WE RETURN TO THE PENINSULA.
After having filled up some hundred vacancies caused by our Dutch
expedition, we again received orders to prepare for foreign service;
and in January 1810 the 28th Regiment for the fourth time in four
successive years marched from Colchester to go out and meet the foe
in foreign lands. On this occasion we proceeded to Portsmouth, and
with the 2nd Battalion of the 4th or King’s Own Regiment embarked for
Gibraltar, where we arrived towards the latter end of the ensuing
month. In the April following, Major Browne of the regiment, with the
light companies of the 9th, 30th, and 41st Regiments, a battalion
company of the 28th which I accompanied, two guns and thirty gunners,
the whole amounting to three hundred and sixty men and officers,
marched to Tarifa, a small town at the entrance of the gut of
Gibraltar, afterwards rendered celebrated by its noble defence under
Colonel Skerrett against Marshal Victor.
[Sidenote: CHASED BY FRENCH HORSEMEN.]
Soon after our arrival I was sent by Major Browne with despatches to
General Campbell, then Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar. Returning next
day with the general’s instructions, when I had got about half way,
my attention was suddenly called by the peasantry, who pastured their
flocks on the neighbouring hills, frequently crying out, “Beware of the
French!” Neither the dragoon who accompanied me nor I myself could
discover the slightest appearance of an enemy, and I knew that the
French occupied no part within twenty miles of the place. Under this
conviction I proceeded forwards, yet cautiously, for the shepherds, who
seemed much excited, were running in all directions collecting their
flocks. On our advancing a short way, we heard the shouts, “Beware of
the French!” repeated with redoubled vehemence. I now stopped short,
when suddenly a French cavalry piquet, consisting of about twenty men
and an officer, darted from out the thickets, which were so high and
the patrol so well concealed that, although within a hundred and fifty
yards of us, neither the dragoon nor I had discovered any appearance
of either man or horse. They were in their saddles in an instant, and
saluted us with their carbines and pistols literally before we had time
to turn our horses round. My dragoon darted like lightning off the
road towards the coast, calling upon me to follow, and in an instant
was lost to sight. I felt much disinclination to trust my safety to
concealment in a country with one yard of which off the road I was not
acquainted. I therefore resolved to rely on the abilities of my horse
to make good my retreat along the road; I could depend upon him for
speed. The patrol gave me chase for upwards of four miles. We always
preserved nearly the same distance, from a hundred to a hundred and
fifty yards apart, losing sight of each other only when a turn in the
road or some high brambles intervened. Our uniformly preserving nearly
the same distance did not depend on the equal speed of our animals, but
on the nature of the road which was perhaps the worst mountain road in
Europe; and so deep and so little apart were the ruts by which it was
completely traversed that to push a spirited horse would be to break
his neck to a certainty and most probably that of the rider also. On
approaching the cork wood not far from Algesiras, the ground being
comparatively level, I very soon left the dragoons far behind.
On my arrival at Algesiras, learning that two Spanish regiments
of cavalry had just arrived there, I immediately waited on the
senior officer, and informed him of what had occurred, using every
remonstrance which I could suggest to induce him to march to the aid
of Tarifa, which, even before I entered the town, he knew from the
peasantry to be attacked. But all my prayers that he would aid Tarifa,
or at least cut off the retreat of the enemy, were ineffectual, the
Spanish commandant alleging that without orders he could not move. Upon
this I wrote to Lieutenant Belcher, assistant military secretary to
General Campbell, stating all that had taken place, at the same time
remarking that from the fact, which I learned also from the peasantry
who from far and near drove their flocks into Algesiras, that no sortie
had been made by Major Browne, I felt convinced that he was attacked by
a force much superior to his own. This letter I immediately sent off by
a boat to Gibraltar.
