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REOOLLECTIONS
OF
‘MY MILITARY LIFE.
BY
COLONEL LANDMANN,
LATE OF THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS,
AUTHOR OF
“ ADVENTURES AND REOOLLECTION S,” &c.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON :
HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,
SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN,
13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.
1854.
95%.
AWN
7-22-37
39‘ ‘1.31
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.
Capture of four Spanish Treasure Ships by a British
Squadron, very little superior in strength, on the
South Coast of Portugal—General Order 11th June,
1808—We proceed to Ayamonte—I am sent on shore
to reconnoitre the enemy—I am feasted—Grand
dinner, &c.——I am at the head of the table—I give
general satisfaction—J return to the Fleet . 1
CHAPTER II.
Report to the General on board the Windsor Castle—
Proceed Westward, and anchor near Cape San Vicente
--Go to pay my respects to the General on board the
N orthumberland—My feather burnt by the explosion
of a gun-Captain Hargood—Invites me to be present
_ at a Theatrical performance on board the N orthumber-
iv CONTENTS.
land—We all suffer from indigestion, the Captain gives
us good advicré—Mulcastefs ominous speech—Return
to near Cadiz—We land at Cadiz—The former Besi-
dence of the Marquis of Solano; an account of his
Assassination . . . . . _ . 21
CHAPTER III.
The Plaza San Antonio, and the company there assem-
bled—The Monks on good terms with the ladies—
Baby oi‘fioers—The Duke of York’s regulations to put
down the same in England—The General, and some
of the troops, including myself, disembark—Hire an
empty house—Severe heat—I walk to Xeres and
back before six o'clock . . . . 37
CHAPTER IV.
Sir George Smith, Charles Fox, Colonel Wittingham—
Mr. Frere-—The Marquis of the Union—Union Jack’
and Bartlemy Fair—I accompany General Spencer to
dine with General Morla—Ladies Bathing—Review
of the British Troops —- Captain Preston—Castafios
gains the Battle of Baylen—We re-embark and sail
to Cape San Vicente—The Chaplain a Drunkard . 55
CHAPTER V.
I proceed to report the conduct of the Chaplain to the
Commandcr-in-Chief-Sir George Smith would not
interfere during the absence of Spencer—Q-Captain Cook
of the Guards-Ekpcctation of being soon landed—
Up anchor and off round Cape San Vicente-Prepa-
CONTENTS. V
rations to land—I cut off my long queue—Anchor at
Mondego Bay—swamped in attempting to land in the
ship’s boat at Figueras—Meet Captain Elphinstone,
and resign to him my command—Embark in a boat to
go up to Lavaos—Mercer obtains for us an admission
to a house—A good trick—Join the Camp—Purchase
a pony from Major Viney . . . . 7 2
CHAPTER VI.
Patten’s eccentricities—Patten hires a negro servant,
and is robbed by him—I am appointed to the Light
Brigade -- An alarm—Leiria—Lieutenant Festing—
Dust—Dinner sent us by the Monks of Alcobaga . 91
CHAPTER VII.
The dust is very inconvenient, and causes sore lips—A
_ cure discovered--Brigadier-General Fane suffered
‘very much—Maj or Vin ey wants a swift horse; I lend
him the one I bought of him, but he cannot make
him go faster than myself—The Bishop of Coimbra—
Viva the pretty girls !—We pass through Caldas-da-
Reinha—Commence dinner—Firing heard—I bag my
dinner—I hasten away towards Obidos—The first
life lost in the Peninsular war—I return to camp at
Caldas—I reconnoitre the surrounding country—-
Rumours of Junot’s intentions—I return to Caldas,
and find Geary’s guns—Geary’s presentiment—We ,
march and arrive at Obidos—Captain Bradford of the
Guards—I ascend the square Moorish tower at the
South point of the town to look out with my glass. 1 l8
vi CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII. ‘
The heights of Columbeira—Sir Arthur Wellesley comes
up into the Tower—I venture to give an opinion, which
is followed—4 proceed with Ferguson’s Brigade——
Lieutenant-Colonel Lake with the 29th Regiment, his
ominous reply—An Aide—de-camp of the Duke of
York just lands, and deranges the attack intended by
Ferguson—First position of the Artillery whence the
first spherical case shot was fired—The fire is re-
turned with round shot—A Portuguese astonished-—
I make a sketch of the ground—Death of the Hon-
ourable George Lake—A lady in the action—Brad-
ford’s death —— The 71st Regiment — Fitzpatrick--
Doctor Gunning . . . . . 134
CHAPTER IX.
Death of Captain Geary—General I-Iill's horse wounded——
Captain Elphingstonewounded-Horses loose at night
—Iteturn to the scene of the action—The wounded-—
I rescue two men of the 45th Regiment, each having
a broken leg—The blue-bottle-flies-Amputation of
an Irishman’s leg by Doctor Gunning—I call on
Captain Elphingstone, badly wounded; his under-jaw
broken . . . . . . . 151
CHAPTER X.
Disposing of the dead bodies-Administering the sacra-
ment to the dying—Peasants putting to death those
who had received the sacrament—A devil, not a
CONTENTS. vii
woman—J provide for the safe delivery of the
wounded man at the depot of wounded men--I return
to the spot where I had left the army; the whole was J
gone—I follow, and purchase a horse—Arrive at
Lorinha—No supper—Thad assumed the command of
h the Engineers—I now sought for Sir Arthur Wellesley
——I go on at the head of the march with Spencer—-
Sent forward to report on the merits of the position at
Vimieiro-_I narrowly escape being madeprisoner. 170
CHAPTER XI.
My recommendation is adopted—I have a marquee—Re-
connoitre the surrounding country —— I refuse to
give Bathurst a copy of my plan of the ground on
which the battle of the 17th was fought-A copy
was, nevertheless, published - Robe acquaints me
we shall be attacked to-morrow—The action com-
mences—I cut a way for a Brigade of Artillery to
pass out of the Park—Great disturbance amongst
the ladies—An interesting event—The 50th Regiment
-—A good laugh at “Who bobs there ?”--I serve
Brigadier-General Austruther as A.D.C. -- Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Taylor—The Drum-Major—Cavalry
turned by Eliott’s guns . . . . 190 '
, CHAPTER XII.
\ Column of attack—Severe fire-Robe’s noble feelings
and devotion—The column advances—The column
attempts to deploy into line—Anstruther’s address to
the 43rd and 50th Regimcntse—Walker’s order and
viii CONTENTS.
then charge-it was a’ grand sight—I am ordered to
hasten forward and bring back those who had gone on
the pursuit—I find it very difiicult to halt these troops
and make them fall back—I join General Fane—A
Rifleman selecting his victim—Capture of a gun
—-Fane’s delight-Two French ofiicers wounded, and
in a gravel-pit—General Pillet—General Brénier. 210
CHAPTER XIII.
The French show a line—The space betwixt us—A
soldier of the 50th gives me a silver dish—The Dirty
Half Hundred becomes the gallant 50th—The field of
battle—Fear of poison—Morrison’ s hat shot through,
the same as my own—Shot at by a wounded prisoner
—I return the compliment—I find Sir Arthur—Tor-
rens’ account of Mulcaster’s conduct—Colonel Burn--
Lieutenant Price—Sir Harry Burrard--I am intro-
duced by Sir Arthur—Conversation with Sir Harry-—
Sir Arthur presses Sir Harry to go on—Sir Arthur’s
conduct thereon—Sir Harry is hungry and wants his
dinner—Thomas Robinson’s determination to save the
gravy-Some plunder of French baggage waggonsl 229
CHAPTER XIV.
I refuse a good offer—I write my despatch with an
umbrella held over my paper-I deliver my plan of
the battle to Sir Harry—Sir Harry made no mention
of the Engineers in his despatch, nor did he of the
Artillery, which Robe having discovered in time,
CONTENTS. ix
had corrected-The ball falls out of my pistol-More
troops arrive—Robe’s joy at the arrival of his son,
but he was killed at Waterloo—A baggage-Waggon
plundered—An ammunition-car damaged— Sir H.
Dalrymple arrives from Gibraltar, and I go to meet
him—The drums beat to arms-The French General
Kellerman arrives in the army with a flag of truce——
March and bivouae on some wooded hills . . 249
CHAPTER XV.
In making a sketch of the ground occupied by the army,
I lose my way—A heavy storm—Alarmed again by
the horses—A court-martial—Arrival of more troops
-—Major Fletcher supersedes me in the command—
The whole of the army reviewed . . 266
CHAPTER XVI.
Advance to Torres-Vedras—Procure a cloak—Dine with
Fane—Wine in a wide dish—Having lost my right to
a marquee, I sleep in a church-porch with Fane—
Sketch of the ground—The Zizandra—Interesting
dialogue stopped in the nick of time—Bivouac at
Monte-de-Agraga—Proceed by the Pass of Bueellas
to San-Antonio-de-Tojal—Sir Arthur retains the com-
mand of his troop as a Division—Captain Elphingstone
comes to the army to take leave of us~—-His wound
appears quite cured—On passage to England he
brings up his three teeth—We are all displeased at
being kept out in open air-Lawson and myself ride
off into Lisbon, and arrive at the American hotel. 284
‘X CONTENTS .
CHAPTER XVII.
At the American hotel we meet other oflicers—We visit
a cofl’ee-house__French ofilcers astonished at our ap—
pearance-—We drink punch together—In attempting
to go back to the hotel we lose our way—Sleep on a
stone seat in front of the hotel and return to camp-—
Lieutenant Wells, Royal Engineers, returns to us;
his account of being made prisoner—The Duke of
Abrantes gives a grand breakfast—Sir Arthur gives
Junot a sharp cut—The General Ofiicers subscribe for
a piece of plate to be presented to Sir Arthur; and
the Field Cflicers do the same . . . . 304
RECOLLECTIONS
OF
MY MILITARY LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
Capture of four Spanish Treasure Ships by a British
Squadron, very little superior in strength, on the
South Coast of Portugal—General Order 11th June,
1808—We proceed to Ayamonte——I am sent on shore
to reconnoitre the enemy—I am feasted—Grand
dinner, &c.-—I am at the head of the table—I give
general satisfaction—I return to the Fleet.
IN making mention of my meeting with
some officers of the Spanish navy, who had
been in England in 1804 as prisoners of war,
and who had been captured on board of the
Fama frigate, one of the four galleons pounced
voL. II. B
2 RECOLLECTIONS or
upon by order of our Government, just at the
moment when they were about to reach their
destination (Cadiz), I must here relate what
may be still in the remembrance of several
persons, though, as I have met with a much
greater number who appeared to be totally
ignorant on the subject, or had but a vague
and very imperfect knowledge of this disgrace-
ful event, I shall take the liberty of reviving
the details as I find them recorded in one of
the best authorities. Before, however, I pro-
ceed to do so, I beg permission to explain that
at the time when those four ships, laden with
treasure, were captured, no war had been de-
clared between this country and Spain; but,
on the contrary, we were enjoying all the con-
veniences and freedom of intercourse usual
during a period of profound peace. It is,
therefore, much to be lamented that, since a
political necessity had suddenly sprung up,
inducing our Government to feel justified in
attacking and capturing those vessels, they
did not, at the same time, feel the neces-
sity of appointing such an overwhelming force
as should have rendered a vigorous defence
MY MILITARY LIFE. 3
evidently uncalled-for to maintain the high
honour of the service. A single shot prior to
striking the colours would have been sufficient
to fulfil the obligations of the case, in order to
protect them from the reproach of having sur-
rendered without firing a shot. Although, in
the following extract, an attempt has been
made to show that the number of guns was
somewhat in our favour, yet it was far too in-
significant, and too imperceptible at the moment
of meeting, to crush at one glance every hope
of being able to make .a successful resistance ;
and such were the grounds upon which the
gallant men, with whom, five years after my
first acquaintance with them, I served in their
gun-boats, had resolved on doing their best to
save their ships and the enormous treasure en-
trusted to their valour.
Ewtmctfrom James’s Naval History, vol. iii.
p. 280 1-—
“ On the third of October, 1804, the British
Squadron sent upon this important service,
and which consisted of the fourty-four gun
frigate Indefatigable, Captain Graham Moore,
eighteen - pounder, thirty - two gun frigate,
B 2
4 RECOLLEOTIONS or
Medusa, Captain John Gore, and Amphion,
Captain Samuel Sutton, and thirty-eight gun
frigate, Lively, Captain Graham Eden I-Iamond,
assembled off Cape Santa-Maria, on the South
coast of Portugal, on the fifth, at 6 A.M., that
Cape bearing N.E., distant nine leagues, the
Medusa made a signal for four large sail,bearing
W. by S., the wind at this time being about
ENE. The Squadron immediately wore, and
made sail in chase. At 8 A.M. the strangers,
which were the Spanish forty-gun frigate
Medea, Rear-Admiral Don J osé Bustamente,
and thirty-four gun frigate, Fama (with broad
pendant), Clara, and Mercedes, formed the
line of battle a-head in the following order:
Fama, Medea, Mercedes, and Clara. At
9h. 5m. A.M. the Medusa placed herself with-
in half-pistol-shot on the weather beam of the
Fama. Presently the Indefatigable took a
similar station by the side of the Medea, and
the Amphion and Lively, as they came up,
ranged alongside the Mercedes and Clara; the
Amphion judiciously running t o leeward of
her opponent.
“ After ineffectually hailing the Medea to
MY MILITARY LIFE. 5
shorten sail, the Indefatigable fired a shot
across her fore-foot, on which the Spanish
frigate did as she had been requested. Capt.
Moore then sent Lieutenant Thomas Arscott
to inform the Spanish commanding officer that
his orders were to detain the Squadron, and
that it was his wish to execute those orders
without bloodshed, but that the Spanish
Admiral’s determination must be instantly
made. The boat not returning as soon as
expected, the Indefatigable made a signal for
her, and, to enforce it, fired a shot ahead of
the Medea. The ofiicer having, at length,
returned with an unsatisfactory answer, the
Indefatigable, at about 9h. 30m. A.M. fired a
second shot a-head of the Medea, and bore
down close upon her Weather-bow. Immedi-
ately the Mercedes fired into the Amphion,
and, in a few seconds afterwards, the Medea
opened her fire upon the Indefatigable. The
latter then made the signal for close battle,
and it instantly commenced. At the end of
about 9m. the Mercedes blew up alongside of
the Amphion with a tremendous explosion.
6 RECOLLECTIONS or
In a minute or two after, the Fama struck her
colours; but, on the Medusa’s ceasing her
fire, re-hoisted them, and attempted to make
ofi”. The Medusa immediately bore up under
the Spanish frigate’s stern, and poured in a
heavy fire, but the Fama continued her course
to leeward. Having sustained during 17m.
the Indefatigable’s heavy broadsides, and
finding a new opponent in the Amphion,
who had advanced on her starboard quarter,
the Medea surrendered. In another 5m. the
Clara did the same, and the Lively was left
at liberty to aid the Medea in the pursuit
of the Fama. At about 415m. past noon, the
Lively, being an admirable sailer, got near
enough to fire her bow guns at the Fama, and
at 1h. 15m. this, the only remaining Spanish
frigate, struck to the two British frigates in
chase of her.
Indefatigable - - - - 4A guns.
Lively - - - - - 38 = 46
Amphion - - - - - 40
Medusa - - - - - 40
MY MILITARY LIFE. 7
Loss on THE BRITISH.
Lively - - - 2 killed 4 wounded.
Amphion - - O ,, 3 ,,
Indefatigable - 0 ,, 0 ,,
Medusa - - 0 ,, 0 ,,
Loss on THE SPANIARDs.
Medea - 412 p- 2 killed 10 wounded.
.Fama - - '11 ,, 50 ,,
Clara - - 7‘ ,, 20 ,,
Mercedes loss about 239.
“It is, therefore, quite clear that the Inde-
fatigable, and any two of her three consorts,
would have been a match, even in time of
notorious war, for these four Spanish frigates.
As it was, the latter defended themselves with
the characteristic bravery of Spaniards, not-
withstanding that they could have been in no
state of preparation, and that the melancholy
loss of one of their number so early in the
action increased the odds against them. As
regards the ship that blew up, one of the pas-
sengers on board the Mercedes was a mer-
chant, named Alvear, with his wife, four
grownaup daughters, and five full-grown sons,-
8 RECOLLECTIONS or
and thirty thousand .pounds, the savings of
thirty years; he himself, and one son, having
gone on board another ship just before the
explosion, he was saved, but all the others
perished. The British Government ‘gave him
the thirty thousand pounds out" of the treasure
captured in the other ships.” \
It is quite needless to make any comment
on the above statement, which seems to have
been drawn up in the hope of justifying, or of,
at least, palliating the reckless course adopted
for the unjust seizure of the unfortunate gal-
leons, by which two lzzmdred and seventy to
two imndred aazd ezlyfitg/ lives were wantonly
sacrificed. Why were not two ships of the
line added to the frigates? Why send just
four frigates to capture four frigates, no matter
about the paltry half-dozen guns more on one
side P '
The ship that blew up contained all the
ladies of the officers retiring home after a long
absence from Europe.
1 1th. In the course of this day, the following
general orders were issued, and I copy them
here, in order .to give the names of the officers
MY MILITARY LIFE. 9
of the Royal-Artillery, and their distributions,
and also some of the interesting details.
“ His Majesty’s ship Atlas, off Cadiz,
“ G. 0. 11th of June, 1808.
“ Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay being arrived,
he will assume the command of vall the Ar-
tillery. Captain Loyd is to act as Adjutant,
and Lieutenant Mitchell as Quarter-Master to
the Royal Artillery. ,
“ One six-pounder and one light howitzer
will be attached to the first brigade, under the
charge of Captain E. Smith and ‘Lieutenant
Holloway of the Artillery. One six-pounder
and one howitzer will be attached to the
second brigade, under Captain Morrison and
Lieutenant Johnstone. One six-pounder and
one howitzer to the 6th Regiment, under
Lieutenants'Thompson and Leathes; and one _
six-pounder and one howitzer to the reserve,
under Captain Cowley and Lieutenant Eesting.
The brigade of twelve-pounders will be held
in reserve.
“ The ‘infantry corps are to be formed two
deep. The 1st and 2nd Brigades will form a
10 RECOLLECTIONS or
front line, the former on‘ the right and sup-
ported by the reserve, the latter on the left,
supported by the 6th Regiment.
“ When the troops land, the officers are to
take on shore with them, in the first instance,
no more baggage than they can carry on their
own persons, unless otherwise ordered; the
men will land with their knapsacks and great
coats neatly folded, canteens filled with water,
haversacks, 85c.
“ A serjeant and private to be left on board
each transport in charge of the baggage, and
convalescent or weakly men to be selected for
this duty. I
“ The troops must land with sixty rounds
of ball-cartridge, and a spare flint per ‘man,
perfectly good; and Lieutenant-Colonel Ram-
say will cause additional ammunition to be
also landed for them.
“ The Inspector of Hospitals (Doctor Chap-
ter) will'take care that the medical officers are
prepared to land with the troops,- and with
the proper field equipments.” "
On the following day, orders having been
given for preparing to go to sea, and a return
Mr MILITARY LIFE. 11
of the quantity of provision on board of each
ship having been required, I 'went with it
myself to the agent of transports. I there
found Captain Preston, from whom I learnt
that we were now destined to proceed to
"Ayamonte, a Spanish frontier town, at the
mouth of the Guadiana, with a View of
pouncing on a small corps of French troops
occupying the Portuguese town called Villa
Real, immediately on the opposite side of the
river.
Accordingly, we sailed, I believe, on the
following day; and having anchored at about
four miles from the mouth of the Guadiana,
(on the 14th of June) my signal was made to
repair on board the Windsor Castle, carrying
the Commander-in-Chief.
I was now informed by General Spencer,
that he wished me to proceed to Ayamonte,
and reconnoitre the position occupied by the
.enemy at Villa-Real, on the right bank of the
Guadiana.
My attention was particularly called to the
means which the enemy might have of making
his escape, in the event of our landing on, the
12 RECOLLECTIONS or
sea-shore, two or three miles to the Westward
of the town of Villa-Real, and near a small
fort called Monte-Gordo.
A Spanish falucha, it was arranged, should.
call for me on board my transport after dark,
in which I was to embark, and proceed to '
Ayamonte, via? the village of Margarita, seated
in a swampy channel Eastward of the direct
entrance to the Guadiana.
Having received all my instructions, and
having made a hearty dinner, I loaded my pis-
13018, Stuck them in my sash, and at nine o’clock “ '
I embarked in the falucha, and proceeded‘
towards my destination perfectly unattended,
for I did not even take my servant with me.
Soon after daylight on the following morn~
ing, we touched at Margarita for half-an-hour,
and then proceeded towards Ayamonte, at
which place I was received by a vast concourse
of people with every demonstration of joy, for
my arrival there seems to have been expected;
and a Spanish Captain of the Navy, who spoke
the English language very perfectly, met me i
at my landing to escort me, ‘and afford me
every information. . I
MY MILITARY LIEE. ' 13
Having completed my reconnoissance, and
having procured, as I thought, much valuable
information, I was conducted at about one
o’clock to the town-hall, where a handsome
dinner, entirely served on silver, had been pre-
pared. According to the Spanish fashion, I
was now placed at the head i of the table to
‘ do the honours‘ of the feast; and about forty
of the public authorities, civil, naval, and mi-
litary, and some of the principal inhabitants of
Ayamonte, sat down to the right and ‘left
of me. ~
This was the first time in my life that I had
been called upon to play the first fiddle on so
important an occasion. I had never even been
present at any meeting bearing the slightest affi-
nity' to it 5 and here I was suddenly called upon
single-handed to‘ represent the British nation
‘at a political dinner, at which were assembled
the highest personages in the town; and,
moreover, I was not there as a guest, but
seated at the head of the table as lord of ‘the
feast, and expected to do the honours in ac‘-
cordance with the customs and manners of a
foreign nation, with whom but ten days before
I’
14 RECOLLECTIONS or
> that time we had been at war, and were now
on terms of the closest friendship !
To fall so unexpectedly into such a position,
it will be readily admitted, was calculated to
a cause me much perplexity; and although my
very imperfect knowledge of the Spanish lan-
guage, and of Spanish etiquette, might be
considered as throwing a considerable degree
of impediment to my acquitting myself in a
satisfactory manner, I had reason to feel con-
vinced that this very circumstance operated
greatly in my favour, since nearly the whole
of the company present were just as ignorant
of English customs and manners as I was of
those of Spain. Moreover, the high good
humour and general determination to view
everything in its best colours, placed me on
such terms with them ,all, that every word 'I
uttered, and every sentiment I expressed, were
received in the most enthusiastic manner ; for
they were fully persuaded, and very justly so,
that I could in no case intend to give offence,
but that I cordially participated in their rap-
tures at the termination of a long, and, to
them, a ruinous war; and at the prospect of
MY MILITARY LIFE. 15
speedily being rescued from the thraldom of a
rapacious, sanguinary, and overbearing enemy.
On my proposing to drink to the health and
restoration of “ Fernando Septz'mo to the arms
of the Spanish nation and faithful subjects,”
the loudest acclamations rent the air, both
within the room and in the street, where
many thousands of persons had assembled,
and to whom my toast had been communi-
cated. The firing of cannon, muskets, and
pistols, the smashing of empty bottles, and
the cries of “View Z08 Inyleses !” (long live the
English I), produced such a deafening noise,
that during the space of five minutes, at least,
it was impossible for any of the persons in
the room to obtain a hearing. At length, catch-
ing a momentary lull amidst the reiterated
vivas, the responding toast was given, “ To
the health of George the Third, let the grate-
ful Spanish nation drink.”
The uproar produced by this toast sur-
passed anything of the kind I have ever heard;
the rows at Covent Garden Theatre, on the
occasion of the people demanding the OR,
or old prices, was nothing to it. The whole
16 RECOLLECTIONS or
company were supplied with tumblers, for
wine-glasses are not used in Spain, and they
now filled them to the top ready for the signal,
when it was proposed, and loudly cheered,
that this health of healths should be drunk in
three bumpers ; and, to carry this novelty into
effect, each person was supplied with a sepa-
rate bottle, upon which the whole of the com-
pany proceeded, without much noise, to drink
off the three bumpers; and, whilst this was
going on, it was suggested by one of the
magistrates, who had ascended the table, and
stood in the centre of it, that, as the toast
then drinking was one towards which they
ought to manifest the highest respect, and as
they could not mark that sense more strongly
than by effectually preventing the same glasses
from being ever used for any inferior toasts, he
proposed that, as soon as emptied, the glasses
should be all reduced to atoms by throwing
them against the walls. The uproar was now
renewed, and, if possible, augmented, by the
destruction of the glasses, which were fol-
lowed by every bottle that had been
emptied.
MY MILITARY LIEEI l7
Observing that Spanish heads could not
resist the effects of such drinking as would
have severely tried those of Britons, I was
anxious to close the feast at this happy period ;
I, therefore, rose, and having obtained a dimi-
nution of the noise, in the fewest words
possible, I thanked the company for thh splen-
did entertainment they had honoured me with,
and also for the manner in which they had
drunk my King’s health, to whom, I promised
them, I should not fail to communicate the
whole of the details of the respect they had
shown his Britannic Majesty.
A violent effort was now made to propose
and drink to my health, and various other
sentiments ; but the total want of\ glasses pre-
sented a serious impediment to any further
expressions in this way, of the prevailing
patriotic feeling, which never had been more
unanimous than on this occasion. The same
obstruction to any further carousing existed
amongst the people in the streets, so that I
carried my point with less dificulty. Such
was the destruction of glasses that I have no
doubt, during some time afterwards, a scarcity
_VOL. II. c
l 8 RECOLLECTIONS or
of that article in Ayamonte was thus occa-
sioned.
I now begged to be allowed to depart, in
order that I might report to the British Com-
mander-in-Chief the result of my visit ; and
was followed to the place of embarcation by
nearly, "I should think, the whole population
of Ayamonte.
On my moving forward to enter the boat,
a general rush was made upon me by this vast
concourse of gentlemen and ladies, who ad-
vanced with open arms to give me the farewell
embrace; and thus, during about twenty min-
utes, I received the kindest embraces from at
least four hundred to five hundred of the
multitude; and I should not have got off so
cheaply had not the master of the boat de-
clared that unless We started immediately, we
should not, during that tide, have a sufficiency
of water to pass over the bar, or some shallow
channel near the sea.
Upon this, several voices were heard from
amidst the crowd, calling out, “ Ha .' Padron,”
or master, “you say that because you are
jealous, and you fear that your mistress, or
MY MILITARY LIFE. 19
your wife, will get an embrace from the
English officer.”
“ Whoever thinks so is either drunk or a
fool, for we should both of us consider such
an embrace an honour; but I did pot see her
till this moment,” replied the Padron ; “she
shall receive his last embrace before he em-
barks, and make you all jealous: so come
forward, Dolores,” as he handed up to me a
lady with a great deal of style, and who, in a
most coquettish manner, held out her arms
and gave me a most hearty embrace (not a
kiss, for that is contrary to Spanish manners),
amidst shouts of “Bravo! bravo !” and the
liveliest sallies of wit.
I now tore myself away, and waving my
hat, and bowing in every direction, I jumped
into the boat, which as instantaneously pushed
off from the shore. The cries of “ Viva!”
from this immense assemblage followed me as
long as the boat remained within sight.
It was some time after dark before I
reached the fleet, and having succeeded in
finding my transport, I did not lose one
moment in making a rough sketch of the
e 2
20 ' RECOLLECTIONS or
relative position of the enemy at Villa-Real,
and of the Spaniards at Ayamonte, showing,
also, the batteries, gun-boat station, &c., the
whole of which was necessary to explain my
report, and which was strongly in favour of
the attack.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 21
CHAPTER II.
Report to the General on board the Windsor Castle-
Proceed Westward, and anchor near Cape San Vicente
-Go' to pay my respects to the General on board the
N orthumberland—My feather burnt by the explosion
of a gun—Captain Hargood—Invites me to be present
at a Theatrical performance on board the N orthumber-
land—We all suffer from indigestion, the Captain gives
us good advice—-Mulcaster’s ominous speech—s-Return
to near Cadiz—We land at Cadiz—The late Residence
of the Marquis of Solano; an account of his Assassi-
nation.
I NOW went on board of the Windsor Castle,
to report to General Spencer, and at the gang—
way was met by Lieutenant-Colonel Bathurst,
who very anxiously said that he did not think
the General would agree to make an attack, as
22 RECOLLECTIONS or
he had been informed that the enemy at Villa-
Real could escape across the swampy valley
and river separating Casto-Marim from Villa-
Real.
How the General had procured this informa-
tion I never could discover afterwards, but I_
was well convinced of its inaccuracy, and,“
therefore, felt greatly mortified at missing this
opportunity of leading the attack; for I am
quite sure it would have terminated in cap-
turing the whole of the enemy, about three
thousand or four thousand in number.
I am enabled to take this decided view of
the subject, having, since then, passed a whole
week at Villa-Real, when I had plenty of spare
time to walk over the country, and investigate
the accuracy of my information, collected at
Ayamonte, in 1808, and which justified the
recommendation contained in my report of
the seventeenth of June, viz., “ that the
enemy cannot retreat in that direction, ex-
cepting exactly at low water ; and even then it is
regarded as a very dangerous attempt by those
best acquainted with the bogs and soft
grounds. I am, therefore, of opinion that the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 23
prospect of success is such as most fully to
justify the attack; and I should take the
liberty of recommending that while every care
be taken to conceal that intention from the
enemy, by embarking the troops in the boats
during the night, and landing them two miles
to the Westward of Villa-Real as soon after
low water as possible, it is scarcely probable
that any failure can occur.”
, I found the General had so completely given
up the attack, that I abstained from pressing
it in any way; he seemed, moreover, to have
his mind directed to some other more inte-
resting measure, which time has not disclosed
to me.
From this place we sailed away to the
Westward, and anchored nearly opposite to
the fortress of Sagres, a few miles to the
Eastward of Cape San Vicente. On the fol-
lowing morning, at an. early hour, some of us
got into the boat and landed on this rocky
coast. Having scrambled to the top, we
visited the wretched village of Figueras, where
we procured a few fowls and eggs. The in-
habitants had never before conversed with
24 RECOLLECTIONS or
English subjects, and were exceedingly pleased
at our visit, and expressed themselves in very
enthusiastic terms at the hope which we held
out to them, of very speedily restoring to them
the Prince Regent of Portugal, at that time
in Brazil.
On returning to the transport, some cir-
cumstance, which I do not at present recollect,
required that I should pay my respects to the
Commander-in-Chief, on board the North-
umberland, then lying about two or three miles
to the \Vestward of us ; and as I ascended the
starboard side of that ship, a gun was fired
off as a signal, and my head was so near to
its muzzle that my very best feather was burnt
to the stump.
The explosion was so violent and so unex-
pected, that I narrowly escaped being blown
away into the sea; but I was completely
stupified during several seconds, and remained
mechanically clinging to the man ropes. On
reaching the deck, Captain Hargood met me
at the gangway, expressing the deepest regret
at the event, and thundering out vengeance
against all Whom it might concern. In vain
MY MILITARY LIFE. 25
I begged he would take no further notice of
it, but he was overpowered with rage at the
carelessness of the officer of the watch, the
midshipman, the master’s mate, the gunner
and his mate, the boatswain, &c. : it was their
business and duty to have avoided anything
so disgraceful to his Majesty’s ship, the
Northumberland.
Hargood was a little man, full of pepper
and fire, brave as a lion, possessing most
excellent qualities, a first-rate naval officer, and
had never missed an opportunity of distin-
guishing himself.
Having eaten a sandwich and drunk a glass
of wine in the cabin, I took leave; and Har-
good following me to the gangway, invited me
to return on the following evening, and bring
Captain Morrison with me, to witness a
theatrical performance by some of the officers
and crew ; which I very gladly accepted.
Morrison was well pleased at my having
promised he should attend, and our curiosity
was excited to a considerable degree at the
prospect of such an exhibition on board a
ship, where everything seemed to stand in the
26 RECOLLECTIONS or
way of such an amusement, particularly
through the want of height between decks, and
the total absence of actresses. Accordingly,
in order to get on board of the Northumber--
land at the hour appointed, in our best attire,
we dropped into our boat by five o’clock, and,
after a tight pull to windward, reached the
ship. Our reception was everything we could
wish: the Captain on deck, and all {due com-
pliments were paid us.
We found on board Sir George Smith and
General Spencer, with the whole of his staff,
and, after partaking of refreshment in the cabin,
the whole company was summoned below,
where sufficient and convenient arrangements
had been made to provide for the visitors and
ship’s company.
With much care and ingenuity the back seats
had been made as much higher than those in
front as the height between decks could per-
mit ; and those in front as low as possible;
whilst between these and the stage three rows
of closely-packed tars were made to sit on the
deck.
The play was the celebrated “ John Bull,”
MY MILITARY LIFE. 27
and never was that much-admired piece better
performed off the London boards. The part
of Lady Caroline Breamer was most admirably
sustained by a private soldier in the Royal
Marines, and that of Tom Shuffleton was ex-
quisitely performed by a Midshipman, who,
I understood, had been a lawyer’s clerk, in
London; in short, all the other characters,
requiring so much theatrical talent, were
maintained in a manner reflecting the greatest
credit on the individuals, the manager, &c.
On dropping the curtain, the efforts of the
audience, by the clapping of hands, shouts of
“Bravo! bravissimo !” from the officers, and
three times three cheers from the sailors, to
express the height of their satisfaction, but
very imperfectly recorded their enthusiastic
feelings.
Another glass of wine and water, with
oranges and sandwiches, in the cabin, and off
we started to our transport, where we arrived
in safety, not without mistaking two or three
other ships for our own ; and by one o’clock
we were safely moored in Blanket Bay.
After dinner one day, we were speculating
28 RECOLLECTIONS or
on the probable result of our expedition, for
it now began to be tolerably certain that our
efforts would be directed against the French
in Spain, when I observed that, in my opinion,
we were about to commence a more formid-
able course of operations than we had hitherto
pursued; and that I should not be surprised
if we even marched for Madrid, before we
quitted the Peninsula. To this I added that,
niost probably, some of us would be killed
before the re-embarcation of the troops. Upon
which, Lieutenant Mulcaster said he thought
that would very probably happen, and added,
“ Well, gentlemen, you may be all killed if
you please; but I hope I shall escape.”
Mulcaster was the only one of those pre-
sent who was killed ; his head was shot off at
the siege of Badajoz, in the year 1812.
It was about this time that the officers and
many of the soldiers on board began to expe-
rience much derangement in the digestive
organs, perhaps induced by indulging too
freely in fruit. On mentioning this circum-
stance to our skipper, a very plain, unpretend-
ing man, he said, he protected himself from
MY MILITARY LIFE. 29
that evil, by constantly wearing a wide and
thick flannel belt wound round his body twice,
and extending from above the pit of his sto-
mach to over his hips, which, although in a
hot climate, it might excite an inconvenient
quality of warmth; yet a little observation
and reflection would readily prove that this
course was justified by local habits. And he
called my attention to the invariable practice
of the people of the sea-coasts in particular,
of every nation bordering on the Mediterra-
nean.
“See,” said he, “the Maltese, the Moors
of Morocco, of Tengier, of Tatuan, of Algier,
of Tunis; see the Egyptians, the Syrians, the
Turks, the Greeks, the Sicilians, the Italians,
the Genoese, and Spaniards, do they not all
of them wear these belts? although not all
exactly of the same pattern, or put on exactly
in the same way ; but they are all of worsted,
and procured to keep that part of the body
well defended against sudden chills.” By using
this precaution, which is most efficacious, they
seldom suffer as we do from indigestion. The
above observations, however, chiefly, if not
30 RECOLLECTIONS OF
exclusively, apply to sailors and watermen,
of course including the fishermen. I commu-
nicated to my brother officers the very rational
and useful hints of our worthy Captain; but,
I believe, I was the only one who profited by
it. I put on the belt, and I had no reason to
regret it.
Shortly after this, we again returned to our
former anchorage, off the harbour of Cadiz;
and many days did not pass over before the
much-desired leave was granted, permitting
Commanding officers and Adjutants to visit
the famed city of Cadiz. With the least
possible delay, I was rigged out for the oc-
casion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay, of
the Royal Artillery, and his Adjutant, Cap-
tain James Lloyd, having agreed to accom-
pany me, we all jumped into the boat of my
transport, together with my two Lieutenants,
Mercer and Mulcaster.
It would be impossible to fairly describe
the joyful reception we experienced on landing
at the sea-gate of Cadiz ; all classes of persons
seemed to be delighted at seeing us amongst
them; and we ourselves were never more
pleased.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 31
Amongst the numerous objects of interest
which had attracted our earliest attention on
this occasion, was the house which had been
lately the residence of the Marquis of Solano,
Governor of Cadiz ; and whose attachment to
the French party had been so strongly de-
clared, in a proclamation which his Excellency
had published, in the latter part of the month
of May, that the whole population of the city
had thereupon burst out in rebellion against
his authority, and immediately denouncing
him a traitor to his country, proceeded to his
residence, in order to put him to death. The
Governor’s house, which I believe was his own
property, formed the Western angle of a very
handsome range of buildings facing the ram-
parts, and overlooking the harbour and its
Northern shores, and was situated in the
ward called cl Barz'o-dc-San-Carlos.
But a few moments before the arrival of
the mob at his house, the Marquis had been
apprised of the movement, and of the immi-
nent danger to which his life was exposed;
merely leaving him time sufficient to order
the massive doors to be closed and well bar-
32 ' RECOLLECTIONS or
ricaded, and to retire to a secret closet in
the upper floor. These doors, generally not
very inferior, in point of strength, to the gates
of a fortress, together with the strong iron
gratings to the windows of the two or three
lowest floors, presented some obstacles to
the first efforts of the populace, as they at-
tempted to force an entrance. This obstruc-
tion was, however, but of short duration, for
very speedily, two field-pieces were brought up
to within ten or twenty yards of the door,
which, being loaded with canister, after a few
rounds, aided by a sixteen pounder on the
ramparts, which had been turned round, soon
opened a passage for the infuriated rabble,
During a considerable time, notwithstanding
a most diligent search, the Marquis of Solano
could not be found; and a report being cir-
culated by some of his friends that he had
escaped out‘ of town, the people were begin-
ning to give up their efforts to discover his
place of concealment, when a carpenter, or a
mason, entered the house, stating that some
years before this period he had been employed
to construct a secret closet in the upper floor;
MY MILITARY LIFE. 33
to which he immediately directed his steps,
and was followed by many of the most zealous
in the patriotic cause. The door was quickly
shivered to pieces, when the Marquis, like an
enraged tiger, suddenly dashed out from his
obscure retreat on his enemies, overthrowing
every one that attempted to obstruct his pas-
sage ; and thus, without sustaining any injury,
he succeeded in reaching the flat roof. Solano
was hotly pursued. One man, the boldest of
his assailants, sprang upon the Governor, who
was not only a very handsome, but was also
a very powerful, man, in the prime of life.
The struggle was short, and terminated by
Solano throwing the man over the parapet
wall into the street, a depth of sixty feet at
the least; a second, under the same circum-
stances, shared the same fate; ‘a third, with
no better success, was shot by the Marquis
with a pistol; and almost at the ‘same instant
he plunged a dagger into the ‘heart of a fourth.
All this while the pursuers continued their
ascent, so that in the short space of a few
seconds such'an overpowering force had col-
lected around the Governor, that he was finally.
VOL. II. ' D
34 RECOLLECTIONS or
secured and dragged down into the street.
On beholding the captured traitor, the populace
shouted and uttered the most deafening cries
of hellish satisfaction; and whilst a number
of voices were heard demanding that he should
be immediately torn to pieces, others insisted
on carrying him off to the glacis, on the out-
side of the Land-gate, the usual place for
' public executions of criminals, and there
hanging him in due form. The distance to
this place was too great to meet the consent
of such an impatient assemblage, amongst
whom were as many women as men ; and the
unfortunate Marquis had not been carried one
quarter of the way to the Land-gate; when a
man, from behind him, pierced him through
the back with a triangular sword blade ; and
so effectually was the blow dealt, that the
point of the weapon protruded considerably
through his breast. Solano, without indi-
cating any sensation of pain, very sternly
turned his _head towards his rear, and ex-
claimed, “ That must have been the act of an
Italian! no Spaniard could be guilty of so
much cowardice as to strike me from behind.”
MY MILITARY LIFE. 35
This noble sentiment, together with the heroic
fortitude he had manifested from the com—
mencement, was, however, of no service to
him; for, at the next moment, he was felled
to the ground, and received a hundred mortal
wounds, which he survived but a few minutes ;
but during that short interval, the bells of the
several churches and convents were heard an-
nouncing the hour of Vespers, a signal never
disregarded by the Spaniards; and notwith-
standing the ferocious butchering in which
the assassins were engaged, the raised knife
was instantly dropped, the victim released
from the suffocating grasp, when some of them
knelt and recited the short prayer; then every
one crossing himself and bowing to those
nearest him, they resumed their infernal pur-
suit, and quickly, and in the most literal sense
of the word, out up the body of the Marquis
into thousands of pieces. One woman having
been so fortunate as to obtain possession of
one entire finger, was endeavouring to carry
off the valuable spoil, but she was so hotly
beset that she was compelled to share the
D 2
' 36 RECOLLECTIONS or
prize amongst a dozen others equally ambitious
of possessing it with herself. _
Such were the bitter feelings which the
- treason of the Marquis of Solano had aroused,
and such was the character and temper of. the
mob.
The Governor’s residence was then plun-
dered, and the small quantity- of wood ex-
pended in the construction of a Cadiz building
was reduced to ashes. About two years after
this event, the ruins of this house were re-
paired, and opened as a very good hotel.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 37
CHAPTER III.
The Plaza San Antonio, and the company there assem-
bled—The Monks on good terms with the ladies—
Baby officers—The Duke of York’s regulations to put
down the same in England—The General, and some
of the troops, including myself, disembark—Hire an
empty house—Severe heat—I walk to Xeres and
back before six o’clock.
DEEPLY affected with horror and disgust at
the details above recorded, and which a
Spanish gentleman, on noticing us gazing on
the ruins of the late Governor’s property, had
obligingly communicated; we turned away,
thanking our friend for his kind attention to
us, and proceeded along the Alameda, which
38 RECOLLECTIONS or
extends between the sea wall and the hand-
some range of houses, limiting the city on
this side. Having arrived at a long and very
straight street, leading away at right angles to
the left, which we justly concluded would
introduce us to about the centre of the city;
we adopted it, and thus by the street called
Linares, entered the Plaza San Antonio, soon
after mid-day. This Plaza, although quad-
rangular, is not strictly a square; the length
of the sides varying from two hundred and
fifty to two hundred and eighty feet. The
whole is paved with neatly-jointed stones,
leaving a way all round sufficiently wide for
carriages, from which the flagged interior is
separated by fine orange trees planted in
boxes; and marble seats placed alternately at
short intervals. Three sides of the Plaza are
formed of lofty and very handsome houses;
most of them have turrets rising high into the
blue sky; almost all of them have tall pillars
along the front parapet supporting arms or
other ornamental devices; and the windows
to the second and third stories are balconied,
the iron work painted green, and rendered
MY MILITARY LIFE. 39
lively by a ‘few touches here and there of ver-
milion; forming a happy contrast with the
dazzling whiteness of the houses. The fourth
side of the Plaza San Antonio is entirely oc-
cupied by the inelegant church of San An-
tonic, the clock of which strikes the hours on
a cracked bell, and over the door shows the
age of the moon.
We entered this celebrated Plaza, as I have
already stated, by the Calle Linares, between
twelve and one o’clock; at which time all the
nobility and gay people of Cadiz, including
the officers of the army and navy, and, in
short, all persons holding offices under go-
vernment were assembled, dressed to a man
in embroidered uniforms; ‘Chose decorated
with military orders, wearing the stars and
the broad ribbon over the shoulders and out-
side their coats; white silk stockings, shoes
and buckles, the whole surmounted by cocked
hats heavily laced, and of the first magnitude.
Amongst these lounged a profusion of women
of every rank and class in society, very smartly
dressed. Some of them had several rows of
gold dangling Spanish buttons, placed diagon-
40 RECOLLECTIONS or
ally from their elbows to their wrists ; and in
one instance, I observed a lady, possibly
of rank, but certainly of fortune, with sixty,
if not seventy, of such buttons, each con-
taining a single brilliant, of the value at
least of fifty pounds. None of the ladies
had any covering on their head beyond a thin
lace mantilla; to aid which, during moments
when the sun emitted its rays with extra
strength, the lady held up a small spangled
fan over her forehead; but this they much
more frequently and more willingly used, by
opening and shutting it in a very graceful and
lively manner, whereby they convey their
meaning, as they pass in the promenade, with
a degree of telegraphic skill quite seducing, and
exclusively their own. All of them ‘dressed
in black, either satin, silk or bombasin,
white stockings, and, generally, white satin
shoes.
We should, naturally, from such a descrip-
tion, form an opinion that the assemblage
would wear a gloomy aspect; but the coloured
gloves with silk half handkerchiefs of the
gayest colours, neatly fastened over the bust,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 41
gave them an air of the most pleasing liveli-
ness.
Amongst them, at the time to which I refer,
when about four thousand monks and friars
occupied the rich monasteries of San Juan,
near the sea, and land-gates; the Franciscans
nearer the Plaza San Antonio; the Capuchins
towards the light-house, 850.; these gentry
failed not to display in the most public man-
ner their gallantry towards the ladies; and,
on a subsequent occasion, when I visited
Cadiz, I remember seeing one, a very stout
man, of the order of San Francisco, named
Tili, with whom I was personally well ac-
quainted, promenading in the midst of the
throng of the first gentry in Cadiz, with two
highly disreputable females, and laughing and
joking with them in a way which I expected
would have drawn upon him some heavy cen-
sures; but I could not discover that it had
been in any manner noticed, either by the
ecclesiastical or secular world: and when I
quizzed him upon the subject, he replied, with
much gravity, “ You forget, cavallero, we
are privileged persons! we are, moreover,
432 RECOLLECTIONS or
bound to take every opportunity, no matter
where or when, to reprove, and endeavour by
all the means at our command to rescue such
unfortunate persons from following the high
road to ruin I”
Amongst the brilliant assemblage of persons
here, decorated with grand crosses and com-
manders 'of St. Iago, Calatrava, Alcantara, &c.,
I noticed Admiral Alava, whose forehead re-
tained the scars of a severe wound. He had
held a command in the Spanish portion of the
combined French and Spanish fleet engaged
off Cape Trafalgar with the British, under the
gallant Nelson; upon which occasion he was
wounded and made prisoner; but, through re-
spect for his rank, age, and wounds, he had
been permitted to remain on board of his
ship, probably under the usual pledge. His
ship was immediately afterwards driven on
shore, and the Admiral thus managed his
liberty; but about the propriety of his con-
duct thereon, there were various opinions.
We were all much amused on noticing
many little boys of different ages, some as
young as five years, dressed in full uniform, J
MY MILITARY LIFE. 43
as officers of the navy and army. All of them
were their hair powdered and formed in a
queue, long coats, short breeches, silk stockings,
and shoes with buckles, swords, and enormously
large and laced cocked hats. These children
in uniform brought to my recollection, that,
prior to the appointment of His Royal High-
ness the Duke of York, as Commander-in-
Chief of the army, the purchasing a commis-
sion in the army was treated as a mercantile
transaction—it was neither more nor less than
an investment of so much money to receive a
high rate of interest. This abuse was carried
so far, that as soon as a man was married, and
there was any probability of his lady present--
ing him a son or a daughter, if he possessed a
little interest, he was permitted to purchase a
commission for the little coming stranger, on
the chance of the same being a son ; if not,
then the commission was sold, or, as I have
heard it asserted, it was held on speculation
that the next might be a male child; the pay
accruing all the time. Through this abomin-
able system, it frequently happened that at the
age of fifteen years, a young gentleman had
44 RECOLLECTIONS or
attained the rank of a field—officer; and these
practices no doubt gave rise to the story of
the nursemaid exclaiming, “ It’s nothing,
ma’am, but the Major crying for his pap ! l l”
I remember a little boy, only seven years
of age, whom I met with his brother, the late
Philip Durnford, of the Royal Artillery, at
which time he was the Second Lieutenant of
the 64th Regiment.
In Canada, in 1798, Iwas introduced to
ColonelMurray, on half-pay,only about eighteen
or nineteen years of age. When the Duke
of York was appointed Commander-in-Chief,
one of his first orders was, that all offi-
cers should join his regiment within six
months after being gazetted. This salutary
measure, at one sweep, cleared the army of its
baby oflicers; and from that moment, the
discipline and efficiency of the British army
made a rapid progress, and has gone on steadily
advancing in the estimation of the whole of
the military world.
From the Plaza San Antonio, we pursued
our interesting voyage of discovery ; and after
some five or six hours’ rapid inspection of all
MY MILITARY LIFE. 45
we could see in so short a time, we found our
way to the Posada, called the Quartro Na-
ciones, in the Calle San Francisco, and having
well and cheaply recruited our strength, we
returned to our dismal floating mansions.
After having been cooped up on board
ship during about two months, with the ex-
ception of three days in the gun-boats at the
capture of the French fleet under Villeneuve,
it was not surprising that I should have been
greatly out of practice of walking, and we all
actually suffered much fatigue at the close of
this day’s exercise. _
In the course of a few days after this, my
signal was made to attend on General
Spencer, who informed me that he was about
to disembark at Puerto~Santa-Maria, a large
town opposite Cadiz, and distant about six miles
thence; and that some of the regiments, the
29th, 32nd, 45th, and 50th, with a few pieces
of artillery under Captain Francis Smith, were
to be disembarked there, having been the
longest on board of ship ; the General adding,
that he desired I should disembark also. I
landed accordingly, taking Mercer and Mul_
46 RECOLLECTIONS or
caster with me, and we availed ourselves of
this opportunity to get our linen washed.
Cur intentions had been to get into ready
furnished lodgings, but in this we failed, for
no such accommodation could be found; we
were, therefore, compelled to hire an empty
house, which we took for a month ; fortunately,
the lady who owned the house, requested to
be allowed to occupy the ground-floor with
her son.
It will be easily understood that, destitute
of every article of furniture, and unable to
hire any thing of the sort, we were glad of
the loan of the merest trifies, which our
hostess in a slight degree supplied; but we had
neither chairs, tables, nor bedding of the
most humble description.
The weather was intensely hot; and al-
though the brick fioors provided but a hard
bed, still they were cool. In order, however,
to form some kind of hollow on the spot
upon which I lay, I placed some of my linen,
covering the place I required, but made it
rather thin in the middle, on which, with my
saddle under my head, instead of a down
MY MILITARY LIFE. 47
pillow, I slept and dreamed as well as I could
have done on a prince’s couch.
We had not been many days on shore,
when we experienced all the miseries of a
Sirocco, of the severest description; nothing
can exceed the distressing sensations it pro-
duces. The only relief we could procure
from a degree of heat so suffocating, was by
shutting up the house as closely as would be
practised in very intensely cold weather. The
exclusion of the external atmosphere was
most desirable; but, notwithstanding every
care to that effect, all our food was covered
with exceedingly fine sand, which was brought
floating in the air, from the Great Desert of
Sahara, in Africa. The sand thus carried
along, was in such quantity, that, although
the sky was beautifully clear over head, to-
wards the horizon a yellowish haze was so
thick, as to completely conceal from the sight
objects at the distance of three or four miles;
and in looking from Santa-Maria towards
Cadiz, across an expanse of water about five
or six miles in extent, the horizon was totally
eclipsed, and the sky thoroughly blended with
48 RncoLtnc'rroNs or
the nearer objects, by an appearance of fog of
a yellow tinge.
On one of these days Lieutenant Mulcaster
and myself went out, tired of living so long
confined, in the hope of finding a billiard-table;
and I shall never forget, that, on passing a
corner of a street, round which the wind was
driving with great violence, we were obliged
to put up our hands to protect our faces from
the burning blast, which we compared to the
heat radiating from a furnace.
On the fourth day, when I fancied the
heat had abated, I took my sketch-book and
sallied forth, determined to make a drawing
or two of Santa-Maria, if possible. Notwith-
standing the scorching heat, I wandered about
the immediate vicinity of the town, in hope
of finding some advantageous spot whence I
should be enabled to take a comprehensive
view of the town, yet without success. The
country is flat, and' very bare of trees. At
length, in looking from the Alameda towards
the North, I observed a range of hills, which,
although very naked, I thought might provide
a favourable place, whence I might make a
MY MILITARY LIFE. 49
general drawing of Santa-Maria and surround-
ing country. .
Not without much fatigue I reached the
summit, by the fine wide high road leading to
Madrid; and having been informed by some
of the peasantry that I was half way from
Santa-Maria to Xeres, or Sherries as we called
it, I resolved on walking on the remainder
of the distance, and paying a visit to that cele-
brated town; to this I was the more readily
induced, on perceiving that the sandy haze
