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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Autobiography of Sergeant William
+Lawrence, by William Lawrence
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence
+       A Hero of the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns
+
+Author: William Lawrence
+
+Editor: George Nugent Bankes
+
+Release Date: June 28, 2009 [EBook #29263]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUTOBIOGRAPHY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by StevenGibbs, Christine P. Travers and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected.
+Hyphenation and accentuation have been standardised, all other
+inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling has
+been maintained.]
+
+
+
+
+THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
+
+OF
+
+SERGEANT WILLIAM LAWRENCE,
+
+
+_A HERO OF THE PENINSULAR AND WATERLOO CAMPAIGNS_;
+
+
+EDITED BY
+
+GEORGE NUGENT BANKES,
+
+AUTHOR OF "A DAY OF MY LIFE AT ETON," ETC., ETC.
+
+  London
+  SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON
+  CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET
+  1886
+
+[_All rights reserved_]
+
+
+
+
+BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
+
+
+_Square 16mo, cloth extra, 2s. 6d. each._
+
+A DAY OF MY LIFE AT ETON.
+
+ABOUT SOME FELLOWS; or, Odds and Ends from My Note-book.
+
+CAMBRIDGE TRIFLES; or, Splutterings from an Undergraduate's Pen.
+
+A CAMBRIDGE STAIRCASE.
+
+
+_Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s._
+
+WRITTEN TO ORDER: being some Account of the Journeyings of an
+Irresponsible Egotist, and of How he enjoyed himself thereon.
+
+
+LONDON: SAMPSON LOW & CO., 188, FLEET STREET, E.C.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+Sergeant William Lawrence died at Studland in Dorsetshire in the year
+1867, bequeathing the manuscript of the accompanying autobiography to
+the family one of whose members now submits it to the notice of the
+public. Circumstances, which perhaps may be too often interpreted as
+really meaning an unfortunate tendency to procrastination, have
+hitherto prevented it being put into shape with a view to publication:
+one thing after another has intervened, and the work has been passed
+on from hand to hand, until after these long years a final effort has
+been made, and the self-imposed task completed.
+
+The book is simply sent forth on its own merits in the hope that there
+are yet some, if not indeed many whose hearts are never weary of the
+tales of England's glory in the past, and seek to find in them reason
+why that glory should be perpetuated. Many an account have we already
+had of the victories of the Peninsula and Waterloo, and this but adds
+one more to the list: though perhaps it may be regarded in somewhat of
+a supplementary light, as treating of the campaigns neither from an
+entirely outside and _soi-disant_ unprejudiced standpoint, nor with
+the advantages possessed by one who may have had access to the
+councils of the authorities, but as they were seen by one who came and
+went and did as he was told, and was as it were nothing more than a
+single factor in the great military machine that won our country those
+battles of which she has so much right to be proud. What criticisms of
+the conduct of the war our veteran occasionally does indulge in are of
+course chiefly founded on the camp gossip current at the time, and in
+reading them it must always be borne in mind that events at the moment
+of their happening often do not present the same appearance as when
+viewed from the calmer security of after years, and they must be
+judged accordingly.
+
+As to the style. Lawrence, though he never betrayed the fact to the
+authorities during his whole military career, being possessed of a
+wonderful aptitude for mental calculation, and always contriving to
+get some assistance in concealing his deficiency when his official
+duties necessitated his doing so, and though he has carefully avoided
+all direct allusion to it in this work itself, never learnt to write,
+and the first form in which his history was committed to paper was
+from dictation. The person who took down the words as he spoke them,
+one of his fellow-servants, was but imperfectly educated himself, so
+that it may be imagined that the result of the narrative of one
+illiterate person being written down by another was that the style
+was not likely to aspire to any very high degree of literary merit.
+Still, to preserve the peculiar character of the book, it has been
+thought better to leave it as far as possible in its original shape:
+some emendations have perforce had to be made to render it actually
+intelligible--for instance, in the original manuscript there is
+scarcely any punctuation from beginning to end, with the exception of
+at those places where the amanuensis evidently left off his day's
+work; but the language, with its occasional half-flights into a poetry
+of about the standard of an Eton boy's verses, its crude moralizings,
+and imperfect applications of old proverbs and fables, has not been
+altered, nor, so far as there can be said to be one, has the method.
+It is trusted, therefore, that, remembering that the main object in
+the editor's mind has been to let the venerable hero tell his story in
+exactly his own words so far as his meaning can be thereby made out,
+no one will take any unnecessary pains to count up how often the words
+"likewise" and "proceed" are repeated in these pages, or to point out
+that the general style of the book combines those of Tacitus, Caesar's
+Commentaries, and the Journeyings of the Israelites. Nor, it is to be
+hoped, will any one be too severe in his comments on the fact that to
+the mind of a man in Lawrence's position the obtaining of a pair of
+boots was apparently quite as important an event as the storming of
+Badajoz, or the finding of a sack with a ham and a couple of fowls in
+it as the winning of the battle of Waterloo.
+
+Interesting perhaps the book will prove as giving some of the details
+of what our soldiers had to undergo in those old times of war.
+Hardships they now have to endure, and endure them they do well, but
+all must be thankful to know that they are far better off than their
+forefathers; who, unsuitably clad, half starved, and with their
+commissariat such even as it was disgracefully mismanaged, and yet
+forbidden very often under pain of death to pick up what they could
+for themselves, submitted on the shortest notice to punishments which
+would nowadays call forth the indignant protests of hosts of newspaper
+correspondents; and still in spite of all fought stubbornly through
+every obstacle till they had gained the objects for which they had
+been sent out. What wonder can there be that under all these
+circumstances we should find our hero somewhat hardened in his
+estimate of human sympathies, and not altogether disinclined to view
+everything, whether it concerned life or death, or marriage, or
+parting or meeting, all in one phlegmatic way, as occurring as a
+matter of course? What ought to strike us as more curious is that he
+was only reduced to that level of intellect where he thought even
+that much of anything at all besides his actual eating, drinking, and
+sleeping.
+
+But to go on further would be to depart from the original intention of
+letting the book speak for itself. To conclude therefore: there is
+much to wade through, though it is all more or less relevant to the
+progress of the story: some readers may like one part and some may
+prefer another; and if the pruning-hook had once been introduced it
+would have been difficult to decide what to leave and what to take,
+or whether it would not be better to publish another volume of the
+things pruned, since it had been determined to publish at all. But if
+the reader will accomplish the wading to the end, there will he find
+summed up in one simple paragraph the autobiographer's own ideas about
+the merits of his work. May it be received in the same spirit as it is
+sent forth!
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER I.                                                 Page
+
+    Starting in Life                                            1
+
+  CHAPTER II.
+
+    Enlisted and ordered Abroad                                 9
+
+  CHAPTER III.
+
+    The River Plate Expedition--Monte Video                    16
+
+  CHAPTER IV.
+
+    The River Plate Expedition, continued--Colonia             26
+
+  CHAPTER V.
+
+    The River Plate Expedition, concluded--Buenos Ayres        35
+
+  CHAPTER VI.
+
+    The Peninsula, 1809--Vimeira--Lisbon                       42
+
+  CHAPTER VII.
+
+    Talavera                                                   51
+
+  CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    1810--Busaco                                               59
+
+  CHAPTER IX.
+
+    Torres Vedras                                              67
+
+  CHAPTER X.
+
+    1811--Pombal, Redinha, &c.                                 77
+
+  CHAPTER XI.
+
+    Siege of Badajoz--Albuera                                  87
+
+  CHAPTER XII.
+
+    1812--Ciudad Rodrigo                                       95
+
+  CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    Badajoz                                                   107
+
+  CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    Invalided--Promotion                                      120
+
+  CHAPTER XV.
+
+    1813--Vittoria                                            131
+
+  CHAPTER XVI.
+
+    The Pyrenees--Villebar                                    143
+
+  CHAPTER XVII.
+
+    The Nive--Further Promotion                               154
+
+  CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+    San Sebastian--Nivelle                                    167
+
+  CHAPTER XIX.
+
+    1814--Orthes--The Adour--Toulouse                         175
+
+  CHAPTER XX.
+
+    End of the War                                            185
+
+  CHAPTER XXI.
+
+    To America and back--Napoleon's escape from Elba          194
+
+  CHAPTER XXII.
+
+    Waterloo                                                  204
+
+  CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+    Paris--Matrimony                                          217
+
+  CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+    Return to Great Britain                                   227
+
+  CHAPTER XXV.
+
+    Family matters                                            233
+
+  CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+    Pensioned and Discharged                                  245
+
+
+
+
+THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SERGEANT WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+     Lawrence's Parentage -- Birth and early training -- Apprenticed
+     -- He falls out with his master -- Is beaten and resolves to
+     leave -- A few words to masters in general -- Finds a companion
+     -- Precautions against being forgotten too soon -- To Poole _via_
+     Wareham -- Engages for a voyage to Newfoundland -- Recaptured and
+     sent back, but escapes again on the way -- Receives some good
+     advice, and starts to Dorchester, picking up some fresh company
+     on the way.
+
+
+As I have been asked to furnish as complete an account as I am able of
+my own life, and it is usual when people undertake to do so to start
+at as early a period as possible, I will begin with my parentage. My
+father and mother were of humble means, living in the village of
+Bryant's Piddle, in the county of Dorset. My father had been formerly
+a small farmer on his own account in the same village, but having a
+large and hungry family to provide for, he became reduced in
+circumstances, and was obliged to give up his farm, and work as a
+labourer.
+
+I was born in 1791, and, being one of seven children, found myself
+compelled at a very early age to seek my own livelihood as best I
+could, so that I had not much opportunity for education, though I
+cannot say that I thought that much hardship at the time, being fonder
+of an open-air life. I was employed for some time in frightening the
+birds off the corn, for which I received the sum of twopence a day;
+after which I was advanced to sixpence a day as ploughboy, in which
+situation I remained until I was fourteen years of age. My father then
+obtained twenty pounds from a friend, with which he apprenticed me to
+Henry Bush, a builder living at Studland, a village in the same
+county, for seven years, the agreement being that my master was to
+find me in food, lodging, and clothes, and I was to receive no wages.
+
+I had not been with him very long before I found that he did not suit
+me as a master at all well. Things went on pretty smoothly for the
+first month or so, that is, while the money for my apprenticeship
+lasted; but after that he became rather difficult to please, and
+besides took to allowancing me in food, which was a much more serious
+matter both to my mind and palate.
+
+However, I rubbed on for about nine months, until one Sunday, when I
+had gone out to church in the morning and had happened to stay in the
+village all day, on my return home at last after dark I found the
+house locked up. I accordingly proceeded to Swanage, the nearest town,
+and called on my master's sister, who lived there, who took me in and
+was giving me some supper, when my master chanced to come in himself,
+and was very angry with me and told me to come along with him,
+declaring that he would pay me out in the morning. When we got home he
+ordered me to see if the garden gate was closed, which I thought
+rather strange, as it was a thing I had never had to do before; but
+meanwhile he slipped upstairs with a horsewhip, which he produced
+suddenly in the morning, and gave me a good thrashing before I had
+well got my clothes on. I bundled downstairs pretty much as I was, and
+out of the house as quick as I could, saying to myself, "This is the
+last thrashing I will ever receive at your hands;" and sure enough it
+was, for that same week I planned with another apprentice near the
+same place, who was under very similar circumstances to myself, to
+take our departure on the following Sunday; so that was the end of my
+apprenticeship.
+
+And I should like here to warn any master whose eye may fall on this
+story not to treat any lad who is put under his care too harshly, as
+it is very often the means of discouraging him in the occupation he is
+intended to follow, and of driving him from his home, and even from
+his country, and to his ruin. Thus even in my case it will be seen
+that it was all my master's want of kindness that forced me into a
+very different sort of life to that which my parents intended for me;
+into one which, though it was not altogether so ruinous, was perhaps
+more perilous than many others, and on which I can only now look back
+in wonder that I have been spared to tell my story at all.
+
+But I must go back to the day on which myself and my companion had
+resolved to leave our homes, which as I have before stated was a
+Sunday, no better opportunity appearing by which we might get a few
+hours' start unbeknown to our employers. We met early in the morning,
+but finding that neither of us had either money or food, and I
+likewise wanting to get hold of my indentures, we waited until the
+family had left the house as usual to go to Swanage to chapel, when I
+made my entry into the house by the back door, which was only
+fastened by a piece of rope-yarn. I could not find my indentures, but
+in the search for them I came upon a seven-shilling piece, which I put
+into my pocket, as I thought it might be useful. I also cut about
+three or four pounds off a flitch of bacon that hung in the chimney
+corner, nicely marked to prevent any being lost on account of my late
+allowanced state. I did not study that much at the time, however, but
+took what I thought we should require, and when I had put it into a
+bag with the necessary amount of bread, we marched off together up to
+a place near called King's Wood, where we put a little of our bread
+and raw bacon out of sight, for we were both hungry. Then we went on
+to Wareham, a distance of about ten miles, where we changed our
+seven-shilling piece, and had a pint of small beer to help us in again
+lightening our bundle; and, after about an hour's rest, proceeded on
+for Poole, about nine miles from Wareham. We felt very tired, but
+still walked on, and gained our destination at a very late hour, owing
+to which we had some trouble in obtaining a lodging for the remaining
+part of the night; but at last we found one in a public house, where
+we finished our bread and bacon, together with some more beer, the
+best day's allowance we had had for some time past.
+
+We slept very soundly, and in the morning went round to inquire for
+service on board the Newfoundland packets. We soon found a merchant of
+the name of Slade, who engaged us for two summers and a winter,
+myself for 20_l._ and my companion for 18_l._ for the whole time, and
+our food and lodging till the ship left the harbour. But we were not
+long in finding that our destination was not to be Newfoundland, for
+on the very next day my companion's master came to Poole in search of
+us, and meeting his own boy wandering about the market, soon wished to
+know what business he had there, and took him into custody. He
+likewise asked him if he had seen anything of me, and the boy told him
+I was in Poole, but he did not know where. I at the time was at work
+on board the ship, but in the evening, having fallen in with the mate,
+he asked me where I was going. When I said to my lodgings, beginning
+rather to shake, for I thought by his manner that there was something
+up, he told me that I had better come with him. I did so, and
+presently found myself with my companion's master, who finished up for
+the night by having me put into gaol.
+
+Next day we were both taken on board the Swanage market-boat to go
+back, but when we had got as far as South Deep, near Brownsea Castle,
+we had to anchor, as the wind was contrary. A number of stone-boats
+were lying there at the time, and one of the boatmen, named Reuben
+Masters, took charge of me to convey me back to my master's house, as
+he was going by it; so we landed, and proceeded towards home. When we
+were about half a mile off it, however, we met my mistress, who, after
+inquiring where I had been, told me that her husband would have
+nothing more to do with me, but would send me to prison. I could have
+told her I did not want to trouble him any more, but I thought I would
+leave that for them to find out; so I went on with the man to the next
+gate, when, seeing an opportunity to bolt; I took it and popped over
+to the other side; and all I heard the man say was, "Well, you may go,
+and your master may run after you for himself if he likes;" so I knew
+there was not much to fear from him.
+
+I ran down into the common, to a place called Agglestone, which I knew
+had once been a great place for foxes, and there I crawled into a hole
+and remained till dusk. Then I came out of my den, and again made my
+way to Wareham. I called this time at the "Horse and Groom," where,
+having related my story to the landlady, she kindly gave me food and
+lodging for the night, advising me to go back to my parents and state
+my master's behaviour. So next morning, after she had provided me with
+breakfast, and some bread and cheese to eat on the way, I set off for
+Dorchester.
+
+On the road I met with two boys who were going to Poole to try and get
+a ship bound for Newfoundland. I wanted some companions on my journey,
+so I told them not to go to Poole, as the press-gang was about, and,
+when I had been there myself a few days before, had fired a
+blunderbuss at me, but I happened to pop round the corner and so had
+escaped. The boys did not seem fit for soldiers, or sailors either,
+for they looked as if they had lain in the sun for some time, and one
+of them was warped. When they heard my story, they turned back and
+kept with me. They soon began to complain of hunger, but when I asked
+them if they had got any money, they said they had only one shilling
+and a farthing, with a hundred miles to travel before they reached
+their home again; so I took out my bread and cheese and divided it
+amongst us. We were very tired and hungry when we arrived at
+Dorchester, and I tried to persuade them to change the shilling, but
+they would not. However, they gave me the farthing; it was not much
+certainly for a hungry boy, but it served to purchase a cake for me to
+devour; and then I and my companions parted, and what became of them
+afterwards I do not know.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     Lawrence's forlorn state of mind in Dorchester -- He meets with a
+     friend in need, who takes him to enlist -- Is discovered and
+     recovered by his parents, and ordered back sharp to his master --
+     His military spirit proves too strong for him on the way, and
+     carries him, through the agency of a friendly soldier, first to
+     Bridport, and then to Taunton -- Various further attempts at
+     enlisting, slightly influenced by the disinterestedness of his
+     friend, and ending in his joining the Fortieth Regiment --
+     Subsequent changes of quarters, and final orders for foreign
+     service.
+
+
+Dorchester was only about eight miles from my parents' house, but I
+had never really had one serious thought of going to them. I seemed to
+myself to be completely friendless, and wandered through and through
+the town, watching the preparations for the fair, which was to take
+place the next day, not being able to make up my mind what to do or
+where to go.
+
+At length, more by instinct than aim, I wandered into the stable-yard
+of one of the principal inns, where I was brought nearer to my senses
+by hearing the ostler sing out sharply, "Hullo, my man, what is your
+business?" I told him I was a friendless boy in search of some
+employment by which I might get a livelihood, as I was very hungry and
+had no money, or something to that effect; to which he replied that if
+I would brush about a bit, and help him rub over the horses, he would
+find me plenty to eat. I soon went to work, and finished the task he
+gave me; and sure enough he fulfilled his share of the bargain by
+bringing the requisite article in the shape of a lump of bread and
+beef enough for two or three meals. After eating as much as I wanted,
+as I felt very tired, I made up a bed for myself with some straw, and
+putting the remainder of my meal into my handkerchief to serve as a
+pillow, laid myself down, and the ostler having given me a rug to pull
+over me, I slept soundly there the whole night.
+
+In the morning, after I had done a little more in the stable, I walked
+out with my new friend into the street, where seeing some soldiers, I
+told him I should like to become one. He said he knew where he could
+enlist me, and took me straight to the rendezvous, which was in a
+public-house, where we met a sergeant of artillery, who gave him two
+guineas for bringing me and myself five for coming, and when my
+measurement had been taken, a proceeding which was accompanied with no
+small amount of joking, I was put into an old soldier's coat, and with
+three or four yards of ribbon hanging from my cap, paraded the town
+with other recruits, entering and treating some one or other in almost
+every public-house.
+
+It almost seemed, however, as if my hopes were again to be blighted,
+for in the very first house I entered, there sat a farmer from my home
+who knew me very well, and exclaimed on seeing me, "Hullo, young
+fellow, as you make your bed so you must lie on it." I entreated him
+not to tell my father and mother where and how he had seen me, and
+made my exit as quickly as possible; but later in the day I
+encountered another man, my father's next-door neighbour, who also
+recognized me immediately. I offered him the price of a gallon of ale
+not to say anything, and he promised, taking the money, but as soon as
+he got home he went to my father and acquainted him with what I was up
+to.
+
+How I was spending the rest of the night meanwhile can better be
+conceived than described; but next morning, as I was going up to the
+Town Hall with an officer to be sworn in, who should meet us but my
+father and mother. On their telling the officer that I was an
+apprentice, he gave me up to them without any further trouble, except
+that he asked me what had become of my bounty money, and on finding
+that I had only seventeen shillings and sixpence left out of my whole
+five guineas, kindly took the care of even that off my hands. Then we
+marched off home, and my father went to find out what was to be done
+in the matter from a magistrate, who advised him to take me back to
+Dorchester to be tried at the next sittings; which advice being acted
+on, I was severely reprimanded by the bench, and given my choice of
+serving my time or else going to prison. Of course I chose the former,
+and they gave me a letter to take with me to my master. When I got
+downstairs I met the officer who had enlisted me, who told me that if
+my master was unwilling to take me back, he would enlist me again; and
+finding on asking me if I had any money that he had taken all I
+possessed, he gave me a shilling and wished me well.
+
+My father sent me off at once with strict orders to get back to
+Studland as quickly as I could, and that was all I received from him
+either in the way of blessing or anything: so with a heavy heart I set
+out on my retreat from Dorchester. I had not gone very far when I was
+overtaken by a dairyman's cart, in which the owner gave me a lift,
+asking me where I was bound for. I told him a little of my story, and
+showed him the letter, that he might open it and see what was inside:
+which, when he had done, he said I could go back quite safely, for my
+master would not be able to hurt me. That put me into rather better
+spirits, though I did not intend to go back all the same.
+
+I rode along with the man as far as he went, and then continued on
+foot to a village called Winfrith, where I went into a public-house,
+and feeling hungry, ordered some bread and cheese. A soldier happened
+to be in there, who was on furlough, bound for Bridport, and the very
+sight of him again revived my old spirit and made me long to be like
+him. I got into conversation with him, and said how much I wished to
+be a soldier, to which he straightway answered that he could enlist me
+for the Fortieth Regiment Foot, which gave sixteen guineas bounty. I
+thought that was a great deal, and that if I got it I should not want
+for money for some time, so I quickly accepted his proposal: I soon
+found out, though, that I was very mistaken in my views about the
+money lasting.
+
+I was rather afraid of finding myself in Dorchester again, so tried to
+persuade him to go round another way, but we at last slipped through
+at night, and got to Winterborne, where we put up, going on next
+morning in the coach to Bridport. I was again baffled for a time on
+arriving there, for the coachman knew all about me, and remarked in a
+way that was no doubt meant well, that it was but yesterday that my
+father had got me out of the artillery. The soldier then asked me if I
+was an apprentice, and I thought there seemed nothing to do but to
+tell him I was: on which he promptly made me get down, and taking me
+across some fields to his home, kept me there quietly for three days.
+
+It seemed best after that to go on to Taunton in Somersetshire, where
+we went to the barracks and saw the colonel, who on the soldier
+telling him that he had brought me up as a recruit, asked me of what
+trade I was. I replied that I was a labourer, which he said was all
+right, for labourers made the best soldiers: but he could only give me
+two and a half guineas bounty: at which point we parted from him, and
+went to try the recruiting sergeant of the Marines, who promised us
+sixteen guineas bounty when I arrived at the Plymouth headquarters.
+This did not suit my conductor, however, as there was nothing for him
+after paying my coach expenses, so he asked me what I intended to do,
+and for his part advised me to go back to my master, saying he would
+not mind the expenses he had gone to for me. But as I had by this time
+destroyed the letter, I preferred going back to the Fortieth Regiment,
+so we went and again saw the colonel, who gave my companion two
+guineas, and sent me into barracks.
+
+Next day I received my clothes, and in about a week more was sworn in
+before a magistrate, receiving my bounty at the same time. Very
+shortly afterwards orders came for the regiment to march to
+Winchester, where we remained for about a month without anything of
+any note occurring. I began to drill twice a day directly I joined,
+and soon learnt the foot drill, after which I was put on to musketry
+drill.
+
+From Winchester we removed to Portsmouth, where we lay for a week, and
+were then ordered to Bexhill barracks in Sussex, where our First
+battalion was lying, and on our arrival a number of men were drafted
+out of our battalion, which was the Second, into the First, to make it
+a thousand strong, myself being one of the number. Then orders came
+for us to proceed to Portsmouth to embark on foreign service, our
+country being at the time at war with France and Spain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     Embarkation of the regiment at Portsmouth -- Lawrence's feelings
+     at the time beginning to be rather mixed -- Heartrending partings
+     witnessed and somewhat moralized upon by him -- A few more words
+     of advice, this time intended for apprentices -- Ample
+     opportunity for self-introspection afforded during the first week
+     of the voyage -- Incidents while becalmed -- Arrival at Rio, and
+     entertainment of the troops by the Queen of Portugal -- Monte
+     Video -- Disembarkation and first brushes with the enemy --
+     Barbarity of the Spaniards -- Lawrence's feelings at last
+     definitely uncomfortable -- Sir Samuel Auchmuty's dislike to
+     finery in soldiers -- The town invested and subsequently stormed
+     -- Lawrence in the forlorn hope -- Surrender of the Citadel.
+
+
+We passed the night before our embarkation in the town: a night to
+many perhaps the bitterest they had ever experienced, but to myself,
+on the other hand, one mainly of joy, for I felt that I had at last
+outwitted my pursuers. But though I cannot say that I was yet at all
+repentant, it must not be thought that I felt altogether comfortable
+on leaving my country with all my friends and relations in it, so
+young as I was at the time: more especially when I considered the
+errand we were on, and thought that I might never return to see them
+again, knowing that they had not the slightest idea of where I was. I
+naturally felt rather timid, as all young recruits must feel on
+entering so soon on foreign service as I then found myself obliged to
+do.
+
+But the worst and most disheartening spectacle of all was in the
+morning when the bugle sounded for the assembly of the regiment; for
+only about six women to a company of a hundred men being allowed to go
+with us, many who were married had to leave wives and children behind,
+with the thought that it might never be their lot to see them again.
+When the order was given to embark, the scene was quite heartrending:
+I could not see a dry eye in Portsmouth, and if the tears could have
+been collected, they might have stocked a hospital in eye-water for
+some months. Husband and wife, father and child, young man and
+sweetheart, all had to part, and perhaps none were more affected than
+the last, though with least cause: it indeed was dreadful to view.
+
+I myself was much affected, but it was at the woes of others, for I
+had not one to throw so much as a parting glance at myself; and thus,
+amid the cheers of the crowd, and with the band playing the tune of
+"The Girl I left behind me," we embarked.
+
+Then I felt quite freed from my pursuers; but in getting out of the
+frying-pan I soon found myself into the fire, for as it afterwards
+proved I had many men to deal with more difficult than even my old
+master had been. Thus it is that many are apt to dislike and leave
+their employment through trifles, and in the search for a better often
+only get a worse one, much to their disappointment.
+
+The next day we drew out of Portsmouth harbour on our route to South
+America, and sea-sickness soon commencing on board, I was, the worse
+luck for myself, one of the number that succumbed to it. This lasted
+for nearly a week, during the whole of which time we scarcely ate
+anything; but when we got better, I think our appetites were such that
+we could have readily finished a donkey with a hamper of greens.
+
+We had good weather until we reached the tropics, when a dead calm
+followed for a fortnight. As we were nearly upon the Equinoctial line,
+the usual ceremony of shaving took place, which was no doubt very
+amusing to those who escaped by treating the sailors to a bottle of
+rum, or those who had crossed the Line before; but to us on whom the
+barber, who was the sailor who had crossed the Line most often,
+operated, it was not so pleasant. For the satisfaction of some who may
+not quite understand the method of that interesting custom, I will
+give the routine, at least as it happened on board our ship, though I
+cannot altogether say whether the same is pursued universally, A large
+tub of water was placed on deck, and each one who was to be performed
+on, sat in turn on the edge; then the barber stepped forward and
+lathered his face all over with tar and grease, and with a piece of
+iron hoop as a razor scraped it off again; after which he pushed him
+backwards into the tub, leaving him to crawl out anyhow and sneak off
+to clean himself. All passed off very well, however, as there was
+plenty of rum provided to drink from those officers and men who were
+more disposed to join in the pay than the play.
+
+During the calms, we amused ourselves fishing for dolphins, and
+practising for the first time with ball-cartridge, a bottle being
+corked and flung overboard as far as possible to serve as a target,
+and a dollar being offered to the first man who could break it, each
+one firing once. No one broke it, but I got a glass of grog from the
+major for being the nearest; so near that I made the bottle spin
+round. The major remarked that if I went so close as that to a
+Spaniard I should make him shake; and he likewise asked me what trade
+I was in before I joined the army. As I knew I was too far from
+England now to be sent back, I told him that I was a builder's
+apprentice; and he only said, "Well done, my boy, so you prefer
+knocking down houses in the enemy's country to putting them up in your
+own?" Certainly at this moment we were having an easy place, but there
+was many a time afterwards when I should like to have been given the
+choice of laying bricks again.
+
+After spending about a fortnight in this way, a fair wind blew up, and
+we proceeded on our voyage. We called in at Rio Janeiro, the capital
+of the Brazilian Empire, lying upon the western side of the entrance
+to a fine bay which forms the harbour. Our chief object for putting in
+there was to take in water and provisions; and whilst we were anchored
+there we went on shore, and the Queen of Portugal reviewed us. Next
+day she sent a quantity of onions and pumpkins on board as a present,
+which we found very acceptable. We stayed there about a fortnight,
+sailing on next further south to Maldonado, the rendezvous of the
+fleet, whence after being joined by five thousand troops under Sir
+Samuel Auchmuty, the whole fleet moved on to Monte Video and anchored.
+
+We lost no time on our arrival there, but early the next morning
+boats were ordered alongside the troopships to convey us on shore,
+which movement, as the enemy was on the banks about fifteen thousand
+strong to receive us, put rather a nasty taste into our mouths, there
+seeming nothing but death or glory before us. The signal was hoisted
+from the admiral's ship, and we started for the shore amid the fire of
+the enemy's artillery. They killed and wounded a few of our men, and
+sank some of the boats, but as soon as we struck the shore, we jumped
+out, and forming line in the water, fired a volley and charged, soon
+driving them from their position on the bank. We found even as early
+as then that Spaniards were not very difficult to encounter. In case
+of a retreat, our boats were still within our reach, but having gained
+the victory, we had no need of them, stopping where we were on the
+banks all night.
+
+Some field-pieces were next sent on shore, and likewise a number of
+sailors with drag-ropes to work them, as we had no horses with us, and
+up to this time no artillery. The country was rather favourable for
+the sailors, being very level and mostly green pasture, so that they
+kept along pretty easily, seeming just in their glory, all this being
+new work to them. After some little firing from the cannon the enemy
+retreated into the town, which was well fortified. We placed an
+outlying picket of some three hundred men to watch the enemy's
+manoeuvres, while the body of our army encamped in the rear in a line
+stretching from sea to sea, so that the town standing upon a
+projecting piece of land, all communication from the mainland was cut
+off. The country around meanwhile abounded with ducks, geese, turkeys,
+fowls, and plenty of sheep and bullocks, which it may be made sure our
+men found oftentimes very providential.
+
+On the third day of our encampment the Spaniards sallied out of the
+town to surprise our picket, which being overpowered was obliged to
+retreat, leaving two grenadiers wounded on the field, whom the
+Spaniards much to our horror deliberately cut into pieces. But on the
+body of our army coming up and charging them, a terrible slaughter
+ensued on their retreat to the town, which amply repaid us for our two
+grenadiers; as far as I am able to state, there could not have been
+less than three thousand killed and wounded, for the next day we had
+actually to bury two thousand of them. Our loss was a mere nothing.
+
+I remember that I happened to be placed that night on sentry at the
+road leading to the town, and not far from a hole where we had buried
+five or six hundred of the enemy. It was the most uncomfortable two
+hours' sentry I had ever spent as yet, and I kept my eyes more on the
+place where the dead were than on the road I was placed to watch, not
+having altogether forgotten the absurd ghost stories of my own
+country. I in a way began to think, too, that I had done a good many
+things I should have liked not to, and to regret for the first time
+leaving my apprenticeship, my father, mother, and friends, to follow a
+life so dangerous as I now found this to be, with nothing to expect,
+as I thought, but to be myself numbered with the slain. I soon became
+more hardened, however, as I was more and more mixed up in similar or
+worse affairs than these slight brushes with a weak enemy had proved
+to be. However, at this juncture I took the opportunity to send my
+first letter home, so as to satisfy the folks there of my whereabouts,
+though I kept from them the more perilous part of my story.
+
+We reported to the general the circumstances of the Spaniards'
+barbarity to our wounded comrades, and the answer he gave was that we
+were to repay them in their own coin. I may mention here that we all
+thought Sir Samuel a most excellent commander. He always delighted
+most in a good rough-looking soldier with a long beard and greasy
+haversack, who he thought was the sort of man most fit to meet the
+enemy. It was chiefly owing to his dislike to dandyism that wearing
+long hair with powder, which was the fashion then for the smart
+soldier, was done away with soon after we landed in the enemy's
+country; of course also partly because it was so difficult to get the
+powder.
+
+We never found the Spaniards sally out of the town after this to
+engage us, as I expect they did not much like the warm reception they
+had received. We set to work building up batteries and breastworks,
+some three hundred of us being sent to cut down a copse of peach-trees
+that was near to make gabions and fascines to form them with. When our
+fortifications were completed, which was in a very few days, we began
+bombarding the town, for which purpose we had brought up our
+twenty-four pounders from the men-of-war. After about four days' play
+we made a breach by knocking down the gate and part of the wall, which
+was six feet thick, and though the enemy repaired it at night with a
+quantity of bullocks' hides filled with earth, next morning as early
+as two o'clock we advanced to storm the town.
+
+Captain Renny of ours commanded the forlorn hope. The ladders were
+placed against the hides of earth, and we scaled them under a heavy
+fire from the Spaniards. We found the earth better stuff to encounter
+than stone, and though our poor captain fell in the breach whilst
+nobly leading on his men, we succeeded in forcing our way into the
+town, which was soon filled with the reinforcements that followed us.
+We drove the enemy from the batteries, and massacred with sword and
+bayonet all whom we found carrying arms: the general's orders being
+not to plunder or enter any house, or injure any woman, child, or man
+not carrying arms, or fire a shot until daylight. On our approach to
+the gunwharf of the town, we found some twenty or thirty negroes
+chained to the guns, whom we spared and afterwards found very useful,
+chiefly in burying the dead.
+
+When the heat of the fighting was subsided, the drums beat to assembly
+in the square, and orders were then given for the massacre to be
+stayed, but that all the prisoners were to be taken that we could lay
+our hands on. Our troops were accordingly despatched to the forts and
+batteries, and nearly three thousand prisoners were taken; the
+governor of the town giving himself up with all the forts except the
+citadel, where there was a separate general in command. The governor
+said he had nothing to do with this, so Sir Samuel sent a flag of
+truce to know if the commander would give the place up. The answer
+being "No," three or four riflemen were placed on a tower sufficiently
+high and near to the citadel for the purpose of, if possible, picking
+out the general and shooting him. This was soon effected, for on his
+appearing for a walk on the ramparts in his full uniform, one of the
+men shot him dead: and when the Spaniards found that they had lost
+their commander, they soon became disheartened, and lowering the
+drawbridge, came out of the citadel and gave themselves up. Part of
+our troops immediately took possession, pulling down the Spanish
+colours and hoisting the English flag from the town and citadel in
+their stead. We took about four thousand prisoners in all, who were
+sent on board ship; but where they were taken to afterwards I am not
+able to state.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+     Incidents during the stay at Monte Video -- The beguiling of
+     Goodfellow -- A man hanged and then condemned to be transported
+     -- Matrimonial designs of a Spanish father frustrated -- Advance
+     to and occupation of Colonia -- Heroic conduct of a tallow
+     chandler -- He proves of service in more ways than one --
+     Expedition to San Pedro -- A battle with a hot breakfast at the
+     end -- Narrow escape of Lawrence from being shot -- Unfortunate
+     results of a combination of booty.
