out at the break of day, and had a great deal of very heavy firing. The
Light Company was extended under a wall of the breastworks; and we kept
up a strong fire for seven hours, never shifting our position. The
Tachedores of the enemy were very numerous, and very close to us; if we
had thrown a stone we could have struck them with it. Captain Mitchell
had been speaking to me respecting the engagement; he was appointed from
the colonel to take the command of the company, as the captain was not
well enough to attend, owing to the wounds he had received through both
calves of his legs. I fired sixty-three rounds, and, while loading the
sixty-fourth, I got a severe wound through the groin. I fired the
sixty-fourth round, but, while loading the sixty-fifth round, I felt
quite exhausted, and fell up against the wall. The captain said, “You
are wounded, Knight.” I hobbled away to the rear as well as I could. I
had about half a mile to go. I was very much exhausted as I crawled, or
rather hobbled, along on one leg, the other hanging down useless. On
getting into the entrance of the town, I saw a troop of cavalry sitting
on their horses--in a little lane off the main road. The officer rode
over to me and said something in Portuguese that I did not understand.
In the meantime, while I was sitting down talking to him as well as I
could, a muleteer came along; the officer spoke to him, and he lifted me
on a mule and took me to the General Hospital, where I lay seven hours
during that day before the ball was extracted.
The doctor was with a man extracting a ball from his shoulder; the man
said he was not able to go through the pain and punishment. With all the
attendance of the doctor, he could not keep him steady, so as to extract
the ball. The doctor had to leave him. I called out as well as I could
for some one to come and attend on me; he came forward and turned the
sheet off me, found where the ball was laying, and ordered four men to
be in readiness to assist in keeping me down. I told him I did not
require any holding at all, saying I was quite capable of undergoing the
punishment. As I was propped up in the bed, the pillow being high, I
could discover all he was doing. He made a cut of about an inch; the
second time he cut the same, just as I began to feel the effect of it;
the third cut he made at me came on the ball; he put the instrument in
and pulled it out; it was as flat as a penny piece, for it had struck
against a rock before it had struck me. The instrument reached from one
part to the other, right through my groin. As we were engaged that day
we had blue cloth pantaloons on; and the doctor tried if any blue cloth
had gone with the ball; but when he found the pantaloons were under my
pillow, and that the piece had not been cut out by the ball, and that it
lay down neutral after the ball had been extracted from me, I felt quite
easy. My wounds were dressed on both sides with lint, and a bandage
round to keep it on, so as to bring the discharge from it, every
twenty-four hours. I lay in that awkward position for seven weeks before
they put the regular dressing on me to heal the wounds.
I lay eleven weeks altogether in the general hospital, and was then
removed to the regimental hospital appointed for the battalion. I was
carried there by four men on a stretcher. They put me into the
non-commissioned officers room, and there I remained for seven weeks.
The doctor came round the hospital and shook hands with the patients,
informing us that he was about to go to Great Britain. He shook hands
with me personally, and said, “I think you have received too severe a
wound to recover; I do not think you will recover it.” We never saw
anything of him after he left us; another doctor took his place. I said
that I would be glad to see myself once more all right. The doctor
allowed each sick individual four ounces of wine per day. In the course
of a very short time after his departure I began to gather a little more
strength.
The inhabitants of the town were very liberal in bringing us the best of
nourishment, as they doted on the English, who were their chief support
in protecting the town from the enemy.
There was a sergeant in the next bed to me, named Schofield, a grenadier
sergeant; he often looked over to me and said, “How do you feel,
corporal?” I told him I felt pretty middling at times. He asked me if I
would take a drop of wine. I used to make the reply that I thought I
could; and he would hand me a drop that often enabled me to have a
sleep. At this time I was getting well round. When the bottle was empty,
the sergeant managed to fill it again. I think the wine was my chief
support. One day I hobbled out of the bed into the kitchen to take a
smoke. I was quite unable to come up again, and I was helped up by two
men belonging to the hospital. A few days afterwards I began to think I
was capable of getting up, and the sergeant and myself used to walk
together daily, for an hour or so, which I thought was a very great
benefit to me; and by degrees I became quite capable of walking in the
town. The little wine I took daily was the chief support I had. My
wounds began to heal quickly, and soon I was able to leave the
hospital.
