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diff --git a/36778-8.txt b/36778-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2ad592 --- /dev/null +++ b/36778-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13290 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Twenty-Five Years in the Rifle Brigade, by +William Surtees + +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: Twenty-Five Years in the Rifle Brigade + +Author: William Surtees + +Release Date: July 19, 2011 [EBook #36778] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + + + + + TWENTY-FIVE YEARS + IN + THE RIFLE BRIGADE. + + BY THE LATE + WILLIAM SURTEES, + QUARTERMASTER. + + WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; AND + T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON. + + MDCCCXXXIII. + + + EDINBURGH: + PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PAUL'S WORK, CANONGATE. + + + + + TO + MAJOR-GEN. SIR ANDREW F. BARNARD, + K.C.B. and K.C.H. + AND THE OFFICERS OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE, + THESE REMAINS OF MY DECEASED BROTHER + ARE MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, + BY THEIR OBLIGED AND MOST + OBEDIENT SERVANT, + JOHN SURTEES. + + + + +PREFATORY NOTICE. + + +The Author of the following Narrative entered the Army in early life. He +commenced his military career in 1795, as a private soldier in the +Northumberland Militia; and in the following year he volunteered into +the Pompadours. In this regiment he first faced the enemy, during the +expedition to Holland under the Duke of York. On getting his discharge +from the Pompadours, in 1802, he again entered the service as a private +in the Rifle Brigade, to which he was attached for a period of +twenty-five years. From his steady conduct, and ardent love for his +profession, he was soon advanced from the ranks, and, after various +intermediate steps, was appointed Quartermaster; a situation which he +held as long as he continued in the corps, enjoying the respect and +esteem of his brother officers of all ranks, as is amply testified by +the letters which form the Appendix to this volume. + +Though, as Quartermaster, the Author was not called by duty to join in +battle, yet he lost no opportunity of entering the scene of action, or +of placing himself in a favourable situation for observing what was +passing. It is unnecessary to enumerate the arduous services of the +Rifle Brigade from 1802 to 1815. During the whole of that period the +Author was actively engaged with his corps. + +The Narrative is faithfully--indeed literally--printed from the Author's +MS. as he left it at his death. The critical reader may therefore detect +various inaccuracies which, had life been spared to the Author, would +probably have been corrected; but he will find much to approve, and, +hackneyed as Narratives of the Peninsular War have become, he will also +find much that is new. There is no embellishment in the style of the +Author's composition, but there is a quiet Defoe-like sincerity and +simplicity characteristic of his pages, and a strain of unaffected +piety, that is very pleasing; and the scenes and descriptions which he +gives, though sometimes singularly chosen, and reported quite with a +manner of his own, are on the whole portrayed with strong graphic +effect. One word, however, before closing,--our Author is never vulgar. + +A severe pulmonary affection compelled him to quit his corps in 1826. He +retired to Corbridge, his native village, where he arrived on the 24th +of October in that year, and continued there, respected and beloved, and +constantly engaged in acts of benevolence, till the period of his death, +28th May, 1830. + + _November 23, 1832._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + PAGE. + + Birth and Parentage--Enters the Militia--Volunteers into the + Line--Joins the army destined for Holland--The troops embark at + Deal--Land at the Helder--Laxity of discipline--March for + Schagen--Detachment under Sir Ralph Abercromby sent to surprise + Hoorne--Hoorne surrenders, 1 + + CHAPTER II. + + The Russian Allies carry Bergen--Allow themselves to be + surprised, and the whole army forced to retire to their former + position--Skirmishing in the vicinity of Old Patten--The + Russians endeavour to force their way back to Bergen--The + Russian and British forces joined--The enemy forced to abandon + Egmont-op-Zee--Alkmaar surrenders--The troops advance to Egmont + Binnen--Skirmishing--General engagement--The Enemy + repulsed--The Forces retire to Zaand Wyck--Armistice + concluded--Return to England, 13 + + CHAPTER III. + + Arrive in England--The Pompadours embark for Ireland--Arrive at + Kinsale--Privations in Ireland in 1800--Peace concluded--Our + Author resolves to return home, but ultimately volunteers into + the Rifle Corps or 95th--Embarks for England, and joins his + Regiment at Sussex--Is promoted, 35 + + CHAPTER IV. + + Made Pay-sergeant--Moral Reflections--Wreck of a Dutch East + Indiaman--Reduced Officers--War with France in 1803--Encampment + at Thorncliffe under the command of General Sir John + Moore--Encampment broke up, November 1804--Embark for Germany, + October 1805--Vicissitudes at Sea--Land at Cuxhaven--March to + Bremen--Outposts established--Retrograde movements, in + consequence of the defeat of the Allied Forces at + Austerlitz--The Allied Forces evacuate Germany--Re-embarkation + of the troops--The Rifle Corps, or 95th, land at Yarmouth, 45 + + CHAPTER IV.* + + Our Author made Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2d battalion, + which he joins at Feversham, Kent--Expedition to + Denmark--Embark at Deal--Land at Vedbeck, Zealand--Partial + Engagements--Siege of Copenhagen--A division under Sir Arthur + Wellesley advance to Kioge--Copenhagen capitulates--Amnesty + between the Danish forces in the Island of Zealand, and the + British--The British evacuate Denmark--Embark at + Copenhagen--Arrive in the Downs--Land at Deal, 59 + + CHAPTER V. + + Our Author marries--The Battalion to which he belongs ordered + to join the Expedition fitting out for Corunna--Movements of + the Army in Spain--Return to England, 73 + + CHAPTER VI. + + Volunteering--Farther Promotion--Embarks for Portugal, with two + Companies of the Second Battalion--Debark at Cadiz--Advance to + the Isla--The French occupy all the adjacent Towns, except + Cadiz and Isla--Cannonading--Spanish Army--Detachment of the + Allied Army sent round by Gibraltar and Chiclana, to take the + Enemy in the rear of his works, and compel him either to fight + or abandon them--Come up with a portion of the Enemy in the + vicinity of Veger--Bravery of the British--The Enemy repulsed + with great loss, but, from the apathy and misconduct of General + La Pena, and the Spaniards under his command, the French are + allowed to retain their Works in the vicinity of Cadiz, 99 + + CHAPTER VII. + + The 2d Battalion of the Pompadours ordered to proceed to + Portugal--Our Author visits England--Returns to Portugal, and + joins his Regiment at Rodrigo--The Army move towards + Badajos--Siege of Badajos--Badajos surrenders--Insubordination + among the Troops--Quelled by the prompt measures of Lord + Wellington, 128 + + CHAPTER VIII. + + The Army leave Badajos on the 11th of April, and move into + quarters near the river Agueda, where they remain, till the + 11th of June--Advance towards Salamanca, which, with the + exception of three Forts, the enemy had evacuated--The Forts + invested--The main bodies of both armies bivouack within a mile + and a half of each other, in the vicinity of Monte Rubio and + Morisco--The Forts of Salamanca surrender--The main body of the + Enemy retire to Tordesillas--Movements of the Army, 153 + + CHAPTER IX. + + Preparations for the Field--Amusements in winter + quarters--Grand Review--Advance of the Army in pursuit of the + Enemy--Come up with their rearguard in the vicinity of Hornilla + de Camino--Skirmishing--Encounter with the 1st Brigade of the + Enemy, who are beaten, and forced to retreat--Our Army advance + in pursuit--An affair between the rearguard of the Enemy and + our 4th Brigade--Vittoria--General Engagement--The Enemy + defeated--Remarks, 185 + + CHAPTER X. + + Advance in pursuit of the Enemy--Our Forces retreat, in order + to counteract Soult's movements for the succour of + Pamplona--Total defeat of Soult in the several Actions near + Pamplona--Our Forces again advance--Come up with the retreating + Enemy at the Bridge of Yanzi--The Enemy take up a position, + behind Vera--A considerable body of the Enemy attached at the + Pass of Echallar, and forced to retreat, 214 + + CHAPTER XI. + + The Author, from a mistake, loses his Servants for a few + days--A Feast of Death--A Feast of Life--Fighting near St + Sebastian--Singular instance of Spanish Bravery--St Sebastian + is captured, but no Details given, the Author not having been + present--Attack of the Pass of Vera, 232 + + CHAPTER XII. + + The British Army advance farther into France--Pass the + Nive--Soult's Plans baffled--Two or three battalions of the + Nassau and Frankfort regiments come over from the + French--French Politesse--Threatened Attack by the + French--Battle of the Nive--Account of the Basques, 253 + + CHAPTER XIII. + + The Author's Battalion quartered in Aurantz on 3d January + 1814--The cantonments at Aurantz broke up on the 16th February, + and the Campaign of 1814 commenced--Farther Advance into + France--Skirmishing with the Enemy--Military Manoeuvres--Battle + of Orthes--Defeat and Pursuit of the Enemy--Succession of + Attacks on them--They are driven from their Position in and + near Tarbes--Skirmishing at Tournefoile--The Enemy retire + towards Toulouse, 269 + + CHAPTER XIV. + + The British Army cross the Garonne--Advance on + Toulouse--Prepare for the Attack--The Attack--Spaniards driven + back--Battle very hot--French completely defeated--Soult + evacuates Toulouse, and tardily adheres to the Bourbons, 295 + + CHAPTER XV. + + Author's happy state during 1813 and 1814--Character of the + veritable French--British distributed over the + Country--Civility of the Inhabitants of Grissolles--Amusements + in quarters--The British prepare to quit France, 308 + + CHAPTER XVI. + + Author's Battalion embark for England--Land at Plymouth--Expect + to be again ordered on Foreign Service--Order received--Embark, + with other Troops, for America--Land at Pine Island, 322 + + CHAPTER XVII. + + Proceed to attack the Enemy, and capture one of their + picquets--Advance in search of a Bivouack--Alarmed by shots in + front--Fired on by an American schooner--Captain Hallen + severely attacked--Manoeuvres on both sides--Ruse of the + Enemy--Fighting continues--Enemy repulsed at all + points--Courage of the British--Battery brought into + play--Activity of the Enemy, 339 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + British Army told off into Brigades--Advance, and are hotly + received--Heroism of a young Artillery Officer--We take up a + fresh position--The Enemy work incessantly in raising an + extensive breastwork--Two Batteries erected, from which our + heavy Ship Artillery are brought to bear against it, but + without effect--The Enemy also place their Ship Guns on + Batteries--Colonel Lambert arrives with the 7th and 43d + regiments--Preparations for a grand attack on the Enemy's + lines, which entirely fails, and the British are repulsed with + great loss, 357 + + CHAPTER XIX. + + Bravery and Success of Colonel Thornton--Negotiation for leave + to transport the Wounded across the River--Insult offered to + the British--They retreat--Our Army embark, and determine to + make an Attack upon Mobile--Proceed in the direction of Mobile + Bay--A Brigade detached to reduce Fort Boyer--The Fort + surrenders, the garrison becoming Prisoners of + War--Intelligence of a Treaty of Peace being concluded at + Ghent--Cessation of Hostilities, 378 + + CHAPTER XX. + + Ratification of the Treaty of Peace--Exchange of Prisoners--Our + Troops Embark for England--When off the coast of Ireland, + receive Intelligence of Bonaparte's escape from Elba--The + Author and his Battalion reach the Downs, and proceed to + Thorncliffe--Embark for France--Arrive at Paris, and occupy the + Champs Elysées--Review of the Russian Guards--Russian + Discipline--British Troops reviewed--Accident to Prince + Blucher--Amusements in Paris--The Allied Forces, except the + Army of Occupation, leave Paris--The Author's Battalion embark + for England--Reach Dover, and return to Thorncliffe--He obtains + leave of absence, and visits his Family--His Battalion ordered + to Ireland--Sets out to join it, accompanied by his Wife, who + dies three days after they reach Dublin--His Battalion + reduced--Joins the first Battalion at Gosport, which is ordered + to Scotland--Arrive at Leith, and march to Glasgow--The Author + returns home in ill health--His Father dies--Joins his + Battalion again--Winters at home--His Battalion ordered to + Ireland--Joins it at Belfast--They occupy different stations + during the Whiteboy Insurrection--Six companies of his + Battalion ordered to Nova Scotia, but the Author remains with + the other four companies--He is shortly ordered to proceed to + Nova Scotia--His health declines--Returns home in consequence, + takes advantage of Lord Palmerston's Bill, and retires on full + pay, 401 + + APPENDIX.--TESTIMONIALS.--No. 1. From Lieutenant-Colonel + Duffy--No. 2. From Major Travers--No. 3. From Officers of the + 2d Battalion--No. 4. From Lieut.-Colonel Ross, C.B.--No. 5. + From Lieut.-Col. Smith, C.B.--No. 6. From Officers of the 1st + Battalion Rifle Brigade--No. 7. From Colonel Norcott, C.B.--No. + 8. From Lieut.-Col. Fullarton, C.B.--No. 9. From Lieut.-Col. + Balvaird--No. 10. From Major-General Sir A. F. Barnard, + K.C.B.--No. 11. From Major Logan--No. 12. From Lieut.-Col. + Beckwith, C.B.--No. 13. From Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir Wm. + Stewart, G.C.B.--No. 14. From Major Eeles--No. 15. From + Major-General Sir T. S. Beckwith, K.C.B., 425 + + + + +TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + Birth and Parentage--Enters the Militia--Volunteers into the + Line--Joins the Army destined for Holland--The Troops embark at + Deal--Land at the Helder--Laxity of discipline--March for + Schagen--Detachment under Sir Ralph Abercromby sent to surprise + Hoorne--Hoorne surrenders. + + +I was born on the 4th of August, 1781, in the village of Corbridge, in +the county of Northumberland; of parents who may be said to have been +among the middle classes, my father being a tradesman. They gave me such +an education as was customary with people of their station in life; viz. +reading, writing, and arithmetic. My mother having sprung from a pious +race, was the first to implant in my mind any sense of religion; indeed, +it is to the spiritual seed sown in my heart by her during my youth, +that I am indebted, under God, for having been brought, many years +afterwards, to consider my ways, and to turn to Him. Nevertheless, being +naturally of a sensual and wicked disposition, I, as might be expected, +spent a dissolute youth, which often caused great pain and uneasiness to +my good and pious mother. But I did not continue long under the paternal +roof; for, having from my infancy a great predilection for a military +life, I embraced almost the first opportunity that offered, after I +became sufficiently grown, to enter into the militia of my native +county. I enlisted on the 15th of November, 1798, being then little more +than seventeen years of age. I entered this service with the +determination that, should I not like a soldier's life, I would then, +after remaining a few years in it, return home; but, if I did like it, +to volunteer into the line, and make that my occupation for life. It +will readily be believed that this undutiful step affected deeply my +excellent parents; for though my father was not _then_ a religious man, +he had a heart susceptible of the tenderest feelings; and I really +believe that no parents ever felt more deeply the combined emotions of +tender regret at my leaving them so young, and for such a purpose, and +at the disgrace which my wayward conduct had, as they imagined, brought +upon myself. But though evil in itself, God overruled it for good to me, +and, I trust, to them also. I would here remark that the life of a +soldier was by no means considered in my native village, at that time, +as at all creditable; and when I sometimes in my boyhood used to exhibit +symptoms of a military inclination, I was often taunted with the then +opprobrious expression, "Ay, thou likes the smell of poother," +intimating thereby that I was likely to disgrace myself by going for a +soldier. + +I left my family in much grief in the beginning of 1799, and marched +with several other recruits to join my regiment at Chelmsford in Essex, +where we arrived in about a month, and where I began my military career. +I always liked a soldier's life, consequently I did not suffer from many +of those parts of it which are so unpleasant to those of a contrary +disposition; and, as I took pleasure in it, I of course made more +progress in acquiring a knowledge of my duty than some others who set +out with me. I was early placed in the first squad, an honour which I +considered no trifling one in those days,--but none of us finished our +drill; for, in July of the same year, an order was issued, permitting +such men as chose to extend their services, to volunteer into the line, +in order to recruit the army then destined for Holland. We had +previously marched from Chelmsford to Colchester, a distance of +twenty-one miles, which march was to me, I think, the severest I ever +underwent; for being young, and totally unaccustomed to any thing like +it, the weight of the musket, bayonet, accoutrements, and knapsack, +appeared, towards the latter end of the march, to be almost intolerable; +but I kept up, although excessively tired. This will show how necessary +it is at all times to accustom troops, destined for service, to move in +such order as they will be expected to do when they take the field--for, +if unaccustomed to the carriage of the knapsack, and to frequent marches +with it for exercise, they will be utterly unable to perform any +movement against, or in the face of an enemy, with that celerity +necessary to ensure success. I volunteered, with several of my comrades, +into the 56th regiment, or Pompadours, so called from their facings +being Madame Pompadour's favourite colour, and we set off (carried in +waggons to accelerate our movements) for Canterbury, which we reached in +two days and one night, having travelled without making a halt; and +there we joined the skeleton of our regiment, just then returned from +the West Indies, where twice, during the war, it had been nearly +exterminated by disease. + +In a few days after our arrival, a selection was made throughout the +volunteers for fit subjects for the light company, when, fortunately, +both myself and William Sutherland (who had been in the same company +with me in the militia, and who, from our names and size being so nearly +similar, had always stood next me in the ranks) were chosen for this, +in my mind, honourable service. I felt not a little proud at my +advancement, as I considered it, (and as I believe the generality of +soldiers consider it,) to be made a light-bob. + +The regiment had not at this time either arms, appointments, or +clothing; but, being in a few days sent off to Barham Downs, where the +army for Holland was assembled and encamped, we soon after were supplied +with the necessary equipment, and commenced without delay to drill and +get the men in readiness for embarkation. At this time the flank +companies of all those regiments destined for Holland were separated +from their battalions, and formed into what are termed flank battalions. +That in which my company was placed consisted of eleven light companies, +the command of which was given to Lieut.-Col. Sharpe, of the 9th +regiment, an experienced and gallant veteran, who had commanded a +similar battalion in the eastern district, under the Earl of Chatham. +The grenadier battalion was composed of an equal number of grenadier +companies, and belonged to the same regiments to which ours belonged. +Before our arrival on Barham Downs, the first division of the +expedition, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, had sailed; and we soon after +were called out to fire a _feu de joie_ for their capture of the Dutch +fleet, and their having effected a landing and gained a victory near the +Helder. Nothing could be more brilliant than our display upon this +occasion appeared to me--we were nearly 20,000 strong, I imagine, and, +being formed in one extensive line, the firing of the _feu de joie_ +produced a fine effect. To my non-military readers, perhaps, it will be +necessary to explain what is termed a _feu de joie_. The usual mode is, +when formed in line, for the fire to commence by signal with the right +file of the whole, and each of those on their left take it up rapidly +in succession, so that, to a looker-on, it has the appearance of a +wild-fire running along the line; but on this occasion we heightened the +effect, by beginning with the right of the front rank only, and when it +had passed along by the front, the left-hand man of the rear rank took +it up, and so it passed along by the rear to the right again. It +appeared to me, at that time, certainly the finest sight I had ever +witnessed. Every heart present was elated with joy, and beat high to be +led on to share in those glorious achievements which we were then +celebrating; but, alas! we were then ignorant that we were as unfit at +that time to suffer the toils and privations of a campaign, as if we had +never seen a soldier; we were all young, and inexperienced in the +highest degree, and our discipline, as might be naturally expected, was +far from good; for, being an army hastily collected from every regiment +of militia in the kingdom, the officers of course neither had that +knowledge of the characters of their men, which is so essential, nor had +the latter that confidence in their officers, which only a service +together for some length of time can engender, and which is absolutely +necessary to secure an unreserved and active obedience to their +commands. But the period of our embarkation fast approached; previously +to which, we were reviewed by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, (who +was destined to command us,) accompanied by several others of the Royal +Family, and by General Sir Charles Grey, my countryman. I believe they +all expressed themselves highly satisfied with our appearance and +movements, and hoped that we would shortly add fresh laurels to those +already gained by our forerunners. + +As it was expected to be a service of only a short duration, it was +determined that the men should embark in what is called "light marching" +or "service order," that is, with only about half the usual complement +of necessaries, consequently every soldier had to leave a considerable +portion of his things behind him; and, in order to deposit them safely, +empty casks were procured for each company, into which every man was +ordered to stow his extra things, after being properly packed and +labelled with his name, &c. This rather grieved me, for I had brought +with me from home as good a kit (as the soldiers term it) as any in the +army. My dear mother had prepared me shirts fine enough for any officer, +and abundance of them, but of those thus left I never saw one +afterwards. During our stay in this camp, I never enjoyed better health +or greater lightness of spirits, forgetful or heedless of the deep and +lasting anguish which my late rash step must naturally inflict upon the +hearts of my tender and affectionate parents; but I was no doubt +stimulated to this thoughtless forgetfulness of them, by witnessing the +animating scenes around me, where all was bustle and high anticipation +of more glorious doings. + +We marched from this camp to Deal, where we embarked in transports +already prepared to receive us. As soon as we arrived we were instantly +put on board, but never shall I forget the effect which the sight of the +sea, and such a number of ships of various sizes and descriptions, had +upon me; for before this I had never been near the sea, although I had +marched from the north to the south of England. But, to add to all the +strange things which then met my view, we were instantly on marching +down put into a large boat that lay high upon the beach; which, when +filled with troops, they run down into the sea with astonishing +rapidity, turning my stomach, as we entered the water, completely +topsy-turvy. The effect of all this can better be conceived than +described; we were immediately rowed off to, and put on board our +transport, which happened to be a brig called the Zephyr of Shields. +Here also every thing was quite new to me; but all was met and performed +with the highest spirits, so far as sea-sickness permitted. We remained +on board two or three days before the fleet was ready for sea; but at +length we sailed with a favourable breeze, and in two or three days more +we made the coast of Holland, and soon afterwards came to anchor within +the Texel. Every thing being ready for landing, and the Helder being in +our possession, we disembarked there on the 15th of September, 1799, +having been just one week on board. We were formed on landing near the +town, and waited till some others had disembarked, before we moved off. +Among those regiments which landed, I remember the 35th was one. This +regiment, after coming on shore, was drawn up close to us; they had not +been long landed before the men began with their knives to cut off each +other's hair, which then was worn in the shape of a club; this was done +without any orders from their officers, and appeared to me, I confess, +such a breach of discipline, as I could not have anticipated; for though +on the whole it was an improvement, as later usage has shown, yet I +apprehend for a body of soldiers, without any permission from higher +authority, to take upon them to break through the long-established +custom of the service, was such an utter renunciation of all obedience +to authority, as directly to threaten with destruction the best +interests of the army to which they belonged; however, at such a time it +would perhaps have been attended with still worse consequences to have +made an example of the offenders, although, had stricter discipline been +enforced from the outset, I feel assured the army in general would have +benefited by it. + +Towards evening, we moved forward through the town of Helder, and +proceeded on our route towards Schagen, and halted for the night on the +road, and where such as could find houses, of which there were a few +straggling ones in the neighbourhood, got into them. I awoke in the +night, and still fancied myself on board ship; for the wind and rain +were beating violently against the little hovel into which a few of us +had crept, and I imagined it was the dashing of the sea against the bow +of the vessel. Indeed so strong was this imagination, that when I got +up, I literally could not stand steady, not having been long enough on +board, to acquire what is termed my "sea legs;" that is, I had not +learned the art of standing steady when the vessel heeled; and, strange +as it may appear to a person who has never been at sea, I believe most +landsmen have the same feeling for some short time after being put on +shore. We had each man been supplied with a blanket while in camp on +Barham Downs, but had no proper or uniform mode of carrying them; we had +no great-coats, but made use of the blanket sometimes as a substitute in +the morning, when we turned out to proceed on our march. We certainly +made a strange appearance. Some had their blankets thrown around them, +others had them twisted up like a horse collar, and tied over their +shoulders in the manner of a plaid; while some had them stuffed into, +and others tied on to the top of their knapsack; in short, we appeared +like any thing but _regular_ troops. We moved forward as soon as we were +formed, and early in the day reached Schagen-bruck, where his Royal +Highness stood to inspect us as we marched past. Near this place we fell +in with some of the Russian regiments, they having landed nearly at the +same time, and of which nation there were, I believe, about 20,000 +troops expected to join our army. But if we appeared irregular and +grotesque, I know not well how to describe them; their riflemen were +shod with boots very much resembling those of our fishermen, coming up +considerably higher than the knee; thus rendering them, I should +imagine, incapable of celerity of movement, one of the chief requisites +in a rifle corps; they also wore large cocked hats and long green coats. +Their grenadiers were dressed more apropos, having high sugar-loaf +shaped caps, mounted with a great deal of brass, and projecting forward +at the top, with long coats, and gaiters reaching above the knee. Their +regular infantry were nearly similar to the grenadiers, only they wore +cocked hats instead of caps. The regiment which we saw on this occasion +had with it, I should think, full half as many followers as soldiers, +some of whom carried immensely large copper kettles; others the +provisions, and others the officers' baggage; in short, these were the +scullions, the cooks, and, as it were, the beasts of burden of the +regiment; but this was a bad system, for it increased by one half the +number of mouths to fill, and must have been attended with the worst +consequences when provisions were scarce. The officers, I remember, +carried what was formerly used in our service, a long sort of pole, with +a head like a halberd, and called, I believe, a "spontoon." This, on +passing a general at a review, the officer twists and twirls around his +head, precisely as a drum-major in our service does his cane. When we +had passed his Royal Highness at the bridge, we moved forward to the +town of Schagen, and took up our quarters in the church. I thought this +extremely odd, as I had been accustomed to view so sacred an edifice +with more reverence than to suppose they would quarter soldiers in it; +but we were stowed in it as thick as we could well be, and made the best +of our quarters; some taking the chancel, others the vestry, and some +the body of the church; nay, some even took up their lodging in the +reading-desk and pulpit. We could contrive to make out the Lord's prayer +in Dutch, but could not well proceed further, although there is much +similarity between that language and the English of my native county. +Here, for the first time, we learnt that our brigade was what was called +the _reserve_, and commanded by Colonel M'Donald of the 55th regiment; +but on this occasion and in Egypt, the reserve was not what is generally +understood by that term, for in both places it was composed of some of +the best troops in the expedition, and was generally first called into +action. On this occasion, the reserve consisted of the 23d Welsh +fusileers, the 55th regiment, the grenadier battalion before mentioned, +and our light battalion. + +We remained here till the 18th, when towards evening we were ordered +under arms, having been previously supplied with provisions; and, after +every preliminary was adjusted, we set forward on our march towards the +city of Hoorne, situated on the Zuyder Zee. Of our destination, the men, +of course, were totally ignorant, but no doubt the officers knew. It +turned out that about 8000 troops had been appointed for this service, +the execution of which was intrusted to that gallant old veteran, and +hitherto successful general, Sir Ralph Abercromby. The intention was to +make a rapid and extensive flank movement during the night, and surprise +and capture the said city, while his Royal Highness was to attack the +enemy in front. We moved off as it became dark, but such was the state +of the roads that it became the most trying and distressing march that I +believe ever troops undertook; the roads were literally knee deep in mud +in most places, while every now and then they were rendered nearly +impassable, both by the enemy having broken down the bridges over the +innumerable canals and dikes which intersect this country, and these +canals in many places having overflowed their banks. None but those who +have experienced this or something similar, can form an idea of the +fatigue attending a night march in such a country, where the column is +large. We marched, I think, in sections of about eight file, that is, +with eight men abreast in the front rank, and the like number in the +rear rank covering them. Conceive, then, your arriving at an obstacle +which the darkness of the night multiplies a hundred-fold. Not more than +one man will attempt to pass this obstacle at the same time, and he has +to grope his way; consequently all the other fifteen men must stand +still, or nearly so, till he is over, before they each move on in turn. +Multiply this by the 300 sections behind, and you will have a halt for +the rear of probably an hour or more; standing all this while nearly up +to the knees in mire; or, what is worse, as each regiment has +accomplished the task of getting over, this of course causes the others +in the rear to be drawing up towards it by degrees, so that probably you +are compelled to stand (or, if you choose, you may lie down in the mud) +for a quarter of an hour, or more perhaps; and then move on again for +the space of a few hundred yards, and then another halt; so that could +you lie down to enjoy a little rest, the constant cry of "forward" +resounding in your ears, just as you begin to close your eyes, renders +it the most tiresome and trying situation that I know of. It is true, +the head of the column does not suffer in an equal proportion with those +in the rear, or a night march in an enemy's country would be a dangerous +operation. + +During this march, I remember, when the road was extremely deep, some +one on the right of my section called out that there was an excellent +path a little beyond him; when one poor fellow moved in that direction, +but had not made many steps, till souse he went into a deep canal. +Whether the man who called out had been actually deceived by the smooth +surface of the water, which appeared in the dark like a nice level +road; or whether he did it through mischief, I know not, but the poor +simpleton who followed his advice paid dearly for his curiosity, being +with some difficulty extricated from his uncomfortable situation. I may +observe that these canals or dikes skirt both sides of every road in +this part of Holland, and are even made use of as fences for the fields, +there not being any hedges or walls that I remember to have seen. + +About break of day we reached the city, which at once surrendered; but +just before daylight, I became so excessively weary that I could not +continue in the ranks any longer; indeed men had been dropping out for +some hours before, so that, I suppose, when the head of the column +reached Hoorne, one half the number had fallen out; for it was beyond +the powers of human nature to sustain such excessive fatigue. I, with +two or three others, got behind a house that stood by the roadside, and +laid ourselves down on a paved footpath which led from the back-door. +Never in my life did I experience a greater luxury than this appeared to +be, where something hard, and that would keep me out of the deep and +filthy mire, could be found to rest upon. + +I laid me down and slept as soundly as ever I did in my life for about +an hour, which quite refreshed me. We then got up and set off with all +despatch to overtake the column, which we came up with and joined just +as they halted after reaching the city. None of the troops entered the +place, I believe; but my battalion being towards the rear of the column, +was at a considerable distance from it. All now lay down to rest, and +such as had houses near them occupied them; but those who had not, chose +the driest parts of the canal bank or road, and all were soon buried in +profound sleep, excepting those who were placed on guard. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + The Russian Allies carry Bergen--Allow themselves to be + surprised, and the whole Army forced to retire to their former + position--Skirmishing in the vicinity of Old Patten--The + Russians endeavour to force their way back to Bergen--The + Russian and British Forces joined--The Enemy forced to abandon + Egmont-op-Zee--Alkmaar surrenders--The Troops advance to Egmont + Binnen--Skirmishing--General Engagement--The Enemy + repulsed--The Forces retire to Zaand Wyck--Armistice + concluded--Return to England. + + +From daylight we had heard a heavy and constant cannonade towards our +right and rear. His Royal Highness, with the remainder of the army, as +was before intimated, had moved forward and attacked the main body of +the enemy; but as I did not witness this action, I forbear to relate +what I heard concerning it, further than this, that the Russians who +attacked the enemy posted in the neighbourhood of Bergen, having by some +mismanagement allowed themselves to be surprised after having carried +that village, the whole army had been obliged to retire to their former +position. In consequence of this failure, I believe, we were ordered +towards evening to fall in, and (what appeared annoying in the extreme) +to retrace our weary footsteps by the same dirty road by which we had +advanced. Nearly the same fatigue and misery were endured as in our +advance; but the column did not keep so much together as before, the men +falling out by hundreds, so that the stoppages were not quite so great. +We did not return to Schagen after our retreat, but were cantoned in +some villages in front of that town; and a few days afterwards we were +moved to the right of Schagen, through Schagen-bruck, to a farm hamlet +called Zaand Wyck. + +Here we remained till the 1st of October; but I should not omit to +mention, that we had, during the intervening period, several marches, +all of which were made by night, and in which similar sufferings and +fatigue were endured as in the march to Hoorne. This, it may probably be +remembered, was one of the wettest autumns almost upon record; and in +these marches we generally had the full benefit of the torrents which +fell in this naturally wet country. I have actually seen the water +running out at the bottom of the men's trowsers like that from the +gutter which carries the rain from the roof of a house. When we had not +a night march, we invariably had to be at our alarm post an hour before +daybreak,--and that being about four miles distant from our quarter at +this time, we never had what may be called a full night's rest. + +Military men will know that the custom of being at the alarm post before +daybreak is almost universal; for, that being the usual time of attack, +it behoves those who are apprehensive of a visit from the enemy to be on +the look-out, and to be prepared to receive them when they come--here +they remain, till, as the vulgar phrase goes, "You can see a white horse +a mile off," that is, till it is clear daylight, and they have +ascertained that no enemy is in the neighbourhood; after which, if all +be quiet, they retire to their quarters. Our accommodations at Zaand +Wyck may be said to have been good, for our officers had a farm-house to +live in, and we had a good dry barn and other outhouses to lie down in; +and in which I enjoyed some comfortable nights' lodgings. But on the 1st +of October, in the afternoon, we were ordered to fall in, it having +been previously intimated to us that we might probably have a brush with +the enemy. + +We were, of course, all life and glee on receiving the information, and +the usual quantity of provisions having been issued, and every other +preparation made in the night, we moved off by the same road by which we +had usually advanced to our alarm post. This we passed, and then entered +a most unpleasant country to march through; it being nearer the enemy, +of course all bridges and other communications had been destroyed. As we +moved on, a little after daylight we were overtaken by the 11th light +dragoons, on which we were ordered to open to the right and left to let +them pass us. They seemed in high spirits, and some of them cried out, +as they passed us, "Go on, my lads, lather them well, and we'll come up +and shave them." + +Sir Walter Scott mentions this saying as made use of by some of the +cavalry at Waterloo, as if it were at that time new; but I can assure +him it is as old as 1799, if not much older, for I certainly heard it +used on this occasion, and I know not but it may have been said long +before. The cavalry inclined, after passing us, to their left, while we +kept down towards the sea; and soon after, on ascending a small +eminence, we got a view of the village of Old Patten, where we +discovered about 10,000 or 12,000 of our army drawn up near the +sea-beach. We passed them, and moved forward in the direction of a high +range of sand-hills, which commenced about a mile beyond the village, +and which overlooked all the plain below. Here the enemy was posted, and +I was told that they began as soon as we were within reach to cannonade +us; but from the heads of the men in front, I could not perceive any +appearance of such cannonade, nor do I believe that any of their shot +reached us. A little farther on, however, we met a Russian yager, or +rifleman, coming back and holding out his hand, which had been wounded, +and from which the blood was flowing pretty copiously. + +This was the first blood that I had ever seen as drawn in hostile +conflict, and it certainly produced a somewhat strange effect upon me; +it showed plainly that we were in the immediate vicinity of that enemy +we had so often talked about, and whom we hoped to conquer; that now the +time had arrived which would infallibly prove what every man, boaster or +not, was made of; and that it might happen that it was my lot to fall. +Having reflected (rather confusedly I own) on the passing scene before +me, and offered up an occasional prayer to Him who alone can cover the +head in the day of battle, we now approached the bottom of this sandy +eminence, when my company was ordered to unfix bayonets, (for we had +previously primed and loaded,) and dash on at double quick time till we +came in contact with the enemy. No time was left for reflection now, the +immediate duty we had to perform occupied all our attention fully; we +soon got into a smart fire from the enemy's riflemen, which we found was +the only description of troops, except a few artillery, that we had to +contend with, their main bodies of heavy infantry being on the right and +left of this sandy range, which in some places was about a mile in +breadth, in others more or less. + +After the fight had fairly commenced, we kept but little order, owing +partly to the want of discipline and experience in our people, and +partly to the nature of the ground, which was rugged and uneven in the +extreme, being one continued range of sand-hills, with hollows more or +less deep between them; and partly it may be attributed to the ardour of +our young men, who pressed on perhaps too rapidly. We continued to +advance, and never once made a retrograde movement, the enemy regularly +retiring from height to height on our approach; but they had greatly +the advantage over us in point of shooting, their balls doing much more +execution than ours; indeed it cannot be wondered at, for they were all +riflemen, trained to fire with precision, and armed with a weapon which +seldom fails its object if truly pointed; while we were (what shall I +say) totally ignorant of that most essential part of a soldier's duty. +They consequently suffered little from our fire; but we could not +believe this, and tried to persuade ourselves they had either buried +their dead in the sand before we came up to them, or carried them off as +they retreated; but experience has since taught me to know that we then +must have done them little harm. + +About the middle of the day, as I and a young man of the name of Thomas +Bambrough (a countryman of my own, and who had volunteered with me,) +were moving on in company, in passing through one of the valleys to an +opposite height, we were assailed by a little volley from a group of the +enemy which we discovered on a hill in front of us; one of which shots +took effect in poor Bambrough's thigh just about the ham; he instantly +fell, and roared out most piteously; I laid down my musket and +endeavoured to hoist him on my back, in order to take him out of the +fire, which they now poured in without intermission; but in this I +failed, for he was so completely disabled by the wound, as to be +rendered totally helpless, and it was so extremely painful that he could +not bear the least movement. + +I felt constrained to leave him, although I did so with reluctance, +telling him that I would push on to the height we had first in view, to +which I then perceived some more of our men had advanced, and would +drive the enemy from their position; of course all this was not +literally told him, but something to that effect was said; and I found +that the moment I left him they ceased to fire on him; and, as I +promised, we did drive off the enemy. Shortly after, some of our own +people came up to where poor Bambrough lay, and carried him off to the +rear; he was sent to an hospital, where he soon after died, they not +being able, I understand, to extract the ball. Soon after this, there +were some tremendous volleys of musketry heard on our left, apparently +down in the plain below us. I, with one or two others, now inclined a +little towards the left, in order to have a peep at the troops there, so +hotly opposed to each other, in doing which, we still kept our line in +front of the enemy's skirmishers. + +We found it was the Russian army endeavouring to force their way towards +the village of Bergen, the scene of their former disaster; but they were +most distressingly retarded by the innumerable canals or ditches, by +which the country was so intersected, and which were generally +impassable by fording. On some occasions I could perceive, when they had +found an entrance into an enclosure, and had fought their way to the +farther side of it, they were obliged to retrace their steps, and get +out by the same way by which they had entered, the enemy all this while +pouring into them a close and destructive fire. This appeared to me to +be most trying to their patience, and very disheartening; but they bore +it with great steadiness. + +Meantime, our own heavy troops were advancing on the right by the +sea-beach, where was a plain of sand, of perhaps from 100 to 200 yards +in breadth; the sand-hills between the two wings, as I said before, +being swept by us, assisted by a small corps of Russian riflemen. We +moved on till we got a little in advance of the Russian army, (which, +from the obstacles they had to contend with, did not make very rapid +progress,) and immediately over the village of Bergen, which stood on +the plain, close under the sand-hills. Here, the enemy being in +possession of considerable field-works, plied us pretty plenteously +with shells from their howitzers, (their guns they could not elevate +sufficiently to reach us,) but from which we suffered very little; for +our people being much extended, and the sand being deep, the bursting of +the shells was attended with very little mischief. Indeed, for a long +time, I did not know what they were; for, having several times heard a +loud explosion pretty near, I actually looked round to see the gun, +which I imagined had fired, but could perceive nothing but a cloud of +smoke rising from the spot, and the small bushes and herbs about it on +fire. I thought it strange, and it was not till it was several times +repeated, that we discovered what it really was, for my comrades were +equally ignorant with myself. + +At length, towards the close of the afternoon, a loud and heavy fire of +musketry broke out on our right, which continued for a considerable +time, and then ceased. This was our heavy infantry, who had advanced by +the sea-shore, and who had now approached the village of Egmont-op-Zee, +where the enemy made a most determined stand, but at last were driven +back with great slaughter, and our people took possession of the town. +From this place the battle derives its name. A little after dark, the +enemy abandoned Bergen also, so that we ceased any longer to be annoyed +by their shells, which they continued to throw while they held +possession of the place. But a short while before they retired, one was +thrown, which pitched just close over my company, (for we had then been +collected, and were formed in close order immediately above the town,) +and where Colonel Sharpe and another officer were walking; it lay for a +second or two hissing and burning, and might be expected every moment to +explode. Their road lay close past it; the veteran however took no +notice of it, but continued his walk and conversation the same as if +nothing had occurred, and without going an inch out of his way. It +burst with a tremendous report, but fortunately without doing either of +them the least injury. I confess I thought it rather _too brave_; for it +appeared to me that he might have walked a little farther from it, or +stopped for a moment or two without any imputation on his courage; but +people do not all see things exactly alike. + +Our loss in this action was but trifling, considering the extent of the +operations. We had in my company only about fourteen or fifteen men +killed and wounded; among the latter were my two countrymen, Bambrough, +as before noticed, and Sutherland. One man of our company, I was told, +in charging a fieldpiece, was struck down by the wind of the ball, and +which, although it did not touch him, brought blood from his mouth, +nose, and ears; he never after thoroughly recovered the effects of it. I +do not remember ever to have felt more fatigued than I did after this +day's work. We had marched before commencing the action, I should think, +twelve miles or more. We had been kept upon the run the greater part of +the day, and had fought over nearly as much more ground, through loose +sand, sometimes nearly up to the middle of the leg, and over ground so +extremely uneven, that a few miles of leisurely walking on such, would +be more than I should be able to accomplish now; and we had been nearly +all the day deprived of every sort of liquid, for our canteens were soon +emptied of what little they contained in the morning, and having myself +fired nearly 150 rounds of ammunition, the powder of which, in biting +off the ends of the cartridges, had nearly choked me. What would I not +have given for a good drink? I felt completely exhausted, and laid me +down with the others with great good-will on the top of one of the +sand-hills. But the night proved extremely wet, so that every one of us +was very soon as completely soaked as if he had been dragged through a +river; and, to crown my misfortunes, I was without a blanket. Here I +must confess my folly, that others similarly situated may profit by my +experience. Soon after the commencement of the action a rumour was +spread along the line of skirmishers, that the Duke, seeing the very +arduous duty we had to perform, had said, "Never mind, my lads, if your +knapsacks are any encumbrance to you, and impede your running, throw +them off, and I will take care you shall be furnished with others." No +sooner did this silly report reach my ears, than I, with many others, +equally simple, believed it, without taking time to consider that if +even it were true, a knapsack and a blanket, (for they were together,) +to be useful should be at hand when wanted. But, simpleton like, away +went knapsack and blanket, and I felt greatly relieved in getting rid of +such a burden, and now pushed on after the enemy with increased vigour, +trying at the same time to persuade myself the report was true; although +I own I occasionally had my doubts on the subject. But night came on, as +I have said, and such a one as I have seldom seen for wet, and then I +plainly perceived that I had played the young soldier. + +An officer of ours of the name of Lacy, who had formerly been the +captain of the Northumberland light company, and who volunteered with +us, offered any man half a guinea for the use of a blanket for that +night only, but without being able to obtain one: this will give some +idea of the kind of night it was. I had nothing for it, but just to put +the cock of my musket between my knees, to keep it as dry as possible, +and lay myself down as I was. I endeavoured to get as close as I could +to one who had a blanket, and lay down with my head at his feet, which +he had covered up very comfortably with his blanket. The rain pelted so +heavily and so incessantly on my face, that I ventured after a while to +pull a little corner of this man's blanket just to cover my cheek from +the pitiless storm, and in this situation snatched a comfortable nap; +but he awakening in the night, and finding that I had made free with the +corner of his blanket, rudely pulled it from off my face, and rolled it +round his feet again. + +I was fain to lie still and let it pelt away, and even in this exposed +situation I got some sleep, so completely were the powers of nature +exhausted by fatigue. At length morning arose and showed us to +ourselves, and such a group of sweeps we had seldom seen. Our clothing +was literally all filth and dirt; our arms the colour of our coats with +rust; and our faces as black as if we had come out of a coal-pit. In +biting off the ends of the cartridges, there are generally a few grains +of powder left sticking on the lips and about the mouth; these, +accumulated as they must have been by the great quantity of ammunition +each of us had fired, and with the profuse perspiration we were in +during the heat of the day, added to the wet which fell upon us during +the night, had caused the powder to run all over our faces; so that in +the morning we cut the most ludicrous figure imaginable. However we +immediately set about getting our arms again in trim, for though the +enemy had left us masters of the field of action, they were not far +distant from us. We soon got our firelocks again in fighting order; that +is, they would go off, though the brightness, on which a clean soldier +piques himself, was gone past recovery at this time. I now felt rather +sore from firing my piece so often; the recoil against my shoulder and +breast had blackened them, and rendered them rather painful, and the +middle finger of my right hand was completely blackened and swoln from +the same cause. + +At this time it was reported that a sad accident had occurred in our +battalion; a soldier of one of our companies, in cleaning his musket, +had by some awkwardness allowed it to go off, and an officer being +immediately in front of where he was standing, the ball had taken effect +upon him, and killed him on the spot. + +After getting ourselves brushed up a little, the whole battalion was +brought together, and moved to the right into the town of Egmont-op-Zee, +where the guards and some other regiments had been since the evening +before, after beating the enemy out of it, as I before mentioned. We +remained here for that day, during which Alkmaar surrendered, and then +advanced to the village of Egmont Binnen, or Egmont-op-Hoof, I am not +certain which it is called, a few miles in front, and close by the sea. + +I omitted to mention, that our fight of the 2d took place over the +ground from which Lord Duncan's victory derived its name, _i. e._ +Camperdown. This headland, I fancy, we must have passed during that +day's operations--But to return. We remained in Egmont Binnen till the +morning of the 6th, when my battalion was ordered to fall in and march +towards the outposts, a few miles in front, in order, as we understood, +to relieve our grenadier battalion, which had been out since the day +before. We advanced by the sea-shore, but had not gone far before we saw +and heard unequivocal signs that we should have something more than +outpost duty to perform; the fact is, the enemy was rapidly advancing, +their force in front having been greatly augmented by reinforcements; +but when about two miles from the village, we met a soldier of the 11th +light dragoons bringing in a French officer, whom he had taken prisoner. +He belonged to the chasseurs-à-cheval, a sort of mounted light troops, +who can act either as infantry or cavalry, as occasion may require. When +we met them, and while they stood talking for a moment, I could not help +thinking it would have made a fine subject for a painting; for the +officer was most superbly dressed in dark green, with a richly +embroidered pouch-belt over his shoulder, and with a deep cut across his +cheek, from which the blood was streaming over an extremely handsome +face; indeed he was altogether a most interesting figure, and, +contrasted with the rough features and haughty bearing of the proud +trooper who had taken him, produced a fine effect. The fellow gave his +horse a slap over the flank with the flat of his sword, and set off with +his prisoner, crying out, that there were plenty more of them to take, +and that he would soon return and bring in another. + +As we advanced, we could plainly perceive the enemy in front, +skirmishing with our grenadiers, and we also saw that they possessed a +pretty strong body of cavalry--a species of troops we had not +encountered on the 2d. We could distinctly perceive the cavalry wading +into the sea as far as their horses could go, in order, as we imagined, +to see past the point of a projecting sand-hill, which obstructed their +view of the beach beyond it; but when they perceived that the force +which was advancing against them was not great, they attacked our +grenadiers with increased vivacity, and we soon after came in contact +with them, for they were advancing with as great rapidity as if no force +was in front to oppose them. + +We soon perceived that they were nearly four times our numbers, and were +obliged to adopt such a _ruse de guerre_ as is frequently practised by +the weaker party, but which had no effect, I am sorry to say, on this +occasion,--that is, while one part of our force was skirmishing, the +remainder got behind sand-hills a little in rear, and letting the men's +heads just show over their tops, as if standing in columns of +battalions, tried to induce the enemy to believe that each separate body +which appeared was of that force; but no, Johnny (as the soldiers +sometimes call the French) was not so easily gulled, for they had +previously ascertained pretty accurately the strength of our force in +front of them, by the operation of the cavalry before mentioned. They +therefore pressed on us with the most desperate fury, and in +overwhelming numbers. + +We maintained the action as well as our limited means permitted, and for +a while kept tolerable order; but as the fight became hotter, and the +disparity of force more apparent, I regret to say, our young troops fell +into considerable disorder and confusion. This giving the enemy greater +confidence, of course he availed himself of it, and attacked us with +redoubled impetuosity; and, I lament to say, our dismayed and +disheartened young soldiers fell from one degree of confusion to +another, till at length all order seemed entirely lost amongst us; and +what was at first a rather regular retreat, became at last a disorderly +flight; for wherever an attempt was made to check the ardour of the +enemy, the immense inequality of force they possessed soon completely +overthrew the few that stood; and many were the brave fellows, both +officers and men, who fell in this unequal contest, without their having +the slightest chance of successfully opposing our impetuous foe. + +The flight now became more like a race than any thing else, and I +imagine they drove us not less than three or four miles without giving +us time to breathe; but when we had reached within about a mile of the +village we had left in the morning, we perceived some regiments +advancing to our succour; among them was the 23d, which advanced in +line, and showed so good and steady a front as quite delighted us. We +could also perceive to our left, that the Russians had become engaged +with the force in front of them, and were holding it at bay; indeed by +this time the action had extended considerably into the country, and +some others of the British troops, I understand, were soon engaged. + +On the coming up of the reinforcement, the 23d in particular, our +straggling and broken troops, which had been so wofully beaten, now +united, and again advanced upon the enemy; and when the 23d had given +them a volley or two, the French gave way and retreated with as great +precipitation as they had advanced. In short the tables were turned upon +them, and the pursuit of them now was equally rapid with our retreat +before them a short while previously; and before the action ceased, we +had driven them considerably beyond where we encountered them in the +morning. Night scarcely put an end to the action, for the firing +continued long after dark, each party being directed by the fire from +the arms of their opponents; the unwillingness to desist on our part, I +attribute to a desire of revenge for the disgrace they had inflicted on +us in the morning. Towards the evening it came on exceedingly wet. + +Nothing could surpass the steadiness and fine appearance of the 23d, on +entering into action; but they were all old soldiers, while our two +battalions were composed altogether, I may say, of volunteers from the +militia, who had as little idea of service in the field, as if newly +taken from the plough. I would just remark here, that from what I have +witnessed upon different occasions, I should never be inclined to put +very much confidence in raw troops of whatever nation, or of what stuff +soever they may be composed, for it is certain, that without being at +all deficient in point of courage, they have not that confidence in +their own powers which soldiers who are inured to service possess; and +if hastily or hotly set upon, while without the aid and example of +others more experienced than themselves, it is many chances to one I +think that they will give way. So it was on this occasion. Nothing could +exceed the materials of which these two battalions were composed, had +they had the advantage of a little more experience; and no troops could +fight better than they did, after gaining the support and countenance of +the old regiments which were sent to reinforce them. + +But I confess with shame, we showed a great want of nerve in the early +part of the day, although to any troops the occasion must have been one +of severe trial. When the retreat had degenerated into a flight, and +every one seemed intent only on making the best of his way to the rear, +I, with some others who were among the hills, imagined we could get on +faster if we took to the sea-beach, which, although it also was composed +of deep sand, yet was level, and could not be so very fatiguing as +climbing the innumerable hills over which we had to retreat. Away we +accordingly set for the beach; but we had forgotten to calculate that if +the beach would facilitate our retreat, it also would the enemy's +advance. This we soon discovered, for we had scarcely descended from the +hills when we found ourselves almost surrounded by the enemy; and it was +not without the utmost exertion in our power that we were enabled to +effect our escape, the balls flying thicker about us during our short +stay here than they had done all the day before. My haversack was a +great encumbrance to me on this occasion, for, having lost my knapsack +as before related, I was obliged to stuff every thing I possessed into +this inconvenient bag; which, hanging so low as to knock against my +thighs, greatly impeded my progress to the rear, and had nigh got me +lodged in a French prison. + +A girl, who had followed a grenadier belonging to my regiment when he +volunteered out of the militia, accompanied her protector during the +whole of this day's operations, and shared equally with him every danger +and fatigue to which he was exposed, and no argument could prevail upon +her to leave him till the whole business was over, and till the +battalion to which her sweetheart belonged was sent to the rear at +night. I am not certain whether it was his Royal Highness's intention to +have fought this day, or whether the action was brought on fortuitously; +but certainly, although we began the fight under very unfavourable +circumstances, and things looked rather awkward at one part of the day, +no army ever got a more complete drubbing than the French did before the +business terminated. I have since learnt that the action became general +along the whole line towards the close of the day. Thus ended the last +affair between the British and French troops during that unfortunate +expedition. + +The next day we fell back upon Egmont Binnen, leaving sufficiently +strong outposts to occupy the ground we had taken, and this day I was +fortunate enough to pick up the shell of an artilleryman's knapsack who +had been killed in one of the late fights; but for necessaries I was +totally destitute, and began soon after to feel the effects of my folly +in throwing away my own. A little before midnight of the evening of the +7th, we were again ordered under arms with all dispatch and without +noise, and had no doubt it was for the purpose of advancing as before, +so as to reach the enemy's line by daylight next morning. How great then +was our surprise and disappointment, when we turned our faces towards +the rear, and filed out of the village by the road leading towards our +old quarters! We moved on in silence till we reached Egmont-op-Zee, +where the flashes from a large coal fire erected by way of lighthouse, +shed a melancholy gleam over our columns as we passed beneath the hill +on which it was erected. Here also by the sea lay innumerable dead +bodies, both of men and horses, together with broken tumbrils and other +sad emblems of the devastation which a few days previously had been made +on this very ground; for here it was that the heat and principal part of +the action of the 2d took place, when the heavy columns of the opposing +armies came in contact with each other. It would not be easy to describe +our feelings as we moved sadly and silently along, knowing, as we now +did, that we were for ever abandoning all the advantages that we had +hitherto gained, after so much toil, privations, and loss as we had +suffered; but it was useless to repine. Our leaders must know better +than we could possibly do, what state the army was in, and what +likelihood remained of effecting the object for which we came into the +country; our duty therefore was to obey, without questioning the +propriety of our present movement, however unpleasant it might be to our +feelings. + +We passed by Old Patten, near to which the action of the 2d commenced, +and finally returned to our old quarters at Zaand Wyck, which we reached +some time next day, and where I found my comrade Sutherland, who had +been here for some days; his wound, which was through the shoulder, not +having disabled him from making his way thus far. He had some mutton +already cooked, of which I partook with great relish, for I needed +refreshment much; and after taking a swig out of his canteen, I laid me +down and slept most soundly, rejoiced and thankful that I had so +comfortable a home to return to. + +We remained in this quarter only a day or two, and then our brigade was +removed towards the left of the line, which, as well as I remember, +rested upon Kolhorn. My battalion occupied the village of Basingohorn, +to which we had retired on a former occasion; I mean on our retreat from +Hoorne. This was one of the villages farthest in advance, consequently +it became an outpost. A night or two passed quietly, but on the second +or third night, a firing commenced from the advanced sentries all along +the line. Whether the enemy had merely been making a reconnoissance, or +whether they had intended to advance in force, and our discovering them +altered their plan, I know not, but think the former the more probable; +but be as it may, it had the effect of turning out our whole line of +outposts, which, as might be expected, prepared to give them the best +reception we were able. I remember on this occasion putting in two balls +when we were ordered to load, as I was determined not to spare them, for +I (with all my comrades I believe) felt sore at having been obliged to +yield up all the advantages we had gained, to an enemy which we +certainly did not consider as having fairly won them from us in action, +but who were more indebted to the severity of the weather, producing +such disastrous consequences on our young army, than to their prowess in +the field. They retired, however, without giving us an opportunity of +welcoming them in the manner we intended. A few days after this, on the +19th October, it came to my turn to be one of the advanced sentries. +About break of day, while musing of many things, of home with all its +comforts, and contrasting it with my then rather uncomfortable +situation, I was suddenly aroused from my reverie by the beating of +drums and sounding of trumpets and music, &c., all along the French +line. I could not conjecture the cause of all this, for although it is +customary to sound and beat the réveille at this hour, yet never having +heard the French do so before, I concluded something more than ordinary +had occurred to cause them to do so on this occasion, and I need hardly +inform my reader that I kept a good look-out, in order that they should +not catch us napping. In a short while, however, the mystery was cleared +up; for an officer of ours came round all the advanced sentries to tell +us, that, as an armistice had been concluded, we were not any longer to +prevent the country-people from passing and repassing, as we had +formerly had orders to do. I imagine the festive noises which I heard +arose from this circumstance having taken place, for I believe the +French were tired enough of the business, although they had now become +in some measure the assailants; or else the cessation of hostilities +allowed them to resume their wonted custom of beating the réveille in +the morning. + +Seeing we had failed in our attempt to wrest the country from the +French, and that no hope now remained of our ever being in a condition +to effect it, the prospect of returning home once more became a pleasing +consideration, and I fully gave way to it. My comrades also now began to +turn their thoughts homeward, and cheerfulness once more beamed on +countenances which for some days past had been rather gloomy. But by +this time the dysentery had made sad ravages among our young and +inexperienced soldiery, for on a day soon after this, we could in my +company muster on parade only eighteen men out of one hundred, of which +it was composed at the outset. This inefficiency was caused principally +by disease, although we had certainly lost a fair proportion in the +field. It was therefore well that our removal to a more favourable soil +was about speedily to take place; and wisely had his Royal Highness +acted in agreeing to evacuate a country, the climate of which had been +so extremely prejudicial to his army. About this time also, I began to +have my personal trials and sufferings; for now I began to feel the full +effect of my folly on the 2d inst., in throwing away my knapsack, for I +had not a change of any description, and the consequence may be easily +conjectured. Filth and vermin now began to add poignancy to my other +sufferings, but I bore up against them all as well as I was able; and I +have reason to thank God, that the strength of a good constitution +enabled me to continue my duty without yielding for one day to the +accumulated effects of these disagreeables. Soon after this also, the +good people of England, commiserating our uncomfortable situation, sent +out presents of flannel shirts and shoes, which arrived most +opportunely. I was not fortunate enough to obtain one of the former +necessary articles, but my sergeant kindly put me down for a pair of +shoes, of which I stood in great need, and now beg to return my best +thanks to the kind friends who sent them, although at the time we +expected we should have to pay for them. In a short while after this, +the grenadiers and light battalions were broken up, and each company +returned and joined its own proper regiment. We joined ours (the 56th) +at a weeshaus (or poorhouse), situated on the great canal which connects +this part of Holland with Alkmaer, and not far from Schagen-bruck. Here +we were occupied for a few days in putting things in the best order we +could, previous to our embarkation. + +About the 3d November we marched for the Helder, from whence we went on +board. On our way down, one of my comrades, who was not over scrupulous +in expressing his sentiments, was railing bitterly against the +mismanagement (as he imagined) of the expedition, and saying, "he hoped +the next time we came to that country, should we ever come again, that +we would leave it under more favourable circumstances." General Manners +(to whose brigade we now belonged) was riding close behind, unknown to +this complainer, and overheard every word he said. When the soldier had +finished, the General most good-naturedly rode up to him, and began to +argue the matter with him. "Why," says he, "although we are leaving the +country, it is not from the enemy having compelled us to do so from his +superior bravery or success in the field, for we have fought only five +actions since landing, and in four of these we have been the conquerors; +it is owing solely to the great sickness and consequent inefficiency of +the army that we have been compelled to this measure." I could not but +admire the affability and kindness of the General, and was fully +satisfied myself, and so were all who heard him, of, I believe, the +justness of the remarks he made. We reached the Helder the same day, +where we remained doing duty till the 10th November, on which we +embarked on board his Majesty's ship Romney, of fifty guns, commanded by +Captain Lawford, (afterwards by Sir Home Popham.) She was only a small +vessel of her class, and yet our whole regiment was put on board her; we +indeed were not very strong, but she was crowded beyond measure, for +many, nay, most of the troops had not literally lying room, each company +having barely the space between two guns, which, I should think, is not +more than twelve feet at the utmost, and even here the sailors, whether +with or without orders I know not, slung their hammocks over us. I +particularly remember this being the case, for I had the second night, +by way of securing room to stretch myself, lain down between decks early +in the evening, and had had some little repose, when a sailor, whose +hammock was slung right over me, and while standing and making it, put +his foot right on my cheek, and stood there till he had finished. I know +not whether he knew that it was a human head he was treading on, but I +judged it best to be as quiet as possible; preferring the pain of +bearing his weight on my head, rather than, by moving or crying out, to +incur the risk of his foot slipping, and peeling the skin off my face. +The voyage was fortunately short, for in seven days we landed at +Yarmouth, glad and rejoiced that this unpleasant and ill-fated +expedition was terminated. I know not whether my reader is old enough to +remember the autumn of which I have been speaking, but to me it appeared +one of the wettest and most uncomfortable that I ever remember; and it +was here, while exposed to its effects, that were laid, most probably, +the seeds of that severe pulmonic affection from which I have since +suffered so much. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Arrive in England--The Pompadours embark for Ireland--Arrive at + Kinsale--Privations in Ireland in 1800--Peace concluded--Our + Author resolves to return home, but ultimately volunteers into + the Rifle Corps or 95th--Embarks for England, and joins his + Regiment at Sussex--Is promoted. + + +We landed at Yarmouth on the 17th November, and the next day marched to +Norwich, where we remained a few days, and where we found the people +remarkably kind and attentive to our comforts; and, indeed, we now cut a +most sorry figure, being literally nothing but rags and dirt; it was +certainly a sad tax on the good landlords on whom we were billeted, to +be compelled to find us lodgings, for we never left the beds unoccupied +by some of the uncomfortable companions of our travels when we arose in +the morning. I here began to find myself very unwell, for though I had +borne up against sickness in the field, I could not now receive my food +without feeling the most afflicting nausea, my stomach being completely +out of order; and it was no wonder, for we had been compelled for +several weeks past to drink the brackish water of the ditches of +Holland, no springs (that ever I saw) being there to be found, and the +little water in their wells, when we arrived in the country, being +speedily exhausted. We had also been deprived of salt nearly all the +time of our sojourn in that country, one of the greatest privations that +I know of. Through the nursing of my kind landlady, however, I gradually +regained my appetite, and with it my health, for which I have reason to +be truly thankful to Him who has ever dealt so mercifully with me. + +In a few days we left Norwich on our route to Chelmsford, and on our way +passed through Bury St Edmunds, where my late regiment, the +Northumberland militia, was quartered; they vied with each other in +showing us kind attentions, but our miserable appearance put the +soldiers of this regiment sadly out of love with the regular service. + +We did not remain at Chelmsford long, but marched again for Horsham in +Sussex, on which occasion I for the first time had a view of the +metropolis, as we passed through it, by way of Whitechapel and London +Bridge, &c. At Horsham we were quartered during the remainder of this +winter. About the 10th or 12th of February 1800, we marched for +Portsmouth, where we embarked for Ireland on the 14th. On this occasion +the regiment was put on board two first-rate frigates; the Endymion was +that on which the left wing went on board, but I do not recollect the +name of the other. An agreement was entered into between the two +captains, I understood, to sail for fifty guineas, they both being +considered fast vessels; our destination was Cork; they were to start +together, and the first there of course to be the winner. + +We sailed with a favourable breeze, and got on most delightfully, +having, soon after sailing, parted from our antagonist, and passing, if +I recollect right, inside the Isles of Scilly, we in a few days drew +near our destined port. But on the 19th, as we were pushing on with all +our might, having every stitch of sail set, a squall came on so +suddenly, that, before she could be stripped of her superfluous +clothing, she was actually running bows under water, the sea entering +the bow-ports, and making its way along between decks, like to wash +every thing away before it. At this time the log was hove, and we were +going at the (I believe) unparalleled rate of fifteen knots an hour. But +unfortunately for our captain, the vessel was completely driven out of +her course, and towards evening we entered the harbour of Kinsale, thus +losing the fifty guineas, although we were no doubt the better sailer. + +This was the first gale I had experienced, and I did not relish it; but +when we entered the harbour, where the water was quite smooth, the +sensation I felt was most delightful, after having been buffeted most +violently by the sea without. The next day we landed, and were billeted +in Kinsale, and here I had the first view of Irishmen and Irish manners. +I need not attempt to describe them; for could I, so many have done it +before me, that the subject is almost exhausted. In a day or two after +landing, we marched to Cork, where the right wing had been landed, and +with which we of course formed a junction. + +We remained in Ireland from this time till the peace of 1802 was +concluded, and were quartered successively in the towns of Cork, +Kilkenny, Clonmel, Fermoy, and Kinsale; but as there was nothing which +could interest a reader that occurred to me during this period, I shall +pass it over in silence, save mentioning the following:--In the year +1800, it is well known the utmost distress was experienced by the poor +of both countries, a scarcity, the effects of the wet harvest of 1799, +having grievously afflicted all the British dominions. But in Ireland, +the sufferings of the poor were great, beyond the conception of an +Englishman who has not witnessed them, and many hundreds of them, I +believe, actually perished of want. + +But my tale relates more immediately to my own sufferings and those of +my comrades; for we had then but what was termed a "black shilling a +day," that is twelve pence Irish, an English or white shilling, or Hog, +going in that country for thirteen pence; we had not then any beer money +either, but had solely this black shilling to subsist on. Meat at this +time was no less than 10d. per lb., of which each man received half a +pound; bread was 5d. per lb., of which we also got half a pound. This +half pound of bread, and half pound of meat, and that not of the best, +was all we had to live on, and do our duty, which was not always of the +easiest description. The remainder of our shilling was taken to furnish +necessaries, washing, pipeclay, &c., for I do not remember that we ever +laid in any sort of vegetables for the pot. Potatoes were out of the +question, for they were no less than three shillings a stone of fourteen +pounds. + +Although we did not absolutely suffer want, the reader will perceive +that we were but sparely dieted; the consequence was, innumerable +robberies of potato fields, and gardens, &c., in the neighbourhood of +our quarters; and many were the men that got punished for this crime, +but it could not be put a stop to, for hunger is not easily borne. +Indeed, on one occasion, I myself was seduced, by the persuasion of my +comrades and by the cravings of hunger, into the commission of this +crime. I remember well I was on what was termed the Commissariat guard, +a short distance from the town of Fermoy, when my companions, thinking +it a favourable opportunity for procuring something to eat, prevailed +upon me to accompany them to a garden near the bridge, into which we +entered, and each of us returned loaded with a fine cabbage, and which +afforded us an excellent meal after our relief from guard. It is +impossible to justify such an act, but the reader will be convinced, I +trust, that sheer hunger alone urged me to the perpetration of this +crime. Others, I have no doubt, were equally ill off, who did not resort +to such disgraceful means of satisfying their hunger, but bore it with +patient resignation. I believe that such was the case, and take shame to +myself for yielding either to the calls of nature or the solicitations +of my companions, some others of whom were not so scrupulous. During +this distressing season I sold a watch which had formerly been my +father's, and with which I felt extremely loath to part. I also received +a little money from home, all, or nearly all, of which was expended in +procuring food. + +The hedges and fields, &c. in the vicinity, were ransacked in all +directions, for the purpose of procuring bramble-berries, nettles, &c. +&c.; in short, for any thing that was eatable. Such was our situation +during several months, while under the command of Lieut.-Col. Skinner, +who, although an excellent officer, had little idea of disposing of a +soldier's pay to the best advantage; but latterly we were commanded by +Major Keating, who, making the comfort of the soldiers under his command +his continual study and delight, soon adopted a system which secured to +us plenty in comparison of our former state. He left off the meat and +bread save occasionally, and procured for us plenty of oatmeal and milk, +by which means our wasted bodies began shortly after to resume quite +another appearance. + +We were quartered at Lap's Island, in Cork, when the news arrived of +peace having been concluded; and as the bulk of the regiment had +volunteered from the militia for five years, or during the war, measures +were taken for discharging all those who did not re-enlist either into +their own or other regiments. My mind was fully made up to return home; +for although, as I said before, I never repented of having entered the +regular service, yet I knew that the anxiety of my dear parents for my +return was so great, that I had settled it fully in my own mind to leave +the army. + +Another reason operated with me partly in forming this resolution--I had +persuaded myself that I ought to have been promoted--for I judged myself +fully capable of conducting the duties of a non-commissioned officer, +and I flattered myself my conduct had been generally unexceptionable; +but I was disappointed, for the great numbers in my company, who were +judged both more deserving and better qualified, and withal +better-looking soldiers, put it out of the question for me to look +forward to promotion. + +I was in this state when an officer and a party of the Rifle corps +arrived at Cork, to receive such of the men of the different regiments +then about to be discharged, as chose to volunteer, for this novel, and, +as some thought, dangerous service. I cannot account for the impulse +with which I was urged on, from the moment I had seen one of the men, to +enter this corps. Something strange seemed to push me on, contrary to +the full determination to return home, which had possessed me an hour +before. I will not attempt to account for it, but such was the fact. I +immediately, with some others of my regiment, gave in my name as a +volunteer for the Rifle corps, and was in consequence in a day or two +sworn into that corps, in which I have ever considered it an honour to +serve, and which I have reason to thank a kind and overruling Providence +I ever entered. + +No news of course could be so afflictive to my dear parents, as to hear +of the last rash and irretrievable step which I had taken. It had +wellnigh broken their hearts, for they fully calculated on my returning +home, as I had written to that effect. Judge then of their surprise and +sorrow, when they learnt that I had entered, what was deemed by some, a +condemned corps, and that for life--and that the West Indies would no +doubt soon be my grave. + +On my leaving the 56th, the officers of my company expressed their +regret that I should quit the regiment, and told me, that although the +mode hitherto pursued of keeping all the best-looking men in the light +company had kept many from obtaining promotion, who otherwise would have +been made non-commissioned officers, yet that mode was no longer to be +adhered to, and that I might shortly expect to be promoted into another +company, if I would consent to remain. I thanked them, and told them I +had made up my mind, on which they each gave me a certificate as to +character, &c., recommending me to the officers of my new corps, and +which were of service to me afterwards. + +The sergeant who had been sent to receive us, at once became my stanch +friend, and employed me, as the party was now become pretty strong, to +act as a non-commissioned officer. Every thing went on quite smoothly, +and I felt happy in my new corps, and in my new employment. + +We marched soon after to Waterford, and thence to Passage, and there +embarked for the Isle of Wight, and without encountering any remarkable +event arrived at Cowes on the 27th June, 1802; here we remained a day or +two, and then marched for the regiment in Sussex. We found them at East +Bourne, although Blatchington was their quarter, but they had been sent +out of it on account of the assizes or election, I do not remember +which. + +We immediately commenced our light drill, in which I took great delight; +but most of all I liked the shooting at the target. As recruits, we were +first drilled at what is termed the horse, _i. e._ a machine to assist +young riflemen in taking aim. At this I pleased my commanding-officer so +much the first time I tried, that he ordered me to the front, and told +me to load, and fire at the target. I did, and made a pretty good shot, +hitting pretty near the bull's eye; on which he made me load again and +fire, and hitting that also, he made me go on till I had fired ten +rounds, all of which hit the target, and two of which had struck the +bull's eye. The distance indeed was only fifty yards, but for a recruit, +that is, a person unaccustomed to rifle-shooting, he called it a +wonderful exhibition, and in consequence he gave me sixpence out of his +pocket, and ordered me home. I thought the reward quite inadequate, so +natural is it for us to overrate our own deservings. + +This officer (Major Wade) was one of the best shots himself that I have +almost ever seen. I have known him, and a soldier of the name of +Smeaton, hold the target for each other at the distance of 150 yards, +while the other fired at it, so steady and so accurate was both their +shooting. + +I continued to maintain my character as a good shot, which in a rifle +corps is a great recommendation, and proceeded in acquiring a knowledge +of my other duties with such steadiness as obtained the approbation of +my officers. We soon after marched to Chatham--and while there, several +non-commissioned officers being employed on the recruiting service, I +was employed in doing the duty of one, having been appointed what is +termed a "chosen man." + +I must record the manner of my appointment. An acting-sergeant was doing +the duty of pay-sergeant of our company, but he took it into his head to +go all wrong, spending the money intrusted to him for the payment of the +men. He of course was deprived of the situation; and on this occasion it +was, that the officer commanding the company came to me one day, and +said to me, "Surtees, I shall be _forced_ to make you a chosen man." I +thanked him, but could not help reflecting on the strange mode of +expressing himself which he had adopted. The fact is, I believe, without +thinking about the opinion I must form of the compliment he was paying +me, he had been indeed forced to it, for he had no one to pay the +company besides; and as I was not yet dismissed from the drill, it was +an unprecedented measure. But he need not have told the _whole_ truth on +this occasion, for I should have been no worse a non-commissioned +officer, had he been more complimentary; but he was a _plain_ man, and +not much given to compliment. + +On our march hither, some of the men broke into the plate chest of the +officers' mess, while the baggage stopped in Maidstone; one man was +discovered, and tried for it, and sentenced to receive 800 lashes, all +of which he took at one standing, and that without evincing much +suffering; this was the most I ever saw inflicted at one time. + +We marched again from Chatham in September, and on the 2d of October +arrived at Thorncliffe. While here, my parents interested Mr Beaumont, +M.P. for my native county, to solicit my discharge from the Honourable +Colonel Stewart, my then commanding-officer, they paying the regulated +sum to the government. The colonel sent for me, and talked with me on +the subject, and argued most forcibly in favour of my remaining in the +regiment, saying he had intended to promote me the first vacancy; and +that he had no doubt whatever of seeing me one day an officer. I own my +views were not so sanguine; but his reasoning prevailed, and I consented +to remain. Soon after, an opportunity offering, I was appointed corporal +on the 24th of the same month. + +Here again I had disappointed my beloved and tender parents, for it was +not without considerable trouble and difficulty they obtained the +interference of Mr Beaumont, and now I had again thrown cold water on +all their endeavours to obtain my discharge. I fear I have much to +answer for, as respects my conduct towards them. May God forgive me! + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Made Pay-sergeant--Moral Reflections--Wreck of a Dutch East + Indiaman--Reduced Officers--War with France in 1803--Encampment + at Thorncliffe under the command of General Sir John + Moore--Encampment broke up, November, 1804--Embark for Germany, + October, 1805--Vicissitudes at Sea--Land at Cuxhaven--March to + Bremen--Outposts established--Retrograde movements, in + consequence of the defeat of the Allied Forces at + Austerlitz--The Allied Forces evacuate Germany--Re-embarkation + of the troops--The Rifle Corps, or 95th, land at Yarmouth. + + +Having given satisfaction as a corporal, I was shortly after appointed +acting-sergeant; and in that capacity also, having pleased my officers, +I was, on a vacancy occurring on the 19th of February following, +appointed sergeant, and given the payment of a company. My head was +almost turned by such rapid promotion, and I began in earnest to +contemplate the possibility of my colonel's predictions being one day +verified. Kind Providence watched over me, however, and kept me from +being too much elated, and of committing myself as I otherwise might +have done. Indeed I many times did commit things which, if strictly +searched into, would have brought censure upon me, and lowered the high +opinion that both myself and others entertained of me; but nothing that +openly violated the law by which I was then governed (although many of +God's laws I daily transgressed) was done by me. + +I was at this time, although careful to secure the good opinion of my +officers, little solicitous to please Him who had alone lavished all +this bounty upon me. Indeed I believe I was as ungodly at this time as +I ever remember to have been, and yet He caused me to prosper. Oh! how I +ought to feel shame and confusion of face at the recollection of such +abused goodness and mercy! May He pardon me for Christ's sake! + +A short while before my appointment as sergeant, a most melancholy +occurrence took place in the neighbourhood of our cantonment. A large +Dutch East Indiaman, outward bound to Batavia, and full of troops, in +passing down channel, mistook, I understand, the light at Dungeness for +one on the French coast, and in consequence stood in towards Dymchurch +wall instead of keeping out to sea. As might be expected, she was not +long in striking on the wall, running with her bow quite close under the +road, and in an instant, almost, went to pieces; and although numbers of +people were early at the spot, and some, I believe, at the very moment +she struck, they could render the unfortunate sufferers no effectual +aid, although only a few yards distant from them. Out of about 800 +persons on board, only seven men were saved. Many poor fellows, I +understand, attempted to swim on shore, some on planks, and others +without any aid; but such was the tremendous swell, and the general +destruction of the ship so rapid, that only those seven before mentioned +succeeded; and they not without being all more or less injured by pieces +of the wreck. An admiral, I understood, was on board, and perished; +several beautiful females were afterwards cast ashore among the dead, +the wives or daughters, no doubt, of some on board; they were for the +most part nearly naked, so that it is conjectured they had been in bed. + +As might be expected, the allurement to plunder so valuable a wreck was +not resisted by the natives of this part of the coast, but Colonel +Stewart humanely placed strong bodies of the regiment at different +points where the wreck had drifted, to secure as much of the property as +he could for the Dutch government, and also to collect and bring in the +numerous dead bodies which floated along the shore; all of which he had +decently interred in the churchyard at Thorncliffe, and had the poor +wounded survivors taken into hospital, where every care was taken of +them. Indeed nothing could exceed the unremitting attention which he +paid both to the dead and living on this most melancholy occasion, and +for which he received, as he well merited, the thanks of the Dutch +government. + +About this period we had several individuals serving in the corps as +soldiers, who had been officers in the army during the late war, but +who, from different causes, had been reduced to the necessity of +enlisting as private soldiers. The first that I remember was a person of +the name of Conway Welch, who, I understood, had been an officer, and I +think the Adjutant of the Surrey Rangers. He got on to the rank of +Corporal, but, being excessively wild, I believe he never attained a +higher rank. I do not remember what became of him. + +The second was called Hughes; he was, I believe, when he enlisted, +actually in the receipt of half-pay as a lieutenant of the line. He was +a person of good conduct, and was soon promoted to the rank of corporal, +and the colonel took him for his own private clerk, or secretary, as he +was denominated; but he did not remain long in this situation, for he +was shortly after called upon full pay of his rank in the army. I +believe his case was a singular one. + +The third unfortunate individual was of the name of Tait. He had been a +captain in the Caithness Legion, but reduced when the regiment was +broken up at the peace. He conducted himself extremely well for some +time after he came into the regiment, and got on so far as to become +pay-sergeant of a company. But in this situation, having considerable +sums at his command, he became involved through his dissipation, and +being unable to extricate himself from his difficulties, he adopted the +fatal resolution of committing suicide, and accordingly, when quartered +at Woodbridge, he one day retired to his room, loaded his rifle, and +blew out his brains. + +The story of the fourth individual is a scarcely less melancholy one. +His name was M'Laughlan. I had known him while serving in my late +regiment, as he had been an officer in the light company of the 35th +regiment, and stood next in the light battalion to the company to which +I belonged. He, shortly before our embarkation for Holland, got +involved, through a gambling transaction I heard, and was in consequence +obliged to dispose of his commission, which, it would appear from this, +he had originally purchased. But interest was made in his behalf, and he +was permitted to accompany his regiment to Holland in the capacity of a +volunteer, and he accordingly assumed the firelock and bayonet in place +of his former weapon, the sword. He was fortunate enough to obtain +another commission before the return of the troops to England, but how +he became deprived of that I have been unable to learn. But about the +latter end of 1803, he enlisted as a private in my corps. His conduct +here was far from good, and he consequently never rose higher, for he +was continually in scrapes from his dissipated habits; and becoming +tired of the restraint laid upon him by the strict discipline which our +excellent commanding-officer enforced, he one day made an attempt to +desert and join the French at Boulogne, and was picked up by one of our +cruisers in endeavouring to cross the channel in an open boat. He was +brought back handcuffed, and lodged in the guard-house one day when I +happened to be sergeant commanding the guard. + +As I looked on him, I could not help reflecting on the strange +vicissitudes which attend some men in their passage through life. Here +was a person whom I had known only a few years before while encamped on +Barham Downs, a gay and handsome young officer, moving in the circle of +men of gallantry and honour; and now behold him a wretched culprit, +stretched on the wooden guard-bed, manacled like a felon. In contrasting +his miserable situation with my own so much happier lot, what ample +cause had I for gratitude to that kind and indulgent Providence, which +had preserved me from those excesses, which entailed so much misery on +others. He was shortly after tried by a general court-martial, and +transported as a felon for life. I understand a sister of his was at +Thorncliffe at the time of his trial, &c., the wife of a brevet +lieutenant-colonel in the 4th regiment. What must she have felt! + +It will be recollected that, in 1803, war again broke out between this +country and France, as my preceding story had intimated. The army was +consequently augmented again, and my corps, till now called the "Rifle +Corps," was made the 95th. This year a camp was formed on Thorncliffe, +under the command of that able general and excellent man Sir John Moore. +This was termed by some the "Vanguard of England," for here it was that +the then threatened invasion of this country by Bonaparte must most +likely have taken place, it being immediately opposite to the grand camp +then forming at Boulogne. Daily rencontres took place between our +cruisers and his far-famed flotilla; and on one occasion, the belief +that he was sending forth his invincible host was so great, that our +camp was struck, the troops turned out, and received each man his sixty +rounds of ammunition; the waggons and carts were all put in immediate +requisition, and the inhabitants were flying in all directions. But to +our disappointment, I will not say whether disagreeable or otherwise, it +all ended in smoke; it happened to have been some of his flotilla making +a movement along the coast, which had been set on by our cruisers and +pretty roughly handled. + +We remained in this camp till the 24th of November, I think, having +occasionally before this period had our tents blown from over our heads +by the autumnal gales. The next year a more formidable camp was formed +on the same ground, the force having been augmented by a second line, +composed of regiments of militia. This year also, like the last, passed +over without witnessing the long-threatened invasion of Old England, +although Bonaparte, in the pride of his heart and the vanity of his +mind, had begun to erect a monument near Boulogne, to commemorate that +glorious achievement. My regiment, on the breaking up of the camp, +marched into Hythe Barracks, where we remained till the month of April, +1805. + +In the spring of this year another volunteering from the militia into +regiments of the line was ordered, on which occasion I was selected by +my commanding-officer, Lieut.