rendered every object so indistinct, that I
could not sufficiently make out any details so
as to sketch them; this effect was stronger
in looking towards Santa-Maria in the South
than in the contrary directions.
Having made up my mind, I advanced
leisurely, and at the expiration of an hour and
a half, I entered the suburbs of Xeres. The
clocks were striking one, and the heat intense,
so that note living creature was visible; every
house was closely shut up, and I began to en-
tertain some serious anxiety as to the means
of gaining information as to the locality of a
voL. II, E
50 RECOLLECTIONS or
posada, or inn, where I might procure refresh-
ment, of which I was in great need.
At length, I fell on an expedient which re-
lieved me from my difliculty. Up to this
moment, I had carried my sword under my
arm as is much the practice, but I now let it
drag on the pavement. The steel scabbard
rattling on the stones as I moved on, made a
loud and, I doubt not, a very novel sound in
the streets of Xeres, and which the lofty
houses echoed famously.
In a very short time I observed several
persons peeping from behind the rush blinds
covering the outsides of the windows; pre-
sently, a barber stepped out of his door, as I
was passing it. From this professional gen-
tleman I received great politeness; for he no
sooner learnt my desire to find the principal
posaa’a, than he took up his cloak and hat,
and insisted on showing me the Way to the
door, where he thundered away in'good style
to rouse the inmates, who were already com-
mencing to enjoy the siesta.
My arrival was, as it may be supposed,
quite unexpected; yet, having ordered that
MY MILITARY LIFE. 51
the best dinner which could be supplied,
should be immediately put on the table,
the waiter, who was the only person Ihad
seen, was exceedingly polite; and having
brought me a bason of cool water, towels, &c.,
employed himself in preparing the table. To
my great astonishment, by the time I had
washed and made myself comparatively com-
fortable, the soup was on the table, and was
followed in succession, one dish at a time, by
fourteen or fifteen made dishes, all remarkably
good.
I was then served with six plates of fruits
of excellent quality. Having finished a bottle
of very good sherry wine, which I had pro-
fusely diluted with very cool water, I called
for a cup of coffee, and inquired how much I
had to pay? The waiter put on an air and
manner which indicated that I must not feel
surprised at the amount, which he began to
justify by every expression of the great desire
his master had felt to provide the very best
dinner in the shortest time possible,
He at length stated that he hoped I should
not consider fifteen reals, or about three shil-
E 2
5:3 RECOLLECTIONS or
lings, an unreasonable charge. The preface
had induced me to expect his claim would
have amounted to two dollars, or eight or nine
shillings; so, not knowing how to expend the
dollar which I already held in my hand, I
desired the man to bring me a glass of liqueur,
when I was immediately supplied with a small
bottle, or rather a phial of Rosolio, for which
the charge was only one real, about two or
three pence. Upon this, I gave the dollar to
the waiter, telling him to keep the change
(about nine-pence) for himself.
Up to this moment, I had not seen any
other living creature than this waiter; but
now, the fame of my liberality was spread like
wild-fire throughout the house; the master, the
mistress, the male and female servants of all
ranks and stations, ran out from every corner
to bow and return thanks; the mistress of
the house, in particular, advanced, with an air
of the most profound respect, begging a thou-
sand pardons for having allowed a person of my
high rank to want those civilities and proper
marks of respect to which I was so fully en-
titled. Thus, the whole of them followed me
MY MILITARY LIFE. 53
to the street, exclainiing with astonishment at
my proceeding on foot, and repeating their
deep regret at having been unable to procure
for me any kind of conveyance, which, on my
arrival, I had ordered the waiter to endeavour
to hire to carry me back to Santa-Maria.
It was now past three o’clock, and I had
nine miles to walk during the hottest part of
the day, and that, too, without delay, for I had
to be on parade at six o’clock. The heat was
intense, and the dark reddish brown dust, as
light as volcanic ashes on Vesuvius, almost
suffocated me. At a cottage, about half
way, at which I rested for ten minutes, to
procure a glass of wine and water, I was in-
formed that two men had dropped down dead,
through the excessive heat, when at work in
the vineyards, on that day; and they expressed
the utmost astonishment at my having been
able to resist the scorching rays of the sun.
I, nevertheless, arrived at Santa-Maria in time
to change my dress, and be on parade at
six o’clock.
No one would believe it possible that I
could have walked that day eighteen miles
54 RECOLLECTIONS or
after eleven o’clock. On my return, I found
my thermometer where I had left it in the
court-yard, overshaded with shrubs, amidst
which played a fountain; it then indicated
the temperature to be one hundred and eight
degrees. After the parade, I took it into a
place where it was exposed to the hot blast of
the wind, but still in the shade, upon which
the quicksilver immediately rose to one hun-
dred and twenty-four degrees.
MY MILITARY LIFE.
CI!
CR
CHAPTER IV.
Sir George Smith, Charles Fox, Colonel \Vittingham—
Mr. Frere—The Marquis of the Union—Union Jack
and Bartlcmy Fair—I accompany General Spencer to
dine with General Morla—Ladies Bathing—Review
of the British Troops—Captain Preston—Castafios
gains the Battle of Baylen—We re-cmbark and sail
to Cape San Vicente—The Chaplain a Drunkard.
ALTHOUGH we formed but few acquaint-
ances amongst the inhabitants of Santa-Maria,
we were more successful at Cadiz, which place
we frequently visited, and occasionally passed
some very pleasant evenings at the houses of
these truly most amiable people. Sir George
Smith had taken up his quarters at Cadiz,
and at his house I constantly met the family
56 RECOLLECTIONS 0F
of a most excellent fellow, a Spaniard, very
fond of bottled porter, whom we denominated
Charles Fox, in consequence of his very strong
resemblance to that celebrated statesman, but
whose real name was Creuz. His two daugh-
ters were very handsome and agreeable; and
the eldest was some time after this married to
Colonel, since then Sir Francis Wittingham.
The second daughter Barbara, it was reported,
was to have been married to Mr. Bartholomew
Frere, brother of the minister, but death
robbed him of his intended bride.
Whilst mentioning these parties, I may be
excused for relating, that soon after the great
change above recorded in the political relations
between England and Spain had been effected,
his Excellency John Hookham Frere had ar-
rived as British Minister to the Court of
Spain, and with him came his brother Bar-
tholomew just named. The enthusiastic feel-
ings excited in Spain in favour of the British
nation, in consideration of this most important
union against the French interests, were such
as to be immediately manifested by the Spanish
Government, who created Mr. Frere, Marquis
MY MILITARY LIFE. 57
of the Union. Now, as Mr. Frere, in calling
on his brother, always used the abbreviation
Bartlemy, instead of Bartholomew, the English
wags at Cadiz very soon described the bro-
thers as Union Jack and Bartlemy Fair.
Soon after our arrival at Santa-Maria, Ge-
neral Spencer received an invitation to dine
with General Morla of the Artillery, the
Spanish Governor of Cadiz; and, as it was
always understood that such invitations extend
to the officers of the General’s Staff, Spencer \
included me in that number. Accordingly,
on the day appointed, General Spencer, his
Aide-de-Camp Preston, Brigade-Major Tucker,
Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, and Captain Cook
of the Guards, Assistant Deputy-Adjutant
General and myself, embarked in a falucha to
cross the harbour, a distance of about six
miles. I do not now remember if Captain,
now Lord Hardinge, of the Quarter-Master
General’s department, went with us.
General Morla occupied a part of the large
house at the Western extremity of the Ala-
meda, near the church of Del-Carmen, usually
described as the Engineers’ quarters. Several
58 RECOLLEOTIONS or
oflicers and persons of rank were there, and
we received every mark of respect and civility
that could be expected. I shall not attempt
any description of the dinner; it was quite
Spanish; and to do honour to the English,
several bottles of porter were placed on the
table with the dessert. The whole of the
ceremony, including the coffee and liqueurs,
which commenced at soon after two o’clock,
was over, and we were in the street by four.
Morla was a man of fifty years of age, about
five feet ten inches high, rather fleshy, of a
very yellow complexion, and large dark brown
eyes, which invariably avoided meeting those
of the person with whom he conversed. As
we proceeded along the Alameda, talking over
the novelty of a Spanish entertainment, Ge-
neral Spencer turned to me, on whose left I
was, and said,
“Well, Captain Landmann, what do you
think of General Morla P”
“Why, sir,” replied I, “ I think he is a
precious Scoundrel.”
“ Upon my word, sir, you have not attempted
MY MILITARY LIFE. 59
‘to disguise your opinion; that is a very bold
assertion,” drily rejoined the General.
“ If I be wrong, sir, in my judgment of that
man’s character, I will admit I have been
grossly deceived, and have profited but little
by my studying Lavater,” was my remark;
after which the subject dropped.
I was, nevertheless, perfectly correct; and
my opinion of the man was fully confirmed by
his treacherous surrender of Madrid to the
French troops a year or two afterwards, and
by deserting his sovereign’s cause, and placing
himself in the ranks of the enemy.
On our way back to the sea-gate, in order
to recross the harbour, having plenty of time
at our disposal, we did not proceed by the
shortest line of streets, but were attracted
right and left by many objects of interest.
\Ve thus visited one of the principal ice-houses
in Cadiz, situated in the street called Linares,
and thence returned to the ramparts, which
we followed to the sea-gate, where again we
hired a falucha for three dollars, the usual
price, and proceeded towards Puerto Santa-
Maria. The evening was beautifully clear,
60 RECOLLECTIONS or
the sea breeze refreshing after the oppressive
heat of a sultry July day, which threw me
into a pensive, and, perhaps, somewhat melan-
choly mood.
“ How very charming this is, how sweetly
delightful, how sublime is all this splendid
scenery, everything seems to combine to ren-
der this ‘evening truly enchanting ; yet, how
soon must it pass away, and time will roll on
and on, and leave nothing but the impression
of an agreeable dream !”
These, and such as these, were my flitting
thoughts, as the top only of the lofty and
sharp pointed sail was barely filled with the
elevated breeze, whilst the surface of the sea
remained unrippled.
My cigar, which I had lighted soon after
quitting the mole, was still hanging betwixt
my fingers, but my attention had been else-
where directed, and the fire had long since
been extinct. When about midway, the sun
descended below the horizon with a degree of
splendour I have never since then witnessed ;
but the paintings of Claude Lorraine have fre-
quently revived in brilliant colours the recol-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 61
lections of this magnificent picture. With
the departing light the lofty breeze died away
completely, so that it became necessary to put
out our cars ; and in a short time we reached
the bar at the entrance of the river, leading to
Santa-Maria. At that moment the rowing
was suspended, during the recital of a short
thanksgiving addressed to the Creator of all
things, for having permitted us to cross the
harbour in safety; and, following the example
of the watermen, we remained uncovered
during the ceremony; after which the Padron
solicited a trifle from‘each of us, as he pre-
sented an alms-box, into which every one
dropped his pence, but I did not understand
for whose benefit, or for what particular pur-
pose; probably, however, it was to pay for
masses.
On approaching the town of Santa-Maria,
dusk had already made much progress; when
towards our left, or I/Vestern shore, we observed
from eighty to one hundred women bathing in
a cluster, and only waist-deep in the water, all
screaming and making as much noise as they
were able; and as we passed within ten yards
62 RECOLLECTIONS or
of them, they abused us in the most perfect
Billingsgate style, and endeavoured to splash
us with water. .
These were the ladies of Santa-Maria. I
rigidly intend to be understood the ladies of
the first circles. They were perfectly naked,
and impudent in the extreme. I was after-
wards informed that they cared not what they
did nor what they said under these circum-
stances, for they relied on the dusk of the
evening and the alteration in their appearance,
when divested of clothing, to pass unknown.
Two of these ladies, who had been nearer
to us than the rest, I immediately recognized,
i chiefly through the colour of their hair, which
was a light brown, the only girls in Santa-
Maria that I had seen with hair of that colour.
I met those ladies at a party the same evening,
and I taxed them with having seen them in
the water ; but they, of course, denied it stiffly,
assuring me that they had been to Xeres, and
had only just returned.
On the following day the whole of the
British troops that had been landed at Santa-
Maria were drawn-up in reviewing order, op-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 63
posite to the residence of some Princess of the
royal family, and marched past the windows
which she occupied, and saluted her, &c., and
the General at that moment placed himself at
the head of the column with his staff following
him. On this occasion Preston was mounted
on a light-brown mottled mare ; and, by touch-
ing her with his finger just behind his saddle,
which was not observable by a stranger, he
made her kick to his fullest satisfaction, and to
the great amusement and delight of all the
ladies, who, at the ‘same time that they ad-
mired his horsemanship, were struck with his
handsome figure and graceful manners. From
that moment Preston’s fortune with the belles
of Santa-Maria was made.
Fortunately for Preston, the day of our de-
parture was not much protracted. On receiving
the news of the glorious victory obtained by
Castahos, Captain-General of the Province of
Andalucia, over the French army at Baylen,
under Dupont, the whole of which (335,000
men) were made prisoners on the 20th July,
1808, we lost not a moment, but immediately
re-embarked.
64 RECOLLECTIONS or
It now appeared that we had remained at
Cadiz, watching the result of this expected
encounter, ready to advance and assist in
covering the retreat of the Spaniards, in the
event of their being defeated. The successful
result of this battle, the most brilliant victory
the Spaniards had to boast of during the whole
of the Peninsular war, set us at liberty, and
we, accordingly, sailed away to Cape St.
Vincent, where again we anchored, with the
exception of the Royal Artillery, that had
joined us from Gibraltar, for these were ordered
at this time to return to that garrison.
An event now occurred which seemed to be
the de’rzouemem‘, and likely to put an end to a
series of annoyances we had experienced, al-
most uninterruptedly, from the day on which
we had sailed from Gibraltar. I have already
stated that, in addition to the officers of the
Royal Artilleiy, and of the Royal Engineers,
embarked in the ship I was in, the Chaplain
‘of the army, a first-rate dandy, about forty to
forty-five years of age, and holding a travelling
fellowship in one of the Universities, was
ordered to embark in our ship, .
l
MY MILITARY LIFE. 65
Unfortunately for the honour of his patrons
and the church, whilst he invariably main-
tained the character of a gentleman when
sober, the moment he became otherwise, his
conduct was diametrically the reverse; and,
although our sea stock of wines and porter
was almost entirely limited to that which I
had myself ordered to be shipped at Gibraltar,
the reverend gentleman unfortunately never
failed to disgrace his cloth by the time when
dinner was over, or very soon afterwards.
At first I used every effort in my power, by
delicate remonstrances in the morning, with a
view to impress him with the propriety, nay,
the necessity, of resisting his vicious propen-
sity in the afternoon ; but all this was in vain ;
for, although on these occasions he freely joined
me in condemning his own conduct, “ more
particularly reprehensible,” said he, “ when in
the presence of the soldiers on board,” and
before whom he daily exhibited himself in the
disreputable condition of which we all com-
plained, he daily relapsed into a complete state
of inebriety. Every day during the com‘
mencement of our being at sea, he had fully
voL. II. F
66 RECOLLECTIONS or
persuaded me that his resolution was formed
and unalterably fixed to abstain from such
irregularities; yet every day convinced us
that no dependence could be placed in his
most solemn declarations on that subject.
The almost insufferable and disgusting in-
convenience of having such an individual
forced upon us, was very severely felt by every
one in the cabin ; and it cannot be a matter of
surprise that some of our young officers should
have played him a great variety of tricks.
It not unfrequently happened that he would
order his cot to be hung up by six or seven
o’clock in the evening; and, our cabin being
small, this almost totally deprived us of the use
of it; however, if he had been contented with
this, and had gone off to sleep, we should, at
least, have derived the advantage of being
released during the remainder of the evening
from the annoyance of his most insulting and
very disgusting language, which he preferred
on those occasions. I have known this worthy
remain in bed for several hours, quarrelling
with every one on board, although no one
made any reply.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 67
Sometimes, after he had gone to sleep, acts
of retaliation took place ; but the tricks played
on him were mostly incapable of causing him
any permanent inconvenience,
This course did not, however, work any
reformation in him, for, the very day following,
having had the good fortune to procure a
supply of wine and porter from a victualler
just arrived from England, that same day he
was again in a shameful condition.
As boys, we naturally laughed for a time at
such thingsfbut even as boys, we soon be-
came heartily tired of his presence, and the
patience of every one on board was completely
exhausted. It was seen very evident that, on
the first opportunity, our friend would receive
severer treatment; and such was the state of
our feelings when we cast anchor for the
second time under the lee of Cape St.
Vincent. ,
Our first dinner on that occasion was scarcely
over, and, indeed, at so early an hour, that
none at table had drunk more than two or
three glasses of wine, when, upon my making
some very common-place observation,l believe,
F 9
a)
68 RECOLLECTIONS or ,
in regard of the wind, our amiable companion
bawled out in a coarse and vulgar manner :—-—
“Sir, there is a gentlemanly way and a
blackguard way of saying the same thing.”
I must confess I never was more astonished
in all my life, as I was at this unlocked-for
and most uncalled-for insult. I had, however,
made up my mind to treat him with silent
contempt, at all times, after the removal of the
cloth. I, therefore, made no reply to his ex-
traordinary observation ; but Lieutenant J ohn-
son, of the Artillery, who stammered very
much, and, as is usual with persons so afflicted
when irritated, stammered still more, jumped
up, and running round the table to the parson,
began by shaking his fist in his face, when,
although his under jaw was greatly agitated,
and quivered in a convulsive manner, not the
least sound came forth during nearly a minute ;
at length, the violence of his feelings being
by this calamity very much increased, some
very strong expressions burst out piece-meal,
and were, as well as poor Johnson could ex-
press himself, followed by violent threats.
1 freely admit that, whilst as senior officer
MY MILITARY LIFE. 69
in the ship, I could not personally attack the
parson in such a manner, out of respect to the
articles of war, which are exceedingly severe on
that subject, I was not overwhelmed with grief
at the course which I perceived was likely to
be followed on this occasion; so, leaving my
champion to pursue such measures as the very
composed state of his feelings appeared to
have arrived at, I took up my hat with as
little delay as was convenient, and proceeded
to seek the benefit of the sea-breeze on
deck.
I had not been there many minutes, when,
as I had anticipated, my presence was re-
quired in the cabin, whither I repaired imme-
diately, and there was informed that a severe
conflict had taken place, in which the clergy-
man’s eyes had suffered greatly, and his nose
was discharging the claret in great profusion.
The explanation which I received, left me
no option as to the course I was bound to
pursue; I, therefore, put under arrest the two
Lieutenants of Artillery, Johnson and Festing,
for having committed a most important breach
of the articles of war. The cabin was, as
70 RECOLLECTIONS or
may be supposed, in great confusion ; and the
gentleman in the black coat was vomiting forth
a general excommuniqation against every indi-
vidual in the ship, and that, too, in terms not
'very different from those used by Doctor Slop,
when cursing Obadiah for having been the
primitive cause of his cutting his thumb.
I ventured now to express myself somewhat
freely and strongly, and certainly I was so
far wrong, viewing the condition of one of the
parties ; upon this he opened such a volley at
me, as surpassed every thing I had before ex-
perienced. ,
I now ordered the Chaplain to consider
himself under an arrest, to which I regarded
him as liable; but this, if possible, augmented
his ire, and he treated my authority with ex-
treme contempt, adding, that whilst I was but
a Captain, he ranked as a Major, and should
take the command and turn me out of the
state cabin, to which he alone had the proper
right. He now became quite violent and un-
governable, and began to commit acts of de-
struction, indicating a state bordering on in-
sanity. I, therefore, in my endeavours to prevent, '
MY MILITARY LIFE. 71
by every means in my power, the continuance of
a state of things endangering our personal safety,
ordered him to be forcibly dragged out of the
cabin and fastened under the companion stairs,
where he had not been half an hour, when
it became indispensably necessary to gag him.
7 2 RECOLLECTIONS or
CHAPTER V.
I proceed to report the conduct of the Chaplain to the
Commander-in-Chief—Sir George Smith would not
interfere during the absence of Spencer—Captain Cook
of the Guards—Expectation of being soon landed—
Up anchor and off round Cape San Vicente—Prepa-
rations to land—I cut off my long queue—Anchor at
Mondego Bay—Swamped in attempting to land in the
ship’s boat at Figueras—Meet Captain Elphinstone,
and resign to him my command—Embark in a boat to
go up to Lavaos—Mercer obtains for us an admission
to a house—A good trick—Join the Camp—Purchase
a pony from Major Viney.
THE day was now too far advanced to think
of hoisting out a boat in order to go to the
Commander-in-Chief, Whose ship was lying
about two miles to windward, and a stiff breeze
right a-head was blowing.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 73
On the following morning, our gentleman
under the companion stairs was tolerably
cool, and would have submitted to any terms
in order to prevent the exposure which my
official report must occasion ; but we had suf-
fered too much and too long to pass matters
off too quietly; I, therefore, rejected every
overture, and pushed off in [the ship’s boat,
to wait on General Spencer. After an
hour’s hard pulling I reached the ship, and
was informed that the General had gone off
in the Scout, towards Lisbon; but that all
his staff, excepting Preston, were still on board.
I now made my report to Sir George Smith ;
upon which he observed that it was a very un-
pleasant affair for him to meddle with, in the
absence of Spencer, since he knew that he
took great interest in the welfare of the said
individual.
After seriously considering the subject, and
having consulted some of the staff, he said he
should send Captain Cook (of the Guards and of
the Adjutant-General’s department) to our ship,
in the hope that through his mediation further
proceedings might be rendered unnecessary,
74 RECOLLECTlONS or
assuring me at the same time, that he felt
convinced I had not resorted to such extremi-
ties without superabundant provocation. I
strongly urged the necessity of removing the
nuisance to some other ship; but this was
met, as I had expected, by Sir George observ-
ing, that it would be paying a very bad com-
pliment to the officers on board the ship into
which he might be transferred, which would
be difflcult to surmount.
I now returned to my transport, and, very
shortly afterwards, Cook made his appearance
as usual, dressed in the top of the fashion,
with his light-coloured hair curling most ad-
vantageously from under his first-rate Bicknell
(hatter, corner of Bond Street). Cook was
requested to descend into the cabin, where he
found the oflicers under arrest, and the
parson under the companion stairs, in a most
lamentable condition.
After sometime Cook came upon deck, and
reported that he had succeeded in adjusting
the terms upon which, in his opinion, a recon-
ciliation might be effected; his friend of the
black cloth, having agreed that he should apo-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 7 5
logize for having most unwarrantably provoked
the rough handling he had suffered, &c. ; and
also that he should entreat me to kindly over-
look his repeated faults, and that I should re-
lease from arrest the two officers who had,
through his own impropriety, subjected them-
selves to be tried by a court-martial, for strik-
ing a Chaplain of the army. Cook assuring
me that the two officers in question had con-
sented to be satisfied with these terms.
Having now carried this affair just as far
as I had intended, and which, I thought, well
calculated to cure the Chaplain, for a short
time at least, I gave way to Cook’s pressing
instances, to which I was the more easily per-
suaded, he having assured me that before the
expiration of ten days, we should he landed
to the Northward, and there join a larger
force, expected to arrive from England; and
that General Spencer was gone in that di-
rection, in order to confer with the Commander,
Sir Arthur Wellesley.
Thus terminated this affair, which, at one
period, threatened some very serious results.
In the course of a few days after this the
76 RECOLLEOTIONS or
signal was made for weighing anchor, and off
we started round the Cape, which confirmed
Cook’s communication as to our future move-
ments. On reaching the above-mentioned
Cape, we encountered a strong North-Westerly
wind, as is usually the case at that place when
the wind is from the East on the Southern
coast; and which compelled us to run away
to the Westward in search of a fair wind, as
the sailors term it; and after a few days we
again got within sight of the Portuguese
coast, at no great distance from the Rock of
Lisbon.
From this moment, our convoying ships of
war, after ordering us to spread every sail and
hasten to the Northward, themselves pushed
on and left the transports to follow them as
they could, or as they were best able.
On the next day, Monday, the 8th of
August, 1808, while running along to the
Northward, at the distance of four or five
leagues from the coast, we discovered a large
fleet a-head, already at anchor, in Mondego
Bay; and which we very soon joined, each
picking out the best berth he could find.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 77
The dull sameness of walking up and down
the deck, which had. been almost our only
occupation during a long period, was now in-
stantly exchanged for a scene of the utmost
activity.
The cabin floor was immediately covered
with trunks, hats, boots, blankets, great coats,
saddles and bridles, and every oflicer calling
for his servant to bring back some article he
had but one minute before carried out to be
dusted or cleaned; the servants, in their zeal
to do everything in no time, were tumbling
down the companion stairs over one another;
upon which, the most expressive epithets were
exchanged, without weighing the consequences.
Each servant had been honoured by his master
with every possible epithet, without producing
the slightest effect, or having the least mean-
ing, except that it strongly manifested the
greatest impatience to be ready to jump into
the first boat that might be sent to take us on
shore.
In the midst of all this confusion not a
trunk cord could be found—the rascally ser-
vants had neglected to take care of them.
7 8 RECOLLECTIONS or
From the commencement of this bustle the
subject of mutual and general inquiry was,
“What do you think I ought to take with
me P” “What means of transport shall I be
allowed for my baggage?” “ Do you think
we shall be many days away from the ship?”
“ How should I know better than yourself?”
“I shall take with me no more than I can
carry on my back, or my horse if I can get
one,” was my constant reply. “Shall I be
allowed a horse ?——shall I be able to procure
a saddle?” And to this receiving no answer,
he would exclaim, “ Well, I shall take my
spurs in my pocket at all events, and so be
ready under all circumstances, which is the
true spirit of a soldier.” And laughing out
most heartily at the singularity of this appli-
cation of that military maxim, and which had
‘been very pompously announced—“I shall,”
said I, “take my night-cap and a spare hand-
kerchief in my breast pocket, and so I also
shall be ready under all circumstances.” This
produced a momentary merriment; and the
important military maxim was very frequently
MY MILITARY LIFE. 79
afterwards repeated, particularly on any men-
tion being made of spurs.
Having arranged my luggage, so as to
render it as secure as I could make it during
my absence, I gave it in charge of the Cap-
tain, and then took up a position on deck
with my spy-glass, and looked out for signals
and boats to take us on shore.
It now occurred to me that my long queue
might be inconvenient on service; so, after
very serious consideration, I resolved on cut-
ting it off, for it was my own natural hair,
and it hung most gracefully so low down on
my back, that I frequently tied it accidentally
under my sash, but in point of thickness it
\ did not exceed that of a tobacco-pipe. There
were very few officers in the army who had
needed so much fortitude, for almost all, to a
man, were false tails.
From this day the dropping of queues
throughout the army may be dated, excepting
with the 29th Regiment, of whom I shall
hereafter have occasion to say a few words on
this subject.
Whilst under sail the sea appeared to be
80 RECOLLECTIONS or
exceedingly smooth, but the moment the
anchor was down, the ship rolled in such a
manner that her gunwales almost dipped
under water on each side.
We were about a mile or mile and a half
from the shore, being amongst the outermost
of the fleet.
During some time we observed the debar-
cation going on from several of the vessels, but
not in the ship’s boats ; they were not deemed
safe for taking the beach, where the surf was
so high as to be compared to the landing at
Madras, by those who had been in India.
The boats used for disembarking the troops,
860., were the country boats, somewhat ap-
proximating to the form of a crescent, and
well calculated for such a purpose. Having
waited, with more or less patience, until mid-
day, and observing that no boats came from
the shore towards us, we at length resolved in
attempting to land with our light baggage in
the ship’s boat.
Accordingly, Lieutenants Mercer and Mul-
caster, of the Royal Engineers, and myself,
got into the ship’s boat, and boldly pushed off.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 81
I was steering the boat, and, at first, all went
on well enough, although the ground-swell
was high ; and I feel convinced that we should
have landed at Figueras in perfect safety, by
watching the opportunities when the swell
was not so severe, and by gradually getting
round and under the lee of a reef of rocks,
which extended from the extreme point of the
bay on our left to a very considerable distance,
and behind which the sea was comparatively
smooth.
Mercer, however, being alarmed at a higher
wave than the former, and observing that we
were passing Within a very few yards of the
extreme point of the reef, suddenly seized the
tiller, and in an instant turned the broadside
of the boat towards the breaking surf; a sea
now struck the boat, or rather broke into it,
and filled it. Fortunately, we did not capsize,
and the next sea heaving us on towards the
shore, a vast concourse of the people, who had
been watching our movements with great
anxiety, rushed into the sea, and seizing the
boat by the gunwals on each side, dragged it
by main force high and dry on the beach,
voL. II. a
82 RECULLECTIONS or
before the rdtiring wave had began to carry us
back again into the deep water.
Having thus happily escaped drowning, to
which the improper interference of Mercer had
exposed us, we hastened to the very miserable
and poverty-struck village of Figueras, where
we partly dried our clothes and the few things
we had landed. We also procured some very
humble refreshments, after which we crossed
the Mondigo river, which at this season was
by no means an important stream.
On reaching the South bank we met Cap-
tain Elphinstone, of the Royal Engineers, and
Major Viney, of the Royal Artillery. To the
former I reported my arrival, and that of the
two Lieutenants, and he ordered us, without
loss of time, to join the army encamped at
Lavaos, under the command of Sir Arthur
Wellesley. That corps amounted to about
ten thousand men, and had landed but a few
days before us from England ; these, together
with the troops under Spencer, made up a
little army of about fourteen thousand men.
After a hearty shake of the hand we parted
from Elphinstone and Viney, and immediately
MY MILITARY LIFE. 83
recrossed the Modigo in search of the commis-
sary. Having found that functionary, he
furnished us with a boat to carry us up the
river to Lavaos, some miles distant, whence we
had but four or five miles to walk in order to
reach the camp.
It was nearly dark before we embarked in
the boat, with our clothes imperfectly dried ;
and, although the sky was beautifully clear,
with no wind, we sufi'ered very much from
cold, which made us regret the absence of our
great coats, without which we had imprudently
landed. It was past midnight when we arrived
at the village called Lavaos, and immediately
went in search of shelter, to protect us from
the heavy dew during the remainder of the
night.
Shivering with cold, we ran about from door
to door, entreating to be admitted, but with-
out success ; every house appeared to be
crammed full with officers or soldiers and
luggage. We tried to gain admittance at the
house occupied by the Commissary with no
better result ; for he even refused to allow us
to occupy the passage next to the street door,
e 2
84: RECOLLECTIONS OF
to which our extreme need of some cover had
caused us to reduce our claim.
At length Mercer called us aside, saying he
had an idea, and by which he was sure we
should succeed in getting in somewhere, pro-
viding we obeyed his instructions, to which we
most readily agreed.v Anything that held
out a chance of providing us with a shelter
from the cold and heavy dew then falling, was
too interesting to fail in obtaining our cordial
support.
Upon this, without disclosing his happy
idea, he desired us to stand back out of sight,
and seek the shade, for the moonlight was
very bright, and neither come forward nor
make the least noise, until he should call us to
him.
We did as he desired us, when Mercer
beganlto imitate a female voice in distress, and
then sobbing and lamenting in a most pitiable
manner—-“ Oh! that a young woman like me
should be left forsaken in a foreign land, to
wander about at this time of night. Oh!
what would my poor mother say, if she could
but see me in this forlorn situation, without
MY MILITARY LIFE. 85
shelter, or any one to care a straw about
me P”
This farce had not been kept up more than
a few minutes, when a window was opened,
and a voice in a kind, soothing tone, anxiously
inquired, “ What is the matter? I will give
you shelter; come here; I will come down
and open the door in a moment.” Mercer
now stepped forward, and in grateful terms
accepted the kind invitation for himself and his
two companions. Captain Douglass, of the
Quarter-Master-General’s staff, the officer to
whom we were under so much obligation,
did not retract his offer, and most kindly
welcomed us, on opening the door ; and being
followed by his servant, whom he called up on
discovering our wants, he ordered that we
might each of us be supplied with a rush mat,
and shown into the vacant store-house.
Captain Douglass wished us a good night,
and we thanked him, with more sincerity than
usual, for the obligation he had so opportunely
conferred on us. The servant obeyed his
master’s orders; we got our mats, a candle,
and a pitcher of water; and, although the
86 RECOLLEC'I‘IONS or
store was not boarded, it was fortunately not
paved, but the floor was hard earth, dry, and
level.
On searching about, I found a large empty
cask, about the dimension of two pipes; one
end was out, and it appeared, by its smell, to
have been recently full of wine or spirits.
It now occurred to me that I might convert
this cask into a most valuable addition to my
comforts; upon which I immediately threw
it down on its side, introduced my mat, and
lay down in it, having taken the precaution to
stuff one of my boots under each side to pre-
Vent it from rolling. Mercer and Mulcaster
extended their mats, so that their feet reached
the side of my cask.
‘We had not been many minutes thus ex-
tended, when I heard Mercer, in a tone of
voice affectedly subdued, for his object dis-
tinctly was that I should hear his observations,
pointing out to Mulcaster my overbearing
conduct in thus seizing on the only cask in the
store. “Now,” said he, “you see the man
we have to deal with; whilst our companion
at Gibraltar we used to think him a good
MY MILITARY LIFE. 87
fellow; observe his conduct when Command-
ant—observe it well, and judge by it ; we shall
have a nice time of it I can foresee.” All this
I understood perfectly; for I knew Mercer
well; he meant nothing more-than to try my
good nature; and all the while he was thus
speaking he kept his feet against my cask,
rocking it a little, as if it were by accident.
I frequently remonstrated against this an-
noyance, but he as often answered that he
could not help it.
In the midst of this, I very soon found out
that the fumes of the wine or spirit, which
still floated about the cask, would not fail to
make me very unwell, and I had already begun
to feel the effects by the sensation of a head-
ache, whch annoyed me very much; so,
making a virtue of necessity, I jumped out,
saying, “ You seem to make a great affair about
this cask; you may take it if you like.” I
had no sooner dragged. out my mat, than
Mercer darted in, like a hound into his kennel,
and immediately after fell sound asleep.
At five o’clock in the morning, having had
a‘short repose of only three hours, the cart
88 RECOLLECTIONS or
destined to carry to the camp any little bag-
gage we might have brought on shore, such as
saddles, bridles, &c., was at the door, when
Mercer was with some difliculty aroused; and
it was then discovered that he was perfectly
drunk, in consequence of having inhaled the
fumes left in the cask ; and as he was totally
unable to walk, or even to stand up, we put
him in the cart on the top of the baggage.
In this style we started, Mulcaster and my-
self walking by the side, alternately laughing
at Mercer’s punishment, and at the adventure
of the preceding night. By soon after six
o’clock we arrived in the camp.
Here we met many old friends of the Royal
Artillery and of the Royal Engineers, who
were all greatly diverted at Mercer’s situation,
and at the narration of the mode he had adopted
to procure us a night’s lodging. Mercer was
put into a tent, and a few hours’ sleep com-
pletely recovered him. ,
The names of the officers of Engineers, as
well as I can remember, were Captain Elphin-
stone, commanding; myself, second; Captain
MY MILITARY LIFE. 89
Patten; Lieutenants Wells, English, Botler,
Williams, Mercer, Mulcaster, and Stanway.
Those of the Royal Artillery were Lieutenant-
Colonel Robe, commanding, Major Viney,
Captains Geary, Rainsford, Eliot, Morrison,
Lawson; Lieutenants Patten, Adj utant,Festing,
Hawker, Johnston, and many others.
Our friends gave us a good breakfast, and
we dined with them also at about three o’clock ;
and, on my happening to mention that I must
occupy myself in endeavouring to procure a
horse, for I was not yet mounted, Major Viney
said he would sell me an excellent pony,
which he had bought only a few days before,
but having procured a better, he could spare
him to oblige me ; and that he would do
better than no horse. It was by no means
difficult to convince me of that simple fact; I,
therefore, agreed at once to take him without
even looking at him; and, in order to secure
such a prize, Ihanded over fifty Spanish dol-
lars to Viney, the price which he stated he had
paid for him, and which he was willing to take
for the pony. Viney had praised the pony
90 ' RECOLLEGTIONS or
as a very sure-footed animal ; and, although
“ a rum one to look at, yet he was a good one
to go,” particularly over rough ground, added
Viney, with emphasis.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 91
CHAPTER VI.
Patten’s eccentricities—Patten hires a Negro servant,
and is robbed by him—I am appointed to the Light
Brigade—An alarm—Leiria— Lieutenant Festing-
Dust~Dinner sent us by the Monks of Alcobaca.
AFTER dinner, I was standing near the tent
in which we had dined, when Patten joined
me with another oflicer, to whom, as I soon
discovered, he had just sold the holsters he
had brought with him from England. Upon
this I could not resist expressing much sur-
prise at his having parted with an article
which I regarded as of the first necessity at
such a moment ; Patten, nevertheless, declared
he thought them of no use whatever.
92 RECOLLECTIONS or
I cannot refrain from mentioning here ano-
ther very eccentric measure pursued by Patten
at this time, and for which he paid rather
dearly. The ‘event to which I advert, as well
as I can recollect, occurred as follows:
A few days before my arrival, he was walk-
ing about the streets of Figueras, when he met
a negro in shabby attire, and apparently un-
employed. Patten was, however, immediately
seduced by his appearance, and turning to a
brother officer who was in his company, said ;
“I like the look of that fellow, I have no
doubt he would make a good servant; those
blacks are generally capital good cooks.”
Then going up to blacky, and endeavouring
to explain his wishes to engage him by signs
and gestures, for he could not speak the Por-
tuguese language, and the negro did not under-
stand any other; but after due diligence had
been exercised on both sides, blacky under-
stood that massa was anxious to have the
benefit of his valuable services. Mungo’s
character was so bad, and this was so generally
known, that he was in a fair way to starve, so
he gladly caught at an offer which so immensely
MY MILITARY LIFE. 93
surpassed his most daring ambition, and, there-
fore, at once permitted himself to be seduced
away from his profitable occupations at Fi-
gueras,-—begging by day from door to door,
and pilfering in every direction during the
night.
It is, almost unnecessary to add, that this
worthy availed himself of the first opportunity
that presented itself on the march to follow a
wrong road; and he thus successfully carried
off Patten’s mule and baggage together, with-
out having given massa a proof of his superior
talent in the art of cooking.
By the orderly book which had been brought
tome just before dinner, I found myself ap-
pointed to the Light Brigade, as was also
Lieutenant Stanway of the Royal Engineers.
This Brigade was commanded by Brigadier--
General the Honourable Henry Fane, and was
under orders to march on the following morn-
ing at two o’clock.
I lay down in one of the tents for the night,
and at the sounding of the bugle next morn~
ing, I jumped up and ordered my famous
pony to be accoutered with my handsome new
94 RECOLLECTIONS or
Mameluke saddle, holsters, and ornamented
bridle, &c.; then swinging over my left
shoulder my spy-glass in a strong leather case,
and my haversack containing a few biscuits,
&c., over the right shoulder, I mounted, to
which my pony made not the slightest resist-
ance; as such was the patient temper of this
excellent creature, that he never attempted to
advance one step until I had fully authorized
him to proceed. The Light Brigade had been
off more than an hour before I started, yet I
felt perfectly satisfied that with my famous
pony I should in twenty minutes, or half-an-
hour at most, overtake it with the greatest
facility. Up to this moment I had not even
seen my charger; and although friend Viney
had described him as “ a rum one to look at,”
I thought his appearance was of a still less pre-
possessing character; finding, therefore, that
in this part of the description there certainly
was no exaggeration, I was justified in ex-
pecting that his going qualities probably, in
an equal degree, had been underrated. With
this conviction on my mind, I almost thought
spurs a superfluity, and consequently pressed
MY MILITARY LIFE. 95 .
his flanks gently with the calf of my leg ; this
had no effect, so the whip appended to my
bridle was carefully applied at first, then with
somewhat more severity; still my pony ad-
vanced no faster than a lazy walk; the slight
pricking of one spur had no better result,
which induced me to venture on applying both
of them rather firmly, which, at length, to my
very great joy, threw my yood one to go
into a jog~trot. “ Now,” thought I, “ we
shall agree ;” but the instant I dropped my
legs, for it was a very inconvenient position to
be in, with long legs on a small pony, the trot
was dropped also. I shall never forget the
disappointment I now experienced. To be
mounted on such “ a rum one to look at,” and
such a had one to go, was no joke when join-
ing the light division of an army, which must ’
hourly, ay, at every instant, expect to be en-
gaged with the enemy.
~
I became irritated, and applied, as is usua '
under such feelings, the spurs without much
delicacy, and by keeping them fixed I ad-
vanced at a gentle trot for the space of about
two miles ; but at that period my pony made
96 RECOLLECTIONS or
a full stop, and manifested the strongest symp-
toms of having a will of his own. At length
I dismounted, being unwilling to remain on
that spot during an indefinite period, and got
on by leading him, almost dragging the bridle
out of his month, until I overtook the army at
about eight o’clock, during a short halt to
allow the troops time to take some break-
fast.
Having first introduced myself to the Ge-
neral and then Lieutenant Stanway, we pro-
ceeded, occasionally halting for an hour to
refresh the troops ; and the General took one
of these opportunities for introducing to us
Captain Bringhurst, of the 3rd Dragoon-
Guards, his Aide-de-Camp, and Captain Mac-
leane, the Major of Brigade; Captain Geary,
of the Royal Artillery, who commanded the
guns attached to this brigade, also joined our
party.
Towards evening General Fane observed
that he thought it time to take some refresh-
ment; and having previously ascertained that
neither Stanway nor myself possessed the
means of transport, and consequently could
MY MILITARY LIFE. 97
have no provision but such as we might have
in our haversacks, he kindly invited us to par-
take of some cold meat, &c., which his servant
was engaged in spreading on the side of the
road.
After this important halt we again pro-
ceeded, and as the evening was closing, be-
tween sunset and dark, we were riding very
quietly at the head of the brigade, when we
were startled on hearing a shot fired at a short
distance in our front, and in the next moment
about twenty men, the whole of the advanced
guard, of the 20th Regiment of Light Dra-
goons, came galloping at full speed against us,
knocking down everything on the road; thus,
in an instant, we were all pitched over into
the ditch; the General’s canteens, baggage,
and mules, close behind us, shared the same
fate.
Fully persuaded that the enemy was close
to us, the General halted the brigade, and
rapidly formed it into line across the road;
and as quickly as the nearest brigades in our
rear could be brought up, they were also
formed, in order to meet the enemy, and sus-
von 11. H
98 RECOLLECTIONS or
tain the attack. The Dragoons who had made
this precipitate retreat were immediately ex-
amined; when they stated, that they had seen
one of the enemy’s videttes, and had fired
upon him, and without further investigation
they thought it their duty to fall back, which _
‘they accordingly carried into effect very ex;
peditiously.
A more satisfactory inquiry into this event
was evidently indispensable ; and General Fane,
putting himself with his staff at the head of
the advanced guard, which had now been re-
formed, proceeded to the spot whence they
had fired on the enemy’s vidette, and very
soon discovered a man sitting on the grass by
the side of his horse, and whom, upon further
investigation, they ascertained to be a corporal
of their own 20th Light Dragoons, whom
they had shot through the arm, having mis-
taken him for an enemy.
On being questioned, this man stated that
he had _ quitted his party for a moment, in
order to look over a small bank he had ob-
served at a short distance on theright ;' and, on
returning, the country being quite unenclosed,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 99
he rode on, cutting off a bend which the road
made, without being noticed by his party, and
had fallen in with the road beyond the ad-
vanced guard, and there'waited till his friends
came up. Thus, as soon as the two Dragoons,
at a short distance in front, perceived this
Corporal, the insufficiency of light preventing
them from distinguishing his uniform; and
not believing there could be a man belonging
to the British army between them and the
enemy, they challenged thrice, but so quickly,
that the poor fellow had not had time to
reply, or, if he did, they took no notice of it ;
but one of them immediately fired off his
carbine at the Corporal, and so shot him in the
arm. These two men instantlyturned round,
and made the precipitate retreat already no-
ticed upon their companions, who, satisfied
that the enemy must be close at their heels, also
retreated, and caused the greatest disorder
amongst the leading division of the light
brigade.
This was the first shot fired in the Penin-
sula during the late memorable war, and will
serve to show what a trifle will sometimes
H 2
l 00 RECOLLECTIONS or
cause great confusion in an army, but more
particularly during a night march.
It was past ten o’clock before all was inves-
tigated, explained, and clearly understood, and
the order of the march had been re-established.
We then advanced again, and did not halt for
the night until past midnight, at a place
called Cham-de-Ruaes.
Twenty-two hours as a first day’s march,
was a severe trial on troops just landed from
ship~board; but it was said to be unavoidable,
through the want of water.
Although my pony had caused me, at start-
ing, to anticipate that I should have the plea-
sure of walking at least as many miles as I
should find him willing to carry me, that is,
about half of the whole day’s work ; the poor
creature,afterjoining the otherhorses,proceeded
as fast as they did, which was invariably at a
walk. I now dismounted; and recommend-
ing him to the kind treatment of my servant,
after taking the precaution of removing the
saddle and bridle, which, from that date, served
me as my pillow, to the end of the campaign.
I had no great difficulty in ‘selecting the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 101
spot on which to lie down, for the country
was quite open, presenting neither hedges,
trees, nor bushes, and was as nearly flat as I
couldjudge in the darkness of the night. I,
therefore, crept under a cart-load of hay, and
by robbing it of some handsful, which I
strewed over me, and stuffed betwixt the
spokes of one of the wheels, which was next
to the wind, I lay down, covering myself with
a small blanket I had used as a saddle-cloth,
and thus endeavoured to sleep ; but, notwith-
standing all my efforts, the night was so cold,
and the ground, or rather the grass, was so wet
with dew, that I remained shivering until the
bugle announced the hour for morning parade
about three o’clock. i
Having remained in order of battle until
after full- day-light (11th of August, 1808),
the army moved on cautiously, for we hourly
expected to come up with the enemy.
Early in the day we arrived at Leiria, a good
town, with an ancient castle, built by Denis,
seated on a mound commanding the town, but
now in ruins. Here we halted during the
12th and 13th, in order to make a new ar-
102 RFCOLLEC'I‘IONS or
rangement, forced upon us by the almost
total want of the means of transport. Hav-
ing no superfluities with the army, it became
exceedingly difficult to determine how to re-
duce our wants ; yet something, it was clear,
must be left behind. We had no more pro-
vision than was indispensable, and without
which we could not move; our ammunition
was barely sufficient. Upon the most mode-
rate calculation, we could not, therefore,
diminish its weight without paralyzing the ob-
jects for which we had landed ; the only other
item was the medical and hospital apparatus,
which, although highly important with an
army commencing a campaign, it was unavoid-
ably determined must be abandoned, as were
also a few of the field-pieces.
During our halt at Leiria,I made a plan
of the castle; and, on my return to the camp
which was close by it, I found Lieutenant
Fasting, of the Royal Artillery, who was seek-
ing me, and who was then suffering the utmost
state of distress of mind. As soon as he
could muster his ideas, which, from the mo-
ment of our meeting, appeared to be wander-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 103
ing and rushing through his mind in great
confusion, with tearsin his eyes, he exclaimed,
that Robe (his Commanding officer) had
treated him in a most shameful manner ; and
he then again burst out in a train of invec-
tives, highly expressive of the agonized state
of his feelings.
My long and intimate acquaintance with
Robe rendered it exceedingly difficult for me
to reconcile any act of injustice with my opinion
of his principles; I, therefore, was much per-
plexed at such an accusation; and it was not
before I had several times requested some
explanation of the cause of so much excite-
ment, that Festing, full of anguish, at length
expressed himself in the following terms;
“ What do you think Robe has done ?-—
why, he has appointed me to the reserve
guns, as if I had done something to merit that
disgrace,” &c.
Having said thus much, his tears again
flowed most freely; but, on seeing me smiling
at his supposed grievance, he stared at me
with astonishment; upon which, I lost not a
moment in wishing .him joy of such an ap-
lO-l RECOLLECTIONS or
pointment, and explained to him that I should
have considered that post as one of honour,
since, instead of its being doubtful if he would
be brought into action in any engagement we
might have, which depended on the attack of
the enemy, he now would be sure of being so
employed, the reserve being held ready, to
reinforce and support the point most severely
attacked.
The change which now immediately followed
in Festing’s countenance was rapid ; from the
most sorrowful to a state of half incredulity
of his good fortune, then to the wildest joy,
he leaped about, snapping his fingers, laughing
at the folly of his distress, cursing himself as
a fool for having fallen into such an error, and
proclaiming that Robe was the best fellow in.
the world. Having, at length, recovered some
degree of composure, he gave me a most
hearty shake of the hand, thanked me a
thousand times for having rescued him from
his delusion causing him the utmost anguish
of mind; and ran off to find Robe, in order
that he might express his gratitude, for having
selected him to fill a post, which but an in-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 105
stant before he had regarded as one of the
most degraded in the army. ~
Soon after two o’clock, on the morning of
the 14th, the bugle sounded, and every one
was quickly at his post; we thus remained
under arms in a cold, foggy, drizzling rain,
until broad day-light, when thetroops marched
off.
The dust from the commencement of our
march had been ever inconvenient, and had
taken such firm possession of our clothes,
being fixed by the heavy dew and misty rains
to which we had been exposed, that I recol-
lect General Fane placing his arm by the side
of mine as we were riding together, when he
observed, there was scarcely any difference
between the colour of his red coat and that of
mine, which was blue.
It was about the same time, indeed, pro-
bably on the same day, that General Fane
held out his hand, showing me the back of it,
when he exclaimed, “ There’s a handsome
hand to present at a drawing-room,” alluding
to its being very much sunlburnt; for very
few, if any, of the army were seen with gloves.
106 RECOLLECTIONS or
Some ten years after that period, I happened
to meet Sir Henry Fans in Buckingham palace,
when attending a drawing-room, and both of
us were jammed into the doorway of the first
room, at the head of the grand stairs, there
waiting our turn to be admitted. Whilst in
this position I availed myself of that oppor-
tunity to remind the General of his observ-
ation to me in Portugal, regarding the sun-
burnt state of his hands ; upon which he
laughed in good earnest, and admitted his
perfect recollection of the event to which I
had called his attention.
At this moment the Countess of A ,
Fane, and myself were standing edgewise, and
filled the doorway ; I was in the middle facing
her Ladyship, and Fans had his back against
mine, pressing me in a most unmerciful man-
ner; upon which, the Countess, with a long
pin, passed her hand under my arm, and ex-
claiming, “You wicked dog, Fane! what a
nuisance you are!” at the same moment thrust
the pin up to its head into Fane’s back, which
caused him to squeak out most lustily, and
caused so much sensation, that several of the

