THE RETREAT CONTINUED.
This night we passed in feasting, supplies of provision having been
sent out from Corunna; and the commissary gave our mess a canteen full
of rum, some biscuits, and an extra piece of salt pork in exchange for
a wax candle, which enabled him to serve out the rations and saved him
from error in securing his own slight portion. We were excessively
happy at the exchange, as it enabled us to entertain some friends
that night; and we felt proud at furnishing the candle, which was not
the less appreciated for being in the first instance sacrilegiously
plundered from a church by the stragglers, then violently wrested from
them by the light company, and finally returning to the purpose for
which it was originally intended, and religiously expiring in throwing
light on the works of the commissary.
After two nights’ uninterrupted repose in comfortable quarters,
the main body of the army, under the immediate command of the
General-in-chief, marched from Betanzos on the morning of the 11th,
followed by the reserve from their bivouac at due distance, and the
reserve, as usual, closely attended by Soult’s advanced guard, headed
by Franceschi’s light cavalry. On this day they were not very pressing
until after we had crossed the bridge of Betanzos. Close to this bridge
the 28th Regiment were halted to protect the engineer officer and
party employed to blow it up, all the necessary preparations having, it
was supposed, taken place the day previously. The desired explosion now
took place by which it was confidently expected that for a short time
at least we should be separated from our teasing pursuers, and thus be
enabled to arrive in good order before Corunna. Our expectations were,
however, blasted by the explosion itself; for as soon as the rubbish
had fallen down and the smoke cleared away, to our great surprise
and annoyance we perceived that one half of one arch only had been
destroyed, the other half and one of the battlements remaining firm.
[Sidenote: GENERAL PAGET AND AN ENGINEER.]
On witnessing the abortive result of all this labour and fuss, General
Paget, who was close by, exclaimed in astonishment, “What, another
abortion! And pray, sir, how do you account for this failure?”
The engineer officer replied that he could account for it in no
other way than that the barrel of powder which effected the partial
destruction had in its explosion either choked or shaken from its
direction the train leading to the second barrel, which consequently
still remained whole in the undemolished part of the arch.
Upon this the general demanded to know within what period of time the
disaster could be remedied.
“In less than twenty minutes, sir,” was the engineer’s reply.
“Very well, sir,” said General Paget; and then, turning to me, he said,
“Go over the bridge.”
I considered this order to be addressed to me individually, for the
purpose of reconnoitring, a service in which the general had frequently
employed me during the march; and, taking a rapid view of the probable
consequences of passing over the smouldering embers of the half-choked
train, which might still revive and creep its way to the second barrel,
however flattered at being selected, yet I confess I did not relish the
affair. But whatever my sensations, they were my own private property;
my person, I felt fully aware, belonged to my king and country.
Immediately moving forward to the bridge, I found that the order to
cross it was intended not for me alone; the whole light company and
the grenadiers were ordered to cross over. The main road led directly
forward through the town of Betanzos; but close to the end of the
bridge which we now approached a branch road turned off at a right
angle, winding round the base of the hill upon which Betanzos stands.
At this angle and on the side of the road next the bridge was a large
house, which intercepted the view between the bridge and the turn of
the branch road; and so we got on to the wrong road by mistake.
Captain Gomm, General Disney’s major of brigade, was sent to recall us,
when we of course turned round, followed by the French cavalry at a
short distance, within which they could easily keep, in consequence of
the winding nature of the road.
As soon as the grenadiers, who now led, turned the angle of the road
above mentioned they were immediately on the bridge, and, never
forgetting the barrel of powder, they, followed by the light company,
moved in double quick time over the narrow part of the bridge--by the
men called the Devil’s Neck.
[Sidenote: UNDER THE CAVALRY SABRE.]
