at which place we had to lie during the time the ship was undergoing a
thorough repair, ready for sea again. We had about 300 soldiers of
different regiments--all discharged men--a greater portion of us were
single men. The captain of the ship asked us, as the ship would be a
long time under repairs, whether any of us would be willing to travel
overland--150 miles down to Newport. We all expressed our willingness.
He said he would write to the Mayor of the town to forward us through
the country, so that we could get billeted on our way in the different
towns as invalid soldiers. As the snow was very severe, it prevented us
from travelling any more than thirty miles per day. In various parts of
the country the snow lay knee deep on the ground. When we could not
reach a town we were obliged to put up with the inconveniences of
staying at some farm house for the night. It took us fifteen days to
reach Newport. We went from there to Bristol in fishing smacks. We went
to the recruiting depot and remained there for about three days. We were
paid up all our back pay and marching pay through Wales, and two pence
per mile to the place of attestment on joining the British army. I was
attested at Hythe, in Kent--186 miles from Bristol. After receiving all
money due to me, I was at liberty to go where I pleased, being once more
my own master. I went home to Frome, in Somersetshire--twenty-four miles
from Bristol--and there I remained with my friends during the greater
part of the winter. In the Spring following I left my friends and
proceeded to London. I got employment there as a bricklayers’ laborer,
and at various times as a stonemasons’ laborer. I engaged with a
gentleman of the name of Broadhead, who resided in Cadogan Place, Sloane
Street, Chelsea, with whom I stayed for some considerable time.
Buckingham Palace, where his royal highness the Duke of York resided, I
assisted in making the alterations--in taking down a wall, and putting
up iron palisadings, which extended from the gate of St. James’s Park up
to the Duke of Leinster’s. After that work was completed I went to
Windsor Castle--twenty-one miles from London--and also worked at the
Castle, which, at that time, was undergoing repairs. During the winter
season, his majesty would reside in the Park. He used to drive into the
Castle at various times, generally before our dinner-time, to inspect
the works going on the Castle. Our employment was not very severe; our
wages were very low, being only thirteen shillings per week for laboring
men; tradesmen of different descriptions at twenty-four shillings per
week. After the alterations, which lasted about twelve months, I
returned to London, and got into employment with my old employer. I
proceeded to St. Catherine’s docks, and was working there as a navvy; I
was one of the first six employed in taking in the leaden gutters from
the roof of St. Catherine’s Church; where the church formerly stood is,
now, as near as I can say, the centre part of the Company’s docks. Mr.
Burgess was the first contractor, and after his failure, Mr. Robert
Banks, of Blackwall, took up the contract. At various times I used to
leave the work in order to attain better employment, if possible. I went
to the London Bridge pile-driving before a stone was laid; we worked
shifts six hours per day, and six hours per night; the night-work was
very severe, and we had to be very careful not to touch any drink, on
account of the danger of the work, especially in the lower dams. We
generally used to drive one pile every six hours, each pile being
twenty-three feet long, for which we got paid at the rate of one
shilling and three half-pennies per foot; that had to be divided amongst
four of us, who worked at the crane. It was very dangerous working in
the lower dams, as we had only two nine-inch planks to walk upon, and
about every ten feet there was an upright, with a rope attached to it,
to enable us to descend to the bottom in safety. During the time of my
working there I saw many men meet with their deaths by falling over.
I began to grow tired owing to the disagreeable employment. I went one
hundred and fifty miles from London to Stonehouse, near Plymouth, were
there was a new reservoir to be excavated. I got employment there. I
worked at it until it was completed, which was in about six months. I
then returned to London, where I got employed by Mr. Grundy, stonemason,
Horseferry-road, he having a contract under Government for some stone
work at the New Parliament Houses. I worked for him up to the year 1826.
His Royal Highness the Duke of York died in the month of December in
that year, and lay in state for three weeks at Buckingham Palace. The
public were admitted to see the remains. He was taken in January, 1827,
to Windsor Castle to be interred with the rest of the Royal Family. The
funeral _cortege_ extended 10 miles from Hyde Park corner to Hounslow.
