KAKOW COLLECTION Not to lie taken from Library % /} h l* ^> a V Killed I I 7 I 3 IO 39 R. Barclay, Dep. Adj.-Gen. INDIA 39 Bravery of Arab Troops. To the Hon. the Governor of Ceylon. ' Camp, 1 October 14, 1803. ' I did not take any of the Arab troops prisoners who were opposed to the troops under my command at Ahmednuggur, those who defended the pettah having been, with the Killadar, driven out, and the troops who defended the fort having made a capitulation, under which they were allowed to evacuate it ; I have therefore no Arabs in my possession. If I had, I should take the liberty of suggesting to you my doubts of the propriety of employing them on the island of Ceylon. They are undoubtedly the bravest of all the troops that I have yet seen in the service of the native powers, and they defend the posts entrusted to their charge with deter- mined valour, but I have never seen them in the field, and I believe that they do not serve willingly except in garrison. They are a high-spirited people, and are by no means amen- able to discipline and orders, which it is absolutely necessary should prevail in our camps and forts ; and I believe that it has happened more than once in India that they have mutinied, even when well treated, and have been the cause of terror to their employers. . . .' Sufferings from Famine. To the Governor-General. 'Bombay, '■May 2, 1804. ' I have the honour to enclose the copy of a letter which I have thought it necessary to write to Major Graham, con- taining orders to make provision for feeding the poorer classes of the inhabitants of Ahmednuggur, who were suffer- ing from famine. I am sorry to inform your Excellency that, notwithstanding the arrangements directed in that letter have been carried into execution, nearly fifty people in that town die daily. The distress in all parts of the country is extreme. 40 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' The Commander of the Mysore Horse, who has gone in search of food within the territories of the Soubah of the Deccan, informs me that his horses are entirely unfit for service from want of food, that several have died, and that he fears the troops will disband unless removed to a country which suffers less from famine. . . .' Freebooter and Murderers. To Major Graham. 'Camp at Chinchore, '■June 20, 1804. ' I have had the honour of receiving your private letter of the 16th instant, containing a copy of the evidence against the freebooter impostor Seyd Sultaun Aly. I know nothing about that person, and I do not believe that he has ever been even a menial servant of mine. I desire that he may be publicly whipped in the pettah of Ahmednuggur, for having made use of my name to plunder the country ; and that he and his followers may be put in irons, and employed for six months at hard labour upon the works of Ahmed- nuggur. ' I desire that you will make inquiry into the circumstances of the murder committed between Coraygaum and Soupah ; and if you should find that the persons who are now in con- finement in the main guard at Ahmednuggur are guilty of it, I beg you to give orders that they may be hanged in a public place.' Camels for Camp Equipage. To Colonel Murray. 'Camp, ' June 12, 1803. ' . . . I have bought twenty-seven camels to carry the camp equipage of the 78th Regiment, which I propose should be paid for by the Government of Bombay. . . .' INDIA 4 i AURUNGABAD FORT. To Colonel Stevenson. 'Camp at Angah, '-June 1 8, 1803. ' ... It appears that it is the intention of the Nizam's Government that the person who has hitherto been in charge of the fort of Aurungabad should be deprived of his charge. . . . 1 1 think it probable that the garrison at present in Aurung- abad will refuse to give up the fort, unless an engagement is made to pay them their arrears. . . . ' If the garrison should refuse to give up the fort on any grounds, you must attack it, and get possession of it by force ; but I request you to give strict orders that the place may not be plundered, and that no disorder may be com- mitted by our troops who may be employed on this service. The officers must recollect that many females of the Nizam's family are in Aurungabad, and that His Highness would be more sensible of any injuries that they may suffer from the licentiousness of the troops than he will be of the benefit which his Government might derive from their valour and discipline. . . .' Dearth of Cattle. To Lieutenant-Colonel Close. ' Camp, '■June 19, 1803. ' Our distresses increase upon us for want of cattle. I was obliged to leave behind this morning 500 loads of stores and 100 of provisions. You will be a judge of the mortality of cattle from the following statement. There was a muster on the 15th, and there were 500 good carriage bullocks in the grain and provision department, more than were required for the loads, and a sufficiency in the stores. The consumption between the 15th and 18th was 250 loads of provisions, and yet on the 18th the deficiency of carriage is found to be 100, making the loss of cattle in the provision department in three 4 2 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES days 850 bullocks. In the store department it has been, in the same period of time, about 600. The gun cattle keep up well, notwithstanding the bad weather, but it is by force of exertion. ' Yesterday the drivers were out till nine at night in quest of forage. We moved a short distance in the morning, and they must have been in motion at three o'clock, so that these people were on foot for eighteen hours yesterday. I have been in difficulties of this kind before, and have surmounted them, and I shall surmount these if I can get any assistance from Poonah, or if the Peshwah or his people will show any sign of our being here upon his business, or even with his knowledge or consent ; or if he will not do that, if he will send anything like an amildar to the country, or anybody to take charge of the Government, with whom I might com- municate. But under present circumstances I am in a worse situation by far than I should be in an enemy's country ; in such I should act for myself, and should establish a Govern- ment as I go on. There is forage in the country, and grain also, but it is all hidden underground, and we are forced to dig for everything we get, notwithstanding that we give a large price for it. . . .' The English Name disgraced. To Lieutenant-Colonel Close. ' Camp, 'July 20, 1803. ' . . . What has passed in Guzerat is disgusting to a degree. The English name is disgraced, and the worst of it is that endeavours are made to conceal the disgrace under an hypocritical cant about humanity ; and those feelings which are brought forward so repeatedly respecting the garrison of Parneira are entirely forgotten in respect to the unfortunate British soldiers of the 75th and 84th Regiments, who, unlike the gentlemen, submitting to be humbugged by a parcel of blackguards, are suffering in the rains. . . .' INDIA 43 Duelling. To Lieutenant-Colonel Harness, Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace, and Lieutenant- Colonel Maxwell. ' Camp, ''July 20, 1803. ' I have to inform you that it is generally reported in camp that the late Captain B , of the 78th Regiment, was shot in a duel, and a letter addressed to me, which I enclose, and which was found among Captain B 's papers, tends to confirm the truth of that report. I therefore request you will meet and ascertain the cause of the death of the late Captain B . . . .' To stop Desertions. To Colonel Murray. ' Camp, 1 July 20, 1803. ' . . . I am concerned to hear of the desertion of the soldiers of the 84th, and I dare say that they are come to Ahmednuggur; but possibly I shall shortly be able to give a good account of them. It is now too late to send out to look for them. ' If you can catch the people who enticed them to go away, let me know, and I will send you an order to assemble a general court-martial to try them. They shall certainly be hanged, if to punish them in that manner be allowed by the sentence of the court-martial. ' In the meantime, I recommend that you should take this opportunity of forbidding your soldiers to go into Poonah at all, and punish any man who goes there. Also take up and punish any low European or half-caste man, or the attendant upon such a one, such as a strange cook-boy, whom you may find about the bazaar, or barracks, or the lines, or anywhere in communication with the soldiers. ' When I first came to the Marhatta territory these animals flocked about my camp, but I seized and punished them, and sent all I caught to Bombay, to be returned to Goa by the 44 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES first opportunity. By these means I have not lost one European deserter. ' I long to hear of your catching the palanquin gentleman. If you can prove against him that he enticed away your soldiers, you may seize and punish him, if you find him in your bazaar, and send him a prisoner to Bombay ; that measure will stop this trade. ' Try the thieves by a line court-martial and punish them.' ' Camp, 'July 22, 1803. ' I have received your letter of the 20th. You will receive this day orders to carry into execution the sentence of the general court-martial, which tried a Bombay sepoy who deserted some time ago ; and orders to assemble a general native court-martial to try the deserters you mention. If there is evidence of the desertion with their arms and ac- coutrements of the three men, I beg that they may be all tried ; if there should not be evidence, one of them may be admitted to give evidence against the others. ' But I should think that there will be no want of evidence that they left their corps and were brought back prisoners. They shall be shot also, if the court-martial should sentence that punishment.' 'Camp, ''July 24, 1803. ' . . . I return your paper containing the deposition of the soldiers against the foreigners, supposed to have enticed away the three men of the 84th who are missing ; and, although they may not be the persons who took those three men away, it is very clear that their occupation is to entice the British soldiers to desert. I request, therefore, that, upon the receipt of this letter, you will punish these men publicly in the bazaar and lines of the detachment under your command. You will afterwards keep them in confine- ment till an opportunity shall offer, when you will send them to Bombay, in charge of a guard, and report to the Governor INDIA 45 that they are sent as deserters from the Portuguese service and from the ships. You will also request that they may be sent to Goa. . . .' 'Camp at Walkee, '•August 2, 1803. * . . . You will receive by this day's post orders to carry into execution the sentence of the general court-martial on the two sepoys. ' Lieutenant Burnes' letter is a curious production, and I beg that you will do me the favour to inform him that, for reasons which I thought valid, but which I do not think it necessary to communicate to him, I thought it proper to bring the prisoners, Hurry Sing and Hurry Rao, to trial for the crime of desertion only ; and that, in future, I beg that he will do me the favour to confine his attention to his own business, and leave my duty to be done by myself and the officers appointed to assist me. . . . ' P.S. — Let your communication with Lieutenant Burnes be verbal, as I wish to avoid all future correspondence upon this subject. Indeed, that mode of communication is to be preferred on all occasions.' Want of Troops. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Camp, 'July 30, 1803. ' . . . The tragical result of the military operations in Ceylon has added considerably to the difficulties of the present moment for want of troops. There is no doubt but that Mr. North will require reinforcements from the Govern- ment of Fort St. George, but I cannot imagine from what quarter they are to be sent. . . . 'The departure of the French fleet is a sign either that war was declared when the corvette which arrived at Pondi- cherry left France, or that the declaration of war was expected immediately. The French Admiral may be expected to 46 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES return to India, as soon as he may be joined by his rein- forcements. I hope that Admiral Rainier will also receive reinforcements. . . .' Employment of Enemies. To the Governor of Bombay. 'Camp at Walkee, 1 August 2, 1803. ' ... In all parts of India, particularly in those territories which have belonged to the Marhattas, there is a numerous class of people whose only occupation and only mode of pro- curing subsistence has been the military service. This class is usually entirely deprived of subsistence by the transfer of the government of those countries to the Company ; and they are driven to seek for it either in rebellion at those moments when the British troops are engaged in foreign wars, or in the armies of our enemies. These they are ready to lead into our districts, with all the knowledge derived from long residence and service within them, and they become, in fact, our most dangerous enemies. 'The employment of these people, therefore, at such time as sebundy is advantageous, not only as it saves the regular troops, and gives a larger body of troops for field service, and prevents the loss of their discipline, but because it lessens the number of idle and discontented at the time of general invasion and confusion, and that of our most dangerous enemies. . . .' Justifiable Retaliation. To the Governor of Bombay. ' Camp at Rackisbaum, ' September 3, 1803. ' The enemy, having found it impossible to seize any of the districts belonging to the Soubah of the Deccan, or to plunder them to any extent, have seized the persons of some of the principal inhabitants of the towns near which they have passed, and have detained them as securities for the INDIA 47 payment of certain sums which they have required from the districts. ' In order to put a stop to this practice it is necessary to retaliate upon them. Accordingly, I request you will be so kind as to give directions that the mother and relations of Jadoon Rao Bhow may be seized, and that they may be informed that they will be detained as securities for the persons of the hostages seized in this unjustifiable manner by Dowlut Rao Scindiah. . . .' Good Condition of Troops. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Camp at Kurcah, ' September 8, 1803. ' ... It is impossible for troops to be in better order than those under my command. My marches are made at the rate of three miles in an hour, and a few days ago I marched twenty-two miles and a half in seven hours and a half. . . .' Picking Shot from a Breached Wall. To Colonel Stevenson. 'Camp, ' September 9, 1 803. ' . . . Upon considering the state of the ordnance and ammunition with both divisions, I have determined not to send you my guns. I have only 1,350 shot ; you have 300, and a field equipment for your 12-pounders, which I suppose to be 100 for each, making in the whole 2,050 shot. If you had no equipment whatever for your 18 -pounders, my 12-pounders would be necessary for battering; but as it is, you will have a breaching battery of two 18-pounders and one 12-pounder, tolerably supplied with ammunition, which is certainly better than four 12-pounders. . . . ' I send you, however, some ammunition, together with one lac of pagodas. . . . 48 WELLINGTON'S DESPA TCHES ' If you used your 18-pounders at Jalnapoor, you might be able to pick the shot out of the breached wall. I was obliged to do this at Ahmednuggur ; otherwise I should not have had even the equipment that I have at present, as the stores were in confusion and concealed in extraordinary places, and could not be readily found. . . .' Private Quarrels and Courts-Martial. To Colonel Murray. ' Camp, ' September 14, 1803. ' . . . I have long observed that the subjects which have come under the consideration of general courts-martial in this country are in general referable to private quarrels and differences, with which the public have no concern whatever. The character of the officers of the army is undoubtedly a public concern ; but in many instances it would be much more proper, and more creditable for both parties, to settle these differences by mutual concession, than to take up the time of the public by making them the subject of investiga- tion before a general court-martial. . . .' 1 Camp, ' September 16, 1803. '. . . These courts -martial are distressing indeed at present. I wrote you a long letter upon the subject the other day, and I shall not repeat now what I said then. We must endeavour to stop these trifling disputes, and turn the atten- tion of the officers of the army to public matters, rather than to their private concerns. ' It occurs to me that there is much party in the army in your quarter ; this must be put an end to. And there is only one mode of effecting this, and that is for the Command- ing Officer to be of no side excepting that of the public, to employ indiscriminately those who can best serve the public, be they who they may or in whatever service. The conse- quence will be that the service will go on ; all parties will join in forwarding it and in respecting him ; there will be INDIA 49 an end to their petty disputes about trifles ; and the Com- manding Officer will be at the head of an army instead of a party. . . .' A Litigious Lieutenant. To Colonel Murray. 'Camp at Assye, ' September 25, 1803. ' I have the honour to enclose a packet of papers which I have received from Lieutenant Procter, the Fort Adjutant of Surat. I beg that you will let him know that I cannot receive any letter from him, unless sent through his Com- manding Officer ; and, at all events, I cannot order a court- martial to assemble for the trial of an officer for conduct at his (Lieutenant Procter's) trial, the proceedings of which have been approved of by the Commander-in-Chief at Bombay. ' It appears to me that Lieutenant Procter is of a very litigious disposition, and a very improper person to fill the situation of Fort Adjutant at Surat. If you should be of this opinion, I request you to report it to the Government of Bombay, and recommend that another officer may be appointed.' Anxiety for a Young Friend. To Major Shawe. ' Camp, ' September 28, 1803. ' I have received a letter from Mr. Thomas Pakenham, a writer on the Bengal establishment, respecting whom I am particularly interested. He is the son of Admiral Pakenham, a very old friend of Lord Wellesley and of me. I believe him to be very young and inexperienced ; I therefore most anxiously recommend him to your care and attention. I have also given him a letter of recommendation to my friend Mr. Ross, whom I have requested to have an eye upon his conduct, and, above all things, to prevent him from keeping bad company. 4 50 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' Should the college last, of course he will attend that in- stitution ; if not, I have desired him to acquire a knowledge of the country languages. I request you to urge him par- ticularly upon this point, and do not allow him to be idle. ' Do not allow him to run in debt. . . .' THE BATTLE OF ASSYE. To the Governor-General. ' Camp at Assye, ' September 24, 1803. ' I was joined by Major Hill with the last of the convoys expected from the river Kistna on the 18th ; and on the 20th was enabled to move forwards towards the enemy, who had been joined in the course of the last seven or eight days by the infantry under Colonel Pohlman, by that belonging to Begum Sumroo, and by another brigade of infantry, the name of whose commander* I have not ascertained. The enemy's army was collected about Bokerdun, and between that place and Jaffierabad. ' I was near Colonel Stevenson's corps on the 21st, and had a conference with that officer, in which we concerted a plan to attack the enemy's army with the divisions under our command on the 24th in the morning ; and we marched on the 22nd, Colonel Stevenson by the western route, and I by the eastern route, round the hills between Budnapoor and Jaulna. ' On the 23rd I arrived at Naulniah, and there received a report that Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar had moved off in the morning with their cavalry, and that the infantry were about to follow, but were still in camp at the distance of about six miles from the ground on which I had intended to encamp. It was obvious that the attack was no longer to be delayed ; and, having provided for the security of my baggage and stores at Naulniah, I marched on to attack the enemy. ' I found the whole combined army of Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar encamped on the bank of the Kaitna River, * M. Dupont. INDIA 51 nearly on the ground which I had been informed that they occupied. Their right, which consisted entirely of cavalry, was about Bokerdun, and extended to their corps oMnfantry, which were encamped in the neighbourhood of Assye. Although I came first in front of their right, I de- termined to attack their left, as the defeat of their corps of infantry was most likely to be effectual ; accordingly I marched round to their left flank, covering the march of the column of infantry by the British cavalry in the rear, and by the Marhatta and Mysore cavalry on the right flank. ' We passed the river Kaitna at a ford beyond the enemy's left flank, and I formed the infantry immediately in two lines, with the British cavalry as a reserve in a third, in an open space between that river and a nullah running parallel to it. The Marhatta and Mysore cavalry occupied the ground beyond the Kaitna on our left flank, and kept in check a large body of the enemy's cavalry which had followed our march from the right of their own position. ' The enemy had altered the position of their infantry previous to our attack : it was no longer, as at first, along the Kaitna, but extended from that river across to the village of Assye upon the nullah, which was upon our right. We attacked them immediately, and the troops advanced under a very hot fire from cannon, the execution of which was terrible. The piquets of the infantry and the 74th Regiment,* which were on the right of the first and second lines, suffered particularly, from the fire of the guns on the left of the enemy's position near Assye. The enemy's cavalry also made an attempt to charge the 74th Regiment at the moment when they were most exposed to this fire, but they were cut up by the British cavalry, which moved on at that moment. At length the enemy's line gave way in all directions, and the British cavalry cut in among their broken * Now the 2nd Battalion the Highland Light Infantry. This regiment, the 19th (Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars, and the Seaforth High- landers are the only British regiments bearing 'Assaye' as an honour. These regiments were granted the special honour of a third colour. — W. W. 4—2 5 2 WELLING TOW S DESPA TCHES infantry ; but some of their corps went off in good order, and a fire was kept up on our troops from many of the guns from which the enemy had been first driven, by individuals who had been passed by the line under the supposition that they were dead. ' Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, with the British cavalry, charged one large body of infantry, which had retired and was formed again, in which operation he was killed ; and some time elapsed before we could put an end to the straggling fire, which was kept up by individuals from the guns from which the enemy were driven. The enemy's cavalry also, which had been hovering round us throughout the action, were still near us. At length, when the last formed body of in- fantry gave way, the whole went off, and left in our hands ninety pieces of cannon. ' The victory, which was certainly complete, has, however, cost us dear. Your Excellency will perceive by the enclosed return,* that our loss in officers and men has been very great, and, in that of Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell and other officers whose names are therein included, greatly to be re- gretted. ' I cannot write in too strong terms of the conduct of the troops ; they advanced in the best order, and with the greatest steadiness, under a most destructive fire, against a * A Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Detachment of the A?- my under the Command of Major-General the Hon. A. We lies ley at the Battle of Assy e, against the Army of Dowlut Rao Scindiah, on September 23, 1803. Europeans. H.M.'s 19th Lt. D. ^ 1 st Batt. Madras Art 2nd do. do. Det. Bombay do. H.M.'s 74th Regt. H.M.'s 78th do. J F. O. Cap. Sub. Serg. Drum. R. & F. Horses. Killed - i 6 7 9 — 141 77 - Wounded 3 6 20 33 6 343 3 Missing - — — — — — 8 — Natives. Subi. Jem. Havil. Trum. R. & F. Horses. Killed 5 3 13 — 224 228 Wounded - - - 12 16 39 6 1,138 75 Missing - - - - - - — — — — J 8 1 R. Barclay, Dep. Adj. -Gen. INDIA 53 body of infantry far superior in number, who appeared deter- mined to contend with them to the last, and who were driven from their guns only by the bayonet ; and notwithstanding the numbers of the enemy's cavalry, and the repeated demon- strations they made of an intention to charge, they were kept at a distance by our infantry. ' I am particularly indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Harness and Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace for the manner in which they conducted their brigades, and to all the officers of the staff for the assistance I received from them. The officers com- manding brigades, nearly all those of the staff, and the mounted officers of the infantry, had their horses shot under them. . . .' A Hot Cannon Fire. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Camp at Assye, ' September 24, 1803. ' I marched on the 20th from the ground which I had occupied in the neighbourhood, waiting for the junction of Major Hill, and on the 21st I was near to, and had a con- ference with, Colonel Stevenson, in which I arranged that we should attack the enemy this day. But on my arrival on my ground yesterday I received accounts that the enemy's cavalry had marched off, that their infantry were preparing to follow, and that the latter were only six miles from my proposed camp. ' It was so important to our interests at this moment to strike a blow, that I thought there was no time to be lost ; accordingly, I determined to march on to attack them, and I sent notice of this determination to Colonel Stevenson. ' I found the whole army encamped, and made my arrange- ments to attack their infantry, which was upon their left flank. The fire from their cannon was the hottest that has been known in this country, and we lost a great number of officers and men in advancing to the attack ; Colonel Max- 54 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES well, among others, killed. At length we drove them off, and have taken about sixty pieces of cannon, nearly all brass, of the largest calibres. Their infantry, of which there were three campoos, fought well, and stood by their guns to the last. Their execution, however, was principally by their cannon. Colonel Wallace, Colonel Harness and I had horses killed under us. I lost two horses, one shot and the other piked, and the staff officers have lost one or two each. ' I believe the enemy did not get away more than two guns, and I am doubtful whether they even have that number, as the number that we have taken agrees with that which my hircarrahs have reported that they had previous to the action. ' Their cavalry did us but little mischief. A body made an attempt to charge the 74th, and were cut up by the 19th Dragoons. . . .' Wounded by Cannon Shot. To the Governor of Bombay. 'Camp, ' September 27, 1803. ' As nearly all the men who were wounded in the action between the British troops and the united armies of Dowlut Rao Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar, on the 23rd instant, were struck by cannon shot, and it is probable that some of them will be disabled entirely, it will be a great convenience if an early opportunity is taken of removing those of this description from the field hospital to Bombay. From hence the Europeans may be sent to England, and the natives to the coast of Coromandel, as opportunities may offer. ' I cannot at present say the number of cases of this description which there will be, but I think it almost certain that there will not be less than one hundred. . . . ' I am greatly in want of medical assistants, and I shall be much obliged to you if you will give orders that six assistant-surgeons may be sent to Ahmednuggur without loss of time, to place themselves under my orders. INDIA 55 1 The cavalry lost many horses in the late action, and I shall be obliged to you if you will give orders that as many as 400 may be purchased at Bombay to remount the cavalry.' The Fiercest Fight in India. To Major Malcolm. ' Camp, ' September 28, 1803. ' Our victory of the 23rd has been vety complete. The enemy lost 1,200 men killed, and their wounded and dying are on all parts of the road from hence to Adjuntee. They marched yesterday morning from the bottom of the ghaut towards Burhampoor, and they had not then 200 infantry in camp, and their cavalry is dispersed over the country. They have plundered their own baggage and bazaars, and the Bheels in the ghaut have cut up vast numbers of them. Colonel Stevenson is gone after them. ' I am tied by the heels by the necessity of sending away my doolies with my wounded men. . . . ' As the enemy have still several brigades undefeated, I almost doubt the propriety of the expedition into Berar, by one of our divisions only. ' Their infantry is the best I have ever seen in India, excepting our own, and they and their equipments far surpass Tippoo's. I assure you that their fire was so heavy, that I much doubted at one time whether I should be able to pre- vail upon our troops to advance, and all agree that the battle was the fiercest that has ever been seen in India. Our troops behaved admirably ; the sepoys astonished me. ' These circumstances, and the vast loss which I sustained, make it clear that we ought not to attack them again, unless we have something nearer an equality of numbers. . . .' 56 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES The Guns and Colours taken. To the Governor -General. ' Camp, ' September 30, 1803. ' I have the honour to enclose an account of the ordnance taken from the enemy in the action of the 23rd instant.* I have reason to believe that there are still four more guns, which were thrown into the river by the enemy in their retreat. ' We have taken seven stand of colours, and the enemy lost all their ammunition, although, the tumbrils having blown up, some during the preceding night, we have got nothing but the shot. The ordnance is very fine, but I have destroyed the iron guns, and shall put the brass guns in a place of security. ' The enemy lost 1,200 men killed in the field of battle, and their wounded are scattered in all parts of the country. It is reported that Jadoon Rao, Scindiah's principal Minister, received a wound, of which he died the day before yesterday. Their army is in the greatest confusion, and retiring to Burhampoor. Colonel Stevenson has followed them down the Adjuntee ghaut, and I propose to descend the ghauts as soon as I shall have placed the wounded soldiers in security.' * A Retttrti of Ordnance of Dijferetit Calibres taken from the Enemy in the Battle of September 23, 1803. 'Camp, ' September 29, 1803, Brass Howitzers. 7 Brass Guns. 69 Iron Guns. Total. 22 98 ' The number of tumbrils and quantity of ammunition and stores taken cannot be ascertained, as after the action, and during the night, a great number of the tumbrils were blown up. 'M. BEAUMAN, Cap. Com. Artillery? INDIA 57 To the Hon. H. Wellesley. 'Camp, Fifty Miles North of Aurungabad, ' October 3, 1803. ' I wrote to you on September 17, and since that time I have completely defeated the enemy, and have taken from them ninety-eight pieces of cannon, with their ammunition, etc. I enclose a copy of my letter to the Governor-General on this subject, which will give you an idea of the action. ' I have little to add thereto, excepting to tell you that Scindiah's French infantry were far better than Tippoo's, his artillery excellent, and his ordnance so good, and so well equipped, that it answers for our service. We never could use Tippoo's. Our loss is great, but the action, I believe, was the most severe that ever was fought in this country, and I believe such a quantity of cannon and such advan- tages have seldom been gained by any single victory in any part of the world. 'The enemy had 1,200 men killed on the field of battle, and I suppose about four times that number wounded. They plundered one another after the action, and many of their troops have deserted ; the whole have fled to Burhampoor, about eighty miles from hence, in the greatest confusion. ' I lost two horses. Diomed (Colonel Aston's horse, who has carried me in so many campaigns) piked, and another horse shot under me. Almost all the staff had their horses either killed or wounded, or were struck in some place or other. ' In the enclosed letter, I only report ninety pieces of cannon taken, but when I despatched it I did not know the extent of our gains. In fact, I believe we took 102, but we destroyed some, and there is a mistake respecting the number ; I know there are ninety-eight. . . . ' I am well supplied with everything. I have already got some of the enemy's supplies, and I have great hopes that I shall get more.' 58 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES A Mistake that caused Heavy Loss. To Lieutenant-Colonel Munro. 'Camp at Cheesekair, ' November i, 1803. 'As you are a judge of a military operation, and as I am desirous of having your opinion on my side, I am about to give you an account of the Battle of Assye. . . . ' It was certainly a most desperate one, but our guns were not silenced. Our bullocks, and the people who were em- ployed to draw them, were shot, and they could not all be drawn on, but some were ; and all continued to fire as long as the fire could be of any use. ' Desperate as the action was, our loss would not have exceeded one half of its present amount if it had not been for a mistake in the officer who led the pickets which were on the right of the first line.