MY MILITARY LIFE. 107
attendants forced their way up, which brought
about a most ridiculous explanation ; and as
I was the only person in contact with the
Countess, I was regarded as the offender,
until matters were clearly explained, the
Countess fully exonerating me.
The dust was at this period very disagree-
able, it was ancle deep, and as light as the best
calcined magnesia; and, as the wind was in
our backs, we were constantly enveloped in
a dense cloud, which not only blinded and
suffocated us in a degree quite insupportable,
but the greater evil was, that it thus totally
obscured our view of the country in our front,
so that we might have been attacked without
amoment’s notice. Occasional halts were,
therefore, rendered necessary, in order to re-
connoitre the country to the extent of a mile or
more. During these delays it was truly amusing
to listen to the conversations and remarks
made by the soldiers, particularly the Irish,
who invariably express themselves in a dif-
ferent manner from others. During one of
these halts a peasant passed us in a field, at
the side of the road, and was very knock-
108 nncoLLncrIoNs or
kneed, upon which, Paddy called to his friend
thus: “ Melony, I say, my boy, look at dat
fellow, hobling along dare; see, he’s got one
knee made of sugar candy, and de oder goes
licking it all de way.”
We had not proceeded very far when we
observed a French Waggon on the right-hand
side of the road, which had probably broken
down, and had been abandoned by the
enemy ; we examined this vehicle with intense
curiosity, but it contained nothing.
At about one o’clock we arrived at Alco-
baca, and proceeded through that small town
without stopping a moment, not even to gather
strength to ascend the long and steep hill,
which commences in the place itself. On our
left we passed close by the immense pile of
buildings composing the celebrated convent
of Alcobaca, and of which I may have occa-
sion to give a description in its proper place.
We, the light brigade, took up our position at
a mile» or thereabouts beyond the top of the
hill, in order to protect the remainder of the
army, whilst they took up their night’s lodging
in and about the town; and we deeply re-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 109
gretted that the nature of our position in the
army did not permit our accepting an ‘invi-
tation which the whole of the staff of the
army had received to dine with the monks of
Alcobaca.
Our inability to dine at'the convent having
been communicated to the Abbot, a messenger
was, in consequence, sent to General Fane,
with orders to express the deep regret of the
whole of that community at being deprived of
the General’s company; and, at the same
time, to inquire for what number of persons
the General might wish to be supplied with a
dinner, which should be sent to him with the
least possible delay from the convent kitchen.
It is necessary I should here state, that the
General’s orderly was a German, named
Schwalbach, a private in the 5th battalion of
the 60th Regiment, a Rifle battalion; and in
order to augment the importance of his office,
he pretended to be conversant with the Por-
tuguese language, but of which he had a very
imperfect knowledge. Now, as the General
had invited Captain Geary, of the Artillery,
and Lieutenant Stanway, of the Engineers,
llO RECOLLECTIONS or
and myself, to dine with him on this occasion,
the party, including the General and his staff,
would amount to six; he, therefore, directed
his orderly, in compliance with the messenger’s
communication, to state that he should“ re-
quire dinner for that number. Schwalbach
was not a man that would miss a good oppor-
tunity, such as the present; so mustering up
his best Portuguese, he contrived to explain
that dinner for six would be sufficient, but
added with extraordinary gravity, and in a
tone of voice truly German, “ Mit wine fur
twelf ;” which, after many gestures, and more
swearing by Schwalbach, the messenger ap-
peared to comprehend; and he immediately
departed at the utmost speed of his mule.
In the short space of little more than an
hour, eight men, all well mounted, on splendid
mules, arrived at the ground occupied by the
General and his staff; each of them carrying
a large and apparently a heavy basket. With
magical expedition the cloth was spread, and
covered with innumerable dishes of the most
delicate viands, superlatively well cooked, and
without any garlic, which, we feared, would
MY MILITARY LIFE. 111
have formed a prominent ingredient. The
dinner for six would have been sufficient to
satiate six times as many; for amongst the
variety now placed before us, I observed a
roasted turkey, two boiled fowls with rice,
two roasted ducks, a ham weighing twenty
pounds at least, two tongues, stews, fricasees,
ragouts, vegetables in profusion; and a
superb dessert of melons of every sort—grapes,
pomegranates, green almonds, peaches, &c.;
and, to the extraordinary delight of, and
greatly surpassing his expectations and in-
tentions, Schwalbach now had the gratification
of beholding an ammunition box, which served
as a sideboard, covered with twenty-four
bottles of the most excellent red and white
wines, being a general assortment of Colhares,
Hock, Champaign, Port, Madeira, Lisbon, &c.
The healths of the King, the monks of Al-
cobag'a, and of Sir Arthur Wellesley, having
been drank with great satisfaction, but with-
out noise; we cautiously, as officers of the
light division should always carefully observe,
resisted the temptation of drinking other
toasts.
112 RECOLLECTIONS or
The ham, tongues, poultry, and wine, not
consumed, were carefully packed in the Ge-
neral’s provision baskets; not, however, for-
getting to allow our good interpreter, Schwal-
bach, to have his share in moderation of the
good things and wine, which his thorough
knowledge of the Portuguese language had
procured in such abundance.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 113
CHAPTER VII.
The dust is very inconvenient, and causes sore lips—A
cure discovered—Brigadier-General Fane suffered
very much—Maj or Viney wants a swift horse; I lend
him the one I bought of him, but he cannot make
him go faster than myself—The Bishop of Coimbra——
Viva the pretty girls !-—We pass through Caldas-da—
Reinha—Commence dinner—Firing heard—I bag my
dinner—I hasten away towards Obidos—T he first
life lost in the Peninsular war—I return to camp at
Caldas—I reconnoitre the surrounding country--
Rumours of Junot’s intentions—I return to Caldas,
and find Geary’s guns—Geary’s presentiment—We
march and arrive at Obidos—Captain Bradford of the
Guards—I ascend the square Moorish tower at the
South point of the town to look out with my glass.
ON the following morning (the 15th), having
voL. II. I
114 RECOLLECTIONS or
remained under arms from half-past two
o’clock till full daylight, as usual, we again
advanced; but, instead of tlie whole of the
army moving on one road, we were formed
in two columns, one of them following a road
much nearer to the sea than the one I was
with.
_. We now again found the dust as thick and
suffocating as it had been from the day on
which we had commenced the march; but it
was somewhat less distressing than on the
preceding day, the wind being from the
Westward, or from our right, and across our
line of march. The sky was, however, cloud-
less; and in following a route in a direction
almost due‘ South, we necessarily bad the sun
shining constantly in our faces.
This was not only inconvenient, by dazzling
our sight, and consequently augmenting the
difficulty of examining the country upon which
we were advancing; but the dust, by settling
Won our under-lips, and the constantly scorching
rays of the sun, very soon produced a serious
degree of inflammation in that tender part.
Through these circumstances, almost every
MY MILITARY LIFE. 115
individual in the army was, by this time, suf-
fering serious inconvenience; our under-lips
i being greatly swollen, and generally completely
burst open and suppurating ; the constant
supply of dust and incessant heat materially
tended to irritate the sore, and in many cases
‘manifested a disposition to assume a very se-
rious state of disease.
At length, some one suggested the appli-\
cation of the leaf of a shrub, resembling thafl.
of a filbert, to the affected part, taking care
_to keep one edge of the leaf [between the
lower teeth and the lip, whilst the remainder,
by projectingover or lying on the lip, would
effectually protect it from the rays of the sun
and the' dust also, from the moisture of the
mouth. The result was most satisfactory;
and in the course of a few days, all the
sore lips in the army, the number of which
amounted to as many as there were mouths,
were completely cured.
It is worthy of remark, that every one who
had gone through this very painful ordeal was
never again attacked in the same manner,
although ‘he continued to be exposed to the
I 2
1 l6 RECOLLECTIONS or
same causes. The troops that had joined un-
der General Spencer had then been nearly all
the summer exposed to the same climate,
although it was only at Santa-Maria where we
had encountered the dust; and many of us
had been some years at Gibraltar, where the
dust and heat of the sun were. very much the
same, yet we all shared alike, all had sore
under-lips, all. were cured with the leaf, and
none of us were again afflicted through a con-
tinuance or repetition of the cause.
Brigadier-General Fane was suffering ex-
ceedingly from the disease above named, when
I well remember observing, that on his giving
the word of command bah‘, to the Light Bri-
gade, his under-lip was so parched and so ripe
with inflammation, that it actually split in two
places, and the blood ran down to his chin in
a moment.
Having, at length, arrived on some ex-
tensive plains, our column was ordered to form
line, I supposed for practice; and whilst this
was carrying into affect, and I was in conver-
sation with Captain Geary and Lieutenant
Wilkinson, the latter of the corps of Artillery-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 117
Drivers, Major Viney of the Artillery, usually
known as Mad ,Viney, came up to us at a
gallop, as I thought, on a very good horse;
yet he demanded, in a hurried and wild man-
ner, if any one would lend him a good fresh
horse, one that could carry him with the
utmost expedition to Sir Arthur Wellesley,
declaring that he was anxious to make a com-‘
munication to his Excellency of great im-
portance, and which, I think, he said, was
about the passing of a brigade of guns over a
bridge. '
In consideration of the pressing necessity of
the case, I immediately offered Viney the use
of my very celebrated pony, which but a few
days before I had bought of him, under the
assurance of his being a good one to go, par-
ticularly over rough ground.
The Major’s mind was engaged on matters
of too much importance to recognise the pony
or his superior qualifications for assisting him
in the discharge of a duty of the first con-
sequence; therefore, thanking me for my
obliging offer, he threw himself into the saddle,
and applied the spurs most liberally ; and
118 RECOLLECTIONS or
during the same time, having mounted his
horse without the loss of a moment, I made
off to an adjacent rising ground, whence I
might best observe the rapidity of my pony’s
movements, under the exclusively able manage-
ment of the Major. Alas! in selling me the
pony, Viney had irrecoverably lost the charm,
for he was now no better able than myself to
make him, as formerly, go so delightfully over
the roughest ground. _
Such an animal for a man in a hurry, and
that, too, under such serious circumstances,
was past a joke. After exerting every effort to
recover his late power over his old friend, he
jumped off,_declaring he had never been on
the back of such a brute in all his life. We
all had a hearty laugh at the disappointment‘
which Viney had experienced; he bore it
remarkably well, and I regretted having played
him the trick. He was, however, soon sup-
plied by some of the Artillery with such a
horse as he had required, and he immediately
turned my pony loose, and galloped off. I
experienced no difficulty in catching the aban-
doned animal, and I cast Viney’s horse_ loose,
‘ as he had treated mine.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 119
Whilst we were still enjoying the laugh at
the adventure just related, we were all struck
with the appearance of a mounted figure,
which, at such a distance as at that moment
separated us, it was exceedingly diflicult to
clearly define who or what he might wish to
be supposed. At first it was conjectured
that, by the flowing robe and various colours,
it must be a female. We then suggested that
the figure, still at the distance of two hundred
yards at least, must be a Persian, a Turk, or
an Algerine, for a sword was now very clearly
perceptible. Several amongst us suspected
that a troop of players or mountebanks must
have joined the army, and that the advancing
incognito undoubtedly was the celebrated
Doctor Vanclatterbank. Such and many
others were the surmises of our increasing
circle, for officers were running up from all
points of the compass to meet this curiosity,
when, to our general astonishment, we dis-
covered that the mysterious personage was the
Bishop of Coimbra in full costume, with a
handsome sword passed through a military
‘cross-belt, which the reverend prelate had
l 20 RECOLLECTIONS or
boldly thrown over his shoulder, declaring that
he would march at the head of the Portuguese
troops, about six thousand in number, and
that he would share with them all the fatigues
and perils of the campaign now commencing.
The army having resumed its marching
order, we proceeded, and at about three o’clock
passed through the exceedingly neat town of
Caldas-da-Reinha, a place much celebrated on
account of its hot mineral springs, and which,
amongst numerous’ other diseases, are said to
cure scrofula. At the time when we marched
through, there were a great number of elegantly
dressed promenaders in a sort of public garden
on our left; and as we proceeded through the
streets, from every balcony flowers were
showered upon us in the greatest profusion,
accompanied with an incessant shouting of
“ Viva-oz-Inyleses!” a compliment we had not
before received; and then the people also
shouted “Viva Portugal /” upon which some of
the soldiers, in a merry humour, would echo,
“That’s right, I say, viva the Purty Gals 1”
supposing the Portuguese to have thus at-
tempted to speak English.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 121
The Light Brigade did not halt for a single
moment until we had advanced to the dis-
tance of a mile or more beyond the town, and
there we stopped, intending to make another
sumptuous feast on the liberal supplies of the
monks of Alcobaga.
The General having sent off towards Obidos
five companies of the 5th battalion of the 60th
and 95th Regiments, both rifle corps, and a
detachment of the 20th Light Dragoons, the
whole under the command of Captain Travers
of the 95th, we were all invited to the dinner
awaiting us at four o’clock.
Just as Bringhurst had begun to dig into
the ham, and I was holding out my plate for
a slice, the sight of which filled my mouth with
moisture, although'up to that moment it had
been so parched, that I thought I did not
contain a single drop of liquid in my whole
body, we heard a sharp firing of muskets in
the direction of Obidos; upon which General
Fane jumped up, called for his horse, and
ordered us, with the guns under Geary, and
some additional companies of the Riflemen, to
advance with him immediately.
1 22 RECOLLECTIONS o'r
Feeling that I should be quite unable to
do justice to ‘His Majesty’s service unless I
speedily obtained some reanimating food, I
seized, without remorse of conscience, on the
leg of the turkey which had been ‘amputated
for me, at the moment when I was holding
out my plate for the slice of the best ham in
the world, and just also at the never-to-be-
forgotten moment when the first musket-shot
had been heard ; and so, rolling the turkey’s
limb in the large and, happily, most un-Vaux-
hall-like slice of ham which Bringhurst had
cut in a very perfect Aide-de-Camp’s style, I
wrapped up the whole in an old newspaper,
and mounted, trusting to my biscuit and can-
teen of wine, which I had filled on reaching
the ground, for the remainder of my dinner.
Thus provided, I felt that I was more likely
to be envied than pitied.
Not so, however, with my pony, who had
only been allowed his water, and was just
commencing his barley, when I had been under
the painful necessity of giving him a mouthful
of bridle to satisfy him instead of dinner. I,
therefore, hastily threw the nose-bag with the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 123
barley over my holsters, in order that I might
secure for him a supper at least.
As we advanced the firing increased, and
from time to time was kept up with vigour;
but before we arrived at Obidos, about four
miles from Caldas, the skirmishing had ceased,
and we learnt that the enemy had fired from
behind an aqueduct at Obidos, on our ad-
vanced guard, quite unexpectedly. This aque-
duct crosses a valley extending between a
chain of hills on the Eastward and the town of
Obidos, which stands upon and occupies the
whole of a triangular mount, and is enclosed
by a strong and lofty Moorish wall, flanked
with square towers, the whole of which are in
a very eflicient condition.
The French did not attempt to defend the
town, but contented themselves with forming
behind the aqueduct; and, as the cavalry
and riflemen advanced to pass under it, in
following the high read, they stepped out from
behind the piers of the arches, which till then
had concealed them, and fired a general volley,
which, to the astonishment of the party,
l 24 RECOLLECTIONS or
neither killed nor maimed a single man; nor
even any of the horses.
From this point they retreated slowly, firing
on our men as they followed, and‘ Travers
went on advancing a couple of miles or more ;
when, observing that the enemy were receiving
considerable reinforcements, he thought it
prudent to retire.
On entering the suburbs our reception was
very unlike that we had experienced at Caldas ;
here not a window-shutter was open; the
doors all closed; not a creature, not even a
dog was in the street; no vivas ./ to greet our
arrival; but here and there half a face was
perceptible, attempting to peep out unobserved,
in order to ascertain whether the strangers
passing were French or English. All joy was
absent, and not a bell was rung to welcome
our arrival. It was thus very evident that the
vicinity of the enemy operated as a powerful
restraint.
During the above affair Lieutenant Bunbury,
of the 95th Regiment, was killed, having re-
ceived a musket-shot through the chest, and
twenty-seven non-commissioned officers and
MY MILITARY LIFE. 125
privates of the 60th and 95th Regiments were
wounded. The officer above-named as killed
was the first life lost in the Peninsular war.
Brigadier-General Fane remained at Obidos
during that night, whilst I returned to near
Caldas with Geary and his guns.
On the 16th I rode back into Caldas, and
in-the town met Captain Eliot, of the Artillery,
with his brigadeof nine-pounders, drawn by
grey horses, who, with the main body, was
only then coming into town. Eliot and many
others were very anxious to learn from me the
truth as to the little affair of the preceding
evening, the account of which had been mag-
nified into a severe engagement ; and the
never-ceasing desire on these occasions to ren_
der such information as complete and accurate
as possible, had dictated all the details, not ‘
only of the movements and evolutions, but
had even provided a long list of killed, wounded,
and missing.
On my laughing at all those particulars, and
flatly contradicting them, my good friends
were greatly surprised; and I found it no easy
matter to persuade them that the whole they"9
126 RECOLLEC'I‘IONS or
had heard on that subject was a mass of fabri-
’ cation; at length, having related the simple
facts, they remained astonished at their own
credulity. I now turned my horse’s head
round, and went on to Obidos.
My first object was to reconnoitre the whole
of the surrounding country. Having very
quickly inspected the ground on the West, I
crossed the valley to the Eastward of the town
by following the side of the aqueduct, where
there is a good road leading over the hills by
some windmills, and in a direction which I
suspected might again join, or in some way
communicate, with the more direct road to
Lisbon, which is by Rolica. Having ques-
tioned several of the country people to that
effect, they confirmed me in my conjecture,
assuring me that this road rejoined the high
road to Lisbon, at some distance beyond the
tops of the hills of Columbeira, on which the
enemy was then posted.
The hills of Columbeira presented a strong
front of steep and broken ground, covered
with pine trees towards Obidos, and at the
distance of about six miles from that place.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 127
On my return into Obidos, I waited on
Brigadier-General Fane, and having dined with
him, we walked about on the ramparts during
some time, whilst I communicated to him all
the information I had been enabled to collect
during that day. In the course of our rambles
along the top of the Moorish walls, and whilst
we were looking at the Eastern hills through
our telescopes, resting on the Moorish battle-
ments, still very perfect, some of the inhabit-
ants exclaimed that they could perceive the
_ enemy, in their white canvas great-coats, and
that they appeared to be in considerable force,
moving slowly along the skirt of a wood. At
first sight I was convinced that the information
was correct, and both the General and his
Aide-de-camp were of the same opinion ; but,
after I had carefully examined the supposed
enemy with my; famous three-feet telescope, by
Watson, I clearly perceived that we had been
deceived, for it turned out to be a large herd
of goats, mostly white. .
In the course ' of our conversation, the
General mentioned that J unot (the Duke of
Abrantes) was reported to have said, “he
128 RECOLLECTIONS or
should make the pipe-clay fly out of us in good
style as soon as we engaged his troops ;” in
allusion, no doubt, to the use which the British
army almost exclusively makes of that article.
And as this and many other brags of the same
French officer were daily the subject of conver-
sation in our army, it very naturally excited our
inquiries as to the talents and services of our
own commander. To these questions the com-
mon reply was, that his services had been
chiefly performed in India; upon which I heard
officers exclaim, “ Oh, if Sir Arthur thinks he
can beat the French troops as easily as he has
been accustomed to conquer the Indians, we
shall suffer severely! we shall most probably ,
be all cut to pieces; and so J unot may say
- with truth that he will make the pipe-clay fly
out of us.” Under this feeling, many of us,
totally ignorant of our commander’s military
skill, advanced towards the enemy, anxiously
looking for some event that might fill them with
that implicit confidence so indispensably neces-
sary to the success of an army, and which,
before the lapse of one week, Sir Arthur so
abundantly established.
MY MILITARY' LIFE. 129
As the sun had been during some time
below the horizon, the General pressed my
departure with some trifling orders to .the
Artillery, and I proceeded as fast as I could;
yet, before I arrived there, it was perfectly
night and very dark; and, as I had taken a
road which passes more to the Eastward than
the one by which I had gone to Obidos, and
which passed through a thick pine forest, I lost
my way; but, after an hour or two passed in
severe anxiety, I found myself suddenly in the
midst of the Light Brigade. The guns had
- been moved from the ground they had occupied
on the preceding night, which greatly increased
my difficulty in finding Geary; however, after
groping about, and making frequent inquiries
of the sentinels, I, at length, perceived my old-
friend the forge-cart of our Artillery brigade.
I was exceedingly fatigued, so, without being
over-fastidious as to the regularity of the sur-
face, I lay down near the forge-cart, without
disturbing anybody. Before I went off to
sleep, Lieutenant Wilkinson, of the Artillery-
drivers, came in, he having been away on some
duty, about which I did not enquire; he, also,
voL. II. p K
{30 RECOLLECTIONS or
was very tired, and immediately after he had
, handed over his horse to his servant, he rolled
himself up in his handsome blue camlet cloak,
lined with white, and lay down under the
shelter, from the cold wind, of a large furze
bush. Wilkinson had not been many minutes
i in that snug situation when he discovered that
his cloak had suffered a signal disgrace, at
which he swore bitterly, whilst we were con-
vulsed with laughter at his luck.
The bugle sounded at about two o’clock on
the morning of the 17th, when Geary ordered
his breakfast to be got ready forthwith, and
as we sat on the very wet grass, drinking our
cup of tea, and eating a slice of bread and
butter, by the light of a small lanthorn, he
asked me many questions as to the result of
my reconnoissance of the preceding day; and
particularly, if I thought we should come to
any engagement on that day; to the latter I
replied that I was decidedly of opinion, the
enemy intended to defend the position which
they occupied on the hills of Columbiera, so
we should in all probability be on that day
engaged; upon this, Geary turned to his ser-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 131
vant, saying, “ Thomas, I shall ride my war-
horse to-day.” Then, “ Thomas, look in the
basket, and find me that piece of cheese I
brought from home.” Thomas soon found the
cheese, when Geary,looking at it very earnestly,
said to me, “I brought this cheese from my
little farm in the Isle of Wight, it was made
by my wife’s own hands ;” then half to him-
self, he went on, “ what a fool I am to be here !
what have I to do with campaigning? I have
a most amiable wife—five darling fond little
children—£800 a-year, and a nice little farm !
Please Deed and the pigs, if I but live to see
the end of this campaign, you shall never catch
me campaigning again, you may depend upon
it.” This was more addressed to himself than
to me, for now turning to me, he said ; “ Land-
mann, I must tell you, that just as I received
the order to hold myself in readiness to come
on this expedition, my resignation was lying
on the table, waiting for the servant to carry
it to the post-office. I was then at home, sur-
rounded by my dear little ones, and had it been
sent but a day or two sooner, I might still have
been there ; but having received the order to
l 32 RECOLLECTIONS or
come away, of course I could not think of re-
signing.” After this, he frequently repeated
“ This shall be my last campaign.” 7
Soon after day-light the army advanced,
and by half-past six we arrived at Obidos,
where the advance of the army halted to.
refresh. -I availed myself of this oppor-
tunity to enter the town, with a view to get
some breakfast, and speedily found myself at
a chocolate house door near the gate, and on
the left-hand side of the principal street.
The house was already quite full, and having
no one to whom I could entrust my horse, I
looked in at the window, when I soon recog- .
nised a brother officer, whom I begged to hand
me out a cup of chocolate. After a while he
did so, and exactly at the same moment,
Captain Bradford, of the Guards, then Military
Secretary to Major-General Spencer,~came up,
and entreated of me to let him have my cup
of chocolate, saying he was on his way with
orders, which admitted of no delay, and had
had nothing to eat that morning; if I refused
to let him have it, he must proceed fasting.
Accordingly I gave him my chocolate, which
MY MILITARY LIFE. 133
was boiling hot, but with plenty of blowing,
and frequently passing it from cup to saucer
and back, he contrived to swallow it; and
on returning me the empty cup, said, “I
am so pressed for want of time, that I must
beg of you to pay for me; I am sure, if I
should be killed to-day, you will not call on
my executors for the few vintems it will cost
you.” I assured him I should not, and he gal-'
'loped off as fast as his horse could carry him.
Having had the good fortune to obtain a
second cup boiling hot, which I despatched as
quickly as was practicable, I proceeded to the
high Moorish tower at the southern angle of
the town, from the top of which I occupied
myself in examining the position occupied by
the enemy ; and with the aid of my telescope,
I could distinctly see them moving about, on
the brow of the hills of Columbeira, beyond
the town of Rolica. ‘
134 RECOLLECTIONS or
CHAPTER VIII.
The heights of Columbeira—Sir Arthur Wellesley comes
up into the Tower—I venture to give an opinion, which
is followed-“I proceed with Ferguson’s Brigade—-
Lieutenant-Colonel Lake with the 29th Regiment, his
ominous reply—An Aide-de-camp of the Duke of
York just lands, and deranges the attack intended by
Ferguson—First position of the Artillery whence the
first spherical case shot was fired—The fire is re-
turned with round shot—A Portuguese astonished—-
I make a sketch of the ground—Death of the Hon-
ourable George Lake—A lady in the action—Brad-
ford’s death -— The 71st Regiment —— Fitzpatrick-—
Doctor Gunning.
Tnnsr. hills extend perpendicularly across
the main road leading to Lisbon, and are broken
or divided by several deep and very steep
ravines, thefbeds of winter torrents, and which
MY MILITARY LIFE. 135
are thickly covered with pine trees, excepting
one of them, which is the highest, and upon
the most elevated part of which stands a cross.
Whilst I was thus engaged, I suddenly heard
the sound of the footsteps of several persons be-
hind me, and also the rattling of steel scabbards,
which indicated the presence of stafl-officers ;
then immediately I heard a voice asking hastily,
and in a tone of authority, for a glass, and at
the same moment I was tapped on the shoulder
and desired to make room, for the space was
very small, and insufficient for two persons to
rest their glasses, so as to observe the enemy
at thesame time. I now, as required, turned
round, and Sir Arthur Wellesley was before
me ; upon which I presented my telescope to
his Excellency.
Sir Arthur took a very careful survey of the
country, as far as it was possible from that
spot, and particularly examined the position
occupied by the enemy ; after which I related
to him my reconnoissance of the preceding
day, principally in regard of the hills to the
Eastward, adding, that I fully believed from my
own observation, and also from the information
l 36 RECOLLECTIONS or
I had obtained, that the road I had there
followed up to the two windmills, led to the
rear of the enemy’s position, round his right
flank, and therefore offered a good opportunity
for cutting off his retreat ; whilst at the same
time, a movement by that route would inter-
cept the expected junction of General Loison
with Laborde; the former being understood
to be on his march from Thomar, or its vicinity,
with six thousand men, and the latter occupy-
ing the hills of Columbeira in our front.
Sir Arthur Wellesley appeared to be satis~
fied with my communication, and not dis-
pleased at the liberty I had used in making
the above suggestion ; for he immediately
ordered Major-General Ferguson and Briga-
dier-General Bowes, with their brigades, and
the artillery of the Light Brigade, to march by
the road I had spoken of to him; and then
said to me; “As you have reconnoitred that
country, you will go with Ferguson.”
I departed accordingly, bounding with joy
at my recommendation having been adopted,
and in half-a-minute was out of town to place
myself by the side of Ferguson, at the head
I
MY MILITARY LIFE. 137
of the only portion of the army, as fully
expected, which had any chance of being that
day engaged; for we were to do all before
the others could possibly arrive in time to
share in the laurels I had planned.
On reaching the great road at the spot
where it passes under the aqueduct, the 29th
Regiment was at that moment coming up,
with Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable
George Lake at their head, the band playing
a country dance. Lake was mounted on a
complete charger, nearly seventeen hands high,
a light brown horse, with a famous long tail,
and the Lieutenant-Colonel was dressed in an
entirely new suit, even his leathers, boots, hat,
feather, epaulettes, sash, 850., being all new;
his hair was powdered and queued, his cocked
hat placed on his head square to the front;
and, in short, Lake, and every officer in the
regiment, was dressed and accoutred in the
strictest accordance with the King’s regula-
tions. I was so struck with the marked dis-
tinction between the 29th Regiment and all
the others then with the army, thatI could
not refrain from observing to Lake, “ Well,
1 38 RECOLLECTIONS or
Colonel, you are dressed as if you were going
to be received by the King.”
Lake smiled, and replied with a dignified
air, “ Egad, Sir i if I am killed to-day, I
mean to die like a gentleman.”
I went on across the valley with Ferguson,
sometimes conversing with Geary, and some-
times with Bowes, always in good spirits; for
I now regarded my fortune as secured, having
directed the movement which Ferguson and
Bowes, and many others, thought must ter-
minate in the capture of the whole of La-
borde’s division before the other portion of the
enemy could come up.
We thus continued to advance about four
miles by the road, which was sufficiently re-
tired from the edge of the hills to conceal our
line of march, no one daring to go to the right
on the crest of the range of hills we were on,
lest the enemy should see us. On one occa-
sion, with the General’s permission, I recon-
noitred on foot to the distance of half a mile ;
with one pistol in my hand and the other in
my sash, I crept along amongst the bushes,
and looked over into the valley, where I saw
MY MILITARY LIFE. l39
our main body considerably in the rear of
us, which I hastened back to report to Fer-
guson.
Just as I had communicated my inform-
ation, I observed an Aide-de-camp with two
epaulettes, the distinction worn by those at-
tached to His Royal Highness the Duke of
York only. This officer came up at a hand
gallop, with a fine white sheep-skin covering
to his saddle, and extending much beyond it,
and ordered General Ferguson to descend
_ from the heights, and join the main body in
a front attack; adding, that he had ascer-
tained the road we were following would not
lead us to turn the right flank of the enemy,
as had been misrepresented, but lead away
to our left.‘ I was never more vexed in my
life, as I was on hearing Colonel Brown’s
order. Down we all went, by a winding,
steep, and almost impassable road for artil-
lery, and so with much unnecessary fatigue
joined the central column of attack, near the
four windmills, on a sandy plain partly co-
vered with pine and olive trees. The ground
gently descended towards the hills occupied
140 RECOLLECTIONS or
by the enemy, and was within cannon-shot
range of his field-pieces.
A few months after this, I was so anxious
to know the fact as to the course of the road
we had followed in part only, that I availed
myself of an opportunity that presented itself,
on my return from Peniché, for carefully ex-
amining into the truth, and thus to determine
if I really had misinformed Sir Arthur, when
I reported my reconnoissance as above stated;
and I had the satisfaction of ascertaining that
had we followed that road, it would have led
us round the flank of Laborde’s position, as I
had reported to Sir Arthur; not to the left, as
had been asserted by Colonel Brown. I have
never ceased to lament the loss of such an
opportunity. '
Within fifty yards of the above-mentioned
four windmills, I found Lieutenant-Colonel
Robe, of the Royal Artillery, preparing to
open a battery on the enemy, whom we could
in many places perceive, notwithstanding the
thick pine forest they occupied.
The columns of attack were speedily formed,
and ordered to ascend by the deep and almost
\
MY MILITARY LIFE. 141
inaccessible ravines; some of which were so
narrow that not more than two or three men
could ascend abreast, and they were so steep,
that the soldiers were under the necessity of
slinging their muskets over their shoulders, in
order that they might have the free use of
both their hands for catching at the bushes
and shrubs to assist them in scrambling up.
During this time Fane’s Light Infantry
and Riflemen were rapidly driving in the
enemy’s Voltigeurs over an insulated hill on
our left, of a very remarkable form.
The battery being ready to open, Robe, near
whom I was standing, turned to me, and asked
what I considered the distance to be from our
,position to the enemy’s line, in a rather oblique
direction to our left, where the high road was
seen winding ‘into one of the ravines, and
which appeared to be guarded by a Swiss regi-
ment, with red coats and sky-blue facings. I
answered that I thought the distance might be-
about eight hundred or nine hundred yards;
upon which Robe observed, “ I think that
must be very near the mark ;” and added, “I’ll
try a Shrapnel at them for that range ;” he
142 nEcoLLEc'rIoNs or
accordingly ordered a fuze to be cut for eight
hundred and fifty yards.
I now took out my glass, and having ascer-
tained the exact part of the line at which the
gun had been pointed, I went a few yards to
the left to clear the smoke, and when the shell
was fired, it burst beautifully, at a short dis-
t'ance, before it reached the line, upon which I
immediately noticed a great number of the
enemy drop on the ground. A second shell
was discharged with similar result; when I
suggested to Robe not to fire any more on
that part of the line, in order that we might
judge by the number of killed what number
on the whole might have been wounded and
killed by the two shells, for we were sure of
gaining possession of the ground they then
occupied. '
The fire was afterwards directed over the
heads of the attacking columns, on two four-
pounders, planted at the head of a ravine, in
which our troops were ascending, and suffering
very much from a rapid discharge of cannister.
These guns now turned their fire upon us with _
MY MILITARY LIFE. 143
round shot, and we thus relieved the infantry
from the cannister fire.
At a short distance to our left, perhaps
twenty yards, I observed a Portuguese peasant,
mounted on a miserable shabby-looking pony,
and who was gazing with amazement at all
that was passing, and, no doubt, thinking him-
self in perfect security ; but the very first shot
that was fired from the four-pounders just
mentioned buried itself immediately under his
horse, throwing up the sand with violence, so
that it literally pitched over both horse and
man, just as a shell might have done.
We all thought the peasant had been killed ;
but in a moment we were lundeceived, for both
man and pony started up on their legs and
made ofl with the utmost speed ; the man and
horse seeming to race with each other, until
we lost sight of them amongst the olive trees
in our rear, whither the shouts and jokes of
our Artillery-men followed them.
Having no particular occupation, I took out
my surveying pocket-compass, and made, in a
_ hasty manner, a rough sketch of the ground
we occupied, and as forward in the direction
144 RECOLLECTIONS or
of the enemy as the progress of theaction
could permit; and it afterwards turned out
that this was the only sketch that had been '
attempted.
.The 29th Regiment ascended the hills by
the steepest, longest, and most diflicult of the,
five ravines, the one adjoining the Eastern side
of the high point on which stood a cross. The
musketry fire directed on them was tremen-
dous, and they suffered desperately, sixty men
of the Grenadier company having been killed
and wounded. ‘Poor Lake was killed at the
commencement, near the foot of the heights,
whilst riding at the head of his regiment,
and his horse was also killed, it would appear,
at the same time; for when I saw them they
lay very near to each other. Thus died
: the Honourable George Lake, “like a gen-
tleman,” as he had but a few hours before
this expressed his desire.
I made an attempt to keep up with this
regiment, but I had not gone far into the
ravine before I discovered that, in order to
follow this route, I must abandon my pony,
saddle, bridle, &c., therefore, having no fixed '
MY MILITARY LIFE. 145
or imperative necessity to doing so, I therefore
returned across the newly-ploughed field to the
paved high road, which I followed, and went on
towards the ground which the Swiss regiments
had occupied. Isoon discovered that I was
proceeding between the Light Infantry and the
71st Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Pack. _
I soon overtook a lady, dressed in a nankeen
riding-habit, parasol, and straw bonnet, and
carrying a rather large rush hand-basket.
The Imexpected sight of a respectably-
dressed woman in such a‘ situation greatly
perplexed me ; for the musket-shot were
showering about pretty thickly, and making
the dust fly on most parts of the road. More
over, at this place, several men killed, and
others mortally wounded, all perfectly stripped,
were lying scattered across the road, so that,
in order to advance, she was absolutely com-
pelled to step over some of them.
At first I thought that the lady was un-
conscious of her danger, or was so bewildered
at the surrounding confusion, in which she
might have been accidentally involved, that she
voL. II. L
. 146 RECOLLECTIONS or
did not know she was then going towards the
enemy. I, therefore, could not resist saying
to her, an peasant, that she had much better
go back for a short time, as this was a very
unfit place for a lady to be in, and was evi-
_ dently a very dangerous one. Upon this, she
drew herself up, and with a very haughty air,
and, seemingly, a perfect contempt of the
danger of her situation, evidently proceeding
from extreme agitation, she replied, “ Mind
your own affairs, Sir,—~I have a husband be-
fore me.” Iobeyed.
I went on, greatly astonished at this novelty,
until I found myself near the turning of the
road to the right, and at a short distance from
the spot which had been lately occupied by
the Swiss Regiment, in red uniforms, and upon
whom Robe had fired two Shrapnells only.
Not far before me I observed Captain Brad-
ford, General Spencer’s Military Secretary, and
I believe there was another officer with him,
when they turned into the ravine, where the
road became steeper and over-hung with trees
on both sides. Inow for a few seconds lost
sight of them, ‘and immediately heard a volley
MY MILITARY LIFE. 14:
T5‘
' fired, about the spot they must then have
occupied; and hastening forward, I immedi-
ately found Bradford on the ground, and his
horse by him killed: but I do not remember
what became of the officer who I think was
with Bradford. I believe he was Captain (now
Lord) Hardinge.
Bradford was naturally of a high florid com-
p‘lexion, his hair inclining to red, young,
handsome, always well dressed, highly .accom-
plished, and ever the gentleman. He was new
pale as death, suffering excruciating pain ; and,
holding out his hand to me, said, “ For God’s
sake! do not laugh at me for showing so much
suffering at a slight wound in my arm, yet I
feel as if I were dying.”
I was much surprised at this declaration,
for could easily perceive that a ‘shot had
passed through his thigh, and had broken the
bone, whence some blood was ah'eady oozing
out; and immediately below his heart I ob-
served in his coat a round hole, and from
under his waistcoat blood was beginning to
make its way, over his elastic drab-coloured
pantaloons. I afterwards understood that this
I. 2
148 RECOLLECTIQNS or
shot had broken his back-bone. From his-
manner it was evident he was totally ignorant
of the two principal wounds just mentioned,
and attributed his sufferings to a third wound
in his arm, which, as he had truly stated, was
but slight. '
The 71st Regiment, Highlanders, coming up
at this moment, Bradford was put into a plaid,
and, under the charge of a sergeant, was car-
ried off. I had a strong inclination to secure
his watch, yet I feared if I took it from him,
it would have opened his eyes to his hopeless
condition. I, therefore, pointed out to the
sergeant that his watch, with‘ a handsome gold
chain and seals, was all complete, and that
his epaulettes, sash, sword, hat, 850., had not
been removed; yet Doctor George Gunning,
to whom he was delivered soon afterwards,
assured me that Bradford had been plundered
of every one of the above-mentioned articles,
including his Hessian boots, and contents of
his pockets. ..
Bradford had not been carried off many
minutes, when I met Fitzpatrick, of the Ord-
nance Medical department, and I begged him
MY MILITARY LIFE. 149
to run down the hill, and give him such assist-
ance as might be in his power to afford him.
Fitzpatrick went off with the utmost dispatch,
but soon returned, assuring me that poor
Bradford could not live half an hour.
On reaching the depdt for wounded at the
village of Columbeira, ‘Gunning hastened to
. give his assistance, but perceiving the nature
of his wounds, he proceeded‘ to occupy his
time in attending to such cases as held out a -
hope that by his immediate attention they
might be rescued from the wide jaws of death.
Bradford, on perceiving this, begged he would
give him something to relieve him from the
sensation of fainting; and, being conscious
that nothing effectual could be done for him,
whilst Gunning was arranging his limbs in a
position which might diminish his sufferings,
he said, “ Well, doctor, if you can do nothing
for me, pray give me a little water.” His wish
was instantly complied with, and in the short
space of twenty minutes afterwards he expired
without a groan.
Gunning himself related these particulars to
150 nncoLLnc'rroNs or
me, some months afterwards, whilst we messed
together at Peniche.
I lamented the death of this most amiable
young man as sincerely as if he had been
my near relative; and, I hardly need to add,
I never called on his executors for the ten
vintems I had that morning paid for the cup
of chocolate, which probably was the last
nourishment he'ever swallowed.
It is worthy of remark _ that Bradford had
four good horses: one of them was killed at
the same time as he himself fell, the three
others were immediately taken by some of the
staff; and, strange to relate, they were all
killed at the battle of Vimieiro, which took
place on the following Sunday.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 151
CHAPTER IX.
Death of Captain Geary—General Hill's horse wounded
-Captain Elphinstone wounded—Horses loose at night .
_Return to the scene of the action—~The wounded-
I rescue two men of the 45th Regiment, each having
a broken leg———The blue-bottle-fiies—Amputation of
an Irishman’s leg by Doctor GImning—I call on
Captain Elphinstone, badly wounded; his under—jaw
broken.
I HAD not proceeded much further, when I
understood from a staff-oflicer that a brigade
‘of guns was ordered to come up from the
valley in front of the position we were attack-
ing. Geary’s anxious desire to be engaged,
which he had repeatedly mentioned in the
. course of the morning, induced me to push off,
in the hope of bringing him up before the
152 RECOLLECTIONS or
order might be delivered to some other bri-
gade.‘ My pony made better progress down
hill than in the contrary direction; and being
well acquainted with the spot where I could'
find Geary, I communicated the order without
much loss of time. ,
Geary was delighted, and instantly gave
the words, “ Prepare to mount !”——-“ Mount !”
and from a walk to a full trot, then to a gallop,
was the work of half a minute. On nearing a
small stone bridge over the rivulet of Colum-
beira, another brigade appeared on our right,
dashing along through the deep sands, and
evidently racing against Geary’s, to obtain
possession of the bridge; for on that must
depend who should afterwards move on, there
being no order for two brigades. Geary him-
self took possession of the bridge, a few yards
only a-head of both the brigades, and thus
. gained his point; the other brigade, of course,
immediately halted.
.' I shall never forget the ,exultatijon so strongly
depicted in Geary’s countenance as he led his
guns over this bridge, and I was quite asto-
nished at my pony, as I found him freely
MY MILITARY LIFE. ' 153
keeping up with the full trot at which the
guns advanced. In ten minutes we reached
the top of the heights, where the country was
quite open and free from trees, and instantly
prepared for action.
The Voltigeurs new advanced in the most
gallant style to within sixty yards of the guns,
and Geary having fired one gun charged with
canister, as he - pointed the second, said,
“ I’ll be properly into them this”—-tz'me, he
would have added, but he raised his left hand
half-way to his head, and fell to the ground
perfectly lifeless. A shot had passed through _
his head, having entered half an inch above
his left eyebrow.-
Poor Geary was immediately carried off to
a cottage at a short distance from the spot. I
speedily followed to render him assistance, if
such were possible, and found him laid on a
large chest. His servant was sitting on the
threshold of the house-door, his head resting
on his folded hands, which were supported by
his knees. He was evidently bursting with
inward grief, for as I approached he raised his
face, and, on recognizing me, he nearly fainted, _
154 RECOLLECTIONS on
but he neither uttered a word nor shed a
tear.
I spoke to him with a view to console or
cheer him; and although, at first, it appeared
to produce a contrary effect, probably it re-
lieved him by causing his tears to flow abun-
dantly, his sobs and moanings were now
truly afflicting to me. i
This poor fellow’s wife, an Irish woman,
was within, by the side, of my late friend,
giving full vent to her unaffected sorrows. I
went up to Geary, whom but a few minutes
before I had filled with delight on conveying
to him the order to advance to {lie last step of
Ms [2' 6.
His countenance was in no respect altered,
his eyes were closed, no blood was visible to
disfigure his face, nothing seemed to ail him,
yet he did not answer my anxious inquiry.
A deep bloodless hole over his left eyebrow
explained his silence. '
WhilstI thus gazed on my late lamented
friend’s remains, every word of our conversa-
tion' during breakfast that very morning tra-
velled through my mind in a rapid and most
MY MILITARY LIFE. 155
painful manner; and Iremained unconscious
of anything foreign to the awful subject then
wholly engrossing my thoughts. But I was
speedily roused from a state of mind and
course of thinking in which no soldier in action
has the power to continue, by the servant’s
wife, who, in a few minutes after I had en-
tered the cottage, with tears in her eyes, and
wringing her hands withgreat wildness in her
looks, came up to the corpse, and taking him
by the arm, called out loudly, “ Mr. Geary!
Mr. Geary! Mr.‘ Geary I” each time louder
and louder, “ will you not spake one word for
your dear wife and children 1”
This was repeated several times whilst I
was there, although I most earnestly entreated
her to desist; but her affliction was such, that
she took no heed of me, and went on re-
iterating her efl’orts to procure a reply; hap-
pily, he was unable to hear any appeal on a
subject so distressing.
My duty soon called me away; I mounted
my pony, and on reaching the line, at about
half-past four o’clock P.M., although I had
been absent but some twenty minutes. I found
1 56 nEooLLnc'rroNs or
that the shot which had robbed me of my
friend, was the last, or nearly so, that had
been fired, and that the enemy was in full
retreat, covered by a strong body of Cavalry,
while we had but about a hundred and twenty:
of the 20th Light Dragoons. _
Some time after this, the enemy having
totally quitted the field, and the action being
terminated, I was conversing with a group of
staff-officers on or near the spot where the
last efforts of the enemy had been directed on ,
our troops as they began to form line after
storming the heights. We were all still
mounted, and amongst the number were Ma-
jor-General Hill (since Lord Hill) and his
brother, a Captain, and his .Aide-de-Camp.
V-Vhilst talking with General Hill, and passing
my hand over his horse’s mane, I observed
that some blood had stained my fingers, which
led to a closer examination of thehorse’s neck,‘
‘when I discovered he had been shot through
and through, ' the ball ' having pierced him
about two inches below the roots of the mane,
and about half-a-yard in front of the holsters.
I immediately mentioned my discovery to the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 157
General, who, until then, had remained quite
ignorant of the event, and could not call to
~recollection any movement of his horse at any
particular time during the action which he
probably made on being so wounded.
At this moment the lady whom I had seen
ascending the hill passed close to us, but did
not allow us the advantage of a peep at her
face, so that, although I may have met her
afterwards, I could not recognise her, and she
now hastened forwards toward the advanced
guard. General Hill inquired who she was,
but no one knew her, though several of the
staff-officers, forming the group, had seen her,
as well as myself, during the morning, exposed‘
to the'severest fire which we had that day
experienced. Various speculative _ opinions
were put forth as to who she might be ; none,
however, led to any conclusive result, and we
all very soon afterwards separated.
It was not until this period that I became
acquainted with the particulars of , Captain
Elphinstone’s' wound, although I had been
early informed of the event, and had accord-
ingly assumed the commandof the Engineers.
158 nnconnnc'rrous or
_I was also informed that he had been carried
to the 'depfit for the wounded. It was now
too late to go to him, I therefore sought Sir
Arthur Wellesley, and postponed my visiting
Elphinstone to the morrow.
Having reported to Sir Arthur the wound
of Captain Elphinstone, by which event the
command of the corps of Royal Engineers had
devolved on me, I hastened to the head-quar- ,
ters of the Artillery and Engineers, and imme-
diately communicated to the officers now un-
der my orders the change that hadtaken place.
On reaching the park of artillery, I found
the officers sitting on the ground, very near
the spot where Geary had been killed, and just
at the junction of the roads from Lisbon and
.Lorinha. Some tea had been made and was
soon after distributed, of which I partook,,and
found it very refreshing. It was then about
eight o’clock, when Robe stood up and said,
“ Now, my boys, we have a sacred duty to per-
form ; the remains of our late dear friend,
Geary, must be disposed of.” We all im-
mediately rose from the ground, and I dis-
covered a very deep grave which had been
MY MILITARY LIFE. 159
made, close to the spot we then occupied ; and
as the house in which’ Geary’s body rested
was very near at hand, in a few minutes the
corpse was brought, without procession, to the
place which had been prepared for it. The
body was rolled in a sheet, and Robe ordered
the funeral service to be read, I believe by
Lieutenant Patten, the Adjutant to the Ar-
tillery ; after which the grave was immediately
filled up, Robe directing that no mound should
be formed, in order that the peasantry should
have no indication by which they might dis-
inter the body to rob it of the clothes.
This distressing ceremony being concluded,
Robe again addressed us nearly as follows:
“ N ow, my lads, having most affectionately dis-
charged our sacred duty towards our dearly
lamented friend, we must remember, soldiers
have no time to spare for long grieving; let us
therefore drink a glass of grog to his memory,