The enemy, perceiving us in such a hurry, no doubt attributed the haste
to timidity (and it may be remarked in all contending animals that as
courage oozes out of one it appears to be imbibed by its adversary);
for scarcely bad the light company passed twenty yards beyond the
Devil’s Neck when the cavalry gave a loud cheer--sure indication of a
charge. I instantly gave the word, “Right about turn, forward!” and,
being now in front of the men, in my anxiety to gain the narrowed part
of the bridge--the Devil’s Neck--I happened to shoot five or six yards
ahead, when, the dragoons advancing close, the front ranks of the
company behind me came down on the knee. I had not time to turn round,
for at that moment a French officer, darting in front rode full tilt
at me. I cut at him, but my sword approached no nearer perhaps than
his horse’s nose; in fact my little light infantry sabre was a useless
weapon opposed to an immense mounted dragoon, covered, horse and all,
with a large green cloak, which in itself formed a sufficient shield.
After the failure of my attack I held my sword horizontally over my
head, awaiting the dragoon’s blow, for it was far more dangerous to
turn round than to stand firm. At this very critical moment a man of
the company, named Oats, cried out, “Mr. Blakeney, we’ve spun him!”
and at the same instant the dragoon fell dead at my feet. I flew with
a bound to the rear, and regained the five or six paces incautiously
advanced. The cavalry were now up to our bayonets, covering the whole
pontine isthmus.
This affair, trifling in itself, yet to me very interesting, did not
occupy as much time as I have taken in its narration. Along the other
side of the bridge the dragoons charged forward, until they came to the
edge of the chasm formed by the explosion, when they were of course
arrested; and on the opposite side of the chasm the grenadiers were
drawn up, standing, being protected from a charge by the opening.
The dragoons in the rear, not knowing the cause of the check, rode
furiously forward, and, crowding their front ranks, who were pulling
up or wheeling round, and exposed to the fire of the grenadiers,
the greatest confusion ensued; while those at our side, finding all
attempts at breaking through the light company fruitless, and being
severely galled by the fire of the rear rank as well as a flanking fire
from some of the grenadiers, all wheeled round and galloped off at full
speed. Arriving at the house near the end of the bridge, their leading
squadrons wheeled short round; but the suddenness of the turn, made too
whilst in full speed, checked the whole column, and the light company,
now free to act on their feet, poured a wicked well-directed fire into
their ranks. So hot was the peppering, and so anxious were the rear
squadrons to get away, that they refused the turn, and, increasing
their speed, rode direct into the town of Betanzos. Here we had
beautiful practice, for the road was straight; and to enter the town
they must pass through an archway, which caused a second check, when
many were lowered from their horses.
All having at length retired, I stepped forward the nearly fatal
five paces and took possession of my late fierce antagonist’s green
cloak, which from the inclemency of the weather was extremely useful.
I long kept it as a boyish trophy, although to Oats alone belonged
any merit attending the fall of its late gallant owner. Oats, seeing
the dangerous predicament in which I was placed, was the only man in
the front rank of the company who did not come on his knee; he was
immediately behind me, and remained firm on his feet to enable him to
fire over my head, and, waiting the proper moment and taking steady
aim, sent his ball through the dragoon’s head just as his sabre was
about to descend upon mine.
It now appeared that during the time when the two flank companies of
the regiment moved forward to check the cavalry, by which they ran
such risk of being blown up or cut off, no progress had been made in
the destruction of the standing half of the injured arch; and now the
enemy, possessing themselves of the building at the end of the bridge,
fired upon us from the windows. From this house they could not be
driven, our guns having moved forward.
[Sidenote: FROM BETANZOS TO CORUNNA.]
Although all expectation of destroying the bridge was now relinquished,
still it was absolutely necessary to prolong our halt. The whole
British army were on march from Betanzos to Corunna; and to have
allowed the enemy to approach before the main body had crossed the
bridge of El-Burgo, eight or ten miles farther on, must have caused
serious loss.
During our halt the French dark brown infantry columns were seen
pouring into Betanzos, which they soon occupied in considerable
force. They threw out some skirmishers, and showed frequent symptoms
of rushing forward _en masse_ to force the bridge; but to our great
disappointment they never attempted carrying their menacing threats
into execution, brought to their senses by the severe chastisement
which their cavalry had received shortly before in their vain attempt
to cross the bridge.