+
+
+Now that we had got possession of a fine town, we could lie up
+comfortably, only having to put out three or four hundred men on
+picket round the walls and see that the gates of the town were closed
+every night at sunset and not opened till daylight in the morning, and
+then feeling that we could make ourselves quite at home. The
+inhabitants were meanwhile not altogether deprived of their
+livelihood, as our general issued a proclamation that they should open
+their shops and carry on their business as usual: and if any declined
+to open, he was kind enough to send parties to do it for them.
+
+During the time that we lay there, which I should think was at least
+five months, the only things that occurred that could be called out of
+the way were, I am sorry to say, of rather an unpleasant nature. One
+thing was that a sergeant and corporal of the Spanish army came in
+disguise and tried to enlist any of our men who would join their
+service; and unfortunately a sergeant named Goodfellow, one of my own
+regiment, accepted their proposals, tempted by the heavy bounty they
+offered. But while passing out of the town in disguise with the
+Spaniards, he was met and recognized by the general himself and his
+staff: a most unlucky encounter for the three runaways, for they were
+brought back again and put under charge immediately, and a
+court-martial ordered on them next day. Our colonel, however, implored
+so hard for our sergeant's life on account of the regiment's late
+good conduct in the field, that the general granted it, and changed
+his sentence to one of transportation for life: but the Spaniards were
+not quite so leniently dealt with, for they were tried and hanged, to
+make sure that they could not repeat their mischievous practices.
+
+We also found among the prisoners an Irishman who had somehow got away
+from us over on to the wrong side, and had been fighting against us.
+He was tried and sentenced to be hanged, and we all had to march up
+next day to witness his execution and take example from it. But his
+life was not destined to end here, for the rope was not altogether a
+strong one, and he was fortunate enough when he fell to break it.
+Directly his feet touched ground, he begged hard for mercy: and the
+rope had made such a terrible mark on his neck that I suppose the
+general thought he had been hanged enough: so he was sent into
+hospital, and when he recovered, transported for the rest of the life
+that had thus been given back to him. While he was on his way down the
+town to go on board the vessel, I should think that if he had one
+dollar given him, he had at least half a peck, though I do not expect
+they would be much use to him where he was going to. I never heard any
+more of him, but I don't suppose many men could say that they had been
+hanged and then transported afterwards.
+
+Another case of desertion was that of an officer's servant, who went
+away with the greater part of his master's clothes, taking with him
+likewise a Spanish lady; he was lucky enough to get off safe, and
+nothing was heard of him afterwards. This was not at all a rare
+temptation, though, that was put in our soldiers' way; for I was
+myself offered a fortune by a Spanish gentleman, together with his
+daughter, if I would desert and remain in the country. Whenever he met
+me about he would treat me to anything I liked to name, which I
+sometimes found very acceptable, and he would often give me money as
+well, in hopes of gaining me over in time. He had more chances of
+making up to me, for I forgot to mention that I had received a slight
+wound in the left leg in storming the town, which kept me limping
+about and partially disabled from duty for nearly a fortnight; but I
+don't think he would have minded his daughter not marrying me in
+particular, so long as he could persuade some one. But he happened one
+day to leave his horse tied up close to our main guard while he went
+into a kind of public-house, and occupied himself treating some of our
+men; and the fact being discovered by those outside that his stirrups
+were of solid gold, when he came out again one of them was missing. It
+must have weighed at least a pound, so naturally he thought it worth
+while reporting the circumstance to the colonel, and a search was
+made; but no clue could be found to the missing stirrup, so he had to
+ride away as best he could with only the other one; so he only came
+off a loser in the end, and he never got his daughter married after
+all.
+
+After staying in the town for the time stated, a thousand of us were
+despatched up the river Rio de la Plata to a small place called
+Colonia, where an army of Spaniards about four or five thousand strong
+was lying. We landed with ease, and the enemy retreated out of the
+place after firing a few shots, leaving it in our hands, so that we
+again found ourselves for a time in comfortable quarters. We placed
+pickets of two or three hundred men round the place, and fixed a
+_chevaux de frise_ in the gate, formed of very sharp and pointed
+swords stuck very thickly into a beam which was made to turn on its
+axis: rather an awkward instrument to face if one is not used to it.
+Duty at this place was rather hard, owing to there being so few of us,
+and such a number on picket or at work building some batteries for our
+better protection.
+
+At the picket-house, which was some distance from the town, there
+lived a soap-boiler and tallow-chandler, who was very kind to us while
+we were there on duty, killing a bullock almost every night for our
+use, as he only required the skin and tallow, and any one may suppose
+that two hundred hungry men knew what to do with the rest of it. An
+incident took place during our stay at his house which will show how
+well disposed he was towards us. We had passed a very quiet week
+there, when one night the Spaniards passed our picket secretly in the
+darkness, fired a volley into the town, and then immediately
+retreated. Our picket only just managed to get through safely into the
+town, leaving one of our men asleep in the picket-house, and he must
+certainly have met his death if he had been caught there singly; but
+the tallow-chandler, though himself a Spaniard, concealed him under a
+quantity of dry hides while the enemy were scouring the place in
+search of stragglers, and so saved his life. In consequence of this
+surprise, still heavier duty was afterwards put upon us, the picket
+having to be augmented to prevent further annoyance.
+
+Two or three days after this had occurred the tallow-chandler was sent
+for to join the Spanish army, no doubt because their general suspected
+him of favouring the English; but he would not go until he had
+obtained our colonel's advice, which was that he should go by all
+means, and if he could conveniently come back with full particulars of
+the enemy's strength he should be rewarded. As far as I can remember,
+he had been away about ten days, when he again made his appearance
+with the requisite information. What reward he got I cannot say, but
+as the result of his tidings, about two or three days afterwards we
+were called under arms at midnight and supplied with half a pound of
+beef for each man; the order then being given to return to our
+lodgings for two hours, and at the end of that time to fall in again.
+Meanwhile a number of sailors came from on board our ships to take
+charge of the town during our absence, we being now bound for some
+place as yet unknown to us.
+
+A little after two in the morning we left the town with an Indian for
+our guide. We asked in the best manner that we could where we were
+going to, but all we could understand from him was that we were on the
+way to fight some Spaniards, which of course we had pretty well
+guessed before, and that we should have some four or five thousand of
+them to encounter. This last bit of news made us think that we were
+going to have hard nuts to crack, but we found them a very cowardly
+sort of folk to deal with, for after marching some five or six miles,
+we despatched skirmishing parties, who fell in with their picket and
+took a few prisoners, and soon made the others retreat without doing
+anything further than to send up some rockets to alarm the body of the
+enemy.
+
+We marched on still further till we came nearly up to them, when we
+found a river in our way; fortunately it was not very deep, so we
+waded through it under a fire from the Spanish cannon, which killed
+two of our men while in the act of crossing; and as soon as we were
+over we formed line and advanced towards the enemy, who lay on some
+fine rising ground in our front. They had some few pieces of cannon
+with them, and opened the first fire with both cannon and musketry,
+but every shot seemed to rise over our heads, and I don't think that
+volley killed a man. We were up and at them like dragons, wounding and
+taking their general with about a hundred and fifty other prisoners;
+likewise a stand of colours, three pieces of cannon, and their
+baggage. Moreover, we found a nice breakfast cooking for us in the
+shape of fowls, geese, turkeys, beef, rice, and _calavancos_, (though
+the latter were rather too warm with cayenne pepper and garlic,) all
+of which the enemy had had to leave in his hurry, and which came in
+very acceptably at the end of a long march.
+
+The colonel ordered everything to be taken from the prisoners we had
+made, as that was how he had been served himself when he had been
+taken prisoner at Buenos Ayres, so we set to clearing them of all they
+possessed, their money, which amounted to about two thousand dollars,
+their clothes, and even their boots. I had a very narrow escape while
+the plunder was going on. I entered one of the enemy's storehouses, at
+one end of which a quantity of bullocks' hides were lying, at a
+sufficient distance from the wall to allow a man to pass or hide
+behind them; and there beside the heap stood a Spaniard whom I knew
+well, as he had sold cakes to us while we were at Colonia, and who now
+offered me a pot of honey to eat. I had my misgivings, however, so
+made motion for him to eat first, for fear of poison; and at the same
+time, casting my eye to the left, I saw a Spaniard emerge from between
+the hides and the wall with a pistol, which he levelled at me. I
+became pretty active, as may be supposed under the circumstances, and
+managed to guard it off; but the shot whizzed very close to my head
+nevertheless, which made me very much enraged with the man, and
+determined he should not escape. Unfortunately for him, one of our
+dismounted cavalry, an Irishman, came in, and on my telling him there
+was a Spaniard behind the hides, who had just fired a pistol at me,
+"Tare an' 'ounds," says he, "I'll fetch him out; you stand at one end
+to stop him with your bayonet while I drive him out." So Paddy went
+round with his sword, and after a little exercise behind, "Look out
+comrade," he sang out, "he's coming;" and sure enough I skewered him
+to the wall by driving my bayonet right through his body, while Paddy
+came out and finished him by splitting his head nearly in two with his
+heavy sword, remarking as he did it, "Bad luck to ye, I don't think
+ye'll ever shoot another Englishman, or Irishman either." The other
+man had meanwhile made off.
+
+We had taken amongst other things about twenty barrels of gunpowder
+and a quantity of cigars, which latter, owing to the carelessness of
+one man, proved to be more plague than profit; for whilst most of us
+were smoking, one of the company, going near the powder, happened to
+let a spark fall from his cigar, which resulted in twelve men being
+blown into the air: and though none were killed on the spot, they were
+so frightfully burnt that several died on reaching Colonia. I believe
+all that we lost actually killed by the enemy's hand were the two men
+who fell in crossing the river. We gave ten dollars to each of the
+widows of the men killed, and the rest of the prize-money was divided.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+     Return to Colonia -- General Whitelock assumes the command of the
+     army in the Plate, and a movement is made on Buenos Ayres --
+     Studied insolence on the part of certain Indian natives --
+     Remarkable value attached by them to a British head -- Their
+     eventual punishment -- The troops effect an easy entrance into
+     Buenos Ayres, but, for reasons unknown to the narrator, retreat
+     almost immediately and not very creditably -- Return to Monte
+     Video and final departure from the Plate -- Terrific storm on the
+     way home -- Inconvenient mishap to a soldier -- Christmas in
+     Cork Cove.
+
+
+As we had effected all that was wanted at San Pedro, which was the
+name of the place where we had been carrying on these operations, we
+returned to Colonia, dragging back the guns laden with our wounded,
+and taking with us the prisoners, who had to walk along barefooted, as
+we had availed ourselves of their boots. On our arrival at Colonia our
+sailors saluted us when they saw the number of our prisoners and the
+three pieces of cannon we had taken, giving "three cheers for the
+brave soldiers." The prisoners were then sent on board a ship that was
+lying in the river, and an outlying picket having been posted as
+usual, the rest of us remained comfortably in the town. Next day the
+colonel gave orders for everything belonging to the prisoners, such as
+clothes, &c., to be brought out, offering a fair price for them to be
+returned to their proper owners, which showed of what a good
+disposition he really was: only he had allowed us to take the things
+before as an example.
+
+We remained here about a month this time, when General Whitelock came
+out with a reinforcement and took the command from Sir Samuel
+Auchmuty, and soon afterwards, some troops being left in charge of
+Monte Video, the rest proceeded to Buenos Ayres, calling at Colonia on
+the way to pick up our little squad. We landed some miles before
+coming to Buenos Ayres, intending, if possible, to storm the back of
+the town, as it was strongly fortified on the side towards the coast.
+We were thus obliged to march inland and form encampments, the first
+of which was situated a little way from where we landed.
+
+An incident took place here, which was attended by the death of two
+men, a corporal and a private, and likewise the very narrow escape of
+a second private. They were engaged in plundering one of the Indian
+huts, when the inhabitants fell on them armed, and, catching the
+corporal round the neck with a lasso, soon dragged him away, at the
+same time knocking the private down and stabbing him; the other
+private only escaped back to the regiment after receiving a
+sabre-wound which carried the skin and hair off the back of his head.
+This was a great glory to the natives; they stuck the corporal's head
+on a pole and carried it in front of their little band when on the
+march. They also made use of the rifle and ammunition they had taken
+from him to fire at times into our camp, but fortunately it was a very
+harmless sort of practice.
+
+Next day we again resumed our march, encamping again at night. I
+remember that night was very foggy, and an officer and some men having
+gone out in search of bullocks for the supply of the army, the officer
+was very nearly lassoed by an Indian who came on him suddenly in the
+darkness. Fortunately he had the presence of mind to ride after him,
+which saved his life, for so the Indian could not pull him over; and
+then he managed to cut the lasso with his sword.
+
+As we marched along on our next day's journey, about two hundred
+Indians kept following us, the foremost of them wearing our dead
+corporal's jacket, and carrying his head--I do not exactly know for
+what reason, but perhaps they thought a good deal more of a dead man's
+head than we should feel disposed to do. We went on for some distance
+through a great many orange-gardens, till we came to a lane thickly
+hedged in on both sides, which was entered by a gate, and there, after
+the body of our army had passed through, some few men, including
+myself, waited in ambush for the Indians, having a reserve placed a
+short distance down the lane in case of a combat. The Indians soon
+approached, but seemed to have some misgivings, though we could not
+exactly understand what they said. There being only a few of us, not
+quite twenty in all, I rather shook in my shoes on seeing their
+number; but we soon found there was very little occasion for this, for
+on our firing directly the front party had passed the gate, killing
+two of them and wounding and capturing their chief, who was the one
+who was so proud of his head, the rest fled for their lives, not
+liking the smell and much less the taste of our gunpowder. We picked
+up the wounded man and carried him, and left him, more dead than
+alive, in a neighbouring village.
+
+On nearing Buenos Ayres the Light Brigade was ordered on in front,
+under the command of Colonel Pack, who soon succeeded in taking the
+Bull Ring battery; for Buenos Ayres was much more easy to take than
+Monte Video, as it was very slightly fortified towards the country.
+There were some cannons placed at the end of each street, but they
+proved a very small difficulty to be overcome, as there seemed nobody
+efficient to work them, and after passing these, our soldiers were soon
+in possession of the city. Then they hoisted the King's flag on a
+convent and waited, expecting every minute that the body of our army
+would come up; but instead of this, General Whitelock encamped about a
+mile out of the town and remained there. If he had attended properly
+to his business he would have followed up and relieved the brigade;
+but as it was, the Spaniards rallied and overpowered it. I was with
+the main body, and so was not able to enter the city to see what was
+going on. We all fell under arms when we heard the muskets at work,
+waiting for the general's orders to advance: but there we lay the
+whole night, not doing a stroke, and next day we re-embarked for Monte
+Video, having come to some terms, though we were ignorant of that at
+the time.
+
+We remained at Monte Video some two months longer, during which
+interval the ships taken in the harbour were offered for sale, but the
+inhabitants refusing to buy them, we loaded some ourselves with hides,
+tallow, and cocoa, and the rest, which were not worth bringing home,
+were towed out to the mouth of the harbour and set on fire. The
+Spaniards had previously blown up a very fine frigate to prevent it
+falling into our hands. Part of our army was then embarked for the
+East Indies and the Cape of Good Hope, whilst we others went on an
+expedition about a hundred miles up the Rio de la Plata to get fresh
+water, and when we returned proceeded on our way homewards from that
+part of the world.
+
+The first part of our voyage was very pleasant, the troops in general
+keeping very healthy; but when we had sailed some distance, we had a
+dead calm for a considerable time, which made us much longer on our
+voyage than we had thought for, and consequently our water supply ran
+very short, and had to be served out in allowances of half a pint a
+day. A small supply, however, fortunately came before long. Our
+captain, seeing a cloud in the distance, foretold that we were going
+to have a thunderstorm, and ordered the scupper-holes to be stopped,
+and all except the watch to remain below. I happened to be one of the
+watch at the time, and well I remember how it very shortly after began
+to thunder and lighten, the rain falling in torrents for two or three
+hours; it was the heaviest thunderstorm I had ever witnessed. We baled
+up some twenty or more casks of water, which was none the better,
+perhaps, for there being pigs, fowls, geese, and turkeys all over the
+deck, but still was very acceptable to us in our parched state, as
+till that we had had to cook our food and wash ourselves in salt water
+only.
+
+During the storm our mainmast was struck by the lightning, which split
+a piece off it from top to bottom, but fortunately did not disable it;
+but a sad mishap befell one of our men while sitting at mess at the
+time, for he was struck dead, his shirt being burnt in places like
+tinder, and his mess-tin being likewise turned black, while the top of
+a bayonet that was standing close to the unfortunate man was melted
+like lead. The blow had shaken our little bark so terribly that the
+captain ordered the pumps to be tried; fortunately there was no
+leakage to be found, but the lightning must have got well down below,
+for on opening the main hatchway the sulphur came up enough to
+suffocate any one.
+
+After the storm, the calm still continued, and we had to amuse
+ourselves as best we could with fishing; a few days after a breeze
+sprang up, but it was foul for England, and we had to knock about till
+a more favourable one blew up, which finally landed us in the Cove of
+Cork. We spent the Christmas of 1807 on board, sending on shore for
+raisins, flour, fat, and beer, and so being enabled to enjoy ourselves
+very comfortably.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+     The troops kept in Ireland -- Ordered to Spain to fight new
+     opponents in behalf of their late ones -- Land in Mondego Bay and
+     advance to Vimeira -- A light repast interrupted by a heavy
+     battle -- Battle of Vimeira -- Preliminary skirmishing --
+     Lawrence's first experience in fighting the French -- A good
+     front-rank man -- Defeat of the French and advance on Lisbon --
+     The French evacuate the city -- Lawrence's impressions of Lisbon
+     -- Sir Arthur Wellesley made commander-in-chief -- The regiment
+     invalided for a time -- Attempt to join Sir John Moore frustrated
+     -- Seville -- Lawrence's first offence -- He is court-martialled
+     for it and flogged -- Moral reflections on the same.
+
+
+We had already laid in our sea stock in preparation to start for
+England, when we found ourselves disappointed of our hopes, for orders
+came for us to land in Ireland; and we had to march to Cork and thence
+to various other places for six months, nothing of any particular note
+happening during the while; and at the end of it, orders again came
+for us to embark for Portugal, to drive the French from there, and
+from the Spanish dominions. Thus after we had been in open war against
+the Spaniards, who for the time had been in alliance with the French,
+or rather had been forced to be so, now that Buonaparte had overrun
+their own country and kindled hatred against himself, these same
+Spaniards had made peace with us, and sent to us for assistance to
+drive him out of their country: so that we had to go and fight for the
+very nation we had been a few months before opposing in Monte Video,
+Buenos Ayres, and Colonia.
+
+After we had all embarked we had still to lie in Cork Harbour, waiting
+for the English fleet, and then we sailed from the Irish coast, about
+twelve thousand strong, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, on the 12th of
+July, 1808. We first touched at Corunna to make arrangements with the
+Spaniards, and their advice being to land in Portugal, we went to
+Mondego Bay, near the town of Figueras, where we landed, leaving our
+baggage on board. After about five days' march we were joined by
+General Spencer, and next day our advanced guard had a slight
+engagement with the enemy at Rorica. Thence we marched on to Vimeira,
+and were joined by Generals Anstruther and Acland with more
+reinforcements, and Sir Hugh Dalrymple took the head command from Sir
+Arthur Wellesley.
+
+The village of Vimeira stood in a valley with a fine range of hills to
+the westward, and a ridge of heights to the east. Our brigades were
+stationed on the mountains to the west, whilst our cavalry was posted
+in the valley, and General Anstruther's brigade lay to the east.
+
+On the first night of our encampment there, two of my comrades and
+myself were strolling over the hills together, when we fell in with a
+hive of bees, weighing I should think at least a hundredweight, which
+we carried back into the camp: not without difficulty, however, for we
+found them very uncivil passengers to carry, and our faces and hands
+were fearfully stung; but our honey and grapes, for we had profited
+too from being encamped in some very fine vineyards, paid us for this
+a little. Next morning we proceeded to make our breakfast off the same
+materials, but we were not destined to finish very quietly, for in the
+midst of our meal we were disturbed by the near approach of the enemy,
+and were immediately ordered under arms.
+
+The right of our line was engaged at least two hours before a general
+engagement took place on our side, which was the left, but we were
+skirmishing with the enemy the whole time. I remember this well, on
+account of a Frenchman and myself being occupied in firing at each
+other for at least half an hour without doing anyone any injury; but
+he took a pretty straight aim at me once, and if it had not been for a
+tough front-rank man that I had, in the shape of a cork-tree, his shot
+must have proved fatal, for I happened to be straight behind the tree
+when the bullet embedded itself in it. I recollect saying at the time,
+"Well done, front-rank man, thee doesn't fall at that stroke," and
+unfortunately for the Frenchman, a fellow-comrade, who was lefthanded,
+came up to me very soon afterwards, and asked me how I was getting on.
+I said badly, and told him there was a Frenchman in front, and we had
+been trying to knock each other over for some time, without either of
+us having been able to succeed; on which he asked me where he was,
+that he might have a try at him. I pointed out the thicket behind
+which the Frenchman was, and he prepared his rifle so as to catch him
+out in his peeping manoeuvres, but not without himself, as well as I,
+being well covered by my old front-rank man. By-and-by Mr. Frenchman
+again made his peep round the bush, but it was his last, for my
+comrade, putting his rifle to his left shoulder, killed him at the
+first shot.
+
+After we had been thus employed in skirmishing for some time, a large
+body of French made their appearance in our front. Our artillery
+greeted them pretty sharply, ploughing furrows through them with ball
+and throwing them into a confused state, after which our columns
+advanced under General Spencer, our cannon still playing over our
+heads, until we got within a short distance of the enemy, when we
+fired and charged them, driving them from the position they had
+occupied after some very severe fighting well kept up for some time on
+both sides, and capturing about seven pieces of cannon, with
+ammunition waggons. The loss of the French at this place could not
+have been much less than two thousand, though some have reported it
+less and some more; but it is very hard to arrive at a just
+calculation. Our loss was reported to have been about seven hundred.
+
+After the battle was ended we marched on towards Lisbon, passing on
+our way about a hundred and fifty carts laden with the enemy's
+wounded. When we arrived at Lisbon we encamped, so that the French had
+no means of communication with the city; as, our fleet lying in or
+near the mouth of the harbour, and our army stopping all approach from
+the land, the French in the city were blocked in. On the first night
+of our encampment the inhabitants illuminated the part where we lay.
+We were not destined, however, to be outside the city long, for on the
+leaders of our army and the French coming to some terms, the French
+left with the honours of war, and gladly embarked from the harbour in
+September. These were the very troops with whom at a later period we
+had to contend.
+
+When the enemy had left Lisbon we took up our quarters in the city,
+amid the joy and enthusiasm of the inhabitants, who shouted in triumph
+as the French left, and held illuminations even on the vessels in the
+harbour for several successive nights afterwards.
+
+Lisbon then on every side still exhibited marks of that terrible
+earthquake which almost completely destroyed it in the year 1755. It
+was situated on the right bank of the Tagus, near its mouth, which
+forms a very fine harbour; and it stood chiefly on very precipitous
+hills, of which the highest was occupied by the fine castle of Saint
+George, which was indeed the principal object that attracted the eye
+anywhere from the city. The great squares contained some magnificent
+edifices, noteworthy for the fineness of their pillars. The streets
+were narrow and winding and dirty, and indeed after the French had
+left the whole city was in a most desolate state; but the general view
+of the city and its environs from the harbour at a distance was very
+beautiful, the sides of the hills being clothed with plantations and
+numberless vineyards, and the buildings extending for a mile and a
+half or two miles along the coast.
+
+Sir Hugh Dalrymple, Sir Arthur Wellesley, and some other of the chief
+leaders of our army were then recalled to England to communicate the
+circumstances of the terms that had been arrived at in Portugal
+between the two armies: as the rulers, and indeed all classes in
+England received the first reports of them with indignation. This was
+the reason that the inquiry was made, of which the fruits were that
+Sir Arthur Wellesley was decided on as the proper person to take the
+head command of our troops in the Peninsula.
+
+During our stay in Lisbon our regiment fell ill and was obliged to be
+returned unfit for service, which state of things lasted about two
+months. But as soon as Sir Arthur Wellesley returned as
+commander-in-chief, we were ordered into Spain, in company with five
+thousand Spaniards, to join Sir John Moore's army. We had a long and
+tedious march until we reached a place called Seville, where we
+encamped for several weeks, on account of Sir John Moore having been
+obliged to retreat; and the French cutting off our communication, we
+had to proceed to Cadiz and there embark again for Lisbon.
+
+I must here relate a circumstance which took place before I proceeded
+from Seville, which, although not very creditable to myself, is of too
+great importance as an event in my life to be omitted. I absented
+myself without leave from guard for twenty-four hours, and when I
+returned I found I had jumped into a fine scrape, for I was
+immediately put into the guard-room, and a drum-head court-martial was
+ordered on me. It was the first offence to cause one to be held on me,
+but that did not screen me much, and I was sentenced to four hundred
+lashes. I felt ten times worse on hearing this sentence than I ever
+did on entering any battlefield; in fact, if I had been sentenced to
+be shot, I could not have been more in despair, for my life at that
+time seemed of very little consequence to me. My home and my
+apprenticeship days again ran in my head, but even these thoughts soon
+lost themselves as I neared the spot where my sentence was to be
+carried out. I found the regiment assembled all ready to witness my
+punishment: the place chosen for it was the square of a convent. As
+soon as I had been brought in by the guard, the court-martial was read
+over me by the colonel, and then I was ordered to strip, which I did
+firmly and without using any of the help that was offered me, as I had
+by that time got hardened to my lot. I was then lashed to the
+halberds, and the colonel gave the order for the drummers to commence,
+each one having to give me twenty-five lashes in turn. I bore it very
+well until I had received a hundred and seventy-five, when I became so
+enraged with the pain that I pushed the halberds, which did not stand
+at all firm, on account of their being planted on stones, right across
+the square, amid the laughter of the regiment. The colonel, I suppose,
+thinking then that I had had sufficient, ordered, in the very words,
+"the sulky rascal down," and perhaps a more true word could not have
+been spoken, as indeed I was sulky, for I did not give vent to a
+single sound the whole time, though the blood ran down my trousers
+from top to bottom. I was unbound and the corporal hove my shirt and
+jacket over my shoulders and conveyed me to the hospital, presenting
+about as miserable a picture as I possibly could.
+
+Perhaps it was as good a thing for me as could then have occurred, as
+it prevented me from committing any greater crimes which might have
+gained me other severer punishments and at last brought me to my
+ruin; but for all that it was a great trial for me, and I think that a
+good deal of that kind of punishment might have been abandoned with
+great credit to those who ruled our army; for it is amazing to think
+of four hundred lashes being ordered on a man young as I was, and
+undergoing all the privations of a most sanguinary war, just for an
+offence, and that the first, which might have been overlooked, or at
+any rate treated with less punishment and a severe reprimand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+     Lawrence transferred into the Grenadier company -- The regiment
+     embarks at Cadiz for Lisbon again in consequence of Sir John
+     Moore's defeat at Corunna -- Hospitality of an English merchant
+     -- March to join Sir Arthur Wellesley at Castello Branco -- The
+     Spanish troops reviewed -- Lawrence's opinion of them -- Battle
+     of Talavera -- Lawrence's opinion of the Spaniards justified --
+     Severe fighting on the second day of the battle -- Friendliness
+     between the wounded -- Final attack and repulse of the French --
+     Horrible fate of some of the wounded -- Advance to Oropesa -- The
+     Spanish General Cuesta deserts the wounded at Talavera -- March
+     towards Badajoz -- Privations on the road -- Fresh supply of
+     clothes at Badajoz -- Lawrence invalided to Elvas -- Is cured
+     chiefly by reflecting on his manner of burial -- Returns to
+     Badajoz -- Sir Arthur Wellesley made Viscount Wellington -- End
+     of 1809.
+
+
+I remained in hospital about three weeks, and on coming out I was
+transferred from the Light into the Grenadier company.
+
+As I before said, on leaving Seville, which I did in a pretty well
+marked state, of which I bear the remembrances on my back to this day
+upwards of fifty years since, we marched to Cadiz and encamped there,
+intending to embark for Lisbon, Sir John Moore's army having been by
+that time repulsed by sheer force of numbers, and himself killed at
+Corunna. On that night an English wine-merchant asked permission to
+give each man in our regiment a pint of wine and each woman half that
+quantity, with a pound of bread apiece; and accordingly we were all
+drawn up in line, and marched into a tremendous cellar, big enough,
+had they been so disposed, to have admitted the whole regiment, with
+two doors one at each end, at one of which we entered to receive our
+share, and went out by the other. He likewise invited the officers to
+dine with him; and so that night, after drinking the merchant's little
+kindness, as we most of us did to pretty quick time, we slept a good
+deal sounder.
+
+Next day we embarked for Lisbon, and after landing there we proceeded
+some miles up the country to join Sir Arthur's army in Castello
+Branco, making up altogether about twenty thousand English and sixty
+or eighty thousand Allies.
+
+We then advanced across a fine plain, which I should think was more
+famed for hares than anything else, for I never saw any place that
+swarmed so with that kind of game. They were running in all
+directions, and often even right into our lines, for they are stupid
+animals when frightened, as they then were by the noise our men made;
+and I managed to kill one with the muzzle of my musket, and sold it to
+the captain of my company for a dollar.
+
+The bands played each before its own regiment as we crossed the plain,
+and Sir Arthur Wellesley took the opportunity of reviewing the Spanish
+troops as they passed. They looked a fine enough set of men, but they
+were fit for scarcely anything except to fall into disorder and
+confusion, as we had already found when we had taken the field against
+some of them at Monte Video, Colonia, and Buenos Ayres, the smell of
+powder often seeming to cause them to be missing when wanted, either
+from not having been properly disciplined, or else because they had
+not good officers to command them; this, of course, now bringing the
+brunt of most of the battles on us.
+
+We often passed marks of the enemy's encampments, and even encamped at
+or near the same places ourselves, as close as possible to some river
+or large supply of water, a small quantity being of little use for the
+purposes of a large body of men like our army, accompanied as it was,
+too, by horses and wagons and such things. We never caught sight of
+the enemy, however, till we got to Talavera, where we came to an
+engagement with the French on the 27th and 28th of July, 1809. The
+whole of our line there extended for about two miles, and at times the
+whole of it was joining in the general engagement, which came more hot
+upon us for the reason before described; a great number of the
+Spaniards even throwing down their arms and fleeing, for which conduct
+their general, Cuesta, ordered them to be decimated; but eventually,
+on the entreaty of Sir Arthur Wellesley, only about forty of them were
+killed. General Cuesta, however, really wanted quite as much leading
+on as his men, as he was often very obstinate, and refused to fight
+when called upon by Sir Arthur Wellesley.
+
+After the first day's battle we encamped on the ground we then
+occupied, but the French made another and unexpected attack on us at
+night, and at one time had almost gained the heights; but we repulsed
+them at last, though after that we had to lie on our arms, expecting
+every minute to be again attacked. Some little altercation occurred
+with the Spaniards very early in the morning, but it only lasted a
+short time; however, about five or six o'clock the French columns were
+seen in motion towards our left, and very soon afterwards they
+ascended the height to attack us, and were only driven back by the
+heavy fire of our musketry, leaving the ground strewn with their dead.
+At eleven or twelve o'clock in the day the firing ceased, and a period
+of truce was allowed for both armies to collect their wounded, and
+convey them to the rear, where, as they lay often intermixed, a
+friendly intercourse sprang up between them, the Allies and French
+often going so far as to shake hands with each other.
+
+At one or two o'clock the enemy again advanced and recommenced with a
+heavy cannonade and an attack on the whole British lines, but after
+some very brisk fighting on both sides we repulsed them for the third
+time, and obliged them to retreat with a loss of some thousands and a
+few pieces of cannon, the British loss being about a thousand killed
+and three or four thousand wounded. A very dreadful occurrence
+happened after the battle, for the long dry grass in which many of the
+wounded were lying caught fire, and many were scorched to death before
+assistance could be brought to convey them to hospital in Talavera. We
+lay that night in much the same state as on that previous, expecting
+to see our noble enemy again, but we were mistaken, for most of them
+took themselves off during the night, and in the morning only their
+rear-guard could be seen.
+
+Next month commenced by Sir Arthur Wellesley leaving the Spanish
+general Cuesta in charge of Talavera and the wounded, while on the
+3rd he proceeded to Oropesa, where he expected to come up with and
+engage Soult's army. But he had not been there long before he found
+the obstinate Cuesta, upon hearing that the enemy was on his flank,
+had abandoned Talavera, thus leaving nearly the whole of the British
+wounded unprotected. The conduct of Cuesta in thus retreating and
+abandoning the position and the charge entrusted to him, was almost
+too much for Sir Arthur to bear, particularly as it was afterwards
+found that there was no need for it, as the enemy was at some distance
+off, and not in the least interfering with the Spanish army's
+movements. So in this case we would have been much better without his
+services altogether.
+
+From Oropesa we advanced through a country abounding with
+difficulties, the army suffering much during this march from the heat
+of the weather, the long exposure, insufficient food, and bad roads,
+and illness being very prevalent. Our provisions rarely exceeded two
+pounds of meat a day; and sometimes a pint of wheat took the place of
+one of the pounds of meat, with occasionally, but very rarely, a
+little flour. Our way of cooking the wheat was to boil it like rice,
+or sometimes, if convenient, we would crack the kernel between two
+flat stones and then boil it, making a kind of thick paste out of it.
+This having so little bread or other vegetable substance to eat with
+our meat was one of the great causes of illness.
+
+We halted at or near Val de la Casa as our next stage for Oropesa,
+and two days after that at Deleitosa; and from there we were marched
+to Xaracego, whence, through lack of provisions, we were obliged to
+proceed to Badajoz, arriving there after being about a fortnight on
+the road. On leaving Talavera our clothes had been completely
+threadbare, and now, through having no change for so long we were
+smothered with vermin. When we had been a little while in Badajoz,
+however, we were supplied with new clothes, linen, blankets, and great
+coats, our old ones being burnt; and more live stock was destroyed in
+the process than there were troops in the country at the time.
+
+Whilst we were staying at Badajoz, numbers of us fell sick daily, and
+amongst them was unfortunately myself. We were conveyed to a
+Portuguese town some four leagues from Badajoz, called Elvas, which
+was the strongest fortified town in Portugal, being very little more
+than two leagues from the frontier of Spain. It was situated at the
+summit of a lofty hill, and at the other side of a valley was a still
+higher hill, on the top of which was built another strong fort, the
+two together being called Elvas. We invalids occupied the convents of
+the town.
+
+Our loss here through the sickness, which was some kind of fever, and
+was increased through the want of doctors and medicine, was very
+great, cartloads of the dead being carried out of the town every day
+for interment in the ground kept for the purpose outside the
+fortifications. I recovered sufficiently after about six weeks to be
+able to get out a little on the ramparts, and there a fearful
+spectacle often met my gaze, for the dead were brought out of the
+convents completely naked, and after they had been pitched into carts
+like so many pieces of wood, were carried out and put into holes
+scarcely large enough to admit of such a number. This unpleasant
+office of burying the dead fell chiefly on the Portuguese convicts,
+and it was surprising to see with what readiness these men went to
+work. They carried one body at a time, having the legs over their
+shoulders, and the head dangling down behind them, and when they came
+to the graves, on account of the piece of ground appropriated for the
+burials being so small, they had to pack their burdens with the
+greatest nicety. This sight soon cured me, as I thought what a narrow
+escape I had had of being handled by these same men; and I was glad to
+get back to my regiment at Badajoz as soon as possible.