The sergeant joined his company, and I was attached to the Scotch
battalion, as I was incapable of doing service under the command of my
old captain of the British battalion, Captain Shaw, then colonel of the
Scottish brigade. I drew rations until further orders; we were then
lying where the Scotch took up their position at Lord Della’s.
One morning I was toasting a piece of pork that had been served out to
me in ship’s rations, with biscuit to catch the fat of the pork, when
all of a sudden the enemy’s pickets reinforced and rode back the Scotch
pickets. I jumped up--unable to run much as my sinews at the knees were
very stiff--and hobbled away down the lane; the musketry and the big
guns were in full play. Colonel Shaw coming up the lane on a mule,
ordered the Scotch to come rightabout and charge the pickets of the
enemy--I heard them clicking-clacking bayonets against bayonets; they
kept up a sharp fire. The Scotch drove the enemy back to head quarters,
where they lay for about a month.
There was nothing worth while speaking about after that took place; I
retired to Oporto and drew my rations, as usual, from the commissary’s
stores, and resided with the quarter-master in an apartment formerly
belonging to the British battalion. I used to walk about Oporto, noticed
by the inhabitants, having possession on my breast of the Craftic order,
of the Town sword, and the Waterloo medal being very much noticed. I
very often got gifts from them, and was very well supported; the
quarter-master sergeant asked me one morning if I would be a servant to
him; I replied, “By all means,” and there I remained until a passage was
provided for me to go home to Great Britain. During the short period
that I was servant to the quarter-master, I fell very ill, and had to be
taken back to the hospital. Owing to the cholera having broken out, I
lay some time in the hospital, my head was shaved, and I was fortunate
enough to be placed in a bed near the door, where I had the benefit of
the sweet air playing on me, it being very hot weather at the time. When
I recovered I went out of the hospital and took up my old position along
with the quarter-master I had been living with, who was very glad to see
me.
Two young officers came one evening to visit the quarter-master, to
appoint the time of what was to be done in regard to fighting a duel.
The quarter-master had a room over the kitchen, and I was appointed to
be in the kitchen. The quarter-master knocked his heels on the boards,
which was a signal for me to come up; I was asked when I went up, to
supply them with another bottle of wine from the stores, they drank till
about twelve o’clock that night. When I took up the last bottle of wine,
the two young officers in company with the quarter-master, said to him,
“The corporal has been a fine soldier in the field, we have heard;” so
they each presented me with a dollar. One gentleman was named Bulgar,
and the other Shadwick. The quarter-master told me that would do, and
that I could retire. In retiring down into the kitchen, I heard some
very heavy talking, as to appointing the place where they where to fight
the following morning. I stopped on the stairs to listen to what was
going on, and I heard they had arranged to go out at the dawn of day,
about three o’clock in the morning, at the upper part of the town in a
meadow. The master said to me, coming down to the kitchen after the
officers retired, “You have no need to get up when you hear me get me up
in the morning, as I am going on some little business.” I knew all about
it, so I lay down for a short period, and kept myself awake for about
two hours, when I heard the quarter-master coming down stairs; I never
let on to make the least word, but soon slipped into the streets after
him, hobbled along as well as I could, and kept him in view. It was very
fortunate he did not discover me by looking back; I kept myself pretty
well concealed by keeping close to the shadow of the houses, and I
arrived at the top end of the town. There was a stone wall dividing the
road from the paddock, and at the corner of the wall there was a house,
I pulled my cap off, looked round the corner of the house, and
discovered the three in company.
The quarter-master put them in proper position, back to back, and
ordered them to step off, which they did, one going one way, and one the
other, for a few paces; when the quarter-master cried out, “Hold!” “Half
face to the right, going to the left!” then, “Present!” and he stood so
that they could distinguish him. When he dropped the white handkerchief,
they fired immediately, and one of them missed. Mr Shadwick wounded
Bulgar in the side; he fell down; the other two ran up to his
assistance, lifted him up, and took him down to his residence. I then
retreated, not liking to wait any longer to see what was going on. I got
back into the kitchen, and made some fire to get myself a cup of coffee.
