualicit The occasional jealousies or mistakes of In's generals, the i attuiitioii to orders of some of the regimental otlicers, the Ian l>luuder and want of sobriety ou the part of many of the-^ and tile., hud sometimes interfered with the success of his plai jinti he seems perliaps ttj have been inclined not to distiiuM| l)etween the good and the bad. His own pervading sen|| duty, the ener^^y of his iron constitution, and his abstemio disposition prevented his understanding or excusing eith indolence or excess; still, after having served with the troo of all nations, he said there would be nothing so iiitelli^ the British soldier if he would keep sober, and, in fact, moted many of them to commissioned rank. Napier, wb^ served ehielly as a regimental officer, and who had a far high opinion of tlie soldier than Wellington, allowed that they dnm but di-unkenness was the great fault of our countrymen, as well as military. To love liquor too well was a evil the army ; in civil life it was pardonable conviviality.

The cock may craw,

The day amy daw,

But aye we'll t«iit« the barley bree,

was the idea of good fellowship in Burns' days.

" That the British infantry soldier is more robust thai soldier of any other nation can scarcely be doubted by tbo( who, in 1815, ohserved his powerful frame, distinguiabc among the united armies of Europe, and, notwithstanding h habitual excess in drinking, he sustains fatigue and wet an the extremes of cold and lieat with incredible vigour. Whe completely disciplined, and three years are required to accoa plish this, his port is lofty and his movements fi-ee ; the who] world cannot produce a nobler specimen of militaiy bearing Nor is the mind unworthy of the outward man. He does noi indeed, po8ses.s that presumptuous vivacity which would lea him to dictate to his commanders, or even to censure rea errors, although he may perceive them; but he is ohservan and quick to comprehend his orders, full of resources unde diificulties, calm and resolute in danger, and more than usuall; obedient and careful of his otficers in moments of imt

HltaiLANDKRS.

peril. It has been asserted that his uiulfuiablt! lirmness in Iiattle is the i-esult of a phlegiiiatie CDiistilutiou uninspired }>)■ moral feeling. Never was a more stupid calumny uttere«i. . . While no military qualification was wanting, the fount of honour was also full and fresh within him." *

Such was the opinion of British soldiers in general of one who had spent the best years of his life among them ; and the testimony borne to the character of the (Jordon Highlanders by those under whom they served, and particularly by the inhabLtanta of the various countries among whom they lived, shows that theirs was a discipline " which, in the full sense of the word, is the fruit of moral and religions instruction." f

Before entering on the life of the regltneiit during the long svicceeding years of peace which its services had helped to secure, I will now give a short notice of a few of the veterans from whose reminiscences I gleaned infornmtion as to the regimeuttd habits and customs of early times.

Corporal John M'Innes, pensioned after Waterloo, lOs. 6d. a-week, joined when the regiment was raised ; a tine-looking old Highlander when I saw him in 1852. He kept a shop at Tom 'a Mhulin, Glen Livat, and gave details of the first uniform and those who wore it ; he had served in all the campaigns, but said little of his own exploits.

John Cattanach, Badenoeh, pensioner. He had no education and spoke little or no English ; he tried to enlist when the regiment was raised, but was too young, and was taken later. He spoke much of his captain, MacDonald (Dalchosluiie) : he and many other olhcers constantly spoke Gaelic to them, and would give news from home to those from their own districts, and Gaelic was commonly spoken in the regiment. He spoke often

• Napier, Vol. ni., p 271.— Sir John Moore, giving advice to a Higlhland officer in 1805, teid that he oon»idere«i the Highlanders under an officer who uiideratandB and values their character, and works ou it, among the beat of our military materials. Under such an officer they will conquer or ilie on the Hjiot. " But it 18 the principles of integrity and moral correctneaB that I a<imire most in Highland soldiers, and this was the trait that first caught my attention." He also made obtervationa on the character of Highlund soldiers and duties of their officers with regard to their management of, and behaviour townrtls, their soldiers, and the necessity of paying attention to their feelings. —General D. Stewart.

t- Baron Muffling.

480

THR LIFE OF A RKGIMBNT.

of" Fassiefeiu " as a hard man on soldiers who neglect duty, but just, and a Hne officer. On the retreat to Corimi he saw officers as well a.s men without shoes or hose ; aoo iiiaik* '* broj^an gaelach '* out of hides of horses dead on tl road. He liked the Spaniards, who often gave them wiuc at food ; tlioy danced together ; but they were very cruQ^| barbarous to their Frencli prisoners, hanging them to ^ with weights to their feet, etc. John had been a fast nilflS 08 a boy at home, and was proud of having won races in tl regiment. He was taken prisoner in the Pyrenees, h knocked over one of his c-aptors ; another charged at him wil his bayouei, when he caught the weapon, which ran through h hand; and jumping down a ledge of rock, he got away amoi the bushes and boulders, Indlets hitting the rocks about hii but he escaped by his Heetness without knowing that a bull had grazed his shoulder, till he saw the blood trickling down < his belts. This was the only time he was wounded. I: never went home till the regiment came to Edinburgh aft Waterloo, when he married, and was discharged three yea later. He got a bit of land at Strone from the Duke i Gordon at a low rent, and had cows and sheep. Served i Holland, Egypt, I'eninsula, Waterloo ; had the Waterloo medi but they never sent him the Peninsula medal He Hved I eighty-niDe years of age. A cousin of his, whose father, an ol soldier of the American War, had given him a good educatio; also enlisted in the Gordons, got a commission, and retin as Captain Cattanach. The captain was a frequent guest i Gordon Castle, where his wit made hira a general favourit He lived near Kingussie in the old cottage home, where I was often visited by the Duke of Gordon, when he would tur out the hens and ducks, saying, " There's not room at the fii for both you and the Duke." He afterwards went to Canada John Ferguson, pensioner, a native of Dunean, Invemes enlisted in Colonel Baillie of Duncan's Fencible Regiment, an volunteered to the 92nd. He served in Egypt, Corunm Peninsula, Waterloo ; was tjiken prisoner, and said the Frenc were civil, but sometimes the prisoners got short commons, i never clothes or clean linen, (jaelic was ordinarily spoke the regiment ; officers used English on parade, but many s|

18161

THK GORDON HIOnLAKDERS.

481

Gaelic to the men at other times. He mentioned clrinldnpt with the French soldiers, and being qnite friendly when not fighting ; liked the Spaniards, from whom he got lots of wine and other good things. Wine was sometimes easier to get than good water. He mentioned the Spaniards torturing French prisoners ; spoke much of the sore eyes in Egypt, the dust storms and want of water, and of the hardships and severe discipline in the Peninsula, He could speak Spanish better than English ; he was mnrried when he enlisted, and came home after Waterloo ; at first he had (id. a day pension, increased to la., and 3d. from the Kinloch Fund ; * and lived to be a very old man.

Alexander Achinachy, pensioner, a Ixjwlander from BanH- sh ire, was still with the regiment as civilian messman in 1851, when I often talked to him. Enli.gted in 1810, and had been through the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns. He said that on these campaigns the otticers wore nothing of the Highland dress but their bonnets and broadswords, but the N.-C. officers find men fdways wore it except on fatigue, or when in cantonments, at night on guard. The fatigue trousers were grey, or anything they could get, and were not expected to be in good order. They never wore purses when marching and fighting, but left them with the heavy baggage, or carried them on the back of the knapsack. The men were generally decent and respectable, of the agi-icultural class, ^but some bad characters wei*e among them. There were a few Irish and English, a good many Lowlanders, but the regiment generally was verj' Highland, far niore so than in 1851. Grant's "Romance of War" had been lately pubhshed, and I remember telling him some of the incidents in that novel, and he recognised thetii, and said they were quite true. " Old Alexander" was greatly respected, and it was always said that, little and flat-footed as he was, he had never fallen out or been in hospital during the campaigns.

• Founded in 1812 by Willijim Kinloch, Esti., of Calcutta, «uid a native of Arbuthnot, Kintuirdineahire, who bequeathed " the residue of his estate to the Governora and Managers of the Piiud instituted in London for the relief of poor and iudigeiit Scotchmen who have lost their limbs or eyesight, or have been otherwise maimed and wounded in the service of their country. About 300 disabled soldiers tiiui *i\ilora are now receiving pensions varying in value from £4 to £8 from that Fund."— /?aya/ Scottish Hosjiital Report, 1900.

2h

482

THE LIFE OF A REGIMENT.

John Downie, native of Glenshee, rertlishiie, pensi with 9tl. a day for wounds, increased to Is. 3d. from tl Kinlocli Fuml, joined 1810 ; n blacksmith by trade, bi determined to enlist, and walked to Edinbui'gh for thi piiirj>ose. An English regiment was quartered there. Thi did not suit him : but meeting a sergeant of the Gordo Highlanders, he took the shilling from him for seven year service, and was soon sent to the Ist Battulion in Portuga A good scholar, both in English and Gaelic, he kept a jouma which was unfortunately lost with his knapsack at Waterlo< where he was picked up insensible the day after the battl His heroes were Wellington, " Fassiefem," Cameron the pip* major, and Private Norman Stewart, and of these he had man tales to tell. There was no talk of teetotalism in these day; but moderation was expected. " Where is your fortitude man ? *' the colonel would say to one who pleaded in excuse fo being drunk that he seldom tasted liquor at all Downi said that the night before Waterloo some took a despondinj view of the situation— the retreat of the Prussians and th^ strength of Napoleon's army, and spoke of their great losses a Quatre-Braa. " Comadh co dhiubh." said a Loehaber man " thug stun buaidh, dh' aindheoiu co' theireadh e " (no matter we licked them, say what they may): and lliey began to speal cheerfully of what they would do in Paris, but the Frencf prevented his seeing their capital by putting a bullet in lum which he carried with him to the grave. He had beei wounded twice before by both bayonet and bullet On one ol these occasions, wlien he was making his way to the rear with a wounded comrade, Ltiey came on a man M'lutosh, who one of the Duchess of Gordon's recruits ; he was sitting dead horse, and, pointing to liis leg shattered by a cannon said, in Gaelic, "What can I make of that ?" " Mind, lad, ye got a kiss from the Duchess o* Gordon for that," was the rather imfeeling reply. Downie had a great contempt for the Spanish soldiers. " Clarty deevils," he called them, but thought very highly of the Portuguese troops. He had a great respect for the French army, and in 1870 was suii>ri8ed at their being defeated by the Germans. " They can't b<» t{ same sort that fought against us in Spain," he said.

1816]

THE GOUDON HIGHLANDERS.

483

charged after Waterloo, he first kept a small school in Glenshee; when afterwards many people left the glen owing to the introduction of sheep-farmingj he entered the post office service at Alyth, where he was highly respected. He had always been a very religious man, and could read his well- thumbed Gaelic Bible without spectacles at the age of 93 ; he died at a still greater age.

