Difficulties of the March—Failure of the Bridge of Boats—The
Garonne—Excesses of Murillo’s Corps—Bad News—Exchange of
Prisoners—Arrival before Toulouse—A Prisoner of War—Anecdote of
Wellington.
Head-quarters, Samatan,
March 25, 1814.
MY DEAR M——,
At eight this morning, we left L’Isle en Dodon for this place, about
eight miles nearer to Toulouse, from which we (the head-quarters) are
now only distant about twenty-six miles. Our troops at St. Lys, and St.
Foy, and that vicinity, are within eleven miles; our right is still a
little more in the rear on the St. Gaudens’ road, near Martres, under
General Hill.
I have just met with a corn-factor who left Toulouse this morning.
He says that Marshal Soult arrived there with about eight thousand
men last night. The same number were expected to-day, and a force
of twelve thousand men from Suchet’s army was expected to join, or
rather, the twelve thousand men were to be principally a reinforcement
of conscripts, collected by the Imperial Commissioner Caffarelli. A
small bridge, called St. Antoine, near St. Martin, about a mile from
Toulouse, was destroyed on the road from Isle Jourdain to Toulouse, and
some works were being formed, and an appearance of defence was being
made near to St. Martin, at a place where three roads branch off, a
mile from Toulouse, and called La Pate d’Ore. The narrator, though no
judge, thought the works could not be completed in time, and that if we
pressed on we should pass them without much difficulty. The bridge, he
said also, was mined; it is a very noble bridge, but it was reported
that there was a ford passable so near, that it was thought the mine
would not be made use of.
The news from Paris had ceased for some days, and this gave rise to
many stories of Paris having been taken, &c. I am lodged here with some
very civil good people, and who, in my opinion, really wish us well,
and are very different from the _maire adjoint_ at the last place,
who seemed a good Bonapartist, as are many of the people at L’Isle en
Dodon. About six miles from that place, and ten from this, we passed
through a very good old-fashioned town, larger than this, called
Lombez, where the people, in spite of having had a division of troops
quartered in their houses and in the church, seemed to wish us very
well.
The country in this neighbourhood is a wide flat near the river, with a
gently rising boundary of hill and good corn land, the soil heavy, and
the roads very deep in consequence. I always expected my horses’ shoes
to be sucked off every ten minutes by the strong clay.
The _maire_ of Boulognes continues his route with us, looking very
forlorn, and with three staff corps men round him, our gens-d’armes.
He began to repent to-day, and offered to act as _maire_, but Lord
Wellington said it was too late. He then wrote to his wife, saying, “He
was a martyr to his principles,” &c., when his offer had been refused.
So much for the principles of this good friend of Napoleon! Had his
offer been accepted, he would have gone on as _maire_. His friend
Bonaparte was, however, I really and truly think, never greater than he
has been in his adversity during the last three months. The manner in
which he has fought against all his difficulties is very astonishing,
and it would not surprise me now if he succeeded in fighting himself
into a tolerable peace. His boldness in finding fault with his
generals, &c., and having them disgraced and tried at this moment, is
very striking. In short, I am almost inclined to believe that his own
spirit, the bad conduct of the Cossacks, and the wavering policy of
some of our Allies, will enable him to keep his place amongst the list
of sovereigns, though never to triumph over them all, as he intended,
and very nearly managed to do.
There are several good chateaux near here I am told: one of these is
occupied by Major M——, in our service, who was a prisoner of war, and
thought it the best way to pass his captivity in double chains, or
rather to cast off one chain by taking another, and by marrying an
heiress, enjoy himself whilst here. I understand that he has served as
_maire_ of the place; General Pakenham and Colonel Campbell know him.
The army is now almost entirely fed on the country, and the rations
paid for in bills or ready money. Our transports, such as they were,
are quite outrun by our continual marches and distance from the depôts.