A retiring army has seldom an opportunity of ascertaining the losses
sustained by their pursuers; however, in this instance they must have
suffered severely, and had it not been for a drizzling rain, which
continued the whole morning and caused many of the musket locks to
refuse fire, few, if any, of the dragoons who charged at the bridge
would have returned. We had but a few men wounded either by pistol or
carbine shots, but not a man cut down.
Here I must express my astonishment that, notwithstanding the
impetuosity with which the dragoons rushed forward, neither man nor
horse was precipitated into the stream, although closely pressed by
their own ranks in the rear, and being suddenly compelled to rein up
whilst in full speed on the very edge of the chasm. They of course had
heard the explosion, but being at some distance were ignorant of the
effect which it produced; and, seeing us after it had taken place cross
and recross the bridge, they most probably considered the attempt to
destroy it a total failure, as all other similar attempts had been;
and the chasm, from the rubbish and the convexity of the bridge, lay
concealed till they were on the brink.
The enemy seemed to be philosophically calculating their strength,
whether of nerves or what, and of the resistance to be overcome
by advancing. It would indeed be difficult to decide on the force
necessary to win the bridge. The rifles with sure and steady aim
incessantly poured their fire from the rising ground and hedges which
our bank of the stream offered. The light company (28th) kept up a
deadly fire upon all who trod the bridge, immediately supported by
the grenadiers. The 28th Regiment formed a barrier of steel in rear
of its flank companies. The 20th, 52nd, and 91st Regiments, boiling
with eagerness to mingle in the fight, were scarcely restrained in
their position not far above us, ready, in the event of the enemy
forcing their way over the dead bodies of the 28th Regiment, to hurl
to destruction all those who dared to pass the fatal bridge. General
Paget was amongst us. Sir John Moore with anxious looks watched from
the position above each individual movement. This we knew, and, knowing
it, had the hero of Lodi and Arcola himself headed the opposite host,
he must have been content with his own end of the bridge or have surely
perished at ours.
[Sidenote: A FLIGHT OF HEROES.]
General Paget, having considered that the main body of the army had by
this time got sufficiently ahead, followed with the reserve, leaving
the bridge without having destroyed even one arch; and scarcely had
we retired ten minutes when the enemy’s advanced guard passed over in
polite attendance, maintaining their courteous distance, which was
this day increased. Not having seen our guns at Betanzos, it is not
improbable that they suspected an ambush such as had been tried at the
romantic bridge.
This, our last day’s march, was the first time, since Sir John Moore
became Commander of the forces, that the whole British army marched
together; consequently it was the most regular. Sir John Moore directed
in person; every commanding officer headed his regiment, and every
captain and subaltern flanked his regularly formed section; not a man
was allowed to leave the ranks until a regular halt took place for
that purpose. But the evil attending irregular marching was past and
irreparable; unfortunately this soldier-like manner of marching was
resorted to too late to be of much effect.
We, the reserve, arrived that evening at El-Burgo, a small village
within four miles of Corunna. Extraordinary measures seemed to have
been taken for the destruction of the bridge which there crossed the
Mero. The preparations being terminated, the 28th Light Company, who
still formed the rearguard, crossing over the bridge were drawn up
close in its rear. Many remonstrated against our nearness, but were
sneeringly assured of being more than safe: thus high-bred scientific
theory scorned the vulgarity of common sense. The explosion at length
took place, and completely destroyed two arches; large blocks of
masonry whizzed awfully over our heads, and caused what the whole of
Soult’s cavalry could not effect during the retreat. The light company
of the 28th and Captain Cameron’s company of the 95th broke their
ranks and ran like turkeys, and regardless of their bodies crammed
their heads into any hole which promised security. The upshot masonic
masses continuing their parabolic courses passed far to our rear, and,
becoming independent of the impetus by which they had been disturbed,
descended and were deeply buried in the earth. One man of the 28th was
killed, and four others severely wounded were sent that night into
Corunna. This was the only bridge destroyed during the whole retreat,
except that of Castro Gonzolo, although many were attempted.