As soon as it became dusk I again mounted my horse, if possible to
get to Tarifa, attended by the same dragoon who accompanied me in the
morning. This man, who was no coward, found his way into Algesiras
about the same time that I arrived there. He assured me that he could
conduct me by a coast road to within a hundred yards of Tarifa without
being discovered by any, as it was a road or rather goat-track but
little known. As a proof of the confidence which he felt, he insisted
on taking the lead, for two horses could not move abreast, and like a
true Spaniard drew his sabre even before he left the town. The only
thing I obtained from the Spanish commandant was his gratuitous adieu,
strongly recommending that I should not attempt to return to Tarifa
until it should be thoroughly ascertained that the enemy had retired,
to which advice, to avoid the enemy, I paid as much attention as he
did to my recommendation to seek the enemy. I felt much anxiety to be
at Tarifa, the more as I wished to tell Browne of what I had done, and
that consequently he might expect a reinforcement.
We arrived before daybreak near the town, where meeting a friar we
heard that we might advance with safety, for the French had retired.
It appears that as soon as Marshal Victor, whose corps were lying
before Cadiz, had learned that Tarifa was occupied by English troops,
he sent out a strong patrol of infantry and cavalry to ascertain our
strength. He felt very jealous of the post, as it threatened his
foraging parties, who frequently came to the neighbouring fertile
plains to procure nourishment for his army, and principally to collect
forage for his cavalry. For this reason it was that he sent the party
mentioned, who appeared before the walls of Tarifa on the morning of
April 20th before daybreak, seven days after the place had been in
our possession. The surmise stated in my letter to Lieutenant Belcher
proved true. Major Browne, in consequence of the strong force brought
against him, did not move out of the garrison until the evening, when
the enemy drew off a part of their troops; then, as they still occupied
a large convent and some uninhabited houses close to the town, a sortie
was made, headed by Captain Stovin, when they were soon dislodged
and pursued for a considerable distance. This demonstration against
Tarifa was attended with but few results or casualties, one man only,
a gunner, being killed and a few more wounded. Lieutenant Mitchell, a
gallant officer, commanded the artillery.
[Sidenote: TARIFA REINFORCED.]
On my arrival at Tarifa I acquainted Major Browne with all that had
occurred to me during my absence, my useless endeavours to induce the
Spanish regiments or any part of the garrison of Algesiras to intercept
the enemy’s return from Tarifa, and finally with my having written to
Gibraltar. The major fully approved of all the steps I had taken; and,
my letter being laid before General Campbell, he ordered four companies
of the 47th Regiment, under the command of Captain O’Donoghue of that
corps, instantly to embark for Tarifa, but the wind becoming contrary,
they were obliged to disembark at Algesiras and proceed overland.
They arrived at Tarifa the night after my return there; and here they
continued until the month of September. Then the 28th Regiment, whose
colonel, Belson, had gone to England in consequence of ill-health, were
ordered to Tarifa; and Captain O’Donoghue’s detachment, together with
the light companies which originally had accompanied Major Browne, were
then recalled to Gibraltar.
Shortly after this attack on Tarifa, an English merchant vessel was
captured by a French privateer in the neighbourhood of Vejer, not far
from Tarifa. A midshipman, who commanded a gunboat detached from the
guardship at Gibraltar, reported the circumstance to Major Browne, and
applied to him for a detachment of soldiers to embark on board his
boat, stating that so strengthened he might retake the vessel. Browne,
in whose estimation the honour of His Majesty’s arms in whatever branch
of the service was paramount to any other sentiment, hesitated not a
moment, and ordered me, with as many men of the light company (28th) as
the gunboat could stow, to embark immediately.
[Sidenote: A NAVAL BATTLE.]
Leaving Tarifa in the evening and pulling all night, we found ourselves
next morning at dawn in the celebrated bay of Trafalgar; and as soon
as light enabled us to see we discovered the vessel alluded to about
two miles distant. We immediately swept towards her. Soon after a
boat put off from the shore, now in possession of the French, with
intention, as we afterwards discovered, to set the ship on fire.
