WE AFFECT THE SENTIMENTAL BRITISH PUBLIC, AND GAIN BUT LITTLE GLORY IN
HOLLAND.
On January 18th, 1809, the British army sailed from Corunna, and having
encountered very boisterous weather, the fleet were dispersed, and
the regiments arrived in England at different ports and at different
periods during the latter end of the month and the beginning of
February. One wing of the 28th Regiment landed at Portsmouth; the
other, to which I belonged, disembarked at Plymouth. Our appearance on
landing was very unseemly, owing principally to the hurry attending
our embarkation at Corunna, which took place in the dark and in the
presence of an enemy. Scarcely a regiment got on board the vessel which
contained their baggage; and the consequence was, that on quitting
our ships we presented an appearance of much dirt and misery. The men
were ragged, displaying torn garments of all colours; and the people
of England, accustomed to witness the high order and unparalleled
cleanliness of their national troops, for which they are renowned
throughout Europe, and never having seen an army after the termination
of a hard campaign, were horror-struck, and persuaded themselves that
some dreadful calamity must have occurred. Their consternation was
artfully wrought up to the highest pitch by the wily old soldiers, who,
fully aware of the advantage to be gained by this state of general
excitement and further to work on the feelings, recited in pathetic
strain the most frightful accounts of their sufferings and hardships.
Interested persons at home profited by this state of universal ferment.
One political party, eagerly catching at any circumstances which
could tend to incriminate the other, highly exaggerated even those
already incredible accounts; while the other side, who felt that all
the disasters attending the campaign properly rested with themselves,
joined in the cry and with mean political subterfuge endeavoured
to throw the onus off their own shoulders on to the breast of the
silent, the unconscious dead. A general outcry was got up against Sir
John Moore. He was accused of being stupid, of being irresolute, of
running away, and of God knows what. His memory was assailed alike by
those politically opposed to his party and by those who once were his
supporters, and who, although aware of his masculine genius, maintained
their posts by basely resorting to calumny and deceit.
[Sidenote: OUTCRY AGAINST THE DEAD.]
During this campaign it was the opinion of many that circumstances
occurred which, under more favourable auspices, would have induced some
individuals to expect promotion. But the jarring and disturbed state of
the Cabinet, each individual endeavouring to counteract the measures
of his colleague, threw out a foggy gloom damping all hopes; and when
the eminent services of Sir John Moore and those of General Paget were
passed over unnoticed, it would have been a military heresy to have
accepted, much more to solicit promotion.
After remaining a few days at Plymouth, we proceeded as far as Exeter,
and there halted for the space of a week to await further instructions
from London. During our stay at this place we lived at the Old London
Inn, and here a curious scene took place. Two Spanish gentlemen
stopped at the inn on their way to Falmouth; and when after dinner
their bill was presented, a misunderstanding took place. I should
premise that at this, as at many other inns in England, every edible
article produced on the table is charged separately. The Spaniards,
after carefully examining the bill, objected to pay it; the waiter
reported to his master, who interfered, but since he was as ignorant
of Spanish as his guests were of the English language, all was
confusion. The arguments and assertions of either party were totally
incomprehensible to the other. After fruitless clamour the landlord
came into the room where we, the officers of the regiment, dined,
requesting to know if any of us could assist him in his dilemma.
Although not very well acquainted with the Spanish language at that
time, I volunteered my services. The Spaniards were very wrathful
and boldly asserted that the innkeeper attempted to extort payment
for a dish which was never brought to them; this they were firm in
maintaining, having counted every article. One swore that he never
touched anything of the kind, and that, if brought into the room, it
must have been covered on the sideboard; the other accused the cook of
having used it himself in the kitchen, and of trying, that he might
conceal his gormandising, to make them pay, declaring at the same time
that the affair should be laid open to the public for the benefit of
future travellers who might otherwise be taken in. By their accounts
it was impossible that I could fathom the affair; and as soon as the
Spaniards allowed me to speak, I called the waiter to bring his written
bill, and on this one of the gentlemen pointed out what he considered
to be the cheat. I took the paper from the waiter, when, lo! upon
examination I discovered the viand in dispute to be the chambermaid,
who was charged in the bill at two shillings. I could not restrain a
loud fit of laughter, which roused the blood of the Castilians even
more than the cheat; but when I explained the cause, they were as ready
to enter into the joke as any others. Upon asking mine host how he
could think of making a charge for the chambermaid in his bill, thus
making a voluntary donation obligatory, he replied that, had he not
done so, foreigners would never pay her; that his servants had no other
wages than those which they got from customers. The Spaniards paid the
bill most willingly, and joined our table, and the whole party laughed
heartily during the remainder of the evening.