-Colonel Beckwith, to accompany Lieutenant +Evans, of the regiment, down to my native county, to receive such men of +the militia regiments there as chose to enter the 95th. On this occasion +we were very successful, having obtained between seventy and eighty men +from the different regiments in the north. It was on this occasion that +I had the first opportunity, since I became a soldier, of visiting my +native village, and my greatly-distressed parents and family. I need not +describe the meeting that took place between us, on my first seeing +them--it will be better conceived than told;--suffice it to say, joy +and sorrow were strangely mingled together--joy to see me once more safe +and sound--but sorrow that the line of life I had adopted should so +soon, so very soon, call upon me to part from them again. In fact, I +could only remain with them three days, at the end of which, I had +orders to join my party at Morpeth. + +With this respectable batch of volunteers we marched, and joined the +regiment at Canterbury, whither it had been removed during our absence, +and, on our arrival, received the thanks of our commanding-officer for +our exertions. Here, and at this time, a second battalion to the 95th +was formed, the sergeant-majorship of which I was in hopes of obtaining; +but in this I was disappointed, for a sergeant, who was both much older +than me, and had much stronger claims than I could pretend to, was +selected for the situation; and although he did not turn out so well +afterwards as was expected, yet these circumstances ought to have +satisfied me at the time that no injustice was done me by bestowing it +upon him. But such was my folly, and the over-high opinion I entertained +of my own merits, that I could not quietly acquiesce in this most just +arrangement; and foolishly imagining myself ill-used, the chagrin of +which drove me to the adoption of one of the worst expedients possible, +I immediately took to drinking and to the neglect of my proper duties, +thinking, like an ass as I was, that I should thus revenge myself for my +supposed ill-usage, forgetting that it was only on myself that this +revenge could ultimately fall. However, the same good Providence which +has mercifully and so continually watched over me, stepped in to my aid +in this my most dangerous situation; for one day my captain, who had +always been my friend, sent for me, and urged upon me the folly and the +baseness of my present conduct, and the unhappy consequences to myself +that were likely to result from persisting in a course so absurd and +blame-worthy. This, with my own reasoning on the subject, brought me at +length to a better disposition of mind, and induced me once more to +resume my duties with cheerfulness and alacrity. + +I have mentioned this circumstance, because I believe I was nearer at +this time to falling into my original nothingness, than I ever have +been, either before or since; and I have no doubt that many an excellent +non-commissioned officer and soldier have been involved in the like +error, who have not been so fortunate as I was in escaping its +consequences. + +From Canterbury we marched to Brabourn Lees Barracks, in the same +county, where we remained till some time in October, when we were called +upon to embark for Lower Germany. During our stay at Brabourn Lees, a +circumstance occurred which called forth an exhibition of as great +magnanimity, on the part of Colonel Beckwith, as I almost ever remember +to have witnessed: We had received about 200 Irish volunteers, who were +wild and ungovernable in the extreme; a party of these, in strolling +about one day, had fallen in with Mrs Beckwith, with her maid and child, +taking a walk along the Ashford road. Not knowing, I imagine, who the +lady and her maid were, they set on and assaulted them in the most +violent and outrageous manner, proceeding to such lengths as perhaps +delicacy forbids to mention. It was, I believe, discovered who they +were. Accordingly, the next day, the Colonel formed the battalion into a +square, and proceeded to relate the circumstance to the regiment; "But," +says he, "although I know who the ruffians are, I will not proceed any +farther in the business, because it was _my own wife_ that they +attacked; but, had it been the wife of the meanest soldier in the +regiment, I solemnly declare I would have given you every lash which a +court-martial might have sentenced you." Such a trait of generous +forbearance is not often met with; but by this, and similar instances of +liberal feeling, he completely gained the heart of every soldier in the +battalion, a thing not always attainable by very excellent +commanding-officers. + +About the latter end of October, 1805, we marched to Ramsgate, and there +embarked, as before noticed, for Germany. It was my lot, on this +occasion, to be put on board a small and ill-shaped collier brig, called +the Jane of Shields, but the master I have forgot. She was a most +miserable sailer, making on a wind almost as much lee as head-way, and +in every respect ill adapted for the transport service. We had not been +many days at sea before we lost the fleet, and in our endeavours to find +it again were at one time on the coast of Jutland. All this time we had +been beating against a contrary wind; but while here, the wind became +favourable, and we appeared to have nothing to do but to bear away for +the mouth of the Elbe, which river it was our destination to enter; but +unfortunately, by some mismanagement, we fell quite away to leeward of +it, and got entangled between the mainland and the Island of Wangeroog, +not far from the mouth of Jade River, instead of the Elbe. + +While in this uncomfortable situation, it came on to blow a tremendous +gale, which rendered our position not only most unpleasant, but +extremely perilous, for we were embayed, and the wind blowing on a lee +shore, and the vessel became almost unmanageable, her bad sailing +becoming distressingly more apparent the more she was put on her mettle. +In the midst of the confusion attendant on such circumstances, the +master (with what intention I know not, whether to drown dull care, or +to fortify him against his exposure to the watery element) went down +below, and swallowed the best part of a bottle of brandy. In doing +which, his corner cupboard, with all its contents, came rattling down +about his ears. He would fain have had me to pledge him, but I begged to +be excused. The consequence was, he became quite drunk at the time when +all his abilities as a seaman were likely to be called into operation; +but he probably saw things clearest after having his eye wet. + +My commanding-officer now became quite alarmed for the safety of the +troops, seeing the master had incapacitated himself, as he conceived, +for the management of the vessel; and, after a consultation among our +officers, an attempt was made to deprive him of the command, and intrust +it to the mate, who had in this case, in order to save as many of the +troops as possible, determined on running the vessel high and dry, as he +termed it, on the sandy beach, near the Jade River. + +At this proposal, however, the master stormed and blasphemed like a +madman, swearing there was neither soldier nor sailor on board the ship +but himself. He went so far, and became so outrageous, that our +commanding-officer talked of hanging him up at the yard-arm; but it +being a ticklish thing to take the command of a ship from the person +legally authorized to exercise it, the major did not enforce the wishes +of the officers. The poor mate sat down on the companion and cried like +a child, partly owing to the abuse the captain gave him, and partly, I +imagine, from the hopelessness of our situation. The captain, in his +refusal to yield up the command, told the major he had been several +times wrecked, and had been, I know not how many times, exposed for a +considerable length of time in the water; and that he was not afraid to +encounter it again. This, however, was but poor consolation to landsmen, +who had not been accustomed to such duckings. + +A desperate case requires a desperate remedy--so our captain +thought--for he instantly clapped on the vessel the square mainsail, +which every moment threatened to carry away the mast, and in which case, +nothing could have prevented our destruction; however, Providence so +ordered it, that she bore it through the gale, and he, after putting her +on the outward tack, continued to stand from the land till he imagined +he had completely weathered Wangeroog; but at midnight, when he ordered +to put about the ship, had it not been for the cabin-boy providentially +seeing close to leeward of us the light of Wangeroog, we should +instantly have been upon the rocks. This will show either what a bad +sailer the vessel was, or how far the master had miscalculated the +distance; for he imagined himself by this time to be quite clear of all +the land, and considerably out to sea. He continued, after this +providential escape, to stand on the same tack, and just cleared the +island; and in the morning, the wind having somewhat abated, and shifted +a little in our favour, we were enabled, soon after, to lay our course. + +We arrived in the Elbe, and landed at Cuxhaven on the 18th of November, +1805, the day on which our fleet there was celebrating the victory of +Trafalgar--clouded indeed it was by the death of the hero who fell while +achieving it--yet glorious to the nation to which that fleet belonged. +We, immediately after landing, marched for Dorum, a village twelve or +fourteen miles distant, and from thence by Osterholtz and Bremer Lehe to +the city of Bremen. On our arrival there, (my battalion forming the +advanced guard,) we found the gates were shut against us; a Prussian +garrison was in the town, the commandant of which seemingly did not +know how to act, whether to admit us as allies, or not, the policy of +his government at that time being so extremely ambiguous. Colonel +Beckwith, who commanded the advance, was not however easily to be +deterred from executing his orders, and he hesitated not to tell them, +that if they did not choose to admit us peaceably, force should be +resorted to to gain an entrance. This had the desired effect, for the +gate was soon after thrown open, and we were received by the authorities +of the town, and by the inhabitants in general, with the warmest +expressions of friendship and cordial attachment; the Prussian officers, +all the while looking on, apparently not over-well pleased with the +conduct of their hosts; they were soon afterwards, however, withdrawn +from the territory, and we then remained sole occupiers of this part of +the country. + +Our army assembled in this city in considerable force, when it becoming +necessary to establish outposts in advance, my battalion was sent out +first to the town of Delmenhorst, and subsequently a part of it to the +city of Oldenburg, and the remainder to the town of Wildishausen; to +this latter place two companies were detached, under the command of +Major Travers, and to which he appointed me to act as sergeant-major. We +did not remain long in this situation, but were again recalled from +Wildishausen to Delmenhorst, and afterwards sent to join the other +companies at Oldenburg. + +Here we staid some time, during which we experienced the most unbounded +hospitality and kindness from the whole of the inhabitants, but more +particularly from the Duke. He actually did not know how sufficiently to +express his friendly disposition towards our officers in general,--his +kindness also extended to the soldiers,--for when we afterwards +received an order to retrograde again to Delmenhorst, he sent forward to +the half-way house refreshments of every description, for both officers +and men; and the night before we left this hospitable city, he gave a +splendid ball in honour of the officers of our corps, to which, of +course, every inhabitant of a suitable rank was invited. Nay, I heard, +and have no reason to doubt the correctness of the report, that he wrote +to the burgomaster of Bremen, to which city we again retired, to +endeavour, if possible, to have us quartered in his immediate +neighbourhood, in the best part of the town, for that not only the +officers, but the soldiers of the corps, were perfect gentlemen; indeed, +the conduct of the battalion at this time, under its kind and excellent +commanding-officer, was such as to entitle it to the highest praise. Our +retreat on this occasion, I understood, was rendered necessary, in +consequence of the defeat of the allied forces at Austerlitz, and of the +fatal termination by that sanguinary action of the campaign in that part +of Germany. + +Although I am no prophet, I predicted at this period what the result +would be to the King of Prussia, whose hesitating and equivocal conduct +kept him aloof from taking an active part, when his co-operation might +have been of the utmost advantage to the general cause. It required no +second sight to perceive, that when Bonaparte could clear his hands of +his present antagonists, he would not hesitate for a moment to turn his +arms against a monarch on whom he could not cordially rely, and whose +dominions offered such a strong temptation to an ambitious and aspiring +mind like his. + +We continued to occupy Bremen till towards the beginning of February +1806, when the whole army gradually drew down towards our place of +embarkation, for the purpose of evacuating the country, our stay now +having been rendered useless by the unsuccessful and unfortunate turn +which the allied affairs had taken. My battalion covered the retreat of +the army; but as great numbers of the German Legion, which formed part +of the British force in this country, were deserting and returning to +their homes, we were sent away into the interior to endeavour to +intercept such of them as might pass by the villages we occupied, and +restore them to the army. We took some, but not many; and soon after we +also retired, and went on board at Cuxhaven, and again returned to +England, landing at Yarmouth on the 19th of the same month. + +During the whole of my military career, I never witnessed so cordial an +attachment to the British name and character, as was manifested during +this service, by the good people among whom we had been residing. +Nothing was too good for us--and nothing was left undone by them to +render us comfortable and happy. It is true they have their vices like +other people; but barring one or two peculiar to continental nations, I +believe them to be, generally speaking, as moral as any people among +whom it has been my lot to sojourn. But, oh! with what shame and sorrow +do I look back on the part I acted at this period--how profligate and +abandoned was my conduct at the very time that a kind and gracious +Providence was showering its choicest blessings upon me! but, alas, I +paid no regard to the remonstrances of conscience, which I endeavoured +and succeeded in drowning in debauchery and intemperance. + + + + +CHAPTER IV.* + + Our Author made Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2d battalion, + which he joins at Feversham, Kent--Expedition to + Denmark--Embark at Deal--Land at Vedbeck, Zealand--Partial + Engagements--Siege of Copenhagen--A Division under Sir Arthur + Wellesley advance to Kioge--Copenhagen capitulates--Amnesty + between the Danish Forces in the Island of Zealand, and the + British--The British evacuate Denmark--Embark at + Copenhagen--Arrive in the Downs--Land at Deal. + + +We landed, as I before stated, at Yarmouth, and proceeded by way of +Lowestoft to Woodbridge, in Suffolk, in the barracks of which my +battalion was quartered. Here also was the 23d regiment, that which I +had seen act so nobly in Holland: and as it was determined by its +commanding-officer to give the regiment some idea of light movements, I +was selected for the purpose of instructing their non-commissioned +officers. But I did not long continue to instruct them, for in the May +following, an offer was made me by Colonel Beckwith of the situation of +sergeant-major in the Cornwall Miners, a regiment of militia, with the +prospect, he told me, of shortly becoming adjutant. This, however, after +due consideration, I declined accepting--preferring to remain in a +regiment and service which I liked so well, and in which I hoped one day +to rise to something higher than my present situation. I believe my +conduct on this occasion was approved, for not long after, it was +intimated to me, that the offer I had refused, had been made to the +quartermaster-sergeant of our second battalion, and that he had, after +some hesitation, accepted it, thus leaving his situation open for me. +Accordingly, I departed for the purpose of joining that battalion, and +entering on my new duties. + +I joined it at Feversham, in Kent. My means increasing, the sinfulness +of my course of life was increased in proportion. It is true, I +generally performed my various military duties to the satisfaction of my +superiors; but could not at all times please my present +commanding-officer, against whose wish and inclination I had been +appointed to my present situation; he naturally wishing to have a person +of his own selection. Soon after this, an expedition being ordered for +South America, of which three companies of my present battalion were to +form a part, I waited on him, and requested him to permit me to +accompany them in the capacity of acting quartermaster. He said no; but +if I chose to resign my present situation, and go as a sergeant, he +would permit me. This I of course declined, as it would have been paying +a bad compliment indeed to my benefactor, Colonel Beckwith, thus to give +up for nothing what he had been at pains to procure for me. + +This, and some other little things which occurred about the same time, +proved to me that I was no favourite with my new lieutenant-colonel, and +that it behoved me to be very guarded in my conduct. We were, after +this, removed to Brabourn Lees again, and remained there, without any +occurrence arising, till we were summoned to take part in the expedition +fitting out for Denmark. + +We accordingly repaired to Deal, where we embarked on the 26th of July, +1807, and shortly after sailed for our destination. We arrived in the +Sound about the 10th of August, where the whole fleet was assembled; one +of the largest I had yet seen. On the 16th, every thing having been +previously got ready, we landed at the village of Vedbeck, in the island +of Zealand, about ten or twelve miles below Copenhagen. It was a most +beautiful and glorious sight to witness the debarkation of the first +division, or advanced guard, to which my battalion belonged. The most +perfect arrangements had been made by Sir Home Popham, who superintended +the landing of the troops; and nothing could exceed the beauty and +regularity in which the different divisions of boats approached the +shore, covered by some small brigs and bombs, which had orders to clear +the beach by grape shot, of any enemy that might appear. Some light +artillery also landed with us, prepared for immediate action, for it was +not known but the Danes might attempt to oppose our landing, they having +rejected every overture on the part of our commanders for the delivery +of their fleet. + +After landing, mine and the first battalion of my regiment were sent +forward in the direction of Copenhagen; and on this occasion, I for the +first time saw the illustrious General, who has since made the world +resound with his exploits. He commanded us, who formed the advance, and +directed our two battalions during the operations of the day. But we met +with no force of the enemy, save a small patrol of cavalry, which passed +in front of us, and then retired towards the city; this showed that they +were observing our movements. We halted for the night at a village +called, I think, Lingbye, on the great road from Copenhagen towards +Elsineur. We rested on our arms all night, and early in the morning +moved forward on the Copenhagen road, and about mid-day took up +cantonments within a long gun-shot of the city, and began to invest the +place. All was quiet till about three o'clock in the afternoon, when a +general cry of turn out, set the whole of our people in motion. A +considerable body of the enemy were advancing from the town, and by this +time had attacked the advanced picquets on our left, towards the +sea-shore; but instant succour being sent, they maintained their ground. + +The force opposed to the enemy was but small, consisting of two +companies of the 4th regiment, four of the 23d, and four of my +battalion, with two light fieldpieces; in all not more than 1000 men, +while the Danes were near 3000. Nevertheless, the moment the armies came +in contact, they instantly gave way, leaving a considerable number of +killed and wounded behind them, and retreated into the town. + +On this occasion, I attached myself to my commanding-officer, who, with +the surgeon, and some others of the staff, advanced with one of the guns +on the great road, having some of our companies on each flank. He gave +me his glass to take care of, with which I soon after busied myself in +watching the motions of the enemy. I discovered at a short distance to +our left and front, a considerable body of troops, dressed in long red +coats, which I knew could not be British, for that description of dress +had long been laid aside by us; I accordingly began, pointing them out +as an excellent mark for the artillery, which was then with us; but I +had scarcely spoken, when an officer present, cried out, after looking, +did I wish the artillery to fire on our own people? The colonel also +made some severe and reproachful remarks, telling me, if I would fight, +to go and take a rifle. I said nothing; but he had scarcely finished his +harangue, when a round shot came directly from this body of supposed +British troops, which nigh carried away one of the legs of the first +officer who spoke. + +The enemy were soon repulsed, and the troops retired again to their +former cantonments. After their troops retreated, a body of their +gun-boats advanced against some of our small craft which happened to be +rather close in shore, but their attack occasioned little injury, the +distance being considerable. + +The next morning the enemy opened a heavy and rather destructive fire of +artillery upon our outposts, by which we lost an officer of artillery +and several men; their fire was chiefly directed against what was called +the windmill battery, which was our farthest advance at this time. + +On the 19th, my battalion was moved farther to the right, and nearer the +town; there was constant firing between the advanced posts of the two +armies, and this continued for several days, during which the investment +of the city was proceeding with, and batteries, &c. marked out for the +purpose of bombarding it. All kinds of ordnance stores were at the same +time disembarked, and sent off to the army with the utmost dispatch. In +short, nothing could exceed the vigour with which the siege was now +prosecuted, after the final rejection of pacific overtures by the Danish +general. + +On the 24th, we were ordered under arms at two o'clock in the morning, +and immediately advanced, driving in the enemy's outposts, with the view +of carrying our works nearer the town. In this movement we experienced +considerable opposition and suffered some loss, from their guns on the +town walls, and from musketry from the windows. + +We this day established two strong and well advanced batteries, and at +night set fire to a windmill in their possession, which obstructed our +view of some of their works. During the whole of the 25th, there was a +constant fire both of artillery and fire-arms, by which one of the light +battalions of the German Legion suffered rather severely. My battalion +relieved them at the outposts a little before dark, and was fortunate +enough not to lose a man, where they had lost considerable numbers. + +On the 26th, a corps or division of the army was assembled, and placed +under the immediate orders of Sir Arthur Wellesley. It consisted of the +following regiments, viz. 43d, 52d, 92d, 95th, and 6th Battalion King's +German Legion, with six squadrons of German cavalry, and some artillery, +and was destined to advance against a body of the enemy composed +principally of militia, which had been for some time past collecting in +the neighbourhood of Kioge. + +At three o'clock P.M., we started from the neighbourhood of Copenhagen, +the troops making their way through the country to the left of the great +road to Roskild. I had charge of the baggage, which was carried on light +German waggons, the bodies of which are formed chiefly of wicker-work, +and are so light and easy of draught that the natives travel in them in +the same manner nearly of our coaches--they going sometimes at a +considerable rate. + +I found it impracticable to continue in the same direction the troops +had gone, for they presently left all traces of a road, and struck right +across the country--and as I knew I should be expected to have the +baggage with them that night if possible, I determined to run all +hazards, and proceed along the great high-road in hopes of afterwards +being enabled to find them out--accordingly I moved forward, and +presently passed the outposts of the German cavalry stationed in the +direction of Roskild; the men, I doubt not, wondering at my temerity in +pushing on with a few baggage waggons, where they were all on the alert +with swords drawn, and with carbines and pistols loaded. I own it was a +hazardous undertaking, for a very small party of the enemy would easily +have captured both me and my baggage; but I knew my commanding-officer +to be such a person as to pay little attention to excuses of any kind +when he wished a thing to be done, and withal he loved his comforts, and +would not have been easily pacified had he been deprived of them. +Fortunately, after advancing for some miles beyond the outposts of our +army before mentioned, I fell in with a road branching off towards the +left, apparently in the very direction the troops had taken. + +Till I reached this point, I had advanced with considerable caution, and +slowly; determined, if any enemy should appear in front, to endeavour to +effect a retreat. But now, having left the great road, and taken that +which I judged would bring me to the neighbourhood of those I was +seeking, I accordingly ordered all my guards to mount, and set off at a +brisk trot, keeping a good look-out to my right flank, for fear of +surprise, and fortunately fell in with the division at the very moment +it was entering the road by which I had come. I received great credit +for my generalship, and was complimented by the officers of my corps, +they being the only people in the division, I believe, who had the +comfort of their baggage that night. The name of the village where we +halted is Caughstrup. + +The next day we continued to advance in the direction of Kioge, and in +the afternoon we reached a village which I forget the name of, and where +evident traces appeared of the enemy having shortly left it; indeed, we +found two or three stragglers in the village, who were of course made +prisoners. We halted outside the village for the night. + +A short while before we reached this village, I saw a body of troops +dressed in red, marching on our right flank, at right angles to the road +by which we were advancing, and which I instantly concluded must be a +part of the enemy's force, as we had no troops in that direction. But +remembering the rebuke I received on the 17th for interfering with +concerns that did not belong to me, I shut my mouth in silence, and did +not, I believe, mention the matter. It is evident it was a part of the +enemy's force, for the General's information led him to take that very +same direction the next day; and that being towards Roskild, we set out +and reached that city in the afternoon, but found the enemy had again +given us the slip, and doubled back to nearly the same place from whence +we had started. + +The next morning about three o'clock we left Roskild, and took the road +for Kioge, near which it was now ascertained the enemy had come to a +resolution to make a stand. I forgot to mention that previous to this +our force had been divided and formed into two brigades; the 52d, 92d, +our 1st battalion, and some cavalry and artillery, remaining under the +command of Sir Arthur; while the 43d, the 6th German Legion, and our +five companies, with the remainder of the cavalry, were put under the +command of Baron Linsengen, one of the generals of the German Legion. +Sir Arthur's people had not been with us for a day or two back, but +where I do not exactly know. But this morning it was arranged that his +brigade was to march directly upon Kioge and attack it in front, while +we fetched a circuit behind, and came upon a part of their force +stationed in a forest or wood behind the town--and thus cut off their +retreat. But the poor creatures were unable to stand above a round or +two, and almost immediately broke and fled in all directions. + +As we approached the wood we were destined to attack, the appearance was +certainly rather formidable; for from the immense cloud of dust they +raised in performing their movements, we calculated on meeting with a +considerable body of troops; and indeed, just as we approached the wood, +our cavalry laid hold of an officer of their horse, dressed partly in +uniform and partly as a civilian. From him we obtained information that +they had in the field 12,000 men; 5000 of which were armed with pikes, +1000 cavalry, and the remainder consisted of artillery and infantry. He +must, I think, have overrated their numbers, or surely they might have +made some sort of a stand against 5500 men, the strength of our +division. + +On Sir Arthur attacking them in the town of Kioge, they stood, as before +said, only for a round or two, and fled, many of them coming in contact +afterwards with our brigade; but from the extent of (and intricate roads +through) the wood, very few of them were made prisoners; till towards +evening, when a company of my battalion, with some of the German +cavalry, overtook a considerable body in the village of Herfolge, +apparently the rearguard of the enemy. In this village they made a +stand, getting into the churchyard, which afforded an excellent +position, it being considerably higher than any other part of the +village. Here also they soon began to waver, and after a few shots from +our people, they all laid down their arms and became prisoners of war. +Their numbers were 1550 men, with 56 officers, and Major-General Oxholm, +the second in command of this part of the Danish army. A considerable +quantity of artillery, small arms, baggage, and provisions, &c., with +two stands of colours, fell into the hands of the captors on this +occasion. These poor creatures were instantly sent off as prisoners, and +put on board our ships at Copenhagen; many of them apparently quite glad +that they had done with fighting. Great numbers of them had nothing +better by way of shoeing than wooden clogs--a very inconvenient kind I +should imagine for a rapid retreat. + +The loss of the British during this day's operations was, as might be +expected, quite trifling. I had this day followed the ill-natured +advice of my commanding-officer on a former occasion, and had taken a +rifle, but had little opportunity of using it, not having fired more +than eight or ten shots. My battalion halted in the village of Herfolge +for the night, and the next morning moved forward towards the town of +Kingsted, that being the direction in which the broken fragments of the +Danish army had retired. + +Our two battalions had been employed all the day of the 29th, after the +first onset, in scouring the woods from Kioge to Herfolge. We continued +this service on the 30th also, and took numbers of poor creatures who +had been engaged in yesterday's operations, but who had not yet been +able totally to divest themselves of their military habiliments, +although apparently anxious to do so. We reached Kingsted on the 31st, +and finding that the only regular part of the late army had retired into +one of the islands in the Great Belt, and that the militia portion had +totally disbanded itself, we halted here till the fall of Copenhagen, +which took place on the 7th of September. But to prevent surprise from +any lurking parties of the enemy, which might still have kept together, +and to deprive them of the means of injuring us, strong detachments were +sent out to scour the country, and to bring in all the military arms +they could discover. A party of this description, consisting of 100 +cavalry, and 100 of my battalion mounted on light waggons, traversed the +country for a considerable distance, and returned after having +discovered and taken possession of ten pieces of ordnance of small +calibre, and forty rifles belonging to the Kallundburg rifle company, +with several muskets. They also gained correct information respecting +the regular troops that had been lately opposed to us, and found they +had retired into the islands of Falstar and Meon. + +On the capitulation of Copenhagen, terms of amity and peace were +entered into between the Danish forces in the island of Zealand and the +British; but these did not extend to the islands before mentioned, nor +to the other parts of his Danish Majesty's dominions; consequently, we +still remained at war with such of his forces as were not included in +the capitulation; and he might at any time have collected an army, had +he been able, and attacked us without any infringement of those terms. +It behoved our generals, therefore, to watch against any attempt of this +nature; and accordingly strong outposts were established all along the +Belt, composed principally of the men of our two battalions. The 1st +battalion occupied Kallundburg, Slagelse, Korsoer, and Skielskiore; +whilst the following towns and ports were occupied by my battalion, viz. +Mestyed, Lundbye, Wordingburg and Prestoe; thus forming a complete chain +of posts around the west and south coasts of the island. We remained so +posted till the 15th of October, by which time the greater part of the +naval stores taken in the dockyard having been taken on board, and the +period fast approaching for our evacuation of the country, we began to +retire towards Copenhagen, which we reached on the 17th, and immediately +embarked on board the Princess Caroline, a Danish seventy-four which had +been surrendered with the others of that fleet, and which are mentioned +below.[1] + +We remained in the roads till the 20th, when the fleet dropped down +towards the Sound; and on the 21st the whole passed the Castle of +Elsineur, with a favourable and pleasant breeze, the British ensign +waving proudly from the lofty masts of their late gallant fleet; it must +have been an extremely galling sight for them (the Danes) to witness, +and I dare say they did not pray for many benedictions on our heads; I +pitied them from the bottom of my heart. On taking leave of this +country, I could not help remarking on the great similarity between its +inhabitants and the Germans about Bremen--kind-hearted, hospitable, and +inoffensive in the highest degree; and although suffering at that time +so severely from the policy of our country, they were high in our +praises as individuals and as a nation. I have great cause to speak well +of those innocent and worthy people, for I have seldom experienced more +kindness and attention than was shown me by them whenever circumstances +rendered such kindness and attention suitable, particularly at Nestyde, +where I met a young man who had formerly been in the West Indies, where +he had learnt to speak a little English, (for of Danish I could not +understand a word.) He introduced me to one worthy man, who had been an +officer, and fought in the famous action of Kioge above narrated. Poor +fellow, he felt heartily ashamed of the sorry attempt they had made to +act the part of an army, and I daresay would gladly have blotted from +his memory for ever the recollection of the ridiculous part they had +acted. I was not aware of this circumstance at first, and when it was +brought upon the tapis in the course of conversation, (my young friend +being interpreter,) I unluckily said, that "any man armed with a +bludgeon only, could easily beat three such soldiers." + +I felt quite ashamed of myself afterwards, when I discovered that he, +poor man, had made one in that memorable action; but he took it all in +good part, apparently conscious of the justness of my remark. Indeed, I +was partly led on to use such expressions by the young fellow condemning +so bitterly their conduct, and which I afterwards would have given +something to have unsaid. He, however, bore no resentment, and kindly +took me home and introduced me to his wife, and requested me to salute +her with a kiss. I hesitated, thinking that I could not have understood +him right, and feeling awkward in such a situation; but my young friend +assured me it was the custom there to do so, on which I of course +complied. They are, in my opinion, an extremely moral race of people, no +vices that I know of being practised by them, save occasionally a little +drunkenness by some few individuals. I heartily wish them well. + +We sailed, as I said before, on the 21st of October, and had fine +weather till we arrived in Yarmouth Roads. We passed one Sunday on our +voyage home, at a certain hour of which our pious naval commander (Lord +Gambier) made signal for the whole fleet to lay to, and have divine +service, that is, in such ships as there were chaplains on board of. +This caused the irreligious and profligate part of our people on board +the Princess Caroline to blaspheme and storm at a terrible rate, for +being so long detained when the wind was so fair. + +It happened, when we arrived in the Roads at Yarmouth, or near there, I +think it was on the Galloper Sand, that a tremendous gale began to blow, +which baffled all exertions to withstand it. We cast out the anchors, +but without effect, for we ran away with them both, and in the endeavour +to vere out cable, or rather by the rapidity with which it was dragged +out of the ship by the force of the wind, our bits caught fire, which +with considerable difficulty were got extinguished after great +exertions. During the gale, I understand a sailor was blown off the +foreyard; and nearly at the same moment a woman, one of our corporals' +wives, fell down the hatches into the hold, and broke her back, of +which, indeed, she afterwards recovered, but never after regained her +upright posture. + +Those scoffing gentlemen before mentioned, attributed the whole of our +misfortunes to the delay occasioned by the divine service before +adverted to, and were not sparing of invective against the individual +who caused its performance, forgetful, it would seem, that _He_, whom +that commander invoked on that day, holds the winds in His hand, and can +at pleasure let them loose upon an ungodly fleet, whether for correction +or judgment, at what time, and in what manner, best pleases him. I doubt +not the excellent commander alluded to has been a blessing to many. May +he long continue to ornament the exalted station he fills! We weighed +again after the storm abated, and proceeded round to the Downs, and the +next day, the 16th of November, landed at Deal, and from thence marched +to our old quarters at Hythe Barracks. + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] List of Ships and Vessels captured at Copenhagen, 7th September, +1807. + + Guns. + Christian the Seventh, 98 + Neptune, 84 + Waldemer, 84 + Princess Sophia Fredrica, 84 + Justice, 74 + Heir Apparent Frederick, 74 + Crown Prince Frederick, 74 + Frien, 74 + Oden, 74 + Three Crowns, 74 + Shield, 74 + Crown Princess Maria, 74 + Denmark, 74 + Norway, 74 + Princess Caroline, 74 + Conqueror, 64 + Norge, 74 + Dalmakin, 64 + Pirle, 44 + Wory Wife, 44 + Liberty, 44 + Iris, 44 + Rotar, 44 + Denry, 44 + Mayed, 36 + Triton, 28 + Fredrington, 28 + Kline Belt, 28 + St Thomas, 22 + Tylto, 24 + Elbe, 20 + Eydeman, 20 + Gluckstadt, 20 + Sarp, 18 + Glowman, 18 + Nid Elvin, 18 + Dolphin, 18 + Marcur, 18 + Cousier, 14 + Flying Fish, 14 + + Total, 40 + +Together with eleven gun boats, with two guns each in the bow, and +fourteen do with one gun in the bow and one astern. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Our Author marries--The Battalion to which he belongs ordered to + join the Expedition fitting out for Corunna--Movements of the + Army in Spain--Return to England. + + +Some little time after our return from the Baltic, I obtained a short +leave of absence, for the purpose of visiting my parents, and the other +members of my family; and, during my stay in my native village, +contracted a marriage with a young woman whom I had known from my +boyhood, she having been one of my earliest schoolfellows. I cannot say +that I enjoyed in the marriage state that happiness which I expected +from it, partly owing to the frequent and long separations which my +calling rendered unavoidable, and partly from other causes which have no +connexion with my narrative. I believe, during the eight years which my +wife lived after our union, I spent more than six of these in absence +from her. + +At the expiration of my leave, we set off to join the regiment, which +still remained at Hythe, where we remained till the beginning of +September following, when my battalion having again been ordered for +foreign service in the expedition fitting out for Corunna, it became +indispensable that my poor wife should return to Northumberland, and +remain under the protection of her parents, till my return, should it +please God to spare me. This, no doubt, was a severe trial to us both, +but particularly to her, who had such a journey to undertake, alone and +unprotected, and she at the time far advanced in pregnancy; but, however +distressing, it must be undertaken, and I unfortunately could not be +spared from the regiment, for our orders were to proceed immediately to +Ramsgate, for embarkation. + +We parted, after I had accompanied her as far as I was able, and seeing +her safely stowed in the coach. It may be supposed that a new-married +pair, under such circumstances, would part with heavy and afflicted +hearts. + +My battalion embarked at Ramsgate on the 10th of September. On this +occasion, I was very fortunate in getting on board an excellent +transport, called the Nautilus, of Shields, commanded by Captain Watson +(my wife's maiden name), and the steward, a native of the Hermitage, a +place within four miles of my home. Of course, we were mutually glad to +meet each other, and often talked over old Northumbrian stories, which +recalled delightful recollections of our younger years. The fleet in +which we sailed rendezvoused at Falmouth, whence we took our departure, +and arrived at Corunna on the 26th of October. + +On our passage, when we made Cape Ortegal, a pilot-boat came off, in +which were the first Spaniards I remember to have seen; certainly, they +did not prepossess me greatly in favour of their countrymen, but they +are now so well known in England, that a description of those I here +saw, would be only to repeat what has been so often and so much better +told by others. We landed at Corunna, as before said, on the 26th, and a +day or two after, proceeded up the country, halting for the first night +at Betanzos. Our force consisted of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, in +all, about 10,000 men, and was commanded by General Sir David Baird, +and intended to co-operate, or form a junction, with that under Sir John +Moore, then in Portugal, and who was then advancing into Spain. + +My battalion, and some companies of the first battalion of my regiment, +formed the advanced guard, a situation which I consider the most +enviable of any in the army--for here all is untried, and, as it were, +unbroken ground; every thing is fresh, and although attended sometimes +with a little more danger of being cut off while separated from the main +body, yet possessing so many countervailing advantages, that I hesitate +not to say it is the most desirable post of any in an army. + +At Betanzos, we began to experience the great defectiveness of our +commissariat department, at this period of our history; for the +gentleman sent forward to provide our two battalions with food, was so +utterly unacquainted with his business, that he was actually afraid to +make an attempt to issue provisions. Although bread had been baked by +order of the Spanish authorities, he not understanding, as he said, the +Spanish weights and measures, durst not issue any thing without his own, +which were behind; but it was evident the troops could not remain +without provisions. We were here, as in most of the towns we afterwards +passed through, lodged in convents, the officers generally either being +quartered on the inhabitants of the town, or lodged by the monks in +their cells. On these occasions the men occupied only the corridors, +into which straw was generally put by the authorities of the place, the +men lying as close as pigs in a sty, which indeed was necessary to keep +each other warm; but these lodgings were not to be complained of, as +clean straw, and shelter overhead in that country, are no contemptible +quarters. + +We moved forward by fair and easy stages, by way of Lugo, Villa Franca, +Cacabelos, and Astorga; this latter place we reached on the 19th +November, but during the march, we had experienced considerable +difficulty in obtaining supplies both of provisions and the means of +transport. This is a considerable town, containing probably about 5000 +inhabitants. Both it and Lugo are surrounded by old Moorish walls, which +may formerly have been considered strong, but which, according to the +present mode of warfare, would offer but a feeble resistance to a +besieging army. It contains a number of convents, both in the town and +suburbs, and, of course, a proportionate number of idle monks, &c. Here, +as in many towns in Spain, they have a curious mode of keeping out of +their houses unwelcome visiters; for the doors being all made remarkably +strong, and kept constantly shut, you cannot enter till the inmates have +first reconnoitred you through an aperture above the door, made for the +purpose; and it is not till they are satisfied who you are, and with +your business, that they will open the door, which they generally do by +a cord communicating with the latch from their peep-hole above. + +Here we were pretty plentifully supplied with provisions, and rested for +some days, my battalion having been pushed forward to a village called +Zalada, about a league in front of the town. After having been refreshed +by a few days' rest, my battalion was again pushed forward, and occupied +the town of Labeneza, about four leagues in front of Astorga, while the +main body of the army assembled in and around that town; but we had not +remained more than a few days in Labeneza, before a report arrived of +the enemy being in our front, and advancing in force; and we were +consequently recalled to Zalada, in order to form a junction with our +main body. Not long after this, about the latter end of November, +orders were received from Sir John Moore, for our division to retreat +and fall back upon Corunna. This measure, I understand, was rendered +necessary, in consequence of the Spanish armies having been completely +beaten and dispersed, so that nothing remained to oppose an overwhelming +French force, which it was ascertained had entered Spain, but the few +British troops comprising the armies under Sir John Moore, and ours. + +We accordingly set to the right-about, and fell back as far as +Cacabelos, the main body occupying Villa Franca and its neighbourhood. +This movement was not by any means liked by any of us; for, independent +of its being so uncongenial to the spirit of Britons to turn their backs +upon an enemy, we felt disappointed at what we saw and heard of the +celebrated Spanish patriots. We had been given to understand that the +whole nation was up in arms against the French, and that we should have +been received, on entering their country, as liberators, and treated as +brethren, but in both these points we were miserably disappointed; for, +instead of a hearty welcome on our arrival, we could with great +difficulty obtain leave to land, and still more to obtain the necessary +supplies of carriages and provisions to enable us to come forward; and +with regard to the patriotism of the people, whatever might have been +their good-will to act in defence of their beloved country and +Ferdinand, they appeared as little likely as any people I had ever seen, +to effect any thing against such an enemy as the French. In fact, those +of them who formed their armies, at least of those straggling parties we +so often met, could be called nothing better than mere rabble--no +organization, no subordination, but every one evidently pursued that +plan which seemed right in his own eyes. + +While we remained at Cacabelos, (a place famous for good wine,) many +were the schemes adopted by some of our bibbers, to obtain a sufficient +quantum of this excellent beverage. I understand they occasionally +borrowed each other's clothes; that is, a 43d man would borrow a +rifleman's green jacket, and _vice versa_, and go and steal, or in some +other illegal mode obtain, a camp-kettle full or two; and when the owner +came to point out the person who had robbed him, of course he could not +be found. + +We had not remained above a day or two in our new quarters, before an +express arrived from Sir John Moore, with orders for us to advance again +immediately; and which, notwithstanding we had little or no prospect of +assistance and co-operation from the Patriots, was cheerfully complied +with. We retraced our former steps, passing through Astorga and +Labeneza, and reached Benevente on the 15th December. + +Our cavalry, consisting of the 7th, 10th, and 15th hussars, under Lord +Paget, had by this time come up from Corunna, and had been pushed +forward to join Sir John Moore's force; they fell in with a party of the +French cavalry at the town of Rueda, not far from Tordesillas, and of +which they either killed, or took prisoners, nearly the whole; in fact, +through the whole of this service, nothing could exceed the gallantry +and intrepid conduct of our cavalry under his lordship. At this town, as +well as at Astorga and Villa Franca, depots of provisions began to be +formed soon after our arrival. + +On the 17th December, we again advanced from Benevente, in order to form +a junction with Sir John Moore's army, and passing through Valderas, +Majorga, and Sahagun, we reached the convent of Trianon, about a league +in front of the latter place. On the 20th, here the two forces were +united, and a fresh distribution into brigades took place. Ours, under +Brigadier-general Crawford, was termed the Light Brigade, and consisted +of the 1st battalion 43d, 2d battalion 52d, and the 2d battalion of my +regiment. + +The whole army was assembled in this neighbourhood, and consisted of +about 26,000 men, the whole _now_ under the command of Sir John Moore. +Previous to our arrival at Sahagun, Lord Paget, with a part of the 10th +and 15th hussars, discovered that a considerable body of the enemy's +cavalry occupied that town. He therefore detached the 10th by a +circuitous road, while he with the 15th approached it by the more direct +one. They were, however, discovered by the French before reaching the +town, which gave the enemy time to turn out and form to receive the +attack. His lordship, when a favourable opportunity offered, charged the +French, who were greatly superior in numbers, and completely overthrew +them, taking two colonels, eleven other officers, and about 150 men. + +On the evening of the 23d, the whole army was put in motion, with an +intention, it was said, of attacking Marshal Soult, who, with a corps of +about 16 or 18,000 men, was posted behind the River Carrion, his +head-quarters being at Saldanha. The Spanish General Romana, was to take +a part in this movement; his small and sadly inefficient force had +approached the left of our army, or rather we had drawn towards his +position, and he was, I believe, perfectly willing to lend all the +assistance in his power, in the contemplated attack; but our General, I +fancy, did not calculate upon any material help, from a force so greatly +out of order as his was said to be. Soon after dark, the troops fell in; +and as it was understood an attack was going to be made on the enemy, +every pulse beat high, in expectation of soon congratulating each other +on a victory. All was life and animation; and the necessary +preparations, by the light of our blazing fires, for such an event as a +battle, after the many long and harassing marches we had had, gave an +interesting appearance to the scene. + +When all was ready, the troops moved forward. It was a cold and bitter +night, and there were some small brooks on the road. An officer of my +battalion, who was not very well, when he came to one of those, instead +of marching straight through, as it appears had been ordered, went a +little way round by the bridge, although not off the road. A certain +general officer, who happened to be there at the time, observed it, and +getting into a great rage at the officer leaving his section, made him +turn back, and march through and through repeatedly, by way of +punishment. Such a mode of treating an officer, certainly appeared +rather harsh; but this general piqued himself on his being able to make +his brigade better marchers than any other troops in the army; and in +this he certainly succeeded, although it was not without frequent +exhibitions, such as the above. Our people had not gone far, however, +till they were countermanded, and returned back to our convent. I rather +think the main body of the army had not moved out of their cantonments; +but ours being the advanced brigade, it was necessary we should move +before the others. + +It appears Sir John Moore, just before he intended to set out, had +received information, not only of Soult having been greatly reinforced, +but that several strong corps of the French army were marching directly +upon us, by which, should he delay only a few days, we should be +completely surrounded, and cut off from a retreat. This was most +distressing information, for never was an army more eager to come in +contact with the enemy than ours was at this moment, and never was there +a fairer prospect of success, had things remained as they were; but now, +instead of honour and glory being acquired, by showing the French what +British troops could do in the field, it was evident nothing remained +but to commence a retrograde movement, the worst and most unpleasant, in +a British soldier's view, of any other. + +Winter had now completely set in; the face of the country being covered +with deep snow, the weather was unusually severe. Our prospect, +therefore, was by no means a pleasant one. To commence a retreat in +front of a greatly superior force, and with the probability that other +French armies might be before us, and intercept our retreat upon the +sea, which was distant from us nearly 250 miles, with the country in our +rear being already exhausted of every thing that could contribute to our +support, and with such excessively bad weather to perform the retreat +in, rendered it, I may say, as unpleasant a situation as troops could +well be placed in. Added to which, our commissariat was by no means so +efficient in those days as they have latterly become; and our troops in +general being young, and unaccustomed to privation, it was but too +obvious, that should the retreat continue long, many would be the +disasters attending it. On Christmas day, our brigade, as the rear of +the infantry, commenced its uncomfortable retreat, and continued +marching till late at night, when we reached a convent near Majorga. The +next day, although we started early, we only reached the village of St +Miguel about midnight. + +Here I had considerable difficulty with the baggage. I had had charge of +it all day, my guard being composed of officers' servants, &c., who, the +moment they got into the village, set off to their masters, and left me +alone with the mules, the troops having, by the time I got in, all lain +down to sleep. Several of the muleteers had been pressed into the +service against their wills, and of course would have made their escape +whenever an opportunity offered. I was therefore compelled to drive them +all into the churchyard, and watch them myself, till luckily, after +waiting in this situation a considerable time, without daring to go to +sleep after the fatigues of such a day, some men happened to wander in +that direction in search of meat, by whom I sent to our quartermaster to +request he would send a guard, which he did soon after, and I had the +happiness to be allowed to throw myself down and take some rest. + +This day Lord Paget had another brush with the French cavalry, who, +being apprized of our retreat, had advanced to Majorga. He attacked them +with that gallantry which shone so conspicuously in the cavalry during +the whole of this service, and completely overthrew them, killing and +wounding many, and taking a number prisoners; in this affair the 10th +hussars were engaged, and behaved nobly. The next day we reached Castro +Gonzales, and Castro Pipa. At the latter village, my battalion halted +for the night and the next day. These two villages command the passage +over the river Eslar, they being about equidistant from the bridge, and +something more than a mile apart on high ground over the river, which +runs about a league in front of Benevente. Here we were obliged to +remain during the time mentioned, in order that the heavy divisions of +the army might get sufficiently forward before we moved. + +I had still the charge of the baggage, and not knowing where my +battalion was to be quartered for the night, I had crossed the Eslar to +the Benevente side, till I learnt long after dark that Castro Pipa was +its quarters. I consequently turned back and recrossed the river, and +just as I reached the end of the bridge, I heard a shot immediately in +my front. The 43d regiment guarded the bridge. It turned out to be a +patrol of the enemy's cavalry who had come close to the top of the +slope leading down to the bridge, and where a double sentry of the 43d +was posted. By some accident these two men were not loaded; the French +dragoons were consequently permitted to come close up to them without +their being able to give any alarm. One of them, however, run his +bayonet into one of the Frenchmen's horses, and retreated, but the other +was not only cut down with the sabre, but had a pistol fired at him, +which was the report I had just heard. I saw the wounded man, who was +severely hurt, but whether he survived or not I know not. + +When I reached Castro Pipa, my commanding-officer would scarcely credit +the report I gave him, conceiving it impossible the French could be such +near neighbours. I was a good deal chagrined at his suspecting my +veracity, but he had never been what I may call a friendly +commanding-officer to me, as the story of the rifle at Copenhagen will +prove; indeed, as I had been put into the situation I held contrary to +his wish, it was hardly to be expected that he would show himself very +friendly. During the night, however, our quarters were beat up, not +indeed by the enemy, but by our brigadier, who was not sparing of his +censure for our want of alertness in turning out. Indeed, we neither had +so good a look-out as we ought to have kept, nor did we get under arms +with that promptitude which was desirable, and from the cause before +assigned; that is, that our commandant did not believe the enemy was so +near. + +I own I was not sorry that the General paid us such a visit, as it not +only put us more upon our guard, a thing so indispensably necessary in +the presence of an enemy, but it gave me some satisfaction for the +dishonour put upon me by disbelieving my information. + +The enemy did not disturb us during the remainder of the night, and +next morning the brigade was assembled on the height above, and in front +of the bridge; considerable bodies of the enemy's cavalry appearing in +the plain before us. Some skirmishing between our people and the enemy +took place, but nothing of any importance occurred. Our brigade was left +in this position to cover the working party who were preparing to blow +up the bridge, at which they worked all day; during the night our people +were withdrawn from the farther side, and the explosion soon after took +place, but the destruction of the bridge was by no means so effectual as +was wished and expected. When we turned out in the morning to move +towards the bridge, I (still having charge of my battalion's baggage) +discovered that a vast quantity of excellent biscuit was stored up in an +empty house in the village, which, no doubt, had been baked for the +purpose of supplying the magazine at Benevente; and as our people had +been but very indifferently supplied with bread since we commenced the +retreat, I determined to load a bullock-cart with it, and try to get it +to a place of safety, where I hoped to be able to issue it to them. + +I accordingly took a cart and two bullocks, there being plenty in the +village, and apparently without owners, for the inhabitants had mostly +either abandoned the place on the appearance of the French, or had hid +themselves. I loaded the cart, but still I wanted a person to drive it; +and although I used both promises and threats, I could not prevail upon +any person to go with me. I therefore mounted the cart myself, and using +my sword by way of a goad, I entered the river at a place which looked +like a ford, and had the good fortune to reach the other side in safety. +I mention this to show that so much importance need not have been +attached to the destruction of the bridge, as both here, and near Castro +Gonzales, the river was perfectly fordable, for near the latter place +the French cavalry forded it on the following morning. + +I now made my way to Benevente, where I remained during the day of the +28th; and at night, as before hinted, the troops which had been guarding +the bridge arrived, leaving cavalry piquets on the plain between the +town and the river. The next morning our people left Benevente, and as I +was a little behind them with the baggage, on my reaching a height in +rear of the town, I observed in the plain in front a considerable body +of the enemy's cavalry, who had, as before stated, crossed the river +near Castro Gonzales, and were advancing towards the town, opposed, +though feebly at first, by the few of our cavalry left there on piquet; +but the cavalry regiments which were in town quickly turning out to +their support, they were at length completely able to oppose, and +finally overthrow them. + +During the time I remained here, I saw our brave dragoons make three +most gallant and successful charges against superior numbers of the +enemy, completely breaking and dispersing the different bodies against +which the charges were made. The enemy appeared to be drawn up in +different lines, the front one of which was that always charged; and I +observed, that as our people advanced upon them, they were always +received with a fire either from the carbines or pistols of the enemy, +but this never appeared in the least to check the ardour of the charge, +for in a minute or two after I observed the French troops retired in +confusion, and formed behind the other lines. At length they were +completely driven back to the ford by which they had crossed; and in a +charge now made upon them, General le Febvre, with about seventy men, +fell into our people's hands. These troops were a part of Bonaparte's +Imperial Guard, and the flower of his army, being fine-looking men, +dressed in dark-green long coats, with high bear-skin caps, and +mustaches, which gave them a formidable appearance. It was said that +Bonaparte was looking on at this affair, and witnessed the defeat of his +hitherto invincible Old Guard; it is certain that he slept the night +before at Villalpando, a place only four leagues distant from the field. +I now set off and overtook the baggage and the bullock cart, not having +had an opportunity of issuing the biscuit; but before I had proceeded +above a few miles, the bullocks knocked up, and notwithstanding every +exertion I found it impossible to get them any farther. Thus was I +reluctantly compelled to abandon a cart-load of excellent biscuit, after +having had so much trouble with it, at the time when I knew it was +greatly needed by my hungry fellow soldiers, and to whom it would have +been a most welcome offering. On this day's march, a most lamentable +number of stragglers were overtaken by us, we being in rear of all the +infantry; they had either fallen out from excessive fatigue, or from +having (as in too many instances) drunk too much; indeed, the +destruction of the magazine of provisions at the place we had left, +enabled too many of them to obtain by one means or other considerable +quantities of spirits, and which, of course, rendered them incapable of +marching. This was a long and wearisome day's journey of nearly thirty +miles; we did not reach Labeneza till late at night, where a +considerable quantity of ammunition was obliged to be destroyed, the +animals failing which drew it. + +The next day we reached our old quarters at Zalada, a league in front of +Astorga, where we halted for the night, the remainder of the brigade +going into the town. It was to this village, it may be remembered, that +we were sent on our first advance, and subsequently after our first +retreat from Labeneza; but besides these movements from the village and +back again, during the time we remained in it, we almost every morning +had orders to pack up and move a short distance out of the place. This +was done no doubt to accustom us to a ready turning out, as till this +period our baggage had been transported on bullock-carts; but now we had +mules, and it was necessary to accustom those whose duty it was, to load +the mules with dispatch. But on every occasion of this kind, the +inhabitants always imagined we were actually going to leave them, and +the moment we were clean gone, as they thought, they set to work and +rung the church bell with all their might. This was either to testify +their regret at losing our company, or to evince their gratitude to +Heaven for having got rid of such a band of heretics, by which their +most pure and holy dwellings had been defiled; it was laughable to see +the long faces they put on when we, so contrary to their hopes and +expectations, always returned to our wretched and uncomfortable +quarters. + +During the whole of the time we remained in this village, I, as a +staff-sergeant, could find no better lodgings than a dirty open shed; +the reader will therefore judge how ill the privates must have been off. +Our fellows began about this time to pick up little bits of Spanish, and +would often exercise their ability to converse in the native tongue, by +telling the inhabitants that we were certainly going to "_marcha +manana_", that is, to march to-morrow, so that it became quite a +by-word, which annoyed our hosts not a little. If I mistake not, the +Padre of this village was a great knave, and did not scruple to help +himself to such things as he had a mind for, belonging to our officers, +whenever a fit opportunity presented itself. The next day, the 31st, we +moved into Astorga, where we halted for an hour or two, till the +destruction of the magazine there was completed, although nothing but +rum remained; and here I witnessed such a brutal and swinish eagerness +for drink as was quite disgusting. The rum casks were ordered to be +staved, and to let the contents run out on the street, that they might +not fall into the hands of the enemy: thus the rum which had cost so +much trouble in bringing up all the way from Corunna was about to be +lost for ever; a thing most heart-rending to the numerous soldiers +looking on, who loved it so dearly. However, they were determined not to +lose all, for when the heads of the casks were knocked in, and their +contents permitted to run in streams down the gutters, some of those +brutes deliberately took off their greasy caps, and laving up the rum +and the mud together, drank, or rather ate, the swinish mixture. What +noble soldiers would our country produce, were not that detestable vice +of drunkenness so common among us; but to it how many have I seen +deliberately sacrifice their own and country's honour, nay their very +life itself, rather than forego the beastly gratification! + +All this morning we had been told to keep a sharp look-out on the Leon +side of Astorga, for the enemy was every moment expected to make his +appearance from that quarter; however, we were not disturbed during the +short time we remained. We here fell in with a considerable body of +Romana's army, apparently all confusion, and destitute of every thing. +We understood that they were not to be marched in the same line we were +taking, but that it had been concerted between the two generals that our +route should be kept free; however, here, and for several days +afterwards, we suffered greatly from their contiguity. + +We continued our march from Astorga the same day, and reached at night +the village of Foncevadon, about twenty miles distant. Here we pigged +in as well as we were able, there being only five or six houses; but as +we had a few tents with us, we managed not amiss. Till now our brigade +had formed the rear of the infantry, there being some cavalry in rear of +us; but it was now determined that ours and the Light German Brigade +under Brigadier-general Charles Alten, should strike off from the great +road, and take the route for Orense and Vigo. This was done, I +understand, with a view to secure a passage across the Minho at the +former place, should Sir John, with the main army, be compelled to +retreat in that direction, and probably with the view also of drawing +off a part of the enemy's overwhelming force from the pursuit of that +body, and to induce them to follow us into the mountains. +Notwithstanding this, they continued to pursue Sir John on the great +road, whilst they left us free altogether. + +I beg to notice here, that both Mr Gifford and Mr Moore (Sir John's +brother), have fallen into a trifling error respecting the period of our +separation from the main body, they both making us be detached before +our arrival at Astorga, whereas it was not till we had passed a day's +march beyond it that we were sent off. The thing is of no consequence, +only it is as well to be correct. + +The next day, the 1st of January 1809, we marched by a most difficult +road through the mountains, to Ponferrada, situated about a league to +the left of the great road to Corunna, on which the main army was +retreating. When we got in, our commissary immediately made a +requisition to the Alcalde of the town, to provide bread for the two +brigades, as we began to be in most fearful want. He promised to set the +bakers to work immediately, and in a few hours, he said, the bread would +be ready. We called on him repeatedly, without obtaining any, he still +alleging it was not yet quite ready, and putting us off from time to +time, till midnight, when the patience of our commissary being fairly +worn out, he yielded to the anger so naturally inspired by such +shuffling conduct, and used some strong language to the Alcalde. +Whereupon, we discovered at once that he had been only amusing us with +promises he did not intend to fulfil; and told the commissary that he +did not fear any of his threats, for that, as Romana's army had now also +entered the town, he had no doubt they would protect him, and revenge +any insult offered to him. The commissary had indeed talked about +hanging him for his double-dealing, and leaving the troops utterly +starving; but if he could have got any bread ready, it is most natural +to suppose he would prefer letting his own countrymen have it; this, +however, as might be expected, had a most pernicious effect upon our +suffering soldiers, for when provisions could not be procured in the +regular and ordinary mode, it is evident they would take them wherever +they were to be found--for hunger is not easily borne, accompanied by +incessant fatigue. In the morning, when we turned out to continue our +march towards Orense, we heard a heavy firing towards our right and +front, and this proved to be an attack made by the enemy's light troops +upon our first battalion, who, with some cavalry, had been left in +Cacabelos as a rearguard. Our first battalion gained great credit for +their conduct on this occasion. The force of the enemy greatly exceeded +ours, yet our people drove them back with great loss, killing General +Colbert, who commanded the advance. This was done by a noted pickle of +the name of Tom Plunkett, who, fearless of all danger to himself, got +sufficiently nigh to make sure of his mark, and shot him, which, with +the fire of the others, caused great havoc in the enemy's ranks, and set +them flying to the rear much faster than they advanced. Our situation +was thus, in a manner, in rear of the enemy's advance guard, yet they +did not turn in our direction. Cacabelos was distant from us only about +a league. + +Our road this day lay over high and almost inaccessible mountains, +deeply covered with snow. On the top of one of these, as our General was +passing the column, a cry was passed from the rear to open out to allow +him to pass, the road being very narrow. One of our men, as the General +came near, happened to say, loud enough for him to hear, that "he had +more need to give us some bread," or words to that effect, which so +exasperated the General, that he instantly halted the whole brigade, +ordered the man to be tried by a drum-head court-martial, and flogged +him on the spot. It was a severe, but perhaps necessary discipline, in +order to check in the bud the seeds of murmuring and insubordination, +although I own it appeared harsh. + +Our march was a long and toilsome one indeed, and did not terminate till +about ten at night, when we reached St Domingo-Flores, where nothing +could be procured but a very small quantity of black bread, the village +being quite small. Tired with the journey, we felt rather inclined to +sleep than eat; and, wet and dirty as we were, we laid ourselves down +till dawn, when we commenced another such day's march, and reached at +night the village of La Rua. During these two days, want and fatigue had +compelled many to fall out, some of whom, no doubt, perished in the snow +on the bleak mountains, over which our road, or rather path, had lain; +others fell into the hands of the enemy, and some few rejoined us after +having obtained some little refreshment from the natives. + +It would but be a repetition of the privations and fatigues we +underwent, to notice all that befell us on our way thence to Orense, +which place we reached on the 7th of January, having previously pushed +on, by double forced marches, a few hundred men, to take possession of +the bridge over the Minho at this place. Here we remained a day, and +obtained provisions, then much needed by us all, for the men had been +literally starving for several days past. We had time and opportunity +here also to strip and change our linen, that is, those who had a +change; the others washed the shirt they took off, sitting without one +till it was dry. Indeed, by this time we were in a most miserable +plight; our shoes, of course, were nearly all worn out, and many +travelling barefoot; and our clothes, as might be expected, were ragged +and filthy in the extreme; indeed they could not be otherwise, for I +suppose none of us had put any thing off since we commenced the retreat. +This day's rest, however, refreshed us greatly, and enabled us to +perform the remainder of our toilsome journey with more comfort; indeed, +since we had secured the passage of the Minho, and thus prevented the +enemy from getting in before us, our minds were more at ease, for strong +apprehensions were entertained that the French would have detached a +corps from their main body to seize this pass, and thus cut off our +retreat to Vigo. A part of Romana's army entered Orense before we left +it, worse, if possible, in point of appearance than ourselves; but they, +in their best days, are more like an armed mob than regularly organized +soldiers. + +It is a pity that Romana did not adopt the plan pointed out to him by +Sir John Moore, either to retire into the Asturias with his army +unbroken, or hang upon the flanks of the enemy as he passed through the +mountains; and which he could have done with ease and safety, for these +fellows could live where regular troops would starve, and there was no +doubt but the peasantry would have assisted their countrymen with all +their means. This would have in some measure retarded the too rapid +progress of the French, and probably been the means of saving to our +country one of its bravest and most skilful generals. + +Some of our men who had been compelled to stop behind from fatigue and +starvation, rejoined us here, having generally been assisted by the +peasantry, who gave them food, and helped them forward. + +On the 9th, in the morning, we left Orense, crossing the Minho to the +north side of that river, and continued our march to the town of +Ribadavia, situated at the junction of the rivers Avia and Minho, both +of which, from the melting of the snow, and the immense quantities of +rain that had fallen, were greatly swollen. So much so, that when I +approached the town with the baggage, (the troops having gone on +before,) and which I did not reach till near midnight, I found the road +completely overflowed with water; and being without a guide, I could not +of course in the night be certain where the road lay, the whole bank of +the river being completely under water. We were in consequence obliged +to climb the mountains to our left, and proceed in the best manner we +were able with the loaded mules; but so precipitous were they in one +place, that a load of ammunition slid off the mule's back, and the casks +rolled rapidly down the hill towards the river. I durst not venture to +leave them, although my chance of finding them in such a situation +appeared small indeed; however, we halted the remainder of the mules, +while a few of us set off down the steep in the direction we had seen +them go, and after a long and anxious groping in every hollow of the +rocky mountain, succeeded in recovering them; but the powder in them, +and indeed nearly all the ammunition we had, was rendered completely +useless, from the constant heavy rain that had fallen. I am almost +astonished that no accident happened to either man or beast in this +perilous journey, for our feet literally "stumbled upon the dark +mountains," without either guide or path, and where the ground was most +uneven and dangerous. We however at length reached our destination, wet +and weary enough, and, just as we entered the town, were informed that +the corridor of one of the convents where two of our companies were +sleeping, had just fallen to the ground with a tremendous crash, and +that several men had had their limbs broken by the fall; I do not +remember that any were killed. It being so late, I could not procure any +kind of quarter, so I was fain to sit down by the side of a fire kindled +in the yard of this convent for the remainder of the night. + +We next morning resumed our journey, and in three days more from this +place we reached Vigo. On this last day's march we had a pretty high +eminence to ascend at some distance from the town, from which the view +of the town, the shipping, and the sea, broke all at once upon us. It +was a most delightful prospect, and it was highly amusing to observe the +joy which seemed to animate the woe-worn countenances of our ragged and +dirty soldiers. Fellows without a shoe or a stocking, and who before +were shuffling along with sore and lacerated feet like so many lame +ducks, now made an attempt to dance for joy; laughter and mirth, and the +joke, now succeeded to the gloomy silence with which they had in general +prosecuted their wearisome journey for several days past, as the +friendly element before them promised shortly to put a period to long +and toilsome wanderings. Indeed, although I am a bad sailor, and suffer +always severely when at sea, I do not remember ever to have witnessed a +sight which inspired me with greater pleasure than the shipping and the +sea did on this occasion. + +The fleet of transports for the army under Sir John Moore, was just +clearing the bay as we came in sight, but we observed that a sufficient +number remained at Vigo to transport us to our native land, a place we +sorely longed for, as we had often contrasted the happiness and security +and comfort of our friends at home, with the poverty and misery we had +lately witnessed in the country we were leaving; and this no doubt +increased our anxiety for the change. We marched into Vigo, and were +soon after put on board the vessels destined to receive us. It was my +fortune to be sent on board the Alfred, 74, with two of our companies; a +great number of men were still behind, for even the few last days' +marches had deprived us of many who till then had braved the toils and +privations of the journey, but who now had fairly sunk under exhaustion. +The Commodore, therefore, remained as long in the bay as it was safe, +sending the stragglers as they arrived on board the different ships; but +within a few days after our arrival, the enemy entered the town, which +of course precluded all hope of more escaping. We consequently weighed +and stood out towards the outer bay, where we again came to anchor. + +A Russian ship-of-war was in a small harbour in this bay, which it was +intended to board and cut out. As we were then, I believe, on rather bad +terms with that nation, never did I witness such alacrity and delight as +our tars on board the Alfred manifested when buckling on their cutlasses +for the occasion, and I feel certain that if confidence in themselves +would tend to insure the victory, no men had a better chance of +succeeding; but from some cause or other with which I am unacquainted, +the enterprise was abandoned. + +On the 21st January we weighed and stood out to sea; but a gale coming +on we were obliged to come to anchor again under the shelter of the +Isle of Bagona. We did not get to sea till the 24th, but on the 25th we +spoke a frigate going out to Lisbon with General Dyatt on board, who +informed us of the fatal business at Corunna. Indeed the people on board +this ship had, from vague reports, greatly magnified our loss on that +occasion, telling us that the whole army had been nearly cut to pieces, +and that very few indeed had been able to effect their escape. We each, +of course, mourned for his particular friends, not doubting but they had +fallen among the rest. I think it was the same night on which we saw +this ship, a fatal accident had very nigh taken place. Our captain was +the Commodore, and the captain of the Hindostan store-ship had charge of +the rear of the fleet; his place was consequently always behind all the +other vessels. Some time after dark, however, our look-out people gave +notice of a large vessel on our starboard quarter. We shortened sail and +let her come up pretty close to us, and made the private signal, but no +answer was returned. At length, when near enough, we hailed her, but +still no answer. An order was now given to stand to quarters and prepare +for action, not doubting she was an enemy which had got among the fleet. +The guns were accordingly run out, the matches lit, and every thing +prepared for action. She appeared a large ship, but of what force they +could not guess. Again she was hailed, and again she disregarded it. Our +first lieutenant was now fully convinced she was an enemy, and pleaded +hard with the captain to give the word fire, but the captain said he +would hail her once more, and if she did not answer he would fire. +Providentially they heard us this time, and answered it was the +Hindostan. What they had been about I know not, for we were quite near +each other; and had she received our broadside, as was the intention had +she not then answered, it is most probable she would have gone down; at +all events the consequences must have been awful, for she had the whole +of the 43d regiment on board, besides her own crew. Our captain +certainly censured him in no very mild terms for leaving his station in +the rear, and getting to the very head of the fleet. She was a very +lofty ship, and carried forty-four guns I believe, and had not less than +1000 men on board, many of whom must have suffered had we fired upon +her. + +A few days after this we encountered a most tremendous gale, and came in +sight of the English coast, somewhere near the Lizard or the Start; but +our master not knowing exactly where he was, we stood off again towards +the French coast. + +The next day the gale was if possible more severe, and the ship rolled +so much that they were afraid her guns would break loose from their +lashings, in consequence of which large spikes were driven in behind the +wheels of each gun-carriage to prevent such an accident. In this +situation, I know not whether I did not almost wish myself on the snowy +mountains of Galicia again, rather than where I was, so miserable a +sailor am I, and so much do I suffer from sea-sickness. + +The fleet was by this time completely scattered, every one making the +best shift he could for himself; some got into Plymouth, some reached +Portsmouth, and some, I believe, foundered in the gale, among which, if +I mistake not, was a brig, on board of which my two companies had been +first embarked, but were subsequently removed to the Alfred, and some of +the German Legion, I think, put on board her. + +At length we made the Isle of Wight, and subsequently Spithead, which we +reached on the 31st, and the next day landed once more on the happy +shore of our native Britain. Thankful indeed I ought to have been for +the ever watchful care of an indulgent and kind Providence, who had +brought me safely through the toils and sufferings under which so many +more robust and hardy than myself had sunk; but, alas! I had then no +sense of the gratitude due for such unmerited favours, and instead of +rendering thanks to Him who had thus preserved me, I entered, with all +the eagerness of a person devoid of reason and religion, into every vice +and sensuality that presented itself. I here learnt with sorrow the +great loss which my friends in the first battalion had sustained, but +glad nevertheless that it was not to the extent we apprehended, and that +none of my particular friends had fallen. + +We left Portsmouth, and returned to our old quarters at Hythe, in Kent, +passing again on the road my native county militia at Battle, in Sussex, +as I did at Bury, on my return from Holland; and truly our appearance on +this occasion was, if possible, more deplorable than on the former. +However, our tattered and worn-out habiliments had the effect of +inspiring some of my countrymen in that regiment with a desire of +sharing in the glory, as they termed it, of suffering so much in the +defence of our beloved country; and they accordingly made up their minds +to volunteer into our corps the first opportunity that offered, and +which they put in execution that same year, as will be told hereafter. +We took up our abode in the comfortable barracks at Hythe, and +immediately set about putting every thing in order, and truly much was +wanting to fit us again for duty as soldiers. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Volunteering--Farther Promotion--Embarks for Portugal, with two + Companies of the Second Battalion--Debark at Cadiz--Advance to the + Isla--The French occupy all the adjacent Towns, except Cadiz and the + Isla--Cannonading--Spanish Army--Detachment of the Allied Army sent + Around by Gibraltar and Chiclana, to take the Enemy in the rear of + his works, and compel him either to fight or abandon them--Come up + with a portion of the Enemy in the vicinity of Veger--Bravery of the + British--The Enemy repulsed with great Loss, but, from the apathy + and misconduct of General La Pena, and the Spaniards under his + command, the French are allowed to retain their Works in the + vicinity of Cadiz. + + +In April of this year, an order was issued to allow the militia +regiments to volunteer, for the purpose of filling up the regiments of +the line; and I was sent by Colonel Beckwith (our two battalions being +then both at Hythe) to receive those who chose to volunteer from the +Northumberland militia before-mentioned, which had now been removed to +Ipswich. Lieutenant Beckwith had the charge of our party, but proceeded +_incog._ to Ipswich, the general orders not permitting officers of the +line to be seen in the quarters of the militia. On our arrival at +Ipswich, I had the pleasure of obtaining the names of thirty fine young +fellows, among whom the patriots formerly mentioned of course were +included. Several other militia regiments in this district also gave +volunteers to us, so that in three days, from the commencement of the +volunteering, we obtained upwards of 1100 men; and had we not, by an +order from the Horse-Guards, been precluded from taking any more, I +doubt not we should have obtained several hundreds besides, for our +regiment alone had near eighty names down for us, who were not allowed +to enter from the above cause. Indeed the Commander-in-Chief, Sir David +Dundas, (afterwards our Colonel,) appeared quite astonished, and not +well pleased, that we had run away with so many men when others wanted +them so much. He was obliged, however, to grant us a 3d battalion, as we +had so many more men than were required to fill up the 1st and 2d; and +our respected Colonel, Major-general Coote Manningham, dying about this +time of the fatigue he had undergone in Spain, Sir David took us to +himself, and became our Colonel-in-Chief, giving the command of the 3d +battalion to my respected (and now lamented) friend and benefactor, +Major-general the Honourable William Stewart. The Lieutenant-colonelcy +was given to Major Norman M'Leod, our senior Major, and only two or +three other steps were given to the officers of the regiment, although +it was alone owing to their exertions in obtaining men, and to the high +character the regiment had acquired, that such numbers had volunteered +into it. + +It becomes not me to censure or criticise the measures of government, +but I cannot help thinking that more favour was certainly due to the +corps as a body. For myself, I ought and must speak with gratitude, not +of them, but of that kind Providence which has favoured me so far, so +very far, beyond my deserts, for, on the 8th of June following, I was +appointed Quartermaster of the 3d battalion. + +Our 1st battalion was again sent out to join the army in Portugal, while +mine was sent to Brabournlees to equip and drill our new levies. Every +exertion was made to this effect, and the battalion was soon completed +and rendered fit for service. Here my wife joined me again, the child to +which she gave birth in my absence having died when six weeks old. This +was the only child she ever had, and it was perhaps a providential +dispensation, for she was extremely delicate, and by no means a healthy +person, and it is not unlikely her offspring might have inherited her +disease, that is, an affection of the chest. We had only lived a few +months together, till another call for service separated us again. + +In June 1810, we received orders to send out to Cadiz two companies of +my battalion, together with the commanding-officer and staff, three +others having been already sent thither in the spring. The melancholy +business of parting with my wife was again to be gone through; but on +this occasion I was favoured by being permitted to accompany her to +London, where, parting from her with a heavy heart, I took my place for +Chichester, at which place my detachment would be quartered next day, on +their way to Portsmouth. I omitted to mention, that Lieutenant-colonel +Barnard of the 1st or Royals, had exchanged with Lieutenant-colonel +M'Leod some time previous, and he consequently was now going out as my +commanding-officer. We embarked at Portsmouth on the 11th July, on board +the Mercury frigate, armed _en flute_, and commanded by Captain Tancock. + +We had a favourable passage, and landed at Cadiz on the 29th of that +month. This city, it may be remembered, was besieged at this time by a +French army under Marshal Victor; consequently, when we arrived, we were +amused by seeing immense shells flying from one party to the other, but +without doing any serious injury to either, the distance being too great +to produce any effect of moment. As we came in sight of Cadiz, the view +was most enchanting, for the city appeared as if composed of lofty and +elegant snow-white buildings, apparently rising from the bosom of the +ocean, for the land on which it is built cannot be seen at a distance; +added to which, the numerous and beautiful towns about the bay, and a +little beyond it, rendered it a most delightful scene. On the right was +Cadiz, with its lofty lighthouse, and its strong sea-walls rising out of +the water; on the left was Rota, an apparently neat little town. Farther +up the bay, on the same side, was Port St Mary's, and beyond that +Porto Real, both considerable towns. In the centre rises the Isla de +Leon, now called St Ferdinand; beyond that Chiclana, composed of the +elegant country residences of the more wealthy Cadiz merchants; and, in +the distance, towering on the mountains behind, the dazzling white town +of Medina Sidonia shining in the sun; indeed altogether imagination can +scarcely picture to itself a more interesting _coup-d'oeil_, the scene +being closed by the lofty snow-clad mountains of Ronda. We landed at +Cadiz, and remained for the night in the barracks situated in the +barrier, on the land-side of the town, and which is remarkably strong, +the fortifications being composed of solid masonry, and the barracks all +bomb-proof. I suffered dreadfully from the myriads of fleas which preyed +upon me during the night, and was glad when morning appeared. + +We marched next day to the Isla, (be it observed the town is called by +that name as well as the island on which it and Cadiz are situated,) +distant from Cadiz about seven miles; the island is of a most singular +form, being about ten miles broad at the end next the continent, from +which it is separated by the river Santi Petri; immediately below the +town of Isla it begins to narrow very rapidly, forming from thence to +Cadiz nothing more than a narrow sand-bank, in some places not more +than a hundred yards across, and on which a causeway has been built to +connect the two places. We took up our abode in the Isla, where the +Spanish government, such as it was, at this time resided; and here I +witnessed the first opening of the Spanish Cortes in 1810, which was +attended with all the pomp and show of a truly Roman Catholic people. +_Te Deums_ and other pompous and brilliant ceremonies marked the event; +indeed, here we had an opportunity of seeing a great number of the +grandees of the Spanish nation, for, as I said before, the government +had retired to this place from Madrid, and most of the courtiers and +others attached to the government had assembled here, together with the +deputies from the different provinces; altogether the scenes we +witnessed here were sometimes very imposing. + +The French occupied all the towns before named save Cadiz and Isla, +their advanced piquets being thrown forward to near the river Santi +Petri, except near the Bridge of Luaza, which is the only communication +across from the island to the mainland; here our pickets were advanced a +considerable distance beyond the bridge upon a causeway on which is the +road leading to Seville, through a broad salt marsh on the banks of the +river; it is here about two miles wide, and utterly impassable, except +to those who know the footpaths across it, being intersected at every +few paces by deep salt-pits or pans. The enemy, as mentioned before, had +their sentries at some parts pretty far into the centre of this marsh, +and there were some fellows in the Spanish service called by the name of +"creepers," they obtaining their livelihood by killing sea-fowl and +other animals in this marsh; and so dexterous were they at this +_creeping_, that they could steal upon the birds unperceived, which +enabled them to get them with ease. Sometimes a fellow of this calling +would set off on a _creeping_ excursion, and instead of bagging a +wild-duck, or some other such bird, would plunge his stiletto into the +heart of an unsuspecting French sentry, and leave him weltering in his +gore. This was a noble exploit in their estimation, and marks strongly +the character of the Spaniard, who, inured to blood by the frequency of +their bull-fights and other similar exhibitions, hesitates not a moment +at assassination if urged on by what he deems his own or country's +wrongs; this inhuman act, of course, was perpetrated in the dark. + +I may mention, in connexion with this, that on the Christmas of 1810, it +was reported that sixteen people had been assassinated in Isla alone, on +the evening or night before; it is probable the number may have been +exaggerated, but the thing was such an almost everyday occurrence that +it appeared not to excite the least horror at its atrocity. I had +occasion to go down the town during the Christmas day, and I saw still +lying at the corner of one of the most frequented streets, one of the +unhappy beings who had thus fallen. No one seemed inclined to own him; +and his body, foul with blood and dust, was thus permitted to remain in +the public streets without any enquiry being made with respect to the +perpetrator of so foul a deed. In truth they are, as it were, trained up +to this recklessness of human life from their infancy, for in the town +of Isla there was a sort of naval academy, where a number of boys, from +perhaps eight to twelve years of age, were educated; these urchins were +permitted to wear swords, and it is really astonishing how desirous they +appeared to make use of them, for they could scarcely ever pass along +the streets without trying the sharpness of their points upon the backs +of pigs or dogs, or any other unfortunate animal that came in their way. + +The French also occupied a long low tongue of land which stretches out +into the Bay of Cadiz, taking its rise from between Port St Mary's and +Porto Real, and extending to within about two and a half miles of Cadiz, +and about one from Puntalis, a fort erected on the island opposite the +extremity of this low tongue; this is called the Trocadero, since become +famous as the field on which the Duke D'Angouleme, and Prince Carignan +of Naples, gained so many honours. On the point of this tongue the +enemy's principal batteries were erected, and from thence they contrived +occasionally, but not often, and never with any great effect, to throw +shells into the town of Cadiz. The mortar now in St James' Park, called +the "Prince Regent's bomb," was cast at Seville on purpose to enable +them to reach the town, no ordnance of common dimensions being capable +of throwing a shell so far; but it did not answer the end proposed, or +at least the effect expected from it, for it was imagined by them, that +if they could once succeed in throwing shells into the city, the +inhabitants would become so alarmed that they would compel the military +to surrender. This, however, was far from being realized, although they +did throw a few in; but the distance being so great, they were +necessarily thrown much at random, some of them falling short of the +town, others flying completely over into the bay near the lighthouse on +the other side, and some few, as I said, falling in the city, but from +which very few casualties occurred.