While some of the sailors and soldiers in turn used every exertion to
row, or rather sweep, we kept up as quick a fire as possible with a
long twelve-pounder and a twenty-four-pounder at the boat coming from
shore. One shot having struck not far beyond her, whilst a shower of
grape fell but little short, she thought proper to retire. Being thus
freed from the enemy’s boat, we made a wide offing to keep the vessel
between us and shore, within musket-shot of which she was run aground.
On boarding her, we placed bales of wool or cotton, which formed the
principal part of her cargo, along her side next the shore to cover
us from the fire of musketry; for by this time a strong detachment of
French infantry came down close to the water’s edge, ranging themselves
in loose order, so as not to offer any dense body to the fire of the
gunboat, which, after putting the soldiers on board the merchantman,
retired beyond musket range of the shore and kept up a fire of round
shot and grape. The enemy on shore had a similar covering to our own,
having the night before disembarked several bales of the cotton.
Whenever any of these was struck by a round shot, its bounding from
the beach presented a most fantastic appearance and caused shouts of
laughter among the men, which tended to lighten their fatigue.
After working indefatigably for several hours, we at length succeeded
in getting the vessel afloat. Our labour was much heightened by our
being obliged to work her off by the windlass, since her capstan
was unshipped and carried away by the French, who had everything in
preparation on board to set fire to her as soon as unloaded, or if
there were an attempt at rescue.
Having succeeded in carrying her off, we returned next day to Tarifa,
where we landed in triumph from our prize, as she was termed. Next day
she was sent to Gibraltar, and condemned, I think, to salvage or some
such term; but never having on entering the army contemplated becoming
a prize-fighter, I may be mistaken as to terms. On a distribution
of this said salvage money being made, I was put down to receive a
portion such as is allotted to a sailor, probably an able-bodied one.
But on some person in Gibraltar suggesting that probably it would not
be correct to class me, who was the only commissioned officer present
at the recapture or within sight of it, with a common sailor, I was
on reflection ranked with the petty officers, cooks, etc., thereby
gaining promotion from the forecastle to the caboose, and obtaining
the rank if not the title of cook. I employed no agent, considering
my claim safe in the hands of the sister profession. Captain Vivian,
who commanded the guardship, the _San Juan_, at Gibraltar, I was told,
superintended the arrangement; and, together with the whole of his
officers and crew, shared in the spoil, each officer having a much
larger portion than that dealt out to me, although neither he nor they
aided or assisted, or were or could be in sight, when the capture
took place. The midshipman who commanded the gunboat was equally
unfortunate as to the share to which he was entitled as the only acting
naval officer present at the capture; but I heard at the time that
to quiet him he was otherwise rewarded. If true, I feel happy at it;
and we both should feel content, he at being promoted to the rank
of a commissioned officer, and I at receiving a diploma as a master
of gastronomic science, although to this day I am ignorant how to
compose even a basin of peasoup. Shortly afterwards I met Mr. William
Sweetland, who was employed as agent on the occasion. On questioning
him as to the extraordinary distribution, he with professional coolness
replied that he was employed on the other side, that no person appeared
on my behalf, and that if anybody had, of course there could be no
question as to the sentence which must have been passed. I was strongly
advised to appeal to the Admiralty, as I might thereby gain a sum of
money that would tend to my advancement; but I foolishly disregarded
the counsel. So I took my cook’s wages, and therewith drank to the
health of my Sovereign, the honour and glory of my old profession, and
success for ever to the Royal Navy. I was afterwards informed that
thanks were given to me in public orders by Sir Richard Keats. I never
saw the order, and therefore cannot answer for its existence; yet
the fact could easily be ascertained by any feeling interest in the
subject. For my own part, I felt so dissatisfied at the mercenary or
jobbing part of the transaction that I never took any step to ascertain
whether the thanks were or were not published. Colonel Browne having
visited Gibraltar shortly after the transaction had taken place, fully
explained his and my sentiments to Captain Vivian on the quarter-deck
of the _San Juan_, among other assertions upholding that he himself
and the whole garrison of Tarifa, from which Lieutenant Blakeney was
detached, had as strong a claim to participation in the salvage as
Captain Vivian and the crew of the guardship; and here he was perfectly
right, for the garrison of Tarifa was five-and-twenty miles nearer to
the scene of action than the _San Juan_ stationed at Gibraltar.