Headquarters were this night at Corunna, and the whole of the troops
under cover. Even the 28th Light Company, although on guard over that
wonder, the blown-up bridge, were sheltered. We occupied a house quite
close to the end of the bridge. Nearly opposite to us, on the other
side of the street, a company of the 95th were stationed, also in a
house; and each company threw out small detached parties and sentinels
along the bank of the river.
The French infantry did not come up that evening; but next morning, as
day broke, we discovered the opposite bank lined by their light troops;
and a small village not far distant was held in force. But a few shots
from our guns obliged the enemy to abandon the post; and a sentry from
the 95th was pushed forward to the verge of the broken arch, screened
by stones and rubbish. Our opponents took up a similar post on their
side during the night, so that, the British troops having now turned
round to face the enemy, the advanced posts of the contending armies
were only the breadth of two arches of a bridge asunder. In this
situation we continued for two days, keeping up an incessant fire, so
long as we could discover objects to fire at. This continued blaze
was to our advantage, as it obliged the enemy to answer us. We were
plentifully supplied with fresh ammunition from Corunna, whereas the
expenditure on the part of our foes was not so easily remedied; this
they afterwards felt at the battle of Corunna.
[Sidenote: ONE SAFE CORNER.]
The light company were very critically situated. On one side our
windows were exposed to a flanking fire; at the end of the house they
were directly open to the enemy; and both were exposed to fire from the
opposite bank, which was hotly maintained, so that it was impossible to
cross the room we occupied except by creeping on our hands and knees.
But in one angle we were as secure as in a coffee-house in London. We
could have been altogether out of danger in a magazine underneath,
but from there we could not see what the enemy were about; and every
moment it was expected they would attempt to repair the bridge, or in
some way endeavour to cross the river, which was found to be fordable
at low water. We therefore placed a large table--the only one found in
the house--in the safety corner. A magazine was discovered filled with
potatoes, the only ones we saw since leaving Salamanca; and some fowls,
detected in an outhouse, were cackled forth from their hiding-places by
the melodious, though perfidious, notes of the ventriloquists in their
search for game.
Having a sumptuous dinner on this day, we invited Captain Cameron,
commanding the Highland company of the 95th, who were on piquet in
the house opposite, to come over and dine with us. Cameron was an
excellent fellow and a gallant and determined soldier; he willingly
accepted the invitation, but hesitated as to crossing the street, not
thinking himself justified in risking his life for a dinner when
employed upon duty so important. But I told him that if he would
wait until three shots had been fired at the window from which I was
speaking (but standing at a respectful distance from it), he would be
safe in running across the street. I then put my cap upon the point
of my sword, pushing it gradually out of the window, at the same time
cautiously, as it were, moving forward a musket. The three shots were
soon fired at the cap. Cameron then bolted across the street; but just
as he was entering the door a fourth shot was fired, which I did not
expect, and, as well as I can remember, passed through the skirts of
his greatcoat without doing any other injury. The danger was not here
finished, for as soon as he arrived within three steps of the top of
the stairs he was obliged to crawl on all fours, and continue that
grovelling movement until he arrived within the sanctum sanctorum.
The servant who brought in dinner was obliged to conform to the same
quadruped movement, pushing the dishes on before him. On that day also,
Lieutenant Hill of our regiment came to visit us, passing along the
rear of the houses.
[Sidenote: PORK FOR WINE.]