The corpse was moved on as follows to Stanford Bridge, three miles from
Hounslow. I witnessed the Life Guards, cloaked up, standing holding
their horses under the bridge, waiting for orders to take possession of
the corpse from the Oxford Blues. The corpse remained two hours owing to
the severity of the weather, it snowing heavily all the time they were
proceeding from London. After the two hours had elapsed they pushed
forward eight miles further to Windsor. I did not witness anything more,
but returned to London; during that day going and returning in all 26
miles.
I went a few miles from London, as I heard that there were men wanted at
Old Forge-cut, Stratford, to form a basis for barges to come in and
unload from the Thames. I worked in and there about as a general laborer
at anything I could turn my hand to up to the year 1830, when I heard
there were men wanted at Chatham to go out to the Brazils; but when I
reached Chatham, I went to the parties who were enquiring for men. When
I entered the room, I asked particulars as to what we might be required
for. They told me that I was to go out to the Brazils or elsewhere. I
told them it was to fight for Donna Maria, the young Queen of Portugal.
They observed that I had been in the British army, and they told me that
it was correct what I had stated; they said they would allow me more
pay, but I was to keep my own counsel; they also told me that if I could
obtain any men for them they would make me an allowance of so much for
each man. The men whom I engaged I used to tell that they would all be
made officers and gentlemen of. After we had mustered about 200 men, we
were despatched off to London, in which place we took our residence on
the Isle of Dogs, opposite to the Greenwich Hospital, where we lay for
further orders. We understood there was a troop barque ship fitting up
in the river in order to take us out to Portugal. We had first rate
rations served out to us daily, and the balance of our pay paid to us
every afternoon. We amused ourselves daily by walking up and down the
river side like half-pay officers. After laying there for about a
month, the Government learned that we were there for the purpose of
going out to Portugal, we were given to understand that we had a good
many deserters from the British Army who had deserted on purpose to join
us, as our pay was more than they were getting in the British service by
sixpence a day. We were not attested men, as we were going out as
volunteers. The Government sent the police down to despatch us from the
Isle of Dogs, so we were all sent about our business. I was going about
London some few weeks; as the winter was approaching I could not get any
employment. I was several nights that I had no shelter, having to walk
the streets all night, and sometimes nothing whatever in the shape of
food. Sometimes I heard there was a place erected for the poor to
shelter themselves from the inclemency of the weather. I went to one of
these places, where I obtained shelter as well as some food, consisting
of a bit of bread and cheese, with a half-pint of cold ale to drink with
it. It reminded me something of a rendezvous, with a bit of straw to lay
on, and an old covering to keep you warm. I had several times a mind to
return back again to Frome to my friends, but I took a second
consideration on the subject as the winter was approaching I thought I
would take pot luck for it to remain in London till something might turn
up. One day I was going over Westminster Bridge to go to some of my old
employers in Westminster to see if I could get any work. In passing over
the bridge I met with two gentlemen; they made hold to stop me. They
asked me if I was not one of the men that was going out to Portugal. I
told them that I was one of them, he gave me a half-crown, and told me
to meet him at the same place on the following day. Accordingly I
proceeded on after wishing them good bye. I went into a leg of beef soup
shop to get a feed, and I took a famous good tightener. I had enough
left out of my half-crown to pay for my bed and my breakfast in the
morning. I thought I was once more all right. According to the orders I
had received from the two gentlemen I met them on the bridge according
to appointment. They told me that they were going to erect another
establishment in Great Windmill street, at the top of the Haymarket, and
would I come to get my name enrolled. I told them I would. Accordingly
they gave me another half-crown, so I then considered I was a made up
gentleman. All at once I went at the time appointed to Great Windmill
street. There I found that I had been correctly informed by the
gentlemen. I went into the apartment where several gentlemen were. They
took my name down, and told me they were very glad to see me as I was a
Waterloo man. I had my pay given out to me at the rate of 1s. 6d. per
day, and to attend each day at eleven o’clock in the forenoon. In the
course of a fortnight we collected about 200 men. On going there the
last day to receive our pay as usual, when we had orders to attend all
hands at 4 o’clock in the evening. About dusk after we all mustered we
were drafted off in different parties under the care of a steady man to
each party to convey us down to Vauxhall. There we were put in different
barges to float down during the night to Gravesend. On our way down
there was bread and cheese served out, but as I had taken a good feed
throughout, I thought I did not require any as I had a comfortable seat
on the starboard side of the boat I thought if I got up to look after
bread and cheese I should not find my seat again. We arrived off
Gravesend at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, when we were all put on
board of a troop barque. We had orders to all keep below in the day time
and to come up at night when we could walk about all night if we chose.