[2] I am told they were obliged to +have the mortar slung in chains at the time of firing it, the +concussion being so great as to destroy the bed in which it was fixed. +As may be supposed, there was constant war between our fort Puntalis, +before mentioned, and the enemy's batteries on this point; in fact our +people had orders to throw a thirteen-inch shell every quarter of an +hour, besides the occasional firing from the guns and other mortars when +any thing appeared on the opposite side; and you may be certain the +French were not behind us in the expenditure of ammunition; they were +remarkably fond of firing what are termed salvos, that is, volleys of +artillery. On one occasion I happened to be looking out from a high +tower near Isla, called the Tore Alto, and while all was deep and +profound silence, and I happened to be looking towards the point of +Trocadero, in a moment the smoke rose from at least 100 pieces of +artillery, fired by signal, and the noise they made was tremendous. Our +poor little fort of Puntalis appeared almost enveloped in the dust +raised by the striking of the shot, and the smoke from them which fell +about it, and seemed as if almost deprived of power by so sudden and +unexpected a salute; but she began at length to return the compliment, +although feebly in comparison of the tremendous volley she had received. +This and such like were of frequent occurrence, scarcely a day passing +without something interesting taking place. + +To enable us to cope in some measure with the French, a large double +fortified sea-mortar was brought from Gibraltar, which threw +thirteen-inch shells. It was brought up to the back of the town of Isla, +near some powder magazines, and an attempt made there to throw some +shells over to the Trocadero. The first trial, an empty shell was put +in, with not less than thirty-two pounds of powder in the chamber. On +firing it, the shell flew all to atoms, from the violent shock +occasioned by so great a quantity of powder; and the shell being too +weak for that description of mortar, another was tried filled with sand, +to give it more weight and solidity; this answered the purpose, for it +fell on the land on the opposite coast, but still, from the great range, +much uncertainty must naturally attend the practice, and it was +eventually given up. The next day, however, we were saluted from the +opposite side with both shot and shell, the French thus showing us that +they were better able to play at long bowls than we were; neither, +however, did their practice continue, for there was nothing at the point +where their shot and shells fell to be injured by them, the magazines +before noticed being now empty. + +On another occasion an attack was made by our people on the Trocadero +itself, where it was reported the French had got a considerable number +of boats, &c., laid up on shore, about half-way between the point and +Porto Real; our folks took gun-boats and boats with rockets, the +intention being to set fire to the enemy's craft. They accordingly +advanced in good style, keeping as far, however, as possible out of the +range of the French batteries at the point, which, as they were directed +towards Cadiz and Puntalis, could not easily bring their artillery to +bear upon our boats. They reached the place where it was said the French +craft was lying, and fired a considerable number of rockets, but without +being able to effect any thing farther than burning one boat, I believe. +As they were returning, however, they met the French commander, who had +been down to the point in a light boat, and he, like a brave fellow, +determined to run completely the gauntlet rather than return, keeping as +close in shore, however, as possible. The whole of our gun-boats fired +at him as he passed, and knocked the water up about him in all +directions without ever once touching him, although, to look at him, one +would have imagined it impossible he could escape; but here the old +soldier's adage was verified, for there was still more room to miss than +to hit him, and he accordingly escaped scot-free. + +While here, I had a most ample opportunity of closely viewing the +Spanish army, great numbers being stationed in and about the Isla, and +great numbers constantly coming into and going out of the place, after +receiving such equipment as the government was able to provide for them. +Nothing could exceed the hardy and robust appearance of the men in +general; and had they been clothed, appointed, and disciplined like +either their enemies or their allies, there could not have been a finer +soldiery. I cannot, however, say so much for their officers; most of +them appeared to be utterly unfit and unable to command their men. Those +who had the means, seemed to think of nothing else but dressing like +apes or mountebanks, and intriguing with the women. It was really absurd +and ludicrous to see the strange figures they generally made themselves. +In one regiment alone you might have observed more different uniforms +than both we and the French have in all our armies. One would have had +on a blue coat turned up with red, with a chaco and a straight sword, +the uniform prescribed for officers of the infantry, I believe; the next +would have most likely had on a hussar dress, with an enormous sabre +dangling by his side; another would have had a red coat, a fourth +yellow, a fifth white, and so on. In short, all the colours of the +rainbow were generally exhibited in the uniforms of one regiment's +officers; and every one of them appeared to vie with the other who could +make the greatest harlequin of himself, whilst those of them who were +mounted would caper and prance about the streets like so many fools, +riding with their legs at full stretch, and the toe of the boot (if they +had one) just touching the stirrup, and drawing the reins continually +through the fingers of their right hand; and if by any chance an ape of +this kind came near the window of his dulcinea, and thought there was a +likelihood of her seeing him, I pitied the poor foot-passengers who +might happen to be near him, for he would make his unfortunate Rosinante +prance and caper by the immense long bit in its mouth, and the pieces of +iron in the shape of spurs on his (shoes perhaps), till the poor animal +was like to fall under him. In short, they had all the pride, arrogance, +and self-sufficiency of the best officers in the world, with the very +least of all pretension to have an high opinion of themselves; it is +true they were not all alike, but the majority of them were the most +haughty, and at the same time the most contemptible creatures in the +shape of officers, that I ever beheld. It was, therefore, not to be +expected that the soldiers would or could look upon them with that +degree of respect and reverence so essential to a due maintenance of +subordination in an army. + +About the month of February 1811, it was concerted between the Spanish +government and General Graham, who commanded us, to undertake an +expedition which should land in the vicinity of Gibraltar; and being +there reinforced by some troops from that fortress, the whole should +move forward in the direction of Chiclana, and, taking the enemy in the +rear of his works, compel him either to abandon them or fight a battle. +Accordingly, on the 18th of that month, we embarked on board some small +vessels that had been fitted up for the occasion in the bay of Cadiz, +and, sailing soon after, we reached Algeziras, ten miles on this side of +Gibraltar, and landed there on the 24th. Our force consisted of a +brigade of artillery, with ten guns; two battalions of Foot Guards; the +28th, 67th, and 87th regiments; a battalion composed of flank companies +from Gibraltar; two companies of the 47th regiment, and two of the 20th +Portuguese regiment, with six companies of our corps and one squadron of +cavalry,--in all about 4500 men. The Spanish army, under the command of +General La Pena, (who, being senior officer, directed the whole,) +consisted of two divisions,--in all from ten to eleven thousand. We were +not allowed to take any baggage with us, consequently we could not +expect much comfort during the service, which was expected to be short. +The day we landed we bivouacked on a height near Algeziras, and the next +morning moved on towards Tarifa, where we remained for that day and the +next, to allow time to get the artillery and cavalry horses on shore. +Here I observed a strange custom among the females of this place, the +remains, I apprehend, of the Moorish fashion, (which no doubt would +continue longer in this place than others, it being immediately opposite +to and in sight of Africa.) The Spanish women all wear what they term a +mantilla, that is, a kind of scarf made of cloth, generally black, which +they throw over their heads lengthwise, letting the two ends come over +their shoulders, and meeting and crossing on the breast, it forms a sort +of head-dress which shows only the face, and keeps them close and snug +about the head; but here, they bring it so far forward as to completely +cover the face, leaving nothing but a very small hole in front of their +left eye (I think it is), at which they peep out, without showing any +part of the face. Colonel Brown of the 28th, who was then a most wild +and eccentric character, although now I understand completely altered, +could not relish this hiding of their beauty by the modest dames of +Tarifa. All, therefore, that he met in the streets he stopped, and made +them open the mantilla, that he might have a fair peep at them, to the +great scandal of the good ladies of this still Moorish town, and which, +had it been on any other occasion, might have been attended with +unpleasant consequences to himself. + +When every thing was ready we moved forward from Tarifa, and halted for +the night on a height about twelve miles distant. The next day we +reached Casas Vejas, or "Old Houses," where we bivouacked on a scrubby +hill, the weather being very bitter, which we felt in all its force, +having no covering whatever. Next day we had to cross a considerable +lake of fresh water, by a sort of ford which crossed it about the +middle. We had started before daylight, and, through some mismanagement, +did not reach this lake till near mid-day, although it was only a few +miles distant from our last night's quarters. One division of the +Spaniards led the column, and another was behind us, we being thus in +the centre, as being the least thought of probably by our Spanish +Commander-in-Chief; for indeed we had often heard it said in and about +Isla, "what fine-looking and well-disciplined soldiers the British +are!--what a pity they cannot fight!" So thought La Pena, probably; but +by two o'clock the first division of Spaniards had not near got over the +lake, at which the patience of our General was so completely exhausted, +that he requested the Spanish General to allow him to bring forward the +British troops, to show him the way how he and they would act. My +battalion led the van, and were ordered to march straight through it +without any picking of steps, and to go forward in regular sections, one +man supporting another. They went in and marched right through it, as if +it had been plain ground, the water taking them generally about +mid-deep. The rest of the British army followed, and were all through in +less than half an hour; a one-horse cart, indeed, stuck fast in the +middle of it, from the wheels having got entangled between the large +stones at the bottom. General Graham seeing this, instantly dismounted, +and, plunging in, set his shoulder to the wheel, and fairly lifted it +clear of the obstruction. + +La Pena, and those about him, after witnessing the example set them by +our General and his troops, seemed really ashamed of their former +conduct, and, setting to in good earnest, they contrived to urge their +soldiers and officers to take the water with more freedom, and before +dark the whole army had got over. While we were so long detained by the +first division of Spaniards getting across, I, with several other +mounted people, rode forward to the ford, to ascertain the cause of our +stoppage for so long a time. The Spaniards were going into the water one +at a time,--here one, and there one,--while the creatures of officers +were making the men carry them on their backs. Had the whole army acted +thus, we should not have got over before daylight next morning. + +When all were across, and the columns formed, we moved forward, and +reached the neighbourhood of Veger, which stands on a high hill not far +distant from the memorable Cape Trafalgar. We halted in an olive-grove +below the town, and bivouacked for the night; it was bitter cold, and +the troops could find but little wood for firing, which they much +needed, from having got so completely wet in crossing the lake. + +We remained at Veger all the next day, and a little after dark commenced +our march. We being now in the neighbourhood of the enemy, it became +necessary to conceal our movements as much as possible. During the night +we passed the fishing town of Conil, and, keeping near the coast, we +arrived the next morning on the plain of Chiclana. I quote from our +General's dispatch, as it states the thing in a much more clear and +satisfactory manner than I could do. He says,--"After a night march of +sixteen hours from the camp (bivouack) near Veger, we arrived on the +morning of the 5th on the low ridge of Barossa, about four miles from +the Santi Petri river. This height extends inland about a mile and a +half, continuing on the north the extensive heathy plain of Chiclana. A +great pine-forest skirts the plain, and circles round the height at some +distance, terminating down towards Santi Petri, the intermediate space +between the north side of the height and the forest being uneven and +broken." + +The two Spanish divisions had preceded us, who, after having rested a +while on the plain, moved down towards the Santi Petri, where a bridge +was to be thrown over by the troops in the Isla de Leon, and thus open a +communication between the two armies, that is, between those inside the +island and us. + +The General goes on to say,--"A well-conducted and successful attack on +the rear of the enemy's lines, near Santi Petri, by the vanguard of the +Spanish army under Brigadier-general Ladrizabel, having opened the +communication with the Isla de Leon, I received General La Pena's +directions to move down from the position of Barossa to that of the +Torre de Bermesa, about half-way to the Santi Petri river, over which a +bridge had been lately established. This latter position occupies a +narrow woody ridge, the right on the sea-cliff, and the left falling +down to the Almanza creek, on the edge of the marsh; a hard sandy beach +gives an easy communication between the western points of these two +positions. + +"My division being halted on the eastern slope of the Barossa height, +was marched about twelve o'clock through the wood towards Bermesa, +(cavalry patrols having previously been sent towards Chiclana, without +meeting with the enemy.) On the march I received notice that the enemy +had appeared in force on the plain, and was advancing towards the +heights of Barossa. As I considered that position as the key of Santi +Petri, I immediately countermarched, in order to support the troops left +for its defence; and the alacrity with which this manoeuvre was +executed, served as a favourable omen. It was, however, impossible, in +such intricate and difficult ground, to preserve order in the columns, +and there never was time to restore it entirely. But before we could get +ourselves quite disentangled from the wood, the troops on the Barossa +hill were seen returning from it, while the enemy's left wing was +rapidly ascending. At the same time his right wing stood on the plain, +on the edge of the wood, within cannon-shot. A retreat in the face of +such an enemy, already within reach of the easy communication by the +sea-beach, must have involved the whole allied army in all the danger of +being attacked during the unavoidable confusion of the different corps +arriving on the narrow ridge of Bermesa nearly at the same time. + +"Trusting to the known heroism of British troops, regardless of the +numbers and position of the enemy, an immediate attack was determined +on. Major Duncan soon opened a powerful battery of ten guns in the +centre. Brigadier-general Dilkes, with the brigade of Guards, +Lieutenant-colonel Brown's (of the 28th) flank battalion, +Lieutenant-colonel Norcott's two companies of the 2d rifle corps, and +Major Acheson, with a part of the 67th, (separated from the regiment in +the wood,) formed on the right. + +"Colonel Wheately's brigade, (consisting of the 28th, 67th, and 87th,) +with three companies of the Coldstream Guards, under Lieutenant-colonel +Jackson (separated likewise from his battalion in the wood), and +Lieutenant-colonel Barnard's flank battalion (being two companies 47th, +two ditto 20th Portuguese, and four of third battalion 95th) formed on +the left. As soon as the infantry was thus hastily got together, the +guns advanced to a more favourable position, and kept up a destructive +fire. The right wing proceeded to the attack of General Ruffin's +division on the hill, while Lieutenant-colonel Barnard's flank +battalion, and Lieutenant-colonel Bush's detachment of the 20th +Portuguese, were warmly engaged with the enemy's tirailleurs on our +left. + +"General Laval's division, notwithstanding the havoc made by Major +Duncan's battery, continued to advance in very imposing masses, opening +his fire of musketry, and was only checked by that of the left wing. The +left wing now advanced firing. A most destructive charge, by the three +companies of the Guards and the 87th regiment, supported by all the +remainder of the wing, decided the defeat of General Laval's division. + +"The eagle of the 8th regiment of light infantry, which suffered +immensely, and a howitzer, rewarded this charge, and remained in +possession of Major Gough of the 87th regiment. These attacks were +zealously supported by Colonel Bilson with the 28th regiment, and +Lieutenant-colonel Prevost with a part of the 67th. A reserve, formed +beyond the narrow valley, across which the enemy was closely pursued, +next shared the same fate, and was routed by the same means. + +"Meanwhile, the right wing was not less successful. The enemy, confident +of success, met General Dilkes on the ascent of the hill, and the +contest was sanguinary; but the undaunted perseverance of the brigade of +Guards, of Lieutenant-colonel Brown's battalion, and of +Lieutenant-colonel Norcott's and Major Acheson's detachments, overcame +every obstacle, and General Ruffin's division was driven from the +heights in confusion, leaving two pieces of cannon. + +"No expressions of mine could do justice to the conduct of the troops +throughout--nothing less than the almost unparalleled exertions of every +officer, the invincible bravery of every soldier, and the most +determined devotion of the honour of his Majesty's arms in all, could +have achieved this brilliant success against such a formidable enemy, so +posted. In less than an hour and a half from the commencement of the +action, the enemy was in full retreat. The retiring divisions met, +halted, and seemed inclined to form; a new and more advanced position of +our artillery quickly dispersed them. The exhausted state of the troops +made pursuit impossible. A position was taken up on the eastern side of +the hill; and we were strengthened on our right by the return of two +Spanish regiments, that had been attached before to my division, but +which I had left on the hill, and which had been ordered to retire. + +"An eagle, six pieces of cannon, the General of Division Ruffin, and the +General of Brigade Rousseau, wounded and taken; the Chief of the Staff, +General Bellegarde, and aide-de-camp of Marshal Victor, and the colonel +of the 8th regiment, with many other officers killed, and several +wounded and taken prisoners, the field covered with the dead bodies of +the enemy, attest that my confidence in this division was nobly repaid. +The animated charges of the 87th regiment were most conspicuous. +Lieutenant-colonel Barnard, (twice wounded,) and the officers of his +flank-battalion, executed the duty of skirmishing in advance with the +enemy in a masterly manner; and were ably seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel +Bush, of the 20th Portuguese, who (likewise twice wounded) fell into +the enemy's hands, but was afterwards rescued." + +The dispatch contains many more acknowledgments, which, as they have no +connexion with my narrative, I have omitted. + +I beg now to make such remarks and observations as may tend to throw +light upon the different parts of the foregoing dispatch. + +The two Spanish battalions attached to our division, together with +Lieutenant-colonel Brown's flank-battalion, were left upon the height of +Barossa, when we moved down into the wood, in order to secure that +position till we had possessed ourselves of the height of Bermesa; but +we had not left the plain more than half an hour, I think, and descended +into the wood, till an officer came galloping after us, saying the +French had debouched from the wood, and were moving on to the high +ground in our rear, and had attacked the troops left there for its +defence. Orders were instantly given us to countermarch, and to get on +to the plain and into action as soon as possible. In coming about, one +of the guns got entangled with a pine-tree; there was no time to +disengage it, and setting to with the whip, they pushed the horses +forward, and tore up the tree completely by the roots, although one of +considerable size. I thought (as our General says) it appeared a good +omen, and that a trifling obstacle would not be allowed to impede their +career. + +When we reached the plain, and perceived the enemy, never did a finer +sight present itself. They were manoeuvring on the high ground before +us; and as Home says, + + "The hill they gained, and moving on its top, + Of more than mortal size, towering, they seemed + An host angelic, clad in burning arms." + +Those immediately in front of my battalion were the famed 8th regiment, +and consisted of two battalions of 700 men each; one was composed of +grenadiers, and the other of voltigeurs, or light infantry. The +grenadiers had long waving red plumes in their caps, at least a foot in +length; while the light infantry had feathers of the same length and +make, but green, with yellow tops. The whole of the French army had on +their best or holyday suits of clothing, with their arms as bright as +silver, and glancing in the sun as they moved in column, gave them +really a noble and martial appearance. We had no sooner cleared the wood +than we inclined to our left, and went immediately at them. Major +Duncan's guns commenced playing upon their column the moment he could +get a clear piece of ground. The two companies of the 47th, attached to +my battalion, were taken to cover and remain with the guns. Our people +extended as we went up the hill, the Portuguese supporting us in the +rear; and in a very short time we were hotly engaged with the fellows +with the beautiful green feathers, many of which fell on the ground in a +short time. As we advanced, the battalions to our right and in rear of +us got formed in line, and moving forward in fine style, took up +stronger ground in advance; the guns in the centre also moving onward, +and causing dreadful havoc in the enemy's ranks. + +Early in the action my horse was killed, being shot in the head, which +ball, had his head not stopped it, would in all probability have entered +my body. He fell like a stone. I then went on and joined the ranks, and +finding a rifle of a man that had just fallen, (poor little Croudace's +servant, who afterwards fell himself,) I took a few shots at them in +revenge for my horse. At this time the grenadier battalion of the 8th, +with their waving red plumes, began to advance in close column, the +drums beating all the time the _pas de charge_. They were supported by +other columns in their rear, together with one, the French 54th, which +they sent into the wood to try to turn our left. The 8th advanced, +notwithstanding the galling fire kept up by our people and the +Portuguese, every shot almost of which must have told, as they were in a +solid body, not more than from 100 to 150 yards' distance. Our people +were of course compelled to give way to this imposing column, when the +regiments on our right and in our rear, opening out upon them a +destructive fire, and the 87th and Guards immediately after attacking +them with the bayonet, their rout and discomfiture was complete. The +8th, which suffered most, and from whom the eagle was taken, never yet +got into line--nor did they intend, I believe--but advanced as a solid +body, (occasionally firing from their front,) till, coming in contact +with the regiments above mentioned, and in this state receiving the +charge, their loss was excessive, for they could not get away. I +understand, when the 87th charged, Ensign Keogh of that regiment made +the first attempt to wrench the eagle from the officer who carried it; +but in so doing he was run through by several of those who supported it, +and fell lifeless to the ground. Sergeant Masterson of that regiment +then dashed at it, and was more fortunate, he succeeding in securing it. +I understand there was some dispute between them and the Guards, who +charged at the same time with the 87th, to whom it properly belonged; +but I imagine the 87th must have been the captors, for Sergeant +Masterson soon after received a commission for his gallantry, and is now +a captain in that regiment. + +The 54th, the French regiment, which had been sent into the wood to turn +our left flank, by some means got entangled; for, except their light +company, no part of the regiment ever got into action again; and when +their columns were routed, they found some difficulty in effecting their +retreat. There is something rather extraordinary and very interesting in +the story of the eagle and the 8th regiment, if it be true, and which I +see no reason to doubt. They were one of the regiments, it is said, +which were engaged at Talavera, and were particularly distinguished; and +it is further said, that the 87th was one of the regiments opposed to +them, and over which they gained some advantage; that is, the French +troops caused the British brigade, in which the 87th was serving, to +retire with considerable loss; and that it was for their conduct in this +action that Bonaparte had placed a golden wreath of laurel round the +neck of the regimental eagle with his own hand. If such was the case, it +is most remarkable that the very regiment by whom they should have +obtained this honour, should be the regiment that deprived them of their +eagle, which had been so highly honoured. But here, poor fellows, +although they did not lose their honour, they lost very nearly the whole +regiment; for out of 1400 which entered the field, not more than 200 of +them entered Chiclana after the action. Indeed I never witnessed any +field so thickly strewed with dead as this plain was after the action; +and I feel confident, and all accounts agree in confirming the opinion, +that the loss of the French on this occasion was little short of 3000 +men; ours was about 1250. Here then we have a loss of 4000 men in about +an hour and a half, out of about 12,000 which composed the two armies. + +In this action, Colonel Bush was almost absurdly brave and conspicuous. +As soon as he got his Portuguese fairly into action, he rode slowly +backward and forward among them, with his spectacles on, crying out as +the balls whistled past him, "Que bella musica!" what delightful music! +Poor fellow, he did not ride there many minutes; for, being within a +very short distance of the enemy's tirailleurs so conspicuous an object, +it was not to be expected he could escape. He died a few days after the +action. + +Colonel Barnard, my commandant, (now Sir Andrew,) about the middle of +the action, received a severe wound, and was borne away to the rear. +Whilst the surgeon was dressing him, another shot struck him, and +inflicted, I believe, a worse wound than the former. The horses of my +battalion suffered greatly in proportion to their numbers. We had only +four in the field, two of which, Major Ross's and my own, were killed, +and Colonel Barnard's wounded; only the adjutant's escaped with a whole +skin. Indeed there was scarcely an officer or soldier in the action that +had not marks of shot about him. The caps of the tall guardsmen were +riddled as it were; while the greater part of the enemy's shot passed +over our little fellows, who were both too near them, and too low for +their fire. I may remark on this subject that the French generally fire +high, but here I think unusually so; for, after a considerable quantity +of ammunition had been expended by my battalion, it became my duty to +look out for a fresh supply. I accordingly posted off to the rear, where +I expected to have found some mules which had been attached to us, with +ammunition on their backs; but on my way thither, the ground was +actually ploughing up on all sides by the enemy's large shot, and their +musket-balls falling very thick; so much so, that some of our mules far +to the rear had been wounded, and the others had dispersed. Hence also +the second wound which my gallant commander received, where he ought to +have been completely out of danger. Some ammunition for our rifles was, +however, found in a one-horse cart belonging to the artillery, and out +of it those whose ammunition was expended were replenished. But during +my absence to the rear, the gallant and decisive charge had been made; +and when I again reached the front, I perceived the enemy's columns in +full retreat, covered by the remainder of their light troops, closely +followed by some of my people. The retreat was accordingly sounded to +recall them from the pursuit, and our brave and victorious little army +cheered the enemy as his beaten and disheartened columns left the field. + +Immediately after our army began to move off towards the Isla, our +General being, as I understood, so much exasperated with the apathy +evinced by the Spanish General, that he would no longer co-operate with +him, and consequently drew off our troops into the Isle of Leon. My +battalion, however, was destined to remain on the field all night to +protect the numerous wounded from any marauders, or small parties and +cavalry patrols of the enemy, which might happen to return. However, not +a Frenchman made his appearance there again that night. When it was +determined to withdraw the British army, Major Duncan, with great +humanity, (approved of course by our excellent General,) cast off from +the artillery-carriages all the spare ammunition, in order to make room +for as many of our wounded officers and soldiers as those carriages +could accommodate, and thus a considerable number of them were carried +from the field immediately. + +After they had left us, and my battalion was still standing in front of +the position last occupied by our troops, all having retired but +ourselves, and it now began to draw towards night, and we were preparing +to move off, an unfortunate French sergeant attracted our notice. Poor +fellow, he had been shot in the small of the back, and (on our surgeon +examining him) pronounced to be mortally. He appeared to be a man above +forty, and apparently a veteran, who had fought many a hard field; and +was, I think, one of the most respectable-looking men of his class that +I have seen. When he saw us preparing to leave him to his fate, the +expression of his countenance became the most piteous and beseeching +imaginable; imploring us in French not to leave him there to perish. My +heart bled for him; but unhappily we had no means of removing him, had +there even been a hope of his recovery. When he saw that his fate was +inevitable, he crawled in the best manner he was able to a broken +ammunition-box, and raising himself on his knees, supported by it, +besought that Being who never casts out the cry of the unfortunate, and +who, I sincerely hope, imparted to him that strength and comfort which +his unhappy circumstances so greatly required. I doubt not he was a +sincere Christian; never shall I forget the impression his unhappy fate +made on my mind. To be left in solitude and darkness on this +blood-stained heath, with the prospect of his own certain death before +his eyes, and without any to comfort him in his last agony, must indeed +have been a severe trial to his fortitude. Would to God I could have +relieved him! His case was not singular, it is true; but none ever +presented itself to my view under such truly affecting circumstances as +this unhappy veteran's did. + +After dark, my battalion retired over the field where the thickest of +the dead and wounded were strewed, and many were the dying groans which +struck upon our ears, as we traversed this bloody field; but, except +these groans, no sound was heard, where lately the din of arms had been +loud and fierce, and where war had raged in all its fury; till coming to +the house upon the sea-beach, where many of the wounded had been +collected, we were formed into square on a sand-hill near it, and in +this position rested on our arms for the remainder of the night. On our +way from the front, we passed not far from where my horse had fallen; +and as saddlery was scarce at Cadiz, I thought it would be prudent to +try to recover that on which I had been riding. I found it; but my horse +having fallen with his back inclined to the front, it was perforated by +shot in five places, and the tree was broken. However, I disengaged it, +and giving it to one of the men, whose rifle I carried in return, I got +it safely into Isla. + +About twelve at night, poor General Rousseau died, a cannon-shot having +carried away the greater part of the flesh of one of his thighs; and as +no other troops were near, the task of paying him the last sad duty +devolved upon me. I went to the house aforesaid, and procured a shovel +or a spade, and digging a hole in the sand by the light of the moon, his +body was deposited, where it in all probability will remain till the +last trumpet shall summon it to rise. Poor drunken Gilles, one of the +men I had employed on the occasion, pronounced the only service as he +was committed to the dust, which was, "God rest his soul!" I indeed +sincerely hope so. Poor Rousseau had been a noble soldier; in his pocket +was found a leave which he had obtained to return to France on account +of ill health; but in the prospect of the approaching action he had +delayed his departure, and thus fell a victim as it were to his +patriotism and his sense of honour. He was military governor of Xeres de +la Frontera, from whence we have our wine called Sherry, a corruption of +Xeres. He was a small slender person, and apparently had suffered +greatly from ill health. During the night some Spaniards were sent into +the field to look for and bring off the guns we had taken, which they +did. + +As it approached towards morning, Major Ross, seeing all was quiet, +moved us off by the beach towards our former quarters; and passing over +the position of Bermesa, which the Spaniards still occupied, and +crossing the Santi Petri by the lately erected bridge, we returned weary +and hungry to La Isla, and where our friends received us once again with +great cordiality. If my reader is not tired of the subject, I would just +beg to draw his attention for a moment to the circumstances attending +this action. The French troops were at least 7500 (some say 8000) +strong, well clothed and appointed, and apparently well fed, and fresh +from their cantonments, none of them probably having marched more than +four miles. They were some of the best in the French service, and +commanded by one of Bonaparte's ablest generals, a marshal of France, +Victor, Duke of Belluno. They occupied a fine position, having the +ground completely at their choice; while we did not muster more than +4500 at most. We had been marching for sixteen hours successively +through the night over bad roads; and being taken in a manner by +surprise, we came out of the wood _beneath_ the enemy, broken and +disjointed, and were instantly hurried into action. + +The French fought desperately; for when their marauding columns came +down upon us with an intrepidity seldom seen in the French army, and +opening out their heavy and destructive fire, my heart quaked within me +for the safety of our little army, and the honour of our country, for I +thought it would be impossible to resist them. However, the steady +valour of our troops repelled the assailants, and, taking advantage of +their proximity, charged as before stated, and completely overthrew +them. It is certain, as General Graham says, that _all_ must have done +their duty on this occasion; notwithstanding, we may sing with great +propriety, "Non nobis, Domine"--"Not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy name +be the praise;" for it is certain we must have been specially favoured +by a kind Providence, or it is impossible we could have gained _such_ a +victory under so many and so great disadvantages; for never was victory +more complete. In less than three hours from the first glimpse we had of +them as we debouched from the wood, a Frenchman was not to be seen in +all the field, save the numerous killed and wounded. + +Although our General did not say any thing in his public dispatch of the +abominable conduct of La Pena, no doubt he stated truly in his private +information how ill that General had behaved; for he and the 10,000 or +11,000 Spaniards he had with him remained within two miles of the field +of action, quiet and passive spectators of the scene, without making one +effort to support us had we been beaten, or to take advantage of the +victory should we gain it; and the consequence was, the French retained +their ground and works by which they invested Cadiz and La Isla, +whereas, had he made the slightest movement during or after the fight, +they would have all gone off, and the siege would have been raised, for +it is evident they contemplated and were prepared for this, the soldiers +having each three or four days' bread in his possession. + +A considerable number of other officers besides Generals Ruffin and +Rousseau were taken. Ruffin was wounded in the neck by a rifle-shot, +which touched the spinal marrow, depriving him of the use of his limbs. +He was soon after embarked for England, but died as he came within sight +of the Isle of Wight. He was an immense and a fine-looking man, about +six feet two inches or six feet three inches high, and ate enormously. +He every day received a mess from our General's table. The other +officers also were treated with the greatest politeness and attention, +dining first at one regimental mess, and then at another. They were +fully sensible of the kindness shown them, and expressed themselves very +grateful. They were afterwards sent to England. + +I cannot omit here noticing the high estimation in which General Graham +was held by every officer and soldier of this little army. I may truly +say, he lived in their affections; they not only looked up to him with +confidence as their commander, but they esteemed and respected him as +their firm friend and protector, which indeed he always showed himself +to be. + +In all my fighting I never was in an action where the chances of death +were so numerous as in this; and I may say, I never was in an action +where I was less prepared to die. It is therefore of the Lord's mercies +that he spared me--I hope, for good at last. + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] The distance to which the French threw these shells is truly +amazing. The longest range of heavy iron sea mortars is only about 4200 +yards, whereas the distance from the French batteries on the Trocadero +to the nearest point of Cadiz was, I believe, 4500 or more; but they +exceeded this considerably, for, as I said above, some of their shells +fell in the sea beyond the town, near the lighthouse, a distance of at +least 500 or 600 yards farther. The shells were always half filled with +lead, to increase their flight, so that when they burst the mischief +they occasioned was never extensive; I believe not more than about +half-a-dozen individuals suffered from them in all. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + The 2d Battalion of the 95th Rifles ordered to proceed to + Portugal--Our Author visits England--Returns to Portugal, and + joins his Regiment at Rodrigo--The Army move towards + Badajos--Siege of Badajos--Badajos surrenders--Insubordination + among the Troops--Quelled by the prompt measures of Lord + Wellington. + + +We remained at Isla till June, without any thing of importance +occurring, but at this time I was brought nigh to death's door by the +bursting of a bloodvessel in the lungs. I was so ill that it was deemed +necessary to send me home for change of air, it being exceedingly hot at +this time at Isla. I was accordingly removed to Cadiz to wait for the +first ship returning to England, and while there I suffered greatly, not +being able to lie down in bed. However, before a vessel could be had, an +order was received for my battalion to proceed to Portugal, and our +esteemed commander was likewise ordered to proceed to that country. As I +felt myself somewhat better, I obtained permission to accompany my +battalion to Portugal, and I accordingly embarked with it at Cadiz on +the 30th of that month, on board a transport, the name of which I +forget. General Graham intended to have gone in a 50 gun ship that was +leaving that port for England, he being to be left at Lisbon in passing. +He sent an aide-de-camp on board to prepare for his reception; but he +met with such treatment while on board, as induced the General to alter +his plan and go in a frigate, on board which some of our people were +embarked. It is said, that after the aide-de-camp had been shown the +accommodation, the captain intimated to him, that it was expected the +military officers would always keep on the leeward side of the +quarter-deck. The windward side on board a man-of-war is considered the +most honourable, therefore this was in fact putting the General beneath +himself. He suffered, however, for his ill-timed assumption of +supremacy, for there was a quantity of specie at Cadiz which was to be +transported at the same time for the use of the army in Portugal, and +which was intended to have gone in the ship with the General; but after +this reception of his aide-de-camp, and the imperious condition attached +to his going in this ship, he went on board the frigate with his suite, +and took the money with him, thus depriving him of a considerable +premium for its transport, to which he would have been entitled had the +General gone with him. He, however, being the senior officer, we were +all put under his charge, save the frigate before mentioned, and we were +greatly annoyed by him during our passage, which our master said he +prolonged in looking out for American merchantmen, there being then an +appearance of war between the two countries. They said he actually +detained one or two which left Cadiz when we did, and that he fired +small arms into them to bring them to, although war had not been +declared. One day during the passage he made a signal to the transports +which we did not immediately perceive. We were astonished at the report +of a gun, and at the same time a cannon-shot whizzed past our rigging. +This is not, I believe, customary, a blank gun being generally fired +first, and when nothing else will do, a shot a-head of the vessel, but +he appeared not to stand on any ceremony. + +We were glad when the voyage was over, it continuing from the 30th June +to the 19th July, although three or four days only is the usual time. + +We landed at Lisbon, and immediately set about preparing for our journey +up the country to join the army; but Colonel Barnard having received +letters respecting the settlement of our late Colonel (General +Manningham's) affairs, which could not be easily arranged without my +presence, determined to send me home for the purpose, with a promise, +however, that I should immediately come out again. I accordingly +embarked on board the same transport with a ship full of all kinds and +descriptions of people, sick and wounded, and lame and lazy; such a +motley group I have seldom seen. Our paymaster also returned home with +me, and besides him I did not know a person on board. + +We had a long and tedious passage, not reaching Portsmouth till the 27th +August, although we embarked on the 1st of that month. When we entered +the chops of the Channel, there was a considerable swell in the sea. Our +master, for some purpose or other, had got up from the hold a small +quantity of ballast (gravel), which was laid upon the quarter-deck. A +fine stout young Irishman, an officer on board, came up the companion, +and seeing the ballast lying there, asked where it came from. + +"Why, don't you see," says the master, "how rough the sea is? it has +been washed up from the bottom and thrown upon the deck." + +The Hibernian seemed quite astonished at the effect of the swell, but +believed the story with all the simple-hearted credulity of a +Johnny-raw, as the soldiers term a young and inexperienced soldier. Our +paymaster was a little of a gourmand, and having for some time been +deprived of luxuries, determined to indulge a little now we had come to +the land of plenty. On our road, therefore, to London, (he and another +officer and myself posting it,) we stopped at Godalming for dinner; he +would needs have a carp, which he happened to see in a pond in the +garden, made ready for our dinner. It was prepared according to his +request, and with it and other good things we contrived to fare pretty +well; although, according to my taste, a fresh herring would have been +preferable. But lo, and behold! when the bill was called for, the awful +sum of _half a guinea_ for the carp was added to the other items of the +dinner, which amounted to quite enough without it. To remonstrate would +have been useless; we therefore paid the bill and set off, determined to +be more economical in future. + +I passed through London, and reached the depôt of my battalion, then +stationed at Ashford in Kent, where, after having arranged the business +for which I had been sent home, I obtained a three months' leave of +absence to visit my native place, where I arrived, thank God, in a much +improved state of health, and where I found all my friends and +connexions as well as could be expected, and no doubt happy to see me. + +About the middle of November of the same year, I started once more for +foreign service, and embarked at Portsmouth for Lisbon on the 22d of +that month, on board a small brig heavily laden with corn for the army +in Portugal. We remained some time wind-bound, but at length got to sea +and proceeded on our voyage, but shortly after the wind headed us and +began to blow very fresh. We were therefore compelled to run for the +Race of Portland, where we came to anchor. But the wind coming more +favourable in a day or two, we weighed again, and got as far on our +voyage as opposite Torbay; but here again the wind coming foul, we were +obliged to enter the bay and drop anchor again. We were detained here a +good many days, during which I went ashore with another officer, who was +on board with me, and indulged in some Devonshire clotted cream at +Brixham. + +In about a week we again started, and got about half way across the Bay +of Biscay, when a heavy gale overtook us, and in which we lost a +considerable portion of our quarter-bulwarks (I think they are called). +Indeed, from the brig being so heavily laden, the water being within a +very little of her gunwale, she did not weather the heavy seas which +struck her very well, for during the night one came clean over her, +partly filling the cabin where we lay with water; and I own I had +considerable apprehension for our safety, which I believe was pretty +universal on board. It pleased Him, however, who ruleth over all things, +to bring us through the gale without further injury, although we +appeared next morning in a very shattered condition, and after a few +more days' sailing, we reached the Tagus, and landed at Lisbon about the +middle of January 1812, and immediately commenced equipping for a +campaign with the army which was at this time besieging Ciudad Rodrigo. +I had to purchase a riding-horse and a mule to carry my baggage, and a +great deal more of essential requisites to enable me to do my duty in +the field; and to say truth, I had not, by any means, sufficient funds +to meet these considerable expenses, and was consequently forced to +borrow, and glad enough to find a friend who could and would lend me +enough for the occasion. And here I cannot but remark, that it seemed +peculiarly hard on junior officers, on their taking the field, to be +compelled to furnish all this equipment at their own expense. I have +known several who did not recover from the debt they thus incurred +(could they find a friend, as I did, to lend them what they wanted) for +a considerable time after they had joined the army; nay, I believe some +never recovered it, and the persons who were kind enough to oblige them +lost several large sums in this manner. In my own case, I know, I was +most wofully put to it to raise a sufficiency for this purpose; and +many, I know, have been compelled to take the field without the +necessary equipment to render them efficient. They were thus of little +service to the army for a considerable time after joining, and many of +them were obliged to leave it again, after striving to do their duty, +inadequately provided with the conveniences and comforts requisite to +enable a man to bear up against the fatigues he had to encounter. It +struck me as but just, and in this opinion I am not singular, that all +officers who have not sufficient pay and allowances to enable them to +provide themselves with the means of transport, ought to be furnished in +the first instance at the public expense, and then be afterwards obliged +to keep them in a fit state for service at their own. + +I set out from Lisbon soon after, and joined my regiment, which was one +of those that formed the light division, and found them cantoned in the +neighbourhood of Rodrigo, that fortress having fallen some days previous +to my arrival. I had not been many days with the regiment till the +division was assembled at a village called Ituera, on the banks of the +Azava, to carry into execution the sentence of a general court-martial, +before which seven men of the division had been arraigned for desertion +to the enemy, they having been taken in Rodrigo at the capture of that +place. They were of course all found guilty, as they were taken as it +were out of the enemy's ranks, and never attempted to plead not guilty; +but they had said in palliation of their heinous crime, that they were +forced to desert from want of food and clothing; indeed the army had not +been so well supplied for a short while previously, as they had been +accustomed to, but there never was any thing like want. I understood the +clothing also was getting bad, but the men could not be got up the +country for want of transport, and they were no worse off than their +comrades. Indeed, from all I could learn, they had acted in a most +diabolical manner; for at the attack of the breaches in assaulting the +place, they were distinctly heard crying out to one another, "Now here +comes the light division; let us give it them, the rascals," or +something to that effect, and had, it is said, done more injury to the +assailing party than twice their number of Frenchmen. Death of course +was their sentence, and now the wretched victims of delusion were to +atone with their lives for one of the greatest crimes known in the +criminal code of the army. + +The division was formed into three sides square, on a plain in front of +the village, the graves of the hapless beings occupying a part of the +fourth face of the square. When all was ready, and a firing party from +each regiment had been formed in the centre, the provost-marshal went to +the guard-tent, where the prisoners were in waiting, to conduct them to +the place of execution. They soon after appeared, poor wretches, moving +towards the square, with faces pale and wan, and with all the dejection +such a situation is calculated to produce. Their arms had been pinioned +one by one as they came out from the guard-tent, and all being ready, +the melancholy procession advanced towards the centre of the square. The +proceedings of the court which tried them, together with the sentence, +and the approval of the Commander of the Forces, was read by the +Assistant Adjutant-general, in the hearing of the whole division; which +concluded, the prisoners were marched round in front of every regiment, +that all might see and avoid their unhappy fate. They were then moved +towards their graves. I ought to observe that the chaplain of the +division had been with them in the guard-tent some little time +previously to their leaving it, and when they quitted as above +described, he followed them at a considerable distance, apparently +ashamed of his peculiar calling, and the duty incumbent on him in such a +conjuncture. They were led, as I said before, towards their graves; and +when they reached the bank of earth in front of each, they were made to +kneel down with their faces fronting the square, and then being one +after another blindfolded, and left for a few moments to their own +reflections or their prayers, the provost-marshal proceeded to the +firing party, who had been previously loaded, and directing the men of +each regiment to fire at their own prisoner, he advanced them to within +about ten or twelve paces of the wretched men, and giving the signals by +motion for their making ready and firing, the whole fired at once, and +plunged the unhappy criminals into eternity. There was, indeed, one +melancholy exception to this. One of the prisoners belonged to the troop +of horse artillery attached to the division, and it seems the provost, +in giving his orders for the soldiers of each regiment to fire at their +own man, had not recollected that the artillery had no men there to +fire. He was thus left sitting on his knees, when the others had fallen +all around him. What his feelings must have been it is in vain to guess; +but, poor fellow, he was not suffered long to remain in suspense, for a +reserve party immediately approaching, they fired and stretched him also +along with his companions in crime and misery; and in such of the others +as they perceived life still remaining, they also immediately put an +end to their sufferings, by placing their muskets close to their body, +and firing into them. One poor man, when he received his death wound, +sprung to a considerable height, and giving a loud shriek, he fell, and +instantly expired. + +When all was finished, the division was formed into column, and marched +round in front of the bodies, where each soldier might distinctly +perceive the sad and melancholy effects of such a fatal dereliction of +duty. They were then, without more ado, thrown into their graves, which +were filled up without delay, and the division separating, each regiment +marched to its quarters. + +I cannot describe the uncomfortable feelings this spectacle produced in +my mind--nay, not only there, but in my body also--for I felt sick at +heart; a sort of loathing ensued; and from the recollection of what I +then suffered, I could not easily be persuaded to witness such another +scene, if I had the option of staying away. Death in the hundred shapes +it assumes on the field of battle seems honourable, and not near so +revolting to the feelings, and withal comes suddenly; but to witness the +slow and melancholy preparations for an execution such as this, is +productive, in any heart that can feel, of the most unpleasant +sensations, I think, imaginable. + +One of the poor wretches was the little shoemaker of our Highland +company, by name M'Guiniss, whom I had known for many years, and who +formerly bore an excellent character; but he had most likely been +seduced by some of his companions to commit this heinous crime. + +Not many days after this, the whole army began to move towards Badajos. +On the 26th of February we left our cantonments, and passing by way of +Castello Branca and Villa Velha, we reached a village not far from Niza, +called Povo das Meadas, where my battalion took up its quarters for a +time. From hence I was dispatched to Lisbon for the regimental clothing, +which had then arrived at that port; but being unable to procure the +means of transport, I was obliged to return without it. I rejoined them +in the camp before Badajos about the 25th of March, and witnessed the +siege of that fortress from this period to its fall on the 6th of April. +The breaches having been reported practicable by the engineers on the +5th, in the evening the army was assembled for the assault, and was +disposed as follows: the 3d division under General Picton was ordered to +attack the citadel, and to endeavour to establish himself there by +escalade; the 4th and light divisions, the former under General +Colville, and the latter commanded by Colonel Barnard, were destined for +the breaches; the 5th division, which had not co-operated hitherto in +the siege, but brought this evening into the neighbourhood, was ordered +to occupy the ground in front of the town by way of reserve. One brigade +of that division was ordered to make a false attack on a work called the +Pardeleras, which was connected with the town, although not actually +belonging to it. Another brigade of the same division was ordered to +make another false attack round towards the gate near the river +Guadiana, which latter was to be turned into a real attack, if +circumstances permitted General Walker, who commanded it, to do so. +There was also a brigade of Portuguese, which was ordered to attack St +Cristoval, a fort on the other side of the river. Every thing was +arranged in the clearest and most satisfactory manner; all knew what +they had to do, the point they were to occupy in the attack having been +pointed out to most of them the day before. Soon after dark, the +different divisions began to move towards their destined posts, all +elated with the certainty of success. + +I was then in the mess of the senior captain of my battalion, who +commanded it on this occasion; and my other messmates were poor little +Croudace and Cary, both lieutenants, the latter acting adjutant, and +another. We had taken a farewell glass before we got up from dinner, not +knowing which of them would survive the bloody fray that was likely soon +to commence. Poor Croudace, a native of the county of Durham, and +consequently a near countryman, put into my hand a small leather purse, +containing half a doubloon, and requested me to take care of it for him, +as he did not know whose fate it might be to fall or to survive. I took +it according to his wish, and put it into my pocket, and, after a little +more conversation, and another glass, for the poor little fellow liked +his wine, we parted, and they moved off. Although I had thus, as it +were, settled it in my mind that I would not go with them on this +occasion, for my services could have been of but very little utility, +yet, when they went away, I felt as if I was left desolate as it were, +and was quite uneasy at parting from my beloved comrades, whom I had +always accompanied hitherto. I therefore slung over my back my +haversack, containing my pistol and a few other things, and moved +forward, to try if I could find them; but falling in with some of my +friends, staff-officers of the 43d, who were in the same brigade, they +strongly dissuaded me from it, representing to me the folly of uselessly +exposing myself, and the little service I could render there; and one of +them requested me to accompany him to a hill immediately in front of the +breaches, where we could see the business as it proceeded. + +We waited till about ten o'clock, when the fire first commenced from the +castle upon the 3d division, as they approached it; but the fire from +thence did not appear very heavy. Not long after it opened out at the +breaches, and was most awfully severe; indeed it was so heavy and so +incessant, that it appeared like one continued sheet of fire along the +ramparts near the breaches, and we could distinctly see the faces of the +French troops, although the distance was near a mile. All sorts of arms, +&c. were playing at once, guns, mortars, musketry, grenades, and shells +thrown from the walls, while every few minutes explosions from mines +were taking place. The firing too appeared to have such a strange +deathlike sound, quite different from all I had ever heard before. This +was occasioned by the muzzles being pointed downwards into the ditch, +which gave the report an unusual and appalling effect. This continued +without a moment's cessation, or without any apparent advantage being +gained by our struggling but awfully circumstanced comrades. Lord +Wellington had also taken his stand upon this hill, and appeared quite +uneasy at the troops seeming to make no progress, and often asked, or +rather repeated to himself, "What can be the matter?" + +The enemy had adopted an excellent plan to ascertain where our columns +were posted; they threw an immense number of light balls on all sides of +the town, and when they found out where there was a large body, a rocket +was fired in the direction of where it stood, and instantly every gun, +mortar, and howitzer, not previously engaged, was turned in that +direction, and grievous was the destruction their shot made in the ranks +of these columns. Still our people at the breaches did not get forward, +although we distinctly heard, with emotion, the bugles of our division +sounding the advance. His lordship seemed now to lose all patience, and +aides-de-camp were sent to ascertain the cause of the delay. They flew +like lightning, while the whole rampart round the town seemed enveloped +in one flame of fire. Our brave but unsuccessful comrades were heard +cheering every now and then; but still the fire at the breaches did not +slacken. At length a dispatch arrived from General Picton, stating, that +he had established himself in the castle. This was cheering news to his +lordship, who expressed very strongly the gratitude he felt for that +gallant General. + +During the reading of the dispatch, which was done by torchlight, the +enemy, perceiving the light, and that a number of people had assembled +on the hill, directed a shell in that direction; but it fell short, and +did us no injury. His lordship now rode off, and ordered our people at +the breaches to retire, as the town was now perfectly secure. I also set +off to inform my people of the happy circumstance. I found them drawn +off from the glacis a few hundred yards; but, oh! what a difference in +their appearance now from what they were previous to the attack! The +whole division scarcely mustered at this time 2000 men, so many had been +killed and wounded, and many had been sent to the rear with the latter. +I informed them that General Picton had got possession of the castle, +but my story appeared to them an incredible tale; for it was actually +impossible, they thought; and although they made me repeat it over and +over again, they could scarcely bring their minds to credit such +unexpected news. + +It was now dawn of day, and the firing had ceased at every point. Here I +learnt the fate of my two beloved friends and messmates: Croudace had +been shot through the body, and carried to the rear; Cary had fallen, +but they could not tell what had become of him. I now went forward +towards the breaches, where I found that several men of both the 4th and +light divisions had remained; and when General Picton moved from the +castle towards that point, which I believe he stated in his dispatch to +be his intention, the enemy, finding themselves attacked in rear, began +to abandon the defence of the breaches, and our people were then enabled +to enter. Never did I witness any thing like the artificial impediments +which the enemy had here thrown up, which, added to the natural ones, +that is, to the breaches not having been so perfectly practicable as was +desirable, rendered it next to impossible to enter, even after all +opposition on their part had ceased. In one breach (the large one) this +was literally the case; for at the top of it was fixed a +chevaux-de-frize extending the whole width of the breach, and composed +of a strong beam of wood, with sharp-pointed sword-blades fixed in every +direction, they being generally about three quarters of a yard long, and +so closely set together, that it was impossible either to leap over them +or penetrate between them, and the whole so firmly fixed to the works at +the top, that it could not be moved. In addition, they had fitted a +number of long and thick planks, with spikes about an inch or more in +length, and laid them all down the breach, but fixed at the top, so that +it was impossible for any one to get up without falling on these. Beyond +the chevaux-de-frize several ditches had been cut, into which those must +have fallen who surmounted the obstacles on the breach; but I believe +none did, although I saw one Portuguese lying dead upon the ramparts; +but I imagine he must either have been thrown up there by some +explosion, or been one of those of the 3d division who came from the +castle. In addition to all the above, from the covered way down into the +ditch was, I should imagine, at least thirty feet; our people had +descended by ladders, and, I doubt not, in the dark, and, in the hurry +and confusion of the moment, many were thrown down and killed. In the +middle of the large ditch a smaller one had been cut, which was filled +with water, and in which, added to the inundation close to the right of +the breaches, (which had been caused by bringing the river partly into +the ditch,) numbers were drowned. Small mines had been constructed all +along in the ditch, which were exploded when it was filled with people, +and which produced infinite mischief. + +On the top of the ramparts the enemy had a considerable number of shells +of the largest size, ready filled and fused; and when our people had +filled the ditch below, these were lighted, and thrown over on their +heads, each shell being capable of destroying from twelve to twenty men +or more. They had beams of wood also laid on the ramparts, with old +carriage-wheels, and every sort of missile imaginable, which were poured +upon the unfortunate people below. + +When these things are taken into consideration, added to the incessant +and destructive fire of from 3000 to 4000 men, all emulous to do their +duty, at the short distance of perhaps twenty yards, with the ditch as +full as it could possibly stow, the reader will be able to form some +idea of the destruction that must naturally ensue: and awful indeed it +was, for, within the space of less than an acre of ground, I should +imagine not less than from 1200 to 1500 men were lying: it was a +heart-rending sight. I learnt afterwards that many were the desperate +efforts that had been made to ascend the breaches, but all in vain; that +many had nearly reached the top, but they being either shot or blown up, +the others were forced down again. Another and another trial still was +made, but each succeeding party shared the fate of their predecessors. +At last the bottoms of the breaches were nearly blocked up with the +bodies of those who fell. + +By this time, General Philippon, the French governor, had surrendered. +When he found the 3d division had got possession of the castle, and were +preparing to move down to second the attack of the breaches by taking +the enemy in rear, and that General Walker, with a part of the 5th +division, had escaladed, and established themselves at the other end of +the town, he deemed further resistance useless, and retired, with the +garrison, to St Cristoval, on the opposite side of the river; and +shortly after the whole surrendered prisoners of war, the troops, after +being stripped of their arms and accoutrements, being marched along in +the ditch to one of the gates, from whence they were escorted on their +way to Elvas. They passed near the breaches while I was there, and I had +a full view of them as they moved along. I thought they seemed under +great apprehension for their safety, as they appeared quite downcast and +dejected, which is not generally the case with French prisoners, who +will shrug their shoulders, and tell you it is the fortune of war; but +these poor fellows, who certainly had made a noble defence, seemed +low-spirited and timid to a degree. Certainly by the rules of war, I +believe, they might have been put to death, for having stood an assault +of the place; but a British general does not resort to the same measures +which their Marshal Suchet did at Tarragona, when he put all, both +soldiers and inhabitants, to the sword. + +Soon after daylight, the remaining men of attacking divisions began to +rush into the town, in hopes of sharing, with those who had already +entered, the plunder they imagined it would afford; and though every +thing was done by Colonel Barnard, aided by the other officers, to keep +out those of the light division, it was useless, although he even risked +his life to prevent their entering. He had bravely, during the attack, +repeatedly ascended the breach, in hopes of overcoming the obstacles +which presented themselves, but he had always been driven back, although +he escaped unhurt where all was death around him; and now his life +nearly fell a sacrifice, in endeavouring to restore that discipline in +his division which this unfortunate and unsuccessful assault had +considerably impaired. He opposed his personal and bodily strength to +the entrance of the plunderers, but in vain. They rushed in, in spite of +all opposition; and in wrenching a musket from one of the soldiers of +the 52d, who was forcing past him, he fell, and was nigh precipitated +into the ditch. He, however, finding resistance here in vain, set off, +accompanied by several other officers, into the town, to endeavour to +restrain, as much as lay in his power, the licentiousness of those +inside, whose bad passions, it was but too evident, would be let loose +upon the defenceless inhabitants. + +I had been in company with Captain Percival, my commanding-officer +before alluded to, from the time of my first coming down to the division +before daylight; and now he and I, hearing the heart-piercing and +afflicting groans which arose from the numbers of wounded still lying in +the ditch, set to work to get as many of these poor fellows removed as +was in our power. This we found a most arduous and difficult +undertaking, as we could not do it without the aid of a considerable +number of men; and it was a work of danger to attempt to force the now +lawless soldiers to obey, and stop with us till this work of necessity +and humanity was accomplished. + +All thought of what they owed their wounded comrades, and of the +probability that ere long a similar fate might be their own, was +swallowed up in their abominable rage for drink and plunder; however, by +perseverance, and by occasionally using his stick, my commandant at +length compelled a few fellows to lend their assistance in removing +what we could into the town, where it was intended that hospitals should +be established. But this was a most heart-rending duty, for, from the +innumerable cries of,--"Oh! for God's sake, come and remove me!" it was +difficult to select the most proper objects for such care. Those who +appeared likely to die, of course it would have been but cruelty to put +them to the pain of a removal; and many who, from the nature of their +wounds, required great care and attention in carrying them, the +half-drunken brutes whom we were forced to employ exceedingly tortured +and injured; nay, in carrying one man out of the ditch they very +frequently kicked or trode upon several others, whom to touch was like +death to them, and which produced the most agonizing cries imaginable. + +I remember at this time Colonel (the late Sir Niel) Campbell passed out +at the breach, and, as he had formerly been a Captain in our regiment, +many of the poor fellows who lay there knew him, and beseeched him in +the most piteous manner to have them removed. He came to me, and urged +upon me in the strongest manner to use every exertion to get the poor +fellows away. This evinced he had a feeling heart; but he was not +probably aware, that for that very purpose both my commanding-officer +and myself had been labouring for hours; but it soon began to grow +excessively hot, and what with the toil and the heat of the sun, and the +very unpleasant effluvia which now arose from the numerous dead and +wounded, we were both compelled, about mid-day, to desist from our +distressing though gratifying labours. + +It was now between twelve and one o'clock, and though we had had a great +many removed, a much greater number lay groaning in the ditch; but our +strength was exhausted, for he was lame and unable to move much, and I +had been obliged to assist in carrying many myself, the drunken +scoundrels whom we had pressed into the service seldom making more than +one or two trips till they deserted us. But my lamented friend and +messmate, poor Cary, was still to search for, and, after a considerable +time, he was found beneath one of the ladders by which they had +descended into the ditch. He was shot through the head, and I doubt not +received his death-wound on the ladder, from which in all probability he +fell. He was stripped completely naked, save a flannel waistcoat which +he wore next his skin. I had him taken up and placed upon a shutter, (he +still breathed a little, though quite insensible,) and carried him to +the camp. A sergeant and some men, whom we had pressed to carry him, +were so drunk that they let him fall from off their shoulders, and his +body fell with great force to the ground. I shuddered, but poor Cary, I +believe, was past all feeling, or the fall would have greatly injured +him. We laid him in bed in his tent, but it was not long ere my kind, +esteemed, and lamented friend breathed his last. Poor Croudace had also +died immediately after reaching the hospital, whither he had been +carried when he was shot. + +Thus I lost two of my most particular and intimate acquaintances, from +both of whom I had received many acts of kindness and friendship. They +will long live in my memory. Cary was buried next day behind our tents, +one of the officers (my other messmate) reading the funeral service. + +I cannot help adverting to some of the scenes which I witnessed in the +ditch, while employed there as above noticed. One of the first strange +sights that attracted our notice, was soon after our arrival. An officer +with yellow facings came out of the town with a frail fair one leaning +on his arm, and carrying in her other hand a cage with a bird in it; and +she tripped it over the bodies of the dead and dying with all the ease +and indifference of a person moving in a ball-room,--no more concern +being evinced by either of them, than if nothing extraordinary had +occurred. It was really lamentable to see such an utter absence of all +right feeling. + +Soon after this the men began to come out with their plunder. Some of +them had dressed themselves in priests' or friars' garments--some +appeared in female dresses, as nuns, &c.; and, in short, all the +whimsical and fantastical figures imaginable almost were to be seen +coming reeling out of the town, for by this time they were nearly all +drunk. I penetrated no farther into the town that day than to a house a +little beyond the breach, where I had deposited the wounded; but I saw +enough in this short trip to disgust me with the doings in Badajos at +this time. I learnt that no house, church, or convent, was held sacred +by the infuriated and now ungovernable soldiery, but that priests or +nuns, and common people, all shared alike, and that any who showed the +least resistance were instantly sacrificed to their fury. They had a +method of firing through the lock of any door that happened to be shut +against them, which almost invariably had the effect of forcing it open; +and such scenes were witnessed in the streets as baffle description. + +One man of our first battalion, I am told, had got a hogshead of brandy +into the streets, and, getting his mess-tin, and filling it from the +cask, and seating himself astride like Bacchus, swore that every person +who came past should drink, be who he may. His commanding-officer +happened to be one who came that way, and he was compelled to take the +tin and drink, for, had he refused, it is not improbable the wretch +would have shot him, for his rifle was loaded by his side, and the +soldiers had by this time become quite past all control. Another, who +had been fortunate enough to obtain a considerable quantity of +doubloons, put them in his haversack, and was making his way out of the +town, but was induced, before he left it, to drink more than he could +carry. He laid him down somewhere to take a nap, and awoke soon after +without even his shoes, and not only were the doubloons gone, but all +his own necessaries also. + +In, short, a thousand of the most tragi-comical spectacles that can +possibly be imagined, might be witnessed in this devoted city. The +officers did all they could to repress these outrages, but the soldiers +were now so completely dispersed that one quarter of them could not be +found; and indeed the only benefit almost that the officers could render +was, by each placing himself in a house, which generally secured it from +being broken open and plundered. The different camps of our army were +for several days after more like rag-fairs than military encampments, +such quantities of wearing-apparel of all kinds were disposing of by one +set of plunderers to the other. But they were not content with what they +had brought out of Badajos; they had now got such relish for plunder, +that they could not leave it off when driven out of the town. + +A night or two after the surrender of the place, they stole no less than +eight horses and mules belonging to my battalion, and took them to some +of the other divisions, where they sold them as animals captured from +the enemy. I lost on this occasion an excellent little mule, worth at +least L.20, and for which I of course never obtained a farthing. We +used every exertion to discover both the perpetrators and the animals, +but without success. + +An English army is perhaps, generally speaking, under stricter +discipline than any other in the world; but in proportion as they are +held tight while they are in hand, if circumstances occur to give them +liberty, I know of no army more difficult to restrain when once broke +loose. A reason may perhaps be assigned for it in part. On such +occasions as this siege, where they were long and much exposed to +fatigue almost insupportable, to the most trying scenes of difficulty +and danger, which were generally borne with cheerfulness and alacrity, +they perhaps reasoned with themselves and one another in this +manner,--that as they had borne so much and so patiently to get +possession of the place, it was but fair that they should have some +indulgence when their work and trials were crowned with success, +especially as the armies of other powers make it a rule generally to +give an assaulted fortress up to plunder. They had also become quite +reckless of life from so long exposure to death; but an English army +cannot plunder like the French. The latter keep themselves more sober, +and look more to the solid and substantial benefit to be derived from +it, while the former sacrifice every thing to drink; and when once in a +state of intoxication, with all the bad passions set loose at the same +time, I know not what they will hesitate to perpetrate. + +The reader will judge of the state of our soldiers who had been engaged +in the siege, when Lord Wellington found it absolutely necessary to +order in a Portuguese brigade to force the stragglers out of the town at +the point of the bayonet. At this time I think I was fairly tired of +life, so disgusting and so sickening were the scenes the few last days +had presented. I had also lost two of those for whom I had a great +regard, together with several others of my brother officers, all +excellent young men, with still a greater number wounded,--in all, in +our fifteen companies, to the amount of twenty-six,--and men in equal +proportion. It was indeed a trying time. + +Notwithstanding what has been said above of the bad conduct of the +British troops on this occasion, I am fully persuaded there is more +humanity and generosity to be found in the breast of an English soldier +than in any other in the world, for, except when inflamed by drink, I am +confident it would be most revolting to his feelings to be ordered to +proceed with cool deliberation to the execution of such horrid +butcheries as we read of in the armies of other nations.--No! When calm +and sober, no man acts with more tenderness towards those in his power +than an English soldier. Bonaparte would not have found in them the +willing actors in his political tragedy in Egypt, when he coolly +fusiladed several thousands of his unfortunate Turkish prisoners, as +related by Sir R. Wilson. + +If I may be permitted to make a few remarks on the taking of this strong +fortress, and of the conduct of the besiegers, I would say that never in +the annals of military warfare was greater devotion shown by those of +all ranks, from the General to the common soldier. The arduous and +dangerous service of the trenches was cheerfully performed by every +individual whose duty called him there; but the most conspicuous +gallantry was manifested in the assault. Conceive of the heroic Picton +and his brave division escalading a wall probably forty feet high, built +on the summit of an almost inaccessible rock, and with troops at the top +of all to oppose them as they reached its summit. It is true the enemy +were not numerous here, having only about 200 men in the castle, but +still one man in this situation was able to destroy probably twenty of +the assailants, by throwing down a ladder after it had been set up; most +of those ascending would be crushed to death by the fall over such a +precipice. But he carried every thing before him, and after establishing +his own division in this commanding situation, he either actually did, +or prepared to move upon the body of the enemy, who were defending the +breaches. General Walker also, who commanded a part of the 5th division, +bravely forced an entrance into the town at the opposite side, +overcoming every one of the numerous barriers and obstacles which +presented themselves; and where he himself, in the act, I believe, of +mounting the rampart, received a most desperate wound. It was said, but +I know not how truly, that when he fell, the French soldier who wounded +him was about to repeat the blow, which in all probability would have +deprived him of life, but that the General, whether intentionally or not +it is not said, made the masonic sign, which was understood by one of +the Frenchmen, and that he instantly interfered in his behalf and +stopped the blow. They say the General some time after found out that +his brave deliverer had been sent to Scotland with his fellow-prisoners, +and that he had him searched for and handsomely rewarded, and, I +believe, procured him his liberty. + +It is well known, I believe, to be the rule in all services like the +assault of fortresses, &c., that those, both officers and men, who form +the forlorn hope and the storming party, are volunteers, these being +services of extreme danger, and which generally procure for the officers +who survive a step of promotion; but it might as well have gone (in the +light division at least) as a tour of duty, for on all occasions of this +nature, with only one or two exceptions, the senior officers of each +rank insisted upon being sent on that duty. Nay, in one instance this +heroic feeling was carried to an almost censurable excess. Lieutenant +Harvest of the 43d having been some time the senior of his rank in that +regiment, and there being a vacancy for a captain, he had been +recommended for the company; and although he had not been gazetted, yet +it had been intimated to him through his commanding-officer that his +name should shortly appear as captain. Thus his promotion was perfectly +secure; notwithstanding, when volunteers were called for for the +storming party, he insisted on his right of going as senior lieutenant; +so over scrupulous was he that his permitting a junior officer to occupy +this post might be construed to the detriment of his honour. He went, +and fell; and thus not only lost his company but his life, and by his +too refined sense of honour deprived another officer, probably, of that +promotion which would have been the consequence of going on this duty +had he survived. + +Among the men also the same noble enthusiasm prevailed, for he who was +selected for this dangerous service out of the superabundant numbers who +always volunteered, was envied by his comrades as truly fortunate. In +fact, it required a character for good conduct to entitle a man to this +honourable employment. Whatever, therefore, their other faults might be, +a want of bravery was not one of them. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The army leave Badajos on the 11th of April, and move into + quarters near the river Agueda, where they remain till the 11th + of June--Advance towards Salamanca, which, with the exception + of three forts, the enemy had evacuated--The forts + invested--The main bodies of both armies bivouack within a mile + and a half of each other, in the vicinity of Monte Rubio and + Morisco--The forts of Salamanca surrender--The main body of the + enemy retire to Tordesillas--Movements of the army. + + +On the 11th April we left Badajos to return again to the neighbourhood +of Rodrigo, the French having, during the absence of our army from that +frontier, made an irruption into Portugal, and penetrated as far down as +below Castello Branca, completely ravaging the country. Our first march +was to Campa Mayor, where we were quartered in the town. We next day +reached Arronches, where we bivouacked in a wood near it. The following +day we marched into Portalegre, and on the 14th, Niza; the 15th we +crossed the Tagus at Villa Velha, and moved on to Larnadas. Here we +began to perceive some of the effects of the recent visit from the +French; but at Castello Branca, which we reached next day, the +devastation they had caused was truly deplorable. We halted here one day +to refresh the troops and get forward our supplies, and the next day +reached Escallas da Cima. Here we began to get very close upon the rear +of the enemy; it therefore became us to move forward with +circumspection, for our force on this side the Tagus was yet but small. +We advanced, however, and occupied successively St Miguel d'Arch, +Penamacor, and St Bartholomo, near Sabugal, which last town we passed +through on the 23d, and bivouacked that night at Alfyates. The utter +desolation of Sabugal was beyond conception; filth and misery presented +themselves in every direction. It had been made a depot for provisions +by the French, I imagine, for on all sides the entrails and other offal +of bullocks and sheep polluted the atmosphere by the abominable stench +they caused, and had attracted multitudes of vultures and other birds of +prey, who had by this time become horribly tame and familiar: one +vulture sat so long upon a dead horse as I was riding along the road, +that he allowed me to come near enough to make a cut at him with my +sword, as he stretched his enormous wings to mount up from his prey. + +On the 24th we reached Ituera, where we halted for two days. We had now +entered Spain, and it not being intended as yet to commence another +active campaign, we moved into quarters near the river Agueda, my +battalion and the 43d occupying the village of La Encina, or "The Oak." +Here it was necessary that every exertion should be used to re-equip and +prepare the troops for service, as it was intimated that another +campaign would speedily commence. + +All the winter and spring hitherto had been spent in active service, +consequently much required putting to rights before we again took the +field; all hands were therefore employed to patch up and repair our +clothing and shoes, and to get every thing in good order when our +services were again to be called for. + +While we were here, I began to experience some of the ill effects of a +deep-rooted enmity which one of my brother officers had conceived +against me, though till now partly concealed. I was unconscious of +having given him any cause for this; but he, without ever giving me any +opportunity for explanation, used all his influence in endeavouring to +injure me in the opinion of two of my superior officers, who had +hitherto been friendly to me; and not only with them, but, I have reason +to believe, with our acting brigadier, whose mind, with the others also, +he completely estranged from me for a time. But though he misled them +then, they did not retain the ill opinion of me which his +misrepresentations had produced, for there are testimonials from all +three at the end of this volume. I was not so fully aware of his dislike +of me, till one day I was dining at the table of our acting brigadier, +when he and one of those before noticed were also guests. I overheard +him telling this officer, (with an intention, I almost imagine, that I +should hear,) that I must be a bad man, for that I was sitting silent +when all the rest were talking, in order that I might listen to their +conversation. But I was the junior officer there, and it did not become +me to be talkative; besides, I never was loquacious. I said nothing, +(although some may blame me for it, but I loved peace,) trusting that +one day such forbearance would not be forgotten; but I felt it deeply, +and mourned over it in secret with great bitterness of spirit. + +In this place also I began to receive very pressing letters from the +merchants in England, from whom I had purchased a quantity of goods when +last at home, but which, for want of transport, could not be got up to +the army in order to their being disposed of; and, in short, scarcely a +post arrived that did not bring some unwelcome and distressing tidings. +I had purchased a fine mule in place of that stolen from me at Badajos, +for which I had given about £30. I sent him down to Lisbon with my +batman, to bring up as many of the goods as the mule could carry; but he +had not been long gone till I had the mortification to learn that this +mule also was lost. The man said he had been stolen, but I had every +reason afterwards to believe that he had sold him. Be it observed, I +could but very ill afford losses of this extent out of my pay and scanty +allowances; but I endeavoured to bear up as well as I could against +these misfortunes, although it is certain I was not able to bring +religion to my aid at this time of trial, for I had lived hitherto in +total neglect of that most momentous of all concerns, and, although I +endeavoured to amuse myself occasionally by fishing in the Agueda, my +mind began to be greatly depressed. + +About this time an order was issued for each British regiment in the +Peninsula to endeavour to enlist fifty Spaniards to be incorporated in +the regiment. I was sent in company with another officer into the +mountains of Gata, not far from the city of Placentia. We were not +successful, for although we obtained the names of some who promised they +would follow us to La Encina, they never made their appearance. However, +the beauty and magnificence of the mountain scenery amply repaid us for +our trouble. From this village also I had the pleasure of visiting, for +the first time, the lately captured fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo, and some +of my brother officers who had shared in the toils and dangers of the +siege, pointed out to me the most remarkable scenes about it. Like +Badajos, it had been battered till practicable breaches were made to +admit the besiegers, and then stormed in the same manner, but its +defence was feeble compared with Badajos; and yet, to look over the +ground in the neighbourhood of the trenches, one would imagine it +impossible for troops to have lived, so completely was it ploughed up +with shot and shells, each of the latter generally making an excavation +sufficiently large in which to bury a horse. + +Whilst we remained in these cantonments, the officers of the division +once or twice got up a sort of "pic-nic," every one contributing +something towards the feast, which was held in a large wood in the +neighbourhood of Ituera. On our way from La Encina to this assembly, we +passed over the ground where the 5th and 77th regiments had so +distinguished themselves in September 1811, against a very superior +force of the enemy's cavalry. The bones of the combatants lay bleaching +upon the plain, the flesh having been very soon devoured by the +innumerable birds of prey, which appeared as if collected from every +part of the Peninsula. Indeed so numerous were the battles and +skirmishes which took place along this frontier, together with the offal +from the animals killed for the use of the armies, that they were no +doubt better fed than they had in general been accustomed to. + +But the period of our stay in this vicinity drew to a close, and on the +11th June we broke up from our cantonments, and passing the Agueda, the +division assembled in a wood about a mile or two in front of Rodrigo. +While we were here a rather remarkable phenomenon appeared about +mid-day, or soon after; the sun, which shone most brightly, and the +moon, with several stars, appeared all at the same time, the latter +being distinctly visible. This of course attracted great numbers, and +many were the sage remarks that were made, some believing it ominous of +disastrous events; and indeed very shortly afterwards a circumstance +occurred which in some degree confirmed their prediction. A grenadier of +the 88th regiment (I think it was) had come over from his own division, +to endeavour to prevail upon his wife, who had deserted him and taken up +with a sergeant of our first battalion, to return with him, she having, +as I understand, left him with one or more children, the first of their +marriage, which he was anxious she should come and take care of. They +had often, I fancy, quarrelled, and he had probably used her ill, but he +was now desirous of a reconciliation, and entreated her to return with +him to his regiment. He prevailed upon her to accompany him to some +distance from the bivouack, that they might the more freely discuss the +subject, for she had hitherto refused to agree to his request, being +probably better provided for by the sergeant than she had been with him. +While walking in a field close to the wood in which the bivouack was +situated, and arguing the point with some heat, and she still persisting +in remaining where she was, he became so exasperated at her continued +refusal, that he, in a rage of jealousy and anger, drew his bayonet and +plunged it in her bosom. Her cries soon brought people to the spot, who +at once secured him, and he was instantly committed to the provost +prison tent, and her body of course brought in and buried. Poor +creature! she was one of the gayest of the females which graced our +rural balls near Ituera only a short while previous, and had often +danced with old General Vandaleur on those occasions. I believe he was +not brought to trial for it, as her ill conduct probably had been +considered as in some measure palliating what he did, and that he might +be supposed to have been irritated to a degree of madness when he +perpetrated the fatal act. I subsequently learnt that he was a brave +soldier, and that he afterwards fell in the hard-fought battle of the +Pyrenees. + +We moved forward the next day in the direction of Salamanca, halting on +the 13th at Alba de Yeltes, on the 14th at Sancho Bueno, the 15th at +Matillo, in a large plain in front of which we bivouacked, where were +the most luxuriant meadows I think I ever saw, the horses on our arrival +being literally up to their bellies in fine rich grass. What a pity the +natives know nothing of hay-making! This fine herbage is permitted to +stand there till it perishes, and yet in the winter they are frequently +very ill off for provender for their cattle; indeed I do not exactly +know how they contrive to feed them in that season, but I know we were +always greatly put to our shifts to procure any sort of long forage for +our animals, being generally compelled by necessity to resort to this +grass, rotten and dead as it was. I believe they use a considerable +quantity of straw, which they chop very short, and which in truth is no +bad substitute for hay; but when it is so very plentiful and so good, +common sense, one would imagine, would induce them to preserve it. + +Lord Wellington in the following season caused a considerable quantity +of hay to be made in Portugal, getting scythes, &c. out from England, +but we never returned that way afterwards to reap the benefit of it. All +this immensely rich and extensive plain is in a complete state of +nature--no enclosures to mark the different boundaries of the +proprietors, should it have any, but where there are "landmarks," the +mode of ancient days is resorted to. + +On the 16th we moved forward to within about five miles of Salamanca, +and bivouacked near a range of low hills extending from the Rio Valmuso +(which we had just crossed) to the city. In front of this place our +cavalry fell in with that of the enemy, with whom they had a _petit +affaire_, and had captured a few of them, who, in the afternoon, passed +our bivouack, on their way to the rear. We observed as they passed that +they wore long queues, which had an odd appearance in our eyes, the +British army having for so many years left them off. + +Next morning we advanced towards the city. We had gone, I think, about +three miles, when ascending one of those heights over which the road +passes, we had a most interesting view of this beautiful place. It +seemed thickly studded with elegant and highly ornamented spires, +springing from the numerous cathedrals and colleges, &c. which it +contained; but what heightened the effect was an immense column of smoke +rising from some magazines which the enemy (not having time to carry +off) had set on fire. We feared it was but the prelude to the whole city +sharing the same fate, for their barbarous conduct in Portugal during +Massena's retreat, rendered it but too doubtful they were resorting to +the same mode of warfare here. They still retained possession of a +portion of the town, in which they had constructed three forts; one very +strong, and capable of containing about 500 or 600 men; the other two +were smaller, to cover and act as supports to the principal one. In +constructing these works they had destroyed the greater part of the +colleges, and a considerable number of other public buildings, besides +several extensive streets which Salamanca had formerly contained; but +even now it was still a beautiful and interesting city. One of these +works commanded the bridge, which rendered our crossing the Tormes here +impracticable. We were in consequence moved about a league higher up the +river, where we crossed by a rather deep ford. However, all got safely +over, and we halted for the night on a small plain, a short distance +from the ford, the main body of the enemy having retired and left 800 +men in the forts before mentioned. These occupied but about one-third of +the town, of course the remainder was open and free, and, as might be +expected, every one was anxious to have a peep at this famous +university. Consequently away a number of us scampered, and soon entered +the city, the inhabitants of which were overjoyed to see us. The nuns +were seen waving white handkerchiefs out of their iron-grated windows, +and the Padres and other respectable inhabitants welcomed us with a +thousand vivas, embracing us, and using every means of testifying their +joy at our arrival. + +I need not attempt to describe the place, for I am not able, and it has +so often been described that my reader will not be disappointed at my +declining to do it here; suffice it to say, the buildings in general, +and the religious edifices in particular, were most superb; but the +Goths had destroyed the finest portion of the city. + +The forts were immediately invested, and we went and had a look also at +them. They seemed remarkably strong, having been constructed principally +of hewn stones, taken from the buildings they had destroyed; and on all +sides of them a space of perhaps two hundred yards or more was cleared +away to make room for the play of their artillery, and to prevent a +lodgement being made by the besiegers. + +We next day moved from our bivouack near the ford, and marched to the +village of Aldea Secco, in front of which our cavalry and the enemy had +a rencontre, after which the latter retired: this was about a league and +a half in front of Salamanca. Next day we were suddenly assembled in +consequence of the enemy, in great force, making his appearance at some +distance in front of our bivouack. We were then removed from the plain, +and took up a position on a height called Monte Rubio, or Red Hill, a +little to the right. Soon after, also, the other divisions of our army +began to assemble on the height, and our Chief arriving on the spot, +every thing had the appearance of something serious being about to take +place. + +Here also, for the first time, I saw Don Carlos de Espagna with his few +followers. These were better clothed and equipped than almost any other +Spanish troops that I had seen. The day passed over, however, without +the French making any attack, and without any movement being made on our +side, farther than putting the different divisions into position as they +arrived on the ground. The French were continually receiving +reinforcements, or rather their different divisions were rapidly +arriving in succession, when they all bivouacked in the plain in front +of us, at perhaps a mile and a half distance, and near to the village of +Morisco. This they very soon gutted of every portable article, whether +it was food, clothes, furniture, or whatever they could carry off; nay, +they unroofed the greater part of the houses for fuel for the troops, +but this latter proceeding could not be avoided, there being no wood +near them. Englishmen may well feel thankful that their dwellings have +not been exposed to such visitors, who, in half an hour, will convert a +comfortable and smiling village into a heap of ruins. + +We remained in this position for some days, the two armies, like two +experienced pugilists, each waiting for the other to strike the first +blow, by which he would in some measure lay himself open. It was not, +however, Lord Wellington's game to commence operations, seeing a part of +our army was then employed in the siege of the forts in Salamanca; +besides, it is said, when some one ventured to hint that we should +attack the enemy, that his lordship judged it would make a difference of +3000 men less on the side of the attacking army. I know not if this +story be true, but certainly great prudence was displayed on both sides. +However, the enemy had occasionally cannonaded us a little from the +first; but about three days after their arrival, they made a very brisk +and vigorous attack upon a conical hill immediately in front of our +position, and a little to the right of Morisco. It was defended by the +seventh division, which repelled the attack with great gallantry, +driving the enemy down the hill again with great precipitation. The 68th +regiment distinguished itself greatly, but in their pursuit of the +beaten enemy, they advanced too far into the plain, and which the French +observing, a forward movement was made again by them, and before our +people could recover the high ground, Captain M'Kay and Lieutenant +M'Donald, with a considerable number of their men, were made prisoners. +Poor M'Kay received I know not how many bayonet wounds on this occasion, +I believe not less than ten or twelve, but none of them very serious of +course, or he could not have survived. He, with the others, were taken +into the French lines, but he was so ill when they retired a few days +after, that they were obliged to leave him in Morisco. The enemy's +artillery played upon our line during the greater part of this attack, +and caused us some loss, but not of any consequence, the horses +appearing to have suffered more than the troops. + +The French seemed disappointed and annoyed at our sticking so +pertinaciously to the hills on this occasion, and told M'Donald (from +whom I afterwards had this information) that it was only when we had +every advantage on our side that we durst give them battle. Our armies +were, I think, pretty nearly equal, each having perhaps about 40,000, +but they were, I believe, superior in cavalry, and of course the plain +was the very ground for them. Marmont seeing himself thus foiled, +withdrew from before us, and made a movement to his left, crossing the +Tormes with a considerable part of his force, and advanced on the other +side of the river towards Salamanca. Our heavy German cavalry, under +General Baron Back, opposed them here, and greatly distinguished +themselves, driving the enemy's cavalry from the field. Our army made +corresponding movements with the enemy, changing in parts our position. + +Meantime the siege of the forts had been proceeding with from the first +day of our arrival, and as the distance from Monte Rubio to the town was +not great, several of us rode in to see how the siege was progressing, +as the Americans have it. An attempt had been made to carry them by +escalade, but it had failed; General Bowes, who led the attacking party, +with several officers and men, having fallen in the attempt. His +lordship now deemed it necessary to batter them regularly previous to +another assault being made upon them. Heavy ordnance was therefore got +into battery, which not only effected a breach in the smaller fort +nearest the principal one, but which also threw a considerable quantity +of hot shot into a building in the centre of it, which served as a +barrack to the troops, the roof of which was presently set on fire, and +the only shelter they had was thus destroyed. They thus were compelled +on the 27th to surrender prisoners of war. + +It is not easy to describe the effect produced on those inhabitants who +lived nearest to the forts while the siege was going forward. Just as I +entered one of our batteries, which had been established close behind a +street, still occupied by the people, one of our artillerymen was +carried out shot by a musket ball in the breast, and dead; the poor +people when he was brought out into the street assembled round his body, +and set up the most piteous lamentations imaginable. This impressed me +with the good feeling which must have existed in their minds towards the +English, for they are not a people, as the reader will be aware, who are +very susceptible of horror at the sight of blood. A few hours after +these forts surrendered, I went to visit the principal one--the +devastation caused by our hot shot on the house before mentioned was +awful. They had been obliged to make this their hospital also as well as +barrack, and it was really lamentable to see the poor wounded Frenchmen +lying there in a house that was literally falling about their ears, the +roof having been completely fired, while burning beams and rafters were +continually dropping upon these poor helpless beings. A French surgeon +was still in charge of these men, and he had the politeness to show us +all over the fort. As it had appeared from the outside, it was in +reality remarkably strong, and the place where our people had made an +attempt to escalade it, was pointed out to us; he said it was heavily +mined, and that if our people had carried it by escalade, the mines +would most likely have been sprung. There was fixed immediately opposite +the gate a beam of wood, with holes bored in it, and about twenty musket +barrels fitted into them, so as to command the entrance. These, I +imagine, it was intended to have fired by a train, as our people forced +the gate, and it would have been like a little volley, which must have +swept away the first of the assailants. The inhabitants seemed greatly +rejoiced when this business was concluded, and peace once more +established in their city, and they vied with each other in showing us +every mark of attention and kindness, looking upon us as their +deliverers. + +If I am not mistaken, it was here where our illustrious Chief played off +a sort of innocent _ruse_ upon some of the Padres of the place. Soon +after our arrival, and before the attempt upon the forts had failed, he +went to visit some of the principal cathedrals, &c. which remained +entire; the priests of course were proud to show their churches on such +an occasion. He admired them greatly, and praised them much; but what +seemed particularly to attract his attention was the extreme whiteness +and cleanness of their walls and ceilings, although they were so very +lofty. He enquired how they managed to get up to them to keep them so; +and the unsuspecting Padre, without hesitation, led him to where they +kept the immensely long ladders by which they ascended. This was just +the very thing he wanted in his meditated attempt upon the forts, and of +course they, with others of a similar description, were procured for +that service. I will not vouch for the truth of the above, although I +heard it, and I think it was not unlikely to have taken place. Indeed +had he made a formal demand for such things, it is not improbable they +might have denied they had them; but his having seen them himself +precluded this. + +The forts surrendered on the 27th, and on the 28th the enemy's main body +retired altogether; for they soon learned the fate of the besieged, as +they had occasionally communicated in some measure by rockets thrown up, +and answered. On the same day, our division moved forward to +Castilbanos; and the day following to Parada de Rubiallis. On the 30th, +we reached Castrillo de Aguerino; and on the 1st of July, the town of +Ravel-del-Rey. The next day, we moved on towards Rueda, a considerable +town. Here we found the French in some force, their main body having +retired across the Duero to Tordesillas. The force in and about Rueda +consisted of both cavalry and infantry, and seemed to act as a rearguard +till the enemy's columns had time to file over the bridge at +Tordesillas. I was at some distance in front of our division, the +cavalry having preceded it, with whom I went forward. As we approached +the place, a pretty large column of the enemy's infantry left it, and +moved in the direction of the bridge. Some of our horse-artillery at +this time came up, and fired Shrapnel shells into it, which did +considerable execution; one shell particularly having killed and wounded +great numbers, among whom was an officer, I think one of the handsomest +men I had almost ever seen. Our cavalry had a little brush with some +squadrons of the enemy a little further on in the plain, and captured a +few prisoners. One of these was the sergeant-major of one of their +hussar regiments, and of all the men I ever saw taken, this man evinced +the greatest trepidation and alarm. He was absolutely like to sink to +the earth, either from fear of what awaited himself, or from the effects +of the contest in which he had been engaged. He had lost his cap in the +fray, and seemed like a person deprived of his senses. He must, +notwithstanding, have been looked upon by the French as a good soldier, +and a valuable non-commissioned officer; for I learned afterwards that +they sent in a request that he might be exchanged for one of our +sergeants whom they had captured, as it was intended immediately to +promote him to the adjutancy of his regiment; of course this was +immediately complied with. The enemy retired to Tordesillas, and we +bivouacked near Rueda, a part of the officers being permitted to go into +houses in the town during the day. + +In this situation we remained for a day and a night; but the sun being +so powerful, the troops began to feel the ill effects of the heat. They +were accordingly brought into the town and quartered in the houses. Here +I experienced more of that hostility before spoken of, on the following +occasion. In the number of houses allotted to my battalion, there +happened to be some of the best of them without stables; but as there +was not time to examine farther than their outward appearance, this +could not be known by me. I therefore marked off the houses according to +custom, giving the best, in point of appearance, to the senior officers +in succession, and so on till all were served. It so happened that the +house allotted to this officer, who had nearly the best in the +battalion given him, had no stable. This I was, from the fore-mentioned +cause, totally ignorant of. Neither had I any stable in the house I +occupied, but, after some trouble, I had found one in a house occupied +by some of the men, where I had put up my horses and mules, and went +about the other duties of my station. In the evening I was informed by +my servant that my animals had been turned out by this officer, and his +own put in, in their stead; and that mine were running loose in a yard, +he not caring what became of them. My saddlery, and all the +mule-apparatus, (precious articles in this country,) had also been cast +out. He was my _senior_ officer, and I was consequently obliged to bear +this ill-treatment. + +I mention this little circumstance, because it will show with what +determined and unrelenting hostility he pursued me. Indeed it might not +have been so trifling an affair, for had I not heard of it in time, I +might have lost every horse and mule I possessed, which would have been +one of the most serious disasters that could have befallen me. I could +obtain no redress, for the captain before mentioned, who commanded the +battalion, and this officer, being on rather unfriendly terms, he felt +delicate in interfering in my behalf. Indeed I have some reason to +believe, that it was partly on account of his enmity to this captain +(with whom I still messed) that he so persecuted me. + +I own I was on this occasion strongly tempted to demand that +satisfaction which the rules of honour (as they are termed) dictate, for +I then had not a Christian feeling on this subject; but after +consideration and consultation with some friends, it was feared he might +take advantage of his superior rank, not only to decline giving me that +satisfaction, but to report me, and thus destroy my prospects for life, +for he would have been compelled to the latter step had he not acceded +to my demand; and from the feeling he displayed towards me, there is not +the least doubt he would have rejoiced at such an opportunity of ruining +me. At this time, also, I had very few _real_ friends who would have +stood by me; for his secret machinations, and his having the ear of our +brigadier, tended greatly to estrange my former friends from me. + +All this, as might be expected, tended powerfully to depress my spirits, +and to cast a gloom over a mind but too susceptible of impressions of +that nature; for there is not any thing almost I would not do or submit +to, to live on good terms with those I associate with, and indeed with +all men. My mind was also much harassed at this time by receiving very +unpleasant letters from England on the subject of the goods I before +mentioned, and which had not yet reached any farther than Abrantes; and +as the men began to be ill off for want of clothing, I obtained leave to +proceed forthwith to Abrantes, to endeavour to get both the clothing and +goods brought up to the regiment. I therefore set off, accompanied by +one servant on a mule, leaving the other animals with the battalion, and +proceeded on the 16th on my journey, and passing through Ravel-del-Rey, +I halted for the night in a village where the seventh division was +quartered. As I knew some of the officers of the 51st, I took up my +abode with them for the night, and they indeed received me very kindly. +My friends spent the evening very merrily; but, about midnight, they +were called out and put under arms, expecting shortly to turn in again, +as they told me; but they were marched off, and left the place entirely, +leaving only my servant and myself in occupation of the town. + +It seems that Marmont, with his whole force, had moved from Tordesillas, +and had threatened Lord Wellington's communication with Salamanca. In +order, then, to keep up a corresponding movement, and be ready to take +advantage of any false step the enemy might make, his lordship withdrew +his whole force, and began to retire as Marmont advanced. Thus, in the +morning, to my surprise, all the army had left the neighbourhood, and as +I was not certain who the next visitors might be, I quickly decamped +from a village now left open to the enemy. I got on at a considerable +pace, as both my servant and myself were riding, and on the 19th I +reached Salamanca. + +During yesterday's march I heard a considerable cannonade to my right +and rear, and I afterwards learnt that the two armies had come nearly in +contact with each other, and some skirmishing and exchange of shots had +taken place. I did not stop in Salamanca longer than to draw rations for +ourselves and animals, being anxious to get on as fast as possible, to +try to get up the supplies while the army remained near the frontiers, +for it was still expected they would advance into the heart of Spain, +notwithstanding the present partial retreat. I accordingly moved on that +evening to Matilla, and continued thus making stages of thirty or forty +miles a-day, and on the 25th I reached Abrantes; but on the preceding +day I was overtaken by Lord Clinton, going home with the dispatches +relative to the glorious and decisive battle of Salamanca, which took +place on the 22d. His lordship was nearly worn out, being actually +asleep on his horse as he rode past me, for he had never once stopped +from the time he first set out. I learnt the news from the person who +accompanied him. It is impossible to describe the joy this information +created among the Portuguese inhabitants of the village. I stopped for +the night at Gaviæ. + +I found at Abrantes a detachment of our second battalion proceeding to +join the army; but, to my sorrow, learnt there was no chance of +procuring transports for the clothing, &c., for months to come. This was +distressing information to me, and of course added to the despondency +already preying upon my spirits; for the merchants' letters I was +continually receiving began to be most importunate, and indeed +attributing the non-remittal of their money to a want of principle, and +talked of reporting my conduct to the Commander-in-Chief. + +Want of a proper religious feeling, under such circumstances, as might +be expected, laid me open to great temptations. I therefore, to drown +sorrow, and because I had always been too much addicted to it, began to +give way to intemperance, and, falling in with a number of officers of +very dissipated habits, I was led on to indulge in the most vile and +abominable of all vices, _drunkenness_, to an excess almost incredible. +But the gloom still seemed to thicken, and a dark cloud seemed impending +over me, of which I was fully aware, and wrote home to my friends to +that effect. At length my birthday, the 4th of August, arrived, and +which must, as my unhappy companions in sin urged on me, be kept with +all due jollity. Accordingly, a dozen of strong port-wine was procured, +and we boozed away most joyfully, the whole being drank by about four or +five of us. This produced constipation in the bowels, and had nigh +brought me to my end; but my mind was more affected, if possible, than +my body. About two days after this debauch, on my retiring to bed at +night, I felt an unusual inclination to rise up and fall down on my +knees, to offer up my evening prayer; for, notwithstanding all my +wickedness and forgetfulness of God, I had not altogether abandoned the +_form_ of _saying_ my prayers at night, but it was always after I lay +down. I resisted this impulse, however, to rise and pray, and, after +mumbling over my _form_ without the _spirit_, I endeavoured to compose +myself to sleep. I did sleep for a while, during which I was troubled +with some confused and incoherent dreams; but soon after awaking, +gracious God! what were my feelings then? Despair, black despair, had +seized upon me. I rushed out of bed, and rolled upon the floor like one +distracted, as indeed I was. Oh! what would I then have given that I had +never been born, or that I could cease to exist! Had it been possible, +by throwing my body into the flames, to annihilate for ever my +consciousness of being, how gladly would I have done it! But no--the +terrors of the Lord were upon me, and drank up my spirits; and no one +who has not been in a similar situation can form the most distant idea +of the misery which preyed upon me. The pains of hell got hold upon me, +and hope seemed for ever to be shut out from my mind. I believed I had +sinned past all redemption; that the mercy of God could not possibly be +extended to me; and of the efficacy of the Redeemer's blood I knew +nothing. Oh! this was a time much to be remembered by me, for none but +He who afflicted me, and my soul which bore the affliction, knows what I +then suffered! + +At length the morning came, but with it no comfort for me. One of my +sinful and dissolute companions came to see me, but he seemed greatly +shocked at the recital of my woful tale, and I believe then formed for +himself resolutions of amendment, which I fear, poor fellow, he never +was able to fulfil. He did not long survive, but was shortly after +called to his awful account, whilst I am spared,--a monument of the +long-suffering mercy of God. Amongst all my companions in error and +wickedness, I could not procure a Bible, and, as a proof of the ungodly +state I was then in, I had not one myself. This poor friend, however, +had a Prayer-book, which he lent me, and out of which I eagerly sought +for comfort and hope, but in vain, for all was against me. Yes--and all +who make God their enemy, will find in the hour of need, that every +other creature and thing will fail to yield them comfort; but I had +sinned too deeply and too perseveringly to find peace speedily. Oh! in +what black array did the sins of my whole life pass before me, and how +did I sigh for annihilation; or, if I could in any way atone for my +wickedness, if I could but go and bury myself in a cave or den of the +earth, and forego for ever all intercourse with mankind, how easily and +how cheaply did I then conceive I should purchase pardon and peace! But, +alas! I knew nothing of the way of reconciliation with an offended God, +although I had been duly instructed in my youth. I was in such agony of +mind that I scarcely heeded my body, but was prevailed upon to have a +surgeon, who administered what he considered necessary, but without +effect. My bowels had ceased to perform their functions, and this no +doubt would greatly affect my head; still, although this, as a _second_ +cause of the distraction of my mind, was easily discoverable, yet the +_great first cause_, not only of my disorder, but of all its effects, +was the God against whom I had so grievously sinned, and from whom alone +I could hope for the removal of my present sufferings. But hope was at +this time banished from my breast, and I gave myself up to all the +agonies of a soul that is lost for ever; but still I could not _rest_ in +this sad situation. I therefore now determined to set off for Lisbon, in +hopes that I might obtain from the chaplain, who was stationed there, +some slight alleviation of my misery, for none but Roman Catholic +priests were to be found where I then was. I accordingly set off, +accompanied by my servant, but in such a hurry, and so utterly +regardless of all worldly concerns, that I left my baggage in my +quarters, which was taken care of by the friend before mentioned. + +I started in the afternoon of the second day after my attack. The sun +was scorching hot above my head, but I regarded it not, seeing there was +a hotter fire within me; indeed I believed I could not mortify my flesh +sufficiently, so blind was I at this time of the nature of atonement. My +feeling was, that I had an Almighty enemy over me; that His eye was upon +me for evil, let me go where I would; and that I could not possibly +escape from the destruction which He would shortly inflict upon my soul. +How gladly, as I rode along, would I have solicited the rocks and +mountains to fall upon me, and hide me from His sight, did I believe +they could have availed for this purpose! But no--I felt it was +impossible, and that I must endure for a short while longer the lighter +punishment he had then laid upon me; and by and by I must drink to the +dregs the cup of His everlasting indignation. O, sinners! be persuaded +to flee from the wrath to come, for indeed one of the slightest terrors +of the Almighty is enough to drive to distraction the strongest mind, +and to appal the stoutest heart! + +I arrived at Galigao, the place of my intended rest for the night--and +here I was attacked with ague and fever in addition to my other +disorder--this was the effect of my exposure to the sun in so weak a +state. But I cared not for my body. I knew that would return to the dust +from whence it was taken. But oh! the never-dying soul--to think that it +should endure eternal and omnipotent wrath, overwhelmed me with dread +indescribable. My mind, it is true, was affected by my disorder; but it +could not be termed insanity or madness, for I even now remember with +great distinctness the feelings I then experienced, and those feelings +remained with me for a considerable time afterwards. + +Here I felt myself extremely ill, and believed I could not survive till +morning. I consequently got my servant to make down my bed in a corner +of the room I occupied, with his own near it, and told him to leave the +candle burning, for that my time could not be long. I was compelled to +submit, and quietly lay myself down, in dreadful expectation of the +fatal hour, and when, as I imagined, the infernal fiend would be +commissioned to seize and carry off my soul to its abode of everlasting +misery. I could not pray, nor had I any the most distant hope that my +sentence could be reversed, for I fully believed it had been finally +pronounced by Him who changeth not. + +During this woful night, I appeared to possess a sort of second self, a +being which existed and thought and reasoned quite distinct from that +_me_ who was stretched upon the floor, and which appeared to upbraid me +with the misery it was then suffering, and was still to suffer, for the +sins of my past abandoned life. I know not whether any other person in +despair ever experienced this feeling; but to me it was quite obvious, +for I remember distinctly the sin to which it more particularly drew my +guilty attention. Was not this the soul which will exist when the body +is dissolved, and may not such an upbraiding take place between the body +and the soul when the former shall be raised to join the latter in the +judgment? But the fact is, my soul was that night as it were on the +point of taking its departure from the tenement of clay, and seemed +strong to endure the everlasting wrath of God. + +I do not know whether I slept any during this dreadful night; but +morning came, and with it a certainty that I was still in this world, +but without the hope that this might have been expected to produce. I +felt as in a fire, yet I scarcely durst put my burning hands into the +water my servant brought me. I felt convinced that I had forfeited all +claim to any thing like blessings, and that curses, both in body and +soul, were alone my due. + +Ill as I was, however, I proceeded on my melancholy journey, not with +any hope that a minister of religion could give _me_ any relief, but a +drowning man will catch at a straw. Oh! how strong, how awfully strong, +did my soul appear at this time, to endure the tremendous wrath of +Omnipotence, whilst my body seemed fast sinking into its original +element! + +I reached Lisbon in two days from this time, having taken a boat at +Santarem. I ate nothing, with a trifling exception. I had no inclination +for food, nor did I think I ought, for the reason before given; my only +sustenance was a little water which I kept in a bottle, and with which I +now and then moistened my parched lips. + +I arrived at Lisbon about daybreak in the morning, and proceeded as well +as I was able to a friend's house, and knocked at the door; but shocked +indeed were he and his wife, when they saw me standing below, more like +a ghost than an inhabitant of this world. Indeed it is not easy to +describe my looks at this time; there must have been much of that +spiritual misery depicted in them which a confirmed despair no doubt +produces. They took me in, and after hearing my woful tale, prepared to +do for me the best that lay in their power; they gave me their own bed, +taking a pallet for themselves, and treated me as if I had been their +brother. He, poor fellow, is no more, but his beloved and kind partner +still lives, and may she always enjoy that happiness she seemed so +desirous of contributing to on this occasion, and everlasting happiness +hereafter! As soon as it could be conveniently done, the clergyman was +sent for, and also a medical officer, although from neither had I any +hope. But, alas! from the former, although a kind and sympathizing man, +I derived but little benefit. He did not direct me to the only source of +a sin-sick being's hopes, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of +the world. He made my hopes to centre too much in my own resolutions and +after-doings. No doubt, as my sins had been enormous and flagrant, my +repentance ought to be proportioned; but when he saw me bowed down under +an indescribable sense of guilt, oh! had he, like Paul to the jailer, +pointed me to the Saviour, how unutterably precious and acceptable would +it have been to my soul! I do not remember that any one character in +scripture is described as having felt more fully and more keenly the +sinfulness of sin, and of its consequent danger to the soul, than I did +at this time. How thankfully would I have accepted the mode of salvation +pointed out in the gospel; for indeed I was but too much (as all natural +men are) inclined to expect pardon and happiness from the things which, +if God spared me, I intended to perform. But He only knows best. This +kind gentleman wrote me out prayers, and seemed much interested in my +welfare; notwithstanding, the gloom of despair still hung heavy on me, +and at length; and when the kind medical friend was enabled, after +repeated efforts, to procure me some relief, I felt as if it was only +the prolonging of my existence, in order that I might fill up the +measure of my iniquity. This, I am now fully persuaded, was a suggestion +of the Father of Lies, in hopes probably of prevailing upon me to adopt +the awful and miserable resolution of Judas to get rid of life. + +I thank God this was the only temptation of that nature which he +permitted me to be exercised with; for I felt no inclination even in my +darkest hours to commit suicide, fully believing that the utmost of my +sufferings here could bear no proportion to those of the damned in hell. +I consequently had no inclination to hasten them by rushing into +eternity; this, it is evident, was of the merciful goodness of the Lord, +and for which I am bound to be truly thankful. + +I continued in this state of mind for several months, and could not, +with all my reading, praying, and doing, find peace. My reading and +praying seemed to me more like an irksome task, than an exercise in +which I took delight. I had formed a resolution from the first to retire +from the service, where it appeared to me I was exposed to so many +temptations; but here the experienced Christian will perceive how +erroneous were my views, and I think feel pleased that I never fully +effected my purpose, although I made preparations for it. Indeed I could +not well feel _certain_ that I should act right by retiring from the +post to which God's providence had appointed me, although my firm +determination was to live devoted to Him. But, alas! how wofully have I +failed of maintaining that resolution! + +My health now gradually improved, under the kind and fostering +attentions of my warm-hearted host and hostess, and it became necessary +that I should resume my station at Abrantes, which I did, in hopes of +being able to obtain transport from thence, although the army was at +this time in the neighbourhood of Madrid. But after returning to +Abrantes I suffered a relapse, and was again brought to the borders of +the grave, my mind still deeply impressed with my former ill +forebodings, although not quite so distressing as before. I got my +servant to read to me while I lay groaning on the floor, for I could not +bear to sleep in a bed at this time, but felt little comfort from his +endeavours, the Scriptures being at this time "a sealed book" to me; so +true is it that till the grace of God dispels our darkness we have no +light in us. + +I think it is probable that some of my readers, on perusing this part of +my narrative, will be inclined to say, "surely this man must have been +an uncommon and atrocious sinner, above all others, or he never would +have suffered thus." I acknowledge with shame that I have been a most +abominable and vile sinner, deserving of all the Lord laid upon me, and +much more, for I was, and am, fully deserving of hell fire; and should +that be my portion (as, through the merits and sufferings of my Saviour, +I have a humble hope it will not be), I must acknowledge the kindness +and justice of God, although I perish for ever. But I would say to such +readers, as our Saviour said to the Jews, that "except _ye_ repent, _ye_ +shall likewise perish." Others may be inclined, on the contrary, to say, +that all this was merely the effect of disease, and not at all to be +resolved into God's hatred of sin and punishment of it in this instance. +I acknowledge that it was the effect of disease. But when God laid that +disease upon me, He knew what effect it would produce upon my mind; +consequently, both disease and mental agony came from Him; and, because +I knew it came from Him, "I held my tongue and said nothing." And I have +now, and I hope shall have for ever, the greatest cause to bless His +holy name for this, as one of the greatest mercies He ever showed me, +for having thus taught me to know how evil and bitter a thing sin is, +and to set a juster estimate upon his favour. He thus taught me also to +value and love the Saviour, who alone can deliver me from the +punishment, the power, the pollution, and the love of sin, and to make +me happy for ever. Blessed be His holy name, for He has done to me all +things well, and I humbly hope to enjoy His favour for ever. + +During my stay at Lisbon, my batman, whom I before mentioned as having +lost, or rather sold, my mule, and who had here rejoined me to take care +of the horse and mule I had with me, either from remorse, or some other +cause, made an attempt to cut his throat, and succeeded so far as to +sever the windpipe, I believe, but did not quite effect his purpose. He +was found in a field near Lisbon bleeding nearly to death, and brought +into the hospital, where, with great care, and after some time, he +recovered. Indeed 1812 was a sickly year, and many were affected +strongly in the mind, several having committed suicide, I believe. + +While I lay here ill the second time, I received a letter from the +regiment telling me that the paymastership had become vacant, the poor +old gentleman with whom I returned to England last year, having come out +again to the Peninsula, and got as far as Rodrigo on his way to the +regiment, and there, being attacked with the same disease I had suffered +so much from, died; and that as General Stewart, our colonel, had +arrived at Lisbon, I was to go and wait upon him, and that letters would +be written from the regiment requesting him to recommend me for the +situation. + +I with great difficulty again reached Lisbon, and waited upon the +general, but to my great mortification I found the promised letters from +the regiment had never been received, and that another person had, in +consequence, been recommended, he being the son of the late paymaster, +and had applied some time before. My disappointment did not prey upon my +mind, for at this time I set very light indeed by the good things of +this world, and felt conscious that I already possessed much more than I +deserved. I was compelled through illness to remain again in Lisbon some +time, but found great difficulty to obtain permission from the +commandant for so doing. My general, however, procured me leave to stay +till I should be able to resume my post at Abrantes. Here, not only +myself, but all the officers who were then in Lisbon, and also at the +army, suffered much from the want of subsistence. I had at this period +seven months' pay due me, and could not obtain a dollar from the public +chest, although I wrote a note to the commandant showing him how I was +suffering from want of money. + +The army had in the meantime pursued the French, as before noticed, on +one side to Madrid, and on the other to Burgos; but the attempt to take +the latter by storm having failed, and the enemy having been able to +assemble a more numerous force than Lord Wellington had before it, he +was obliged to retire from both those places to the frontiers of +Portugal. The division from Cadiz, the siege of which having been raised +by our forward movement in summer, had joined the army at Madrid. Much +was suffered, I understand, during this retreat, the troops having been +exposed to great privations, and the weather being exceedingly wet and +unpleasant. My division, after the retreat, took up its quarters again +in the villages on the Portuguese side of Rodrigo--my battalion being +stationed at the village of Espeja. The army, as might be expected from +the late severe and harassing service they had been engaged in, began to +be extremely ill off indeed for want of clothing, many of the men being +nearly quite naked; in consequence, the most pressing orders were sent +from head-quarters to use every means possible to have the supplies +immediately forwarded, for Abrantes at this time contained stores +belonging to almost every regiment in the army. My health having been +considerably improved, I again returned to that depot, and, after +waiting a few weeks, the means of transport were at last given me by the +commissary there. I need not say with what alacrity I prepared for and +commenced my long wished for journey. I had got a sufficient escort +assigned me, from a detachment of our men being about to join the +regiment. + +We started about the beginning of January 1813, and proceeded on our +route by way of Niza, &c. I had been obliged to buy another horse from +some cause which I do not now recollect, but when we were leaving the +town just named, I found, on turning out to move off, that a large nail +had been driven right up into the centre of one of his feet. Whether +this was done accidentally, or by design, I never could learn, but the +consequence was the loss of the horse. I had great trouble also to keep +the convoy, which consisted of about a dozen bullock carts, with as many +soldiers as an escort, together; the drivers, if they were not strictly +guarded, very often made their escape, taking their bullocks with them +during the night, and leaving the cart in our possession, glad, I dare +say, that they got off so cheaply, for they seemed to have a great +antipathy to go with us. I was therefore compelled to collect them all +together near Castello Branco, and making the soldiers load their rifles +before them, told them as well as I was able that they had orders to +shoot the first who attempted to desert with his bullocks. This had a +good effect, for I believe we lost no more till we reached the regiment; +but, as we approached the frontiers of Spain, several of the drivers ran +away without their cattle, preferring the loss of both bullocks, cart, +and payment, rather than enter that country, of which the peasantry in +general seemed to have a great dread. Those who stuck by us to the last, +were rewarded with the bullocks and carts of the deserters; but I think +we did not take more than two or three out of the twelve to the +regiment, the rest had all made their escape. Nothing can be conceived +more tiresome than travelling with such a convoy. The carts are all +constructed upon the principle of the Irish car; that is, the axle rolls +round with the wheels, they being firmly united; consequently the +creaking noise created by the friction is loud and most unpleasant, and +they have no idea of grease or tar to diminish this, but believe in many +parts, if not in all, the noise to be a sort of holy noise, which keeps +the devil from them. I found, in removing these stores, that great +robberies had taken place upon them, several of the bales having been +opened while on board ship, great quantities of goods taken out, and +their place filled up with old transport bedding, &c. I found it +necessary, however, to endeavour to bear up against all this, for my +mind would not suffer me to dwell too much upon such misfortunes. At +length I arrived at the regiment, where indeed I was a welcome guest, +for they were greatly in need of all kinds of equipment. + +The officer who had rendered my life so unhappy before, had left the +regiment, and gone into another far distant from my present place of +abode, for which I was truly thankful, and his absence I found produced +a great change in my favour; for every one seemed glad to see me, and +sympathized with me in my late alarming illness; in fact, the face of +things was entirely changed for the better. I myself had benefited much +by my late chastisement. I had learned to think meanly of myself, and to +be kind and submissive to all to whom I owed submission; a virtue which, +I fear, I was but too deficient in before. + +All things now went well with me. The goods, which before had been such +a source of uneasiness and trouble, were rapidly disposing of, and thus +the prospect of my soon being able to pay my creditors became every day +brighter. But, in the mean time, what I had hinted at before took place: +one of the merchants had actually reported me to his Royal Highness the +Duke of York. This might, indeed, have deprived me of my commission, had +his Royal Highness been harsh with me; but he caused a letter to be +written to my commanding-officer, (now Sir Andrew Barnard,) to call on +me to explain why I had not remitted the merchant what I owed him, and +to account for my not answering his letters, which he said I had failed +to do for several months. My answer was very simple, as the reader is +aware; but, with respect to the letters, I showed the colonel one, in +which the merchant acknowledged having received one from me a short time +previously. This also was satisfactory, and I had moreover remitted him +a short while before L.300 of the money I owed him. The colonel was +fully satisfied, and wrote off to his Royal Highness accordingly, and I +heard no more of the business. Soon after the captain, who had been +acting as paymaster, was obliged to return to England, on account of ill +health. After some necessary steps I was appointed to this duty, it +being an addition of 10s. per diem to my pay. According to the army +regulations, a person in my situation could not be appointed acting +paymaster; but a committee of three captains was formed, who took all +the responsibility of my transactions upon themselves, giving me, as +before said, the whole 10s. per diem. This showed, at least, that they +were not afraid to trust themselves in my hands; for I might have +involved them deeply. In short, whatever I did (almost) prospered, and a +kind Providence seemed to smile upon me; and I believe that from this to +the close of the Peninsular campaigns was the happiest part of my life. +I have reason, therefore, to bless God for his unbounded goodness to +me. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Preparations for the Field--Amusements in winter + quarters--Grand Review--Advance of the Army in pursuit of the + Enemy--Come up with their rearguard in the vicinity of Hornilla + de Camino--Skirmishing--Encounter with the 1st brigade of the + Enemy, who are beaten, and forced to retreat--Our Army advance + in pursuit--An affair between the rearguard of the Enemy and + our 4th Brigade--Vittoria--General Engagement--The Enemy + defeated--Remarks. + + +I begin this chapter, through the mercy and goodness of God, with +brighter prospects than any I have written hitherto; for though I was +still ignorant of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, I believed God +was at peace with me, and, from my late dreadful sufferings for sin, I +certainly walked very circumspectly, and I believe I had also more of +the genuine feelings of a Christian, though not the knowledge; for I was +lowly in my own eyes, and loved all mankind. In me was fully verified at +this time that sublime, but seemingly ill understood, saying of our +Saviour's, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." I +now was meek and lowly, and I had friends in abundance, and may truly be +said to have possessed or inherited the earth, for I had plenty of every +necessary good, and, withal, peace and contentment. I could not enjoy +more had I been in possession of more. Alas! how lamentable is it that +chastisement should produce a better effect upon me, than love and +gratitude to God is capable of doing; for, to my shame be it spoken, +pride and selfishness now prevail much more in my heart than they were +able to do then; and I find it much more difficult now to bring my mind +down to that lowly and contrite feeling which with God is so acceptable, +and with the possession of which only He promises to dwell. + +As the officer whom I have had occasion so often to mention owed me a +trifle of money, I wrote to him, in as friendly a manner as I could, +hoping, now we were separated, that his enmity would cease, and I was +desirous of being at peace with all mankind; for, as I said before, I +never yet knew why he was my enemy. He wrote back, with an order for the +money, telling me, he hoped never to hear from me again, for that he was +anxious to forget that such a person had ever existed in the world. +This, as might be supposed, wounded my feelings deeply, but I remembered +that I had myself sinned as deeply against God, and that He might raise +up such instruments for my correction as seemed good to Him. My +feelings, therefore, towards this person were more of regret and pity +than of resentment, and I think I did not forget to pray to God for him. +Poor fellow, he has a good while since been called to his account, and +that in rather an awful manner; he fell in a duel, but which (from all I +could learn) he was engaged in from the best motives, that of +endeavouring to prevent the seduction of a young female belonging to his +regiment. I hope he is at peace. + +During our stay in winter-quarters every exertion was made to put the +troops in a proper state to take the field again, so soon as the season +was sufficiently advanced. While we remained here also every sort of +innocent amusement, at least generally innocent, was had recourse to, +both by officers and men, not only to pass the time of inactivity with +pleasure, but to keep up that readiness for action always so necessary +in a state of warfare. We accordingly had races, balls, plays, and every +other description of pastime our situation admitted of. We in Espija +established what was termed a _trigger_ club, each one in turn giving an +entertainment at his house, and at which, as the name would imply, as +much game was produced as our sportsmen could procure. The plays were +generally held at Gallegos, the quarter of the 43d, and which were +indeed got up in a surprising style, considering the means of doing so. +A _walking_ club was established in our 1st battalion, which was +quartered at Alamada; we were of course frequently favoured with the +company of its members, for they thought nothing of setting out, each +with a long pole in his hand, and walking twenty or more miles to +dinner. Thus harmony and a brotherly feeling was promoted amongst the +officers of the division,--a thing of great moment where regiments have +to act together, as well as pleasant to all parties. Some of our people +also occasionally had a wolf-hunt, for these animals were quite numerous +in this part of the country; nay, so bold were they when pressed with +hunger, that they did not scruple sometimes to enter our villages, and +devour whatever fell in their way that they could master. An officer of +ours had an ass or a mule torn to pieces one night while standing in the +yard behind his house. The mode of hunting them was, to have a certain +number with arms stationed at the different passes in the wood, whilst a +large party of drivers scoured the wood in line, driving every thing +before them, when the animals, coming upon the armed people, were shot; +but I do not think they were at all successful: it requires people +accustomed to the business to enable them to kill many. There is a +premium given for every wolf's head, but I forget how much it is. + +I sometimes took a trip to the Azava, or the Agueda, on a fishing +excursion; but I was ill off for fishing tackle: the hooks the Spaniards +make are the clumsiest things imaginable, and would not, I am persuaded, +be made with less dexterity by the natives of New Zealand. Those which +we were forced to use for fly-hooks had a hole or eye at the top, like +the crook which you will sometimes see in a butcher's shop, intended to +be hung upon another, which was formed by turning the wire down again, +and through this they run their line; besides, they almost invariably +broke, and I have been wofully tantalized sometimes by having the hook +break off the only fly that the fish were taking; notwithstanding, I +caught some very fine trout in the Agueda, this river abounding with +them. I sometimes also caught barbel in that river; but it was literally +swarming with a sort of roach, or what some of our people called +rock-fish: they generally feed from some stuff they find on the large +stones. But as the season approached which was to call us to the field, +a review of the whole division was ordered to take place on the plain of +Espija, and which, I think, was as brilliant a spectacle of that +description as it was possible for 5000 men to make. Every regiment was +in high and complete order, the whole having by this time been fully +equipped for the campaign: the movements, too, were beautiful, and +executed with great precision and promptitude, and, as might be +anticipated, called forth the unqualified approbation of our illustrious +Chief. + +A new and different arrangement was made this campaign with respect to +both officers and men in their field-equipment. Experience had proved +that constant bivouacking injured the men's health, as the mode they had +adopted last year, though very ingenious, was not calculated to protect +them sufficiently from exposure to the weather. They had last campaign +been ordered each man to have loops sewed on at the corner of his +blanket; thus, when in the field, two of these were united, and spread +over two stand of arms set up at the ends for poles, and being fastened +down at the other corners with bayonets, they formed a sort of tent, +into which perhaps four men might creep; but then they had thus only two +blankets to serve as a bed for the whole four men; consequently they +would, in cold weather, be much exposed. This campaign each company +received four tents; thus allowing about twenty men for each, and the +officers of each company had one among them, and the field and staff +officers in like proportion. These were carried on mules, which before +had carried the camp-kettles; but these being exchanged for smaller +ones, the men carried them in turns upon their knapsacks. Thus it rarely +happened that the tents were not on the ground nearly as soon as the +men; but strict orders were given always to encamp out of sight of the +enemy, if practicable, that they might not be able to calculate our +numbers. How very different from the ancient mode of encamping! each of +which being more like a town laid out with regular streets, &c. &c. But +war was a very different thing in those days, and could Marlborough have +risen to see one of our straggling and irregular mountain camps, I know +not what his feelings would have been: he would, I fear, have thought we +had sadly degenerated. + +All being now ready for opening the campaign, a part of the army, under +Sir Thomas Graham, crossed the Douro low down in Portugal, and proceeded +up the right bank, while we, with Sir Rowland Hill's corps, moved +forward in the direction of Salamanca and Toro. On the 21st of May, our +division broke up from its cantonments, and assembled at the village of +St Felices el Chico, a few miles below Ciudad Rodrigo, each regiment +having had the Agueda to ford in its march to this camp. Our division at +this time consisted of the following corps:--viz. the 1st brigade, under +General Kempt, was composed of the 43d regiment, 17th Portuguese, and +the 1st and 3d battalions of my regiment; the 2d brigade, under General +Skerrit, contained the 52d regiment, 1st and 3d Portuguese caçadores, +and the 2d battalion of my regiment; one troop of horse artillery, under +Colonel Ross, was attached to the division; the whole being under the +command of General Charles Alten. On the 22d, we moved on to Martin del +Rey, near the river Yeltes, by the side of which we encamped. On the +23d, we marched to and encamped near San Munoz, where the division had, +I understand, suffered considerably during the retreat of last year, +from the French having gained ground upon them, and severely cannonaded +them from a height near this village. On the 25th, we moved on to +Robliza, having halted the day before to enable the other division to +come up with us. We next morning moved forward to the little river +Valmuzo, a few miles on the Portugal side of Salamanca, and alluded to +in my former advance. Here we halted for three hours during mid-day and +cooked, and in the afternoon advanced to the ford of El Canto, on the +river Tormes, and about two leagues below Salamanca. Here we encamped +for the night, and remained next day also. Lord Wellington, with some +cavalry we understood, had entered Salamanca, where only a small force +of the enemy's cavalry had been found, and which retired immediately; +but I believe some little skirmishing took place between the parties. On +the morning of the 28th we forded the Tormes, and advanced towards +Aldea Nueva de Figuera, which we reached late in the day, the distance +being about twenty-four miles. + +While we lay at El Canto, a few of our officers visited Salamanca, in +hopes of meeting some of their old friends of last year; but not a +_viva_ greeted their ears on entering the city; a sort of suspicious +look of recognition was all they could obtain from those people, who had +received us only last summer with such extravagant demonstrations of +joy. No doubt they had been made to suffer for their former expressions +of attachment to us, for the French had in almost every place their +partisans, who doubtless would not fail to give them, on their return, +an account of the manner in which the English had been received, and the +contributions would be laid on accordingly. + +We remained at Aldea from the 28th May to the 2d of June, waiting for +information from the corps under Sir Thomas Graham, it being intended to +form a junction at or about Toro, where it was expected the enemy had a +considerable force; this was distant from us about thirty miles. While +we continued here, I took a trip to Sir Rowland Hill's division, where I +had a townsman, an officer in the 28th, but had not the satisfaction of +seeing him. I had other friends in that division, however, with whom I +and my companions spent the day in great harmony and satisfaction, and +at evening returned to our camp, about four miles distant, highly +gratified. + +On the 2d of June, we set off early in the morning, and arrived at Villa +Buena about mid-day, where we halted for three hours to cook and +refresh, after which we continued our march towards Toro, which we +reached in the evening, but the enemy having destroyed the bridge across +the Douro at this place, we encamped for the night in some fields on the +left bank of the river. We learnt here that the hussars attached to Sir +Thomas Graham's division had attacked a corps of French cavalry soon +after their having quitted Toro, and with whom a very smart affair had +taken place, the enemy being completely routed, and about 150 prisoners +taken from them. Our cavalry, I believe, lost an officer on this +occasion, who fell into the hands of the enemy. Nothing could exceed the +miserable appearance of the horses taken from the French on this +occasion; they appeared really half starved, although at this season +there was plenty of green forage to be had; they must either have been +sadly neglected, or have been doing exceeding hard duty. + +The bridge having been rendered passable for the men, the division +crossed on the following morning, the horses and mules fording the +river. We left Toro immediately, and moved on in pursuit of the enemy, +and encamped that night at Terra Buena. On the 4th, we reached the +convent of Espinar, and encamped on a height just over it. It was a most +picturesque and beautiful piece of country around this convent, but +itself appeared to have been lately rendered uninhabitable. I believe +the monks had been driven away by the French, but not a soul remained to +enquire of; all about the building was desolation. We next day advanced +to the village of Muderra, and on the 6th to Amperdia, and on the 7th we +marched through the city of Palentia, and encamped outside the walls, on +the banks of the river Carrion. + +Here the inhabitants evinced the same degree of enthusiasm on our +entrance as we had been accustomed to witness in other large towns, till +the French had taught them a little more circumspection, and which the +good people of Palentia would have been most probably fully taught, had +these good friends of theirs ever got possession of their city again. +Some time after we had pitched our camp, and were strolling about the +city, the lifeguards entered, and were of course saluted with repeated +vivas. One of the men, a rather country-looking young fellow, cried out, +"Ay, the folks be always glad to see we lifeguards," happily supposing, +no doubt, that they were intended as a particular compliment to his +corps alone. All the country through which we had marched for several +days past, was one continued plain of waving corn, mostly wheat of the +very finest description. There are no hedges or dikes, but, as before +noticed, only landmarks to divide the different fields, so that its +appearance is like an immense sea, stretching as far as the eye can +reach, the long corn undulating with the wind as the waves in the ocean. + +On the 8th we marched forward and encamped at the village of Tamara, the +weather having, from being exceedingly fine, and indeed rather hot, set +in extremely wet and cold, and thus rendered marching very unpleasant. +We next day reached La Peña, (the name, it may be remembered, of the +Barossa Spanish hero,) the weather continuing very coarse and stormy. On +the 10th we continued to advance, and marching through the village of +Framosa, and passing over a canal which crosses here, we halted for the +night on the right bank of the river Pisuerga, near the village of +Lantadilla. In all these late movements, we had experienced a great +deficiency of fuel for cooking and drying our clothes when wet, neither +forest nor bush-wood being to be seen for days together, and indeed +scarcely one solitary tree to be met with--nothing but corn; so that we +were occasionally compelled to resort to the cruel and unchristianlike +expedient of pulling down houses to obtain the timber with which they +were built for the purpose of cooking, or we must have eaten our food +raw. This, however, was done in a regular and systematic order, the +Alcalde of the village pointing out such of the houses as were to be +doomed to the fire, and the troops taking no more than was absolutely +necessary. It is astonishing to me how the natives themselves exist for +want of this article of first necessity. + +From this village we moved forward on the 11th, and crossing the +Pisuerga, marched on the town of Pallacio, which we passed, and reached +the village of Landrino, near which we encamped for the night. + +From the time we left Toro, the enemy had been gradually retiring before +us, having withdrawn his forces from all the strong places on the Douro, +and seemed concentrating somewhere in the direction of Burgos or +Vittoria. Excepting our cavalry, no part of our forces ever had the +satisfaction of seeing a Frenchman hitherto during the whole of this +long and rapid march; but on the morning of the 12th, as we now +approached Burgos, it was fully expected that we should be able to get a +sight of the fugitives; and accordingly, after we had left our last +night's quarters, and marched a few miles in the direction of the city, +a pretty strong body of the enemy's cavalry was seen drawn out on a high +plain, a little above the village of Hornilla de Camiño. These were +supported by a division of infantry formed in square, and occupying the +outer edge of the high plain facing the way we advanced, and apparently +observing our motions. On discovering this force, our division was +halted to give the cavalry attached to us time to ride forward to +reconnoitre, and ascertain more exactly the force before us, than could +be done while we were on the low ground. + +I rode forward with our cavalry, which, passing by the enemy's square of +infantry, approached the main body of their cavalry. It not being, +however, the intention of the French to fight here, they slowly and +orderly retired before us across the plain; but as we had left the +square of infantry nearly behind us, the guns attached to our cavalry +turned in that direction, for this body seemed indifferent about the +movements of our cavalry, and it was not till our division began to +ascend the hill that they evinced the slightest intention of stirring. +On seeing them, however, they quickly decamped, and as they had to pass +within 150 yards of the position our guns had taken up, I imagined +considerable execution must have been done upon them before they got out +of our reach. But, strange to say, I believe only one single man was +knocked down by the great numbers of shot fired at them. It must have +been owing to the relative situations of the two parties; they passed +down a hollow way which led from the high plain in the direction of the +Burgos road, and which covered them completely till they came +immediately below our guns, when it became a difficult matter to depress +them so as to bear upon the enemy's square as they passed us. However +the whole turned round and gave us a regular volley, for, as we were so +much above them, there was no danger from their firing in square; but +this, although the shots flew pretty thick about us, was not productive +of any mischief that I remember. They retired across the plain below us, +pursued by another division of ours which had advanced on our right, and +between whom and the French a pretty smart skirmish took place. So soon +as their infantry were clear from us, their guns opened out from the +opposite side of the river upon us on the height, but, the distance +being considerable, their shot did little execution. It was evident this +force was only left here as a rearguard, to ascertain our movements and +force, &c. We encamped for the night near the road by which we had +ascended the high plain; but were awoke early next morning by a +tremendous explosion which shook the earth beneath us, although at the +distance of 6 or 7 miles from Burgos, the castle of which the enemy had +blown up, and retired altogether. We soon after commenced our march, +and, leaving that city to our right, made a long march in the direction +of the Ebro, and halted for the night near the village of Tovar. The +next day we moved on to Quintanajar, and on the 15th, after a long +march, we reached the Ebro, and halted at the village of Puente Arrenas, +situated in the delightful valley of Veras. This is one of the most +picturesque and beautiful valleys in Europe, I dare say. When you arrive +at the brow of the high ground over the Ebro, a sight breaks upon you +all at once which is indescribably grand and beautiful;--a large river +rolling under you, beyond which a rich and fertile valley, laden with +the fruits of a hundred orchards, with charming villas and farm-houses +dispersed through all the lawn; a stupendous bridge, of I know not how +many arches, leading you across this magnificent river; and the whole +closed by high and beetling rocks jutting out of the high woody bank on +the opposite side. It really appeared like enchantment when we first +arrived within sight of it, from the long dreary plains we had been so +long traversing. Here, for the first time since we entered Spain, did we +meet with "manteca de vaca," or "cow butter," all the other we had been +compelled to use hitherto for want of better, was what they call +"manteca de puerco," or "hog's-lard." The women who brought it wore a +quite different dress from those we had seen in the parts we had passed +through; the women had on generally yellow stockings, with abundance of +petticoats of red, yellow, green, &c. &c., and were all very stout-made; +they were, I believe, from Asturias. Poor creatures, many of them +followed us with loads of butter, wine, cheese, &c. &c., even into +France, so pleased were they with the excellent prices their +merchandise brought amongst us; indeed, we had been so long debarred the +enjoyment of butter and cheese, that we would have given almost any +price to get them sweet and good. They carried their loads (and +tremendous ones they were) as the flesh-wives in Newcastle carry theirs, +that is, by passing a broad leather belt across the forehead and over +the shoulders, and so underneath the heavy load upon their back. They +were a civil and obliging race of beings, and apparently much more +industrious and cleanly than the rest of their country people. + +We left this delightful spot on the morning of the 16th, following the +course of the river upwards for about a league, then turning short to +the right, passed through an enclosed country, and halted for the night +at the town of Medina del Pomar. This is a considerable-sized place, in +which was a nunnery, the inmates of which greeted us with hearty +welcomes and vivas, with waving of handkerchiefs, &c., through their +strongly iron-grated windows, where they more resembled criminals of the +worst description shut up in a strong prison, poor things, than people +who had devoted themselves to the service of their Maker. Next morning, +we moved forward through a country almost without roads; we were, in +fact, crossing the country in order to get nearer to the great road +leading from Madrid to Vittoria, and on which the enemy's army was then +retiring. We encamped for the night, after a fatiguing day's march, on a +woody height near the little river Loza. We took the high ground on this +occasion for our encampment, although extremely inconvenient and +uncomfortable, being among stumps and brushwood, where there was +scarcely room to pitch our tents; this was in consequence of being in +the neighbourhood of a considerable force of the enemy, which was +retreating, as before noticed, along the great road. + +The next morning, the 18th of June, we started pretty early, and +calculating that we should this day come in contact with the above +force, we marched in such a manner as to be ready, when that event took +place, to take advantage of any favourable circumstances that might +offer. We had in our front a squadron of Hussars belonging to the German +Legion, and which were generally attached to our division. About mid-day +the squadron in front of us reached the village of San Millan, where the +road on which we were then marching, and the great road on which the +enemy was retreating, unite; the latter descending from a high tableland +just above the village, and passing a narrow defile between two high +rocks. Our cavalry, on reaching this village, descried the advance of +the French, composed also of cavalry; and what was not a little +singular, they also were Germans in the French service. Our brave +Hussars instantly charged those of the enemy, and immediately overthrew +the body opposed to them, and in the charge captured several men and +horses, which they brought in prisoners. + +By this time the head of the division had reached the spot, (my 1st +battalion leading,) which in a few minutes got warmly engaged with the +enemy's voltigeurs, a considerable number of whom had advanced to oppose +us, in order that the main body of their division might be enabled, +under cover of their fire, to pass through the village on the way +towards Vittoria. Our people, however, pressed them so hard, that the +whole of their leading brigade was obliged to join in the action. At +this moment our illustrious Chief came galloping up; for, whenever any +thing was to be done, he was always present. He had also taken care to +have our 4th division moved so as to arrive at the village of Espija, a +town about a league in front of us on the great road, nearly about the +same time, so that, should the French contrive to get away from us, +they might fall into their hands. He immediately sent me off to the +leading company of our people who were engaged, for the guide they had +had with them, in order that he might conduct his lordship to Espija; +but that was no place for a Spanish peasant who had neither honour nor +glory to gain, and he had accordingly made his escape the moment our +folks got into action. His lordship instantly dashed off without a +guide, while our two battalions, that is, the 1st and 3d of my regiment, +kept advancing upon the enemy, and fairly drove them through the +village, being supported by the other regiments of the brigade, but who +had not any occasion to come into action. + +The first brigade of the enemy being thus beaten, retreated along the +great road in the direction of Espija, leaving their second brigade and +all their baggage to their fate. These latter being pressed by our +second or rear brigade, and seeing us in possession of the village, and +the road they had to pass, immediately broke in all directions, and +dispersed themselves in the mountains over the village, each man making +the best of his way. This their baggage could not do, and it +consequently fell into the hands of the captors, an easy and valuable +booty; but although my brigade, by beating and dispersing the enemy at +the village, had been the principal cause of its capture, yet those +whose hands it fell into had not the generosity to offer the least share +of it to us, but divided it amongst themselves. + +During the skirmish in the village, a French hussar chased one of our +officers several times round one of the trees growing by the side of the +road, and repeatedly cut at him with his sabre, and it is likely would +have cut him down at last, had not the officer seen a rifle lying near, +belonging to a man just killed; and luckily it was loaded when he picked +it up. He waited for the Frenchman, and coolly shot him through the +body, and instantly seized his horse as lawful prize; had the rifle +missed fire he was gone. We had not rested long after this brush till we +heard a firing in our front, where indeed it was expected. The troops +which had just left us, I imagine, had been attacked by the 4th +division, and we, the 1st brigade, were instantly ordered to their +support should they need it; but before we reached Espija, the enemy was +completely beaten, and had retired in the direction of Vittoria. We had +to retrace our steps and join our other brigade, and encamped for the +night in the neighbourhood of San Millan. + +Our loss on this occasion was but trifling, considering the smartness of +the affair. An officer of my regiment, of the name of Haggup, a +countryman of my own, received a most dangerous wound in the abdomen, of +which it was feared he would die, but he soon after completely +recovered. An aide-de-camp of the French General was wounded, and taken +prisoner, but he soon after died, poor fellow. Along with the captured +baggage were a number of Spanish ladies, who had been attached to the +French officers to whom it belonged, but they did not appear over +faithful to their protectors, for most of them, I believe, preferred +remaining in the hands of their captors, to being forwarded after their +beaten and now ill-provided former companions; such is generally the +fidelity to be expected from that sort of people. + +On the 19th we advanced by the same road the French had retired, till we +reached the town of Salinas, where there were very extensive salt-works, +as the name of the place denotes. We encamped for the night near the +village of Pobes, on a small rivulet named Bayas, I believe. Near the +end of our march to-day we had a view of the enemy's rearguard, as they +rounded the end of a mountain, which lay immediately before us, and over +which the road to Vittoria passes. After rounding the mountain, this +part of the enemy's force fell in with our 4th division again, which had +been moved forward from Espija by another road. A very smart skirmish +was the consequence, which we distinctly heard, and in which a good +number fell on both sides. The French retired from hence into their +position in front of Vittoria. During the next day, while we halted +here, it began to be whispered that the enemy had concentrated his +forces in and around Vittoria, which was distant from us perhaps about +ten or a dozen miles, and that the divisions of our own army had that +day approached nearer together, which indicated a determination on the +part of our Chief to try his hand with King Joseph, should he be bold +enough to stay where he then was. + +Many, of course, and various would be the reflections which occupied the +minds of the different individuals composing the two armies; but I can +speak from experience, that those are of a much more pleasing nature +which a consciousness of superiority and a good prospect of success +inspires, than those which a retreating army are compelled to entertain. + +Pretty early in the morning of the 21st, we fell in and moved forward by +the way the French rearguard before-mentioned had taken, and after +having passed the end of the mountain and descended into the valley on +the other side, we saw evident proofs that the affair between our 4th +division and the French, above alluded to, must have been pretty warm. +We continued to advance on the road to Vittoria, till, on ascending a +rising ground, the French army appeared in position immediately in front +of us. It was a noble and animating sight, for they appeared as numerous +almost as grashoppers, and were posted as nearly as I can recollect in +the following order. Immediately before us ran the river Zadora, +passing from our left and front to our right and rear. In the centre of +an extensive plain rose a pretty lofty conical hill, from which extended +to their left a sloping plain, through which the great road lay, and +terminated by a long range of mountains, stretching from Puebla de +Arlanzon, just above the river, to a considerable distance beyond +Vittoria. The city was shut out of our view by the conical hill before +mentioned, and was distant from it about four or five miles; to the +right of this hill, along the bank of the river, it appeared broken, and +not easily approachable. On the face of the conical hill, and to its +very summit, it appeared as thickly set with troops as if they had been +bees clustering together; it was also thickly studded with batteries and +other field-works. On the plain between that and the long range of +mountains, the troops appeared to stand so thick that you might imagine +you could walk on their heads. There did not appear any great force on +the mountains to their left, and what they had to the right of the +conical hill and towards Vittoria we could not discern, but it turned +out they had a strong force there. There were several small villages in +the plain and on the side of the mountains; the largest stood rather to +the right of the plain, with a wood immediately behind it; this, I +believe, is called Subijana de Alva. On the bank of the river also were +three or four villages, most of them on our side, with a bridge at each +village. The French army did not extend immediately to the river bank, +but was placed at some little distance beyond it. The river was easily +fordable. + +Our army began to arrive by divisions, and was posted as +follows--General Hill with the 2d division, consisting of about 12,000 +men, was on our extreme right, except about 3000 or 4000 Spaniards under +General Morillo, who were still more to the right, and facing the long +range of mountains before mentioned. In the centre was his lordship +with the 3d, 4th, 7th, and light divisions, perhaps 25,000 strong, with +the main force of artillery and cavalry. Sir Thomas Graham had been +early detached to our left with the 1st and 5th divisions and some +Portuguese, about 12,000 in all, to turn the enemy's right flank, and to +try to cut him off from the great road leading from Vittoria to France, +which ran in that direction. + +Whilst this movement was executing, and the different divisions were +getting into their several stations, we, who had arrived first, were +allowed to pile our arms and sit down. His lordship, with a numerous +staff, went down a little nearer to the river to reconnoitre the enemy's +position. I wandered down with them, and got as near as I could in order +to ascertain the opinion of the big-wigs as to the business about to +take place. One staff-officer, after carefully examining the position of +the enemy through his glass, gave it as his opinion, that we should +scarcely be able to make any impression upon so numerous an army, and so +very strongly posted; but this opinion must have been dictated, I think, +by his rather desponding temperament, for I believe it was entirely +singular. + +The enemy, however, did not fail to notice this movement of our General +and his staff, and instantly detached a corps of voltigeurs, who, +rushing down to the river, dashed across the bridge at the village of +Villoses, and immediately took possession of a small woody height on our +side of the river, from whence they opened a fire on his lordship and +those that were with him. This of course could not be borne; and as my +battalion was the leading battalion of the column and nearest at hand, +we were ordered (with two companies of our 1st battalion, which stood +next to us) to take our arms, and drive those fellows across the river +again. Thus we had, I believe, the high honour of commencing the action +on that memorable day. We soon chased the voltigeurs from the woody +height, down through the village, and over the bridge, where they took +post and remained, we not having orders to pursue them any farther. We +took possession of the village, and continued skirmishing with the +enemy, a good many men falling on both sides, as the river was not more +probably than thirty or forty yards wide, and a constant fire was kept +up by both parties till the French were afterwards driven away by our +divisions crossing lower down the river. + +After we had chased the enemy along the bridge, and they were fairly +clear of the village, a French battery, situated a little above the +river towards the conical hill, opened its fire upon us, from which we +suffered a good deal, one shot having taken our people, who were lining +a garden wall, in flank, and swept away five or six at a stroke; after +this we kept more under cover. + +Almost the first person who fell on our side was a lieutenant of the +name of Campbell. He had, I am sure, a strong presentiment of his death, +for he had, I believe, made his will the evening before; and when we +first came in sight of the French army, and the others were all animated +with life and glee at the prospect of gaining laurels in abundance, he, +poor fellow, sat down by himself quite pensive, and seemed lost in +thought. He received a shot in the forehead which terminated his career +in a moment as it were, and plunged him into an eternity of bliss or +woe. I hope he was prepared, but scarcely dare say I believe he was. Our +duty having been accomplished by taking possession of this village, and +keeping the French from coming over, we had now leisure to look round us +and see what was going forward; and we had certainly a noble field for +observation. My commanding-officer, with the rest of the staff-officers +and myself, together with half a company of men, took up our station at +the church, which, standing high, gave us a fine opportunity of +witnessing the movements of both armies. + +A short while after we had taken post here, we observed the smoke to +arise in dense columns in the direction which Sir Thomas Graham had +taken, which showed he had commenced the attack on that flank of the +enemy, and this was the signal for commencing operations on our right +and centre. Sir Rowland Hill's people, with the Spaniards, instantly +forded the river, and advanced along the top and side of the mountains +before mentioned; and as this was done in considerable force, it seemed +to disconcert King Joseph a good deal, for instantly his aides-de-camp +were seen galloping in every direction, and the troops which stood upon +the plain began to move in that direction, while those upon the conical +hill began to descend in great numbers into the plain. This was +precisely what our Chief had calculated upon; and now, by a rapid +movement, he threw the centre divisions across the river, by the bridges +of Trespuentes and Nanclara, a little below our village, and attacking +the remaining troops upon the conical hill, they were overthrown as fast +as our divisions reached them. The 2d, Sir Thomas Picton's division, +here particularly distinguished itself. + +General Hill's people were by this time very warmly engaged, for the +enemy having, as stated above, strongly reinforced that point, they made +a rather obstinate defence, particularly at the village and wood of +Subijana de Alva, which latter was filled with their light troops, and +where our 28th regiment, which was opposed to them, suffered +considerably, and were not able to make much impression. The action had +now become general, and our people on every side advancing; at this +moment old Douro, who never failed to inspire confidence wherever he +appeared, came dashing down into our village, and seeing the light +troops which had been opposed to us had retired, instantly ordered us to +advance, and join our division on the other side of the river. We +accordingly moved forward, and marched with all expedition to reach our +point; but the French had now begun to retire, and our people to follow +them, so that we found it difficult to overtake them, and did not do so +till they had passed the conical hill. When we came near that eminence, +I rode up to have a peep at the field before us, and never did I witness +a more interesting and magnificent sight. A beautiful and extensive +plain lay before me, covered with the cavalry, infantry, and artillery +of the contending armies; while the noise and din, occasioned by +repeated volleys and rolls of fire from the infantry, with the rattle of +upwards of 200 pieces of artillery, almost stunned the ear. Near the end +of this plain, and to the left, arose the lofty spires of Vittoria; and +beyond that again, the smoke arising from the attack of Sir Thomas +Graham's people added animation to the scene. + +I had not contemplated the scene before me above a minute or two, till a +howitzer-shell from the French fell close at my feet. My horse's bridle +was hooked on my arm, and I was standing looking through my glass; but +when this unwelcome visiter descended so near me, I thought it high time +to be packing. My horse, however, not having the same fear of the +consequences that I had, would not move but at a snail's pace. I was, +therefore, constrained to leave him to take his chance, and get myself +out of the way. It burst, but providentially without injuring either +horse or man, but in the scramble I lost the top of my glass, which I +could not afterwards find. + +I got down the hill, and joined my people, who had by this time passed +it; and just at this juncture I observed a body of troops a little to +our right, moving in the same direction we were. They were dressed in +blue, and had caps covered with white canvass. I took them for +Spaniards; but upon consideration that no Spaniards ought to be there, +and a closer inspection, I found they were a battalion of French, and +most likely those who had been so warmly engaged with the 28th at the +village of Subijana, and who having stood perhaps too long, and +afterwards having the wood to traverse, they had been detained +considerably behind the rest of the army; for by this time our advance, +and consequently the French rear, could not be less than half a mile in +front of us. I pointed them out to one of our lieutenant-colonels; but +as we had received orders to push on with all haste, and he not liking +to disobey his orders, and withal a ravine being between them and us, +which would have prevented our closing with them, they were allowed to +move quietly off, which they did with a pretty quick but steady pace. +Before we reached our division, we had to pass a village, over against +which was a very strong French battery, and where they peppered us +considerably, but without doing much harm, I believe. We here joined our +brigade. Immediately in front of this village the enemy made one of his +longest stands. Our brigade now formed lines of battalions, and lay down +in some ploughed fields, while their artillery kept playing upon us. On +our left the 3d division was warmly engaged. In about half an hour we +moved in that direction. The 45th we found posted behind a thin thorn +hedge, with its commanding-officer poor Colonel Ridewood, whom I had +known before, lying on its right, gasping in the agonies of death. A +great many men of this regiment had fallen here. We passed them, and +continued to advance along the plain by brigades and battalions; but we +found the ground much intersected with ditches, which would have +retarded us had we wished to advance rapidly; but from some cause or +other, which we could not then comprehend, we never pressed upon the +enemy closely, but gave them time to get quietly away. We were still, +however, in expectation of their making their final stand; for at every +short interval a beautiful little position presented itself, which the +French invariably occupied in the finest style possible, forming their +lines on these little eminences with the greatest precision, and in +beautiful order; but they never stood to let us get at them, for the +moment we began to come within musket-shot, they instantly began to +retire to another, which they took and abandoned in like manner. All +this time, indeed, there was continual skirmishing going on between the +light troops of the two armies, and a constant cannonade, and +occasionally the heavy lines came in contact; but their infantry +appeared to us to leave the field in the main unbroken. + +We continued these movements till near dark, by which time we had +considerably passed Vittoria, and the enemy's artillery had nearly +ceased. Our cavalry now got at them; and although, from the nature of +the ground, their movements were greatly cramped, yet they continued to +charge, and nearly captured King Joseph. We halted when we had got about +four miles beyond Vittoria, which we passed on the left hand. We thought +we had indeed gained a victory, but it appeared to us to be a most +barren and useless one; and many were not over well pleased that the +enemy had been allowed to get off so easily. But our noble Chief knew +well what he was about, for he reaped all the fruits from this that +could have been possibly gained from the most bloody battle. Indeed it +was far from being a bloodless victory, but he certainly did not +sacrifice one half the men that some in the action would have done; they +thought we should have pressed the enemy far more, and brought him to +closer action. + +After we halted, I (being the only quartermaster present) was sent in +search of the baggage belonging to the division, and which had followed +as far as they could along the great road. I passed through Vittoria on +my way to the rear in search of it, and saw as I entered it several of +Morillo's men, who had descended from the mountains and come into the +town. From the vivas and other marks of gratulation which some of the +inhabitants were rendering these ragged ruffians, a stranger would have +thought that Don Morillo, with his 3000 or 4000 Spaniards, had achieved +the whole victory themselves. It is certain they are a vainglorious +people. + +I passed through the town, and, taking the great road, I soon had ocular +proofs of the value of our day's work; the road being literally blocked +up with every description of carriage-guns, tumbrils, waggons, &c. &c. +which filled the great high-road for nearly two miles to the rear of +Vittoria. I found it difficult to make my way through them, but at last +fell in with the baggage; I could not, however, get it through, and was +obliged to leave it, after giving directions where to find the division +in the morning. I again passed through Vittoria in returning to the +division; but oh, what scenes had I now to witness! The followers of an +army are sometimes very numerous, and here they were abundantly so; +muleteers, Portuguese and Spanish concubines, with every description of +vagabond you can imagine. These were by this time all labouring hard in +their avocation of breaking open and plundering the carriages and +waggons, &c. that had been left by the enemy. Among these were hundreds +of soldiers, who were now beginning to feel the effects of the wine, &c. +which they had found in the enemy's baggage; and such a Babel was here +to be witnessed as is not easy to conceive. + +I had some difficulty in forcing my way through the town, at the end of +which I was accosted by five or six soldiers' wives, belonging to one of +our light cavalry regiments, who wished to accompany me, in order that +they might find their husbands, as that regiment was attached in some +measure to our division. Of course it would have been cruel to refuse +them; and as they were all mounted, away we posted, but had great +difficulty to make out where the division now was. Many were the waggons +and other carriages we passed on the road, either broken down, upset, or +with people plundering them; and I did not reach the division till 10 +o'clock at night. I was very glad when I found them, being then +excessively fatigued and hungry; and just as I reached my people, I +found the mess to which I belonged cooking a piece of thin mutton, which +they had cut off from a sheep that had been taken from the enemy. This +was all the plunder I got that memorable day, although, had I done as +many others did, I might have obtained a great deal both of money and +other valuables; for, as I said before, the numerous carriages I passed +gave me an opportunity which many would have rejoiced at of possessing +myself of immense wealth; but plundering never was my forte. One officer +whom I knew got, I believe, near L.1000 worth of money, and other +valuable property; and innumerable others got considerable sums, more or +less. I am glad now that I refrained from what _might_ have been +accomplished with ease and safety, but what also _might_ have entailed +upon me disgrace and ruin. One officer I heard of, who, while in the +rear, where he ought not to have been, found a box full of money, most +likely silver, but very heavy. A German dragoon coming up at the same +moment laid claim to half of it, and when this officer took hold of it +to remove it, the German also laid hold to prevent him. A sort of +scuffle ensued, when the German made use of most abusive and mutinous +language, with threats, which the officer was obliged to submit to, +knowing, as both of them did, how far he had descended from his station, +thus putting it in the power of the soldier to treat him as a brother +plunderer. Surely the mention of such an occurrence is enough to deter +any man who possesses the least spark of honour from ever putting it in +the power of a soldier to treat him so. Besides, if an officer plunders +before his men, what may not soldiers be expected to do? + +In looking back upon the events of this day, I cannot help being struck +with the bad generalship of those who commanded the French army. Marshal +Jourdan, I understand, was Joseph's adviser on this occasion. He had +always borne the character of an able General, but here he showed but +little ability. Why did he so much weaken his force on the conical hill +to support his left? Had he maintained his ground there, which is strong +by nature, and they had rendered it stronger by art, he might have +completely checked us on the right; for if we had advanced too far on +that side, our wings would have been separated, which would have been a +dangerous experiment; and I think Lord Wellington would not have +hazarded it. And after leaving his first position, why did he not fight +at every one of the beautiful little positions which he afterwards took +up but never defended? This conduct is most unaccountable, for had he +made a longer stand, even although he should be beaten, which no doubt +he would have ultimately been, yet, by making this stand, he might have +got off the greater part of his materiél, instead of which he carried +off with him one gun and one howitzer only, leaving upwards of 250 +pieces of ordnance in our hands. Most of his infantry left the field +apparently unbroken; for only here and there they had stood to let our +people get at them. It is true Sir Thomas Graham early cut off their +retreat by the great road to France; but what then? This ought to have +made them fight the more desperately, to enable them to get off the +better by the Pamplona road. The infantry should have stood till the +last, and not retired till fairly beaten out of the field. Nothing could +be finer than the movements of our army. + +Every thing our Chief attempted succeeded to a tittle. The only thing I +did not like was the delay we occasionally made in following up the +enemy; but I could not, of course, comprehend the general movements, +from seeing only a small part of them, and I believe the victory would +not have been more decisive by being more bloody. We lost in the +village, where we first began the fight, nearly thirty men, with the +officer before mentioned as killed, and a considerable number wounded. +There was something remarkable in the fate of one of the men who were +killed by the cannon-shot I before noticed. This man was remarkably +averse to fighting, and had shown, on all occasions, a disposition to +leave that kind of work as soon as practicable. Poor fellow! his failing +was known to all; and on this occasion those about him had orders to +watch him, and keep him to his duty. They had not been in the village +many minutes when this fatal shot swept him and about five others into +eternity in a moment. It has often been remarked, that this description +of people are generally the first to fall. + +It may not be generally known, perhaps, that a battle was fought on the +3d April 1367, a little higher up this river, near the village of +Novarete, between our Edward the Black Prince, and Henry the Bastard, +who had usurped the throne of Don Pedro, King of Castile. The history of +it is given by Froissart, who says, "a little before the two armies +met, the Prince of Wales, with eyes and hands uplifted towards heaven, +exclaimed, 'God of truth, the Father of Jesus Christ, who hast made and +fashioned me, grant, through thy benign grace, that the success of this +battle may be for me and my army; for thou knowest that in truth I have +been emboldened to undertake it in the support of justice and reason, to +reinstate the king upon his throne, who has been disinherited and driven +from it, as well as from his country.'" This zealous prayer was +immediately followed by the onset, the Prince crying aloud, "Advance +banners, in the name of God and St George!" + +"At the commencement," says Froissart, "the French and Arragonese made a +desperate resistance, and gave the good knights of England much trouble; +but at last, when all the divisions of the Prince were formed into one +large body, the enemy could no longer keep their ground, but began to +fly in great disorder; and Henry, the usurper, perceiving his army +defeated, without hope of recovery, called for his horse, mounted it, +and galloped off among the crowd of runaways. The English pursued them +through the town of Najara, where they gained considerable plunder; for +King Henry and his army had come thither with much splendour, and after +the defeat they had not leisure to return to place in security what they +had left behind them in the morning." + +There is a striking coincidence in many parts of the two actions and +their consequences, which the reader cannot fail to notice. The most +material difference, I think, in the two stories is, the offering up of +the prayer by the Prince, and the modern practice of not recognising, +publicly at least, the hand of God at all in any of our victories. This +is to be lamented. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Advance in pursuit of the Enemy--Our Forces retreat, in order + to counteract Soult's movements for the succour of + Pamplona--Total defeat of Soult in the several Actions near + Pamplona--Our Forces again advance--Come up with the retreating + Enemy at the Bridge of Yanzi--The Enemy take up a position + behind Vera--A considerable body of the Enemy attacked at the + Pass of Eschallar, and forced to retreat. + + +We remained in bivouack all night where the battle had terminated; and +did not begin to move till near mid-day on the 22d, when we set off in +the track of the enemy, and at night reached Salvatiera, where King +Joseph had slept the night after the action. + +The poor beaten French must have had a long march after the fight, for +this was probably sixteen or eighteen miles from Vittoria. We started +early on the morning of the 23d, and very soon began to overtake the +rear of the enemy. They now resorted to a system of retarding our march, +at once both cruel and cowardly; every village they passed through they +set on fire. Of course this caused us some delay, as the road generally +ran through the middle of the village, and the country on each side was +enclosed, but still nothing could justify such barbarity to the +unoffending natives, who were thus deprived of house and home, and +probably all they possessed in the world. We overtook their rearguard +near a village about two leagues from Salvatiera. They attempted to make +a stand while the village was in flames, but a shrapnell shell from our +horse artillery set them instantly in motion. We came upon a +considerable body of them again near the village of La Cunca, where we +again cannonaded them, and where our people had some slight skirmishing +with their rear. + +We encamped for the night near this village, and again started after +them in the morning early. My battalion led the column to-day, the post +of honour. We had marched, I think, about eight or ten miles without +overtaking any of the flying foe before us, but at last we came to an +open country, that which we had traversed being pretty thickly enclosed, +with bad roads and wet weather, which rendered marching very +uncomfortable. Here a halt was ordered, as the enemy was in front in +some force; here for the first time we got upon the great road leading +from Pamplona towards Bayonne; and here, where it turned the corner of a +mountain, forming a pretty acute angle, they had the only gun and +howitzer they had saved from the fight in position, and ready to receive +us. The men of my battalion, and a part of our 1st battalion, were +ordered to put their knapsacks up behind the hussars of the German +Legion, as it was not expected they would be wanted, and it thus +rendered our people better able to run. The enemy appeared to have two +battalions here, one of which remained on the great road near the two +pieces of artillery, while the other moved off more to our right, down a +valley which they imagined would, at the other end, let them out into +the great road again. + +We now began to move forward, and as I happened to be the first mounted +person who left the enclosed road we had been in, I was honoured with +the first shot from their gun, which, although a good shot, did me no +injury. Our people now pushed on at them pretty smartly, which caused +them, after firing a round or two more, to limber up and retire with +their artillery, though they of course retired as leisurely as possible, +to give time for their troops, whom they were covering, to get away. The +skirmishing between them and our people continued for about two miles, +they gradually retiring before us; but when they came to a sort of pass +in the road, formed by two rocks nearly meeting in the middle, their +bugles or trumpets sounded first the halt to their troops, and +afterwards the advance upon us. We could not comprehend the meaning of +this, till in a few minutes the battalion which we had observed go down +towards the right, suddenly made its appearance out of a wood among our +skirmishers. Of course a sharp contest now took place, and the firing on +both sides became more brisk; this battalion, it appears, had +miscalculated on getting out of the valley, down which it had retired, +and had been compelled, at whatever risk, to make the great road again +before they passed the rocks before mentioned; and in order to let it do +so, the other skirmishers had advanced to cover its movement. This +battalion suffered considerably before it reached the road, and we did +not get off scot-free, having lost out of our five companies about +twenty-four men. + +Our artillery being pretty near at hand, Colonel Ross brought up two +guns, and fired into their retreating column, doing considerable +execution. We now moved forward in close pursuit of the enemy for about +two miles farther, when a shot from Colonel Ross's guns having struck +one of the leaders in their gun, and our people at this time pressing +them so closely as not to give time to disentangle the dead horse, they +unwillingly were compelled to throw their only gun into the ditch, and +there abandon it. We continued the pursuit till we drove them under the +walls of Pamplona, which I understand, poor wretches, they were not +allowed to enter, on account of the scarcity of provisions in that +fortress, and which after events proved was the case. We retired to the +village of Aldava and others in the neighbourhood, where we remained for +the night. + +On the morning of the 25th, we advanced on the road to Pamplona, the +enemy having all retired towards France, till we came within about one +mile and a half of it, when we branched off to the left, and moved along +a range of hills at about a mile distant from the works of the place, +till we reached the town of Villaba, on the mountain-road from Pamplona +to France; thus cutting off all retreat from the garrison, and thus in +fact investing the place. During our movements to-day, my people being +in the rear of the 17th Portuguese regiment, I was riding in company +with my commanding-officer at the head of the battalion, when the horse +of the Portuguese major threw out with both his hind feet with all his +might, and struck me with one foot on my thigh, and the other on the +calf of the leg. The blow was so severe that I nearly fainted, and was +obliged to dismount and throw myself on the ground; but as no bones were +broken, I gathered myself up again, and mounted and set off after the +troops. + +We encamped on the Pamplona side of Villaba, distant from the former +about one mile and a half. The captain in whose mess I was, with his +company, was that night ordered on picquet within about three quarters +of a mile of the city. I went there to get my dinner, during which +several poor people, who had made their escape from the place, came and +welcomed us in the name of the people, telling us they were heartily +tired of their present lodgers; of course there would be different +opinions among them, but I believe the generality at that time hated the +French most cordially. + +There was a division of the French army under General Clausel, which had +not partaken of the flight at Vittoria, being then stationed at Logrona, +and he having learnt the fate of his companions in arms, and their +retreat into France, was moving through the country to our right, in +order to effect his retreat also. Next morning, therefore, the 3d and +our divisions were despatched in pursuit of this French corps. We +marched that day to near Taffala, and halted at the village of Muro, at +the junction of the great road from Logrona with that we now occupied, +but we learnt that Clausel had kept more to his right, and was directing +his course towards the mountain-road, which passes near Caceda and +Languessa, into France. + +We accordingly passed through Taffala and Olite, and encamped for the +night. Next day we started early, and moved on till mid-day, when we +halted for an hour or two to cook and refresh near the village of +Murillo del Fruto. We here came upon the river Arragon. This had been +already a long day's march, and the greater part of the division were +ready to lie down now, but a much longer portion still remained to be +accomplished. Accordingly, we set off after a short rest, and traversed +the right bank of this river for about ten hours longer. Night marches +at all times are unpleasant, but much more so on such a road or path as +this was, and every one so nearly tired before beginning it. + +We crossed the Arragon at the village of Galla Pienzo, and lay down in a +field not far from the village of Caseda. Very few of the division +reached this place until daylight next morning. But when I got in I +unfortunately lay down on a ridge immediately behind our column, and +where, had I given it a thought, I was continually liable to be +disturbed. And indeed I was most wofully disturbed, for every fresh +batch that came in tumbled themselves down upon me, or in blundering +about in the dark were sure to stumble over me. It must be observed that +my leg by this time, instead of getting better, had begun to swell +dreadfully and to suppurate, consequently I was in a high state of +fever; and to the thumps and kicks which I received in the dark during +this uncomfortable night, I cannot but attribute much of my subsequent +suffering. Next morning we discovered that all our labour had been in +vain, for Clausel had got the start of us, and had got off by another +road into France. + +We next day moved into Languessa, from which we were not far distant, +but I could no longer accompany or precede the troops, my leg was now so +bad. I was therefore obliged to get a pillow laid on my holsters, and +then ride with my leg resting upon it, (a most uncomfortable position, +could I have found a better,) while one of my men led my horse, and thus +follow them as well as I was able. We rested in Languessa all the 30th +and 1st July; and on the 2d reached Deriza, having passed through +Monreal. Here I was obliged to be lifted off my horse, and put to bed. I +was almost stupid from the pain I suffered; for my leg was now swoln as +large as my thigh. We next day moved into Villaba, from whence we had +started in pursuit of Clausel, and thence into some villages on the +plain, close to Pamplona. Here I believe some works were thrown up to +shelter the troops, either against the shot from the fortress, or a +sally from the garrison. This continued all next day. I remained very +ill in bed. + +On the 5th, the division left this quarter, and set off on the road +towards France; but I could not follow them. I got with great difficulty +from my present station, which was now occupied by other troops, and +stopped at a village, the name of which I forget, just over the ridge +where I received my hurt, and a few miles distant from Villaba. Here I +found out that Dr Jones of the 40th regiment was in the latter town; +and, as he had formerly been in our regiment, I took the liberty of +requesting he would come and see me. This I found out by my servant +going in for provisions. He very kindly came, and gave me the best +advice he could. By this time my leg had burst, and had discharged a +prodigious quantity of matter. + +I remained in this village till about the 10th, during which time a +priest had shown himself remarkably kind and attentive; there were very +few inhabitants remaining besides him. He told me in one of the +conversations that I had with him, that, from the first entry of the +French troops into this country, one million had passed out of France +into Spain, for he had had good opportunities of making a just +calculation; and that, out of that vast number, not more than 200,000 +had returned, thus proving that the enemy had lost in that country +800,000 men. And this is not to be wondered at, for nearly the whole +population during that time had been in arms against them; and, although +not acting as soldiers in the field, they never failed to assassinate +the French wherever they could accomplish it. He said, moreover, that +Mina, with his little band, could produce documents to prove that he had +destroyed 40,000 Frenchmen. + +About the 10th, I set off from this village, as my leg had by this time +become somewhat easier; and, passing through Lantz, Elizonda, and St +Estevan, arrived at Sumbilla on the 13th, still obliged to ride sideways +with my leg over the pillow and holster. Here I found my division; and, +as this journey had again brought my leg to nearly as bad a state as +before, I was obliged to have it opened in two places, but without +reaching the matter, as nothing but blood was discharged. + +On the 15th, my division moved forward to the town of Vera, the last +town on the Spanish frontier. Here the enemy had taken up a strong +position, both in front and rear of the town; the front position was on +Santa Barbara, an exceeding high and almost inaccessible mountain. They +were dislodged from the position before the town by my brigade, and +retired into the Puerta, or Pass of Vera. I was not present on this +occasion, having been again compelled to stay behind on account of my +leg. While I remained at Sumbilla, I had been obliged to have my horse +shod by a Spanish blacksmith, who drove a nail right into the quick. +This I did not discover till several days after, when I found my horse +quite lame. + +On the 18th, I again crept on after my people, whom I found encamped on +the height of Santa Barbara, from which I before said they had driven +the enemy. Here we remained till the 26th, During this time my horse's +foot had also suppurated, and he was quite unable to move. My leg also +was daily discharging a vast quantity of matter, so that I felt at this +time very uncomfortable; particularly as very stormy weather came on +while we were here, which killed a great number of our animals, horses +and mules, I believe not fewer than seven or eight in one night. + +It will be known to the reader, perhaps, that on the 25th, Soult (who +had now been appointed to the command of the French army) made an attack +upon our posts at Roncesvalles and Maya, and had driven the divisions +stationed there from their posts. He moved on towards Pamplona, in hopes +either of beating back our army to Vittoria, (as he vainly talked,) or +of being able to supply Pamplona with provisions, which it greatly +needed. In consequence of this movement of the enemy, we also were +compelled to fall back, although the troops in front of us made no +demonstration of advancing. + +Accordingly, on the 26th, we began our retrograde movement, being myself +at that time in as pitiable a plight as can well be conceived. My horse +was so utterly lame, that he could scarcely hop on three legs, while I +was totally unable to walk a step. My kind friend Captain Perceval, with +whom I had long messed, helped me out of my trouble, by dividing the +load of one of his baggage-ponies among the other animals, and lending +it me to ride upon. We retired from the height, and crossed the river +Bidassoa, near Lizacca, through which we passed, and kept along the +mountains on the left bank of that river till we reached a height +opposite Sumbilla, where we pitched our tents, and remained for the +night. We did not move all next day; but just as night set in, we were +ordered under arms, and continued our retreat. This was a still more +distressing night-march than any I had previously witnessed. + +We were now, it may be noticed, in the midst of the mountains of the +Pyrenees, where precipices abound; consequently the precaution to avoid +falling over them would be doubled. One little streamlet, I well +remember, delayed the division probably two hours. It came down from the +sides of the mountain which overhung the road, and crossed it at a very +dark and ugly-looking place, making a considerable noise as it fell from +rock to rock. This of course made every one extremely cautious; and in +consequence a poor good-natured corporal, who was killed soon after, got +himself into the middle of the streamlet, and took hold of every +person's hand as he passed, conducting him safely to the other side. +Poor fellow, he was extremely anxious to help me and my miserable little +pony safely over. This and a few other places, something similar, +prevented us reaching our destination till an hour after daylight next +morning, although the whole distance was not more than ten miles. + +We arrived at Zubietta in the morning. This place is about a league to +the right of St Estevan, more into the mountains. Here we remained that +day, and the next day moved higher up the mountain, behind the town, +where we encamped, and remained till evening, when we again commenced +our retreat. We had not quite so bad a march of it this night, the road +being much more even, although, just at the outset, our adjutant, in +riding along, had his cap pulled off by the bough of a tree, and in +endeavouring to save it from falling, he pulled his horse right over a +small precipice, which the two rolled down together. Luckily it was not +a deep ravine into which he fell, or he would not have escaped so well: +neither man nor horse were much hurt. We reached the village of Saldias +in the morning, where we remained for the day. Last night my servant +told me he had been obliged to leave my little horse behind, as he could +not get him to hop any farther. I felt grieved at this, for he had +brought me all the way from Lisbon, and shared both my good and bad +fortune; however, it was no use to fret, for that would not improve my +situation, which indeed was not an enviable one, my leg all this time +being extremely painful. + +On the 30th, we made an excessively long march, (by day,) and at night +reached Lecumberg, where we encamped. During the latter part of this +day's march, we had heard an incessant cannonade and firing of musketry +in the direction of Pamplona, from which we were apprehensive that Soult +had penetrated too far; but as it did not appear to recede, we believed +our people had been able to hold him in check at least. We were now on +the great road from Bayonne to Pamplona, in order to keep up the +communication between our right, where the fighting was now going on, +and Sir Thomas Graham, who was besieging St Sebastian. We were here also +to intercept any of the enemy's columns that might either advance or +retreat by this road. Towards evening of the 31st, an aide-de-camp +arrived from Lord Wellington, more dead than alive from the excessive +fatigue which he had undergone for the last three or four days, with +news of the total defeat of Soult in the several actions near Pamplona, +termed the Battle of the Pyrenees, and ordering us to retrace our steps, +and again advance. We set off in the evening, and reached Larissa, where +we halted for the night. It was whispered that it was expected we should +have gone much farther this night, but I am not certain whether it is +true; but certainly we might have proceeded to Saldias, if absolutely +necessary. + +On the morning of the 1st of August, we again started pretty early. It +was again reported this morning that another dispatch had been received +during the night, directing us to proceed with all haste, as the enemy +were retreating by St Estevan, and that we were to attack them wherever +we met them. We now of course stepped out very freely, and presently +gained Zubietta. Here I had ridden forward to get a shoe fastened on, my +horse having cast one in coming over the mountains; during which time +the quartermaster had been called for some purpose or other, as I was +not there. + +My General was not well satisfied: he saw me in this village, and asked +me why I had not been present when I was wanted. I told him the cause, +but he still did not appear satisfied, and, by way of punishment, +directed me to remain in the village till the baggage came up, and show +them the way the division had gone. I may here observe, that it was a +little unreasonable in my General to find any fault with me on this +occasion; for, had I not got the shoe put on my horse, I could not have +been of any use at all as a quartermaster. My punishment indeed was +slight, and I rather think he was glad to find any excuse to delay me +for the purpose for which I was left. I am confident the officers of the +infantry suffered more anxiety and even loss on account of the great +want of farriers or horse-shoers in their regiments, than from almost +any other cause. Without the officer was pretty high in rank, he had not +only to pay most exorbitantly for any thing of this kind which he got +done, but to beg and pray, and to look upon it as a favour conferred on +him. Most of the good shoers were taken by the staff or general +officers, consequently only the inferior ones were left for the +regimental officers, and in several cases none at all. The consequence +of all this was, the loss of several valuable animals, both horses and +mules; besides, in some cases, the officers being rendered incapable of +performing their duty as they otherwise would have done. To this I +attribute a considerable loss in animals during this service. It might +easily be remedied by each infantry regiment having a proper +establishment of farriers, (say two,) with tools, &c. in proportion, and +the means of carrying them; and then every officer, whose duty requires +him to be mounted, might be served. I myself bought tools to the amount +of L.4, and never had but one horse shod with them. I could not get a +man to do it. As soon as I saw the baggage on the right way, I pushed +forward, and joined the division again. We were literally at this time +climbing up a mountain, where I could not ride, but was obliged to crawl +up, and pull my horse after me. My leg by this time had much improved. +We followed the road by which we had retreated a few days before, and at +length came to the rivulet that had so alarmed us all on our +night-march. It was really surprising that we should have been stopped +so long by such a trifle; but in such a situation, and at such a time, +things of that kind are magnified a thousandfold by the imagination. We +passed our old camp ground opposite to Sumbilla, and here we came in +view of the enemy's columns retreating along the road on the opposite +bank of the Bidassoa. This gave our men new life; but here the 52d and +other regiments of the 2d brigade were obliged to halt: they could +proceed no farther. + +We had marched by this time to-day two and a half of the stages we made +in retreating; but the 2d brigade had been in the rear of the column all +day, and had consequently suffered much from stoppages, &c. My +battalion, our 1st battalion, and the 43d regiment, continued to move +on, and as they approached, the enemy seemed to acquire fresh vigour. At +length we reached the point of attack,--the bridge of Yanzi,--and here +the 1st battalion turning down towards the river, at once left the wood +and ground above the bridge to be occupied by us. The enemy sent a +pretty strong corps of light troops across, which got engaged with our +people; but we soon drove down through the wood again towards the +bridge. At length, we got two companies posted just over the bridge, in +front of which all the rear of the French column had to pass. Poor +creatures! they became so alarmed, that they instantly began to cut +away, and cast off, all the loads of baggage, and both cavalry and +infantry, &c. to make the best of their way. But the mountain on their +right was inaccessible; consequently they had all, as it were, to run +the gauntlet. Great was the execution done amongst the enemy at this +bridge, and many were the schemes they tried to avoid passing. At length +they got a battalion up behind a stone wall above the road, on the +opposite side, from whose fire we received some damage; consequently +those poor people who had afterwards to pass were not so much exposed. +Just about the close of the business, my kind friend, Captain Perceval, +received a shot through his right wrist. His left hand had been closed +for a length of time before, in consequence of a wound through that +wrist, which had contracted his fingers, besides being lame from a wound +in the hip. Now he was rendered completely useless. Towards dusk I went +with him a little to the rear, and got his tent pitched, and made as +comfortable as circumstances would admit. I pitied the French on this +occasion, they seemed so much alarmed. The whole of their baggage fell +into the hands of our 4th division, who were closely following them up +on their side of the Bidassoa. + +In this affair, the French were reduced to a dreadful dilemma; great +numbers of their wounded had been brought off from the battles of the +28th, 29th, and 30th, near Pamplona, which were carried on biers or +stretches by men of this division. When they saw us in front of them, +where they had to pass, as it were, immediately under the muzzles of our +pieces, they were compelled to adopt the cruel alternative of either +throwing their wounded men down to perish, or run the risk of being shot +or taken themselves. I believe the former, shocking as it seems, was +generally adopted; and I have reason to believe that the greater part of +them were thrown into the river; for, from the point where we first came +in view of them to near where this affair took place, the Bidassoa was +literally filled with the dead bodies of Frenchmen, and they could have +come into it in no other way. We lost only a very few men on this +occasion, not more than six or eight, while that of the enemy must have +been extremely severe. Here the effects of rifle-shooting were plainly +visible. + +In remarking on this affair, I beg to draw the reader's attention to the +following circumstances; viz. probably never troops made such a march +over such a country before. We travelled at least thirty-two miles over +mountains such as I before described, where you were sometimes nearly +obliged to scramble upon your hands and knees. The day was exceedingly +hot, and occasionally there was a great want of water. I am told that +one of the regiments in our 2d brigade, which, it may be remembered, +were obliged to halt, as they could go no farther, had no less than 200 +men fell out, unable to keep up, and that some of them actually died of +fatigue. I heard of one poor fellow, who, when he came to water and had +drunk, lost his senses, fell to the ground, and shortly after expired. I +have reason to be proud of my battalion on this occasion, which, when +the roll was called, just before the action commenced, had only nine men +fallen out; but they had been in the front all day, a great advantage in +marching, particularly over a mountainous country. + +This day's work gave me a higher idea of the powers of human nature, +when properly trained, than ever I possessed before; for when you +consider that each of those soldiers carried a weight of not less +probably than forty or fifty lbs. and some much more, it cannot but be +surprising that men should be able to sustain such fatigue for such a +length of time--at the end of which to fight, and gain a victory. + +Next morning were clearly observable the effects of the evening's work. +In the house, the yard, and on the road opposite the bridge, were a +great number of dead Frenchmen; and to the rear, by the way they had +advanced, the road was literally strewed with baggage, and equipments of +every description. Some of our people picked up a number of visiting +cards, with General Vandermason on them, very elegant; so that his +baggage, no doubt, had been cast off, as well as that of inferior +people. + +Soon after daylight, we were ordered to fall in, and move forward +towards Vera. Just as we cleared the bridge, old Douro, with his staff, +came riding up, who, when he saw how we had handled the enemy the night +before, gave his head a significant nod, and smiled, which conveyed most +intelligibly his approbation. We soon reached the neighbourhood of Vera, +behind which, in the pass of that name, as before stated, the enemy took +up a strong position, from which their picquets had never yet been +driven. We were ordered to encamp a little below the bridge leading to +Lezacca, between that and Vera, while the other regiments were intended +to occupy the heights of Santa Barbara, from which we had before +retreated. But towards mid-day it was discovered that the enemy still +had a considerable body of troops in and about the pass of Echallar, a +few miles to our right. Our brigade was therefore ordered again under +arms, with the intention of co-operating with the 7th division in an +attack upon those people. It was a thick mist, so that we could scarcely +see twenty yards before us; but when we reached the bottom of an +immensely high hill, on which the enemy were posted, we presently +discovered whereabouts we had them. + +Our 1st battalion extended to the right, and my battalion moved straight +forward up the hill. For a considerable time the enemy's fire did us no +injury, being deceived, I imagine, by the denseness of the fog. They +fired almost always over our heads, some of which shots struck the men +of the 43d, a considerable way below us. At length we began to approach +the summit of the mountain, where the enemy were of course much more +condensed, the ground they had to occupy being much smaller. Our people +were advancing regularly up the hill, when we run right up against a +rock, on the top of which was collected an immense body of the French, +and from whom our people received a most destructive fire, knocking down +fourteen men in an instant. This unlooked-for circumstance checked our +people, and made some of them retire for an instant behind a broken part +in the mountain, from which they kept up the best fire they could. +During this transaction, the French, who were not more than ten or +twelve yards distant, were calling out to us in Spanish to advance, and +abusing us most lustily. A Spaniard (one of the recruits I formerly +mentioned) was so much annoyed, that he began in his turn to abuse the +French; and, as if words were not enough, accompanying them with the +best shot he could give them. Poor fellow, he was instantly shot through +the body, and fell to rise no more. + +They now began to get courage, and made a show of advancing upon us: +they did do so on the right against our 1st battalion, but my +commanding-officer calling out to cheer our people, set up a shout, +which had the effect of intimidating them, and they did not dare to +advance. I was now sent away by Colonel Barnard to request the 43d (who +were behind us) to send a company to support our 1st battalion, which +they instantly did; and just as I returned, I found the French had +evacuated the rock from which they had annoyed us, on the top of which +we found a great number of caps and pouches, &c., belonging to men who +had fallen there. We followed them over the hill, but they now gave us +leg-bail, posting down into the valley towards France with all +expedition. + +The 7th division had some pretty sharp work before they dislodged the +people in front of them, and had suffered very severely in effecting +their object. When every thing was settled, one of our men thought he +saw a man hiding behind a tree just below us: he went to see what it +was, and dragged out by the neck a French soldier of the 2d light +infantry. Poor fellow, he came out shrugging his shoulders, and, putting +on a most beseeching look, begged we would spare him, as he was only a +"pauvre Italien." Of course no injury was done him, only the soldier who +took him claiming and taking from him his knapsack, which appeared a +fine full one, and which he appropriated to himself. I thought it cruel, +and would have prevented it, had my voice been of any weight; and yet, +had it not been taken from him now, it would very soon after, when he +became a prisoner. + +One battalion was ordered to remain and occupy this hill, which +dreadfully alarmed me, lest it should be ours, for it was bitter, bleak, +and cold. Luckily a Portuguese battalion was ordered up, and we returned +to our snug camp by the river side; and here, as if to crown our good +fortune, one of our men, who had been left behind in charge of the +tents, had got some meat roasted for our mess, of which we all partook +with great delight and thankfulness. + +A friend of mine of our 1st battalion, during the advance the French had +made upon that battalion, was nigh falling into their hands. They rushed +at him, but he perceiving, and endeavouring to avoid them, fell into a +bush, which scratched him most wofully, and in the fray lost his cap and +sword. They grasped at the latter, (which was not drawn,) but which +luckily broke loose from the belt, or they would have had him. This hill +was always known afterwards by the name of Barnard's Hill, in honour of +Colonel Barnard, who commanded on the occasion. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + The Author, from a mistake, loses his Servants for a few + days--A Feast of Death--A Feast of Life--Fighting near St + Sebastian--Singular instance of Spanish Bravery--St Sebastian + is captured, but no Details given, the Author not having been + present--Attack of the Pass of Vera. + + +We remained at rest here for some time, during which I, as acting +paymaster, had several trips to Tolosa, a considerable town on the great +road from Bayonne to Madrid, where the paymaster-general had taken up +his residence with the military chest. In one of them I went and had a +peep at St Sebastian, the siege of which was then going on. While here, +I received directions from General Sir William Stewart to attend him at +Villaba, where he lay wounded, he having received two balls in the late +actions. I set off, directing my servants with my baggage to follow +close after me: by some means they were delayed a few minutes, and, +supposing I was going again to the paymaster-general at Tolosa, went off +in that direction, without asking any questions. I imagined they knew +very well where I was going, and still went on slowly, every now and +then looking back to see if I could descry them coming; but although +there was no appearance of them, I simply enough continued my route till +I reached St Estevan; and here I put up for the night, thinking, of +course, they would come by and by. In the morning, I was fully convinced +they must have gone some other road, and as all my books, &c., from +which I wanted information, were in my baggage, I thought it useless to +proceed any farther. In retracing my steps, which I did leisurely, I had +an opportunity of seeing the great number of bodies which the French had +thrown into the river, the road running close by its brink nearly all +the way. It was really shocking to behold such numerous wrecks of +mortality, with the disgusting appearance which most of them had +assumed; many of them were half eaten by the fish, and of others the +flesh was hanging in rags, and bleaching in the stream. Of course I +returned home, but did not see my servants again for several days, as it +took three or four to accomplish the journey to Tolosa and back, and +they had waited there a day for me. + +On the day that I was absent, all the officers of my corps had had a +sumptuous and splendid entertainment, it being the 25th August, the +anniversary of the regiment's first formation. They had dug a ditch in +an oblong shape in the middle of a field, the centre of which served for +a table, while they sat with their feet in the ditch. I am told the +French, who were just above, and overlooked them from the heights behind +the town, assembled and viewed them, as if in astonishment to see them +regaling themselves with so much glee in the midst of the wild Pyrenean +mountains. No doubt the wine went merrily round, and many were the +toasts which were drunk with three-times-three. + +During this interval, I often amused myself with fishing in the +Bidassoa, in which there were many excellent trout, and I was pretty +successful, for I had got some tackle from one of our captains, which he +had brought from England. On one of these occasions, while I was wading +in a pool, I spied a fine salmon laying just below me; I threw in and +brought my flies right over him, at which he instantly rose, but I +missed him. I tried again, and hooked him, but in a moment he plunged +right across the river, carrying with him all my flies and part of my +line, for I had no reel. I might have calculated upon this, if I had +thought for a moment; but the opportunity was so tempting, that I could +not resist it. + +At length the 31st of August arrived, the day on which St Sebastian was +to be stormed. We knew this, for we had furnished a number of +volunteers, both officers and men, to take part in the assault; many of +our higher officers had gone to witness the glorious spectacle. But +early in the morning, we were all astonished at the bugle sounding +through the camp the alarm, or assembly, and instantly orders were given +for the tents to be struck, the baggage to be packed, and to set off +with it to the rear without a moment's delay, for the French were +advancing; of course all this was done in as short a time as possible, +and the troops were ordered to move on to a hill just over the bridge of +Vera. A detachment of ours had joined the evening before, and it cannot +easily be conceived the strange effect this sudden alarm had on some of +them. One of them, a lieutenant, was all in a bustle getting his pistols +put in fighting order, and came to me begging I would take some money to +keep for him. I told him that it was likely to be in as much danger with +me as with himself, and of course declined. The old hands, on the +contrary, were as cool and quiet about it as if it was an everyday +occurrence. We moved to the height before mentioned, and saw a cloud of +fellows with white caps coming down to the left of the town, and of +course prepared to give them the best reception we could. I was sent +with orders to my commanding-officer from the General, 'that he was, +when pressed, to retire till he got on the ridge just over his house, +(which was on the road a little to the rear of where we then were,) and +that he was to stand there as long as it was possible.' I thought +something very warm was going to occur, seeing such a cloud of Frenchmen +were then approaching us, but we were all disappointed; they went +quickly to their right after descending from the heights, and forded the +river below the town, setting their faces towards St Sebastian. All this +was effected under a cannonade from the heights. + +Our 1st brigade (except my battalion) was then ordered to cross the +river by the Lezacca bridge a little behind us, and to move parallel to +the enemy along the ridge above that town, which had all along been Lord +Wellington's head-quarters. As soon as they got across, they sent a body +of troops to the bridge of Vera, close to which some of our people were +stationed, and from thence they kept firing on us all day from some +small mountain guns, which they had brought down with them, and +occasionally with musketry. We were now somewhat curiously situated. The +French position was on the side we occupied, while the other side of the +bridge had been fortified by the Spanish General Longa, to protect +himself during the last excursion of the French towards Pamplona; but +now they occupied the side on which the intrenchments had been thrown +up, and turned them against us of course; they did little execution by +their fire. Lord Wellington, seeing the intention of the enemy, +assembled all the British troops he could easily collect, and brought +them in rear of a corps of Spaniards, which met the French in this +direction; and finding this a fair opportunity of seeing what the Don +could do, withheld the British, and let the Spaniards attack them by +themselves. They had now the best chance of showing their valour that +ever had or might present itself; they had the high ground, and the +enemy had to climb up on their hands and knees to get at them; besides, +they had behind them backers that would not see them get foul play. So +away they set at them, and indeed they did tumble the French down in +good style, upsetting them in all directions; so that our English +division had nothing to do but to look on. This was the only time I ever +knew the Spaniards act in a body like good soldiers. + +The enemy, being beaten, were obliged of course to retrograde; but it +came on one of the bitterest nights I have almost ever witnessed; the +rain fell in torrents, and the lightning was very vivid. The French +endeavoured to retrace their steps during the night, fording the river +where they had crossed it in the morning; but the heavy rain had so +swoln the river by midnight, that they could not continue any longer to +wade it. A considerable number of them still remained on the other side, +and no way presented itself of extricating themselves, but by forcing +their passage across the bridge, near which a company of our 2d +battalion, under Captain Cadoux, was posted, with one of ours, a short +distance in the rear, to support him. Captain Cadoux's people were +stationed in houses about thirty yards from the bridge, and had a double +sentry on the bridge. The enemy's column approached very quietly, and +then made a rush; but the rain having wet the priming of the sentries' +rifles, they could not get them to go off to give the necessary alarm, +and were in a moment driven from their post. The French then, seeing +they had effected a passage, set up a shout, and rushed towards the +houses where Cadoux's people were, who turned out at once, and with the +supporting company, opened a deadly fire upon the enemy's column; but +poor Cadoux fell instantly almost, as he had imprudently mounted his +horse on the first alarm; his lieutenant also was severely wounded. The +firing of course soon brought the whole brigade to the spot, which kept +up a constant and well-directed fire during the whole of their progress +along the little plain towards Vera. + +The enemy suffered dreadfully on this occasion, leaving the ground +literally strewed with their dead, who, like the others before +mentioned, were next morning thrown into the river; so that the fish had +ample feeding for some time after. Some people afterwards reflected upon +General Skerrott, who commanded here, for not posting a stronger force +at the bridge, and for not blocking it up with an abbatis; the former he +might and ought to have done; but the latter was impracticable, from the +enemy holding the breastwork at the other end of the bridge, which was +not more than about thirty yards long. Had a battalion been posted +there, it is probable the French, who were compelled to have recourse to +this daring attempt, might have been induced to surrender; but I believe +the General never imagined they had need to make such an attempt. Our +loss on this occasion was rather severe also. A great many of Captain +Cadoux's men fell; Lieutenant Travers, who commanded the company of my +battalion, was wounded, and a considerable number of men were killed and +wounded; among the former, some of the poor fellows who had joined from +England only the day before. + +Thus was Soult's second attempt frustrated, and St Sebastian fell into +our hands. As I was not present at that glorious exhibition of British +valour and prowess, I cannot take upon me to give any account of its +capture. The volunteers who went from our division to assist in the +storm or assault, sustained their full share in the casualties attendant +thereon. The field-officer, Colonel Hunt of the 52d, was severely +wounded; a lieutenant of the 43d, brother to Mr O'Connell, the famous +Roman Catholic advocate, was killed; two lieutenants of our first +battalion, named Percival and Hamilton, were severely wounded. The +latter, I believe, was a volunteer on the occasion, not being entitled, +from his standing, to take it as a tour of duty. He was conspicuously +brave, and received two severe wounds, from which it would scarcely be +imagined possible any one could recover. + +A few days after the surrender of St Sebastian, I had again occasion to +go to Tolosa for money, and took the road by Passages, the port where we +now received all our supplies from England; and also to see the ruins of +that late formidable fortress. When I reached it, the houses were still +on fire, and not I believe half-a-dozen in the whole town that remained +habitable, or the inhabitants had quite deserted it. I went up to the +citadel and examined it, and I believe this, with proper casemates or +bomb-proofs, might be rendered one of the strongest places in Spain, +next to Gibraltar; but the French had suffered dreadfully from our +shells, which had literally ploughed the ground on the top of this +naturally strong height, and from which cause they had been compelled to +surrender. + +St Sebastian was indeed a melancholy spectacle at this time. I returned +from Tolosa by a part of the road which we had traversed in our late +retreat and advance again, as I now began to hope I might perhaps +recover my little horse, for I suspected from some cause that my +servant, instead of having been obliged to abandon him, because of his +lameness, as he told me, had sold him at that time; and this I actually +found had been the case. I compelled him to tell me where he had +disposed of him, and, with my broken Spanish, traced him from thence for +near twenty miles farther into the mountains, where I found him in a +village, the name of which I do not recollect, but where a squadron of +our German hussars were quartered. I of course claimed and took +possession of the horse, giving the person the amount he had paid for +him; but he being still lame, the commanding-officer of the hussars +kindly permitted me to leave him with his farrier till he got well. He +afterwards sent him to me, and would not even allow the farrier to +receive any remuneration for his trouble, so kindly and politely did he +behave. + +September passed away without any thing remarkable occurring. My friend +Captain (now Major) Perceval had been obliged to return to England, and +Captain Balvaird succeeded him as senior captain of my battalion. I +still continued in that company's mess. At length it was determined to +attack the Puerta, or Pass of Vera, which the enemy had rendered +exceedingly strong. The left of our army, under Sir Thomas Graham, were +ordered to attack in their front, and force the passage of the Bidassoa, +and establish themselves in France. We were merely to drive them from +the heights above the town of Vera, taking possession of all the strong +ground between that and France. The fourth division was brought up to +support our attack, and formed immediately in rear of the town. One of +the captains who formed the Committee of Paymastership, and who, it may +be remembered, were held responsible for my accounts, and the due +appropriation of all public money which might come into my hands, took +a fancy that I exposed myself too much, and requested the +commanding-officer, Colonel Ross, to prohibit my again entering into +action, except for the purpose of bringing ammunition, &c., when my duty +required me; in consequence of which the adjutant was sent to me this +morning, previous to the operations commencing, with an order for me not +to accompany the battalion. It may seem to the reader perhaps like +affectation when I tell him I felt hurt at this order, and determined +not very strictly to comply with it, for I believed that my respected +commanding-officer had no objection that I should accompany him, did not +this untoward circumstance interfere with my so doing. Accordingly I +remained a looker-on among the fourth division. My battalion was +destined to commence this attack by driving the enemy from a high and +rugged hill on the right of the Pass, which was a necessary operation +before the Pass itself could be attacked. Accordingly he extended the +battalion, and encircled its base on the side next to Vera; and I +believe, without firing a shot almost, he marched right up to the top of +the hill, notwithstanding the sturdy resistance made by the enemy, and +in a very short space of time completely cleared this formidable height. + +This operation was the admiration of the whole fourth division, (for it +was clearly observable by every one,) and they were most lavish of their +praises for such a workmanlike movement. When my people approached the +top of the hill, I felt alarmed for their safety and their honour, for +the French commander closed all his force to one point, and, forming +them into line, made them fix bayonets, apparently with a determination +to charge them down the hill again; and I saw that my people, for they +could not perceive what the French were doing, were likely to be taken +by surprise. Whether the Frenchman's heart failed him I know not, but +when Colonel Ross reached the top of the hill, the enemy went to the +right about, and instantly retired. + +I felt proud of belonging to that corps, and happy at such a termination +of this dangerous operation, and feeling a desire I could no longer +resist, I set off to join them. By the time I reached the height just +mentioned, the attack of the Puerta was going on, and a most arduous +undertaking it was. My brigade attacked the right or strongest pass, +which they carried in fine style, without much loss, although the enemy +had a breastwork at every available point of ground. Our 2d brigade did +not attack the left Pass quite so soon as the other, and when they had +got about half way up they encountered the most formidable opposition. + +A redoubt which the enemy possessed was filled with men, who waited till +our battalion came within a few yards of them, and then poured in the +most destructive fire imaginable, making the battalion recoil, and +leaving one-third of its numbers on the ensanguined ground. But the 52d +regiment being close behind, promptly supported them when rushing on +together to the charge, and the French, after some hard fighting, were +finally driven from this stronghold. After this they never made any +obstinate stand, although there was occasional fighting all the way from +the Pass down into the plain below, where some of our people followed +them; but it not being intended to quit for the present this high and +formidable barrier, they were afterwards recalled. The boundary lines +passed along this ridge. + +We lost a few men on ascending the first hill, and a few in skirmishing +afterwards, but our loss was not severe. But that of the 2d battalion, +before noticed, was awful; several of that battalion who fell in this +action had only a few days before joined from England, and this was +their first action. On looking at the ground on which this affair took +place, one would imagine it almost impossible that any army could force +a passage through such innumerable difficulties. The hill itself was +nearly impassable, and with the numerous redoubts and breastworks, with +which it was literally covered, no troops in the world, I think, but +British, would have dared to attempt it. + +We found that the French, who occupied this station, had rendered +themselves extremely comfortable, considering the kind of country and +ground where they were posted. They had been at great pains in building +very convenient and substantial huts in lines and streets, the same as +an encampment, and which were indeed remarkably clean and neat. They had +even built arm-racks at the end of each line, where their arms were +stowed away most securely, and where they were preserved from the +effects of the bad weather. Indeed, from the pains they had taken to +render themselves comfortable here, it would appear as if they had not +expected to be driven from it so soon. + +The left of our army, under Sir Thomas Graham, also established +themselves within the French territory. A corps of Spaniards on our +left, between us and Sir Thomas, had likewise made a forward movement +corresponding with the British. Some Spaniards were on the right of our +division also, and were destined to drive the French from La Rhune, an +exceeding high rock, which overlooks all the other mountains, as well as +the plain below. This they failed to accomplish, the enemy keeping +possession all that night, and the skirmishing between the two forces +continuing till after dark. + +My battalion was sent on the outpost duty in the evening down into the +French plain below, and relieved the Spanish General Longa, whose corps, +with our 2d brigade, were ordered to assist in the morning in dislodging +the enemy from La Rhune. I will not say whether the sight of the +red-coats coming against them the next morning had the effect of +alarming them, but they certainly evacuated that exceedingly strong post +without much farther opposition, and established themselves on a similar +rock, but lower, on the French side, and called by them Petit or Little +Rhune. But the possession of this lofty peak gave us the power of +overlooking all their movements for miles around us, as well as of +surveying La Belle France as far as the eye could see, and indeed, +compared with the bleak and barren mountains in which we had so long +been residing, it did appear a beautiful country, although, in reality, +it is far from being such. But we gazed upon it with strange and mingled +emotions, hardly believing it possible that we had now reached and +entered the territory of that once formidable nation whose victorious +armies had penetrated to the farthest confines of Europe, who had +overrun and subdued some of the most warlike nations of the continent, +and who had so often threatened, and as often alarmed, the inhabitants +of England with the invasion of that sacred soil, on which never yet a +Frenchman has dared, in hostile array, to set his foot since the days of +the Norman William, but who met there either with a prison or a grave. + +We now pitched our camps by battalions, each occupying a post more or +less important, and the enemy began again to construct their huts, and +make themselves as comfortable as their circumstances would admit; +Soult, no doubt, being mightily chagrined that we had now fairly beat +them out of Spain, when he (as we now learnt) had promised his followers +that he would soon lead them again to the plains of Vittoria, where +they might again retrieve their lost honours, and at which city they +would celebrate the Emperor's birthday. He thus boasted, and no doubt +would have effected his purpose, had he not been so promptly met near +Pamplona by his never-to-be outmanoeuvred antagonist. + +We now began to suffer greatly from the severity of the weather. It +became exceedingly wet and stormy; and not infrequently the tents were +blown away from over our heads, or the pole was forced up through the +top, letting the wet canvass fall comfortably down about our ears while +we were perhaps in a sound sleep. I had two streams flowing past my +head, one went round the trench outside my tent, while the other I was +fain to let pass through it; their murmurs lulled me to sleep, and I do +not remember that ever I slept sounder than I did here, having made my +couch comfortable by gathering dry fern, and spreading my mattress upon +it. + +Whilst we remained here, a few officers were appointed to watch the +motions of the enemy from an old work which we understood had been +constructed by the Spaniards and emigrant French against their +revolutionary neighbours, whom they endeavoured to keep from entering +Spain; and, of course, this was the daily lounge of those who had no +better employment, not only that they might themselves see, but hear +also from others what of importance was passing. On one of these +occasions, a vessel was descried (for the sea was not more than five or +six miles from us) making for the harbour of Bayonne, or St Jean de Luz, +with a small schooner following her in chase, and every now and then +giving her a shot. The vessel, (which turned out to be a French brig +going with provisions for the few Frenchmen who still retained the +castle of Santona,) seeing she could not get clear of her unwelcome +neighbours, her crew set her on fire, and taking to their boats, +abandoned her, and escaped on shore--she soon after blew up with a +tremendous explosion. + +On the 31st of this month Pamplona surrendered, the garrison, consisting +of 4000 men, under Major-general Cassan, the governor, becoming +prisoners of war. They had been compelled to adopt this measure from +sheer starvation, of which they, I understand, had suffered dreadfully. +I happened to be at Passages on the day they reached that port, where +they embarked, on their way to England. The General was a stout, +handsome, and intelligent-looking man, and such a one as I should +imagine would make a noble officer. The soldiers seemed quite +unconcerned about their fate; whether from the change being actually an +improvement of their condition, or from the lightness and gaiety of +their natural temper, I know not, but they were jesting and making as +merry as if nothing had happened. + +During the time we lay on these mountains, I regret to state my gallant +and respected commanding-officer, Colonel Ross, suffered so much from +rheumatism, that he was compelled to leave the regiment, and take up his +abode at Rentaria, a village near to Passages. + +It was reported that Lord Wellington intended attacking the enemy along +his whole line, early in November, but the weather having rendered the +roads impassable, it was postponed. On the day previous to the intended +attack, the commanding-officers had been taken up to La Rhune, and the +post that each corps had to occupy, with the movements they were +intended to make, were clearly pointed out to them; an excellent plan, +when practicable, as it leaves no one any excuse for mistakes or +blunders during the action. + +At length, on the 10th of that month, I believe, it was settled to take +place; but on the 9th I was ordered to set off with the mules of the +battalion, to fetch corn from Passages, a distance of about thirty +miles. I suspected this was a scheme of the captain I before mentioned, +as one of the committee of paymastership, in order the more effectually +to keep me out of danger, for certainly had any thing serious happened +me, they would have had some difficulty in rendering their accounts. It +was not quite certain the attack was to take place next day, although it +had been so rumoured; however, I was determined to try and reach the +division as early as possible on that day. I accordingly got my business +done in Passages as early as I could get the commissary to work; and +having got the corn, and come on to Rentaria, which I reached about +mid-day, I took the liberty of leaving the animals in the charge of the +non-commissioned officer who had accompanied me; and calling on Colonel +Ross, obtained his permission to let the sergeant proceed in charge of +them to the regiment, while I might, if I chose, push on at a quicker +rate. I had heard by this time, that the action had commenced by +daylight that morning. I accordingly set off at as quick a pace as my +starved animal could carry me; and passing Irun, and crossing the +Bidassoa, and keeping along the great road for a considerable distance, +I then inclined to my right, and skirted the Pyrenees along the whole +plain. I had thus an opportunity of witnessing the conflict carrying on +by the left wing of our army, as I passed along towards La Rhune, but +with every exertion of myself and my poor jaded horse, night closed in +upon me before I had nearly reached the station of the light division. I +was compelled to work my way through a country which I had not hitherto +passed, and which having been the scene of a sanguinary combat, +presented no very pleasing aspect. At last I heard some strange and +foreign voices before me, for it was now quite dark, on which I turned +into a field, and waited till they passed, by which I learned they were +Spaniards. I was apprehensive I might have kept too far to the left, and +had got into the French lines, which would not have been so comfortable; +but after finding them to be men of General Frere's Spanish division, I +then had hopes of shortly meeting with my own people. Directed by those +good Spaniards, I at last reached Petit La Rhune, the late formidable +position of the enemy, on which the blazes from a thousand of their huts +were rising to the clouds, and enlightening the atmosphere around. But +it being now ten o'clock, I found myself incapable of proceeding +farther, more particularly as the Portuguese, among whom I now found +myself, could not give me any certain directions which way my division +had gone. I was fain therefore to take up my abode, and gladly did so, +in a cottage with Colonel St Clair and several other officers of the +sixth Caçadores. Let it not be supposed that a fighting disposition +induced me to use so much exertion to reach my division on this +occasion--no; but as I considered that a sort of trick had been played +off upon me, I did what I could to render it nugatory; no man liking, as +I imagine, to be the dupe of any other party's manoeuvres, with whatever +friendly intention these may have been put in operation. I arose next +morning early, and hastened to the point where I expected to meet my +brave comrades, anxious to learn the fate of all I loved amongst them. I +saw them and the third division at a considerable distance, each on a +height in front, appearing like flocks of sheep huddled together as +close as possible. I soon reached them, and learned with sorrow, that +the brave Colonel Barnard was, as they supposed, mortally wounded, the +ball having passed through the chest, and that little Lieutenant Doyle +was killed. + +This was a most stupendous action; the scene of operations extending +from right to left, embracing, I imagine, not less than thirty miles of +country. The centre had fallen to the share of my division, which, in +the eyes of the best judges, was the strongest part of the enemy's line, +for it had been fortified with the most consummate skill, and no labour +had been spared to render it impregnable, as the enemy had been busily +employed in the construction of forts, redoubts, and other field-works +of every denomination, from the day we drove them from the Pass of Vera; +one in particular, a stone built fort, in the shape of a star, was +exceedingly strong, and which was attacked and carried in the finest +style possible, I understand, by the 43d regiment; the 52d also +surrounded a fort in which the French 88th regiment was posted, the +brave commander of which not having received any orders to evacuate it, +remained till the retreat of the French left him no other alternative +than to surrender at discretion. The part my battalion had to play, was +to cross the valley separating the two La Rhunes in double quick time, +and attack the French rock by a gorge, which allowed a passage from that +valley into their position. This was to be in conjunction with the +attack of the Star Fort by the 43d, as it in some measure took that work +in reverse. In short, every corps in the division, and I believe in the +army, had a most arduous duty to perform, and most nobly did they +execute it. The left of our army, under Sir Thomas Graham, did not +succeed in driving the enemy from his innumerable works which covered St +Jean de Luz, and which he retained possession of till the next morning; +when the centre, that is the 3d and light divisions, together with the +Spaniards on our right and left centre, made a movement in advance, and +crossed the Nivelle river, from which this action derives its name. Our +movement, which threatened to separate the wings of the French army, +caused the enemy to abandon his strong position in front of St Jean de +Luz, as well as that town, on which occasion he attempted, and partly +succeeded in destroying the bridge over the Nivelle at that place; but +it being soon after repaired, Sir Thomas Graham's corps took up their +quarters in the town. + +We encamped for the night in front of the village of Serres, or Sarre, +or Zarre. It had rained hard all the day of the 11th, and it continued +almost without intermission till our camp was literally swimming. I +remember perfectly that the water in my tent was several inches deep; +and when I awoke in the morning, I found a Portuguese boy (who had +followed us, and had attached himself to our mess as a sort of servant) +was sitting holding by the tent-pole, that being the only place where he +could find rest for the sole of his foot. In short, we were as wet, +clothes and beds and all, as if we had been dragged through a river. The +evening before, I well remember, we had been highly amused by my Scotch +quartermaster-sergeant and his friends, who had taken up their abode +close by, singing, till they rather grew tiresome, + + "We are nae fou', we're nae that fou', + But just a drappie in our e'e." + +This of course was done to drive away dull care, and to make the best of +an uncomfortable situation. + +The next day towards afternoon, a considerable firing was heard on our +right, which had continued but a short while, till our gallant and +unwearied Chief came galloping up, with some few of his staff following, +who could with difficulty keep pace with him, and asking most anxiously +whereabouts and what the firing was. We could only point out the +direction in which we heard it, but could give him no account as to its +cause. Away he galloped in the direction we pointed out, and no doubt +soon reached the spot. + +I forgot to mention, that a man of the Brunswick Oels corps had been +hung the day before for plundering by the Provost Marshal, no doubt in +compliance with superior orders. It was necessary thus to give the army +an example of severity, in order to deter them from committing those +acts to which all armies are but too prone. We found indeed very little +to plunder, had we been so inclined; for the greater part of the +inhabitants had left their houses, taking every thing portable with +them. This they had been induced to do from the false statements which +Soult had set forth in some proclamations he issued about this time, in +which he described the English as savages, nay, even as cannibals, who +would not scruple to commit the most monstrous atrocities; so ignorant +were the generality of these poor peasants, that many of them implicitly +believed his representations. This, no doubt, was done with the view of +raising the whole population in arms against us, in order to defend +their homes against such a set of wretches as he made it appear we were; +but, although many of the natives joined the French army at this time, +with which they were incorporated and led to battle, the result of his +famous proclamations was not equal to his expectations; for a great part +of them declined warlike proceedings, and retired into the interior of +the country with their families, leaving only a very small proportion +indeed who remained in their houses. As might be expected, the empty +houses suffered dreadfully; every piece of furniture almost being +destroyed, either for fire-wood, or in seeking for valuables; while the +houses of those who remained in general escaped. + +General Harispe, being a Basque himself, had the organizing of the new +levies now raised; indeed, many of these had taken a part in the +irruption into Spain on the 25th July for the relief of Pamplona, and +many of them fell on that occasion. We were not so fully aware of the +extent of the misrepresentation to which Soult had gone in these +proclamations, till some time after we had entered France, and had +penetrated considerably into the interior, when some of our officers, +either during or after a march, entered the cottage of a peasant who had +not left his home, to get a little milk. The poor woman was remarkably +civil, offering them any thing the house afforded. They got some milk, +for which they offered her money, but which she declined. Her child was +running about the house at this time, which, coming near one of the +officers, he took it between his knees, and patted it on the head, with +which the child seemed very well pleased; but the poor mother, standing +at a little distance, and eyeing most intently every motion of the +officer, was like to swoon with fear and agitation. But as the mother +had declined receiving any thing for the milk, the officer who had the +child gave it some small coin, and letting it go, it ran to its mother, +who snatched it up into her arms with the utmost joy, and altering her +look, began to say, she thought they had been deceived; for that they +had been led to believe from the proclamations of Soult, that we were +such barbarians that we would not scruple to kill and eat their +children, and which was the cause of her late fear and anxiety, as she +expected the officer had taken the child for that purpose; but now she +found we were not such people as she had been led to believe. Of course +the officer laughed most heartily at having been suspected of a +man-eating propensity, and soon convinced the poor woman that the +English were not quite such barbarians as that, whatever she might have +heard to the contrary. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + The British Army advance farther into France--Pass the + Nive--Soult's Plans baffled--Two or three battalions of the + Nassau and Frankfort regiments come over from the + French--French Politesse--Threatened Attack by the + French--Battle of the Nive--Account of the Basques. + + +We left our wet camp on the 15th, and advanced to the village of +Arbonne, where, for the first time during the campaign, we were +quartered in houses, except once or twice. During our stay in the camp +at Serres, or Zarre, we sent our baggage animals to Passages for corn, +on which occasion I lost another horse, the batman pretending it had +been stolen, but which, no doubt, he sold, as that trick had often been +resorted to by this time, and there was no detecting it. + +On the 17th we left Arbonne, and advanced to Arcangues, sending forward +picquets to the village of Bassozari, about half a mile in front. My +battalion took up into quarters in some straggling houses in front of +the church of Arcangues, while our first battalion occupied the chateau +and outhouses of Arcangues, about a quarter of a mile to the right and +front of the church. The enemy's picquets were close to Bassozari, so +that in some places scarcely a quarter of a mile intervened between our +quarters and their outposts. They allowed us to take up our outposts +very quietly, they being now established in their intrenched camp in +front of Bayonne, and which was not far distant from our advance. There +were some houses in the line of posts occupied by the French, which, if +in our possession, would add greatly both to our security and +convenience, and which it was determined to wrest from them if +practicable. + +Accordingly, on the 23d the division was put under arms, and our +brigade, being in front, had this task assigned to them. The 43d, not +having had so much work during the campaign as our two battalions had, +was selected for the purpose of driving in the enemy's picquets, whilst +we supported them. They accordingly attacked and carried the houses +without a moment's delay; but unfortunately, Captain Hobkirk of that +regiment, advancing with his company beyond the line at which it was +intended to halt, got immediately in front of some of their +intrenchments, from which he could not extricate himself, in consequence +of which our first battalion was ordered to advance to cover his +retreat; but he had by this time fallen into the hands of the enemy, +with a considerable number of his men: his lieutenant was killed, and +altogether the company suffered great loss. The remainder retreated, our +first battalion people holding the houses it was intended to occupy. +This occurred on the left of the ridge. + +On the right, and adjoining a marsh which separated us from some high +ground near the river Nive, and which was occupied by another division +of our army, were two or three houses also which it was intended to +take, as their possession secured us a passage across this marsh by a +causeway, which connected two eminences, that on which we stood, and +that occupied by the other division, the principal object upon the +latter being a large chateau called Garratt's House. One company of the +43d also took those houses, supported by some more of that regiment and +my battalion; but after they were taken, from what cause I know not, an +order was sent to evacuate them, on which the 43d retired. Soon after, +they were again ordered to be re-occupied, when a company of ours +advanced, and took possession, but had not been there many minutes till +another order was sent for them to be evacuated. This order, however, +had scarcely reached them, when a charge was made on them by a body of +French cavalry, supported by a strong column of infantry. The officer +who commanded the company, either from the order he had received, or +from want of presence of mind, called to his men to run to the rear when +the cavalry charged him, by which he did not suffer much in point of +losing men, for only one was wounded by the cavalry; but it had a bad +appearance to run away from cavalry, a description of force which we had +learnt by this time almost to despise, especially as, from his post, he +might have knocked down great numbers of them, and finally have repulsed +them, had he allowed his men to fire. The houses were, however, +eventually taken possession of by another company of our battalion the +next day, which retained them in despite of the enemy. The man who was +wounded by the cavalry was shot in the head by a pistol ball: he came to +the surgeon, where the main body of the battalion was standing, to be +dressed; while this was doing, and the orderly man holding a tin-full of +water near, from which the surgeon was sponging and cleaning the wound, +a ball came, and, striking the tin, carried it right out from between +the hands of the orderly. I was standing close by, and shall not easily +forget the blank look which, as might be expected, the poor orderly put +on. There was a good deal of firing all day, which, except what the 43d +suffered, as before noticed, did little damage to the brigade. + +On the occasion of our company taking these houses the next day, a very +young officer, who happened to command it, evinced great fortitude and +presence of mind. He advanced on the enemy, who, being then rather +inclined to quietness, retreated gradually before him; but after +reaching the hedge, just beyond the principal house, told him (for they +were quite near enough to speak) that he must not advance any farther, +or they would be compelled to fire on him. The young fellow, solicitous +about nothing but obeying his orders, told them that he was determined +to have the house, and immediately putting his men under the best cover +he could, called out that they might begin to fire whenever they +pleased, he was ready for them. This young officer (whose name was Cary, +and brother to my friend who fell at Badajos) spoke excellent French, so +that the enemy understood him perfectly. The enemy did not contend any +longer for the post, but planted their sentries within about thirty +yards of ours. These sentries, indeed, were still so posted as to +prevent a passage across by the causeway, had they been so inclined; but +the next day I went with another officer across by this road, on which +occasion we actually passed to the rear of the French sentries. + +A disposition had for some time been gaining ground with both armies, to +mitigate the miseries of warfare, as much as was consistent with each +doing their duty to their country; and it had by this time proceeded to +such an extent, as to allow us to place that confidence in them that +they would not molest us even if we passed their outposts for the +purpose I have mentioned. And this mutual confidence in each other was +productive of the most comfortable results to both parties. We could +move about at any time, and almost in any place, shooting or otherwise +amusing ourselves, without the dread of falling in with an enemy's +patrol, or of getting among their sentries. They never molested us from +this time, except when we either advanced upon them, or they upon us, in +hostile array. Our division had two main picquets; all this took place +at the right picquet. A few days after I happened to be at the advanced +post on the left, commanded by one of my battalion, when the French +officers beckoned to us. We, to show we were peaceably inclined, pulled +off our swords, and advanced to meet them. A number of inhabitants, who +had left their houses on our first entering the country, having heard +that we were not what we had been represented, were desirous of +returning to their homes, and the officers wished us to admit them, and +see them safe through the advanced posts. This of course we gladly +promised, and the poor people were quite overjoyed at being permitted to +visit their dwelling-places once again; but, poor creatures, I fear they +would find little there except the bare walls, if indeed these remained +entire, for, from the reasons before assigned, it could scarcely be +expected that houses without inhabitants, in the midst of an invading +army, would be much respected. Each individual among them, old and +young, carried heavy bundles on their heads, no doubt they having +removed every thing that was valuable, if portable. + +The French officers were extremely polite, and asked us many questions +of the news of the day, &c.; but the commander-in-chief, hearing of the +familiarity which subsisted between the two armies, issued an order, +prohibiting British officers from holding conversations with the enemy; +for as all these conversations were necessarily conducted in French, +(very few indeed of their officers being able to speak English,) he was +apprehensive they might gain such information from our people, from +their imperfect knowledge of the French language, as might materially +injure our future proceedings. Before this order was issued, the most +unbounded confidence subsisted between us, and which it was a pity to +put a stop to, except for such weighty reasons. They used to get us such +things as we wanted from Bayonne, particularly brandy, which was cheap +and plentiful, and we in return gave them occasionally a little tea, of +which some of them had learnt to be fond. Some of them also, who had +been prisoners of war in England, sent letters through our army-post to +their sweethearts in England, our people receiving the letters and +forwarding them. They told us also how Hobkirk was situated, and were +astonished at the extent and splendour of his equipage, (for he was a +great dandy,) and could scarcely be persuaded he was only a captain. + +My present commanding-officer, who was the senior captain, and in whose +mess I then was, had sent to England, and got out from thence two +immense pies, weighing nearly a hundred-weight each, and packed in tin +cases. They were composed of every kind of game, and the best +description of fowls, such as turkeys, &c., with the bones taken out, +and the meat baked till it became like brawn when cut in slices. They +were most excellent. One of these he had made a present of to our +Major-general, and the other we were eating in the mess. We had also at +this time a considerable quantity of good wine, which, by some accident, +we had got hold of. We also had bought a pig and killed it, both living +quite sumptuously at present, and having a good stock for future use. + +But while we ourselves fared so well, our poor horses and mules were +literally starving. There was no kind of forage for them, except what +they could pick up in the now completely exhausted fields around us. We +had nothing else to give them. + +In this way we were going on, when, on the 9th of December, Lord +Wellington, determining on passing the Nive, preparatory to future +operations, ordered our division and all the left, under Sir John Hope, +who had now succeeded Sir Thomas Graham, to make a movement in advance, +in order that the enemy's attention might be attracted to this point, +while he threw over some divisions to the right bank of that river. My +battalion had to advance along the ridge by which I had formerly passed +in peace, to meet the returning inhabitants, as may be recollected; but +now the face of affairs was completely altered;--a heavy fire was kept +up by the French picquets from the moment they saw us advance in arms, +but we soon drove them from their advanced works, and they were obliged +to take shelter in their intrenched camp, which was remarkably strong, +and which it was not intended we should attack. We accordingly halted on +the brow of the ridge, while they kept up an incessant fire, both from +their guns and infantry, but which, considering its extent and duration, +was not by any means a destructive fire. + +Sir John Hope had a more laborious task to perform, or else his troops +went beyond the point intended, for they continued the fight nearly all +day, and at one time were considerably in advance, but afterwards +recalled. + +The passage of the Nive was completely effected, and in the evening we +returned to our comfortable houses, a short distance in the rear, and +went to bed as usual. Next morning, however, very early, orders were +given to turn out immediately, and stand to our arms, for the enemy was +advancing; and indeed, when I came to the door, I heard a good deal of +firing. The troops turned out at once, but the mules were to get, and +the baggage to pack, and send away to the rear, or it might be lost; so +I set myself about this with all dispatch; but before any of it was put +up, I saw posting by me, with all expedition, a civil officer, who had +only a short while joined us, and who, in his hurry, had put up all he +could scrape together on his horse, on which he himself was riding. His +boots, tied together, were slung over the horse's neck, and in short he +looked more like a bagman than an officer, from the number of things he +had hanging about him. It was most laughable to see him. I called out +and asked him why he was in such a hurry, but he did not stop to give me +an answer. + +I got up our baggage very well, but what to do with the pie, the pig, +and the wine, I knew not, so was constrained to leave them as they were, +hoping we might not allow the enemy to penetrate so far. I then moved +off the baggage, and, directing the servants who had charge of it to +proceed up a lane which carried them towards the rear, I moved on and +joined the battalion. Just as I reached the plateau, or high ground in +front of the church of Arcangues, I met an officer of ours to whom I had +lately lent a fine young mare, for which I had not food sufficient; and +he having no horse himself, I thought he would take care of her; but +here I met him going into the fight riding on the poor animal, although +scarcely able to drag one leg behind the other. I remonstrated with him, +but he did not mind me. The result was as might have been +anticipated--she soon after dropped down, unable to move farther, and +died; thus I lost L.35 more, which she had cost me. By this time the +enemy had driven in the regiment which had been on picquet, and one or +two of our companies were sent forward to cover their retreat to the +church behind us, where they were ordered to take post, it being a high +and fine position, and had by this time been partly fortified. My people +retired gradually before the enemy, who now advanced in great numbers. + +Our 1st battalion were not so fortunate in effecting their retreat. An +officer and some men having got into a hollow way, were surrounded by +the enemy and taken; another was killed; and another, with his section, +had to force their way through a strong body which had got in his rear. +My battalion did not fall into any scrape of that nature, but sustained +a considerable loss in killed and wounded, from the vast superiority of +the enemy in point of numbers, who, no doubt, did not escape with +impunity. We held our ground at the bottom of the hill on which the +church is built, the French not being able to force us farther back; the +1st battalion, at the same time, holding the fence and ditch in front of +the Chateau, as well as that building itself. But a rather unpleasant +occurrence took place at this time. When the enemy appeared on the +plateau before mentioned, a regiment behind us, without orders, I +believe, opened a heavy fire upon them, several shots of which struck +among our men. One of them went in at the back of one of our soldiers, +and killed him on the spot; another penetrated the back window of a +house into which a party of ours had entered for defence, and very near +struck an officer, who was in the room at the time. These shots must +have been fired either by young soldiers, who scarcely knew how they +pointed their muskets, or they must have taken our people for the enemy, +from which, indeed, they were not far distant. I am confident it was +purely accidental, for no two corps could be on better terms than that +regiment and ours always were. The skirmishing continued till dark. + +This was one of a series of masterly movements between the two +contending generals. Lord Wellington having sent a pretty strong force +across the Nive, as before mentioned, Soult imagined he had so weakened +his force on the left, as to render it probable he might penetrate it, +and thus cause his lordship to withdraw his troops again from the right +bank of the Nive; but he was anticipated; for Lord Wellington had no +sooner established himself on the other side of the Nive, than he +brought one of the supporting divisions of that movement to support us +at the church of Arcangues, it being an important post to hold; so that, +when we looked behind us, after we retired into position, we saw +innumerable bayonets glistening in the sun, and ready to move forward +whenever they should be required; but they never were wanted here, the +light division being quite sufficient to sustain any attack the enemy +had yet made on them. This, however, showed the provident care of his +lordship, and how completely he had penetrated Soult's design. + +This night two or three battalions of the Nassau and Frankfort regiments +came over and left the French. They had heard that the Dutch had +declared against Bonaparte, and wished to be transported to Holland, +with all their arms and appointments, which they brought with them. We +remained in bivouack on the ridge extending between the church and +chateau of Arcangues all night, our picquets remaining in possession of +the houses and hedges at the bottom of the hill, where we stopped the +French in the morning. I visited the picquets at night, in company with +my commanding-officer, where we found all well, and alert. The next day, +there being no firing between us and those in our front, three French +officers, seemingly anxious to prove how far politeness and good +breeding could be carried between the two nations, when war did not +compel them to be unfriendly, took a table and some chairs out of a +house which was immediately in our front, and one which we had lately +occupied as a barrack; and bringing them down into the middle of the +field, which separated the advance of the two armies, sat down within +100 yards of our picquet, and drank wine, holding up their glasses, as +much as to say your health, every time they drank. Of course we did not +molest them, but allowed them to have their frolic out. + +During the day, also, we saw soldiers of the three nations, viz. +English, Portuguese, and French, all plundering at the same time in one +unfortunate house, where our pie, our pig, and wine had been left. It +stood about 150 or 200 yards below the church, on a sort of neutral +ground between the two armies; hence the assemblage at the same moment +of such a group of these motley marauders. They plundered in perfect +harmony, no one disturbing the other on account of his nation or colour. +There were a great number of apples in it at the time we left it, +belonging to the owner of the house, but when we returned, two or three +days afterwards, the desolation was complete. Our once comfortable +quarter contained nothing now but filth and dirt. One poor girl had +remained in it all the while, but she could not save one article; +indeed, in such a case it would have been a service of danger to attempt +it. + +At night one of our sergeants played the French a trick. He took with +him a few men, and, knowing the ground well, they passed the French +sentry unobserved, having reached the house at the top of the field out +of which they had brought the table, &c., where their picquet was +stationed. He made a rush at their arms, which he found piled in front +of the house, and set to work and broke them before the French had time +to recover from the consternation into which they were thrown by so +unexpected an assault. He and his party then came running off without +sustaining any injury. He was a most determined brave soldier this, but +afterwards lost an arm at Toulouse, and was of course discharged with a +pension. + +On the 12th, the enemy made a mighty show of attacking our position, +having greatly increased their force in front of us, and had, some way +or other, found the means of spreading a report in our lines that 1800 +grenadiers had been chosen to lead on the attack. They also traced out +batteries, and cut embrasures, apparently with the intention of burning +or knocking down the chateau of Arcangues, the owner of which remained +in it all this time, and was rather suspected of holding correspondence +with his countrymen. It is not unlikely it was by his means the report +above alluded to was propagated. Every thing now wore a serious aspect, +and of course every thing was done to render their attack abortive. All +were animated with the best disposition to defend the post to the last +extremity; but while the generality believed all these preparations were +serious, there were others who thought it only a _ruse de guerre_; +indeed, had our friends, the German hussars, (with whom we had often +acted in concert,) been here at this time, it is more than probable they +would have been strongly inclined to the latter opinion, for they +scarcely ever saw the French make a great bustle and noise, as if about +immediately to advance and attack, but they would coolly say, after +eyeing them awhile, "Oh, he not come to-day!" "He go away!" and were +generally certain of being right. So full of trick and artifice are our +French antagonists, that they generally act in quite a contrary manner +to what appearances indicate. But they began to be known; hence the +scepticism of some of our people on the present occasion. Accordingly, +about midnight, when the attack was to have been made, away they went, +and retired nearly into their lines, leaving only a few to keep the +ground. + +At daylight next morning we again moved forward, on which there was a +good deal of firing between the Portuguese battalion that had followed +them and their rearguard; but when our people advanced to our old post +on the ridge, I, happening to be first, took off my cap, and, putting it +on the top of my sword, held it up, which the French taking for a signal +of peace, as it was intended, the firing on both sides ceased, each +party taking up the post they held previous to the late movements. We +wondered why the French had retired, but presently heard a tremendously +heavy firing in the direction of the Nive. Soult, it seems, had +withdrawn nearly all his troops from our flank, and marching rapidly +through Bayonne, had attacked General Hill, who commanded on the other +side of the Nive, with great impetuosity, thinking Lord Wellington had +weakened that force to strengthen us; but here again Soult was +outwitted, for he found on that side quite sufficient to give him as +sound a drubbing as he ever got; the Portuguese on this occasion, I +understand, performing wonders. + +These five days' fighting (for on every day there was firing, more or +less, in one part or other of the line) were called the Battle of the +Nive. We had had three days' work of it--they on our right two--and Sir +John Hope's people, on our left, four, I believe, and they not trifling +ones. In every thing Soult undertook, he was completely foiled--all his +schemes having been clearly seen through by his more sagacious opponent. +Indeed he had inflicted a heavy loss on our left wing, commanded by Sir +John Hope, where the fighting had been most severe, but no doubt he +suffered equally, if not more severely than they did. I am told that the +enemy's light troops were most insolent and annoying to our heavy +regiments on the left, on this occasion. What a pity that they could not +have been opposed by troops of a similar description! + +It may be remembered the civil officer of whom I made mention, as having +rode away with the greater part of his wardrobe hanging about his horse; +he was more fortunate than we were, for the things which he left, his +kind landlady took care of, and hid in some snug corner till the +business was over, and on his return restored them all to him. He said +the cause of his going off in such a hurry arose from a cannon-shot +having struck the lintel of the door or window of his house while he was +in the act of shaving, on which he bundled out with whatever he could +scrape together, and set off. I verily believe it must have been the +effect of imagination, for I remained behind him at least a quarter of +an hour, and although our houses were close together, I did not either +hear or see a shot fired in that direction till we had reached the hill, +nearly an hour after; but he constantly maintained that it was so. + +We again took up our old quarters in front of the church; but oh, how +changed were they now from what they had formerly been in point of +comfort! nevertheless, they still afforded us shelter from the +inclemency of the weather. Soon after dark on this evening, a rather +unpleasant affair occurred at the left advanced post of our division. An +officer and two men coming from the French advance, with what intention +is not known, were observed by the corporal who was stationed at our +abatis, who immediately took out his rifle and shot the officer through +the body, on which his two men lifted him up and carried him into their +picquet-house. We were apprehensive this would put an end to that good +understanding which had hitherto subsisted between the picquets of the +two nations, and much regretted the circumstance. It is more than +probable the officer was coming as a sort of patrol, to ascertain +whether or not we had left the post, which, being a military +undertaking, subjected him to all the chances of war attendant thereon. +This is the more probable from his having two soldiers with him armed, +as I understand they were; but if it was meant as a friendly visit, as +formerly sometimes took place, it was greatly to be lamented; however, +they did not, on account of this occurrence, manifest any soreness or +ill-will afterwards, and the mutual good understanding continued to +subsist between us. + +While we remain at rest here a short space, I will endeavour to put the +reader in possession of the character of the inhabitants, among whom we +have been sojourning for a few months past--I mean the Biscayans. From +the time we crossed the Ebro, a wonderful change took place in the +appearance of the natives; and I believe the same description of people +extend considerably into France, although under another government; +they, I understand, still retain their ancient customs, dress, and +language; they are denominated Basques, from the name of the province, I +apprehend, which is called Biscay. They speak a different language from +either the Spaniards, who border them on one side, or the French, on the +other; and some of our officers who spoke Welsh, said they could +understand a few of their words; it is denominated the Basque language. +They generally wear cloth of their own manufacture, which is commonly +blue, in some parts red or brown; in the neighbourhood of Pamplona, +almost always the latter. The men wear a sort of Scotch bonnet, with a +short jacket and trowsers, and are an amazingly athletic and active +people. The women wear a short jacket also, of the same colour with +their petticoat; and with their hair, which they encourage to grow to a +great length, plaited in one large plait, and tied with a small piece of +ribbon; it is allowed to hang down their back, and almost in all cases +reaches to, or below their middle. They wear a handkerchief tastefully +disposed upon their head. They are a fine, tall, and handsome race of +women; but they have a custom of compressing their breasts, so that they +appear as flat in the bosom as the men, which, to an English eye, is not +becoming. The women do the same kind of work as the men, that is, they +plough, and labour at all sorts of husbandry; but what seemed most +remarkable to us, was their sole management of the ferry-boats about +Passages and St Sebastian; they row as well as any men, being amazingly +strong and active; they seem content with their lot, and always appeared +cheerful and happy. I believe they are strictly virtuous; and although +very handsome in general, they did not seem so fond of admiration as the +females of many other countries are; upon the whole, I think they +resemble the Welsh more than any other people with whom I am acquainted; +their countries are exceedingly similar, being mountainous, and in +general not over fruitful, so that constant labour seems to be rendered +absolutely necessary to insure to them the means of subsistence; hence +they are industrious and frugal, and, upon the whole, an interesting and +moral people. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + The Author's Battalion quartered in Aurantz on 3d January, + 1814--The Cantonments at Aurantz broke up on 16th February, and + the Campaign of 1814 commenced--Farther Advance into + France--Skirmishing with the Enemy--Military Manoeuvres--Battle + of Orthes--Defeat and Pursuit of the Enemy--Succession of + Attacks on them--They are driven from their Position in and + near Tarbes--Skirmishing at Tournefoile--The Enemy retire + towards Toulouse. + + +On the 3d of January 1814, we were ordered to quit a part of the +country, which, from the various occurrences that had taken place since +we first arrived in it, had, in some measure, rendered it interesting to +us. We moved a little to the right, and crossed the Nive, and again +moved in advance about a league or more. This movement was made in +support of some operations which Lord Wellington was conducting in the +direction of the Adour, which being completed, we returned to the Nive, +and took up our cantonments in the villages of Ustaritz and Aurantz. +About this time, nearly the whole of the peasantry, who had fled on our +entering France, were now returning to their habitations, all fear that +we should murder them, and eat their children, having by this time been +completely dissipated. Indeed we were often told after this, that they +would much prefer having a British army among them, to their own people, +for they were always haughty, they said, and overbearing, and never +scrupled to take whatever they had a mind for, while we were orderly and +quiet, and never took an article without amply repaying the owner for +it. Indeed I am well convinced the change the poor people had made in +their lodgers was greatly for the better to them. + +My battalion was quartered in the village of Aurantz, from which we +often took a stroll, to look at the scene of our late operations. The +French having, in consequence of Lord Wellington's movements near the +Adour, strengthened their army in that direction, which of course +rendered it necessary they should contract the limits of their front on +the side towards Spain, they had consequently withdrawn their advance +considerably within their former lines. We now also had plenty of +opportunity for shooting, but were but ill supplied with fowling-pieces, +or we might have killed an abundance of woodcocks, every thicket in the +neighbourhood being filled with them. + +The weather now was extremely bad, and the roads impassable, except by +yourself wading up to the knees, or having your horse almost continually +nearly up to his belly. In consequence of the difficulty of +communicating by dragoons, on account of the roads, telegraphs were +established all along from the right of the army, on the banks of the +Adour, to St Jean de Luz on our left, the head-quarters of the army. +While in these cantonments, an account arrived of our gallant +Major-general (Kempt) having been appointed to the colonelcy of the 8th +battalion of the 60th regiment, which had just been raised. At the +recommendation of my commanding-officer, now Major Balvaird, the general +kindly transmitted my name to the War Office for the appointment of +paymaster of his battalion; but unfortunately for me, before my name +arrived, his late Royal Highness the Duke of York, as Colonel-in-chief +of the regiment, had nominated another person to the situation. It had +always hitherto been customary for Colonels-commandant, and not the +Colonel-in-chief, to nominate their own staff, but on this occasion +another rule was adopted, which, of course, was a great disappointment +to me, as I had, with considerable trouble, got all my sureties, &c. +prepared, although they were now not needed. + +I had, during our stay here, one or more trips to the paymaster-general +for money, for although the paymaster of the battalion had by this time +arrived, I had several months' pay still to draw, the army being +considerably in arrear in their pay. I had thus an opportunity of +visiting St Jean de Luz, and all the enemy's late fortifications and +position in that neighbourhood, and amazingly strong they had indeed +rendered the ground in front of that town. It was a considerable and +well-built town, partaking a good deal of both the Spanish and French +character of course, it being the first French town next to the +frontier; and, as I said before, there being very little difference +between the Basques on either side of the Bidassoa, the change of +countries in respect to inhabitants was not very observable except among +the better orders. + +On the 16th of February we broke up from our cantonments in Aurantz, and +commenced the campaign of 1814, crossing the Nive at Ustaritz, and +moving on in the direction of La Bastide de Clarence. We encamped on a +wild heath, without any village or town being near us, and again the +next morning continued our route to the place above-named, which we +reached about noon, and encamped on a hill beyond it. + +On the 22d we advanced to St Palais, having passed other villages, the +names of which I have forgot, in the intermediate days. Nothing, +however, of any note occurred in that period. On the 23d we encamped +near La Chere and Charrette; on the 24th we crossed two rapid and deep +streams of the Bidowse. The first we got over with considerable +ease,--it was the Gave de Mauleon, which we crossed at Nabes; but the +second, the Gave d'Oleron, was not only both deeper and more rapid than +the other, but the passage seemed intended to be disputed with us; some +French cavalry having made their appearance on the opposite bank, as we +approached the river. The resistance they could offer, however, seemed +very trifling, for, on our bringing up some guns to the bank, and a few +shots having been fired from them, and from a company of our second +battalion, they withdrew. + +We now prepared to go over; accordingly, every man was ordered to take +off his pouch and buckle it on the top of his knapsack, the ford being +so deep as to take the men up to or above the middle. On this occasion I +had I know not how many of the poor men hanging about me and my horse. +Some were holding by the stirrup, some by the tail, and others by the +mane, or wherever they could lay hold, for the stream was so rapid as to +nearly sweep them off their legs. Indeed I understand several of those +who followed us were actually swept down, and perished. + +On reaching the farther bank, we found the French had endeavoured to +render it impassable, by throwing harrows, &c., with their spikes +upmost, in the only places where you could ascend from the river. I +believe a trumpeter of the French was all who fell on this day. + +We passed through Ville Neuve, and formed in a field beyond the village, +till the whole division had got over. It was in this village where the +scene between the mother, the child, and some of our officers, took +place. When joined and formed, we moved on to a high and ugly common, +not far in rear of the village of Orion, where we bivouacked for the +night. It was most uncomfortable. + +Before we reached our ground this evening, we observed, at a short +distance to our left, a body of about 200 French infantry moving on +parallel to us, but apparently making all haste to get away in front of +us. Some suggested the idea of attacking and taking them prisoners; but +as they were rather before us, it could not have been done without +setting one of the battalions at them in double-quick time, and which +would not have been an easy operation, after a long and fatiguing march, +and fording two rivers. Besides, as our Quartermaster-general said, it +was certain they could not be far from their support; consequently it +would only bring on an affair, which it was not the General's wish to do +at that time, for there was none near to support us should the enemy +send a force against us. This day General Picton's division had a sharp +affair at Navarreins, where they forced the passage of the Gave we had +crossed. + +On the 25th, we moved forward early in the morning, and on reaching the +village of Orion, we found that Soult had had his head-quarters the +night before, with a considerable portion of his army, in and around the +village; it was therefore fortunate we did not attack the French +detachment before mentioned, for we should certainly have had Soult, +with all his people, upon our single division. A French band had +remained in this village till our arrival, having deserted in a body +from the regiment to which they belonged, or they, seeing they could not +make their escape, pretended to desert and join our army. + +We bent our course towards Orthes, which was now only a few leagues in +front of us. A man brought a cask of excellent wine to the roadside, +with the intention of giving every man of the division a drink, but we +could not wait, and were consequently obliged to leave the good man's +gift. It showed that either good-will or fear had prompted him to this +act. I rather think the former was the cause, as he lived some distance +from the road. We had not continued long on the march, till we heard a +loud and thundering explosion in front of us, which, as it was expected, +turned out to be the bridge of Orthes, which the enemy had blown up. A +short while after we came in sight of the town, and one of our +Portuguese Caçadore regiments being sent forward, a smart skirmish +commenced between them and the French, who had been left on and about +the bridge to prevent our repairing it. I foolishly went down to see +what was going on, and had nigh paid for my curiosity. + +We took up our ground behind a height which overlooked the town, through +which the enemy were passing in large columns. In consequence of this, +we got some guns into a field in front of our hill, and commenced a +cannonade upon them, which, we could observe, made them hurry their pace +considerably. They also brought some heavy field-guns to bear upon us, +and fired some shots, but without doing us much injury. Throughout the +whole of the road by which the French had come before us, desolation and +misery marked their footsteps; and in the village of Orion, where Soult +himself had slept the night before, nothing could exceed the despair and +misery of the few remaining inhabitants, who told us they had been +literally stripped of their all; indeed, they appeared most forlorn and +wretched beings, and, as might be expected, poured out the most heavy +and bitter complaints, not unmingled with imprecations, on the heads of +their plundering countrymen. I went into a poor weaver's house here, +where, if I mistake not greatly, the marauders had actually cut the web +he was weaving out of the loom, and carried it off with them. + +We remained on this ground all night, and the next morning his lordship +was intently occupied for a considerable time in reconnoitring the +enemy's position. At length, as if he had fully made up his mind how to +act, he ordered our division to fall in, which was promptly obeyed; +then, sending his staff with directions, we were ordered to file to the +right, and to move down towards the river, apparently with the intention +of crossing a little above the bridge, which had been destroyed. On the +other side, immediately opposite what appeared to be the ford, were +large bodies of infantry, together with a great quantity of artillery. + +I recollect my battalion was leading the division, and it appeared at +this moment as if we were going to be engaged in a most arduous and +hazardous undertaking; for the enemy's artillery would have swept us off +the face of the earth before we could possibly have reached the farther +bank; however, this was only a _ruse de guerre_, and a most deep-planned +and well-executed one it was; for while we were moving down towards the +river, a staff-officer came riding, and ordered us all to hide as much +as possible from the view of the enemy, by crouching down, &c. as we +moved along. It may seem rather paradoxical to be ordered thus to act, +at the same time that we wished the enemy to observe our movement; but +the fact is, there were probably a thousand eyes fixed on us all the +time we lay here, and who watched most closely our every movement; +consequently, we could not stir without the enemy being aware of it; and +if on this occasion we had made a show and a parade of our movement, it +would have been suspected as only a feint at once, as the French +themselves, from often practising this stratagem, would have penetrated +immediately our object. But our Chief went a step too deep for them, +adepts as they are in all the arts of this kind; for he made a pretence +of hiding from them his movement, knowing well that we were observed; +and this completely deceived them. This threat of crossing here was made +in order to favour the construction of a bridge about eight or ten miles +down the river, and the crossing there by another division, as they were +thus enabled to guess where the principal force for opposition would be +required. I believe a better planned or more successful stratagem was +never practised. But I own, when we were marching down to the river to +cross in front of the immense masses which we saw ready to oppose us, I +believed that few would survive to tell the tale hereafter. + +The moment when we were just opening from the covered ground to plunge +into the river, we were instantly countermarched with all expedition, +and moved down the river at a quick pace till we reached the pontoon +bridge which had been so successfully constructed and thrown over at the +village of Sala. This being now perfectly safe, we encamped at the +village for the night. + +On the morning of the 27th, we early crossed the river called the Gave +de Pau, and moved forward in the direction of the town of Orthes by the +great road. On the right bank of that river, when we came within about +two miles of the town, we were moved more to our left, ascending the +high ridge which runs parallel with the river, and on which the French +had taken up a strong position, and were said to be between 30,000 and +40,000 strong. One division had been ordered to move along the summit of +this ridge, on which ran the great road to Peyrehourade, and to attack +the enemy on that flank, while our division communicated with that and +the 3d division to our right. When the action was commenced, the 2d +division had been directed to ford above the bridge, where our feint had +been made the day before, and passing through the town, to attack on the +opposite flank, and thus cut off their retreat towards the Pau. The +enemy's position proved to be exceedingly strong, and difficult of +access by us. + +The action commenced by the 4th division attacking on the road leading +along the ridge, where an obstinate and bloody conflict took place, +without our people being able to make any impression. The attack of the +3d division, on our right, also commenced immediately after; but such +was the nature of the ground on this side, being mostly in long pointed +ridges, running out like the rays of a star, and which were exceedingly +strong, that no efforts were able to force them from this ground. + +General Hill had by this time got over the river, and was approaching +the position. My division, having been deprived of two of its regiments, +which had been sent, previous to the commencement of our operations this +spring, to receive their clothing at St Jean de Luz, being rendered weak +in consequence, it was kept in reserve, as I before mentioned. During +this unsuccessful attack, our gallant Chief was for a considerable time +immediately in front of us, watching with the most anxious care every +motion of both armies. He appeared to me to be extremely thoughtful and +serious on the occasion, as our troops did not succeed in forcing this +stronghold of the enemy. The firing at this time was extremely animated, +particularly on the ridge to our left, where great slaughter was made on +both sides. And the French having discovered where he and his staff were +assembled, opened a smart cannonade on the group, but without doing any +mischief, I believe, and without being noticed by him. Their shots +generally fell about our division, which was formed immediately behind +the hill on which he stood. + +At length, whether from the request of Colonel Barnard, who was at this +time by his lordship's side, or whether by his own direction, I know +not, but the Colonel was ordered to take on the 52d and 1st Portuguese +belonging to the Caçadores, our 2d brigade, and endeavour to force a +passage through the French line, by the gorge of the valley, which lay +immediately in his front, and they would thus, if successful, penetrate +into the centre of the enemy's position. They accordingly moved up the +valley in column of companies, sustaining all the time the most galling +and destructive fire, for the enemy were thus on each of their flanks, +as well as in front. When they reached within a short distance of the +centre height, they formed line, and moving on at a brisk pace and +carrying every thing before them, they drove the enemy from the plateau, +and thus penetrated into the very heart of their army. This was a most +daring and intrepid movement, for although assailed by ten times their +force, and nearly surrounded by the enemy, these gallant corps hesitated +not to push on, although the very elements seemed as it were to fight +against them; for on the brow of the enemy's position the fire had been +so heavy and so incessant, that the very furze bushes and herbs of all +kinds were in a blaze along the front, through which, with innumerable +foes behind it, these gallant men forced a passage at the point of the +bayonet. + +This movement had the effect of at once deciding the fate of the day, +for Soult seeing his very centre and strongest position carried, which +separated between his wings, at once ordered a retreat of his whole +force. The remainder of our division were now despatched with all speed +in pursuit of the flying enemy, but they never attempted after this to +make a stand, and nothing was left for us to perform but to give chase +to the fugitives. When we reached the enemy's centre position, we found +that every thing had been cleared away which could in the least impede +his movements; every hedge and ditch had been completely levelled, so +that nothing remained but a beautiful plain on the top of the ridge, +except where works of defence had been thrown up. We were not successful +in capturing any of the enemy, except the wounded, who had necessarily +been left on the field, and we did not lay hold of any of his materiél, +except a few guns which he had been obliged to abandon in a swamp below +the position. + +I have related only such things as fell within my own observation, but +no doubt many were the heroic and gallant deeds that were performed in +this hard contested battle, besides what I have detailed. As might be +expected, the gallant 52d and its supporting corps, the 1st Portuguese +Caçadores, suffered dreadfully, leaving probably one-fourth of their +numbers on the field. But I must not omit mentioning one trait of +gallantry which attracted the admiration of the whole army. Lord March +(now the Duke of Richmond) had for some time been on the personal staff +of Lord Wellington, where his services had been most efficient. He also +was at this time a captain in the 52d regiment, but from his high civil +rank had never served as an infantry officer with his regiment. He was +determined to know and practice his duty in every situation, and +therefore requested leave from his lordship to be permitted to join his +corps as a captain, which was granted of course, and this was his first +debut in the character of an officer of foot. It was no doubt a sharp +trial; and poor fellow, while bravely leading on the company which his +Majesty had intrusted to his command, he fell dangerously (then supposed +mortally) wounded. This was a noble example to set our young nobility, +and they cannot do better than to follow such a precedent. I understand +he has been heard to say, "that the chance of a staff-officer being hit +in action, is not near so great as that of an officer of infantry, who +must quietly brave all that comes against him, while a staff-officer, +being well mounted, can quickly get out of danger; and that if a +gentleman wishes truly to learn his profession as an officer, he ought +to serve for a time in the infantry whilst engaged in operations in the +field." + +This was a most decided, but withal an unfruitful victory, and only +tended to establish more firmly the superior skill of our commander, and +the superior bravery of the British army. We had heard of the +proceedings of the allies in the north, and of a number of the French +generals having deserted the cause of their once potent, but now fallen +master. And I verily believed that Soult had collected his whole force +together here for the express purpose of either allowing himself to be +surrounded, and thus make a show of being compelled to surrender, or of +inducing his whole army to come over at once to the side of the +Bourbons, but in all these conjectures I was completely mistaken; for +whatever may have been Soult's faults as a man, he has always shown +himself a consistent and an able defender of the cause he first +espoused, and as such is certainly respectable. + +We pursued the flying columns of the enemy for about two leagues beyond +the field of action, crossing in our pursuit the river Luy de Bearne, +and at night took up our abode in bivouack, near the village of Bonne +Garde. The night proved extremely cold and frosty, for in the morning +when I intended to arise, I found my cloak frozen to the ground. We had +no kind of covering. My commanding-officer had taken up his abode in a +cottage close by, where there was no bed but what the people occupied. +He therefore got into the kneading-trough, in which he slept very +comfortably; but in the morning I remember he turned out like a miller. + +We started soon after daybreak, and continued our march, crossing the +small river Luy de France. Here I remember our assistant +Quartermaster-general told us what great difficulty he found in +obtaining information from the inhabitants as to the by-roads which run +parallel to the great road from Orthes; for these good people could not +conceive why he should be hunting after by-roads of this description, +which were generally very bad, while the great road, which was always +good, lay so near the line by which he wished to move, not knowing +perhaps, or not understanding, that other divisions of the army were +moving on the high-road, while we wished to make a corresponding +movement on their flank. They would always, however, after directing him +how to proceed for a while, bring him again on to the great road, which +he wished to avoid for the reason before given. + +The comfort, and the efficiency of an army in the field depends more, I +am persuaded, on the abilities and zeal of officers in the +Quartermaster-general's department, than on any other branch of the +service; for if they are remiss or unacquainted with their duty, the +marches and counter-marches, the halts, and the changes of direction, +are so numerous and annoying, that the spirits and strength of the +troops are soon worn out, and of course dissatisfaction and inefficiency +soon follow. But to the credit of the officers of this department at the +period of which I am writing, I believe never army possessed more able, +more zealous, or more active staff-officers, than we did, and that +principally owing to the excellent example set them by the head of this +department, than whom a more able conductor of an army does not exist. +On one of these occasions when our assistant Quartermaster-general had +occasion to wait upon the authorities of a village, he jokingly asked +them for passports, as is customary in France, to proceed into the +country. "Ma foi," says the worthy Mayor, "you obtained your passports +at Vittoria, you need no others now." + +We halted for the night near the village of Duerse. In the morning, we +forded the Adour near a small village, the name of which I forget, and +making a long and rapid march, we took possession of the city of Mont de +Marsan, where we found immense magazines of provisions, which had been +collected by the enemy. This was the most valuable capture that had been +made by the British army since its arrival in the Peninsula; for +although a great deal of treasure was obtained at Vittoria, yet a +considerable portion of that fell into the hands of individuals; but +this was secured for the benefit of the whole army. The enemy had +abandoned the city previous to our arrival, consequently it was a +bloodless conquest, which rendered it the more valuable. Mont de Marsan +is what may be termed a fine and an extensive city, containing about +3000 inhabitants. + +The people received us kindly upon the whole, and showed us great +attention. Here we had superb quarters, and the change from what we had +lately been accustomed to, produced a rather uncomfortable feeling; for +our clothes and all our equipments so little corresponded with the +magnificence around us, that we should have preferred less stately +mansions, if comfortable, as more congenial with our respective +establishments. But we did not long enjoy our splendid lodgings; for, +having secured the booty, we left the city, and returned to the banks of +the Adour. The march both to and from this city had been along straight +flat roads, cut through an immense pine forest, with which this +department is almost completely covered. The roads had been for some +time much traversed, and having a sandy bottom, were consequently very +bad at this season of the year; added to which, a violent storm of snow +and sleet assailed us all the march of this day, which made it a rather +uncomfortable business. We halted for the night in a village named, I +think, St Maurice, and the next day were moved into St Sever, a +considerable town on the left bank of the Adour, in which Lord +Wellington had taken up his head-quarters. Here we remained some days, +doing duty over his lordship, when we crossed to the right bank, and +moved up the river, halting at the town of Grenade. We next morning +continued our route up that bank till we reached Barcelonne, a +considerable town some little distance from the river, and nearly +opposite Aire, a large town on the left bank, and near which General the +Hon. Wm. Stewart, with the 2d division, had had a smart brush with the +enemy on the day we captured Mont de Marsan. + +On the evening of the 10th we halted at the village of Arblade, and, on +the 11th, entered Tarsac, where we remained for the night. We were next +morning pushed on to a village in front, about a league distant, but +were allowed to remain there only for one night, for the enemy now began +to appear in our front in considerable force. We were consequently +withdrawn, and, passing through Tarsac, the division formed in a wood +about half-way between that and Aire. We expected something serious was +about to occur, but, from what cause I know not, the enemy again +retreated, leaving a body of cavalry on the road about half-a-league +beyond Tarsac, to which we again returned and took up our quarters. + +On the 16th, as these fellows still continued so near us, although +evidently without any infantry to support them, it was determined either +to drive them away or take them prisoners. I must observe, our 15th +hussars were at this time occupying Tarsac with ourselves, and one +squadron of them were selected for this service. The advance of the +French consisted only of one squadron, the remainder of their regiment +being at some distance in rear as supports; consequently it was but fair +that an equal force should attack them. Captain Hancox's squadron (in +which was Captain Booth, with his troop) was pitched upon for this +affair. The remainder of the 15th were drawn out to support them, if +needed, but were not to take any part in the combat. Every one of course +went out to see the fight. + +Accordingly this squadron moved on to the front, and steadily advanced +upon the enemy, who seemed determined to stand the charge, as they put +every thing ready to receive our gallant dragoons. When within a proper +distance the word "trot" was given, and soon after "gallop," and then +"charge," when our fellows dashed in among the French, upsetting them in +all directions, and cutting many of them down to the ground. In a few +minutes the business was settled, for our people returned, bringing in +with them the captain commanding, (and who, I believe, had been +personally engaged with Captain Hancox,) with about twenty-five men, +prisoners. The rest made their escape. The French captain, and the +greater part of the twenty-five men, were wounded, and some were left +dead on the road. + +I shall not soon forget the little wounded captain. He, I believe, was +either a native of Tarsac, or somewhere near, and had been determined +to show his valour to the utmost; hence his standing, when he ought to +have retired; but all the way, as they were bringing him along into the +village, and after he reached the house where he directed them to take +him, he kept crying out, "I'm as brave as a lion!--I'm as brave as the +devil!" and could scarcely be got to hold his peace while the surgeon +was dressing him. Most piteous moaning was made by many of the +inhabitants, to whom it seems he was well known. + +We understood afterwards that this regiment, the 13th French hussars, +had fallen rather under the displeasure of Soult, for some ill conduct +on a former occasion, and that they were thus determined to wipe off the +stain and retrieve their character; but they would have shown more +sense, and have rendered more service to their country, had they retired +when they saw it was determined to drive them away. + +On the 18th, we again advanced by the road the French had taken, and, +crossing the Adour at the bridge and village of La Row or Arros, we +pursued our route till we reached the town of St Germain's, where we +halted for a short space; and thence to Plaisance, a good town, where we +remained for the night. An unfortunate circumstance occurred in or near +this town, which might have produced the most disastrous +consequences:--A man, who most likely had been resisting the plundering +of his house, was basely murdered by some soldier or soldiers of the +division; but although every endeavour was made to discover the +perpetrators of this vile act, they could not be found out; but a +subscription was set on foot among the officers of the division, and 100 +guineas were collected and paid to the unfortunate widow, who, though +grieved for the loss of her husband, was thankful for the money. I +strongly suspect my friends the Portuguese were the culprits on this +occasion. + +On the 19th we again moved forward, and, passing Obrigort, halted for +the night at the village of Aget. Towards the close of this day's march, +we both heard and saw smart skirmishing, down on the great road which +runs parallel to the ridge on which we were, and from Auch to Tarbes, +along the plain on our right, and passes through Vic Bigore. Near this +town the firing was very brisk. We understood it was Picton's division +driving the French before them. + +The next morning we started early, and, continuing our march along the +ridge of the height on which our last night's quarters were situated, we +reached pretty soon the town of Rabasteins, where we learnt that the +enemy had taken up a position in and near the town of Tarbes. We, +accordingly, changing our direction, moved to our right, down the road +leading from the former to the latter place. We passed on this road the +sixth division, which, it seems, was ordered to keep on the flank of the +enemy, which, should he make a stand, this division was to turn. When we +got within about a mile and a half of Tarbes, we discovered the enemy +posted on a strong woody height on the left of the road, with a windmill +on its highest and most distant point. + +The whole of our 95th people were accordingly ordered forward, to +endeavour to drive them from this position. My battalion formed the +right, the 2d battalion the centre, and the 1st battalion the left of +our line of skirmishers. We found them covered in front with a great +number of light troops, which occupied us some time in driving in, and +in which service we suffered considerably, for they occupied the hedges +and dikes on the high ground, from which it was necessary we should +dislodge them. We had also a considerably-sized brushwood to pass +through before we could get at them. At length, after much smart +skirmishing, we gained the height, but found the whole of their heavy +infantry drawn up on a steep acclivity, near the windmill, which allowed +them to have line behind line, all of which could fire at the same time +over each other's heads, like the tiers of guns in a three-decker. We +continued, however, to advance upon them, till we got within a hundred +paces of this formidable body, the firing from which was the hottest I +had ever been in, except perhaps Barossa. At this moment I received a +shot through my right shoulder, which compelled me for a moment to +retire; but meeting the main support of my battalion advancing with +Colonel Ross at its head, and finding my wound had not disabled me, I +again advanced with him, until we got close under the enemy's line, and +took post behind a hillock, which protected us from their fire. + +We here found Colonel Norcott, who then belonged to the 2d battalion, +riding about on his large black mare; but he had not ridden long till he +also was wounded through the shoulder, from which he still suffers. +While we were in this situation, a shot struck a captain of ours in the +side where he had his drinking-horn slung; in fact it struck both the +horn and his side; but, from some cause, it did not penetrate the flesh, +but bruised it sore, which is generally painful. The captain, and those +about him, thought he was shot through the body; they accordingly picked +him up, and were carrying him off to the rear, when he cried, "Stop, let +me feel," and putting his hand down to the place, and finding no wound, +he sprung out of their arms, and, with the most ludicrous appearance +possible, returned to his post again. No one present could refrain from +laughing at the ridiculousness of this occurrence, although at the +moment the men were falling fast around us. At this time also, a spent +shot, one which I imagine had first hit the ground, struck me on the +left arm, but did not injure me. I now thought it better to go to the +rear to get my shoulder dressed, immediately after which I became quite +faint from loss of blood. The firing still continued most animated on +both sides; but before an hour had elapsed, the French were driven +completely from every position they held on this very strong hill; and +as I returned, (after having been dressed, and having swallowed some +spirits to remove the faintness,) I found them posting away with all +expedition to the plain below, some guns, which had just arrived, giving +them an occasional shot, but from which they did not suffer much, they +marched with such rapidity. We immediately followed them down to the +plain, on reaching which, we perceived a body of French troops coming +apparently from the town of Tarbes, pursued by the 3d division, with +whom they had been engaged, and which, with some exertion, we thought we +could intercept and cut off; but they, perceiving our intention, +inclined considerably to the right, and marching with all speed, they +got away before us. + +The enemy now having all retired across the plain, began to take up a +strong position on a height at its extremity, towards which we continued +to advance; but Lord Wellington having expected that the 6th division +would by this time have reached their position, and, attacking in flank, +have rendered our attack in front more likely to succeed, and they not +making their appearance, although it was now nigh dusk, he ordered the +divisions here to halt, and bivouack for the night on the plain. I never +saw any one more disappointed, or apparently more annoyed by this last +order, than our Adjutant-general, the lamented Sir Edward Packenham; he +was for attacking them at once; but this could not have been done +without a great sacrifice of excellent troops, as all those were who now +filled the ranks of the British army, having by this time been +completely seasoned, and become almost invaluable. In reviewing the +operations of this day, I need say little, as facts speak for +themselves. The enemy had on the Windmill hill, as it was vulgarly +called, or more properly the hill of Oleac, I believe a whole division, +consisting of at least 5000 or 6000 men, while not a shot was fired by +any but by the sixteen companies of my regiment, amounting probably to +1000 or 1100 men; it is true the other regiments of the division were +drawn up in rear of us, and would have supported us had we been +repulsed. But it is not so much to the driving away of this so much +stronger force, that I would draw the reader's attention, as to the +great loss the enemy sustained, and solely from our fire. I believe I +shall not be far from the truth, if I state their loss in killed and +wounded as equal to the whole strength of our sixteen companies. + +Lord Wellington, in his dispatch, mentions the destruction caused in the +enemy's ranks as unusually severe; hence the advantage of rifles over +the common musket, or else the superior mode of using our arms beyond +what is practised in the line. The Americans tauntingly tell us, our +soldiers do not know how to use the weapons that are put into their +hands; and, truly, if we are to judge by the awful destruction which +they have occasionally inflicted upon our brave soldiers, we should be +led to suspect that they understand this science much better than +ourselves. It might, however, be easily remedied, if more attention were +paid to the instruction of the recruit in this most essential +qualification, and more time and ammunition devoted to target practice; +but, at the same time, every officer should be made to know something of +projectiles in general, or he will, as at present, be incapable of +instructing his men. I will venture to assert, that eight out of ten of +the soldiers of our regular regiments will aim in the same manner at an +object at the distance of 300 yards, as at one only 50. It must hence be +evident that the greater part of those shots are lost or expended in +vain; indeed the calculation has been made, that only one shot out of +200 fired from muskets in the field takes effect, while one out of +twenty from rifles is the average. My opinion is, that our line troops +ought to be armed with a better description of musket. If five shillings +more were added to the price, it would make a great difference in the +article, and be very trifling to the public. Our army has always been +too sparingly supplied with flints, which may be had almost for an old +song; but if wanted in the field, nothing can supply their place. Many a +brave soldier has fallen while hammering at a worn out flint. It is true +we can, with the weapons we have, drive any other army out of the field, +but not without occasionally sustaining an overwhelming loss, +particularly when opposed to the Americans; and could we meet them with +the same advantages they possess in point of shooting, our chances of +victory would be greater, and at less expense. These are my private +opinions only, and are deduced from the experience I have had, both as a +heavy infantry soldier and a rifleman. I am now firmly persuaded, that +of the near 200 shots I fired on the 2d of October 1799, in Holland, not +one took effect, from my total want of knowledge how to aim. What an +useless expenditure this was of both time and ammunition! Much indeed +has lately been done by Sir Henry Torrens, to supply the deficiency of +which I have been speaking, but still not sufficient, in my opinion, to +remedy all the evils attendant thereon. + +Our loss on this occasion was very heavy, being about 100 men and eleven +officers killed and wounded; the proportion of officers being nearly +double what usually takes place. The regiments which supported us also +had some casualties, arising from the shots which passed over our heads +striking among them; but they were not considerable. My servants having +heard I was wounded, went to Tarbes, (where all the wounded were +collected,) with my baggage. I should consequently have been very ill +off, had not my kind friend and messmate, Major Balvaird, lent me his +tent and bed, as he himself had been ordered on picquet. Immediately +after nightfall, the enemy had all retired from the position in front of +us. We accordingly next morning continued the pursuit, and halted at +night at the village of Lannemazen, not far from the borders of the +Pyrenees, towards which, in their retreat, they had been inclined. This +day and night, my shoulder had become extremely painful. We started +again in the morning; but leaving the Pyrenees, we turned our faces more +towards Toulouse, and took up our abode for the night at a +considerable-sized town, called Castelnau; here the inhabitants received +us very kindly, and we had excellent quarters. However, on the following +morning, we were obliged to continue our march, and passing through +several villages on the road, halted for the night at L'Isle, in Dodon. +During this day's march, my poor old horse played me a sad trick. He was +one which I had been compelled to purchase as soon after I lost my +little Portuguese one by the bad shoeing of the blacksmith at Sumbilla, +as I could fall in with one for sale. He was a very tall grey horse, +rather old, and whose mouth had not been well made in his breaking; he +was withal rather stubborn, or more properly speaking stupid, +consequently he did not always obey the rein as he ought. The roads were +excessively deep and dirty, and as I was riding at the head of the +battalion, and had occasion to pull him a little to one side, for some +purpose or other, he either would not, or could not, obey the pull of +the rein; and as I had but one hand, he took advantage of it, and sat +down completely on his haunches, in the very deepest of the mire. Of +course I was tumbled right over his rump, and rolled in the mud, and +after extricating myself as well as I could, I crawled out, as pretty a +figure as may well be imagined. This, as might be expected, raised the +laugh of all who saw it, at my expense; but, uncomfortable and +ridiculous as my situation was, I was not hurt, the mud being +sufficiently deep to protect me from any injury by the fall. In this +village I fell in with a Frenchman who had just come from Toulouse, +towards which he understood we were bending our course. He gave me such +a flaming account of the "belle position" in the neighbourhood of that +town, and of the impregnable works which Soult had caused to be thrown +up, and of the superb artillery which were stationed there, and which, +he said, were those who had served in the famous battle of Austerlitz, +and of the utter improbability of any impression ever being made on them +by an enemy, that if I had given credit to the half of what he told me, +I might have been filled with fear lest all our laurels might here be +tarnished. From what motive this rather exaggerated statement was made, +I know not, but am inclined to think it was merely an inclination to +indulge in a trifling gasconade. On the 25th we reached Mont Ferrand, +where we halted for the night. + +On the 27th, in the morning, we were moved forward to the village of +Tournefoile, where it seems some of our cavalry had been quartered the +night before, but who had had their quarters beat up during the night by +a body of the enemy, who still held the ground beyond the village. My +battalion, and a Portuguese battalion, were sent forward, the remainder +of the brigade following. We found the enemy occupying the road leading +from the village to a bridge about half a mile distant, together with +the hedges and enclosures in the vicinity. My people extended to the +left, while the Portuguese battalion kept on the road. A smart skirmish +now commenced, during which the enemy gradually retired towards the +bridge; but at this time a most remarkable occurrence took place. One of +our men (the servant of a friend of mine) received a shot in the mouth, +which struck out several of his teeth. One of these was propelled with +such force by the blow that it flew at least twenty yards, and, entering +the left arm of one of the Portuguese on the road, inflicted a deep and +severe wound. When the surgeon of the 43d, who was the nearest to this +man at the time, came to dress the wounded Portuguese, he, instead of a +ball as every one expected, extracted a tooth, at which, no doubt, both +he and all about him were quite astonished; and a report was immediately +set afloat that the enemy were firing bones instead of balls. This most +extraordinary circumstance was not cleared up till they were informed of +our man having had his teeth knocked out, when, after comparing the +relative situations of the two men, it became quite evident how this +most uncommon wound had been inflicted. If any thing like a joke might +be permitted on such an occasion, it may with great propriety be said, +the Frenchman who fired the shot had killed two birds with one stone. I +happened to be near our man at the time, and besides seeing him wounded, +I enquired minutely into the circumstances, or I own I should have +hesitated before I gave implicit credit to the story; so it may +probably be with my reader. Poor fellow, he had afterwards nearly all +his intestines torn out by a cannon-shot at the fatal attack near New +Orleans, and where I saw him writhing in the agonies of death; his name +was Powell, and he was, I believe, a Welshman. + +Not long after the commencement of the skirmish, the artillery on both +sides was brought into play; but the enemy kept gradually retiring till +they crossed the bridge, and as we did not pursue them, they quietly +walked off, taking the road towards Toulouse. I cannot conceive for what +purpose this body of troops had been sent here, unless it was intended +as a reconnoissance, to ascertain whether any, and what description, of +troops had arrived at this point, as their waiting, after driving out +our cavalry, to see whether any infantry approached, would seem to +indicate. Major Balvaird was conspicuously brave on this occasion. The +loss on either side was but trifling. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + The British Army cross the Garonne--Advance on + Toulouse--Prepare for the Attack--The Attack--Spaniards driven + back--Battle very hot--French completely defeated--Soult + evacuates Toulouse, and tardily adheres to the Bourbons. + + +On the 28th or 29th, we were moved forward, and after a short march we +reached a beautiful plain, with Toulouse appearing most magnificent in +the distance. Here we went into cantonments, in the different villages +and chateaux in the neighbourhood, the greater part of which were +completely deserted, and many of them most wofully sacked and plundered, +which could have been done only by their own troops. A noble and stately +mansion, belonging to a Mr Villeneuve, stood immediately in front of our +outposts, which had shared the same fate with all the others, every +article of furniture having been entirely destroyed. The cloth had been +torn from the billiard-table, the splendid pier-glasses shivered into a +thousand atoms, and, in short, every article of luxury or splendour +which a man could wish for, might have been found in this princely +habitation previous to its desertion by its owner; but now devastation +and destruction had laid its unhallowed hands on all in which its +possessor had formerly delighted. I, with my messmates, took the liberty +of visiting Mr V.'s fish-ponds, where we found some fine-looking carp; +and having some hooks by me, we caught a considerable quantity, which we +imagined would be a great treat to our messmates; but we found them +excessively muddy, and not worth eating. Here also we rejoiced in being +able to procure some good provender for our still half-starved horses +and mules. The grass and cinquefoil which we found in this beautiful and +luxuriant plain, in a few days began to make a wonderful improvement in +our poor fellow-travellers. I know not a more gratifying feeling than we +experienced in thus being able to feed the hungry; for although they +were but of the inferior creation, yet so much did our own comforts, +and, indeed, efficiency for service, depend on their being capable of +performing the task allotted to them, and so much did the circumstance +of our having passed through trials and dangers together attach us to +them, that I very frequently would have preferred getting them a meal +even at the expense of wanting one myself. Here my little Portuguese +horse, which I had originally brought from Lisbon, and who had been my +companion in all my wanderings, (except when he was left for a while +owing to his bad foot,) began to look quite brisk and lively again; for +hitherto his spirits had been very low indeed since he happened by his +misfortune, and had been literally starved into the bargain. + +A pontoon bridge having been constructed some distance above the town, +and which our engineers had been able to accomplish on account of its +being thrown over above the junction of the Ariege with the Garonne, on +the 31st we moved down towards this point, and crossing it, my battalion +was left as its guard in a village on the bank of the river. The +remainder of the division, and the ---- division,[3] moved up the Ariege +river with the intention of crossing, and thus approaching Toulouse in +that direction; but, from the heavy rains, the river was too much +flooded, which, together with the dreadful state of the roads, these +troops were unable to effect this operation, and were consequently +recalled. + +By the 2d of April the whole had recrossed the Garonne, when we again +went into our cantonments on the plain, but now farther down the river +than before. We remained here a few days, and I cannot help recording a +remarkable circumstance which took place at this time. For want of +dwelling-houses we had been obliged to put a certain number of the men +of my battalion into a sort of wine-house; it was not a vault, for it +was above ground, but had a considerable number of barrels of wine in +it, amongst which the men were obliged to sleep. It will scarcely be +credited, but not one of these men ever appeared the least intoxicated +during the whole time they lay there. Whether they were completely tired +of wine, or whether their having been placed in such a situation +produced a feeling of honour and pride among them, I know not, but I +verily believe less wine was drunk by these men during the time they +remained here, than would have been had they had to pay most +exorbitantly for it. With soldiers I believe it is as with mankind in +general; what is prohibited always appears more valuable or more +pleasurable in our eyes, than what we may with freedom enjoy. + +On the 6th we moved down the river till within a short distance of +Grenade, about twelve miles below Toulouse. We halted near a small +village, and encamped. A pontoon bridge had been thrown over the Garonne +here, and one division (I believe the 3d) had crossed; but now, owing to +the swollen state of the river, together with several attempts which +were now made by the enemy to destroy the bridge, by floating down +trees, &c. which might eventually carry it away, it loosened at the +farther end, and the anchors being taken up, the whole was allowed to +float down to our side of the river, keeping fast the end next our own +bank. We remained in this situation for several days, one division only +being on the opposite side, with which it was impossible to communicate, +or, if attacked, to afford it almost any support. Now was the time for +the enemy to bestir himself; for had he marched out of Toulouse with +half his force, and been met at this place by the force he had at +Montauban, they must have annihilated this division, or taken them +prisoners. It is true we might have rendered them some little assistance +by our artillery from the bank we occupied, but the distance was so +great that a determined enemy would not have held back from the dread of +it. + +I took a trip from hence to Grenade, where the paymaster-general had +established the military chest, as I had not yet quite finished my +paymaster's duty. It is a good-sized town, but contains nothing +remarkable, only here I remember I got some excellent wine of the +Champagne kind, and which my friend poured out of an immense magnum +bottle. I understood our Chief was most anxious to have the bridge +re-established by the 9th, which was Easter eve, the weather having now +somewhat taken up, and the river of course had fallen; but although the +engineer thought he could effect it, and had promised his lordship it +should be ready by that time, it was not passable till the morning of +the 10th. Early on that morning, my division crossed to the other side, +together with the 4th and 6th divisions, and a whole host of Spaniards. + +I omitted to mention, that these latter gentry, on their entering +France, had behaved most wantonly, and had committed numerous +atrocities; on which, his lordship, as Generalissimo, had ordered them +back to their own country again; but upon the promise of good behaviour, +and an anxious desire to participate in the honourable achievements of +the allied troops, he had granted them permission to rejoin the army, +and they were to have a post of honour assigned them at the ensuing +battle. Such was the current report which prevailed among our army +newsmongers: be it as it may, however, they were here in number, I +should think, about 6000 or 8000. The whole army now present having +crossed, except General Hill with the 2d division, advanced upon the +town of Toulouse. We here found a beautiful country and excellent roads, +along which we got on rapidly. The town stands close to the right bank +of the river, along which there are numerous quays, and over which there +is an excellent bridge, communicating with the suburb on the opposite +side, called St Cyprian. From the river on the north side of the town +runs the famous canal of Languedoc, with which it communicates by locks, +and which, encircling the town on that and on the east sides, with the +river on the west, almost entirely encloses it. On the east side of the +town, and just beyond the canal, a considerable eminence arises, forming +a sort of chain or ridge, on the top of which numerous redoubts and +batteries had been constructed, and which, both from the nature of the +ground and by the great labour bestowed upon them, had been rendered, as +the Frenchman told me, nearly impregnable. + +The 6th division, supported by the 4th, had been ordered to move +considerably to the left, and, after crossing the Garonne, to attack +this formidable position on the outer side, while the Spaniards were to +attack it immediately in front. My division was ordered to communicate +with the right of the Spaniards, and, extending down to the great +Montauban road, was to press upon the town in this direction, in order +to aid the attack upon the height before mentioned. The 3d division +joined our right at the Montauban road, and extended from thence down to +the river, and were ordered to act similarly to us. The 2d division, +under General Hill, remained on the other side of the river, and was to +co-operate by attacking the suburb before mentioned, together with the +works for the protection of the bridge, and for the same purpose of our +attack, namely, to keep the troops in these parts of the town employed, +while the 6th division and Spaniards attacked the height. Immediately in +front of our division, we found considerable bodies of troops, at some +distance from the town, occupying the houses all along the road, and +which it took us a considerable time to drive in. They had also +constructed a battery on the bridge over the canal, where the great road +passes, and from which they kept up an almost incessant fire. At the +hither end of the bridge also there stood a very large convent, which +they had fortified in a very strong manner, having loopholed the whole +of the surrounding wall, which was twenty feet high, and had also looped +the upper part of the convent, which contained a garrison of probably +1000 or 1200 men. + +We commenced operations in conjunction with the 3d division on our +right, in driving these people in, and with whom a smart firing was kept +up during the whole day. The French had also other troops beyond the +canal, and on the Moorish or Roman wall which encircled the town inside +the canal, and both of which they had fortified; so that, had it been +intended we should force the town on this side, we should have found it +a difficult undertaking: we were, however, merely (as said before) to +press upon them without committing ourselves; but unfortunately, in the +eagerness of some of our people to push forward, they got immediately +under the muzzles of the pieces of the men who were defending the +convent, and from the loopholes several of our poor fellows were shot +without being able to see their antagonists. A good number fell here; +for it was not more than thirty yards distant where they had taken up +their post, and an unpleasant one it was as well as dangerous; for they +were obliged to stand in a drain which ran from a jakes, and which of +course emitted no very desirable flavour; or, if they had left it for a +moment, they were immediately shot. Our adjutant escaped here as by a +miracle, the bole of a very small tree having stopped the ball that +would have pierced his body. When, however, we had got them fairly +driven in, we had then time to look about us, and the first thing we saw +was the Don moving on to the attack of the height with all due ceremony. +They gained the first or lower ridge without much opposition, and here +getting up some artillery, a pretty heavy fire was opened on the enemy; +but the French remained quite passive, not offering to resist the +approaching Spaniards till they got within a certain distance of their +works on the top of the hill. + +The Spaniards, elated by having gained the first ridge so easily, pushed +on too rapidly, and without having taken time to re-form their columns +after the first conquest. They were not aware either that a rather deep +ravine separated them from the enemy's works; however, on they pushed, +in a very disorderly manner, till they reached the point the French +intended they should reach, when a fire was opened out upon them, such +as they had never witnessed before. Few troops would have remained +unshaken by such a reception, but to the Spaniards it was intolerable; +consequently they broke into a thousand parties, and, turning tail, it +was who should be first away from such unpleasant doings. I am told that +Lord Wellington at this moment could scarcely hold his sides for +laughing, and cried out he "wondered whether the Pyrenees would bring +them up again, they seemed to have got such a fright." He did not indeed +depend on their valour, or he would have made a bad winding up of his +Peninsular campaign. The moment they left the height, every man took the +way that seemed to him best, and they soon after literally covered the +whole plain, and set to work with all expedition to plunder at least, if +they would not fight. Some of the villains had the audacity to come and +take a poor man's horse out of the stable of the very house which we +were then, as it were, defending, and had nigh got off with it; but +having been perceived, it was taken from them, and restored again to its +owner. + +The left of our division was now obliged to be moved up to fill the +space vacated by these vagabonds; and in doing which a good deal of hard +fighting took place. This also made the people in front of us rally +again, and coming out in great numbers hurraing and shouting, we had +something to do to drive them back. But by this time we heard, in the +distance behind the hill, a dropping and now brisker fire; by and by, +approaching the summit, it became quite animated. We could plainly +perceive now the different appearance which the French assumed; they no +longer lay supine and passive till their enemy approached their works, +but fought for every inch of ground, and all was now animation and +bustle among them, hurrying to the support of those troops who defended +the redoubts, &c. on the point assailed. The battle now raged with great +fury, each party with all their might for the mastery, and the French, +we could perceive, when compelled by sheer force to yield ground, did +it with the utmost reluctance. At length, we saw the British colour +waving on the summit of the hill, with the most deadly warfare raging on +each side of it; but every move we saw was in favour of the British. + +The 42d regiment had by this time gained possession of the principal +redoubt, which they held till their ammunition was all expended, and +which the enemy perceiving, or suspecting, again advanced, and gained +possession of it. Things did not now wear quite so favourable an aspect; +but being promptly supported by other troops behind them, a movement was +again made in advance, and again the French were expelled from the +redoubt. Great was the slaughter in and about this place, as I saw next +day when I visited it. + +The enemy were now reluctantly compelled to yield up all those famous +works, on which so much time and labour had been expended, and on which +they so much relied, and were obliged to abandon (slowly indeed) this +long disputed ridge; but they fought till they were fairly forced down +into the town, where they still kept up a feeble fire; at length it +gradually subsided. This was the principal part of the drama; but it had +many subordinate plots. On our right, General Picton, with that ardour +which ever characterised him, was scarcely well satisfied to play an +under part on this occasion; and, instead of merely keeping his +opponents in play, as I before hinted, he was for effecting a forcible +entry into the town. He accordingly attacked with his division a strong +and well-secured battery, near the canal, in doing which his brave +Connaught Rangers, who had scarcely ever hitherto known a reverse, met +with a severe and bloody repulse, in which they lost a great number of +excellent officers and men. The other corps of his division, who +co-operated, also suffered greatly. General Hill strictly obeyed his +instructions, and, as he always did, effected every object at which he +aimed. + +In this action I had another opportunity of witnessing the effect of +presentiment. Early in it I was sent forward by my commanding-officer +with some orders to a company of ours, which was in front skirmishing, +and which had taken possession of a house, which partly screened them +from the enemy's battery on the bridge. Behind this house, one of the +men was sitting on a heap of stones with the most woe-worn countenance +possible. He had separated from the rest of the men, and was sitting +here apparently ruminating on his fate, and appeared to be quite +absorbed in his meditations. I remarked him most particularly, wondering +what could render him so different from the rest of his comrades, who +were all life and animation, and from what he had formerly been himself +in action. He presently went forward with some of the other men, and +soon after fell to rise no more. The poor man's melancholy look made a +deep impression upon me at the time, together with his fate soon after. + +Thus terminated the battle of Toulouse; our troops maintaining the +ground they had gained, while the enemy had retired into the town +completely beaten. Soult seemed undetermined how to act, whether to +endeavour to hold the town, (which indeed he might have done for a day +or two perhaps,) or to leave it by the road towards the south, the only +one now open to him. We rested on the field all night, the enemy sending +an occasional shot or shell in the direction of our camp. Next morning +we still found the enemy retaining possession of the town; and nothing +being likely to be done, I rode up with another officer to see the +bloody field, with all its redoubts and batteries, and also to see, if +I could, in what situation the enemy now appeared. Just as we reached +the summit, a cry was given by the 42d sentry, "Turn out the picquet." +There was a good deal of firing going on in the suburbs nearest to the +position, which this Highlander thought it right to apprize his people +of. We looked a considerable time with our glasses, and observed a good +number of troops on a green and open space in that part of the suburbs, +and who every now and then would fire their muskets. I thought it must +either be a sort of _feu-de-joie_, or a funeral, and it turned out to be +the latter. They were burying a general officer, who had fallen the day +before, and to whom they were paying the last melancholy honours; but it +was conducted in a quite different manner from our military funerals, +for they did not fire in volleys like us; but every few minutes +apparently a few men only fired, and by and by some others. This had the +effect, however, of turning out our whole line in the neighbourhood of +the position; and as I was afterwards returning, I met Colonel Barnard +and Colonel Colborne (than whom there were not two better officers in +the army) riding up to see what was the matter. Colonel Barnard asked me +what it was. I told him what I thought it was. He said the whole line +had fallen in, thinking it was an attack. + +Towards evening we heard that the inhabitants of the city had been most +urgent on Soult to withdraw from it; and that he had promised to do so. +Indeed, had he not, Lord Wellington might, if he chose, have soon +reduced the town to ashes; for the heights we had taken were not 500 +yards distant from the city, and completely overlooked it. On the +morning of the 12th, therefore, Soult marched out, and was not molested +by our troops. He took the road to Villefranche and Carcassonne, up the +canal of Languedoc, our cavalry following their track. Now all the +loyalists came rushing out of the town to meet and welcome us; every one +wearing white scarfs or favours to denote his attachment to the +Bourbons. Now all was joy and festivity, and nothing but shaking of +hands and embracing was to be seen in all directions. This day also +arrived Lord Stewart from Paris with the account of Bonaparte's +abdication, and of the Bourbons having been reinstated. It was also +rumoured that Soult had received this news previous to the battle; but +not being inclined to yield obedience to that dynasty, he had allowed +the warfare to proceed. Indeed, what almost puts this beyond a doubt, +was his still continuing for many days after this to refuse sending in +his submission to the Bourbon government. We also heard afterwards that +the courier bringing the official information of Bonaparte's fall, &c. +had been detained by the postmaster of Montauban by Soult's direction; +for although he had had private intelligence of the fact, he imagined +the detention of the official information might screen him hereafter. +Such are the surmises of the wise heads respecting this affair, which, +as it turned out, is to be regretted; for the sacrifice of so many +valuable lives on both sides was a thing of no trifling importance; but +I believe Soult felt sore at his having been so often worsted, and hoped +here in some measure to retrieve his lost honours; for it cannot be +doubted, I believe, that he expected to be able to repel our attack at +least, if not to force us to retire from Toulouse. + +On the 13th, the divisions marched into the town; my battalion having +the fauxbourg adjoining the lately disputed position assigned to it, and +in which we found very comfortable quarters. To show that the French +people of this place took Lord Wellington either for a very generous +person, or a great fool, a man who owned a house on the border of the +position, and which the French had fortified by loopholing it, and +otherwise rendering it unfit for occupation by its owner, sent in a +memorial to his lordship, praying him to order that he might receive out +of the military chest a sufficient sum to enable him to put his house in +its former state; and this, although it had been done by his own +countrymen. I suppose his lordship would laugh at it when he saw it. I +should have been inclined to be angry with the fellow. The man showed +the memorial to the adjutant and myself before he sent it in--a step +which of course we dissuaded him from taking. + +Notwithstanding it was notorious that Bonaparte's career was at that +time finished, Soult still made a show of holding out for him; in +consequence of which the army was again put in motion to compel him +either to send in his adhesion to the new government, or to resign his +command of troops who had not now a master. He had taken up a position +near Villefranche. Accordingly, we marched, I think, on the 15th or +16th, the which rather alarmed him; and in consequence he despatched +Count Gazan with terms to offer to his lordship, the which, after some +alterations, were finally agreed upon, and the army returned once more +to Toulouse, where we resumed our former quarters. + +Thus finished the Peninsular War, the last campaign of which had been +the most active probably that is recorded in history. In ten months and +a half we had marched from the frontiers of Portugal, had completely +traversed Spain, which we had cleared of its long troublesome and +insidious invaders; had penetrated far into the interior of that +country, which three years before gave law to most of the continental +nations; and had worsted, in various actions, those troops, which, +except when encountering the British, had been accustomed almost +invariably to conquer. + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[3] Some obscurity is occasioned here and elsewhere, by blanks being +left in the MS., which the death of the good-humoured and kindly author +has rendered it now impossible to fill up.--ED. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + Author's happy state during 1813 and 1814--Character of the + veritable French--British distributed over the + Country--Civility of the Inhabitants of Grissolles--Amusements + in quarters--The British prepare to quit France. + + +When I look back on the events of 1813 and 1814, I cannot but deem that +the happiest period of my life, for I had been actively, and, as I +believed, usefully employed. My mind during this time was tranquil, and +I was, with a few exceptions, prosperous in my outward circumstances. +All those among whom my lot was cast were now sincerely friendly to me, +and I believe I may with confidence affirm that I had not (with the +exception of the person before mentioned, and who was now far removed +from me) a single enemy in the world. It is true my occupation had not +been, strictly speaking, of a Christian character, but I believed I was +fulfilling my duty; hence the peace of mind which I enjoyed. I have +since learned certainly, that a Christian, to resemble his Master, +should be more ready to save than to destroy men's lives; but, at the +same time, I cannot see why a Christian soldier should not be as +zealous in the defence of his king and country, as those who are +actuated by other motives; and it is certain, I believe, although I once +doubted whether there was such a precept, that in whatever calling or +occupation a man is in when called to become a Christian, that therein +he should abide, 1st Cor. vii. 17, 20, and 24. But I attribute the peace +of mind I then enjoyed as much to the constant employment which the +nature of our services entailed upon us, as to any other cause. Be it +remembered, I was doing the duties of both paymaster and quartermaster +during this period, and my battalion had been as often called into +action as any in the army, having been engaged in battles and skirmishes +no less than sixteen times in less than ten months. This naturally left +little time for reflection. But, above all, I am bound to render thanks +to where alone it is due, to that gracious and beneficent Being, who not +only watched over me during this period, and protected me from harm, but +who poured his choicest blessings upon me, even the blessings of a +cheerful and contented heart, together with the means of retrieving my +sadly deranged finances; for had I not been appointed acting paymaster, +I might have gone to prison on my return to my native country, from the +unavoidable losses I had sustained, and which I shall mention by and by. +Another cause of comfort and cheerfulness arose from our operations +against the enemy having been invariably successful; for we never, from +the time of our leaving the frontiers of Portugal, till we took +possession of Toulouse, met with any thing like a serious reverse. + +Most of my readers no doubt know that the city where we had now taken up +our quarters is one of the largest and finest in this part of France; +but as it has been so often described, I shall content myself with +merely informing my readers, that the people among whom we now resided +were truly and veritably French. The character of the inhabitants, +since we left our poor friends the Basques, had materially changed; that +kind, but rude and simple hospitality, which had on most occasions been +displayed by those honest mountaineers, had now given place to all that +imposing, but less sincere politeness of the real French character. We +were, indeed, treated here with every degree of respect; and perhaps +more, or at least an equal degree of attention, was paid to our +convenience and comfort, as they would have shown to their own troops. +We had every reason, therefore, to be perfectly satisfied. + +In this part of the country there are a great number of Protestants, +which, of course, permitted us to live on better terms with them than +had they been all such stanch and bigoted Catholics as we met with in +some parts of the Continent, and where our heretical presence was +frequently looked upon as a contamination; for I remember well in the +small village of Zalada, where we lay for some time, near Astorga, we +never left the village, as they supposed, for a permanency, but the joy +bells were rung for our departure. It was our lot, indeed, to be +frequently quartered in this village, and such was their invariable +custom. It is true the Padre and people of the place only expressed +openly the feeling that was covertly, but universally, entertained +throughout Spain and Portugal respecting us; for although the monks and +priests made great pretences of friendship and good-will towards us, +while we were upholding them in their iniquitous dominion over the minds +of the people, yet secretly they cordially hated us, and were glad when +at last our successes contributed to rid their country of both the +invaders and their conquerors. One noble Spanish lady, (I remember +well,) when I was quartered at Cadiz, made use of an expression which I +am sure would shock and horrify my simple and delicate countrywomen. +She said, "She should rejoice to see all the French then in their +country hung up in the intestines (las tripas) of the English, who had +come to drive them out." Thus they should get quit of both. This lady, +as might be supposed, was a most depraved and abandoned being, yet even +she, it seems, looked upon us in the light of a curse or plague sent +upon their country, rather than as a generous and gallant people, who +had not hesitated to sacrifice much, both of blood and money, in freeing +them from their French oppressors. But such, I fear, is the too general +feeling in that country; for while the innumerable religiosos which +overrun that nation maintain their cursed dominion over the minds of the +other classes, an Englishman will always be looked upon by them as a +dangerous and hateful being, uniting in himself both the mortal sins, +first, of having totally cast off the Pope's authority, and being the +subject of a free and popular government--than either of which, not even +Satan himself could be more odious to them. + +We were not allowed, however, to remain long in Toulouse, but were +distributed over the country in the neighbourhood, lines of demarcation +having been pointed out which were to separate the French and British +armies. My division was sent down the right bank of the river, and +occupied Castel Sarazin, Grissolles, and Castelnau, &c. My battalion was +stationed at Grissolles. During our stay here I had two or three +opportunities, in company with others, of going to see Montauban, the +seat of a Protestant college, and famed in romantic lore. The people +were kind and obliging, and showed us every attention; but unfortunately +a French garrison was quartered in it, the officers of which took every +opportunity of quarrelling with ours. Indeed we had no business there, +and were consequently obliged to put up with more than we should have +otherwise done, for we were strictly forbid to enter any place within +the French lines; but we did not conceive that those fellows, who had +shown themselves so friendly and polite near Bayonne, while we were +avowedly in arms against each other, would now turn round upon us when +peace was made, and endeavour to engage us in quarrels and duelling. But +I believe they felt a degree of soreness at our acknowledged superiority +as soldiers, (for even the inhabitants of Montauban, where they lay, did +not hesitate to express it,) and thus wished to be revenged for the many +victories we had gained over them. Indeed there was a sort of +recklessness about them which is not easily accounted for, unless they +supposed their occupation was gone, and cared not what became of +themselves; but they did not succeed, I think, in any instance in +obtaining their wishes, for they would not fight with pistols, the only +weapon which gives each a fair and equal chance, but insisted upon using +the sword,--a mode of fighting to which the English in general were +utter strangers. The people uniformly gave us warning as soon as ever +they learnt that a plot was laid to insult us, on which we generally +came away without subjecting ourselves to it; and when their designs +became too evident, we refrained from going there. It was only a short +distance from our quarters. + +During our stay here, also, the Marquis de Pompignan, a gentleman +residing between Grissolles and Castelnau, and where our Major-general +had taken up his quarters, gave to the officers of the brigade a +splendid fête. I know not exactly how to denominate it, for it was a +sort of dramatic medley, part of it being performed in the garden and +part in the house, where a private theatre had been fitted up; that in +the garden, it was said, was intended to represent some military +event,--I think it was the burning of Moscow, and in which the Marquis's +beautiful daughter bore a part. + +This young lady was said to be greatly enamoured of an honourable +gentleman, aide-de-camp to the General, who was quartered in their +house, and between whom it was expected a match would have taken place. +She was extremely beautiful and engaging. + +We sometimes went a-fishing while we remained here also, but were not +successful, there being none other than lake-fish, such as perch, &c., +in the neighbourhood, which were scarcely worth taking. + +Here, also, for want of better occupation, some of our young gentlemen +amused themselves by hunting and lashing the Spanish muleteers as they +were returning, after having delivered in their loads at the +commissary's stores. They always rode one mule, (sideways, like a +woman,) and led one or two more, and were most dexterous in handling the +long shank of the halter, with which they sometimes soundly belaboured +their pursuers; and had they not been set on by two or three at a time, +they would not have liked better fun than to fight one of our gentlemen +with his whip, for they saw that it was only for amusement, and +generally took it good-naturedly; but our young gentlemen, as they +generally do, carried the joke too far, and it was consequently put a +stop to. Of course none but the young and idle took any part in this +exercise. + +We had, while we lay here, also several little balls and hops; and here, +for the first time, several of our young men began to dance quadrilles; +in short, there was no want of amusement among this gay and lively +people, who are ever intent upon pleasure themselves, and who of course +found our wild and thoughtless young fellows ever as ready to second +their endeavours to get up something new and entertaining. Certainly +their morality is not the highest in the world, but their vices are most +of them divested of that coarse and disgusting appearance which similar +vices carry on their front in England; and thus, while they are +generally more pleasing, they are the more seducing, and consequently +the more dangerous. However, as no person is compelled to enter into +these scenes of dissipation and voluptuousness which they rejoice in, I +found it, upon the whole, a very comfortable country to live in. The +people were kind and civil, and were always good-natured and polite, +and, as we now had plenty of the good things of this world at our +command, I spent two months here very contentedly. It is true we had +none of those excellent privileges with which my native country abounds, +and which I have since learnt highly to prize,--I mean the privileges of +the gospel,--the food for the nobler and never-dying part; but I was +then ignorant of their value, for although I had been convinced and +convicted, I had not been converted. I was still in darkness respecting +the way, the truth, and the life, and yet my foolish and carnal mind +whispered peace; hence my contentedness in this situation. No! it was +not till some years that I discovered that there is but one way to real +happiness, but one true foundation on which to build our hope,--even +that which is laid in Zion. + +But the time had arrived for us to move down towards Bordeaux, +preparatory to our quitting France. Accordingly, on the 3d June, we +forded the Garonne, and stopped all night in Grenade, a place I formerly +mentioned. We next day reached Cadours, a village near Cologne, where +our 2d battalion was that evening quartered. In the afternoon of that +day, a storm collected in the north, which I think had the most +frightful appearance I ever witnessed. It was actually as black as night +in the direction in which we saw it. It did not reach us, but it alarmed +the inhabitants of our village so much, that they set on ringing the +church bells with the utmost fury imaginable. We could not account for +this strange proceeding till we enquired of them why it was done. They +told us the devil was in the storm, and the bells being holy, he durst +not, when he heard them, proceed any farther in that direction. Indeed +they had ample reason to be in dread of its reaching their village; for +the next day, as we passed along the country where it had raged most +furiously, the whole face of the country was desolated. It had been a +hail-storm such as I never before witnessed. The hailstones were still +lying, some of them larger than a bullet; the vines had been all +destroyed; the crops of corn completely swept from the face of the +earth. Trees knocked down, birds killed; in short, nothing could equal +the appearance of misery and woe which this awful hail-storm had +inflicted upon the unfortunate inhabitants, many of whom were going +about wringing their hands in all the bitterness of heart, which a +consciousness of being deprived of every hope of subsistence for the +year to come would naturally inspire. Indeed most of them were literally +stripped of their all. + +On the 6th we marched into Lectoure, a fine town on the river, and +famous for having given birth to Marshal Lannes, one of Bonaparte's best +generals. It stands on a high ground near the river, and overlooks one +of the richest and most beautiful plains I think I ever saw. Here I +experienced another misfortune in my steed. My little Portuguese horse +(which was now in high condition, and being an entire horse was apt to +fight) quarrelled with a large horse belonging to one of our officers, +while I was serving out the billets; and although we were both mounted +at the time, the quarrelsome animals reared up against each other, and +fought most desperately; but his, being the strongest, pulled mine and +myself down to the ground. I luckily fell clear of him, and was not +hurt; but he by some accident got a kick in his hind leg or foot, which +completely lamed him, and I could not ride him any longer. + +We passed through Condom, another fine town, and Nerac, also a good +town, and nearly full of Protestants. We next day halted at Castel +Jaloux, where I was quartered on a house of religeuse. Here my poor +little horse was so very ill that I could not drag him any farther. I +was consequently obliged to leave him with those good dames, to whom I +made him a present, and parted from him in the morning with sincere +regret. They promised to take care of him, which I hope they did. We +next reached the town of Bazas. Here there was to be another parting +scene exhibited. The Portuguese were ordered to leave us here, and +proceed towards their own country. The Spanish and Portuguese women who +had followed the men were either to be sent home from hence, or their +protectors were to consent to marry them. Some adopted the latter +alternative, having had children by them, and some others who had not, +and the remainder, of course, were compelled to separate. Our division +drew up in the morning they marched, and honoured the brave Portuguese +(for indeed they had always behaved well in the field) with three +cheers, as they turned their faces towards Portugal. Many were the heavy +hearts in both armies on this occasion; for it is not easy to conceive +how the circumstance of passing through scenes of hardship, trial, and +danger together, endeared the soldiers of the two armies to each other. +It was perhaps never before felt so fully how much each was attached to +the other; but the departure of the poor women caused many heavy hearts, +both among themselves, poor creatures, who had a long and dreary journey +before them, and among those with whom they had lived, and who had +shared in all their good and bad fortune; but among these, several on +both sides were not oppressed with too fine feelings. A friend of mine, +who was an officer in the Portuguese service, told me afterwards that +the women marched down to Spain and Portugal at the same time his +regiment did; that they formed a column of 800 or 900 strong; that they +were regularly told off into companies; and that the commanding-officer, +a major, and all the captains, were married men, who had their families +with them--all excellent arrangements; but that they were the most +unmanageable set of animals that ever marched across a country. The +officers had to draw rations for them all the way; but many of them, he +says, left the column and went wherever they pleased. Few reached +Portugal in the order in which they started. + +We reached Langon on the 12th, and Barsac on the 13th June. This latter +place is famed for a fine white-wine, something resembling sauterne. The +adjutant (who had now been my chum for some time) and I were here +quartered in a fine old baronial castle, the inmates of which showed us +great attention. A ball was given in the evening to the officers of the +brigade. + +On the 14th we halted at Castres, and on the 15th entered Bordeaux. This +was the finest town we had seen since we entered the Peninsula, except +Lisbon and Madrid. This town had been occupied by the British for some +time, a division of the army having been sent by Lord Wellington to take +charge of it in the name of Louis XVIII. + +We were not, however, destined to be quartered in this southern capital +of France, but marched right through it, on the road towards the +village of Blancfort. On the road the division was formed, and very +minutely inspected by our gallant Chief, who was dressed in all his +finery, his orders, and medals, and ribbons, &c., which he wore for the +first time that ever I had seen. He looked most splendid indeed, and +right proud were we to see him in them. After inspection we moved on to +the camp at Blancfort, where we found a great part of the army +assembled, waiting for the arrival of shipping to carry them off. Some +had sailed a considerable time before our arrival. Besides our tents, +the adjutant and I had got a cottage close by, in which our servants and +our baggage were put. We had not been here above two or three days, I +think, till his two servants, that is, his servant and groom, took it +into their heads to desert. This was not the first instance of desertion +that had taken place lately; for as we drew near the time of departure +great numbers ran off into the interior, mostly bad characters. However, +on this occasion, these worthies were determined to have something to +carry them on the road, and, without hesitation, broke open their +master's panniers, or boxes, and took away all the money he had, which +did not indeed amount to any great sum, for it was only 40 dollars, +(about L.10 British,) but it being all he was worth it was a great loss +to him. + +I have reason to be thankful to Providence for my escape on this +occasion. My paymaster's chest was standing close to the adjutant's +panniers when they broke them open, and they did not touch it, although +it contained about L.400 worth of gold. Had they taken that I might have +gone after them. I of course expressed my thankfulness for this lucky +escape, and told several people of it. I fancy some person (my groom, I +suspect) overheard me telling what a lucky escape I had been favoured +with, and determined in his own mind that I should not always come off +so well. The sequel will show: A few days after this I had occasion to +go into Bordeaux to draw some money from the Commissary-general. The +amount was 600 dollars, or about L.150. As I could not conveniently +carry them out to the camp, I requested Major Balvaird, who had a +quarter in town, to allow me to put them in his portmanteau till I had +an opportunity of getting them sent out. His servant had overheard this +conversation, and made up his mind at once to desert and take this money +with him; but providentially again I escaped. I found the means, before +night, of carrying it out to the camp, and the Major gave it me unknown +to the servant. That night he broke open the portmanteau, and, taking +every thing worth carrying away, (among which was a gold watch of mine,) +deserted, and got clear off. This money, also, had it been taken, would +have sorely crippled me, although I might perhaps have overcome the +loss. + +We marched in a few days after, passing through the district of Medoc, +famous for Bordeaux or claret wine, and halted for the night at +Castelnau de Medoc. The next day we passed through Chateau Margaux, +where the best and most expensive of the claret grows, and again +encamped at Pauillac, from whence we were to go on board. + +Now was the time for the person who had overheard me speaking about my +escape with the L.400, to make his grab and start off, or he would be +too late. Accordingly, after dark, he or they lifted up a part of the +tent where the box was standing, and, pulling it out, set off with it +bodily. But, again directed by Providence, I had taken the money out of +the box, and given it into the hands of a gentleman, to take care of for +me; and there remained in the box my papers and books, public and +private, about L.19 in money, an old silver watch, and, among other +things, the half doubloon which poor Croudace had given me to take care +of for him on the evening previous to his death at Badajos, and which I +was preserving as a memorial for his afflicted friends. + +As soon as the box was missed I instantly raised the hue and cry, and, +reporting the circumstance to my commanding-officer, he ordered the +rolls to be called, to see if any man had deserted; but no, they were +all present. I then offered a reward of forty dollars to any one who +would bring me the box and papers, and did not regard the money. +Instantly the whole camp was in a move to find the box, and search was +made in all directions. I of course was not idle myself on the occasion; +and having a man or two with me, I actually discovered where the box had +been opened, for I found the inkstand, that had been in it, lying near a +heap of wood close to the bank of the river, into which, after +plundering it, no doubt they had thrown it. I now went down to the town +and waited on the mayor, offering the same reward to any of his people +that would try to find it in the river; but, unfortunately, just as +there was the best chance of recovering it, the order came for us +instantly to go on board.--Thus was I deprived of every document I +possessed, both Paymaster's, Quartermaster's, and private. I had +fortunately got my Paymaster's accounts made out up to the very latest +period, and transmitted to the War-Office, or I know not what I should +have done; but my duplicates were gone, and when afterwards objections +were made to some of the items in the charges, (as is always the case,) +I, being unable to answer them, was obliged to submit to the loss of +them. I had also several private accounts unclosed, on which I lost +considerably, so that altogether I calculate this loss fully amounted to +L.100, besides the vexation of not having my papers to refer to when +wanted. + +I had been obliged to part with all my remaining animals for next to +nothing, for when the French people found we were obliged to leave them, +they offered us the most shameful trifles possible, but which we were +compelled to take or give the animals away. One I did actually make a +present of, besides my little Portuguese horse before-mentioned. I made +a close calculation, and found that my losses in horses and mules, from +the beginning of 1812 to June 1814, did not amount to less than L.150, +besides sums that I lost by officers who died. By one I lost L.84, and +another L.74 odd, so that, as I said before, had I not fortunately been +appointed Acting Paymaster, I should have been so much involved, that at +this time I durst not have returned to my native country. I do not +complain, for most of my losses were sent by Providence, who saw best +what was fitting and good for me; but never, till the Peninsular +campaigns, were officers obliged generally to provide and keep up their +own baggage-animals, and from the loss of which I had suffered so +severely; and I cannot but think that rule, always acted upon till these +campaigns, ought to be continued, and that subalterns at least ought to +have their baggage always carried at the public expense. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + Author's Battalion embark for England--Land at Plymouth--Expect + to be again ordered on Foreign Service--Order received--Embark, + with other troops, for America--Land at Pine Island. + + +We embarked on the 8th July on board his Majesty's ship Dublin, of 74 +guns, commanded by Captain Elphinstone, which took the five companies of +my battalion, with two companies of the 43d. We sailed the next day, I +think, and had generally fine weather during our voyage, which lasted +till the 18th, when we arrived at Plymouth. She was but a dull sailer, +or we ought not to have occupied so many days in so short a passage. +During our voyage, as remarkable an instance of heroic fortitude and +bodily strength was exhibited by a sailor of this ship as I ever +remember to have witnessed. He was doing something on the fore-yard, and +by some accident he was precipitated into the water, but in his fall his +shoulder came in contact with the flue of one of the anchors, by which +it was deeply and severely cut. The ship was going at about five knots +an hour, and it took near half an hour before she could be brought +round and a boat sent to his assistance; and notwithstanding the severe +cut he had received, from which the blood was fast streaming, he not +only contrived to keep himself from sinking by buffeting with a heavy +sea, but actually stripped off his jacket in the water, as it seems it +had been an encumbrance to him. When the boat reached him, the poor +fellow was nigh exhausted, and a few minutes more would have deprived +the ship and the service of an excellent sailor, but having been got +into the boat, he was brought on board more dead than alive, where every +attention being paid to him, he soon afterwards recovered. + +We landed at Plymouth on the 18th, and occupied one of the barracks. We +did not exactly know what was to become of us. Kent being our regimental +station, we expected to be ordered to march and join the left wing in +that county, but were still kept at Plymouth, where we met with great +kindness and attention from the inhabitants in general, who are upon the +whole, I think, an excellent and a moral people. We also fared +sumptuously here, every description of food being both cheap and good. +Fish in particular is most abundant and excellent. In short, we were +here as comfortably and as well quartered as we could desire, and every +thing tended to make us perfectly satisfied with our lot. We relaxed by +attending the theatre occasionally, which is one of the best provincial +ones in the kingdom, and at this time could boast some very good actors. +There were a variety of other amusements, such as fishing, &c., which of +course we indulged in occasionally. From hence I was called up to London +to meet our Colonel, the Hon. Sir W. Stewart, to arrange our battalion +concerns, &c. for the few latter years of hurry and confusion, and which +was at last got done to the satisfaction of all concerned. Here also we +began to replenish our wardrobes, which, it will easily be imagined, +were not the most magnificent in the world on our first arrival. + +But we were not long permitted the enjoyment of English society or +English comforts, for we had scarcely been a month at Plymouth till we +received an order to prepare again for foreign service, and the nature +of that service being kept a profound secret, we scarcely knew what +necessary articles of equipment to prepare. The general opinion, +however, was, that our destination was some part of America, +consequently we endeavoured to meet all contingencies by preparing both +for a warm and cold climate. All hands of course were vigorously set to +work, in order to be ready when the summons arrived, which we knew might +be very soon expected. An alteration was made in the arrangement of our +battalion. The staff was ordered to proceed to join the other wing at +Thorncliffe, which of course included myself, but Major Mitchell, who +was now appointed to the command of these five companies, was anxious to +take me out with him in the capacity of acting paymaster, and to his +friendly and earnest endeavours, added to the kindness of Captain James +Travers, who had at first intended to apply for that situation himself, +but renounced it on my account, I am indebted for again having an +addition of 10s. per diem made to my regimental pay during the +continuance of service on this expedition. + +At length the order arrived for our embarkation, and on the 18th +September, just two months from the day of our arrival in England, our +five companies were sent on board his Majesty's ships Fox and Dover, +both frigates of the smaller class, and which had been prepared for the +reception of troops, by having a part of their guns taken out, and +being, as it is termed, armed "en flute." The commanding-officer, with +the staff and three companies, were put on board the Fox. We laid in an +immense sea stock of provisions, &c. not knowing how long we might be on +the water, but unfortunately for us we had scarcely put foot on board, +when the order was given to weigh and proceed to sea forthwith, so that +no time was given for the stowing away of all the stock, which had cost +us about L.24 per person; the consequence was, a great part of it was +lost or destroyed, from its being knocked about the deck in the midst of +the confusion and bustle consequent on the crew and the soldiers +(strangers to each other) being set to work to weigh anchor and make +sail in such a hurry. Little assistance was afforded us from the ship on +this occasion. We thus lost nearly the half of what we had been at so +much pains to provide; but such things being common occurrences in a +life like ours, it was therefore vain to fret. + +The force that embarked at the same time with us, consisted of the 93d +Highlanders, a company of artillery, some rocketeers, a squadron of the +14th light dragoons, without horses, and our five companies, the whole +under the command of General Keane. The good people of Plymouth, as is +customary, cheered us as we left their shore, wishing us the most ample +success and good fortune, and which we, who had for so long a time been +in the habit of conquering, did not for a moment admit a doubt of being +fully realized. + +We sailed, as I said, on the 18th September, and stood down the channel +with a pretty fair breeze, till we reached what are commonly called its +"chops," where we encountered adverse winds, and blowing a succession of +gales (equinoctial, I imagine) which detained us beating off and on for +seven days. This was as uncomfortable a beginning of our service as +could well be imagined. High winds, with rain, and contrary to the way +we wished them, were certainly rather trying to the patience of us +landsmen, and there was something in our situation on board this ship +which did not at all tend to alleviate our discomfort. In fact, we +wished our fortune had placed us on board a transport rather than where +we now found ourselves. All the discipline and strictness of a regular +man-of-war was enforced, without any of the countervailing comforts and +conveniences usually found on board such ships; and to such a length was +this carried, that because our officers sometimes stood on the +quarter-deck, holding on, in the rolling of the ship, by the hand-ropes +which surround the companion, not only these, but the ropes which were +stretched to prevent people falling out at the gangway, were ordered to +be removed, that nothing should remain by which lubbers like us might +hold on in the heavy rolls to which the vessel was subject in gales like +those I have been describing. We were no less than twenty-four people in +the cabin, twelve of our officers and twelve gentlemen of the +commissariat department, so that we were sufficiently crowded, besides +being in several other respects ill provided. But all this would have +been borne with cheerfulness and good-will, had we not experienced such +a total want of kindness and urbanity from a quarter where we least +expected it, and from which that unkindness could be made most +effectual. + +We lost the fleet during the continuance of these gales, but sealed +orders having apprized our commander where to rendezvous, we made sail +for the Island of Madeira, which we reached on the 9th October, and +where we found the fleet. Some of the wags of our other two companies on +board the Dover, pretending to think we must have been cast away and +lost, had erased all our names from the army list as defunct. This +rather annoyed some of our folks, but it might have been easily seen it +was only a little waggery in which they had been indulging themselves. + +A day or two before we reached Madeira, we fell in with a strange sail, +to which we gave chase, and brought her to; she proved to be an English +merchant brig. It was said our commander wished to have a little +independent cruise, which caused him to part from the fleet, and that +there was a famed American privateer called the Wasp that had made a +great number of captures, and which he was anxious to fall in with that +he might take her. Had such a thing occurred as the Wasp appearing in +sight, and we had given her chase, I could have compared it to nothing +but to a vulgar simile which I have sometimes heard used, that of a cow +endeavouring to catch a hare, for indeed she was, I believe, one of the +fastest sailers that had ever been known, while we, on the contrary, +were in comparison just like the cow to the hare. This also must have +been a piece of waggery on the part of those who first set such a report +afloat, for no man in his senses would have ever thought of chasing +privateers with the Fox frigate at the time of which I am now writing. I +regret I did not go on shore on this beautiful island, the town and +scenery of which were most inviting, but as our stay was only to be so +very short, it was scarcely worth while. + +We sailed again on the 11th, after having first got a cask of excellent +Madeira wine from the house of Messrs Gordon and Co. This was the best, +I think, I ever drank. We stood almost due south, passing pretty close +to Teneriffe and the other Canary Isles, until we fell in with the +trade-winds, when we kept more away towards the south-west. Our voyage +now became delightful, for a gentle and refreshing, but constant and +steady breeze, carried us on at the rate of about five or six knots an +hour, without having occasion hardly to alter a sail or rope. We passed +to the tropic of Capricorn on the 15th October, when our sailors +prepared to indulge in the same innocent but amusing ceremonies that are +adopted on crossing the equator. Neptune, with his Amphitrite, got +dressed in full costume, and every other appendage being ready, it only +now remained that the commander's sanction should be obtained to their +commencing the imposing ceremony; but no! his godship was dismissed in +no very courteous manner, and told to go and attend to his duty. Thus +the fiat of a greater than Neptune, even in his own element, reduced him +from the godlike rank he held to that of a mere forecastle sailor; and +thus were all our expectations frustrated. In all the other ships of the +fleet the amusement was carried on with the greatest good humour, as we +could plainly perceive with our glasses. + +On the 18th, we passed pretty near the Isle of St Antonio, the +westernmost of the Cape Verde Isles, and then bearing off still rather +more to the west, we kept our course generally at about 12 or 13 north +latitude, and in this manner crossed the Atlantic. + +From the time that we had entered between the tropics, we had seen +numerous shoals of flying fish, some of which, when closely pursued, (by +the dolphin generally,) actually fell on board our ship. A very accurate +drawing of one of these was made by one of our lieutenants, a friend of +mine, who, I believe, has it to this day. They were generally about the +size of a herring, and much resembling that fish in shape and colour, +with two fins projecting from behind their gills, nearly as long as +their body. These are their wings, with which they can fly generally for +100, or 150, or sometimes 200 yards, when they fall again into the +water. We also caught a dolphin about this time, our carpenter having +harpooned it from the bow of the ship; but I was considerably +disappointed in finding it did not exceed from twenty-four to thirty +inches in length; and the hues of it, though beautiful when dying, by no +means answered my expectations. + +On the ---- November, we made the island of Barbadoes, and anchored in +Carlisle Bay, off Bridgetown, the capital of the island. It is not easy +to describe the effect which is produced on an European the first time +he beholds the beauties of a tropical country, and which, I think, he +does in the greatest perfection while they are yet distant from him. +Robertson's description of Columbus's first view of a West India island +is, I think, as correct and as beautiful as any thing can possibly be; +and his feelings for the moment (heightened indeed by the circumstance +of his having at length attained to his long-looked-for Western India) +will describe pretty nearly what every one must feel, who has not before +beheld the productions of a tropical climate. But oh! how is the scene +changed when you get on shore! Nature indeed is still beautiful and rich +beyond the conception of a northern native; but man--how fallen! Here (I +think I shall not far err if I say) you behold man in his lowest state: +the savages of the woods are, in my opinion, much higher in the scale of +being than those whom our cursed cupidity has introduced to all our +vices, without one alleviating virtue to counterbalance the evil. But +how could the poor Africans learn any thing that is good from those who +do not practise good themselves? + +One of our people while here said, "he thought the men were all rogues, +and the women all unfaithful." Of the slave population the latter is +certainly a correct description, almost universally, in Bridgetown; for, +with shame be it spoken, their masters and mistresses calculate upon +their worth as if they were brood-mares, by the number and the +description of wretched beings which they can bring into this world of +misery. What indeed could you expect from those who can thus act, and +those who sanction such conduct, but the like treatment that Mr +Shrewsbury met with, if you endeavour to show them to themselves or to +others in a true light? While the strong man armed keepeth his castle, +his goods are in peace; but let another endeavour to bind this strong +man, and take his goods from him, and oh, what a resistance may not be +expected! Let the West Indians have slaves whom they may treat as cattle +for their own gain and profit, even if it be at the expense of the souls +of the poor wretches whom they thus destroy; but endeavour to show these +degraded human beings that they are capable of being raised to a level +with their unfeeling and avaricious masters, and you may shortly expect +the fate of a Smith or a Shrewsbury, so regardless are these dealers in +human flesh of their duty as men who must soon render an account of all +their actions. + +It may be said, that I saw little, while here, but the very worst of +society, and this may in a great measure be true; but it is evident that +such things were done and sanctioned at Bridgetown when I was there, in +1814, as led me to pray that my lot might never be cast among such +people. + +I now gladly turn from this scene of vice and misery, and pursue my +narrative. + +In the bay at this place a hulk was stationed for the reception of +prisoners of war. Our boats usually passed pretty near it on going on +shore for water. A number of Americans were on board as prisoners. On +one occasion, or more, I believe, they called out to our fellows as they +passed under her stern, "So you have come out from England to attack our +country, have you? I hope you have brought your coffins with you, for +you will need them before you return." And, in truth, many of those +fine fellows to whom this insolently coarse but patriotic speech was +addressed, did indeed require coffins before the business we were going +upon was finished. + +We left Barbadoes on the ----, and, passing down through the midst of +the islands, we left St Lucia on our left and Martinico on our right +hand. We also passed close to Dominico and Guadaloupe, with several +smaller islands which I do not recollect, and, keeping to the southward, +passed St Christopher's, Santa Cruz, Porto Rico, and St Domingo, having +a fine view of the whole as we moved delightfully along. This latter +large island took us more than two days in passing; but on the 21st we +came in sight of Jamaica, the chief of our West India possessions. We +stood off and on near to Port-Royal till the 23d, when we made sail to +the westward, and on the 25th came to anchor in Negril Bay, at the +extreme west end of the island of Jamaica. Here we found several sail +both of men-of-war and transports, having on board the troops which had +been engaged in the operations against Washington and Baltimore, &c., +and consisting of the 4th, 21st, 44th, and 85th regiments, with some +artillery. They were not strong indeed, having been considerably reduced +by their late arduous services; but their numbers, added to ours, we +thought quite sufficient to enable us to make a descent upon the +American coast, near New Orleans, which it was now whispered was our +destination: indeed this had been conjectured from the time we left +England, but nothing certain was known, and even now it was not +officially made public. A day or two after our arrival here, two of the +West India regiments also joined us, the 1st and 5th, at least a part of +both; so that we now mustered a respectable force. Admiral Sir Alexander +Cochran commanded the naval part of the expedition, he being here on +our arrival on board the Tonnant 84; several smaller vessels also, with +stores, &c. &c. joined us from Port-Royal. When the whole were collected +together, we felt proud of our fine force, which we vainly imagined +nothing we should have to encounter could withstand for a moment: but +the battle is not always to the strong; and we were shortly after +painfully reminded of this truth. But I must not anticipate,--evil +always comes early enough. + +During our stay here, I went on shore for a few hours, and visited some +of the farms or plantations. Indeed, while we remained, the place where +we landed was generally like a fair; for the inhabitants had assembled +in great numbers, bringing with them live stock and poultry and +vegetables, &c. for sale, all of which were greedily bought up at prices +high enough, I warrant you. The vegetation at this place was most +luxuriant, even in this the middle of winter almost; but I apprehend +this was the finest season of the year, for it was not at all +intolerably hot, and every thing, had the appearance which our country +assumes in the height of summer. An accident occurred whilst we +continued here, which had nigh proved serious. The Alceste frigate, one +day, in shifting her berth, run with her head right on board the Dover, +where our other two companies were on board. She cut her up from the +stern into the cabins, not less I am sure at the top than ten feet. Two +of our people were in the cabin at the time playing at backgammon, and +were not a little astonished to see the prow of another large vessel +tearing its way right into the very place where they were sitting. + +On the 29th, signal was made to weigh, when the whole got under way, and +started in fine style; our now gallant fleet covering the ocean for many +miles. We kept along on the south side of Cuba, and on the 3d December +made Cape St Antonio, the westernmost point of that large island. From +hence we now stood to the northward, crossing right athwart the Gulf of +Mexico. During our stay at Barbadoes, we had purchased a live sheep and +a pig, as we feared our stock might run out before we landed. The sheep +was productive of great amusement to our messmates, at the expense of +the poor caterer. In all hot climates, I believe, the wool of the sheep +becomes in course of time more like the hair of a goat than what it +really is. This was the case in the present instance, most of our people +declaring they would not eat of such an animal, which was, as they +conjectured, a sort of mule bred between a sheep and a goat; while the +poor caterer was like to have the sheep thrown on his hand. This +produced many a bickering, even after it was known that such was the +case in warm climates; for they kept up the fun as long as possible, +always trying to keep the unfortunate caterer in hot water about it. The +sheep was killed, and produced excellent mutton--not fat indeed, but +eatable. We were not so fortunate, however, with our pig; it appears it +must have been diseased--what, I believe, is usually termed measly. It +was dressed without this being known, and eaten; and the consequence +was, all the twenty-four of our mess, except myself and another were +literally poisoned. In the middle of the night, when it began to take +effect, the most distressing scene took place imaginable, and the +medical men were kept busily employed for a considerable time afterwards +preparing and administering emetics, which providentially had the +desired effect on all, for in a short time the whole recovered; but had +medical assistance not been promptly administered, the chances are some +of them would have suffered. Its effects were something like cholera +morbus, working both up and down in the most violent manner. + +On the 10th December we made the American coast off Mobile, where we +fell in with a vessel, on board of which was Colonel Nichols of the +marines, with three or four Indian chiefs of the Creek nation, to which +people he had been for some time previously attached, they being then at +war with the Americans, and consequently our allies. They came on board +our ship, and were shown every thing curious; but their reason for +visiting us was, that they might see our rifles, for they considered +themselves good shots, and wished to examine our arms, with which they +did not express themselves over-satisfied, as they had been accustomed +to see no other description of rifles than those used by the Americans, +which are both much longer and heavier, but carry a much smaller ball. +Indeed they had never seen any military rifles, but only such as the +above, and which are constructed solely for the purpose of killing deer +and other game. The gallant colonel endeavoured to amuse us a little on +this occasion with the wonderful feats of his protegés. He told us, that +they being generally very short of balls, were always very careful how +they expended them in hunting; and that their rule was never to fire at +a deer, until it was in the act of passing between them and a tree, +that, should the ball go through its body, as it sometimes did, it might +lodge in the tree on the other side, and they would then go and pick it +out, and recast it. We thought he ought to have told that story to his +own corps the marines; for I believe he did not get many of us to give +implicit credit to so wonderful a tale. They were most grotesque-looking +figures; most of them were dressed in some old red coats, which they had +got hold of by some means, with cocked hats of the old fashion. These I +believe had been given them by some of our people, for they were English +manufacture. But they had tremendous large rings, &c. hung in their +ears, the laps of which were stretched nearly to their shoulders; some +of them also wore rings in their noses; and some of them were without +any sort of lower garments, having nothing but a sort of cloth tied +round their waist, which passed through between their legs and fastened +before. These people it was intended should bring their warriors to join +us near New Orleans; but, owing to some cause with which I am not +acquainted, none but these three or four chiefs ever came near us. + +On the 11th we anchored near the Chandeleur Islands, at the entrance +into Lake Ponchartrain. But it was discovered that the Americans had +some gun-vessels, which, on account of their drawing only little water, +had been stationed in this lake for its protection, and on our +appearance had retired nearer to New Orleans. It was necessary that +these should be previously disposed of in some manner, before the +disembarkation of the troops could with safety be effected. None of our +ships could follow them on account of the shoalness of the lake. An +order was therefore issued for all the men-of-war to prepare their boats +for an attack on these vessels, the chief command of which was given to +Captain Lockyer of the Sophia gun-brig. On the morning of the ----, they +therefore assembled for this purpose, and pushed up the lake in search +of the gun-vessels, which were discovered moored near some islands +called by the natives, "Les Isles Malheureuse," or the "Unfortunate +Islands," and which form the entrance from Lake Ponchartrain into Lake +Borgne, or Blind Lake. No time was lost in attacking this formidable +flotilla, consisting of vessels carrying from five to six guns each, and +commanded by a lieutenant of the American navy, named by them Commodore +Jones. A most determined and gallant resistance was made by the +Americans; but superior numbers, with equal, if not superior courage and +seamanship, prevailed, and in a short space of time the whole were +captured. Both the commandants were severely wounded, with a great +number of officers and men killed and wounded. Nothing could exceed the +gallant intrepidity, I understand, with which our boats advanced to the +attack; for, from experience I am well convinced, the fire from those +gun-vessels must have been most destructive; for better shots, either +with artillery or small arms, do not exist than the Americans. Orders +were now issued for the army to prepare to land; but the distance, from +where we had been obliged from shoal water to stop to the town, being so +great, it was determined to form a sort of depot on a small island, near +the mouth of the Pearl River, called Pine Island; and farther to +facilitate the transport of the troops, small brigs, &c. were sent as +far up the lake as possible, into which the troops were put successively +from the larger vessels, and from which they generally took their +departure for the above island. + +On the 15th our people left the Fox, and were moved up the lake into one +of the brigs before noticed, where we were packed in as tight as +herrings, there being near 400 men on board a little thing scarcely +calculated to contain the fourth of that number, and where there was not +literally room to lie down. But, on the 19th, we were relieved from this +rather close confinement; and being put on board of long boats, we +pushed off for the island, which lay at a considerable distance, +notwithstanding the measures that had been adopted to shorten our +voyage. The weather proved extremely rough and unpleasant, which +rendered our trip neither over-safe nor comfortable; and to mend the +matter, the seamen on board our boat were rather in the wind, and did +not manage her so well as was desirable; for, poor fellows, they had +been engaged in this fatiguing service for several days, (a considerable +number of the troops having been previously landed,) and were +consequently the more easily prevailed upon to indulge when grog came in +their way. Our middy too was quite worn out with fatigue, and slept +nearly all the time we were on board. Our boat was several times on the +point of being swamped, for the water came in quite plentifully on +occasions of her being laid down by sudden squalls. Another boat, which +accompanied us, had her mast carried away. + +We landed on the island before mentioned in the evening, and of course +looked out for the best shelter we could find. But it was a complete +desert; nothing but reeds grew on it, except a few stunted and scrubby +bushes at the lower end of it. It came on a most severe frost during the +night, which I understand caused the death of several of the sailors, +who had indulged perhaps a little too freely, and had lain down without +any covering. Some of the poor blacks also, I understand, suffered in +consequence of the severe cold, a thing with which they were totally +unacquainted, and against which they were ill provided, having nothing +but their light and thin West India dress to keep it out. It was +laughable the next morning to see them examining so intently the ice +which had been formed on the pools near our bivouack. They could not +conjecture what it was; some of them asserting it was salt; while the +greater part were totally at a loss respecting it. I had by great good +luck got into a sort of hut belonging to some of the officers who had +previously landed; but I do not remember in all my campaigning to have +suffered more from cold than I did this night, and was extremely glad +when daylight appeared, that I might be able to move about. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + Proceed to attack the Enemy, and capture one of their + picquets--Advance in search of a Bivouack--Alarmed by shots in + front--Fired on by an American schooner--Captain Hallen + severely attacked--Manoeuvres on both sides--Ruse of the + Enemy--Fighting continues--Enemy repulsed at all + points--Courage of the British--A British Battery brought into + play--Activity of the Enemy. + + +By the 21st, the whole army had been landed on this island, when they +were told off into brigades, and inspected by the General. During our +stay here, about five or six French Americans, (the natives of New +Orleans, or neighbourhood,) arrived as friends, and told us that there +were scarcely any troops in the district; so that we had nothing to do +but to land on the opposite side, and march right on to the town, and +that the inhabitants would welcome us most cordially, and that no +resistance might be expected. I did not, I confess, put much confidence +in their information, and believed at the time, that they came more as +spies than with any view of befriending, as they pretended, our cause. +More correct information was obtained from Spanish fishermen, who had +been following their occupation at the mouth of a creek on the New +Orleans side of the lake, and who had come across, I believe, at the +suggestion of Major Peddie, our assistant Quartermaster-general, who +had been despatched to find out a suitable landing-place for the army. +From one of them, I learned afterwards that there were troops in the +town, commanded by General Jackson, and that a battery of two guns had +been erected on the road, by which we must advance. What they told the +General, I do not know, but fancy he saw no reason to alter his plans, +from the information of either party. Every thing being ready by the +morning of the 22d, the advance guard, commanded by Colonel Thornton, +and consisting of the 85th and 95th regiments, with two light +three-pounders, some artillery and some rocketeers, accompanied by a few +artificers to repair bridges, &c. embarked on board the boats, that had +been assembled for the purpose--two companies of the 93d followed us; +these troops occupying the whole of the boats that could be mustered in +the fleet, consequently the remainder of the army had to remain where +they were till the return of the boats. The distance was not less, I +should think, than from thirty to forty miles. We pushed off about two +o'clock P.M., the wind being favourable for a considerable part of the +way, but it failing, the men were obliged to commence with the oars. We +were completely wedged in, so that there was no moving, let the call be +ever so urgent. I suffered much from a severe pain in my side, from +being obliged to remain so long in the same position; but we endeavoured +to divert the tedium in the best manner we could by amusing stories, &c. +My luck placed me on board the Bang-Up, a fine cutter belonging to the +admiral, and commanded by a countryman of mine, a Lieutenant Foster of +that ship. We did not reach the mouth of the creek, or bayou, as it is +called by the natives, till a long time after dark. As we approached it, +some light boats were sent forward with Captain Travers of ours and his +company, to endeavour to surprise a regiment of the enemy, which we +knew were stationed in some huts at the mouth of the creek, and which +huts belonged to the Spanish fishermen before mentioned. From the +information they gave, the best arrangements possible were made for +effecting this; for Travers, moving silently on, and landing his men at +the opposite ends of the hamlet, there remained no way of escape open +for the troops in the houses. As soon as all was ready, they rushed +forward and secured the whole picquet without a single shot being fired, +with the exception of two men, who preferred venturing into the marsh, +in rear of the huts, where it is not improbable they perished. The duty +was conducted so quietly, and so expeditiously, that very few of the +other troops knew any thing of the matter; but this alone secured us a +landing without opposition, for had a firing been begun on either side, +it must have alarmed the American army, who, no doubt, would have used +their endeavours to oppose our landing. + +We soon after began to enter the creek, but such was the darkness of the +night, and the shoalness of the water, and such the uncertainty of the +way by which we had to proceed, that very little progress was made +during the remainder of the night; daylight, however, enabled us to move +forward at a brisker pace, but from the obstacles that had presented +themselves in the dark, the squadron of boats was sadly dispersed; and +when we reached the head of the creek, only two or three of the light +boats, with the staff and naval officers, had arrived, and considerable +intervals of time elapsed between the arrival of the different boats +with troops; so that had the enemy been aware of our intention, and had +they had a force of a few hundred men hid in the high reeds which grow +in this marsh, they might, I am persuaded, have cut us off in detail, +for from the causes before mentioned, no two boats were sufficiently +near to assist each other. + +We got on shore about an hour after daylight; and right glad was I to be +enabled to stretch my legs, which had been kept motionless for the last +sixteen hours. As soon as the whole advance-guard had landed, and a few +planks had been thrown over a deep rill which we had to cross, we moved +forward towards the high ground, Captain Travers' company leading; and, +in order to magnify the appearance of our force, should any concealed +American be looking on, we extended our files to double the usual +distance, and thus passed through a wood which skirted the swamp, and +which it was necessary to traverse before we could reach the open +country, which we did about six miles below New Orleans. As soon as our +advance cleared this wood, they observed a good-looking farm onstead, +towards which they moved in double quick time, and arrived just in time +to seize and make prisoner a Monsieur Villerey, a major of the militia, +just then setting off to join his people. We heard (but I will not vouch +for the truth of the report) that a considerable body of the enemy had +been assembled on the high-road, near to Monsieur Villerey's house, but +on learning that we had landed, and were moving rapidly forward, they +separated, one part retiring towards the town, while the other went down +the river. Our advance now moved on with celerity, and dashing on to the +different farm-houses in the neighbourhood, seized several groups of +arms at each of them, which it seems had either been abandoned by the +troops to whom they belonged, or had been collected there for some +military purpose. They captured at some of these farm-houses to the +amount of twelve or twenty stand; and in all not less than fifty. + +Monsieur Villerey unfortunately contrived to make his escape, through +the too great leniency of one of our lieutenants. I think the most +probable opinion respecting the arms and the troops assembled near +Monsieur Villerey's is, that it was the militia of the district just at +that moment assembling, which will not only account for the arms being +found in such numbers, (under the verandas of the houses,) but also for +Monsieur Villerey himself being then on the point of setting out in his +warlike costume, and the number of men which were observed near his +house. + +About twenty militiamen were also captured in and about these houses. +Except there, the whites had all abandoned their houses; but a +considerable number of black slaves remained at each, whether of their +own accord, or left to protect the property, and occasionally convey +information to their masters, I know not. As soon as our advance had +sufficiently reconnoitred the adjacent houses, &c. the whole of the +troops moved on past the house of Monsieur Villerey, and turning to the +right, followed the great road to New Orleans for about half a mile, +till a suitable piece of ground presenting itself in the neighbourhood +of some other farm-houses, the whole turned in to a green field a short +distance from the road, and forming into close columns of battalions, +commenced bivouacking for the night. The road ran partly on, and partly +alongside of the river dike. Immediately between the troops and the +river, this dike was perhaps about three feet high. On our right was a +farm-house, and a little to the right and front another--the latter a +pretty large one--all these, and indeed all the farm-houses in this +neighbourhood, are surrounded at one end by the huts of the slaves, and +generally on the other by barns and other out-buildings, and in the rear +a garden or orchard. The ground in all this country, which is perfectly +flat, apparently of alluvial formation, is divided into fields, &c. by +wooden paling of the common description, very few hedges being to be +seen. + +The situation in which the troops were placed, was as follows, viz. The +artillery and rocketeers in one line; immediately behind them, my +battalion and the 85th, in close column; the 4th in rear of us, and the +93d two companies in rear of the 4th; the whole in close columns. The +men, as soon as dismissed, instantly set about cooking, for they had had +nothing from the morning before, and it was now considerably past +mid-day. Captain Travers' company, which had formed the advance-guard, +still remained in front as a picquet, and occupied a post on the great +road, about a mile in front of the division. + +About three o'clock P.M., we were all alarmed by some shots at the +advanced picquet; and, on enquiry, found that an American staff-officer, +escorted by about thirty cavalry, had come galloping down, no doubt for +the purpose of reconnoitring us; when within distance, our people +instantly fired, one of which shots wounded the staff-officer, and +another killed a horse, but they contrived to get him off. This caused +the whole of the troops to fall in till the cause of alarm was +ascertained, after which they set about their cooking again with great +glee. Considerable discussion now began to take place amongst the +knowing ones, as to the merits and demerits of our situation, in point +of security; and of course various opinions were given on the occasion. +One officer of ours, a particular friend of mine, did not hesitate +roundly to assert, that we were in a most unprotected and dangerous +situation. I do not remember exactly the reasons he assigned; but +certainly, could he have foreseen what yet remained in the womb of time, +he would have had much stronger reasons for his opinion. Another company +of ours, (Captain Hallen's,) and one of the 85th, were ordered to +prepare at dusk to relieve the picquet in advance; and as I messed with +Captain Hallen's company, I accompanied it on this duty. I did not go +with the main body of the company, there being no house at that post, +but with one section, commanded by Lieutenant Forbes, and we occupied a +small house to the right, and a little to the rear of Captain Hallen's +party, which was stationed on the great road. The company of the 85th +occupied the large farm-house before-mentioned, a little to the right +and front of the column. I had purchased an excellent turkey on our +arrival at Monsieur Villerey's house, which we had dressed at this +little house, and made a most hearty meal indeed, after which we took +each a tot or horn of grog to comfort us. + +We had not long finished our comfortable meal, when we were astounded by +the report of heavy ordnance, apparently close to the bivouack of the +column, and which reports followed each other in quick succession. A +cheer was also given, but by whom, or what the occasion of the firing +was, we were totally at a loss to conjecture. I at first imagined it was +some of our men-of-war that had been able to pass the forts down the +river, and that they were firing a salute and cheering in consequence; +and yet this seemed a strange conjecture; but we did not long remain in +suspense, for we were soon after informed of the real state of the case, +that it was a large American schooner, with at least fourteen guns, and +which she had been enabled to bring to bear upon our unfortunate +bivouack with the most deadly precision, great numbers having fallen at +her first broadside. The troops of course dispersed in some measure, +leaving their fires, which had too well served as a direction for the +fire of this terrible schooner. But the time was not far distant when we +should have other enemies to encounter; for by the time the schooner had +fired a dozen broadsides, a noise was heard in our front; and just at +this moment an American was brought in by a man from Captain Hallen's +post, who had foolishly come right into the centre of his picquet, and +asking if they could tell him which way the regulars had gone. This +showed that he was a young soldier, who did not know our troops from his +own; but it also showed that the regulars which he was seeking could not +be far distant; consequently, every thing was got ready to give them the +best reception possible; but as the people we had heard in front of the +post where I then was appeared to be rather to our right, I feared lest +they might get unawares upon the company of the 85th, which was +stationed in the farm behind us. I consequently set off with all +dispatch to give them timely warning, but when I arrived there, I could +not find the officers, nor could I see where the picquet was posted; I +therefore thought they must be on the alert at the bottom of the garden, +which lay in the direction in which we heard the noise; and meeting here +an officer and several of our men, who had moved in this direction, from +the fire of the schooner, I told him I was certain that Hallen would be +shortly most vigorously attacked, from the information I had learnt +respecting the regulars, and advised him to collect all the men he +could, and proceed forthwith to reinforce him at the advance. This he +instantly did, and it was well, for by this time the firing had +commenced in volleys at that post. I then returned to the picquet-house, +where I had previously dined, and found the officer was going round his +sentries; but as the firing was going briskly on at Hallen's post, I +expected every moment to be attacked here, and began, in the absence of +the officer, to post the men as advantageously as the nature of the +ground would admit. + +The house stood on a little path, or bye-road, running across the +country, from the river towards the wood, and which, before he could get +into, the enemy would have to clamber over a railing which lay on the +side from which they were advancing. On the hither side of the road was +a ditch, with a hedge, almost the only one to be met with, and a little +copse of small trees. Into this copse I put the men, extending them +along the inside of the hedge, which would not only keep them from the +view of the enemy, but be some little protection from their fire, and +would leave them the more at liberty to retreat when overpowered by +numbers, as it was certain they must shortly be. But all my labour was +in vain, for when Forbes came from visiting his sentries, he did not +approve of my disposition, but took them all out, and formed them on the +open road, without any cover, and with a hedge and ditch in their rear, +both of which they would be compelled to pass the moment the enemy +pressed upon him. I felt annoyed, not only at his want of courtesy to +me, but that he would thus expose his men to almost certain destruction, +without being able to effect any thing against the enemy, or at all +check his advance. I accordingly left him in a huff, and went again to +try to find the picquet of the 85th in the house behind us. I was +determined to make a more close and thorough search than I had done +before, and for this purpose went over the gates, &c. into the yard +behind, when lo, I found myself within a yard or two of a strong body of +the enemy, which had got into the garden at the lower end, and were just +advancing to the house. I crouched down, and hid in the best manner I +could, and luckily was enabled to creep off without their discovering +who I was. Just as I reached the outer gate, I found a sergeant of ours +there, to whom I said, we must set off with all possible speed; and +accordingly we both took to our heels, and ran like heroes; the noise +of which brought the fire of twenty or thirty rifles after us, but +luckily without effect. + +I now made the best of my way towards where I judged the main body of +our people were, on the great road, in order to inform Colonel Thornton +of what I had seen, of this column of the enemy having got possession of +the house and garden I had just left, and by doing which they had nearly +separated the advance picquet from the main body. He said he had sent +two companies of ours, and two of the 85th, to the house immediately in +the rear of this I speak of, and in a short time afterwards they and the +Americans came into close contact, for they immediately commenced +firing; and where as strange a description of fighting took place as is +perhaps on record. + +The enemy soon discovered from some men, whom they had unfortunately +taken, what the regiments were that were opposed to them--and with all +that cunning which the Yankees are famed for, instantly turned it to the +best account--for in several places they advanced in bodies, crying out +at the same time, "Come on, my brave 85th!" or "My brave 95th!" and thus +induced several of our small detached parties to go over the rails to +them, supposing they were some of our own people, when of course they +were instantly made prisoners. This _ruse_ did not always succeed, +however, for some of the parties turning restive on their hands, refused +to surrender, and thus a fight hand to hand took place, and in which +they generally had the worst of it. + +On one occasion of this kind our people made a body of them prisoners. +The men and officers being requested to lay down their arms, the +officer, after surrendering, when he saw there were not many of our +people, drew a sort of dirk or knife, and made a stab at the officer of +ours who had taken him. We instantly cried out to the men near him, one +of whom took up his rifle and shot the villain through the body. They +had before this time brought two of their regular battalions close in +front of our advance, which did not consist of more than 100 men, and +were pouring in dreadful volleys into that small but gallant detachment; +but even in this they showed themselves young soldiers, for they formed +up the two battalions in line at about forty or fifty yards in distance +from the post, and gave the words "ready--present--fire," with all the +precision of a field-day; but being so near, of course every word was +heard by our people, who, at the critical moment, always took care to +cleave as close to the ground as possible, by which they escaped most of +their shot. They then up and at them, and, pouring in a desultory but +most destructive fire, brought great numbers of them to the ground. +Their force, however, was too great to be opposed successfully by such a +handful of men, and these brave fellows were at length compelled to +yield a little ground; but it was not more than just to enable them to +cover themselves, and form again in proper order; and from this time all +the efforts of these two battalions were unable to remove them. Indeed, +not long after, our people became the assailants, and, advancing again, +retook their original position. Poor Hallen was severely wounded on this +occasion, and lost about forty of his men. + +Two or three naval captains came also to see the fight at Hallen's post, +one of whom soon fell severely wounded. The other, the gallant captain +of the Dover frigate, with whom part of our people went out, and with +whom we all came home, behaved most nobly. Whenever the enemy had fired +their volley, he cried, "Now, my lads, up and give them another +broadside!" and thus contributed, by his animating conduct, to inspire +all around him with confidence. + +Poor Forbes just met the fate that I expected. He stood upon the road, +and opened his fire upon the enemy as they approached; but they being +perhaps more than twenty times his number, he was instantly compelled to +give way, after being himself wounded, having his sergeant killed, and +losing nearly the half of his men. The schooner all this time kept up a +most galling and incessant fire. Some attempts were made with our light +three-pounders, and with rockets, and even with small-arms, to compel +her to sheer off, but they were all in vain. Her men, protected by her +stout bulwarks which surrounded them, defied all our efforts, and +continued to pour in both round and grape wherever they judged, from the +direction of the fire, our people were stationed. Luckily the darkness +of the night rendered her fire less destructive than it would otherwise +have been. + +A considerable body of the enemy had penetrated to the house immediately +on the right of our original bivouack, where the firing was kept up +between them and the parties opposed to them with great spirit for a +long time; but the General, having detached the 4th regiment to form +line a little to the rear and right of that house, completely secured +that flank from being farther turned. Notwithstanding this, the +skirmishers of both armies extended to the wood, some of whom we found +lying the next morning almost touching each other. The firing now began +to slacken, the enemy having been repulsed at all points, and, towards +three o'clock in the morning, it had completely ceased, when they +retired, leaving us in possession of the warmly-contested field. + +My battalion had been extremely unfortunate in this action; for almost +at the very outset, when the attack on Hallen's picquet commenced, +Major Mitchell, our commandant, had taken a party of about twenty or +thirty men, and advanced for the purpose of supporting that post. +Between the bivouack, however, and the point he intended to reach, he +unexpectedly fell in with a large body of Americans, (for it was so dark +he could not distinguish who they were,) when both himself, and all the +men he had with him, were made prisoners. The loss of our five companies +in this action was about 120 men; that of the 85th more, I believe; and +in all, I think, it amounted to about 300 men. The loss of the enemy +must have been considerably greater, if we are to judge from the number +of dead they left on the field, and, which is a good criterion, the +general average being about ten wounded for one killed. + +Nothing could equal the bravery of the few troops we had in the field on +this occasion. Their numbers certainly did not amount to 1800 men; while +the enemy could not have had fewer than from 4000 to 5000. They had two +regular regiments, the 7th and 44th; they had a large corps of irregular +riflemen from Kentucky, and another stronger corps from Tennessee, with +all the militia of New Orleans and its neighbourhood, every man who is +able being compelled to bear arms in case of invasion. They had about +300 irregular horse, whether militia or not I cannot tell, but think it +likely they were in all at least 4000 men--with the great and effectual +assistance of the schooner, which did us more mischief than 1000 men +could have done, probably not so much by the loss she occasioned us, as, +by being able to fire on our flank, and even in our rear, she rendered +the enemy the most essential service, besides the fire of the ship on +our advanced picquet. + +We were thus completely surrounded on three sides, and had not the +troops behaved with the most determined courage and intrepidity, we +must have been driven back, and eventually the greater part would have +been taken prisoners; for the path to the water was quite narrow, and +even should we reach the head of the creek where we landed, the boats +had probably all left it by this time to return for the other troops. +Indeed it was reported afterwards, that the arrangements of General +Jackson were such, that we were to have been attacked in the rear at the +same time as in front, and by the schooner; but the troops for that +purpose either not being in readiness, or being too distant to arrive in +time, were too late to take part in the action, but arrived about three +o'clock in the morning, when they met with a half-drunk artillery-driver +of ours near Mons. Villerey's house, as he was returning from the field, +and who, seeing a large body of men, which he took for some of our other +regiments that had landed, cried out to them, "Come on, my lads, for the +Yankees never got such a licking in their lives!" This, it is said, had +the effect of frightening them back, without proceeding farther. + +I will not vouch for this being fact, but such was the report the next +morning; and indeed it is feasible, from the number of people +(apparently going with orders, &c.) which we saw galloping down on the +other side of the river in the afternoon; and it is certain that a +considerable body of militia must have resided down the river, setting +aside the report which I mentioned, of some troops having retired in +that direction in the morning, when we first advanced; and nothing would +have tended more to our complete overthrow than such an attack on our +rear, could it have been accomplished. + +I might here mention, that Captain Hallen saw the schooner as she passed +his picquet, on her way down from New Orleans, on which he instantly +despatched a man with the information; but she having the current in +her favour, sailed much quicker than the man could run, consequently his +information came too late. + +I omitted to mention also, that a large ship of 20 guns came down the +river at the same time with the schooner, but being less manageable than +that vessel, she had anchored abreast of Hallen's picquet; and that he +had to sustain her fire, as well as that of the troops in his front, +during the whole of the attack of the 23d. She remained at that spot +without moving. + +I will here also notice another circumstance which took place at this +post. An American rifleman fell into the hands of some of Captain +Hallen's people, who, when he was brought in, were desired to take his +arms from him. These he seemed reluctant to part with, and said to the +officer, "Recollect I shall hold you responsible for that rifle, if you +take it from me!"--on which the officer took hold of it by the muzzle, +and flung it right into the river. I daresay the poor fellow thought +they were a strange sort of people he had got amongst; and I doubt not +he had set a great value upon his rifle. + +Another officer and myself had a providential escape the next morning, +for we had scarcely left a little wooden hut, behind which we had taken +up our abode, and slept for a few hours after the fight, when bang comes +an eighteen-pound shot right through the house, just at the very spot +where we had a minute or two before been sitting. It seems the captain +of the schooner, which still lay abreast of us at about 800 yards +distance, and from which this shot had been fired, was determined we +should not occupy any of the houses in the vicinity, for, beginning with +our hut, which was nearest to him, he fired into every house within +reach of his guns, although he saw as plainly as we did that most of +them were filled with the wounded; nay, he carried his savage cruelty so +far, that he actually fired on a party of the 85th as they were removing +one of their wounded officers. It could not be pleaded that he did not +know what it was, for, being only half-a-mile distant, and much elevated +above our level, with a glass he could see as well as we could what they +were doing, for they were carrying the poor fellow on a bier, on their +shoulders. He continued this cruel work all the next day, the ship also +giving us an occasional shot. One shot which he fired went through the +front of a house in which some of our wounded men were lying, and, +striking low, it carried the knapsack out from under the head of a man +of ours named Rayour, which he had put for a pillow, without doing him +the smallest injury. I could not credit the story till I went and +actually saw the hole by which it entered, the knapsack and the shot +lying near the fire-place. After this I went to view the house where I +had fallen in with the column of the enemy the night before, and where +the 85th were now stationed; but the fire of the schooner still +continued, one shot from which we saw was directed towards us. It fell +right in among the 85th, and, striking a corporal about the breach, as +he was endeavouring to get out of its way, it passed out at his breast, +on which he gave himself a sort of shake, and fell lifeless to the +earth. + +Nothing could exceed the great annoyance this mischievous schooner +continued to be to us all that and the next day, for they not only saw +every thing we did, but we could not move in any number without being +saluted with an 18 lb. shot, and we had no means of retaliation. But +during the 25th, efforts were made to get up some heavier guns from the +fleet, and every thing having been settled as to the plan, &c., a +battery was constructed as close to the water's edge as possible in the +river dike, and a number of gun barrels having been collected from those +broken, &c. during the late fight, a sort of furnace was erected for the +purpose of heating shot, with which it was determined to give her a +salute the next morning. Every thing succeeded admirably. The battery +was constructed, embrasures cut, and shot heated, and all ready by +daylight on the morning of the 26th; of course we were all looking out +to witness the effect, and most noble it was, for when the guns opened +out upon her, the people on board seemed quite thunderstruck, and +although they attempted to return our fire, it was only like the blows +of a man beat blind by his antagonist, for her shot fell in every other +direction but that in which she should have thrown them. However, they +could not stand to fire more than one round, as our hot shot rendered +their situation very soon untenable, and taking to their boats, they +made their escape to the opposite shore with all expedition. + +The distance from the battery to the schooner had been so accurately +measured by Major Blanchard, who superintended the construction of the +work, that almost every shot and shell penetrated the hull of the +vessel, and in a short time after her crew had left her, she broke out +into a blaze of fire, which soon reaching the magazine, she blew up with +a loud explosion, to the great comfort and joy of all our army. This of +course deserved and obtained three as hearty cheers as I believe were +ever given by Britons, and no doubt the Americans were greatly chagrined +at the loss of their fine and exceedingly useful vessel. A shell or two +were directed towards the ship, but she having seen the fate of the +schooner, got out her boats, which, taking her in tow, she set off up +the river in all haste. Could a battery have been constructed to fire +upon her at the same time, it would have saved us some hard knocks +afterwards. She, however, effected her escape, and we now remained in +peace for a few days at least. + +On the 25th, Sir Edward Packenham and General Gibbs had arrived; the +former immediately assumed the command, and they both set off to the +front to reconnoitre the enemy and the kind of country around us. Every +night since our arrival the enemy had been incessant in their means to +harass and annoy us, as in truth they had a right to do if they pleased, +but it was exceedingly distressing to the troops, and therefore I +mention it. They seldom let an hour pass during the night, that they +were not firing at some of our out sentries, and on some occasions they +brought the body of irregular cavalry, before mentioned, immediately in +front of our outposts, and fired volleys, which, although it did not do +much injury to our advanced picquets, had the effect of turning out the +whole line, and that often repeated, with the annoyance from the +schooner, certainly did not leave us much time for comfortable rest. +They frequently lay in ambush for the reliefs of our sentries also, and +patrols, and fired upon them sometimes with effect. In short, they did +all they could to annoy and weary us out, but of which we ought not to +complain, as they were defending their own country, and allowances ought +to be made in such a case that would not be tolerated in an army having +no interest in the soil. I trust Englishmen will be equally zealous and +bitter to their enemies should our country ever be invaded. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + British Army told off into Brigades--Advance, and are hotly + received--Heroism of a young Artillery Officer--We take up a + fresh position--The Enemy work incessantly in raising an + extensive breastwork--Two Batteries erected, from which our + heavy Ship Artillery are brought to bear against it, but + without effect--The Enemy also place their Ship Guns on + Batteries--Colonel Lambert arrives with the 7th and 43d + regiments--Preparations for a grand attack on the Enemy's + lines, which entirely fails, and the British are repulsed with + great loss. + + +The remainder of the army all arrived during the 24th, and were put in +bivouack in an oblique direction, with their front to the late field of +action, their right thrown back towards the wood, and their left towards +Mons. Villerey's house. The 93d formed line in advance at an angle of +the wood, as a sort of outpost, while the 85th and ours were stationed +in and around the house, to which I have so often alluded, _i. e._ where +I fell in with the column of the enemy. Our advanced picquets remained +the same as before the action. If I might here be permitted to hazard an +opinion, I should say that had we advanced upon New Orleans the morning +after the fight, I think there is little doubt we should have been +successful; for when an irregular and undisciplined body of troops once +meet with a reverse, it is difficult to bring them into action again +with that steadiness and determination which they often evince in their +first essay. + +I understood General Jackson had some trouble in keeping them together +after their defeat on the night of the 23d, and the only mode in which +he could get them to form was, in planting the first who retired in line +near the road, and as each successive detachment arrived from the fight, +they were made to form on their left, the whole line sitting or laying +down for the remainder of the night. It is easy to perceive that they +would have been quite unmanageable should they have been seriously +attacked, while their spirits were depressed by their recent failure, +and as the works which we afterwards encountered did not then exist, at +least only in part, I think they would have retired after a very slight +resistance indeed. I had the information as to the manner in which they +formed, from some of those who were made prisoners, and who witnessed +it. All this, however, is merely the opinion of a private individual, +who judged from appearances only, and it is not in the nature of things +probable that I should be able to form so correct a one as those who +possessed more ample information. + +After the arrival of the two general officers before mentioned, the army +was told off into brigades as follows, viz. the 1st brigade, commanded +by General Gibbs, consisted of the 4th, 21st, and 44th British, and 5th +West India regiments; the 2d brigade, commanded by General Keane, +consisted of the 85th, 93d, and 95th British, and 1st West India +regiments, (observe, the West India regiments had by this time become +exceedingly reduced in point of numbers from cold and hardship, which +they seemed unable to bear, and very soon after almost ceased to be +regiments, so many of them were sent away sick;) the artillery was +commanded by Colonel Dickson, an excellent officer; the squadron of the +14th light dragoons not being able to get mounted, formed the guards at +the hospitals, and at head-quarters, &c. + +Every thing having been previously arranged on the morning of the 28th, +we advanced in two columns, the right near the wood commanded by General +Gibbs, and ours on the left by the great road near the river, commanded +by General Keane. The enemy had all along kept possession of those +farm-houses which lay at some distance in front of our picquets. They +were consequently driven from these as we moved forward, which we did, I +should imagine, to the distance of about three miles, their picquets +retiring gradually before us. We here discovered that the enemy had +thrown up a strong field-work, which extended from the river to the wood, +and which consequently shut up every avenue to our farther advance, +without fighting. We also found that their numbers had considerably +increased, as we could perceive by the immense bodies of troops behind +their works. As we pressed upon their picquets as they retired, we got a +shot or two at them with our field-guns; but every thing remained quiet +within their lines till we had arrived within about 400 yards of them, +when they opened out on the head of our columns as destructive a fire of +artillery as I ever witnessed. One shot struck in the column of the +85th, which knocked down two officers and about ten men. My battalion +was leading, and being partly extended skirmishing, they did not offer +so fair a mark for artillery as a solid body, and consequently escaped +this. + +The ship also, which was anchored a little in advance of their work, +opened her broadside on the columns on the road at the same time. Our +gun and howitzer, the only two pieces we had there, endeavoured to +return the fire of the ship, but without doing her much injury. When the +fire was found to be so galling, the troops were moved off the road +into the fields on the right, and my battalion advancing about 100 paces +farther, was ordered to lay down in a sort of ditch which was there, and +to shelter themselves the best way they could. The 85th and 93d formed +also more to the right, and secured themselves as well as the nature of +the ground would admit. It was only intended as a reconnoissance, +consequently the troops did not advance farther, as soon as the nature +of their position was ascertained. It appeared to be a high dike of +casks, formed as a breastwork, with a considerable quantity of artillery +mounted on it, and with a sort of canal or wet ditch in front of it. + +Of course, all this took some time to ascertain, during which they kept +up an incessant cannonade, both from their works and from the ship. The +latter poured in an immense quantity of large grape, which rendered the +situation of those exposed to it extremely unpleasant. Our two +fieldpieces were very soon silenced by the superior fire of the enemy, +and in an hour after our arrival at this point, there was not a man left +with them but the officer, who was quite a youth, but yet stood as +steady as if he had been on a common parade, although all his men were +knocked down about him. I never witnessed more devoted heroism than this +fine young man displayed. One shot, nearly towards the last, struck off +his sergeant's head, and sent his cap spinning over a ditch, where +another officer and I had taken up our post. Some rockets were also +tried from this point, both against the ship and the enemy's works, but +those directed against the vessel flew quite wide of the mark, and +totally failed. Some of those fired into the works, we saw pass over the +heads of the men posted in them, but whether they produced any effect we +could not see. + +The enemy either had set fire to the houses near us before they retired +from them, or they had fired heated shot with a view of producing that +effect; but we had not been long here ere the whole of the houses in the +neighbourhood were in one grand and terrific blaze of fire. I do not +exactly know what was done on the right, for we could not see distinctly +for some trees which grew in the garden of the farm in that direction, +but imagine they encountered something similar to ourselves, as the play +of artillery from the enemy's line in front of them was equally +unceasing with that in our front. Not a man showed himself out of the +enemy's works. + +When every thing was ascertained that could be, the troops began +gradually to draw off, but this was obliged to be conducted in a very +cautious manner, or the loss from their fire would have been severe. The +93d retired first, by separate wings, afterwards the 85th, but ours did +not leave their ground till after dark, when, I believe, some of the +Yankees began to advance in a rather triumphant and bullying manner, but +were taught to keep at a respectful distance by a few shots well laid in +among them. A party of sailors had been sent forward to bring off the +two fieldpieces, there being no artillerymen left to do it, and we had +no horses. They undertook and accomplished this task most cheerfully and +effectually, without a man hurt I believe. + +The loss of my battalion on this occasion was not great. The army now +took up a fresh position in which to bivouack, at about a mile and a +half distance from the enemy's line, but which they could easily reach +with the shot and shells of their larger pieces. The head-quarters were +removed from Monsieur Villerey's house to a large farm or chateau behind +our new lines, and which were formed in the following manner, viz.:--the +4th and 44th composed one line, with their right near the wood. The 21st +formed on their left, but with an intervening space between them. The +85th and 93d formed one line on the left of the 21st, with an interval +between their line and that regiment. This latter line was rather in an +oblique direction, with its front towards a farm-house in advance and to +the left, and where my battalion was ordered to take its station. This +latter post was more exposed to the enemy's shot than any of the others; +it being a good deal advanced, and being close to the river, the guns +from the opposite shore ceased not firing on it, generally with hot +shot. The men were put into a sugar house belonging to this chateau, the +floor of which being sunk a little below the surface of the adjoining +earth, protected them wonderfully; but on occasions they had their very +cooking utensils knocked off the fire by the enemy's shot, in +consequence of the exposed situation of this house. The acting +quartermaster and myself being deemed civilians, and having no +inclination to be deprived of our natural rest at night, as long as we +could be allowed to obtain it, took up our abode in one of the outhouses +at head-quarters, which we found unoccupied, and where our respective +duties could be carried on with as much facility as if we were in the +same house with the battalion, the distance between them being only +about half a mile. + +Here, also, the sick and wounded were brought, where they could enjoy +more comfort than in the sugar-house, till an opportunity offered of +sending them down to the shipping. To secure our front a little more, +and to protect the troops against the shot from the opposite shore, a +redoubt was thrown up about half a mile in front of the right, and +pretty near the wood; while batteries and breastworks were constructed +on the road, to fire on any vessels of the enemy which might come down +the river. These latter were principally constructed of hogsheads of +sugar, which were found in the sugar-houses of the different +plantations in the neighbourhood. But nothing could have answered worse +than they did for this purpose, the enemy's shot going quite through +them, without being at all deadened almost by the resistance they +offered. In front of the left also, inside the road, a breastwork was +thrown up, which secured the persons of a corps of marines and sailors, +who occupied that part of the line. This body was, soon after the 28th, +landed from the fleet; and the latter, having brought small arms on +shore with them, acted as a small battalion. + +It is evident the enemy must have worked incessantly, from our first +landing, to complete the work they occupied; for, from the information I +before mentioned, as given me by one of the Spanish fishermen, it is +clear they had only two guns, mounted on something like a battery, on +the great road. But now that work extended even into the wood, a +distance of at least three quarters of a mile, and at this time there +could not be less than ten or twelve pieces of heavy ordnance mounted on +it. We were told by the slaves who had remained in the houses, that the +ditch behind which they had constructed this work was a sort of small +canal, which the gentleman who owned the property used for the purpose +of transporting the produce of his farm from thence into the river. From +this time we could plainly perceive great numbers of men continually at +work upon it, mostly blacks, of which they would, of course, have +abundance; but their white people also (the army, we conclude) were +constantly employed upon it. We could see distinctly that they were +widening and deepening the canal in front of the work, and raising the +parapet to a considerable height. + +It was now determined to try what our heavy ship-artillery would do +against this work. Accordingly, the greater part of the army were +employed in bringing up these unwieldy machines, and to effect which +required no slight power and perseverance, as we had no means of +transport but the sheer strength of a number of men combined, to drag +them successively through the deep soil. A sufficient number of them +having been brought up by the 31st, strong working parties were employed +all night in erecting two batteries, as near to the enemy's works as +they could with safety venture, and getting the guns, carriages, and +ammunition, &c., into them. These were formed principally of casks, &c., +filled with earth; and I am not sure that some sugar hogsheads were not +used on the occasion. However, at daylight on the morning of the 1st +Jan. 1815, the whole of the troops were ordered under arms, and moved +forward to nearly the same points they occupied on the 28th ult. + +This morning there was an extremely thick fog, which greatly favoured +our movements, the Americans being, I believe, totally ignorant that any +alteration had taken place in the situation of our army. As soon as the +fog cleared away, our artillery opened out a tremendous and thundering +cannonade upon the enemy's line, which so completely astonished them, +that there was not a shot returned for twenty minutes at least, so +little did they expect heavy artillery there. Nay, we heard afterwards +that a great number of the irregular troops were so alarmed, that they +actually quitted the lines without orders, and were posting off to New +Orleans, and were with great difficulty brought back again. As soon as +they perceived, however, that nothing more than a cannonade was +intended, and that our troops did not advance to the attack, they +commenced gradually with their artillery against ours, the fire of which +increasing as their confidence increased, they were not long in +silencing our guns, and in dismounting some of them. The fact is, our +works had been thrown up in such haste, that they were not nearly so +strong as they ought to have been made, had there been more time; the +consequence was, their shot penetrated into every part of our works, and +caused us not only considerable loss in artillerymen, (with one officer +killed,) but, as I said before, actually dismounted a great many of our +guns. This consequently entirely failed of having the desired effect; +but with such a very favourable opportunity as this morning's fog +presented, together with the alarm and terror with which the enemy were +struck on opening our artillery upon them, there is not the most distant +doubt that we should have at once got possession of their lines, had we +but advanced to the attack. It is true, we were not prepared for passing +the ditch, having no fascines or other necessaries for that purpose; but +the resistance, in my opinion, would have been so slight, that we might +almost have chosen our own place to cross it; and it was not very deep +at any place. The battalion of sailors were quite annoyed at being kept +looking on, while so fair an opportunity, as they thought, offered, and +were crying out one to another, "Why don't we go on? what is keeping us +back?" + +'Tis not to be doubted that the first effect of any new thing in warfare +is always the most certain of producing success, particularly against +inexperienced troops; but let them see and know the whole of the effects +that such a thing is calculated to produce, and the alarm wears off, and +confidence and courage return with wonderful rapidity. So it was here; +the first fire of our guns struck them dumb with amazement and +terror--But mark the contrast! Both the latter part of this day, and on +the 8th, at the general attack, how little they seemed to care for all +the artillery we could bring against them! Their gun, a 32-pounder, was +a most bitter antagonist to our principal battery. This happened to be +erected nearly in front of that part of the line where this gun was +situated, and when it fired, its shot always struck the battery at the +first bound, and then it ricocheted into the redoubt where I had taken +up my post. General Keane, with a part of his brigade, was in this +latter work, and some of them narrowly escaped the effects of the +numerous balls thrown from this gun. We were told the captain of the +schooner, after having been deprived of his vessel, had been appointed +to the charge and management of this gun, with some of his crew to work +it; and indeed it seemed very like the bitter and determined manner of +our former opponent, for any of the other guns seemed like children's +play to the unceasing and destructive fire of this heavy piece of +ordnance. I could distinctly see that they were sailors that worked +it--one of whom, a large mulatto, with a red shirt, always spunging her +out after firing. + +In what I am going to relate, I know I shall incur the risk of being +deemed a _traveller_ by some of my readers, but that shall not deter me +from telling what I plainly and repeatedly saw with my own eyes, +assisted by a glass. At the distance of three quarters of a mile, I +could distinctly perceive the ball from this gun every time it was +fired, it appearing like a small black spot in the midst of the column +of white smoke, and which gradually grew larger in appearance as it +approached us. In many instances I was providentially the cause of +saving some of the men who were in the redoubt with us, because, seeing +which way the ball was coming, I told them when to lie down; and on one +occasion was the shave so close, that it actually carried away one of +the men's packs as he lay on the ground. Another shot struck about +three feet above our heads, and carried away part of a piece of timber +which supported a shed just behind us. + +I forgot to mention, that, after the 28th, the Americans, conceiving +that the guns of the ship would be of more use if taken out and placed +in batteries, this was accordingly done; the greater part of them being +planted on the other side of the river, and being completely on our +flank, were enabled to annoy our people considerably, who were posted +near the great road. + +About two or three o'clock in the afternoon of the 1st, the army began +again to retire to its bivouack, leaving covering parties to protect the +batteries; and after night, the whole having formed, working parties +were sent to bring off as many of the heavy guns as possible. Some of +these, however, they were obliged to bury in the earth, not being able +to drag them away before daylight next morning. This work seemed more +oppressive and fatiguing to the troops than the bringing of them up did, +inasmuch as they were animated in the latter instance by the hope of +their being able to effect something against the enemy through their +toil and labour; but now disappointment added poignancy to their +sufferings. However, although things began to assume not quite so +favourable an aspect as formerly, yet every thing was borne with the +greatest good-will, as they were still confident of all their laborious +services being ultimately crowned with success. In all these fatiguing +services, the sailors bore an ample share, and were of the very utmost +benefit to the whole army, for they could readily contrive the means of +moving those immense masses of metal by purchases, &c., which to a +soldier would be utterly impossible. Indeed, throughout the whole +service, the gallant tars deserved the very highest praise, for they +were equally brave as laborious and willing. + +All hands, both soldiers and sailors, had been up the whole of the night +of the 31st, and now up again all night of the 1st. This was very +trying, no doubt. If any thing like dissatisfaction was evinced, this +incessant toil and want of rest in encountering it, arose more from a +desire to be led on to the attack, than from any wish to be rid of their +labours, however painful these were. As this attempt had failed, no +other scheme now appeared to present itself, but a vigorous and well +sustained attack on their line; for several efforts had been made to +penetrate through the wood, to endeavour to ascertain whether it was +possible to turn their position at that point, but all these efforts had +failed. The last that was attempted was conducted by Lieutenant Wright +of the engineers, but both himself and nearly all his party perished; +for it seems they fell in with a body of American riflemen, who, being +much better accustomed to travelling in woods than our people were, fell +on them, and, as said before, nearly cut off the whole party; yet it is +evident it was not utterly impassable, or the two parties could not have +met. + +I do not recollect to what regiment the men belonged who accompanied +Wright, but think it probable they were altogether unacquainted with +that description of service, which led them into the fatal snare in +which they fell. I am confident I saw blacks, who passed and repassed by +the wood, but it is certain that no attempt upon a large scale could be +made in that direction to turn their position; and it was probably the +better plan to abandon the idea altogether. A very excellent expedient +was however devised, for the purpose of turning the right flank of the +enemy; it was certainly a bold and vigorous idea, and one which, if +successful, would no doubt have secured to us the victory and the +possession of New Orleans. This was no less than cutting a canal, in +order to unite the Mississippi with the lake by which we had arrived, +and by getting boats out of the latter into the river, to transport a +sufficient number of men to the opposite shore, for the purpose of +making a diversion in aid of the principal attack on this side. + +Nothing could exceed the grandness of the conception. Accordingly, all +hands were set to work to widen and deepen the rill of water which flows +into the creek at the landing-place, and, continuing it up past Monsieur +Villerey's house, to let it enter the river a little above that point. +This, as may easily be conceived, was most laborious and dirty work; +and, lest the health and spirits of the troops should suffer from such +incessant fatigue, they were told off into four watches or spells, each +of which followed the other in regular succession, so that the work +never stood still. When it had reached near the house and high-road, +screens were put up on the latter, to prevent the enemy on the opposite +bank of the river from seeing what was carrying on; but as the blacks +were passing and repassing almost continually by the wood, as I before +mentioned, no doubt the Americans were well acquainted with what we were +doing. + +On the ---- General Lambert arrived with the 7th and 43d regiments, to +our great joy, two finer regiments not being in the service. +Consequently every eye now sparkled with hope, that our labours and +privations would soon terminate, as every one confidently anticipated a +favourable result, and seemed still inclined to despise that enemy who +had shown us that we could not do so with impunity. We were glad to meet +many of our old Peninsular friends in these two fine corps, and of +course welcomed them to the New World in the best manner we were +capable of. They took up their ground a little in front of the canal +which was cutting, there not being room sufficient for them in the line +of our bivouack. We were now about 7000 effective troops, and all +beginning to cheer up again, imagined nothing could withstand us. + +By the 6th the canal was finished, and the boats brought up into it. +There was obliged to be a lock in it at the entrance from the river, for +the strength of which Sir Edward, our Chief, I understand, expressed his +apprehensions, but was assured by the engineer that there was not the +slightest danger. I give this merely as report. + +On the 7th the arrangements for the attack next morning having been +completed, orders were issued to that effect. The arrangements were as +follows, viz.--a corps consisting of the 85th regiment, with 200 sailors +and 400 marines, and the 5th West India regiment, with four light +fieldpieces, the whole under the command of Colonel Thornton, was to +embark in boats by twelve o'clock, and to be all across the river by +daylight next morning. This force would amount to about 1200 or 1300 +men, and were destined to attack and carry the works on the opposite +bank, getting possession of the guns without allowing them to be spiked +if possible, when they were to be turned upon the right flank of the +enemy's position, on this side the river, to favour our attack. It is +clear, then, that this movement should precede that of the grand attack +by a considerable space of time. In the grand attack the troops were to +be disposed as follows, viz.--The right column, under General Gibbs, was +to consist of the 4th, 21st, 44th, and three companies of my battalion, +which latter were to extend as close to the enemy's work as possible, +previous to the advance of the column, and, by maintaining a constant +fire, were to endeavour to keep the enemy down as much as possible. The +44th was to be divided; one-half of that corps was to carry fascines, +&c., which they were to throw into the ditch on reaching it, in order +that the remaining regiments of that column might be able to pass it. +These fascines were to be had in the redoubt I before mentioned. The +other wing of the 44th was to lead that column, followed by the 21st, +and then the 4th, regiments. This was to be the principal attack. The +left column, commanded by General Keane, was to be composed as follows, +viz.--one company of the 7th, one of the 21st, one of the 43d, and two +of ours. The whole to be supported by the 93d regiment. These were to +make a feint attack upon the half-moon work which the enemy had +constructed near the river, and if opportunity offered, to turn it into +a real attack, and penetrate the enemy's line, co-operating with the +other column. Our two companies were to act here in the same manner as +the other three with whom they were to form a junction, thus covering +the whole front of the enemy's work. Some blacks of the 1st West India +regiment were to enter the wood on the right of our right column, and to +keep up as much noise as possible by firing and sounding bugles, &c. to +induce a belief that a large body of troops was moving in that +direction. The reserve, under General Lambert, was to consist of the 7th +and 43d regiments, and was to be so stationed as to be able to render +aid to either of the attacking columns. Strict orders were given that no +obstacle was to be permitted to retard the advance of the columns, but +that they were to press forward and endeavour to overcome every +hinderance that might present itself. + +As far as I recollect, and from the information I have since gained, +these were substantially the orders issued, and arrangements made, on +this occasion. The commanding-officers and heads of departments were +also assembled, and each told the part he had to perform; on which +occasion, I understand, the commanding-officer of the 44th expressed +himself in terms which I could scarcely conceive it possible could fall +from the lips of a soldier, which were, that "it was a forlorn hope with +the 44th." In all my campaigning I never yet heard a commanding-officer +who did not look upon the post of danger as the post of honour, and who +did not rejoice, as if a favour was conferred on him, when appointed to +an arduous or hazardous duty. Had the commanding-officer of the 44th +served in the Peninsula under our illustrious leader there, he would, I +am confident, have been animated by a quite different spirit. After dark +I went with my commanding-officer and adjutant to view the ground over +which our battalion was to march next morning, and to find out the +wooden bridges, &c. over some ditches which lay in the way, that no +delay might take place when they were to be called upon to act. + +I was sadly disappointed at our not meeting with any other +commanding-officers engaged in this most necessary duty, and at the time +I expressed my apprehensions as to the result. I pointed out to him the +different manner in which the business had been conducted previous to +the assault of Badajos, and previous to the attack on the enemy's +position on the Nivelle, where every commanding-officer, or others, who +had any particular duty assigned to them in the next day's operations, +were brought to ground from which it was clearly pointed out to them how +they were to move and act; but here all seemed apathy and fatal +security, arising from our too much despising our enemy. This latter, I +believe, was the principal cause of our not taking the necessary +precautions, and consequently of our failure; particularly the +commanding-officer of the 44th ought to have been brought and shown +where the fascines were lodged, that no excuse of ignorance on that +score might be pleaded. A rocket thrown up was to be the signal for the +troops to advance to the attack, after they had been properly posted +under the cover of night for that purpose. I own I did not at all feel +satisfied with what I had seen and heard, and retired to rest with a +considerable degree of despondency on my mind; and as I knew I could +render little aid to the service in a case like the present, I +determined I should not take any part in it, for I almost felt confident +of its failure. + +The whole of the troops were at their post by the time appointed; but, +unfortunately, as the sailors, &c. were getting the boats out of the +canal into the river, the lock gave way after only a very few had passed +it. Thus the whole business seemed at one blow to be totally ruined. +Every effort was made to remedy the evil, but it was irremediable. They +toiled, however, to get more boats into the river, but the delay had +been so great that it began to draw towards dawn before they had +effected any thing worth mentioning. Poor Sir Edward seemed like one +bereft of his reason, for this failure had blasted all his most sanguine +hopes; and as the troops were now close under the enemy's works, and +could not be withdrawn before daybreak, nor without being perceived by +the enemy, he thought it as dangerous to turn back as to go forward with +the operation, consequently he ordered the rocket to be fired, although +it was considerably past the time for the attack to take place, and no +troops on the opposite shore. As soon as this was done, he galloped to +the front. But the enemy had been quite prepared, and opened such a +heavy fire upon the different columns, and upon our line of skirmishers, +(which had been formed for some time within about 100 or 150 yards of +the enemy's work,) as it is not easy to conceive. I was not in it as I +said before, but I was so posted as to see it plainly. But the 44th, +with the fascines, were not to be found. Their commanding-officer had +taken them considerably past the redoubt where the fascines were placed, +and when he bethought him of what he had to do, he and his men were +obliged to turn back to seek them; and thus, when he ought to have been +in front to throw them into the ditch to allow the other troops to pass +over, he was nearly half a mile in rear seeking for them. But I believe +it would not have availed much had they been there in time, for the +right column never reached the point to which it was directed; but from +the dreadful fire of every kind poured into it, some of the battalions +began to waver, to halt and fire, and at last one of them completely +broke, and became disorganized. Sir Edward seeing this rushed forward +with his hat in his hand, and endeavouring to animate them by his +presence, he cheered them on to advance again; but at this moment he +fell, after receiving two wounds, the last of which was mortal. General +Gibbs also fell nearly at the same time mortally wounded, and was borne +off the field. Thus was the right and principal column deprived of both +its leaders; and although one regiment gave ground, and could not be +brought again to the attack, the other continued to keep in a body, +although any attempt now must be hopeless, and they were losing such +numbers of men that they must shortly be annihilated. They accordingly +retired without effecting any thing. + +The left column succeeded somewhat better; but, as things turned out, it +was only to enhance their own loss. They forced their way into the +circular work before mentioned, in which they made all the men who +defended it prisoners. But the canal still lay between them and the +main work, which was passed only by a plank; and being so few in +numbers, it would have been madness in them to attempt to go beyond +where they had at present stationed themselves. Indeed, they were in a +most critical situation; for, being within a few yards of the enemy's +main body, they could not move without being shot through the head by +their riflemen; and it was not till they had threatened to shoot the +prisoners they had taken, that they induced the Americans to desist from +attacking them; for by this time General Keane also had fallen severely +wounded, and the 93d had been nearly cut to pieces; and General Lambert, +with the reserve, had been obliged to advance and cover the retreat of +the other columns. Colonel Dale, who commanded the 93d, fell early in +the action, and the command devolved on Colonel Creagh; this officer, +being unwilling to retire his regiment without effecting the object +aimed at, although the men were literally mown down by the murderous +fire of the enemy, and the other column had given way, still endeavoured +to advance, but was at length reluctantly compelled to retrograde, +taking care to keep his men together. This showed a fine and noble +feeling in him, and is equally honourable to his gallant regiment; but +unfortunately it tended only to swell the list of killed and wounded on +this lamentable occasion. + +My people were thus left to shift for themselves, and to get away in the +best manner they could. But being extended, and not being so good an +object for the artillery to fire at as the columns, they escaped with +much less loss than could well be supposed. Some few of them reached the +ditch when they saw the columns advancing, and which they say could have +been passed with ease; but the columns never advanced so far, which had +they done, and that rapidly, their loss would not have been half so +great; for the enemy's troops in front of the right column were +evidently intimidated, and ceased firing for some seconds as the column +approached; and there is little doubt, had they pushed on to the ditch +with celerity, the Americans would have abandoned their line; at least, +such is my humble opinion. But the poor fellows on the left, who had +gained the only work which fell into our hands on this bank of the +river, were still detained there, unable either to advance or retreat; +and not one durst show his head above the parapet, or he was instantly +shot dead. + +Such was their confined and critical situation at this period, that an +officer of the 7th, whose name I forget, being himself rather tall, and +wearing at this time the high narrow-topped cap, could not squeeze in +sufficiently close to cover himself completely by the parapet, the top +of the high cap he wore sticking above the top of the work. This part of +the cap, which was visible to the Americans within the line, had no less +than four or five rifle-shots put through it while he lay there, but +without touching his head. All this information respecting these three +companies I had from Lieutenant Steele of the 43d, one of the officers +who was in the work. + +They were obliged at last to adopt a very singular but politic +expedient, which was, to make one of the American prisoners embrace a +man of the 43d, and thus to stand up together to see what was going +forward; for hitherto they were totally ignorant, from the causes above +assigned. The enemy durst not fire in such a case, for fear of killing +their own man. The news they now learned was most disheartening indeed, +which was, that the whole of the British had retired, and that the +Americans were coming out of their lines, and were moving in the +direction of that work. Nothing now remained but to surrender, or to +make an attempt to retreat, at the risk of being every man knocked +down. The latter, however, they preferred; on which Colonel Rennie, of +the 21st, who commanded these three companies, was the first to make the +experiment, and in doing which, the moment after he left the fort, he +fell to rise no more. They thought it better for them all to go at once, +and instantly the whole party made a rush out of the work. The greater +part of them providentially succeeded in effecting their escape, +although many a brave fellow fell in the attempt. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + Bravery and Success of Colonel Thornton--Negotiation for leave + to transport the Wounded across the River--Insult offered to + the British--They retreat--Our Army embark, and determine to + make an Attack upon Mobile--Proceed in the direction of Mobile + Bay--A Brigade detached to reduce Fort Boyer--The Fort + surrenders, the Garrison becoming Prisoners of + War--Intelligence of a Treaty of Peace being concluded at + Ghent--Cessation of Hostilities. + + +It now remains to detail the operations of Colonel Thornton's party. It +will be seen, that, although his people were all ready at the appointed +hour, they could not get a sufficient number of boats to transport them +to the opposite shore. In fact, they did not get on board till it was +near daylight, and then only about one-half of the appointed number. +But, although at the risk of sacrificing himself and the few men he took +with him, he hesitated not to make the attempt of fulfilling his orders. +The signal for the general attack, however, was made before he could +reach the opposite bank, and he had then to land, and after making his +disposition with the few troops he had, to advance and attack a corps of +2000 men, mostly covered by works, some of which were extremely strong. +He dashed on, however, the advance of the enemy giving way before him, +till coming to their principal battery, he was obliged to detach a part +of his force through the wood on his left to turn their flank, while he +with the remainder attacked in front. This was conducted in such a +soldierlike manner, that, after a short conflict, the enemy gave way on +all sides, and retiring with precipitation, abandoned to the victors +batteries and works containing sixteen guns of various calibre. + +But, alas! all this success came too late; for the principal attack had +by this time ended in a total failure, attended with the loss of three +out of four generals, and with nearly 2000 officers and men killed, +wounded, and made prisoners. Had Providence prospered the work of the +canal, and the troops could have been got across at the appointed hour, +and in sufficient numbers, there is every reason to believe that the +effect produced on the main body by such a powerful diversion, would +have tended to the complete overthrow of the whole force before us; for +so insecure did General Jackson feel himself to be after our +establishment on the other bank of the river, and so alarmed at its +consequences, that, in the evening of the fatal day, he would not +consent to a cessation of hostilities, to enable us to bring off our +numerous wounded, till General Lambert (who had now succeeded to the +command) agreed as a preliminary to withdraw the force under Colonel +Thornton from that bank; and this, although with great reluctance, the +General was compelled from motives of humanity and other causes to +consent to. + +Before, however, a final answer was returned to General Jackson, I +believe it was suggested to our General, that, with the possession of +the other bank of the river, and with the 7th and 43d nearly yet entire, +and with the remainders of the other regiments, our chances of success +had not yet entirely departed, particularly as Jackson evinced such +eagerness for our withdrawing from that bank. General Lambert in +consequence used means to ascertain the feelings of the troops on this +proposition, but without their knowledge of his having done so; but I +regret to state, they seemed utterly hopeless of ever being able to +overcome such formidable difficulties as had presented themselves, +particularly now that their means of overcoming them had been so +lamentably diminished. The idea was consequently abandoned. + +In this negotiation between the Generals, which continued for some +hours, Lieutenant-colonel Smith, our assistant adjutant-general, had +repeatedly to pass from army to army with flags of truce, before the +matter could be finally arranged. This officer was most indefatigable in +his exertions on this unfortunate expedition, and to him the army is +greatly indebted for his zeal, ability, and gallantry, on this and every +other occasion where they could be of service to his country, and by +those in authority no doubt they are duly appreciated. + +Thus terminated the fatal attack on the lines of New Orleans--a +termination probably as disastrous in its consequences as any of modern +date--not even excepting that of Buenos Ayres; for that, discreditable +as it was to our arms, did not cost the lives of such a number of fine +soldiers; and I fear we have not yet experienced the full consequences +of this failure, for it is certain that the Americans are greatly +elevated by it in their own estimation, and it is not improbable they +may be thence induced to maintain a higher tone in all their future +negotiations with this country. + +One instance may be to the point, as showing the feeling of individuals +of that country on this subject. A fellow in the shape of an officer +asked Colonel Smith, (I think it was,) "Well, what do you think of we +Yankees? Don't you think we could lick any of the troops of the +continent easily?"