Peter Stewart, pensioner. His parchment discharge mentions the actions of Vittoria, Maya, Donna Maria, Bayonue, Hillette, Garris, Aire, Orthes, Toulouse, Waterloo, his Penin- sular medttl having clasps for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse. Ac some place in Spain the sentries had got into trouble from the spare ammunition being stolen. One night, Peter being sentry over it, a calf appeared, and kept getting nearer and nearer to the ammunition carts. It had rather odd action, and Peter chfillenged, when the creature answered with a prolonged " Bo," which had something of the human voice about it. He fired ; it fell ; " Bo noo, ye beggar," said Peter, and a Spaniard in a calf's head and hide was his bag. He said if he had his choice, he preferred close quarters and the bayonet to shooting and being shot at. He was in the Duke of Gordon's and afterwFirds in the Duke of Richmond and Gordon's service in the deer forest of Glen Fiddich ; and when the Duke built him a new house, he named it after wliat he said was by far the toughest fight he had ever seen — Maya — and by that designation be was afterwards generally known. When the tjueen visited the Duke of Richmond at Glen Fiddich, his Grace presented " Maya " to Her Majesty, who, after speaking to him of his services, gave him a sovereign. Afterwards the Duke said : " Well, Peter,, I suppose you will put the Queen's sovereign on your watch chain," " Pll hae a dram to her health oot o't first." When old and infirm, the Duke took a house for him at Banff to be near the doctor, and there he died. His son is a gamekeeper on the Gordon estates.

Reminiscences of Private William MacKenzie, Onich, who enlisted at Fort- Augustus, and served with the Gordons from EgmoQt-op-Zee to Waterloo ; from notes by his grandson, the lieverend Dugaid MacDouald, Episcopal Church, Oban : —

484

THK LIFE f»F A BKfllMKNT.

[1816

beai

"In Holland William was up to bhe waist in water got his powder wet. In the tussle thew. they used their when gi'appling.

" At one fight, a piper named M'Lachkn had both Ic broken, hut eoutinued to play ' Cogadh na Sith ' till he fainted from loss of blood.

" He also mentions the incident of the piper's bag spoiled at Fiieutes d'Onor, as mentioned in the text from the account of another man. fl

" On the retreat to t'orunna, some of them ground little bH of horse tiesh between stones to squeeze out the blood, and ate it raw, as the old Highlanders used to do with a deer's liver when benighted in the chase. He mentioned the incident of the child on its dead mother's breast, as told in the text from other aco4>uats. When the treasure was thrown away on the retreat, he said some of the men picked up gold doubloons Mj they passed and put them in tlieir hose, which lanncd theux.^

" At an engagement where his company had to stand long under fire of the enemy close in front, his Celtic impatience could not stand the strain, and he in his excitement shouted 'Hurrah, fljearaibh, bitheamaid aca' (hurrah, men, let us be at them). His comrades, mistaking his voice for that of their officer, charged at once and routed their opponents. William was tried by Court-martial for this breach of discipbne, but in consideration of the circumstances was pardoned. He mentioned that at one place the men used stones to hurl down on the enemy, their ammunition being exhausted (pfl bably Maya). Though very strong, he was the shortest mil in the battalion but one, being 5 feet 5 inches. In crossing the Nive he was carried otl' his legs by the stream, when Colonel Cameron rode to him, told him to catch his stirrup, brought him to land, and gave him a biscuit from his haver^ sack and a drink of wine from his llask.

" He spoke of ' Fassiefern * as the finest soldier possible, very strict. Men must turn out with arms and accoutremen clean, no matter how short the halt might be. He woi allow no excuse for drunkenne.'^s or dirt. William thought h too hsLvd on those who were * heavy on the dram.' He Hv( to nearly a hundred, and would often say to the boys and t

onE

4

iim

1816]

TIIB OOKDON UlcniLANDEKS.

485

mothers, ' If I was young again it 's not eiLting by the fire at home I would he, but with the lads with the yellow tartan * (gillean a' bhreacain bliuidhe), telling his young friends they should join the Gordons."

The veterans were generally very reticent as to their adventures, unless specially drawn out. One said, " If I was to tell people the hardships we endured and the sights we saw, they would not believe me."

I have often seen it stated both that the Highland regiments were not largely composed of Highlanders, and that they did not wear the Highland dress on active service. The three kilted regiments who fought throughout the great French war were recruited much in the same manner; more than once it appears from the remarks of 92nd men, as at Minorca, at Orthes, at Ghent, that they had brothers and neighbours in the 42nd and 79th, and that the regiments were delighted when they met to talk of mutual homes. Anyone who knows the Highlands intimately must be aware that there is hardly a respectfd>le family who cannot tell you of an ancestor who was in the army of that peiiod ; there were many from the Lowlands alsij in these regiments, but the Highland element must have been vary strong, 1 myself met a Chelsea pensioner of the 42ud, about 1863, a Waterloo man. who, though him- self a Lowlander from Renfrew, spoke Gaelic with ease, and when asked how he came to know it, replied that he learned it in the regiment.

With regard to the dress, the orders, and the etatemenis of those present, show that the Gordons wore the kilt during ever}' campaign they took part in, tliough after the Egyptian campaign of 1801, when their clothing was worn out, they came home in anything they could get, white, blue, and grey breeks ! There is not much in the orders on active service as to otficers' unifomi, but fix)m what there is, and incidentally, it appears that they wore tlie kilt in all the campaigns up to and incUidiug Sir Joim Moore's. In Wellington's campaigns they wore grey or blue pantaloons and shoes with gaiters ; and the reason given for this by the lale iSir John JIacl>onald was that othcers were encouraged to ride as much as possible, in order that they might be able at any moment to lake a message

486

THK UKK OK

quickly, bul cliieliy thai ihey might be fresh at the end march to attend to tlie comforts of their men in the stra^lin villajres and farms in which they were often billeted, for a oflicer's most important work began when the march v^as ovei and though a great advocate of the Highland garb, as long a he commanded he would not allow an otticer to wear it on th line of march.* The regiment seems first to have wot gaiters for marching when they went to Egypt, the loi quartered buckled shoes having been found inconvenient in th sands of Hollund.t The sporran was never worn by the me: except on oeciisions such as Sundays, guard, and inspections just as at home, when the kilt was commonly worn, a hiUma] never thou^^ht of troing to the hill with his sporran on, ba kept it for high days and holidays (sporrans seem not to havi been taken at all on the Waterloo campaign). The feathers bonnet was the everyday wear of the men, and of othcer on all duties, and often in walking out, though they had j sort of undi'ess bonnet and feather also. Colonel Cameron* Waterloo ejiaulettes are still at Callart ; they are of silve bullion with yellow and silver strap, having the crowiij gold and "92" on a scarlet ground, surrounded by a belt inscribed " Gordon Highlanders."

Although the Highland uniform of the time was pictui and showy, the brick-red colour of the coat was subdued U a great extent by lace, facings and accoutrements, so that lh( various colours became blended, and the dress was perhaps lesj conspicuous at a distance than the dark figure of a rifleman It is remarkable that among the various deaths from sicknes and accident which are noticed in journals or regimental books I have seen no notice of sunstroke, which speaks well for tXu feathered bonnet. ^M

: silve

BC,^

* This difference in dreu must have made offioerB liable to be picked off b; shmrpshootera. The officera of the 42ud aud TJHh dresaed in like ma during these campaigns.

t The gaiters were at one timo niadu of the same tartan aa the hose, ' generally of grey or black cloth.

N,)TK.— In the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns, the troops marohoi and fought carrying knapsacks with full kit, which, with arms and accoutre mento, weighed between 50 and 60 lbs. : generally a blanket in additioo, aqi oooaaiotially two daya' rations. Every sixth man carried a camp kettle.

•4

APPENDIX.

I.

Prohibition of thk Highland Dress.

The Disiimiing and iJiskilting Act of George II. can be found com- plete in the " Historical Geography of the Clans," published by W. db A. K. Johnston, Eklinburgh. It is a long Act, and contains a good deal besides a diekilting measure. I subjoin the clause refer- ring to that subject.

Clause Restraining u«e of tfie Highland Dresa : — *' And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the tirst day of August, One thousand seven hundred and forty-seven, no inau or boy within that part tif Great Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as officers and soldiers in His Majesty's forces, shall on any pretence whatsoever wear or put on the clothes commonly called Highland clothes — that is to say, the plaid, philabeg, or little kilt, trowse, shoukler belts, or any part whatsoever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland garb ; and that no tartan or party-coloured plaid or stuff shall be used for greatcoats ; or for upper coats ; and if any person shall presume after the first day of August to wear or put on the aforesaid gar- ments or any part of them, every sucii person so offending, being convicted thereof by the oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses before amy Court of Justiciary, or any one or more Justices of the Peace for shire or stewartry^ or Judge Ordinary of the place where such offence shall be committed, shall suffer im- prisonment without bail during the spiice of six months and no longer; ami being convicted for a second offence l>efore a Court of Justiciary or at tlie Circuits, shall be liable to be transported to any of Hia Majesty's plantations beyond the seas, there to remain for the space of seven years,"

ri.

Pbicb of Laboub, ktc, 1794-1798. (From the *' Statiatical Account of Scotland," Sir J. Sinclair.) Appin, Abgylb. — Day laboui-ers to maintjiin themselves, 8d, to la. ; tailors and shoemakers, GiL a day and victuals ; carpenters and other mechanics, Is. to Is. 2d. and victuals.

488

APPENDIJt.

KiLTEARK, Rosb. — Oi'dijiiiry plou^^limen living in their owi

;£3 a year and six bolk meal ,; exceptionally good ploughmen, J&5 to £6 a year and 8 to 10 boHs ; day labourers, 6d., or if work very severe, souiethirig extra.

Urquhart, INVERNB88. — Wages greatly increased since commence- ment of war ; from 8d. and 9d. to Is. a day in 1798 ; married servants, £3 a year, 6 bolls meal (9 stone to the boll), a cow's grfiss, fodder, and potato* ground.

Black Isle, Ross. — Day laliourer, 8d. summer, 7d. winter ; mutton, 2^d. to 4d. a lb. ; meal at various places, 148. a holl.

HuNTLY, Aberdebn. — Day lalMjurers, 8d. to Is. Masons, car- penters, slaters, Is. 3d. a day. Best beef 3|d. to 4d. a lb.

Town of Banff. — Beef and mutt-on in 1748, Id. to lAd. a lb.; claret, la. a bottle. Beef and mutton in 1798, 5^. to 6d. a lb. ; claret, 6s. a bottle j mea! in 1795, 2 la. a boll (8 atones Dutch weigbt).

R.O,, Baatia, February lyth^ 1796. — Prices allowed to tailors in the lOOtb Regiment, as in the 42nd and other Highland KegimentA.

For O^ctm.

For SoidUr* and N.-C Officer a.

Making a jacket . . Turning ,, , . Cocking and titting

feathers ui a bonnet . . I Making a kilt 0

the

Sergeant-major or drum- major, making a coat

Making a waistcoat ....

ScrgetuitB, for each ....

Drummera, ,, ....

Rank and file, for each . .

Cooking a bonnet and feather- ing

Making a kilt

Making a pair of hose, in- cluding threaii

Thread, hooka and eyes, oxfcr&.

0 2

UI.

Return of casualties of His Majesty's 92nd Regiment of Foot (or Gordon Highlanders), commandfd by Colonel the Marquis of Huntly, fi-oai the 25th of June tci 24th December 1799, both days inclusive.

Number of rank and (ile, 25th June 1799—767.

Recruits joined, 43 ; dead, 2 ; discharged, 5 ; deserted, 7 ; N.^. officei-s and drummers appointed to the 11th Company, 5.

Killed, 57 ; died of their wounds, 30 ; drowned, 15 ; prisoners of war, 39.

APPENDIX. 489

Volunteers received and from what corps — 9th Regiment, 4 ; 62nd Regiment, 15 ; 63rd Regiment, 2.— Total, 21. Number of rank and file, 24th December 1799—710. N.B. — Private Norman Buchanan, d.o.w. 3rd February 1800.