and seek that rest which is necessary for the
recruiting of our strength, and preparing us to
discharge our duty to-morrow.” Accordingly
we drank in silence to Geary’s memory, and
extended ourselves for the night. Here I
160 RECOLLECTIONS or
had to regret I could not find a Waggon to
cover me from the heavy dew, which every
night wetted us nearly as much as a shower of
rain ; and as I had no other covering than the
small blanket I used by day as a saddle-cloth,
I felt most severely the want of a great coat.
There was another very important advan-
tage in getting under a waggon during the
night, since in that position we were protected
from the danger of being trampled to death,
by the number of horses which every night
broke away from their pickets or fastenings,
and then galloped about the army in droves of
twenty or thirty together, keeping the whole
of us in a constant state of alarm, and it is
very surprising that an evil so great was suffered
to be nightly repeated.
Here, during this night in particular, after a
severe day’s work, we suffered considerablyfrom
this annoyance, and I believe few of us pro-
cured half an hour’s sleep throughout the night.
I well remember that several times the
horses came so near the spot where I lay that
I jumped up, throwing my arms about and
shaking my blanket in their faces, by which
MY MILITARY LIFE. 161
means I fancy I saved myself from being
trampled upon, but in so doing I endangered
the lives of others upon whom I might have
driven the horses. Under these circumstances, I was not much
vexed at hearing the sound of the bugle, on
the morning of the 18th, at the usual hour. I:
was wet to the skin by the falling of a heavy
mist since midnight. Cold, wet, and shivering,
I mounted my nag, and having remained under
arms until much after full day-light, it was
generally expected that we should not advance
that day; and as Robe and others were fully
of that opinion, I resolved on riding back
to the depot of wounded, being anxious to pay
Elphingstone a visit, in order to assure myself of
the exact nature of his wound, and to do him
any service whichmight lie in my power; and
also to receive from him any instructions he
might be anxious to have observed during the
period of his convalescence.
Seeing the importance of the case, I there-
fore retraced my steps of the preceding day;
and having passed through the miserable vil-
lage of Azambaujeira, soon entered on the
VOL. II. M
162 . RECOLLECTIONS or
steep and ill-paved road descending by the
narrow ravine, overshadowed by trees and
giant myrtle in full bloom.
The day-light was still very imperfect, caused
by some fog, and nothing disturbed the death-
like silence which now prevailed, but the sound
of my pony’s footsteps, as he blundered and
stumbled amongst the detached pavement.
“\Vhat a change in the short space of a few
hours,” thought I; “yesterday these wooded
hills were covered in every direction by thou-
sands of living beings struggling for victory,
amidst the roar of cannon and rolling fire of
musketry, the sounding of the bugle and co-
casional bursts of soldiers cheering, as they,
in succession, gained the various positions of
the enemy ! Now, not a bird whispers
amongst the bushes 1” None had returned, or
they were still fearful of venturing abroad.
The rapid and dreadful mutability of human
affairs here presented itself in the most 'viyid
colour and unquestionable form.
The morning fog still lay heavily on the plain
below, extending towards Obidos, and clung
to the pine forest and under-brush, covering the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 163
branches and leaves with large drops, which
as they ran off and fell, were quickly replaced,
resembling a succession of tears, and they
seemed to be weeping over the hundreds of
the bodies so profusely strewed beneath their
shade, and failed not to call to my imagination
that thousands'would soon be plunged into the
deepest affliction on receiving the intelligence
of the sacrifice of human life which had taken
place on the memorable 17 th of August, 1808.
I thus proceeded, musing as I went on, and
endeavouring to chase from my thoughts an
involuntary disposition to dwell too seriously
on the surrounding objects, when a doubtful
sound issuing from the woods on my left,
caught my ear, and engrossed my whole at-
tention.
I pulled up my pony amidst a number of
naked dead bodies, all covered with blood,
their faces glittering with gore; and hundreds
of blue bottle flies were busily engaged in eating
away their eye-lids and drinking in theirwounds.
One man in particular I noticed, who had three
musket-ball wounds, forming a triangle in his
breast, was not yet dead, for his limbs occasion- '
M2
164 - RECOLLECTIONS or
ally were slightly convulsed. His face, as is
always the case with the wounded, was smeared '
over with blood, inviting swarms of flies that
were eating away his lips, and were forcing
themselves up his nostrils and ears.
Whilst gazing on these distressing conse-
quences of war, I readily discovered the sounds
I had heard were those of suffering beings ; I,
therefore, no longer hesitated, but turned
quickly into the thickets, and following the
sounds, after much search and at a consider-
able "distance from the road, I found two pri-
vates of the 45th Regiment, both with musket
_ shot through their legs, and, consequently,
unable to move from the spot (the bones being
broken) where I had found them, and had I
not discovered their situation, would have been
starved to death or burnt alive, since the -
under-brush was shortly after this on fire in
several places. As they'were very much con-
cealed by the under-brush, consisting chiefly
of myrtle, growing most luxuriantly to the
height of eight to twelve feet, .1 judged it ne-
cessary, in order to facilitate the finding of
them, to out down the brush-wood; I, there-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 165
fore, made very good use of my sabre, which
I had had sharpened before landing, and with
which I cleared away a tolerably wide space
all round them ; and then over their heads, as
high as I could reach, I hung up various ac-
coutrements to indicate the spot on which
they lay.
From the killed, thickly scattered, I gathered
a musket and ammunition for each of them,
in order that they might defend themselves
from the marauders, and then left them, pro-
mising to send a party to carry them to the
depot for the wounded.
Having, with some difficulty, returned to
the high road, I reached the small village of
Columbeira, where the field hospital was
established. I there made many fruitless in-
quiries after Elphingstone, of the soldiers I
met, and was by one of them directed to a
larger cottage than the others, although con~
sisting of one floor only.
Here I alighted and hastened to the door,
within which, at a distance, I had observed
much bustle, but on entering I was instantly
shocked at the sight of two surgeons engaged
166 .RECOLLECTIONS or
in completing the amputation of a soldier’s
leg; I started back, saying rather quickly, “I
beg pardon ;” the patient was seated on a
table, holding up with both his hands the
stump of his leg under operation, which was
below the knee and singing, “ God save the
King,”
but on my begging pardon and turning away,
he suspended his song, and exclaimed with a
strong Irish accent, “ Walk in, Sir, no offence
‘at all, Sir.” He was a man about thirty
years of age, with a fresh complexion and red
hair. On turning from the door I had nearly
stumbled over two little drummers whom I
had not before observed, but I now discovered
they were engaged in warming in the sunshine
long pieces of adhesive plaster, and were hold-
ing them up by the two ends.
Here I found Doctor Gunning, and to him
I communicated the necessity of sending a
party for the two men I had discovered with
broken legs, and before I quitted the village
of Columbeira, I had the satisfaction of seeing
those poor fellows brought in, when I received
their cordial thanks. Gunning, on seeing
with the utmost strength of his voice;
MY MILITARY LIFE. 167
them, assured me those of the wounded who‘v
required amputations, and who had been out
all night in the rain or dew without food,
were far'more likely to bear the amputations
well, and with less after-risk, than those men’.
who were operated on immediately. /
I was soon informed of the address of Cap-
tain Elphingstone ; and I found him in a toler-
ably comfortable house, up stairs, and lying in
bed, his face bandaged; a slate was by his side,
‘on which he communicated in writing. He
thus acquainted me, that whilst engaged in ,
looking at the enemy through his telescope a
shot had struck him on the point of his chin,
which, in fracturing his jaw-bone up to his
ears, had knocked out thI'66\0f his lower front
teeth, which had gone down his threat; the
' ball then lodged under his tongue. Elphing-
stone proceeded to inform me that this wound
did not cause him much pain ; but he had, at
the same moment, been shot in the thigh,
which, although the ball had merely grazed
the skin, was exceedingly painful to him.
Having conversed for an hour with El-
phingstone, during which time I received the
1 68 RECOLLECTIONS or
benefit of his advice and recommendation, I
departed to return to the armyI had left on
the heights.
On my way I enlarged and rendered more
perfect the plan I had made of the ground
during the action on the preceding day, by
extending it over the country at that time
occupied by the‘ enemy; and as this ne-
cessarily required I should traverse in every
direction a great portion of the ground, in
consequence of the woods and under-brush, I
was again obliged to submit to the painful
sight of so many human bodies dreadfully '
mutilated, many of whom had evidently been
placed in positions intended to excite merri-
ment ; but which could produce no other sen-
sation than a conviction that the persons who
had so occupied themselves, must have been
divested of every human or proper moral feel-
ing, and raised in me sentiments of the utmost '
horror and disgust, which are quite inde-
scribable. _
One was seated and held a drawn sabre in
his hand, the point over his shoulder like a
sentinel; into his mouth the handle of a
MY MILITARY LIFE. 169
wooden‘ spoon had been thrust, whilst the
bowl of it was filled with filth.
A second had been raised against the rocky
side of the road, in a position nearly upright,
with a book in his hands, retained there with
the aid of a cord; and in his mouth had been
crammed the hand and part of an arm, which
had evidently been cut off from a dead body '
lying by his side.
These, and numerous other acts of the like
kind, proved ‘the extreme depravity of the
diabolical wretches, who could have found a
pleasure in treating their fellow-beings in a
manner so revolting to our feelings.
Amongst my pursuits of this day I com-
pleted a semi-circular panoramic view of the
ground on which the battle had been fought,
drawn from the spot on which four wind-mills
stood, and close to the place where the guns,
under Robe, had opened on the French Artil-
lery and Swiss Regiments with Shrapnell
shells ; the first time of their being used in a
field engagement.
170 RECOLLECTIONS or
CHAPTER X . I
Disposing of the dead bodies—Administering the sacra-
ment to the dying—Peasants putting to death those
who had received the sacrament—A devil, not a
woman—I provide for the safe delivery of the
wounded man at the depot of wounded men-I return
to the spot where I had left the army; the whole was
gone—I follow, and purchase a horse—Arrive at
Lourinha—No supper—I had assumed the command of
the Engineers—I now sought for Sir Arthur Wellesley
——I go on at the head of the march with Spencer-—
_ Sent forward to report on the merits of the position
at Vimieiro—I narrowly escape being made prisoner. .
ON returning up the hills by the high road,
I observed in the woods, at a short distance to
my right, several peasants about one spot, ap-
parently very busy, and others moving to and
MY MILITARY LIFE. 171
fro from that place towards other parts of the
forest; my curiosity was now excited, and I pro-
ceeded to the ground on which they seemed to
be so earnestly engaged. On approaching them
I discovered they were kindly performing the
last oflices to the dead; a large hole, about
twenty feet square and about eight feet
deep, had been made, into which thirty to
forty of the natives were carrying the dead
bodies.
I felt much pleased and thankful to these
people, and having given them a Spanish
dollar to be expended in wine, I hastened
away to recover the high-road. I had not
proceeded many yards when I observed a
Roman Catholic priest in his canonicals, fol-
lowed by some ten to twenty devout persons,
most charitably administering the sacrament
to all the wounded indiscriminately, who, on
being asked if they were Christians, gave any
signs of assent. I rejoiced at witnessing an
act so purely religious and completely disin-
terested, and gave the priest a small sum to
be put into the poor-box of his parish, and
which he received with marks of great respect,
l 7 2 RECOLLECTIONS or
and in return bestowed on me his blessing
with the sign of the cross.
The reverend father had just imparted this
last consolation to a poor creature I had no-
ticed before with several mortal wounds in his
body, and who seemed now to be actually in
the agonies of death ; for, although speechless,
he writhed and heaved dreadfully; his face
and hands severely convulsed. I remained,
during some seconds, looking on this unfortu-
nate being after the priest had departed, and
I know not why, until my mind was almost
stupified ; but the priest had not proceeded in
search of other objects on which to confer his
good deeds many yards, when I was roused
by the approach of another small party of
peasants, several of them carrying drawn
swords, and evidently following the steps of
the priest. '
These people held no conversation with each
other, nor did they express any sentiment, nor
did they even utter a single word, but with a
ferocious look, straightly walked up to the
dying man before me, and without an instant’s
pause pierced him through the heart two or
MY MILITARY LIFE. 173
three times, and followed the priest, repeating
this work of charity.
I shall not attempt ,to describe the feelings
which at this sight agitated my whole frame ; '
though I was glad that the poor suffering man
had ceased to feel such agonies as I had wit-
nessed, I could have shot the men who had
so deliberately cormnitted the deed; it was,
no doubt, an act of mercy, but it was highly
repugnant to my feelings.
The distressing sights I had beheld, parti-
cularly along the high road, were such, that I
resolved on endeavouring to avoid a repetition
of them by making a short cut through the
woods, as I knew that the road bent away to
the right; I, therefore, struck out in that di-
rection, and at random scrambled over some
*1 very rough ground with my half-starved pony,
for he had not had a feed, except of green
food, since the previous day.
I had nearly gained the top, when the voice
of an Englishman, calling loudly for help,
caught my ear. I pushed forward, leaving
my pony, for it would have been hopeless to
expect that such an animal, or indeed, any
174 RECOLLECTIONS or
other on such ground, could have carried me
up in time to be of service, in a case of so
pressing a nature as it evidently was, by the
‘repeated cries for help, and then of murder;
I stopped not to fasten my pony, I knew he
would not run away, and in a few seconds,
through the under-brush, I saw a woman, one
of the British nation too, with a large stone
in her hand levelling ‘a finishing blow at a
poor fellow of the 9th or 45th Regiment, Ido
not now recollect to which he belonged. -
This wretch was at the man’s back, as he
sat on the ground, having had one of his legs
broken on the preceding day by a musket
shot, and was, therefore, quite helpless. My
sudden appearance for a moment suspended
‘the course of this infernal creature, and she
remained with her hand raised, grasping a
stone as big as both her fists, pausing, no
doubt, to consider how far my presence ought
to check her murderous views; and during
this momentary hesitation, , from the oppo-
site side, out of the thicket, a man stepped
forth, whom I immediately perceived was a .
MY MILITARY LIFE. 17 5
private soldier in the 5th battalion of the 60th
Regiment.
His occupation was not doubtful; plunder
had induced him to straggle from his corps
and remain in the rear, and'I sincerely hope,
his cupidity was confined to the property of
the dead. This man was a German, and he
also, as well as myself, had seen the diabolical
intent of the woman before us. My hand
was still strongly grasping the hilt of my
sword, which I had half drawn, with a determi-
nation of stopping by force the further pro-
gress of this fiend; but the German lost no
time in considering, he ran up, his rifle half
up to his shoulder, and without any parley or
ceremony, merely muttering as he sprang upon
her, “ You be no fouman, py Got! you be de
\ tifle I” he put his rifle close to her ear, and
before I had had time to form any clear con-
jecture as to his views, the upper half of her
head vanished, and was dispersed into atoms
amongst the bushes, and her body in falling
almost extended to the wounded soldier.
Under any other ‘circumstances, such a sight
would have filled me with horror ; I, neverthe-
1'7 6 RECOLLECTIONS or
less, here shouted loudly “ Bravo !” with the
most ample satisfaction ; and whilst I was en-
gaged in giving the unfortunate man a drink
of wine out of my canteen, who informed me
that the woman had already struck him one
desperate blow on the shoulder with the stone,
because he would not submit peacefully to be
plundered of every stitch he had on, my Ger-
man was engaged in very deliberately reload-
ing his rifle, and then having carefully untied
the woman’s apron, which was richly filled
with watches, rings, and valuables of all kinds,
he darted from the spot, and disappeared
amongst the bushes, casting at me a ferocious
glance.
I felt no disposition to remonstrate with“ the
rifleman, or to pick a quarrel with him in any
shape, for his situation» was too desperate; and
although he might not be willing to proceed
on the offensive towards me, or any other in-'
dividual, had I alluded to his . absence from
his corps, which, under the then existing cir- i
cumstances, was a crime for which his life had
become forfeited ; he might, and most pro-
bably would, have availed himself of the ab-~
MY MILITARY LIFE. 17 7
sence of sufficient means of conviction, to treat
me in the same summary way. he had-pursued
towards the woman, by which he could have
augmented the weight and value of his rich
booty, without any risk of detection.
My chief considerationnow, was to provide
for the safety of the wounded man, whose. life
had been so opportunely saved from the mer-
ciless fury of the wretched creature lying at
his back.
It soon occurred to my mind that either my
friend of the Rifles, or some other marauder,
might, perhaps, take a fancy to my saddle,
bridle, pistols, &c., if they should fall in with
my pony; I, therefore, resolved on immediately
securing my property : so, assuring the man I
should not leave him unprotected, I ran to the
spot where I had left my pony, and as I was
leading him away back to the place I had just
before quitted, I met the priest whom I had
seen administering the sacrament, with so
much benevolence, to several of the wounded
of'both sides of the question ; he also had been
attracted towards the spot by the cry for help,
voL. II. N
1 7 8 RECOLLECTIONS or
and the discharge of the rifle, and had ‘has-
tened his steps to afford his best assistance.
As soon as the priest observed amongst the
group of peasants following him some parti-
cular individuals, he called them up to him,
and after a short conference, he turned to me,
and said, “ These men are persons on whom I
may depend; they are true Christians, and I
have desired them to carry this poor soldier to
the depot.” I felt no doubt in regard to their
integrity, but I was anxious to give those men
va decided interest in the safe arrival of the
wounded man in the depot. In order to se-
cure this object, I wrote in pencil on a sheet
of paper, torn out of my' sketch-book, re-
questing the bearers might be paid or receive
a gratuity of two dollars, on the safe delivery-
of the soldier entrusted to their humanity,
and that I should pay the amount as soon as
claimed. It was not many days after this
that the dollars were claimed, under proper
certificate; so I remained satisfied that the
object I had had in view had been accom-
plished. '
Mid-day was now fast approaching ; I there-
MY MILITARY LIFE. ' 179
fore made the best of my way up the hills,
and by ‘inclining to the left, I very soon re-
gained the high road. Having passed the
village of Azambujeira, I soon discovered that
the army had advanced. I took the right-
hand road without delay, as in that direction
I heard the incessant screaming of the ox-wains,
or.cars drawn by oxen, attached to the com-
missariat, and which, when many of them are
moving on together, make a noise so loud
that it may be heard at the distance of several
miles. ‘
This distressing noise is caused by the ex-
traordinary practice of never greasing the
wheels; and it is said by the peasants, that"\.
the oxen are cheered by this music, and will
travel many miles further in a day with than. -
without it.
Having overtaken, and with great difficulty
passed on to the front of this enormous train
of musical vehicles, I observed a Portuguese
~farmer mounted on a very good. sort of horse,
the best I had seen not in the possession of
some of the army; and I immediately resolved
on purchasing him, if possible. I was,,how-
N ‘:2
1 80 RECOLLECTIONS or
ever, labouring under a serious difficulty,“
namely, the total insufficiency of funds, having
but seven Spanish dollars in my pocket, whilst
the Paymaster was at the distance of several
miles a-head with the army. 1, nevertheless,
bargained for the horse, and, at length, con-
cluded the purchase for the sum of twenty
moidores, about twenty-eight pounds sterling,
which was probably double the local value;
but my extreme need was such, that I would
have given a much greater amount rather than
miss the chance of being really mounted.
I used every effort to induce the farmer to
go on with ‘me to Lorinha, where I had
ascertained the army was to halt; but he was
immoveable on that point, and not one step in
that direction could I persuade him to take.
Having no alternative, I now resolved on
waiting on the place where I had made the
purchase; and seating myself on the step at
a cottage-door, I there remained, in the hope
that some one might come up with cash suffi-
cient to relieve me from my difficulty.
After much delay and numerous applications,
without success, to the officers of the com-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 181
missariat guard as they came up in succession,
I, at length, perceived my friend Hunter,
the Paymaster-General. “ That’s the man,”
thought I. “If any one in the army can
extricate me from my perplexity, Hunter is
the man!” not for a moment reflecting that
although he was the Paymaster-General, yet
that was no reason for his carrying in his
pocket more money than other people; and,
as I might have expected, so it turned out—-
Hunter also had but a few Spanish dollars in
his pocket.
Having explained my awkward predicament,
Hunter consented to sit down by my side
until his treasure arrived. I shall never forget
how tediously the time passed; car after car
during the space of four hours went past, and
our patience had been ten times exhausted,
still the treasure car did not arrive. The
farmer, too, began to insist on cancelling the
bargain for his horse, and made some deter-
mined attempts to. carry him off, alleging that
he lived at a great distance across the country,
which, he said, was constantly infested by
banditti.
1 853 RECOLLECTIONS on
About this time my servants came up, and
I had the good fortune to persuade the farmer
to allow the horse to go with them. I thus felt
my prize secured ; and shortly after, the money
was lent me by Hunter, who, by that act,
conferred on me a favour which I never shall
forget. ,
By this protracted delay, I had again the
inconvenience of being in the rear of a train of
waggons or "cars, drawn by oxen, and ex-
tending along some miles of road, and which,
through being very narrow, rendered it highly
irksome and inconvenient, particularly as night
was fast approaching. We, nevertheless, by
great perseverance, succeeded in once more
arriving at the front of the whole of them.
Night had completely set in when we en-
tered a narrow and deep road overflowed with
water to the depth of six inches to one foot,
41 and so we continued during two or three hours,
and it was not until nearly eleven o’clock that
I found the park of artillery.
I was as hungry as a hunter, having had
nothing to eat that day since the cup of tea
at two o’clock in the morning. On coming
MY MILITARY LIFE. 183
up, I observed a circle of officers sitting ‘on
the ground, and some plates and dishes before
them, which gave an increased stimulus to
my already exquisitely sharpened appetite;
let any one, therefore, judge of the severity of
my disappointment, when, on seeing me, I
heard a general burst of laughter and excla-
mation, —— v
“ You are just come in time to be too late
to partake of the best curried ducks we have
ever tasted.”
And as a proof of that assertion, the dish
was pushed over to me as I sat myself down,
and wherein I observed that one pinion of a
wing was left, with which I scraped the dish
as clean as if I had been old Towser, a well-
known dog, kept at one of the three half-penny
dining places in St. Giles’s, whose oflice was
to lick the plates clean for the use of the 1
next customer.
Not a morsel of anything else could I obtain,
not even a biscuit could be found in any
one’s haversack. The grog also was all gone,
so I was contented, 1001' forca, with a glass of
water, and lay down, having learnt from my
1 84 RECOLLECTIONS or
servant that my new horse was safe, had been
well fed, and, moreover, had had a new set of
‘shoes, a very important advantage when on a
march.
My thoughts were wholly engrossed by the
satisfaction I anticipated in being well mounted
on the following day. No one can imagine
how severely I felt the necessity to which I
was driven, of riding on the backiof a creature
in no respect better than a donkey.
On the following morning, 19th of August,
after making up, as well I could on tea and
biscuit, for my previous day’s fasting, the army
advanced at about the usual hour.
Mounted on my new horse, which I found
quite a prize, I sought Sir Arthur Wellesley,
to whom I reported the state and nature of
Captain Elphinstone’s wound, and also that I
had employed myself on. the preceding day in
extending andperfecting a plan of the ground
upon which the action of the 17th had been
fought. Sir Arthur expressed himself pleased
at my having made the plan, and desired that
I should supply him with a copy, to be ready
in time to go to England with the despatches ;
MY MILITARY LIFE. _ 185
and my report with regard to Captain Elphin-
stone’s wound was satisfactory, as he hoped it
would not deprive the army of his services.
Towards mid-day, having, through some
circumstance I do not now remember, become
separated from the Commander-in-Chief, I
hastened forward to the head of line of march
in expectation of there finding Sir Arthur, but
he had not been seen there; i I, therefore, rode
on with General Speiicer and his staff, amongst
whom were Captain Preston, the Aide-de-'
Camp, and Lieutenant-Colonel Bathurst of the
Quarter-Master-General’s Department, ‘and
many others, including Captain Hardinge
_ (Lord Hardinge), also on the Quarter-Master-
General’s staff. We had not proceeded toge-
ther' very far, when Bathurst, with whom I
had been acquainted at Winchester, in 1803
and 1804, when attending His Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cumberland, asked me if I
had not made a plan of the ground where the
action of the 17th had been fought; and on
my answering in the affirmative, and showing
it to him, he pressed me very earnestly to let
him have a copy of it, to which I replied I
1 86 RECOLLECTIONS or
should willingly do so after the departure of
the despatches, but, as Commanding Officer of
the Engineers, I could not give away that
which belonged to the corps.
Soon after this, riding by the side of General
Spencer, and in conversing on many of the
interesting points connected with the action
near Rolica, we arrived on the brow of a high
hill, overlooking a country to the Southward,
which although not flat was much lower than
that on which we were then‘ advancing. Upon
opening this extensive prospect, Spencer or-
dered me to ride on into the lower country,
and pointing to a village a mile and a half dis-
tant at least, said, “ Look about that neigh-
bourhood and ascertain what its merits may
be for the army to halt upon, with a view also
to cover the debarcation of fresh troops, and
particularly, if capable of being defended.
You know, in short, what is required for a
military position.” _
On receiving this order, I hastened forward
at a gallop down the road, and passing a very
conspicuous and picturesque clump of eight or
ten pine-trees, standing by the road side, I
MY MILITARY LIFE. 187
soon arrived at and passed through the village
of Vimieiro. Here the inhabitants were all
silent, no vivas proclaimed a welcome, they all
were an air of mistrust and extreme anxiety;
I went on, and passing over a small stone
bridge across a rivulet, ascended some high
ground in my front, where, seeing a peasant
at his cottage door, I begged a drink of water.
I was served with great alacrity, at the same'
time his wife presented me with a couple of
fine water-melons, in return for which I
compelled the peasant to accept of a few
'vz'm‘ems.
The weather was exceedingly hot, and no-
thing could have been more refreshing than a
water-melon.
I soon reached a convent of great length,
facing the sea, at the Northern end of which
I dismounted, and peeping cautiously round
the corner, I observed a hehneted head peep-
ing, in imitation of myself, from behind the
corner at the opposite extremity.
Up to this moment I had not reflected on
my very advanced position, for I must then
188 RECOLLEOTIONS or
have been at least two miles from the spot
where I had left General Spencer; and at
which time he had cautioned me to be on the
look out, as the enemy might not be far dis-
tant. Moreover, the peasant who had given
me the water-melons, had also warned me
that some of the French cavalry, dressed in
green, could not be very far off, for he had
seen several patroling about within the last
half hour. I now, therefore, could explain the
cause of my seeing the mysterious helmet;
upon which, having already eaten one of
the melons, I threw away the other, and
mounted my horse with all convenient dis-
patch; and as quickly was off at a full
gallop in the direction exactly opposite to the
one in which I had seen the gentleman peep-
ing round the corner.
I had, however, been seen, and was, there-
fore, as instantly pursued; but having the
start of at least one hundred yards, and being
mounted on a horse that did credit to my
judgment; it is clear, the two dragoons at my
heels could have but little chance of coming
MY MILITARY LIFE. 189
up with me before I should be supported.
After a chase of five hundred yards, they fired
their carbines at me, as a last hope, and gave
up the pursuit.
190 RECOLLECTIONS or
CHAPTER XI.
My recommendation is adopted—I have a marquee—Re-
connoitre the surrounding country —— I refuse to
give Bathurst a copy of my plan of the ground on
which the battle of the 17th was fought-A copy
was, nevertheless, published -- Robe acquaints- me
we shall be attacked to-morrow--The action com-
mences—I cut a way for a Brigade of Artillery to
pass out of the Park-Great disturbance amongst
the ladies—~An interesting event—The 50th Regiment
-—A good laugh at “Who bobs there P” ——I serve
Brigadier-General Anstruther as A.D.C. — Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Taylor—The Drum-Major—Cavalry
turned by Eliott’s guns.
I SOON rejoined General Spencer, and
having reported that in my opinion the
ground he had directed me to examine was
MY MILITARY LIFE. 191
favourable as a military position, possessing
the essential points he had stipulated for,
adopting the village of Vimieiro as the centre ;
that near it there was a convenient spot for the
Artillery, and a sufficient supply of good water
in the Maciera, which moreover, was not want-
ing along the remainder of the position; the
General said, “ I am satisfied we cannot do
better, particularly as from what you have
said, it would cover the debarcation of troops
arriving on the coast to reinforce the army
and furnish supplies.” Bathurst, during this
time, had been very attentive to my commu-
nications, and I thought, somewhat with an
air of jealousy, at the immediate adoption of
my recommendation. The General, however,
ordered him to make his arrangements for
taking‘up the ground, and to form the army
in two lines; the first, so as to cover Vimieiro
by its right, and extending Northward to
near the spot we were thenupon; and the
left of the second, upon a chain of hills to
cover the rear of the first line, along a shot
distance, at about three hundred yards from it,
and then to extend to a considerable distance
192 RECOLLECTIONS or
towards Lisbon, curving away towards the sea
coast.
As Commandant of the Engineers, I had
now the advantage of a marquee (without
tent), which was soon erected in the Artillery
park, on the left of Lieutenant-Colonel Robe’s.
The park was formed, as I had recommended
it should be, near the river Maciera, from
which, with the surrounding country, there
was every necessary and useful means of de-
bouchéring, and it was a fine level meadow.
The Maciera, after serpentining through this
flat space, winds thence between high and ab-
rupt hills, with a rapid stream to the sea, a
mile or more distant, and is there somewhat
checked by a bar of sand and gravel extend-
ing across its month.
'As soon after our arrival as it could be pre-
pared, we sat‘down to our usual dinner, com-
posed of freshly killed beef, boiled, or rather
stewed, with such vegetables as could be ob-
tained; and copious slices of pumpkin were
never wanting. Early rising, scanty breakfasts,
and constant exposure to the open air invariably
secured abundant praises of the produce of our
MY MILITARY LIFE. 193
t
camp kettle. The grapes being at this season
ripe, we strolled away to eat our desert in the
vineyards; and one of our morning reconnois-
sauce was to ascertain where we could, after
dinner, find a field of muscatels. I occupied
the remainder of the day in making myself
master of the details of the surrounding
country as far as was prudent, and thus gained
‘a good knowledge of the facilities or difficulties
of communicating from the park in particular
with every part of our position. By the
time I had accomplished these objects, both
myself and my horse were well disposed to
rest; so that after our usual cup of tea, and
then at eight a glass of rum and water, I re-
tired to enjoy the comfort of having a piece
of canvas betwixt the sky and myself; under
which, I freely admitted as many of my own
officers and of the Artillery as could find
room. Amongst them I remember came
Doctor Kenning, and Mr. Stace, the Commis-
sary of the Artillery. I, this night, had a
most refreshing sleep, being freed from the
constant terror of being trampled to death by
voL. II, A o
194 RECOLLECTIONS or
the horses that invariably, during the night,
never failed to release themselves from their
pickets. '
On the following morning. (20th August),
soon after the early parade had been dis-
missed, Captain Maw, Assistant-Acting-De-
puty - Quarter - Master - General, and whom
Ihad known as a Sub in the 6th Regiment,
came to me with a very sorrowful countenance,
begging I would allow him to niake a copy of
my plan of the ground, on which the action
of the 17th instant had been fought; and in
order to strengthen his application, he added
that he had been ordered by Lieutenant-
Colonel Bathurst, Assistant-Deputy-Quarter-
Master-General, to obtain it from me,if possible.
He was probably not aware of my having on
the day previous distinctly refused to give
Bathurst a copy, until after the departure of
the‘ despatches, be having without disguise
stated that he wanted it to send with those -
despatches; and he loudly complained at the
same time of the grossneglect of the OffiCGI‘S
of his department, in having omitted to make
MY MILITARY LIFE. 195
a sketch of the ground during the action, as I
had done. On my giving Maw a hint to the
above effect, he ‘perceived that he could no
longer entertain any hope of succeeding in his
mission, which caused him to express himself
greatly disappointed, and he appeared exceed-
ingly distressed ; upon._which, as a last effort, he
exclaimed, “Do,my dear fellow,for God’s sake !
for old acquaintance’s sake! pray let me have
‘it, to save me from the certainty of being male
a prisoner. You will hardly believe it possible
that that Turk Bathurst (who is in a most
violent rage with me for not having thought
of making a sketch of the ground, when he
himself had never dreamt of it, before he saw
you had done it), has ordered me to go back
and do it now, whilst every body knows that
the whole of the ground is overrun by the
enemy’s cavalry from Peniché.”
I was very sincerely affected at the risk to
which he was ordered to expose himself, and
assured him of my friendship; but I could
not be induced to part with the sketch, which '
Irepeated was the property of the corps. I
o 2
196 RECOLLECTION s or
I
therefore immediately delivered it to Sir Arthur "
W'ellesley, to be sent home with the despatches,
and His Excellency appeared to receive it with
much satisfaction. This plan, or one ex-
ceedingly like it, and containing some errors
which I discovered afterwards had crept into
mine, was lithographed, containing the same
errors, and issued, dated Horse Guards, Quar-
ter-Master-General’s Department; but my sig-
nature, Which I had aflixecl to the original, was
omitted in the lithograph. I then occupied
myself principally in reconnoitring thek sur-
rounding country, which I repeated or con‘
tinued after dinner, and did not return to my
marquee in the Artillery park until nearly ten
o’clock, when I was informed that Robe and
myself had been sent for to attend at head-
quarters at about eight o’clock. Robe had
been to head quarters and returned before I
came in, when he immediately called me aside
and said that I had been sent for to attend at
head quarters with all the other commanding
officers, and that my absence had not been
commented'on; but that Sir Arthur Wellesley
had desired him to acquaint me that to-morrow
MY MILITARY LIFE. 197
we should be attacked, and therefore I must
make any arrangements I might think neces-
sary to meet that event; and he particularly
enjoined that the strictest secresy must be ob-
served.
The secret was properly kept from the army
in general. Robe and myself made such pre-
parations as regarded our respective depart-
ments, and at nearly eleven o’clock, just before
I was about to lie down to rest, I stepped out
to the front of my marquee, whence all ap-
peared to be perfectly quiet, the sky beauti-
fully clear, and not a breath of wind blowing;
I could not help thinking, as I cast a look
around our camp or bivouac, on the chances
of the morrow : “ Many of those,” thought I,
“ who are now wrapped in tranquil sleep, and
perhaps enjoying the most pleasing dreams of
returning to the arms of those whom they best
love, will never sleep or dream again, but in
that sleep whence none awaken.”
I turned away from these melancholy re-
flections, and soon stretched myself on the
ground, without taking off hat, sword, sash,
1 98 RECOLLECTIONS or
or spy-glass, a practice which I had uniformly
observed from the first day of the march.
With some difficulty I fell asleep, but then
rested well until the bugle called me to parade
at a short time before break of day (21st of
August, 1808).
At between seven and» eight o’clock some
distant firing of small arms announced that the
advanced pickets were engaged, and that the
information Sir Arthur Wellesley had received
on the preceding day, and which he had com-
municated to us, was correct.
Every thing was now in movement, the
drums were beating to arms, _&c.; a brigade
of guns being required to proceed out of the
park to join the left wing, I found it necessary
to fill up a hollow road close at hand, for which
purpose I employed my own very small number
of men, and collected a few more from the Irish
Commissariat corps. This work took up nearly
half-an-hour, during which time the enemy’s
Light Infantry had pressed forward with so
much vigour, that although the work on which
we were engaged was at least three hundred
yards in the rear of the line, the musket shot
MY MILITARY LIFE. , 199
occasionally dropped in amongst us; when one
of them passing through the shovel of one of
the Commissariat men, he threw it down, as if it
had suddenly become red hot and had burnt
his hands, and with extreme terror painted in
his looks, after wildly staring at the shovel for
asecond or two, he screeched out, “Ah, mur-
der !” and ran off as fast as legs could carry
him. \
' At this moment I heard, in the direction of
the valley leading to the sea, a strange uproar
and confusion of female voices; and soon dis-
covered running towards ,me, by the side of
the Maciera rivulet, a great many women, per-
haps thirty to forty in number, no doubt the
wives of some of our soldiers. As they ap-
proached, it was perceptible that an event
greatly irritating their temper had occurred ;‘
and all I could make out, for they all spoke at
once, was, that they were heaping violent ex-
ecrations, and most desperate menaces against
a party not then mentioned or invisible. At
length, when one of them came sufficiently near
to me, I inquired into the cause of so much up-
rear and disturbance ; “ Fait, and I tink we
200 RECOLLECTIONS or
have had enough to make us cry murder;
warn’t we all washing, down dare in de river,
as safe, we taught, as if we had been on de
banks of dear Channon, when we was all
pounced upon by a party of French dragoons.
The villains was not satisfied with taking the‘
biggest liberties with us, but had the im-
pudence' afterwards to rob us of our shoes,
which plaise your honour,” she continued,
“ was a dirty, unmanly, mean, vile, cowardly,
blackguard, ungentlemanly trick, to pass off
on us poor harmless creatures, who had never
once given dem an ugly word.” On my making
some remark on the first part of their grievance,
she repeated, louder than before, “Ough de
dirty‘ villains! to take away our shoes was
worse nor anything !” A
By this time the way across the hollow road
had been completed, and having seen the
brigade pass safely over, although they sunk
a little into the newly-filled earth; I mounted
my horse, Which had been waiting for me in
the park, and rode off towards the two wind-
mills, where I saw the reserve guns had taken
up a position,’ commanded by Morrison under
MY MILITARY LIFE. 201
Robe, and which induced me to believe that I
should there find Sir Arthur Wellesley. I
In order to reach that place, Inecessarily
passed through the village of Vimieiro; the
shutters and doors of all the houses were closed,
yet here and there, a face expressive of great
anxiety was seen peeping through a shutter
partly, and as if very cautiously, opened. At
one of these, I saw a very interesting young
woman with an infant in her arms, and on my
stopping my horse and looking at her atten-
tively, she beckoned me to her. On my ap-
proaching the window, she immediately begged
I would advise her whether she should remain
in the village or seek a place of safety at some
distance, at least so I understood her from the
signs and expressions of‘ her features ; as she
pronounced the last words a cannon shot
passed through the lower part of the house,
upon which she uttered a piercing shriek, and
ran from the window. Having waited a few
moments without seeing her again, I rode off
to the reserve guns, and never heard any fur_
ther details of this event, for in , the afternoon
I found the house quite abandoned.
20:3 RECOLLECTIONS or
In vain I inquired after Sir Arthur Welles-
ley, as I was very desirous of joining him, but
no one could give me any information as to
where I should be likely to meet with him ; I
therefore remained with the reserve guns,
thinking that the place to which he would
most probably direct his attention. .
Iwas much pleased and surprised at the
readiness with which my horse’s nerves had
been reconciled to the violent explosions of
Artillery, for after a few shots had been fired,
he became perfectly steady ; but as soon as the
50th Regiment, behind which I happened to
be in conversation with their commandant,
Colonel G. Walker, began a running fire, the
poor animal was greatly agitated, and made
various attempts to 'run off with me towards
the rear.
The 50th were in line, on the right of the
reserve guns, and just sufficiently retired from
the crest of the hill to be out of sight of the
enemy; and instead of advancing in line, or
by divisions or companies, to fire on the enemy,
each man advanced singly when he had loaded,
sons to see into the valley, and fired, on having
MY MILITARY‘ LIFE. 203
taken his aim; he then fell back into his place
to reload. By this management the enemy
concluded that the guns were supported by a
small number of Light Infantry only, and were
manoeuvring at a long musket range, on some
hills much inferior in height to those we occu-
pied, and making their arrangements for the
attack.
At this time some circumstance drew my at-
tention towards the rear, and at a short dis-
tance to the . right, where I found ‘the 9th
Regiment in columns of companies at quarter
The musket
shots were whistling over our heads in great
abundance, as I was walking my horse along
the right of that regiment, when a shot having
tickled the feather of one of the men, about
the centre of a ‘division, he stooped, or, as is
usually called, bobbed. The officer on the right,
who was standing a pace or two in advance,
and whose vigilant eye was directed along the
front of his division, was greatly offended at
this involuntary movement, and called out with
a stern voice, and great severity of aspect,
“Who is that I see bobbing there? What
distances, with the left in front.
a
204 RECOLLECTIONS or
“bob again, sir, and I’ll-—-’
are you bobbing about, sir? Let me see you
’ This severe re-
buke was exceedingly proper, and would have
had its desired effect, had not a cannon shot,
or howitzer shell, I know not which, at this
most critical moment, just as he had com-
menced his threat with “ I’ll——” whizzed over
the officer’s head. The noise made by such a
missile, when passing within a yard or so of a
person’s head, is, to say the least of it, ex-
ceedingly disagreeable, and the stoutest nerves
would not always save the individual fromthis
highly reprehensible bobbing; so down went
my oflicer a yard at least, but in an instant he
had recovered his original erect position, having
neither looked to the right nor to the left, his
face the colour of his coat, his heart beating,
ready to burst with rage at his own conduct,
and wishing most sincerely that the shot or
shell had taken off his head, and so have spared
him the anguish he felt at {being the first to
deserve the mysterious punishment which he
had, but three seconds before, half pronounced
against the next bobber. By the rapidity with
which he had recovered his position, he may
MY MILITARY LIFE. 205
at the instant have entertained a hope, his bob
had not been noticed; if so, how keenly must
he have felt his disappointment, for the whole
of the front ran-k of the division in his rear
had seen it, and also many of the men in his
own company, which was instantly manifested
by each of them muttering, “ Who is that I
see bobbing there? What are you bobbing
about, sir?” and then adding, “Who bobs
now ?”
Having returned to the vicinity of the re-
serve guns and the 50th Regiment, and being
without any fixed pursuit, Brigadier-General
Anstruther, observing my want of occupation,
and ‘his Aide-de-camp’s horse having been
killed, called me to attend him to supply his
place, adding at the same time, “I know that
the officers of the corps of Royal Engineers
have a particular objection to placing them-
selves under the orders of the Quarter-Master-
General;” for the'Brigadier-General was at
‘that moment dressed in the uniform of the
Quarter-Master-General; “ but in this case,”
continued he, “ I request your services merely
as a Brigadier-General, without any reference
206 RECOLLECTIONS OF
to my position as Quarter-Master-General.” I
did not hesitate for a moment, and immediately
followed him.
Nearly about this moment Lieutenant-Col-
onel Taylor, commanding the 20th Light
Dragoons, came up to- us on a fine prancing
horse. Taylor was a particularly handsome
fellow; and, as he approached, I perceived
that he had been shot through the thigh.
Since the commencement of the march we
had been very much together, and had found
him an agreeable companion; I now pressed
him very earnestly to have his wound dressed
, forthwith. Taylor, however, treated the affair
as of little moment, and, as he tied a hand-
kerchief round his thigh, he replied by saying,
“ It is of no consequence, for I am just going
to make a charge; if I. survive I shall have
plenty of leism'e for attending to that trifle;
if I fall, I shall have spared myself some un-
necessary trouble and pain.” '
Taylor charged immediately, and was 1killed
in a few minutes after this conversation, he
refusing, although surrounded by bayonets, to
surrender as a prisoner-of-war.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 207
The first order I received in my new staff
situation as Aide-de-camp, was to watch the
movements of some of the enemy’s cavalry on
our right, and as they were at a considerable
distance, I found it necessary to use my glass ;
but the wind being very strong, I dismounted,
with a view to obtain a rest‘ to steady my
hand. I first tried to support my glass on my
saddle, but horse was too unsteady ; I then
went to a windmill close by, where. a drum-
major and all his little fry were gathered and
crowded together behind the mill, in hope of
protecting themselves from shots. I could not
behold these poor little fellows, pale, and with
looks manifesting extreme anxiety, without
experiencing many painful feelings.
I found it, however, impossible to rest my
glass against ‘the mill without disturbing the
drum-major, who could not be persuaded to
move more than his head and body, but not his
feet or legs, by which my object was defeated.
Upon this, in a rather pettish manner, I said
to him, “ Keep your skulking place, you cow-
ard ! I shall not disturb you ;” and I retired a
208 REcoLLEc'rIoNs or
' few steps, endeavouring, under the shelter of
the millifrom the wind, to hold up my glass.
I had not withdrawn from the spot then oc-
cupied by the drum-major more than half a
minute, when I heard a sharp slap, followed
by a deep groan. I turned round and observed
the unfortunate drum-major with his hand on
his breast, and nearly bent double, suffering
severe pain. I thought he liad been shot
through the body, but on removing his hand,
I found a musket-ball, which had struck his
cross-belt, having made a deep dent in it, with-
out passing through; the poor fellow was led
away, and I think I was afterwards informed
that he had died in a few days in consequence
of this contusion.
At length, I got a sergeant’s halberd to sup-
' port and steady my hand; and I soon per-
ceived the head of a column of cavalry, winding
round the end of a hill, as if endeavouring to
turn our right flank, and so cut in between the
first and the second lines; the latter was on
a range of high-ground, commanded by Gene-
ral Hill. Just at this time a few nine~pounders,
loaded with spherical cases, fired by Captain
MY MILITARY LIFE. 209
Eliott from the right of the second line and
about two thousand yards distant from the
cavalry, were so perfectly directed, and. the
fuzees cut with so much accuracy, that the
cavalry turned round and effected a hasty
retreat.
VOL. II. P
210 RECOLLECTIONS or
CHAPTER XII.
Column of attack—Severe fire—Robe’s noble feelings
and devotion—The column advances—The column
attempts to deploy into line—Anstruther’s address to
the 43rd and 50th Regiments—Walker’s order and
then charge—It was a grand sight—I am ordered to
hasten forward and bring back those who had gone on
the pursuit—I find it very difficult to halt these troops
and make_them fall back—I join General Fane—A
Rifleman selecting his victim—Capture of a gun
——Fane’s delight—Two French oflicers wounded, and
in a gravel-pit—General Pillet—General Brénier.
I NOW reported to Anstruther this event,
Whom I found near the 50th Regiment and
reserve guns; and my attention was quickly
drawn to the formation of a large column of
MY MILITARY LIFE. 211
attack at a short distance to the left‘ of our
direct front.
The column was in close order, and appeared
to consist of about five thousand Grenadiers,
and was advancing upon the reserve guns in
double quick time, covered by a swarm of
Voltigeurs, the latter running up in the most
daring manner to Within twenty yards of the
guns
During the whole progress of this column,
the artillery kept up a most destructive fire,
each of the guns being loaded with a round
shot, and over that a canister; and I could
most distinctly perceive at every discharge
that a complete lane was cut through the
column from front to rear by the round shot,
whilst the canister was committing dreadful
carnage on the foremost ranks.
At this period, Lieutenant-Colonel Robe,
commanding the Artillery, and near whom I
happened to be, turned to me and observed, '
“ You’re a lucky fellow to be mounted, for by
God! if something be not very quickly done,
the enemy will, in a few minutes, have our
guns, and we shall all ‘be bayonetted.”
r2
212 RECOLLECTIONS or
“ Then,” said I, “ order up your horse, and be
ready for the worst.” “ No no !” exclaimed the
gallant Robe, with scorn, “ I’ll neither leave
my guns nor my gunners,—-—I’ll share the fate
of my brave boys, be it what it may.” The
words here recorded are verbatim those used
by Robe in expressing his entire devotion‘itto
the service.
The.enemy’s column was now advancing in
a most gallant style, the drum by the side
beating the short taps, marking the double-
quick time of the pas-de-ckarye. I could dis-
tinctly hear the officers in the ranks exhorting
their men to persevere in the attack, by the
constant expressions of “ en-avant—en-avant—
en-avant, mes-amz'e,” and I could also distinguish
the animated looks and gestures of the mounted
officers, who, withraised swords, waving for-
wards, strongly manifested their impatience at
the slowness of their advance, and to which
they also loudly added every expression of
sentiments, which they thought best calculated
to urge their men to be firm in their attack
and irresistible in their charge.
In this way, the enemy having very quickly
MY MILITARY LIFE. 213
‘approached the guns to within sixty or seventy
yards, they halted, and endeavoured to deploy
and form their line, under cover of the Volti-
guers. I was then by the side of Anstruther,
to whom I said, “ Sir, something must be
done, orthe position will be carried.” . When
the General replied, “ You are right ;” and,
without a moment’s delay, he called out to the
43rd and 50th Regiments, as he raised his hat
as one about to cheer, “ Remember, my lads,
the glorious 21 st of March in Egypt ; this
day must be another glorious 21st.” I have
no doubt that this appeal had its effect.