*" ' When the enemy changed their position they threw their left to Assye, in which village they had some infantry, and it was surrounded by cannon. As soon as I saw that, I directed the officer commanding the pickets to keep out of shot from that village ; instead of that, he led directly upon it. The 74th, which were on the right of the first line, followed the pickets, and the great loss we sustained was in these two bodies. ' Another evil which resulted from this mistake was the necessity of introducing the cavalry into the cannonade and the action long before it was time ; by which that corps lost many men, and its unity and efficiency, that I intended to bring forward in a close pursuit at the heel of the day. But it was necessary to bring forward the cavalry to save the remains of the 74th and the pickets, which would otherwise have been destroyed. Another evil resulting from it was that we had then no reserve left, and a parcel of stragglers cut up * One company of the pickets, of one officer and fifty rank and file, lost one officer and forty-four rank and file. — W. W. INDIA 59 our wounded; and straggling infantry, who had pretended to be dead, turned their guns upon our backs. ' After all, notwithstanding this attack upon Assye by our right and the cavalry, no impression was made upon the corps collected there till I made a movement upon it with some troops taken from our left, after the enemy's right had been defeated, and it would have been as well to have left it alone entirely till that movement was made. ' However, I do not wish to cast any reflection upon the officer who led the pickets. I lament the consequences of his mistake, but I must acknowledge that it was not possible for a man to lead a body into a hotter fire than he did the pickets on that day against Assye. ' After the action there was no pursuit, because our cavalry was not then in a state to pursue. It was near dark when the action was over, and we passed the night on the field of battle. . . . ' The enemy passed the night of the 23rd at about twelve miles from the field of battle, twelve from the Adjuntee ghaut, and eight from Bokerdun. As soon as they heard that Colonel Stevenson was advancing to the latter place, they set off, and never stopped till they had got down the ghaut, where they arrived in the course of the night of the 24th. After his difficulties of the night of the 23rd, Colonel Stevenson was in no state to follow them, and did not do so until the 26th. The reason for which he was detained till that day was that I might have the benefit of the assistance of his surgeons to dress my wounded soldiers, many of whom, after all, were not dressed for nearly a week, for want of the necessary number of medical men. . . .' Marching for a Year. To Major Kirkpatrick. 'Camp, ' February 9, 1804. 1 My despatch of the 5th will have made you acquainted with the destruction of a band of freebooters on that day. . . . 60 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' I do not propose at present to follow the remains of the freebooters towards the Solapoor country. In the first place, it has now become a matter of the utmost importance to give some rest to the division under my command, who have been marching since February, 1803 ; and who, since the Battle of Assye, in September, have not halted more than one day in any place, excepting during the siege of Gawilghur. . . .' 'The Things called Governments.' To Colonel Stevenson. ' Camp at Adjuntee, ' October 8, 1803. ' That plan which, in my opinion, promises the greatest and most speedy success, is to carry on offensive operations against the enemy's territories ; and it would certainly pro- duce a peace if the things called Governments, which depend upon us, would do anything for themselves, or were not in a state of most deplorable weakness. But it is well known that they depend entirely upon us, and yet they thwart us in every instance. . . .' The Power of the Sword in India. To Colonel Murray. ' Camp at Phoolmurry, ' October 13, 1803. ' ... It is necessary that the Political Agents at the durbars of the native Princes should be supposed to have a considerable degree of power. In this part of the world there is no power excepting that of the sword, and it follows that if these Political Agents have no authority over the military they have no power whatever. ' The natives would soon find out this state of weakness, and the Residents would lose their influence over then- councils. It may be argued, if that is the case, the military Commanding Officer ought to be the Resident, or Political Agent. In answer to this argument, I say that the same INDIA 6 1 reasoning applies to every part of the Executive Government, and that, upon this ground, the whole ought to be in the hands of the military. In short, the only conclusion to be drawn from all reflection and reasoning upon this subject is that the British Government in India is a phenomenon, and that it will not answer to apply to it, in its present state, either the rules which guide other Governments, or the reasoning upon which these rules are founded. . . .' To Major Shawe. 1 Camp, ' February 26, 1804. ' . . . Bengal, " the paradise of nations," enjoys the advan- tage of a civil government, and requires its military force only for its protection against foreign enemies. All the other barbarous establishments called Governments, without ex- cepting even that of Fort St. George, have no power beyond that of the sword. Take from them the exercise of that power, and they have no other, and can collect no revenue, can give no protection, and can exercise no government. The native Governments — I mean those of the Nizam and the Peshwah — are fifty times worse than ours in this respect. They do not choose to keep armies themselves ; their terri- tories are overrun by a race of armed men, who are ready to enlist with anybody who will lead them to plunder ; and there is no power in the country to support the Government and give protection to the industrious classes of the inhabitants, excepting the British troops. . . .' To Lieutenant-General Stuart. 'July 3, 1804. 1 ... In respect to the general question of a military establishment, it has always appeared to me that Govern- ment has made an erroneous calculation of the value of their conquests, as those were to tend to the decrease of the military establishments and their expense. They have adverted only to the fact that, by the success of their arms, they have diminished the number of their external enemies ; 62 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES and they have imagined that, in proportion as they have become secure abroad, they ought to have the means of reducing their armies at home. This appears to be particu- larly the error of the Court of Directors. ' They have not adverted to the fact that all government in India, excepting, perhaps, that in Bengal, is held by the sword ; that, in order to carry on their foreign wars, they have been obliged to weaken the means of their internal government — that is to say, the power of the sword in their own provinces, by which, till this last war, they have invari- ably suffered ; and that the conclusion of the most successful foreign war in India, that by which the most formidable enemy may have been subdued, if it gives an accession of territory, must bring with the territory a necessity to increase the army ; because the government must be established in the new territory, and supported, as well as in the old, by the power of the sword. The want of knowledge, or, rather, of recollection, of these facts, is the cause of all the com- plaints of high military establishments and expenses, and of all the difficulties in which you must have found yourself from the want of troops. . . . ' Still, however, the sword is the main support of the Government, and it is necessary now to provide a military establishment adequate to defend the Peninsula against a foreign European enemy, and to preserve the internal tranquillity. . . .' Attacking Forts. To Major Shawe. ' Camp at Phoolmurry, ' October 14, 1803. '. . . I think that General Lake's capture of Allyghur is one of the most extraordinary feats that I have heard of in this country. I never attacked a fort that I did not attempt the same thing, viz., to blow open the gates, but I have never succeeded. I have always taken them by escalade, which appears to have been impossible in this instance. . , .' INDIA 63 Trouble with the Rupee. To Major Kirkpatrick. 'Camp-at Phoolmurry, ' October 14, 1803. ' In addition to the other difficulties I experience in this country upon the subject on which I have troubled you at different times, the people attached to my camp ex- perience one of considerable magnitude in taking gold coins in the Soubah's country. The people are willing to take them, but at a very depreciated rate of exchange — in some instances at the rate of one half, at others of two-thirds of their value, and of that rate under which I am under the necessity of issuing them to the troops. ' The consequence is, that the price of every article is much increased, and in many instances the dealers have returned without loads, rather than submit to this extortion of the inhabitants, and thereby a distress is occasioned in camp. ' It is not possible to avoid the issue of these gold coins to the troops. Very lately General Stuart sent to Colonel Stevenson and me six lacs of pagodas in gold coins of different descriptions, and I really believe that at this moment there is not a rupee in the camp of either. ' Under these circumstances I shall be much obliged to you if you will request the Soubah's Ministers to issue proclamations as soon as possible, requiring the people of the country to receive these gold coins in payment of articles required for the camp of the British troops, and holding forth engagements that those coins will be received in pay- ment of the revenue at the same rates of exchange. . . .' 64 WELLING TON ' 5 DESPA TCHES Heart-breaking State of the 65TH.* To Colonel Murray. 'Camp, ' October 15, 1803. '. . . It is heart-breaking to see the state of the 65th. I foretold to Mr. Duncan the consequence of sending that corps to Surat at that season, and afterwards putting them in the field without any means necessary to secure even their existence, much less their comfort, during a mon- soon. . . .' To Major Malcolm. ' Camp, ' October 15, 1803. '. . . I have received from Colonel Murray a sad account of the state of the troops in Guzerat. The 65th Regiment, which arrived in India about six months ago, 400 strong, has now only 280 in the field ; and the 86th about 500 ; the native corps none more than that number, and some only 200. I foretold to Mr. Duncan the consequence of putting the 65th Regiment in the field during the monsoon, without any one comfort necessary to their existence. However, there was some reason for not employing Colonel Watson ; and the 75th, the seasoned corps, was kept in garrison, and the 65th, the new corps, sent to the field, and we now feel the consequences.' Excessive Guards. 'But Colonel Murray has mentioned another circumstance to me which certainly requires a remedy, but to which nobody can attempt to apply one, except Mr. Duncan him- self. The Rajah, the Minister, and the Resident at Baroda, have guards so exceedingly strong as to run away with the whole garrison. There is, besides, only a gate guard of * Now the 1st Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment. The 65th had only reached India from the Cape of Good Hope in the previous May. Many of the soldiers were 'parish-boys' from Scottish poor- houses, who had been originally enlisted for life service. — W. W. INDIA 65 sixty men, and, in consequence of the number on duty, the men now on those guards will not be relieved at all until Colonel Murray quits the field. This is notoriously ruinous to discipline, and must in the end operate to the prejudice of those very persons for whose safety these strong guards have been established. ' It would be much better to find out the number of sentries each party required, and give him a guard in pro- portion to that number — viz., three men for every post, and to have those men relieved daily, if possible, by the garri- son ; if not possible, then weekly. ' Another circumstance mentioned to me by Colonel Murray is, that the Rajah, the Minister, and the Resident, have more than half of their guards running after them on foot when they go out, whether in a palanquin or on horseback. It is very obvious that the consequence of this is, that all respect for troops used in this manner must be at an end ; and that those troops must lose all respect for themselves. It is therefore very desirable that this practice, which does not prevail elsewhere, should be stopped at Baroda. . . .' The Gallows for Thieves. To Lieutenant-Colonel Close. 'Camp at Ferdapoor, ' October 21, 1803. '. . . The Peshwah is too bad : it is really discreditable for the British Government to have anything to say to him. There is no going on unless thieves are punished, whoever they may be, or by whomsoever they may be employed. These thieves at Ahmednuggur were plundering in our districts, and I shall send orders that they may be hanged. . . .' To Lieutenant-Colonel Close. 'Camp at Pamlood, ' October 26, 1803. 1 In my opinion, Purneah's thieves ought to be hanged. There is no other way of putting a stop to these robberies ; 5 66 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES and I am not quite certain that it would not be best to send six to be hanged at Sungoly, two at Goorgerry, and two at the post on the Kistna, and the remainder at Hurry- hur. If you agree in opinion on this subject, I will give orders that the thieves may be escorted and executed accordingly. . . .' Capture of Asseerghur. To the Governor-General. 'Camp, ' November 6, 1 803. ' I now proceed to give your Excellency a detailed account of Colonel Stevenson's operations against Asseerghur. ' On October 16 he advanced to Asseerghur, and encamped three miles south of the fort. The remains of the enemy's infantry had fled towards the Nerbudda on the preceding day, in the state in which I reported them to be in my letter of October 24 ; and Colonel Stevenson therefore determined to attack Asseerghur. ' On the 18th he reconnoitred the fort, attended by a squadron of cavalry and the pickets of the Native Infantry, and, having seen a favourite opportunity, attacked the pettah and carried it, and made a lodgment within 150 yards of the lower wall of the fort. In the evening he reinforced the troops in the pettah by a battalion. ' On the 19th all the preparations were made for carrying on the siege, and the two batteries were ready to open at two o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th — one to breach the upper wall, and another of four brass 12-pounders, to destroy the defences of the lower wall. . . . ' Before opening his batteries, Colonel Stevenson apprised the Killadar of the terms on which he should surrender the fort, which were, that the garrison should march out with their private property, and be allowed to go where they might think proper, and that their arrears should be paid to the amount of 20,000 rupees. ' After the batteries had opened about an hour, a white INDIA 67 flag was shown from the walls of the fort, which was the signal which had been agreed upon in case the terms should be accepted ; hostages were sent down, and an engagement made that the fort should be delivered up on the following morning. It was accordingly evacuated ; the garrison carried off their property in security, and received the sum agreed to be paid to them. . . .' Needless Correspondence. To the Secretary of Government, Bombay. ' Camp, ' November 11, 1803. '. . . I take the liberty to recommend as a general rule, that between those public officers by whom business can be done verbally correspondence should be forbidden, as having a great tendency to prevent disputes upon trifling subjects, and to save the time of the public officers who are obliged, some to peruse and consider, and others to copy those voluminous documents about nothing. . . .' Unfit to Command. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Camp, '■November 13, 1803. '. . . Lieutenant-Colonel Harness's letter upon the subject of Colonel was a public one, which I sent to you in a private form, in order that you might do with it what you might think proper. Colonel is certainly not a fit person to be at the head of a regiment, and so I have told him, and I can have no objection to your making use of my sentiments on this subject, in any manner that you may think proper. . . .' 5—2 68 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Rule as to Hostilities. To Major Shawe. ' Camp at Rajoora, ' November 23, 1803. '. . . The rule not to cease from hostilities till peace is concluded is a good one in general : and I have adhered to it in practice at the siege of Ahmednuggur ; and I have ordered an adherence to it in all instances of that kind. But in this, I think it is a rule, of which the breach is more beneficial than the observance. . . .' The Battle of Argaum. To the Governor-General. 'Camp at Parterly, ' November 30, 1803. ' I have the honour to inform you that I attacked the armies of Dowlut Rao Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar yesterday afternoon, on the plains of Argaum in this neigh- bourhood, with the divisions of the army under my immediate command, and the subsidiary force serving with the Soubah of the Deccan, under Colonel Stevenson, and completely defeated the enemy, having taken from them their cannon, ammunition, etc., and destroyed vast numbers of them. ' I have reason to believe that the loss which I have sus- tained upon this occasion has not been great. No officer has been killed, and but few wounded. . . .' In a letter to the Hon. H. Wellesley, dated January 24, 1804, Wellesley said : ' . . . Colonel Stevenson and I joined November 29, at Parterly, about seventeen miles north of the Poorna River, and I attacked the enemy that afternoon on the plains of Argaum, about six miles from that village, and gained a complete victory with but small loss on our side, having taken from them all their cannon, ammunition, etc., numbers of elephants, camels, quantities of baggage, etc. From unavoidable circumstances, we did not begin INDIA 69 the action till late in the day, and not more than twenty minutes' sun remained when I led on the British cavalry to the charge. But they made up for it by continuing the pursuit by moonlight ; and all the troops were under arms till a very late hour in the night. . . .' 'Return of the Killed, and Wounded of the Division of the Army under Major-General the Hon. A. Wellesley, and of the Troops composing the Subsidiary Force. Europeans. H.M.'s 19th Lt. Dragoons The Hon. Company's Artillery H.M.'s 74th Regt. H.M.'s 78th Regt. H.M.'s 94th Regt. Cap. Sub. Drum. R. & F. Killed — — — 15 Wounded 3 6 6 145 Natives. Non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Killed 31 Wounded - 148 Missing 5 ' N.B. — The officers, being British, are included under the head of Europeans. ' R. Barclay, Dep. Adj.-Gcn? Depredations by Marhattas. To Colonel Murray. ' Camp, ' December 2, 1803. ' . . . I am concerned to observe the state of your Marhatta cavalry, and the trouble they give you by plunder- ing the countty ; there is no remedy for it, but I positively forbid it. ' I recommend to you to have a conference upon this point with the Chief of the Guickwar troops, to tell him that this practice must be stopped, and that you are determined to punish, with the utmost severity, any that might be guilty of it. • If my Marhatta allies did not know that I should hang anyone that might be found plundering, not only I should have starved long ago, but most probably my own coat would have been taken off my back. . . .' 7 o WELLINGTON'S DESPA TCHES To Major Malcolm. ' Camp, i Ju?ie 20, 1803. ' . . . The more I see of the Marhattas, the more con- vinced I am that they never could have any alliance with the French. The French, on their arrival, would want equipments, which would cost money, or money to procure them ; and there is not a Marhatta in the whole country, from the Peshwah down to the lowest horseman, who has a shilling, or who would not require assistance from them. . . .' Riotous Behaviour of Officers. To the Secretary of Government, Bombay. ' Camp at Ellichpoor, '•December 5, 1803. ' I have had the honour of receiving your letter of November 23, upon the subject of the conduct of the military at Surat. When the residence of officers who have been accused of improper and riotous behaviour has been de- scribed, names have in some instances been stated, and in all a description of their persons, and of their mode of con- veyance, has been given, it is scarcely to be credited that the Commanding Officer had it not in his power to discover those who were accused. At all events, measures might, and ought to have been adopted by the Commanding Officer to put an end to these disgraceful proceedings, which it appears he entirely neglected. ' Under these circumstances, I take the liberty of re- commending, first, that the Commanding Officer of Surat may be removed from his situation ; and, secondly, that orders may be given to the civil magistrate to seize, and send to Bombay for trial in the court of the Recorder, any officer who may hereafter be accused of rioting in the streets or city of Surat. Of course, the civil magistrate must do everything in his power that the person of the officer of whom complaint INDIA 71 may be made may be ascertained, and his name known ; and in this respect I have to observe that the civil magistrate does not appear to me to have done everything that he could do. . . .' Unhealthiness of Troops. To Captain Armstrong. 'Camp before Gawilghitr, '■December 11, 1803. ' I have had the honour to receive your letter of November 14, conveying the orders of His Excellency the Governor-General, that I should order one of the European regiments in Guzerat to be sent to Fort William. ' From the different letters which I have lately addressed to him, His Excellency will have observed that the troops in that part of India are very unhealthy. There are in Guzerat three complete regiments of Europeans, besides detachments, which in numbers of companies ought to amount to a fourth ; but Colonel Murray has been obliged to draw from the garrisons, and from Surat, the troops thought necessary and allotted for their defence, in order to reinforce his corps in the field. The 65th Regiment, which arrived at Bombay 900 strong in May last, has not now 100 men for duty ; and the 75th Regiment* is nearly in the same state. 1 Under these circumstances, it does not appear to me that it will be practicable to withdraw a regiment of Europeans from Guzerat, without exposing to risk all the British in- terests in that quarter. ' The actions in which the troops of this army have been engaged, and the general severity of the service, have weak- ened the corps to such a degree that none of them would be a great acquisition to the army under the Commander-in- Chief, or to the garrison of Fort William, even if it was practicable to detach a regiment through Berar in either direction. But that appears to be impossible, on account of * Now the 1st Battalion the Gordon Highlanders. — W. W. 72 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES the great distance, the natural difficulties of the country through which the troops would have to pass, and the savage ferocity of the inhabitants. . . .' Siege and Storm of Gawilghur. To the Governor -General. 'Camp at Deogaum, ' December 15, 1803. ' After the Battle of Argaum, I determined to lose no time in commencing the siege of Gawilghur. I accord- ingly marched on, and arrived at Ellichpoor on the 5th instant, with both divisions, and halted there the 6th, in order to establish a hospital for the wounded in the Battle of Argaum. ' The fort of Gawilghur is situated in a range of mountains between the sources of the rivers Poorna and Taptee. It stands on a lofty mountain in this range, and consists of one complete inner fort, which fronts to the south, where the rock is most steep, and an outer fort, which covers the inner to the north-west and north. This outer fort has a third wall, which covers the approach to it from the north by the village of Labada. All these walls are strongly built, and fortified by ramparts and towers. ' The communications with the fort are through three gates, one to the south with the inner fort, one to the north- west with the outer fort, and one to the north with the third wall. The ascent to the first is very long and steep, and is practicable only for men ; that to the second is by a road used for the common communications of the garrison with the countries to the southward ; but the road passes round the west side of the fort, and is exposed for a great distance to its fire ; it is so narrow as to make it impracticable to approach regularly by it, and the rock is scarped on each side. This road also leads no farther than to the gate. The communication with the northern gate is direct from the village of Labada, and here the ground is level with that of the fort ; but the road to Labada leads through the moun- INDIA 73 tains for about thirty miles from Ellichpoor, and it was obvious that the difficulty and labour of moving ordnance and stores to Labada would be very great. ' However, after making inquiry at Ellichpoor, it appeared both to Colonel Stevenson and me that this point of attack was, upon the whole, the most advantageous, and we accord- ingly adopted it. 1 Colonel Stevenson had equipped his corps at Asseerghur for the siege of Gawilghur, for which service it had long been destined, and I therefore determined that he should make the principal attack by Labada, while I should cover his operations with my own division and all the cavalry, and, if possible, assist them by other attacks to the southward and westward. ' On the 6th instant the ist Battalion of the 2nd Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers, and two companies of the Q4th, and the ist Battalion of the 6th, under Captain Mait- land, were detached ; the former to drive in the enemy from the ground which they occupied to the southward of the fort, and the latter to seize the fortified village of Damergaum, which covers the entrance of the mountains by the road by which Colonel Stevenson was to pass towards Labada, and to protect the parties sent forward to reconnoitre and repair the roads in the mountains. Both these detachments succeeded.' Excessive Work for Troops. 'On the 7th, both divisions marched from Ellichpoor, Colonel Stevenson into the mountains by Damergaum, and my division towards the southern face of the fort of Gawil- ghur. From that day to the 12th, on which Colonel Steven- son broke ground near Labada, the troops in his division went through a series of laborious services, such as I never before witnessed, with the utmost cheerfulness and per- severance. The heavy ordnance and stores were dragged by hand over mountains and through ravines for nearly the whole distance, by roads which it had been previously neces- sary for the troops to make for themselves. 74 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' On the 12th, at night, Colonel Stevenson erected two batteries in front of the north face of the fort, one consisting of two iron 18-pounders, and three iron 12-pounders, to breach the outer fort and third wall, and one consisting of two brass 12-pounders and two 5-inch howitzers, to clear and destroy the defences on the point of attack. ' On the same night the troops of my division constructed a battery for two iron and two brass 12-pounders on the mountain under the southern gate, with a view, if possible, to breach the wall near that gate — or, at all events, to draw the enemy's attention to that quarter. Unfortunately, the iron guns could not be moved into the battery, notwith- standing the utmost exertions of the troops ; and the fire of the brass guns produced but little effect. ' The fire of all these batteries opened on the 13th, in the morning ; and on the 14th, at night, the breaches in the walls of the outer fort were practicable. All the arrangements were then made for storming on this day. Lieutenant- Colonel Kenny, of the nth Regiment, commanded the party for the storm, consisting of the flank companies of the 94th Regiment, and of the native corps in Colonel Stevenson's division, supported by the 94th Regiment, and Lieutenant- Colonel Halyburton's brigade, with Colonel Maclean's brigade in reserve. At the same hour I made two attacks from the southward to draw the enemy's attention to that quarter. One under Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace, consist- ing of the 74th Regiment, five companies of the 78th and 1st Battalion of the 8th Regiment, on the southern gate ; and one under Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers, consisting of five com- panies of the 78th and 1st Battalion of the 10th Regiment, on the north-west gate. These last attacks could be of no service, except to draw the enemy's attention from that from the north ; unless they should succeed in blowing open the gates ; and till they should communicate with detachments from Colonel Stevenson's corps, as they had no other means of entering the fort. All the troops advanced at about ten in the morning. The detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers arrived at the north-west gate at the moment when INDIA 75 the enemy were endeavouring to escape through it, from the detachment of Colonel Stevenson's corps, which had been sent to communicate with Colonel Chalmers ; and he entered without difficulty. ' The wall of the inner fort, in which no breach had been made, was then to be carried. After some attempts upon the gate of communication between the inner and outer fort, a place was found at which it was possible to escalade the wall. Captain Campbell, with the light infantry of the 94th Regiment, fixed the ladders against this place, escaladed the wall, opened the gate for the storming party, and the fort was shortly in our possession. ' The enemy's garrison was numerous. It consisted of Rajpoots, and of a great part of Beny Sing's regular infan- try, which had escaped from the Battle of Argaum, com- manded by Beny Sing himself. They were all well armed with the Company's new muskets and bayonets. Vast numbers of them were killed, particularly at the different gates. ' This service has been performed, I hope, with small loss on our side. No officer has been killed ; and but few wounded, that I have heard of, excepting Lieutenant- Colonel Kenny of the nth Regiment, and Lieutenant Young of the 2nd of the 7th. ' In the performance of this service all the good qualities of British troops have been conspicuous to a degree which I have seldom witnessed. In bringing on their ordnance and stores to the point of attack, the troops of Colonel Steven- son's division performed the most laborious work with a zeal for the service, and patience and perseverance, never surpassed ; and when opposed to the enemy, their conduct showed the same gallant spirit that has carried the British troops through so many difficulties in the course of this war. . . .' 76 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES To the Governor -General. 'Camp at Ellichpoor, ' December 18, 1803. ' I have the honour to enclose a return of the killed and wounded at the siege, and in the storm of Gawilghur.* Lieutenant Young died after I addressed your Excellency on the 15th. . . .' Transportation for Life. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Camp above the Badowly Ghaut, i January 11, 1804. ' I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of November 30, on the subject of the trial of private William Clarke, of His Majesty's 74th Regiment. The reason for which I omitted to apply to you in favour of that soldier, at the time the proceedings on his trial were trans- mitted to be laid before you was, that Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace did not recommend him ; and when I pressed him to recommend him, he told me that if he had not been tried by a general court-martial for murder, he must have been tried by a regimental court-martial for theft. How- ever, I think it very desirable to avoid punishing with death a man belonging to the 74th Regiment ; and therefore I propose to offer to the man to commute his punishment to transportation for life to Botany Bay. By this mode the Europeans. * Artillery "} H.M.'S 74th Regt. I Kjlled L ^-C°l- Captains. Lieuts. R. ft F. H.M's 78th Regt. I wounded 1 — 1 59 H.M.'s 94th Regt. J Dy Natives. Non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Killed - 8 Wounded - - - - - - - - - 5 1 N.13. — The officers of the Native Infantry, being British, are included under the head of Europeans. R. Barclay, Dep. Adj.-Cen., Mysore. INDIA 77 punishment of death will be avoided, and the 74th Regiment will get rid of a bad soldier, of which Colonel Wallace is very desirious. . . .' Avarice in the Deccan. To Major Kirkpatrick. ' Camp at Warroor, 'January 16, 1804. '. . . The increasing disturbances in all parts of the terri- tory of the Soubah of the Deccan are a most serious incon- venience, and urgently require a most effectual remedy. I am on my march to the southward, and propose to give a check to those on the western frontier ; but the whole of the army, if scattered and employed in the pursuit of the various troops of banditti which infest His Highness's territories, would not be able to restore peace for years, without the exertion of His Highness's Government. ' The evil is to be traced to avarice. The Government, or rather the mutaseddees of the Government, found that they could depend upon the protection of the British troops, and they discharged their own. ' The British troops are employed in an external war ; and the consequence is, that His Highness has no troops to sup- port his Government and authority, and any other support but that of armed men will not answer. ' This discharge of their own troops has contributed to these disturbances in two modes : first, the Government has no power to support itself — and this is well known through- out the country ; secondly, the people discharged have no means of gaining a subsistence, and they are obliged to plunder to support life. . . .' British Power in India. ' The British Government has been left by the late war in a most glorious situation. They are the sovereigns of a 78 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES great part of India, the protectors of the principal powers, and the mediators, by treaty, of the disputes of all. ' The sovereignty they possess is greater, and their power is settled upon more permanent foundations, than any before known in India : all it wants is the popularity, which from the nature of the institutions and the justice of the proceed- ings of the Government it is likely to obtain, and which it must obtain, after a short period of tranquillity shall have given the people time and opportunity to feel the happiness and security which they enjoy.' Surgeons' Claims. To the Secretary of Government, Bombay. ' Camp, 1 January 21, 1804. ' I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 12th instant, upon the subject of the claim of the medical gentlemen serving in Guzerat to an additional allowance. ' This subject is one entirely referable to the Bombay regulations, upon which I must beg leave to decline giving any opinion, excepting that, of all the liberal estab- lishments of the Honourable Company, that of the medical department is the most so. ' The custom on the Madras establishment is for a soldier to pay the surgeon 3! fanams per diem, when he is in hospital, either general or regimental, for his diet. The Honourable Company incur no expense whatever on account of hospitals for European troops, excepting European medicines, and the allowance which they give for attend- ance, country medicines, etc., to the surgeons of European regiments.' An Undignified Durbar. In a letter to the Marquis Wellesley, dated January 21, 1804, the Duke related the following story : ' Malcolm writes from Scindiah's camp, that at the first meeting Scindiah received him with great gravity, which INDIA 79 he had intended to preserve throughout the visit. It rained violently; and an officer of the escort, Mr. Pepper, an Irish- man (a nephew of old Bective's, by-the-by), sat under a flat part of the tent which received a great part of the rain that fell. At length it burst through the tent upon the head of Mr. Pepper, who was concealed by the torrent that fell, and was discovered after some time by an " Oh, Jasus /" and a hideous yell. Scindiah laughed violently, as did all the others present ; and the gravity and dignity of the durbar degenerated into a Malcolm riot — after which they all parted upon the best terms.' Division of Prize-Money. memorandum. ' i. I recommend that the property captured may be divided, by order from the Governor-General, according to the plan contained in the annexed paper. . . . ' 2. I have not allowed the election of any pri;:e agents ; I have appointed five officers to take charge of the property, and dispose of it on account of Government, to whom I should wish the commission to be given. Of course I appointed those officers to take charge whom the officers of the army would have elected to be agents, if an election had been allowed. ' 3. I am desirous that the Governor-General should order the distribution of the prize according to this plan, without the intervention of any committee, the assembly of which must be attended with delay at all events, and incon- veniences, as it is probable that before the committee could assemble the corps who have served in the war will have separated. ' 4. It appears to be the Commander-in-Chief's wish that the corps only which were actually engaged in particular service should enjoy the benefit resulting from it, and I am entirely of the same opinion. Accordingly — ' (i.) I recommend that those officers and corps who were present with my division, or the subsidiary force, when the WELLINGTON'S DBS PA TCIIES former were at the siege of Ahmednuggur, including a detachment employed at Toka, under Captain Campbell of the 84th Regiment, or at the Battle of Assye, or with the subsidiary force employed at Asseerghur, or with either at the Battle of Argaum or siege of Gawilghur, shall share in all the property captured. ' (ii.) The troops in Captain Baynes' affair with the enemy at Umber, on October 31, and those engaged at Korget Coraygaum, on September 27, under Captain O'Donnell, to share in all the property captured during the war. ' (N.B. — This arrangement excludes the troops stationed at Poonah and Hyderabad, who have incurred no expense, and had nothing to do with the service ; and includes every- body who had.) ' 5. In respect to the shares and persons, I recommend the following deviations from the plan approved of by the Commander-in-Chief : ' (i.) That Colonel Stevenson, in consideration of there being no Major-General with the army, should have 1,000 shares instead of 600. 