IN SCOTLAND
On sick-leave in England—In Scotland—Journey of seventy miles in
twenty-four hours on foot after a ball—Appointed to assist at
brigade office, 1813—Appointed captain and brigade-major in the York
Chasseurs
WE remained a week or more in the neighbourhood. The whole army was then
again put in motion towards the south-east of Portugal, in consequence
of the state of affairs previous to the battle of Albuera, under Marshal
Beresford. The weather during a part of this march was very wet and
stormy; our army suffered much from fever and ague. I was myself amongst
the number, and was attacked so severely that after some days’
suffering, without any covering or shelter, I was ordered to the rear
and then on sick-leave, in December, 1811, and I arrived in Plymouth in
January, 1812.
My leave was for six months, which enabled me to visit my father and
friends in Scotland. I was ordered to join the depot of my regiment at
Maldon, in Essex, and soon after I was sent with a recruiting party to
Dornoch, in my own native country. Lieut.-General Sir David Baird was
then the colonel-in-chief of my regiment, and he thought that by sending
me with a party to the Highlands I might find some countrymen for his
regiment; but in this both he and I were disappointed, for I remained at
Dornoch four months and never got a man. I was now ordered to leave my
recruiting party with an officer of the 21st Regiment and to proceed to
the Isle of Wight to embark for India to join the first battalion of my
regiment. This most unexpected official letter reached me while actually
at a public ball; but I determined to enjoy myself for at least one
night, so danced away till six in the morning, then went to bed and
slept till nine, when I started on foot on a journey of seventy miles
(two-thirds of which was over Highland moors and mountains) without even
a path to guide me; but I was then young, and, moreover, I fancied
myself in love, and that gave me heart and vigour to push on. In the
last forty miles I was obliged to have a guide, and having walked the
whole of that day and night, I completed my journey in twenty-four
hours. I may also mention that my lady-love was at this time the
acknowledged belle of all the country, but for various reasons our
courtship ended in nothing beyond a sincere and friendly feeling, even
to this day. I found another official letter countermanding my orders
for India and directing me to return with my recruiting party and rejoin
the depot at Maldon. Six weeks after this the remains of my regiment
returned from Portugal and were quartered at Chelmsford, in Essex, and
there we joined soon after.
General W. P. Acland commanded the district, and soon ordered an
inspection of the regiment. When he came to the companies’ books he was
so much displeased with the irregular and imperfect manner in which they
were kept that he found fault with all except Lieutenant Anderson’s
books, and ordered all the officers to be confined to barracks until our
lieutenant-colonel could report that the books were properly posted and
ready for his final inspection. This was a great triumph for me, and
much good, as I shall presently show, came out of it; for in about a
month England was sending a considerable force to Holland, and amongst
the staff for that service General Acland’s brigade-major was included.
On the following day I was actually marching off in charge of our
barrack guard, when an orderly arrived to say the general wished to see
me at once. Another unfortunate officer was then crossing the barrack
yard with his gun on his shoulder, going with others on a shooting
excursion, but as he was next for duty he was ordered to get ready at
once to take my place in charge of the guard, much to his annoyance. I
repaired at once to the general’s quarters, and on being shown in he
said, “My brigade-major has been ordered away, and I want you to come
and assist me at the brigade office until a successor is appointed.” I
thanked him, and said I should be most happy to attend and do my best.
He then took me to the office and made me copy some returns; in course
of the day he looked in, examined my work, and ordered me to come to him
every morning. Here I must mention that beyond dining with him
occasionally in my turn with the other officers of the garrison, I knew
nothing of General Acland, nor he of me; but now, being nominally on his
staff, I used to ride with him and dine with him more frequently, and so
began to feel myself a great man, for I had much to do, having no less
than six regiments and depots in the district, the reports and
correspondence all passing through my hands; and my responsibilities and
duties were increased by the general’s frequent absence in London and
other places, on which occasions he always authorized me to act in his
name and to carry on all correspondence and duties as if he were
present, except that if any unusual thing occurred, or any official
letter arrived requiring his opinion and decision, I was to forward all
such matters to his address, which he always left with me. I was also to
keep his absence a secret from every one. In this way I got on most
happily, when one morning he asked me, “How long have you been in this
service, and what service have you seen?” I told him, and that my first
battle was under him, as commanding my brigade at Maida. This seemed to
surprise him, for he was not aware of my having been at Maida. He then
said, “Bring me a memorandum in writing of your services.” I did so on
the following morning, without suspecting what use he was going to make
of it. Conceive, then, my joy and surprise in seeing myself a fortnight
afterwards gazetted as captain of a company in the York Chasseurs. Of
course, I thanked my benefactor with all my heart and soul; but he only
said, with his accustomed kindness, “You deserve it, and I hope you will
get on.” This was not all, for he next applied to the Horse Guards to
have me permanently confirmed as his brigade-major; but that was refused
on the ground that I was appointed to a new regiment where experienced
officers were immediately required, and therefore I must join at Sandown
barracks in the Isle of Wight with as little delay as possible. Still,
he kept me for some weeks longer with him. At last the time came when I
was obliged to leave. He then asked me to write to him occasionally, but
he lived only for three years after. I did write repeatedly, and as
often heard from him, and it is in fond and grateful acknowledgment of
my much-lamented friend that I gave my dear son the name of Acland. Had
I never seen General Acland I would not have been a captain for ten
years or more.
On joining the York Chasseurs at Sandown barracks I was pleased at
finding the officers a fine set of young fellows, all promoted from
other regiments for their services or strong family interest.
Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan was a smart, experienced officer, very kind to
all, but a strict disciplinarian; and as there was no end to our
parades, we soon became a most efficient regiment, and the most united
and happy corps of officers I ever knew.
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