[Sidenote: A DANGEROUS FORD.]
During our long stay at Tarifa few days passed on which I was not
employed either in opposing the French foraging parties or in carrying
despatches to and from Gibraltar. On one of these latter occasions,
when returning to Tarifa after an absence of three days, detained by
heavy rains, I was not a little surprised at finding a stream through
the cork wood of Algesiras much changed in its aspect. But three days
previously I crossed it when the horse’s hoofs were scarcely wetted;
now it had become a roaring and rapid torrent. The passage of this
torrent was very dangerous; its bed, with which I was well acquainted
having crossed it fifty times, was formed of large smooth flags much
inclined, making it somewhat perilous at any time to ride over it.
Within fifteen or twenty yards of this, the only part passable, the
water-course suddenly wound round the base of an abrupt mountain,
against which the torrent rushed with violence, and continuing its new
direction soon disgorged itself into the ocean. To make a false step in
crossing was certain destruction. The current passed rapidly downwards
between the mountains, its foaming surf interrupted in its course by
huge and prominent rocks, with which the mountain sides were studded
down to the very bed of the torrent, which, now passing underneath,
now boiling over the rugged and unseemly heads of those frightful
masses of stone, gave them apparent animation; like monstrous spirits
of the flood, they seemed to threaten destruction to all who came
within their reach. With such a picture before me and considering it
a stupid way of losing one’s life, I hesitated for some moments, when
the Spanish dragoon, who always accompanied me on such excursions,
boldly took the lead and entered the hissing foam. His horse made some
few slips, and more than once I expected to see both dashed to pieces,
which must have taken place had the animal made a really false step.
Fortunately they got safe across; but this did not induce me to follow.
Few perils I would not have encountered rather than ride through that
frightful torrent, knowing as I did the nature of its bed. Yet to
return to Algesiras I considered degrading, especially when the dragoon
had so boldly passed across. At length, and contrary to his advice,
I determined to wade on foot, and flogged forward my horse into the
water, which he unwillingly took, and like the other narrowly escaped.
The last trial was my own. I recollected that, close above where the
horses passed, a rock about two feet high stood in the centre of the
stream, and to lean against that in case of necessity, I entered the
water a little higher. Fortunately I thought of this precaution, for by
the time I had with the greatest exertion got to where this rock was
situated, I felt so spent and incapable of resisting the torrent that
I could neither proceed nor retire. Placing both legs firmly against
the rock, and feeling quite giddy from the glare and the rapidity with
which the waters passed, I felt compelled to close my eyes for some
moments.
[Sidenote: ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.]
My situation was now neither wholesome nor pleasant. Boughs and trunks
of trees rapidly passed at intervals down the stream, any one of which
coming upon me must have either smashed me on the spot or dashed me
headlong against the rocks below. But luckily I was preserved by
another rock, which stood in the centre of the channel not far above
me, rearing its ample head over the water; this dividing the torrent,
sent the floating batteries on either side. The poor Spaniard appeared
desperate, violently striking his head, but he did not attempt the
water a second time, nor could I blame him. I wore a very long sash
with its still longer cords, such as light infantry bucks then used.
Untying it and holding one end, I flung the other towards the Spaniard,
who anxiously prepared to catch it; but it proved too short. He now
took off his sash, which was also long as all Spanish sashes are, and
rolling up a stone within it flung it towards me with such precision
that I caught it with both hands. I now tied the two sashes together,
and fastened the stone within one end of the dragoon’s sash, which I
flung back to him. He caught it and gave a cheer. The only thing I now
dreaded was that the Spaniard in his anxiety would give a sudden pull,
which, with the heavy load of water I carried, might cause the silken
bridge to snap or pull me off my legs, either of which things must be
fatal. I therefore cautioned him to hold firm, but on no account to
pull unless I should fall. He fully obeyed the directions, and I warped
myself safely across. The faithful Spaniard hugged me to his breast,
and having raped my cheeks of a kiss each, burst into a flood of tears,
declaring that had anything happened to me he would instantly have
deserted to the French; he said that, had I been drowned and of course
carried into the ocean, no assertion of his could have prevented any
one from considering him the cause, and that consequently he would have
been torn to pieces by the English soldiers at Tarifa.