1 (N.B. — When I was in his situation, in the war against Tippoo, I received only 600.) ' (ii.) I recommend that the Governor-General should order that, in consideration of the favourable reports made of the conduct of the officers on the Staff on all occasions, the Deputy Adjutant, and the Deputy Quartermaster-Generals of Mysore, and of the subsidiary force, and the Staff Surgeons attached to each division, may draw Major's prize- money, and that Major Malcolm may have Lieutenant- Colonel's. ' (N.B. — Sir John Kennaway had Lieutenant-Colonel's prize-money at Seringapatam.) ' 6. I have not included the troops of the allies, because nothing that they have taken has been carried to account. Elephants, camels, and even jewels, to the amount of several lacs of rupees, taken in the Battles of Assye and Argaum, and upon other occasions, have been disposed of, and INDIA 8 1 the produce given to them by their own chiefs. In the Battle of Argaum they got Vincatjee Bhoonslah's jewels, which his Vakeel declared to me were worth six lacs of rupees.* 'Arthur Wellesley.' * His Excellency General Lake to Major-General Ware, President of the Prize Committee. 'SIR, ' In compliance with the wishes of the committee, I have the honour to communicate the following as my sentiments on the most just and equitable appropriation of prize : ' i. All corps, officers, and soldiers who were present with the army on August 29 and September 4, 1803, are entitled to share in prize taken by the army during the war, with the exceptions hereafter mentioned. '2. All corps, officers, and soldiers who joined the army between September 4 and 11 are entitled to share in prize taken subsequent to September 1 1 . ' 3. Corps, officers, and men who joined and shall join the army subse- quent to an action or capture of a place are not entitled to share in prize which was the immediate consequence of such action or capture. '4. Corps, officers, or soldiers are to be entitled to share in prize made subsequent to their junction, with the exceptions alluded to in the fore- going articles. ' 5. No officer who quits the army on leave of absence is entitled to share in prize made during his absence, unless his absence shall have been occasioned by wounds or ill-health. '6. Officers transferred from corps with, or which have been with, the army to corps in other situations are not entitled to share in prize taken after their quitting the army. 'These appear to me to be the leading principles upon which the division of prize ought to be adjusted. I shall, however, with much pleasure take into consideration any suggestions which the committee- shall offer. ' I have the honour to be, etc., ' Major-General Ware.' ' G. Lake. Proceedings of the Prize Committee, assembled agreeably to the General Order, October 19, 1803. 'The committee have resolved that all officers shall share according t» their rank, viz. : 'Major-Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, Captains, Majors of Brigade, Aides-de-Camps, Surgeons, Chaplains, and Field Paymasters, Lieutenants, Assistant Surgeons, Cornets, Lieutenant Fire- 6 82 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES To the Governor -General. 'Camp at Jaffierabad, '■January 17, 1804. ' I have the honour to enclose the account of the property captured during the war by the troops under my command. ' The articles sold at different times were howdahs, rich cloths, etc., which could not be moved away ; and the amount of the sales has been paid into the hands of the Paymasters of this division of the army and of the subsidiary force. The jewels were taken at Asseerghur, and have not been sold ; the plate was taken at Gawilghur, and I propose Workers, Ensigns, and Veterinary Surgeons, Quartermasters of Cavalry, and Conductors of Ordnance. ' Europeans. Shares. The committee resolve that Corporals, Gunners, Drum- mers, Trumpeters, and Privates shall receive - - 1 Sergeants ....... 2 Sergeant-Majors ...... 4 Conductors and Quartermasters of Cavalry - 12 Ensigns - - - - - - "5° Lieutenants - - - - - - - 70 Captains - - - - - - - 120 Majors ....... 240 Lieutenant-Colonels- ..... 360 Colonels ....... 600 Major-Generals ...... 1,500 'The Commander-in-Chief one-eighth of the whole, after deducting Prize Agents' commission. ' Prize Agents to receive 5 per cent, commission, paying all incidental expenses. ' Natives. 'Naiks, 2nd Tindals, Troopers, Sepoys, Golandauze, Drummers, Trumpeters, Gun Lascars, Pioneers, Puckallies, and Bheesties receive two-thirds of a share. 'Havildars, 1st Tindals, and Native Doctors, one and one-third of a share. Shares. Jemidars of Cavalry and Infantry and Syrarys of Artillery 3 Subidars - - - - - - .5 ' Prize to be drawn for all officers and soldiers who may have been killed in action.' INDIA 83 to order that it may be sold immediately ; or, if there should be no purchasers for it, I shall have it coined, and lodge the money in the hands of the Paymasters. ' 1 beg leave to recommend that the money resulting from the sale of this property may be given to the troops. In the course of the campaign I have had frequent opportunities of reporting their good conduct to your Excellency; and I have likewise to report that their patience under fatigue, and the persevering activity with which they performed all the duties required from them, were equal to their bravery when opposed to the enemy in the field ; and the consequence of all those good qualities is that, notwithstanding the distance and difficulties attending our communication with the sources of our supplies, the great bodies of the enemy's horse, and the disaffected and disturbed state of the countries under the government of the Company's allies, I am enabled to state that, throughout the campaign, we did not lose one convoy, nor a particle of the Company's property of any description. ' The troops composing the division under my immediate command were assembled from the most distant parts of the country, and have been in the field during two mon- soons, that on the Eastern coast in the winter of 1802, and that on the Western coast in the course of 1803. These circumstances, and the exhausted state of the counties from the Kistna to the Taptee, have been the cause of the loss of equipments of the officers of the army three or four times in one year. Those belonging to the subsidiary force were equally unfortunate ; and all must have suffered the greatest inconveniences from the great advance of price of all the necessaries of life, in the countries which have been the seat of the war. * Besides this property captured, a contribution amount- ing to three lacs and twenty-five thousand rupees was levied upon the city of Burhampoor. . . .' 6—2 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' Little Dirty Passions.' To Lieutenant-Colonel Close. ' Camp at Paunchore, '■January 22, 1804. ' . • . The war will be eternal if nobody is ever to be forgiven, and I certainly think that the British Government cannot intend to make the British troops the instruments of the Peshwah's revenge. You must decide what is to be done with this person. I have ordered him to quit the Nizam's territories, and not to come near this army. The answer of the Vakeel is natural. It is, " Where is a man to go, who is not to be allowed to remain in the territories of the Company or of the Company's allies?" When the empire of the Company is so great, little dirty passions must not be suffered to guide its measures. . . .' Animosity should cease with War. To Mr. Scott Waring, Residency at Poonah. ' Bombay, '•March 12, 1804. ' . . . When war is concluded, I am decidedly of opinion that all animosity should be forgotten, and that all prisoners should be released ; but property carried to account cannot be restored. . . .' The Character of Marhatta Troops. To the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, with the Rajah of Berar. ' Camp, 1 January 26, 1 804. ' . . . The Marhattas are but little in the habit of adhering to truth ; they are generally indistinct in their account of a transaction of the nature of that alluded to, and it rarely happens that those accounts are found to agree exactly with the state of the facts. . . . The Marhatta troops are but little under control, and they withdraw from a country, even belonging to their own employers, with great reluctance, as long as there is anything in it to be plundered. . . .' INDIA 85 The Evils of Inefficiency. To Colonel Murray. 'Camp, ' January 26, 1804. ' . . . I have now only to recommend to your attention the discipline of the troops under your command, and a determined resistance to everything like an abuse in the service which can tend to subtract from the efficiency of the corps in the field. I have lately written to Mr. Duncan, to propose an alteration in the plans which I submitted to him on August 2 last, according to which, if he should adopt it, your strength in European troops will be diminished, but that of native troops will be increased by two battalions. This arrangement is advisable, and, indeed, necessary, for many reasons not necessary at present to discuss ; but if troops in Guzerat are kept in a proper state of discipline and efficiency, I do not apprehend any inconvenience from it. ' Upon this subject, I have to observe that there is a ten- dency in the service in this country to admit abuses beyond any other that I have met with. I cannot say whether this is to be attributed to former habits and example, or to the laxity which must attend all distant establishments. But of this I am very certain, that it is the first duty of a command- ing officer to resist everything of the kind in a most deter- mined manner. The want of discipline among troops is very bad, and renders them useless ; but the want of effici- ency, which is the result of the application to private purposes or profit of the persons paid by the public as troops, or as the necessary attendants or equipments of these troops, is worse, as it may exist with a certain degree and appearance of discipline, and Government may be misled by the notion that they have an army, whereas they have nothing but paper. ' The troops under your command are in a distant country, and they can come but seldom under the view or inspection of the Government ; it is therefore particularly incumbent 86 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES on you to take care that no practice or custom shall exist which may destroy their discipline or lessen their efficiency ; and I beg leave to assure you that, without the most con- stant vigilance on your part, you will not be able to avert these evils.' Poverty in India. To Major Malcolm. ' Camp, '•January 30, 1 804. ' . . . I have always thought the Rajah of Kolapoor a proper instrument for the French. His country is well situated for their designs. He has no money, it is true : but nobody has in India ; and the choice of allies for the great nation must depend upon local situation, and upon means in troops, and goodwill or security towards the British Government, and the system of order. . . .' Wellington's Greatest March. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. 'Camp at Munkaiseer, Fifteen Miles ' North-East from Perinda, ''February 5, 1804. ' I this morning attacked in this neighbourhood, and de- feated and dispersed, a formidable band of freebooters, who have been for some time on this frontier. ' I left my camp on the 3rd, about thirty miles south-east from Ahmednuggur, and I arrived by forced marches at Sailgaon, near Perinda, on the 4th. I there heard that the enemy were at this place, twenty-four miles from me, and although I had marched twenty miles that morning, I deter- mined to march on in the night. The road was very bad, and till one o'clock the night was very dark, and we made but little progress. The consequence was that we did not arrive till nine in the morning, instead of at daylight. The enemy had received intelligence of my approach — I believe from my own camp. They had struck their camp and had INDIA 87 begun their march, but were still in sight. I pursued them with the cavalry, cut up some, and took all their guns, baggage, bazaar, etc., and followed them as long as they remained collected. I had with me the cavalry, the 74th Regiment, the 1st of the 8th, and 500 men from the other regiments. 'The camp is at Nimgaum, where I left it on the 3rd. The infantry were up with the cavalry when we advanced to the attack. The Marhatta and Mysore Horse were very active and got much booty. Our loss is trifling. . . .' To the Hon. Henry Wellesley. 1 BOMIiAY, '•March 18, 1804. I After I had written to you, in January, a letter which I believe is still here, I found that the banditti, who I imagined had dispersed, were still assembled in a very formidable body on the Nizam's frontier, near Perinda. They had beaten one of His Highness's armies, and had taken its guns, and they were plundering the country in all directions. I there- fore determined to destroy them. With this view, I marched from the army on February 3, with all the cavalry, the 74th Regiment, and two battalions of sepoys. I marched again on the 4th twenty-two miles, again on the 4th at night, and came upon them on the 5th in the morning, and entirely destroyed them, taking from them the guns which they had taken from the Nizam, their camp, baggage, camels, and all their plunder. This was the greatest exer- tion I ever saw troops make in any country.* The infantry was in the attack, although we marched sixty miles between the morning of the 4th and twelve o'clock at noon of the 5th of February ; and yet I halted from noon till eight at night of the 4th. I I afterwards pursued them, and run them down to the neighbourhood of Beejapoor and the Kistna, where they dis- persed entirely. . . .' * This expedition was often remarked by the Duke of Wellington as the greatest march he ever made. WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Wounded Wounded Killed - Ran Jemidar I k & File. 2 Private. I Horses. 3 Horses. I ditto — — I Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Troops under the Command of Major-General the Hon. A . Wellesley, in the Action near Munkaiseer, on February 5, 1804. H.M. 19th Lt. Dragoons. 4th Regt. Native Cavalry. 5th Regt. ditto 7th Regt. ditto Totals - - 1 3 5 N.B. — The man and horse returned killed died of fatigue. Colin Campbell, Act. Brigade-Major. Great Britain's Skeleton Army. To Colonel Stevenson. 1 Camp, 1 February 11, 1804. ' . . . Since I wrote to you last I have seen some English papers, and perused debates on the subject of the increase of the army. ' When I first wrote to you on the subject of endeavouring to get removed to the King's service, I had reason to believe that all parties in England had agreed that it was absolutely necessary at last that Great Britain should really have an army, and not the skeleton of one, as had been the case hitherto. I knew that the object of having an army could not be accomplished without a very large increase of the number of officers, particularly of high rank ; and it ap- peared to me that the services of yourself, and others of your description, from the service in this country, would be desirable. ' The plan adopted, however, does not by any means go upon the scale that I supposed it would. Everybody ap- pears to be convinced of the necessity of having an army, but nobody appears to be inclined to adopt the measures which are necessary for that purpose. The same little temporary expedients are adopted that have been before practised, and they will equally fail. . . .' INDIA 89 Bravery of Bengal Troops. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Camp, ' February 14, 1804. ' . . . Supposing all consequences to be equally convenient, I acknowledge that I should wish to see the Bengal troops composing all the subsidiary forces. The men are of a better size and description, of a higher caste, and the natives have more respect for them than they have for the Coast or Bombay troops. They have proved in this campaign that they yield to none in bravery, and, I believe, are tolerably disciplined, and they have been long notorious for their con- tempt of their enemies on horseback. But all these circum- stances must yield to others of a more pressing nature ; and certainly, in a great military arrangement, the facility of relief is an important consideration. . . . ' While writing upon this subject, there is one convenience resulting from the employment of the Bengal troops which, in a pecuniary point of view, will more than compensate for all the additional expense which may attend it. It is that they eat the flour of dry grains, whereas the Coast and Bombay troops must have rice. This article will always cost much money in this country, but flour of all kinds will be cheap. . . .' Sale of Captured Property. To Major Graham. 1 Camp, 'February 17, 1804. ' I have received your letter of the 13th instant. All the property taken from the family of Mulwa Dada must be con- sidered as captured property, and must not be restored. It would be ridiculous to adhere to the terms of a capitulation of which he has broken every stipulation. ' The 1 ,000 rupees for Ram Rao and the peons, respec- tively, must be taken from the property captured. 90 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES 1 1 cannot, and have no inclination to, take any article myself, and cannot consent that any article should be taken by any other person. Everything that is sold must be put up to auction, unless the officers to whom the charge of captured property has been given should be of opinion that it can be sold to advantage by private contract, under a valuation. You will observe that this principle applies to the article which you proposed to retain, upon the valuation by the shroff. . . . ' I never had any doubt respecting your sharing, with the remainder of the army, in the property captured during the war.' Duty must be First. To Major Graham. * POONAH, ' March 2, 1804. ' I have received your letter of the 1st instant. It is necessary for a man who fills a public situation, and who has great public interests in charge, to lay aside all private con- siderations, whether on his own account or that of other persons. I imagine that you must feel on this subject as I do. ' I am very much distressed on account of the incon- veniences which your family suffer in your absence from Madras, and equally so that it is not in my power to relieve their distress by allowing you to quit your situation. But, under present circumstances, it is not in my power to grant your request to go to Madras, consistently with the duty which both you and I owe to the public, as public men. ' I shall be much obliged to you if you will not urge me again upon this subject.' Hanging for Plundering. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace. 'Bombay, ' March 27, 1804. 1 1 received last night your letter of the 23rd. You must have no scruple in acting at once for the benefit and safety INDIA 91 of your corps whenever you are fully convinced, from the evidence given to the persons appointed to inquire into the circumstances of any robbery, that those attached to your camp have been plundered or ill-treated. 1 In this instance I have no doubt but that Carribul and Manygee were both guilty of the murder. Accordingly, I request that they may be hanged ; and let the cause of their punishment be published in the bazaar by beat of tom-tom, or in any other mode by which it may be supposed that it will be rendered more public. ' The Patel of Batculgaum, in the usual style of a Marhatta Patel, keeps a band of plunderers for his own profit and advantage. You will inform him that if he does not pay for the horses, bullocks, and articles plundered he shall be hanged also. You will make him acquaint his village with this determination, and allow time for the answer to return ; and you will hang him if he does not pay the money at the time fixed upon. ' It is impossible to get on without these punishments in the Marhatta country. The Peshwah has no authority, and if he had he would not exert it for the advantage of our troops.' Short Shrift for Criminals. To Colonel Murray. 'Bombay, '■April 1, 1804. ' . . . The general rule respecting the trial of criminals, for offences committed even in camps in the Company's terri- tories, is that they should be made over to the Company's civil tribunals ; and I understood from Mr. Duncan, that a mode of trying criminals has been ordered by the Government of Bombay, and that it will be put in execution whenever any criminals shall be arrested and sent to the Resident or Collector for trial. ' According to this mode of procedure, the trial and punishment of an offender will not be quite so quick as we might wish, but it will be certain and regular ; at all events, 92 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES it is the mode ordered by Government, and must be put into execution. ' However, I think that bheels, and people of that descrip- tion, whose profession is plunder, and who come armed into the camp for that purpose, ought not to be considered and treated as common robbers. They are public enemies and rebels against all authority, and I recommend that when one of them is caught in the camp, whether it be situated in the Company's territories or in those of the Rajah, he may be shot by the nearest rear-guard, if he should be taken in the act of robbery. If something of this kind be not done, the robberies and outrages of the bheels will reduce the troops to the greatest distress. ' If a robbery should be committed in the camp when it is situated in the territories of the Guickwar, Mr. Duncan and I are both of opinion that the criminal ought to be tried and punished according to military process, under the orders of the Commanding Officer. The country is the Rajah's, and the Company's civil authority has no power within it. The Rajah's civil power, to which, according to our notions, the trial of criminals ought to belong, has no authority in our camps ; it cannot be admitted there, and therefore can have no jurisdiction. ' Accordingly, if a robbery be committed in the camp, when situated in the Rajah's territory, the criminal must be tried and punished by military process. Of course, this power must be used with discretion ; care must be taken not to shock the feelings by violent or unusual punishments, nor to interfere in any manner with persons employed in the collection of the revenue or the administration of the government.' 'The Demon of Ambition.' To Major Malcolm. ' Bombay, 'April 13, 1804. ' . . . I said to Goohparah that I was not aware of the treaties which had been made by General Lake, and did not INDIA 93 know in what manner Gwalior and Gohud might be affected by them ; that therefore I could give no opinion upon the subject, excepting that the Governor-General would strictly execute the treaty of peace. 1 . . . I am disgusted beyond measure with the whole concern ; and I would give a large sum to have had nothing to do with the treaties of peace, and if I could now get rid of all anxiety upon the subject. All parties were delighted with the peace, but the demon of ambition appears now to have pervaded all ; and each endeavours, by forcing construc- tions, to gain as much as he can.' Troops wanting Clothing. To Lieutenant-General Stuart. ' Bombay, ' May 7, 1804. ' . . . I think I shall be able to send the 2nd of the 12th to Hullihall in Soonda, so that the clothing of that corps may be sent there. As all the corps are in want of clothing, and as I saw clearly that they could not receive their clothing probably before the end of the rains, and that, whatever might be the result of General Lake's negotiations with Holkar, the troops could not get into quarters in this season, I applied to Mr. Duncan for cloth from the warehouse here, and I have sent up as much as will make a comfortable plain jacket for each man. These will be made before the rains set in. I hope you will approve of this arrangement, as I really could not venture to expose the troops to the rains without clothing. Some of them have only white jackets ; and to every corps in the line clothing is due from the year 1800. ' I have given no cloth to the cavalry, as they have cloaks, and are not so much exposed to the weather as the infantry. The 74th Regiment have their new clothing, and the 78th Regiment are tolerably well off ; and their new clothing is making up : so that, upon the whole, I hope that we shall do. . . .' 94 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES To Captain Wilks. 'Camp at Panowullah, ' May 30, 1 804. ' . . . I have clothed, as well as armed and equipped, the whole army. They are in high order and in good spirits, and, please God, when the rain shall set in I shall commence my operations. The rain may do some injury to my cattle, but there will be no water in the country for the army till the rain shall supply it.' Closing People's Mouths. To Major Malcolm. ' Camp at Panowullah, 1 May 22, 1804. ' I return Shawe's letter, which has annoyed me as much as it can have annoyed you. That plan of abusing and bullying the Marhattas will never answer, even supposing it should be possible to prevail upon any gentleman to conduct the public business in that manner. The fact is, that till lately the Governor-General has never read real statements of conversations ; and he is exceedingly offended with the freedom with which the natives canvass all public subjects, and which has now for the first time been brought before him. The only remedy is to state to him results of arguments instead of their details ; for I must be of opinion with Arsito Jah, that " it is not possible to close people's mouths as the gates of the city are closed." . . .' A Desperate Game. To Colonel Murray. 'Camp at Chinchore, '■June 15, 1804. ' . . . I have long considered our game, as it affected our situation at Bombay, to be very desperate ; and particularly as we know that the French are strong in European India, and their squadron, when joined with that of the Dutch, not INDIA 95 inferior to our own, we ought to beware to weaken that settlement too much. ' The allied troops generally plunder for themselves, and carry nothing to account. We carry everything to the public account, and Government gives or4er for the disposal of the captured property ; and, in consideration of a variety of circumstances in the late war affecting the allies as well as ourselves, the Governor-General did not order that any- thing should be given to the allies. However, this depends entirely upon Government. ' The plan which you must pursue is, to have an account taken of every article of property captured, and a valuation made. You must report on the subject, and the Govern- ment will order the disposal of the property. This is the mode in which I have proceeded. . . . ' I have been obliged to relinquish all hopes of marching for some time ; the country is entirely destroyed, and I do not think a company would find subsistence in it, much less an army.' Suppressing Licentiousness. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace. 'Camp at Poonah, '■June 24, 1804. ' . . . I cannot close my letter without earnestly recom- mending to you the strictest attention to the discipline of the troops, and to keep them and their followers in order. In this distant station, as the troops can but seldom come under the eye of the superior officers of the army, it will require the most constant and regular attention to preserve their discip- line and order ; and it is certain that in no part of India will those qualities be required in a greater degree than in the detachment serving with His Highness the Peshwah. ' The licentiousness of the followers of the troops, par- ticularly when those troops have been successful, is an evil of the greatest magnitude and of quick growth. I therefore anxiously recommend the conduct of these people to your attention, and that you should suppress at once, by decided 96 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES measures, any attempts which they may make to depart from the rules of good order, and to shake off the restraint under which they have been hitherto held. ' I also recommend to your attention the state of all the public establishments, and the establishments kept by Com- manding Officers of corps, for the carriage of the camp equi- page and stores. There is a tendency in the service, par- ticularly when troops are employed at a distance, to admit abuse, which, if not checked in time, must be attended in every instance by the most inconvenient consequences, and which can be checked only by a constant attention on the part of the Commanding Officer.' Silence on Public Matters. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace. ' Camp at Niggkree, l June 28, 1804. 1 . . . I believe that in my public despatches I have alluded to every point to which I should wish to draw your atten- tion, excepting one, which I will mention to you — that is, the secrecy of all your proceedings. 1 There is nothing more certain than that, of one hundred affairs, ninety-nine might be posted up at the market-cross, without injury to the public interests ; but the misfortune is that, where the public business is the subject of general con- versation, and is not kept secret, as a matter of course, upon every occasion, it is very difficult to keep it secret upon that occasion on which it is necessary. There is an awkwardness in a secret which enables discerning men (of which descrip- tion there are always plenty in an army) invariably to find it out ; and it may be depended upon that, whenever the public business ought to be kept secret, it always suffers when it is exposed to public view. ' For this reason secrecy is always best, and those who have been long trusted with the conduct of public affairs are in the habit of never making public business of any descrip- tion that it is not necessary that the public should know. INDIA 97 The consequence is that secrecy becomes natural to them, and as much a habit as it is to others to talk of public matters ; and they have it in their power to keep things secret or not, as they may think proper. ' I mention this subject to you because, in fact, I have been the means of throwing the public affairs into your hands, and I am anxious that you should conduct them as you ought. This is a matter which would never occur to you, but it is essentially necessary. ' Remember that what I recommend to you is far removed from mystery ; in fact, I recommend silence upon the public business upon all occasions, in order to avoid the necessity of mystery upon any.' Lessons from the Campaign. To Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace. ' Fort William, '■September 12, 1804. 1 . . . We have some important lessons from this campaign. ' First : we should never employ a corps on a service for which it is not fully equal. ' Secondly : against the Marhattas in particular, but against all enemies, we should take care to be sure of plenty of pro- visions. 1 Thirdly : experience has shown us that British troops can never depend upon Rajahs, or any allies, for their supplies. Our own officers must purchase them ; and if we should employ a native in such an important service, we ought to see the supplies before we venture to expose our troops in the situation in which they may want them. ' Fourthly : when we have a fort which can support our operations, such as Rampoora to the northward ; or Ahmed- nuggur, or Chandore, in your quarter, we should immediately adopt effectual measures to fill it with provisions and stores, in case of need. ' Fifthly : when we cross a river likely to be full in the 7 98 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES rains, we ought to have a post and boats upon it ; as I have upon all the rivers south of Poonah, and as you have, I hope, upon the Beemah and the Godavery. ' In respect to the operations of a corps in the situation of Monson's, they must be decided and quick ; and in all retreats it must be recollected that they are safe and easy, in proportion to the number of attacks made by the retreat- ing corps. But attention to the foregoing observations will, I hope, prevent a British corps from retreating. ' These misfortunes in Hindustan will, I fear, take me back to the Deccan. Indeed, I shall leave this immediately, and orders have been already given that cavalry may be prepared to reinforce the troops with you. ' P.S. — Of course I mean this letter only for your own perusal, and that of your particular friends.' Good Appearance of Troops. To Major -General Campbell. ' Seringapatam, ' Dece7nber I, 1804. ' I arrived here about ten o'clock last night. . . . ' When passing Arcot I took an opportunity of looking at my old friends, the 19th Light Dragoons* and the 4th Regi- ment of Cavalry, and I am happy to tell you that both these corps looked remarkably well. The horses of the 4th are lean, but their coats were smooth and clean. I acknowledge that I should have been much pleased if it had been possible to allow this corps to rest and refresh for six months at Arcot. I sent them into the Carnatic because I was aware that they required rest, and I knew that the men had not seen their families since the corps marched with the grand army to Seringapatam in February, 1799. . . . ' Major Walker did me the favour to express a desire that I should look at the 8th Regiment at Arcot, with which I complied. I never saw a more promising corps, or one so perfect in its exercise, or so good in its general appearance, * Now the 19th (Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars. — W. W. INDIA 99 for the time during which the corps has been embodied. It really does the Major much credit.' Desertion of Servants. To Major Shawe. ' Seringapatam, ' December 8, 1804. '. . . I have been sadly annoyed by my servants leaving me. Those who have lived with me ever since I arrived in India have declared that they will not return again into the Deccan. Indeed, if the prevalent reports are founded, they are not in the wrong ; the sickness of the army is terrible, and must sweep off many who have escaped the famine. . . .' Undignified Remonstrance. To Major Shawe. 