IV.

ORAN AIR BLAR NA H-OLAIND. Air fonn — "Alasdair A Oleanna-Oartuih."

Air mice deireannach an fhoghair.

An dara latha, 's math mo chuimne, Ghluais na Breatunnaich bho'n fhaiche,

Dh'ionnsuidh tachairt ris na maimhdean ; Thug Abercrombaidh taobh na mara

Dhiu le'n canain, 's mi ga 'n cluintiim ; Bha f6imeadh aig MUr* gu daingeann,

Cumail aingil ris na Frangaich.

Thriall Abercrombaidh 'a Mnr na feile,

Le 'n laoich ^uchdach, thun a bhaitell ; Tharruinn iad gu h-eolach, treubhach,

Luchd na beurla ri uchd catha ; N uair a dhlii na h-airm ri ch^ile,

Dhubhadh na speuran le 'n deathaich ; S bu lionmhor fear a bha 's an ^isdeachd,

Nach do ghluais leis fein an ath oidhch'.

Dh'fhag iad sinne mar a b'annsa,

Fo cheannardachd Mhorair Hunndaidh, An t-5g smiorail, fearail, naimhdeil,

N ail teannadh ain-neart ga 'r n-ionnsuidh ; Le bhrataichean siod' a strannraich,

Ei 'u cuid crann a damhs' le muiseag ; S na fir a toghairt 's na Fr^gaich,

B' iad mo Hiinse chlann nach diultadh.

Bha 'n leoghann colgarra gun ghealtachd,

Le mh\le fear agairteil 14' ruinn ; An Camshronach garg o'n Earrachd,

Mar ursainn chatha 's na biaraibh ; Dh'aontaich sinn mar aon sa bhaiteal,

Le faobhar lann sgaiteach stailinn ; Cha bu ghniomh le 'r laoich gun taise,

Faoineis air an fhaich' le I^haich.

* 0«nenl Sir John Moore.

APPENDIX. ,491

Ach, 'n uair dh'fhaod ar laoich gun tioma,

Dhol au ^ite buille bhualadh, Bha roinn nan stailinne biorach,

S^thadh guineideach mu'u toairmse.

Gu'm bi sin an tuairmse smiorail,

Chinnteach, amaiseacb, gun dearmad ; Thug na leoghainn bhorba, nimheil,

Bu cholgail sealladh fo'n armaibh ; Ri Bgiiirsadh naimhdeau mar fhalaisg,

A's driiichdan fallals air gach calg dhiu ; 'S bha Frangaich a brhchdadh fala,

'S an ciil ri talamh sa ghainmhich.

Mar ueoil fhuilteach air an riasladh,

Le gaoth a b'iargalta s^ideadh ; Ruith nam baidibh ceigeach, lia'-ghlas,

An deigh an cliathadh as a chdile : Chlte na naimhde gun riaghailt, .

Teicheadh gu dian o uchd streupa ; 'S lad a leaghadh air am bialthaobh,

Mar shueacbd am fianais na greiue.

Gred' a phill siun o ar ddthaich,

Cba d' mhill siun air cliti au cruadal Bha sinn gach latha ga'u sgiiirsadh,

Mar chaoirich aig cti ga'n ruagadh. Dh'aindeoin an cuid slbigh gun chunntas,

Tigh'n o'li Fhraing as iir ga'r bualadh, Bu leisg ar gaisgich gu tionndadh,

'Nuair a ch6rd an Didc ri'n uaislean.

'N uair chuireadh am baiteal seachad,

'S a dh-aireadh ar gaisgich threubhach, Bha ioma Gael 's au deachaidh

Le miad am braise 's an streupa, Full a ruith air lotaibh frasach,

Bho luchd nam breacanan f^ilidh, 'S i sior thaomadh leis na glacau —

'S truagh ! uach dh'fhaod ar gaisgich dirigh !

'S bochd gun siau orra bho luaighe,

On a bha iad cruaidh 'na'n nadur, Fulangach gu dhol san tuasaid,

Guineideach 'nuair ghluaist* an ardan, Cha robh math d'an n^haid gluasad,

Dh'iarraidh buaidh orra' s na blitraibh, Chain iad air an traigh seachd uaireaii,

Tuilleadh 's na bha bhuain 'san araich.

492 APPENDIX.

'Nis o'n chuir iad GJDn do Shasoim,

Ghabhail ar cairtealau geamhraidh. Far am faigh sinn leanu am pailteaa,

Ged' tha Mac-na-praisich gann oim Olar leinn deoch-slainte' MharcuiB—

Ar gualanu thaice 'b ar Geannard ; Tha sinn cho uUamh's a Sit leis,

Dhion a bhrataichean bho ainneart.

The Poems are done into English metre by the Rev. Canon Hugh MacColl and Miss Helen Greenhill Gardyne, giving as nearlj as possible the meaning of the originals, which are as remarkable for faithful detail as for vivid description ; but no translation can render the full force and beauty of the bard's expressive Oaelic.

BATTLE OF EGMONT-OP-ZBE.

(OBAN NA BLAB NA H'OLAND.)

In the last month of the harvest^ If my memory serve me truly, On the second of October, The British moved to meet the foemen. Loud I heard the sounding cannon Where Abercromby held the shore ; Stoutly pressed our brave Moore forward, Firing still upon the Frenchmen.

Noble Moore and Abercromby Moved with brave men to the battle ; Skilfully they then led onwards Those that speak the tongue of England. With thick smoke the skies were blackened When the armies neared each other. Many then could hear the tumult Who lay motionless by sunset !

He, the gallant Lord of Huntly— Him we most desired to follow — Is our leader, keen for battle. From the standards dance defiant All his fluttering silken banners ; And when storm of danger threatens, And our men are keen to meet it — Then my dear ones are the clansmen Who in fight take no denial !

APPENDIX. 493

Fearless stood the stem-faced lion

With a thousand of his warriors ;

Like a pillar in the contest

Was bold Cameron of Earracht ! *

One in battle we united,

For not trifling was the struggle

With the keen edge of the steel blades,

Which our heroes now must handle.

Without firing rushed the foemen On our troops with weight of purpose, Badly fared the English speakers When they turned back from the slaughter. Proud Kalph shouted to his warriors — " Hasten, sons o' the Gael, to meet them ! " High their spirit, loyal-hearted. They once more shall turn the battle.

Swift the soldiers midst the slaughter Onward pressed, nor danger heeded, Like the eagles, fierce and vengeful, By dismay not soon defeated. As lightning on a night of tempest, They dealt destruction's gleaming arrows ; With hue of bloodshed on their weapons Firmly drove the foe before them.

When Lord Gordon was found missing, And the news came he had fallen Wounded in the breast, the heroes Furiously renewed the onset. As a spate bursts from the mountains, Rushing from the clouds about us — So with frowning brows they followed, Dealing heavy blows with bloodshed.

In the van the maddened Camerons Raged to know their brave chief wounded ; In the clash and stren of battles Grey had grown the locks of manhood : Yet his brown eye flashed undaunted In the face no fear could whiten. Ere beneath his folded mantle Sank the sun, all debts were settled.

Famous were the men from Scotland, Men of the Royals, brave and hardy ; Far from us in midst of battle, Though by thousands then confronted, * Colonel Cameron, 79tta, who wu wounded.

494 APPENDIX.

On they pressed with martial anlour — Still their name is Victory ! Alas ! the men of chequered tartan Were laid low by fire of cannon.

Skilful are the French in firing Till you come to closer quarters ; Then like liail their shot fell on us For the sixth part of an hour. When at length our gallant soldiers Were allowed to charge the foemen, Ready was the keen-edged steel point, Surely aimed to thrust them backward.

Fierce were they as eager lions, Proving that our men, when near them. Must be strong, with mien defiant, Bearing arms and striking boldly ; Thus they lash the foe before them Furiously, like heather burning. Fast and thick upon the steel blades Fell the dews of perspiration, Blood of Frenchmen flows in torrents, Who upon the sands have fallen.

Like blood-dyed clouds all torn and mangled

By a violent west wind blowing,

Rent apart and moving wildly

In shapeless grey and purple masses —

Thus the enemy, disordered.

Soon in flight were seeking safety :

Rapidly, as melts a snow wreath

In the sun's eye, they have vanished.

Fair fame of our native courage

Kept we bright in foreign countries ;

Day by day, as doth a sheep dog,

Like a flock we drove them forward.

In despite of countless levies

Coming fresh from France to strike us.

Loth to halt were then the heroes

When the Duke * made peace with Frenchmen.

When the fight at length was ended. And the gallant men were numbered, Many a Highlander had fallen Through the greatness of his daring.

• Duke of York.

APPENDIX. 495

Blood was pouring from the shot wounds,

Flowing down upon the bodies

Of the men of belted tartans,

O ! that our heroes were permitted

To rise once more from field of valour.

Pity 'tis that men so fearless From the shot were not protected ! Capable and proud by nature, Vehement when roused in spirit ; Hopeless was it for the Frenchmen Such hardy foes in strife to conquer ! On the shore their dead lay scattered Seven times more than ours in number.

Now, indeed, to winter quarters, Back to England they have sent us ; Where is ale in great abundance. Though " Mac-na-praisich " * still is lacking. Health we'll drink unto the Marquis, Our support and great commander. Beady always when he calls us To defend his flag from insult !

ORAN.

AIR BLAR NA H-BIPHIT.

Carson nach t6isichinn sa ch^pa.

Far na dh'f hiLg mi clann mo ghaoil, Thog sinn taighean Samhraidh ann,

Le barrach mheang nan craobh, Bu solas uaibhreach, ceannard, A bhi gluasad ri uchd naimhdean ann, 'S a dh'aindeoin luaidhe Fhrangach, B' aobhar damsha bhi ri 'r taobh.

Cha chualas ri Unn seanachais, Ann an cogadh arm na 'n stri,

Cuig mile-diag cho ainmeil ruibh, A tharruinn airm fo 'n Bigh ;

B' aobhar cliii an trdun-fhear Albannach,

A fhuair a chuis ud earbea ris,

Nach ciibairean a thearbadh leis, Thoirt gniomh nan krm gu crlch.

• Mac-na-praiBich, lit., son of fermentaUon (trhiskyX

496

APPENDIX.

i

Dh'iarr e moch d\-ciadain,

'S a' chiad diagachadh de 'n Mhikirt^ Grach comisari riarachadh,

Ar biadh a mach oim trk ; Biim 'bhi air ar cliathaichean, Gu h-ullamh mar a dh' iarramaid, Nach faodadh iad air chiad-lungaidh,

Dol Bios leis ann sa bhl&r.

'S ann air dir-daoin a dh'fhkg sinn,

Air s^r shablach fad air chill, Na 'm faigheadhmaid rian snkmha dhaibh,

Bu Ikidir iad na 'r ciiis ; Lean Mac-a-Ghobha * cairdeil ruinn, 'S gu 'm b' fhoghainteach a bhktaichean, A dh' aindeoin gleadhraich nkmhaid,

Chum e smkladh air an siiil.

Bha ar 'n krd cheann-feadhna toirteil, Ann Ban km ga 'r propadh suaa,

Bho dhream gu dream ga 'm brosnachadh, Cha b' ann le moit na ghruaidh ;

Ghlacadh cuibhle 'n fhortain,

Ann san laimh nach tionndadh toisgeal i,

'S a dhtiisgeadh sunnt gu cosnadh dhuinn, Mar Fhionn a mosgladh shiuaidh.