We lay there 2 days and part of 2 nights, when we weighed anchor and
made for the downs.
We passed through the Downs with the whole of his Majesty (George IV.’s)
fleet present that day in the Deal Downs, in two nights and one day.
Owing to the weather being very severe, we came in sight of Spithead. We
dropped anchor, and lay till further orders. After lying there two days,
we weighed anchor and proceeded on our destination. On the 20th November
we set sail, and arrived off Flushing on the 23rd December. We lay in
Brest, part of the township of Flushing; took Christmas dinner on the
25th; and, on the 26th, we had a grand “spree”--“Sheevo,” we call it; we
had lots of fiddling and dancing. On the 27th we weighed anchor to
depart from that place. As we were about making our way, there were two
Dutch gunboats placed alongside of us to prevent our landing or moving
without leave, as they believed we were spies. The Belgians were at war
at this time (1830). There was a letter sent from the captain of the
ship to the commandant of the town, to inform him that we were British
subjects going out to fight for the young Queen Donna Maria, Queen of
Portugal. An answer came from the commandant to the captain of the said
Edward, barque, troop-ship, that we might go out of the river, which we
did, and put round to the bay of Belle Isle, in the South of France,
where the whole of the squadron lay at anchorage. The admiral, on
the quarter-deck, called out, “Ship a-hoy;” on the third day after our
coming out of the river he wished to know what ship it was; the reply
was given that it was the Edward, barque, troop-ship. He asked how many
men on board; the reply was, 199. He said, “Why not bring another man to
make up 200?” We shortly afterwards heaved up alongside the Reine de
Portugal, which was the Admiral’s ship. We went on board, fifty of us,
to do duty as marines; fifty went on board of the Congress, man-of-war;
fifty on board of the Donna Maria, and forty-nine on the Juno. We lay at
anchor in the Bay of Belle Isle, as did the whole of the squadron,
brigs, schooners and corvettes, all sorts of twenty-gun brigs, &c. Our
paymaster came out from home to pay us some back money due to us, and,
when we got our two months’ pay, all our British subjects of blue
jackets and marines had leave for forty-eight hours to go on shore. Five
of my mess-mates and myself went into a brandy shop to “wet our
whistles,” where we drank half-a-dozen bottles of brandy; and then
proceeded up the town to see what was going on. We called in to take a
little drop more, as we fancied we stood very much in need of it, when
the _gens d’armes_, discovering us rolling about, rolled up towards us;
thought of taking us into custody, but, as we were not so easily
frightened, we set on them and knocked them both up and down; and down
it was with many a one. They called a French regiment out of barracks to
quiet us, but we set to and beat them back into the barracks. The
Commandant of the town sent a letter to the Admiral of the ship for them
to bring the marines and seamen on board; but the Admiral would not hear
of any such thing; he said he had given them leave for forty-eight hours
to spend their money, and they were not to be molested either by the
soldiers or the _gens d’armes_, unless they were outrageous to the
inhabitants of the town; and, if he did not like that, he would call
them all in and pour a broadside on the town. After that they let us
alone, and we were masters of the town. When our leave was up we went to
the different boats to put off to our respective ships. Major Lanson was
on the gangway, looking over into the boats, when I was coming up the
side; he called out, “What kind of a spree, soldier, had you on shore?”