Walker immediately advanced his gallant
50th to the crest of the hill, where he gave
the words, “ Ready, present ./ and let every man
fire when he has taken his aim.” This order
was most strictly obeyed, and produced a
commencement of ‘destruction and carnage
which the enemy had not anticipated. Then
Walker called out, raising his drawn sword and
waving it high over his head, “ Three cheers
and charge, my fine fellows !” and away went
this gallant regiment, huzzaing all the time of
their charge down the hill, before the French
had recovered from, their astonishment at dis-
214 RECOLLECTIONS or
covering that the guns were not unprotected
by infantry, as I afterwards was informed they
had up to that instant fully believed.
This rush forward was‘ awfully grand; the
enemy remained firm and almost motionless,
until our men were within ten to twenty yards
from them; then discharged a confused and
ill-directed fire from some of the front ranks,
for the line had not yet been formed to its
‘full extent, and the rear were already breaking
up and partially running off. The whole now
turned round and started off, every man
throwing away his arms and accoutrements, as
also his knapsack, cap, and, in short, everything
that could have obstructed his utmost speed;
and thus a gallant column, ‘which but a very
few minutes before this moment had numbered
five thousand, at least, of the stoutest hearts
in that army, was repulsed, scattered, and
completely thrown out of action. The dis-
persion of this column presented a most inte-
resting and curious sight; the whole of them
being dressed in white linen great-coats, gave
them, whilst in confusion and running for their
lives, exactly the appearance of an immense
MY MILITARY LIFE. 215
flock of sheep scampering away from the
much-dreaded shepherd’s dog.
The charge of the 50th had been followed
by the 43rd Regiment, and, Ibelieve, another;
and after pursuing the fugitives to the distance
of three hundred to four hundred yards, we
gave up the chase, our people perceiving that
they were losing ground, and it was not to be
expected, that fully loaded as they were, they
could overtake the others when totally relieved
from any weight but their clothes ; and, more-
over, it must be kept in view, that there is a
very important difl‘erence in the interests of
the two parties so circumstanced,———one runs
to save his life, the other runs to kill his
enemy; the want of speed in the first costs
him his life, the want of speed in the second
merely robs him of the killing of his enemy,
,already disabled, and no longer in a position
to do him further mischief.
Some of the regiments on the right of the
50th, after the charge of the latter, or simul-
taneously with it, having also charged or ad-
vanced in the pursuit of the flying and broken
remnants of the column, which, but five mi-
216 RECOLLECTIONS or
nutes before, had presented so imposing a
front, having gone on to a very imprudent
distance in advance of the line, Anstruther
ordered me to go with all possible speed, halt
them, and bring them back.
The order I had just received was very im-
portant, and. required that its delivery should
be rendered as certain as possible; and as I
felt that it was a service of some danger, since
the enemy’s light troops were pressing forward
on each side with. a view to out off the regi-
ment to which I was to carry the order, I
pointed this out to the General, and requested
he would send off his orderly dragoon at the
same time with a duplicate of the order, to
secure the delivery of this important com-
munication.
I started accordingly with as much haste as
my horse could make down a steep hill, and,
over a very broken gravelly surface; and, as I
had expected, the cross fire, which was imme-
diately concentrated on the dragoon and my-
_ self, was such as left me but little hope that
either .of us could possibly reach our desti-
nation, for, with regret, I perceived the regi-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 217
ment I was endeavouring to overtake~ was
pushing on after the flying enemy, without
reflecting on the risk to which they were ex-
posed by extending their distance from the
_ main line.
This regiment had advanced half a mile or
more, when I came up with them in a wood.
On my way thither, soon after I had started,
my pocket-book fell out from between my
coat and waistcoat, where‘ I had placed it,
thinking that my sash would be sufficient to
keep it in, although there was no pocket. As
the book fell I discovered it, and called to the
orderly dra‘goon to take it up, and I went on.
This unfortunate fellow soon after came up to
me in the wood, and delivering the book with
his left hand, I observed that his right was up
to his mouth, and he then drew out the stump of
his forefinger, which had been, as he informed
me, shot off at the moment he was picking up
my book. The man was as pale as a sheet,
and in the next moment fainted, and fell from
his horse. I left him in the hands of the
regimental surgeon, and never afterwards
heard of him.
218 RECOLLECTIONS or
I found it no easy matter to enforce a halt.
It is “true, I had no charge of that nature; I
might have rested satisfied with having de-
livered the order to the officer commanding,
and ridden off; but seeing the importance of
the case, and quickly discovering the difficulty
the commanding officer had to contend with
in enforcing the halt, I offered to assist him,
which he most gladly accepted; and it was
not before we had ridden up and down the
line several times, delivering the order to every
officer and non-commissioned officer separately,
that the pursuit was abandoned.
The regiment was at that time much broken
as to line, and almost intermixed with the
enemy, partly occasioned by the quantity of
under-brush, and partly by the eagerness of
the men, which, under such circumstances, it
is very difficult to restrain. I I could very dis-
tinctly hear the shot striking the trees, and
saw showers of the small branches and leaves
cut away and dropping in every direction.
Having succeeded in carrying my orders
‘into effect, and the regiment commencing its
retreat towards the point whence it had started,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 219
I made off ‘to report to Anstruther ;' and on
my way I found a regiment in line in the
valley, which, I believe, was the 52nd, mid-
way betwixt us and the position we had occu-
pied from the commencement. Upon going
up to the officer commanding, who was ‘dis-
mounted, I observed he had a white handker-
chief wound round his hand; and on my ex-
pressing a ‘hope that he was not severely hurt,
he stated‘ that he had received a shot through
the palm of his hand, as he raised it over
his head, huzzaing at the moment of charging
the enemy.
This regiment had been sent forward to
occupy the ground, and prevent the Light- .
Infantry from cutting off the retreat of the
regiment which I had just before succeeded in
halting.
On returning to the place where I had left
Anstruther, I could see nothing of him, but I
was informed that‘ he had gone ofl towards
the left. Accordingly I went away in that
direction, and unwilling to waste much more
time in vainly hunting about for him, and
falling in with Fane’s Light Infantry, who
220 RECOLLECTIONS or
were actively engaged in driving back the
enemy’s Voltigeurs, I joined my old friends,
and in a very few minutes I observed a French-
man amongst the bushes, not more than sixty
to eighty yards distant, shifting about from
one concealing place to another, and at length
I perceived him taking up a convenient posi-
tion for giving me a proof of his abilities as a
marksman. At the same moment I perceived
just under my horse’s nose a man of the 5th
battalion of the 60th Regiment, belonging to
Fane’s brigade, and whose German counte-
nance I recognized. Upon this, called to
him, “Do you not see that rascal taking his
aim at me? Fire at him quickly, if you do
not, he will hit me to a certainty.”
A mounted ofiicer amidst a parcel of rifle-
men stands but a bad chance of escaping, for
he alone is visible, and seems to be put up as
a target for the enemy to shoot at, whilst the
privates or riflemen are all creeping about with
so much industry in trying to conceal them-
selves, particularly the foreigners; and it has
been observed that a German or a Prussian
jityer will make himself quite comfortable be-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 221
hind a cabbage, a pumpkin, or even a large
turnip, and there remain for hours, if he have
the opportunity, dogging his prey, and that,
too, without the least chance of being seen.
My friend of the 60th, however, had other
views of greater interest to him than my life;
for after repeatedly pressing and then ordering
him to knock off the Voltigeur, who was
taking so much pains to prevent me from be-
coming grey-headed in the service, he pettishly
and half turning round, said, “ Silence! ton’t
tisturp me; I want de officeer.”
“ Why do you want to kill the oflicer,”
cried I, “ you rascal?” with as much vexation
as he had manifested.
“ Pecaus ter pe more plunder,” muttered
the wretch, keeping his eyes fixed on the
object of his ambition. _
It now immediately occurred to my mind,
that, as we were rapidly driving back the
enemy, this worthy had calculated on per-
mitting the Voltigeur to pick me off, whilst
he. should return the compliment on the
French officer; and thus secure the advantage
222 RECOLLECTIONS or
of plundering me first, trusting to the almost
certainty of getting up to the enemy before
the French officer’s carcase should be stripped
by his friends, whose life he was unwilling to
endanger.
All this was the work of a very few minutes,
and my attention was attracted into a ravine
or ground somewhat lower than the rest ;
wherein, by some circumstance with which I
never became acquainted, one of the enemy’s
guns had been passed by the charging of our
troops, and as by this time the conductors
thought they might dash off and so escape from
our hands, they started at a full gallop. I no
sooner perceived this, than I set off in pursuit,
and as my course lay close by General Fane
and his Aide-de-camp, in passing I called to
‘the General to follow and assist, which he
forthwith obeyed, as if I had been his Com-
mander; Captain Bringhurst, Brigade-Major
McLean, and the General’s orderly, with the
General, quickly came up, and we instantly
attacked the drivers as we rode by their sides.
I swore at them in the French language, de-
claring if they did not pull up immediately, I
MY MILITARY LIFE. 223
should cut down the wheel horse postilion,
raising my sabre over my left shoulder with
that intention; and I have no doubt I should
have carried my threat into execution, for the
drivers, instead of slackening ‘ their pace at
this, applied the whips and spurs with in-
creased vigour, but just as I was nearing the
wheel horse’s postilion, and on his left-hand
side, General Fane fired his pistol into the
off-horse, which almost instantly brought him
to the ground, and by that means the other
horses were nearly all thrown down, and the
gun itself narrowly escaped being overturned.
Fane was so delighted at this event, that
he called for a piece of chalk ; but none could
be found, which he much regretted, as he had
been anxious to write the names of those‘ indi-
viduals on the carriage who had absolutely
captured the gun.
On the same spot was scattered a vast
quantity of broken muskets, accoutrements,
&c., and amongst them were also a great
number of red and green feathers, mounted
on whalebone, a yard long at least. The Ge-
nera picked up several of the green feathers,
224 RECOLLEUTIONS or
and having put one of them into his own hat,
he handed one to me, saying, “There, my
boy, wear that feather—you have rendered
yourself worthy of being a Light Infantry
man ;” and gave me a most hearty shake by
the hand.‘ It will be recollected, that I had
served with the Light Brigade under Fane’s
command, from the first day of our leaving
the coast up to the 17th of August, when, by
Elphingstone’s wound, I had assumed the com-
mand of the Engineers.
At a short distance further down the hill,
and in a small gravel pit, not more than eight
or ten feet deep, I observed two French offi-
cers lying on the ground and unable to move;
on seeing me they called out for help, and -
made signs for me to go to them. I was
willing to afford them every assistance and
protection in my power; so, without hesita-
tion, I rode round the pit to the lower side,
and. inquired of them in what manner they
were wounded; when I was informed, that
one of them, in running from our bayonets, to
save himself had leaped into the gravel pit,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 225
and had thus broken his thigh ; and the other
had been shot through the leg just as he was
about to jump, and had, thereon, been pre-
cipitated into the pit. I assured them that I
should exert my best efforts to afford them
the earliest assistance and protection ‘under
existing circumstances, but, as they must be
aware, some time must elapse before they
could be carried away to the depot for wounded,
and so be placed out of the risk of being plun-
dered, I begged of them that, if they had any-
thing of value about them they would entrust
it to my care,'and that I would most readily
return it as soon as they should be rescued
from the certainty of being robbed, to which
they must continue to be exposed so long as
they‘ remained in the field; and that, probably,
before the expiration of ten minutes they
would, be robbed of everything.
My proposition did not fail to excite some
suspicions in the minds of these wounded and
helpless men, ‘which I admit it was well cal-
culated to produce; but after casting a silent
yet doubting look at me, they began to con-
voL. II. Q
226 RECOLLECTIONS or
sult in the French language very freely, al-
though they must have been aware that I
perfectly understood every word they were
pronouncing. Upon this, one of them ob-
served to the other, “ We must be robbed,
_ that is clear enough, if we refuse this offer; it
is better to take the word of an officer than
to trust to the distant chance of escaping un-
observed.” The officer to whom this dialogue
had been addressed, nodded assent, when
both drew forth from under their Waistcoats a
broad and very heavy leathern belt, and having
dismounted, I received them, saying to them,
“ Whenever you are so situated as to wish to
repossess these treasures, for I presume, from
the weight, these belts are well filled with
gold, you may simply request that the Com-
manding Officer of the‘ Engineers be sent to
you, and I shall have much pleasure in at-
tending to your wishes.” The announcement
of my station in the army relieved them from
any doubts as to the security of their pro-
‘ perty,_and drew from them repeated expres-
sions of gratitude. Having buckled the two
MY MILITARY LIFE. 227
belts round my waist, I mounted and trotted
off.
Anxious to rescue thesd two officers from
their painful situation, and to prevent them,
if possible, from being plundered of any pro--
perty remaining on their persons, I hastened
up the hill to near the windmills, and there
mentioned their fate to such surgeons as I
met, and directed a Serjeant to proceed to the
spot which I pointed out, and with a party to
bring them up to the position occupied by the
reserve Artillery, about which the wounded
were ordered to be collected until otherwise
disposed of. '
I there saw ‘General Pillet, the French Ad-
jutant General, he was lying on the ground,
wounded in the right hip, and Doctor Fitz-
patrick of the Ordnance Medical Department,
was engaged in endeavouring to extract the .
ball, but I believe he could not find it.
Soon after this, and on the same ground, I
saw a French officer who was wounded in the
ancle or feet, which was tied up in a handker- -
chief ; he was without a hat, on a horse, and
a man held the bridle leading him-off ; I was
e2-
228 RECOLLECTIONS or
informed he was immediately shipped off to
England. His hair was nearly red, and I
understood that this officer was General
Brénier.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 229
CHAPTER XIII.
The French show a line—The space betwixt us—A
soldier of the 50th gives me a silver dish—The dirty
half hundred becomes the gallant 50th—The field of
battle—Fear of poison—Morrison’s hat shot through,
the same as my own-——Shot at by a wounded prisoner
——I return the compliment—I find Sir Arthur—Tor-
rens’ account of Mulcaster’s conduct—Colonel Burn—-
Lieutenant Price—Sir Harry Burrard—I am intro-
duced by Sir Arthur—Conversation with Sir Harry-
Sir Arthur presses Sir Harry to go on—Sir Arthur’s
conduct thereon— Sir Harry is hungry and wants his
dinner-Thomas Robinson’s determination to save the
gravy—Some plunder of French baggage waggons.
THE firing had now almost totally ceased,
and the enemy was actively engaged in col-
lecting his scattered troops, and in reforming
230 RECOLLECTIONS or
them into line in order to make as formidable
an appearance as the general disaster which
he had experienced at all points, could enable
him to. accomplish. In this way, Junot, the
Duke of Abrantes, contrived to show us a
line drawn up on a range of hills parallel
to our position, and at the distance of a mile
or more, with a view, no doubt, of being re-
gulated in his further movements by those We
might adopt.
The ground between us was variously scat- -
tered over with killed, wounded, arms, drums,
caps, knapsacks, canteens, dead horses, and
ammunition waggons, ‘and some cannon; but
the track, which the before-mentioned column
of attack had followed, was conspicuously
marked to a great distance, by the number of
killed and wounded, who had fallen by our
Artillery in its progress towards us, and which
regularly increased in numbers as the column
had approached; at the extreme point of its
advance, where an attempt had been made to
deploy and form the line, the dead and dying
were, in some places absolutely lying in heaps,
three or four men in height. The wounds of
MY MILITARY LIFE. 231
nearly the whole of these being inflicted by
cannon-shot, were, as it may be supposed, truly
horrible, and of every possible variety.
Observing a baggage Waggon, two or three
hundred yards in advance, which was sur-
rounded by a number of soldiers and women,
I rode on towards it, not with any intention of
gaining any portion of the plunder, but guided
by mere curiosity. The contents on my arrival
had already been tolerably well dispersed,
amongst the fifty or one hundred individuals,
scrambling, and in some cases fighting, for! some
of the most valuable articles. A man of the
50th Regiment, who appeared to have been
exceedingly successful, for he was fully loaded,
on recognising me, came up, and thrusting
into my hand a small but handsome silver dish,
addressed me in the following manner :—
“ There, companion in the most glorious charge
ever made in this world, take this, you have
not had a plate at your dinner since we landed,
I know, that will do for one; and remember
that it was the dirty half-hundred that won the
victory this day.” I must here explain that
the uniform of the 50th Regiment was red,
232 anconnnorrons or
faced with black and silver lace, which sombre
colours, or bad assortment, gave the regiment
at all times an uncleanly appearance, whence
it had been denominated the Dirty 50th, or
Dirty Half-hundred ; but ever after this glorious
charge led on by Colonel Walker, (since General
Sir George Walker, G.(J.B., and lately Com-
mander-in-chief at Bombay,) the Dirty Half-
hundred has been dismissed, and in its place
stands the gallant 50th.
Not far from the waggon, I found a very
handsome oiled silk cloak lined with blue
silk, lying tied up half concealed in a furze
bush; I soon after this gave it away, but do
. not remember my motive for parting with an
article which I so much required, for I had no
great coat.
I was here in the midst of the wreck of war,
and in the place where the action had been the
severest, whence, casting a look around, my
attention was quickly attracted by observing a
number of soldiers, women, and peasants, eagerly
pursuing, and using every exertion to capture,
several horses with their saddles and bridles
still on, and a few that had belonged to the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 233
French Artillery, with portions of harness
hanging about them. Another party I ob-
served were engaged in knocking the shoes off
the dead horses, an article at this time in great
demand throughout the army.
Whilst all these various and highly interest-
ing events were occurring, in every direction
over the field of battle, that had remained in
our hands, I noticed our soldiers zealously
emptying every canteen they could find that
had belonged to the enemy. On enquiring
the motive for which this was done, I was in-
formed, that it was certain that the French had
poisoned the contents of their canteens, in order
to destroy the British soldiers who might cap-
ture them. This was a story no doubt in-
vented with a view to prevent our men from
drinking to excess, for each of these canteens
contained from two to three ‘pints of brandy,
and may account for the vast number of the
French soldiers who were made prisoners on
that day, being evidently more than half
drunk.
Having returned towards the top of the hill,
where Robe’s reserve guns had experienced
234 RECOLLECTIONS or
such a narrow escape, I there observed my
friend Captain Morrison of the Royal Artillery,
and I believe that I was the first who noticed
to him that his cocked hat had been shot
through, just over the back of his head; and
which had torn it much more than was suffi-
cient for the passage of a grape shot, which I
suppose it was that had ‘so nearly killed him ;
andat the same moment he was ‘the first to
acquaint me with my having received a shot,
probably from a rifle, through my hat, and ex-
actly in the same part of it.
I now went on, and came up with Colonel‘
Walker, whom I joined, he was mounted on his
white horse; and we were conversing on the
brilliant results of his charge, when I heard a
musket discharged from our rear, and at the
same moment a shot whizzed close to our heads.
I quickly turned round, and the smoke guided
me to a wounded man, a prisoner, sitting up,
and slyly putting down a musket.
It- is almost needless for me to state that I
felt greatly. exasperated at the murderous intent
of such a villain, and but little compassion at
his wounded condition; so having galloped close
MY MILITARY LIFE. 235
up to him, as I drew forth one of my pistols,
I pulled up my horse in order to take a more
certain aim, upon which, as soon as he dis—
covered my preparations to punish his coward-
.ly attempt he contrived to get on his knees,
and roared out for mercy in a very frightful
manner, his eyes I well recollect, almost started
out of their sockets. I nevertheless fired my
pistol at his breast when not .more than three
yards distant from him.
To my extreme surprise the man did not
fall, but retained his posture, which perplexed
me beyond all power of description, and whilst
I remained staring with astonishment at the
man, his eyes were idiotically fixed on me. At
length being perfectly convinced that I had not
hurtihim, I turned away rather pleased, I think,
but certainly not angry with myself at my
clumsiness in missing him, saying to him in
French, as I moved off, “ Well ! you have had
a- shot at me, and I have had one at you, we
are therefore quits.”
The whole of this event had been witnessed
by a vast number of the enemy’s wounded,
who to a man insisted on a summary execution
236 RECOLLECTIONS or
of the dastardly prisoner, heaping on him the
bitterest reproaches and execrations, no. doubt
fearing that such conduct might be the cause
of visiting them with an unusual degree - of
severity.
Up to this time I had not ‘seen, nor could I‘
obtain any information of Sir Arthur Welles-
ley. I was now accidentally informed that he
had been during the whole‘ of the morning,
at or about the extreme left with Major-
General Ferguson, I immediately directed my
steps to join His Excellency; but I had not
proceeded far, perhaps not more than one hun-
_ dred yards beyond the very remarkable clump
of eight to ten pine trees, already mentioned,
close by the side of the road leading to L0-
rinha, when I met Sir Arthur and staff, and
amongst them Lieutenant Mulcaster, my ad-
jutant.
Without the loss of a moment I stated to
Sir Arthur how I had been employed, and ac-
counted for my absence from His Excellency, ,
upon which he expressed himself perfectly
satisfied.
I now resolved on not losing sight of the
MY MILITARY LIFE. 237
Commander-in-Chief for a moment, and there-
fore took up my place in his suit, following
' Sir Arthur back to the groimd I had been on
during the whole of the action.
In riding on, Lieutenant-Colonel Torrens,
who was the Military Secretary, gave me the
following account of Mulcaster’s very gallant
conduct :—- - -
'It happened that at one period of the action,
Sir Arthur was watching with particular at-
tention and interest some of the movements of
the enemy, and was at that moment on the
brow of an elevated position, and during this
time the enemy’s Light Infantry, or Voltiguers,
were creeping up the hill amongst the bushes,
and firing very deliberately at Sir Arthur and
his staff.
Mulcaster had with anxiety been watching
these riflemen, and fearing that, unless they
were quickly disturbed, they would very soon
succeed in hitting the Commander-in-Chief,
‘he went up to Sir Arthur, and in the most
respectful manner, pointed out his danger, but
of which the only notice taken of his good in-
tention was, “ Very well, sir; I see them.”
238 RECOLLECTIONS or
Sir Arthur, however, was too much otherwise
engaged to remember Mulcaster’s warning for
a moment ; and the enemy acquiring boldness -
. at the indifference manifested towards them,
continued to advance gradually; when, after
several shot fired by these fellows, which had
happily passed amongst the ' group without
effect, Mulcaster repeated his communication,
which, however well intended, rather annoyed
Sir Arthur, by disturbing him in his observa—
tion, upon which his Excellency said, “Very
well, sir; go then with such of the Dragoons
as you can gather, and drive them back.” _
Though there was no Cavalry at hand, but
the small number of orderly Dragoons (of the
20th Regiment), close in the rear, and belong-
ing to the General’s staff, yet, upon receiving
the order, he called them up, and drawing his
sword, ordered them to follow him, when, in a
few minutes, having charged into them, he
sabred some, and put the remainder'to flight.
On riding back, he reported 150 Sir Arthur
that he had carried his commands into effect, .
which called forth a distinct approbation from
the Commander-in-Chief. ‘
MY MILITARY LIFE. 239
Of the other little adventures which may have
, occurred in different parts of the line I have
not had many opportunities of learning the
details, or, perhaps, time has swept them from
my memory. I shall, therefore, merely record
that an officer of the 40th Regiment related
to me that whilst with his Regiment in Major-
General Ferguson’s Brigade, stationed on the
' extreme left, and consisting of the 36th Regi-
ment, commanded by Colonel Burn, the 40th
by Colon-e1 Kemmis, and the 71st under Col-v
onel Denis Pack, the whole of the Brigade was
ordered to sit down on the ground, somewhat
retired from the crest of the hill, on which
they were posted. By this measure the men
were less exposed to shot; and very strict
orders had been given, prohibiting the return
of the enemy’s fire under any pretence what-
ever, without express orders to do so. During
this sort of pause, a musket belonging to one
of the 36th was fired, probably by accident;
upon which Colonel Burn, a man of quick
temper, rode up to the spot, and being unable‘
to detect the individual whose musket had
been discharged, he exclaimed, “ I only wish I
240 RECOLLECTIONS or
could discover the rascal who has just fired off
his musket against the most positive orders to
the contrary, and I would give him a good
caning, he may depend on it I would.” The
Colonel, all the time he was then addressing
his men, flourishing the weapon at that portion
of the line where he had observed the smoke
of the discharged musket streaming off with
the wind. '
A few months after this I met Lieutenant
Price, of the 52nd, at 'Santarem, who was then
on the staff of Brigadier-General Richard
Stewart, when he informed me that he had
served with his regiment at the battle of
Vimieiro; and that upon the occasion of the
charge of the 50th, already noticed, he had
encountered a private soldier of the enemy in
single combat. Price for some time succeeded
in maintaining his ground with his sabre
against the persevering efforts of the French-
man with his fixed bayonet, when, at length,
in stepping backwards to avoid a rush which
the man made at him, he fell on his back.
The chance of escape for poor Price was now
ten to one‘ against him; yet the Frenchman
MY MILITARY LIFE. 241
missed his opportunity by being too hasty,
for, in stabbing at his breast, Price received
the bayonet through his right arm, just above
the wrist, and it then passed through the
upper part of the same arm; and such was
the force with which the soldier had plunged
the blow, that a considerable portion of the
weapon entered the ground, and so literally
pinned the English officer to the spot. In this
posture the combatants remained during a few
seconds, their eyes fixed on each other, and
uttering execrations in their respective lan-
guages. The Frenchman was, no doubt, fear-
ful of drawing out his bayonet, with a view of
inflicting a more deadly wound, lest he should
receive a cut on the head from Price’s sabre,
which he still firmly grasped; he, therefore,
made every effort to injure his antagonist by
kicks and stamps; and, whilst in this most
critical state of affairs, Price was very oppor-
tunely rescued by one of his own men, who,
having observed his peril, ran up to his aid,
and in an instant shot the Frenchman through
the head.
On arriving on the spot where Robe’s re-
voL. II. R
242 RECOLLECTIONS or
serve guns had been stationed, near the two
windmills, and at a short distance from the
village of Vimieiro, we came up to Lieutenant-
General Sir Harry Burrard, whom I had
neither seen nor ever heard of before that
moment.
I was afterwards informed that Sir Harry
had that morning landed from the ship which
had brought him from England, and just as
the firing was commencing ; but that Sir
Harry had most properly declined taking upon
himself the command of the army, although
senior to ‘Sir Arthur, stating, that as Sir Arthur
had made himself acquainted with the ground,
had formed his line, and, in short, had actually
commenced the action, he should not in any
way interfere, but would accompany Sir Arthur,
and would give him his advice, should he at
any time request it. All this was exactly as
it should be.
On our coming up to Sir Harry Burrard, I
was introduced; upon which he said to me,
“ This is a glorious victory; we must have a
plan of' the ground, and of the movements of
the troops, to be sent off with the despatches.”
MY MILITARY LIFE. 5243
I promised the plan (forI knew it was making
by the several officers under my command);
and then added, in reply to the General’s ob-
servation as to our having gained a glorious
victory, that “ We are in a fair way to gain a
brilliant victory; the battle is very well com-
menced.”
At this moment, Sir Arthur, who had been
at too great a distance to hear my observation,
came up, and pressed Sir Harry to order
General Hill to move on towards Lisbon,
adding, that his division was quite fresh, since
the men had dined whilst the first line had
been fighting; that they had not marched one
step more than to take up the position they
then occupied, and had not fired a single shot
during that day. Sir Arthur made some fur-
ther observations about the advantages. we
possessed, arising from local circumstances,
and of momentary value only ; but Sir Harry
resisted every argument for advancing, by
making some allusion to a conversation they
had had on the preceding evening on board of
the Brazen; after which, Sir Harry suddenly
turned tome, repeating the necessity of my
(
R 2
244 RECOLLECTIONS or
getting a plan for him of the operations imme-
diately; then asking me what was the hour,
and, without waiting my reply, inquired of
Sir Arthur at what time his dinner would be
ready, assuring us, as he tapped his full-sized
waist two or three times with his open hand
in a most inquisitive manner, that the sea air
had very much sharpened his appetite.
On perceiving that Sir Harry Burrard had
determined on not following up our advan-
tages, Sir Arthur Wellesley reined in his horse
four or five yards, dropped the bridle on his
horse’s neck, pulled down his cocked hat to
the bridge of his nose, and having folded his
arms, he drooped his head, and remained
during some minutes in that position, evidently
regretting that he could not follow his own
opinion.
There can be no doubt that, had we pursued
the advantages we had so far obtained, the
enemy must before night have surrendered at
discretion ; yet all the time whilst Sir Arthur
remained in that pensive position, Sir Harry
went on talking half to me, and half to him-
self, when he several times repeated, “ Well, I
MY MILITARY LIFE. 245
think we have done enough for one day ;” to
which I once or twice replied, “ The'victory is
well commenced.”
During the morning we had experienced
several sharp showers from the South-West,
and now the rain began to come down rather
' more briskly than before,-when the two Lieu-
tenant-Generals retired to Sir Arthur’s quar-
ters, and I trotted off to the artillery park,
where I found that our dinner was on the
point of being taken from the fire.
We all now met each-other, as we dropped
in at various periods, with a hearty shake of
the hand, expressing very sincerely the plea-
sure in which we all. participated at meeting
again safe and sound after a very severe day’s
fighting, and that, too, without having to
lament the loss of any officer of the Artillery,
or of the Engineers. Lieutenant Wells was
on that day made a prisoner; but we were i
already aware of his personal safety, though
how we came by that information I do not
now recollect.
Our excellent and usual stewed beef and
vegetables very soon made its appearance.
246 RECOLLECTIONS or
Thomas Robinson, a Scotchman, and private
in the Royal Artillery, and who was Robe’s
servant, was the c/zéf-de-cuz'sz'ne, and we found
the stew so excellent, that we almost devoured
it, our appetite being remarkably keen. Praises
were now heaped on Thomas without reserve,
for he had never operated better, was the‘
unanimous feeling, and so it was unanimously
expressed.
Thomas was one of those stiff, hard-faced
soldiers, with an air so stern as almost
amounted to moroseness or sulkiness ; was a
man of few words, and such as he used were
so blunt that any stranger would have thought
him rude; but such was not the case—--it was
the result of uncultivated manners. He was.
honest and _faithful to the letter, and brave
beyond all doubt. Whatever duty he was
ordered to perform, it was punctually executed.
_ On hearing the expressions of approbation so
profusely bestowed on him, Thomas mani-
fested no visible sensation of pleasure, but,
with a manner more expressive of anger or
reproach than of satisfaction, he said:
“ Weel, Weel, you may think yur sells vary
MY MILITARY LIFE. 247
lucky in having any gravy at all to the meat,
for the shots was flying aboot so theck, that l
axpacted every meenit one wud a gone
thorough the kattle, so I beelt up a rampart,
do’ ye see?” pointing to the semicircular bank
of sods, about three feet high, round the fire ;
“ and good it was vary weel that I thought 0’
that, for in lass than twa meenits so many
shots cam’d reght into the building, that
‘some of them wad a let oot a’ the gravy, had
it na been for the sods, do ye see P”
Upon hearing this declaration we all burst
out roaring with laughter at the simplicity of
the tale ; yet We could not resist admiring the
devotedness of this faithful servant, who had,
regardless of his own safety, built up a bank
of sods just of the dimensions sufficient to
protect the kitchen, lest an unlucky shot might
miss him, but tap the kettle.
During the time we were most agreeably
engaged in satisfying‘the cravings of a ravenous
appetite, reports were at very short intervals
made to Robe of cannon, ammunition waggons,
and artillery horses, that were bringing into
he park of artillery, and which had been cap-
248 RECOLLECTIONS or
tured from the enemy; so that, I think, out
of about twenty-two pieces of cannon which
the enemy had brought into action that morn- '
ing, seventeen or eighteen of them were before
dark secured and brought in: these were as
quickly entered upon the returns preparing,
with the utmost exertion, to go off that even-
ing with the despatches.
Amongst the various waggons brought in,
one of them contained some baggage which
had belonged to a French officer of Artillery,
and which we immediately amused ourselves
in plundering.
All I obtained was a sportsman’s powder-
fiask made of horn, and which is still in my
possession. '
MY MILITARY LIFE. 249
CHAPTER .XIV.
I refuse a good offer—I write my despatch with an
umbrella held over my paper-I deliver my plan of
the battle to Sir Harry—Sir Harry made no mention
of the Engineers in his despatch, nor did he of the
Artillery, which Robe having discovered it in time,
had corrected—The ball falls out of my pistol—More
troops arrive—Robe’s joy at the arrival of his son,
but he was killed at Waterloo—A baggage-Waggon
plundered—An ammunition-car damaged— Sir H.
Dalrymple arrives from Gibraltar, and I go to meet
him—The drums beat to arms—The French General
Kellerman arrives in the army with a flag of truce——
March and bivouac on some wooded hills.
OUR spirits were greatly elevated,‘ as it may
be fairly expected, at the successful results of
this day, and the quantity of cannon, ammu-
nition, arms, accoutrements, horses, &c., cap-
3).‘
250 RECOLLECTIONS or
tured, raised our expectations to a high degree,
"and we calculated on a handsome division of
prize-money.
I began to feel the importance of being the
commanding officer, since, instead of sharing
merely according to my rank of Captain, I
should be allowed’ to participate with the field-
officers. Under this view of my prospects I
refused an offer made me of fifty pounds, then
of one hundred, and ultimately of one hundred
guineas, for my share of the prize-money ; and
those who were present assured me that, in
their judgment, I was quite right, for my por-
tion could not be less than five hundred
pounds. Such was the high value we ex-
pected would be the result of our victory.
I have since had reason to regret my not
having caught at the offer; for, although a
million sterling was afterwards voted by Par-
liament to be distributed to the troops that
had served in the Peninsula, through some
most unaccountable motive, and'which I have
never had explained, the services performed by
the troops employed during the first cam-
paign, although everywhere victorious, were not
MY MILITARY LIFE. 251
thought deserving of any recompense; we
were, therefore, excluded, and so I received
nothing.
I thought this particularly hard, after having
participated so exclusively in capturing a field-
piece, horses, and ammunition-car, all com-
plete. ‘
The remainder of the day I occupied in
putting together the reports of the several
oflicers of Engineers, with their sketches of
the ground upon which they had been re-
spectively engaged, and in writing my official
despatch to the Inspector-General of Fortifi-
cations, letters to my family, &c. ; the whole of
which I was under the necessity of managing
under the shelter of an old umbrella, which I
had fortunately picked up in the field of battle,
and which was held over my head to keep the
paper from being wetted by the rain, which
fell steadily during the whole of the time: my
marquee had been struck at the commence-
ment of the engagement, and having been
carried off to the rear, was still away.
As soon as I had accomplished these im-
portant matters, I waited on Sir Harry Burrard,
252 RECOLLECTIONS or
and having delivered to him the plan of the
battle, he expressed himself very much satis-
fied with the expedition with which the same
had been completed, and assured me he should
make particular mention of me in his des-
patches; adding, “ You may depend on my
taking good care of your interests ;” then,
after a few more questions regarding the plan
which I had been explaining, “ I shall make
such mention of your zeal and activity, as can-
not fail to be duly noticed and appreciated in
the proper quarter.”
I now bounded, as I went down the narrow
stairs. “ Stand out of the way, every body; I
am a Major, as sure as a gun, from this date,”
thought I, all the way I went in returning to
the park.
Sir Harry did not mention my name, nor
even did he take any notice of the corps of
Royal Engineers in the despatches. Sir Harry
Burrard had in like manner totally omitted to
mention a single word about the Royal Artil-
lery; but Robe, having had the good fortune
to hear of it in time, waited on His Excellency
immediately, when he demanded and obtained
MY MILITARY LIFE. 253
satisfaction, by a most ‘honourable mention of
the services which that corps had rendered, and
had so justly deserved.
My marquee now made its appearance, just
as dusk was commencing, and that I began to
anticipate the probability of passing a dreary
night in the open air, and getting a thorough
wetting; and whilst it was erecting, I received
a summons to attend at the church, where two
wounded French officers were anxiously inquir~
ing for the Commanding Officer of Engineers.
I was in no degree perplexed as to whomithe
wounded officers could be ; and I was much
pleased at the receipt of this invitation, for I
began to feel the inconvenience of carrying
about my waist the two belts so heavily charged,
together with my silver dish under my arm ;
and moreover, I looked forward with consider-
able anxiety to my being compelled to pass
the night in the open air completely unprotected
from the cupidity of several hundreds of men,
whom I had observed had cast longing eyes
at the quantity of wealth I carried about so
visibly and invitingly displayed.
1 therefore hastened to the church, and there
254 REcoLLEo'rIoNs or
had the pleasure of restoring the heavy belts
to the owners, who beheld my approach with
unfeigned satisfaction. ‘
After numerous expressions of their thank-
fulness, they acquainted me with their names
and places of residence in France, and I believe
that I made a note of them at the time; but I
have lost any record which I may have made
upon the subject, so I have never availed my-
self of their polite invitations ‘to their homes,
where I have no doubt I should have ex-
perienced a hearty welcome.
On’ my return to the park I not only found
the marquee erected, but .I was glad to notice
that one of my servants, who had been missing
with my baggage mule, which I had purchased
on the preceding evening, had now made his
appearance, but without the mule. The ac-
count he gave of himself was, that as soon as
the firing had commenced, the ‘mule started
off, and he had gone in pursuit of it. The
animal, he said, had led him a pretty chase all
over the country, to the extent of several miles,
when he was compelled, through fatigue and
want of nourishment, to give up the search.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 255
3
This story appeared to be a very lame one, and
it was generally suspected that he had sold
the mule, and that he had occupied himself in
plundering the killed and wounded ; for’I-I after-
wards was informed that he had been seen to
have in his possession a large sum of money.
On applying‘ to the Board of Ordnance for
the loss of this mule, I was informed, that un-
less I could v declare that it had been killed or
had fallen into the hands of the enemy, I could
not be compensated.
Having procured a sufficient quantity of
dried Indian corn leaves, to keep me from lying
on the wet ground, I was making my arrange-
ments for the night, before it should be quite
. dark, when my servant, who, in fact, was my
groom, came in with my saddle and bridle, as
I always used the former as a pillow ; and he
acquainted me, to my infinite sorrow, that my
horse had received a shot in the inside of his
thigh; and that the veterinary surgeon could
not find the ball, which had evidently lodged
at a considerable depth amongst the muscles.
My man soon afterwards, in removing my
holsters, heard something rolling about, and on
256 RECOLLECTIONS or
examination discovered that the ball of the
pistol I had fired at the wounded prisoner, had
previously fallen out into the holster, which
at once unravelled themystery of my having
missed the man. _
The constant tapping of the muzzle of the
pistol on the bottom of the holster pipe, had
no doubt occasioned the ball to fall out.
Fearful that on some future occasion, my
life might be placed in jeopardy through a re-
petition of such an accident, I ordered two
round pieces of wood to be procured and out
exactly of the length of the barrels left un-
occupied by the charges, and sufficiently small
not to fix or fasten in the barrels, but to re-
main in the holsters when the pistols were
drawn out; thus the charges, by resting on
these sticks, must ever remain in their places.
Having taken our tea as usual, an hour
afterwards we drank a glass of rum and
water to the health of our friends in England,
and every one proceeded to take up his posi-
tion for the night. Mr. Stace, of the Com-
missariat, and Doctor Kenning, both of the
()rdnance department, had landed that day
MY MILITARY LIFE. 257
from England, and were glad to accept my
invitation to take shelter under my marquee ;
which was constantly open, in like manner,
for the comfort of as many as could therein
find a place for their length and breadth.
During the battle, and, indeed, all the ‘re-
mainder of the day, troops were landed as
fast as they arrived on the coast; and I had
to commiserate with an oflicer of the 62nd
‘ Regiment, whom, at about nine o’clock in the
morning, I had recognized as an acquaintance,
on his joining from the sea-shore with his
regiment, but who before two o’clock of the
same day, and nearly on the same spot, I met
on a litter, shot through the leg; he was then
on his way back to his transport.
Amongst the arrivals on that day from
home, was Lieutenant Robe, of the Artillery,
who joined his father about the commence-__
ment of the action; and I remember the
Lieutenant-Colonel saying to me, with ‘tears of
joy in his eyes, soon after the fighting had ter-
minated, that his utmost desire had been gra-
tified by the arrival of his eldest son on that
morning, who had remained by his side
voL. II. S
i 258 RECOLLECTIONS or
throughout the engagement. “ Oh, how
happy am I that William, my dear boy, was
here this day to share with me in the dangers
and honours of this glorious battle.” Robe
repeated this to me over and over again, as I
believe he expressed himself in the same way
to many others; his heart was too full to be
able to conceal his joy, which was completely
overflowing. ‘
Lieutenant Robe, seven years after this,
was killed at the battle of Waterloo.
I had nearly omitted to mention an event
which caused us much merriment during the
evening of this day. On plundering the
baggage of the French Artillery officer above-
mentioned, Major Viney, of the Artillery, had
seized on the Sunday coat, which, on leaving
Lisbon, had been most carefully packed up,
and which was decorated with a pair of
epaulets, nearly new. This coat, Viney in-
stantly put on, and it fitted him to a T. The
novelty of seeing a French uniform amongst
us, as he strutted about the park, was very
amusing, but we considered it exceedingly in-
elegant. '
MY MILITARY LIFE. 259-
Our sneers and objections to the style of
uniform were particularly directed against the
ill-judged position of the epaulets, which, in-
stead of being as we then wore them, placed
perfectly on the top of the shoulders, or, per-
haps, rather in a slight degree more towards
the back than the front, giving the ‘man a very
erect appearance, and a great expansion of
chest, were placed very forward, as at present
'worn by the British army; and which is the
cause of both officers and privates appearing
to be round-shouldered, narrow-chested, and
stooping or bending forwards.
From the moment when the sun had with-
drawn its light, the Portuguese division serv-
ing with our army, and which, I believe,
amounted to about five or six thousand men,
had began to make bonfires; and were firing
off their carbines and muskets at every in-
stant, shouting, singing, and rioting ‘in the
most noisy manner, in manifestation of their
joy at the severe overthrow which the French
had on that day experienced from our troops.
This very unmilitary and unsoldier-like con-
s 2
260 RECOLLECTIONS or
. duct, particularly when in camp before an
enemy, was kept up until the bugle called us
to the usual morning parade, notwithstand-
ing every effort to procure its suppression.
At the‘ usual time after daylight, the troops
were dismissed, and there were no symptoms
of advancing on that day. '
After taking some breakfast, I went to in-
spect an ammunition car, which had been
blown up during the action; and so little was
it injured, that by this time it was quite ready
to take its place in the line of march, if re-
quired. But what I considered very extraor-
dinary, was, that neither the horses to which
it was attached, nor the driver, at that time
mounted on one "of them, were in the slightest
degree injured.
At about ten‘o’clock I paid my respects to
the Commander-in-Chief ; and whilst there, a
communication was received, announcing that
Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple had
arrived on the coast to assume the chief com-l
mand, and was about to disembark.
Sir Arthur Wellesley immediately turned to
me, and said, “ Oh, you are acquainted with
MY MILITARY LIFE. 261
Sir Hew—you were at Gibraltar under his
command; you must go to the landing-place
at the mouth of the river, and receive him
and conduct him here.”
In compliance with this order, I proceeded,
and on my way was overtaken by Captain
Cook, of the Adjutant-General’s department,
who was leading his handsome sorrel-coloured
horse, and we went ,_ on together; he also
having been dispatched to meet Sir Hew
Dalrymple.‘
On our arrival at the beach, Sir Hew Dal-
rymple was just landing; and having an“
nounced the object of my mission,_I showed
his Excellency the way by leading my horse
before him. .
Sir Hew’s staff consisted of Captains Dal-
rymple, his son and Military Secretary, Walsh,
Blair, and Gibbons, of the Line, and Fan-
shaw, of the Royal Engineers, Aides-de-camp;
and I believe there were one or two more.
We very soon arrived at a small house, the
quarters of Sir Harry Burrard ; and here Sir
Hew expressed some perplexity at being with-
out his horses; when I suggested that the
262 RECOLLECTIONS or
easiest way to get rid of that difficulty for the
moment, would be to dismount a few of the
Cavalry about Sir Harry’s quarters, and that
their horses would supply the deficiency.
My recommendation having been adopted,
we all went on to join the army, which had
not moved from the position occupied on. the
preceding day; and as we arrived in sight of
the village of Vimieiro, we discovered that-
the drums were beating to arms along the
line, and that the troops. were forming, in
order to meet some attack which appeared to
be menaced. \ _
A dlrizzjling and soaking. rain now began to
.i fall, and we halted at a short distance before:
- we reached the little stone bridge over the
rivulet of Maciera, and which separated us
from the Artillery park. '
_Upon this, I pointed out to Sir Hew the
position near the two wind-mills, where Sir
Arthur Wellesley and Sir Harry had, most.
probably, stationed themselves; and at the
‘same time asked permission to ride on and
announce his arrival; of which his Excellency
at once approved.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 263
On my seeking to meet with Sir Arthur, I
soon discovered that, instead of arecommence-
'ment ‘of hostilities, as every one had expected,
the alarm which had extended to every part
of the army had been caused by the advance
of General Kellerman, who, instead of a small
escort of fifty to sixty Cavalry, came up to
within? range of our advanced posts with a
body of fifteen hundred Cavalry, before he dis-
played his white fiag. -
The rain continuing, I took shelter under
some branches of atree, in a garden, and overt‘-
hanging the wall, exactly opposite the house
occupied by Sir Arthur; and very soon after-
wards the French General, with a handkerchief
tied over his eyes, was led up on horseback
to Sir Arthur’s door, Oolonel Walker being
close by his side. The General now dis-
mounted, and was conducted into the house.
This event, as may be readily. expected,
created a complete sensation throughout the
army ; and, after remaining more than an hour
in expectation of the council of war being
broken up, and that some kind of outline of
the negociations might transpire, I quitted my
264 RECOLLECTIONS or
post, and returned to the park, whence I ob-
served several officers and parties of soldiers
marching up from the sea-side, where they
had just landed from England to reinforce the
army. '
The greater portion of the afternoon and
after dinner was passed in conjectures as to
the result of this conference ; and I lay down
for the night tired and worn out with expecta-
tion, for Kellerman was still at head quarters. '-
After remaining under arms until one
hour after daylight on the 23rd, the‘ army
marched. I soon came up with General Fane,
of the Light Brigade, by whose side-I con-
tinued during some time, when, to my great
surprise, a mounted officer, in the uniform of
the 18th Hussars, at a round canter rode up.
from behind, and ‘driving into an opening,
about sufficient for half the width required for
‘his horse, between Fane and myself, nearly
pitched me over into a ditch, at the same time
loudly expressing his particular satisfaction in
meeting his old friend Fane, and shaking him
by the hand. I could not resist staring at the
Hussar, and not with a most pacific feeling;
MY MILITARY LIFE. A 265
but I was immediately introduced to Brig'adien
General, the Honourable Charles Stewart,
afterwards Marquis of Londonderry.
Having passed a small‘ village, called Oz
Cunhados, we arrived on some pine-clad hills,
very much intersected by ravines, and here
the army was ordered to halt and bivouac.
266 RECOLLECTIOINS or
CHAPTER XV.
In making a sketch of the ground occupied by the army,
I lose my way—~A heavy storm—Alarmed again by
the horses—A court-martial—Arrival of more troops
——Major Fletcher supersedes me in (the command—
The whole of the army reviewed.
BEFORE my marquee was completely erected,
I commenced making a general military sketch
of the ground occupied by the army, and of
as much of the surrounding country as I might
find practicable in a limited time; and I also
sent out the officers under my command, allot-
ting to each a portion, to be filled up in detail,
which would furnish the materials wherewith
a very useful plan of our position might be
put together in the shortest time possible.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 267
Ifound the country difficult, and so covered
with woods, that every part required to be
gone over, as I could see but very short dis-
tances from any one spot ; and, to my exceed-
ing regret, dinner-time passed, and evening
came on, long before I had completed my
task.
As the sun went down, the sky became
covered with black clouds, and threatened a
- storm from the South-West quarter; and, al-
though some distant lightning flashed occasion-