Thkimeadh na laoich shomalta

Na 'n comhlann throma, bhorb, Bu t^rslach, Ikmhan, comasach,

An sradag fhonnidh falbh ; A g' iarraidh ^ite an cromadh iad, Na 'n tugadh u<\mhaid coinneamh dhaibh, Gu 'm fag-te 'n krach tonu-fhuileach, Le Btkilinu thollach bholg.

Bho nach tionndadh nkimh gu casgairt,

Bu dill lasair air an deigh, 'N uair chunuacas gnClis nam Breatuunach

B'fhearr casan dhaibh na streup ; Thug iad an ciil gu tapaidh ruinn, A shiubhal gu dlili astarach, A sior dhion an cill le marcaichean,

Chum lasachadh na 'm ceura.

Bha gillean liighar, sgairteil ann, Nach d' aom le gealtachd riamh,

Mar dh' fhaodadh iad ga 'n leantain, Philleadh caogad each le 'n gniomh ; * Sir Sydney Smitb, R.N.

A

APPENDIX. 497

Bu smaointeau faoin d'a marcaicheau,

Nach faighte daoine ghleachdadh iad,

'S na laoich nach faoite chaisleachadh,

Ga 'n caol ruith mach air aliabh.

Bu trie an c6mhdach caagairt sinn,

Thug sud oim stad ua dh^ Bhi gun e61a8 anu san astar sin,

'N dilil mh6r ri gaisge chMch ; Dh' fheuch Ralph gach doigh a chleachda leis 'S an dian-te 8r6il a thaiabeanadh, 'S a dh' aindeoiu se^ltachd dh' fhairtlich oim,

An toirt gu caagairt Ikmh.

Bha sinn l&idir, guineideach,

D^na, urranta 'san stri, Bha iadaan rkideil, cuireideach,

liin thuineachadh 's an tlr ; Ohabh iad kird na monaidhean, Gu 'n dh' fhuair iad Itite cothromach, 'S an dianadh Ikmhach dolaidh dhuinn,

Gu 'n toileachadh r'a linn.

Thaimeadh gkradh droma leinn,

De dh' armuinn fhonnidh thr^in, Bho shkil' gu skil' a coinneachadh

'N tr& chromaidh air a ghr^in ; Bu daingean, Ikidir, comaaach, A phkirc ga m' fhkl na bonaideau, Cha bu chadal s^imh ga 'n oomunn,

'S ckch ma 'r ooinneamh air a bheinn.

Stad sinn rd na h-oidhche sin,

Gu leir an cuim nan ^rm, Bha leannan fein, gu maighdeannail,

Fo sgdith gach saighdear, b^lbh ; Na 'n tigeadh f enm na faoineachd orr*, 'S gu tugte aobhar bruidhne dh\, Bu neanihail a spdic phuiseanta,

Bho 'n bheul bu chinnteach aealg.

Dh' earbadh dlon an 'n anmanan,

Ri Albannaich mo riiiu Fir nach tkimnte cearbaich orra,

'N km tharruinn arm gu did ; Binn iad a chaithris armailteach, Gu h-ullamh, ealamh, ealachuinneach, 'S na 'n deanadh n&mhaid tairgneachadh,

Bha b^ allabharach na 'n gniiia.

2l

498 APPENDIX.

Sinn nllamh air ar oonnspagan,

Gu dol Ban t6ir gu dion, An treaa madainn diag a sh^nraich iad,

Le 'r ceannard m6r gu 'n fhiamh ; An dk r^iseamaid a b' 6ige againn, Na Gr^maich agus €W>rdonaich, A ruith gu dian an c6mhdhail,

Na bha dortadh leis an t-sliabh.

Cho ullamh ris an fhiidar, A bha dol na smilid ma 'r ceann,

Gbluais na gillean li!i-chlea8ach, Air mhire null do 'n ghleann ;

Thug sinu ie teine ddbailte,

Bristeadh as na trilpairean,

Bha Gr^umaich nan duchd fidghantach 'S cha d' ^isd iad mdiseag lann.

Mar stoirm a b' iargalt connsachadh,

A spionadh ne6il a's chrann, A riasladh f^irge m6ire,

Gu pianadh 8he61 'a ga 'n call ; Cruaidh dian bha buaidh nan G6rdonach, Bu lionmhor sguab a's dorlaichean, A bhuain iad air a ch6mhnard. Far an tug na 8l6igh dhaibh ceann.

Dhldthaich ar n' arm urramach,

Gu h-ullamh air ar ciM, Lion iad an t-sreath fhulangach,

Rinn guineideach gu amtiis ; Bu naimhdeil dian an gunnaireachd, A dh'fh^g an sliabh 'a nial fuileach air, Bha cuirp na 'n riadhan uireasach,

Fo 'n ian gun tuille lilis.

'N ^m propadh ria an nkmhaid,

Sinn g'an amkladh ann sa' che6, Las a bheinn mar Jimhuinn ruinn,

A bkrcadh na prais oirn ; Shaoil ainn gur h-i Vesdvius, A Bgkin bho bonn le t^imeanaich, Airm chaola b' fhaoineis l^mh ridhe, 'S craos na chaoir tigh'n' be^.

Bha craoslach nan geum neimheil, Gu br^un, aineolach, aa' che6,

A bheiat bu tr^ine langhanaich, Bu reusan agreamh do dh' fhe^il ;

,'n

APPENDIX. 499

Bu chaillteach dhuinn an dealanacb, 'S a liughad saighdear bearraideach, Bha 'n oidhche sin a mearachd oirn, Gu 'n anam air an t^ir.

Dh' aiudeoin a h-ard bhilrainich,

Bha Ikidir, miiiseach, garbh, Ga b' oil leis an cuid trdpairean,

Am bruchdadh rinn an arm ; Ge d' fhuair sinn beagan diilbhalacb, A laoghad cha do Idb sinn daibh, Bu lionmhor marcach cxil-donn diii,

Fo 'r casan brilite, mkrbh.

Thug iad an cdl, 's cha mhasladh dhaibh,

Chuir casgairt iad na'n teinn, Siun ga'n sgiursadh do 's na fauaichean,

'S gach tdbh na las a bheinn ; Thionndadh gach c(iis taitneach dhuinn, Bho bhon a cilil 'a a cfis-mhulaich, Cha d' fhurich gnftis dhiu gleachda ruinn, Nach d' bhriichd amach na still.

'S c&s a throm an ruaig orra, Cho cruaidh 's a chualas riamh,

Bha Ahercrombie suas riutha, Le shluadh a dh' fhuasgail fial ;

Mar bhi'dh am baile bhuaunaich iad,

Le canain air a chuartachadh,

Bha barachd dhid 's na h-uaighichean, *S a dh' fhuaraich air an t-sliabh.

Thjiirneadh gkradh Ikidir,

'Dh' arm tabhachdach nach striochd, Ma choinneamh Alexandria,

Air airde Aboutier; 'N uair rainig sinn an lirach sin, 'S a dhealaich mi ri m' ch^irdean ann, 'S ann ghiiilain iad gu m' bhkta mi,

'S fuil bhl^th fo 'm air an fhiar.

Tha 'n d^ Bhaiteal ^raidh

An deagh Ghkglig ann am chuimhn', Cha 'n e 'n treaa fear bu tAire,

'S math a b' fhiach e b^rd ga sheinn ; Tha mi sa' cheaird air mhkgaran, Cha 'n fhilidh no fear dkna mi, Na dh' innis mi cha nkr learn e,

Co chluinneas c' kit' an d' rinn.

500

APPENDIX.

SONG ON THE BATTLE OP EGYPT.

lu that far camp my song begins In which I left my comrades dear, Wherein with tender twigs of trees We built the summer bowers. Proud were our hearts to mark our chief Meeting the f oemen breast to breast ; Such joy were mine — such as he feels Who joins the dance— if by your side Despite French lead, I stood once more.

We have not heard in olden tales

Of clash of arms and battle-fray,

Of fifteen thousand men more famous

Who for the King have drawn their swords.

Far-renowned was Scotland's hero *

With such charge to be entrusted ;

Nor were cowards by him chosen

To end the mighty deed of arms.

It was early in the morning

Of the mid-day of the week,

When the teens of March were opening,

That the orders came for each

Of our commissaries to issue

Drink and rations to the army ;

So that strengthened for the battle

We might stand prepared betimes.

Upon Thursday we departed, Our noble fleet left far behind. Mighty was their strength to aid us, But no channel there could float them. Staunch Sir Sydney Smith with valour. As of old, our force supported ; Shrill fury of the foe extinguished, As a light is quenched in darkness.

The great commander now was seen With skill encouraging his men ; Each several company inciting To valour, prompt in look and word. Like Fingal mustering his host. His strong hand seizing Fortune's wheel, He swiftly gave the happy turn That wakes the soul to victory. > Sir Ralph Abcrcrotnby.

A

APPENDIX. 501

The comely wurriors were drawn up

In stern well-ordered companies ;

Strong are their hands, and skilled to wound

With the fine spark of tempered steel,

When seeking for a place to strike.

There, if the foe would stand to meet them,

Dark would be the ground with blood.

From havoc of the piercing blades.

But since the f oemeu would not tarry To dare the combat hand to hand, Nor face the British line of battle — With fire we pressed them, following closely, Till they turned their backs upon us. Showed their heels and fled with speed ; Though trained horsemen in their rear Protected still their flagging steps.

There were lads, swift-footed, hearty. Yielding not whate'er the danger, Pursuing still as they were able. Fifty horse their skill turned backwards, For in vain the riders fancied That no man would dare to fight them, Whilst the still uu vanquished heroes Chased them o'er the plain's expanse.

Signs we left of deadly slaughter ; Yet, because the ground we knew not, More than once we needs must linger ; Though Ralph, trusting to our comrades, Tried all his well-practised methods To reveal the foemen's banners. Yet we failed, despite his wisdom. To bring their forces to hand-fighting.

We were strong men, bold and hardy, Sure of ourselves and fierce in strife ; Wily the foe, and full of cunning. With good knowledge of the country. Therefore they sought among the hills To find a fitting place of vantage From which their guns could work us mischief And success, though fleeting, gain.

A line of strong defence we formed Of matchless, mighty warriors ; Across the plain from base to base They stretched, at setting of the sun.

502 APPENDIX.

Keen soldiers, steadfast, capable, Fencing the stricken field with bonnets. Peaceful sleep was not their portion," For on the hill the foe still faced them.

Throughout the night, all stood to arms ; Each soldier holding maiden-wise His silent sweetheart 'neath his wing. Silent until, when Deed or call Of danger giveth cause for speech. Her lively answer would be ready, A stinging message from a mouth That never missed her deadly aim !

On you, my Scottish comrades dear, The safety of our lives depended. Men who in the stress of arms Would never bring misfortune on us ; Good watch they kept throughout the night, Aye ready, eager, standing fast. Should any foeman challenge them, A sudden death would be his portion !

Prepared on all sides with defiance To follow up the swift pursuit, The thirteenth morning was the time Fixed by our gallant great commander. Then two, our youngest regiments, Gordons and Graemes, * impetuously Rush forth to meet the opposing hosts That stream in numbers down the hill.

Quick as the powder blazing

About our heads in circling smoke —

So marched — so ran — our agile lads !

As when they hastened to the sport

In Highland glen — so now they break

With double lire the lines of horse.