I said, “A pretty gone one, sir. We should have had a better one if we
had not been molested by the _gens d’armes_ and the soldiers.” He said,
“It was all fair to get rid of your money; you will have another one
by-and-bye.” I replied, “Yes, sir; and you along with me on the field of
battle.” After a few days we cruised off the Island of Madeira. We fell
in company one day with a man-of-war up to the starboard side of the
vessel, and a twenty-gun brig on the larboard. The Admiral called out to
the gunner, “Get the Salamanders ready.” They were accordingly put into
the blacksmith’s hands to put them into the fire, and get them ready for
action. Accordingly we sailed in midships, the twenty gun brig on the
larboard and a man-of-war on the starboard. The drum beat to arms. For
my own part I was not fond of going aloft; I got into the long boat over
the main hatch, and there I remained till further orders. The Admiral
called out to the gunner to fire No. 6 gun on the starboard side of the
man-of-war, but she never returned a shot. A shot from No. 6 gun was
fired at the brig from the larboard quarter, but she did not return the
compliment. The two boats were lowered, the pinnace and the long boat,
and a portion of blue jackets and marines jumped into it, under the
instructions of an officer of each boat, and went off to the man-of-war
and to the gun brig. The man-of-war on the starboard was a French
vessel, and, we were not at war with France at this time; so we let her
go, as we were bound down to keep the peace twenty-one years after the
battle of Waterloo, and only fifteen years had elapsed. But the brig on
the larboard was a prize, loaded with arms and ammunition going out to
Don Miguel’s party; she was brought in and towed aft of the Admiral’s
ship; the men were brought on board and put into irons, and also the
captain of the ship, whom I witnessed on his knees on the quarter-deck,
praying forgiveness; he agreed to do duty on board the Reine de
Portugal, the Admiral’s ship; the seamen were allowed to work on board
the Reine, according to their respective abilities. They were well
contented to go into the Queen’s service under the control of Admiral
Sartonis. Some time after, while cruising off the Island of Madeira, we
fell in company with a privateer, and gave chase to her: for part of two
nights and a day we just kept in sight of her, until the sea rose, and
in the storm, on the evening of the third day, we lost sight of her. At
this time I was mixing the grog with my brother, who was a
non-commissioned officer. As the grog was issued out a very heavy squall
came over, and, the ports being all open, we shipped water very fast.
Before the guns could be got in and the ports shut we were shipping
water at the rate of a ton per minute. The carpenter being down in the
hold, called out that the water was gaining on us; the Portuguese pilot
on board told the Admiral that he had better lighten the ship by
throwing over some of the guns, as there was every probability of the
ship sinking before morning. The Admiral was very angry with the pilot
for saying so, and told him that we were all British subjects on board,
and in no way frightened.
During the watch from eight to twelve I could scarcely keep my legs to
go round and put the men on sentry. There was one man who gave me a
great deal of trouble to put him into the nettings to keep a look-out
for ships for one hour. I was keenly running after him on the main deck,
when my foot struck against a ring bolt, which had the effect of
precipitating me into the gun-deck, a distance of nearly ten feet. I was
very much hurt; I was taken up, and had sixteen ounces of blood let from
me. But I was not fit for duty for three or four days. However, as soon
as I was on my first night watch, I caught the man who caused my
misfortune, and had the satisfaction of giving him four hours in the
nettings. At twelve o’clock the watch accompanied me round the decks
again, when we released the man in the nettings, and the watch went
below. Shortly after I got below there was an order for Corporal Knight
to appear on deck, to which I immediately responded. The officer of the
watch asked me why I kept the man for four hours in the nettings. I
replied that I preferred that way of punishing him to reporting him and
perhaps getting him flogged; also that I considered him the cause of my
getting hurt by falling down the hatchway. He objected, and said that I
ought at once to have reported the disobedience. He asked me how I came
to put him there for four hours. I told him I had put him there for my
own pleasure, as he was the cause of my having the fall. I said, “Sir, I
did not wish to make a report to the Admiral, to cause him to be brought
on the gratings. I would not have the ill-will of the ship’s company to
say I was the cause of a man’s being flogged.” “Put him four hours more
for my pleasure,” said he; “and give him the early watch from 12 p.m.
till 4 a.m.”