It was now about dusk, and the Spaniard having assisted me to mount,
we started forward as fast as the badness of the road would permit,
for we had several miles still to traverse. The expression of the
inexpressible part of my dress at every stride of the horse resembled
the sound made by steaks being fried in an adjoining room while the
door is continually shutting and opening. This simile will now no doubt
be considered excessively vulgar; but at the period alluded to most
officers were familiar with a frying-pan, and even a guardsman in those
days could rough it on a beefsteak and a bottle of old port.
We arrived at Tarifa long after the officers had dined. Colonel
Browne well recollects the circumstance, as it was on this occasion
that I brought him a letter written by Lord Bathurst appointing him
Lieutenant-Governor of Tarifa, with a pecuniary advantage attached
which was not the least acceptable part of the communication.
In this expedition I lost the use of a gold repeater, which was so
gorged by the mountain torrent that I never afterwards could keep it in
order.
[Sidenote: A REVOLT OF WOMEN.]
Soon after this I was again sent to Gibraltar with despatches, relative
to which some notable occurrences took place. I should have previously
mentioned that shortly after our occupation of Tarifa a corps or civic
guard, composed of young men, inhabitants of the town, was formed.
The command of this body, called the Tarifa Volunteers, amounting to
from forty to fifty individuals, was confided to Captain Meacham, 28th
Regiment, not only because he was a gallant and experienced officer,
but also on account of his knowledge of the Spanish language, acquired
at an earlier period when the regiment was stationed in Minorca. This
corps in its infancy imperfectly drilled, without any established
uniform and not very imposing in appearance owing to their diversity
of dress, could not be relied on as an efficient force. For these
reasons perhaps it was that they got the name of “Meacham’s Blind
Nuts,” so baptised, if I mistake not, by Captain Allen of the 10th
Regiment. However, to ascertain what might be expected from them in
case of an emergency which was daily expected, Major Browne determined
to put their alertness at least to trial, confiding his plan to the
Spanish lieutenant-governor. After a jovial dinner-party he, about an
hour before daybreak, ordered the drums and bugles to sound to arms
and troops to line the walls immediately, stating that the French
were rapidly advancing against the town. The first to be seen, sabre
in hand, was the Spanish governor, previously warned; then came forth
the British garrison with firm and equal step; and last and not too
willingly appeared the rather tardy volunteers. They were to be seen
in small groups scattered through the town, no kind of formation
having taken place preparatory to their going to the walls; and so
they slowly moved along the streets. To hurry them up a gun was fired,
when an extraordinary scene was presented. Suddenly all the doors in
the town flew open, and out rushed a fiercer and more warlike body
by far. The streets were instantly crowded with women, one seizing
a husband, another a son, a third a brother; some clinging to their
dearly beloved, all endeavouring to snatch them by force from out their
warlike ranks, loudly and bitterly exclaiming against the British, who,
they cried or rather screamed, being fond of bloodshed themselves,
would force others into fight whether willing or otherwise. At length,
urged by some British officers and breaking away from their wives,
mothers, sisters and lovers, in whose hands remained many cloaks,
coats, hats and even torn locks of hair, the poor Nuts arrived half
shelled upon the ramparts. Dawn soon after breaking, all the guns were
fired off, but surpassed by the louder screaming inside the town. The
rough music of the artillery was immediately succeeded by the more
harmonious sounds of the band playing “God save the King.” All was soon
restored to tranquillity, save for a few contentious Blind Nuts, each
claiming to be the first who mounted the walls and offered himself to
be cracked in defence of his country.