Like heroes fought the Graemes, nor heeded

The murmur of the sounding blades !

As when a storm, in strong contention, With violence rends the clouds and trees, Raising a sea most boisterous — On fair sails sending peril dire — Hard was the Gordons' victory !

* The 90th Regiment was comuianded by Ckilonel Grsetne of Lyndoch.

APPENDIX. 503

But when on that contested plain They met the onset of the foe, Abundantly they reaped the sheaves And gleanings of Death's harvest-field !

Our gallant troops, intent on vengeance. In readiness upon our rear, March on to fill the dauntless line Formed closely, firing straight and sure. Well skilled in fierce Destruction's ways. Thus on that blood-stained field they left In piteous rows the wounded men, Laid spent and weary 'neath the skies.

When thus we faced the enemy. Thick mist had hidden all from view ; Then blazed the hill as from a furnace Pouring brass upon us there ! As though Vesuvius in thunder Forth from her strong foundations burst ! Vain our small arms 'gainst that mouth Whence fiery waves do issue still.

But the wide mouth muttered vengeance, Speaking darkly through the mist ; There that mighty engine roaring Causeth horror to the flesh. For by that lightning many a lad — Light-hearted soldier from our midst — Was missing from us on that night, And not a soul to seek them out.

But despite the deep-toned wail Of that strong voice, loud and deadly. And in spite of all their troopers, Fiercely rushed our army on them I Though some loss we suffered, never Did we yield one step before them ! Many of their brown-haired riders Fell down dead beneath our feet.

No disgrace was theirs in fleeing — By our fire their ranks were shattered — As we drove them to their downfall Where the hill on all sides blazed. All things now were in our favour, Ours the hill from base to summit ; Not a man remained to face us — All fled from us like a torrent !

604 APPENDIX.

HI

f

Never flying foe was pressed

By swift pursuit more fierce and hard !

Abercrombie came up with them,

Brought his hosts to our relief.

Were it not for cannons frowning

To guard the town they now had reached.

Many more had found their graves,

Than on the field of battle stiffened.

In front of Alexandria,

Upon the heights of Aboukir,*

A gallant and victorious army

Formed a strong, unyielding wall.

When we reached that field of battle,

I was parted from my comrades,

Who to the boat sore-wounded bore me.

Warm blood all the grass bedewing.

In good Gaelic my remembrance

Holds these special battles twain ;

And the third was no less famous.

Most worthy to be told in song.

Poet am I not, nor singer —

But no shame have I in telling.

So that all who list may hear —

Of what has chanced and where 'twas done !

V.

When the Experimental Rifle Corps was succeeded by the Ri

i \ Corps and 95th Rifle Regiment, a Highland Company seems

j have been continued, though without any distinctive dress. In i

i ' acquittance roll of Captain Alexander Stewart's company, Rii

'< I Regiment, 1801, there are sixty-seven men, and their names sho

^ them to have been almost all Highlanders. A letter to him fro

c his commanding oflScer in 1802 desires him to enlist as many \

, possible in his own country (Appin). Captain Stewart had been i

I the 92nd, and he seems to have been succeeded by another Gordo

; Highlander, for Colonel A. W. Cameron told me his father con

manded the Highland Company of the 95th Rifles, and he :

mentioned by Blakeney as commanding it at Corunua.

j • Aboukir is at a consiilerabln diaUnce; the army i-eally held the heights opposj'

I Alexandria. The bard waa so remarkable for the historical correctness of his desoriptiom

that this mistake must be attributed to an error in transcription.

.-H

APPENDIX.

505

VL

EXTRACT FROM LIEUT. GENERAL HILL'S DISPATCH AFTER THE ACTION OF ARROYO- DEL-MOLTNOS, DATED MERIDA, 30th OCTOBER ISU.

'*The 71st and 92nd Regiments charged into the town witli cheers, and drove the enemy everywhere at the point of the bayonet, having a few men cut down by the enemy's cavalry. The enemy's infantry, which had got «ut of thn town, had, by the time these regiments arrived at the extremity of it, formed into two sqiiareK, with the cavalry on their left ; the whole were posted between the Merida and Medelin rojids, fronting Alcuescnr : the right square being formed witliin half musket shot of the town, the garden wails of which were promptly lined by the 71st Light Infantry, while the i)2nd Regiment tiled out and formed line on their right, perpenrlicu- lar to the enemy's right flank, which was much annoyed by the well-directed tire of the 71st. In the meantime, one wing of the 50th Regiment occupied the town and secured the prisoners, and the other wing along with the three six-poundei-s skirted the out- side of it, the artillery, as soon as within range, firing with great effect upon the squares.

" Whilst the enemy was thus tjccupied on his right, Major-Oeneral Howard's column continued moving mund his left, and our cavalry advancing and crossing the head of the column, cut off the enemy's cavalry from his infantry, charging it repeatedly and putting it to the rout. The 13th Light Dragoons at the .s;iine time ti>ok possession of the enemy '.s artillery. One of the charges, made by two squadrons of the 2nd Hussars and one of the 9tli Light Dragoons, was particularly gallant ; the latter commanded by Captain Crore, and the whole under Major Busche of the hussars. I ought previously to have mentioned that the British cavalry, having, through the darkness of the night and the badness of the road, been somewhat delayefl, the Spanish cavalry, under the Conde de Penne Villemur, was on this occasion the tirst to form upon the plain and engage the enemy, until the British were enabled to come up.

" The enemy was now in full retreat, but Major-General Howard's column having gained the point to which it was directed, and the left column gaining fast upon him, he Inul no re»ouree but to sur- render, or to disperse and ascend the mountain. He preferred the

506

APPKNDIX,

lalter, and lificendmg near ihe eastern extremity of the cr and which might have been deemed inaccessible, was fonowed closely by the 28th and 34th Regiments, wliilst the 39th Regimeot and Colonel Ashworth'i* itrigade of Portuguese infantry foIloi(«d round the fix»t of the mountain by the Truxillo road, to take hi|^| again in tiank. At tlie swime time, Brig.-Ueneral MoriUo's iufanti^' ascended at some distance to the left with the same view."

NoTK.— 'Hie left column was composed of tlie 50th, 71st, 92nd, vadtnt company of the tiOth.

I

Edinburgh Castle, I5fh Att<ju«t iS45.

Sir, — I have the honour to stjite that in the year 1829, when preferred a claim on the part of the 92nd to beiar certain honour able badges commemorative of its conduct in the field, I then con- fined myself to the great battles or general actions for which medfth haJ been conferred on the officers in command, with the excepti of " Almaraz," which having been granted U) the other regimeni engaged on that occasion, although not more distinguished than the 92nd, the withholding the grant from that corps would convey future times that there had been some misconduct on its part, ing on this rule, I ditl not then put forth any claim to the woi " Arroyo-del-Molinos," lately granted to the 34th Regiment, wh( services on that oecasiou 1 do uot mean to question.

At the same time, and with all deference, I venture to that if there was one more pre-eminently distinguished another in the attack and surprisal of the enemy at Arroyo-del- Molinos, on the 28th October 1811, that regiment was the one which 1 now have the honour t<> command, in proof of which I beg leave to refer to Lord Hill's dispatch, dated Merida, 30th Octol 1811, as well as to the casualties on that occasion, when, out of total of seven killed, the U2nd had three, and out of a total of se officers wouudeii, the 92nd numbered four of them. That casualties were not increased (as generally happens) from any hesi< tion or delay in the ailvance and attack uf the rugiment will ap< very evident from tiie fact that a wing of the 50th (which was hel in reserve) was immediately required in the town and right suburbs to secure the prisfmerB overtbmwn by the 92nd in its impetaot|^| charge through thi:; main street; the 71st at that time bearing ^1 heavy fire upon the enemy's right from the garden walls, and the 92nd deploying iu the ojicn field in his front. While the Tlg^H were being disengaged I'roni the garden an<l suburbs on the left, t^| 92nd advanced ami bruke the enemy's right square, which then dis*

APPENDIX'.

507

persefl, a.s detailed in tho disjiiatch, and was puiKUed Ijy the 28tli atid 34th Regiments. Wlien the enemy diftpersed he threw away arms, drums, and everything likely to encumber him in asceeiditig the Sierra. Many of these fell into the hands of the 9l!nd, in whose im- mediate front he broke ; but some also fell into the hands of the regiments ordered to pursue, while the 50th, 71st, and 92nd were recalled, preparatory to the movement to St Pedro the same day, and on the next to Merida.

Under these circumstances, I trust His Grace the Commander- in-Chief will recommend Her Majesty to grant the 92nd Regiment jjenuLssion to Ijear the words " Arroyo-del-Molinoa " on its colours and appointments, the same mark of distinction having already been conferred on the 34th Regiment engaged in the same service. — I have the honour to he, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

(Signed) J. MacDonalu,

Colonel ConimaDdiog 92nd Highlanders.

The Adjutant-General of the Forces, etc., Horse (luarda, London.

Lieut. -General Sir William MacBoan, Colonel of the 92n(l, addressed a letter to the aame effect to the Adjutattt-Oeneml, dated 1 8th .A^ugu-st 1845, to which he received the following reply, dated Horse GuardLs, 26th September 1645 : —

Sir, — Having had the honour to submit to the Commander-in- Chief your letter of the 18th August last with its enclosure, 1 have it in command to express His Grace's regret that he cannot give effect to your wish that the 92nd Ilegimeut be permitted to assume the words " Ari-oyo-tlel-MoIinos" on its colours and appointments, a» the officer commanding the regiment did not obtain a medal for that action.*

I am to add that thi-s distinction was conferred by Her Majesty upon the 34th Regiment In lieu of that which it enjoyed hefore, namely, a red and white tuft, which is now worn by the infantry at large. — I have the honour to be, etc.,

(Signed) J. MacDonalu, A.G-

Lieut. -General Sir William Macliean, K.C. U., United Service Club.

* The officer commimdiDg the 34th does not appear to have obtained a medal for that actiou, and Colonel Ciinicrou, the officer comtnandiag the 92nd, did not receive a medal fur " Alnmra/. ; ^' yet that uanie was allowed to hie regiment in 1829.

I

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APPENDIX.