ally from almost every point of the compass,
and that I felt exceedingly exhausted, having
had no food since breakfast at three o’clock
that morning, I persevered in my occupation,
anxious to accomplish it that day ; and I fully
believed that, with proper exertion, I might do
so before the closing of daylight.
Shortly afterwards, as it frequently happens
in such weather, the sun having totally dis-
appeared, the arch of dark clouds which had
been slowly rising from the South-West, now
‘made sudden and very rapid advances, without
any perceptible wind, causing a degree of
obscurity similar to that of night, and which
268 RECOLLECTIONS or
the high and compact vault formed by the
pine tops materially assisted and increased. I
must at this time have been at some consider-
able distance from the army, and I now paused
to reflect on the direction I ought to follow, in
order to waste as little time as possible in re-
joining my companions. Not a sound broke
the dismal silence of this extreme solitude,
but an occasional rattle of the Woodpecker, or
the cawing of a crow, as the latter in fear
hastened away to hide from the approaching
storm ; and sometimes doubtful signs, like
howlings of wolves, rose from the bottom of
a distant valley, echoed from opposite and sur-
rounding hills.
At length I moved on, as well as I could
determine, towards the West; ‘but long before
I could extricate myself from this remote and
very obscure part of a the forest, extending
along the borders of a grumbling rivulet, that
descends one of the deep ravines into the wide
planes below, I fancied I had totally lost my
way. I, nevertheless, went on ascending at
random, and I felt more indebted to accident
than to any other cause for reaching my
MY MILITARY LIFE. 269
marquee by about ten o’clock, and upon which
‘ I had hit quite unexpectedly, from a quarter
entirely opposite to the one in which I had
' expected to find it.
On entering the tent, I found it so entirely
filled that there was not a spot left unoccupied
where I could extend my wearied limbs : as to
food, it would have been quite unreasonable
to have enquired for any at that late hour,
when all had finished their last meal, and when
the dish was invariably cleared of the last
morsel. .I could not refrain from noticing the
extreme selfishness of my visitors, who had,
through my indulgence, been permitted to ob-
tain a shelter under my humble roof, yet who
had not had the gratitude to leave me any
space, in order that I might participate in
that shelter which exclusively belonged to me.
My temper was a little disturbed, and I
well remember that I expressed my feelings
somewhat strongly‘ on this occasion, particu-
larly on the want of common courtesy, and
even of a properidegree of respect due to me
as Commanding‘Officer, and which in this case
seemed to prevail. To my observations all
270s RECOLLECTIONS or
turned a deaf ear, and pretended to be sleep-
ing very soundly ; and, lest I might entertain
any doubt as to that fact, several of them soon
began to snore in a most exquisite style.
The darkness which overspread the sky'
was now almost perfect; but, with the aid of
some bright flashes of lightning, I perceived a
small spot, about the middle of the marquee,
which seemed to be untenanted, and with
much care, in order to avoid treading on any
of the snorers, I managed to gain a footing,
on this space.
I now discovered that the vacant spot was
unoccupied in consequence of being a natural
bump in the ground, not very unlike the
mounds formed over the graves of the de-
parted in our burial-grounds, and which, no
doubt, had caused it to be deserted. After
some consideration, as to the best mode I
could adopt, in order to keep myself from
rolling off if I should lay myself down upon
it, I went to the bag containing the tent
pickets and mallets, always placed close to the
door,‘ and having driven four or five of these
pickets into the ground in a straight line,_
MY MILITARY LIFE. 271
along the edge of the long side of the mound,
to keep me from falling off, I lay down, and
found that I had succeeded in rendering this
rejected position very habitable.
During all this time the lightning was aug-
menting in brilliancy, and , the grumbling
thunder had grown louder and louder, rolling
on after every first burst, and rebounding from
cloud to cloud, and from hill to hill, until
again supplied by fresh explosions ; so that no
’ intermission was perceptible. Now, a gust of
hurricane-like wind made the trees tremble
and bend to their roots, and was quickly heard
roaring down the ravines as it passed on over
the black forest; and the death-like stillness
which instantly succeeded was romantically
awful, but of short duration, for the heavy
drops of rain, mixed with scattered hailstones
as large as musket-bullets, soon commenced
beating such a recez'lle’ on the tightly-strained
canvas, which alone separated us from the‘
contending elements, as announced that the
storm was on us, and likely to be very severe.
All these preliminaries went on increasing,
until the noise of the hail, the rain, the howl-
272 RECOLLECTIONS or
ing wind, and thunder grew to such a pitch as
to be almost deafening; and it was now that
the loud crashing of the falling trees created
an additional and a very frightful source of
anxiety to the whole army I may say; for it '
was not possible that a single individual could
have remained plunged in sleep amidst such
an uproar. i
Before the expiration of five minutes from
the commencement of the rain, I heard a
general rising amongst the ‘ inmates of my
mansion, when swearing and laughing was so
profusely intermixed with semi-'yelps, that for
a moment I was greatly puzzled, and quite
unable to guess at the reason which had sud-
denly created so much confusion.
I was not, however, left many seconds half
breathless .with suspense, when I understood
that a perfect torrent had forced its way
through the marquee, which had ‘been most
~injudiciously pitched on sloping ground, with-
out taking the ordinary precaution of forming
v a small ditch round the outside, and close to
the foot of the walls.
Upon my mound, however, I lay on an _
' MY MILITARY LIFE. 273
island, high and dry amidst the foaming stream,
whilst my friends were dripping with water;
for the rapid torrent had entered with a burst,
as it overpowered the feeble and momentary
resistance presented by the canvas walls, and
had dashed in with such a volume at once, that
in the twinkling of an eye, it had displaced
every particle of air betwixt their skins and
their shirts, and had commenced to wash their
feet, sparing them the trouble of taking off
their boots. All this had been accomplished,
before they had been sufficiently roused to
know distinctly what in reality had occurred,
and what, under such pressing circumstances,
was best to be done, in order to extricate them-
selves from the danger of being drowned.
Whilst I remained in security, occupying
the rejected mound, I admit I was wicked
enough to laugh heartily; and I very sincerely
rejoiced at the thorough drenching which it was
evident my company had suffered, and which,
in my opinion, they had very justly merited.
My gratification was, however, of very short
duration, for in the midst of this confusion,
which, it might be supposed, could not have
voL. II. T
274 RECOLLEOTIONS or
been augmented, I heard a general cry of
“ The wolves are coming in 1”‘ whilst others
vehemently exclaimed, “ For God’s sake, keep
out the horses 1”
At the cry of “ The wolves are coming in l”
I jumped up, and stepping forward with my
sword drawn, but raised as far as the roof
would allow, not to hurt friends, and keep-
ing my eyes fixed in the direction of the
door, in an instant I observed that it was
open, and I saw the red glaring eyes of ex-
cited animals, one rearing its head over the
other, but which were too high to be those
of wolves, and a succession of brilliant
flashes of lightning clearly presented to view
a drove of horses, in countless numbers,
contending with each other for the earliest
admission into the marquee.
Upon this discovery we thought that, by
calling on the horses to retire, in the usual
polite manner practised by grooms in address-
ing those faithful animals, they would have felt
intimidated, and would have immediately de-
sisted from further attempts at intrusion; but,
however efiicacious such language might be in
MY MILITARY LIFE. 275
ordinary cases, it clearly appeared that the
extreme terror of the horses was such, _ that
the more they became assured of the presence
of human beings, the ‘more tenacious they
had become of remaining with us, as they
seemed to fancy themselves somewhat pro-
tected by our society. All our efforts to drive
away the horses were, therefore, quite fruitless,
and all we could accomplish was to keep them
from forcing their company upon us within the
marquee. -
Had these poor creatures been successful in
their attempt, to which the severe beating of
the heavy hailstones impelled them, they
would, no doubt, have burst open the palace
in every direction, upon which the roof would
have fallen upon them; in which case, God
only knows, under such circumstances, how
many of ‘us might have escaped with our
lives; for it is certain, that none could have
got off without severe injuries, as it cannot be
doubted, that horses rendered wild with fear,
and driven to desperation by the violence of a _
pelting hail, and‘terrified by the raging storm,
would, on feeling themselves clasped all over
T2
276 RECOLLECTIONS or a ‘
by the clinging of the wet canvas, and the
entangling cords, have commenced kicking at
each other and at every thing; and as we
should have been embraced in the same can-
‘vas, clasping us up tightly with the horses, as
if all had been crammed into one immense.
straight waistcoat—who could have escaped
under such pressing circumstances?
By midnight the storm having passed away,
the horses were persuaded to remove to a dis-
tance, and I remounted my throne, the only
dry spot left within many miles around us, -
excepting, perhaps, in some of the tents, of
which there were only one to each corps.
The storm to which the army was thus ex-
posed in the forest of Ramalhal, on the 28rd
of August, 1808, was, indisputably, one of
the severest ever experienced by troops en
bivouac. - a _
The position occupied by the army on the
following morning after daylight presented a
most novel appearance ; from the lower
branches of‘ the trees were suspended in every
direction great coats and spare clothing, in
MY MILITARY LIFE. 277 A
order to dry them, and giving to the ensemble
very much the aspect of a rag fair.
In the course of this morning (24th of
August), I was under the painful necessity .of
ordering a court-martial to assemble for the
trial of one of the Royal Military Artificers,
under my command, charged with marauding
and committing sundry crimes unbecoming
the character of a soldier, &c. The man was
convicted, and sentenced to receive three
hundred lashes in the usual manner, and, as
usual, at the discretion of the commanding
officer.
I approved of the proceedings and finding
of the court ; but having a great repugnance
to the flogging system, and considering, more-
over, how inconvenient, and, indeed, how
almost impossible, it would have been to
carry into effect such a punishment whilst the
army was marching almost daily, I ordered
that the culprit should receive twenty-five
lashes only, leaving the remainder to hang
over him in zferromm, and to be carried into
effect in the event of my lenity failing to pro-
cure that salutary effect upon him which I
278 ~' (_RECOLLECTIONS or
confidently hoped it might. I have much
gratification in recording that I was not dis-
appointed, and that I was spared the affliction
of being under the necessity of directing the \
execution of the remainder of the sentence, or
of any part of it.
The heat of the sun having, in some de-
gree, dried up the rain, we lost no time in
completing the sketch of this position; and
on returning to the army we found it aug-
mented by several regiments, which, as often
as the weather permitted, were landed from
the fleet, lying on the coast; and it was very-
interesting to observe the frequent bursts of '
surprise, and exclamations of delight, mani-
fested amongst all ranks as the numerous re-
lations, friends and acquaintances most unex-
pectedly met each other. The hearty shaking
of hands, the smiling and joyful faces, the.
rapid and anxious inquiries after other friends ,
and relatives at home ; the pleasure expressed '
by some, and the sudden changes to deep
sorrow exhibited by a few, were scenes pass-
ing and occurring at every instant, and
throughout every part of the bivouac.
MY MILITARY LIFE. 279
The ground within my marquee had been
so completely saturated with water, that I
ordered it to be struck at an early hour, and
towards evening the sun’s rays had been so
powerful that the surface at least was again
tolerably dry. ‘The marquee was therefore
once more erected, the inequalities filled up and
levelled with sods, and a proper ditchya foot
deep, was formed, entirely surrounding the
walls. .
My experience, gained in Canada, in the
manner of making a field bed, had taught me
that the tops of pine or spruce trees, when
properly and regularly arranged on the ground,
by making the delicate extremities cover the
stems or stiff wood parts, compose a very
comfortable bed; and which, moreover, pos-
sesses the advantage of being raised six or
eight inches above the damp earth. I, there-
fore, ordered the whole bottom or floor of the
- marquee to be covered in that way; and on
the following morning, the thanks of the
whole of the inmates were unanimously voted
me.
The greater part of this morning (25th)
280 RECOLLECTIONS or
was passed in sauntering about; some in
search of muscatel grapes, others in groups
debating on the probable results of the nego-
ciation, which it was known had been com-
menced with a View to a termination of hos-
tilities ; and I, myself, in rambling in every
direction to procure some valuable additions
to my sketch-book.
After dinner I joined a party, guided by
one of our mess, to eat our dessert of muscatels
in a vineyard which he had that morning dis-
covered, within the limits' necessarily pre-
scribed to our walks; and we there not only
found abundance of those exquisite grapes,
but’ also some of the finest melons I ever
tasted, which, of course, were growing entirely
in the open fields.
Our army had now, by degrees, received
considerable reinforcements; and, I believe,
that the general officers arrived in far greater
proportions‘ than was due in regard of the
soldiers. Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore,
G.C.B., joined us, amongst the former.
Sir Hew Dalrymple very properly judged
it expedient to review the whole army; but,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 281
instead of causing it to march past him, it
was arranged that the line should be formed
‘two deep, and that his Excellency would ride
along its front, receiving the salutes as he
passed.
Thirty thousand men, including the Por-
tuguese ‘under, the command .of General
Freire, were drawn up in one line on the 26th
of August; and a brilliant staff, amounting to
sixty or seventy, at least, all well mounted,
I commenced riding along its front from the
right, the regiments saluting and the bands
playing as the Commander-in-Chief came up
to the right of each regiment or brigade,
and passing on at a full canter as frequently
as the ground could permit.
It will be easily supposed that such a line, > '
extending quite six miles in length, must have '
passed over a great variety of country, and
enclosures formed of many high banks, with
deep and wide ditches.
Now, as no pioneers had been ordered to
clear the way, the staff ‘had to make a sort of
steeple-chase of it ; and as some of our Gene-
rals were no amateurs, every ditch ‘we came to
282 anoonLnc'rrons or
in succession deprived us of the honour of
one or two Generals, and necessarily of their
personal staff officers; so Sir Harry Burrard,
the heaviest of the number, was the first to
give it up.‘
Thus, step by step, we thinned away; so
that on reaching the left of the line, Sir Hew,
Sir Arthur, and a few more, with some of
their respective attendants, including myself,
were all that could boast of having inspected
the whole of this splendid line, composed of
the flower of the British Isles; although
‘many of them had not handled a musket
more than six months; but when opposed to
the French at Vimieiro, they had, at the
points of their bayonets, extorted from those
veterans in war, the highest encomiums for
their steadiness, their discipline, and their
valour; ‘
I had not returned many minutes. to the
bivouac, when, to my extreme astonishment, I
perceived an officer of Engineers at a distance
coming up on foot, who was a stranger to our
army, but was known by several of us at once
to have just landed from England, and whose
MY MILITARY LIFE. 283
gait, on further observation, was familiar to
me; in a few moments I held by the hand
my very worthy and most excellent friend,
Major Fletcher, whom I had left as second in
command of the Royal Engineers, at Ports-
mouth, two years and a half before that time.
I surrendered my command to Fletcher,
having held it exactly ten days since the battle
of Rolica.
284 RECOLLEC'I‘IONS or
CHAPTER XVI.
Advance to Torres-Vedras—Procure a cloak—Dine with
Fane—Wine in a wide dish-Having lost my right to
a marquee, I sleep in a church_porch with Fane-
Sketch of the ground—The Zizandra—Interesting
dialogue stopped in the nick of time—Bivouac at
Monte-de-Agraca—Proceed by the Pass of Bucellas
to San-Antonio-de-Tojak-Sir Arthur retains the com-
mand of his troops as a Division— Captain Elphingstone
comes to the army to take leave of us—His wound
appears quite cured—On passage to England he
brings up his three teeth—We are all displeased at
being kept out in open air—Lawson and myself ride
off into Lisbon, and arrive at the American hotel.
SOME cause, with which I am at present
unacquainted, having diminished the means of
MY MILITARY LIFE. 285
transport with the army, it was thought, by
issuing three days’ rations of biscuit to the
troops, a large quantity of, the weight would
be thus disposed of. Accordingly, prior to
marching off on the 27th, the said quantity
of biscuit was served out to the army, but
the greater portion of it was left on the
ground in small heaps, the men being unwil-
ling to increase their loads. This, at the time,
was regarded as a sort of rebellious conduct,
but I never heard it had been followed by any
further demonstration of insubordination.
Our day’s march was short, and performed
through a very picturesque country, part of
which was thickly wooded; and at an early
hour we entered the pass leading into the
valley of Torres-Vedras.
On the hills extending right and left of this
fine verdant flat valley, and at the Northern
side, the army was bivouacked ; and on the
opposite side of which is the town, situated at
the base of the old castle, on an insulated
mount. In a very meandering course, flows
a small rivulet, fordable at all parts, and over
which, between us and the town, was a small
286 RECOLLECTIONS or
stone bridge carrying the road between ‘two
rows of trees, and then immediately enters the
town. ‘ '
This bridge'was now declared to be the ut- i
most limit of our’ advanced posts : the town in
front was neutral ground; but with a written
A permission from the General of the Light
Division, I had the good fortune to be allowed
to go into town. '
Notwithstanding the most rigid prohibition,
I met at every corner, and saw in every shop,
some of our officers, and even privates; and
here, for the first time, I met Lord Burghurst,
attended by a Portuguese priest, whom he
had hired to wait on him con-stantly, as a use-
ful guide and convenient interpreter.
On this occasion my first object was to pro-
cure some kind of additional covering, and I
had the extraordinary luck to secure ifthe last
ready-made cloak for sale in the town; for
everything was with avidity purchased, so that
in less than two hours every article of pro-
vision, or of clothing, without exception, had
been ‘seized, and paid for at the price de-
inanded. I’
MY MILITARY LIFE. .287
I shall never forget the delight, amounting
to a sort of pride, which I experienced on
finding myself the proprietor of this notorious
brown cloth cloak; and no one can duly ap-
preciate the value of such an article, who has
not experienced the suffering of lying in the
open air, no matter how bleak the situation,
during every change of wind, and alteration in
the dryness or moisture of the atmosphere, in
the rain or in the dew, without any kind of
covering, excepting such as officers usually
have on, during the summer season, in a warm
climate.
My anticipation of the comfort I had now
secured was so delightful in imagination, that
I almost wished night would immediately
commence, in order that I might have the
inconceivable‘ comfort of lying down well rolled
up in my famously thick and long- cloak, with-
out feeling the dew from above, or the damp
' ground underneath met
Genera-l Fane here invited me to dine with
him ; and as there was not a drop of wine in the
canteens, Schwalbach was furnished with the
necessary authority in writing, for passing the
288 RECOLLECTIONS or '
advanced guard on the bridge, and also with
money for the purchase of wine.
The dinner had been ready during some
time, but our purveyor was not in sight. I
was sitting on the brow of the hill by the side
of a windmill on‘ the left of the road, as it
enters the valley from the North, and with
my telescope straining my sight to catch the
first glimpse of friend Schwalbach on his
return, when, after puzzling my head to find
out the cause of his long delay, I, at length,
caught sight of something advancing like a ‘
rifleman; but he had, as I then thought, a
large Chinese hat on his head, instead of his
military cap.
“ This fellow,” thought I, “ greatly resem-
bles Schwalbach in all matters excepting the
strange covering of his head.” _
I called the General to look at him, who
was equally unable to make out the cause of
so novel a head-dress ; Bringhurst and Mac
Lean were as much perplexed, and we all con-
tinued to. keep this man in sight until he
actually came so near as to be sure he was in
reality friend Schwalbach, who, instead of
MY MILITARY ‘LIFE. 289
being the bearer of a keg, a stone bottle, a jar,
. a pot, a pitcher, or a basket of bottles, had on
his head a brown earthenware deep dish, a
yard wide or more, and, of course, only about
half-full. -
We were ‘greatly diverted,‘ and laughed most
heartily as Schwalbach deposited on the ground
' this immense dish, whilst he was perspiring '
most violently, and declaring that he had never
in his life been so fatigued by carrying any
weight. He said, that to keep the dish level
on his head and the wine from splashing out,
had strained his movements so much, that no,-
thing could equal it. The wine was most ex- '
oellent, in our estimation, and we drank to the
health of the rifleman.
By the arrival of Fletcher I had lost the
benefit of the marquee shelter, and was again
reduced to the open-air system. Conse-
'quently, during the daylight, I had kept a
look-out for the‘ best night quarters; and
having espied a handsome church near the
advanced post on the bridge, General Fane,
his staff; and myself, resolved on taking pois-
session of the portico, which. in form somewhat
WM 11. u
290 RECOLLECTIONS or
' resembled that of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields,
in London, but of far less beauty.
In lying down, we agreed that the situation
appeared to be so well ventilated, that it was
quite unnecessary to leave any spaces betwixt
us for that purpose, but that the close contact
of our persons would procure us a few degrees
of additional warmth, for the night air was‘
very cold.
During the night the wind was strong from
the South-West, with occasional showers; and
as our portico faced towards the West, the
elevated roof so far above our heads did not
save us from a single drop of rain; we, there-
fore, came to the conclusion that it would not
be difficult to find a more convenient situation
on the following night; should the army not
advance.
We all worked very industriously in making
a good sketch of this position, for we remained
on the ground at Torres-Vedras during three
days. '
After the first day we had free access to the
town, when I availed myself of the opportunity
to‘ procure two or three Portuguese books,’ in
MY MILITARY LIFE. 291
order that I might attempt to make‘ some pro-
gress in that language.
With this occupation, and my daily rambles
in “ 86(17‘0/6 of tire picturesque,” to supply matter
for the sketch-book, my time was profitably
and agreeably employed. '
I know not how it happened, but on the
second day after our arrival near Torres-Vedras,
I‘ obtained a bell tent, which I pitched on the
hill on the right-hand or Western side of the
deéouc/zé of the pass, as it enters into the plain
or valley; and having employed my ser-
vants in forming my favourite pine-top bed,
I slept each night, wrapped up in my cloak
of luxury, from the moment when I lay
down, until roused by the bugle for morning
parade.
The French army having retreated towards
Lisbon, we advanced to the same extent, and
after passing through the town of Torres
Vedras, we followed a road leading off towards
the left, and along the greater part of the way
the paved road was good; and passing under
an aqueduct, where rich gardens with vine-
yards extend on both sides, we, at length,
U 2
292 RECOLLECTIONS or
began to ascend into a less cultivated country,
and ultimately arrived on some very elevated
ground called Monte-de-Agraca, where the
division of the army I was with halted. _
In conformity with my constant practice,
as soon as the position of the troops had been
arranged I lost no time in reconnoitring the
same and surrounding country; and in so
doing on this occasion, I instantly discovered
that our advanced sentinels were separated
from those of the French by a very- narrow
and unimportant rivulet, I believe‘ named
“The Zizandra.”
Here, on following the line of demarcation
betwixt the two armies, I had frequent occa-
sion to ‘notice the very'curious dialogues which
were passing between the sentinels of the
contending armies; and one in particular,
which made a deeper impression on my me-
mory, may be sufficiently illustrative of the
general run of those exchanges of compliments
which were incessantly occurring. -
On my turning a sharp bend in this gutter,
for it deserved no better name, I heard some
words in French, and some in English, which
MY MILITARY LIFE. 293
induced me to halt whilst unobserved by the
parties, although within a few yards of them,
when I caught the following very interesting
conversation :
“I say, mounseer, how do you do? parlé
vou frame? I. say, how is master Nap P”
Of all this the Frenchman did not under-
stand one word, but he quickly replied:
“ Que dis tn, men more’ godanz? coméz'en te
donne-ton par jam" ?”
“ VVhat’s that you say, you hungry frog P”
“ A/z, you f--- be’te /” half turning his back
upon Johnny. ,
“Where’s your rod and hook, what’s the
use of bait without?” '
“Allons, Monsieur Jo/zn Bull, Fens-tn nne
mic/re ?” throwing to our friend across the
ditch a large piece of bread, for which he had
been rummaging in his haversack during se-
veral minutes, and when he had drawn it
forth, I observed a small-toothed comb was
half-buried into the corner, but which the
Frenchman had immediately withdrawn, and
had carelessly thrown back into his haversack.
John Bull could not be out-done in liberality
294 RECOLLECTIONS or
by mounseer, so down he stepped into the
ditch, holding up his canteen, and calling out
to the Frenchman : I
“I say, come here, you’re a good fellow;
come down here, and take a drop of rum to
old Georgy’s health.” ‘
The Frenchman could not mistake J ohnny’s
meaning, so down he went, and carefully
drawing apart a pair of moustachios h'alf-a-yard
long, and wiping his mouth on the sleeve of
his coat, beginning at the elbow and termi-
nating with the tips of his fingers, he bowed
gracefully, and, touchinghis cap, applied the
canteen to his sucker, taking in a good swig
of John’s rum, which _to a Frenchman is
always a treat, but at that time was an article of
the highest luxury. The Frenchman, smack--
ing his lips, and unable to mark his gratitude
in any other way, threw both his arms round
John Bull’s neck, and began kissing him with
all the affection he would have shown to his
own father.
John, at this, started back, tearing himself
from the Frenchman’s embrace; and, full of
rage, he exclaimed, “Do you take me for a
MY MILITARY LIFE. 295
girl, or what sort of pranks would you be
after?” and as he extricated his neck from the
tight hold of his friend, fetched him a dry wipe
across the face with the back of his hand,
which well nigh floored him. By this time I
had crept up close to these gentlemen, and
perceiving that some very serious consequences
were likely to result from this total ignorance
of each other’s intentions, I interposed, and
being master of the French language, I sue-
ceeded in satisfying both parties that there did
not exist the slightest cause for carrying this
affair any further. The Frenchman was by
far the most difficult to appease, and repeat-
edly exclaimed, “ U22 sozgflet 126 cc pardoyzrze
pas.” He had received a slap on. the face, an
insult too gross to be easily repaired; he had
therefore already drawn his ‘sabre, and was
vehemently and loudly calling on Johnny for
that satisfaction which one gentleman has a
right to demand of another.
From this bleak position I was unable to
find any landscape worthy of being sketched.
The views ‘over the surrounding country are
very extensive, but far from picturesque: there .
296 RECOLLE(."I‘IONS or
being no trees, nor even much brush-wood,
we suffered greatly through the scarcity of
fuel and the total absence'of shelter, for the
night, on that elevated spot, was severely‘cold ;
and although the small rivulet in ourfront
supplied us and our horses with water, yet
it was neither clear nor abundant. It was
therefore without regret that, after morning
parade, I observed the troops march off and
follow the high road towards Lisbon.
Accordingly, having descended from our
elevated position, and passing on our left the
small town of Bucellas, surrounded by the
vineyards producing the wine named after it,
we entered the grand and justly celebrated
pass which extends from Bucellas to the open
country on the south side of the considerable
range of mountains that commence at the sea
near Mafra, and continue Eastward without
any break or opening until they arrive at this
pass. The length of this defile is about four
miles, and led to the open country, where we
soon halted at a place called San Antonio de
Tojal. - '
Being with Fane at the head of the advanced
MY MILITARY LIFE. 297
corps, or light brigade, immediately on arriving
at the southern extremity of the pass, I went
off the road and placed myself in a position
whence I could see about one and a half to two
miles of the road through the pass.
The advance of the army along a winding,
but nearlylevel road, carefully formed on the
side of a very steep range of mountains, and
which descended below into a rivulet rushing
_ through a confined gully, at a great depth,
produced a very imposing effect; ‘whilst the
numerous bands of music playing lively tunes,
the colours waving in the breeze, and the
prancing of gaily caparisoned horses composing
the staff at the head of each brigade, presented
a conpcl’hn'l highly interesting, and far beyond
my powers of description.
On d'ebouching from the pass, the troops
spread out to the right and left, and were im-
mediately ordered to halt, and form their re-
spective bivouacs.
Here I. received a marquee, and being only
about nine miles from the capital, we procured
many comforts and better provision than had
been hitherto attainable.
298 RECOLLECTIONS or
a?
I should perhaps have mentioned before
now, that on advancing from Torres Vedras,
whence there are three distinct roadsuleading
to Lisbon, we had followed the one which
passes to the Eastward of the others.
In saying we, I mean the troops that had
gained the battles of this campaign; and al-
though during the morning of the 21st of
August, and following days, five or six officers,
all senior to Sir Arthur W ellesley, had joined
the army, without, however, bringing with
them such reinforcements as might have pro-
vided each of them With-ft division, in an.
sideration of Sir Arthur’s achievements, the
troops he had from the commencement led on
to victory, or the greater part of them, were
left together as Sir Arthur’s division.
The other troops, which had subsequently
joined, had, some of them, marchedupon Lis-
bon by the central route, passing by the Cabeca
de Monchique, which is the shortest, and the
remainder by the Western line, through‘ Mafra
and Cintra.
Major Fletcher, being now the Commanding
Engineer, had, of course, followed Sir Hew
MY MILITARY LIFE. 299
Dalrymple, the Commander-in-chief, so that
from the period of our advance from Torres
Vedras, I saw but little of him.
On the 2nd of September, a day or two
after our arrival at San Antonio de Tojal, we
were greatly surprised by a" visit from Captain
Elphingstone, who informed us that he was come
from Lisbon to take leave of us, prior to his
departure for England. He dined with us,
and it caused a general astonishment on per-
ceiving that his wound was externally quite
cured, and that he was enabled to take his
dinner without perceptible inconvenience.
A mark on his chin,- rather on the left side,
was visible, and resembled that which might
- have been made by pressure from a thimble.
The skin was not ‘only quite healed, but he
had shaved over it, although Elphingstone’s
heard was one of the thickest and blackest
that could be found. He informed us, that
he had been shot whilst in the middle of the
ploughed field at the foot of the ravine by
which the 29th Regiment had stormed the
heights of Columbeira (on the 17th of August),
and was, as already told, at ‘the time looking
i
300 RECOLLECTIONS or
at the enemy through his telescope. The
shock, Elphingstone stated, was so violent, that
his arms flew out in a straight direction from
his body as he fell to the ground from his little
mule, and whence he was raised by Lieutenant
Mulcaster, whom he had received from me as
Adjutant.
Although the wound was doing so well
that Elphingstone could eat with facility, the
bone, although united, was not perfectly cured,
and it was evident that a contraction of the
lower jaw was taking place, in consequence of
the vacancy caused by the ball in carrying
away a piece of the bone with the three teeth
mentioned on a former occasion, and which
Elphingstone believed he had swallowed. Se-
veral years after this, Elphingstone, whom I
had not seen since the day in question, in-
formed me, that during his passage to England,
whilst very sea-sick, he had brought up the
said three teeth fastened together by the piece
of jawbone, and which he showed me at Graves‘
end, in 1815, mounted in gold, and forming a
brooch. Thus the teeth must have remained
MY MILITARY LIFE. 301
in Elphingstone’s stomach during three weeks,
at least.
Having remained several days at San Anto-
nio de Tojal, in constant expectation of moving
nearer to Lisbon, or into some of the forts‘ in
the vicinity of the capital, we began to grum-
ble very much, and considered ourselves very
v‘ill-treated in being thus left in the open air,
for very few of the officers were as yet under
canvas; and this treatment we regarded as
especially pointed at our division, since we
understood that the others were all in good
quarters, even those just arrived from Madeira
under Major-General Beresford.
A few days after our arrival at this place,
having taken an early breakfast, I mounted
my horse without any premeditated plan, but
merelywith a view of taking a ride on the
road leading towards Lisboa. I had not pro-
ceeded far, when I overtook Captain R. Lawson,
.of the Royal Artillery; and he also had no
fixed object in mind. _
After proceeding some distance, conversing
on ‘the chances we might have of being
marched off into Spain without being first
~..~ - ‘ -J ._-.. '
302 RECOLLECTIONS or
removed into Lisboa ; it occurred to us that
we should not be incurring much risk were
we to ride on at once into the city, a place I
had ever most ardently desired to see; and
upon inquiring of a Portuguese gentleman
whom we met, and who fortunately understood
the French language, how far we then were
from town, he replied that half an hour would
take us there. ~“ Not more than half an hour!”
we both simultaneously exclaimed. This dis-
covery settled the affair. “In half an hour I”
said I to myself; “I am determined not to
postpone to another day the gratification of a
desire of such long standing.”
Lawson also had never been at Lisboa, and
as he offered no objection, off we started at
a full trot, and almost immediately entered
the suburbs. Onwards we went steering by
the sun, as nearly as we were able,‘ to the
Southward, which we knew must lead us to
the Tagus.
This was,of necessity, our only guide, for
at this time we both spoke the Portuguese
language so imperfectly, that we could neither
have inquired our way, nor could we have
MY MILITARY LIFE. 303
. f -
understood an answer; and moreover, a far
_ more important difficulty existed in our being
totally unacquainted with the name of any
particular spot or place in the city. Our ob-
ject at that moment was confined to a ride
through the principal streets. 4 At first we
totally failed, by keeping too much to the left,
by which we became bewildered amongst the
most wretched streets in Lisboa, extremely
narrow and crooked, and half leg deep in the
filthiest dirt for which that city is so cele-
brated. However, after many ups and downs
along the steepest streets I ever saw frequented
by horses, our reiconnoissance was attended with
better success; for by degrees we worked our
way to the Praca-do-Comercio, and there, by
inquiring of the French troops closely en-
camped and covering the immense square, we
arrived at the American hotel, a dirty place
enough, ' on the Caes-de-Sudré, the principal
landing-place, but very pleasantly situated,
overlooking the Tagus and its crowds of
shipping.
304 RECOLLECTIONS or
CHAPTER XVII.
At the American hotel we meet other oflicers—We visit
‘ a cofl’ee-house—French ofiicers astonished at our ap-
- pearance—We drink punch together—In attempting
to go back to the hotel, we lose our way—Sleep on a
_ stone seat in front of the hotel and return to camp-f- -
Lieutenant Wells, Royal Engineers, returns to us;
his account of being made prisoner—The Duke of
Abrantes gives a grand breakfast— Sir Arthur gives
Junot a sharp cut—The General Officers subscribe for
a piece of plate to be presented. toSir Arthur; and
the Field Oflicers do the same.
Wn had been so long in finding our way,
that on reaching the hotel it was nearly two
o’clock, and on inquiring if we could have
_- some dinner prepared, the waiter informed us
there was an ordinary about to be served up,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 30?)’
stairs, and that we ‘should there meet with
several English officers. _
The information was most agreeable, for it
exactly fitted the sharpened state of appetite
which six hours’ riding had not failed to ex-
cite; we, therefore, hastened to the dining-
room, and soon joined Major Chichester Mc
Donald, of the 82nd Regiment, and Major
‘Henry Gomm, of the 6th Regiment.
I never enjoyed a dinner so much in my
life. I had not had anything in the shape or
form of a regular ‘dinner since I had embarked
at Gibraltar, on the 12th of May, nearly four
months before ; the fish, the vegetables,_fruits
and wines, were all, I thought, by far the best
I had ever tasted. -
After taking a moderate quantity of port
wine, which I thought very superior in quality
to any I had ever imbibed, we all sallied out
together, without, I believe, any premeditated
plan of operation. Having crossed diagonally
the small square called the Caes-de-Sudré,
and being about to turn the corner, which
would have taken us along the street Do-Ar-
zenal, we observed that the corner house was
voL. II. ' x
306 RECOLLECTIONS or
a coffee and ice house, and on looking into the
windows it appeared to be well filled with
French officers. “ Let us go in,” said one of
us ; “ With all my heart,” replied each of the
others ; and we found ourselves in the midst
of those very men whom but two to three
weeks before, we were fighting on the plains
of Vimieiro. '
Our appearance in the room, as may be;
well imagined, created a general sensation;
all eyes were directed upon us full of inquiry ;
the most perfect silence prevailed. Withas
much nonchalance as I could master, I called
out garcon, in as good French and as com-
pletely divested of foreign accent as if I were
a native, and which excited the strongest
symptoms of surprise on every countenance.
The waiter came as required, and I ordered
an 60Z de-ponc/ze-auw-dz'aélé. “ llforoleu !” cried
one; “ Sacré-nom-d’unyueuwl” exclaimed
another; “ Foutrrrrrr!” vociferated a third;
and thus, every one to his own liking, ex-
pressed the degree of astonishment he felt, by
some of those very common words, which, in
reality, mean nothing, but which were inces-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 307
santly current in the mouths of French gre-
nadiers. A
In an instant after we had been supplied
with the punch, one of the French officers, a
Voltigeur, quitted his seat very majestically,
and came up to us, touching his cap in a
soldier-like manner without bending his body,’
which we thought more soldier-like than offi-
cer-like, and addressed us in French; when
having expressed in a very blunt and stiff
manner the great satisfaction he felt at seeing
us amongst them, and in which he feltassured
every one of his brother officers then present
participated, he anxiously inquired if I were
not a native of France, adding at once that
he supposed I might be one of the unfortunate
individuals who had emigrated, in consequence
of the great revolution, which had commenced
about the year 17 90 ; and I believe, that
notwithstanding my most earnest protestations
to the contrary, he retained some doubt as to
the fact.
The example of this Light Infantry man
was immediately followed by a Captain of
Grenadiers, and then by several others, so that
x 2
308 RECOLLECTIONS or
each of them having taken a glass of punch,
our bowl was emptied in a moment; but, as
these fellows were no spoonies, they ordered
the next‘ bowl, and in this way turn-about
punch was ordered and disposed of, until we
had all taken as much as we could ‘conve-
niently carry away. .
After recounting innumerable anecdotes of
the most incredible escapes which they had all
experienced in the late battles with us, and
particularly adverting to the machines-era
females, a name they applied to the Shrap-
nells, or Spherical case, then a complete no-
velty ; we contrived to separate and take leave
of each other, each of us fully intending to
tumble into bed with the least possible delay.
However, on sallying into the street from a
room containing an atmosphere so impregnated
with the fumes of spirits, that I am almost
surprised we did not all blow up like the ex-
plosions so fatal in col'lieries, we turned to the
right instead of turning to the left ; a mistake
not very difficult to be understood, nor very
uncommon, considering that we had found
the port wine so good at dinner, and the punch
MY MILITARY LIFE. 309
so much better when drinking to the healths
of George the Third, Napoleon, Sir Arthur
Wellesley, the Duke of Abrantes, and to all
the French and English Field-Marshals.
We thus followed the Rua-do-Arsenal, which
very soon brought us to the grand square called
Praca-do-Commercio, (the south side of which
is bounded by the Tagus, and which was com-
pletely covered with French soldiers en-(iz'vonac,
and round which sentinels were planted at
every four or five yards. Here we were
challenged by every one of these- sentinels ‘as
we passed along towards the Rua-Aurea, and
the qua-vines were so incessant, that we went
on constantly calling out Oficz'er-Anylaz's, with-
out keeping a very strict account, so as to be
sure that our answers were as numerous, and
not more so than the interrogations of the
sentinels.
Major McDonald and Lawson having left us,
Gomm (brother of Sir William) and myself ram-
bled about during some time, unable to find our
way to the American hotel, when, to our aston-
ishment,we met some of the same French officers
from whom we had separated at the coffee-house
310 RECOLLECTIONS or
door; and having acquainted them with. our‘
dilemma, they very obligingly reconducted us
back to the door of our hotel, although we had
wandered from the place a mile at least ; and on
their wishing us a good night, recommended
that we should force an entrance, unless the
door were instantly opened.
The night was far advanced, the door was
shut and barricaded for the night, and all our
efforts to gain admittance having failed, we sat
down on some stone seats nearly opposite the
house, and thus slumbered away the remainder
of the night. _
By about six o’clock, to our great satisfaction,
we were perfectly recovered from the over-
powering effects of the punch, and rejoiced ex-
ceedingly at perceiving the windows of the
American hotel reopening one after the other,
and at length the door also was lazily thrown
back.
We now swallowed a hearty breakfast, as
hungry as wolves, when Lawson and myself
mounted our horses, andgby nine o’clock had
returned to San-Antonio-de-Tojal.
One of the first effects of the convention of
MY MILITARY LIFE. 311
Cintra, which had just been concluded, was to
set at liberty all the officers and soldiers who
had been made prisoners by the French during
that campaign. It was, therefore, through this
event that in the course of an hour after we
had returned to Tojal, we were agreeably sur-
prised by a visit from Lieutenant Wells, of
the Royal Engineers, who had been made a
prisoner on the 21st of August. ‘
Wells was mounted on a good horse, which
I believe he had purchased from one of J unot’s
Aides-de-camp, and in the course of the day
he passedat Tojal, he gave us the most interest-
' ing account of his capture and consequences.
He stated that during the battle of Vimieiro,
Major-General Acland, observing some forward
movement made by the Portuguese Cavalry,
which he considered to be too much in advance,
he directed him (Wells) to order them to fall
back ; upon this, Wells, whose sight was not
very good, inquired of the !’General in what di-
rectionlhe should find the Portuguese Cavalry,
and was informed, in reply, they were not with-
in view from the spot they were on, yet he
would find them just beyond some rising ground
312 RECOLLEC'I‘IONS or‘
close by, and to which‘ the General pointed.
Wells accordingly started off on his pony, by
'no means a first-rate steed; and having no
saddle, he had been obliged to content himself
with a pad or pack-saddle, without stirrups,
and thus proceeded in search of the Portuguese
Cavalry, with as little delay as the above-named
circumstances would permit. He ascended
and descended, not only the first rising ground,
beyond which he was instructed the object of
his research would be found, but he went on
over one or two more pieces of ground much
resembling the first, when at length he espied
a body of Cavalry. Before starting he had
not been informed of any of the details of the
style, colours, or general appearance of the
Portuguese, and as those now before him were
decidedly not English, they necessarily were
the Portuguese, and as they had been repre-
sented as advancing, and that by far too for-
ward, Wells could i‘not be surprised at having
found them at such a distance in advance be-'
fore he could deliver General Acland’s orders.
. In order to waste not a moment, he pressed
on his pony, and riding straight up to the officer
MY MILITARY LIFE. 313
commanding the Cavalry, in the best French
language he could collect, for he was totally '
ignorant of the Portuguese, he delivered a faith-
ful translation of ‘the order. The Cavalry
oflicer, who had advanced a few yards to receive
this communication, a piece of courtesy Wells
could not fail to appreciate, replied by “,olaz't-
z'Z,” and “ Que dites nous, Monsieur .? Le Ge’-
ne'ml demand sz' nous uoulons nous rendre ,-”
which he pronounced in very good French, but
with an air of extreme surprise.
Upon which, Wells repeated the order very
gravely, and said, “ Le Ge'ne'ml nous ordonne de
nous retires", Monsieur.”
“ What General?” - exclaimed the Cavalry
officer.
“ General Acland, sir.”
“ But to whom was that order addressed P”
was quickly demanded.
“ To the Portuguese Cavalry,” Wells as
promptly replied. ' I
“ Jfafoz's, uoz'ld Que esz‘lolaz'sant,” laughing
most heartily, the officer said, and taking Wells
by the arm; “come along then, you are my
prisoner.”
314 RECOLLECTIONS or
It is not difficult to understand that the
' Cavalry to whom Wells had delivered the order
were the French. On this, one of the soldiers
rushed at Wells and snatched away his sword.
Thus made a prisoner, Wells was sent off to
J unot, who desired that he should be conducted
to the rear, where he would find many of his
camarades. Upon this, Wells grumbled, and
manifested some disapprobation, which J unot
observed, and inquired what he might have to
complain of ; when Lieutenant Wells explained
he had seen the commencement of the battle,
and thought it very vexatious he should not
see the end of it. Junot was pleased at the
gallant feeling so oddly displayed, and address-
ing Wells, said, “ Well, sir, give me your word
of honour you will not leave me, nor attempt
_to escape, and you may remain with me.” '
The pledge was gladly given, and Wells re-
mained with the French Commander-in-Chief,
I and thus obtained the summit of his wishes.
The French army having returned to Lisbon,
whither our friend Wells had also been re-
moved, the Duke of Abrantes took much notice
of him, and invited him to his table, when on
‘MY MILITARY LIFE. 315
one occasion, Wells asked Junot why he had
attacked the English army at Vimieiro? The
question might as well have been omitted,
since Junot had experienced a signal defeat on
that occasion; yet, without manifesting any
offence at being thus placed on his defence by
so young an officer, he replied, “ 0’ eat, man
c/eer, parccquc j’az'me mz'eum dormer Z’assauzf Que
a’t’é'z‘re attaqué.” Thus very adroitly towards
himself, and in a very kind way towards Wells,
getting rid of a question difficult to be other-
wise dealt with.
In the course of a few days after our arrival
at San-Antonio-de-Tojal, I had the honour of
dining with Sir Arthur Wellesley for the first
time, and I thought his quarters very good.
All I remember of this event is, that the party
was small, that Sir Arthur wore an air of good
spirits, was entertaining, talked freely with
every one, asked me to drink wine with him
in a familiar manner, and that I passed a very
agreeable afternoon.
Just about the same time the Duke of
Abrantes gave a grand public breakfast at
Lisbon, to. which the generals and officers
316 RECOLLEOTIONS or
of their respective staffs were invited, and at
which I was present, General Spencer taking
me with him as attached to his staff.
In the course of the conversation that passed
betwixt Sir Arthur Wellesley and the French
Commander-imChief during the breakfast in
question, the Duke of Ahrantes observed to
Sir Arthur, that on the 21st he had nar-
rowly escaped being made a prisoner by one
of our Dragoons who had closely pursued
him, and upon which he had said that he
would have been a grand prize to the man,
for he was well worth one thousand guineas
on that occasion.
Junot then went on relating that his orders
were all set in brilliants, his sword and pistols
mounted in gold, and of great value; an
elegant gold repeater set round with jewels;
rich gold chain, seals, and precious stones;
gold snuff box with vbrilliants; his epau-
lettes, gold spurs, saddle, bridle, saddle cloth,
housings, all laced and embroidered; and, in
short, his purse, his sash, his horse, &c., &c.,
these were worth, at least, one thousand
guineas ; and then proceeded with consider-
MY MILITARY LIFE. 317
able self-satisfaction, and raising his voice :
“ 111a fot', Sire Arzfa're, (Sir Arthur), jc uaZaz's
Men nn'lle guine'cs, ce jour Zd, car j’e’toz's en mon
plus-beau! jour de dutaz'lle stunt ToUJoURs ;”
but hastily checking his bombast, went on,
“ User.‘ 43 dare, ordz'naz'rement jour de fé'zfe,”
dropping his voice. '
Upon which Sir Arthur, who had not altered
a single muscle of his face whilst he attended
to J unot’s vanity, replied, or rather cut in with,
“ Ouz', quelque foz's,” preserving the utmost
gravity, without looking to the right or left.
Soon after this event, the superseding of
Sir Arthur Wellesley in the chief command of
the British army then in Portugal, had pro- ,
duced a strong feeling of regret and disappro-
bation; he was regarded by those who had
served under his command from the commence-
ment of the campaign as having been shame-
fully treated. .
The high respect, publicly and privately,
entertained towards his Excellency had now
beenroused, and was immediately manifested
by a subscription amongst the field officers
and officers commanding corps, to collect a
318 RECOLLECTIONS or-
sufficient fund for presenting a piece of plate
to Sir Arthur Wellesley, as a testimony of
that sincere esteem and high respect with
which his talents and conduct had so justly
inspired them.
The whole of the preliminary arrangements
for carrying into effect this determination had
been completed without my knowledge, which
I attributed to no want of proper feeling
towards me personally, but simply because I
was not at that time a field officer; and it was
not before I had fully explained my right, as
having commanded the corps of Royal En-
gineers during a great portion of the battle of
Rolica, and during the whole of the battle of
Vimieiro, that I was permitted to participate
in the honour of subscribing my quota.
Colonel Kemis, commanding the 40th Regi-
ment, as the SeniorField Officer with Sir Arthur
Wellesley’s army, was charged with conveying
to His Excellency a respectful address fromthe
individuals above alluded to, and which was
carried into efl‘ect about the 18th of Septem-
ber.
The general officers who, in like manner,
MY MILITARY LIFE. 319.
had served during the campaign, also presented
a piece of plate to the late Commander-in-
Chief, but I have never had an opportunity of
seeing either of these-testimonials: they were
necessarily on a small scale, but were as ele-
gant and as well designed as the limited
funds could procure.
From this period the troops that had served
under Sir Arthur Wellesley, in the various
engagements we had had with the enemy,
were kept in the open fields very scantily sup-
plied with tents, and at the distance of nine
to twelve miles on the north side of Lisbon,
whilst all the newly-arrived reinforcements
were, on landing, comfortably quartered in
Lisbon and its dependencies. This partiality
excited some strong feelings of dissatisfaction,
and I believe that the greater portion, if not
the whole of the former, were marched off into
Spain from their encampments and bivouacs,
extending from San Antonio de Tojal to Cintra,
without having been marched into Lisbon.
Here properly ends the first campaign of
the Peninsular War, as regards Portugal. I
shall therefore close this Second Part of my-
RECOLLECTIONS OF MY MILITARY LIFE.
Adventures and Recollections, reserving the
many highly and interesting events connected
with the embarcation of Junot’s army and
sequel for the commencement of the Third
Part, which I shall endeavour to prepare with-
out delay.
THE END.