Scarcely had this scene terminated when Colonel Browne received
important intelligence of the enemy, and I was immediately sent with
despatches to Gibraltar by water, the wind being rather favourable
though strong, but the weather rainy. On my arrival at Gibraltar, to my
utter astonishment I found the landing-place crowded with inhabitants,
officers and soldiers, all greedy to know the nature of my despatches,
especially as I had come away in such boisterous weather and in an open
boat. All were in the greatest anxiety; for an English man-of-war,
happening to pass by Tarifa at the moment the guns were firing from the
ramparts, reported the circumstance at Gibraltar, but as it was blowing
hard at the time and there was no port, she had not been able to stop
to ascertain the cause of the firing. This, since a second attack
on Tarifa by a larger force was threatened by the enemy, caused the
greatest excitement at Gibraltar.
The first person who addressed me on landing was Lieutenant Taylor,
9th Regiment (afterwards shot through the body at Barossa), demanding,
without any prelude whatever, if Captain Godwin of his regiment was
wounded. I dryly answered, “Yes.” “Where?” “In the shoulder.” “Are they
beaten off?” “They are not there now.” This was sufficient to extricate
me from the surrounding crowd, which otherwise would have impeded my
progress to the convent for at least an hour. As soon as Taylor got his
information, he, followed by the crowd, whom I refused to answer, ran
off to communicate his intelligence to his commanding officer, Colonel
Mole, and Mole instantly galloped off with the news to General Bowes.
[Sidenote: NEWS OF BATTLE.]
In the meantime I delivered my despatches to General Campbell at
the convent. Proceeding thence to Captain Power, who temporarily
commanded the 28th Regiment, I was there met by Captain Loftus,
aide-de-camp to General Bowes, with a message from the general that
I should immediately, and in writing, state my reasons for having
propagated unfounded reports of an attack and battle fought at Tarifa.
I instantly answered that I had propagated no reports; that the words
battle or Tarifa never escaped my lips; that to get rid of an idle
and troublesome multitude who surrounded me on landing, I muttered
something in a low tone of voice to Lieutenant Taylor, telling him loud
enough to be heard by many not to divulge anything until the contents
of the despatches which I carried should be made known through the
proper channel; that Taylor promised secrecy; and that my stratagem
succeeded, for on his departure at a quick pace the crowd followed. I
further added that, had I the slightest conception that anything thus
communicated could be believed by a general officer, I should certainly
have remained silent, however incommoded by the mob; and that to free
myself from them was my only object. This explanation seemed to have
been sufficient. I had no further communication from the general;
but the circumstance having been privately communicated to General
Campbell, he sent for Bowes and said, “So, general, I understand that
you have had a flying despatch relative to a great battle being fought
at Tarifa. I should think, general, that if such had been the case,
this would have been the proper place for you to seek information,
instead of sending in pursuit of the officer who carried despatches to
me to know his reasons for any heedless conversation that might have
taken place between him and any idlers by whom he was surrounded at the
Mole. I understand also, general, that so pressing were you for his
written explanation, that time was not allowed him to change his wet
clothes, for which purpose it was I allowed him to go away, since he
had been drenched with rain for several hours in an open boat.” I met
General Bowes the same day at the general’s table. With a smile upon
his countenance he very politely invited me to drink wine with him; and
the governor requested that, whenever I brought despatches, I should
make the best of my way through the idlers, but should communicate
with no one until I saw him. Thus the affair terminated as far as the
generals were concerned.
But all my troubles were not as yet ended; I had to encounter others
on my return. During my absence Godwin had been told that I reported
his having been wounded in the back of his shoulder; but although he
taxed me with the report in a laughing way, still he appeared not well
pleased. His usual good-humour returned when I assured him that I never
made use of such an expression; and certainly Godwin was one of the
last to whom I should attribute a wound in the back. The fact was that
he had been hurt in the shoulder a short time previously by his horse
running with him against a tree.
[Sidenote: A BOY OF NERVE.]