I took a smoke of my pipe, and about the hour of five o’clock, as near
as I can say, the quarter-master came home and went to his room. I think
he laid himself down and fell asleep for about two hours; as I did the
same after taking a cup of coffee. I heard him making signals on the
board; he wished me good morning, and I returned the salute. “Corporal!”
said he, “bring me a cup of coffee.” He took his coffee, and then he had
to get himself ready to go to the stores, at eight o’clock a.m., to
serve out the rations to the soldiers. After the rations were all served
out, he retired to his room and took his breakfast, after which he went
out into the town. He told me he did not think he should be home to
dinner. He came home in the evening, took a little refreshment, and
shortly afterwards retired to bed.
The following morning, when he got up, he asked me if I knew the
officers who had been in company with him the night before. I told him I
did, Mr Bulgar and Mr Shadwick; he said that was all correct, but that
Mr Bulgar was sick, and had got leave from the colonel of the regiment
to keep away from parade for a time. This was done in order that the
regimental doctor should not know what had happened. The quarter-master
asked me if I would attend to his apartments to give him a little hot
water each morning I said I would by all means. I attended him every
morning with whatever he required; he used to tell me to put it down and
that would do. I attended on him several mornings, when I said, “Sir,
you do not appear capable of dressing your wounds,” which were very
slight flesh wounds. He looked at me very hard, and said, “do you know
what is the matter with me?” I then told him all that had taken place,
and that I had witnessed the whole of the affair. I said, “you were so
grateful, sir, that I had pleasure in attending on you.” He remarked,
“keep your own counsel, and do not relate it to any one.” I attended on
him for nearly a month, when he became able to go on parade; and he
rewarded me handsomely. I frequently saw them both in company
afterwards, Mr Shadwick and Mr Bulgar; and they always greeted me, and
often gave me the means to purchase a glass of wine. Some time in the
early part of ’33, I went to Lord Dullah, two miles from Oporto, to see
one of the officers named Captain Shaw, under whom I served when he
commanded a British battalion, and who was then colonel of the Scotch
brigade, to bid him farewell before my departure for Great Britain. In
coming back from Lord Dullah, I fell in with barrack-master McCabe, who
asked me if I had seen General Saldamia; he said he wanted to see him
particularly. I told him I had not seen the general.
Whilst in conversation with him, concerning the various actions in which
I had been engaged, he said, “you have been a very brave soldier in your
time” (he was attached to the Rock Brigade) and told me that if I would
call on him at his residence in Oporto, he would give me something, as
he then knew me to be an invalid waiting for a passage home. I called at
the place before my departure, and he told me that he had nothing to
dispose of; so the Rock Brigade was none the better for me, nor me for
them. I went for some short time to live with one of the old officers,
quarter-master of the British battalion, and he offered me every
assistance in his power. Previous to the time of my departure from
Oporto, I witnessed some little affairs carried on with the enemy on the
other side of the River Douro. Our troops had beaten the enemy back,
about two leagues from Vellenevue. I often saw the enemy firing shells
from their batteries when upon outlying picket duty, and a great many
crossing the Douro in the night, as many as eight or ten in each party.
As they had laid siege to the garrison for about two years, they did a
deal of mischief by throwing shells into the town. I frequently heard
the Portuguese people in the town calling out, when under fire, that the
shells were “_Grande Diabolos_,” or “Great devils.” There was scarcely
a house in Oporto, but was perforated by shot or shell.
During the three years that I was in the service I could not relate to
you every little incident that took place. Had it not been for the
British subjects that went out to fight for Queen Donna Maria, and the
French also, the town must have been taken by the troops of Don Miguel.