1 Seringapatam, '■December 16, 1804. ' Since I wrote to you on the day before yesterday, it has occurred to me that the Governor-General may imagine that I wish to recommend to him a violent remonstrance to Scindiah. That is far from my intention ; I doubt whether any remonstrance is advisable ; at all events, a violent one can never be so, and it is certainly very un- dignified. . . .' 'Disgraceful Fraud.' To Colonel Stevenson. 1 Seringapatam, 1 January 11, 1805. '. . . You will have heard of Captain 's disgrace. I really had a regard for him, and considered my own credit, as well as yours, involved in his character ; and therefore I did everything in my power to screen him from an inquiry. However, the complaints against him were of a nature so serious, and as they had been laid before the Nizam's 7—2 ioo WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES durbar, I could do nothing but make the inquiry ; and the result has been the discovery of a scene of disgraceful fraud, such as I believe has never before been practised. . . .' Longing for England. To Major Shawe. ' Seringapatam, '■February 23, 1805. '. . . I now feel an anxiety only about my departure for England, the extent of which I cannot describe. . . . ' I know that my presence in England would be useful, and I am certainly very anxious to go there. The peace appears to be established in India. . . . ' Upon the whole I have determined to take my passage in one of the ships to sail from Madras at the end of this month ; and as I have been so fortunate hitherto as to view everything in the same light with the Governor- General, I think that I am not mistaken in this decision. I mistrust the judgment of every man in a case in which his own wishes are concerned ; and I have not come to this determination without consulting Malcolm, who agrees in opinion with me upon every part of the subject. ' At all events, supposing that, after the Governor-General shall have perused my letter to you of the 4th of last month, he should desire that I should not go to England, the only inconvenience which can result from the step which I now take is to forfeit my passage-money, and to return from Madras.' Flagrant Breach of Trust. To Lieutenant-General Sir John Cradock, K.B. 'Fort St. George, ''February 22, 1805. ' I have the honour to enclose the proceedings of a general court-martial ordered by me, under authority from the late Commander-in-Chief, to assemble for the trial of Captain . . . . ' There never was a more flagrant instance of breach of INDIA 101 trust than that of which Captain has been found guilty; and there is no crime which more justly deserves punishment, or more necessarily requires to be held up to the army as obnoxious to every principle of military service. ' He was placed in arrest in consequence of the complaint of Rajah Mohiput Ram, the Commanding Officer of the troops of the Soubah of the Deccan, who has proved the truth of his complaints ; and if Captain should by any accident be suffered to escape with impunity, the worst impressions will be made on the minds of the natives in general, and serious offence will be given to the Soubah of the Deccan. ' Under all these circumstances, I beg leave to recommend that the general court-martial of which Colonel Macleane is president may be dissolved, and that Captain may be suspended from the service till the pleasure of the Court of Directors is known, and that the enclosed papers may be sent home to show the grounds of this measure.' The 33RD Regiment. To Major-General the Hon. Sir A. Wellesley, K.B. 'Headquarters of the 33RD Regiment, ' Vellore, '■February 28, 1805. ' On hearing that you are about to quit this country, the officers of the 33rd Regiment cannot allow you to depart without endeavouring to impress on you how sensible they are of the very friendly and paternal attention you ever paid to the interests of the corps, while it had the honour of being under your immediate command, as well as of the unre- mitting manner in which you have continued your vigilance for its welfare, since you have been removed to a higher station. . . . ' It must ever remain a source of pride to the 33rd Regiment that the person who has so eminently 102 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES distinguished himself in every branch of the public service intrusted to him, and who has been so deservedly honoured by our most gracious Sovereign, was the Commanding Officer of the 33rd Regiment. . . .' ' Sir, your most obedient, etc., 'Arthur Gore, 1 Lieut. -Col. 33rd Regiment. ' Major-General Sir A. Wellesley, K.B.' [answer.] To Lieutenant-Colonel Gore. 'Fort St. George, i March 2, 1805. ' Nearly twelve years have elapsed since His Majesty was pleased to appoint me to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 33rd Regiment, and in the whole course of that period, during which I have been either in the exercise of the com- mand of the regiment, or in constant communication with the actual Commanding Officer, I have had every reason to be satisfied with their conduct. . . . ' It is most gratifying to me to receive this mark of appro- bation conveyed by your letter, from officers with whose conduct I have so much reason to be pleased, and with many of whom I have been so long and intimately acquainted. I beg that you will assure them that I shall never forget their services, and that I shall always be happy to forward their views. ' I have only to recommend to them to adhere to the system of discipline, subordination, and interior economy, which they have found established in the regiment, and above all to cherish and encourage among themselves the spirit of gentlemen and of soldiers. . . .' J AD/A 103 Colin Campbell's Early Career.* To Major Shame. 1 Fort St. George, ' March 6, 1805. 1 Upon my departure from hence, I am exceedingly anxious about the fate of my Brigade-Major, Lieutenant Colin Campbell, of the 78th Regiment, and my Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Close, of the 4th Regiment of Native Cavalry, particularly the former, who has been with me much longer, and from whom I have received great assistance. ' You are aware that he is the nephew of Colonel Camp- bell, and he has already interested the Governor-General in his favour by the accounts which he laid before him of the losses of his family in the sea and land services. To my certain knowledge he lost two brothers in the campaign against the southern Poligars, and a brother and a cousin (Colonel Campbell's son) in the Battle of Assye. I did not know him by name when I saw him distinguish himself in the storm of Ahmednuggur, and I immediately appointed him my Brigade- Major, and in the Battle of Assye he had either two or three horses shot under him, and ever since he has rendered me most important assistance. ' He is only a Lieutenant in the 78th Regiment, but I have frequently recommended him to General Lake for promotion, and he will get it by seniority in his regiment, it is to be hoped, before much time shall elapse. . . . ' He is now going to Vizagapatam to Colonel Campbell, and I should be obliged to you if you will write to him what may be determined upon this subject. 1 Lieutenant Close has some hopes that he shall be recom- mended to be appointed to the Body-Guard, and I shall be very glad indeed if that can be done for him, and the Governor-General will take him into his family.' * Afterwards Sir Colin Campbell. He died in 1847. Sir Colin Camp- bell. Lord Clyde, the saviour of India, died in 1863. Both these officers served under Wellington. — W. W. io4 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES A Fervent Hope. To Major Shawe. ' Fort St. George, 'March 6, 1805. '. . . I hope to God we shall be able to avoid a war with Scindiah. Take my word for it, we are not now in a state to attempt the conquest of Malwa, an operation which under other circumstances would be a mere joke. . . .' General Order on leaving India. 'Fort St. George, '■March 9, 1805. ' Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley informs the troops under his command that he has received the permission of His Excellency the Governor-General to resign the political and military powers with which he had been lately entrusted in the Deccan, and the leave of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief to proceed to England. ' He cannot avoid expressing the regret which he feels upon taking leave of officers and troops with whom he has served so long. ' In the course of the period of time which has elapsed since Major-General Wellesley was appointed to the com- mand of a division of this army, various services have been performed by the troops, and great difficulties have been surmounted, with a steadiness and perseverance which have seldom been surpassed. Upon every occasion, whether in garrison or in the field, the Major-General has had reason to be satisfied with their conduct, and he once more returns them his thanks, and assures them that he shall never forget their services, or cease to feel a lively interest in what- ever may concern them. ' He earnestly recommends to the officers of the army, never to lose sight of the great principles of the military service, to preserve the discipline of the troops, and to INDIA 105 encourage in their respective corps the spirit and senti- ments of gentlemen and of soldiers, as the most certain road to the achievement of everything that is great in their profession. ' Upon the occasion of taking leave of the troops who have been so long under his command, Major-General Wellesley cannot avoid noticing and recording the assist- ance which he has received from officers commanding districts and divisions under his orders, and the officers of the staff appointed to assist him : of the former, some distinguished characters are now no more, and others are gone to Europe, and all are sufficiently known to the troops ; but in noticing the assistance he has received from the staff, he must record particularly his obligations to Major Barclay, Captain Bellingham, and Lieutenant Campbell of the 78th Regiment. . . . ' The troops belonging to the army in the Deccan, entitled to share in the prize-money of the late war, are informed that measures have been taken to insure, at an early period, the division of that part of it not yet divided. ' R. Barclay, 1 Deputy Adjutant-General in Mysore. 1 Sailing for Home. To Major Shawe. 'On Board H.M.S. "Trident," ' March 29, 1805. 'Latitude i° 25' S., Long. 83 52' E. 'The Albion is about to leave us to return to India, and although I am very sea-sick, I will not omit to let you know how we go on. We have had very fine weather ever since we left Madras. Indeed, too much so, as our progress has not been what we might have expected. However, the ships sail well, and, as we have now got a tolerable breeze, I hope that we shall get on. ' I am very comfortable, and, excepting sea-sickness, in good health. . . .' WELLESLEY IN DENMARK An expedition had been fitted out in the autumn of 1805, to proceed to Hanover, under the command of Lord Cathcart ; and Major -General Sir Arthur Wellesley, soon after his return to England* from India, was appointed to the com- mand of a brigade in it. But the consequences of the Battle of Austerlitz rendered it prudent to recall this force, and the troops composing it were placed on the coast for future operations, or for the defence of the country against threatened invasion. In August, 1807, war was declared against Denmark, and on September 8 a combined expedition, under Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart, took possession of the city and citadel of Copenhagen. Wellesley commanded the division of reserve, and at Kioge, on August 29, had an affair with the army of the enemy. On September 7, in conjunction with Captain Sir Home Popham, Captain of the Fleet, and Lieutenant - Colonel Murray, Deputy Quartermaster-General of the British Forces under Lord Cathcart, Wellesley drew up and signed the articles of capitulation of the town and citadel of Copen- hagen, with the Danish officers deputed by General Pey- maun, the Commander-in-Chief of His Danish Majesty's forces in Zealand. On the return of the expedition from Zealand, Wellesley resumed his duties as Secretary for Ireland. * He arrived in England in September, 1805. THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN IN THE PENINSULA In the spring of 1808 a force was assembled at Cork, with a view, as it was supposed, to some of the Spanish colonies of South America; but from the extraordinary changes which had taken place towards the latter end of 1807 and the beginning of 1808, in the affairs of Spain and Portugal, by the French intervention, or rather invasion, of those countries, and the consequent national appeals to Great Britain for aid to rescue them from this flagrant usurpation of Bonaparte, new fields presented themselves, in which the palm of victory was to be disputed with the conquerors of Europe. The British army was now successfully to emulate the splendid fame of the navy ; and during the seven following years, by its discipline and courage under the great General who commanded it in the Peninsula, its own former proud days of Crecy, Poictiers, Agincourt, Blenheim, Ramillies, and Malplaquet,* were to be eclipsed by the still prouder successes which nowannuallyt followed, to be finally crowned by the most triumphant and decisive victory gained in modern times, at the great Battle of Waterloo ! \ * Crecy - 1346 Agincourt - 1415 Ramillies - 1701: Poictiers - 1356 Blenheim - 1704 Malplaquet 170" t 1. Vimeiro - 1808 6. Ciudad 11. Nivelle - 1813 2. Oporto - 1809 Rodrigo - 1812 12. Nive - • 1813 3. Talavera - 1809 7. Badajoz 1812 13. Orthez - 1814 4. Busaco - 1810 8. Salamanca 1812 14. Toulouse - 1814 5. Fuentes de 9. Vittoria 1813 15. Waterloo 181 5 Onoro - 181 1 10. Sorauren - 1813 | 'Peninsula' heads the list of British military] |battle-honours, being borne by no fewer than 71 regiments — 20 cavalry and 51 infantry. Of WELLING TON ' 5 DBS PA TCHES His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief to Lieutenant- General* the Hon. Sir A. Wellesley, K.B. 'Horse Guards, '■June 14, 1808. ' His Majesty having been graciously pleased to appoint you to the command of a detachment of his army, to be employed upon a particular service, I have to desire that you will be pleased to take the earliest opportunity to assume the command of this force, and carry into effect such instructions as you may receive from His Majesty's Ministers. . . .' Viscount Castlereagh, Secretary of State, to Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir A. Wellesley, K.B. ' Downing Street, ' June 30, 1808. ' The occupation of Spain and Portugal by the troops of France, and the entire usurpation of their respective Govern- ments by that Power, has determined His Majesty to direct a corps of his troops, as stated in the margin, to be prepared for service, to be employed, under your orders, in counter- acting the designs of the enemy, and in affording to the Spanish and Portuguese nations every possible aid in throw- ing off the yoke of France. . . . ' You are authorized to give the most distinct assurances to the Spanish and Portuguese people, that His Majesty, in sending a force to their assistance, has no other object in view than to afford them the most unqualified and disin- terested support ; and in any arrangements that you may be called upon to make with either nation, in the prosecution of the common cause, you will act with the utmost liberality and confidence, and upon the principle that His Majesty's the Peninsular honours 'Vittoria' is highest, being borne by 44 regiments — 8 cavalry and 36 infantry. Thirty-eight regiments have Waterloo as an honour — 15 cavalry and 23 infantry. — W. W. * Sir A. Wellesley had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- General on April 25, 1808. THE PENINS ULA n 3 endeavours are to be directed to aid the people of Spain and Portugal in restoring and maintaining against France the independence and integrity of their respective monarchies. ' In the rapid succession in which events must be expected to follow each other, situated as Spain and Portugal now are, much must be left to your judgment and decision o the spot. . . . ' You will, however, impress upon the minds of persons ii authority that, consistently with the effectual assertion ol their independence, they cannot possibly acknowledge the King or Prince of Asturias as, at present, possessing any authority whatever, or consider any act done by them as valid until they return within the country, and become absolutely free agents. That they never can be considered free so long as they shall be prevailed on to acquiesce in the continuance of French troops either in Spain or Portugal. ' The entire and absolute evacuation of the Peninsula, by the troops of France, being, after what has lately passed, the only security for Spanish independence, and the only basis upon which the Spanish nation should be prevailed upon to treat or to lay down their arms.' To Viscount Castlereagh, Secretary of State. ' Cove, 'July 10, 1808. ' The wind is still contrary, but we hope it will change so as to sail this evening. We are unmoored, and shall not wait one moment after the wind may be fair. ' I see that people in England complain of the delay which has taken place in the sailing of the expedition ; but, in fact, none has taken place ; and even if all had been on board, we could not have sailed before this day. . . .' ii4 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES The British Force. 'Horse Guards, 1 July 20, 1808. * List of the Several Corps, General and Staff Officers, composing a Large Division of His Majesty's Army, to be employed upon a Particular Service. ' His Majesty has been pleased to direct that the under- mentioned corps should be formed into one army. . . .* ' His Majesty has further been pleased to direct that Lieutenant -General Sir Hew Dalrymple shall have the chief command thereof, and that Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Burrard be second in command, when the Staff of this army will consist as follows, viz. : Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple, Commander of the Forces. Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Burrard, second in command. Lieutenant-Generals Sir John Moore, the Hon. John Hope, Mackenzie Fraser, Lord Paget, Sir Arthur Wellesley. Major- Generals J. Murray, Lord W. Bentinck, Hon. Edward Paget, Spencer, Hill, Ferguson. Brigadier-Generals Acland, Nightingall, R. Stewart, the Hon. C. Stewart, H. Fane, R. Anstruther, Catlin Craufurd. Brigadier-General H. Clinton, 1st Foot Guards, Acting Adjutant- General. Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, 3rd Foot Guards, Acting Quartermaster- General. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Torrens, 89th Foot, Military Secretary.' Arrival off Oporto. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' H.M.S. "CROCODILE,"t OFF OPORTO, 'Jtdy 25, 1808. ' I avail myself of the opportunity of the return of the Peacock to England to inform you that I sailed from Coruna, * These were Sir John Moore's corps of 11,253; Major-General Spencer's corps, 4,793 ; Sir Arthur Wellesley's corps, 9,280 ; and a force embarking of 4,803 — in all 30,129. — W. W. f The Crocodile was commanded by the Hon. G. Cadogan, afterwards Earl Cadogan. THE PENINSULA 115 as I told you I should, on the night of the 21st, and joined the fleet the next day, and arrived here yesterday in the Crocodile. The fleet are now coming on. ' All the provinces to the north of the Tagus, with the ex- ception of the country immediately about Lisbon, are in a state of insurrection against the French, and the people are ready and desirous to take arms; but, unfortunately, there are none in the country — indeed, I may say, none to arm the troops which the Bishop of Oporto and the Junta of this place have assembled. They have at present a corps of about 5,000 men, regular troops and militia, including 300 cavalry at Coimbra, armed with 1,000 muskets, got from the fleet, fowling-pieces, etc., and 12,000 peasantry, mostly un- armed, I believe. ' The regular troops are composed of detachments of different corps, and cannot in any respect be deemed an efficient force. Besides these, there are 300 Spanish in- fantry, about 1,500 regular Portuguese infantry, and some militia volunteers and peasantry here. . . . ' The French corps is concentrated at or about Lisbon, and is said to consist of from 13,000 to 14,000 men. Sir Charles Cotton says they are adding to the fortifications of the town, of a citadel within the town, and of Fort St. Julian. ' The measures to be adopted for this country are to supply it with arms and money. I saw a statement last night, from which it appears that they could get together 38,000 men with ease, if they had arms or money to pay them. If I should find the troops at Coimbra to be worth it, I propose to arm them.' Bonaparte's Strength. To Major-General Spencer. 'H.M.S. "Crocodile/' off the Tagus, '■July 26, 1808. ' I think there is reason to believe that Bonaparte is not now very strong in Spain, and that he has not at his command the means of reinforcing his troops sufficiently to strike any blow which can have a permanent effect. . . .' 8—2 1 16 WELLINGTON'S DESPA TCHES Memorandum for Disembarkation. ' July 29, 1808. ' In the event of a landing being determined upon in Mondego Bay, a signal will be made to Captain Malcolm, when it will be settled at what period it may be proper to move the horse ships, and the ships having the ordnance on board, into the river. ' The infantry will be directed to be landed from the trans- ports in the roads, and to be rowed in the boats up the river, and landed on the south bank of it ; General Fane's brigade first, excepting the Veteran battalion, which is to remain on board ; then General Ferguson's ; then General Crau- furd's. . . . ' The men to land, each with one shirt and one pair of hoes, besides those on them, combs, razor, and a brush, which are to be packed up in their greatcoats. The knap- sacks to be left in the transports, and the baggage of the officers, excepting such light articles as are necessary for them. A careful sergeant to be left in the headquarter ship of each regiment, and a careful private man in each of the other ships, in charge of the baggage ; and each officer who shall leave any baggage in a transport must take care to have his name marked on each package, and each numbered, and give a list of what he leaves to the soldier in charge of the baggage, in order that he may get what he may require. ' The men will land with three days' bread and two days' meat, cooked. ' The Commanding Officer of artillery is to land the three brigades of artillery, each with half the usual proportion of ammunition, the forge cart, etc. He will also land 500,000 rounds of musket ammunition for the use of the troops, for which carriage will be provided. ' Each soldier will have with him three good flints. ' Besides the bread above directed to be landed with the soldiers, three days' bread to be packed up in bags, contain- THE PEN INS ULA 117 ing 100 pounds each, on board each of the transports, for the number of soldiers who shall be disembarked from it. . . .' Portuguese Troops. To Viscount Castlereagh. 'H.M.S. "Donegal," 'August 1, 1808. ' . . . My opinion is that Great Britain ought to raise, organize, and pay an army in Portugal, consisting of 30,000 Portuguese troops, which might be easily raised at an early period, and 20,000 British, including 4,000 or 5,000 cavalry. This army might operate on the frontiers of Portugal in Spanish Estremadura, and it would serve as the link between the kingdoms of Galicia and Andalusia. It would give Great Britain the preponderance in the conduct of the war in the Peninsula ; and whatever might be the result of the Spanish exertions, Portugal would be saved from the French grasp. You know best whether you could bear the expense, or what part of it the Portuguese Government would or could defray. But if you should adopt this plan, you must send everything from England — arms, ammuni- tion, clothing, and accoutrements, ordnance, flour, oats, etc. . . .' Memorandum for the Commissary-General. ' H.M.S. " Donegal," ' August 1, 1808. ' 1st. The troops will land with four days' bread and two days' meat ; and it will be necessary to keep up that supply at the village of Lavaos, so that, when the army shall march, the troops may carry, each man, four days' bread. ' 2nd. Besides this quantity of bread to be carried by the men themselves, a quantity, equal to three days' consump- tion for 10,000 men, must be carried, if possible, on the backs of mules — viz., two bags, or 224 pounds, on each mule. This will require 130 mules. ' 3rd. Besides these seven days' bread to move with the 1 1 8 WELLING TON ' 5 BE SPA TCHES troops, the Lieutenant-General desires that ten days' bread, five days' meat, and ten days' spirits, for 10,000 men, should move from Lavaos about the same time, by the carts of the country, to be formed into a depot about seventy miles in advance. This will require : Carts. Bread - - - -170 Meat - 100 Spirits - - - - 37 Total - - 307 These carts must be levied, and will be relieved at Leyria. ' 4th. The Medical Department will require two carts to march with the army, carrying twenty-four bearers for wounded men, a case of utensils, and a medicine-chest. ' 5th. The artillery will require, to move with the army, 250 mules, each to carry 2,000 rounds of musket ammunition. ' 6th. The Quartermaster-General's Department will re- quire thirty mules to carry entrenching tools. ' 7th. The Commissary-General will make arrangements for supplying the troops at Lavaos with bread, meat, spirits, and wood. ' 8th. The Commissary-General will see in the General Orders to what day the troops, as they disembark, will have bread and meat, and he will provide accordingly for their subsistence. ' gth. The horses will land, each with three days' forage and oats. Provision must be made for them after the 3rd instant ; but as the demand must be small, it is concluded that the country will experience no difficulty in supplying their wants, and therefore no provision is made for carrying forward forage or oats. ' 10th. The muleteers and carmen are to be provisioned from this date, and their cattle foraged. ' nth. Bread, etc., to be handed from the ships accordingly. ' A. W.' THE PENINSULA 119 Proclamation By the Commanders-in-Chief of His Britannic Majesty's Land and Sea Forces, employed to assist the Loyal Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Portugal. ' People of Portugal. 'The time has arrived to rescue your country, and restore the government to your lawful Prince. ' His Britannic Majesty, our most gracious King and master, has, in compliance with the wishes and ardent sup- plications for succour from all parts of Portugal, sent to your aid a British army, directed to co-operate with his fleet, already on your coast. • The English soldiers who land upon your shore do so with every sentiment of friendship, faith, and honour. 'The glorious struggle in which you are engaged is for all that is dear to man — the protection of your wives and children ; the restoration of your lawful Prince ; the inde- pendence — nay, the very existence — of your kingdom; and for the preservation of your holy religion. Objects like these can only be obtained by distinguished examples of fortitude and constancy. ' The noble struggle against the tyranny and usurpation of France will be jointly maintained by Portugal, Spain, and England ; and in contributing to the success of a cause so just and glorious, the views of His Britannic Majesty are the same as those by which you are yourselves animated. ' Arthur Wellesley. ' Charles Cotton. ' Lavaos, • August 2, 1808.' 120 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Inefficient Commissariat. To Viscount Castlereagh. 1 Lavaos, 'August 8, 1808. My despatch contains the fullest information upon every subject, and I have nothing to add to it. I have had the greatest difficulty in organizing my commissariat for the march, and that department is very incompetent, notwith- standing the arrangements which I made with Huskisson upon the subject. This department deserves your serious attention. The existence of the army depends upon it, and yet the people who manage it are incapable of managing anything out of a counting-house. ' I shall be obliged to leave Spencer's guns behind for want of means of moving them, and I should have been obliged to leave my own, if it were not for the horses of the Irish Com- missariat. Let nobody ever prevail upon you to send a corps to any part of Europe without horses to draw their guns. It is not true that horses lose their condition at sea. . . .' Early Obstacles. To Lieutenant-General Sir H. Burrard, Bart. 1 Leyria, ' August 11, 1808. ' In my official letters of the 8th and 10th I have apprised you of the state of the war in this country and in Spain, and I shall adopt this mode of communicating to you what I know of the resources of this country, and those matters of which it will be convenient to you to be apprised in the operations which you will have to conduct. ' In the first place, in the present season of the year, you cannot depend upon the country for bread. Portugal never fed itself during more than seven months out of twelve. The common consumption of the country is Indian corn ; and the little which there is in the country cannot be ground at this season of the year, as the mills are generally turned by water, and there is now no water in the mill THE PENINSULA streams ; you must therefore depend upon your transports for bread, Wine and beef you will get in the country ; and in a short time straw and Indian corn, or barley, for your horses ; but the supply of these articles will not last long : this, however, is a consideration for a future period. . . . ' As for mules for carriage, I am afraid you will get none, for I believe my corps has swept the country very hand- somely of this animal. You must therefore depend for the carriage of your bread upon the carts of the country, drawn by bullocks ; each of these will carry about 600 pounds, and will travel in a day about twelve miles ; but I do not believe that any power that you could exert over them, particularly when they shall have already made an exertion against the enemy, by the assistance which they have given to me, would induce the owners of the carts to go from their homes a greater distance than to the nearest place where you could get carts to relieve them. . . . ' With a view, therefore, to your first operation in Portu- gal, which I will suppose to be to march to Santarem, I would recommend to you to form a magazine of ten days' bread and five days' meat, in case of accidents, at Leyria; and then to keep that quantity up or to increase it as you may find it convenient for your purposes at Santarem. You will probably find it convenient to increase it, in which you will experience no difficulty. ' You will find the people of this country well disposed to assist you with everything in their power, but they have very little in their power, and they have been terribly plundered by the French. . . .' To General Freire, commanding the Portuguese Army. ' Calvario, '■August 13, 1808. ' Lieutenant-Colonel Trant informed me this morning of the distress which your troops were likely to suffer from want of bread, and he earnestly urged me, on the part of your Excellency, to issue bread to the Portuguese troops from the British Commissariat. . . . 122 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' I am really much concerned that your Excellency's troops should suffer any distress, but you must be aware that the arrangements for providing for them have not fallen upon me ; and that I have not required a greater proportion of the resources of the country (particularly not bread) than is necessary for those of His Majesty; and I trust that your Excellency will see the propriety of adopt- ing some arrangement which will provide effectually for the subsistence of the army which you will march to Lisbon ; at the same time, that you will allow His Majesty's troops to enjoy such of the resources of the country as I have above mentioned, which they require. . . .' THE BATTLE OF ROLEIA. To Viscount Castlereagh. 1 Caldas, 'August 1 6, 1808. '. . . I marched from Leyria on the 13th, and arrived at Alcobaga on the 14th, which place the enemy had aban- doned in the preceding night ; and I arrived here yesterday. The enemy, about 4,000 in number, were posted about ten miles from hence, at Rolica ; and they occupied Obidos, about three miles from hence, with their advanced posts. As the possession of this last village was important to our future operations, I determined to occupy it, and as soon as the British infantry arrived upon the ground I directed that it might be occupied by a detachment con- sisting of four companies of riflemen of the 60th and 95th Regiments.* ' The enemy, consisting of a small picket of infantry and a few cavalry, made a trifling resistance and retired ; but * The 60th is now the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and the 95th is the Rifle Brigade. The sixteen Peninsular honours which the King's Royal Rifle Corps possess were won by the famous 5th or Jager Battalion — foreigners, mostly Germans, in British pay. The Rifle Brigade has been from its origin in 1800 composed entirely of British troops. These two bodies of riflemen fired the opening shots of the war. — W. W. THE PENINSULA 123 they were followed by a detachment of our riflemen to the distance of three miles from Obidos. The riflemen were there attacked by a superior body of the enemy, who attempted to cut them off from the main body of the detach- ment to which they belonged, which had now advanced to their support ; larger bodies of the enemy appeared on both the flanks of the detachments, and it was with difficulty that Major-General Spencer, who had gone out to Obidos when he heard that the riflemen had advanced in pursuit of the enemy, was enabled to effect their retreat to that village. They have since remained in possession of it, and the enemy have retired entirely from the neighbourhood. ' In this little affair of the advanced post, which was occasioned solely by the eagerness of the troops in pursuit of the enemy, I am concerned to add that Lieutenant Bunbury, of the 2nd Battalion 95th Regiment, was killed, and the Hon. Captain Pakenham wounded, but slightly ; and we have lost some men, of whose numbers I have not received the returns. . . .' To Viscount Castlereagh. 