I frankly confess that while the affair was in agitation between the
generals at Gibraltar I felt somewhat nervous, owing to a circumstance
which took place five years previously. It may be recollected that in
1805 the regiment were encamped at the Curragh of Kildare. During the
early part of this encampment, when I was on duty on the quarter-guard,
it so happened that General Campbell was general officer of the lines;
and unfortunately it so fell out that the adjutant neglected to send
me the parole and countersign until a very late hour. In the meantime
came the grand rounds, who were rather hesitatingly challenged for the
password, of which we ourselves were in total ignorance. The general,
noticing the not very correct manner in which he was received and
disregarding the challenge, rode up at once to the quarter-guard, and,
reprimanding me for the slovenly manner in which the advanced files
were sent forward, demanded the countersign, adding that he believed I
did not know it. At the moment, as the general turned his head away,
the sergeant of the guard, having that instant received the parole and
countersign, stepped forward and whispering the words in my ear put
the paper containing them in my hand; but the general perceiving some
movement rowed the sergeant for being unsteady under arms, and called
me forward rather briskly, repeating his belief that I had not the
countersign. I told him I had.
“And what is the countersign?” quickly demanded the general.
I now coolly replied, “I am placed here to receive, not to give the
countersign.”
The general was evidently amazed at the reply, and saying, “Very well,
sir, we shall see about this in the morning,” turned his horse round to
ride off.
This was the first quarter-guard I had ever mounted, and from the
novelty of the scene and my not having the countersign when the grand
rounds arrived, I felt excessively nervous; but although my knees
at the first onset beat the devil’s tattoo against each other, yet,
having now gained full confidence, rather augmented by a titter
amongst the general’s staff one of whom was his son, afterwards Sir Guy
Campbell, I told the general that my orders were to allow no person
to pass without his first giving the countersign. Here the titter
increased.
“What,” said he--“not let me pass?”
I made no reply; but retiring the two paces which the general had
called me forward, I remained on the right of my guard, looking most
respectfully at the general. After a moment’s thought he gave me the
countersign, and having received the parole in exchange rode away. I
was in hopes that the unpleasant affair had ended here; but immediately
after I was relieved from guard I was sent for by Colonel Johnson,
who, although not my immediate commanding officer, commanded both
battalions as senior lieutenant-colonel. To him therefore the general
complained, and to him he seemed to attach most blame for allowing so
young an officer, and so totally ignorant of his duty, to take charge
of a quarter-guard. All the field officers of the two battalions were
summoned on the occasion to Colonel Johnson’s tent, and in their
presence the general recounted the whole transaction. I remained
perfectly silent. On his coming towards a conclusion, when he mentioned
my having refused to let him pass, which he repeated with emphasis, I
saw a suppressed smile on the faces of both Colonel Johnson and Colonel
Belson. But Major Browne, impatient of restraint, broke into a laugh
exclaiming, “Well, he is only one year in the Service; I am many,
yet I wish I knew my duty as well; and,” continued he with increased
laughter, “it is the first time I ever heard of a boy ensign taking his
own general prisoner.” Browne was wrong as to my rank, for I had been
five days a lieutenant.
[Sidenote: COALS OF FIRE.]
However, the general did not seem to enjoy the joke as much as Browne
did, and ordered Colonel Johnson to reprimand me. Johnson, who was
brother-in-law to the general and one of the most gentlemanlike persons
possible, bowed assent, but in some way gave the general to understand
that he was at a loss to understand what particular part of my conduct
it was for which I was to be censured. The general having retired,
Johnson’s rebuke to me was very slight indeed, particularly when I
mentioned, as I refrained from doing while the general was there, that
the countersign and parole, with which I should have been furnished
before sunset, were not sent to me until midnight, just as the grand
rounds advanced. But if the lieutenant-governor recollected this
anecdote when at Gibraltar, it certainly caused no difference in his
courtesy or hospitality towards me; for he insisted that whenever I
visited Gibralter I should always make the convent my headquarters.