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Now in course of publication, commencing the let March,
to be completed in Seven Monthly Volumes, small 82:0, EMBELLISHED WITH
PORTRAITS, price only 3s. each, elegantly bound,
DIARY AND LETTERS
MADAME D’ARBLAY,
AUTHOR OF “EVELINA,” “CECILIA,” &c.
INCLUDING THE PERIOD OF
HER RESIDENCE AT THE COURT OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE.
In announcing a new and cheap edition of Madame D’Arb1ay’s
celebrated Diary, the publishers cannot convey a better idea
of the nature of the work, to those who are unacquainted with
it, than by extracting the opening passage of Miss Burney’s
Journal, which was commenced in 1768, and continued, with
but few interruptions, during the greater portion of the writer’s
long and eventful life :—
“ To have some account of my thoughts, actions, and acquaintance, when
the hour arrives when time is more nimble than memory, is the reason which
induces me to keep a J ournal—a Journal in which I must confess my every
thought—must open my whole heart.”
When we call to mind that the person who formed this resolu-
tion, and adhered to it during the most important period of her
brilliant career, was one of the most remarkable and justly cele-
brated women, not merely of her own, but of any time or country
-—that her family position, no less than her celebrity, commanded
for her an intimate intercourse with all who were illustrious in
English Literature and Art during their most illustrious era,
and that the results of such resolution are here given to the
world precisely as they left the hand of their writer (the omis-
sions required by personal and family considerations being alone
excepted), the interest this work must excite, can scarcely be
increased; yet it ought to be stated, that, shortly after the
publication of her second work, “ Cncrnm,” she was spon-
taneously ofi‘ered by Queen Charlotte a situation about her
Majesty’s person, which brought her into daily intercourse with
every individual forming the Court of George 111. During