The British subjects, as well as the French, were in a great state of
starvation in the year ’32. Part of the time I was in the hospital from
the wounds I received before Oporto, which had thoroughly disabled me
from performing any other duty; and I wish to inform my Sydney readers
that during the three years I was in the Portuguese service there did
not occur much worth relating.
In my work published recently in England is contained a full and true
account of the numerous affairs in which I was engaged, comprising my
adventures both in the Portuguese and British service. This is a work I
would advise all my friends to peruse; it contains 272 pages, which are
fully illustrated in copper-plate, comprising among them two large
drawings of the Battle of Waterloo; also one of the action of Ponte
Ferrera, in Portugal. This book was published in the year 1834, and can
at any time be had on application to the author of the present work,
Corporal Knight; or by application to Mr. Murray, Charing Cross; or
Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange, London. The first edition sold
rapidly, to the number of 750; as these books were well got up and most
interesting, they readily sold at the sum of five shillings per volume.
The first days’ sales were fifty volumes, and netted the sum of £12 10s.
I may remark that I left Spithead 20th November, 1830; and I left Oporto
on the 20th November, 1833. I then went on board the Samuel, schooner,
loaded with wine, and bound for Bristol. I heard the captain say to his
mate, concerning my fellow passenger and myself, that one or two
passengers would not cost him much for provisions on the passage.
Overhearing this remark, I said to him, “Mind, captain, that I don’t
astonish your provision chest, as I have been formerly a marine on board
the squadron.” He replied, “I am glad to hear you speak so boldly, as I
will be rejoiced in your continuing in good health.” During the voyage,
one of the seamen having become unfit for duty, I told the skipper that
I would do my utmost to supply his place on the passage. He thanked me,
and gave me a complete sea rig-out, comprising purser’s jacket,
trousers, and a sou’-wester. He said, “Put these on, and doff your
military uniform, and then you will look something ship-shape.” I
immediately complied by getting down the forecastle, and into my new kit
as soon as possible. I packed up my regimentals and stowed them away in
the bunk where I usually slept. The captain was mightily pleased to see
me come up a perfect seaman, to all appearance at least. I then told
him he must excuse me going aloft, as the severity of my wounds
prevented me doing so, but would do my utmost on deck. He was well
satisfied with me, and, after a few days, we got into the skirts of the
Bay of Biscay; our copper on the starboard quarter, containing rations
for the ship’s company, during a stormy night, when the waves were
actually running over the topmast, this unfortunate copper got loose and
drove right across the main hatch and then into the sea. The captain
then told the mate to batten down the hatchways, as there was a still
worse squall to windward. I lashed myself to the pump. We soon after
sprang a leak, and were nearly lost that night. The weather, however,
moderated towards morning. The captain said to me, “You’re sticking fast
enough to that pump.” I said I was, and told him I did so to make sure
of seeing the old country once more, after all my hardships in foreign
lands. After the squall was over, I continued at the pump--as we had
sprung a leak. I pumped seven hours during the day, and had a glass of
grog for every hour. The captain looked at me several times, and said,
“Are you not getting tired?” I replied that I was, for my arms began to
ache. “As we have lost our copper,” he says, “we must put up with what
we have on board.” After we had got into the English Channel we had a
very favorable wind, which carried us along in grand twig. When we came
in sight of Holyhead a pilot came out with his men. They hove up
alongside of us, and the pilot came on board, and conveyed the craft up
the Pill. The captain said to me, “Corporal, you can change yourself
now, and put on your own apparel.” Accordingly I went down into the
forecastle; I dressed myself in uniform, and came on deck. The captain
said, “You look a different man, corporal, to what you did some time
ago. Get yourself ready to go on shore with me.” I asked him where he
was going, and he said, “We are going seven miles overland to the
ferry-boat leading into Bristol.” I asked, “Shall I call the other
passenger, he is a sick man?” He replied, “No, let him stay there; he is
unworthy much attention, as he did not try to assist when the ship was
in great danger. I have £4 paid by the Portuguese Government for your
passage to Bristol.” He gave it to me, saying, “you are well entitled to
it; I will give you a little more when you come to Bristol.” We shortly
afterwards went ashore in the boat, leaving the pilot in charge. We did
not arrive in Bristol until two days, owing to the wind being so much
against her. We proceeded on our way to Bristol, when the captain asked
me if I would go into an hotel and take some refreshment; I replied, I
would; he asked me what I would like, and I told him I should like a
pint of English ale, as I had not drunk any such beverage for nearly
three years. The ale took effect on me, more so than a gallon of wine.