+
+Thus ended the proceedings of 1809. Sir Arthur Wellesley was, after
+the battle of Talavera, raised to the rank of Viscount Wellington.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+     The regiment billeted at Olivencia -- Curious astronomical
+     conjunction -- Lawrence exemplifies the truth of an old proverb
+     at the expense of his hosts, and draws down the wrath of the
+     church on himself -- Succeeds more satisfactorily in the case of
+     his comrade -- The army shifted to the valley of the Mondego --
+     Lord Wellington's hopes in Almeida and Ciudad Rodrigo being
+     disappointed, it falls back still further to Busaco -- Battle of
+     Busaco -- Lawrence makes a capture, which may be regarded by some
+     readers as emblematic.
+
+
+At the beginning of 1810 we proceeded from Badajoz to Olivencia, and
+were there billeted on the inhabitants, two or more in a house, as the
+circumstances would permit. I remember one very curious thing which
+occurred at this time, which was that the names of the drum-majors of
+the three regiments that were collected in this place were Sun, Moon,
+and Star, our regiment having the Moon, the Fifty-third the Sun, and
+the Ninth the Star, so that if having the Sun, Moon, and Star fighting
+for us was any help, they were there all ready.
+
+I happened to be billeted with a comrade of the name of Lewis
+Phillips, a Welshman, in a house occupied by a respectable but poor
+man and his wife, whom we found on the whole very kindly meaning
+towards us. Their occupation was that of labourers, and at this
+particular season of the year they were employed in picking
+olive-berries. Before going out to their work in the morning they
+would prepare their supper; which, as it was then Lent, and they were
+not allowed to eat meat, consisted, as far as I was able to observe,
+of a mixture of greens, oil, cayenne pepper, and salt, which they
+would leave on the embers in an earthenware jar to be cooked by the
+time they came back; and as generally either myself or my comrade was
+in the way, they would ask us to occasionally give it a stir. One day
+after I had been there some little time, I was left as cook, and
+feeling in rather a mischievous mood, I cut some of my meat up very
+small--not much indeed, as may be supposed, out of the pound, which
+was all that we then received--and put it into the jar; and by
+nighttime it was so boiled and stirred that even I, who knew it was
+there, could scarcely recognize it. On their return they were very
+hungry and soon partook of their _caldo_, as they called it,
+pronouncing it to be very good, and praising me as the best cook they
+had had for some time, little suspecting what that same best cook had
+put into it. I was foolish enough, though indeed I did not expect what
+a bother I should throw up, to ask them then what they thought was in
+their _caldo_, and when I told them there was meat in it, they
+exclaimed they had eaten the Devil, or words to that effect in their
+language, which we were beginning to understand pretty well by that
+time after being so long in the country. When they had been and got
+rid of all they had eaten for supper, they reported me to their priest
+for making them eat meat in Lent contrary to the laws of their
+religion; and on the priest coming to the house he condemned me for
+ever, and prayed to them telling them not to take any notice, as it
+was done against their will and by an ignorant Protestant.
+
+They never liked me much afterwards, nor set me to watch their
+_caldo_, and, as they were obliged to have me there still, managed to
+make me rather uncomfortable; but this did not altogether debar me
+from continuing my jokes, and more as I thought it was pretty well
+time for Lewis to have his turn of it. It happened that Lewis
+particularly disliked olive oil, and I was myself very fond of it,
+and as we were very seldom on duty together, it used to fall to the
+one off to cook and bring the other his meals to the guard. So one day
+I pitched upon a plan by which to take Mr. Taffy in, he being on guard
+and I the cook that day. I asked him what he would have for his
+dinner, and he said some potatoes fried in butter, a piece of bread,
+and his usual pint of wine: so I got some olive oil, and fried the
+potatoes in that instead of in butter; and when his turn came for him
+to be relieved for a time off sentry, took his meal to him, which,
+coming as it did when he was very hungry, he was not long in lapping
+up. I then asked him how he had enjoyed it; and he answered he had
+never had a better meal in his life. I said, "Lewis, I thought you did
+not like oil." "No, no more I do; there was no oil there." I told him
+I had fried the potatoes in oil, but I could not make him believe it,
+so at last I said if he was agreeable I would make another mess in the
+same manner when we were both together at liberty. He consented, so
+the first time we were both together to dinner I commenced my frying,
+he being witness to the whole operation, and I found that I succeeded
+better in my experiment with Lewis than with the worthy people of the
+house, for after that he could eat as much oil as I could.
+
+After we had stayed at Olivencia for some weeks, chiefly in order to
+refresh ourselves after the long and tedious marches, warfare, and
+illness to which for the last two years we had been subjected, Lord
+Wellington removed his headquarters to Visen, and the army went for
+the most part into cantonments on the valley of the Mondego. Lord
+Wellington knew that his troops were then only strong enough for
+defensive operations, and was therefore determined, unless strongly
+reinforced, not to take rash measures; but on the enemy's fresh
+invasion of Portugal he again shifted his headquarters to Celorico.
+After that we moved on to another small place, called, as far as I am
+able to remember, Guarda, near Almeida, about eight or ten leagues
+from Ciudad Rodrigo.
+
+Almeida was at that time garrisoned by some Portuguese troops
+commanded by an English officer. The French had invested it, but Lord
+Wellington expected that it would have been able to baffle the enemy
+until the commencement of the rainy season, and would thus retard the
+enemy's movements. Almeida was a town of very great strength, but
+Massena opened fire on it about the 23rd of August, and it was obliged
+to capitulate as soon afterwards as the 27th, a magazine containing
+most of the ammunition having blown up, taking with it great part of
+the town and the fortifications; the governor being thus disappointed
+of his desire to detain the French any longer. In this sad accident
+hundreds of the inhabitants and the soldiery, with many of the enemy,
+who were assembled outside to watch the effect, were launched into
+eternity either by the explosion itself or by the huge falling masses.
+And not only did this misfortune occur, but Ciudad Rodrigo meanwhile
+had fallen into the enemy's hands, and thus a way was opened for a
+fourfold contest.
+
+Owing to these repeated disappointments of Lord Wellington's plans, we
+were again obliged to fall back into the valley of the Mondego,
+crossing that river and taking up our position on the heights of
+Busaco, situate about six leagues north-east of Coimbra. Our march was
+one of great difficulty, owing to the heavy rains and bad roads; but
+Lord Wellington did his best to provide against these as much as
+possible by taking the best road; while, on the other hand, Massena,
+who was following us up on his way to Lisbon, had taken the very
+worst; and what was more, owing to ignorance of the country, had
+little expected to meet a range of heights with, above all, us on the
+top of them, ready to retard his progress as much as possible.
+
+We arrived at Busaco about the centre of September, and on the 26th
+our line was formed. Our division, under General Cole, occupied the
+extreme left of the line, looking down on a flat country, where the
+British cavalry were drawn up in reserve. The divisions of Generals
+Hill, Leith, and Picton occupied the right of our line, with the first
+division, commanded by Sir Bryant Spencer, in the centre. In the
+meantime the French had taken up their position in front, and a
+splendid view we had of their encampment from Busaco heights for a
+time; but it was not destined to be for long that we were to witness
+this fine sight, without mingling some of their best blood with ours,
+for early on the morning of the 27th they were in active stir,
+evidently in the full intention of storming our heights. We were
+immediately ordered under arms, and ready, if necessary, to go into
+action.
+
+Early in the morning the French made their appearance. The action
+commenced on our right and centre, the heaviest fire keeping there the
+whole time that the battle lasted, as the division I was in had but
+slight brushes with them. The French must have lost in this engagement
+some four or five thousand men, while we lost little more than a
+thousand: but it must be borne in mind what an immense advantage we
+had over them, as, being situated as we were on the heights, we could
+witness their every movement. That night they retreated to their old
+position, disheartened at the little success they had gained, or
+rather at the actual defeat they had suffered, and not feeling
+inclined to renew the contest next day: and some very slight
+engagements were all that ensued, chiefly on the left where the light
+infantry were.
+
+Whilst strolling about one day on these heights I caught a fine cock,
+which I tamed by tying him to my knapsack by the leg and carrying him
+about with me, much to the amusement of my comrades; for after I had
+had him about a fortnight, he became so tame that he would sit on my
+knapsack quite quietly, without even the string to his leg. We named
+him Tom, and I took to carrying him about everywhere, even on to the
+battlefield; wherever my knapsack went, Tom went too, and when the
+balls were whizzing about, which he did not seem altogether to like,
+he would make that curious noise which many may have observed as such
+which a bird like this would make when pursued or frightened. He
+served, however, to while away many a long and dreary hour pleasantly
+by his peculiar little ways, and we all became very fond of him: and
+he grew quite fat on the many tit-bits he received from my comrades
+and myself during our mess, it being quite marvellous to see how
+regularly he went to each in turn for his contribution. And it was
+still more curious to see how Tom was always ready for action on any
+move of the knapsacks, and not only that, but how very seldom he made
+any mistake as to which was the right one. However, certain it was
+that after he had inhabited my knapsack for a little time he had made
+sufficient marks on it that I could never mistake it for any other, so
+perhaps he went by them as well as myself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+     March To Leiria -- Liberation of Nuns -- Retreat before the
+     French to within the lines of Torres Vedras -- General flitting
+     on the part of the population -- Pitiful scenes on the road --
+     Lawrence and his comrades cantoned in a cellar at Patamara --
+     They find a treasure -- The owner doesn't, and makes a
+     disturbance -- Lawrence as an interpreter -- A game of cunning
+     between officers and men, ending in a victory for the latter --
+     Massena compelled to retreat to Santarem for want of supplies --
+     The regiment receives its South American prize money, and is
+     promptly put in the way to spend it.
+
+
+On Lord Wellington finding that the French intended to alter their
+route, and so escape this formidable height, he retreated towards
+Lisbon himself, passing Coimbra, at which place the Portuguese took
+some thousands of the French sick and wounded, together with some few
+effective troops, who had been left to protect the hospital. From
+Coimbra we proceeded farther south, having again to cross the Mondego,
+which we did in the latter end of September, reaching Leiria on the
+2nd of October.
+
+On the march we passed a nunnery, where we halted for about a quarter
+of an hour. A great many of the nuns were crowding the balconies to
+watch us, and as the French were following us up pretty close, the
+colonel ordered the doors to be broken open by a body of grenadiers,
+which was soon done, myself being among the number told off for the
+purpose. This was not carried out, however, without an accident, for
+one of the women meanwhile fell from a balcony, owing to the crowded
+state in which they were packed on it. The poor women seemed very glad
+to get their liberty, for they came out as thick as a flock of sheep,
+and a great many of them soon passed us bound for Lisbon, being
+fearful of consequences if they took any other direction: as the
+French were after us so near as to skirmish with our rear-guard,
+which chiefly consisted of cavalry.
+
+Lord Wellington had indeed issued a proclamation ordering all the
+inhabitants to fall back on the approach of the enemy, and destroy any
+articles that they might possess and were not able to carry with them,
+that were at all likely to be of any use to the enemy; and so
+thousands of the population of the country that seemed about to fall
+within the bounds of the enemy's marches were to be seen flying from
+their dwellings, and our army during its retreat was accompanied by
+crowds of miserable men, women, and children, all eager to reach the
+capital, as they knew that if they fell in with the French, they would
+be treated as some had been before, with all the barbarities of an
+atrocious enemy. I have often heard talk of "moving" in England, and
+have seen a cart or wagon with a man driving a load of furniture, at
+the rate of three miles an hour, with a woman and perhaps several
+children sitting on the top, or at the back; but I never before or
+since saw such a wholesale move as this was, for every one seemed
+anxious to carry as many of his effects as he could find room for. The
+farther we proceeded the more confused our retreat appeared, for
+multitudes were obliged to rest weary and exhausted by the roadside,
+and often, though made eager in their endeavours as they heard of the
+enemy's approach to again renew their tedious journey, were found
+dying or even dead from their hard exertions, and the road was
+everywhere strewn with pieces of all kinds of furniture, which the
+poor fugitives had vainly attempted to get forward.
+
+From Leiria we went on further to Torres Vedras, which we gained after
+a long, tedious, and impressive march; and there we took up our
+position at some fine breastworks which Lord Wellington had for some
+time previous ordered to be thrown up by the Portuguese peasantry in
+case of the retreat of our army. Now we found how much we needed them,
+for on the 10th of October the French came in sight of our strong
+position, where we had drawn up, determined that they should not
+proceed one step farther towards Lisbon.
+
+Massena was rather surprised at our strength, which was quite
+unexpected by him. He had thought of driving the English into the sea,
+but he now found his mistake, so encamped about a mile and a half from
+our position.
+
+On the 14th, however, he attacked our lines near Sobral, but was
+repulsed; and on another occasion a slight skirmish took place on the
+right of the line, in which the French general, St. Croix, was killed
+by the fire from our gunboats; but on account of our strong position,
+the French did not come to a general engagement.
+
+The cold and rainy weather having now set in, Lord Wellington had
+provided as well as possible for the best reception of his troops, who
+were mostly now in cantonments, whilst those of Massena's army were
+subject to hardships of the worst description, owing to the cold,
+wet, and above all insufficient food and raiment, for they were far
+away from all supplies from their own country, and there were
+guerillas or mountain rebels always on the watch to intercept such as
+were sent, while our army was so near Lisbon that it could always get
+abundance. Our regiment was situated in a village called Patamara, in
+the front of our works, where we lay as comfortably as if we had been
+living in peaceful times; though we were so near the enemy that we
+very often wandered into the same vineyards, and exchanged compliments
+by shaking hands.
+
+We were cantoned in a large cellar, but it was unfortunately empty, or
+at least there was no wine in it, and though there was a quantity of
+wheat in a vat, we had no need of that, as we had plenty of our own
+supplies. The owner of our cellar generally visited us every day, and
+we could not help thinking after a time that he seemed to take
+particular notice of a large box or bin that two of our men were using
+to sleep in, so we moved it one morning, and found that the ground
+underneath had been disturbed. Of course we thought that there must be
+some treasure concealed there, so we went to work with our bayonets,
+having no other tools at hand, and soon we came across a large jar,
+which we found contained bags of dollars, about two hundred and fifty
+in each bag; which treasure we distributed privately among the cellar
+company, carefully breaking the jar and returning the earth to its
+proper place, with the chest on the top of it, so that a minute eye
+could not have told that it had been disturbed.
+
+Next morning as usual the owner came, bringing with him two labourers,
+who set to work filling the chest with wheat from the vat, evidently
+with the intention of making it weighty, he little suspecting that his
+treasure, which he supposed was underneath, had been divided amongst
+his tenants. After that we thought we were pretty right from
+detection, but we were mistaken, for in the morning our restless owner
+again made his appearance with the two labourers. I should think that
+that night he must have dreamt of our manoeuvre, for he now shifted
+the wheat back again into its place, moved the chest, and raised the
+earth and the broken jar, but found the bird had flown. I shall never
+forget the rage the man was in. I thought he would have torn the hair
+off his head; in fact, he did tear some up by the roots, but he must
+have found that a poor way of showing his spite. He cried, "_Ladrone!
+Ladrone!_" which was his way of expressing "Thief! Thief!" but finding
+that we did not take much notice of him, he reported his loss to the
+colonel, or rather went off to him with that intention; but as the
+colonel did not understand his language, I was sent for, as by that
+time I was pretty well acquainted with it; and on my replying to the
+question as to what the Portuguese wanted, that he required a corporal
+and three privates to guard a stack of wood, the colonel told me to
+let him know that he had nothing to do with it. I told the Portuguese
+that it was no use his making a noise about the money, as it must have
+been only a little change that he could not conveniently recover,
+unless he could bring proper witnesses to prove he had put the money
+there.
+
+That only appeased him for the night, however, for he came bothering
+the colonel again next morning. The colonel again sent for me and
+asked me what on earth this man wanted now, so I was then obliged to
+admit the truth. I asked him if he would forgive me for telling him an
+untruth overnight, and on his consenting, I told him the Portuguese
+had lost a quantity of money, which he put down at seven thousand
+dollars. The Portuguese's answer to the question who had placed the
+money there was that he had himself, but he could bring no witnesses
+to show that he had really done it, so the colonel said he could have
+nothing to do with the affair. However, the following morning the
+plague again appeared, so the colonel to quiet him told him that the
+grenadiers had some prize money which was expected in a few days, and
+which he should receive in lieu of what he had lost, which sent the
+old man off seemingly as satisfied as if he had already got the money
+in his possession, shaking hands with us all round, and bowing and
+scraping as if we had been so many kings.
+
+The matter did not altogether rest here, however, for the colonel
+suspecting that we were implicated, next day we were ordered as if
+for marching, just as if we were going to leave the place that very
+day, but the men being quite up to that trick, knowing that the French
+were still in front, concealed their shares of the money in and around
+the cellar. I remember well the manner in which my own and one of my
+fellow-comrades' shares were hidden: there was a heap of pumpkins in
+the cellar, and in one of these we enclosed our money, cutting a piece
+out of it of sufficient size to admit the dollars, and after closing
+it up with the top of the original piece, mixing it again with the
+remainder of the heap. The company was then marched out into a field,
+and all our knapsacks and pockets were searched, but even the little
+money that some must have had before was missing.
+
+The colonel did not mind being baffled so much as the major did, who
+told the colonel that if he left it in his hands he would endeavour to
+find the money, to which the colonel replied that he was just the man
+the Portuguese wanted. The manner in which this cunning major went to
+work might have succeeded with men less artful than he found us to be,
+but every one in the cellar had part in it, so it was to the interest
+of all to keep the affair secret, and not only that, but every man's
+share in the prize happened to amount to more than the sum which the
+major offered to any one who would reveal it. He came to one of the
+sergeants of the grenadiers and told him to pick out ten of the men
+who would be most likely to inform, but instead of doing so, I think
+the sergeant must have chosen the ten worst rogues in the company.
+These were then all marched off to the major's quarters, and had in
+one by one to see him, as he sat with five guineas lying on his table,
+which he offered to the first who should reveal the mystery: but
+finding, after he had interviewed about three of them, that he was
+being duped, for they all told the same tale, that was that they knew
+nothing about the money, he was so enraged that he told them all to go
+about their business, saying that they were all a set of thieves, and
+next time he saw the colonel he had to own, much to the amusement both
+of the latter and of the whole regiment, that he had been beaten in
+his knowing undertaking.
+
+Massena remained a little more than a month in his position in front
+of Torres Vedras, when, owing to want of food and ammunition, he was
+compelled to retrace his steps, not being able to get supplies through
+Spain, as the guerillas--who were the most warlike and independent
+race of the Spaniards, being chiefly offenders who had escaped to the
+mountains and there formed themselves into one strong body amounting
+to some thousands--were always on the watch for any supplies that they
+might catch hold of, more especially from the enemy, and appropriate
+to their own use. Much credit is due to Lord Wellington for thus
+drawing the enemy to a place such as Torres Vedras, where they could
+get no supplies, and further, could gain no advantage, but on the
+other hand must have lost some thousands through want, cold and wet.
+
+From Torres Vedras Massena's army proceeded to Santarem, about ten
+leagues from Torres Vedras, and there took up his position on the
+Tagus, whence foraging parties were sent out to scour the country for
+provisions, who committed horrible excesses on the inhabitants,
+carrying away their cattle, or any provisions they could lay their
+hands on. It was this that chiefly infuriated the inhabitants against
+the French, and caused them to retaliate on any of their stragglers or
+wounded whom they came across butchering and using them in a most
+awful manner; and even then, after all this work, this method of
+gathering provisions for so large an army as Massena's was soon
+exhausted.
+
+When the French had retreated from Torres Vedras, Lord Wellington left
+some troops in charge of his lines there, and followed to Santarem,
+but no general battle took place, only small engagements. The enemy
+seemed pretty firm to their ground, so Lord Wellington moved his army
+into cantonments again. Our detachment was lying some distance from
+Santarem on the Tagus; the actual name of the place is blotted from my
+memory by lapse of years.
+
+It was rather curious that while there we received our South American
+prize money; money taken from the very people we were now allied with,
+so that a great part of it was spent amongst them again. Each private
+received eight dollars, and I believe the serjeants sixteen.
+
+The Lisbon traders must have got scent of this, for a quantity of
+boats laden with little requisites and luxuries ascended the river
+from Lisbon to trade amongst the soldiers, and so we were soon enabled
+to rid ourselves of our little spare cash. Our colonel was very
+considerate to these people, and being determined as far as possible
+to prevent all plunder, had their boats or stalls guarded by sentries.
+This, however, did not altogether hinder some of the more daring from
+getting things on the cheap now and then, but they were so trifling
+that they are hardly worthy of mention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+     Opening of the year 1811 -- Surrender of Olivencia and Badajoz to
+     the French under Soult -- The French followed up in their retreat
+     from Santarem -- Engagements on the route -- Pombal -- Redinha --
+     Condexo -- Casal Nova -- Fatal results of having too large a head
+     -- Miranda de Corno -- Poz de Aroce -- Halt at Moira while the
+     French take refuge in Celorico -- The fourth division ordered to
+     Badajoz -- Halt at Portalegre -- Shameful instance of plunder and
+     sacrilege by Lawrence and his comrades -- Campo Mayor --
+     Outrageous theft from an unprotected female -- A stolen bird
+     turns evidence against its purloiner.
+
+
+The remainder of the year 1810 was spent in these cantonments, the
+French still lying in their position at Santarem. But the beginning of
+1811 brought on us more and fatal work, for Soult's army had invested
+Olivencia and Badajoz, and obliged them, not being garrisoned by the
+British, but only by the Spaniards, to surrender. The way was thus
+paved for one of the worst engagements in the whole Peninsular war; I
+mean the storming of Badajoz.
+
+The French did not move from Santarem till the beginning of March,
+which we discovered on the 6th, and Lord Wellington, having received
+fresh reinforcements from England, determined on following them up.
+They had taken three routes, and consequently our army had to be
+divided too. Our division, which was the Fourth, with the First and
+Sixth divisions, commanded by Marshal Beresford, was to follow by way
+of Thomar, and the main body of the army by way of Leiria and Pombal,
+and so again to unite.
+
+On our route we came up with the French at Thomar, but on our
+appearance they retreated to Espinal, a short distance off Pombal, and
+took up a strong position between these two latter places. We followed
+them up and combined ourselves again into one body. At Pombal the
+French had tried, but in vain, to retain the old castle situated
+there, and some slight skirmishing had taken place between them and
+some of our light troops. At Redinha the third, fourth, and light
+divisions attacked the enemy's left, and after a stout engagement we
+compelled them to retire upon their main body, and being likewise
+attacked on the right, their whole body was thrown into retreat on
+Condexo. On our appearance there, they set fire to the place, and
+again retreated; their object in burning such a little town being
+probably to prevent our cavalry, cannon, and ammunition from following
+them up too closely. We were, however, delayed but a very short time,
+for we marched through the burning town, certainly not letting the
+grass grow under our feet, as the ground was much too hot. It appeared
+once to have been a beautiful town, but after this it was one sad mass
+of ruin.
+
+The French proceeded from this place to Casal Nova, but were so
+quickly followed up that Picton's division overtook them and nearly
+captured their leader. Next day we came up with the enemy, posted in a
+strong position at Casal Nova, and on the 14th of March the light
+division attacked them and obliged them to retreat to a neighbouring
+height, whence after another attack they again found it best to retire
+on Miranda de Corno. Part of our division was in this engagement, and
+I never saw cannon play with better or more deadly effect on any body
+of men than ours did on the enemy, situated as they were on the
+heights of Casal Nova. Yet they left very few dead or wounded on the
+field; I think they must have carried most of them away, as the ground
+was strewn with muskets and swords.
+
+The thing I noticed most particularly in this fight was the singular
+death of a man in our regiment, who was named William Halfhead, but
+considering the size of his head, which must have gone a very great
+way towards filling half a bushel measure, it was wrongly so, and he
+was the sport of the whole regiment, who named him Bushelhead. His
+head was indeed so large that he had to have two caps to make him one.
+This poor fellow was standing within five yards of me when a shot from
+the enemy's cannon took this same head clean off. I heard one of the
+men exclaim, "Hullo, there goes poor Bushelhead," and that was all the
+sympathy he got.
+
+One division, under General Cole, proceeded after the enemy to
+Panella, where it was joined by another, under General Nightingale,
+and on the enemy seeing how closely they were followed they retreated
+from Miranda de Corno, setting fire to that town also. We again fell
+in with them on the banks of a river near the village of Poz de Aroce,
+where a brisk attack was made on them by the British, and they were
+driven from the river in great confusion with a loss of some four
+hundred men or more. It has been reported that numbers were even
+killed by their own side, through the darkness of the night and the
+confusion arising from their not having expected an attack then.
+
+We encamped there one day, and then again pursued the enemy, coming up
+with them where they were posted behind the river Alva. There they had
+sent out four or five hundred foragers in search of provisions: and
+indeed they must have wanted them badly, for even we that had come
+from the land of plenty at Torres Vedras were at that time in great
+want. We did not, however, let them stay there long enough for the
+suppliers to return, for we opened fire on them, and forced them to
+retreat to Moira, leaving their foraging parties to the mercy of the
+English and Portuguese, most of them sooner or later falling into our
+hands. We crossed the Alva on a floating bridge and halted near Moira,
+as the enemy had now retreated to Celorico; but here Lord Wellington
+was obliged to stay the pursuit through want of provisions.
+
+On hearing of the state of Badajoz he had already determined to send
+reinforcements to that place, so our division and one of the
+Portuguese under General Hamilton, with a brigade of cavalry, were
+directed to march southward again and invest Badajoz before that
+place's defences could be repaired by the enemy. Accordingly, on the
+17th of March, our divisions crossed the Tagus at Tancos, whence we
+advanced to Portalegre, halting there for about two days.
+
+Here I think I ought to relate an incident just to show that the
+English often committed depredations on the inhabitants almost as bad
+as the enemy. We are often too prone to see other people's and
+nations' faults, whilst if our own had but the light thrown on them,
+they would often come up to, if not exceed, those of our adversaries.
+
+We, at least my company, were billeted in a chapel, at night lying on
+straw, which in the morning had to be rolled up neatly in our blankets
+so as to make the place look comfortable during the day, a separate
+lot of straw being allowed for every two men. Very close to this
+chapel there was situated a farmyard, inhabited by a quantity of pigs:
+and pork being a thing which the company had not tasted for some time,
+we made up our minds to have a treat. So one of our number was chosen
+to steal a pig, being, I suppose, one whose fingers were thought well
+adapted to the purpose. He pitched on a very novel plan of proceeding,
+for, taking a sergeant's pike, he stuck the pig with it, and then
+escaped till the poor animal had died; on which, not being long
+afterwards, we conveyed it to the chapel.
+
+We thought that we had done this all unobserved, but the farmer had
+either watched our movements, or must have seen the blood and gone to
+count, and so missed the pig, and we soon saw that all was not to pass
+off so nicely as we expected, for presently he put in an appearance at
+the chapel too. Finding, however, that we were too strong for him,
+and seeing nothing of the missing pig, he went off and reported the
+circumstance to our colonel.
+
+Meanwhile we lost no time in making our plans for a place of security
+for our prize. At first we thought of our straw beds, that is, of
+wrapping the pig in the blanket, but our afterthoughts told us that
+that would not be safe. At one end of the chapel, however, there was a
+large statue of the Virgin Mary, having on a robe with a long train,
+and it was under this train that we concealed our prize in the best
+possible manner, so as to baffle any chance of detection by the
+appearance of the train being altered. And sure enough, it proved to
+be the safest place we could have hit upon for our desired end, for
+very soon in came the farmer with a priest, and the first thing they
+did was to make their obedience to the monument, whilst we were all
+the time laughing in our sleeves to think how they were likewise
+honouring the pig.
+
+Something more serious was soon to happen, however, for a very few
+minutes afterwards the captain and colonel both came in and ordered
+every berth to be examined; but they searched in vain, and pronounced
+it to be some mistake on the farmer's part, as in that short time we
+could not have cooked, eaten, or otherwise got rid of the pig. The
+farmer, however, still felt certain that we had it, but it could not
+be found anywhere in the chapel, so he was obliged to retire without
+any compensation for his unfortunate pig. Then we breathed a little
+more freely at last, for if we had been found out, we most likely
+should have had our grog stopped for some time, and that goes in such
+times very much against the heart of a soldier.
+
+Early next morning our kettles were at work in the usual way, cooking
+our breakfasts, but that particular morning every man of the chapel
+company had a small extra portion in the pot, being his allowance of
+the pig, not much certainly, when it came to be divided amongst so
+many, about one pound for each man; but even that, and the more
+especially as it was pork, was thought no little of in such times of
+short diet, for we were not over abundantly stocked with provisions.
+In fact it was chiefly for that reason, and to refresh ourselves from
+the long continued marches, that we were now delaying on our southward
+route.
+
+On again resuming our march, we arrived in four or five days at a
+place called Campo Mayor, where we caught sight of the enemy, but only
+in marching order towards Badajoz. Here I have again to relate another
+shameful instance of plunder which happened on the same march. We were
+encamped near a village of no particular note, and of which therefore
+I did not arrive at the exact name: and a party of men, perhaps to the
+number of about twenty, including myself, were out on the forage, when
+we arrived at the house of a poor woman, who evidently kept a kind of
+general shop, though we could not see any other houses near. Four or
+five with myself went into the shop and asked the woman if she had
+any bread for sale, to which she replied that there was some baking
+which would be done in about an hour, if we could wait, which we
+consented to do; but meanwhile a signal was given to the remaining
+part of our company, who, observing that the oven was built out from
+the house, immediately set to work to make a hole with their bayonets
+so as to be able to get the bread out. While this operation was going
+on out at the back we were amusing the woman with some of our
+Peninsular tales in front until the hour had passed; when, on her
+going to draw the bread she found much to her amazement that every
+loaf was missing, and daylight gleaming in on her through a hole in
+the back of the oven. The poor woman was then in a terrible stew, and
+we did all we could to reconcile her to her loss, making out that we
+knew nothing of the sad business; but this pity did not detain us
+long, for we pretty quickly made for the camp and made a first rate
+meal off the bread, which was to us then a greater luxury than meat,
+as we were very seldom supplied with bread, more especially so fresh
+as this, which was smoking hot, though not very well done; but if it
+had been dough we could have eaten it at that time.
+
+On another occasion, on the same march, I caught another cock, or
+rather took it from a farmyard; but not feeling inclined to be
+troubled with a second live one, as I had still got Tom campaigning
+with me, I gave it three swings by the head, which I thought broke
+its neck, and put it away out of sight in my high cap. On my return to
+camp, the company had just fallen in on parade, and no sooner had the
+captain passed close to me, than my cap-tenant crew, or made a
+terrible noise of some sort, much to the astonishment both of myself
+and the captain, who said, "Hullo, Lawrence, what have you got there?"
+I told him a cock, which I had bought when out foraging. "Yes," he
+said, "you offered four, but took it with five," meaning, I suppose,
+my fingers. He was perfectly right, but I did not think it would have
+passed off quite so smoothly, as many in the Peninsula were hanged for
+plunder; all we were allowed to forage for at this place being
+provisions for the horses and mules.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+     Commencement of the siege of Badajoz -- Sortie by the garrison
+     repulsed -- Lawrence takes a prisoner, who proves difficult of
+     persuasion -- Lawrence poses as champion of the regimental grog,
+     and is indulged in return with an uncomfortable spell of sentry
+     -- He eventually triumphs -- Move to, and capture of Olivencia --
+     Separates from a faithful friend -- Return towards Badajoz --
+     Battle of Albuera.
+
+
+From Campo Mayor we went on towards Badajoz, some slight skirmishing
+with the enemy's rear-guard taking place on the way, but with very
+little success on either side. We made a stay at Elvas until
+preparations had been made for crossing the Guadiana, and then we
+proceeded to Badajoz, the town that so pestered the Allies during the
+Peninsular War. Our brigade took up its position on the north side of
+the town and river, and commenced throwing up batteries. During our
+operations the French sallied out of the town, crossed the river, and
+attempted to destroy a part of our work, thus actively engaging about
+three hundred of our covering party, together with a small
+reinforcement of grenadiers, which latter, however, soon made them
+beat a retreat into the town again.
+
+I succeeded in capturing a straggler here, but was not able to get him
+into our lines by myself, on account of his lying down and refusing to
+come; so I broke his musket, but not feeling inclined even then to
+leave him, I knelt down to protect myself a little from the enemy's
+shot, and waited for some assistance. This was not long in coming, for
+the colonel, seeing my position, allowed a man, Towser by name, who
+had volunteered, to come and lend me a hand, and thus we were enabled
+to get my captive safe at last to the lines: not, however, without
+some risk to our own lives, as the enemy were firing at us all the
+time from a fort situated a short distance from the river. The man was
+not at all willing at first to walk, so we dragged him by the leg
+along the ground for some way; but owing to the roughness of the
+road, he soon found that he preferred walking. We searched him and
+found a doubloon and a half on his person, which Towser and I divided
+equally between us. The colonel reprimanded me for running such a risk
+for one prisoner, but he was satisfied with my answer, which was that
+perhaps the man had been on the alert to fire at some of us, which
+might have terminated in the colonel's own death, or maybe in mine.
+The colonel had already been slightly wounded in the leg, which
+obliged him afterwards to go into the hospital at Elvas, and some
+thirty-eight of my comrades unfortunately met their deaths in this
+affray.
+
+The colonel sent a quantity of rum from Elvas to be divided amongst
+those men who were in action at the time he received his wound, but
+the officer then in charge of us, whom nobody in the regiment liked,
+only served out the half of it, which only came to about half a pint
+for each man, much to the discontent of all. I spoke out and said that
+we ought to have it all, as the colonel had sent it, and we had had to
+fight hard for it; which so put out the officer that he said I should
+not have any at all. The sergeant, however, gave me a half a pint with
+the rest, unbeknown to the officer, and immediately went and asked him
+if I was to have any. The officer then told him to "let the rascals
+have the lot, and then they would be satisfied," so thus I came in for
+another half pint, which I put into my canteen with some water to
+drink when I might next be on sentry.
+
+This came to my turn on the very night following, and as it chanced, I
+was commanded by the same officer that I have been alluding to. It was
+not often that the major went round with the picket, but that night,
+having taken the colonel's command, he did so, and saw me placed on
+sentry. I was placed as outlying sentry, and ought to have been
+relieved in three hours, instead of which, out of spite for the rum
+job, the officer never came near me all night; in fact, I never saw a
+man from the time I was put on till I came off myself in the morning.
+I will give some details of the coincidences of that night, which was
+dark but starlight, so that I could just catch a dim glimpse of the
+enemy's before mentioned fort, and, owing to the heights, was able to
+see the town very well.
+
+The place where I was on sentry was in a field of standing wheat in
+ear, amongst which I sat down and was fairly comfortable for about an
+hour; after which the enemy seemed to have made out my position, and
+kept dabbing at me with their muskets for a long time. I could not
+make out how it was they had caught sight of me, but after they had
+continued firing for some time, I at last found out the cause. On my
+cap there was a large bright brass plate, which no doubt made a slight
+reflection either from the stars or the light from the town, and so
+drew their attention to me. So much for bright dress and brass plates,
+thought I, though fortunately they had done me no harm; and now for
+the remedy that I proposed. I took the loading-rod from my musket, and
+stuck it fast into the ground, and placing my cap upon it, I proceeded
+about ten yards to the right and sat down; and it was fortunate that I
+did so, for during the night they put two shots through my cap, and
+that would have been awkward if my head had been inside. It is not to
+be supposed, however, that I sat there bareheaded all night, for I put
+on my slop or foraging cap, and then sat hearkening to the sound of
+chimes and bells pronouncing the hours of eleven, twelve, one, two,
+three, and four, and the occasional whizzing of shells and shot over
+my head.