509

Rank. Captain	Nahb.	Family or Rbsidenoi.	County.	Rbmabks.
Roger A3rtoun	of Inchdaimie	Fife
,,	Alexander, Lord Berri-	son of the Earl
	dale	of Caithness
"	Charles, Earl of March	son of the Duke of Richmond
II	John HUl
Lieutenant i« 1)	Samnel Bevan John Warren Angus Eraser William BaUlie			Died of wounds received at Maya, 1813
	Dunean (?)	Inverness
»>	John Ross	son of a parish minister	Ross-shire	Killed at San Sebastian while doing duty with Portuguese regiment
>»	William Fyfe	Si>eyside	Moray	Retired captain. Died at Garmouth
i>	Donald MacPherson	Sherrobeg, Jjog- gan	Inverness	Retired captain. Died about 1835
11	John Cattanach	Kingussie	Inverness	Rose from the ranks, re- tired captain. Died in Canada
tt	•Ronald MacDonald	Gaskmore	Inverness	Colonel, C.B., K.H., adjutant-general Bom- bay Army. Died, 1848
1}	John A. Dnrie
)i	Claude Alexander Hay Rose-		Renfrewshire
11	James John Chisholm	Knockfin	Inverness	Killed at Quatre-Bras, 1815 Retired lieut. - colonel.
	Robert Winchester	Aberdeen	Aberdeen
				Died in Edinburgh,
				1846
31	Thomas Hobbs
	Thomas Macintosh
»l	*Donald MacDonald	Garvabeg	Inverness
>•	Andrew Will	Brechin	Forfar	Died, Jamaica, 1819
>> |l	Alexander Gordon Duncan MacPherson	Loin-bhulg	Inverness	KiUed at St Pierre, 1813
	William MacEachran
	Hector Innes	Cullen	Banff	Died, Jamaica, 1819
>>	Andrew M'Kenzie Shaw	Pettnlich	Inverness	Retired captain
II	George Logan
II	Ewen Campbell •Richard MacDonell	Sonachan	Argyle
»l	of Keppoch	Inverness	Died, Jamaica, 1819
II	Richard Josiah Peat William Little			Killed at Quatre-Bras
	Patrick Leatham
	Gkorge Mackie	Auldearn (?)	Nairn	Died, Jamaica, 1819
l>	Alexander MacPherson	Kingussie	Inverness	Rose from the ranks, re- tired captain. Died in Badenoch
>»	Ewen Cameron Ro«8	Kilmonivaig, son of parish ministw	Inverness	Died at Fort- Augustus about 1866
Ensign	Luke Higgins George GOTdon	Loin-bhulg	Inverness
i»	J Mackie	Auldearn	Nairn

NoTB.— Those marked* seem all to have been connected with the Keppoch Ctmily. Those places marked (T) are doubtful.

510

APPENDIX.

Rakk.	Name.	Family ok Residb>ce.	CotixTr.	RK>tAUK&. 1
Envign	John Oraut	Comonioiiy	liivunic'Sfc	Father of the author d The Rintioitce itf War, Died captniii at Bdil burgh, 1861
,j	James Hope	Dafchoshui*?	Linlithgow
11	Alexander MnoDonald	Perth	Died Uexit«;oaut «t Vit-
				toria of woontlis re-
				ceived at Maya, 1813
II	Thoima Mitchell	Auchiudau}	luverness	Killed OS Iieut«fuai)t &tSt Pierrtf, 1813 j
"	•A!l<ui Maedoiinltl	(Jlll-Bft-Uojl	luTernesfl	Killed lu lienten&nt «•■ Pittrre _j
1)	Eweu Cauierou Mac- PhcVHOJl	Cliiuy	InvernoiH	Died ill the Iton. ^H India ComxKiny*B^H viue ^^^H
II	Eweu Cunieroii	Letterflnlay (If)	Inv«mes8
	James Patlullfl			^^^^1
II	Eweu Koinidy	May, Loclwber	InverneM	RoK(« from the n^H
PayuuBtsr	Jinnes Onnloii	Crnughly	B&nfT	KilU'ii At Mayo, \fSM Died at Noiru, 1887^I
1)	John Philip			^1
A^jaUat	Cluude Alexander Eweu CHnipbeil			1
Q'ennABt«r	Diincnu MncFariane George Wallace			RoHf from the rnnlm H Ro8« from the ranlu ^|

NoTL— Thoie marked * ■Mm all to have been Thoae placen marked (T) ore doubtlUl.

eonneeted with the Keppoch fiinUlr.1

List op Staff-Seroeants of the 1st Battalion 92nd

RKfJIMRNT AT MaYA, JULY 1813.

Duncftu MacPhereon.

John MacCorabie.

John Cirant.

John MttcEweti.

DuiidaB 8t€venB0u (came from the 42nd).

Colin MacKeozie.

Sergeant-major

Q Qarte tmaater-ae rgeant

PayjTiaater-sergeant

Kchoohnaater-Bergeant

Armourer-sergeant .

Drum-major .

Ninety per cent, of the men were Scotch according to tb« Return of 25th July 1813. Napier acknowledged^ in the Unit Service Journal for October 1840, that it had been proved to himi that seventy per cent, were Scotch Highlauders, and this is borne out I by Colonel Cameron's letter of four yetira earlier, in which he says two-thirda of 2nd Battalion could spe^k little but Gaelic, and thej other third nearly all Scotch ; therefore, it appears that twenty per] cent, were Scotch Lowlanders, and ten per cent. English and Irish.

The Clans most numerously represented on the prize roll for I

Vittoria, made out just before Maya, were in order of numbers |

Clan Chattan, Roas, Clan Donald, Mackenzie^ Fraaer, Mac Kay, Cameron, Munro. Campbell, Grow or Smith, Murray, MacLeod, M.acLean, Grant numbered each from seventeen to fourteen.

APPENDIX, 511

VIII.

CUMHA DO CHOIRNEAL IAIN CAMSHRON,

A thuit ann am blar Bhatarlaidh^ agu» chaidh a chorp a thoirt dhachaidh do Chill-€t-MhaUlihh 'n Lochaber.

Air Fonn— " Gur muliwlach rai lium f hin, 'S gu'n duint) mu 'n cuairt."

'S lionmhor caraid 's fear daimh,

Nach gearain a cheann' bhi tinn, Chaidh a leagadh 's an Fhraing,

'S a chuir Bonaparte thall d'ar dith ; Ged bha Wellington ann,

'Chuir scapadh 'na champ bho thir, 'S leir ri fhaicinn ar call,

Dh'fhag na Gaidheal cho gann ri 'r linn.

'N Bgeul a thainig as iir,

Dh'fhag na h-Abraich fo thilrsa bron, 'S iad gun mhire, gun mhilirnn,

Oun aidhear, gun sunnt ri ceol ; Chaill iad caraid 'sa chuirt,

'S treun bharrantas cuil air sloigh ; '3 lionmhor Morfhear a's Diuchd,

A bha cr^iteach mu 'n diubhal mhoir.

Chunnacas long anns a chaol,

'S i 'seoladh le gaoth bho 'n iar, Dol gu fasadh nan craobh,

'S ann leamsa nach b-fhaoin an sgial ; 'S corp alninn an laoich

Air a clar, 's gun bu daor a thriall ; 'S dh' fhag sid bron agus gaoire,

Aig mnatban da thaobh Loch-iall.

Latha blair Bhatarlaidh,

Thuit 'n t-shaoidh sin fhuair cliu 's gach tir, Mor Chamshronach ar,

Choisinn urram an cuirt an Sigh ; Fhir nach tionndadh do chul,

'N uair a rachadh a chuis gu stri, 'S trie a dhearbh thu do thtlm,

'S a fhuair sinu ort cunntas fior.

512 APPENDIX.

D' fhnil 'ga dortadh air mhire,

Dh'fhag a' caoineadh do chinneadh gu leir A's do chreuchdaibh a sileadh,

'S cha robh doigh air a tilleadh le leigh, 'S gun ad' choir ach do ghille,

'S e bronach le teum ha do dheigb ; A's Ve leon an cul slinnein,

Leia 'n do thuit thu 'san iomairt^ 's le 'm beud.

Bu tu 'm buachaill air trend,

Ga 'n gleidheadh bho bheud gun cball, Qua an cuirte orra feum,

'S iad uil air dheadb ghleus a' d' champ ; Neartmhor, fulanach, treun,

Fad 'sa sheasadh tu fein air an ceann ; Bhiodh do naimhdean Ian chreuchd,

'S tu cur an ra-treut na deann.

Sar churaidh gun chealg,

Cait an cualas fear t-aimn rid' linn ; A dh'fhuirich no dh'fhalbb,

Thug ort urram le dearbhadh fior ; Ann an cumadh, 's an dealbh,

No 'n cumaag nan arm dol sios, Leomhan fuileachdach, garg,

'S Ian ghaisgeach gun chearb 'san stri.

Fear do choltais le cinnt,

Cha 'n fhaicte 'n cuig mil' air sr^id, Gun chron cuim' ort ri inn's,

Bho mhuUach do chinn gu d' shail ; 'S do dh'aoine gasd' aig do shlinne,

Leis an reachadh tu 'n tionnsglaidh blair, Ann an cogadh no 'n sith,

'S tu bhuidhneadh a chls thar chach.

Bu ghlan rutliadh a d' ghruaidh,

Air each aigionnach, luath, 'chinn aird, 'S tu air thoiseach do shiuaigh,

Nuair a tharruinneadh suas brigade ; Claidheamh nochda gun truaill,

Leis an coisneadh tu buaidh a d' laimh, Lann thana, gheur, chruaidh,

Scathadh chlaignean a's chluaa gu lar.

'S mairg a spiouadh dhiot calg,

'N uar a lasadh do mheamna ad' shroin,

Lamh dheas air chul arm,

Leis an reachadh tu an sealbh a ghleois ;

APPENDIX. 513

Ghleidheadh do'n righ,

'S cha leigeadh tu dhiot a choir ; 'S goirt do chairdean' gad' dhith,

'S nach d' fhan thu a dh' innse sgeoil

Sid an sgeula 'bha goirt,

Dh'fhag Sir Eoghan na thosd, gun sunnt, 'S beag an t-ioghnadh a sprochd,

'S deoir bhi sileadh bho' roiBg* gu dlu ; A dheadh mhac oighre gun spot,

A dh'fhoillaich le phosta cliu, Dhol gu bas le trom lot,

Air a charamh a nochd 's an air.

An latha mor sin chaidh crioch

Air a chogadh, 's gach rioghachd thall, S iomadh luach bu mhor pris,

A thuit leis an stri 'san Fhraing, Phaigh cloinn Chamshroin a cbis,

'S cha d'thig iad air tir gun chall : 'S ged a thainig an t-shith,

'S daor a h-eiric 'san diola bh'ann.

An la fhuair iad bho'n Fhraing

Do chorp priseil a nail thar chuan, 'N date ghiubhais nam bord,

Ged 'bha 'n fhailt ud cho bronach, fuar ; Dh* arduich d' onoir cho mor,

'S nach bu mhuillean do 'n or a luach Do thoirt dachaidh le coir,

'S do thasgaidh fo'n fhoid far 'm bu dual.

'N CUl-a-Mhaillibh nam feirt,

Chaidh an laoch bu mhor neart fo dhion, 'Na uir dhnchasaich cheart,

Ann an tur na 'n clach snaighte, grinn ; Ge b' e ghabhas dur-bheachd.

Air sgriobhadh na'n leachdan slinn, 'S leir an sid gur ceann f eachd,

Fhuair urram le ceartaa righ.

Fad 'sa shiubhlas a ghrian,

Dol deiseal na nial gu h-ard, Gus an leagh le teas dian,

Na beanntuinnean sios gu lar, Cluinnear iomradh do ghniomh,

Gus an teirig gach sliabh 's gach traigh, Seasaidh fianuis do bhuadh,

'S do chuimhneachan suas gu brath.

2 K

514 APPENDIX.

'S ann an Lunnuin nan cleochd,

Dhealbh iad ioghnadh ro nihor mu d' chas, Ris 'n do chosdadh an t-or,

Obair innealta, sheolt, lamb ; 'S nam biodh iomairt na'n dorim,

A bheiredh tu beo bho'n bhaa, Cha leigeadh cnlu Dheoraa

Thu laidhe fo'u fhod cho trath.

Lament for Colonel John Cameron, 92nd Regiment, who fell at Quatre-Bras, and whose body was brought home to Kilmallie, in Lochaber, by " Ailean Dall," or Blind Allan, the Glengarry bard. This almost literal translation from the Gaelic was written by Professor Blackie in 1882.