MISS BURNEY’S DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE,

this remarkable period of her life, Miss Burney never omitted
to note in her Journal such events and conversations of the
past day as she deemed worthy of record, and might be given
without any violation of confidence; and these sketches of the
Court of George III. during the important era in question form
part of the work now announced.
The CORRESPONDENCE, whichtakes its place chronologically
with the DIARY, includes, besides a large number of Madame
D’Arblay’s own Letters, a selection from those addressed to her
by the various distinguished literary and other persons with
whom she was intimate.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
EDINBURGH REVIEW.
“Madame D’Arblay lived to be a classic. Time set on her fame, before
she went hence, that seal which is seldom set except on the fame of the de-
parted. All those whom we have been accustomed to revere as intellectual
patriarchs seemed children when compared with her; for Burke had sat up
all night to read her writings, and Johnson had pronounced her superiorto
Fielding, when Rogers was still a schoolboy, and Southey still in petticoats...
Her Diary is written in her’earliest and best manner; in true woman’s Eng-
lish, clear, natural, and lively. It ought to be consulted by every person who
wishes to be well acquainted with the history of our literature and our
manners.”
TIMEs.
“Miss Burney’s work ought to be placed beside Boswell’s ‘Life,’ to_ which
it forms an excellent supplement.”
LITERARY GAZETTE.
“This publication will take its place in the libraries beside Walpole and
Boswell.”
NAVAL AND MILITARY GAZETTE.
“ A work unequalled in literary and social value by anything else of a similar
kind in the language.”
MESSENGER.
“This work may be considered a kind of supplement to Boswell’s Life of
Johnson, It is a beautiful picture of society as it existed in manners, taste,
and literature, in the reign of George the Third, drawn by a pencil as vivid
and brilliant as that of any of the celebrated persons who composed the circle.”
POST.
“Miss Burney’s Diary, s arkling with wit, teeming with lively anecdote
and delectable gossip, and ull of sound and discreet views of persons and
things, will be perused with interest by all classes of readers.”



'1 CHEAP EDITION OF THE LIVES OF THE QUEENS.
fNo‘w incourse-of Publication, in Eight Zlfonthly Volumes, post octavo
(comprising from» 600 to 700 pages each), commencing the lst
January, 1854, Price only 7s. 6d. per Volume, elegantly bound,
LIVES
OF THE
QUEENS OF ENGLAND.
BY AGNES STRIOKLAND.


Errisatzhfip Express ihzrmissiun to benjfiltajestp.
EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS OF EVERY QUEEN,
BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED FROM THEMOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES.
IN announcing a cheap Edition of this important and inte-
resting work, which has been considered unique in biographical
liter-ature,-.the publishers again-beg to direct attention to the.-
following‘ extract from the; author’s preface :—-“A revised
edition of the ‘Lives of the Queens of England, embodying.
the important collections which have been brought to light
since the appearance of earlier impressions, is now ofl‘ered to
the world, embellished with Portraitsof every Queen, from
authentic and properly verified sources. The series, com-
mencing with the consort of William the Conqueror, occupies
that most interesting and important period of our national chro-
nology, from thedeath of the last monarch of the Anglo~Saxon
line, Edward the Confessor, to the demise of the 'last sovereign
of the royal house of ‘Stuart, Queen Anne, and comprises therein
thirty queens who have Worn the crown-matrimonial, and four
the. regal .di-adem of this realm. We have related the. parentage
of every queen, described her education, traced the influence
of family connexions and national habits on her conduct, both
public and private, and given a concise outline of thedomestic,
as well as the general history of her times, and its effects on
her character, and we have done so with singleness of heart,
unbi-assed by selfish interests or narrow views. Such as the .
were in life we have endeavoured to portray them, both in





good and ill, without regard to any other considerations than
the development of the facts. Their sayings, their doings, their
manners, their costume, will be found faithfully chronicled in
this work, which also includes the most interesting of their
letters. The hope that the ‘ Lives of the Queens of England’
might be regarded as a national work, honourable to the
female character, and generally useful to society, has encou-
raged us to the completion of the task.”
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
FROM THE TIMES.
“These volumes have the fascination of romance united to the integrity of
history. The work is written by a lady of considerable learning, indefatigable
industry, and careful judgment. All these qualifications for a biographer and
an historian she has brought to bear upon the subject of her volumes, and from
them has resulted a narrative interest-ing to all, and more particularly interest-
ing to that portion of the community to whom the more refined researches of
literature afford leasure and instruction. The whole work should be read,
and no doubt will e read, by all who are anxious for information. It is a lucid
arrangement of facts, derived from authentic sources, exhibiting a combination
of industry, learning, judgment, and impartiality, not often met with in bio-
graphers of crowned heads.”
MORNING HERALD.
“ A remarkable and truly great historical work. In this series of biographies,
in which the severe truth of history takes almost the wildness of romance, it is
the singular merit of Miss Strickland that her research has enabled her to throw
new light on many doubtful passages, to bring forth fresh facts, and to render
every portion of our annals which she has described an interesting and valuable
study. She has given a most valuable contribution to the history of England,
and we have no hesitation in afiirming that no one can be said to possessan
accurate knowledge of the history of t e country who has not studied this truly
national work, which, in this new edition, has received all the aids that further
research on the part of the author, and of embellishment on the part of the pub-
lishers, could tend to make it still more valuable, and still more attractive, than
it had been in its original form.”
MORNING onnonrcnn.
“ A most valuable and entertaining work. There is certainly no lady of our
day who has devoted her pen to so beneficial a purpose as Miss Strickland. Nor
is there any other whose works possess a deeper or more enduring interest.”
MORNING ros'r.
“ We must pronounce Miss Strickland beyond all comparison the most en-
tertaining historian in the English language. She is certainly a woman of power-
ful and active mind, as well as of scrupulous justice and honesty of purpose.”
QUARTERLY REVIEW.
“ Miss Strickland has made a very judicious use of many authentic MS. au-
thorities not previously collected, and the result is a most interesting addition
to our biographicallibrary.”
ATHENBUM.
“ A valuable contribution to historical knowledge. It contains a mass of every
kind of historical matter of interest, which industry and research could collect
We have derived much entertainment and instruction from the work.”




NEW LIBRARY EDITION, WITH PORTRAITS, or
PEPYS’ DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE.

Now ready, elegantly printed, in Four Volumes, demy octave, a new
and improved Library Edition, including all the late important BIS.
Additions, and *zqnuards of Two Hundred additional Notes, and
Letters, Index, §"c., price 108. 6d. per Volume, handsomely bound,
of the
DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
SAMUEL rEPYs RES,
SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRA‘LTY IN THE REIGNS OF CHARLES II.
AND JAMES H.
EDITED BY RICHARD LORD BRAYBROOKE.

The authority of PEPYS, as an historian and illustrator of =
a considerable portion of the seventeenth century, has been
so fully acknowledged by every scholar and critic, that it is
now scarcely necessary even to remind the reader of the ad-
vantages he possessed for producing the most complete and
trustworthy record of events, and the most agreeable picture
of society and manners, to be foiuid in the literature of any
nation. In confidential communication with the reigning
sovereigns, holding high ofiicial employment, placed at the
head of the Scientific and Learned of a period remarkable
for intellectual impulse, mingling in every circle, and ob-
serving everything and everybody whose characteristics were
worth noting down; and possessing, moreover, an intelli-
gence peculiarly fitted for seizing the most graphic points in
whatever he attempted to delineate, Pnrrs may be considered
the most valuable as well as the most entertaining of 01m
National Historians.
A New Library Edition of this work, comprising all the
restored passages and the additional annotations that have
been called for by the vast advances in antiquarian and his-
torical knowledge during the last twenty years, will doubtless
be regarded as one of the most agreeable additions that could
be made to the library of the general reader.


l
i



OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON PEPYS’- DIARY.
FROM THE EDINBURGH REVIEW. ,
“ Withoutmaking any exception ‘in favour of any other‘ production
of ancient or modern diarists, we unhesitatingly characterise this journal
as the most remarkable production of its kind which has ever been
given to the world. Pepys’ Diary makes us comprehend the great
historical events of the age, and the people who bore a part in them,
and gives us more clear glimpses into the true English life of the times
than-all the other memorials of them that have come ‘down to-our own.”
FROM THE QUARTERLY REvIEw.
' “There is much in Pepys’ Diary that throws a ‘distinct and vivid
light over the picture of England and its government during the period
succeeding the Restoration. If, quitting the broad path‘of history, we
look for minute information concerning ancient manners and customs,
the progress of arts and sciences, and the various branches-of antiquity,
we‘ have never seen a mine so rich as these‘ volumes. The variety of
Pepys’ tastes and pursuits led him into almost every department of
life. He was a man of business, a man of information, a man of whim,
and, to a certain degree, a man of pleasure. He was a statesman, a
beZ-esprit, a virtuoso, and a connoisseur. His curiosity made him an
unwearied, as well as an universal, learner, and whatever he saw found
its way into his tablets.”
FROM THE ATHENEUM.
“The best book of its kind in the English language. The new
matter is extremely curious, and occasionally far more characteristic
and entertaining than the old. The writer is seen in a clearer light,
and the reader is taken into his inmost soul. Pepys’ Diary is the ablest
picture of the age in which the writer lived, and a work of standard im-
portance in English literature.”
FROM THE'EXAIIIINER.
“We place a high value on Pepys’ Diary as the richest‘ and most
delightful contribution ever made to the history of English lifeiand
manners in the latter half of the seventeenth century.”
FROM TAIT’S MAGAZINE.
“ We owe Pepys a debt of gratitude for the rare and curious informa-
tion he has bequeathed to us in this most amusing and‘interesting work.
His Diary is valuable, as depicting to us many'of the most important
characters of the times. Its author has bequeathed to us the records of
his heart—the very reflection of his energetic mind; and his quaint but
happy narrative clears up numerous disputed points—throws light into
many of the dark corners of history, and lays bare the hidden substratum
of events which gave birth to, and supported the visible progress of,‘ the _
nation.”
FROM THE MORNING PosT.
“Of all the records that have ever been published, Pepys’ Diary
gives us the most vivid and trustworthy picture of the times, and the
clearest view of the state of English public affairs and of English
society during the reign of Charles II. We see there, as in a map,
the vices of the monarch, the intrigues of the Cabinet, the wanton follies
of the court, and the many calamities to which the nation was subjected
during the memorable period of fire, plague, and general licentiousness.”




CHEAP EDITION OF THE
DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
JOHN EVELYN, RRs.
.Now completed, with Portraits, in Four Volumes, post octavo, price 6s.
each, handsomely bound,
COMPRISING ALL THE IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL NoTEs, LETTERS, AND OTHER
ILLUSTRATIONS LAsT MADE.
“We rejoice to welcome this beautiful and compact edition of Evelyn. It is
intended as a companion to the recent edition of Pepys, and presents similar claims
to interest and notice. Evelyn was greatly above the vast majority of his con-
temporaries, and the Diary which records the incidents in his long life, extending
over the greater part of a century, is deservedly esteemed one of the most inte-
resting‘ books in the language. Evelyn took part in the breaking out of the civil
war against Charles I., and he lived to see William of Orange ascend the throne.
Through the days of Stratford and Land, to those of Sancroft and Ken, he
was the steady friend of moderation and peace in the English Church. He
interceded alike for the royalist and the regicide; he was the correspondent of
Cowley, the patron of Jeremy Taylor, the associate and fellow-student of Boyle;
and over all the interval between Vandyck and Kneller, between the youth of
Milton and the old age of Dryden, poetry and the arts found him an intelligent
adviser, and a cordial friend. There are, on the whole, very few men of whom
England has more reason to be proud. He stands among the first in the list of
Gentlemen. We heartily commend so good an edition of this English classic.”—
Examiner.
“This work, in its present form, is a necessary~ companion to the popular
histories of our country, to Hume, Hallam, lllacaulay, and Lingard.--Sun.
LIVES OF THE PRINCESSES OF ENGLAND.
By MRS. EVERETT GREEN,
EDITOR OF THE “LETTERS OF ROYAL AND ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES.”
5 vols., post Svo, with Illustrations, 10s. 6d. each, bound.
“ This work is a worthy companion to Miss Strickland’s admirable ‘ Queens
of En land.’ That celebrated work, although its heroines were, for the most
art, 'oreign Princesses, related almost entirely to the history of this country.
The Princesses of England, on the contrary, are themselves English, but their
lives are nearly all connected with foreign nations. Their biographies, conse-
quently, afford us a glimpse of the manners and customs of the chief Euro can
kingdoms, a circumstance which not only gives to the work the charm of variety,
but which is likely to render it peculiarly useful to the general reader, as it links
together by association the contem oraneous history of various nations. -We
cordially commend Mrs. Green’s re action to general attention; it is (neces-
sarily) as useful as history, and ully as entertaining as romanceP—Sun.


THE PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE
F0R18541.
BY SIR J. BERNARD BURKE,
ULSTER KING OF ARMS.
A NEW EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED THROUGH-
OUT FROM THE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
OF THE N OBILITY, Sac.
With 1500 Engravings of ARMS. In 1 vol. (comprising as much matter
as twenty ordinary volumes), 38s. bound.
The following is a List of the Principal Contents of this Standard Work :-
I. A full and interesting history of
each order of the English Nobility,
showing its origin, rise, titles, immu-
nities, privileges, &c.
II. A com lete Memoir of the Queen
and Royal *amily, forming a brief
genealogical History of the Sovereign of
this country, and deducing the descent
of the Plantagenets, Tudors, Stuarts,
and Guelphs, through their various
ramifications. To this section is ap-
pended a list of those Peers and others
who inherit the distinguished honour
of Quartering the Royal Arms of
Plantagenet.
III. An Authentic table of Precedence.
IV. A perfect HISTORY OF ALL THE
PEERS AND BARONETS, with the
fullest details of their ancestors and
descendants, and particulars respecting
every collateral member of each family,
and all intermarriages, &c.

V. The Spiritual Lords.
VI. Foreign N oblemen, subjects by
birth of the British Crown.
VII. Extinct Peerages, of which
descendants still exist.
VIII. Peerages claimed.
IX. Surnames of Peers and Peeresses,
with Heirs Apparent and Presumptive.
X. Courtesy titles of Eldest Sons.
XI. Peerages of the Three Kingdoms
in order of Precedence.
XII. Baronets in order of Precedence.
XIII. Privy Councillors of England
and Ireland.
XIV. Daughters of Peers married to
Commoners.
XV. ALL THE ORDERS OF KNIGHT—
HOOD, with every Knight and all the
Knights Bachelors.
XVI. Mottoes translated, with poeti-
cal illustrations.


“ The most complete, the most convenient, and the cheapest work of the kind
ever given to the public.”—Sun. ‘
“ The best genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage,
and the first authority on all questions affecting the a1-istocracy.”—-Globe.
“ For the amazing quantity of personal and family history, admirable arrange-
ment of details, and accuracy of information, this genealogical and heraldic
dictionary is without a rival. It is now the standard and acknowledged book of
reference 11 on all questions touching pedigree, and direct or collateral aflinity
with the tit ed aristocracy. The lineage of each distinguished house is deduced
through all the various ramifications. Every collateral branch, however remotely
connected, is introduced; and the alliances are so carefully inserted, as to show,
in all instances, the connexion which so intimately exists between the titled and
untitled aristocracy. We have also much most entertaining historical matter,
and many very curious and interesting family traditions. The work is, in fact, a
complete cyclopzedia of the whole titled classes of the empire, supplying all the
information that can possibly be desired on the subject.”-Morm'ng Post.
___._ _ _ _


WORKS PUBLISHED FOR HENRY COLBURN. 9


SIR J. B. BURKE’S DICTIONARY OF THE
EXTINCT, DORMANT, AND ABEYANT PEERAGES
OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.
Beautifully printed, in 1 vol. 8vo, containing 800 double-column pages,
21s. bound.
This work connects, in many instances, the new with the old nobility, and it
will in all cases show the cause which has influenced the revival of an extinct
dignity in a new creation. It should be particularly noticed, that this new work
appertains nearly as much to extant as to extinct persons of distinction; for
though dignities pass away, it rarely occurs that whole families do.

HISTORY OF THE LANDED GENTRY.
H (‘lizaralagiral Eittiouary
OF THE WHOLE OF THE UN TITLED ARISTOCRACY
OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.
By SIR J. BERNARD BURKE.
@ THE PURCHASERS of the earlier editions of the Dictionary of the Landed
Gentry are requested to take notice that
A COPIOUS IN'DEX
has been compiled with great care and at great expense, containing REFERENCES
TO THE NAMES OF EVERY PERSON (upwards of 100,000) RIENTIONED IN THE
WORK, and may be had bound uniformly wlth the work: price, 5s.

ANECDOTES OF THE ARISTOCRACY.
'LBy sIR J. BERNARD BURKE,
Author of “The History of the Landed Gentry,” “The Peerage and Baronetage,”
8:0. SECOND AND CHEAPER EDITION, 2 vols., post Svo, 21s. bound.
“ The most curious incidents, the most stirring tales, and the most remarkable
circumstances connected with the histories, public and private, of our noble houses
and aristocratic families, are here given in a shape which will preserve them
in the library, and render them the favourite study of those who are interested
in the romance of real life. These stories, with all the reality of established fact,
read with as much spirit as the tales of Boccaoio, and are as full of strange
matter for reflection and amazement.”—-Britannia.



10 INTERESTING WORKS


MEMOIRS OF HORACE WALPOLE.
EDITED BY
ELIOT WARBURTON.
Cheaper Edition, in 2 vols. Svo, with Portraits, 16s. bound.
“These Memoirs form a necessary addition to the library of every English
gentleman. They nearly complete the chain of mixed personal, political, and
literary history, commencing with ‘Evelyn’ and ‘Fe ys,’ and ending almost in
our own day with the histories of Mr. Macaulay and 0rd Mahon.”-Stmulm'd.

THE LIFE AND REIGN OF CHARLES I.
By I. DISRAELI.
A NEW EDITION. REVISED BY THE AUTHOR, AND EDITED BY
HIS SON, THE RT. HON. B. DISRAELI, M.P. 2 vols., 8V0, 28s. bound.
“ By far the most important work on the important age of Charles I. that
modern times have produced.”—Qum'terly Review.

MEMOIRS OF SCIPIO DE RICCI,
LATE BISHOP or PISTOIA AND PRATO;
REFOREIER OF CATHOLICISM: IN TUSCANY.
Cheaper Edition, 2 vols. Svo, 12s. bound.
The leading feature of this important work is its a plication to the great
question now at issue between our Protestant and Catho c fellow-subjects. It
contains a complete expose’ of the Romish Church Establishment during the
eighteenth century, and of the abuses of the Jesuits throughout the greater
paiilt of Europe. Many particulars of the most thrilling kind are brought to
1g is.

HISTORIC SCENES.
By AGNES STRICKLAND.
Author of “Lives of the Queens of England,” Szc. 1 vol., post 8vo,
elegantly bound, with Portrait of the Author, 10s. 6d.
“This attractive volume is re lete with interest. Like Miss Strickland’s
former works, it will be found, we onbt not, in the hands of youthful branches
of a family as well as in‘ those of their parents, to all and each of whom it
cannot fail to be alike amusing and instructive.”--Britannia.
MEMOIRS OF LADY JANE GREY.
By SIR HARRIS NICOLAS. 1 vol. 8V0, bound, 6s.




PUBLISHED FOR HENRY COLBURN. 1 1


MEMOIRS OF PRINCE ALBERT;
_ AN D THE HOUSE OF SAXONY.
Second Edition, revised, with Additions, by Authority.
1 vol., post Svo, with Portrait, bound, 6s.

REVELATIONS 0F PRINCE TALLEYRAND.
Second Edition, 1 volume, post Svo, with Portrait, 10s. 6d. bound.
“ We have perused this work with extreme interest. It is a portrait of Tal-
leyrand drawn by his own hand.”—fl[owz-z'ng Post.
“A more interesting work has not issued from the press for many years. It is
in truth a most complete Boswell sketch of the greatest diplomatist of the age.”
-—Sunday Times. '
MADAME CAMPAN’S MEMOIRS
OF THE COURT OF MLARIE ANTOINETTE.
Cheaper Edition, 2 vols. Svo, with Portraits, price only 12s.
“We have seldom perused so entertaining a work. It is as a mirror of the
most splendid Court in Europe, at a time when the monarchy had not been shorn
of any of its beams, that it is particularly worthy of attention.”-—Cln'om'cle.


LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.
3' vols., small Svo, 15s.
“ A curious and entertaining piece of domestic biogra by of a most extra-
ordinary person, under circumstances almost an recedente .”-—New Monthly.
“ An extremely amusing book, full of anec otes and traits of character of
kings, princes, nobles, generals, &c.”——Morning Journal.

MEMOIRS OF A HUNGARIAN LADY.
‘MADAME PULSZKY.
WRITTEN by HERSELF. 2 vols., 12s. bound.
“Worthy of a place by the side of the Memoirs of Madame de Staél and
Madame Gampan.”—Globe.
MEMOIRS OF A GREEK LADY,
TEE ADOPTED DAUGHTER OF THE LATE
QUEEN cAEoLIEE.
WRITTEN by HERSELF. 2 vols., post Svo, price 125. bound.





12 INTERESTING WORKS
Now ready, PART XL, price 5s., of
M. A. THIERS’ HISTORY OF FRANCE
\ UNDER NAPOLEON.
A SEQUEL TO HIS HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
As guardian to the archives of the state, M. Thiers had access to diplomatic
papers and other documents of, the highest importance, hitherto known only to a
privileged few. From private sources M. Thiers has also derived much valuable
informafion. Many interesting memoirs, diaries, and letters, all hitherto un ub-
lished, and most of them destined for political reasons to remain so, have een
placed at his disposal; while all the leading characters of the empire, who were .
alive when the author undertook the resent history, have supplied him with a
mass of incidents and anecdotes which ave never before appeared in print.
‘if The public are requested to be particular in giving their orders for
“ COLBURN’s AUTHORISED TRANSLATION.”
N.B. Any of the Parts may, for the present, he had separately, at 5s. each;
and subscribers are recommended to complete their sets as soon as possible, to
prevent disappointment.
RUSSIA UNDER THE AUTOORAT NICHOLAS I.
BY IVAN GOLOVINE, A RUSSIAN SUBJECT.
Cheaper Edition, 2 vols., with a full-length Portrait of the
Emperor, 10s. bound.
“These are volumes of an extremely interesting nature, emanating from the
pen of a Russian, noble by birth, who has escaped beyond the reach of the Czar’s
power, The merits of the work are veqr considerable. It throws a new light on
the state of the empire—its aspect, political and domestic—its manners; the
employés about the palace, court, and capital; its police; its spies; its depraved
society,” Sta—Sunday Times.
GENERAL PEPE’S NARRATIVE OF THE
WAR IN ITALY,
FROM 1847 to 1850; INCLUDING THE SIEGE OF VENICE.
Now first published from the original Italian Manuscript.
Cheaper Edition, 2 vols., post 8vo, 10s. bound.
“We predict that posterity will accept General Pepe as the historian of the
great‘ Italian movement of the nineteenth century. His work is worthy of all
commendation.”—Standard.
MEMOIRS AND CORRESPONDENCE OF
SIR ROBERT MURRAY KEITH, KR,
M imlster'Plenipotentiaw-y at the Cour/s of Dresden, Copenhagen, and Vienna,
from 1769 to 1793 ; with Biographical Memoirs of
QUEEN CAROLINE llIATILDA, SISTER OF GEORGE III.
Cheaper Edition. Two vols., post 8vo, with Portraits, 15s. bound.






PUBLISHED FOR HENRY COLBURN. 13


THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS;
CB, ROMANCE AND REALITIES CF EASTERN TRAVEL.
By ELIOT WARBURTON, Esq.
TENTH EDITION, revised, in 1 vol., with numerous Illustrations, 10s. 6d. bound.
“A book calculated to prove more practically useful was never penned than
the ‘ Crescent and the Cross’—a work which surpasses all others in its homage
for the sublime and its love for the beautiful in those famous regions consecrated
to everlasting immortality in the annals of the prophets—and which no other
modern writer has ever depicted with a pencil at once so reverent and so pic-
turesque.”-—Sun.

LORD LINDSAY’S LETTERS ON THE HOLY LAND.
FOURTH EDITION, Revised, 1 vol., post 8vo, with Illustrations, 6s. bound.
“Lord Lindsay has felt and recorded what he saw with the wisdom of a philo-
sopher, and the faith of an enlightened Christian.”— Quarterly Review.

NARRATIVE OF A
TWO YEARS’ RESIDENCE AT NINEVEH;
With Remarks on the Chaldeans, Nestorians, Yezidees, &c.
By the Rev. J. P. FLETCHER.
Cheaper Edition. Two vols., post 8vo, 15s. bound.
JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE,

Comprising the Narrative of a Three Years’ Residence in Japan, with’
an Account of British Commercial Intercourse with that Country.
By CAPTAIN GOLOWNIN.
NEW and CHEAPER EDITION. 2 vols. post 8vo, 10s. bound.
“ No European has been able, from personal Observation and experience, to com-
municate a tenth part of the intelligence furnished by this writerP—British
Review.
ADVENTURES IN GEORGIA, CIRCASSIA, AND RUSSIA.
By Lieutenant-Colonel G. POULETT CAMERON, C.B., K.T.S., &c.
2 vols., post 8vo, bound, 12s.




14 INTERESTING WORKS


CAPTAINS KING AND FITZROY.
NARRATIVE OF THE TEN YEARS’ VOYAGE ROUND
THE WORLD,
OF H.M.S. ADVENTURE AND BEAGLE.
Cheaper Edition, in 2 large vols. 8vo, with Maps, Charts, and upwards
of Sixty Illustrations, by Landseer, and other eminents Artists,
price ll. 11s. 6d. bound.
“One of the most interesting narratives of voyaging that it has fallen to our
lot to notice, and which must always occupy a distinguished space in the history
of scientific navigation.”—- Quarterly Review.
k
HOCHELAGA;
OR, ENGLAND IN THE NEW WORLD.
Edited by ELIOT WARBURTON, Esq., Author of “The Crescent
and the Cross.”
Fourth and Cheaper Edition, 2 vols., post 8vo, with Illustrations,
10s. 6d. bound.
“This work possesses almost every qualification of a good book—sound and
enlarged views of important questions—a hearty and generous love of country.
We can cordially recommend it to our readers for the vivid brilliancy of its de-
scnptions, and the solid information it contains respecting Canada, and the
position generally of England in the new world.”-Jo/m Bul .

SIR JAMES ALEXANDER’S
SEVEN YEARS’ EXPLORATION IN CANADA, 8%.
2 vols., post 8vo, with numerous Illustrations, 12s. bound.
“ Replete with valuable information on Canada for the English settler, the
English soldier, and the English Government; with various charms of adventure
and description for the desultory reader.”--Morning Chronicle.

TRAVELS IN ALGERIA.
By VISCOUNT FIELDING and CAPTAIN KENNEDY.
2 vols., post 8vo, with Illustrations, bound, 12s.

ADVENTURES ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER,
Comprising the Narrative of a Residence of Six Years on the Western
Side of the Rocky Mountains, among various tribes of Indians
hitherto unknown; together with a Journey across the American
Continent. By ROSS COX, Esq.
Cheaper Edition, 2 vols. 8V0, with Plates, 16s.



PUBLISHED FOR HENRY COLBURN. 15


THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S CAMPAIGN
IN THE NETHERLANDS IN 1815..
Comprising the Battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo. Illustrated by
Oflicial Documents.
By WILLIAM IVIUDFORD, Esq.
1 vol., 4to, with Thirty Coloured Plates, Portraits, Maps, Plans, &c., bound, 21S.
LIGHTS AND SHADES OF MILITARY LIFE.
Edited by the late Lieutenant-General Sir CHARLES NAPIER, G.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief in India, &c. 1 vol., 8V0, 6s. bound.
“Narratives of stirring interest, which should be in the hands of every
oificer in her Majesty’s servlce.”- lobe.
STORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.
A COMPANION VOLUME TO MR. GLEIG’S
“ STORY OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.”
With Six Portraits and Map, 5s. bound.
THE NEMESIS IN CHINA;
COMPRISING A COMPLETE
HISTORY OF THE WAR IN THAT COUNTRY.
From Notes of Captain W. H. HALL, RN.
1 vol., Plates, 6S. bound.
“ Capt. Hall’s narrative of the services of the Nemesis is full of interest, and
will, we are sure, be valuable hereafter, as affording most curious materials for
the history of steam navigation.”—- Quarterly Review.
“A work which will take its place beside that of Captain Cook.”-— Weekly
Chronicle.
CAPTAIN CRAWFORD’S NAVAL REMINISCENCES;
ADMIRALS SIR E. OWEblfNglltmlgmHfLLOwELL CAREW,
AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED OOMMANDERS.
2 vols., post 8V0, with Portraits, 21s. bound.
ADVENTURES OF A SOLDIER.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.






Being the Memoirs of EDWARD COSTELLO, of the Rifle Brigade,
and late Captain in the British Legion. Cheap Edition, with
Portrait, 3S. 6d. bound.
“ An excellent book of its class. A true and vivid picture of a soldier’s life.”—
Athenoeum.
“This highly interesting volume is filled with details and anecdotes of the most
startling character, and well deserves a place in the library of every regiment
in the service.”-—Naval and Military Gazette.


16 WORKS PUBLISHED FOR HENRY COLBURN.


@-
%
PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF
MRS. MARGARET MAITLAND, OF SUNNY SIDE,
WRITTEN by HERSELF.
Third and Cheaper Edition, 1 vol., 6s. bound.
“ Nothin'g half so true or so touching in the delineation of Scottish chairacter
has appeared since Galt published his ‘ Annals of the Parish,’ and this is purer
and deeper than Galt, and even more absolutely and simply true.”—L0rd Jafiey.
1,
ii

Cheaper Edition, in 3 vols., price 5s. each, half-bound,
FORTUNE: A STORY OF LONDON LIFE.
By D. T. COULTON, Esq.
“ A brilliant novel. A more vivid picture of various phases of society has not
been painted since ‘Vivian Grey’ first dazzled-and confounded the world; but it
is the biting satire of fashionable life, the moral anatomy of high society, which
will attract all readers. In every sense of the word, ‘Fortune’ is an excellent
novel.”—0bserver.
“ ‘Fortune’ is not a romance, but a novel. All is reality about it: the time,
the characters, and the incidents. In its reality consists its charm and its
merit. It is, indeed, an extraordinary work, and has introduced to the world
of fiction a new writer of singular ability, with a genius more that of Bulwer
than any to whom we can compare it.”- Critic.
ZOOLOGIOAL REOREATIONS.
By NV. J. BRODERIP, Esq., F.R.S.
Cheaper Edition, 1 vol., post 8vo, 6s. bound.
“We believe we do not exaggerate in saving that, since the publication of
White’s ‘Natural History of Selborne,’ and offthe ‘Introduction to Entomolo ,’
by Kirby and Spence, no work in our language is better calculated than The
‘ Zoological Recreations’ to fulfil the avowed aim of its author—to furnish a
ljpnd-book which may cherish or awaken a love for natural history.”--Qaarterly
evzew.
1;
THE HALL AND THE HAMLET.
By WILLIAM HOWITT. ,
Author of “The Book of the Seasons,” “ Rural Life in England,” &c.
Cheaper Edition, 2 vols., post 8vo, 12s. bound.
“This work is full of delightful sketches and sweet and enchanting ictures
of rural life, and we have no doubt will be read not only at the homestea of the
farmer, but at the mansion of the squire, or the castle of the lord, with gratifica-
tion and delight.”---Szmclay Times.
'7
PUBLISHED FOR HENRY C OLBURN,
BY HIS SUCCESSORS, HURST & BLACKETT,
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

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