+
+At length, after hearing the bells strike the last-named hour, and
+seeing the dawn, too, beginning to peep over the distant horizon,
+knowing that my turn to be relieved had long since passed, I put back
+my loading rod into its place and my cap on my head, and decamped to
+the body picket. There I met the major, who seeing me return, and
+knowing that it was my turn for rest, asked me where I had been. I
+said, "Were you not with the officer when he placed me on sentry last
+night?" He replied; "Yes, has he not relieved you since?" On which I
+told him no, and that I thought it was time to relieve myself,
+likewise showing him my cap for him to judge what a hot night I had
+had of it. I also gave the reason that I thought for the officer's
+spite, which put him out terribly, so much so that he immediately
+called up the officer, who had retired to rest some hours, and told
+him that if they had not been so near the enemy, he would have had him
+tried by court-martial for his neglect: which might have ended by his
+being cashiered out of the service. That was the first and last time
+that he ever left me on sentry all night.
+
+Our stay here, however, was of short duration for we proceeded further
+towards Olivencia, which was garrisoned by about four hundred of the
+enemy. We crossed the Guadiana near that place on a bridge constructed
+of empty casks and planks, and sat down before the town about the 11th
+of April. In a few days our batteries were all ready for action, and
+on the garrison refusing to surrender, we commenced firing, and soon
+made a breach; but at that point the governor, fearing an assault,
+immediately surrendered, and he and his garrison were all taken
+prisoners.
+
+It was at this place that I parted with Tom. For being bothered by the
+colonel's servant to let him have my pet, I foolishly consented,
+though my comrades did their best to persuade me to keep him. He told
+me he wanted to take him to England, and gave me a dollar for him, but
+I afterwards found out that he had killed him for his master's dinner.
+I think I felt as sorry for that as I ever did for anything, for I
+dearly liked Tom.
+
+From Olivencia we marched again towards Badajoz, but owing to Soult's
+army being on its way to relieve that town, Beresford had occupied the
+heights of Albuera, about thirteen miles southeast of Badajoz, in
+order to check the enemy if possible in their intended object. General
+Cole therefore advanced to Albuera as well, and the action had just
+commenced when he arrived. The Allies had taken up their position on a
+fine ridge of heights, and the French under Marshal Soult made their
+appearance on the 15th of May.
+
+On the following morning they made an attack on the right, which was
+occupied by the Spaniards, who soon gave way in great disorder, again
+leaving the brunt of the battle to the British; and not only that, but
+also thus allowing the French to gain part of the heights. A noble
+attack, however, was made by the Second division, the first brigade of
+which in trying to gain the ridge was met by the fierce Polish
+Lancers, who slaughtered a tremendous number of them; in fact, the
+battle was at one time thought to have been gained by the French, and
+most likely would have been, had not Colonel Harding hurled part of
+our division and a reserve Portuguese brigade against the enemy, and
+so renewed the fight. General Cole himself led our fusiliers up the
+hill. Six British guns and some colours were then already in the
+enemy's possession, but Cole's troops soon dispersed the lancers,
+and, recapturing the guns and colours, drove the French down again in
+confusion.
+
+It is useless for me to give any further details of this celebrated
+battle, for it has been already depicted so many times and so much
+more ably than I could do; but the Allies could not have lost less
+than seven thousand killed, wounded and missing, while the French loss
+was stated to be nine thousand. It was seldom, however, that we
+arrived at the correct estimate of the enemy's loss, it being
+generally the custom to state it as greater than ours, and my opinion
+is that in this battle the Allies lost quite an equal number to the
+French. The Spaniards especially must have sustained a great loss in
+their confusion. It was always a bother to get them to stir forward
+during a battle, but retreating was what they were best at, and then
+it was always in confusion; at the battle of Albuera indeed whilst
+they were in this state they even fired at random, and several shots
+went amongst the English.
+
+General Cole was himself wounded in this engagement, which resulted so
+sadly for both parties; for it could hardly be termed a victory for
+either side, and if so it was a very dearly bought one. Still it was
+we who remained on the field in the end.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+     The siege of Badajoz converted into a blockade -- Move to
+     Guinaldo -- Lord Wellington as a general -- A slight digression
+     on the horrors of war -- Instances of cruelty by both the French
+     and the inhabitants -- The English not wholly blameless --
+     Private depredations of Lawrence and his comrades -- Siege of
+     Ciudad Rodrigo -- Capture of a troublesome convent -- A
+     successful assault made -- Scenes in the town afterwards --
+     Incidents during the cantonments -- Putting it out of sight
+     proves not to be the best way of keeping grog -- Being too
+     sparing to one's beast not always advantageous.
+
+
+For the remaining part of the year 1811 both armies were inactive. The
+batteries had been at work at Badajoz and breaches had been made, but
+these had proved impracticable, twelve forlorn hopes and storming
+parties having advanced into them with no better result than that many
+met their deaths and the remainder had to withdraw owing to obstacles.
+The siege was therefore converted into a blockade, and Lord
+Wellington, who after taking Almeida and driving the French out of
+Portugal, had come southward with two divisions to reinforce
+Beresford's army, moved the general South Army into cantonments and
+encampments near the River Caza, a tributary of the Guadiana. There we
+remained till July, when we were marched northward again across the
+Tagus, and took up our position at Guinaldo. While there no particular
+engagement ensued; the enemy indeed falling on another part of our
+line, but no success being obtained on either side.
+
+Although Lord Wellington had now driven the French clean out of
+Portugal, he had still other work to do; work that praised him more
+than he had been before, work that raised him to higher honours than
+he yet possessed, but likewise work that sacrificed more thousands of
+human beings than had been through the whole three years. There can be
+no doubt that if he had had as many troops as the French, he would
+long before this have driven them out of Portugal and perhaps Spain as
+well; he seemed to understand their every movement, and was thus
+always ready waiting to receive them; and they on their part seemed to
+think they had more than found their match in him, and had become very
+cautious in contending with him. But he actually had only half their
+number, or even less, that he could depend on, and these were
+sometimes not fit for service from want or other privations, as these
+tales of the hospitals or rather deadly convents go to prove, where so
+many of my comrades passed the end of their lives, and their remains
+were carried out with no more ceremony than I described as at Elvas.
+
+The Portuguese themselves were mostly exempt from the actual
+slaughter, but their country had already been left by the enemy in
+about as bad a state as it could; for if it had been infested with
+swarms of locusts, the devastation could not have been paralleled. The
+war could not have left one family quite untouched by its
+destructiveness or by misery and grief irrecoverable for many years;
+and indeed, in some cases, for ever, for many a child was deprived of
+its father or mother, or even of both parents, and many were the
+parents who had lost their children; and if any had accumulated a
+little fortune then it must have been lost, being ever liable to be
+plundered by the soldiery.
+
+It must be said, however, that certainly the Spaniards and likewise
+the Portuguese behaved on their part very cruelly to the enemy's
+wounded, prisoners, or stragglers. I myself was witness to one of
+their barbarous acts. They had laid a ring of straw round a wounded
+Frenchman and set fire to it, and when the poor man tried to crawl
+out, he was only received with a pitchfork which sent him again into
+the centre. We soon made the Portuguese fly by firing in amongst them;
+but when we came up to the poor man, his hair, fingers, and face were
+fearfully burnt already. He implored us not to leave him, but we were
+obliged to, and no doubt either the Portuguese returned and killed
+him, or else he died of the injuries he had sustained at their hands,
+or from the wounds that had before disabled him.
+
+These barbarities, however, the enemy brought on themselves by dealing
+out the same coin, for they would go on foraging parties, and perhaps
+find a whole family or more together trying to protect their very
+subsistences, when they would kill the males, serve the females not
+much better, and carry off everything they could lay their hands on if
+of any value. Sometimes, however, they were overpowered in these
+freaks, and then they suffered just as bad a fate as I showed just
+now; which, after all, is not much to be wondered at.
+
+I am sorry to say, however, that we ourselves were not quite free from
+the charge of depredations, though we did not carry them on to the
+extent of bloodshed. An instance of this in which I was myself mixed
+up happened during our stay at this very place Guinaldo.
+
+We were quartered nearly twenty in number in two upper rooms of a
+house, of which the family inhabited the lower part. Our beds, as
+usual, consisted chiefly of straw. An Irish comrade of ours, by name
+Harding, whom we named Pig Harding, owing to his always being on the
+look out for any cheap pieces he could lay hands on, was quartered in
+the same house, and we had not been there many days before he found
+about thirty pounds of sausages curled round the bottom of a large
+earthen jar that contained at least ten or twelve gallons of olive
+oil, the sausages having evidently been placed there either to keep,
+or to be out of our sight. Pig, however, who was up to many of the
+Spanish movements, was not long in finding them; he soon had tried the
+bottom with his bayonet, and found a prize worth fishing for; and he
+came running into our room carrying the sausages, which owing to their
+oily state did not fail to leave a trace of their whereabouts. We soon
+repaired this defect so as not to be noticeable on the floor, which
+was not kept so clean as it might be, and which our stay there had not
+improved much, and then we had a fine meal off our sausages, which, to
+use Pig's own words, "Blood and 'ounds, _were_ good, very," and soon
+there were very few left.
+
+After all in the house had eaten sufficient, the rest were given to
+some of our comrades in another house, our policy being always to get
+rid of any plunder as quickly as possible so as to bar detection if it
+was found out. There were always plenty to help eat it, and in this
+case every one of the sausages were gone before the woman found out
+her loss, which was not till next day about dinnertime, when no doubt
+she expected to cook the family meal off them. The sausages in that
+country were generally made of cooked meat flavoured with garlic and
+cayenne pepper, so that they were fit for eating at all times without
+cooking. When the poor woman found them missing, she soon thought of
+the right parties as the thieves; and with her fingers all dripping
+with oil, for she had evidently been feeling for them in the jar, she
+rushed in crying, "_Ladrone, Ladrone_ (you thieves, you thieves), the
+French are bad enough, but you are worse!" We only laughed at her, so
+she reported us to our major, who immediately came to our room and
+said, "Then you are up to your prigging tricks again," and asked the
+woman how much the sausages were worth. She did not fail to ask
+enough, for she said sixteen dollars, which he paid at once, saying he
+would deduct it from our pay.
+
+The major never did as he said he would, however, and we heard no more
+either of the sausages or of our money; but still we did not know that
+at the time, and the threat only had the effect of sending Pig off
+again in search of something that would at least give us the worth of
+our money. He waited till just before we were going to shift from
+these quarters, and then he found out a trap-door, through which he
+got himself hoisted up, and found eight sides of bacon there, with one
+of which he descended, thinking that would be as much as we could
+conveniently eat at that place, and so at any rate we had the worth of
+the sixteen dollars, for this last affair was not found out before we
+started.
+
+On another occasion, whilst we were at the same place, some Spaniards
+came into our camp with wine for sale, contained in pigskins carried
+across mules' backs, one on each side, and whilst the Spaniard was
+measuring it out of one skin, a hole had been made in the other with a
+penknife, which lightened both burdens at once considerably, much to
+the discontent of the Spaniard on finding it out. But I think that all
+such lesser manoeuvres as this, though bad in themselves, can be
+perhaps looked over in considering the frequent hungry state that so
+large a body of men were in during this war.
+
+We remained in this neighbourhood till the latter end of 1811. The
+beginning of 1812 opened with the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, where we
+arrived and began to break ground on the 8th of February.
+
+We had to commence throwing up our batteries and breastworks under a
+particular annoyance from three guns, situated on a fortified convent
+a little distance from the town, near where our brigade's operations
+were in progress, so our colonel for one volunteered to storm the
+convent, which offer was accepted. Several companies, therefore,
+including my own, advanced under him unobserved by the enemy in the
+darkness of the night, and succeeded in effecting an entrance into the
+convent, the garrison being taken by surprise, but managing to decamp.
+I then volunteered with a few men to march on up to the tower where
+the guns were situated, a priest being made to show us the way, as the
+path which we had to tread was so winding. When we arrived at the top,
+which must have taken us at least ten minutes, we found no French
+there, but the three shattered cannon still remained, which we were
+ordered to pitch down, not much improving their condition thereby, and
+so we gained the object for which we had come. All the French that
+were left in the convent, or at least all I saw there, were two of
+their wounded, but they were good enough to leave us a room full of
+cabbages, which came in very handy.
+
+After this affair we took up our quarters in the convent, but still
+continued our ground work. Once the enemy sallied out of the town and
+attacked us during these operations, and a smart brush ensued, but
+they were soon obliged to retire again. Now and then the garrison
+would greet us with a cannon-ball, which often did some little
+mischief; a sergeant was killed by one, which at the same time took
+another's arm off, and I myself had a narrow escape one day whilst in
+the breastworks, from a six-pounder which having struck the convent,
+rebounded and caught me in the chest. Luckily it was nearly spent, but
+as it was it knocked me down, and it was some time before I could
+recover my breath, and that not until my comrades had poured some rum
+and water down my throat. My chest was much discoloured and swollen,
+through which I was ill for nearly a week.
+
+By the 19th of January two practicable breaches were made in the walls
+of the town, and an attack was ordered. Our colonel volunteered for
+the forlorn hope, but it was put under other commanders, being chiefly
+composed of the rifles. The main breach was committed to General
+Picton's division, and the brigades of General Vandeleur and Colonel
+Barnet were ordered to attack the smaller breach, headed by a
+storming-party of three hundred men and a forlorn hope, under Major
+George Napier of the Fifty-second regiment. The forlorn hope assembled
+between seven and eight o'clock under the walls of the convent we were
+then occupying, which protected them a little from the enemy's shot.
+All was deathly silent amongst those men, who perhaps could not help
+thinking that it might be their last undertaking: in fact, this is
+much the worst business a soldier can enter upon, as scarcely anything
+but death looks him in the face. There they were watching with intense
+anxiety for the to many fatal signal; and at length the order was
+given to advance.
+
+The assault was to be conducted on all sides at once, and in double
+quick time the troops were at the breach, although the ladders, which
+were being carried by the Portuguese, when wanted had disappeared. Our
+troops nevertheless pushed onwards and gained the breach, when either
+through accident or the neglect of the train-man, a mine was sprung
+before the French were clearly off it, and both French and English
+were suddenly blown into the air and buried together in the ruin.
+After the smother had fairly cleared away, our troops met with very
+little difficulty in mounting the breach and scouring the ramparts,
+the French throwing down their arms and retiring into the town itself,
+where after a brief contest in the streets, the whole surviving
+garrison surrendered; but it was not without the loss of many of the
+bravest men on our side in the first assault.
+
+This successful achievement was attended with all the horrors of the
+soldiery, excesses, riot, and drunkenness taking place on every side.
+Houses were plundered of their contents, cellars broken open and
+emptied, and many houses were even set on fire, amid the yells of the
+dissipated soldiers and the screams of the wounded. Thus the night
+passed, but in the morning order was a little restored, and those men
+who were sensible enough returned to their own regiments.
+
+About forty-one pieces of cannon, some stands of arms, and a quantity
+of provisions were taken, besides which the enemy must have lost quite
+a thousand men, besides the prisoners. Amongst these latter were six
+or seven deserters belonging to the Allied army, who were sent to
+their respective regiments and probably shot: fortunately there were
+none belonging to our division. The Allies' loss was very
+considerable, being upwards of a thousand also.
+
+After the reduction of Ciudad Rodrigo, Lord Wellington put it under
+garrison and ordered the breaches to be repaired. Then he marched
+south to watch the proceedings at Badajoz, whilst we again went into
+cantonments near Rodrigo.
+
+Some muleteers halted under the protection of our troops at this
+place, laden with rum and biscuits for the supply of the army, over
+which sentries were placed on guard, but instead of guarding, they
+took so much rum, which being there generally carried in pigs' skins
+was easily got at, that they died in consequence next morning.
+Likewise one of our cavalry men was here flogged for making away with
+his horse's corn to selfishly buy himself grog; and well deserving of
+punishment he was, for the poor horse was miserably thin. In fact, the
+horses in general were the same, and it was thought that many were
+served the same; but this man being the first that was caught, was
+tried by court-martial and sentenced to fifty lashes as an example.
+The man asked the colonel to look over it as it was his first offence,
+but the colonel said, "The horse's looks tell a different tale from
+that; he has long had the bitters, and you the sweet, and now it is
+time things should be the other way round." Certainly the horses'
+forage could not at all times be procured, and especially in the
+winter, but for that very reason they had more need of it when it
+could be. The best horses I saw during the whole Peninsular campaign
+were the German hussars': those men were not so fond of drink as ours,
+which might perhaps account for the condition of their animals, as
+they had no more chance of gaining forage than our men had.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+     Lawrence's division marched south to invest Badajoz -- Small
+     choice allowed by the fortunes of war -- In the trenches -- A
+     fort taken -- The town walls breached -- Refusal of the garrison
+     to surrender -- An assault ordered -- Lawrence in the forlorn
+     hope -- A somewhat premature assignation -- Fighting in the
+     breach -- Lawrence wounded -- Fearful scenes on his way to the
+     rear -- He reports on the state of affairs to Lord Wellington --
+     The story of Filer -- The castle carried after severe fighting,
+     and the English enter the town -- Dreadful excesses on the part
+     of the victorious troops -- Great losses on both sides in the
+     assault -- The end of Lawrence's assignation.
+
+
+Our stay at Rodrigo was of short duration, for we were soon ordered
+south to invest Badajoz, which gave us another long and tedious march
+of a hundred and fifty miles or more. We arrived there at the
+beginning of March, and the third, ours, that is the fourth, and the
+light divisions, under the command of Marshal Beresford and General
+Picton, invested the town.
+
+We soon broke ground before the town by commencing to throw up
+breastworks and batteries. Very heavy rains had just lately set in,
+but our troops still pursued their undertaking and persevered in the
+trenches. A cannonade was kept up from the town, which fortunately,
+however, did not do much damage; but on the 19th of March the garrison
+attacked us, and were only driven back with a loss on our side of a
+hundred men killed and wounded, and a still greater loss on their
+part.
+
+I killed a French sergeant myself with my bayonet in this action. I was
+at the time in the trenches when he came on the top and made a dart at
+me with his bayonet, having, like myself, exhausted his fire; and while
+in the act of thrusting he overbalanced himself and fell. I very soon
+pinioned him to the ground with my bayonet, and the poor fellow soon
+expired. I was sorry afterwards that I had not tried to take him
+prisoner instead of killing him, but at the time we were all busily
+engaged in the thickest of the fight, and there was not much time to
+think about things. And besides that, he was a powerful-looking man,
+being tall and stout, with a beard and moustache completely covering his
+face, as fine a soldier as I have seen in the French army, and if I had
+allowed him to gain his feet, I might have suffered for it; so perhaps
+in such times my plan was the best--kill or be killed.
+
+About eight hundred of us were every night busily engaged in the
+trenches, whilst a large number, who were called the covering party,
+were on the look out in case of an attack from the enemy. The rain
+poured down so fast that balers were obliged to be employed in places,
+and at times the trenches were in such a state of mud that it was over
+our shoes. We were chiefly employed during the day in finishing off
+what we had done in the night, as very little else could be done then
+owing to the enemy's fire. We had not been to work many days before we
+got within musket shot of a fine fort situated a little distance from
+the town, and garrisoned with four or five hundred of the enemy, who
+annoyed us rather during our operations. One night as I was working in
+the trenches near this place, and just as the guard was about to be
+relieved, a shell from the town fell amongst them and exploded,
+killing and wounding about thirty. I never saw a worse sight of its
+kind, for some had their arms and legs, and some even their heads,
+which was worse, completely severed from their bodies. I remember my
+comrade, Pig Harding, who was working near me at the time, and had,
+like myself, become hardened to the worst of sights during our sojourn
+in the Peninsula, saying as a joke, "Lawrence, if any one is in want
+of an arm or a leg he can have a good choice there;" little thinking,
+poor fellow, that soon he would himself be carried out, numbered with
+the slain. On the morning after this explosion a terrific scene of our
+mangled comrades presented itself, for their remains strewed the
+ground in all directions.
+
+Of course our next thought was how to clear ourselves of this
+troublesome fort. Some suspicions were entertained that it was
+undermined, so in the dead of night some engineers were sent between
+it and the town to search for a train, and finding that the earth had
+been moved, they dug down and found the train and cut it off. Then, on
+the next night, the Eighty-seventh and Eighty-eighth regiments were
+ordered up to storm the fort, and succeeded after a brisk action in
+gaining the place, the most of the garrison escaping into the town.
+Next morning I entered the fort with the rest, where we found the
+wounded Frenchmen lying. We relieved their pain a little by giving
+them some of our rum and water, and then conveyed them to the rear;
+most of their wounds being bad, evidently from the bayonet, but not
+mortal.
+
+Owing to the success of taking this fort we were enabled to carry on
+our works much nearer to the town, and by the beginning of April two
+batteries were formed within three or four hundred yards of the place:
+and in about five days, through the effects of our twenty-four
+pounders, three practicable breaches were made in the walls.
+
+Lord Wellington then ordered the town to be attacked on the night of
+the 6th, having previously sent to know if it would surrender: and the
+answer being "No," he asked for the inhabitants to be allowed to quit,
+as he intended to take the town by assault. In consequence of this
+some thousands of the inhabitants quitted the city.
+
+A storming-party was selected from each regiment, and each of the
+third, fourth, and light divisions was told off to a breach. I joined
+the forlorn hope myself.
+
+Before, however, that I proceed further in my account of this
+sanguinary affair, I will relate an engagement that myself, Pig
+Harding, and another of my comrades, George Bowden by name, entered
+into before we even started on our way, of which the result showed
+what a blind one it was. Through being quartered at Badajoz after the
+battle of Talavera, all three of us knew the town perfectly well, and
+so understood the position of most of the valuable shops: and hearing
+a report likewise that if we succeeded in taking the place, there was
+to be three hours' plunder, we had planned to meet at a silversmith's
+shop that we knew about, poor Pig even providing himself with a piece
+of wax candle to light us if needed.
+
+But all this was doomed to disappointment. We were supplied with
+ladders and grass bags, and having received and eaten our rations, and
+each man carrying his canteen of water, we fell in at half-past eight
+or thereabouts to wait for the requisite signal for all to advance.
+During the interval our men were particularly silent: but at length
+the deadly signal was given, and we rushed on towards the breach.
+
+I was one of the ladder party, for we did not feel inclined to trust
+to the Portuguese, as we did at Ciudad Rodrigo. On our arriving at the
+breach, the French sentry on the wall cried out, "Who comes there?"
+three times, or words to that effect in his own language, but on no
+answer being given, a shower of shot, canister and grape, together
+with fire-balls, was hurled at random amongst us. Poor Pig received
+his death wound immediately, and my other accomplice, Bowden, became
+missing, while I myself received two small slug shots in my left knee,
+and a musket shot in my side, which must have been mortal had it not
+been for my canteen: for the ball penetrated that and passed out,
+making two holes in it, and then entered my side slightly. Still I
+stuck to my ladder, and got into the entrenchment. Numbers had by this
+time fallen: but the cry from our commanders being, "Come on, my
+lads!" we hastened to the breach; but there, to our great surprise and
+discouragement, we found a _chevaux de frise_ had been fixed and a
+deep entrenchment made, from behind which the garrison opened a deadly
+fire on us. Vain attempts were made to remove this fearful obstacle,
+during which my left hand was dreadfully cut by one of the blades of
+the _chevaux de frise_, but finding no success in that quarter, we
+were forced to retire for a time.
+
+We remained, however, in the breach until we were quite weary with our
+efforts to pass it. My wounds were still bleeding, and I began to feel
+very weak; my comrades persuaded me to go to the rear; but this proved
+a task of great difficulty, for on arriving at the ladders, I found
+them filled with the dead and wounded, hanging some by their feet just
+as they had fallen and got fixed in the rounds. I hove down three lots
+of them, hearing the implorings of the wounded all the time; but on
+coming to the fourth, I found it completely smothered with dead
+bodies, so I had to draw myself up over them as best I could. When I
+arrived at the top I almost wished myself back again, for there of the
+two I think was the worse sight, nothing but the dead and wounded
+lying around, and the cries of the latter, mingled with the incessant
+firing from the enemy, being quite deafening.
+
+I was so weak myself that I could scarcely walk, so I crawled on my
+hands and knees till I got out of reach of the enemy's musketry. After
+proceeding for some way I fell in with Lord Wellington and his staff,
+who seeing me wounded, asked me what regiment I belonged to. I told
+him the Fortieth, and that I had been one of the forlorn hope. He
+inquired as to the extent of my wounds, and if any of our troops had
+got into the town, and I said "No," and I did not think they ever
+would, as there was a _chevaux de frise_, a deep entrenchment, and in
+the rear of them a constant and murderous fire being kept up by the
+enemy. One of his staff then bound up my leg with a silk handkerchief,
+and told me to go behind a hill which he pointed out, where I would
+find a doctor to dress my wounds; so I proceeded on, and found that it
+was the doctor of my own regiment.
+
+Next after me Lieutenant Elland was brought in by a man of the name of
+Charles Filer, who had seen him lying wounded at the breach with a
+ball in the thigh, and on his asking him to convey him from the
+breach, had raised him on his shoulders for that object. But during
+his march a cannon-ball had taken the officer's head clean off without
+Filer finding it out on account of the darkness of the night, and the
+clamour of cannon and musketry mingled with the cries of the wounded.
+Much it was to Filer's astonishment, then, when the surgeon asked him
+what he had brought in a headless trunk for; he declared that the
+lieutenant had a head on when he took him up, for he had himself asked
+him to take him from the breach, and that he did not know when the
+head was severed, which must have been done by one of the bullets of
+which there were so many whizzing about in all directions. Some may
+doubt the correctness of this story, but I, being myself both a hearer
+and an eyewitness to the scene at the surgeon's, can vouch for the
+accuracy of it. Certainly Filer's appearance was not altogether that
+of composure, for he was not only rather frightened at the fearful
+exposure of his own body at the breach and across the plain, but he
+was evidently knocked up, or rather bowed down, by the weight of his
+lifeless burden, which he must, if he came from the breach, have
+carried for upwards of half a mile, so that, under these
+disadvantages, the mistake might easily have been made even by any one
+of harder temperament than his. But the tale did not fail to spread
+through the camp, and caused great laughter over Filer, sentences
+being thrown at him such as "Who carried the man without a head to the
+doctor?" &c.
+
+After Lord Wellington had found it useless to attempt to face the
+breach with the _chevaux de frise_, he altered his plans of attack.
+More success had fortunately been achieved in the other breaches, so
+he withdrew the men from our fatal breach to reinforce the others, but
+not till at least two thousand had been killed or wounded in this
+single assault. He had ordered the castle to be attacked, and a
+quantity of troops had been supplied for the purpose with long
+ladders, which had been raised against the walls and filled with men:
+but the enemy showered down a mass of heavy substances, such as trees
+and large stones, and amongst all a number of deadly bursting shells,
+and thus broke the ladders and tumbled the men down from top to
+bottom, crushing still more underneath.
+
+Yet more men were found ready to push on to the sanguinary scene. More
+ladders had indeed to be procured, which caused another great delay,
+but as soon as they arrived they were quickly hoisted, and the
+precaution was taken this time to fix them farther apart, so that if
+more beams were waiting to be rolled over, they might not take such a
+deadly sweep.
+
+The second attempt was more successful, for the ramparts were gained
+and the French driven back: and a single piece of ground being thus
+gained, a footing was soon established for many more, who succeeded in
+turning round some guns and firing them along the ramparts, soon
+sweeping the enemy off them.
+
+Fresh reinforcements on both sides shortly arrived at this for us
+successful spot, but the garrison was soon forced back into the town.
+The ramparts were then scoured, the breaches cleared, and the _chevaux
+de frise_ pulled down, and the main body of the English entered the
+town. Some opposition had to be overcome in the streets, but that was
+soon cleared away, and the French escaped to Fort San Cristoval.
+
+Our troops found the city illuminated to welcome them, but
+nevertheless then began all the horrors that generally attended a
+capture by assault--plunder, waste, destruction of property,
+drunkenness, and debauchery. I was myself exempt from all this, owing
+to my wounds, which kept me in camp at the time the town was taken;
+but though I was at least a mile off, I could distinctly hear the
+clamour of the rabble, as the guns and musketry had ceased; and next
+morning I hobbled as well as I could into the town with the help of
+the handle of a sergeant's pike chopped up so as to form a stick, and
+there sure enough I found a pretty state of affairs. Pipes of wine had
+been rolled into the streets and tapped by driving the heads in, for
+any one to drink of them who liked, and when the officers tried to
+keep order by throwing all of these over that they could, the men that
+were in a state of drunkenness lay down to drink out of the gutters,
+which were thus running with all sorts of liquors; doors were blown
+open all through the city, both upstairs and down, by placing muskets
+at the keyhole and so removing the locks. I myself saw that morning a
+naked priest launched into the street and flogged down it by some of
+our men who had a grudge against him for the treatment they had met at
+a convent, when staying in the town before. I happened to meet one of
+my company, and asked him how he was getting on, to which he replied
+that he was wounded in the arm, but that he had got hold of something
+that compensated for that a little, showing me a bag of about a
+hundred dollars that he had succeeded in obtaining, and saying that I
+should not want whilst he had got it.
+
+But whilst all this debauchery was going on amongst some of our
+soldiers, I will give a word of credit to a great many of the more
+respectable, who were trying as much as lay in their power to stop the
+ferociousness of the same. That morning I met many about, who said
+they were sorry to think that the soldiers could not carry it on
+without going to such excesses as they did, respectable houses being
+ransacked from top to bottom, with no regard to the entreaties of the
+few inhabitants who remained within the walls. Things that could not
+be taken were often destroyed, and men were threatened if they did not
+produce their money, and the women sometimes the same. Comparatively
+few murders were, I believe, committed, but some no doubt occurred.
+
+It was not till the drunken rabble had dropped into a sound slumber or
+had died in consequence of their excesses, that the unhappy city
+became at all composed; but in the morning some fresh troops were
+placed on guard, and a few gallows were erected, but not much used.
+Two or three officers had been killed in the act of keeping order, and
+I have been given to understand that some of the fifth division,
+having arrived after most places had been ransacked, plundered their
+drunken fellow-comrades, and it was likewise reported that a few were
+even murdered. Lord Wellington punished all offenders by stopping
+their grog for some time; but in these times such scenes as these were
+generally found to occur after a place had had to be so hardly fought
+for. No doubt in the present day, at least half a century later, more
+discipline is observed in similar circumstances, which must be owned
+as a great improvement.
+
+This same morning the garrison surrendered. Before the assault it had
+numbered about five thousand, but we found that some twelve hundred of
+these had been slain, and now the rest were prisoners; while upwards
+of one hundred and fifty guns, eighty thousand shots, and a great
+quantity of muskets and ammunition were taken in the place. Ours was a
+much severer loss, for nearly five thousand of our men, including
+three or four hundred officers, were either killed or wounded. But it
+must be observed that with the circumstances under which our troops
+had to fight it was a wonder that they entered the town at all that
+night, every obstacle that a cunning enemy could devise being there to
+be overcome. Every kind of combustible deadly in its action was thrown
+amongst the men; placed in readiness along the ramparts were trees,
+stones, and beams; and the worst of all was the fearful _chevaux de
+frise_; in fact nothing had been wanting to discourage the men, who,
+however, pushed on, being as anxious as Lord Wellington himself to get
+into the town.
+
+All being now over, thoughts of Pig Harding, George Bowden, and our
+engagement, ran in my head, and how it had all failed, poor Pig having
+received seven shots in his body, and George Bowden having had both
+thighs blown off. Both must have met with instant death, and I myself
+had four wounds and was disabled for some time from getting about. I
+resolved then that I would never make any more engagements under the
+same fearful circumstances. We missed poor Pig more than any man of
+the regiment, for he passed many an hour away pleasantly with his
+jokes, being a thoroughbred Irishman, and not only that, but he
+supplied us with many an extra piece of tommy by his roguish tricks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+     Six weeks in hospital at Estremoz -- A new way to keep up the
+     spirits -- Lawrence allowed to go on to Salamanca at his own risk
+     -- He catches the fever there, and has to go into hospital again
+     at Ciudad Rodrigo -- At last rejoins his regiment -- Cessation of
+     hostilities on both sides, and the British Army goes into
+     cantonments -- Lawrence made a corporal -- The cat's paw comes in
+     for its share of the booty, and gets the chestnuts into the
+     bargain -- A romantic episode to relieve the monotony of war.
+
+
+A day or two after these events, the wounded were all conveyed to
+hospital, some to Elvas and some to Estremoz. I was amongst the
+latter, as was likewise my comrade whom I mentioned as meeting me in
+the streets of Badajoz, as we were considered better able to stand the
+longer journey, the distance on from Elvas to Estremoz being about six
+leagues the other side from Badajoz.
+
+On our arrival at hospital, we were allowed to take in no spirits or
+wine, which, as we had lately had so much of them, seemed to be more
+of a hardship to us than our wounds: but we were not long in working a
+system by which we were enabled to procure something to drink. The
+window of our ward looked out into one of the streets, on the opposite
+side of which was a wine shop, which for some time tormented us
+horribly: it was something like the fable of the fox and the grapes,
+sour because it was out of reach. The man of the house was often at
+his door on the look out, the natives there seeming to suffer from
+that general complaint as much as in our own country villages, where
+if there is anything fresh in the streets, perhaps only a strange man,
+or even one of the inhabitants in a new coat or hat, the whole place
+works itself into an uproar.
+
+We soon devised a plan to gain our desired end. There was in the ward
+a tin kettle, holding nearly two gallons, and having procured a long
+string we put our money into this, and lowered it to the Portuguese,
+who soon getting used to our plan would put the money's value in the
+shape of wine into the kettle and again tie it to the string, so that
+we could hoist it up to the window again. After that we arranged for
+our ward to be pretty well supplied with grog too in the same way.
+Some suspicions being entertained by the doctor on the inflamed
+appearance of our wounds, he told us two or three times that he knew
+we had been drinking something we ought not, and blew the sergeant of
+the guard up for not being more strict in his search at the door,
+little dreaming how we had contrived another way to get this
+aggravator of our wounds in. But the appearance of our wounds did not
+stop us from lowering the kettle, which soon went down twice and
+sometimes three times a day, for the neighbouring wards got scent of
+the affair, and sent money to be lowered as well.
+
+Thus I passed about six weeks before I recovered sufficiently to get
+out of the hospital; but many were in a much worse state than myself,
+some losing their arms, some their legs, and some even dying of their
+wounds. One of the slug shots, however, could never be extricated from
+my knee, having settled into the bone. I felt it for some time, but in
+the end it ceased to trouble me, the bone having probably grown over
+it.
+
+I was let out of the hospital as a convalescent, and billeted in the
+place at a house occupied by a widow and her daughter, who were very
+kind to me during my stay there, which was for about a fortnight.