There is many a dear friend and relation

Who will not complain any more of headache,

Who was laid low in France

And driven to death by Bonaparte ;

And, though Wellington was there,

Who scattered the French host from the land,

And one may plainly see our loss,

A loss which caused our people to be few.

Sad news has recently come to us,

That made the men of Lochaber weep sorely ;

And now they are without smile and cheerfulness.

Fitful joy, without glee, without music.

They have lost a friend at court.

And a powerful warrant to back our people.

Aud many an earl and duke

Had anguish of heart at so great a loss.

A ship was seen in the Narrows

Sailing up with a west wind.

Sailing up to the leafy wood ;

And it was no light freight it brought to me.

It bore the fair body of the hero

On her deck, and his voyage was a sad one.

And it caused wail and lamentation

To the women on both sides of Loch Eil.

On the day of Waterloo

A hero fell whose fame has gone forth into every laud ;

A great man of the Cameron Clan,

Who gained for himself honour at the court of the king.

The mau who never turned hi'a back When the nuitter to the tug-of-war came, Antt many a doughty deed he did, Of which a true refM>rt came to ua.

It waa tli« pouring of thy blcMxl in a streaiu That made all thy clansmen so sorrowful ; And the Idood (lowed from thy woundH, Wouutia which there waa no surgeon to heu\, With no one near tliee but thy squire, And he aad for grief and loaa of thee, And that blow ou the ahnulder wa» not a light uue By which you fell in the atruggle to thy harru.

Thou waat the flhepherd of the flock

That It'll them ttu-ough harm w^ithuut Joss,

Until there waa need of theui

They all reniaineil in goo<i trim in thy camp.

Stout were they, hardy and brave,

So long as thou wa«t at their head ;

Wound after wound they inflicted on the foe,

And swift was his retreat

From thy iinjwtuoniH onalaught.

A hero wtu without guile.

Wlien was his like heard of in his time /

He who waited and he who depai'ted

Gave houuur to him with true assurance.

In stiiture and in gait,

And in the tug of battle »eeoiid to none ;

A lion niettle84>rae and fierce.

And a champion without blame in the fight.

A mau like to thee, in sooth,

Waa not to be found among five thousand.

Without blot f>r blemiah from the crown of thy bead to thy heel,

With thy skilful men by thy side

Thou would'st go into the creat of battle,

Whether in war or peace

The homage of others you would win.

Fresh waa the red on thy cheek

When thou went mounted on thy horse,

Mettlesome, swift, and high necked.

And thett at the head of thy dan,

When the brigade vsus dmwn up,

Bright shone thy sword unsheathed

Witli which thy hand gained victory.

There was the blade, ftliarp and bard.

With which thou didst cleave the skuil of the foe.

516

APPENDIX.

i\ \k. \ 'I

Woe be to the wight that lifted a spear against thee

When thou didat snort flame from thy nostrils,

With thy right hand wielding the weapon

With which thou would'st enter into the strife ;

Thou would'st protect the king,

Nor would'st thou forget the right.

Sore do thy relations miss thee,

And sad are they that thou didst not live

To tell the story of thy deeds.

That was sad news indeed,

News that made Sir Ewen sit in silent sorrow ;

No wonder that he should grieve.

With the salt tears flowing from his eye.

His good son and heir without blemish.

Who, by the rank he attained to, showed how he merited

Gone to death with a heavy wound,

Placed this night beneath the sod.

On that great day an end was put to the wars,

To the .struggle with Continental despotism,

And many a hero of mighty worth

Fell in the strife with France.

The Clan Cameron paid its due,

And they didn't come home without loss.

And dear was the fine that they paid for peace.

To-day they have brought from France

Thy honoured remains across the sea,

In a coffin of fine wood.

Though that was a welcome sorrowful and cold,

This was an honour that raised you higher

Than millions of gold would have done,

When they brought you home with due homage

And placed you beneath the sod with your ancestors.

'Twas in Kilmallie, that noble shrine,

Where our doughty hero found his rest ;

Here he slee})8 in his own native soil

Beneath a monument of beautiful polished stone ;

And if you mark attentively

The inscription on that flagstone,

It stands plainly written there, that the great captain

Found honour from the justice of the king.

As long as the sun shall travel

Through the sky from the horizon to the zenith.

Until by fervent heat of mid-day

The mountains are warmed to their bsise,

APPENDIX.

517

So long shall the fame of thy deeds last

Till the mountains and the shore shall be no more,

The witness of thy prowess shall stand,

And thy memory endure for ever.

It was in London, where the bells ring,

That they made a work to be admired in honour of thee,

A work in which much gold was spent,

The work of an ingenious and skilful hand ;

And, in troth, if the craft of any human hand

Could have brought you alive from death.

King George, with the crown on his head,

Would not have allowed you to die so early.

IX.

Fragment of the list of men who had joined with him, dated at Alexandria in 1801, and found in Colonel Cameron's pocket-book when he died, with notes opposite the names as to their career. Three of the number had got commissions and a fourth was oflFered one, but declined : —

Serg. A. Cameron, Achnacarry. Pte.

„ E. Cameron, Achnasaul. „

,, D. Cameron, Barr. „

„ P. Ferguson, Kinlocharkaig. ,,

Corp. A. Cameron, Clunes. ,,

,, A. Cameron, Glendessarie. ,,

,, N. Cameron, Invermallie. „ „ D. M'Eachem, Fort- William.

Pte. Charles Cameron, Connich. ,,

,, John Cameron, Connich. ,,

„ John Cameron, Murshirlach. „

, , Ewen Cameron, Glensalioh. „

The remainder of the list is lost.

Alexr. Cameron, Moy. Donald Campbell, Barra. Ewen Kenedy, Moy. Ewen Kenedy, Fassiefem. Alexr. Kenedy, Clunes. Ewen M'Millan, Kinlocharkaig. Ewen M'Millan, Glendessarie. Angus Henderson, Annat. Allan M 'Master, Glenmaillie. John M'Phee, Glendessarie. Duncan M'Kenzie, Ballachulish. Donald Rankin, Fort- William.

518

APPENDIX.

X.

Inscription on Colonel Cameron's Tomb at Kilmalli BY Sir Walter Scott.

Sacred to the memory

of

Colonel John Cameron,

Eldest son of Sir Ewen Cameron of Fassiefem, Barouet ;

Whose mortal remains,

Transported from the field of glory where he died,

Rest here with those of his Forefathers.

During Twenty years of active Military Service,

With a spirit which knew no fear, and shunned no danger,

He accompanied or led.

In Marches, in Sieges, in Battles,

The gallant 92nd Regiment of Scottish Highlanders,

Always to honour, almost always to Victory ;

And at length,

In the Forty-second year of his age,

Upon the memorable 16th day of June, a.d. 1815,

Was slain in the command of that corps.

While actively contributing to achieve the decisive

Victory of

Waterloo,

Which gave peace to Europe :

Thus closing his Military career

With the long and eventful struggle in which

His services had been so often distinguished.

He died lamented

By that unrivalled General

To whose long train of Success and Victory

He had so often contributed ;

By his country,

From which he had repeatedly received marks

Of the highest consideration ;

And

By his Sovereign,

Who graced his surviving family

With those marks of honour

Which could not follow to this place

Him whose merit

They were designed to commemorate.

Reader,

Call not his fate untimely,

Who thus, honoured and lamented,

Closed a Life of Fame, by a Death of Glory.

APPENDIX.

519

XI.

Grant, in his "Romance of War," gives, incidentally, a fair estimate of Colonel Cameron's character; but in his "Cavaliers of Fortune," he attributes to him unrelenting and even spiteful acts, which his chivalrous disposition and kindness of heart, as shown in his correspondence, prove to have been foreign to his nature. For instance. Grant states that, having in early life had a quarrel with Lord Huntly he never forgot it, but carried it into his intercourse with the Duchess of Richmond, Huntly's sister, a statement which is sufficiently disproved by the letters of both, and by Cameron accepting her Grace's hospitality at Brussels. A story has also been circulated in Lochaber of a severe corporal punishment, ordered by him in a moment of passion on a soldier from that district ; whereas (though the captain of a ship could, in former days, order a man to be flogged), no officer, of whatever rank, had such power in the army. The colonel could order a soldier, for certain crimes, to be tried by Court-martial ; and the Court, if the prisoner was found guilty, could condemn him to corporal punish- ment according to the law as it then existed, but the colonel could not.

XII.

The War Office has not any record of the nationality of the three kilted regiments in the early part of 1815, i.e., before Waterloo, but the Return dated 22nd October 1815 gives : —

42nd Regiment —

	English.	Scotch.	Irish.	Foreigners.
Sergeants	0	35	2	0
Corporab	0	26	2	0
Drummers	0	13	2	0
Privates	16	370	34	0

16 444 40 0— Total, 500

English and Irish ... 56

Scotch

444 =88 -8 per cent.

fpfp

520

APPENDIX.

79th Beoimbnt, Ist Battalion —

English. Scotch. Irish. Foreigners.

Sergeants . 7 46 0 0

Corporals . 6 42 3 0

Drummers .3 5 2 1

Privates 67 552 54 1

83 645 59 2— Total, 789 English, Irish, and Foreign . 144

Scotch . . . 645«81

92nd Regiment —

Sergeants CJorporals Drummers Privates

English. Scotch. Irish. Foreigners.

0 42 0 0

0 34 2 0

1 12 3 0

17 394 46 0

18 482 51 0— Totol, 551 English and Irish ... 69

Scotch

482 = 87-

I t^

INDEX.

EREATA. Page 52, line 2, noU,f(yr Pry or reouA Pryse.

„ 88, line 35, /(W Steuart rtad Stewart.

„ 110, line 17, 18, and noU.for Sydney rtad Sidney.

„ 170, line 4, /or Potalegre read Portalegre.

„ 206, line 7, note, for Jerrot rtad Terrot.

„ 218, line 11, /(?r commissioned rtad commanding.

„ 332, line 13,/(?r Sir J. Graham rtad Sir T. Graham. Map of Portugal, Spain, and the south of France, " Toulouse " printed in hlack should be in red.

Beokwith, Gaptun, 3.

S., letter from, 129.

Belle-Isle, 8i^;e of, 92.

Benevente, 178, 179.

Beresford, Marshal, 261, 380, 407.

Blassier, Captain, 60th Rifles, 269, 280, 284, 312.

Blucher, Marshal, 422, 423, 426, 426, 438, 444, 455, 467, 466, 470.

Bonaparte, Joseph, 165, 300, 333, 336.

Napoleon, 58, 112, 133; Em- peror, 136, 142, 150, 169 [noU.\ 166, 168 Knott), 176, 181, 192, 206, 227, 421, 423, 430, 439 and nott, 442, 445, 454, 466, 468.

Jbtattauon, :iU3, 2US, 215, 'J^JH \nott)^ 240; letter from Fuentes d'Onor, 257, 269 ; letter to General Hope, 270, 271 ; 272, 281 {iwlt), 299, 301 ; " Aguardente," 304; letters to General Hope, 307-309, 316; 320, 338 ; at Vittona, 340, 342 ; medal conferred, 347 ; brigadier, 353 ; at Maya, 364, 355, 367, 363, 386 ; at St Pierre, 391 ; Sir Wm. Stewart's report on, 393 ; his horse killed, 393, 398 ; 402, 403 ; address to, 404 ; his services, 410 ; with 2nd Battal- ion, 414-416 ; at Brussels, 424 ; at Quatre - Bras, 426, 427 ; mortally wounded, 431 ; his death, 434, and

520

APPENDIX.