After we had cruised for some time about the Island of Terceira, we put
in at Nangaros, a seaport town, and landed the marines on shore. We
marched to Prior, three leagues (nine miles), and took up our position
in a convent, and did duty till further orders. We usually turned out at
half-past four in the morning, before the great heat of the day came on,
and marched on to the common, where we used to go through our
discipline. We drilled the awkward hands of the recruits about two hours
each morning, and generally returned about seven for breakfast. We had
nothing to do until the following morning. Our parading duty was very
moderate.
Our rations were “Buckelow salt fish,” and cob corn bread. But we did
not understand this kind of food; so the men lifted up the windows and
threw the provisions in the road: they had got into a rebellious state.
The colonel, being informed of it, came down to the Convent, and ordered
the bugler of the guard to sound, “Turn out the whole.” We formed
companies; the colonel ordered the captains of companies to form a solid
square, the colonel being inside. He said that owing to our rude
character he would punish us. As soon as the word had passed by him, the
men called out, one and all, that “they were not men sworn in like
British subjects, but that they came out as volunteers to fight for the
Queen of Portugal, and expected they should be treated like soldiers.”
All through the battalion, one and all shouted, “Hear, hear.” The
colonel replied, “Well, my men, I consider you are loyal subjects;” and
intimated that it was no wish of his that the men should live in that
way; and if we would put up with it for a few days he would write to the
Admiral to send us ship rations, as there was nothing on the island that
we could discover. In a short time, beef, pork, and biscuits were sent
from the squadron, so then we lived very well. There was plenty of wine
on the island, of which each man had a pint a day, and a gill of
aquadent. We used to follow on then with a good heart to parade, as
usual, and go through our discipline. We carried that on for two months,
when Don Pedro came on the island, with a portion of his staff, to view
the British battalion. When we went through our movements on a field-day
he was quite delighted. Soon after, we had orders to march back to the
respective Convents where we lay. The colonel ordered the battalion to
get an extra allowance that day.
The paymaster came from out from home to pay us some back money that was
owing to us, so that there was a captain of each company to go down to
the paymaster’s residence to give in the strength of the company; and I
being very intimate with the captain, whose name was Shaw, he told me to
bring two men with me up to the captain’s quarters, and from there we
removed off to the paymaster’s residence. The captain had orders from
the paymaster to take one bag of dollars--out of ten. Our pay at this
time was two pounds five shillings per month; he ordered me to name the
men to pack up the dollars, and bring them on with them; I named one of
the men to lift them, who said they were so heavy he could not get them
on his shoulder; I said to the next man, “You try them,” and he could
not lift them. The captain said, “Hey, mon, what, canna twa strong able
men like you lift them small bags of dollars up?” He then said, “Knight,
you try them;” I caught hold of them, and had very great difficulty in
getting them on my shoulder, so the captain told me to proceed with
them. I carried them about two hundred yards, and put them on a wall off
my shoulder. “Now,” I said, “you carry them in your turns, each of you,
but mind and put them so as another can get them.” So they brought them
into the captain’s quarters, and, by the captain’s orders, put them off
their shoulders in the captain’s apartment, when he said, “That will do,
you can go to your convent.” I was going along with them, and he said,
“Stop, Knight;” so I stopped with the captain, and fell into some
conversation with him about the British service of Waterloo, etc. He
belonged to the same brigade with me; I did not know him at the time; I
formerly belonged to the ninety-fifth rifles, and he was in the
fifty-second light infantry. After some short time, I asked him when he
was going to serve the companies’ money out; he replied not before
Monday, as it was Saturday when he got the money from the paymaster; he
said, if he was to serve the money out, he should not have a soldier of
his company out on parade, as the colonel used to read the service on
Sundays at the drum head. I said, “Very well, sir,” and was about making
my departure when he called me back, and said, “Here are two dollars for
you, keep your own counsel; if the sergeant of the company should ask
you any questions as to when the captain was going to serve out the pay,
tell them on Monday, for, if he served it out to-day, he would not get
any man to attend church parade.”