+Then I received intelligence that a hundred and fifty others were well
+enough to rejoin the army, so I asked the doctor if I might accompany
+them. He told me that my wounds were not yet sufficiently set for me
+to undertake the journey; but I was by this time sick of hospitals,
+physics, Estremoz, and the lot of it, and was mad to get back to my
+regiment, so I went to the captain, who was still lying wounded in the
+hospital, and asked him to speak to the doctor to let me go. The
+result was that next morning I again saw the doctor, who said I could
+go, but I must abide by the consequences myself, as he would not be
+answerable for my safety; so about three days after that our little
+group started on the way to the army, which had meanwhile moved
+northward from Badajoz to Salamanca, about two hundred miles distant,
+which we found rather a tedious march in our then condition.
+
+I had not been many days at Salamanca before a fever broke out, which
+I caught very badly, and so was ordered back into hospital at Ciudad
+Rodrigo, along with a number of fellow troops who were troubled with a
+like malady with myself. On my arrival at the hospital, my hair was
+cut off by order of the doctor, and my head blistered; and I had not
+been there many hours before I became quite insensible, in which state
+I remained more or less for three months, which brought on great
+weakness. I received kind treatment, however, from the doctor and our
+attendants, and was allowed to eat anything my fancy craved, and
+amongst other things, without having to resort to any contrivance as
+at Estremoz, I could get wine.
+
+After being in hospital nearly two months longer, my strength had come
+back enough to allow me to be removed out of the town to a convent,
+the very one before mentioned which I had helped to storm when we were
+throwing up batteries for the assault of the town. There I found a
+number like myself who had lately recovered, and amongst them some of
+my own comrades of my own regiment, which made the time pass more
+lively than if we had been all strangers. By the time my strength was
+sufficiently recruited to again permit me to go on active service,
+November had again come round, so that from the time of receiving my
+wound at Badajoz, at least seven months had passed away before I was
+free from sickness and in a proper condition to again join my
+regiment.
+
+The army, including my regiment, had been all this time actively
+employed at Salamanca, Madrid, and Burgos, and after going through
+many long marches and retreats, had again formed at Salamanca, up to
+which place the enemy had closely followed them. But owing to the
+season being too bad now to carry on the war, both sides felt more
+disposed to remain inactive for the remainder of 1812, so Lord
+Wellington determined on putting his army in cantonments; and in
+proceeding to carry out that design, for the enemy had now abandoned
+following up his retreat, he touched at Ciudad Rodrigo, which afforded
+a fine opportunity, which I willingly took, of rejoining my regiment.
+
+I found that our regiment had taken at the famous battle of Salamanca
+a splendid drum-major's staff from the enemy, which was stated to be
+worth at least L50, and it must have come in very useful, for ours was
+terribly worn and knocked about, being very old, having been itself
+taken from the French in Holland, during the commandership of the Duke
+of York.
+
+Soon after I rejoined, we crossed the Agueda into Portugal again, to
+take up our winter quarters in that country. Although it was not many
+leagues from Ciudad Rodrigo to where our cantonments were to be, yet
+that small march seemed to be almost going to knock me up, for my leg
+did not seem altogether strong enough to bear much marching, both of
+the slug shots having entered the sinew under the knee, and while we
+were engaged in this march it was kept constantly on the move.
+However, after we had settled down for about three weeks, I began to
+feel more like myself, and was therefore enabled to take my regular
+amount of duty.
+
+But after we had been in cantonments some four or five weeks, I was on
+sentry one day, when to my great surprise, a comrade came to relieve
+me some time before my usual time had expired, which made me think
+something must be wrong: so, of course, wishing to know something of
+the matter before I felt disposed to leave guard, I asked the man what
+it was all about, and he told me that I had been made a corporal in
+the seventh company. I would at the time have much rather remained a
+private in my own company than be made a corporal and be transferred
+to the seventh; it was certainly better as far as pay went, for I
+received seventeen pence, whilst before I had received only thirteen
+pence per day; but I was far from feeling at home in this company, as
+I lost all my old companions; and not only that, but I then stood six
+feet one inch high, whilst not one man in that company stood more than
+five feet seven inches. I made my complaint to the captain, who
+promised that as soon as there was a vacancy, I should go back to my
+old company, and that cheered me up a little, but made me look with
+intense anxiety for the change back again.
+
+Until it occurred, however, I had to change my abode, and live with
+four privates of the same seventh company in a private house, the
+landlady of which kept as nice a pig in her sty as I had ever seen in
+the Peninsula. Close by our quarters was the officers' mess-room, the
+sergeant of which had offered our landlady sixteen dollars for her
+pig; but the old woman would not take less than eighteen; so instead
+of giving that he offered the four men billeted with me the sixteen
+dollars to steal it for him, in return for the old lady's craftiness,
+as he had offered quite the fair value. The deed was done that very
+night, the pig being conveyed out of sight to the mess room; and in
+the morning, when the old lady had as usual warmed the pig's
+breakfast, she found to her surprise the sty empty.
+
+She soon made a terrible noise over the affair, and immediately
+suspected the man who had offered to buy it; which soon got to his
+ears, and obliged him to make away with it for a time, for fear of
+being searched; so he got some of the men to heave it over a wall at
+the back of the mess-room. The four men who had stolen it soon got
+scent of this, and wishing to serve the sergeant out for his meanness,
+and likewise have some of the pig, they went, unbeknown of course to
+him, and cut off about a quarter of it, which they appropriated to our
+own use, and brought back to be cooked in the old woman's house; so
+that the sergeant had better have given the two more dollars, and come
+by the whole pig honestly after all.
+
+Some difficulty was experienced by my fellow-lodgers in cooking their
+portion, as the landlady had generally before got their food ready;
+but this was at length accomplished in our own private room, with a
+kettle that we had borrowed from the old lady herself. I likewise had
+a taste of the poor woman's missing pig, which we found to be very
+good and acceptable. Fortunately, she never suspected us at all, but
+often talked to us during our stay there, of her sad loss; and indeed
+she was in general very kind to us, often going so far as to give us
+some dried chestnuts, of which she had an abundance, for a treat.
+
+After about three months' stay in this place, during which time my
+captain to my great satisfaction found an opportunity of putting me
+back to my own company, we marched to other quarters about three
+leagues off, in a village which had been for the most part deserted,
+and there we were cantoned, chiefly in empty houses. Whilst we were
+here, a very interesting piece of excitement took place, in which one
+of the officers of our company, a lieutenant, was the chief actor. He
+was an Irishman, and being likewise a Catholic, had been in the habit
+whilst staying at our late quarters of visiting a Catholic chapel; and
+there he had seen and fallen in love with a Portuguese general's
+daughter. Correspondence and meetings had followed, unbeknown to the
+girl's parents, but owing to our shifting our cantonments, some
+difficulty had arisen in the way of their engagements, and so I
+suppose they thought it best to arrange one final one, or at any rate
+one of which the memory was to last some time. One night, therefore,
+he proceeded with two of our company to the lady's house, where all
+arrangements had been previously made for conveying her from her
+private window into her lover's arms, ready to elope with him.
+
+These arrangements consisted of a ladder to be placed at a window,
+and the goods that she intended taking to be ready on the back of a
+horse, and were all carried out by two of the domestic men-servants
+who had been bribed, and who also undertook to keep a good look-out
+until the eloping party had got quite clear. But, as it proved, a
+worse set of people could not have been entrusted with the matter, for
+no sooner had they received their money, and the little company had
+set out from the house on their way to the officer's quarters, than
+the two foolish Portuguese servants immediately raised an alarm, and a
+party of six, including these very servants, was sent in pursuit.
+
+They soon overtook the travelling party, which was obliged to walk
+slowly owing to the horse laden with the goods; and the pursuers being
+armed with sticks, an altercation consequently took place, in which
+the Portuguese succeeded in capturing the horse and baggage; but the
+officer fought bravely for his spouse and was well backed up by his
+men, so that he succeeded in carrying her off at any rate. One of the
+Portuguese, however, lost two fingers in the affray, which was an
+unfortunate circumstance, and after things had come to this crisis,
+they left off their pursuit and went home contented in having captured
+the horse and baggage. The lieutenant then succeeded in getting the
+lady to the cantonments without any further molesting, and on the
+following morning he took her to a neighbouring chapel and married
+her.
+
+But the matter was not to rest here; for next morning the old general
+wrote to our colonel on the subject, and said he intended to take
+proceedings against the lieutenant for stealing his daughter, as he
+called it. Our colonel informed the lieutenant that he was to consider
+himself a prisoner, as in such times as these he ought to be thinking
+of something else but marriage; but after a fortnight's consideration
+the general gave in, and made it all up with his new son-in-law, who
+was released and likewise had his wife's horse and baggage given back
+to him. In return for his good luck he treated the whole of his
+company to a pint of wine, which was drunk in toasts to the happy
+couple.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+     Breaking up of the cantonments and march into Spain -- Battle of
+     Vittoria -- Lawrence's private performances in the fight -- Rout
+     of the French -- Fatal blunder on the part of the officers --
+     Lawrence refits himself with boots -- Buonaparte's carriage with
+     its contents captured -- A fine take of mutton -- A good meal and
+     night's rest after the battle -- Paddy's new ingredient for
+     dough-boys.
+
+
+We lay quite inactive in our cantonments until May, when preparations
+for the ensuing campaign commenced in good earnest; and about the
+middle of that month we left Portugal, bidding adieu to that kingdom
+for ever, for we now hoped that the enemy would very soon be compelled
+to quit the two shattered countries of the Peninsula, where we had
+done so much, and of late done it with such success. Much more yet,
+however, we found had to be accomplished before that hope could be
+fulfilled, as I am now about to relate to the best of my ability.
+
+We first commenced our march in a northerly direction, crossing the
+River Douro in Portugal; and after about a fortnight's procedure
+through almost insurmountable difficulties we arrived at Zamora, a
+town in Spain, situated not more than twenty miles from the Portuguese
+frontier on the north bank of the said river. The enemy had been
+occupying it lately, but had abandoned it on our approach, so from
+Zamora we followed them to a place called Valladolid, about seventy to
+eighty miles off, and thence to Vittoria, a still longer march of at
+least a hundred and sixty miles, during which some slight skirmishing
+took place between the retreating and pursuing armies.
+
+On nearing Vittoria we came up with the main body of the French posted
+on some admirable heights, which they had made great use of to prepare
+for a stubborn resistance: they not only having the advantage of the
+heights, but we the attacking party having to cross a river below by
+means of only narrow bridges, which was a great impediment to our
+progress.
+
+We arrived and encamped here on the 20th of June. On reconnoitring the
+enemy's strong position much doubt was entertained as to our success,
+our army being much fatigued after its tedious march and likewise
+being very short of provisions. This latter circumstance caused many
+to set off that night in search of something to eat; but the only
+thing I with several comrades could find was some broad beans, and
+those we had to gather for ourselves: we got a good many, but we were
+certainly not out for them more than an hour altogether, as nearly the
+whole of my party had to go on duty that night, and as it happened at
+the general's own quarters, which were in a house which had been
+deserted by its inhabitants. We occupied a kind of outhouse adjoining,
+and having lit a fire in the centre and found a kettle belonging to
+the house, we set to work and cooked a quantity of wheat that we found
+stowed away there, and on that made a very good night's meal. I
+likewise preserved a quantity and put it into my knapsack for a
+favourite comrade who had been left in camp in charge of our beans;
+but when I returned I found I need not have done that, for he had had
+just as good a meal off the greater part of the beans as we had off
+the wheat.
+
+Next morning orders came to fall in under arms ready to advance and
+attack the enemy's strong position. Our division, together with the
+Third and Seventh, was ordered to advance against the centre of their
+lines, so we had to bundle the remainder of our beans into our
+knapsacks, for to use my comrade's expression, "it went hard to have
+to leave any tommy behind in such times as these." Before we could get
+at the enemy we had to cross a narrow bridge, which gave us some
+trouble owing to the enemy's cannon, which played pretty sharply on
+us: and a shell pitching into one of our ammunition waggons, it
+immediately blew up, carrying with it two horses and the unfortunate
+driver. But once on the other side of the river and formed into line
+we were up and at them in spite of a murderous fire which they kept up
+from their cannon. We soon neared them, fired, and then charged, and
+succeeded in driving the centre over the hill. A column of their body
+still appeared on our right, and we immediately received orders to
+wheel in that direction; but the sight of us, together with the play
+of our artillery on them, was quite sufficient to make them follow
+their centre over the hill, whither we pursued them, but were unable
+to come up with them.
+
+I came across a poor wounded Frenchman crying to us English not to
+leave him, as he was afraid of the bloodthirsty Spaniards: the poor
+fellow could not at most live more than two hours, as a cannon-ball
+had completely carried off both thighs. He entreated me to stay with
+him, but I only did so as long as I found it convenient: I saw, too,
+that he could not last long, and very little sympathy could be
+expected from me then; so I ransacked his pockets and knapsack, and
+found a piece of pork ready cooked and three or four pounds of bread,
+which I thought would be very acceptable. The poor fellow asked me to
+leave him a portion, so I cut off a piece of bread and meat and
+emptied the beans out of my haversack, which with the bread and meat I
+left by his side. I then asked him if he had any money, to which he
+replied no, but not feeling quite satisfied at that, I again went
+through his pockets. I found ten rounds of ball cartridge which I
+threw away, and likewise a clothes-brush and a roll of gold and silver
+lace, but those I would not give carriage to. However, I found his
+purse at last, which contained seven Spanish dollars and seven
+shillings, all of which I put into my pocket except one shilling,
+which I returned to the poor dying man, and continued on my way up the
+hill.
+
+There I saw a French officer come out of a low copse close by, and
+instantly fired at him, but without doing him any mischief. He made
+his way up the hill as quickly as possible, using his sword as a
+walking-stick, but a German rifleman who had been on the look-out cut
+off his communication and succeeded in taking him prisoner. I did not
+take any further notice of him, therefore, but proceeded along with my
+company still in pursuit of the French, who were retreating in all
+directions in a very disorderly state.
+
+We might have taken hundreds of them prisoners had it not been for
+our officers, who in their flurry had mistaken them for Spaniards; for
+Lord Wellington had previously ordered the Spaniards to wear a piece
+of white substance round their left arm to make some distinction
+between the French dress and theirs, which was very similar; but the
+French had got knowledge of this, and a great number of them, who were
+obliged in their hurried retreat and on account of the difficulties of
+the road to pass near our lines, had adopted the Spanish white band.
+Still we fired at them both with muskets and artillery; but when the
+officers perceived the white on their arms, without bestowing any more
+consideration as to whether they were the enemy or the Spaniards, they
+immediately stopped us from doing so. As soon as the French in passing
+observed this, they sunk into the valley and piled arms as if they
+were allies; and directly an opportunity afforded itself, they again
+took up their muskets and fired right into our lines, doing terrible
+mischief.
+
+I never in all the days of the campaign saw men in such a rage as ours
+were with the officers. I really thought that some serious
+consequences would ensue, but as it was, all fortunately passed off as
+well as could be expected after such a mistake. For if this trick had
+before been observed, we might have taken the whole body prisoners by
+a direct movement of our right flank, as no other way lay open to
+their retreat without their encountering great difficulties; but the
+chance was now thrown away, and repairs could not be made of the
+damage done; many in our line having lost their irrecoverable lives,
+and others being more or less injured. We had only to make what
+consolation we could from beholding the almost express pace of the
+party as it retreated from where lay our comrades, either as groaning,
+wounded, or shattered corpses.
+
+After their signal defeat at Vittoria, scarcely anything was left open
+to the French but to cross the Pyrenees into their own territory on
+the other side. Numberless quantities of warlike instruments were
+captured, such as cannons, muskets, cartridges, and all kinds of
+ammunition, besides supplies for the army, food, clothing, and the
+like, which were considering our need at the time of great benefit to
+the Allies.
+
+I myself had my feet new rigged after this affair, and it was
+certainly not before I wanted a covering for them; there was certainly
+a part of the upper leathers of my old pair of boots left, but the
+chief part of the sole was my own natural one belonging to my foot. I
+had some little difficulty in procuring them, however; I happened to
+see a shoe-wagon that had been captured from the enemy and was being
+fast emptied by a number of our men, so I asked the captain to let me
+fall out, as my shoes wanted replenishing. He only answered, "No, not
+until the enemy is fairly away, and then you may do as you please;" so
+I had to disobey orders again, and on the next halt step off to the
+wagon to see what I could find. There were, however, such a number on
+the same errand that I began to despair of getting any boots, but at
+length I succeeded in getting into the wagon, and I hove out a hundred
+pairs or so to the mob, while I took up six or seven pairs for myself,
+or rather some likewise for some of my comrades, in hopes of making
+off with them quietly.
+
+My hopes, however, were far from being fulfilled, for no sooner was I
+off the wagon, than I was completely smothered with parties that
+wanted and craved for boots equally with myself; so I had to let all
+my lot go, finding that I could not get clear, and got back into the
+wagon. Then I threw out another stock to the barefooted mob, and
+replenished my own lot, this time, however, only getting five pairs,
+and of these I did not succeed in getting off with more than three
+after all.
+
+I made back to my company thinking to be unobserved, but in that I was
+again mistaken, for the captain himself seeing me called out, "You
+will disobey orders then, will you? and what are you going to do with
+all those shoes?" I told him I was going to put on a pair as soon as
+possible, to which he replied, "Very well, sir, mind you give the rest
+to your comrades;" which I did, as that had been my intention from the
+first; if not, I should not have troubled to get more than one pair,
+as on such marches as ours it was not likely that any man would care
+to carry a change in boots, or of anything else but food, which,
+though seldom denied to us, was more seldom obtained.
+
+At Vittoria, too, Buonaparte's carriage was captured with some ladies
+in it. The French army had retreated to Pampeluna, so Lord Wellington
+sent a sergeant and twelve men under a flag of truce to escort these
+ladies into the French camp at that place, in return for which
+Buonaparte behaved very well, for he gave the sergeant a doubloon and
+each of the men one-half of that sum, and had them escorted out of his
+lines by a French officer.
+
+Our army meanwhile pursued the enemy until night put an end to our
+proceedings, when we encamped two or three miles west of Vittoria,
+there remaining two nights and one day busily engaged on the forage
+for ourselves. Happily thousands of sheep were found, that the enemy
+had been obliged to abandon on their retreat. I had been fortunate
+enough to get one and bring it into camp, and was proceeding to kill
+it by putting my bayonet through the neck, when Lieutenant Kelly of
+our company happening to pass, "Hullo, Lawrence," he said, "you seem a
+capital butcher." I said, "Would you like a piece of it?" "I certainly
+should very much," he answered, "for I am devilish hungry;" so I took
+out my knife and cut off one of the quarters just as it was, without
+even skinning it, and gave it to him, saying, "There, sir, you must
+skin it yourself." He thanked me and said, "Never mind the skin, I
+will manage that."
+
+Not only myself, but several of my comrades had likewise managed to
+get a share of these sheep, so that night a general cooking ceremony
+commenced: our first movement being to go round and gather all the odd
+sticks we could lay our hands upon, including gates, doors, chairs,
+tables, even some of the window-frames being knocked out of the many
+deserted houses and gathered together in one heap for this great
+purpose; and in a very short time both roast and boiled mutton were
+seen cutting about in all directions. Nor had we altogether forgotten
+our former experience of the beans which were growing plentifully at
+that time and place, and we found that night's meal as good a one as
+we had tasted for some weeks past. After it was over we lay down for
+the night,--a body picket having previously been sent out to guard
+against any surprise from the enemy; but we lay very comfortable
+without being disturbed the whole night, and as our fires did not
+cease burning we kept very warm as well.
+
+Next day was likewise chiefly spent by those off duty in search of
+food, some returning with one or more of such articles as wheat flour,
+cabbages, turnips, carrots, and beans. A fellow-corporal of mine
+seeing this, and neither of us having been out, said, "Lawrence, I'll
+go and try my luck too, and if the drums should beat for orders, you
+go and get them for me, and then we can share the profits of my
+search." I consented, and he soon went, and was gone for at least two
+hours before he returned loaded with his findings, having taken his
+shirt off and tied the sleeves and collar up, and then filled his
+impromptu sack quite full. He had evidently carried his burden no
+small distance, for on his return the perspiration was running down as
+big as peas. "Tare an' 'ounds," poor Paddy said, for he was an
+Irishman, "I've got a fine lot of flour, but am as tired as a dog, and
+as hungry as a hunter." "Well done, Burke," said I, for that was his
+name, "we will soon have a blow out of dough-boys and mutton."
+
+I accordingly got a tin dish which I took from a Frenchman at
+Vittoria, and having filled it with our supposed flour, I poured some
+water on it, intending to make some balls of dough for the pot; when I
+suddenly found Paddy had been making a great mistake and that it was
+nothing more or less than lime that he had brought instead of flour. I
+said, "I'll be bothered if you haven't brought home lime for flour;"
+but Paddy would not believe it, saying it was the best white flour,
+till I told him to come and see it boiling and smoking in the pot,
+which quite confounded him, and taking up the remainder in his shirt
+he hove it out, saying, "Well I'm blessed, comrade, if I ain't off
+again, and I'll take good care not to come back again this time till I
+have some good flour."
+
+He had been gone about an hour when he returned with at least half
+his shirt full, for he had got on the same scent as a great many who
+had been before him and were now fast returning already loaded. I then
+commenced making the dough-boys by mixing a little salt and water with
+the flour, and put them into a kettle swung over a fire on two sticks
+placed perpendicularly on each side with a cross-bar on the top,
+gipsy fashion, and by night our supper was hot and well done. As is
+perhaps well known, dough-boys cannot be very greasy without fat or
+suet of any kind, but they were quite passable in the hungry state we
+were then in, and as we had no bread, we used some more of the mutton
+to help them down. Our fires were then made up the same as the night
+before, and at the proper time we again retired to rest comfortably
+and were soon lost in a profound slumber.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+     Advance to the Pyrenees -- Capture and destruction of a
+     provision train -- Unpleasant episode during Sunday service --
+     The regiment takes up its position on the heights of Villebar --
+     The enemy's attempts to dislodge them all successfully repulsed
+     -- Sad death of a straggler -- Lawrence goes to get a watch-chain
+     and has a narrow escape -- Exchange of wounded prisoners -- The
+     French finally driven off the mountains -- The captain of the
+     regiment presented with a testimonial at the French expense.
+
+
+On the day after the adventure of the dough-boys we were again ordered
+to march, and advanced towards Pampeluna; but that town being
+garrisoned by the French, we passed it on our left, and proceeding for
+some distance further west, encamped near some hills with strong
+fortifications on their summit. There we lay a few days, and thence
+arrived on the heights of Villebar in the Pyrenees in the latter part
+of July, where we took up our position. Lord Wellington had extended
+his army in a line along the Pyrenees which must have exceeded thirty
+miles from the extreme left to the extreme right, and which would
+owing to the difficulties of the mountain barriers have made it very
+hard to combine in case of an attack in force by the enemy on any
+particular part of our line. Thus in warfare such as has now to be
+described we ran more risk than the French, who being able to form in
+their own country and drive their body on any part of our line, had a
+considerable advantage over us.
+
+Our division, with a brigade of the Second and another division of the
+Spanish, occupied the extreme right, covering Pampeluna. Very shortly
+after our arrival the action commenced on our left; and meanwhile
+suspicions were entertained that Soult intended to attack, so as to
+reinforce and throw supplies into Pampeluna, which was being blockaded
+by the Allies and in danger of capitulating owing to shortness of
+provisions. Lord Wellington accordingly sent our division to a
+particular pass of the mountains in search of the said supplies, and
+after marching over hills, mountains, and valleys for at least thirty
+miles, we at length fell in with about three hundred carts laden with
+provisions and ammunition. They were guarded, however, by a strong
+body of the enemy, who soon attacked us; but they met with a strong
+reception, and after a severe altercation on both sides we succeeded
+in capturing the booty.
+
+Owing, however, to the difficulty of the country, and our not having
+proper means of transportation, we were obliged to set fire to the
+bread, of which there was a great quantity, although it was the very
+substance of which we were so much in need. It went very much against
+our will, but that being the order it had to be attended to; not,
+however, before some of our men had stocked themselves with a portion
+that could reasonably be moved. Then having placed the ammunition
+together and extended a long train so that at any time it might be
+easily blown up, we retired some distance and waited for the
+reappearance of the enemy, who, most likely thinking we had abandoned
+some of the carts, were not long before they came back in strong
+force; and on their nearing the fatal machine the train was fired and
+a great number of them were soon launched into the air. We retreated
+after that as quickly as possible to Pampeluna out of reach of the
+enemy, falling back that day at least twenty miles; a hard day's work
+indeed, but not thought much of in those times, when equally hard days
+were so often passed through, especially in a hasty retreat or on a
+well-fought battlefield.
+
+We again encamped for nearly a week, during which time we amused
+ourselves in throwing up huts for officers' quarters, cooking-houses,
+and the like; and we had settled down so nicely that we had almost
+begun to think we were to be stationed there for at least six months.
+But on the very next Sunday we found that we were mistaken and that
+our hopes were to be disappointed. A square had been formed into which
+a parson entered to read prayers and preach, and a drum being placed
+for his books and a knapsack for him to kneel on, he had proceeded
+with the service for some little time, when all of a sudden up he
+jumped with his traps and made a bolt, before any one had hardly time
+to see the cause, amid the applause and laughter of the whole of the
+troops at his running, which was as fast as his legs could carry him,
+and looked then as if the poor man might be going on even till now.
+They used to say that the three scarcest things to be seen in an army
+were a dead parson, drum-major, or a woman: the explanation of this
+was to be found in the fact that they were none of them often to be
+seen on a battlefield; and I think in this case our parson must have
+told and frightened all the others in the kingdom, for never after
+that did we have any service in the field.
+
+But the cause of the sudden flight on the part of the parson proved
+not to be one entirely of enjoyment, for a large body of the enemy
+appearing, we likewise found ourselves running about pretty smartly
+and preparing for immediate action. The affair lasted hotly till dusk,
+our division losing some four or five hundred men. When night fell we
+were obliged to retreat still further towards Pampeluna, leaving the
+wounded, with the exception of two grenadiers who had been shot in the
+thighs, and whom we took turns to carry in two blankets, in the
+enemy's hands.
+
+We had to get through a very thick wood of quite three or four miles
+in extent, which took us the whole night to accomplish; and in the
+morning when we were finally through, we lay down like so many loaded
+donkeys; still obliged, however, to remain in readiness, as we
+expected to be pursued. And soon enough we found we were, for we had
+not lain down very long before the enemy came up and charged us hotly,
+again forcing us to follow up our retreat, without even thinking this
+time of our two wounded burdens, who were left to the mercy of the
+enemy. In a few hours, however, we again joined the main army, or
+rather got into its line; and pleased enough we all were to get back.
+
+We were then posted in a strong position on the heights of Villebar
+with the Spanish troops on our right. The French soon made their
+appearance and attacked the Spanish corps, who fired at them long
+before they came within bounds of shot, not having proper officers to
+guide them; those that ought to have been leading them on having
+instead placed themselves out of the way, leaving their men to do the
+dirty work; and of course these latter soon decamped too. Our
+regiment, however, was soon on the scene; and hastening in that
+direction, we managed to get there before the enemy had gained the
+summit of this important ridge. Orders had been issued by our officers
+not to fire till we could do good work; but this soon came to pass,
+for the French quickly sallied up and fired first, and we returned it
+in less than a minute. I never saw a single volley do so much
+execution in all my campaigning days, almost every man of their two
+first ranks falling; and then we instantly charged and chased them
+down the mountain, doing still further and more fearful havoc. When we
+had done we returned to our old summit again, where the captain
+cheered and praised us for our gallantry, saying that he had never
+seen a braver set of men, and that he hoped we would always succeed in
+preserving our ground equally well. Our likewise brave enemy tried
+again two hours later to shift us and take possession of our ground;
+but they were again received as before and again sent down the hill.
+We were again praised by our commander, who said, "I think they have
+got enough of it by this time, and won't make a third attack in a
+hurry;" but we were mistaken, for four hours had not passed before
+they were up again with fresh reinforcements. Some of our men then
+seemed to despair, for I heard them even say to the officers who were
+so bravely leading us on, "We shall have to be off this time." "Never
+mind," replied the officers, "keep your ground if possible, and don't
+let yourselves be beaten;" which we did like bricks, for on their
+arrival and trying to outflank us, so that we were obliged to wheel
+round to the left, the right flank opened fire as they were close upon
+us, and instantly charged right into them with the bayonet, forcing
+them to retreat.
+
+They again fell up to support their other companies, who were
+attacking our other flank; but we reloaded and were then ready to meet
+them, again pouring another of our deadly volleys into their ranks and
+then going at them again with our bayonets like enraged bulldogs. The
+fight that ensued was most sanguinary, but we succeeded again in
+driving them down the mountain at last. I should think they must have
+numbered five to our one; in fact the whole of our fourth division was
+attacked, but all assisted equally bravely in retaining our position
+on the heights and earned great praise from our commanders. I do not
+myself think, however, that we could ever have routed so large a
+number of the French had it not been for our advantageous ground. Some
+Portuguese troops likewise behaved very well, but as for the
+Spaniards, I can safely affirm that after their first retreat I did
+not see any more of them again that day.
+
+We encamped that night on the same ground that we had so well
+defended. Our captain, who was as nice a man as ever commanded in the
+Peninsula, always seeming to share everything with the men and bear
+the blunt as well as the smooth, and the losses as well as the
+profits, now said, "Come, my brave men, turn to and cook yourselves
+something to eat, for you have earned it well;" an order which we soon
+set about to obey. A quantity of rum had been sent up for us, so we
+were able to sit down tired as we were and enjoy ourselves as if
+nothing extraordinary had occurred that day. We then sent out a picket
+and prepared to take our rest for the night, the French not seeming
+inclined to sally up any more to engage us on those heights.
+
+When the returns were called off the list, we found our killed and
+wounded amounted to seventy-four, but one more of our number was soon
+to be added to the sum total. A comrade of my own company went in
+search of sticks to liven up our fire: I told him to be careful and
+not get in sight of the enemy's picket, or they might have a pop at
+him, and he replied never fear, he would be careful; but the foolish
+fellow had been gone but a few minutes, when he was shot through the
+neck. Instead of keeping his own side of the hill, he had diverged on
+to the other close enough to be observed by one of the enemy's
+riflemen, who shot him as I have described. I happened to hear the
+shot, and found that it had been at him, so I went and dragged him
+back, pretty quickly as may be supposed, for I was fearful lest I
+should be shot likewise myself. The poor fellow was not dead, but
+exclaimed, "O corporal, I am a dead man!" When I had got him out of
+the enemy's reach and near our own lines, I took his stock from off
+his neck and he expired directly; so I had to leave him and rejoin our
+company with the news that another of us was gone, making seventy-five
+in all.
+
+On the following morning I happened to observe an officer of the
+French army moving at some distance in front of our lines, having
+hanging from his pocket a fine watch-guard, which particularly took my
+attention and which I thought at the time would look very well on me;
+and being more daring than wise, I crawled towards him with my musket
+loaded, and when near enough as I thought to him, I fired; but it did
+him no mischief and only made him take himself off at once. I nearly
+got into a scrape through it, however, for I was fired at myself in
+return, the bullet fortunately only taking the butt end off my musket.
+I turned to run off, and another shot hit the knapsack on my back, but
+I soon got out of reach of their shot again, luckily, as it happened,
+without any injury; but it must have been a near thing, for when I
+next opened my knapsack, I found the ball had gone through the leather
+and my thickly-folded blanket and had at last been stopped by the sole
+of a shoe, and was lying there as flat as a halfpenny and about the
+same size.
+
+The same day we were joined by the Fifty-third regiment Lord
+Wellington having sent it on to relieve us in case of another attack
+from the enemy. They offered to occupy our heights, so that we might
+fall back to the rear, but our captain would not consent to that;
+"For," as he said, "my men have fought well to defend their position,
+and I think they will be strong enough to keep it." He proposed,
+however, that they should keep out an outlying picket, so that we
+could take our rest, which would be the best way of relieving us, and
+their commander readily agreed to do so.
+
+Thus we passed two or three days, both armies remaining inactive. Then
+one day a French officer was seen coming up the mountain, having laid
+down his sword, so our captain sent a lieutenant who could talk good
+French to meet him and see what he wanted. He found that he wished to
+know if we would allow him to send for their wounded, so an agreement
+was entered into that we should take all their killed and wounded
+halfway down the mountain, and that they should meet us there with
+ours in return. This plan was soon carried out; and when we had buried
+our dead, the wounded were conveyed to hospitals appropriated to them
+at the nearest convenient place.
+
+All was still quiet on the following morning, but later in the day the
+whole body of our line appeared in motion, and we were ordered in
+company with the Fifty-third regiment to attack the enemy's post near
+us, acting in conjunction with the other front of our line; and this
+being done, we soon drove them right off the mountains. The Portuguese
+troops in our division fought well in this action. We followed up the
+retreating French to a village situated in a valley of the Pyrenees,
+where they were delayed owing to having to cross a river. General Cole
+immediately ordered our regiment up to stop them if possible; so off
+we went in quick time to the river, and on their seeing they were so
+quickly pursued and that there was no hope of escaping, they threw
+down their arms and gave themselves up prisoners to the number of
+about seven hundred.
+
+We took a gold-mounted sword from their commander, and a gold plate
+out of his cap with an eagle engraved on it, which were given to our
+captain by the regiment as a present, as he was a universal favourite
+for his behaviour to the men in general.
+
+The prisoners were then sent to St. Jean de Luz to be put on board
+ship, and so conveyed to England.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+     Continued retreat of the French -- Narrow escape of Lord
+     Wellington -- Lawrence volunteers to remove the danger -- Is
+     successful, and earns the praise of Lord Wellington -- Repeated
+     engagements with the enemy -- Lawrence, like most people who try
+     to hedge, nearly comes to grief -- Capture of a bridge and
+     village -- Lawrence, becoming lame, is left on guard over a
+     Portuguese cottage -- Surprises and discomfits a French intruder
+     -- Sad end of a hungry corporal -- Lawrence made sergeant.
+
+
+We marched slowly on, following up the enemy as closely as possible,
+often even having them in sight: and both armies were sometimes
+encamped for a week at a time, and employed meanwhile in skirmishing
+with each other.
+
+At one of these halts the enemy by some means or other got three
+pieces of cannon on to the top of a steep mountain, probably by men
+dragging them up with ropes, as it was impossible for horses to have
+done it; and on our entering the valley, Lord Wellington happening to
+be with us, a shot from one of these carried his cocked hat completely
+off. Our colonel remarked to him, "That was a near miss, my Lord;" to
+which he replied, "Yes, and I wish you would try to stop them, for
+they seem determined to annoy us." Our colonel immediately said he
+would send some of the grenadiers up for that purpose, so I, being a
+corporal and right-hand man of the company, volunteered with a section
+to undertake the job. Six men were accordingly chosen besides myself;
+rather a small storming-party for the object in hand, as they numbered
+twenty-one artillerymen and an officer, according to my own counting.
+
+I led my little band along the valley and approached the mountain
+whence they were tormenting us. The artillerymen kept up a fire at us
+from the cannon, which consisted of light six-pounders, but owing to
+our movement they could not get the elevation. We slowly scaled the
+hill zigzag fashion to baffle their aim, until we got so close that
+the cannon could not possibly touch us, owing to a slight mound on the
+hill. We were then within a hundred yards of them, and I took their
+number, and found at the same time that they had no firearms with them
+but the cannon, which were of not much use at close quarters for such
+a few men. I should say we lay there on the ground for at least ten
+minutes, contemplating which would be the best mode of attack, while
+they were anxiously watching for our reappearance.