[Sidenote: GREAT CRY.]
The order for continuing our route having at length arrived, we
proceeded to occupy our old quarters (Colchester), where, after passing
through Dorset, to avoid falling in with other troops on the move, we
arrived after a march which including partial halts occupied one month
and five days, giving an addendum to our campaign of from between three
and four hundred miles without leaving a single straggler behind. This
march bore heavily by lightening us of all our cash, and dipped us
besides in the paymaster’s books.
In less than three months after the regiment was united at Colchester,
we again were ordered upon what we joyfully contemplated as active
service. A magnificent expedition was sent out to carry off (if
allowed) the Gallia Dutch fleet from the Schelde. The land forces,
commanded by the Earl of Chatham, were composed of forty thousand men,
the flower of the British Army. This force was accompanied by a not
less imposing naval force: thirty-nine sail of the line, three dozen
frigates and innumerable satellites, bombships, gunboats, brigs, etc.,
which, together with storeships, transports and other craft, amounted
in the whole to upwards of six hundred sail.
To join this splendid armament the 28th Regiment marched from
Colchester in the latter end of June, and reached Dover on July 4th.
Thence we in a few days proceeded to Deal, where we embarked on board
frigates--a squadron of that class of men-of-war under command of Sir
Richard Keats being destined to carry the reserve of the army. This
arrangement was adopted in consequence of the frigates drawing less
water than ships of the line, thus enabling them to lie closer in shore
and quicken the disembarkation of the reserve, who of course were the
first troops to land. We remained upwards of a week anchored at Deal,
awaiting final instructions and the junction of the whole. During
this delay some thousand families, many of the highest lineage in the
kingdom, visited Deal. All arrangements being finally terminated, this
truly magnificent naval and military armament sailed on July 28th,
1809. Thousands of superbly dressed women crowded the beach; splendid
equipages were numerous; all the musical bands in the fleet, as well
military as naval, joined in one general concert, playing the National
Anthem, which, with the loud and long-continued cheering on shore,
enlivened the neighbourhood for miles around and caused the most
enthusiastic excitement throughout the whole. Many beauteous fair,
whose smiles were rendered yet more brilliant by the intrusive tear,
waved their handkerchiefs in the breeze to the fond objects of their
fixed regard, who responded with silent but steadfast gaze, burning
with the two noblest passions which inspire the breast of man--love and
glory. The show was august, the pageant splendid, the music enchanting.
[Sidenote: AND LITTLE WOOL.]
Next morning we discovered the dykebound fens of Holland, little
anticipating that they were shortly to become British graveyards. About
noon we anchored; and the remainder of the day was passed in preparing
the three days’ cooked provisions always carried by British soldiers on
landing in an enemy’s country.
The next day proved boisterous, and to our great mortification
nothing general could be attempted. However about noon the weather
having somewhat abated, great commotion was observed throughout the
armament; signals from ship to ship throughout the fleet portended
great events. Sir Richard Keats lowered his flag, followed by Sir John
Hope on board the _Salsette_ frigate, which carried the left wing of
the 28th Regiment, with the exception of the light company. The light
company embarked with the headquarters on board the _Lavinia_ frigate,
commanded by Lord William Stuart.
After due consultation between the admiral and general, a signal was
made calling for all the carpenters of the squadron with their tools.