1 Caldas, ' August 16, 1808. '. . . We are going on as well as possible — the army in high order and in great spirits. We make long marches, to which they are becoming accustomed ; and I make no doubt they will be equal to anything when we shall reach Lisbon. I have every hope of success. . . . ' Our artillery horses are not what we ought to have. They have great merit in their way as cast horses of dragoons, and Irish cart horses, bought for £12 each ! but not fit for an army, that, to be successful and carry things with a high hand, ought to be able to move.' To Viscount Castlereagh. 'Villa Verde, ' August 17, 1808. ' The French General Laborde having continued in his position at Rolica, since my arrival at Caldas on the 15th 124 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES instant, I determined to attack him in it this morning. Rolica is situated on an eminence, having a plain in its front, at the end of a valley, which commences at Caldas, and is closed to the southward by mountains which join the hills forming the valley on the left. Looking from Caldas, in the centre of the valley and about eight miles from Rolica, is the town and the old Moorish fort of Obidos, from whence the enemy's pickets had been driven on the 15th ; and from that time he had posts in the hills on both sides of the valley, as well as in the plain in front of his army, which was posted on the heights in front of Rolica, its right resting upon the hills, its left upon an eminence on which was a windmill, and the whole covering four or five passes into the mountains on his rear. ' I have reason to believe that his force consisted of at least 6,000 men, of which about 500 were cavalry, with five pieces of cannon ; and there was some reason to believe that General Loison, who was at Rio Mayor yesterday, would join General Laborde by his right in the course of the night. ' The plan of attack was formed accordingly, and the army, having broken up from Caldas this morning, was formed into three columns. The right, consisting of 1,200 Portuguese infantry, fifty Portuguese cavalry, destined to turn the enemy's left, and penetrate into the mountains in his rear. The left, consisting of Major-General Ferguson's and Brigader- General Bowes's brigade of infantry, three companies of riflemen, a brigade of light artillery, and twenty British and twenty Portuguese cavalry, was destined, under the command of Major-General Ferguson, to ascend the hills at Obidos, to turn all the enemy's posts on the left of the valley, as well as the right of his post at Rolica. This corps was also destined to watch the motions of General Loison on the enemy's right, who, I had heard, had moved from Rio Mayor towards Alcoentre last night. The centre column, consisting of Major-General Hill's, Brigadier- General Nightingall's, Brigadier-General C. Craufurd's, and Brigadier-General Fane's brigades (with the exception of the riflemen detached with Major-General Ferguson), and THE PENINSULA 125 400 Portuguese light infantry, the British and Portuguese cavalry, a brigade of g-pounders, and a brigade of 6-pounders, was destined to attack General Laborde's position in the front. ' The columns being formed, the troops moved from Obidos about seven o'clock in the morning. Brigadier- General Fane's riflemen were immediately detached into the hills on the left of the valley, to keep up the communica- tion between the centre and left columns, and to protect the march of the former along the valley, and the enemy's posts were successively driven in. Major -General Hill's brigade, formed in three columns of battalions, moved on the right of the valley, supported by the cavalry, in order to attack the enemy's left; and Brigadier-Generals Nightingall and Craufurd moved with the artillery along the highroad, until at length the former formed in the plain immediately in the enemy's front, supported by the light infantry com- panies, and the 45th Regiment of Brigadier-General Craufurd's brigade ; while the two other regiments of this brigade (the 50th and 91st), and half of the 9-pounder brigade, were kept up as a reserve in the rear. ' Major- General Hill and Brigadier-General Nightingall advanced upon the enemy's position, and at the same moment Brigadier-General Fane's riflemen were in the hills on his right, the Portuguese in a village upon his left, and Major-General Ferguson's column was descending from the heights into the plain. From this situation the enemy retired by the passes into the mountains with the utmost regularity and the greatest celerity; and notwithstanding the rapid advance of the British infantry, the want of a sufficient body of cavalry was the cause of his suffering but little loss on the plain. ' It was then necessary to make a disposition to attack the formidable position which he had taken up. ' Brigadier-General Fane's riflemen were already in the mountains on his right, and no time was lost in attacking the different passes, as well to support the riflemen as to defeat the enemy completely. 1 26 WELLINGTON'S DESPA TCHES ' The Portuguese infantry were ordered to move up a pass on the right of the whole. The light companies of Major- General Hill's brigade, and the 5th Regiment, moved up a pass next on the right ; and the 29th Regiment, supported by the 9th Regiment, under Brigadier-General Nightingall, a third pass ; and the 45th and 82nd Regiments, passes on the left. ' These passes were all difficult of access, and some of them were well defended by the enemy, particularly that which was attacked by the 29th and 9th Regiments. These regiments attacked with the utmost impetuosity, and reached the enemy before those whose attacks were to be made on their flanks. ' The defence of the enemy was desperate ; and it was in this attack principally that we sustained the loss which we have to lament, particularly of that gallant officer, the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Lake, who distinguished himself upon this occasion. The enemy was, however, driven from all the positions he had taken in the passes of the mountains, and our troops were advanced in the plains on their tops. For a considerable length of time the 29th and 9th Regiments alone were advanced to this point, with Brigadier-General Fane's riflemen at a distance on the left, and they were afterwards supported by the 5th Regiment, and by the light companies of Major-General Hill's brigade, which had come upon their right, and by the other troops ordered to ascend the mountains, who came up by degrees. ' The enemy here made three most gallant attacks upon the 29th and 9th Regiments, supported as I have above stated, with a view to cover the retreat of his defeated army, in all of which he was, however, repulsed ; but he succeeded in effecting his retreat in good order, owing principally to my want of cavalry, and, secondly, to the difficulty of bring- ing up the passes of the mountains, with celerity, a sufficient number of troops and of cannon to support those which had first ascended. The loss of the enemy has, however, been very great, and he left three pieces of cannon in our hands. 'I cannot sufficiently applaud the conduct of the troops throughout this action. The enemy's positions were formid- THE PENINSULA 127 able, and he took them up with his usual ability and celerity, and defended them most gallantly. But I must observe that, although we had such a superiority of numbers em- ployed in the operations of this day, the troops actually engaged in the heat of the action were, from unavoidable circumstances, only the 5th, 9th, 29th, the riflemen of the 95th and 60th, and the flank companies of Major-General Hill's brigade, being a number by no means equal to that of the enemy. Their conduct, therefore, deserves the highest commendation. . . . ' I have the honour to enclose herewith a return of killed, wounded, and missing.' Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Army, under the Command of Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir A. Wellesley, K.B., on August 17, 1808. Killed - Wounded Missing Officers. 4 20 4 Non-commissioned Officers and Drummers. 3 20 Rank ! and Horses. ! File. 63 I 295 2 68 ... Total Los- of Officers, Non-com missioned Officer-, and Rank and File. 70 335 74 To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Lourinha, 4 August 18, 1808. ' My despatch of yesterday and of this day will inform you of the state of affairs here. I never saw such desperate fighting as in the attack of the pass by Lake, and in the three attacks by the French on our troops in the mountains. These attacks were made in their best style, and our troops defended themselves capitally ; and if the difficulties of the ground had not prevented me from bringing up a sufficient number of the troops and of cannon, we should have taken the whole army. 'They say that the French lost 1,500 men, which is a large amount ; but I think they had more than 6,000 men in the action. . . .' 128 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES THE BATTLE OF VIMEIRO. To Lieutenant-General Burrard. 'Vimeiro, ' August 21, 1808. ' I have the honour to inform you that the enemy attacked us in our position at Vimeiro this morning. ' The village of Vimeiro stands in a valley, through which runs the river Maceira; at the back, and to the westward and northward of this village, is a mountain, the western point of which touches the sea, and the eastern is separated by a deep ravine from the heights, over which passes the road which leads from Lourinha, and the northward to Vimeiro. The greater part of the infantry — the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th Brigades — were posted on this moun- tain, with eight pieces of artillery, Major-General Hill's brigade being on the right, and Major-General Ferguson's on the left, having one battalion on the heights separated from the mountain. On the eastern and southern side of the town is a mill, which is entirely commanded, particularly on its right, by the mountain to the westward of the town, and commanding all the ground in the neighbourhood to the southward and eastward, on which Brigadier-General Fane was posted with his riflemen and the 50th Regiment, and Brigadier-General Anstruther with his brigade, with half a brigade of 6-pounders and half a brigade of g-pounders, which had been ordered to the position in the course of last night. The ground over which passes the road from Lourinha commanded the left of this height, and it had not been occupied, excepting by a picket, as the camp had been taken up only for one night, and there was no water in the neigh- bourhood of this height. 'The cavalry and the reserve of artillery were in the valley, between the hills on which the infantry stood, both flanking'and supporting Brigadier-General Fane's advanced- guard. ' The enemy first appeared about eight o'clock in the THE PENINSULA 129 morning, in large bodies of cavalry on our left, upon the heights on the road to Lourinha ; and it was soon obvious that the attack would be made upon our advanced-guard and the left of our position ; and Major-General Ferguson's brigade was immediately moved across the ravine to the heights on the road to Lourinha, with three pieces of cannon ; he was followed successively by Brigadier-General Nightingall, with his brigade and three pieces of cannon, Brigadier-General Acland and his brigade, and Brigadier- General Bowes with his brigade. These troops were formed (Major-General Ferguson's brigade in the first line, Brigadier- General Nightingall's in the second, and Brigadier-General Bowes's and Acland's in columns in the rear) on those heights, with their right upon the valley which leads into Vimeiro, and their left upon the other ravine, which sepa- rates these heights from the range which terminates at the landing-place at Maceira. On the last-mentioned heights the Portuguese troops, which had been in the bottom near Vimeiro, were posted in the first instance, and they were supported by Brigadier-General C. Craufurd's brigade. ' The troops of the advanced-guard, on the heights to the southward and eastward of the town, were deemed sufficient for its defence, and Major-General Hill was moved to the centre of the mountain, on which the great body of the infantry had been posted, as a support to these troops, and as a reserve to the whole army ; in addition to this support, these troops had that of the cavalry in the rear of their right. ' The enemy's attack began in several columns upon the whole of the troops on this height ; on the left they advanced, notwithstanding the fire of the riflemen close to the 50th Regi- ment, and they were checked and driven back only by the bayonets of that corps. The 2nd Battalion 43rd Regiment was likewise closely engaged with them in the road which leads into Vimeiro, a part of that corps having been ordered into the churchyard to prevent them from penetrating into the town. On the right of the position they were repulsed by the bayonets of the 97th Regiment, which corps was 9 130 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES successfully supported by the 2nd Battalion 52nd, which, by an advance in column, took the enemy in flank. 1 Besides this opposition given to the attack of the enemy on the advanced-guard by their own exertions, they were attacked in flank by Brigadier-General Acland's brigade in its advance to its position on the heights on the left, and a cannonade was kept up on the flank of the enemy's columns by the artillery on those heights. ' At length, after a most desperate contest, the enemy was driven back in confusion from this attack, with the loss of seven pieces of cannon, many prisoners, and a great number of officers and soldiers killed and wounded. He was pursued by a detachment of the 20th Light Dragoons, but the enemy's cavalry were so much superior in numbers that this detach- ment has suffered much, and Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor was unfortunately killed. ' Nearly at the same time the enemy's attack commenced upon the heights on the road to Lourinha : this attack was supported by a large body of cavalry, and was made with the usual impetuosity of French troops. It was received with steadiness by Major-General Ferguson's brigade, con- sisting of the 36th, 40th, and 71st Regiments, and these corps charged as soon as the enemy approached them, who gave way, and they continued to advance upon him, sup- ported by the 82nd, one of the corps of Brigadier-General Nightingall's brigade, which, as the ground extended, after- wards formed a part of the first line by the 29th Regiment, and by Brigadier-General Bowes's and Acland's brigades ; whilst Brigadier - General C. Craufurd's brigade and the Portuguese troops, in two lines, advanced along the height on the left. In the advance of Major-General Ferguson's brigade, six pieces of cannon were taken from the enemy, with many prisoners, and vast numbers were killed and wounded. ' The enemy afterwards made an attempt to recover part of his artillery by attacking the 71st and 82nd Regiments, which were halted in a valley in which it had been taken. These regiments retired from the low grounds in the valley THE PENINSULA 13' to the heights, where they halted, faced about, and fired, and advanced upon the enemy, who had by that time arrived in the low ground, and they thus obliged him again to retire with great loss. ' In this action, in which the whole of the French force in Portugal was employed, under the command of the Due D'Abrantes in person, in which the enemy was certainly superior in cavalry and artillery, and in which not more than half of the British army was actually engaged, he • has sustained a signal defeat, and has lost thirteen pieces of cannon, twenty-three ammunition waggons, with powder, shells, stores of all descriptions, and 20,000 rounds of musket ammunition. One general officer has been wounded (Brenier) and taken prisoner, and a great many officers and soldiers have been killed, wounded, and taken. ' The valour and discipline of His Majesty's troops have been conspicuous upon this occasion, as j^ou, who witnessed the greatest part of the action, must have observed. . . . 1 In mentioning Colonel Burne and the 36th Regiment* upon this occasion, I cannot avoid adding that the regular and orderly conduct of this corps throughout the service, and their gallantry and discipline in action, have been con- spicuous. ' I must take this opportunity of acknowledging my obliga- tions to the general and staff officers of the army. . . .' Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the A rmy under the Command of Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir A. Wei- lesley, K.B., on August 21, il Killed - Wounded Missing Officers. 4 37 2 Non-commissioned Rank Officers and and Horses. Drummers. File. 128 3 30 3i 466 12 3 46 I Total Loss of Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Rank and File. 135 534 5i * Now the 2nd Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment. — W. W. 9—2 i 3 2 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Return of Ordnance and Ammunition taken in the Action of August 2r, 1808. ' One 6-pounder, four 4-pounders, three 2-pounders, six 5|-inch howitzers, two ammunition waggons, twenty-one Portuguese ammunition cars, forty horses, four mules. * The above is only the number already arrived in the park, but from several accounts there are eight more taken from the enemy. The ammunition waggons and cars con- tain a portion of powder, shells, and stores of all descriptions, and about 20,000 rounds of musket ammunition. ' William Robe, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding Royal Artillery.' To Viscount Castlereagh. 'Vimeiro, ' August 22, 1808. ' After I wrote to you yesterday morning, we were attacked by the whole of the French army, Sir Harry Burrard being still on board ship, and I gained a complete victory. It was impossible for troops to behave better than ours did ; we only wanted a few hundred more cavalry to annihilate the French army. ' I have sent my report upon this action to Sir Harry Burrard, who will send it home. You will see in it that I have mentioned Colonel Burne, of the 36th Regiment, in a very particular manner, and I assure you that there is nothing that will give me so much satisfaction as to learn that something has been done for this old and meritorious soldier.* The 36th Regiment are an example to this army. ' Sir Harry did not land till late in the day in the midst of the attack, and he desired me to continue my own opera- tions ; and as far as I am personally concerned in the action, I was amply rewarded for any disappointment I might have felt in not having had an opportunity of bringing the service * This officer was shortly afterwards rewarded by the government of Carlisle being conferred on him. THE PENINSULA 133 to a close, by the satisfaction expressed by the army that the second and more important victory had been gained by their old General. I have also the pleasure to add that it has had more effect than all the arguments I could use to induce the General to move on, and I believe he will march to-morrow. Indeed, if he does not we shall be poisoned here by the stench of the dead and wounded ; or we shall starve, everything in the neighbourhood being already eaten up.' To Captain Pulteney Malcolm, H.M.S. Donegal. 1 Ramalhal, ' August 23, 1808. ' Torrens wrote to you on the night of the 21st to apprise you of the complete victory which we had gained, one of the consequences of which has been a suspension of arms between the French and us, preparatory to the evacuation of the country by them, the conditions of which I signed last night. ' Although I signed these conditions, I beg that you will not believe that I entirely approve of the manner in which the instrument is worded. ' You will receive a public letter from me upon this subject this day, in which I have requested you to bring the whole of your fleet of transports to the mouth of the Tagus, with the exception of the horse ships, which are to go to England. ' P.S. — It would be very convenient to us if you would communicate with Captain Bligh as you pass by. I shall be much obliged to you if you will have another cask of my claret broken up and put in chests such as the last, and leave one of them with Bligh for me.' Praise of Naval Officers. To Lord Mnlgvave, First Lord of the Admiralty. * Ramalhal, 1 August 26, 1808. ' As my command is at an end, I hope I may be permitted to trouble you with a few lines on the co-operation which I 134 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES have received from the navy. I have long been in the habits of friendship and intimacy with Captain Malcolm, of the Donegal ; but it is impossible for me to describe the zeal, the ardour, and the kindness with which he entered into all my views ; and the whole army will bear testimony to the exer- tions which he and all the officers of the navy acting under him made to provide for their convenience on the passage, to land them with celerity, and to provide for all their necessities and comforts when they were on shore. His views in all these respects were fully carried into execution by Captain Adam, of the Resistance, and Captain Cadogan, of the Crocodile ; and, after our arrival on the coast of Portugal, by Captain Bligh, of the Alfred, from whom we received some most essential assistance. There were other Captains of the navy with whom we have had at different times occasion to communicate, and I must say that the same desire to render us every assistance in their power has animated them all ; which I attribute in a great degree to the disposition which, throughout the service, has been manifested by Captain Malcolm, who was principally charged with its conduct. ' I also beg leave to recommend to your lordship's favour and protection Lieutenant Fleetwood, the agent of trans- ports, who superintended the fleet in which the army under my command was embarked. He is the most active, intelli- gent, and zealous of all the officers that I have seen in that line of the naval profession, and he really deserves promo- tion. If his services should be continued in the transport line of the profession, benefit will be derived from his promotion, as his sphere will be enlarged, and the armies to which he may be attached in future will not suffer the inconvenience which that under my command did, of having him superseded by an officer without any of his qualifications, in the midst of the service. I have to add that Captain Malcolm is equally satisfied with Lieutenant Fleetwood.' THE PENINSULA 135 Wellesley desires to quit the Army. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Camp North of Torres Vedras, ' August 30, 1808. 1 . . . I assure you, my dear Lord, matters are not prospering here, and I feel an earnest desire to quit the army. I have been too successful with this army ever to serve with it in a subordinate situation, with satisfaction to the person who shall command it, and of course not to myself. However, I shall do whatever the Government may wish.' Suspension of Hostilities. To Charles Stewart, Esq. ' Sobral, ''September 1, 1S08. ' In the last letter which I wrote to you I believe I informed you of our actions on August 17 and 21 ; and that the Commander-in-Chief had agreed to a suspension of hostilities with the French, with a view to the settlement of a Convention for their entire evacuation of Portugal. ' . . . The agreement for the suspension of hostilities, con- cluded on the night of August 22, ended in a Convention for the evacuation of Portugal by the French, signed on the 30th of that month. As far as I have learnt, the Convention contains nothing material, excepting that the French are to be taken to a port in France; that they are to embark within seven days ; that till they are embarked they are to remain in possession of Lisbon and a circuit of two leagues ; and we are to have Fort St. Julian, Cascaes, and all the forts on the coast and in the interior, upon the ratification of the Convention. * They are to give up the Spanish prisoners on the General engaging to use his good offices that Frenchmen taken in Spain, not having engaged in hostilities, should likewise be released. 1 36 WELLINGTON' S DESPA TCHES ' There is nothing else in the Convention that I have heard of that is of any importance. The Russians, Danes, etc., are left at our mercy. ' As far as I have any knowledge of them, I have many objections both to the agreement for suspending hostilities, and to the Convention for the evacuation of Portugal by the French. I approve, however, of the principal point in the latter, viz., to allow them to evacuate ; and it is useless to trouble you with my objections to the mode in which that point has been brought about. . . .' A Frank Letter to Sir John Moore. To Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, K.B. ' Lumiar, ' September 17, 1808. ' I write to you on the subject to which this letter relates with the same freedom with which I hope you would write to me on any point in which you might think the public interests concerned. ' It appears to me to be quite impossible that we can go on as we are now constituted ; the Commander-in-Chief must be changed, and the country and the army naturally turn their eyes to you as their commander. I understand, how- ever, that you have lately had some unpleasant discussions with the King's Ministers, the effect of which might be to prevent the adoption of an arrangement for the command of this army, which, in my opinion, would be the best, and would enable you to render those services at this moment for which you are peculiarly qualified. . . . ' In these times, my dear General, a man like you should not preclude himself from rendering the services of which he is capable by any idle point of form. Circumstances may have occurred, and might have justified the discussions to which I have referred ; but none can justify the continuance of the temper in which they are carried on ; and yet, till there is evidence that it is changed, it appears to be impossible for the King's Ministers to employ you in the high situation THE PENINSULA 137 for which you are the most fit, because during the continu- ance of this temper of mind there can be no cordial or confi- dential intercourse. ' In writing thus much I have perhaps gone too far, and have taken the permission for which it was the intention of this letter to ask ; but I shall send it, as it may be convenient for you to be apprised of the view which I have already taken of these discussions, as far as I have any knowledge of them, in deciding whether you will allow me to talk to you any further about them. If you should do so, it would probably be most convenient to us both to meet at Lisbon, or I can go over to you, if that should suit you better.' Wellington and Sir Hew Dalrymple. To Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, Quartermaster-General. ' Lisbon, '■September 19, 1808. ' I am going to-morrow, and I regret that it was so late when I reached headquarters yesterday that I could not endeavour to find you before I came away. 1 I do not conceal from you that I am not quite satisfied with our situation ; but nothing should have induced me to go away if I had thought there was the smallest prospect of early active employment for the army. . . . ' In regard to matters personal to myself, I shall not enter into them ; I wish that Sir Hew had given me credit for a sincere desire to forward his views, whatever they might be ; and I think I could have been of as much use to him as I believe I have been to other officers under whose orders I have served. He is the only one of whom I have not been the right hand for some years past ; and at the same time I must say that I felt the same inclination to serve him that I had to serve the others. . . .' 138 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES The Convention of Cintra.* To Viscount Castlereagh. ' London, • October 6, 1808. ' I have the honour to inform your lordship that I arrived in London this day, by leave of the Commander of the Forces in Portugal ; and having seen a copy of his Excellency's letter to your lordship, dated at Cintra, September 3, in which it would appear, from an inaccuracy of expression, that I had agreed upon and signed certain articles " for the suspension of hostilities on the 22nd of August," I beg leave to inform your Lordship that I did not negotiate that agreement ; that it was negotiated and settled by His Excellency in person, with General Kellermann, in the presence of Lieutenant - General Sir Harry Burrard and myself, and that I signed it by His Excellency's desire. But I could not consider myself responsible in any degree for the terms in which it was framed, or for any of its provisions. . . .' Viscount Castlereagh to H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief. 'Downing Street, ' October 29, 1 808. ' I am to signify to your Royal Highness His Majesty's pleasure, that a full investigation by a Court of Inquiry should be made as soon as possible into the late Armistice and Convention concluded in Portugal, and into all the circumstance connected therewith. ' It is considered, from the nature of the transaction, that the proceeding by a Court of Inquiry, in the first instance, will best bring before His Majesty a full explanation of all the considerations and causes which may have influenced the * The inquiry into the Convention (commonly called the Convention of Cintra, although framed and signed at Lisbon) was held at the Royal College at Chelsea, from November 14 to December 27, 1808. THE PENINSULA 139 conclusion of the said Armistice and Convention, and ultimately lead to a just judgment thereupon. . . .' Report. 1 May it please your Majesty, ' We, the underwritten general officers of the army, in obedience to your Majesty's warrant, which bears date November 1, 1808, commanding us strictly to examine and inquire into the conditions of a suspension of arms, con- cluded on August 22, 1808, between your Majesty's army in Portugal and the French force in that country ; and also into a definitive Convention, concluded with the French General commanding on August 31 following, etc., etc. ; most humbly report to your Majesty that it appears that the operations of the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley, from his landing in Mondego Bay, August 1, until the conclusion of the action at Vimeiro, August 21, were highly honourable and success- ful, and such as might be expected from a distinguished General at the head of a British army of 13,000 men, augmented on the 20th and 21st to 17,000, deriving only some small aid from a Portuguese corps (1,600 men), and against whom an enemy not exceeding 14,000 men in the field was opposed ; and this before the arrival of a very considerable reinforcement from England under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, which, however, did arrive, and join the army from August 25 to 30. ' It appears a point on which no evidence adduced can enable the Board to pronounce with confidence, whether or not a pursuit after the battle of the 21st could have been efficacious ; nor can the Board feel competent to determine on the expedition of a forward movement to Torres Vedras, when Sir Harry Burrard has stated weighty considerations against such a measure. Further it is to be observed, that so many collateral circumstances could not be known in the moment of the enemy's repulse as afterwards became clear to the army, and have been represented to the Board. And considering the extraordinary circumstances under which two new Commanding Generals arrived from the ocean and 140 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES joined the army (the one during, and the other immediately after, a battle, and those successively superseding each other, and both the original Commander, within the space of twenty-four hours), it is not surprising that the army was not carried forward until the second day after the action, from the necessity of the Generals being acquainted with the actual state of things and of their army, and proceeding accordingly. ' It appears that the Convention of Cintra, in its progress and conclusion, or at least all the principal articles of it, were not objected toby the five distinguished Lieutenant-Generals of that army ; and other general officers who were on that service, whom we have had an opportunity to examine, have also concurred in the great advantages that were immediately gained to the country of Portugal, to the army and navy, and to the general service, by the conclusion of the Conven- tion at that time. ' On a consideration of all circumstances, as set forth in this report, we most humbly submit our opinion that no further military proceeding is necessary on the subject ; because, howsoever some of us may differ in our sentiments respecting the fitness of the Convention in the relative situation of the two armies, it is our unanimous declaration, that unquestionable zeal and firmness appear throughout to have been exhibited by Lieutenant-Generals Sir Hew Dalrymple, Sir Harry Burrard, and Sir Arthur Wellesley, as well as that the ardour and gallantry of the rest of the officers and soldiers on every occasion during this expedition have done honour to the troops, and reflected lustre on your Majesty's arms.' Viscount Castlereagh to H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief. ' Downing Street, i Ja7tuary 18, 1809. ' The King has taken into his consideration the report of the Board of Inquiry, together with the documents and opinions thereunto annexed. THE PENINSULA 141 ' While His Majesty adopts the unanimous opinion of the Board, that no further military proceeding is necessary to be had upon the transactions referred to their investigation, His Majesty does not intend thereby to convey any ex- pression of His Majesty's satisfaction at the terms and con- ditions of the Armistice or Convention. ' When those instruments were first laid before His Majesty, the King, reserving for investigation those parts of the definitive Convention in which His Majesty's immediate interests were concerned, caused it to be signified to Sir Hew Dalrymple, by His Majesty's Secretary of State, that His Majesty, nevertheless, felt himself compelled at once to express his disapprobation of those articles in which stipu- lations were made directly affecting the interests or feelings of the Spanish and Portuguese nations. 