+
+At last when ready I said, "Now my men, examine your flints and
+priming, so that all things may go right." They did so, saying, "All
+right, corporal, we will follow you;" so I too sang out, "Now for a
+gold chain or a wooden leg!" and having told them what to do and to
+act together, we jumped up, and giving them a volley, we charged them
+before they had any time to take an aim at us, and succeeded in
+gaining the cannon and driving the men down the mountain to a body of
+their infantry that was stationed at the foot. I immediately made a
+signal with my cap for our brigade to come up, for they were all ready
+and on the watch, but we found that the enemy's infantry was likewise
+on the move for our height. Fortunately, our brigade was the first to
+arrive, and reinforced us on the mountain, and on seeing this the
+enemy decamped. By great luck not one of my men was injured, whilst
+our volley killed or badly wounded five of the artillerymen.
+
+After the enemy's retreat, the colonel came up to me and said, "Well
+done, Lawrence; I did not think you were half so brave, but no man
+could have managed it better." He likewise praised my six
+fellow-stormers, and a short time afterwards Lord Wellington himself
+came up and asked me my name, and on my telling him, said, "I shall
+think of you another day."
+
+These three cannon, which were composed of brass, were now the only
+ones we possessed, as owing to the difficult nature of our route our
+own had been obliged to be left behind; even the cavalry being of very
+little use in this mountain warfare. Soon after this daring feat of
+ours, the enemy again commenced their retreat, we still following
+close up to them; but after proceeding some two miles, we found they
+had again halted and were occupying another mountain; so we sank into
+the valley, and made ourselves as comfortable for the time as we could
+under the circumstances. We had no tents, and even if we had, we could
+not have pitched them so close to the enemy, so at night we curled
+ourselves well into our blankets and retired to rest on the ground.
+
+Finding next morning that they apparently did not mean to renew their
+retreat without being made to do so, we tried the experiment; but that
+day we were defeated in our object, for again, like the fatal fox and
+grapes, we could very well look at them but could not get them down.
+We accordingly brought up by the mountain again that night, and those
+who were not amongst the number told off for picket, which was large
+as we were so near the enemy, again retired to rest in their blankets.
+But next morning, not feeling contented with their prolonged stay, or
+with our attack of the day before, which had only failed to move them,
+we again assailed them; this time with success, for we drove them from
+that mountain and pursued them till they again halted. We followed
+their example, and then we lay again for several days, getting good
+and undisturbed rest every night, and only having to send out a picket
+so as to guard against any surprise from the enemy, this duty, of
+course, falling equally on all in their turn.
+
+I think it was about the third day that we were put into advancing
+order and were again led on to the attack. When we got within a few
+paces, we gave them our usual volley, and made our charges, which they
+did not long stand against before they again started on a slow
+retreat, we always keeping pretty close to their heels and being very
+often occupied in skirmishing with them.
+
+I was engaged myself in one of these affairs that happened during a
+short stay that we made. A small body of us were out under a sergeant,
+an Irishman named Ryan, and observing a large force with some of the
+enemy lurking around the premises, we made towards it and drove these
+few off the place, after which four or five more came out of the house
+on our approach and decamped. We entered and found a pig there just
+killed; but the butchers had evidently not had time to open it, so we
+set about taking our turn to do so, but were not allowed time to
+finish the job, for we now perceived a large body of French fast
+coming up, and we in our turn were obliged to retreat. Sharp enough
+work it was for us, too, for they had got within bounds of shot, and
+certainly did not fail to make use of it, following us up and firing
+at us across a meadow, which I can well remember was surrounded by a
+very thick thorn hedge, which delayed us very much, as we had to jump
+over it; and I not being much of a jumper myself, managed to find
+myself in the middle of it. It was a very prickly berth, and became
+more so when our sergeant, who had got clear himself, came to my
+assistance to pull me through. I got scratched all over, but that was
+not so bad as the thought of the bullets that were peppering through
+the hedge on all sides of me; however, I was extricated at last,
+though I left most of the back part of my uniform behind, and we
+proceeded at full speed on our way. We had not gone far, however, when
+our poor sergeant was shot down. He appeared quite dead, but I did not
+stop, for they kept on stoutly pursuing us until they began to be
+afraid of getting too close to our line, which by this time had made a
+forward move, both our army and the enemy likewise being still on the
+march, and we skirmishing with their rear.
+
+At one time we came on about two hundred of their stragglers, and we
+fortunately numbering very strongly, were enabled to engage them and
+drive them back. Soon after this I had another very narrow escape. One
+of the enemy had lain in ambush in a thicket at the top of a mountain
+where I myself was straggling. I had no one near me at the time, and
+this fellow in the bush fired at me. The shot first took the ground
+and then bounded up against my brass breastplate, which was fixed on
+my cross-belt, and probably served on this occasion to save my life.
+The Frenchman, as soon as he had spent his shot, bolted; I had my own
+musket loaded at the time, but I did not think of firing, but
+proceeded after him with all my speed till I came up with him. I did
+not think I could run so fast. I have made Frenchmen run before, but
+it was generally after me. When he saw he was outdone he showed very
+poor pluck, for he immediately threw down his arms and gave himself up
+to me. If he had had any spirit he would not have done that so easily;
+though certainly I was loaded, while he was not, having, as I before
+said, exhausted his shot, owing to my plate, however, I am happy to
+say, without doing me the slightest injury.
+
+I then began to strip him of his accoutrements and ransacked his
+knapsack, but I was sadly disappointed in finding nothing about him;
+so I took his musket and broke the stock, and left him, not feeling
+inclined to be troubled with a prisoner, or to hurt the man in unfair
+play. And I likewise felt quite pleased at my narrow escape, as those
+sort of things often served as topics of conversation during our night
+lounges when we were in pretty quiet quarters. The man himself seemed
+very grateful that I did not hurt him after his offence; and the more
+so when I returned him his not-fit-for-much kit in his knapsack,
+nothing of his, in fact, being damaged except his musket; and he
+walked away with an air of assurance, without appearing to be in any
+hurry or afraid of being overtaken by any other of our men.
+
+I then went on in search of my comrades, who had by this time left the
+mountain for the neighbouring valley, and after running down the
+slope, I found them posted in a house situated at the bottom. They had
+been in search of provisions, but all they found was a cask of sweet
+cyder, the French having evidently been there before us and the place
+having been ransacked of everything but this. We drank as much as we
+wanted and put the rest into our canteen, but we were greatly
+disappointed in not finding anything to eat, for we were dreadfully
+hungry and very short of provisions.
+
+However, after we had refreshed ourselves with the cyder, at which our
+officer helped us, he ordered us to be getting on, or rather led us on
+himself to a small village about half a mile off, which we knew was
+occupied by some French. We found that a river intervened between us
+and this village, with a bridge over it guarded by about two hundred
+of the enemy; and a long lane had likewise to be traversed before we
+got up to them, in passing through which several of our men were
+wounded either by some of the enemy lying in ambush or by stragglers.
+Still we did not take long altogether in arriving at the bridge, and
+when there, having our firelocks all ready, we opened fire and then
+charged; but our attack was in vain, for we were met and overpowered
+and obliged to retreat behind a large hill at a short distance from
+the bridge. In the course of this short action I saw the French
+officer's horse shot from under him, but whether he was injured
+himself I cannot say.
+
+We rested a short time behind this hill, and came to a determination
+to make another attack on the bridge. This time we met with more
+success, for though we only effected it after a long and severe brush,
+we made them retreat, leaving the hard fought for but really
+insignificant bridge in our possession. We found nearly thirty of the
+enemy lying there killed and wounded, while we only lost about fifteen
+in all. But we did not delay over our captured bridge, for the blood
+of victory once in our veins, we pressed on for more and traced them
+down, continually firing as we passed through the village.
+
+Unfortunately I sprained my foot here, which disabled me from
+following, and a Portuguese inhabitant having asked our officer to
+let one of our men stay in his house to guard it from plunder whilst
+we remained in or near the village, the officer said to me, "Corporal
+Lawrence, you may as well stay with the man as you are so lame, and it
+will do to give you a rest." The company was to go back to the house
+where the cyder had been found, so I was rather glad of this
+occurrence, as I calculated I should get more attention paid me than
+if I had been with my comrades. I accordingly seated myself near the
+door of the man's house, and he soon brought me about a pint of wine
+with a piece of bread, for which I was very grateful, as I was very
+hungry and the wine proved to be much more to my taste than my
+previous ration of cyder.
+
+I had not been sitting there long, however, before I heard a heavy
+footstep descending the staircase of the house, and on looking up,
+found it belonged to a Frenchman who had been up there for the purpose
+of plunder, and was now coming away with a good-sized bundle of clean
+linen under his arm. When he saw me he immediately bolted out of a
+back door which led into a field. I made a desperate plunge at him
+with my bayonet, but owing to my bad foot I could not get near enough
+to him to hurt him; still I managed to stop his burden, for he had
+forced that against the bayonet to shield himself from it. As soon as
+I could extricate my musket, I hobbled as quickly as I could to the
+back door and sent a bullet after him; but he had got some distance
+away, and I cannot say exactly whether I hit him; though I think it
+broke his arm, for I saw it drop immediately, and his motion became
+more slackened as he passed out of sight, which contented me as much
+as if I had killed him.
+
+I then went back into the house and blew the Portuguese up for not
+keeping a better watch than to let a Frenchman find his way upstairs,
+as he might have killed us both. The Portuguese said he did not know
+how he got up there, neither did he very much care so long as he was
+gone now. I told him I thought he was a very easy-going customer, and
+pointed out that I had saved his linen for him, and his wife took it
+upstairs again as if nothing had happened, he likewise remarked that
+there was no fear of the Frenchman having taken any money, for he had
+none. He then gave me some more bread and wine, and when I had stopped
+two or three hours longer, during which time I drank the wine and
+stowed the bread into my haversack till I should feel more inclined to
+eat it, I left them, not feeling altogether safe there, as the enemy
+might very likely fall back. I returned over our well-deserved bridge
+to the cyder-house, as we had named it after the barrel we had found
+there. On my arrival my comrades seemed to smell out my bread, and
+they came and hovered round me like bees while I divided it as well as
+I could, for I was not hungry myself, and it was soon devoured.
+
+We only stayed about two or three hours longer at this house until
+the army came up, and we again joined our different regiments. We
+halted near this place for the night, and our butchers commenced work
+killing bullocks for our supply. I think scarcely a drop of blood was
+wasted, for even that was caught in our kettles and boiled and eaten,
+and was found to be very good. Each sergeant had to send in his return
+for the meat required for his company, at the rate of two pounds for
+each man; and when he had received it, the cooking immediately
+commenced.
+
+This was the last cooking that my fellow-corporal Burke, whom I have
+referred to before, ever took part in. But before relating how that
+happened I may as well mention that the butchers were entitled as a
+sort of perquisite to the bullocks' heels, which they sometimes sold.
+Burke bought two of these at this place for fifteenpence, and began
+cooking them in a somewhat peculiar manner, being either too hungry or
+too impatient to cook them properly by boiling. What he did was to put
+them on the fire to fizzle just as they came from the butcher, not
+even cleaning them, or taking any of the hair off; and every now and
+then he would gnaw the portion off that he thought was done, in order
+to get the underdone part closer to the fire. In this way he finished
+both the hocks, and for a time seemed satisfied, evidently thinking he
+had had a good supper.
+
+But he had not counted on his digestion, for having eaten so much on
+an empty stomach, and that too almost raw and mixed with a fair amount
+of soot, for the fire was not altogether clear, it was not long before
+he felt it begin to disagree with him, and he commenced to writhe
+about and was in fearful agonies all night. The doctor of the regiment
+was sent for, but he could do nothing for the man, and in the morning
+he was no better. We were then ordered to follow up the enemy, so that
+he had either to march on in this state or be left behind. He chose
+the former, so I got him along by helping him for about a mile, when
+he suddenly without saying a word to any one fell out of the ranks,
+lay down on a bank by the roadside, and expired in a few minutes. I
+was very much hurt at this, for he was one of my best comrades, but
+there was no help for it, and we had to leave him and march on.
+
+We did not come in contact with the enemy at all that day, and
+encamped for the night, as we thought, but it afterwards proved to be
+for nearly a fortnight. Towards the end of that time, our captain, who
+was my best friend in the whole regiment, rejoined us, having been
+left behind owing to a slight wound which he had received while on
+the march three or four weeks previously, but of which he had now
+quite recovered. Our company was at that time very short of sergeants,
+for which I shall afterwards account, so he recommended my promotion
+to fill one of the vacancies to the colonel, who gave him a written
+order for the purpose, and I was put into the place of poor Ryan. I of
+course was very proud of my new title, and not only that, but I
+received one shilling and elevenpence pay per day, being an additional
+sixpence on what I had formerly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+     The regiment refitted with clothing and provisions at St. Jean de
+     Luz -- Comments by Lawrence on the shameful behaviour of certain
+     sergeants of his regiment -- Marches and countermarches in the
+     mountain passes -- Lawrence temporizes as cook in behalf of his
+     officers, and is rewarded with an extra allowance of rum -- A wet
+     night -- Fall of San Sebastian -- Lawrence acts as medical
+     adviser to his captain and gets more rum -- Battle of the Nivelle
+     and the French driven well into their own country.
+
+
+Very shortly after my promotion we were ordered to St. Jean de Luz,
+where we received new clothes, and high time it was that we did so
+too, for our old ones were scarcely worth owning as rags and fearfully
+dirty, the red of them having turned almost to black. I ought to have
+received a sergeant's suit, but owing probably to the quartermaster's
+obstinacy I only got a private's, the same sort as I had had before.
+Here we likewise received a good supply of bread and rum, which seemed
+to us like a new and even a luxurious diet.
+
+I may as well here give the details about the sergeants of our
+regiment. I was the only one in my company where there ought to have
+been six when I was promoted, so the whole duty fell heavily on me.
+The rest had been wounded at some time or other before, and then never
+pushed on much to get back to their regiment; many when recovered
+preferring to skulk in the hospitals in paltry situations such as
+doorkeepers or ward-masters, so getting a little extra pay, and then,
+as I shall again have occasion to show, being too ready to make their
+appearance when the war was over. Fortunately, however, they then met
+with no great encouragement. They had really plenty of opportunity to
+follow up the regiment if they had chosen, but I suppose they thought
+they were best off out of the smell of powder, and probably they were,
+but still that does not throw a very creditable light on them.
+
+After we had received our clothes and provisions, we did not lie long
+at St. Jean de Luz, but again started on our marches, cruising about
+in the Pyrenees. For some time nothing of any particular note occurred
+until we again fell in with the enemy, who were stationed in huts
+which they had erected in the various valleys. We attacked them, and
+some sharp work ensued, for they did not seem to like the idea of
+abandoning their houses, which were much more comfortable than the
+open winter air, but we at last drove them off and took possession of
+their habitations, which a part of our army occupied. As for our
+regiment itself, we marched up the side of a mountain and encamped
+there.
+
+We again found ourselves very short of provisions there, and besides
+that the rain was falling in torrents all night. We had nothing over
+our heads at first to cover them, so we set to and gathered a quantity
+of grass, sticks, stubble, and like things, and made a kind of wall to
+keep off a little of the wind and beating rain; and then we tried to
+make up our fires with anything we could get together, but owing to
+the wetness of the substances, they were not very lively, and it was a
+long time before we could get them to burn at all.
+
+Our captain asked me if I could boil him a piece of beef, so I told
+him I would try and see what I could do to make the best of the bad
+circumstances, and accordingly I and a corporal of my company at once
+set to work, first placing our hanger over the fire and then swinging
+the kettle on it with the beef. The beef nearly filled the kettle, and
+though it was pouring with rain, it was a very awkward place to get
+water, as there were no springs near and no tanks to catch the rain
+in; consequently we had only about a quart of water in the pot, which
+had all boiled away before the beef was done. However, the captain was
+impatient for his supper, so it was taken up to him as it was, the
+pot-cover serving as a dish and a wooden canteen as a plate. I put it
+before him with salt on the edge of the canteen, and I likewise got
+him a piece of bread, which by the time he had it was nicely soaked by
+the rain--indeed we had not a dry thread on us by this time. The next
+bother was for a fork: I had a knife myself, but had lost the fork, so
+I got a stick and sharpened it at one end and gave him that as a
+substitute, and was rewarded by his praising me for my good
+contrivance.
+
+Colonel Thornton coming up meanwhile, he was invited by the captain to
+partake of some of the beef, and he gladly accepted, as he said he was
+very hungry; so another plate, knife, and fork were wanted. I borrowed
+my comrade the corporal's canteen and knife, and manufactured another
+fork like the former to serve for the colonel, and they both said the
+beef was very good, but not very well done, which it certainly was
+not, for though it went down sweet like most things in those times,
+the inside was certainly hardly warm.
+
+The colonel sent me to the quartermaster for a canteen of rum, which
+was equivalent to three pints, for which purpose another canteen had
+to be borrowed, but when I returned to him with it he said, "That's
+right; now go and drink it." I took it off to my comrade, and we both
+sat down under our artificial wall close by our fire to try and enjoy
+ourselves as best the inclemency of the weather would allow us,
+keeping, however, near our officers' green-carpeted nature's
+dining-room, so that if we were wanted we could hear them call. But
+when they did so, which was in a short time, it was for us to clear
+away, with orders at the same time to keep the remainder of the beef
+for ourselves; so we removed our dinner traps, passing a good many
+remarks in a jocular spirit on our green pasture, wet cloth, and our
+scientific dishes, plates, knives, and forks, much to the amusement of
+the colonel and captain who were looking on, and then sat down to our
+own supper, which we very much needed. I remember remarking to my
+comrade that we had not done so badly over our cooking after all, but
+perhaps it was only the hunger that made us think so. After finishing
+our supper and drinking the greater part of our rum, which no doubt
+got to a certain extent into our heads and served to keep out the cold
+and wet and make us generally comfortable, we curled ourselves into
+our blankets and lay down on the wet ground to rest.
+
+The rain descended in torrents all night and completely soaked us,
+but the morning broke out clear, and after we had disposed of the rest
+of our beef and rum, we joined all hands at work in wringing and
+shaking the water out of our blankets before putting them up into our
+knapsacks. We were obliged to do this while they were damp for fear of
+an attack from the enemy, it being a general rule to keep all in
+readiness; and, indeed, on this occasion it was not more than an hour
+after these preparations that the French assailed us. Not being
+willing to show fight, we retreated on that occasion, having nothing
+to attend to but ourselves and our kit, for we were without baggage
+and cannon. After a ten miles' journey or so we again halted expecting
+to be attacked again very soon, for which emergency we hastily
+prepared, needlessly, as it proved, however, for we eventually stopped
+here quietly for a month.
+
+During this time that I have been speaking of the siege of San
+Sebastian had been going on, the town having up to this time been
+already attacked twice, but without success. Lord Wellington now
+ordered twenty men out of each regiment of our division to act in
+conjunction with the besiegers, and soon after they arrived, the order
+being given to attack, after about two hours' fighting they succeeded
+in capturing the town and driving the garrison into the castle, which
+was likewise obliged to surrender in about a week. Though there were
+many deaths occasioned in this siege, strange to say the whole twenty
+men of our regiment returned unhurt.
+
+I remember during our stay here, our captain was fearfully troubled
+with the toothache. At last one night, after trying in vain to endure
+the pain, he came to me and said, "O sergeant, I am still troubled
+with the pain! What can you advise me for it?" I recommended him just
+to take a pipe of my tobacco, for I knew that would be a good thing
+for him, but he never could bear tobacco, so that it wanted a good
+deal of persuasion to at last make him consent to prefer the remedy to
+the pain. As he had no pipe of his own, I supplied him with the
+implement and some tobacco, and he began to smoke. But he had not been
+at it long before he said, "Why, sergeant, this will never do! The
+place seems whirling round. Here, take the pipe, for I feel precious
+queer; but my tooth is much better, and after all you are not such a
+bad doctor." He gave me half a pint of rum, and for a long time I
+heard nothing more of his toothache.
+
+We stayed here, as I said before, about a month, and then again moved
+on after our enemy, our cavalry, pontoon bridges, and artillery coming
+on by the most convenient passes of the mountains. While on the march
+we often had slight skirmishes with the enemy, but no regular pitched
+battle until we came to the Nivelle, where Soult had taken up a strong
+position. There our army halted in line, determined to attack and
+proceed if possible into France, as nothing more remained to be done
+in the Peninsula, Pampeluna having been obliged, owing to shortness of
+provisions, to surrender on the last day of October.
+
+The Third, Fourth, and Seventh divisions, under Marshal Beresford and
+their respective generals, occupied the right centres of the line. We
+commenced the attack early on the 10th of November on a village which
+was defended by two redoubts. One of these our division took under
+General Cole, driving the enemy to some heights in the rear, where we
+again attacked them and drove them over the Nivelle.
+
+After this we went into cantonments for a few weeks, but owing to the
+unsettled state of the French army who had attacked our left, and
+then, having failed, had proceeded against our right which was
+commanded by Sir Rowland Hill, Lord Wellington ordered the Sixth and
+our division to reinforce the right. We only arrived there, however,
+just in time to hear that the action was all over, the defeat of the
+enemy and their enforced retreat still further into their own country
+having been accomplished without our assistance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+     Advance to Orthes -- Lawrence moralizes again on the vicissitudes
+     of war -- Losses of his own regiment during the campaign --
+     Proclamation by Lord Wellington against plunder -- Passage of the
+     Adour -- Battle of Toulouse -- Casualties in Lawrence's company
+     -- Sad death of a Frenchman in sight of his home -- The French
+     evacuate Toulouse -- News arrives of the fall of Napoleon --
+     Lawrence on ambition -- The army ordered to Bordeaux to ship for
+     England.
+
+
+After remaining inactive for the most part during the rest of 1813
+and until the February of the next year, we again made an attack on
+the French, who were lying near a village of which I do not remember
+the name, and drove them behind a river. There they took up a fresh
+position, but retained it only two or three days, again shifting and
+opening a way for us to proceed on our way to Orthes.
+
+And so after nearly six years of deadly fighting, we had got clear out
+of Spain and Portugal and carried the war into our enemy's very
+kingdom. Portugal and Spain had long had to contain the deadly
+destroyers, but now the tide was changed, and it was the inhabitants
+of the south of France who were for a time to be subjected to the
+hateful inconveniences of war. They had little expected this turn in
+their fortunes: Napoleon had even at one time had the ambitious idea
+of driving us out of the Peninsula, but he now found us forcing his
+own army into its own country: he had at one time thought that he
+would subdue Europe, but had while labouring under that error been
+subdued himself.
+
+And all this was very much to our gratification, for we had long been
+looking forward to this result, being entirely sick of Spain. As for
+those places which had become so famous through us, we could not help
+thinking and referring back to the many comrades we had left there in
+their cold graves. Since our regiment had left for Ireland on this
+expedition nine hundred strong, fifty-one hundred men had joined us
+from our depot, but at the time of our march to Orthes we did not in
+spite of this number more than seven hundred. I do not mean to say
+that we lost all these in battle, though I can safely say we did the
+greater part, either killed or badly wounded: but of course many must
+be reckoned who fell by disease, or as some did from their own
+drunkenness or gluttony, assisted by the inclemency of the climate;
+nor must those skulkers, of whom there must have been so many through
+the whole campaign, be forgotten.
+
+Lord Wellington had watched with hatred the many excesses committed by
+the enemy on the Portuguese and Spanish inhabitants during the late
+campaign, and had determined, now he had carried the war into France,
+to set them for the future a better example; and accordingly he issued
+a proclamation that no plundering was to be carried on, on pain of
+death, which was much to the credit of our noble commander.
+
+We arrived in France at a wrong time of the year to see its beauties,
+but from what I could then judge it abounded in elegancies and
+varieties of taste, such as vineyards, oranges, pomegranates, figs,
+and olive-trees to any extent, not altogether unlike the productions
+of Spain.
+
+On nearing Orthes, we found the French had taken up a very strong
+position on a range of fine heights stretching from Orthes to St.
+Boes, and we were ordered in conjunction with the Seventh division to
+cross a river and attack the latter place, which had one of the
+heights occupied by the enemy at the back of it, giving them a
+commanding view of the place. Some delay was occasioned at the river,
+for there being no bridge, a pontoon was obliged to be thrown across;
+but this being accomplished, our divisions were soon over it, and
+being joined by a brigade of cavalry and artillery, we formed line and
+marched on St. Boes. The village was stoutly defended by the enemy,
+who on our nearing them fired briskly at us, for a long time standing
+their ground and trying hard to retain their charge; but they soon
+found they had sharp taskmasters to deal with, for our troops of the
+Fourth division under General Cole poured in on them like lions, and
+forced them after a violent resistance to start out of the place and
+take refuge on their strong heights.
+
+We followed them up, but found that there they were for a long time
+more than a match for us, as they had such an advantage in the ground.
+We rushed up the formidable heights, but were again and again driven
+back by the fearful play of the enemy's artillery, the position being
+only accessible in a few places, and those so narrow that only a small
+body could move on them at once. But even with these disadvantages and
+the enemy's cannon playing on them our men, after receiving fresh and
+strong reinforcements, carried the heights; and not only this, but the
+whole of the army having been similarly engaged on the right, had
+meanwhile succeeded in driving the enemy from their lines there,
+capturing a great number of prisoners in their retreat, the cavalry
+pursuing them closely; and some field-pieces were likewise taken.
+
+The enemy then fell back on the River Adour, the allied army soon
+following and engaging them in slight attacks in various parts of the
+line, till at last the French again took up a position on the heights
+near the town of Tarbes, on the said river; but they did not stay long
+there, being soon driven away by the Allies and retreating towards St.
+Gaudens. Thence they were again driven with great loss to themselves
+and a very trifling one to the Allies, this time to Toulouse on the
+Garonne, where they stood on the defensive on some more heights on the
+right bank of the river with every assailable part strongly fortified.
+
+Some difficulty was met with in our march, owing to the chief of the
+bridges being destroyed and having to be replaced by pontoons, and
+those that were not destroyed being strongly fortified. One of these
+was guarded by some French cavalry, whom we annoyed very considerably
+by our fire as we approached them, having in case of their making an
+attack on us a fine artificial ditch to fall back into where it was
+next to impossible that they could get at us; our fire was made more
+daring by our knowing there was a body of hussars waiting out of their
+sight, ready to fall on them if they moved on us. We soon enticed out
+a body of about three hundred, who crossed the bridge under our
+retreating and destructive fire, and on their near approach we fell
+into our ditch, while at the same time our cavalry came up, and some
+close shaving ensued, a large quantity of spare heads, arms, legs, as
+well as many horses being soon strewn about the ground.
+
+But this was not the worst part of our day's work, for after they had
+been tumbled back over the bridge, our division came up and we
+followed them right up towards their heights, keeping Toulouse some
+distance to our right. Before we reached the heights, however, we had
+to attack and carry a small village they were occupying. This was the
+commencement of the action of that bloody day which cost the armies on
+both sides numbers of their best men. It was fought on the Easter
+Sunday of 1814.
+
+From the village we proceeded over some difficult ground to attack
+their right under a brisk fire from their artillery, so brisk, indeed,
+that one of General Cole's orderlies had his horse shot under him; and
+then we formed line and dashed up the hill, which was defended by some
+thousands of the French, nearly half of whom were cavalry. We soon
+returned their fire, which at that time was a perfect storm of grape
+and canister, and directly we got near we charged them, but in vain,
+as owing to the sudden appearance of some of their cavalry we had to
+halt and form square: and indeed we must have been routed altogether
+by their combined infantry and cavalry, had not our Rocket Brigade
+stepped forward and played fearful havoc among their cavalry, driving
+them back. I had never before seen this rocket charge and have never
+either since; by all appearance it was most successful in this case,
+for it soon turned them to the right-about, and made them retreat.
+
+The Spaniards were chiefly engaged on our right, and I never saw them
+fight better, for they seemed on this occasion as determined as the
+British: and indeed of the two they suffered most, as the French,
+knowing them to be cowards, thought they would be certain of some
+success in that quarter, but they stood their ground well, only a few
+of their number getting into confusion.
+
+When once we had gained this advantage and taken a part of their
+heights, our artillery joined us, and their play together with our
+action soon made the French fall back on their works at Toulouse,
+whilst we remained on our newly won height overlooking Toulouse and
+there encamped. I remember well the loss of a man in my company in
+this action, who had entered the army during the war for a period of
+seven years at first, and this period having expired for some time, he
+was mad to be out of these constant scenes of bloodshed and conflicts,
+but owing to the continuation of the war he had not been allowed to
+depart. He was not the only one in this plight, for there were
+thousands of others like him in the army, and several in my own
+company alone. Sixteen guineas had been offered to each for their
+services for life, and many had accepted, while many had refused, and
+of course amongst the latter was the man of whom I am speaking. His
+name was William Marsh, and he was a native of Bath in Somerset. He
+was by trade a tailor, and earned many a shilling at his trade in the
+army from various of his comrades who employed him. As I said, the
+poor man was sick of war, and before entering this very action had
+been wishing he could have both his legs shot off, so that he might be
+out of the affair altogether; little expecting that it might really be
+the case, or nearly as bad, for he had not been in action long before
+his wish was accomplished, as he was shot through the calves of both
+his legs by a musket-ball which took him sideways and pierced right
+through. Poor Marsh did begin to sing out most heartily, and I
+couldn't help saying, "Hullo there, Marsh, you are satisfied now your
+wish is fulfilled, I hope." He begged and prayed me to move him out of
+the thick of the fight, so I dragged him under a bank and there left
+him, and from that time till now I never saw or heard anything more of
+him. He was far, however, from being mortally wounded, though perhaps
+from neglect it may have turned to something fatal.
+
+Another of our comrades in the front of our line had his foot
+completely smashed by a cannon-ball pitching right on to it, yet he
+managed to hobble to the rear in that state on his heel. I felt quite
+hurt for this poor fellow, who was a brave soldier, and seemed to be
+enduring great agonies.
+
+Night having drawn in, all firing ceased, and the men set to examine
+the ground they had gained, chiefly to find firewood. I happened to be
+about when I came across a Frenchman who had been badly wounded and
+had crawled under a bank: I went up to him and asked him if I could do
+anything for him. He had been shot in the stomach, and when he asked
+for water and I gave him some out of my canteen, which was nearly
+full, of which he drank heartily, in a very short time it only fell
+out again through his wound. But the most astonishing thing was that
+he pointed me out his father's house, which was as far as I could
+judge about half a mile off, and said that he had not seen his parents
+for six years, for since he had come back to this place, he had not
+been able to fall out to go and see them. He begged me to take him so
+that he might die there in the presence of his parents, but I told him
+I could not do that, as there were a quantity of French there.
+However, I got an old blanket and wrapped it round him, making him as
+comfortable as I could under the circumstances, and seemingly much
+better resigned to his fearful fate, and then I left him and returned
+to my own place of repose, and after eating my supper and drinking my
+allowance of grog, I wrapped my own blanket round me, lay down, and
+was soon unconscious in sleep. I woke early in the morning, and having
+nothing particular to do, I crept out of my blanket and put all things
+straight; and then, more out of curiosity than from any other motive,
+proceeded to the poor Frenchman to ascertain if he was yet living;
+but his death must have taken place some hours before, as he was quite
+cold and stiff.
+
+The loss of the Allies in this conflict was over four thousand in
+killed and wounded, more than two thousand being of the British,
+whilst that of the enemy was upwards of three thousand. But then there
+must be considered the advantageous ground they fought on, and the
+fearful havoc they made in our ranks before we were able to return a
+shot.
+
+Lord Wellington now finding that Toulouse would not surrender, ordered
+fortifications to be thrown up for the reduction of that place, but
+they proved to be unneeded, for in the dead of the night the French
+disappeared from the place and retreated in a south-easterly direction
+towards Villefranche. We were soon following them up, and part of our
+army had slight skirmishes with them, but we never again saw their
+main body in that part of their country, for a day or two after our
+move from Toulouse the news came of Buonaparte's overthrow and the
+proclamation of peace, Buonaparte himself having been sent to the
+island of Elba. This was indeed good news for most of our troops:
+certainly for the young officers it took away many chances of
+promotion, though it made death less likely as well; but ambition
+sometimes leads a man a long way out of his course, and very often
+adds tenfold to his sorrow. After the arrival of this welcome news, we
+encamped for three or four days longer to give our commander time to
+form his next plans. We were then ordered to Bordeaux to ship for our
+isles, the Spaniards and Portuguese being sent to their own country.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+     General delight at the end of the war -- March to Bordeaux --
+     Kind reception of the troops by the inhabitants of the country on
+     the way -- Particular good fortune of Lawrence -- Great attention
+     on the part of his host -- A magnificent dinner -- Singular
+     effects of a campaign on Lawrence's taste for feather-beds -- He
+     tells of moving accidents, &c., &c., and excites the pity of his
+     hostess -- Two men sentenced to be flogged, but begged off by the
+     inhabitants of the town -- Arrival at Bordeaux -- Encampment on
+     the Garonne -- Fraternizing of the natives and the troops --
+     Good times in camp -- Sudden influx of skulkers, who, however,
+     receive but as poor a welcome as they deserve.
+
+
+Things now seemed to assume an entirely different aspect, indeed to
+take a new birth altogether. All were in a most joyous state, and none
+more so than the Spaniards, who were always only too ready to give up
+fighting. The Portuguese had always shown themselves the better race
+in the field of action, but they likewise now enjoyed the thought of
+returning to their own country, although it had been so pillaged. I
+had many a long conversation with stragglers of both these nations
+before we started on our long march, and so I had an opportunity of
+studying their thoughts on the subject.
+
+We did not seem to be in any hurry to quit the country before
+everything was thoroughly arranged, and having no enemy pushing on our
+rear, we were often billeted at towns and villages longer than we need
+have been, which caused our march to take more time to accomplish, but
+made it much more comfortable. We were generally billeted on the
+inhabitants during our halts, the best billets being of course chosen
+for the officers, then for the sergeants, and then for the corporals
+and privates, the numbers being suited to the accommodation of the
+places; but I very seldom had more than one with me besides myself.
+
+The inhabitants could not have behaved better to us if they had been
+our own countrymen; and I well remember how at the last stage where we
+put up before coming to Bordeaux two of us, myself and a private of
+the same company, were billeted at quite a gentleman's house, the
+owners of which were unusually kind to us. We found we had completely
+jumped into clover, and fortunately it happened to be Saturday night,
+so that our halt was till Monday morning; not that Sunday in those
+times had been used to make much difference to us, for two of our
+bloodiest conflicts had happened on that day, but in this case, our
+haste not being urgent, it gave us a kind of sweet repose.
+
+As soon as we arrived at our house we were shown into our room, which
+was a very nice one and beautifully furnished; and when we had taken
+off our accoutrements, we went downstairs to a sort of bath-room,
+where we had a good wash in tubs of water that were placed in
+readiness for us. Then the gentleman had some clean stockings brought
+up to us, and when we had made ourselves comfortable he sent up to our
+room a loaf of bread and a large bottle of wine holding about three
+pints, which we found most acceptable; and it not being long before
+the family's dinner was ready, our hostess would insist on our dining
+with them. For my own part, not being used to such pomp, and never
+having before even seen it, being more accustomed to the kind of
+dinners and suppers in which I have described our own colonel and
+captain as taking part, I would sooner have crept out of the
+invitation; but being pressed we consented, and having been shown into
+the dining-room, we sat down to an excellent repast with nobody else
+but the lady and gentleman.