Some momentous affair was evidently at hand. Four companies of the 28th
Regiment were lowered into boats, which, being joined by the light
company from on board the _Lavinia_, were placed under the command of
Major Browne of the regiment. We now immediately pushed off, animated
by the cheers of the whole fleet. The shore was soon reached, the
light company leading the van, the first on hostile ground. Advancing
some way, we encountered a piquet, who, on our shooting the fever (the
ague only remained) out of a few trembling Dutchmen, thought proper to
retire. Upon this we proceeded to carry into execution the object of
the expedition, which, I forgot to mention before, was to destroy a
signal-post.
The carpenters now came in for a full share of the glory. Each axe
that fell upon the staff was answered by cheers loud as salvos; but
when the mast after repeated blows was seen to fall, so loud were the
greetings that some ships passing at a distance on their way to England
and reporting what they had heard, induced many there to think that
Antwerp had fallen into our hands. After the fall and destruction of
the telegraph, we returned triumphantly on board, carrying away all
the machinery books and signals; and thus, and thus alone, the 28th
Regiment signalised itself during this stupendous campaign!
Next morning (July 31st) a signal was made for all the troops to
descend into the boats and prepare for landing. The rapidity of the
current was such that the boats were carried away by the stream, and
clung alongside of any vessel that came in their way. I recollect that
Lieutenant-Colonel Woodford, with his light company of the Coldstream
Guards, held on by the _Lavinia_, and was taken on board. The officers
dined with Lord William Stuart, who, having been called away by Sir
Richard Keats, requested me to do the honours of his table during his
absence; and his guests, to relieve me from any embarrassment, freely
and cheerfully partook of his lordship’s fare. I more than once in
later days met Colonel Woodford in London, and remember not only his
polished address and courteous manner, but also his prompt recognition
and ready kindness.
August 1st being fine, the reserve under Sir John Hope landed on
the Island of South Beveland; while the other troops went ashore
principally on the Island of Walcheren, and soon proceeded to besiege
Flushing. On the 13th the bombardment of that fortress commenced.
It was only on the morning of the 14th that, after many previous
consultations, a squadron of frigates commanded by Lord William Stuart
forced the passage of the Schelde; and, notwithstanding the delay
caused by considering the enterprise too dangerous to be attempted,
only one vessel, the _Lavinia_ which led, was struck by only one shot.
On the morning of the 15th Flushing capitulated.
In the meantime the reserve in South Beveland stormed and took Fort
Batz, a strong post occupied by the enemy. On the 11th an attempt
was made by the enemy’s gunboats to retake it; but the guards, who
originally took the fort, now successfully defended it.
[Sidenote: INCONSIDERATE BERNADOTTE.]
Flushing having fallen, our frigates in the Schelde, and all the
channels and passages round the islands scoured by our gunboats, the
reserve expected hourly to be ordered to attack Antwerp and the enemy’s
fleet, who lay in our view and within our grasp, not far from Antwerp.
However we were grievously disappointed. With the fall of Flushing
fell all our warlike operations. After we had remained inactive a
sufficient time to allow Fouché to collect and throw thirty thousand
men into Antwerp and its defences, and to erect batteries along all the
approaches which he armed with the guns taken from their now useless
ships, the Commander of the forces, with the courtesy of manner which
distinguished that nobleman very politely requested the French to
give up their fleet. But that surly son of a tubmaker, Bernadotte,
sent a flat refusal; and, finding too late that late Court hours and
measured movements were ineffectual against rapid and early rising
revolutionists, Lord Chatham with the greater part of the survivors
of his fevered army returned to England on September 14th. A portion
were left behind to favour the introduction of prohibited goods, but
the fatality and expense attending the maintenance of this contraband
establishment being found to more than counterbalance the advantages
proposed, the project was abandoned, and those who escaped pestilence
returned on December 23rd.
The splendid pageantry that attended, and the national joyous pride
that greeted the departure of this superb armament, were woefully
contrasted with its return. The unwieldy expedition, although it
furnished cause of merriment all over the Continent, deluged the
British empire with tears. There was scarcely a family in Great Britain
which did not mourn the fate of a gallant soldier, without one cheering
ray to brighten the gloom, one laurel leaf to be hallowed by their
affectionate tears. The mortality among the troops was so great that
bands of music were forbidden to attend the military funerals.