1 At the close of the inquiry, the King (abstaining from any observations upon other parts of the Convention) repeats his disapprobation of those articles, His Majesty deeming it necessary that his sentiments should be clearly understood, as to the impropriety and danger of the unauthorized admission into military Conventions of articles of such a description, which, especially when incautiously framed, may lead to the most injurious consequences. ' His Majesty cannot forbear further to observe, that Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple's delaying to transmit, for his information, the Armistice concluded on August 22, until September 4, when he at the same time transmitted the ratified Convention, was calculated to produce great public inconvenience, and that such public inconvenience did, in fact, result therefrom.' Sir Arthur Wellesley, on his return from Portugal after the Battle of Vimeiro, had resumed the duties of his office as Chief Secretary for Ireland ; and the Court of Inquiry having concluded, he proceeded in the month of December to Dublin. Parliament having reassembled in January, 1809, he re- turned to London to attend the House of Commons ; and 1 42 WELLING TON' S DESPA TCHES on January 27, when in his place, he received the thanks of the House for his conduct at the Battle of Vimeiro, by the Speaker. According to the stipulations of the Convention of Cintra,* the French army under General Junot was embarked in British vessels, and landed at La Rochelle in October, 1808. The British army being thus left disposable for other services, the greater part of it was detached into Castille, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, and was joined on the Duero in December by an additional force from England, which had landed at Coruna. In the month of November, the French armies having been greatly reinforced, and the Spaniards having been succes- sively defeated at Tudela and in other battles, the city of Madrid fell again into the hands of the enemy. Buonaparte, who had arrived to superintend in person the operations in Spain, directed, in the month of December, a combined movement of several corps, under the command of Marshal Soult, against the army under Sir John Moore, which conse- quently retreated into Galicia ; and a battle took place on January 16, 1809, at Coruna, where Sir John Moore was killed in the hour of victory. In the meantime Lieutenant-General Sir John Cradocki had been appointed to the command of the British troops remaining in Portugal ; and that country, after the Battle of Coruna, again became the seat of active military operations, Marshal Soult having invaded its northern provinces from Galicia, and taken possession of Oporto on March 29, 1809. Lisbon was consequently thrown into alarm ; and the Regency having urgently implored the aid and protection of the British nation, reinforcements were directed to be em- barked, and Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, * It was erroneously called the ' Convention of Cintra,' from that document having been forwarded by Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple to the Secretary of State in a despatch dated Cintra, September 3, 1808. The error, however, having become habitual, it has been retained. f Afterwards General Lord Howden, G.C.B. THE PENINSULA 143 having resigned the office of Chief Secretary in Ireland and his seat in Parliament, was again sent to command in Portugal. Back to Portugal. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Lisbon, ' April 27, 1809. 1 1 arrived here on the 22nd instant, and having communi- cated with Lieutenant-General Sir John Cradock to put me in orders on the 25th, I have assumed the command of the army. ' The whole of the British army in Portugal are assembled at Leyria and Alcobaca, with the exception of the 2nd Battalion 30th Regiment, in garrison at Lisbon ; of the 16th Light Dragoons, on its march to join the army ; and of the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment, the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and the 4th Dragoons, just landed. . . .' Adverse Criticism. To Marshal Beresford. ' Coimbra, ' May 6, 1809, 1.30 p.m. • . . . Your troops made but a bad figure this morning at the review. The battalions very weak, not more than 300 men ; the body of men, particularly of the regiment, very bad ; and the officers worse than anything I have seen. . . .' A Plot to seize Marshal Soult. To Viscount Castlereagh. 'Lisbon, ' April 27 , 1809. ' I have but little to add to my public despatches of this date. I fully believe in the intentions of the French officers to revolt. The existence of this intention is confirmed by the recollection of what dropped from nearly every individual of the French army with whom I conversed when I was in this country last year, and it is highly probable on other i 4 4 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES grounds. I doubt, however, whether it will be quite so easy to carry their intentions successfully into execution as their emissary appears to imagine. ... It is, however, very certain that the succesful revolt of one French army would have a great effect, particularly in this part of the world ; and would probably do more for Spain than Spain would ever do for itself. ' In case there should be an opportunity, I should not wait for a revolt, but shall try my own means of subduing Soult. ' If this army should revolt, or, indeed, at all events, I anxiously recommend to you to set all your emissaries to work in France. I have no doubt of the detestation of Buonaparte by the people of that country. . . .' To Viscount Castkreagh. ' COIMBRA, ' May 7, 1 809. ' I met last night , for the first time since I had seen him at Lisbon. ' He told me that the French army was at this time divided into two parties — one, which intended to seize Soult at all events, and to carry into execution the plan he had before communicated to me ; the other, consisting of , , and even those connected with Buonaparte, who were determined to seize Soult if he should declare himself King of Portugal, of which he has manifested an intention. This latter party would then lead the army into France, where it is understood that Buonaparte wishes to have it. But thinks that if Soult was once seized, everything would go on as his friends wished. . . . ' I firmly believe what he says respecting the prevailing discontent, and I think it not improbable that , and others attached to Buonaparte, aware of it, and apprehensive of its effects, would turn it so far to account of Buonaparte as to induce the army to seize their General, for being guilty of an ambitious abuse of his authority and disobedience of THE PENINSULA 145 the orders of the Emperor. And if they are really in a scrape, which I acknowledge I doubt, they would make use of this act, if possible, to induce us to allow them to go away. . . .' The Battle of Oporto. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Oporto, 'May 12, 1809. ' I had the honour to apprise your lordship on the 7th instant that I intended that the army should march on the 9th from Coimbra, to dispossess the enemy of Oporto. ' The advanced-guard and the cavalry had marched on the 7th, and the whole had halted on the 8th, to afford time for Marshal Beresford with his corps to arrive upon the upper Douro. ' The infantry of the army was formed into three divisions for this expedition, of which two, the advanced-guard, con- sisting of the King's German Legion, and Brigadier-General R. Stewart's brigade, with a brigade of 6-pounders, and a brigade of 3-pounders, under Lieutenant-General Paget ; and the cavalry under Lieutenant-General Payne; and the brigade of Guards, Brigadier-General Campbell's and Brigadier -General Sontag's brigades of infantry, with a brigade of 6-pounders, under Lieutenant-General Sherbrooke, moved by the highroad from Coimbra to Oporto ; and one, composed of Major-General Hill's and Brigadier-General Cameron's brigades of infantry, and a brigade of 6-pounders, under the command of Major- General Hill, by the road from Coimbra to Aveiro. ' On the 10th in the morning, before daylight, the cavalry and advanced-guard crossed the Vouga, with the intention to surprise and cut off four regiments of French cavalry, and a battalion of infantry and artillery, cantoned in Albergaria Nova and the neighbouring villages, about eight miles from that river, in the last of which we failed; but the superiority of the British cavalry was evident throughout the day. We took some prisoners and their cannon from them ; and the advanced-guard took up the position of Oliveira. 10 146 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES 1 On the same day Major-General Hill, who had embarked at Aveiro on the evening of the gth, arrived at Ovar, in the rear of the enemy's right ; and the head of Lieutenant- General Sherbrooke's division passed the Vouga on the same evening. 'On the nth the advanced-guard and cavalry continued to move on the highroad towards Oporto, with Major- General Hill's division in a parallel road which leads to Oporto from Ovar. ' On the arrival of the advanced-guard at Vendas Novas, between Souto Redondo and Grijo, they fell in with the out- posts of the enemy's advanced-guard, which were immediately driven in ; and shortly afterwards we discovered the enemy's advanced-guard, consisting of about 4,000 infantry and some squadrons of cavalry, strongly posted on the heights above Grijo, their front being covered by woods and broken ground. The enemy's left flank was turned by a movement well executed by Major-General Murray, with Brigadier-General Langworth's brigade of the King's German Legion ; while the 16th Portuguese Regiment of Brigadier-General Richard Stewart's brigade attacked their right, and the riflemen of the 95th, and the flank companies of the 29th, 43rd, and 52nd of the same brigade, under Major Way, attacked the infantry in the woods and village in their centre. ' These attacks soon obliged the enemy to give way, and Brigadier -General the Hon. Charles Stewart led two squadrons of the 16th and 20th Dragoons, under the command of Major Blake, in pursuit of the enemy, and destroyed many and took several prisoners. ' On the night of the nth the enemy crossed the Douro, and destroyed the bridge over that river. ' It was important, with a view to the operations of Marshal Beresford, that I should cross the Douro immediately ; and I had sent Major-General Murray in the morning with a battalion of the King's German Legion, a squadron of cavalry, and two 6-pounders, to endeavour to collect boats, and, if possible, to cross the river at Avintaf, about four miles above Oporto ; and I had as many boats as could be THE PENINSULA 147 collected brought to the ferry, immediately above the towns of Oporto and Villa Nova. ' The ground on the right bank of the river at this ferry is protected and commanded by the fire of cannon, placed on the height of the Serra Convent at Villa Nova ; and there appeared to be a good position for our troops on the opposite side of the river, till they should be collected in sufficient numbers. 1 The enemy took no notice of our collection of boats, or of the embarkation of the troops, till after the first battalion (the Buffs)* were landed, and had taken up their position, under the command of Lieutenant-General Paget, on the opposite side of the river. ' They then commenced an attack upon them with a large body of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, under the command of Marshal Soult, which that corps most gallantly sustained till supported successively by the 48th and 66th Regiments, belonging to Major-General Hill's brigade, and a Portuguese battalion, and afterwards by the first battalion of detach- ments belonging to Brigadier-General Richard Stewart's brigade. ' Lieutenant-General Paget was unfortunately wounded soon after the attack commenced, when the command of these gallant troops devolved upon Major-General Hill. ' Although the French made repeated attacks upon them, they made no impression ; and at last, Major-General Murray having appeared on the enemy's left flank on his march from Avintas, where he had crossed ; and Lieutenant-General Sherbrooke, who by this time had availed himself of the enemy's weakness in the town of Oporto, and had crossed the Douro at the ferry between the towns of Villa Nova and Oporto, having appeared upon their right with the brigade of Guards and the 29th Regiment ; the whole retired in the utmost confusion towards Amarante, leaving behind them five pieces of cannon, eight ammunition tumbrils, and many prisoners. * The Buffs particularly distinguished themselves. The first of their Peninsular honours is ' Douro.' — W. W. 10 — 2 148 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' The enemy's loss in killed and wounded in this action has been very large, and they have left behind them in Oporto 700 sick and wounded. ' Brigadier-General the Hon. Charles Stewart then directed a charge by a squadron of the 14th Dragoons, under the command of Major Hervey, who made a successful attack on the enemy's rear-guard. ' In the different actions with the enemy, of which I have above given your lordship an account, we have lost some, and the immediate services of other valuable officers and soldiers. . . . ' I cannot say too much in favour of the officers and troops. They have marched in four days over eighty miles of most difficult country, have gained many important positions, and have engaged and defeated three different bodies of the enemy's troops. . . .' Return of Ordnance captured on May 12, 1809. Ten 12-pounders, twelve 8-pounders, eighteen 4-pounders, sixteen 3-pounders, two howitzers. A bstract of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing in the A rmy under the Command of Lieutenant-General the Right Hon. Sir A. Wellesley, K.B., in Action with the French Army under the Command of Marshal Soult, on March 10, 11, 12, 1809. Officers. Sergeants. Rank and File. Horses. Total Loss of Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Rank and File. Killed Wounded - Missing - I 17 I 42 ISO 17 — 43 168 17 THE PENINSULA 149 The French Sick and Wounded. To Marshal SoulL* ' Oporto, ' Ce 12 Mat, 1809. ' Vous savez que vous avez laisse dans cette ville un grand nombre de malades et de blesses, dont vous pouvez etre sur que je prendrai le plus grand soin, et qu'autant que je le pourrai, personne ne leur fera du mal. Mais vous avez oublie de laisser avec eux des Officiers de Sante pour les soigner. Je ne crois pas qu'on doive se fier aux Officiers de Sant6 de la ville d'Oporto ; et je vous previens que je n'ai pas un plus grand nombre d'Officiers de Sante, qu'il ne me faut pour le service des troupes qui sont sous mes ordres. ' Je vous prie done d'en envoyer ici un nombre suffisant pour le soin de tous les malades et blesses de l'armee Fran9aise que vous avez laisses ici, et je vous promets que quand ils auront gueri les malades, ils vous seront renvoyes. ' Vous avez quelques officiers et soldats de l'armee Anglaise, prisonniers de guerre, et je serai bien aise d'etablir avec vous un cartel d'echange pour ceux de l'armee Francaise que j'ai en mon pouvoir. - ' Proclamation. 'Arthur Wellesley, Commander of the British Army in Por- tugal, and Marshal-General of the Armies of H.R.H. the Prince Regent. 1 Inhabitants of Oporto, — The French troops having been expelled from this town by the superior gallantry and discipline of the army under my command, I call upon the inhabitants of Oporto to be merciful to the wounded and prisoners. By the laws of war they are entitled to my protection, which I am determined to afford them ; and it will be worthy of the generosity and bravery of the Portu- * On leaving Eton, Wellington went to Brussels and Angers, where he gained a knowledge of French, which in after years proved very useful.— W. W. 150 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES guese nation not to revenge the injuries which have been done to them on these unfortunate persons, who can only be considered as instruments in the hands of the more powerful, who are still in arms against us. ' I therefore call upon the inhabitants of this town to remain peaceably in their dwellings. I forbid all persons not military to appear in the streets with arms ; and I give notice that I shall consider any person who shall injure any of the wounded or of the prisoners as guilty of the breach of my orders. . . .' A Terrible Retreat. To Viscount Castlereagh. 1 MONTEALEGKE, ' May 1 8, 1809. 1 1 arrived at Braga on the 15th (General Murray being at Guimaraens, and the enemy about fifteen miles in our front), and at Salamonde on the 16th. ' We had there an affair with their rear-guard. The Guards, under Lieutenant-General Sherbrooke and Brigadier- General Campbell, attacked their position, and having turned their left flank by the heights, they abandoned it, leaving a gun and some prisoners behind them. This attack was necessarily made at a late hour in the evening. ' On the 17th we moved to Ruivaes (waiting to see whether the enemy would turn upon Chaves, or continue his retreat upon Montealegre), and on the 18th to this place. . . . ' The enemy commenced this retreat, as I have informed your lordship, by destroying a great proportion of his guns and ammunition. He afterwards destroyed the remainder of both and a great proportion of his baggage, and kept nothing excepting what the soldiers or a few mules could carry. He has left behind him his sick and wounded; and the road from Penafiel to Montealegre is strewed with the carcases of horses and mules, and of French soldiers, who were put to death by the peasantry before our advanced-guard could save them. THE PENINSULA 151 ' This last circumstance is the natural effect of the species of warfare which the enemy have carried on in this country. ' Their soldiers have plundered and murdered the peasantry at their pleasure ; and I have seen many persons hanging in the trees by the sides of the road, executed for no reason that I could learn, excepting that they have not been friendly to the French invasion and usurpation of the government of their country ; and the route of their column on their retreat could be traced by the smoke of the villages to which they set fire. ' We have taken about 500 prisoners. Upon the whole, the enemy has not lost less than a fourth of his army, and all his artillery and equipments, since we attacked him on the Vouga. ' I hope your lordship will believe that no measure which I could take was omitted to intercept the enemy's retreat. It is obvious, however, that if an army throws away all its cannon, equipments, and baggage, and everything which can strengthen it, and can enable it to act together as a body ; and abandons all those who are entitled to its protection, but add to its weight and impede its progress ; it must be able to march by roads through which it cannot be followed, with any prospect of being overtaken, by an army which has not made the same sacrifices. ' It is impossible to say too much of the exertions of the troops. The weather has been very bad indeed. Since the 13th the rain has been constant, and the roads in this difficult country almost impracticable. . . .' English-Portuguese Officers. To the Right Hon. J. Villiers. ' RUIVAES, 'May 19, 1809. '. . . The question of rank between the English and English- Portuguese officers is one of a very delicate nature, and it arises entirely out of the practice of giving to officers 1 52 WELLINGTON'S DESPA TCHES going into the Portuguese service a step of Portuguese rank beyond that which they held in the service of the King. ' The officers in the two services must rank according to the dates of their respective commissions; but English officers taking temporary Portuguese commissions must rank, in respect to British officers, according to the date of the com- mission which they hold in the service of His Majesty. In future, I recommend that they should serve in the Portu- guese army with the same rank as they have in that of the King. It is my opinion, the situation of these officers having advanced, Portuguese rank will be an anomaly, but that cannot be helped. ' I wish to God that Beresford would resign his English Lieutenant-General's rank. It is inconceivable the em- barrassment and ill-blood which it occasions. It does him no good ; and if the army was not most successful, this very circumstance would probably bring us to a standstill.' Salvage. To the Right Hon. J. Villiers. 'Oporto, 1 May 23, 1809. ' . . . Upon the capture of Oporto we found here several English, some Danish, Swedish, and one or two French vessels, and a considerable quantity of property, some of which had been loaded in these ships ; and another part, principally cotton, which the French had bought in different parts of the country, and had collected here in charge of the French Consul. . . . « The most valuable part of this property is 3,000 tons of wine, belonging, I believe, to the English merchants ; upon which the Admiral, on the notion that all the property at Oporto is liable to be considered and dealt with by the rules of prize, thinks us entitled to salvage. My opinion is that, if we are entitled to it at all, we are entitled to the whole of the property ; but the doubt which I entertain is, whether we have a right to any part of this property ; and upon this doubt I wish to have your opinion. . . .' THE PENINSULA 153 Lenient Treatment of a Marquis. To Brigadier-General Alexander Campbell. ' Oporto, ' May 24, 1809. ' The Adjutant-General has communicated to me your letter of the 23rd instant, reporting the conduct of Captain the Marquis , in absenting himself from his battalion without leave on the 15th instant, and that you had put him in arrest. ' I observe from the date that this offence was aggravated by being committed at a moment when the troops were in march in pursuit of the enemy. I am not disposed, however, to carry matters to extremities with the Marquis ; and I beg that you will call him and the officers of the regiment to which he belongs before you, and point out to him the extreme impropriety of his conduct. . . . ' You will tell the Marquis that I hope that the lenity with which his fault has been treated upon this occasion will induce him to be more attentive to his duty ; and that I expect from him exertions in the cause of his country, patience to bear the hardships of a military life, and sub- mission to the rules of military discipline and subordination, in proportion as his rank, station, and fortune are superior to those of others of his countrymen in the service. You will then release the Marquis from his arrest.' Plundering. To the Right Hon. J . Villiers. 'COIMBRA, ' May 31, 1809. ' I have long been of opinion that a British army could bear neither success nor failure, and I have had manifest proofs of the truth of this opinion in the first of its branches in the recent conduct of the soldiers of this army. They have plundered the country most terribly, which has given me the greatest concern. The Town Major of Lisbon, if he 154 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES has the orders, will show you, if you wish to read them, those that I have given out upon this subject. ' They have plundered the people of bullocks, among other property, for what reason I am sure I do not know, except it be, as I understand is their practice, to sell them to the people again. I shall be very much obliged to you if you will mention this practice to the Ministers of the Regency, and beg them to issue a proclamation forbidding the people, in the most positive terms, to purchase anything from the soldiers of the British army. . . .' Prisoners of War. To Lieutenant-Colonel Trant. 'Thomar, ' June 7, 1809. ' I think it probable that the Admiral will immediately require all the cavalry ships which he has lately sent to Oporto, to receive the prisoners of war to send to England without loss of time, in the shape of cavalry ships. You will, therefore, immediately discontinue your alteration of those ships, if you should have continued ther3 after the receipt of Colonel Murray's letter upon this subject. ' I have requested the Admiral to send you directions either to embark the prisoners in the cavalry ships, or not, as he may think proper, supposing that he should wish to send to England immediately the cavalry ships destined to convey the prisoners. You will, therefore, have the prisoners in readiness to embark in store-ships at a moment's notice if the Admiral should desire it, and, at all events, the ships in readiness to sail. ' You will understand, however, that the prisoners must not be unreasonably crowded in these ships, and you will report to me what number will remain at Oporto, after you shall have sent those whom the Admiral may require you to send in the cavalry ships.' THE PENINSULA 155 Hospital Stoppages. To the Right Hon. the Secretary at War. 1 Thomar, 'June 7, 1809. ' I had the honour of receiving your letter of May 4 this morning, and I beg to inform you that it has been the practice hitherto in this army to make the soldiers pay tenpence per diem when in hospital, leaving to them a residue of twopence per diem, and to other ranks a propor- tionate sum. I have ordered that from the 25th instant, inclusive, the hospital stoppage shall be for all ranks nine- pence, leaving for each rank the daily net sum stated in the enclosure No. I. of your letter. I shall be obliged to you if you will let me know whether it is your intention that the directions contained in your letter of May 4 should have a retrospect ; and if so, from what period. The soldiers in Portugal receive a full ration from the commissariat, and of course are liable to a daily deduction from their pay each of sixpence. The Army Head over Ears in Debt. To the Right Hon. J. Villiers. ' Abrantes, 'June 11, 1809. ' . . . The ball is now at my foot, and I hope I shall have strength enough to give it a good kick. I should begin immediately, but I cannot venture to stir without money. The army is two months in arrears, we are over head and ears in debt everywhere, and I cannot venture into Spain without paying what we owe, at least in this neighbourhood, and giving a little money to the troops. . . .' 651 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES An Obstinate Spanish General. To the Right Hon. J. H. Frere. ' Abr antes, ; * ' June 13, 1809. ' I send you copies of the letters I have received from the Spanish headquarters, and of those which I have written to General Cuesta and Colonel Bourke this day. ' Colonel Bourke's letter explains so fully the situation of Cuesta's army, and my letter to him is so explicit upon the dangers of his position ; the small chance there is that I shall be able to serve him, unless he should take up a strong position till I can come to his assistance ; and upon the advantages of the operation which I had proposed ; that 1 do not think it necessary to trouble you further upon the subject. ' I can only say that the obstinacy of this old gentleman is throwing out of our hands the finest game that any armies ever had ; and that we shall repent that we did not cut off Victor when we shall have to beat the French upon the Ebro. With such a letter, however, as Colonel Bourke's before me, I could not but yield the point to General Cuesta, which I hope will convince the Spanish Government of my sincere desire to be of service to them.' To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Abrantes, '•June 17, 1809. ' . . . My correspondence with General Cuesta has been a very curious one, and proves him to be as obstinate as any gentleman at the head of any army need be. . . .' Disorderly Regiments. To Colonel Donkin.* • Abrantes, '■June 16, 1809. ' . . . I trouble you now upon a subject which has given me the greatest pain — I mean the accounts which I receive * Afterwards Lieutenant-General Sir Rufane Donkin, K.C.B. THE PENINSULA '57 from all quarters of the disorders committed by, and the general irregularity of, the and regiments. I have ordered a provost to Castello Branco to put himself under your order^, and I hope you will not fad to make use ° f ' h l"beg that on the receipt of this letter you will call on the Commanding Officers of the and —regiments. and apprise them of the concern with which I have heard these reports of their regiments; and of my determination, if I should hear any more of them, to send then- regiments into garrison, and to report them to His Majesty as unfit for service in the field, on account of irregularity of conduct and disorder. . . , ' I desire that upon the receipt of this letter the - and regiments may be hutted outside of the town of Castello Branco, if there should be wood in the neighbour- hood, not fruit-trees, and the rolls to be called every hour, from sunrise till eight in the evening, all officers, as well as soldiers, to attend. . 'The number of men absent from these regiments in con- sequence of their late marches is scandalous and I desire that an officer from each of them may go back immediately the whole road by which the brigade has moved since May 5, in search of the missing men. Those missing on the late march and ground between Guarda and Castello Branco must be sent on immediately to Castello Branco; and those missing on the former march must be collected at Guarda, and afterwards brought up by the officers to the regiment when they shall return through that town 923 70 To Earl Bathurst. 1 St. Sever, ' March 4, 18 14. ' The rain which fell in the afternoon of the 1st swelled the Adour and all the rivulets falling into that river so considerably as materially to impede our further progress, and to induce me on the next day to halt the army till I could repair the bridges, all of which the enemy had destroyed. ' The rain continued till last night, and the river is so rapid that the pontoon cannot be laid upon it. 'The enemy had collected a corps at Aire, probably to protect the evacuation of a magazine which they had at that place. Sir Rowland Hill attacked this corps on the 2nd, and drove them from their post with considerable loss, and took possession of the town and magazine. . . .' Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Army under the Command of Field-Marshal the Marquis of Welling- ton, K.G., in the Various Operations from February 28 to March 2, inclusive. Officers. Sergeants. Rank and File. Horses. Total Loss of Officers Non-commissioned Officers, and Rank and File. Killed Wounded - Missing 3 13 I 9 16 114 2 5 11 20 J 36 2 26 402 WELLINGTON'S DESPA TCHES Affair at Tarbes.* To Earl Bathurst. ' Samatan, ' March 25, 18 14. ' The enemy continued his retreat after the affair near Tarbes on the 20th, during the night and following days, and arrived yesterday at Toulouse. Their troops have marched with such celerity that, excepting the advanced- guard of the cavalry attached to Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill's corps under Major-General Fane, who attacked the enemy's rear-guard at St. Gaudens, our troops have never been able to come up with them. ' I enclose Major-General Fane's report to Lieutenant- General Sir Rowland Hill of this affair, which is highly creditable to the 13th Light Dragoons. . . .' Return of Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the A rmy under the Command of Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, K.G., in the Operations from March 7 to 20, 18 14. Killed Wounded Missing Officers. Sergeants. Rank and File. Horses. 4 36 4 3 29 1 41 360 33 21 40 34 Total Loss of Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Rank and File. 51 425 38 THE BATTLE OF TOULOUSE. To Earl Bathurst. ' Toulouse, 'April 12, 1814. ' I have the pleasure to inform your lordship that I entered this town this morning, which the enemy evacuated during the night, retiring by the road of Carcassone. * The Rifle Brigade is particularly associated with Tarbes. The 95th were the only British troops who fired on the hill where the fight took place, although other regiments were in reserve ; and consequently Tarbes is regarded as the regimental fight of the Rifle Brigade. — W. W. THE PENINSULA 403 ' The continued fall of rain and the state of the river prevented me from laying the bridge till the morning of the 8th, when the Spanish corps and the Portuguese artillery, under the immediate orders of Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Freyre, and the headquarters, crossed the Garonne. ' We immediately moved forward to the neighbourhood of the town, and the 18th Hussars, under the immediate com- mand of Colonel Vivian, had an opportunity of making a most gallant attack upon a superior body of the enemy's cavalry, which they drove through the village of Croix d'Orade, and took about 100 prisoners, and gave us posses- sion of an important bridge over the river Ers, by which it was necessary to pass in order to attack the enemy's position. Colonel Vivian was, unfortunately, wounded upon this occasion, and I am afraid that I shall lose the benefit of his assistance for some time. ' The town of Toulouse is surrounded on three sides by the canal of Languedoc and the Garonne. On the left of that river, the suburb, which the enemy had fortified with strong field works in front of the ancient wall, formed a good tete de pont. They had likewise formed a tete de pont at each bridge of the canal, which was, besides, defended by the fire in some places of musketry, and in all of artillery from the ancient wall of the town. Beyond the canal to the eastward, and between that and the river Ers, is a height which extends as far as Montaudran, and over which pass all the approaches to the canal and town from the eastward, which it defends, and the enemy, in addition to the tetes de pont on the bridges of the canal, had fortified this height with five redoubts, connected by lines of entrenchments, and had, with extra- ordinary diligence, made every preparation for defence. They had likewise broken all the bridges over the Ers within our reach, by which the right of their position could be approached. The roads, however, from the Arriege to Toulouse being impracticable for cavalry or artillery, and nearly so for infantry, as reported in my despatch to your lordship of the 1st instant, I had no alternative, excepting to attack the enemy in this formidable position. 26 — 2 4 o [ WELLINGTON >S DESPA TCHES ' It was necessary to move the pontoon bridge higher up the Garonne, in order to shorten the communication with Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill's corps, as soon as the Spanish corps had passed, and this operation was not effected till so late an hour on the gth as to induce me to defer the attack till the following morning. ' The plan, according to which I determined to attack the enemy, was for Marshal Sir William Beresford, who was on the right of the Ers with the 4th and 6th Divisions, to cross that river at the bridge of Croix d'Orade, to gain possession of Montblanc, and to march up the left of the Ers to turn the enemy's right, while Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Freyre, with the Spanish corps under his command, supported by the British cavalry, should attack the front. Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton was to follow the Marshal's movement with Major-General Lord Edward Somerset's brigade of hussars, and Colonel Vivian's brigade, under the command of Colonel Arentschildt, was to observe the movements of the enemy's cavalry on both flanks of the Ers beyond our left. ' The 3rd and Light Divisions, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton and Major-General Charles Baron Alten, and the brigade of German cavalry, were to observe the enemy on the lower part of the canal, and to draw their attention to that quarter by threatening the tetes de pont, while Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill was to do the same on the suburb on the left of the Garonne. ' Marshal Sir William Beresford crossed the Ers, and formed his corps in three columns of lines in the village of Croix d'Orade, the 4th Division leading, with which he immediately carried Montblanc. He then moved up the Ers in the same order, over most difficult ground, in a direction parallel to the enemy's fortified position, and as soon as he reached the point at which he turned it, he formed his lines and moved to the attack. During these operations Lieu- tenant-General Don Manuel Freyre moved along the left of the Ers to the front of Croix d'Orade, where he formed his THE PENINSULA 405 corps in two lines with a reserve on a height in front of the left of the enemy's position, on which height the Portuguese artillery was placed, and Major-General Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry in reserve in the rear. ' As soon as formed, and that it was seen that Marshal Sir William Beresford was ready, Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Freyre moved forward to the attack. The troops marched in good order, under a very heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and showed great spirit, the General and all his staff being at their head ; and the two lines were soon lodged under some banks immediately under the enemy's entrenchments ; the reserve and Portuguese artillery, and British cavalry, continuing on the height on which the troops had first formed. The enemy, however, repulsed the move- ment of the right of General Freyre's line round their left flank, and having followed up their success, and turned our right by both sides of the highroad leading from Toulouse to Croix d'Orade, they soon compelled the whole corps to retire. It gave me great satisfaction to see that, although they suffered considerably in retiring, the troops rallied again as soon as the Light Division, which was immediately on their right, moved up, and I cannot sufficiently applaud the exertions of Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Freyre, the officers of the staff of the 4th Spanish army, and of the officers of the General Staff, to rally and form them again. ' Lieutenant-General Mendizabal, who was in the field as a volunteer, General Ezpeleta, and several officers of the Staff and chiefs of corps, were wounded upon this occasion ; but General Mendizabal continued in the field. The regiment de Tiradores de Cantabria, under the command of Colonel Leon de Sicilia, kept its position, under the enemy's entrench- ments, until I ordered it to retire. ' In the meantime Marshal Sir William Beresford, with the 4th Division, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Lowry Cole, and the 6th Division, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, attacked and carried the heights on the enemy's right, and the redoubt which covered and protected that flank ; and he lodged those 406 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES troops on the same height with the enemy ; who were, however, still in possession of four redoubts, and of the entrenchments and fortified houses. ' The badness of the roads had induced the Marshal to leave his artillery in the village of Montblanc ; and some time elapsed before it could be brought to him, and before Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Freyre's corps could be re- formed and brought back to the attack. As soon as this was effected, the Marshal continued his movement along the ridge, and carried, with General Pack's brigade of the 6th Division, the two principal redoubts and fortified houses in the enemy's centre. The enemy made a desperate effort from the canal to regain these redoubts, but they were repulsed with considerable loss ; and the 6th Division con- tinuing its movement along the ridge of the height, and the Spanish troops continuing a corresponding movement upon the front, the enemy were driven from the two redoubts and entrenchments on the left ; and the whole range of heights were in our possession. We did not gain this advantage, however, without severe loss ; particularly in the brave 6th Division. Lieutenant-Colonel Coghlan of the 6ist, an officer of great merit and promise, was unfortunately killed in the attack of the heights. Major-General Pack was wounded, but was enabled to remain in the field ; and Colonel Douglas, of the 8th Portuguese Regiment, lost his leg; and I am afraid that I shall be deprived for a considerable time of his assistance. ' The 36th, 42nd, 79th, and 61st, lost considerable numbers, and were highly distinguished throughout the day. ' I cannot sufficiently applaud the ability and conduct of Marshal Sir William Beresford throughout the operations of the day ; nor that of Lieutenant-Generals Sir Lowry Cole, Sir Henry Clinton, Major-Generals Pack and Lambert, and the troops under their command. Marshal Sir William Beresford particularly reports the good conduct of Brigadier- General D'Urban, the Quartermaster-General, and General Brito Mozinho the Adjutant-General to the Portuguese army. THE PENINSULA 407 ' The 4th Division, although exposed on their march along the enemy's front to a galling fire, were not so much engaged as the 6th, and did not suffer so much ; but they conducted themselves with their usual gallantry. ' I had also every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of Lieutenant-General Don Manuel Freyre, Lieutenant- General Don Gabriel Mendizabal, Mariscal de Campo Don Pedro Barcenas, Brigadier-General Don J. de Ezpeleta, Mariscal de Campo Don A. Garces de Marcilla, and the Chief of the Staff Don E. S. Salvador, and the officers of the Staff of the 4th army. The officers and troops conducted themselves well in all the attacks which they made subsequent to their being re-formed. ' The ground not having admitted of the operations of the cavalry, they had no opportunity of charging. ' While the operations above detailed were going on, on the left of the army, Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill drove the enemy from their exterior works in the suburb, on the left of the Garonne, within the ancient wall. Lieutenant- General Sir Thomas Picton likewise, with the 3rd Division, drove the enemy within the tete de pont on the bridge of the canal nearest to the Garonne ; but the troops having made an effort to carry it, they were repulsed, and some loss was sus- tained. Major-General Brisbane was wounded, but I hope not so as to deprive me for any length of time of his assist- ance ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes, of the 45th, an officer of great merit, was killed. 'The army being thus established on three sides of Toulouse, I immediately detached our light cavalry to cut off the communication by the only road practicable for carriages which remained in the country, till I should be enabled to make arrangements to establish the troops between the canal and the Garonne. ' The enemy, however, retired last night, leaving in our hands General Harispe, General Baurot, General St. Hilaire and 1,600 prisoners. One piece of cannon was taken on the field of battle, and others, and large quantities of stores of all descriptions, in the town. . . .' 408 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Army under the Command of Field -Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, K.G., at the Battle of Toulouse, April 10, 1814* Officers J Ser " 1 geants. Rank and File. Total Loss of Officers, Non- commissioned Officers, and Rank and File. British. Spanish. Portu- guese. Horses. Killed Wounded Missing - 31 248 3 21 123 543 3,675 15 595 4,046 18 312 i,795 17 205 1,722 I 78 529 62 59 2 Suspension of Hostilities. To Major-General Colville. ' Toulouse, 'April 19, 1 8 14. ' I have the honour to enclose you the copy of a con- vention for the suspension of hostilities, into which I have entered with Marshal the Due de Dalmatie ; and an extract of a letter from the Marshal, ratifying the convention, although not in so formal a manner as is necessary, owing to his waiting for the ratification of Marshal the Due d'Albufera. ' I beg that on the receipt of this letter you will communi- cate the convention to the Governor of Bayonne, and call upon him to suspend hostilities. *'.... The casualties of a British army, after a battle, are collected, in returns, by the sergeants of companies, under the direction of, and signed by, the officers commanding them, accounting for all the men of the company thus become non-effective, absent or present. The regi- mental returns made from those of companies, as well as those of the brigades and divisions, are transmitted to headquarters, and from them the general return is made out and signed by the Adjutant-General and laid before the General commanding the Forces. They are transmitted to the Secretary of State, and published in the London Gazette, recapitu- lating the loss of each battalion. No officer in command of a British army could venture to garble or alter a return. The loss so returned generally exceeds the actual loss, the officers and soldiers being inter- ested, as their claims to pensions and rewards depend upon their names being included in the returns. . . .' THE PENINSULA 409 ' You will appoint an officer to settle with him the number of rations of provisions and forage which will be required daily by the garrison, and to settle with him the villages and towns of the country from which to be drawn ; from which, of course, you will draw nothing. ' You will maintain your fortified posts in the neighbour- hood of the garrison, giving at the same time free ingress to the provisions which it will be settled shall enter, and egress to whatever it may be wished to send out ; and you will canton or encamp the troops in such situations as may be most convenient to you till I shall send you farther orders.' Sortie from Bayonne. To Earl Bathurst. ' Toulouse, ''April 19, 1814. ' It gives me much concern to have to lay before your lordship the enclosed reports from Major-General Colville and Major-General Howard of a sortie from the citadel of Bayonne on the morning of the 14th instant, in which Lieutenant-General Sir John Hope having been unfortu- nately wounded, and his horse killed under him, he was made prisoner. ' I have every reason to believe that his wounds are not severe, but I cannot but regret that the satisfaction generally felt by the army upon the prospect of the honourable ter- mination of their labours should be clouded by the mis- fortune and sufferings of an officer so highly esteemed and respected by all. ' I sincerely regret the fall of Major- General Hay, whose services and merits I have had frequent occasion to bring under your lordship's notice. . . . ' Upon the breaking up of this army, I perform a most satisfactory duty of reporting to your lordship my sense of the conduct and merits of Lieutenant-General William Clinton and of the troops under his command since they have been employed in the Peninsula. 4io WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' Circumstances have not enabled those troops to have so brilliant a share in the operations of the war as their brother officers and soldiers on this side of the Peninsula. But they have not been less usefully employed ; their conduct when engaged with the enemy has always been meritorious, and I have had every reason to be satisfied with the General Officers commanding and with them.' Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing, in the Operations of the Army under the Command of Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, K.G., in a Sortie made by the Garrison of Bayonne, on the Morning of April 14, 1814. Killed - Wounded Missing Officers. Sergeants. Rank and File. Horses. 8 36 6 3 28 7 139 393 223 1 Total Loss of Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Rank and File. I50 457 236 Portuguese loss included. Proclamation. ' Toulouse, ''April 20, 1 8 14. ' Field- Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, etc., having concluded a convention with Marshal the Due d'Albufera for the evacuation of the strong places in Catalonia and Valencia by the French troops, and for a suspension of hostilities between the allied armies under the command of Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, etc., and Marshal the Due d'Albufera, respectively; and the Field-Marshal having promised the Due d'Albufera that all French vessels in the port of Barcelona should be allowed to return to the ports of France unmolested, the Commanders of His Majesty's ships and vessels, and the Commanders of the vessels of the Allied Powers in the Mediterranean, are hereby requested to allow those vessels to pass to those ports unmolested. ' Wellington.' THE PENINSULA 411 General Order. ' Toulouse, ' April 21, 1814. ' I. The Commander of the Forces has the pleasure to inform the army that he has agreed upon the following Convention* for the suspension of hostilities between the allied armies under his command and the French armies opposed to them, and hostilities are forthwith to be sus- pended accordingly. ' 2. Upon congratulating the army upon this prospect of an honourable termination of their labours, the Commander of the Forces avails himself of the opportunity of returning the General Officers, officers, and troops, his best thanks for their uniform discipline and gallantry in the field, and for their conciliating conduct towards the inhabitants of the country, which, almost in an equal degree with their disci- pline and gallantry in the field, have produced the fortunate circumstances that now hold forth to the world the prospect of genuine and permanent peace. ' 3. The Commander of the Forces trusts that they will continue the same good conduct while it may be necessary to detain them in this country, and that they will leave it with a lasting reputation, not less creditable to their gallantry in the field than to their regularity and good con- duct in quarters and in camp. 1 Wellington.' Memorandum. To His Catholic Majesty Ferdinand VII., King of Spain. ' The Spanish nation having been engaged for six years in one of the most terrible and disastrous contests by which any nation was ever afflicted, its territory having been entirely occupied by the enemy, the country torn to pieces by internal divisions, its ancient constitution having been de- stroyed, and vain attempts made to establish a new one ; its marine, its commerce, and revenue entirely annihilated ; its colonies in a state of rebellion, and nearly lost to the mother * Convention of Toulouse. — W. W. 412 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES country ; it becomes a question for serious consideration what line of policy should be adopted by His Majesty upon his happy restoration to his throne and authority. ' . . . Great Britain is materially interested in the pros- perity and greatness of Spain, and a good understanding and close alliance with Spain is highly important to her, and she will make sacrifices to obtain it ; and there is no act of kind- ness which may not be expected from such an ally. But it cannot be expected from Great Britain that she will take any steps for the firm establishment of a Government which she shall see in the fair way of connecting itself with her rival, and of eventually becoming her enemy ; like other nations, she must by prudence and foresight provide for her own interests by other modes, if circumstances should prevent His Majesty from connecting himself with Great Britain, as it appears by the reasoning in this memorandum is desirable to him.' General Order. 1 Bordeaux, ' June 14, 1814. ' I. The Commander of the Forces, being upon the point of returning to England, again takes this opportunity of con- gratulating the army upon the recent events which have restored peace to their country and to the world. ' 2. The share which the British army has had in pro- ducing these events, and the high character with which the army will quit this country, must be equally satisfactory to every individual belonging to it, as they are to the Com- mander of the Forces ; and he trusts that the troops will continue the same good conduct to the last. ' 3. The Commander of the Forces once more requests the army to accept his thanks. ' 4. Although circumstances may alter the relations in which he has stood towards them, so much to his satisfac- tion, he assures them that he shall never cease to feel the warmest interest in their welfare and honour, and that he will be at all times happy to be of any service to those to whose conduct, discipline, and gallantry, their country is so much indebted.' WELLINGTON AND AMERICA High Duties against America. To His Excellency Charles Stuart. ' Freneda, ' October 25, 181 1. ' . . . I have heard of the exportations of silver by the Americans, which it does not appear to me to be possible to prevent, excepting by laying such high duties upon the import of all articles, including corn, the produce of America, as shall prevent the Americans from resorting to the Portu- guese markets. 1 When the Americans sell their corn at Lisbon, they must receive payment in money, as, owing to the uncomfortable state of affairs between Great Britain and America, they cannot take bills upon England, because that which they would purchase with those bills in England would not be admitted into America. The only remedy, therefore, ex- cepting that of a settlement between Great Britain and America, is for Portugal to lay high duties upon the import of the produce of America. 1 The question upon this remedy, which will exclude the Americans from the Portuguese markets, is whether the Portuguese can do without the produce of America ? or, in other words, whether Great Britain and Ireland, the Barbary States, and the Greek islands, can supply the demands of Portugal for provisions ? If these demands can be supplied, I should recommend this measure, but it is desirable that you should write to the British Government upon the sub- ject, to let them know how the matter stands. I shall also mention it to Lord Liverpool. . . .' 4 i6 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Memorandum. ' In considering the paper on the subject of Portuguese finances of October, 1811, it is necessary to advert to the state of the kingdom and its credit, the probability of suc- cess in the war, and the chances which exist that Portugal may again become the theatre of the operations of the war. • I am not acquainted with the law adverted to in the paper, which has for its object to prevent the exportation of specie, but I am apprehensive that it cannot be put into execution. The exporters of specie, to the great distress of the army and the ruin of the country, are the American merchants, who have brought to Portugal articles of the first necessity ; these merchants cannot venture to take in pay- ment bills upon England, because the non-importation law in America would prevent them from importing into their own country the goods which they would purchase in England with the produce of these bills. ' They must continue, therefore, to export specie from Portugal as long as the non-importation law of America shall continue in force, unless the Portuguese Government, upon finding the inconvenience of this drain of the precious metals, shall adopt measures to put an end to the importation into Portugal of the produce of America. The Government should consider whether the country can do without the importation from America ; whether His Majesty's dominions, and his influence with the Greek islands in the Barbary States, would procure for the country the articles of first necessity which it requires ; and if these articles can be procured in this manner, it is a measure of vital impor- tance to put an end to the trade with America.' American Embargo. To Lieutenant-General Graham. ' FUENTE GUINALDO, 'May 8, 1812. ' . . . I have a paper from America, from which it appears that the Americans have laid a general embargo on all WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 417 vessels. This is a measure of importance, as all this part , of the Peninsula has been living this year on American flour.' ' These Cunning Americans.' To the Right Hon. Sir Henry Wellesley. ' FUENTE GUINALDO, 1 May IO, 1812. ' . . . You will have heard of the American embargo for ninety days, from April 7 — that is to say, to see whether their corn will be absolutely necessary for our subsistence next year. If it should not be so, they will take off the embargo. But I see that the new Ministry have lowered their tone about the Orders in Council. Indeed, they have laid themselves on this subject at the mercy of France and America. . . . ' Would it be possible to come to any arrangement with the Barbaresque powers to supply Cadiz, Lisbon, etc., with corn ? It would be capital to turn the tables upon these cunning Americans, and not to allow them to have any intercourse with those ports. I have sent to the Brazils and to the Mediterranean for corn, and to the British settlements in North America ; to the Western Islands, etc. Mexico ought to be able to supply some.' American Naval Successes. To Marshal C. Beresford. ' Freneda, ' February t>, 181 3. ' . . . I have been very uneasy about the American naval successes. I think we should have peace with America before the season for opening the campaign in Canada, if we could take one or two of these d d frigates.' 27 4 i8 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Hostility of the Worst Description. To the Earl of Liverpool. ' FUENTE GUINALDO, 1 May 12, 1813. ' We have received here the accounts of the American embargo for three months from April 7 ; and, adverting to the quantity of provisions imported into the kingdom of Portugal, principally, I believe, from the American States, in the last twelve months, of which I enclose a return, you will readily believe that these accounts have occasioned a good deal of anxiety. Not only Portugal, but the neighbouring provinces of Spain have subsisted upon these importations. ' I feel no anxiety respecting the subsistence of the army in consequence of this measure. . . . 'When your lordship informed me, in your letter of November 21, that we could not expect any supplies of grain from England, I desired that the magazines of the army might be augmented from a stock for three months' con- sumption to one for six months' consumption. We had accordingly in the magazines, when we received the accounts of the embargo, more than sufficient to last our army 200 days, including that part of the Portuguese army serving in the British divisions. 1 The Portuguese demands upon us for grain instead of money as subsidy will reduce that stock in some degree ; but I have directed additional purchases, in order to keep up our magazines to that quantity till the state of the next harvest in England shall be known, when, if it should be plentiful, I shall reduce them again to a supply for three months. ' Expecting that something of the kind that has lately taken place in America would occur, I requested Mr. Stuart in the winter to take measures to get corn from the Brazils, from the North American States, and from the coast of Barbary, and I have since adopted measures to get some from the British Colonies in North America, where I believe much can be got. WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 419 ' I believe that our expectations of a supply from the Brazils will not be disappointed, and indeed I believe that a very large supply could be drawn from thence if ships were sent there. I am afraid that our demands in North America were too late. ' It is not impossible that this measure of hostility (under the disguise of peace) of the worst description has been adopted by the American Government at an earlier period than was intended, in consequence of their receiving intelli- gence of the measures taken by us to purchase supplies there. ' Our measures to procure supplies on the coast of Barbary have failed, principally, as I am informed, from the deficiencies of the persons employed by the British Government to conduct their affairs on that coast. The affairs of that coast become every day more interesting. It is very desirable that the allies should, and that the enemy should not, enjoy the benefit of their resources, and I believe that both objects could be accomplished if persons of character and talents were employed to conduct the affairs of the British Government there, instead of those who are there at present. ' The persons who should be sent from England on these services, if any should be sent, might call at Lisbon and at Cadiz, in order to converse with the King's Ministers, and the persons employed at those places to superintend the supply of the markets, and of the magazines of the army. ' The measures which I have adopted to get corn from the British Colonies in North America have been confined to the Commissary-General directing the Commissary-General there to make purchases for him, and to send them to Portugal ; and Mr. Stuart has desired Mr. Foster to employ some money which he had sent him to make purchases in the American States, in making purchases in the British Colonies. But if the embargo should be renewed, these measures will not be sufficient to supply the demands of this country and Cadiz, notwithstanding the prospects of the plentiful harvest. ' Your lordship knows best whether the British Colonies in North America can supply any large quantity of corn ; if 27 — 2 420 WELLING TON ' 5 DESPA TCHES they can, I would beg leave to suggest that some measures should be adopted by Government, probably through the Board of Trade, to secure the importation of a large quantity into the Peninsula before the winter. ' You will see in the enclosed paper the prices which the different kinds of grain have brought in the Lisbon market. Flour has latterly been from 15 to 17 dollars the barrel of 196 pounds. The price has increased very much since the accounts of the embargo have been received, but I think they will fall again as the harvest approaches, which promises to be remarkably plentiful. We have already had an offer from America to supply us with 60,000 barrels of flour, at an advance of 50 per cent, beyond the price before the accounts of the embargo were received, to which I have declined to agree, as there is no want at present, and we could not get this supply before the harvest even in England ; and if the want should be so great as that the price will rise to the amount demanded by about 23 dollars a barrel, the embargo will prevent the Americans from bringing their corn to the Lisbon market. If the price should not rise to that sum, it will be because there will be plenty of corn, and if that should be the case there is no reason why we should engage to pay this exorbitant price. ' However, the subject requires early attention to counter- act the mischief which the American Government certainly intended by laying on the embargo at the time they did, and I am certain that by attention there will be plenty in Portugal, notwithstanding the failure of the supply from America. . . .' American Vessels to be taken. To Marshal Beresford. 'St. Sever, '-March 7, 18 14. ' I understand that there are some American vessels in the river, of which you will take possession, and take the crews as prisoners of war.' WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 421 The Expedition to North America. To Lieutenant-General Hill. ' Paris, ' May 5, 1 8 14. ' I arrived here yesterday, and I received in the night the enclosed extract of a letter which Lord Bathurst had written to me on April 14, the original of which I ought to have received before I left Toulouse, but which Freemantle delivered to me only this day. ' You know as much of the force and object of this expedi- tion* as I do. It is to be 12,000 infantry, the 14th Light Dragoons, and four companies of artillery. If you should determine to accept the command, you should prepare to set out for England by Paris. . . .' The Slave Trade. To the Right Hon. Sir Henry Wellesley. ' London, ' July 20, 1 8 14. ' I was not aware till I had been some time here, and am unable to describe to you, the degree of frenzy existing here about the slave trade. People in general appear to think that it would suit the policy of the nation to go to war to put an end to that abominable traffic, and many wish that we should take the field on this new crusade. All agree that no favour can be shown to a slave-trading country, and as Spain, next to Portugal, is supposed to be the country which gives most protection to this trade, the interests and wishes of Spain are but little attended to here. . . .' * The projected expedition to North America under General Lord Hill, afterwards divided into separate corps, under Generals Kempt, Power, and Robinson, and sent to serve in Canada. Other corps were also sent under Generals Ross, Pakenham, Gibbs, and Keane. 422 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Claim of American Ships. To Earl Bathurst. ' Paris, ' August 29, 1 8 14. ' I have the honour to inform you that there are now lying in the Garonne River at Bordeaux two ships, supposed, on good grounds, to be American, which were taken when the army entered that place. ' I beg your lordship will observe that the fort of Blaye, which in some degree commands the passage from Bordeaux to the sea, was never in our possession ; and that when Lieutenant-General Lord Dalhousie agreed with the French General to a convention for the suspension of hostilities, he did not insist upon the free navigation of the river. ' Under these circumstances, your lordship will be the best judge whether instructions ought to be given to His Majesty's Ambassador to claim these ships from the French Government.' Complaint against American Privateers. To His Highness the Prince de Benevent. ' Paris, ' September 4, 18 12. ' The undersigned Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from His Britannic Majesty begs to call the attention of His Highness the Prince de Benevent to the enclosed statements which he has received of the fitting out, the arming, manning, provisioning, and providing with papers, of American privateers, in the ports of France ; and the consequences which have resulted to the British trade in the Channel. ' It is obvious that the conduct of which these papers give the reports deprives the ports of France of all character of neutrality ; and that the orders which His Highness the Prince de Benevent stated in His Highness's note of May 20 had been given by His Majesty, any more than those referred to in His Highness's note of June 15, have WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 423 not been obeyed in the ports of Cherbourg, Morlaix, and L'Orient. ' The undersigned is confident that it is only necessary to draw His Highness's attention to these facts, to induce him to take measures to insure an obedience to His Majesty's orders in future. . . .' A Right of War. To the Prince de Benevent. ' Paris, ' September 9, 18 14. * I have the honour to inform your Highness that I have received the directions of the Prince Regent to bring under your Highness's consideration the following circumstances attending the captures made by the allied forces at Bordeaux and in the. Garonne, and to make certain propositions, which follow hereafter, for the consideration of His Most Christian Majesty. ' When the allied troops entered Bordeaux on March 12, 1814, there were in the Garonne several vessels, as well of war as belonging to merchants ; and in the Government stores quantities of tobacco, the property of the late Govern- ment ; of miscellaneous articles confiscated, likewise the property of the late Government ; of salt and colonial produce, the property of individuals, but held by the late Government as a security for the payment of duties ; and of wine, the property of individuals, but held by the late Government as a security for the payment of certain sums due by the proprietors to Government. ' All these vessels and goods were taken possession of by the Commander-in-Chief of the allied army as a right of war. ' In regard to the vessels, as well of war, belonging to Government, as merchant vessels belonging to individuals, the Commander-in-Chief of the army thought proper to make use of the authority vested in him to give directions in the month of June last that the whole should be restored, the vessels of war to the officers of Government, and the 424 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES merchant vessels to their owners, with the exception of two American vessels, and the , which still remain in the possession of the agents of the captors. ' In regard to the goods, the Commander-in-Chief of the army, having thought proper, in consequence of the political state of affairs at Bordeaux at the period of the arrival there of the allied troops, to make over that city and its dependencies to the Government of His Royal Highness the Due d'Angouleme, he likewise made over to M. Laine, the Prefet appointed by His Royal Highness, the charge of the tobacco, miscellaneous articles, salt, colonial produce, and wine in the public stores, on the condition that the property of Government in those several articles should be forthcoming for the use of the allied army when called for. ' It was subsequently agreed between His Royal Highness and the Commander-in-Chief that the salt and colonial produce should be allowed to be taken out of the stores by the proprietors of those articles, on condition of their pay- ing the reduced duties fixed by the Provisional Government of France, in their proclamation of April 24, to be levied on those articles respectively, instead of the duties laid on by the former Government; the amount of which reduced duties was to be forthcoming for the benefit of the captors when called for. 1 Notwithstanding the undoubted right of the captors to the whole of this property, which they would have sold for their benefit at the moment of their entry into Bordeaux, if it had not been for the attention which the Commander- in-Chief thought it proper to pay to the situation of His Royal Highness the Due d'Angouleme ; and notwithstand- ing the engagements on the part of His Royal Highness the Due d'Angouleme, the actual Prefet refuses to give over any part of this property to the agents appointed to take charge of it on the part of the Commander-in-Chief of the allied army for the benefit of the captors. ' I have, therefore, received the directions of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to request your Highness to WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 425 apply to His Majesty that the American ships, and , captured by the allied army in March last, may be allowed to depart from the Garonne to the place to which the captors may think proper to take them ; and that His Majesty will be pleased to give directions to the Prefet at Bordeaux to pay to the agent appointed by the Commander- in-Chief of the allied army the sum of £23,633 sterling, being the value of the tobacco taken in the Government stores on March 12 ; £1,500 sterling, being the value of the confiscated goods taken in the same stores at the same period; £21,590 sterling, being the amount of the reduced duties on the salt taken in the same ; £8,257 sterling, being the amount of the reduced duties of the articles of colonial produce taken in the same ; and £48,982, sterling, being the amount of the debts due to the late Government, for which the wine taken in the public stores on March 12 was the security. ' Although I am instructed to lay claim to these vessels and sums of money on the part of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, I have to inform your Highness that it is the intention of His Royal Highness, according to the custom of His Majesty's service, to give this property to the allied army.' The 'True-Blooded Yankee.' To the Comte de Jancourt. ' Paris, ' October 8, 1814. ' I beg to draw your Excellency's attention to the follow- ing reports which I have received of American privateers in the ports of France, upon which I request your Excellency will order inquiries to be made. ' The American privateer called the True-Blooded Yankee has been completely fitted for sea at Brest, and manned with a crew of 200 men. She sailed on September 21 from Brest. ' The American schooner Transit has arrived at Bordeaux with a messenger from the United States. This vessel has 426 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES shown only 5 guns, and reports that her crew consists only of 30 men ; but she carries 18 guns and 120 men (the latter are supposed to be in the villages on shore). A vessel of the same description, of the same size, and mount- ing the same number of guns, chased the Collingwood, a British merchant vessel of Plymouth, in the mouth of the Garonne, on September 17, and nearly ran her on shore. ' I am convinced that your Excellency will see, in these instances which I have been directed to lay before you, an abuse of the neutrality of the French ports, and a breach of those rules which His Majesty has been pleased to lay down for the conduct of belligerents in the ports and on the coasts of his kingdom.' Misuse of French Harbours. To the Comte de Jaucourt. ' Paris, 1 October 30, 1814. ' I have the honour to inform you that I have received intelligence that on the 23rd instant fifty-three American seamen left Bordeaux on their way to L'Orient, to be there embarked on board the American schooner Lion, which is at L'Orient. ' I trust your Excellency will take measures to prevent the harbours of France from being the ports in which American vessels of war and privateers are fitted, manned, and armed, to cruise against the commerce of His Majesty's subjects.' Private Ships. To the Comte de Jaucourt. ' Paris, ' November 5, 1814. ' I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 4th instant, regarding the embarkation in a private ship, and passage to the United States, of certain persons from this country, and the return of the same ship with certain other persons from the United States to France. WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 427 1 1 know of nothing that is to prevent or impede the safe arrival and return of this ship, excepting the actual blockade of the American port into which she should attempt to enter by the fleets of His Majesty; but, as it is the wish of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to render the existing war with the United States as little troublesome as possible to friendly and neutral States, I should have no hesitation in addressing to your Excellency such a letter as you desire if I were not so near to His Royal Highness, and had it not in my power to procure immediately His Royal Highness's orders direct to the commanders of His Majesty's ships to offer no molestation to the voyage of the private ship in question. ' I therefore take the earliest opportunity of making applica- tion for these orders, which I hope to have the honour of delivering to you in a few days.' Refusal of Terms by America. To the Earl of Liverpool. ' Paris, ' November 21, 1 8 1 4 . ' I hear that accounts have been received here of October 23 from America, stating that the American Government had refused to accede to the terms offered by us to the American Commissioners. 