+
+The table was laid out most gorgeously with glittering silver, which
+came very awkward to our clumsy hands, as we had been more accustomed
+to using our fingers for some years; to set off which gorgeousness our
+waiter, who was evidently the family footman, wore an out-of-the-way
+fine and ugly dress, with his hair plastered up with white powder, of
+which I had such an aversion during the first part of my stay in the
+army. A most palatable dinner was served of which I freely partook,
+though I had very little idea of what it consisted, and some good wine
+was likewise often handed round with which our glasses were constantly
+kept filled.
+
+After dinner was over, the white-headed gentleman entered with coffee,
+a fashion which then surprised us very much; but nevertheless, more
+out of compliment than because we needed it, we took a cup each with
+some sugar-candy which was also handed round to sweeten it. When that
+was finished, just to keep us still going, the gentleman asked us if
+we smoked, and on our saying we both did, the bell was rung, and the
+footman entering with tobacco, we took a pipe with the gentleman, the
+lady having previously retired into the drawing-room. Then getting
+more used to the distinguished style, and the wine no doubt having
+made us more chatty, we for a time thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with
+our pipes, and began to feel new men with all our grandeur.
+
+We were next invited to partake of tea in the drawing-room, but being
+very tired, we begged to be excused; and this being granted, the
+bed-candles being rung for, and having wished him good-night, we went
+to our room and there had a hearty laugh over the evening's business;
+though we had not been able to understand half what the gentleman had
+said, not being used to the French so well as to the Spanish language.
+We retired to rest in a fine feather bed, which being a luxury we had
+not seen for years, was consequently too soft for our hard bones, and
+we found we could not sleep owing to the change. My comrade soon
+jumped out of bed, saying, "I'll be bothered, sergeant, I can't sleep
+here!" "No," said I, "no more can I;" so we prepared our usual bed by
+wrapping ourselves into a blanket, and then with a knapsack as a
+pillow we lay on the floor and soon sank into a profound slumber.
+
+Late in the morning, for we had overslept ourselves, the servant
+knocked at the door and said breakfast was waiting; and in a very
+short time the master himself came up and knocked, and on our calling
+to him to come in he opened the door, and looking in, found we had
+been sleeping on the floor. On his wanting to know if there were fleas
+in the bed, or what was the cause of our lying on the floor, we made
+him understand as well as we could, but it must have been very
+imperfectly at the best. He then went down again, and we soon
+following him, found an excellent breakfast ready, of which we made a
+first-rate meal, and after they had left us, for they had finished
+long before us, my comrade and I agreed that we had fallen on luck
+now, and no mistake.
+
+Very soon after we had finished our breakfast, the servant entered to
+conduct us to the drawing-room, which was splendidly furnished, though
+for my own part I would rather have been down in the kitchen. We went
+in, however, and our hostess took down a book describing the French
+and English languages, so that they might understand some of our words
+better, and again asked us the reason why we did not sleep on our bed.
+I told her we had not slept on a feather bed for six years, and
+answered her other questions, giving her a slight description of the
+trials of a soldier in the time of war. She was very much touched, and
+could not forbear from crying, more especially when I added that two
+privates were to be whipped that very morning for having got drunk
+overnight and making a disturbance in the town, to serve as an example
+to the regiment. They had been tried by court-martial and sentenced to
+a hundred lashes, to be administered in the town and witnessed by the
+inhabitants.
+
+Although it was Sunday, the drums beat for the regiment to assemble,
+and the men were brought into our square; and their sentence having
+been read in the presence of all, the first man was led to the
+halberds, and the drummers got ready to begin. But five or six
+gentlemen of the town made their way into our square and begged the
+colonel so hard to let them off, as that was the general wish of the
+inhabitants, that at last he dismissed the victims with a reprimand.
+The two then thanked the colonel, but he told them not to do so, for
+had it not been for the timely interference of the gentlemen, he would
+have given them every lash. All were then ordered to disperse, and I
+returned to my excellent quarters, where we again received for the
+rest of the day no end of kindnesses in the way of luxurious meals,
+luncheons, dinner, and coffee, together with plenty of wine, and
+before we went to bed, brandy was introduced as a finish: and having
+taken a hot glass of that with water, we retired and slept in a
+similar way to the night before.
+
+On the following morning we had to assemble by seven o'clock, so no
+time was allowed us for breakfast; but our host had ordered our
+canteens to be filled with their best wine, and a parcel of sandwiches
+to be made up for each of us. We shook hands with the gentleman, duly
+thanking him for his kindness, and, rejoining our regiment, were soon
+on the march again for Bordeaux, which being not more than a day's
+march distant we reached the same night. We encamped at a place two
+miles off the city on the banks of the River Garonne, to which even
+large ships were able to ascend. Here we lay for five or six weeks,
+during which time the inhabitants made many excursions from the city
+especially on Sundays, to inspect our army, swarms of costermongers
+likewise visiting us every day with wine, spirits, bread, meat, fish,
+and fruit of every description for sale. Every Sunday afternoon the
+bands of all the regiments played, while the French amused themselves
+with dancing, many of them, both male and female, on stilts, which
+entertained us more than anything, and besides this there were all
+kinds of other jollities in which our soldiers freely joined.
+
+And now I will take the opportunity of saying a few more words as
+regards the skulkers. As soon as the peace was declared no less than
+seven sergeants of my own company alone had either at this place or on
+the march thither made their appearance from the snug dens where they
+had been lying, most of whom had been occupying themselves with some
+trivial employment in the pay of the Spaniards or Portuguese, but had
+now at this crisis abandoned whatever they had been doing, for fear of
+being left in the country, or perhaps because they thought that they
+might still come in for a share of the praise and pay. Before they
+appeared I was the only sergeant in our company, while if the proper
+number had been there, there would have been six. I do not mean to
+say that there had been no cause at first for their staying behind,
+for there were some laid up like myself at Elvas and Estremoz, but it
+was their duty to follow up the regiment when they were able, as I had
+done myself.
+
+The captain of my company, who had been like myself through the whole
+campaign excepting when actually in hospital, pretended not to know
+them when he saw them, and asked them, "Where on earth do you come
+from? you certainly don't belong to my company, by your appearance."
+He then called me to say if I knew them. I remarked, "They seem to
+have been in luck's way about their clothes, at any rate;" and so they
+did, for whilst ours were as ragged as sheep and as black as rooks,
+theirs were as red and new as if they had never been on, and their
+shoes were to match, whilst ours were completely worn out by our
+continual marches, the captain's being quite as bad as any private's.
+
+We found that two of these men had left the regiment for hospital on
+our retreat from Talavera, and had never shown themselves since, the
+others having been away in like manner for rather shorter periods. Now
+the whole had returned we were overstocked with sergeants, having two
+more than our complement, so our captain sent the two who had been
+longest absent to the colonel with a written request that they should
+be transferred somewhere else; the other five he allowed to remain,
+but only for as short a time as possible till he could get rid of them
+also, as he told them his company should not be disgraced by them
+longer than he could help. He likewise told them that many of his
+privates deserved the stripes more than they did; and indeed it was
+not long before he got them transferred, and their places filled up by
+some of the braver heroes from among such of the privates as had at
+all distinguished themselves in any conflict.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+     Embarkation of the troops -- Lawrence's regiment sent to Ireland
+     -- He receives his pay for the war and promptly spends it --
+     Ordered on foreign service again to the West Indies -- Terrific
+     storm which compels the fleet to put back into Cork -- Arrival at
+     Barbadoes -- Death of a young captain from fever -- Jamaica --
+     Discovery of a female stowaway -- Lawrence told off to deposit
+     her on shore -- The regiment proceeds to New Orleans -- A new
+     kind of fortification to be stormed -- Doings in camp on Dolphin
+     Isle -- Return to England -- News arriving of Napoleon's escape
+     from Elba, the regiment is sent on at once to Flanders -- Ghent
+     -- March to Brussels.
+
+
+After remaining at Bordeaux for five or six weeks the army embarked on
+board ships bound for various parts of the British Isles. Our regiment
+was again despatched to Ireland, most of us being Irish. We were
+conveyed thither by the _Sultan_, a fine man-of-war with seventy-four
+guns. We had a very good passage, and amused ourselves very much with
+the sailors on board, who on their part had many a good laugh at our
+general ragged appearance. We landed in Ireland at Monkstown, near
+Cork, and marched thence to Fermoy, whence after lying two three days
+in the barracks there, we proceeded to Athlone in West Meath, where we
+were stationed for about two months.
+
+The regiment had never been settled with during the whole of our
+Peninsular trip of six years, though money had been advanced to us at
+various places, so now while we were waiting at this place the
+accounts were made up, and some of our sergeants found they had as
+much as 50_l._ or 60_l._ to receive. My own lot amounted to 40_l._, I
+being one of the younger sergeants. When our pay had been given us a
+week's furlough was granted to the whole regiment, and no doubt most
+of the money melted away in that period--at least, I know mine did,
+for not having been in the British Isles for so long, we were all
+resolved to have a spree. I never went away from Athlone, however, the
+whole time, but slept in barracks every night, though there was no
+duty to be done as the militia were ordered out for that. I knew that
+it would be useless to cross the Channel in that short time to see my
+parents, though I should have liked to have done so, but I did not
+altogether forget them, and wrote to them to ease their minds about my
+whereabouts; as I had written to them during my stay in the Peninsula,
+and I thought they might have been anxious about my safety when they
+heard or read about the scenes that were taking place there, as
+parents naturally are about their children, be they ever so rackety.
+
+But we were not allowed to stay here even in peace long, for at the
+end of the two months we were again ordered on foreign service, and
+marched to a place called Mallow in Cork, whence, having been joined
+there by our second battalion, and having had all the men fit for
+service drafted out of that into ours, we proceeded to Cork itself.
+This was a fine place for our captain to get rid of the remaining
+skulkers, and he left them behind, much to their annoyance, in the
+second battalion.
+
+From Cork we proceeded to the Cove to embark, after a stay in Ireland
+now of about three months altogether; and when all was in readiness on
+board the ships, we set sail for the West Indies. It can be better
+imagined than I can describe in what sort of spirit we began this
+other war, scarcely having slipped out of one field before we were
+launched into another; but as they were the usual thing on our
+embarkations, the same scenes that took place at Portsmouth will serve
+to picture those at Cork: they did not tend to enliven us much, but
+they were soon forgotten when we got to work talking over and telling
+our new comrades the many tales of the Peninsula.
+
+After launching out of Cork Harbour, however, a terrible gale blew up,
+which obliged us to put into Bantry Bay for a time. One of our ships
+was lost on the rocks, but fortunately all on board were saved. They
+had lost all their accoutrements, however, so they were taken on board
+various ships, and as soon as we got fairer weather we returned to the
+Cove to await a fresh supply, which was at least three weeks in
+coming. Then we again set sail, amusing ourselves on the voyage as we
+best could; and having good weather, we arrived as soon as could be
+expected at Barbadoes, and anchored there for a short time. One of the
+captains of my regiment, who had probably seen enough of war to
+satisfy him, had before our start sold his commission to a younger
+officer who gave him 1200_l._ for it; but, singular to say, the very
+first night of this our anchorage this poor young man went to sleep on
+shore, and, catching a fever, was brought on board and a few hours
+afterwards was a lifeless corpse. Owing to the infectiousness of his
+disease, he had to be immediately sewn up with two of our large shot
+in a blanket, and the funeral service being read by an officer as
+there was no minister on board, he was put into the sea.
+
+From Barbadoes we sailed to Jamaica, and anchored off Port Royal. A
+singular circumstance occurred during our stay there: a girl was
+discovered who had been concealed on board at Cork by some of the
+sailors in a bundle of straw unbeknown to the captain of the ship.
+This being the best place for shipping her back to England, she was
+obliged to leave her accomplices at once, and I being sergeant of the
+watch was called to take her on shore to Port Royal with two privates.
+We took her to a kind of public-house, where, although it was two
+o'clock in the morning, the people were still amusing themselves in
+dancing to some rough music of their own, the whole of them being
+blacks. We asked for the landlord, and on his soon making his
+appearance from among the company, as black as a crow and still
+steaming with the dance, I inquired if the girl could have a bed there
+for the night. He said, "Yes, for a dollar." I thought that was a
+stiffish price for a night considering it was two o'clock in the
+morning, but I paid him the sum and left the poor unfortunate girl
+there while we returned to our ships. I was very sorry for her, as she
+seemed nearly broken-hearted, but I could do no more for her under the
+circumstances, and I hope she got safe back to England after all.
+
+After about a week had elapsed a gun-brig arrived to convey us to
+North America, England being then at war with the Americans, and we
+went on in her to the mouth of the River Mississippi. There we
+disembarked into barges holding about a hundred troops each, and
+having been towed up by other small sailing and rowing boats to
+Orleans, were put on shore near that place, our body consisting of
+five English and two black regiments, with a battalion of marines.
+
+We marched on the same day and encamped about two miles from the city.
+Skirmishing was kept up with this our new enemy during the night, but
+without any great casualty happening. On the following morning,
+however, we advanced in a body to attack a battery that had been
+constructed near the city, chiefly out of barrels of brown sugar. We
+were at first warmly received with the cannon and musketry planted
+there, but they soon got tired of our Peninsular medicines: I suppose
+the pills disagreed with them, for they were very quickly obliged to
+retire into the city and no more fighting ensued; and some terms
+having been hinted at, when the black regiments had eaten a quantity
+of the fortifications, which they seemed to be very fond of, and we
+had put some into our haversacks as likely to be useful to sweeten our
+cocoa, we returned to our boats, and dropping down the river to a
+piece of land called Dolphin Isle, there encamped again.
+
+The island was uninhabited, except that there were plenty of
+alligators, racoons, and oysters there; but we had plenty of
+provisions, that is, in the shape of meat and flour, though no bread,
+which inconvenience was from the want of ovens. We soon set to work,
+however, to construct one by burning a quantity of oyster-shells for
+lime, and having mixed that with sand and water we made some very good
+cement; after which we got a lot of iron hoops from the vessels, with
+which we formed the arch, and so we put one oven together; and I much
+doubt if it did not bake as well as any English one, considering the
+style of dough that we had. After it had been found to answer so well,
+at least twenty more were constructed on the once desolate but now
+busy little isle. We were constantly on the coast in search of
+oysters, of which there was an abundance; and some of the more
+industrious of us even collected them for sale among the troops who
+either preferred buying them to taking the trouble of collecting them
+for themselves, or else were unable to go on the sands on account of
+being on duty. They were sold very cheap, however; I have known half a
+bushel go for one dollar, which was certainly not much for the trouble
+of getting them.
+
+During our stay here a playhouse was likewise erected, and some of the
+more clever among the officers and men amused the troops in that way.
+The scenery was rather rude, to be sure; but with these and various
+other games and freaks the three months that we lay there passed off
+very pleasantly The poor blacks, however, suffered dreadfully from the
+cold, it being then winter, and they had to be sent back to their own
+country long before we left.
+
+Our chief reason for lying there so long was to see all settled and to
+wait for orders before we proceeded back to England. When the order
+did come, joy was in every mouth, for this was indeed a short campaign
+compared with our Peninsular affairs, and it may be supposed we were
+by no means sorry for that. We embarked on board the same ships, and
+again tacked to the West Indies to get provisions at one of the
+Spanish islands, where we took on board live cattle and water, and as
+food for the former a kind of cabbage, which on account of their size
+were called cabbage-trees.
+
+Thence we proceeded on our route to Portsmouth, and had a very
+pleasant voyage with fair weather prevailing; but when near England we
+fell in with an English frigate, which informed us that Napoleon
+Buonaparte had left the island of Elba with a small force and had
+landed in France to collect more troops. This was indeed a
+disappointment to me, for I felt sure that if he again intended
+disturbing Europe, we should have to be on the scene again. But in
+another way it caused no small amount of stir on board, for the young
+officers, who were looking ravenously forward to promotion, were so
+rejoiced at the news that they treated all the men to an extra glass
+of grog, to make everybody as lively as themselves.
+
+Nothing else of any particular note occurred on our voyage, and
+having arrived near Portsmouth a signal was raised, and we fell in on
+the quarantine ground, hoisting a yellow flag for a doctor to inspect
+us on board. When he came he found all on board our ship to be in very
+good condition, which was reported to the general, and the very next
+morning he signalled to us to weigh anchor and proceed to Flanders; so
+without setting foot on English ground we again went on our way to
+meet our common enemy. This time, however, he was not in his old
+quarters, but in the north of France, where he had collected more than
+a hundred thousand troops.
+
+I left Portsmouth this time with a good deal lighter heart than I had
+last, being now more used to war and hardships than to peace and
+plenty, though perhaps I would rather have landed than proceed on this
+errand; and, indeed, there were many of us who had left wife and
+children at home who went off with a very sad heart.
+
+Our voyage this time was a very short one, only occupying one day; and
+early on the following morning we arrived in sight of Flanders and
+there brought up at anchor. Very shortly some small vessels came
+alongside to convey us to the quay at Ostend, where we landed, and
+after marching about half a mile we came to a canal, where we embarked
+in large open barges, in which we were towed by horses past Bruges,
+about twelve miles off Ostend, to Ghent, which at a wide guess might
+be twice the same distance further. We landed at Ghent and lay there
+about nine days, while Louis XVIII. was staying in the town, he
+having been obliged to flee from Paris by that old disturber after a
+short reign of about ten months.
+
+At the end of the nine days the drums beat at midnight, and we arrayed
+ourselves in marching order as quickly as possible. The landlord of
+the house where I was staying had got up, and would kindly insist on
+filling our canteens--that is a capacity of about three pints--with
+gin, giving us as well some bread and meat each, and warning us to
+look out, for he knew the French were coming. All having assembled at
+the rendezvous, orders were given to march on to Brussels immediately.
+I could not exactly say what the distance was, but it was probably not
+less than forty miles, taking us two days of hard marching to
+accomplish it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+     Waterloo -- Dreadful night before the battle -- Opening of the
+     battle -- Unpleasant contiguity with a shell -- A recruit taken
+     suddenly and conveniently ill -- The regiment in the thick of it
+     -- Rout of Napoleon's Bodyguards -- Repeated charges of the
+     French infantry and cavalry successfully repulsed -- Lawrence in
+     charge of the colours -- Death of his captain -- Gallant stand of
+     the British until the arrival of the Prussians -- Lawrence on the
+     tactics of the enemy -- The French finally driven off the field
+     by Blucher's army -- Bivouac on the enemy's ground -- Fatal
+     results of trifling with a powder-wagon -- Lawrence's supper in
+     danger -- He invites a guest to supper, who, however, takes
+     French leave -- On the march again.
+
+
+On the 17th of June, 1815, we marched through Brussels, amid the joy
+of the inhabitants, who brought us out all manner of refreshments. I
+heard some remarks from them to the effect that we were all going to
+be slaughtered like bullocks, but we only laughed at this, telling
+them that that was nothing new to us. Some of the younger recruits,
+however, were terribly downcast and frightened at the idea of
+fighting, but I have often found that it is these most timid ones who
+when they come to an actual battle rush forward and get killed first;
+probably owing to the confused state they are in, while the more
+disciplined soldiers know better what course to pursue.
+
+From Brussels we marched to about five or six miles out of the town,
+not far from the village of Waterloo, when our commander sent his
+aide-de-camp to Lord Wellington for general orders how he was to act,
+or as to what part of the line we were to fall in at. The orders
+returned were that we were to stay in our present position till next
+morning, so that night we crept into any hole we could find, cowsheds,
+cart-houses, and all kinds of farmstead buildings, for shelter, and I
+never remember a worse night in all the Peninsular war, for the rain
+descended in torrents, mixed with fearful thunder and lightning, and
+seeming to foretell the fate of the following morning, the 18th, which
+again happened to be Sunday.
+
+The allied army had on the 16th and 17th been attacked by Napoleon's
+large forces at Ligny and Quatre Bras, but neither side had obtained
+any great success, beyond thousands being killed on both sides; during
+the night of the 17th, therefore, firing was continually going on,
+which I could distinctly hear, in spite of its being considerably
+drowned by the thunder. All that night was one continued clamour, for
+thousands of camp-followers were on their retreat to Brussels, fearful
+of sticking to the army after the Quatre Bras affair. It was indeed a
+sight, for owing to the rain and continued traffic the roads were
+almost impassable, and the people were sometimes completely stuck in
+the mud: and besides these a continual stream of baggage-wagons was
+kept up through the night.
+
+Early in the morning of the 18th we were again put on the march to
+join our lines, our position being in the reserve, which included the
+Fourth and Twenty-Seventh Regiments, together with a body of
+Brunswickers and Dutch, and formed a line between Merk Braine and Mont
+St. Jean on the Brussels road. Our regiment took the left of this
+road, but did not remain there long, for the French were seen in
+motion, and on their opening fire from their cannon we soon marched up
+to action in open column.
+
+During this movement a shell from the enemy cut our
+deputy-sergeant-major in two, and having passed on to take the head
+off one of my company of grenadiers named William Hooper, exploded in
+the rear not more than one yard from me, hurling me at least two yards
+into the air, but fortunately doing me little injury beyond the
+shaking and carrying a small piece of skin off the side of my face. It
+was indeed another narrow escape, for it burnt the tail of my sash
+completely off, and turned the handle of my sword perfectly black. I
+remember remarking to a sergeant who was standing close by me when I
+fell, "This is sharp work to begin with, I hope it will end better:"
+and even this much had unfortunately so frightened one of the young
+recruits of my company, named Bartram, who had never before been in
+action and now did not like the curious evolutions of this shell so
+close to him, that he called out to me and said he must fall out of
+rank, as he was taken very ill. I could easily see the cause of his
+illness, so I pushed him into rank again, saying, "Why, Bartram, it's
+the smell of this little powder that has caused your illness; there's
+nothing else the matter with you;" but that physic would not content
+him at all, and he fell down and would not proceed another inch. I was
+fearfully put out at this, but was obliged to leave him, or if he had
+had his due he ought to have been shot. From this time I never saw him
+again for at least six months, but even then I did not forget him for
+this affair of cowardice, as I shall have occasion to show hereafter.
+
+The right of our line had been engaged some little time before we
+were ordered up, and then our position was changed, we having to cross
+the road and proceed to the right of a farmhouse called La Haye
+Sainte. Owing to the rain that had been peppering down the whole night
+and even now had not quite ceased, the fields and roads were in a
+fearful state of dirt and mud, which tended to retard our progress
+greatly as well as to tire us. It made it very bad too for the action
+of cavalry, and even more so for artillery.
+
+About ten o'clock the action of the day began at Hougoumont on our
+right, and from there it fell on our centre, where we were attacked by
+a tremendous body of cavalry and infantry. The fire, however, which
+had been kept up for hours from the enemy's cannon had now to be
+abated in that quarter, owing to the close unison of the two armies.
+And from this time onward we endured some heavy work throughout the
+day, having constantly to be first forming square to receive the
+repeated attacks of their cavalry, and then line to meet their
+infantry, charge after charge being made upon us, but with very little
+success. At the commencement the commanding officer was killed by a
+musket-shot, but his place was soon filled up.
+
+On our left on the turnpike road was placed a brigade of German
+cavalry with light horses and men. When Buonaparte's Bodyguards came
+up they charged these, making fearful havoc amongst their number; they
+were routed and obliged to retreat, but the Life Guards and Scotch
+Greys fortunately making their appearance immediately, some close
+handwork took place, and the Bodyguards at last finding their match,
+or even more, were in their turn compelled to fall back before the
+charge of our cavalry, numbers of them being cut to pieces. Still
+nothing daunted, they formed again, and this time ascended at us; but
+of the two, they met with a worse reception than before, for we
+instantly threw ourselves into three squares with our artillery in the
+centre; and the word having been given not to fire at the men, who
+wore armour, but at the horses, which was obeyed to the very letter,
+as soon as they arrived at close quarters we opened a deadly fire, and
+very few of them wholly escaped. They managed certainly at first to
+capture our guns, but they were again recovered by the fire of our
+three squares; and it was a most laughable sight to see these Guards
+in their chimney-armour trying to run away after their horses had been
+shot from under them, being able to make very little progress, and
+many of them being taken prisoners by those of our light companies who
+were out skirmishing. I think this quite settled Buonaparte's
+Bodyguards, for we saw no more of them, they not having expected this
+signal defeat.
+
+That affair, however, had only passed off a very few minutes before
+their infantry advanced and we had again to form line ready to meet
+them. We in our usual style let the infantry get well within our
+musket-shot before the order was given to fire, so that our volley
+proved to be of fearful success: and then immediately charging them we
+gave them a good start back again, but not without a loss on our side
+as well as on theirs. And no sooner had they disappeared than another
+charge of cavalry was made, so that we again had to throw ourselves
+into square on our old ground. These cavalry had no doubt expected to
+appear amongst us before we could accomplish this, but fortunately
+they were mistaken, and our persistent fire soon turned them. We did
+not lose a single inch of ground the whole day, though after these
+successive charges our numbers were fearfully thinned; and even during
+the short interval between each charge the enemy's cannon had been
+doing some mischief among our ranks besides.
+
+The men in their tired state were beginning to despair, but the
+officers cheered them on continually throughout the day with the cry
+of "Keep your ground, my men!" It is a mystery to me how it was
+accomplished, for at last so few were left that there were scarcely
+enough to form square.
+
+About four o'clock I was ordered to the colours. This, although I was
+used to warfare as much as any, was a job I did not at all like; but
+still I went as boldly to work as I could. There had been before me
+that day fourteen sergeants already killed and wounded while in charge
+of those colours, with officers in proportion, and the staff and
+colours were almost cut to pieces. This job will never be blotted from
+my memory: although I am now an old man, I remember it as if it had
+been yesterday. I had not been there more than a quarter of an hour
+when a cannon-shot came and took the captain's head clean off. This
+was again close to me, for my left side was touching the poor
+captain's right, and I was spattered all over with his blood. One of
+his company who was close by at the time, cried out, "Hullo, there
+goes my best friend," which caused a lieutenant, who quickly stepped
+forward to take his place, to say to the man, "Never mind, I will be
+as good a friend to you as the captain." The man replied, "I hope not,
+sir;" the officer not having rightly understood his meaning, the late
+captain having been particularly hard on him for his dirtiness, giving
+him extra duty and suchlike as punishment. This man, whose name was
+Marten, was a notorious character in the regiment, and I was myself
+tolerably well acquainted with him, for he had once been in my
+company; but on account of the same thing, dirtiness in his person, he
+had been transferred to this the fifth company, where neither this
+poor captain had been able to reform him, try however hard he might.
+Still he was for all this an excellent soldier in the field.
+
+But now I must get on to the last charge of cavalry, which took place
+not very long after this. Few as we were, when we saw it coming we
+formed squares and awaited it. Then we poured volley after volley
+into them, doing fearful execution, and they had to retire at last
+before the strong dose we administered; not, however, without our
+losing more men and so becoming even weaker than before. We were
+dreading another charge, but all the help we got was the cry of "Keep
+your ground, my men, reinforcements are coming!" Not a bit, however,
+did they come till the setting sun, in time to pursue our retreating
+enemy; the Prussians under Marshal Blucher having been detained
+elsewhere, and although long expected, only being able at this period
+to make their appearance at last.
+
+I must say here that I cannot think why those charges of cavalry were
+kept up against our unbroken squares, in spite of their being so
+constantly sent back. It is murder to send cavalry against disciplined
+infantry unless they have artillery to act in conjunction with them,
+in which case they might possibly succeed in routing them if they
+could take advantage of their falling into confusion, but not
+otherwise.
+
+We were indeed glad to see the arrival of these Prussians, who now
+coming up in two columns on our left flank, advanced on the enemy's
+right. Lord Wellington, who was ever enticing his army on, now came up
+to our regiment and asked who was in command. On being told it was
+Captain Brown, he gave the order to advance, which we received with
+three cheers, and off we set as if renewed with fresh vigour. The
+attack was now being made by the whole line, together with the
+Prussians, who had come up fresh and were therefore more than a match
+for the harassed French. They soon forced the French into a downright
+retreat by their fire, and the retreat becoming universal, the whole
+body of the French were thrown into disorder and pursued off the field
+by Blucher's fresh and untired infantry and cavalry.
+
+We followed them ourselves for about a mile, and then encamped on the
+enemy's ground; and if ever there was a hungry and tired tribe of men,
+we were that after that memorable day of the 18th of June. Then the
+first thing to be thought of was to get a fire and cook some food,
+which was not so easy, as wood was scarce and what there was was wet
+through. One of our company, named Rouse, who went out in search of
+sticks, came across one of the enemy's powder-wagons that we had taken
+in the battle amongst the rest of the many things, and immediately
+commenced cutting the cover up for fuel; but his hook coming in
+contact with a nail or some other piece of iron and striking fire, as
+a natural consequence the remains of the powder in the wagon exploded
+and lifted the poor fellow to a considerable height in the air. The
+most remarkable thing was that he was still alive when he came down
+and able to speak, though everything had been blown from him except
+one of his shoes. He was a perfect blackguard, for although he was in
+a most dangerous state he did not refrain from cursing his eyes, which
+happened, as it was, to be both gone, and saying what a fool he must
+have been. He was that night conveyed to Brussels Hospital with the
+rest of the many wounded, and died in a few days, raving mad.
+
+We succeeded, however, in getting a fire at last, and then as I
+happened that night to be orderly sergeant to our general I went and
+reported myself to him. He was at the time sitting on a gun-carriage
+holding his horse, and when he saw me, said, "That's right, sergeant;
+I expect two more sergeants directly, but I wish you would meanwhile
+try and get some corn for my poor horse." Off I went accordingly, and
+found two bushels or so in a sack which had evidently been left by the
+enemy, as it was on one of their cannon. When I opened the sack I
+found to my great surprise that it likewise contained a large ham and
+two fowls, so I asked the general if he would accept them; he,
+however, declined, saying he would take the corn, but that I might
+keep the meat for myself, advising me, however, to keep it out of
+sight of the Prussians, who were a slippery set of men and very likely
+to steal it if they saw it.
+
+I prepared the hanger for the pot as quickly as possible, putting
+cross-sticks over the fire at a sufficient distance to prevent them
+igniting; but before I had finished doing this a quantity of these
+same Prussians whom the general had been watching and warned me
+against passed by; and two of them coming to my fire to light their
+pipes noticed the ham, and remarked that it looked good. I thought it
+best to take my sword and immediately cut them off a piece each, and
+they relieved my fears by going off seemingly quite satisfied. They
+were evidently on the march following up the French, for the whole
+night we could hear the distant sound of cannon and musketry from the
+French and Prussians, Lord Wellington having completely given up the
+pursuit to Marshal Blucher.
+
+I pretty quickly put my ham in the pot after that, and the two
+sergeants coming up, I set them to pick the fowls, and these soon
+going in after the ham, in two hours were pretty well done. About this
+time I heard a Frenchman groaning under a cannon, where he was lying
+on a quantity of straw. I thought he was badly wounded, and perhaps as
+hungry as myself, so I went to him and told him as well as I was able
+to stop till our supper was cooked, and then I would bring him some;
+but when it was ready and I had cut off some bread, fowl, and ham, and
+taken it to the place where I had seen him, he had gone. For one
+reason I was not sorry, for he left his straw, which made a very good
+bed for us three sergeants, the ground itself being unpleasantly wet.
+I think perhaps this Frenchman must have been a skulker, or he would
+not have ventured to escape.
+
+We sat down ourselves, however, and made a very good meal off our ham
+and poultry, and I can safely say we enjoyed our mess as much as men
+ever did, for I, for one, had had nothing to eat since early in the
+morning up to that time. After that, as the general did not want us
+for anything, we retired to rest on our straw, but I was too tired to
+go to sleep for a long time, and lay contemplating the scenes of the
+day. I was merely scratched on the face myself during the whole day,
+besides being a little shaken by the bursting of the shell I
+mentioned; but this scratch had been terribly aggravated by a private
+who had been standing next to me having overprimed his musket, with
+the consequence that when he fired, my face being so close, the powder
+flew up and caught my wound, which though only originally a slight one
+soon made me dance for a time without a fiddle.
+
+Of the general loss on that blood-stained day I am unable to give an
+exact account, but it must have been enormous on both sides, for three
+hundred of my regiment alone were missing; and this was not so great a
+loss as that of some regiments, for the one on our right lost six
+hundred, chiefly from the continual fire of shot and shell that the
+French cannon had kept up between the charges. But now there was very
+little delay; and early next morning we were again put in motion, to
+prevent our enemy, if possible, from getting any breathing time. The
+Prussians were at least twelve hours in advance of us, so that we
+really had not much to fear; but still some doubt was entertained as
+to whether the enemy would make another stand in their own territory,
+and in all probability such would have been the case if Blucher had
+not been pushing so close on their heels. I very much doubt, too, if,
+had not the Prussians come up when they did, both armies would not
+have remained on the field of Waterloo, and perhaps have joined battle
+again in the morning, for the French had been expecting fresh
+reinforcements after their defeat; but these not arriving and we being
+increased in numbers, no resource was left them but to retreat.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+     Advance to Paris -- Lawrence on the general fickleness of
+     humanity -- Flight and surrender of Napoleon -- Enthusiastic
+     reception of Louis XVIII. by the Parisians rather snubbed by Lord
+     Wellington -- Lawrence assists in escorting Louis to his throne
+     -- Comfortable quarters in Paris -- Various historical events of
+     more or less importance -- Review and sham fight -- Sequel to the
+     story of the sickly recruit -- An incorrigible subject -- Flogged
+     four times, and then drummed out of the regiment -- Another very
+     simple tale of true love, but one in which Lawrence is this time
+     more immediately concerned -- Married, though not exactly settled
+     -- Departure from Paris.
+
+
+Our march now lay in the direction of Paris, and being made all in the
+daytime, caused us very little fatigue, as we halted often, besides
+always encamping or billeting at night. We never fell in with the
+enemy ourselves, though some few collisions took place between the
+Prussians and French after this, and likewise some towns were taken by
+our army; but beyond that our march was generally quiet, and we
+continued on to within a few miles of, and in sight of Paris, where we
+remained for a short time, coming up here with our allies the
+Prussians. They had already opened fire on that city of despotism,
+which was returned faintly by the enemy; but once the balance is
+turned, and once a man, however great, is defeated, all seem to
+forsake him, and he immediately becomes an usurper, as was shown to be
+true in this Napoleon's case. There is not a doubt that the populace
+would have held to him if he had been a conqueror, but as it was, the
+whole city now changed its sentiments from Napoleon to Louis XVIII.,
+who had advanced with us with about fifty of his own guards.
+
+On our approach to the city the inhabitants soon sent a flag of truce
+for terms, and the firing having ceased on both sides, these were
+agreed upon, and the city gates were opened. Napoleon Buonaparte had
+previously flown to the coast to get a ship to America, but not
+finding one at hand, and fearing that if he stayed on land he might on
+account of his unpopularity be taken prisoner by his own bloodthirsty
+people, he went on board and gave himself up to the captain of one of
+our ships of the line, a seventy-four called the _Bellerophon_. I
+remember that owing to that event she was very commonly known amongst
+us as the "Billy Ruff'un," and we used to aggravate the people not a
+little on our march into the city, by singing, "God save Buonaparte,
+who has fled and given himself up to the Billy Ruff'uns," in
+opposition to their cry of "God save the king;" thousands of them
+having come out with white cockades in their hats to welcome the king.