We were now rather numerous in the safe corner, being four in
number--Cameron, Hill, Taylor, and myself. Hill, who came in late, was
warned to keep within due bounds; yet in a moment of forgetfulness
he placed his glass outside the safety line, and, as luck would have
it, just as he withdrew his hand the glass was shattered to pieces by
a musket-shot. A loud laugh arose at his expense; there was no other
glass to be found, and each being unwilling to lend his, he drank
sometimes out of one and sometimes out of another. The scene was truly
ridiculous; and the manner also in which we discovered wine is not
unworthy of being noticed. A man of the company, named Savage, came
running to say that he had discovered wine, and conducted me to a
house close by, in which General Disney, who commanded our brigade,
was quartered. Looking through a crevice pointed out by Savage, for
whose continued laughter I could not account, as soon as my eye became
familiar with the dim light within I discovered the general and his
aide-de-camp, Captain D’Oyly, of the guards, filling their canteens
with wine. Rather at a loss and not thinking it decorous to interrupt
the general whilst officially employed for the good of the service,
I went round to the door, which I discovered whilst peeping through
the microscopic fissure; here I waited until they came out, not badly
provisioned with not bad wine. Just as they were about to lock the door
I sprang forward, saying that I had discovered wine to be in the house,
and came to inform him. The general thanked me very politely, saying
that he intended acquainting me privately, but that great caution must
be observed to keep it a profound secret from the men. This was the
good of the service alluded to. The general then gave me the key. We
sent for our canteens, which for several days had hung uselessly over
the men’s shoulders; our mess was plentifully stocked, and we gave
every man a bottle of wine half at a time. Shortly afterwards D’Oyly
came with the general’s compliments, to ask if I could lend him a piece
of salt pork, which he promised to repay at Corunna. Our mess had none
to give, but I procured a four-pound piece from the company, which I
must say he has never recollected to repay, so that should he ever meet
the 28th Light Company he will have an opportunity of fulfilling his
obligations.
On the evening of the 13th the reserve received an order to evacuate
El-Burgo immediately. It stated that no regular formation whatever
was to take place, neither regiments, companies, nor sections; every
man was to move out independently, and as soon as possible, in the
direction of Corunna. The light company of the 28th were directed to
retire in the same manner as soon as the place should be evacuated
by the whole of the reserve. Such an order coming from General Paget
astonished us all. But our speculations ceased when we reflected upon
the source whence the order emanated; for such was the high estimation
entertained of General Paget, and such the confidence reposed in him
by every officer and man in the reserve, that any orders coming from
him were always received as the result of cool determination and
mature judgment. When that officer gave an order there was something
so peculiar in his glance, so impressive in his tone of voice, and so
decisive in his manner, that no one held commune, even with himself, as
to its propriety or final object. The order was clear; the execution
must be prompt.
In obedience to this order the reserve commenced moving out of the
town, directing their steps towards Corunna in the manner indicated.
The light company perceiving the village evacuated by all except
themselves, prepared to follow the example by moving out of the
hothouse which they had occupied for two days, when all of a sudden
we were not a little startled by a tremendous crash; a cannon-shot,
followed by another and another, passed through the roof, shattering
tiles beams and every article that opposed. Our sanctum sanctorum, or
safety corner, now became no longer such; we hurried downstairs, not
delaying to assume our accustomed quadruped position.
[Sidenote: GO AS YOU PLEASE.]
This was the first time the enemy brought artillery to bear on
the rearguard, although their guns were in position at Lugo. The
previous unaccountable order was now fully explained. General Paget
had discovered a partially masked battery in forwardness on the
summit of a hill, and the whole village was entirely exposed to its
fire; into this battery the enemy were dragging their guns, while the
reserve were evacuating El-Burgo. The general, perceiving the place no
longer tenable, fortunately ordered it to be abandoned in the manner
mentioned. Had he waited to make regular formations, the loss of men on
our part must have been considerable; for as the light company passed
through, the whole village was under cannonade and the streets raked by
musketry from the bridge. Thus the reserve bade adieu to the advanced
guard of Marshal Soult’s army as an advanced guard. They insulted us
at parting by firing while we were withdrawing our advanced sentries,
pressing necessity preventing us from resenting the affront; but we
warned them to beware, should we meet again.