We then proceeded on our way two miles farther, until we came to the
Ferry House Hotel; the captain and myself went into the hotel and took a
glass each. On coming out, he felt very sick, and told me the liquor
had taken a very bad effect on him. I waited some little time until he
was able to go with me. We then got into a boat and went over to
Bristol. The captain brought me to his own house in Bristol: he was a
married man, having a wife and family. He mentioned having been to sea
seventeen years, but had never witnessed such a fearful sea before, as
it was touch and go with us. I stayed with the captain at his own
residence for two days. We went down to the quay side on the third day
to see if she had come up, and the captain discovered her lying
alongside of the wharf. I brought some things on shore with me that I
had carried from Portugal. The captain and I went into a tavern on the
quay-side, where there were a great many other captains of ships
assembled. They said, “Captain Kelsey, what kind of a voyage had you?”
“A very indifferent one,” replied he; they remarked, “You have brought a
soldier home with you.” He said, “Yes, and a very clever man he is. We
were in the height of danger in the Bay of Biscay, and one of the seamen
fell sick, and he took the man’s place to do anything that might be
required on the passage; money had been paid by the Portuguese
authorities for his passage; and I have given it to him, for he was very
well deserving of it.” “Very good, captain,” they observed, all being
very well acquainted with him, “We shall all make him up a little more.”
So, from the gentlemen present in the parlour of the hotel, I got five
pounds subscribed. They said, as the weather was very cold, that would
enable me to proceed on to London; and after the captain, myself, and
the majority of the captains had taken farewell of each other, I
proceeded to the captain’s residence, and the following day to London. I
shook hands very heartily with the captain this morning, and thanked him
for his kindness for all I had received; he said I was well entitled to
it; so I took farewell of him.
In going up through Bristol I heard a fiddle playing in an hotel, I took
a seat and called for something to drink; I kept up the “spree” for two
days, when the devil might have danced a hornpipe in my pocket, for my
money was all gone. I was prosing my head how to get to London, and
thought to myself I would go down to the Portuguese Council Chambers to
see the consul, as I had an order for forty-three pounds back payment at
Cavenhill’s, Cornhill, agent to the Portuguese Government. I presented
this order to the Portuguese consul to ask him if he would grant me a
few pounds, and I would leave the order with him, and he could forward
it to the agents in London. He said he could not do anything of that
kind, but that, owing to my good conduct in the Portuguese service,
during the period I was in it, and seeing what I had on my dress coat
(which was the united order of the Tower and Sword), he gave me five
pounds, saying it was a gift from his own private purse. I was extremely
thankful to him, and I retired from his apartment. In going through the
hall, where there were a few gentlemen reading the newspapers, one of
them asked me if I would please to stop; he asked me what regiment in
the service I belonged to; I answered I formerly belonged to the
ninety-fifth rifles; he asked me if I was in any engagements with them;
I said I was in Holland under Sir Thomas Graham, and also General Adams
at the battle of Waterloo. He said he knew them, and asked me several
questions, which I answered. He asked me where I had gained the order of
the United Sword, and I told him in the Portuguese service. He said he
knew Portugal well, and added, “I am aware all you have told me is quite
correct; I have been a colonel in the British army under Wellington;” he
was satisfied, and asked me if I was going to London, I said, “Yes,
sir.” He then gave me a letter of introduction to a gentleman in London.
A good few gentlemen in the hall stopped reading their papers and
gathered round me to hear what I had to say. The gentleman said to me,
“Here is a trifle for you, to help you on to London,” and gave me a
pound, and the rest of the company made me up four pounds more. I was
very thankful to them all, and so I came out in flying colours, being a
pound richer than when I first started.