+They even wanted to take the horses out of his carriage and draw him
+into the city, but Lord Wellington would not allow this, knowing well
+their changeable disposition, and fearing they might make their king a
+head shorter by the morning.
+
+The king therefore slept that night at St. Denis, a few miles from
+Paris, and on the following morning about three thousand men with
+cannon and cavalry were ordered to convey him into the city, amongst
+whom was myself. We started at about eleven or twelve o'clock, still
+not knowing how we should be welcomed, which was the reason for this
+large force being thought necessary; but as we met with no opposition
+at the entrance, the bands of each regiment soon struck up, and on
+proceeding through the streets we found flags from endless windows,
+and the cry, "God save the king!" resounding everywhere. Our
+destination was of course the palace, where the king was again placed
+on his throne, with a strong guard to protect his person.
+
+After this we saw no more of Napoleon's army, nor did we want to much,
+for most of us had had quite enough of it at Waterloo, and now we
+found ourselves comfortably quartered at the different barracks
+throughout the city, where we remained for three months or so scarcely
+wanting for anything but money. During this time it became my duty to
+be one of the king's guard two or three times at the palace, which was
+a splendid place, with fine grounds and a beautiful river running at
+the back. Nothing of particular note occurred whilst we were staying
+here, and on leaving it at the end of the time we encamped on Marshal
+Ney's own property in front of his residence or palace. At that time
+there could not have been much less than two hundred thousand troops
+encamped in various parts of and around Paris, and those all of
+foreign nations: truly a downfall for that noble but despotic city.
+
+In the November of the same year Marshal Ney was brought to justice as
+a traitor. He was tried by his own country's law, Lord Wellington
+having nothing to do with the matter, and being found guilty, was
+shot. I believe that he was generally liked by the army he commanded
+through nearly the whole of the Peninsular campaign.
+
+The Bourbons, on their part, were evidently not liked by the French,
+for the next heir to Louis XVIII. was assassinated in the streets. His
+duchess however, very shortly afterwards had a son, and so there was
+soon another of the family in the way. Still these ill-disposed French
+people could not rest, and the next thing was that two men were caught
+in the act of undermining the palace, with a view to blow the duchess
+and her child up. They were tried and sentenced to be guillotined, but
+the sentence was never carried into effect, as the duchess, in spite
+of her husband having been killed by the same party, begged their
+lives of the king, and they were transported for life instead.
+
+During our stay in the environs of Paris the whole army was reviewed
+by two English Dukes; one of them was the Duke of York, but the
+other's name I am not able to give, as I never heard. A sham fight was
+likewise held, in which I should say more powder was thrown away than
+at Waterloo itself; and I am positive I was quite as tired after it as
+at Waterloo, for it lasted all day, and a great deal more marching
+took place than did there, for we were on the move the whole time,
+while at Waterloo we did not advance or retreat more than a hundred
+yards during the entire action.
+
+The inhabitants kept up a continual market at the rear of our camp,
+which was always guarded by sentries to prevent plunder, and so we
+could always easily obtain supplies of every description.
+
+While we were lying there several of the wounded who had recovered
+rejoined the army from Brussels, and with some of these Bartram made
+his appearance, the man whom I mentioned as having smelt powder at the
+beginning of the 18th of June, and having so cowardly fallen out of
+his rank. As soon as I saw him I put him in the rear-guard as a
+prisoner, and reported him, as it was my duty to do, to the captain of
+my company. Next day a court-martial was ordered, I being the chief
+but not the only evidence against him, and being sentenced to three
+hundred lashes as a punishment for absenting himself from the field of
+action, he was tied up and received every lash.
+
+This may seem to some a hard case, three hundred lashes for absenting
+himself, but it must be remembered that had there been many like this
+man, for I cannot call him a soldier, that day would most decidedly
+have ended in favour of the French. When taken down he was sent to
+hospital for three weeks and then came back to us, but even then he
+was not quite free, for I had orders from the captain to examine his
+kit to see if everything was complete, and I found his knapsack
+completely empty. I then searched his pouch and found all his
+ammunition gone. I was not much surprised at this, knowing that he did
+not like the smell of powder; but I reported these circumstances to
+the captain, who ordered him back to the rear-guard as a prisoner
+again; and the next day another court-martial was held on him for
+making away with his kit, and he was sentenced to three hundred more
+lashes, of which strange to say he received every one without crying
+out. He seemed to be a man without any feeling, for it may be pretty
+well taken for granted that the drummers did not fail in their duty
+towards such a man as this, for there is no one they feel more
+strongly against than a coward.
+
+He was then sent for three weeks more to the hospital, and at the end
+of the time again joined; but the poor fellow must after that have
+been very miserable, for all his comrades shunned his society and
+would scarcely speak to him at all; and not only that, but having had
+a new kit and sixty rounds of ball-cartridge supplied to him, he had
+sixpence a day stopped out of his money till they were paid for, his
+pay being only thirteenpence a day, so that after another sixpence had
+been stopped for his food he had only one penny per day to take. I
+need hardly say that he was consequently always without money, and at
+last we missed him for two or three days, after which he returned,
+having again lost his kit. We found he had been into Paris and sold it
+for those two or three days' maintenance, so he was again sent to the
+rear-guard and reported, again court-martialled and sentenced to three
+hundred lashes, and again received the whole to the very letter and
+sent to hospital for the same time. When he again rejoined he went on
+better for a while, but on our regiment afterwards getting to Scotland
+he transgressed and was flogged for a fourth time, and when he came
+out of hospital the colonel ordered his coat to be turned, and a large
+sheet of paper to be pinned on it with the words, "This is a coward, a
+very bad soldier, and one who has been whipped four times;" and he was
+then drummed out of the barracks, and I never saw anything of him
+again, which I was not sorry for, as he gave me more trouble than all
+the rest of my men put together.
+
+The reason of our stay in and about Paris so long was to see Louis
+XVIII. thoroughly fixed again and in power on his throne. The armies
+being now moved into winter quarters chiefly in cantonments, our
+brigade took its route to St. Germains, which lies ten or twelve miles
+to the north-west of Paris on the River Seine, where we remained
+quartered a few months.
+
+It was owing to this long stay, and my happening to see a young woman
+who gained my affections, that it fell out that I first then thought
+of marriage. For outside the barrack-gate where we were quartered was
+a movable stall, which was spread out in the day with fruit, spirits,
+tobacco, snuff, &c., and was cleared away at night. This was kept by
+the woman whom I afterwards made my wife. Her father was a gardener
+in business for himself, and this was the way in which he disposed of
+most of his goods. My first introduction was through my going to
+purchase a few articles that I wanted from her, and it very shortly
+became a general thing for me to dispose of the chief of such time as
+I had to spare at the stall; and thus the attachment was formed of
+which I am happy to say I never afterwards repented.
+
+I happened to be at the stall one day when I saw a soldier of the
+Twenty-Seventh Regiment, which was stationed at the barracks as well
+as ours, deliberately take half a pound of tobacco which was already
+tied up off the stall and attempt to get off with it. But that didn't
+suit me, so I pursued and overtook him, and delivered him over to his
+own regiment to dispose of as they thought best after I had told them
+the circumstances. I told them too that I didn't wish to prosecute him
+myself, so I never heard anything more of him. I took the tobacco,
+however, back to my intended, who of course was pleased, as what young
+woman would not have been under the circumstances we were then in? And
+so our courtship went on; but for a very little while, for once we
+were enamoured of one another we were not long in making things all
+square for our union.
+
+I made my intentions known to my captain, who I knew would not object,
+and he signed my paper to take to the colonel, whose permission I had
+next to get. The colonel could not understand at first my marrying a
+Frenchwoman, but he nevertheless consented, saying that she would do
+to teach the soldiers French, but that he advised me to wait till I
+got to England. But having got the grant, it was a question of now or
+never for me; so I made arrangements with the army chaplain, who fixed
+the time and we were duly united. It cost us nothing, for neither the
+parson nor clerk looked for any fee, neither were we troubled with any
+wedding-cake, but simply took ourselves off for a day's merrymaking.
+
+My wife's maiden name had been Marie Louise Claire, but owing to
+Buonaparte's first wife having been Marie Louise too, she had been
+compelled to drop that name and assume that of Clotilde; a
+proclamation having been made that no one should be called Marie
+Louise but the Empress, and so by that vain freak of Buonaparte's all
+in France who were called Marie Louise had to change their names.
+
+Of course before marrying her I had explained to my wife the course of
+life she would have to put up with, and that at any moment we might
+have to proceed from her native place, and even might be recalled to
+England, but she did not mind the prospect of all this. And at length
+the time arrived that we had to go, for orders were given, and that on
+very short notice, that we were to prepare to resume our march. A
+farewell had then to be taken of her parents, whom we expected never
+to behold again, and this cast a slight shadow for a time over my
+wife's countenance, but it quickly passed away within the next few
+succeeding days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+     The brigade quartered near Cambray -- Outrage on a native farmer
+     -- The perpetrators convicted and hanged -- Lawrence sent to
+     Valenciennes to learn the sword exercise -- March to Calais and
+     embarkation for Scotland -- Tedious voyage -- Kind reception by
+     the inhabitants of Bridlington -- Lawrence finds a silk dress
+     rather a superfluity on a campaign -- Shields -- Excursion over
+     the glass-works -- Final landing at Leith and march to Glasgow.
+
+
+From St. Germain we proceeded to Cambray. We were billeted at a
+village near Cambray called Aresne, where we had very good quarters
+and found the people particularly kind, and after remaining there a
+short time we were moved to a neighbouring village, where we got
+equally good quarters.
+
+But here another of those unpleasant things happened which often have
+to occur that proper discipline and justice may be kept up. A part of
+the Twenty-Seventh Regiment was billeted at a village near where we
+were situated, most of whom were I believe Irish; and two of the more
+ruffianly, knowing that a farmer who lived close by had gone to
+market, and would probably return laden with the value of the goods he
+had sold, laid wait for him with the intention of robbing him; and
+having met him, they fell upon him and left him in a corn-field
+evidently for dead, first stripping him of everything valuable about
+his person. There the man lay till his friends becoming uneasy at his
+long absence a search was made and he was tracked to his mournful bed.
+He was not dead when found, and so was conveyed to his house and
+properly attended to by a doctor, and at the end of a week he was able
+to give an account of the ill-treatment he said he had received at the
+hands of two soldiers who were quartered in the village occupied by
+the Twenty-Seventh Regiment.
+
+One of the officers was consequently informed of the occurrence, and
+immediately went to the farmer to learn the rights of the story. The
+man could not tell the amount of money that had been taken from him,
+but he said he could recognize the men again. As soon, therefore, as
+he was able to walk, the officer took him down the ranks of his
+regiment, and certainly he proved to be correct about recognizing
+them, for he immediately picked out two men who were found to have
+been out at the time described. They were conveyed as prisoners to the
+guard-room, and reported to the general, who immediately ordered a
+court-martial, and, accepting the evidence of their sergeant, who
+pronounced them to be as often tipsy as not, found them guilty, and
+they were sentenced to be hanged. The sentence was, however, first
+sent to be approved of by Lord Wellington, who sanctioned it and
+returned it; and the execution was accordingly ordered to be carried
+out.
+
+The men were allowed a week to prepare themselves for their awful
+doom, and at the end of that time the brigade was called together to
+take warning from their unhappy fate. It was on a Monday morning that
+we formed square round the gallows which had been erected for the
+occasion; and all being ready, the men were brought under the gallows
+in a spring-wagon guarded by a sergeant and twelve men of their own
+regiment, one of which latter having adjusted the ropes, the chaplain
+read the service. Then the question usual in these cases was put, but
+all they had to say was that they were both guilty and hoped this
+would be a warning to their comrades. The chaplain then left them, and
+on the wagon being moved along they were left dancing on nothing. The
+poor fellows were not long in expiring, but they were left one hour
+before they were cut down, during which time we had to retain our
+post, and at the end of it each regiment retired solemnly to its own
+quarters, leaving a company of the men's own regiment to bury them.
+
+During the brigade's stay near Cambray an order was received that a
+captain and five sergeants from each regiment should be sent to
+Valenciennes to learn the sword exercise; so Captain Barnard of my own
+company was chosen, and amongst the five of our sergeants myself. We
+started accordingly to Valenciennes, which was about twenty-five or
+thirty miles from Cambray, and remained there six weeks till we got
+sick enough of the sword exercise, having six hours a day of it for
+the whole six weeks except on Sundays. At the end of that time we
+again joined our regiment, which had been ordered to return
+immediately to Scotland.
+
+The day after our arrival the regiment was put on the march for
+Calais. We were quartered in cantonments every night, and at one of
+our sleeping-places I met a Jew, and having a silver watch to dispose
+of, I asked him what he would give me for it. He replied fifteen
+francs and a silk dress, which I took, and when we arrived at Calais
+we changed the French money into English; but since I had left my own
+country the coinage had been altered, which bothered me a little at
+first sight, and certainly did not bring me any gain. We lay in
+Calais two nights, where I and my wife got very comfortable quarters.
+I may as well say here that she had borne the marches quite as well as
+I did, if not in some cases better.
+
+Three colliers had been contracted with to convey our regiment to
+Scotland, and from the appearance of the vessels themselves, I very
+much doubted, if bad weather should set in, that we should ever reach
+Leith, the port we set sail for, they being the rickettiest old
+watertubs I ever saw. Leith was supposed to be three days' sail from
+Calais with a fair wind, but we had a foul one nearly the whole time,
+and we were seven weeks on the voyage, having to put in at Bridlington
+in Yorkshire to wait for this fair wind. My wife, who had never before
+seen salt water, was at first ill and found the whole voyage terribly
+long and tedious; but to me, who had long since learnt not to be
+troubled with trifles, it mattered not weather or no, and I was by
+this time thoroughly used too to long voyages by water after my
+American trips.
+
+Our stay at Bridlington lasted three weeks. The first night we were
+there, the mayor invited the officers to dine with him, and sent a
+quart of beer on board for each man, and half that quantity for each
+woman. During our stay here too, we were allowed to go on shore in the
+day but obliged to be on board by nine o'clock at night. The
+inhabitants were particularly kind to us, amongst other things
+offering our women their houses to wash their clothes in, which offer
+many accepted. And here I at last got a chance to get rid of my silk
+dress, which was a thing that my wife hardly required while travelling
+about, and I had been trying to dispose of it ever since I obtained
+it. I used to visit a public-house in the neighbourhood where I
+noticed the daughter of the place, a fine-looking girl, used to sport
+her silk dress, so I sold her mine for fifty shillings and a gallon of
+beer, which latter I gave to her customers.
+
+At last the favouring breeze sprang up, and we again attempted to
+proceed on our voyage. We were a whole day getting opposite Shields,
+and a pilot was signalled for, but before he arrived we were again
+obliged to fall back to Bridlington, which took us but nine hours to
+do, during the whole of which time the vessel rolled fearfully, and
+the women especially began to despair. Our stay lasted for ten days
+this time, and then we proceeded again to Shields, where we lay for a
+week, being likewise allowed to go on shore there. Our walks on shore
+sometimes extended to the coal-mines, and we also went over the
+glass-manufactories, which last amused my wife more than anything.
+The workmen made her a smelling-bottle and me several pipes and a
+walking-stick of glass, for us to see the process.
+
+From Shields we proceeded to Leith, and landed, and all our baggage
+being examined at the customs-house, I thought what a capital thing it
+was that I had sold my dress. That night we remained in Leith, and on
+the following morning were ordered to march to Glasgow, which we
+reached on the third day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+     Lawrence receives news of his father's illness, and starts with
+     his wife on a six weeks' furlough -- Voyage to London -- They
+     meet an agreeable fellow-cab-fare -- Are cheated by Lawrence's
+     own countrymen -- At last reach his native place -- Excitement
+     among the inhabitants -- Lawrence is received by his sister, who
+     immediately asserts her privilege of making him tidy -- First
+     meeting with his parents -- Reception of his wife by his
+     relatives -- The inconveniences of glory -- Expeditions to
+     various branches of his family -- General grief at his departure
+     not appreciated at its full value by Lawrence -- From
+     Dorsetshire to Scotland by road -- Mrs. Lawrence distinguishes
+     herself above her countrywomen and outwalks a British soldier --
+     Return to Glasgow -- The regiment presented with a new set of
+     colours.
+
+
+The barracks at Glasgow we found to be comfortable; and after lying
+there about three months, the winter of 1817 set in, and furloughs
+were granted for two months to a part of the regiment. As I had a wife
+with me and my home was so far away, I gave my furlough to a
+fellow-sergeant that he might go to Ireland; but I wrote home and told
+them I had arrived in England, and very soon received an answer back
+from my mother to say my father was ill, and if I did not come then,
+perhaps I should never see him again. I consulted my wife as to the
+journey, and she readily consented to come with me, so I made up my
+mind to try for another furlough. I accordingly took the old lady's
+letter to the captain, who said, "Well, sergeant, there are so many
+gone that I don't know whether the colonel will let you, but we will
+ask him;" so we went to him, and on hearing the nature of my case he
+readily consented to allow me six weeks, and signed my furlough. He
+likewise advanced me one shilling per day for the six weeks, and as I
+had lately received my Waterloo prize-money which was twenty pounds, I
+started off with that, having previously bought some requisites in
+clothing and a watch, the sort of things that make one feel a little
+more respectable.
+
+My intentions were to proceed to Leith to get a vessel bound for
+London, and then to walk the remaining distance, which is upwards of a
+hundred miles. The first day's march brought us twenty miles nearer
+Leith, and we accomplished the remaining part on the following day;
+and the next morning I went in search of a vessel, and finding a Leith
+trader bound for London, I took passage in her for two, the captain
+charging two guineas and a half including board. We were to sail next
+day, and true to time we started, but owing to a heavy wind we were
+obliged to run in and anchor at Berwick. While there a revenue cutter
+which was cruising about came too close to us and knocked our little
+vessel's bowsprit off, disabling her for three days; but when all was
+put right we again set sail, and having a fair wind soon arrived in
+the London Docks.
+
+It being night we remained on board till the following morning, when,
+after having had our breakfast, we started for Piccadilly, which we
+found after a good deal of inquiry. A hackney cab then drove up to us
+and the driver wanted to know where we were going, and on our telling
+him and asking him the way, he said he would put us into the right
+road for two shillings. I offered him eighteenpence, but he would not
+take that, so we got him to show us the way and proceeded on walking.
+We had not got farther than Hyde Park Corner, however, than we were
+again overtaken by the same cab, and the man stopped and said that he
+thought he could take us for the money now. He had one gentleman, an
+Englishman, inside already, but evidently the sharp fellow was looking
+out for a double fare; so he asked this gentleman if we might get
+inside as we were going in the same direction. He politely and readily
+consented, and we were forked in by cabby, who then shot off as if the
+whole road was his own.
+
+I was under the necessity of talking French to my wife, as she could
+not understand English, which of course I made known to the gentleman,
+who replied that he knew a little of that language himself. Then,
+noticing my Waterloo medal on my breast, he said, "I see you have been
+in the battle of Waterloo, sergeant?" "Yes," I replied, "and in many
+other battles besides Waterloo;" and so a conversation ensued and we
+soon became quite friends. He wished to know where I was bound for,
+and when I told him, he politely asked me to spend a week at his house
+on the way, saying I should not want for anything; but I told him the
+reason of my hurry, thanking him for his kindness, and his stage
+having expired at this period he got out. But he would insist on
+giving my wife five shillings and paying our fare: we then shook hands
+heartily and parted, he wishing us good-speed on our journey.
+
+After that we walked on some distance till we came to a village where
+we found the Salisbury road-wagon put up, and being very hungry we
+entered a public-house and had some tea, and waited there till ten
+o'clock. I was enjoying myself over my tobacco, when at nightfall some
+ten or twelve customers came in and I spun them a pretty good yarn,
+making them shake with laughter; but what amused them most, though it
+annoyed my wife a little to see them laugh at what she could not
+understand, was to hear me and her talk French together. At ten
+o'clock the party broke up and I called for my bill, which was
+fourpence for a glass of gin for myself and eightpence for the boiling
+water for our tea, which was much to my surprise, as we had found our
+own food, tea, and sugar. I asked the landlady if it was not a
+mistake, and when she said no, I told her I wished she and her charges
+were at the other side of the moon. However, I paid her, though I gave
+her to understand that if we had been in the enemy's country we should
+have got our boiling water for nothing.
+
+We then joined the road-wagon, which was to start for Salisbury at
+midnight. I spoke to the wagoner, who agreed to take us for two
+shillings and told us we could get in at once; so, as we were very
+tired, we did so, and lying down, soon fell fast asleep; and when we
+awoke we found ourselves jogging on towards Salisbury, where we
+arrived late the next night. I paid the man his well-earned two
+shillings, besides which I had treated him to sundry refreshments on
+the way; and we remained at Salisbury for the rest of the night,
+starting early on the following morning for Blandford. We marched
+seven miles before breakfast, and after it did not halt again till we
+got to Blandford, where we stayed the night; and next morning, which
+was Sunday, proceeded on towards my native village, which is about
+eight miles from Blandford.
+
+We arrived there during church service in the morning, and passing
+through the churchyard as a near cut, went up the village, inquiring
+at several houses where John Lawrence, my father, lived. I found it
+was at the same house where I was born, but strange to say I did not
+at all hurry myself to get there. I had found from the neighbours that
+he was still living and much better, so I was at ease on that point.
+
+At last, however, I strolled into a house, the owner of which I well
+knew before I entered on my rambling life, but who was now turned into
+an old woman, and I asked her the same question that I had already put
+to others in the village, saying that I had seen my parents' son, and
+had got a message for them. But woman's piercing eyes are not so
+easily deceived, and she recognized me as a Lawrence, though she did
+not know whether it was William or John. I certified as to that much,
+and she immediately ran off to bring my sister. As may be well
+imagined in a country place like that, we two strangers, one of us
+dressed as a soldier, and our entering so many houses, had already set
+the place all of a stir to know who we were, and now directly it was
+found out, it was telegraphed all through the village. Before I could
+get to my own door my sister was upon me, and did try to kiss me,
+certainly, but I had not shaved since I left Scotland, and now I had a
+long thick beard and moustache, so that the attempt was almost a
+fruitless task. She cried out, "Come in; why don't you shave?" so I
+asked her if there was any barber handy. "No," she replied, "but I'll
+shave you, for I always do father," so in I went. My father and mother
+were still out at church. My wife meanwhile could hardly make out
+these scenes that were transpiring, not seeming to dare to interrupt
+the proceedings with one French word to me; and my sister not having
+yet thought to ask me who this mysterious woman was, she followed me
+indoors without any questioning and like myself sat down. I pulled off
+my knapsack, and the shaving-tackle was brought out; but it put me so
+much in mind of the ceremony with the iron hoop when we crossed the
+Line that I became impatient, and opening my knapsack took out my own
+razor and finished myself.
+
+By this time church was over, and putting my head out of the door I
+beheld my brother, who could scarcely speak to me owing to his
+feelings. I found both my father and mother had stopped to take the
+sacrament, but when it was over I suddenly saw the old lady who had
+got scent of the matter coming along like a spread-eagle with the same
+old black bonnet and red cloak on that she had when I left her. I went
+to meet her, but she was so overcome with emotion that I had to lean
+her up against the house to prevent her falling, and then I proceeded
+on to the old man, who was quite infirm and hobbling along behind on
+two sticks, and I need hardly say that he behaved worse than any of
+them at my strange and sudden appearance. I led him in and got him
+with difficulty to a chair. None of us then spoke for a long time, but
+at last the old man gave utterance to, "My child, I did not expect to
+see you again." It was indeed sixteen long years since I had left them
+at Dorchester.
+
+My wife, though of course she could not understand a word, was much
+affected by this scene. I now began to throw a word or two to her
+occasionally in her own language, which surprised them a good deal,
+and no less were they astonished when I told them she was my wife. No
+doubt she felt queer with all strangers round her and in a foreign
+land, which to her was like a new world, but by the evening we were
+all reconciled to each other; and by that time too we had dozens of
+friends and neighbours in to see us. My wife particularly wished to
+know what all these people wanted, as so many could not be all
+relations, so I told her that they had chiefly come to see her, as
+they had never seen a Frenchwoman before; but of course she would not
+believe this piece of flattery.
+
+I then thought of wetting the subject a little, but there was no
+public-house in the village, the nearest being at Piddletown about
+three miles off. However, I got one of my brothers to go even that
+distance, and he having brought back four gallons, we made ourselves
+comfortable till ten o'clock, when we retired to rest in the same room
+that I had slept in eighteen years before.
+
+After a good night's rest we rose early and found all recovering
+themselves, except perhaps the old lady, who had not yet done piping.
+After breakfast I took a walk round the village and fell in with the
+clergyman of the place, who would insist on taking me to his house and
+giving me some ale; and when he had once got me there, he kept me for
+at least an hour, the chief topics we talked about being the war and
+the religion of the countries I had been in. I was glad enough to get
+away from there, but I had to spend the whole of that day in visiting
+the people of the village; and the next day I had to occupy still
+worse, for my mother brought out every letter sent by me during my
+absence from the first to the last, and made me listen to them being
+read, which by the time night came on had almost sent me crazy. I
+advised her to burn the lot, but that only made her put them back in
+their place again, saying, "Never, William, so long as I live."
+
+We passed the next two days visiting such of my brothers and sisters
+as lived more near, and then as I could not rest in one place for
+long, on the third morning I set out with my wife for Corfe Mullen,
+about twelve miles off, to see another brother who was a farm-labourer
+there. After some few inquiries for George Lawrence I found out his
+house, and was answered at the door by his wife, who of course had no
+knowledge who I was, though I had known her before her marriage. She
+did not ask me in, but pointed out a barn, where she said I would find
+George. I went over and he was there threshing, so I said, "Well,
+friend, do you thresh by the day or the quarter?" He answered, "By the
+quarter, but I cannot do much of it." He stared at me, for I had on my
+regimentals, but I did not yet make myself known. Then I asked him if
+there was a public-house handy. He said there was one just below, so I
+told him that if he would go there with me I would treat him, as his
+must be hard work, and he thanked me and led the way.
+
+I ordered some beer and tobacco with pipes, and after that took off my
+shako which I could not bear any longer, and he immediately recognized
+me as his brother William. We then went to his home to be introduced
+to his wife, and we stayed there two days, after which we returned to
+Bryant's Piddle and remained with the old people for the rest of the
+eighteen days I had allotted for our stay out of the six weeks; the
+going and returning taking away above half our furlough. The morning
+we left was quite as bad as the morning of my appearance, my wife,
+who had got used to the old people, being quite as loud as any of
+them; till at last being sick of the whole affair I buckled on my
+knapsack, and bidding them good-bye, as quickly as possible took
+myself off, leaving my wife to follow with my brother to Dorchester,
+he having volunteered to go with us as far as that.
+
+I had planned out a different way for my journey back, intending to
+find a ship at Bristol to take us to Scotland and with this view I
+proceeded westwards, parting from my brother at Dorchester. We found a
+public-house by the roadside a little way from Dorchester, and after
+stopping there for the night, continued through Sherborne towards
+Bristol. On the way we fell in with one of the light company of my
+regiment, called Warren, who said he was going to London to get a ship
+back to Scotland; but when I told him of my way of getting there, he
+immediately said he would go with us; only he had got no money, and
+hoped I would lend him some. I declined doing this as I had very
+little myself, but I told him that if he liked to come and live as we
+did, I would pay for his food and lodging till we got to the regiment,
+to which he consented and we marched on together.
+
+But when we got to Bristol we found there was no ship going to
+Scotland, so my wife who was an excellent walker proposed going all
+the way by road; and accordingly on the following day we started,
+doing generally two stages a day, through Gloucester, Worcester,
+Manchester, and Carlisle, and so to Glasgow, a long and tedious march.
+Our companion, who was anything but a pleasant one, left us at
+Manchester. We returned to the barracks just one day before my time
+expired, with only twopence-halfpenny in my pocket and having had to
+sell my watch for subsistence on the way. After reporting myself,
+however, I drew my remaining tenpence per day for the six weeks, a
+penny being deducted from my pay per day for small-beer, which was not
+allowed while I was away. Soon after our arrival at the barracks my
+wife became very ill owing to having been frost-bitten during the
+march, and remained so for upwards of a week.
+
+We had not been here very long before General Sir George Osborne, the
+head colonel of our regiment, came expressly to review us; he being a
+very old man, and not having seen his regiment for some years. After
+going through our facings, we were arranged in a square, into which
+the old gentleman entered and presented us with a new stand of
+colours; then he addressed us as he said for the last time, and hoped
+his colours would endure as well as our old ones had and be crowned
+with an equal amount of victory. On them were engraved in gilt
+letters, "The Peninsula" and "Waterloo." He then took a farewell leave
+of his regiment, as he doubted if he would ever see it again, and we
+returned triumphant with our new colours to the barracks. But I may as
+well add here that every man received sixpence from the old colonel to
+drink his health.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+     Reduction of the army -- Lawrence sent up to London, where he is
+     valued for his pension -- Returns to his home -- Thence to
+     Studland, and obtains work -- Called out on service again, and
+     sent to Ireland to suppress smuggling -- Ingenious devices in
+     that line by the inhabitants of Dingle -- Finally discharged at
+     Plymouth -- Settles down at Studland again, and commends his
+     narrative to the public.
+
+
+Very shortly after this the army was reduced, and our regiment was
+made six hundred instead of a thousand strong. First all the old and
+disabled were discharged, and then lots were cast for the remainder,
+and the lot falling on me amongst the sergeants, at the end of about a
+month I and nine others were ordered to Chatham. We marched to Leith,
+where we embarked on the Leith packet, and after some very rough
+weather landed at Gravesend and proceeded to Chatham, remaining there
+six weeks while we were waiting to pass the board. Then we re-embarked
+on a small craft at Gravesend and went up the river to the Tower of
+London, whence we marched to Chelsea Hospital. The next morning, after
+we had been examined by the doctor, we were called up before the board
+one at a time. I was asked my age and time of service, and one of the
+gentlemen called out "Seven!" but the doctor immediately said "Nine!"
+as I had a wound in my knee; they evidently meaning that I should have
+ninepence a day as my pension, as that was what was settled on me for
+life. I then went to the office, where I received my expenses to
+Dorchester, to the amount of one and tenpence for myself, and
+three-halfpence for my wife for every ten miles; and with that we
+started off for Bryant's Piddle again, and walked every step of the
+way, not, however, meeting any such kind gentleman this time as we had
+on our last route to the same place.
+
+When we arrived we found them all as well as when we had left; but I
+did not want to stay there long, so on the following morning I took
+leave of them and proceeded with my wife to Studland, the place where
+I had been apprenticed, as I claimed that rightly as my parish. I put
+up at the public-house till I could procure a house and some
+furniture, which last took me about a week, and then my next
+undertaking was to try for work, for it may well be imagined that my
+wife and I could hardly live on my pension of ninepence a day. I soon
+obtained employment on a farm close by, for which I received ten
+shillings a week. I was only in the capacity of a labourer, and it
+certainly seemed to come very hard at first, but I soon got used to
+it, and I worked for this master for nine months. He had been formerly
+a captain in the navy, and I found him very sharp but very just.
+
+My reason for leaving him was a sudden call I received to again join
+the army. I started on the fifth of November, 1819: I was ordered to
+Plymouth, where I joined the Third Veteran Battalion, which was about
+a thousand strong at the time, and from Plymouth we went on to
+Ireland, where we landed at the Cove of Cork and marched through Cork
+to Fermoy. We went on next day to Templemore, which took us two or
+three days, and after staying there about a month, three companies of
+the regiment, myself being one of the number, were ordered to Tralee
+in county Kerry. When we arrived at Tralee a detachment of a
+lieutenant, myself, a corporal, and seventeen men were ordered next
+day to go to Dingle, which is situated on a large tongue of land, and
+here we were again stationed in barracks for about a year, our
+principal duty being to guard the coast against the smuggling that was
+at that time being carried on to a very great extent.
+
+We were chiefly under the command of the coastguard captain, whose
+name was Collis. It was astonishing to see the many manoeuvres which
+the inhabitants practised in this art of smuggling. I remember once
+being called out by the captain to search a house that he had received
+information about as containing a quantity of smuggled tobacco. I went
+with twelve men and the captain to the house, and at the door we were
+met by three ruffianly-looking Irishmen, whose conversation we could
+not understand at all: however, we passed on and searched the house,
+at one end of which were standing three cows, which did not seem to me
+at the time to be very homely guests. At first we could find nothing,
+so we were proceeding to search the outside, when I saw the three men
+laughing. Not feeling at all satisfied I turned the cows out and
+looked under the litter, where I discovered a trap-door, under which
+when I had opened it I found a flight of steps leading into a cellar,
+which contained upwards of twenty bales of tobacco. This made the
+men's countenances change instantaneously. We brought this up, but
+still not being content we searched farther into the garden, and
+finding that ground had lately been moved, we disturbed it again and
+turned up about twelve bales more that were concealed there. These we
+conveyed in press-carts to the captain's house, and received a good
+supper for our services and extra pay, mine amounting to half a crown
+and the privates' less in proportion. On another occasion, when we
+were again out on the search, we passed what we thought was a funeral,
+to which we presented arms, but which we afterwards found was nothing
+but smuggled tobacco put into a box of the shape of a coffin with a
+pall over, and in this way conveyed into security. Such and similar
+transactions were frequent during our stay here, the inhabitants being
+of the very wildest sort. Once even a cotton-ship drove ashore, and we
+had the greatest difficulty in keeping them from plundering it.
+
+At last, however, we were ordered back to Plymouth, so had to march to
+Waterford Harbour, whither after joining our other companions at
+Tralee we proceeded, and embarking on board a transport, arrived at
+Plymouth about June in the year 1821. Thus finally ended my military
+career, which had lasted seventeen years and seven months, the greater
+part of the time having been spent on active service. I was discharged
+on the same pension as before of ninepence a day, that having been
+stopped during my stay in the Third Veteran Battalion.
+
+From Plymouth I and my wife marched back to Studland, where we took a
+house, and my master immediately took me back to work. I drifted
+about, however, between one or two trades, and finally took a little
+public-house, where I and my wife lived pretty prosperously till she
+died. I began to feel rather unwell, too, and thought it best to give
+up working and the public-house: so I wrote to the authorities at
+Chelsea, and obtained through the influence of a kind gentleman an
+addition of threepence a day to my pension, making a shilling in all;
+and with that I am now living in a house that was bequeathed to me for
+as long as I live by my late master, as comfortably as these
+circumstances and the interposition of a few friends can make me.
+
+And to conclude I may add that I have striven here as well as my
+faculties will allow, though I know that is imperfectly, to sum up as
+it were in a small compass, so that they can be read over in a few
+hours by the residing populace, the leading scenes of my life, coupled
+as they have been with the various campaigns I served in; and though
+I am sorry that I cannot give the reader fuller details of the
+Peninsula and Waterloo, yet I think that if any even of my comrades
+themselves who went through the same campaigns, were to take up my
+work to examine it, they could not say that such information as I have
+been able to give has been wrong.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+  LONDON:
+  PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,
+  52, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.
+
+
+
+
+
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