79th Rboihbnt, Ist Battalion —

Sergeants Corporals Dmmmeni Privates

Engliab.

7

6

3

67

Scotch.

46

42

5

552

Irish.

0

3

2

54

Foreigners. 0 0

1

1

83 645 39 2— Total, 789

English, Irish, and Foreign . 144

^^^^^^1	^^^^^^^^^^^H	1
Abbe, General, ;i64, 366, 387.	llordeftiix, 411. m	^H
Abbott, Churlea (Speaker), letter	buiinties to recruits, 30. ^^^^^^^H
from, 130,	Brookes, Private John, 370. ^^^^^H
AlH>rcromliy, Lieut. - General Sir	Brune, General, 63, 76-78. ^^^H
Ralph. til-tiS, 60, 95, 102 il se*/.,	Brunswick, Duke of, 429, 4.'{9. ^^^|
lOS, 110-112, 120, 127 {mh:U 2S1.	Budicinaii, Rev. J. L.. 4. ^^^H
Almukir, forts of, 97, 10! ; battle of,	Buenza, cunibut of, 368. 369. ^^H
108, 113, 126.	Burgos, 331. ^^^|
Aehiuachy, Alcxiuider, penaioiier,	Hurrar4, General Sir Harry, 151, ^^^H
4.S1.	ir>6-168. ^^M
Airu, combat at, 402, 403.	Bnxar, battle of, 9, 15. ^^^|
Alba tic Tormes, 309-311.	Byng, Major-Cienerivl Sir John, .'{78, ^^^|
Alcaiitrinlio, 237. 240.	444, 474. ^^M
AIcxi*iulna, 103, 104, 106; buttle of ,
108 £<«««;., 122, 123; camp before,	CaIkvoan, Colonel, 7l3t Regiment, ^^^H
126.	274 [noie), 312; killed at Vittoria, ^^H
Alkmaar, 70, 76, 77, 82.	339, 340. ^^M
Almare^, 286 et ntq.	Cambo, 381-383. ^^M
Almeida, Miirquia of, 280.	Cameron. 8ir Alexander, K.C.B., of ^^^H
Arnicns, Treaty of, 129.	Inverailort, 90. ^^^|
Antwerp, 206^211.	Alexander, pipe - majnr, 140 ^^^^|
ArniatroDg, Captain, "let, 354.	(no)!''), 25.3, 3tK), 361, 433. ^^M
Arriverete, 398 ; letter from Duke of	Allan, of Erracht, raises 79tii ^^^^|
Welltngton relating to, 390.	Regiment, 14. ^^^^|
Arroyo dos Molinoa, 268, 276, 277,	Charles. 260. ^^M
1 281, 284.	Donal.l Mor Oy, 1)9 and note. ^^H
Atiitonc, lettei- from the inhabitants	8ir Duncan, 43.'s 436. ^^H
of, 60.	Sergeuiit Evan, ilrowiied, 62. ^,^ ^^^|
	Colonel John, of FasBiefoni.
. B.\mi), General Sir David, 96, 118,	Receives captain's commissinn, 14. 19 : letters from, 78 tt seq. , S6, 10,"j ;
1 150, 151, 160, 172, 175, 1S3 {note),
190, 191, 199,201.	wounded at Maudora. 113: major,
Barnes, General, 361, 388-391, 393,	123 \. attends Nelson'^ funeral,
402, 40,1, 431.	143, 144; takes command of lat
lleckwilh. Captain, 3.	Battalion, 203, 208. 215, 229 [notr).
S., letter from, 129.	240 ; letter from FmenteB d'Unor,
Belle-Isle, siege of, 92.	257, 259 : letter to ( leneral Hope,
Ben ev elite, 178, 179.	270, 271 ; 272, 281 {natt), 299, 301 ;
Beresford, Marshal, 261, 380, 407.	" Aguardenle," 304 ; letters to
Bloaaier, Captain, 60th Rifles. 269,	General Hot.H;, ;J07 309, 316; 320,
280, 284, 312.	338 ; at Vittoria, ,340, 342 ; medal
Blucher, Marahal, 422. 423, 425, 426,	conferred, 347; brigadier, 353; at
43S, 444, 455, 457, 46G, 470.	Maya, 354, 355. .357, 363, 385; at
Ik>naparte, Joseph, 165, 300, 333.	St I'ierre, 391 ; Sir Wm. Stewart's
336.	report on, 393 ; his horse killed.
Nai>oleoji, 5H. 112. 133; Em-	393, 398; 402, 403; addreaa to, 404 ;
peror, 136, 142, JoO, li>9 {note],	his services, 410 ; with 2nd Battal-
165, 168 {aotf), 175, 181, 192, 206, ,	ion, 414-416; at Bru-Hsela, 424; at
227, 421, 423. 430, 439 and note.	Quatre - Braa, 426, 427 : mortaJly
1 442, 445, 454, 456, 468.	~" """ i

524

INDEX.

Mandom, 100-103. I 'it). M&ranHJn, General. ,154, 355. Mannont, Marshal, 262, 2t>5, 283,

2St». Marmorice Bay, 95; iocidenta at,

96, 97. Massena, Marshal, 227, 233, 2.34,

236, 242, 246, 24«. 24i>, 250, 254,

260. Maya, rook o/, 349 ; village of, 330 ;

pafls of, 354 ; conQict at, 355 c/ «eq.,

379. Menou, tiencral, 107, 109, HI. xMeriJa, 276.278, 279, 2S I. iMuia, Geiioml, 379, 383. Mitchell, Major, 20, 272, lio'S, 402, 432; Lieut. .Colonel, 467. 470, ThoHHi-s, address to Lieut. -

Colonel Erskino, 60. Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley, 44

(note). Moore, Major - General .Sir John,

51, 64, 71. HI, 82, m?, 103, !21,

122, 131, 164, 166, 169, 173 175,

17«, lMl-183, 1S5. ISO (itote), KS9,

J(K)-]»2, 196; his character. 20<;,

20I,479(Hoft), Moritlo, General, his Spaniards, 266,

269, 3.-J5. 339, 369, 379, 383. Morris, Major, 9. Muoro, Major Hector, 9 ; Lieut.*

General Sir Hector, 15.

Napier, Captain Alexander, 19; be- comes major, 36, 41, 81, 108, 123, 127 ; commands both baltatiotiH, 135, !4I, 144; captures amniimi- tion waggous, 154, 157, 160; at Coruiina, 193 ; killc<l there, J 94 : his character, 1 115, 196.

Nelson, Admiral Lord, 58, 142, 143.

Ne/AuntLn, wreck of the, lOi.

Netley cump, 21 inolt).

Ney, Marshal, 185, 243-245, 248, 426, 430, 447, 452-454.

Nicols, Lieut. -General, 224, 225.

Nivelle, Imttle of the, 378.380.

Norton, Captain, 34th Regiment, 356.

OttTHES, battle of, 400 tt aeq.

Pack, Sir Denis. 422, 445, 448, 450,

472, 473. Paget, Sir Arthur. 315. Pampeluna, 347, 367, 369. Pelet, General, 456. Pioton, Sir Thomas, 336, 406, 422,

434, 445, 447.

Pfl>e music, .39. 40, 140 and naU^H

3H8 and notr, 392 ( uo/r ), 4«!l Pitt, Mr, Prime Minister, 8; hii

lji.st piddir words, 143. I'laid, belted, 21 and ncte, 28, 31,

32, 35, 220. Porto Perraio, expeditiou agaiiwV

36. Pi-ingle, General, 354, 355, 387,

.389. Probyn, J.. A.D.C., letter from, 128,

127.

Ramhay. Captain Nonnan, hia troop

of horse artillery, 255. Recruiting placard, 418, 410. Redinha, combat of, 244, 245. Recninud, General, 2ti5. Richmond, Duchess of, 4 1 5. 424.

' Duke of, 289, 415, 446. 4S3.

Rifle Corps, experirneutal, SS, 89 and

Robertson, .Sergeant, his journal 93, 104, 160 (Horr), 176. 179, 182, 183, 194, 195. 198, 24«. 257. 321, 376, 378, 408,441, 4.H».

Rouccsv.iUes, 377, 378.

Rook, J. C, Asat. Adj. -General, letter from. 297, 298,

Russia, Emperor of, 469-471.

Sai>amanca, victory of, 297.

Scott, Sir Walter, 217, 240, 436, 463, 468.

Seton, t'aptain, 154; letters from, 170, 172; account of battle of Gorunuii, 194 ; letters from, 198, 207, 229. 311. 339, 3ti9: in com- niHud of the baitaliou, 374. 377 ; brevet - major, 395 ; mortally wounded at Garria, 397. .

Sinclair, Sir John, 392.

Smith, Sir Sidney, 110.

fiouierville. Private Walter, nt> lantry of, 289.

Soult, Marshal, 184, 185, 190, 192, 241, 263, 285. 307, 309 («oi<>, 310, 352, 368, 401, 405, 408, 410, 445.

Steuart, Colonel, 88, 89.

Stewart, General David, 18, 19 (ntae). 36, 91 {note).

Lieut, Colonel Charles, 50th

Regiment, reports froiu, 276, 302 ; brigadier, 313, 316 ; his death, 318.

Lieut. -Gcncrttl Hon. .Sir Wil-

ham, 329, 340, M7 (notr), 355, 359.361, 375 and no^e. 398, 403, 404.

INDEX.

525

Stewart, Peter, pensioner, 483. Private Norman, 71, 301, 310;

kUled at Maya, 365 ; 482. Strachan, Admiral Sir Richard, 207,

211.

Thomson, Thomas, sergeant-major,

promoted adjutant, 40. Tighe, Lady Louisa, 424 (note). Toledo, 304. Torres Vedras, lines of, 228-230, 234,

237, 242. Toulouse, battle of, 406, 407.

Victor, Marshal, 227. Vittoria, battle of, 336 et seq. Vivian, Captain, account of naval engagement, 38 ; 186 (note).

Walchkrkn, expedition to, 209.

Walton, John, 178.

Waterloo, battle of, 442 et seq.

Waters, Colonel, his escape, 251.

Wellington, Duke of, 151 and iu>te, 155, 157, 158, 160, 166; com- mands army of Peninsula, 226, 235 ; encourages hunting, 237, 241, 256 and note, 263; distress for money, 293: addresses letter

to the army, 319 ; reviews Hill's troops, 329 ; proclamation on enter- ing France, 382 ; dispatch on action of St Pierre, 392 ; person- ally thanks the regiment, 395 ; at Garris, 397, 398; with the 92nd, 400, 402; at Toulouse, 406 and note ; his generalship, 409 ; inspects 92nd, 422; at Brussels, 424, 425; at Quatre-Bras, 426 et neq. ; his dispatch, 437 ; warms himself at 92nd'8 fire, 438; "No orders," 464, 455 (note), 456; his account of Waterloo, 464 (note) ; meets 92nd, 465 ; Convention of Paris, 466; his opinion of the army, 477, 478.

Whitelock, Lieut. -General, abandons Monte Video, 163.

Wilson, Major, 108, 116, 117.

Winchester, Lieut., 92nd, 430, 433, 457.

Wolfe, life of General, 2.

Woodford, Lieut. -Colonel, 10.

Wyndham, Colonel, 451.

York, H.R.H. the Duke of, 68, 64, 65, 69. 77, 88, 120, 123, 130, 141, 146, 149,200-202,277,321.

f • ••.