--"I don't know that," says our officer.--"Why, I'll +prove to you," says Jonathan, "that we have shown ourselves the best +troops in the world. Didn't the French beat the troops of every other +continental nation? Didn't you beat the French in the Peninsula? and +haven't we beat you just now?" This of course was conclusive, and no +farther argument on that subject could be advanced. + +The remainder of the troops retired in the evening to their sorrowful +bivouack, worn out and sadly dispirited. All that night was of course +devoted to bringing off the unfortunate wounded; but several of those +who fell far in advance had been taken into the American lines, and, I +have every reason to believe, were treated with the greatest humanity. +Every effort was used, during the continuance of the truce, to bring +away the great numbers who lay wounded in the different parts of the +field; and on this as on all other occasions, the sailors with their +officers, evinced the utmost solicitude to render assistance to the +army; a great number of them were employed all night on this distressing +duty. During the whole of that afternoon, both while the negotiations +were pending, and at other times, the American officers were unceasing +in their endeavours to induce our soldiers to desert and join their +army. Too many, I regret to say, listened to their offers, and accepted +them. To some they promised promotion, to others money or grants of +land; in short, they were more like recruiting sergeants, I understand, +than the officers of a hostile army. My battalion did not quit the field +till after dark, and it is from some of them I have this information. A +group of two sergeants and a private of ours were accosted by an +American officer of artillery with a request that they would enter the +service of the United States; that the sergeants should be promoted if +they wished to serve, or that they should have grants of land if they +preferred a civil life; but that, if they chose to enter the army, he +would ensure them the rank of officers. Our people listened to this +harangue for some time, and then began, I regret to say, to give him +some bad language; telling him, at the same time, that they would rather +be privates in the British army, than officers among such a set of +raggamuffins as the Americans, and told him to sheer off or they would +fire upon him. This so exasperated the cowardly villain, that he went +off instantly into the line, they watching him all the while, and +pointing the gun, of which, it seems, he had charge, it was fired, and +knocked down the private, who was only wounded, however, by the shot. +Innumerable attempts of this nature were made both now and all the time +we remained before their lines subsequently, but which attempts, I am +proud to say, as far as I have been able to learn, failed in every +instance in the men of my battalion. + +Much about the same time, an American soldier came within about 150 +yards of our line, and began to plunder such of the killed or wounded +men as he thought possessed of any thing valuable. He at length +commenced upon a poor wounded man belonging to my battalion, which being +perceived by a Corporal Scott of ours, he asked permission from his +captain to take a shot at him. This being granted, (although a sort of +truce had been established while the negotiations were going on,) he +took up his rifle, and taking a steady aim, he fired, and tumbled the +plundering villain right over the body of the poor wounded man. + +The loss of our five companies in this attack amounted to seven officers +and about ---- men killed and wounded. Some of the other regiments, the +93d in particular, had suffered dreadfully, having lost more than half +their numbers. The sad ceremony of burying such of the officers whose +bodies had been recovered, together with attention to the wounded, +occupied several days from this period, and sending the wounded, who +were able to bear removal, to the shipping, kept great numbers of the +remaining men continually employed; and the attention of all was now +turned towards drawing off from this scene of our late disastrous +attempt. + +The General entered into a negotiation with Jackson about being +permitted to send a portion of our wounded down the river in boats; for +which permission some equivalent, which I forget, was to be granted on +our part, and which, after considerable discussion, was eventually +agreed to. The sick, the wounded, the stores of every description, were +now despatched as fast as circumstances would allow; but the effecting +of this occupied not less than nine days, during the whole of which time +the enemy was incessant in his attempts to harass and annoy us. All +their heavy ordnance was brought to bear on our bivouack; the +sugar-house our people occupied, and even the head-quarters, did not +escape; night and day they kept up a fire of shot and shells upon these +points; but the distance being considerable, no very great mischief +resulted from it, further than the continual state of uneasiness and +alarm in which it kept the troops. On one occasion, however, a shell was +thrown into the lines of the 43d, who had since the attack occupied a +part of the general bivouack, and which, falling into a hut occupied by +Lieutenant Darcy of that regiment, while he lay asleep, carried off both +his legs as it fell. Poor fellow! he would thus be awakened in a rough +manner indeed. I have since seen him in Dublin, the government having +kindly compensated him by giving him a company, and I believe two +pensions. + +Several shells were thrown into the head-quarters premises, but +providentially without injuring any one. One fell in the yard while a +party of troops was halted there for a short while, and which falling on +one of the men's knapsacks, which he had put off, it carried it, with +itself, not less than six feet deep into the earth. It did not explode. +Some fell on the roof, which penetrated through all the stories to the +very ground. Every night also the picquets were kept in a state of +agitation and alarm by the continual attacks of small parties of our +skulking enemy, and my battalion, as did the others also, lost +considerable numbers by this petty warfare. In short, the men's lives +began almost to be a burden to them. + +There was another source of annoyance adopted on the part of the +Americans on this occasion, but which, affecting only the mental, and +not the bodily powers of our soldiers, was not so much heeded. Every day +almost they assembled in large bodies on the parapet of their line, with +flags of various descriptions, some with "sailors' rights" and numerous +other devices, &c. painted on them, using the most insulting +gesticulations towards those who were near enough to see them, a band +playing Yankee Doodle, and other national airs, all the while, and +sometimes ironically favouring us with Rule Britannia. Considerable +numbers of our men deserted about this time. Every encumbrance being +removed, however, by the 17th, orders were issued for the march of the +army on the following evening soon after dark, leaving the picquets as a +rearguard, which were not to march till a short while before daylight. +In retiring, some of the wounded, who were unable to bear removal, were +necessarily left in the houses where they had been collected; but there +were not many so left, and no doubt the enemy acted humanely by them. +There were seven men of my battalion left, out of which three rejoined +us after the conclusion of peace; the other four, I believe, were very +badly wounded, and died in consequence. It was also necessary to abandon +such of the guns as remained in the advanced batteries, because, both +from their weight and their being so near the enemy, they could not be +brought off without exposing our intentions of retreating. Neither were +these numerous, and most of them only iron ship-guns, which are of no +great value. + +The movement commenced according to the preconcerted plan, and being +conducted with secrecy and regularity, every soldier was brought off, +over a country almost impassable, and where, if followed and harassed by +an enterprising enemy, great numbers must have either fallen into their +hands or perished in the swamp. But I believe, had the Americans even +been aware of our intention, they would have hesitated before they came +into collision with our highly exasperated army, and would scarcely have +dared to attack us in the open field: they had had enough of that work +on the 23d, to give them a specimen of what British soldiers could do +when met fairly, front to front. + +The marsh, it may be necessary to mention, extended from the lower skirt +of the wood to the fishermen's huts at the mouth of the creek. This +creek we had sailed up on our advance, but this could not possibly be +the case at present, both on account of our numbers being much too great +for the number of boats, and of the danger to which it would have +exposed the troops had they been attacked from the shore, but +principally on the former account; a sort of road had therefore been +constructed by our artificers, by cutting down boughs from the wood, and +laying them across such places as required something on the surface on +which to tread. This road extended, as nigh as I can judge, about eight +or ten miles, and in passing which numerous slips were made into the +sloughs on each side; but there being plenty of assistance generally at +hand, they helped each other out: some men, I understand, were lost, +however, in this night-march through the swamp. + +Having arrived at the huts before-mentioned, the whole army set about +forming such places of shelter as the desert swamp afforded. There were +certainly reeds in abundance, but we wanted some sort of timbers for the +support of the outward covering. We, however, did the best we could; and +now every exertion was made by the navy to bring the army off from this +most uncomfortable place of abode, and regiment after regiment were +despatched as fast as the boats and other small craft could go and +return, the distance from hence to the shipping being about seventy +miles. While we remained here, we who were fond of shooting found plenty +of wild-ducks on which to exercise our sporting abilities; but, alas! we +wanted shot, and were therefore seldom able to bring home a couple for +dinner. + +A considerable number of slaves, belonging to the estates where we had +lately been stationed, followed us down thus far, some of whom would not +return, but were afterwards sent on board of ship. These, male and +female, often amused us with their native dances, the men generally +having a number of rings or bells about them, which sounded as they kept +time to the tune. Some of their dances were, however, far from decent, +particularly on the part of the females, which, it may be supposed, +highly delighted some of our young and thoughtless countrymen. Some were +induced to return to their masters: for those who came on board of ship, +I believe it was not till very lately that the two governments came to +terms as to the remuneration which their owners claimed for them. + +At length the turn came for my battalion to go on board, which we did on +the 25th of January, when our whole five companies were put on board the +Dover, the ship that had brought out two companies of the battalion, and +which were then not much fewer in number than the five at present were; +in fact, we had lost more than half. The whole army did not get embarked +till ----, when the 7th Fusileers came on board. This regiment had been +necessarily left alone at the fishermen's huts till the boats could +return, as before stated, to bring them off, and yet even this single +battalion the enemy, with upwards of 10,000 men, dared not come down and +attack, although there were no works to protect it in this exposed +situation. Nothing could possibly demonstrate more fully and clearly, +that, notwithstanding the repulse they had unfortunately given our +troops, they dreaded them in the open country; or else it must be +attributed to the prudent sagacity of their leader, who, having gained a +victory which he had previously scarce dared to hope for, now wisely +resolved not to risk the tarnishing of his dear-bought laurels. It is +not an easy matter to reconcile this cautious and timid conduct with +their furious onset on the night of the 23d, and with their boasting +speeches after our failure on the 8th instant. + +Now, while we remain at rest for a short while on board of ship, let us +take a retrospective glance at the late events. It is certain we were +singularly unfortunate. Providence, which had smiled upon us in our late +operations against the most formidable army in the world, the French, +here taught us most painfully, that the victory is not always to be +gained by strength or courage. Indeed it was but a just punishment for +the contempt we entertained for our opponents, and which unfortunate +feeling, I believe, was almost universal. I own I entertained it in a +high degree; for I judged it next to a moral impossibility that an army +of undisciplined and unmanageable peasants, however numerous, could for +a moment withstand the attack of those troops who had overthrown the +victorious legions of Bonaparte. But every soldier was a patriot, and +they fought for their country, and for a country of all others most +suitable for the operations of such troops; full of fastnesses, composed +of creeks, and necks, and woods, &c. of all which they did not fail to +take the utmost advantage. For this work of theirs, constructed on a +spot of ground said to have been pointed out by General Moreau, +completely shut us out from all approach towards the town, and +compensated for every disadvantage under which they, as irregulars, +laboured; for it was not only a formidable barrier to our army, but it +gave them, by the protection it afforded their persons, all the +steadiness of troops inured to combat, and permitted them the full +exercise of that superior skill as marksmen for which they are famed, +and which exposure in the open field would have deprived them of; for +here they were covered up to the chin, and suffered comparatively +nothing from all our fire. + +But I fear we have something for which to blame ourselves on this +occasion. It is certain, I believe, that they had been timely apprized +of the destination of our expedition, however secret we pretended to +keep it ourselves, and if rumour may in such a case be permitted to go +for any thing, it is said that information was conveyed from Jamaica to +New Orleans direct by a French ship, which left the former for the +latter place some time before our arrival. How she came into the +possession of that information, I cannot justly tell. It is certain, +however, that the Americans must have had timely notice, or General +Jackson could not have had the men from Kentucky and Tennessee to +oppose us the first night we landed. + +I before hazarded an opinion, that had we pushed forward on the 24th +December, we should in all probability have proved successful. I will +say nothing as to the point of debarkation being well or ill chosen, +although many have said we should have been more likely to succeed had +we attacked Fort ----, which, after carrying, would have allowed us to +land behind the town, instead of three leagues below it. These things I +am totally incapable of judging of, from my ignorance of the country. I +also before expressed my opinion, that had we attacked on New Year's +Day, when our artillery produced such an effect on the appalled +Americans, we should have had a better chance of carrying their works. + +Another thing in which I venture to differ from the plan adopted by our +lamented commander, is, that I would have employed the 7th and 43d to +the post of honour, instead of keeping them in reserve. They, it was +well known, had each established a reputation for being the finest +regiments in the service, and every reliance might have been placed in +their executing whatever task was assigned them, if executable by human +powers. Far different was it with those who unfortunately led the +attack, for except one of the regiments of the attacking column, they +had not any of them been conspicuous as fighting regiments. + +It was, I believe, a well known maxim of Bonaparte's, always to put his +best troops in front; if they were successful, their example served to +stimulate the others to copy their example; if unsuccessful, their +discipline and valour never permitted them to become so totally +disorganized as to render the reverse irretrievable. The onset also of +these better troops, must produce a far different effect on the enemy +than the hesitating and dispirited attack of inferior ones. Had our +troops on this occasion rushed forward to the ditch in double quick +time, or at least at a quick march, I venture to affirm the work would +have been carried with the fourth part of the loss of what they +suffered. Reason itself must point out to any man, whether acquainted +with military matters or not, that to move slowly under a galling fire +is more trying and destructive to the troops so moving, than to rush at +once to the point aimed at; but much more, to halt at the very point +where every fire-arm can be brought to bear upon them with the deadliest +effect, is of all other modes of proceeding the least likely to succeed. +They were thus exposed for hours to as destructive a fire as ever was +poured upon the heads of an attacking army, while, had they pushed on at +the rate I mention, a few minutes would have sufficed to put them from +under the fire of the artillery at least, for when close to the ditch, +it could not be brought to bear upon them. Mark the mode in which the +three companies on the left effected the task assigned to them. Before +the enemy were aware almost that they were to be attacked, these troops +were in possession of the work they were destined to storm; so quickly +indeed that the defenders of that work had not time to effect their +retreat, and were, as before noticed, made prisoners by the attacking +party. This not only secured their safety while left there by +themselves, but enabled them, in some degree, to effect their retreat +with less loss than they would otherwise have been exposed to. + +I have dwelt perhaps too long on this, but of all other causes I deem +this to have been the greatest of our sad failure. It is lamentable, +however, to be obliged to confess, that ill conduct on the part of some +parties, but of one individual in particular, contributed in no small +degree to our repulse on this melancholy occasion. For the rest, +nothing could exceed the determined courage and patient endurance of +hardship that the army in general evinced, and certainly nothing could +exceed the gallantry of our leaders. + +It was now determined to make an attempt upon Mobile, a town lying about +thirty or forty leagues to the eastward of New Orleans. Accordingly, the +fleet got under weigh and proceeded in the direction of the entrance +into Mobile Bay, which is protected on the west side by shoals and Isle +Dauphine, and on the east by a fort, built on a point of land called +Mobile Point, and mounting about twenty pieces of heavy ordnance. Its +name is Fort Boyer, I believe. Before our arrival in this country, an +attempt had been made on this fort by one of our frigates, but which +entirely failed, owing to her taking the ground on the shoals before +mentioned. As she could not be got off, and as she lay under the fire of +the fort, her crew were compelled to abandon her, but, I believe, not +till they had first set her on fire; her wreck lay here when we came. +Until this fort was taken, no vessel of any size could enter the bay, +consequently it became necessary to attack it in form. The brigade +formerly General Gibbs's, consisting of the 4th, 21st, and 44th, was +therefore landed a little behind the point, and proceeded without delay +to invest it; the remainder of the troops were landed on Isle Dauphine. + +We were put on shore on the 8th February, and instantly commenced +hutting ourselves by brigades. Some of the officers had tents issued out +to them; the acting Quartermaster and myself had one between us. This +island is almost covered with pine-wood, but in other respects it is +nearly a desert, and without any inhabitants resident on it, save one +family, a Mr Rooney, formerly from Belfast I understand, but now a +naturalized American. He was married to a native of Louisiana, a lady +of French extraction. He had been a midshipman in the American navy, but +had been dismissed for some misconduct, it was said, and banished to +this island. He appeared to us to be no great things. + +I omitted to mention that the 40th regiment had arrived from England +before we left the banks of the Mississippi, but it being after the +failure they were of no use, and were consequently not permitted to +land. They were afterwards placed in our brigade, which now bivouacked +near to the point of the island facing the bay. When we arrived, the +island contained a considerable number of cattle, with pigs, &c. +belonging to Rooney, but which had been permitted, as is customary in +this country, to run wild in the woods, there being no danger of their +leaving the island. These, however, soon fell a prey to such hungry +fellows as we were, who had been for some time past on rather short +commons. But they did not answer our expectations, being in taste, what +may appear singular, quite fishy. This was attributed to their feeding +so much on marine vegetables, there being little other pasture for them +on the island. + +A hoax was played off upon great numbers of our young hands respecting +this fishiness. There was on one point of the island a considerable +oyster-bed, and it was generally pretty near this that the cattle were +found and shot, that being the most distant from our bivouack. It was +therefore said the flesh of the cattle became of that peculiar flavour +from feeding upon oysters. Some, without reflecting, credited this +strange story, as the assertor generally said he had seen the cattle +opening the oysters with their tongues. This oyster-bed, however, was a +source of great luxury to us, for it not only afforded us the means of +rendering the salt junk more palatable by having an excellent sauce to +make it go down, but it even afforded a most wholesome and delicious +meal upon occasions by eating them raw. We also made the best use of our +time when not employed on military affairs, in endeavouring to catch as +many fish as we could; and for this purpose, my mess purchased from one +of the poor Spanish fishermen before mentioned (and who, for the +information and kindness they had shown us, were obliged to quit their +habitations and follow us), an excellent casting-net, with which the +acting Quartermaster and myself occupied ourselves from day to day, +generally bringing home a sufficient quantity of fish to serve our mess. +I never laboured more assiduously in any occupation than I did in this, +not only from a relish for such amusement, but because we really wanted +something to eke out our scanty meals. We at length got a siene-net from +one of the men-of-war, with which we were not only able to supply +ourselves most abundantly, but always had a large quantity to give away +to the soldiers. Wild-fowl also were very plentiful when we first +entered the island; but from the number killed, and the constant +shooting at them, they soon became scarce and difficult to get at. + +Here also there were abundance of alligators, and on our fishing and +shooting excursions we frequently started them from their +lurking-places, which were generally among the reeds by the side of an +inland lake, or rather creek of the sea. On these occasions we seldom +saw them, for they always endeavoured to avoid us; but wherever they ran +along the bottom of the water, they stirred up the mud so greatly all +the track they took, that we had no difficulty in tracing them. I never +remember to have seen a live one on these occasions, but a dead one once +afforded us considerable amusement. One evening, on our return home from +our constant occupation, there being three or four of us of the party, I +was in front, and the acting Quartermaster and the others in the rear +of me. On a sudden I was alarmed by the cry of "Oh stop, here's an +alligator!" and before I could look round, a shot was fired apparently +into the earth, close beside their feet. I went back to see what was the +matter, and found indeed, as he had said, an alligator, but one which I +suppose had been dead for several months at least. It was buried in the +sand, and only a part of its body appeared; but whether he imagined it +might have placed itself in that situation intentionally, with the view +of enticing its prey within its reach, or what other thought he had, I +cannot tell, but, to make assurance doubly sure, he fired his rifle +right into the body of the half-rotten alligator. He was long and often +severely roasted about this afterwards. A young one was caught alive, +however, by some of the 14th dragoons, and brought home to England, and +afterwards, I understand, presented to the British Museum. All this +while the siege of the fort was going forward, but as we had nothing to +do with it, we had plenty of time, not only to hunt for extra prog, but +to amuse ourselves in any other manner we pleased. + +The army, about this time, was inspected by our Chief, General Lambert, +by battalions. My kind late commanding-officer, Captain Travers, who was +severely wounded at the attack on the 8th, had rejoined by this time, +although still very lame. During the inspection, the General said to +him, "Travers, I am sorry to hear that your sergeant-major ran away on +the night of the 23d, during the attack."--"That is impossible, +General," said Travers, "for he fought as bravely as any man could +possibly do, and was carried off the field near the end of the fight, +severely wounded. But I have a guess what has given rise to this report. +A sergeant of ours left his battalion, I believe, either during or after +the fight, and having taken up his quarters near one of the houses +where the wounded were carried, the surgeon pressed him to remain with +him as hospital-sergeant. I made efforts to have him sent to his +battalion, but could not get it done. This must have been the cause of +such a story having got abroad."--"Ah," says the General, "I am sorry +that the poor sergeant-major should have lain under a stigma, of which +he was altogether undeserving; and, now since we have done him an +involuntary injustice, and he is a deserving man, we must try what +amends we can make him for it." He accordingly recommended him for an +ensigncy in one of the West India regiments; and before that day +twelvemonth, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant. Nothing could be +finer than the feeling of Sir John Lambert on this occasion; indeed, he +has always shown himself a most excellent upright man, and a gallant +officer. + +About this time, a Russian vessel was detained going up to New Orleans +with a cargo of wine from Bordeaux; but although she would, I doubt not, +have been a legal capture, for breaking the blockade, the master was +permitted to dispose of his cargo to our army, and an excellent thing he +made of it, for the wine, which he must have purchased for about one +shilling or one and sixpence a bottle, he charged us in general about +four shillings for; we were glad, however, to get it at any price, and a +most seasonable supply it was indeed. On one of our shooting excursions, +an officer of ours fell in with a sow and two or three pigs, in the +wood; he instantly fired at one of the pigs and killed it; but when +going to pick it up, the sow set upon him with such fury, that he was +glad to abandon his prize, and retreat with precipitation. + +When the army landed near New Orleans, the 14th light dragoons had taken +their saddles and other horse equipments with them, in hopes of being +able to get mounted in the country; and which, being bulky, required a +good large boat to bring off again. They were therefore put on board a +considerable-sized one, with an officer of the regiment and a guard to +protect them. On their way down towards the shipping, night overtook +them before they could reach their destination, on which they pushed +towards the shore, whether of an island or the mainland, I cannot say, +in hopes of being more secure for the night; they consequently put on a +sentry, and all lay down in the boat to sleep. Soon afterwards, however, +a boat came rowing rapidly alongside, and before the sentry could +discover who or what they were, they boarded, and instantly made the +party all prisoners. The officer, I believe, when called on to deliver +up his sword, was so annoyed at being trapped in such a manner, that he +threw it into the lake, as far as he could fling it. The American +officer who captured them was a lieutenant in their navy, and went by +the name of Commodore Shiel (for every fellow is a commodore who +commands even a few boats). He was so elated by his success on this +occasion, and, I believe, by having taken another boat with stores, that +he boasted to his prisoners, that he would take even Admiral Cochrane +himself yet, before he left the country. + +While we remained on Isle Dauphine, a commissary, with a sergeant and +party of our men, were sent on shore, on the mainland, to shoot bullocks +for the supply of the army. They had landed, and the commissary, with +the sergeant and I think two men, went off into the neighbouring wood, +leaving the two or three other men at the landing-place to protect the +boat. Here again Mr Shiel made his appearance, quite suddenly and +unexpectedly, having come round a jutting point before the men were +aware of his presence; he instantly, of course, made them prisoners, +and, taking their arms from them, he put them on board their own boat, +then, sending a part of his crew on board to manage it, despatched it +for the American harbour. He now with a few more of his people went in +search of the commissary and his party, whom he soon found; and they +seeing resistance would be vain, when their own boat was departed, were +compelled at once to surrender. He instantly put them into his own boat; +and taking the commissary into the after-sheets alongside of himself, +the sergeant and the other men were put forward to the head of the boat. +Whether any preconcerted scheme and signal had been agreed upon between +the commissary and the sergeant, I do not know, but an opportunity soon +after offering, the commissary gave the sergeant the wink, and instantly +seizing Mr Shiel by the thighs, pitched him right overboard in an +instant; the sergeant, at the same moment, seizing the stoutest of +Shiel's men, and serving him in a like manner. The others being attacked +by the remaining two men, at once surrendered, and, I believe, suffered +themselves to be bound; and our people, having now resumed their arms +and become masters of the boat, admitted Mr Shiel, who, I fancy, had +clung to the boat to prevent his drowning, to come once more on board. +What became of the other man who was thrown over, I know not; whether he +swam on shore, or was drowned, or was afterwards taken into the boat, I +cannot tell; but the result was, that the great, the boasting Commodore +Shiel, was brought to the island a prisoner, where he landed like a +drowned rat, and quite chopfallen. + +The commissary, who was a fine, stout, and gallant young fellow, spoke +highly in praise of Tom Fukes, our sergeant, for his bravery and good +management on the occasion. + +At length the works being all completed for battering the fort, Colonel +Smith was sent in with a flag of truce to demand its surrender. The +commandant was quite undecided how to act, and asked the Colonel what +he, as a man of honour, would advise him to do. "Why," says the Colonel, +"do you not see that our guns are now overlooking your whole work, and +that we could, in a very short time, knock it down about your ears? I +have no hesitation in telling you, that the rules of war will fully +justify you in surrendering to such a superior force, and when the siege +has advanced to such a point as it actually is." His arguments, together +with the truth of his statements, at length overcame the courage and +determination of Jonathan, and he instantly agreed to surrender, the +garrison, afterwards becoming prisoners of war, marching out and laying +down their arms on the glacis. + +Thus, on the 12th February, this important fortification fell into our +hands, together with 400 men of the 2d regiment of the United States, +and either one or two American colours. This obstacle removed, every +exertion was now made to advance up the lake to the attack of Mobile; +but on the 14th, a vessel arrived with the unexpected, but cheering +information, that peace had been concluded at Ghent between the two +nations, and that it only required the ratification of Mr Maddison, the +United States' president. Of course, all further operations of a warlike +nature were suspended for the present, till it was known whether the +treaty would be ratified or not. This ship also brought out the +notification of our two Generals, Lambert and Keane, being appointed +Knights of the Bath. Some of our Colonels also were included in the +list, viz. Blakeny of the the 7th, and Dickson of the royal artillery. + +And now nothing was thought of but amusement, and making ourselves as +comfortable as possible. But we began to get very short of provisions. +Our people were therefore obliged to send to the Havannah, where they +procured the strongest sort of beef I ever saw. It was not salted; but +after the cattle had been killed, all the thin belly part had been cut +round the whole bullock, in narrow stripes, of about two inches in +width; this being laid, or hung up in the sun, which is extremely +powerful in that country, it was dried without having the least +offensive taste or smell, farther than a little rancidity, which was not +by any means unpleasant; but when brought from on board, it had much +more the appearance of coils of ropes (for it was coiled up in a similar +manner) than provision for the use of man. An aide-de-camp of General +Lambert's, then Lieutenant, but now Major D'Este, son of his Royal +Highness the Duke of Sussex by Lady Augusta Murray, used frequently to +join the shooting party of our acting quartermaster and myself; and, on +one occasion, having obtained a canoe, a trip to the mainland was +projected, for the purpose of shooting; accordingly we took two or three +men with us, and started from the northernmost point of the island, that +being the nearest to the main, which we saw before us, and not more than +five or six miles distant. It was considered the best mode of proceeding +for us all to get into the boat, except one man, who was a famous wader, +(having often accompanied us in our expeditions around the island,) and +who was to wade as far out into the sea as he could, dragging the canoe +after him. This he could do very easily, for she was quite light, and +the water was exceeding shallow for a great distance into the sea. He +continued towing us in this manner for about half a mile, when, being +fairly up to his chin, he and we thought it was high time for him to +come on board; but, in doing this, he gave her such a cant as turned her +right over, and pitched us all into the water. I luckily had my eye +upon the man when he sprung to get into the canoe, and suspecting that +she could not bear so rough a pull, was ready; and accordingly, when I +saw her going, leaped out, without being plunged overhead, as all the +others were. But all our rifles, &c. were pitched out, and of course +sunk to the bottom, to which we were obliged to dive before we could get +them up. This accident put a stop to our excursion, and we waded out +again, looking extremely foolish. Nevertheless we ought to have been +truly thankful to Providence that it occurred before we got out of our +depth; for, with such a frail bark, it is more than probable some +accident would have happened before our return, had not this prevented +our further progress. + +Innumerable were our adventures of this nature, for the water was +delightfully warm, and having no military occupation at the time, we +could not find any better amusement. A party, indeed, suggested the +getting up of theatricals, which being approved on all hands, workmen +were instantly set about erecting the theatre-royal, Isle Dauphine. +This, of course, with the getting off of parts, occupied the managers +and the other performers for some time; but at length all being ready, +most excellent entertainments took place, following each other in quick +succession. At some of these parties, American officers, who now often +paid us visits, were highly entertained, and paid us high compliments, +not only as to the splendour and magnificence of our theatrical +representations, but to our ingenuity as displayed in hut-building, +which, they said, even surpassed the architectural abilities of the +Indians in that branch of the art,--a high compliment indeed! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + Ratification of the Treaty of Peace--Exchange of Prisoners--Our + Troops embark for England--When off the coast of Ireland, + receive intelligence of Bonaparte's escape from Elba--The + Author and his Battalion reach the Downs, and proceed to + Thorncliffe--Embark for France--Arrive at Paris, and occupy the + Champs Elysées--Review of the Russian Guards--Russian + Discipline--British Troops reviewed--Accident to Prince + Blucher--Amusements in Paris--The Allied Forces, except the + Army of Occupation, leave Paris--The Author's Battalion embark + for England--Reach Dover, and return to Thorncliffe--He obtains + leave of absence, and visits his Family--His Battalion ordered + to Ireland--Sets out to join it, accompanied by his Wife, who + dies three days after they reach Dublin--His Battalion + reduced--Joins the first Battalion at Gosport, which is ordered + to Scotland--Arrive at Leith, and march to Glasgow--The Author + returns home in ill health--His Father dies--Joins his + Battalion again--Winters at home--His Battalion ordered to + Ireland--Joins it at Belfast--They occupy different stations + during the Whiteboy Insurrection--Six companies of his + Battalion ordered to Nova Scotia, but the Author remains with + the other four companies--He is shortly ordered to proceed to + Nova Scotia--His health declines--Returns home in consequence, + takes advantage of Lord Palmerston's Bill, and retires on full + pay. + + +On the 5th March, the ratification of the treaty of peace, by Mr +Maddison, arrived; and now all our thoughts were turned towards our dear +native country. On the 15th also, all our poor fellows, who had been +made prisoners by the Americans, joined us at this island, an exchange +in consequence of peace having of course taken place. Many of these +were strange-looking figures when they came among us, most of them +having been stripped of great part of their uniforms, their caps +particularly, and wearing mocassins, a sort of Indian sandals, instead +of shoes or boots, and being so sunburnt as to be scarcely recognisable. + +Major Mitchell told us that General Jackson had treated him exceeding +harshly, because he did not choose to give the General such information +respecting our numbers, &c. as he wished. He also said he met with great +insolence on his way up to Natchez, where the prisoners were kept, from +the different parties of Kentucky men, and others, whom he met on their +way down "to take a shoot," as they termed it, "at his countrymen." He +met many thousands in this manner, so that 10 or 12,000 is the very +lowest number that Jackson could have had for the defence of his lines. + +I do not remember that we ever had Divine service performed during the +period of this expedition except once or twice, and that about this +time. Indeed the activity required of the army at all times, during the +continuance of hostilities, almost necessarily precluded it. At this +time I remember perfectly the preacher's text was, "My son, give me thy +heart." Alas! how few of the hearts of his hearers were given at that +time to Him who only had a right to demand them! I confess with shame +and sorrow, that almost any trifle, however unworthy, possessed a +greater interest in my heart than He who had formed it, and who alone is +worthy of supreme regard.--The good Lord pardon this neglect, for +Christ's sake! + +The regiments now began to go on board the different ships, as fast as +arrangements could be made to receive them; and when on board, they +sailed at once without waiting for the others, there being now no danger +of falling in with an enemy. The weather now began to grow exceedingly +warm, which brought out alligators and snakes in abundance. The latter +were extremely annoying, for they sometimes got into our very tents, and +one on one occasion so frightened a captain of ours (who was not afraid +of man) as to make him sprawl up the tent-pole to get out of its reach, +roaring out at the same time most lustily for help. It was killed and +put into a bottle of spirits, and I believe he brought it home. It was +an exceeding small one, but with the most beautiful crimson, or rather +pink-coloured wavy streak running down its back imaginable. We were told +it was one of the most venomous of all the American reptiles, save +probably the rattlesnake. + +The thunder and lightning also became very frequent, and the former, I +think, the most awfully grand I ever heard. It appeared to roll along +just on the very tops of the pine-trees, many of which indeed were +scathed to the very roots by the latter. + +On the 31st March our turn came to go on board, and we were rejoiced to +find that the Dover, our old friend was to be our principal ship, the +remainder of the men beyond what she could hold being sent on board the +Norfolk transport. While we were preparing for sea, I took a boat and a +party with a siene, and went on shore on a sandy point of the island, +where I had not been before, and in a short time caught a fine load of +fish, mostly grey mullet, with which we returned on board, greatly to +the satisfaction of all those who shared in them. Every thing being now +ready, we weighed and bid adieu to America on the 4th April, shaping our +course for the Havannah, where our captain intended to call for various +purposes, but principally to replenish his stock, which had begun to get +exceedingly low. + +On our passage thither we encountered a heavy gale, which detained us +longer than we had calculated for our voyage. We did not reach that +place till the 19th. Here we found ourselves once more in Espana, every +thing here being exactly like what you meet with in the mother +country,--the same stink of oil, garlic, and dried fish. Speaking of the +latter, which is called by them Bacalao, an officer of ours who kept a +journal, when describing this place, says, "The natives catch a great +quantity of fish on the coast, called Bacalao." Unfortunately it is not +called Bacalao till after it is dried, but Piscado. This brought, as it +might be expected, lots of laughter upon his head. + +I need not describe the Havannah, because any one who has a Gazetteer, +may there read an account of it; and which, though perhaps not +altogether a correct one, will be sufficient to give him an idea of what +it is; suffice it to say, it is an exceeding strong place, and would +not, I apprehend, be so easily taken, if the inhabitants are true to +their country, as it was in the year 1762. The capture of it at the time +above stated, made the place extremely interesting to me, for one of my +earliest and best friends served as a lieutenant in the 56th grenadiers +at the taking of it; and often have I heard him expatiate, with great +delight and animation, on the scenes he witnessed, and the dangers he +encountered, in this most arduous undertaking. He is now, poor man, no +more, having died only very lately, and I sincerely trust and hope he is +in peace. The Moro and the Punta, and all the other immense +fortifications, attracted my particular regard, on this old gentleman's +account; but so extremely jealous were the Spaniards, that they would +not permit even us, their late faithful helpers and friends, to view the +works. We visited the theatre, which is a fine building, but heavy and +badly lighted, but apparently well supplied with performers. The piece +on this occasion was Anthony and Cleopatra. There were also some +equestrian performers here from the United States. They had built a fine +circus, at about half a mile's distance from the city, to which every +one of course repaired. All the world was there; even little Connolly, +whom I had known at Cadiz as a major in the Spanish service, was here in +the command of a regiment, and had attained the rank of full Colonel. He +did not seem over anxious to recognise any of his former acquaintances, +nor even to let it be known that he was so much of a Briton as to have +acquaintance with any people of that country; in short, he wished to be +considered a complete Spaniard. I doubt not he is now a rank +apostolical. We paid a visit also to old Woodville, the famous +cigar-maker. He was an expatriated Englishman, from Portsmouth I +believe, obliged to flee his country on account of some smuggling +transaction, and, in doing this, he had changed his name. We found the +old man ill in bed, but able to sit up and speak with us. He wore an +immense long white beard, reaching down nearly to the bed as he sat up. +Yet this old man had a young black wife, and a whole fry of young +mulattoes running about the house like as many little pigs. He was very +kind, but apparently not over well to do. We bought each a considerable +quantity of his famed cigars, for which we paid him, I think, four +dollars a thousand--more, I apprehend, than he usually gets from the +Spaniards for them. + +Having laid in such sea stock as we could conveniently procure, and +having stored ourselves well with the delicious preserves of this +country, and withal bought a fine turtle, weighing about two cwt., on +the 24th we set sail for old and happy England, glad once more to set +our faces homeward. + +We had a quickish run through the Gulf of Florida, or, as it is more +properly called, the Bahama Channel, and, keeping to the northward of +Bermuda, shaped our course so that we passed a little to the south of +the Great Newfoundland Bank. From hence the wind was roughish generally, +but quite fair, so that we frequently ran at the rate of 200 miles in +the twenty-four hours, the transport being an excellent sailer. + +Nothing particular occurred till we were within a few days' sail of +Ireland, when we fell in with an American who had just left England. +From him we learned the totally unlooked-for information, that Bonaparte +had made his escape from Elba, and had returned to France, and that the +whole continent was once more involved in war. Nothing could exceed the +change which this unexpected news produced among our people. Some who +were desponding at the gloomy prospect of half-pay, revived in a moment, +and again set honour, glory, and promotion, once more before the eyes of +their imagination. Indeed, I think no one seemed sorry at the change; +but some probably would have preferred a short repose, before they were +called upon again to leave that home which they had painted to +themselves so comfortable and happy. + +On the ---- we arrived at Plymouth, where the good folks received us with +great cordiality; but the news from Flanders now engrossed all +attention, and our unfortunate business seemed forgotten. It was as well +perhaps that it was so, for we had no victory to boast; and with the +world it is but too often the case, that a want of good fortune is +almost tantamount to a want of good conduct. We were ordered on to +Portsmouth, which we reached in two days; and from thence proceeded +still onwards to the Downs. Our arrival was telegraphed to London, +from whence, after some communication by post also with the +Commander-in-Chief, we were ordered to disembark, which we did on the 2d +June. The cause of this being ordered, and of our not proceeding direct +to Flanders, was, that we were extremely ill off for equipment, nearly +one-fourth of our men being without arms or appointments, all those who +had been prisoners, and many of those who had been severely wounded, +having been deprived of them. In some respects the order for our landing +was unfortunate, as far as regards the honours of that great and +crowning victory of Waterloo, in which we consequently had no share; +and, on the other hand, as far as regards my own public accounts, at +least it was fortunate for me, for I was thus enabled to have them +prepared, and forwarded to the War Office, and finally settled without +loss of time, which I could not have done had we left England again +immediately. + +We were ordered from Deal to Thorncliffe, our old quarters, where we +found three companies of my battalion, and five or six of the other two. +All our old friends were of course glad to see us; and, under such +circumstances, the meeting of those between whom friendship has long +subsisted, is in a great measure a compensation for the toil and +sufferings of a soldier's life. We continued at Thorncliffe for some +time, but busily preparing once more to take the field; and had +Bonaparte not been so precipitate in his movements, we might have shared +in the glory of his final overthrow. + +I was compelled to go to London while we remained here, for the purpose +of settling a variety of accounts, &c., and while there was persuaded to +appear before the Medical Board, for the purpose of obtaining a +certificate as to the nature of my wound, on which to found a claim for +a year's pay, the amount at this time given to all whom that Board +recommended as fit subjects for this bounty. I had omitted doing so when +in London before, because I thought no one had any claim for it, except +such as had suffered most materially in health in consequence of their +wounds. However, at the suggestion of my friends I did appear before the +Board, who considered my wound of such severity as to entitle me to that +bounty; and I accordingly soon after received the sum of L.118, 12s. +6d., the amount of one year's pay. I have reason to be thankful both to +the government and to my friends for this unlooked-for augmentation of +my funds, and trust I did not make an ill use of it. + +But at length the news of the memorable battle of Waterloo arrived, and +we had no share in it. I know not whether I shall be believed, but I +think there were few of my companions in the late expedition but felt +somewhat disappointed, and rather vexed, that this decisive action +should have taken place so early, and almost wished that the government +had despatched us even as we were on our first arrival in England; for +really, as it turned out, it was most unfortunate to those of my +friends, who had been undergoing probably as severe and hazardous a +service as any our army had lately been engaged in, and that all that +should be looked upon as almost worse than nothing, while some young +fellows, who had never before seen an enemy, should be covered with the +honours and distinctions which were so amply lavished on them, merely +because they had the good fortune to share in that brilliant and +decisive victory. But regret is vain and unprofitable, and a soldier +must make up his mind to meet with bad as well as good fortune, or he +will only render his life the more miserable. + +On the 10th of July we embarked at Dover, and on the 13th landed at +Ostend; but we were entering only on a barren service, the honours +having been all acquired previous to our arrival. We moved forward by +the way of Bruges, Ghent, Oudenarde, and Mons, and then through Bavay +and Chatelet to Peronne; from Peronne through Roye, Pont Lant, Maxence, +and Louvre, to Paris. Here we were posted to the brigade in which our +other two companies were stationed, and occupied the Champs Elysées as +our camp. Certainly the sights we witnessed in this far-famed capital +amply repaid us for our trip to France, however devoid of military glory +that might be. + +It will not be expected that I should enter into a detail of all the +lions which this splendid city contains, and which have attracted the +curiosity of nearly half the gentry of this country. Suffice it to say, +we saw the palaces of the Tuilleries, St Cloud, Luxemburg, and +Versailles, with all the splendour they contain--the churches of Notre +Dame and the Pantheon--the Hospital of Invalids--the Garden of +Plants--the Hotel de Ville--the Palais Royal, and the far-famed Louvre. +In this latter, a person might at that time spend a twelvemonth, without +exhausting the curiosities and beauties it contained; but, during our +stay here, we witnessed its divestment of nearly all its most valued +specimens of art, to the great regret, grief, and annoyance of those who +had ransacked almost all nations to decorate this splendid gallery. This +was undertaken and executed by our illustrious Chief, in the name and on +the behalf of this our generous nation. He dealt out with a just and +impartial hand, to all who had claims upon this magnificent collection, +the specimens of art which had formerly adorned their national churches +and palaces, without one painting or one statue of the meanest +description being reserved for himself, who had been mainly +instrumental in this restoration, or for the nation which he +represented. + +We saw also the triumphal arch of Bonaparte, in the Place de Carousel, +stripped of its four matchless Venetian horses. The stately pillar in +the Place Vendome was also deprived of the effigy of him who erected it. +In short, every thing was done by the Bourbons at this period, +sanctioned by the Allies, to obliterate even the very remembrance of +such a character as Bonaparte. We visited also the splendid manufactory +of china at Sevres--the National Museum of Antiquities--the Royal +Library, and the Theatre Français, to witness Talma's performance of +Hamlet, with various other places of curiosity, too tedious to notice +here; and, finally, the catacombs, the repository of millions of human +bones. + +Here it is where man is taught to remember what he is--a worm--a shadow +that departeth--even a vapour, which appeareth for a moment, and then +passeth away for ever. Oh, how does all human greatness dwindle into +nothing, while you stand viewing these silent memorials of our frailty! +The myriads of generations that have passed away, multitudes of whose +bones are collected in this vast, dark cavern! Now how noiseless those +who perhaps once shook the world with alarms! I love to meditate on this +sad scene, which, if duly considered, teaches the soundest wisdom. How +apt are we to be allured by the gay fantastic follies of an hour, to +forget that we must soon, so very soon, take up our abode in the dark +and silent tomb! Oh! to be ready, when called upon, to descend into the +house appointed for all living! But though these meditations may be +pleasing to myself, they may not be so to my reader. I will therefore +leave this dark, deep, and capacious charnel-house, and once more ascend +with him to the light of the sun. + +We had not remained long in Paris, till there was a grand review of the +Emperor of Russia's Guards, and which took place in the Place of Louis +XV., immediately in front of the Tuilleries. Nothing could exceed the +uniformity and the steadiness of these Northern warriors. There were +troops of all armies amongst them; the Cossacks, the hussars, the +artillery, the grenadiers, and the regular infantry, all vied with each +other in their endeavours to please their beloved Czar. Here were all +the great ones of the earth assembled to witness this imposing +spectacle; exhibited, no doubt, as much as any thing, for the purpose of +showing the French the power of those who now held them in subjection. +But that arbitrary power which is so intolerable to the ideas of an +Englishman, was here exhibited in all its native deformity. A Colonel of +one of the regiments, whose movements did not please the Emperor, was, +without the least ceremony, taken from the head of his regiment, and +rammed into a common guard-house, where an English officer was on duty. +He hesitated to receive him, until assured that such was the custom in +the Russian service, and that it was the Emperor's orders. + +My battalion was soon after removed from the brigade it was originally +posted to, and joined another, stationed on Montmartre. Here the +adjutant and myself were quartered on a proprietor of the pits out of +which the famous plaster of Paris is dug. These pits are situated on the +side of this hill, facing the city. From hence I often took a fishing, +or a shooting, or a coursing excursion. The first was generally confined +to the Canal del Ourq, in which I found pike, perch, and tench. I never +was very successful, however, both from the vast numbers of fishermen +which frequented this water, and from the scarcity of fish. Partridges +and hares were abundant in the neighbourhood of Paris, but we had not a +good dog among us. We obtained leave from the Duke of Orleans to shoot +in one of the royal preserves, the Forest of Bondy. In our coursing +expeditions we were more successful, sometimes bringing in to the amount +of seven hares in a day. This would be looked upon almost as poaching in +England, but in France it was otherwise; they know nothing of coursing +there; and nothing could exceed the beautiful country round Paris for +that sport; it was a dead level generally, without a hedge, sometimes +for miles together, and a rich corn country, so that hares abounded. +Towards autumn, we had two or three reviews of the British troops; these +were splendid exhibitions of the tactics of our great General. But +though the army had the appearance of a fighting army, I do not think it +equalled the Russians in point of regularity and uniformity; with them +the whole army is nearly dressed alike, especially the infantry; while +the variety of our facings, and other distinctions of regiments, +detracts greatly from the appearance of the army as a whole. Here also +the crowned heads of Europe assembled in this city, paid us the +compliment of their presence, the Emperor Alexander inspecting most +minutely every regiment and division as it passed him. The Austrians and +the Prussians also occasionally showed themselves in bodies, but I do +not remember to have seen a general review of either of these armies; +indeed neither of them had a large force in or near Paris, they being +mostly at some distance from the capital, I believe. But we were often +delighted with the Austrian Emperor's band, in which there were no less, +I believe, than seventy performers, and all these the very first-rate +musicians. We also had horse-races occasionally, that is, among the +English officers; at one of which I witnessed poor old Blucher receive a +hurt, from which he never recovered. Near the winning-post, the course +was roped in, which the brave old fellow, as he came galloping down, all +life, from the city, did not perceive, and coming up against them with +great force, he was thrown from his horse, and unfortunately broke his +arm. He lingered some time afterwards, but never got well of it, till +death released him. We had two English boxers over there also, to amuse +the people; they only sparred of course, with gloves on; and I rather +think they realized a good deal of money by these exhibitions. Balloons +also were set up from the gardens of Tivoli, with various other sources +of amusement, so that to recount them all would only tire out my reader; +suffice it to say, that in Paris, with plenty of money, and with an +inclination to enter into all the gaieties of the place, no city on +earth, I believe, is so fruitful of the means of pleasure and +dissipation; but they leave a sting behind, which far outweighs these +momentary gratifications; and if I was asked which I considered the most +sinful city in the world, I would without hesitation say Paris. + +Towards December arrangements were made for the army leaving Paris, and +going into cantonments on the north-eastern frontier; but the remainder +of the troops above the number required for the army of occupation were +ordered home to England. My battalion was among the latter number; and, +accordingly, we left the French capital on the 3d December, and marched +out to St Denis, that famous burying-place of French royalty. From +thence we passed near Beaumont, through Noailles to Beauvais, thence +through some small villages, where we halted for the night, and on the +11th reached Abbeville. + +On the 14th we quartered in Montreuil-sur-Mer, and on the 20th reached +Calais, where we embarked for Dover. We landed at the latter place on +the 22d, and the next morning proceeded to our old quarter Thorncliffe. + +All warlike proceedings having now terminated, I made application for, +and obtained, leave of absence to revisit my wife and my family, whom I +had not seen for four years. I need not describe my feelings on once +more beholding those I loved, and the reader will best appreciate them +by placing himself in my situation. But I had not long enjoyed this +pleasure till I heard that my battalion had been ordered to Ireland. I +confess I did not much relish the information. When my leave expired I +started for that country, and endeavoured to procure a passage across to +Dublin; first from Maryport, in Cumberland, but without success. I then +tried Workington, next Whitehaven, but was equally unable to get off +from either of these. I then moved on to Liverpool, and took my place in +one of the packets; but, after waiting several days, I was obliged to +start for Holyhead, the only place from whence I was able to proceed to +Ireland. All this disappointment and fatigue, together with some sad +punches which a large woman in the coach had given my wife with her +masculine elbows, so preyed upon her health and spirits, that three days +after our arrival in Dublin she breathed her last. She had been in +delicate health for a number of years, of an affection in the chest, but +she complained mostly of this woman's elbows, which she said had injured +her much. It will easily be conceived how afflictive such a dispensation +must have been to him who had to bear it. But God does all things well; +and even in the midst of our severest chastisements, we should view Him +as a kind and tender parent, who only chastens us for our good, and who +does not willingly afflict the children of men. A part of the battalion +had arrived in Dublin when the melancholy event took place, almost all +the officers of which favoured me by their presence at the funeral. I +had her buried in St Mary's churchyard, Mary being her own name. + +We remained in Dublin for twenty-seven months--a longer period than any +other regiment I believe; and here I think I may truly say I acquired +the first knowledge of the only way of salvation; for although born and +reared a Christian, and having, as the reader may recollect, been +brought sensibly to the knowledge of myself as a condemned sinner, I had +as yet no distinct knowledge or apprehension of the nature of the +Christian faith; and I think I may, under the blessing of God, attribute +my earnest search after a sure foundation of hope to the reading of +Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul," and to the +truly evangelical sermons I heard from the many eminent preachers which +fill the pulpits of this capital, but more particularly to the Rev. Mr +Matthias, chaplain to the Bethesda Institution. My narrative will +contain nothing interesting from this period to the general reader. I +will, therefore, generalize as much as possible. From Dublin we marched +to Birr, in the King's County; and while here, it was determined upon by +government to reduce the battalion to which I belonged, which was +carried into effect in January 1819; but as I was then the senior +quartermaster of the regiment, I was ordered to join the 1st battalion +of the corps at Gosport, which I did in February. Here we remained till +September, when the Radical war called us to the north. + +We embarked on board the Liffy frigate and ---- corvette, in about three +or four hours' notice, on the 18th of that month, and landed at Leith on +the 28th, whence we marched to Glasgow, the seat of this unhappy +disturbance. I need not describe the Radical war, it being well known. +Here my health began to be much impaired. The affection of my chest, +occasioned by the rupturing of the bloodvessel at Cadiz, produced most +distressing effects upon my general health. I consequently obtained +leave, and returned home for a few months. + +During my stay at home my dear father departed this life; and I had thus +the melancholy satisfaction of witnessing the last sad scene, and of +paying the last duties of a child to a beloved parent. He was not, as I +mentioned at the beginning of my narrative, a religious man when I left +home; but towards the close of his life I have every reason to believe +he was a sincere penitent, and a believer in Him through whom alone our +sins can be forgiven; and I have a well-grounded hope that he is now +enjoying eternal felicity in heaven, whither I hope myself to come +through Him that loved me, and washed me from my sins in his own blood, +and to whom be praise and glory for ever. Amen. + +I joined again in the spring, and remained there all that summer, during +which I had many pleasant fishing excursions into the country. I visited +the falls of the Clyde, and proceeded to some a considerable distance +higher up, where another officer and myself caught abundance of trout. I +also took a trip into the Highlands of Argyleshire, where I had +excellent sport. But at the approach of winter I was again obliged to +leave Glasgow, the damp atmosphere of which, together with the smoke of +the numerous steam-engines employed in its manufactories, fairly drove +me out. I again went home for the winter; but during this period this +battalion also got an order to embark for Ireland, and I joined them in +Belfast in January 1821. From hence we marched in the spring to Armagh, +where I had the high privilege of becoming acquainted with a sincere and +pious clergyman, one of the reading vicars of the cathedral; and I +trust I benefited by this favourable opportunity. From Armagh we marched +to Naas, the country to the south having become much disturbed by the +Whiteboys, as they termed themselves. We did not remain long at Naas, +but were pushed on to Kilkenny, where I first became acquainted with +that truly Christian minister, the Rev. Peter Roe, a gentleman well +known in the religious world. I am proud and happy that I ever had the +privilege of knowing him. May God prosper his pious and unceasing +endeavours to benefit the souls of his fellow-creatures! + +We did not remain long, however, at Kilkenny, but moved on to Fermoy, +and thence to Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, the cradle of the +Whiteboy insurrection. Here we were for a time actually shut up as in a +besieged town; and no individual belonging to the army durst attempt to +move out without a sufficient number being together, to deter the +misguided peasantry from attacking us. Innumerable were the murders that +were committed about this neighbourhood at this time; and one's blood +runs chill to think that these miscreants, when taken and brought to the +gallows to atone for their crime, protested their innocence with their +last breath, although hundreds around them could attest their guilt. +This Rockite war gave us considerable trouble, and it was not for a long +time after that it was finally put down. + +We remained in Newcastle till September, when we marched to Rathkeale, +in the same county. Here we continued stationary till October 1823, when +we marched again for Dublin. I had thus an opportunity of again hearing +my favourite preacher; but the place was always so crowded that it was +seldom practicable for strangers to obtain seats. + +From Dublin we marched to Belfast, in September 1824, where we +continued till July 1825, when my battalion was ordered for service in +Nova Scotia. The orders of the army being now for only six companies out +of the ten to go abroad, the other four remained at home, to form what +is termed the depôt. Application was made for me to remain and act as +paymaster to this body; but it having been decided that quartermasters +could not act as paymasters, according to the new regulations, this boon +was refused me, although I had acted four times before. This is to be +attributed to the ill conduct of many of my brother quartermasters who +had obtained paymasterships during the war, but who generally did not +conduct themselves as men of honour and integrity ought to do, and many +were consequently dismissed from the service. It was perfectly correct +for those in authority to consult the good of the public in all +appointments of this nature, but it was hard on those who were thus made +to suffer for the sins of others,--nay, this ineligibility of +quartermasters extended farther than to the appointment of acting +paymaster. They have since 1817 been precluded from holding the +situation of full paymaster, however well recommended they might be. I +was a second time recommended, in 1820, by Lieutenant-General the Hon. +Sir William Stewart for the paymastership of his own battalion, that is, +the one in which I was serving, but received the same answer from the +Secretary-at-War, that quartermasters were ineligible to the situation. +I cannot but feel keenly the degradation to which the ill conduct of +certain individuals has reduced that situation, which formerly was only +like a step towards the more lucrative and more respectable one of +paymaster; but, as I said before, we must not murmur at the +dispensations of Providence, however severely they affect our worldly +prospects; and no doubt all this was done by the direction of Him who +cannot err. However, I have great reason also to be thankful to Lord +Palmerston, notwithstanding my disappointments as above stated; for +he--taking into consideration the injury that the present quartermasters +had sustained, in consequence of the ill conduct of the individuals +before noticed, and their consequent deprivation of all prospects of +farther promotion, however eligible in other respects they might be, and +however exemplary their conduct--brought in a bill in the session of +1826, to allow these officers to retire on _full_ pay after twenty +years' service in the army, provided their health was such as to render +them incapable of farther service. This could not formerly take place +till after thirty years' service. I have, therefore, abundant cause of +gratitude to that Right Honourable Lord, for his kind remembrance of us +on this occasion, as well as for his kindness in permitting me to avail +myself of the benefit of this act; and I have on this, as on all other +occasions, abundant cause of thankfulness to the Great Disposer of all +events, not only for what He has permitted me to enjoy, but for what He +has withheld from me; for He only knows what is really good for me, and +I doubt not will give me always that. I may with great truth declare, +that goodness and mercy have followed me all my days, notwithstanding my +seeming disappointments, and which I believe were inflicted on me solely +for my everlasting good. To Him, therefore, be praise and glory for +ever. + +But to return. Having been disappointed of obtaining the acting +paymaster's place, I remained with the depôt in my capacity as +quartermaster till the spring of 1826, when I received an order to be +ready for embarkation to join the battalion in Nova Scotia. Accordingly +I embarked, with four other officers, at Liverpool, on the 14th of June, +on board the Robert Burns merchant brig, and reached Halifax after a +rather tedious passage, in which we encountered some roughish weather on +the 22d July. + +I scarcely need say any thing of Halifax, which, being one of our oldest +colonies, must be well known to almost all my readers. Neither was I +there a sufficient time to enable me to enter into a minute description +of the town or country: suffice it to say, it appears to be a town built +mostly of wood along the face of a hill, on the left-hand side of the +harbour, reaching close down to the latter, which is so deep, capacious, +and sheltered, that I question whether there is a better in the world: a +seventy-four can lie close alongside the wharfs. The town contains, I +understand, about 13,000 inhabitants, composed of settlers from +different countries, but chiefly English, Irish, Scotch, and Dutch. +There are a few negroes, a part of the slaves taken from the Americans +during the late war having been located here. + +The colony is not so flourishing as it was during war, as it was then +greatly supported by the immense number of ships and troops which always +were stationed here. The country round Halifax is barren in the extreme, +except a very small portion, where hay is generally grown. It seems +incapable of cultivation, being little else than rock, with forests of +stunted pines, &c. growing upon it. In some parts of Nova Scotia, +however, there is excellent land, which yields a great return for +cultivation; and were it not for the severity of the winter, which in +this country is both long and severely trying to weak constitutions, it +would, I doubt not, be an excellent country to which to emigrate. The +waters in every direction afford abundance of fish, but not of the best +quality. There are portions of two tribes of Indians occasionally in the +neighbourhood of Halifax. I forget their names; but the men of one tribe +are exceedingly tall, being seldom below five feet ten inches, and many +reaching to six feet three inches. The men of the other are in general +short. Both tribes are fast diminishing in point of numbers. They are +greatly addicted to the fatal vice of drunkenness, whenever they can +command the means of becoming so; and in Halifax it is no difficult +matter, for the abominable rum which is sold here may be had almost as +cheap as ale in England. + +These unfortunate wanderers have hitherto resisted all efforts to induce +them to settle and cultivate the land, although many of them are _good +Christians_, their progenitors having been converted by the Roman +Catholic priests while the French held the country. + +The woods, &c. in the neighbourhood of Halifax contain little game of +any kind. There are a few what they call partridges, which, I believe, +roost on trees; but they have more the appearance of grouse than the +partridge of England. There are some woodcocks also in the season, but +they are rather scarce. Snipes also, and several species of plover, may +be met with occasionally; but you will seldom be able to fill your +game-bag with any thing. There are some hares of a very small +description, little larger than our rabbits; but these are rare. Bears +also, with a few other wild animals, occasionally show themselves; but +in winter, I am told, a deathlike silence pervades the whole face of the +country, as if every living animal had totally deserted it, and I +believe with all the winged tribes this is actually the case. + +The women here are remarkably fair and beautiful, and, generally +speaking, are, I believe, as virtuous as at home; but among the lower +orders, whose virtue is so frequently assailed by the temptations which +a large naval and military force always brings with it, like our +Portsmouth, and other places of a similar description, the scenes of +vice and abomination are extremely disgusting. A great many of the +unfortunate blacks before mentioned are included in the number of these +unhappy prostitutes. + +The places of worship in Halifax are both good and pretty numerous. +There are two churches, two or three Presbyterian or Scotch churches, +two Baptist, two or three Methodist, and one or two Roman Catholic +places of worship. + +I did not remain here long; for, finding that my broken and debilitated +constitution could not possibly withstand the severity of a winter in +this climate, I was ordered to be examined by a board of medical +officers, who recommended my return to England without delay. +Accordingly, on the 20th of September, I embarked on board the Borodino +transport. We sailed on the 22d, and on the 25th encountered one of the +severest gales I almost ever witnessed. It carried away every sail we +had set, and swept away our jolly-boat from the quarter. I often wished +I was once more snug in England, and my hope was, I should then tempt +the sea no more. That same all-gracious Being who had so long watched +over me, and had brought me in safety that far on my journey, He also +brought me to my native land once more in peace; for on the 13th of +October I landed at Portsmouth, having been only three weeks in +returning from, while we had been nearly six in going to, Halifax. + +I immediately set off for London, where, having reported myself to the +Secretary at War, I was ordered to be examined by the Director-General +of Hospitals as to the state of my health, and with a view to avail +myself of the benefits of the act of Parliament before mentioned, and +being prospered by Him who has always been better unto me than I could +possibly deserve, I have been permitted to set myself down in peace in +this my own native village for the remainder of my life, having the +unspeakable privilege of being surrounded by many kind and dear +relations, who vie with each other in their endeavours to render me +comfortable and happy, and where I can in serenity watch the gradual +approach of that enemy which my Saviour has overcome for me, and which, +my hope is, He will deprive of all his terrors, as I trust he has done +of his sting, and that, when I shall have continued my appointed time in +this vale of tears, I, as well as the reader of this narrative, shall be +taken to Himself, to dwell with Him for ever. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +The following are copies of fifteen testimonials addressed to the late +Quartermaster Surtees. + + + No. 1.--FROM LIEUT.-COL. DUFFY. + + _Birr, 24th January, 1819._ + +DEAR SIR, + +As you are on the point of removing to the 1st battalion, I take this +opportunity of expressing my entire satisfaction at the very regular and +orderly manner in which your department has been conducted during the +time you have been placed under my command; and it will give me great +pleasure should an occasion occur where my testimony to your +gentlemanlike conduct can be of service to you. + + I remain, Dear Sir, + Very faithfully yours, + J. DUFFY, + Lt.-Col. Rifle Brigade. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + 1st Bat. Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 2.--FROM MAJOR TRAVERS. + + _Tuam County, Galway, 19th April 1820._ + +DEAR SURTEES, + +With feelings of most sincere regret I read your letter to me, which I +received yesterday, and lose not a moment in complying with your +request, which, should it prove to be of any use to you, I am sure will +be productive of the most heartfelt gratification to every one of those +concerned, whose opinions of you are, as they always have been, of the +highest description. Your conduct, both as a gentleman and soldier, has +ever been such as to excite in the breast of your brother officers +sentiments peculiarly favourable; and for myself, I have only to say, +that few of my old acquaintances in the corps have had my esteem in a +higher degree. I send you the sentiments of such of your old brother +officers, in the shape of a certificate, as I could obtain, whose +standing may have some influence in the procuring the accomplishment of +your wishes, and regret that the dispersed state of the regiment +prevents its being more general. + + Dear Surtees, + Yours faithfully, + JAS. TRAVERS. + + Wm. Surtees, Esq. + Quartermaster, Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 3.--FROM OFFICERS OF THE 2D BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE. + +The following testimonial is subscribed by us, in hopes it may prove +beneficial to an officer who has so long supported the character which +we are desirous to portray in the terms it deserves. + +We certify, that Mr William Surtees, late Quartermaster in the Rifle +Brigade, has been for a considerable number of years known to us in the +regiment, and that for soldierlike and gentlemanly conduct, no person +bore a higher character. He served in the situation he filled in the +corps, particularly that of Acting Paymaster, for two considerable +periods in the Peninsula, and with the expedition to New Orleans, with +credit to himself, and satisfaction to his superiors, and, to our +knowledge, obtained the general esteem and approbation of all his +brother officers of the regiment who knew him. + + S. MITCHELL, Brevet Lieut.-Col. and Major, 2d Bat. Rifle Brigade. + JAS. TRAVERS, Brevet-Major, Rifle Brigade. + WM. COX, Capt. Rifle Brigade. + BOYLE TRAVERS, Capt. Rifle Brigade. + CHAS. GEO. GRAY, Brevet-Major, Rifle Brigade. + WM. HALLEN, Capt. Rifle Brigade. + T. H. RIDGWAY, M.D., Surgeon, Rifle Brigade. + + _Tuam, 19th April 1820._ + + + No. 4.--FROM LIEUT.-COL. ROSS, C.B. + + _Paisley, 15th July 1820._ + +DEAR SIR, + +I learn with extreme regret that you consider it to be expedient to make +application to be removed as Quartermaster to a veteran battalion. I +have stronger reason to feel this regret than I believe any other of +your brother officers, as I have known you longer, it being now about +twenty years since we met at the formation of the Rifle Corps; during +the greater part of this time you served, I may say, under my immediate +command; and I can bear the most ample and unqualified testimony to the +zeal, intelligence, and gallantry with which you discharged the duties +of the different situations you have filled in the corps. + +I shall have great pleasure in hearing of your future welfare; and +should it ever happen to be in my power to promote your views in any +way, I hope you will consider that you will only have to make them +known. + + Believe me, my Dear Sir, + Ever yours most sincerely, + JOHN ROSS, Lt.-Col. + Major, Rifle Brigade. + + Quartermaster Wm. Surtees, + Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 5.--FROM LIEUT.-COLONEL SMITH, C.B. + + _Halifax, Nova Scotia, 25th August 1826._ + +MY DEAR SIR, + +Were it permitted a soldier to regret the loss of his comrades, then +truly should I deplore yours; I have only just learned that you are +about to avail yourself of Lord Palmerston's permission to retire from +the service on account of ill health, after having in your present +situation completed your period of twenty years. You have struggled +against indisposition with manly fortitude in various climes, and have +ever performed your duty zealously and conscientiously. + +I, as well as the other officers of the corps, have ever lamented that +your natural zeal and talent as a soldier, should not have been called +forth in a more conspicuous situation; and there is not an old officer +in the regiment who has not witnessed your intrepid bravery in the +field. + +I must again assure you, that you leave us with the most heartfelt good +wishes for your welfare, and the universal regret of the corps, in which +you have served so many years with the most rigid integrity and zeal; +and should I have it in my power upon any future occasion to render you +any service whatever, it will afford me as much satisfaction as I now +feel distress, in losing one of my old companions in arms, with whom I +have been so many years happily associated. + + And ever believe me, + Your very sincere friend, + H. G. SMITH, + Brevet Lieut.-Col. Rifle Brigade. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 6.--FROM OFFICERS OF THE 1ST BATT. RIFLE BRIGADE. + + _Halifax, Nova Scotia, 30th August 1826._ + +We the undersigned officers present with the 1st Battalion Rifle +Brigade, who have had the satisfaction of an intimate acquaintance with +Mr Surtees for a series of years at home and abroad, beg leave to add +our testimony as to the valour, integrity, zeal, and gentlemanlike +conduct which we have ever witnessed in him; and beg to express our +sincere regret at the prospect of losing his society and services. + + J. LOGAN, Major. + W. JOHNSTONE, Captain. + A. WADE PEMBERTON, Captain. + G. HOPE, Captain. + JOHN COX, Captain. + J. KINCAID, Lieutenant. + JOSEPH BURKE, M.D. Surgeon. + GEORGE SIMMONS, Lieutenant. + + + No. 7.--FROM COLONEL NORCOTT, C.B. + + _Halifax, Nova Scotia, 30th August 1826._ + +MY DEAR SIR, + +I most truly and sincerely regret that your long, zealous, and +indefatigable duties have so seriously undermined your constitution, as +to oblige you to retire from the service. + +Although I feel a very lively gratification in bearing testimony to your +merit and gallantry in the field, as well as to your public and private +character as an officer and a gentleman, in the most unqualified sense, +during a period of twenty-four years which I have known you, I cannot, +at the same time, but lament the circumstances which bind me, in justice +to your meritorious services, to tender you this my humble tribute of +regard and esteem for all you have done for the service and the corps, +and for such unremitted integrity and worth. You have my ardent wishes +for your health and happiness wherever you go. + + Believe me to be, + My Dear Sir, + Always sincerely yours, + A. NORCOTT, Colonel. + + + No. 8.--FROM LIEUT.-COLONEL FULLARTON, C.B. + + _Halifax, Nova Scotia, 25th August 1826._ + +DEAR SIR, + +Having served in the same battalion with you for eighteen years, during +which time I had every opportunity, both public and private, in various +situations of home and on foreign service, of witnessing your very +exemplary conduct, both as an officer and a gentleman, I, with my +brother officers, have to regret that your ill health has deprived the +regiment of a valuable officer, and your companions of a friend, whose +amiable and excellent qualities will ever be revered by them. + +With regard to myself, it will afford me the greatest pleasure if at any +future period I can in any way be of service to you. + + Believe me, my dear Sir, + Yours most truly, + JAS. FULLARTON, Lt.-Col. + Major, Rifle Brigade. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 9.--FROM LIEUT.-COLONEL BALVAIRD. + + _Naas, 2d June 1826._ + +MY DEAR SIR, + +It affords me much pleasure to assure you, that during the time I was in +the Rifle Brigade (13 years), and more particularly when you served +under my immediate command, I can bear the most ample and unqualified +testimony to the zeal, intelligence, and gallantry with which you +discharged your duty--and wherever you may go, you carry with you the +good wishes of, + + Yours most sincerely, + W. BALVAIRD, Lt.-Col. + late Major, Rifle Brigade. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 10.--FROM MAJOR-GENERAL SIR A. F. BARNARD, K.C.B. + + _Albany, 18th October 1826._ + +DEAR SIR, + +I have heard with great regret that your state of health has obliged you +to avail yourself of the regulation which enables you to retire from the +Rifle Brigade, in which corps I had such frequent cause to praise the +gallantry and assiduity which you showed in the discharge of your duties +in the field, and your regularity and assiduity in quarters. + +The officers of the corps, I am confident, will all regret the loss of a +person whose mild and gentlemanlike manners and disposition had so much +endeared him to them. + +With every wish for your future welfare, + + I remain, dear Sir, + Very sincerely yours, + A. F. BARNARD. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + Rifle-Brigade. + + + No. 11.--FROM MAJOR LOGAN. + + _London, 18th October, 1826._ + +MY DEAR SURTEES, + +I have just learnt with much regret that you are about to retire from +the Rifle Brigade, from an impaired constitution, owing to your +unwearied and zealous exertions in the service. + +From the period of my entering the Corps, _twenty-two years_ ago, I have +had the pleasure of being intimately acquainted with you, and I must do +you the justice to state, that a more gallant, zealous, and +indefatigable officer, I have seldom fallen in with. As a gentleman, +your conduct always won and gained the esteem of your brother officers. + +Believe me I shall ever feel warmly interested in your welfare. + + Yours, my dear Surtees, + Most faithfully, + J. LOGAN, + Major 1st Bat. Rifle Brigade. + + To Quartermaster Surtees, + 1st Bat. Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 12.--FROM LIEUT.-COLONEL BECKWITH, C.B. + + _London, 20th October, 1826._ + +MY DEAR SURTEES, + +I cannot suffer you to return to your home, without adding my mite of +applause to that of our brother officers, who have, together with +myself, known you so well and so long. + +From the day that we were employed together at Ipswich, in obtaining +volunteers from the Militia, when you were so instrumental in obtaining +so large a number of men for the service, and during the whole of our +services in the Peninsula, and elsewhere, when my situation as Assistant +Quartermaster-General of the Light Division threw us so constantly +together, until the last period of our regimental service, I have always +known and respected your courage, your active discharge of your duties +in times of difficulty and hardship, and your zeal and affection for the +Rifle Brigade. + +Your present poverty is the surest testimony of your integrity, which +you have always kept in times of strong temptation, when very many +others similarly placed have not resisted so well. + +All my feeble services are constantly at your disposal, and wishing you +content, and as much happiness as we can reasonably expect here, + + I remain, my dear Surtees, + Yours, most sincerely, + CHARLES BECKWITH, + Lieut.-Colonel. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 13.--FROM LIEUT.-GENERAL THE HONOURABLE SIR WM. STEWART, G.C.B. + + _Cumloden, Newtonstewart, Nov. 19, 1826._ + +If the three or four-and-twenty years, my dear sir, that I have had the +satisfaction of having had you under my command in the Rifle Regiment or +Brigade, suffice not to authorize my full approval of your conduct, both +towards that corps and towards the public service, I know not what +experience would do so. To this extent and to still farther extent, if +it be required in detail, I am gratified by your having given me this +opportunity of certifying the above. The loss that my battalion will +sustain by the deprivation of your services will be great, and the only +consolation that I shall have will be in learning that your present +object of retiring on full pay be obtained, and that your health, +injured, as my own has been, by perhaps too great a zeal in the +fulfilment of our respective duties, may be somewhat amended by your +retirement in private life. I have much to thank you for the most justly +merited encomiums from your several commanders and from your elder +brother officers, enclosed in your letter of the 13th instant, and to +these honourable documents favour me by adding this one. I wish it was +in my power to be of any service to your views towards a civil +appointment under government, but as your age much exceeds that to which +all official nominations are now limited, application for such will be +fruitless. + +I have the honour to be, my dear Sir, + + With repeated assurance of regard, + Your faithful friend and obedient servant, + WM. STEWART, + Lieutenant-General. + + Quartermaster Surtees, + 1st Bat. Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 14.--FROM MAJOR EELES. + + _Dublin, Nov. 28, 1826._ + +MY DEAR SURTEES, + +I enclose herewith copies of two letters which I have received from the +office of his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief. + +In congratulating you on their contents, I cannot refrain from +expressing, strange as it may seem, not only my gratification but also +my regret; gratification that you have succeeded in obtaining the object +of your wishes, and regret the most lively, that your state of health +should have obliged you to quit the corps; the more particularly, as the +regiment will not only by your retirement be deprived of the benefit of +your zealous and meritorious services, but I shall lose the society of +one of my oldest and most valued friends. + +The senior part of the regiment will ever remember with pride the +glorious occasions in which you so often signalized yourself in the +field, while the younger members of the corps will not fail, equally +with the former, to admire the gentlemanlike conduct and urbanity of +manners which have secured to you the friendship and good wishes of us +all. + + Believe me, my Dear Surtees, + Very sincerely yours, + WILLIAM EELES, + Major, Rifle Brigade. + + To Quartermaster Surtees, + Rifle Brigade. + + + No. 15.--FROM MAJOR-GENERAL SIR T. S. BECKWITH, K.C.B. + + _Gilsland, June 26, 1827._ + +MY DEAR SIR, + +In returning to you the packet you have favoured me with the perusal of, +I cannot refrain from expressing, in common with all your old friends +and brother officers of the Rifle Brigade, my regret that your health +made it necessary for you to retire from a corps, where your faithful +and unremitting services for nearly thirty years had been so eminently +useful, and where you possessed the friendship and confidence of every +individual of any standing in it. + +That your concern is as sincere as theirs in parting with them, I am +perfectly convinced; yet it will be matter of real consolation to you to +be able to reflect that you never gave just cause of offence to any +member of the corps, and never neglected an opportunity of rendering +them a service when in your power. + +That you have not retired a richer man, is a subject of regret to us +all; and we shall learn with great satisfaction of any event, that may +tend to increase your means of doing good to those who look to you for +protection. + +Should any such opening present itself, I do not hesitate to express my +conviction, that whoever may employ you, will never have reason to +repent doing so; as I am well assured you will undertake no situation, +without due reflection, and the nature of which you do not understand; +and that, once taken in hand, you will discharge the duties of it with +the same diligence and fidelity that you have performed those of your +public life for so many years past. + +Earnestly wishing that a little repose after such a lengthened series of +toils and dangers, may restore you to health and strength, + + I remain, + My Dear Surtees, + Your sincere and faithful friend, + THOS. SIDNEY BECKWITH, + Col. 2d Bat. Rifle Brigade. + + To William Surtees, Esq. + Late Rifle Brigade. + + + FINIS. + + + EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, + PAUL'S WORK, CANONGATE. + + + * * * * * + + + Transcriber's Notes + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Presumed archaic spellings have not been changed: apprize, assertor, +fusileers, grashoppers, harraing, mocassins, reconnoissance, sailer, +siene, shrapnell, spunging, vere, visiters, woful. + +The following words appear both with and without diacritical marks and +have not been changed: Camiño, depôt, Peña. + +There are two chapters "IV". The second one is denoted with an asterisk. + +Hyphens removed: "quarter[-]master" (page 60), "wind[-]mill" (page 63, +twice), "Porto[-]Real" (page 102), "brush[-]wood" (page 197), +"death[-]like" (page 139), "road[-]side" (page 274), "fore[-]yard" (page +322). + +Hyphens added: "farm[-]house" (page 14), "mid[-]day" (page 61), +"half[-]way" (pages 107, 283), "field[-]work(s)" (page 248, 369). + +Page xi: "Ships'" changed to "Ship" (place their Ship Guns on +Batteries). + +Page 25: "apppeared" changed to "appeared" (separate body which +appeared). + +Page 45: "94th" changed to "95th" (The Rifle Corps, or 94th). + +Page 55: Removed duplicate "on" (to stand on the same tack). + +Page 55: "Lhe" changed to "Lehe" (Bremer Lehe to the city of Bremen). + +Page 60: "Feversham" changed to "Feversham" (I joined it at Feversham). + +Page 79: Illegible number changed to "2d" (2d battalion of my regiment). + +Page 82: "18th" changed to "10th" (in this affair the 10th hussars +were engaged). + +Page 106: "call" changed to "called" (called the Tore Alto). + +Page 128: "Pompadours" changed to "95th Rifles" (2d Battalion of the +95th Rifles). + +Page 157: "bettter" changed to "better" (no doubt better fed). + +Page 209: "Morilhl" changed to "Morillo" (thought that Don Morillo). + +Page 245: "officer" changed to "officers" (the commanding-officers had +been taken up). + +Page 258: "horse" changed to "horses" (our poor horses and mules). + +Page 297: "numder" changed to "number" (to put a certain number). + +Page 346: "chooner" changed to "schooner" (the fire of the schooner). + +Page 398: Redundant "the" removed (Blakeny of the 7th). + +Page 404: "brough, ast" changed to "brought, as" (This brought, as it +might be expected). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Twenty-Five Years in the Rifle Brigade, by +William Surtees + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE *** + +***** This file should be named 36778-8.txt or 36778-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/7/36778/ + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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