1 1 have not been able to see the person who has got this letter, and I give you only what I have heard of its contents, but I hope to see him to-morrow.' A Suspicious Vessel. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Paris, ' November 26, 1814 1 1 enclose the copy of a letter from the Consul at Bordeaux, to which I beg to draw your attention. ' I had already received reports of the sailing of the Lion from L' Orient, and, as I had warned the Minister of Foreign 428 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Affairs of the nature of this ship, I have remonstrated against her being permitted to sail. He was not acquainted at the time I spoke to him of her having sailed, and appeared to be of opinion that she had escaped without the knowledge of the officers of the port ; but the truth is that, whatever she may be turned to hereafter, she has not sailed from L'Orient in the character of a privateer, though she is a very sus- picious vessel. ' According to the system of neutrality adopted by the French Government, and admitted by that of His Majesty, it is impossible to prevent even privateers from resorting freely to the ports of France and quitting them at pleasure. I remonstrate whenever I hear of one, and the French Government declare, and I believe with truth, that they are sincerely desirous of being strictly neutral, and that the Americans complain of the system they have adopted, and of the manner in which they carry it into execution. But still the evil continues. I would beg leave to suggest to your lordship that by far the easiest way of preventing the resort of American privateers, and even of merchantmen, to French ports, would be to station a ship of war to cruise off each. This measure could not with justice be objected to by the French Government, and would effectually prevent an evil which, under existing circumstances, cannot be remedied in any other manner.' The Blockade of American Ports. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Paris, • December 4, 1814. 1 In consequence of the directions contained in Earl Bathurst's despatch of November 29, I have informed M. de Jaucourt that the blockade of the American ports could not be permitted to be relieved for the purpose of exporting the timber required at St. Pierre and Miquelon. ' In the meantime I received the answer, of which the enclosed is a copy, of the 2nd instant, to a letter I addressed WELLINGTON AND AMERICA 429 M. de Jaucourt on November 21, desiring to know for what number of vessels passports would be required to export the timber wanted at St. Pierre and Miquelon. The return in this letter may be of use in showing your lordship what quantity of timber will be required from His Majesty's possessions in case the offer to allow it to be supplied from His Majesty's possessions should be accepted.' The War in America. To Lieutenant-General Sir George Murray. ' Paris, ' December 22, 1814. ' I congratulate you upon the arrangement which takes you to America, if you like it ; but will not forget your wish to join me again, which I assure you I feel as it deserves, if I should ever again be employed in a military capacity. I believe your opinions and mine are not far different as to the war in America. I approve highly — indeed, I go further, I admire — all that has been done by the military in America, as far as I understand it generally. Whether Sir George Prevost was right or wrong in his decision at Lake Champlain is more than I can tell ; but of this I am very certain : he must equally have retired to Kingston after our fleet was beaten, and I am inclined to believe he was right. ' I have told the Ministers repeatedly that a naval superi- ority on the lakes is a sine qua non of success in war on the frontier of Canada, even if our object should be solely defen- sive, and I hope that when you are there they will take care to secure it for you. ' We have rumours of peace which I believe to be well founded, which I hope will stop you, unless, indeed, you should decidedly prefer to be there to any other situa- tion. . . .' 43o WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES British Prisoners. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Paris, '■January 9, 181 5. ' In reference to my despatch of the 2nd, I have now the honour to enclose the copy of another letter from His Majesty's Consul at Bordeaux, reporting that he has suc- ceeded in procuring the release of the British prisoners from on board the American ship MacDonnough.' Works of Art retaken. To Viscount Castlereagh. ' Paris, '■January 15, 181 5. ' M. le Comte de Goltz, the Prussian Minister, has in- formed me that the Alexander merchantship, bound from Leghorn to England, and lately taken by the American privateer Leo, was lately retaken by a British cruiser, and was carried into Cherbourg, and thence to a British port. She had on board a monument of the late Queen of Prussia, and other works of art belonging to His Prussian Majesty ; and M. de Goltz is very anxious that they should be secured, in order that His Majesty may get possession of them.' WATERLOO The Duke of Brunswick's Troops. To H.S.H. the Duke of Brunswick, K.G. ' Bruxelles, 'April 6, 1815. ' It has been arranged in a treaty signed by Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, to which all the other Powers of Europe have been called upon to accede, that the measures to be adopted, in consequence of the position in which the Powers of Europe have been placed in relation to France by Buonaparte's recent invasion of that kingdom, shall be adopted by common accord ; and His Majesty's Minister will make known your Highness's desire that your troops should be at the disposition of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent.' Memorandum On the Defence of the Frontier of the Netherlands. ' Paris, ' September 22, 18 14. 1 . . . There are good positions for an army at La Trinite and at Renaix behind Tournay ; another between Tournay and Mons, on the high grounds about Blaton ; there are many good positions about Mons ; the course of the Haine from Binch towards Mons would afford some good ones ; about Nivelle, and between that and Binch, there are many advantageous positions ; and the entrance of the foret de Soignies* by the highroad which leads to Brussels from Binch, Charleroi, and Namur, would, if worked upon, afford others. . . .' * Where the Battle of Waterloo was fought in the following year. 28 434 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES A Mutiny and ' Poor Old Blucher. ' To the Earl of Clancarty, G.C.B. ' Bruxelles, 1 May 3, 1815. ' . . . The Saxons mutinied last night at Liege, and obliged poor old Blucher to quit the town ; the cause of the mutiny was the order to divide the corps, and that the Prussian part, in which the guards were included, should take the oath of allegiance to the King of Prussia. ' We hear of Buonaparte's qutting Paris, and of the march of troops to this frontier, in order to attack us. I met Blucher at Tirlemont this day, and received from him the most satisfactory assurances of support. ' For an action in Belgium I can now put 70,000 men into the field, and Blucher 80,000, so that I hope we should give a good account even of Buonaparte. ' I am not satisfied with our delays.' Buonaparte's Movements. To Lieutenant-General Lord Hill. 1 Bruxelles, ' May 9, 181 5, noon. ' Matters look a little serious upon the frontier ; the enemy have certainly got the greatest part of their force collected at Valenciennes and Maubeuge, and it is said that Buonaparte arrived yesterday at Conde. I was assured at Ghent on Sunday that he was to leave Paris on this day. It is certain that all communication is stopped since yester- day morning. . . .' To the Right Hon. Sir Henry Wellesley. 1 Bruxelles, 1 May 12, 1815. ' . . . There has been a good deal of movement upon the frontier in the last week, but I am inclined to believe it is entirely defensive, and that Buonaparte cannot venture to WATERLOO 435 quit Paris. Indeed, all accounts give reason to hope that, even without the aid of the Allies, his power will not be of long duration.' To General Lord Lynedoch, G.C.B. ' Bruxelles, 'June 13, 1815. ' . . . There is nothing new here. We have reports of Buonaparte's joining the army and attacking us, but I have accounts from Paris of the 10th, on which day he was still there, and I judge from his speech to the Legislature that his departure was not likely to be immediate. I think we are now too strong for him here.' Rations for Brunswick Troops. To Commissary -General Dunmore. ' Bruxelles, ' May 13, 1815. ' I beg you will take measures to feed the Brunswick troops to-morrow, and afterwards ; you will learn from the Quartermaster-General where they are, and I beg you will send somebody to their cantonments at Vilvorde in the morning at daylight. ' Their ration for men must be two pounds of bread, half a pound of meat and vegetables. The ration for their horses is ten pounds of hay, and one-eighth of a peck of oats. ' The vegetables should be : A quarter of a pound of grits, barley, or rice ; or half a pound of peas, beans, vetches, or oatmeal ; or one pound of potatoes, or other vegetables.' Disposition of French Troops. To Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Hardinge, K.C.B. ' Bruxelles, ' May 16, 1815, 11 a.m. ' I enclose a memorandum which I have drawn from intelligence I have recently received, from which the Marshal 28—2 436 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES will see the strength and disposition of the French army ; and that with the ist, 2nd, 3rd and 6th Corps, and the Guards, and the 3rd Division of cavalry of reserve, we have a good lot of them in our front. I should think not less than 110,000 men. . . .' Memorandum. For the Deputy Quartermaster-General. Movements of the Army. ' Bruxelles, '■June 15, 1815. ' General Dornberg's brigade of cavalry, and the Cumber- land Hussars, to march this night upon Vilvorde, and to bivouac on the highroad near to that town. ' The Earl of Uxbridge will be pleased to collect the cavalry this night at Ninhove, leaving the 2nd Hussars looking out between the Scheldt and the Lys. ' The ist Division of infantry to collect this night at Ath and adjacent, and to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice. 'The 3rd Division to collect this night at Brainele Comte, and to be in readiness to move at the shortest notice. ' The 4th Division to be collected this night at Grammont, with the exception of the troops beyond the Scheldt, which are to be moved to Audenarde. ' The 5th Division, the 81st Regiment, and the Hanoverian brigade of the 6th Division, to be in readiness to march from Bruxelles at a moment's notice. ' The Duke of Brunswick's corps to collect this night on the highroad between Bruxelles and Vilvorde. 'The Nassau troops to collect at daylight to-morrow morn- ing on the Louvain road, and to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice. 'The Hanoverian brigade of the 5th Division to collect this night at Hal, and to be in readiness at daylight to- morrow morning to move towards Bruxelles, and to halt on the highroad between Alost and Assche for further orders. WATERLOO 437 ' The Prince of Orange is requested to collect at Nivelles the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the army of the Low Countries ; and, should that point have been attacked this day, to move the 3rd Division of British infantry upon Nivelles as soon as collected. ' This movement is not to take place until it is quite certain that the enemy's attack is upon the right of the Prussian army, and the left of the British army. ' Lord Hill will be so good as to order Prince Frederick of Orange to occupy Audenarde with 500 men, and to collect the 1st Division of the army of the Low Countries, and the Indian brigade at Sotteghem, so as to be ready to march in the morning at daylight. ' The reserve artillery to be in readiness to move at day- light. ' Wellington.' Movement of the Army. After-Orders, 10 o'clock p.m. ' Bruxelles, l Jime 15, 18 15. ' The 3rd Division of infantry to continue its movement from Braine le Comte upon Nivelles. ' The 1st Division to move from Enghien upon Braine le Comte. ' The 2nd and 4th Divisions of infantry to move from Ath and Grammont, also from Audenarde, and to continue their movements upon Enghien. ' The cavalry to continue its movement from Ninhove upon Enghien. 'The above movements to take place with as little delay as possible. ' Wellington.' 438 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Instructions for the Movement of the Army on the i6th.* Signed by Colonel Sir W. De Lancey, Deputy Quartermaster- General. To General Lord Hill. '•June 16, 1815. ' The Duke of Wellington requests that you will move the 2nd Division of infantry upon Braine le Comte immediately. The cavalry has been ordered likewise on Braine le Comte. His Grace is going to Waterloo.' 1 June 16, 1 81 5. ' Your lordship is requested to order Prince Frederick of Orange to move, immediately upon the receipt of this order, the 1st Division of the army of the Low Countries, and the Indian brigade, from Sotteghem to Enghien, leaving 500 men, as before directed, in Audenarde.' ' Genappe, '■June 16, 1815. ' The 2nd Division of infantry to move to-morrow morning at daybreak from Nivelles to Quatre Bras. ' The 4th Division of infantry to move at daybreak to- morrow morning to Nivelles.' '■June 16, 181 5. ' The reserve artillery to move at daybreak to-morrow morning, the 17th, to Quatre Bras, where it will receive further orders.' To Major-General Sir J. Lambert, K.C.B. 'June 16, 181 5. ' The brigade of infantry, under the command of Major- General Sir J. Lambert, to march from Assche at daybreak to-morrow morning, the 17th instant, to Genappe, on the Namur road, and to remain there until further orders.' * The original instructions issued to Colonel de Lancey were lost with that officer's papers. These memorandums of movements have been collected from the different officers to whom they were addressed. WATERLOO 439 Instructions for the Movement of the Army on the 17TH. To General Lord Hill. 'June 17, 1815. ' The 2nd Divison of British infantry to march from Nivelles on Waterloo at ten o'clock. ' The brigades of the 4th Division now at Nivelles to march from that place on Waterloo at ten o'clock. Those brigades of the 4th Division at Braine le Comte, and on the road from Braine le Comte to Nivelles, to collect and halt at Braine le Comte this day. 'All the baggage on the road from Braine le Comte to Nivelles to return immediately to Braine le Comte, and to proceed immediately from thence to Hal and Bruxelles. ' The spare musket ammunition to be immediately parked behind Genappe. ' The corps under the command of Prince Frederick of Orange will move from Enghien this evening, and take up a position in front of Hal, occupying Braine le Chateau with two battalions. ' Colonel Erstorff will fall back with his brigade on Hal, and place himself under the orders of Prince Frederick.' Final Words. To Major-General Colville. 'June 17, 1815. 'The army retired this day from its position at Quatre Bras to its present position in front of Waterloo. 1 The brigades of the 4th Division at Braine le Comte are to retire at daylight to-morrow morning upon Hal. ' Major- General Colville must be guided by the intelligence he receives of the enemy's movements in his march to Hal, whether he moves by the direct route or by Enghien. ' Prince Frederick of Orange is to occupy with his corps the position between Hal and Enghien, and is to defend it as long as possible. 440 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES ' The army will probably continue in its position in front of Waterloo to-morrow. ' Lieutenant - Colonel Torrens will inform Lieutenant- General Sir C. Colville of the position and situation of the armies.' To Sir Charles Stuart. ' Waterloo, ' June 18, 1815, 3 a.m. ' I enclose two letters, which I beg you to peruse and forward without loss of time. You will see in the letter to the Due de Berri the real state of our case and the only risk we run. The Prussians will be ready again in the morning for anything. ' Pray keep the English quiet if you can. Let them all prepare to move, but neither be in a hurry or a fright, as all will yet turn out well. ' I have given the directions to the Governor of Antwerp to meet the crotchets which I find in the heads of the King's Governors upon every turn. ' The post-horses are embargoed in my name — I conclude, to prevent people from running away with them ; but give the man orders to allow anybody to have them who goes with an order from you.' THE WATERLOO DESPATCH.* To Earl Bathurst. ' Waterloo, '■June 19, 18 1 5. ' My Lord, ' Buonaparte, having collected the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th Corps of the French army, and the Imperial Guards, and nearly all the cavalry, on the Sambre, and between that river and the Meuse, between the 10th and 14th of the month, * Captain William Siborne's celebrated model of the Battle of Waterloo is in the Museum of the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall. It represents the time when Napoleon was making his last effort for victory. It was claimed by Siborne that the Government entrusted him with the task of making the model, but when the work was suspended in WATERLOO 441 advanced on the 15th and attacked the Prussian posts at Thuin and Lobbes, on the Sambre, at daylight in the morning. ' I did not hear of these events till in the evening of the 15th ; and I immediately ordered the troops to prepare to march, and afterwards to march to their left, as soon as I had intelligence from other quarters to prove that the enemy's movement upon Charleroi was the real attack. ' The enemy drove the Prussian posts from the Sambre on that day ; and General Ziethen, who commanded the corps which had been at Charleroi, retired upon Fleurus ; and Marshal Prince Bliicher concentrated the Prussian army upon Sombref, holding the villages in front of his position of St. Amand and Ligny. ' The enemy continued his march along the road from Charleroi towards Bruxelles ; and on the same evening, the 15th, attacked a brigade of the army of the Netherlands, under the Prince de Weimar, posted at Frasne, and forced it back to the farmhouse, on the same road, called Les Quatre Bras. 'The Prince of Orange immediately reinforced this brigade with another of the same division, under General Perponcher, and, in the morning early, regained part of the ground which had been lost, so as to have the command of the communi- cation leading from Nivelles and Bruxelles with Marshal Bliicher's position. ' In the meantime I had directed the whole army to march upon Les Quatre Bras ; and the 5th Division, under Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, arrived at about half-past two in the day, followed by the corps of troops under the Duke of Brunswick, and afterwards by the con- tingent of Nassau. ' At this time the enemy commenced an attack upon 1833, owing to the change of Administration, he finished it on his own account, and at a cost to himself of more than ,£4,000. After suffering much disappointment in connection with the model, it was purchased from Captain Siborne by public subscription, and placed in the museum for permanent exhibition. — W. W. 442 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Prince Bliicher with his whole force, excepting the ist and 2nd Corps, and a corps of cavalry under General Kellermann, with which he attacked our post at Les Quatre Bras. ' The Prussian army maintained their position with their usual gallantry and perseverance against a great disparity of numbers, as the 4th Corps of their army, under General Biilow, had not joined ; and I was not able to assist them as I wished, as I was attacked myself, and the troops, the cavalry in particular, which had a long distance to march, had not arrived. ' We maintained our position also, and completely de- feated and repulsed all the enemy's attempts to get posses- sion of it. The enemy repeatedly attacked us with a large body of infantry and cavalry, supported by a numerous and powerful artillery. He made several charges w T ith the cavalry upon our infantry, but all were repulsed in the steadiest manner. ' In this affair His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, the Duke of Brunswick, and Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, and Major-Generals Sir James Kempt and Sir Denis Pack, who were engaged from the commencement of the enemy's attack, highly distinguished themselves, as well as Lieutenant-General Charles Baron Alten, Major-General Sir C. Halkett, Lieutenant-General Cooke, and Major-Generals Maitland and Byng, as they successively arrived. The troops of the 5th Division, and those of the Brunswick corps, were long and severely engaged, and conducted them- selves with the utmost gallantry. I must particularly men- tion the 28th, 42nd, 79th, and 92nd Regiments,* and the battalion of Hanoverians. ' Our loss was great, as your lordship will perceive by the enclosed return, and I have particularly to regret His Serene * The 28th is now the ist Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment. The 42nd is the ist Battalion the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), the 79th is the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, and the 92nd is the 2nd Battalion the Gordon Highlanders. The pipers mustered the High- land Brigade for Waterloo to the terribly prophetic strains of ' Come to me, and I will give you flesh.' — W. W. WATERLOO 443 Highness the Duke of Brunswick, who fell fighting gallantly at the head of his troops. ' Although Marshal Bliicher had maintained his position at Sombref, he still found himself much weakened by the severity of the contest in which he had been engaged, and, as the 4th Corps had not arrived, he determined to fall back, and to concentrate his army upon Wavre ; and he marched in the night, after the action was over. ' This movement of the Marshal rendered necessary a corresponding one upon my part ; and I retired from the farm of Quatre Bras upon Genappe, and thence upon Waterloo the next morning, the 17th, at ten o'clock. 1 The enemy made no effort to pursue Marshal Bliicher. On the contrary, a patrol which I sent to Sombref in the morning found all quiet,* and the enemy's vedettes fell back as the patrol advanced. Neither did he attempt to molest our march to the rear, although made in the middle of the day, excepting by following, with a large body of cavalry brought from his right, the cavalry under the Earl of Uxbridge. 'This gave Lord Uxbridge an opportunity of charging them with the 1st Life Guards, upon their debouche from the village of Genappe, upon which occasion his lordship has declared himself to be well satisfied with that regiment. ' The position which I took up in front of Waterloo crossed the highroads from Charleroi and Nivelles, and had its right thrown back to a ravine near Merke Braine, which was occupied, and its left extended to a height above the hamlet Ter la Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right centre, and near the Nivelles road, we occupied the house and gardens of Hougoumont, which covered the return of that flank ; and in front of the left centre we occu- pied the farm of La Haye Sainte. By our left we com- municated with Marshal Prince Bliicher at Wavre, through * Lieutenant- Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon was sent, escorted by a squadron of the 10th Hussars, to communicate with the Prussian headquarters as to co-operation with the British army ordered to retire to the position in front of Waterloo. 444 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES Ohain ; and the Marshal had promised me that, in case we should be attacked, he would (support me with one or more corps, as might be necessary. ' The enemy collected his army, with the exception of the 3rd Corps, which had been sent to observe Marshal Bliicher, on a range of heights in our front, in the course of the night of the 17th and yesterday morning, and at about ten o'clock he commenced a furious attack upon our post at Hougoumont. I had occupied that post with a detachment from General Byng's brigade of Guards, which was in position in its rear ; and it was for some time under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, and afterwards of Colonel Home ; and I am happy to add that it was main- tained throughout the day with the utmost gallantry by these brave troops, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of large bodies of the enemy to obtain possession of it. ' This attack upon the right of our centre was accompanied by a very heavy cannonade upon our whole line, which was destined to support the repeated attacks of cavalry and infantry, occasionally mixed, but sometimes separate, which were made upon it. In one of these the enemy carried the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte, as the detachment of the light battalion of the German Legion, which occupied it, had expended all its ammunition ; and the enemy occupied the only communication there was with them. ' The enemy repeatedly charged our infantry with his cavalry, but these attacks were uniformly unsuccessful ; and they afforded opportunities to our cavalry to charge, in one of which Lord E. Somerset's brigade, consisting of the Life Guards, the Royal Horse Guards, and 1st Dragoon Guards, highly distinguished themselves, as did that of Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, having taken many prisoners and an eagle. ' These attacks were repeated till about seven in the evening, when the enemy made a desperate effort with cavalry and infantry, supported by the fire of artillery, to force our left centre, near the farm of La Haye Sainte, which after a severe contest was defeated ; and, having WATERLOO 445 observed that the troops retired from this attack in great confusion, and that the march of General Billow's corps, by Frischermont upon Planchenois and La Belle Alliance, had begun to take effect, and as I could perceive the fire of his cannon, and as Marshal Prince Bliicher had joined in person with a corps of his army to the left of our line by Ohain, I determined to attack the enemy, and immediately advanced the whole line of infantry, supported by the cavalry and artillery. The attack succeeded in every point : the enemy was forced from his positions on the heights, and fled in the utmost confusion, leaving behind him, as far as I could judge, 150 pieces of cannon, with their ammunition, which fell into our hands. ' I continued the pursuit till long after dark, and then discontinued it only on account of the fatigue of our troops, who had been engaged during twelve hours, and because I found myself on the same road with Marshal Bliicher, who assured me of his intention to follow the enemy throughout the night. He has sent me word this morning that he had taken 60 pieces of cannon belonging to the Imperial Guard, and several carriages, baggage, etc., belonging to Buonaparte in Genappe. ' I propose to move this morning upon Nivelles, and not to discontinue my operations. ' Your lordship will observe that such a desperate action could not be fought, and such advantages could not be gained, without great loss ; and I am sorry to add that ours has been immense. In Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton His Majesty has sustained the loss of an officer who has frequently distinguished himself in his service, and he fell gloriously leading his division to a charge with bayonets, by which one of the most serious attacks made by the enemy on our position was repulsed. The Earl of Uxbridge, after having successfully got through this arduous day, received a wound by almost the last shot fired, which will, I am afraid, deprive His Majesty for some time of his services. ' His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange distinguished himself by his gallantry and conduct, till he received a 446 WELLINGTON'S DESPATCHES wound from a musket -ball through the shoulder, which obliged him to quit the field. ' It gives me the greatest satisfaction to assure your lordship that the army never upon any occasion conducted itself better. The division of Guards, under Lieutenant- General Cooke, who is severely wounded, Major-General Maitland, and Major-General Byng, set an example which was followed by all, and there is no officer nor description of troops that did not behave well. ' I must, however, particularly mention for His Royal Highness's approbation Lieutenant-General Sir H. Clinton, Major-General Adam, Lieutenant-General Charles Baron Alten (severely wounded), Major-General Sir Colin Halkett (severely wounded), Colonel Ompteda, Colonel Mitchell (commanding a brigade of the 4th Division), Major-Generals Sir James Kempt and Sir D. Pack, Major-General Lambert, Major-General Lord E. Somerset, Major-General Sir W. Ponsonby, Major-General Sir C. Grant, and Major-General Sir H. Vivian, Major-General Sir O. Vandeleur, and Major- General Count Dornberg. ' I am also particularly indebted to General Lord Hill for his assistance and conduct upon this, as upon all former occasions. ' The artillery and engineer departments were conducted much to my satisfaction by Colonel Sir George Wood and Colonel Smyth ; and I had every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the Adjutant-General, Major-General Barnes, who was wounded, and of the Quartermaster - General, Colonel De Lancey, who was killed by a cannon-shot in the middle of the action. This officer is a serious loss to His Majesty's service, and to me at this moment. ' I was likewise much indebted to the assistance of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Lord FitzRoy Somerset, who was severely wounded, and of the officers composing my personal staff, who have suffered severely in this action. Lieutenant- Colonel the Hon. Sir Alexander Gordon, who has died of his wounds, was a most promising officer, and is a serious loss to His Majesty's service. WATERLOO 447 ' General Kruse, of the Nassau service, likewise conducted himself much to my satisfaction, as did General Tripp, com- manding the heavy brigade of cavalry, and General Vanhope, commanding a brigade of infantry, in the service of the King of the Netherlands. ' General Pozzo di Borgo, General Baron Vincent, General Muffling, and General Alava, were in the field during the action, and rendered me every assistance in their power. Baron Vincent is wounded, but I hope not severely, and General Pozzo di Borgo received a contusion. ' I should not do justice to my own feelings, or to Marshal Bliicher and the Prussian army, if I did not attribute the successful result of this arduous day to the cordial and timely assistance I received from them. The operation of General Biilow upon the enemy's flank was a most decisive one ; and even if I had not found myself in a situation to make the attack which produced the final result, it would have forced the enemy to retire if his attacks should have failed, and would have prevented him from taking advantage of them if they should unfortunately have succeeded. ' Since writing the above, I have received a report that Major -General Sir William Ponsonby is killed, and, in announcing this intelligence to your lordship, I have to add the expression of my grief for the fate of an officer who had already rendered very brilliant and important services, and was an ornament to his profession. ' I send with this despatch three eagles,* taken by the troops in this action, which Major Percy will have the honour of laying at the feet of His Royal Highness. I beg leave to recommend him to your lordship's protection. ' I have the honour to be, etc., ' Wellington. ' Earl Bathurst. 5 * One of these was taken by Sergeant Ewart, of the Scots Greys. That regiment — now the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) — bears as a badge an eagle with which is the word 'Waterloo.' The ist (Royal) Dragoons also bear an eagle as a badge, to represent the capture of a French standard at Waterloo. — W. W. o c w H o w H < cq W H O o g £ . 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