We do not even resort to our grand prize-magazine at Mont de Marsan. We
are also boldly isolated in the country, with scarcely five hundred men
the whole way between this and Bayonne; and between this and Tarbes I
believe none at all. Were not the general disposition of the people so
good, at least so submissive, the stragglers and parties joining the
army would be all destroyed; as it is, we have had few accidents. An
affair is expected in a day or two near Toulouse, but this is doubtful.
In the meantime King Ferdinand must be in Spain, as he long since
passed through Toulouse on his way there.
_9 o’clock at night._—Later accounts from the front say that the French
are leaving Toulouse, but I think they will make a show of resistance
at least. Lord Wellington said at dinner to-day he feared that they
would blow up the bridge, but that he had his pontoons with him, and
by showing the enemy that he could pass either above or below the
bridge, he would try to save it. To-morrow will determine much, as
head-quarters move four leagues to St. Lys, within about three leagues
of Toulouse, and the troops are to move down into the plain in which
the town stands. This is hard work for the men and baggage-animals, as
the roads are excessively deep, and it is said will be worse to-morrow
than to-day. We pass through St. Foy. We cannot learn where Marshal
Suchet is; Lord Wellington does not know. He received despatches by a
courier from Catalonia after dinner to-day, dated the 16th of March.
It was not known there for certain that he had quitted Catalonia;
several here say positively that he is gone towards Lyons. The post
goes to-morrow early. You probably get two or three of my letters
together, for we have now no regular post-day, and I am often quartered
at a distance. I do not know when the mail leaves head-quarters, and by
wishing to send you the last news, I may miss the post altogether.
_Head-Quarters, St. Lys, March 27th, 1814._—To-day, Sunday, we make a
halt here, which most of the army is very much in need of. This is in
order to enable Lord Wellington to make arrangements and reconnoitre,
&c. Four divisions are in our front, and General Hill on our right.
Nothing has been done to-day but the driving in of some French picquets
on this side of a little stream about two leagues from hence, and
half-way to Toulouse, and we are now placed on that stream. There
seemed to be but little firing. I saw it from the top of the tower of
the church here, but it was soon over. From the same place the view
all around was very extensive and magnificent; Toulouse was plainly
visible, and much of the country beyond, together with a number of
villages, chateaux, &c., in the large plain through which the Garonne
takes its circular course from the Pyrenees. The snowy summits of the
latter closed the prospect with their heads in the clouds.
Having had some trouble to mount to this gallery round the church, by
means of the bells and their scaffolding, for there was no ladder, I
was up there for two hours with my glass, in a tolerably clear and
fine day. Of the importance of the latter you have no idea. Yesterday
was entirely rainy, and our road was, perhaps, as bad as any we have
ever passed with artillery, and that is saying much. The troops were
splashed up to their caps, and hundreds were walking barefoot in the
clay up to the calves of their legs for about five miles, whilst the
best of the road was that like to Hounslow in the worst season after
a thaw. Lord Wellington said, the French, after consultation, had
determined that this road was not passable for their artillery, but by
means of lighter carriages and better horses, five brigades of our guns
have got over this difficulty.
To give you a notion of it, I may mention that Lord Wellington’s
barouche was three hours stuck fast in it at one place; one hind wheel
up to the axle, the other in the air. No one was in it except General
Alava, who was unwell. I left them endeavouring to move it by means
of four artillery horses, in addition to his own six mules, but in
vain; six oxen in addition at last got it clear. Lord Wellington is
gone to-day round by Plaisance to the right, to General Hill on the
St. Gaudens’ road, as that division is now approaching near us. I am
always afraid of some accident in these parties in an enemy’s country,
for there is generally no escort—only a few officers and two or three
orderlies at the most.
In a Toulouse paper of the 22nd, which I saw yesterday, I was amused
with observing, among other articles—“Bordeaux, 12th March. By
accounts from this place troops without number are pouring through to
join the grand army under the Duke of Dalmatia. The disposition of the
people is excellent.” Then again, “March 15th. The prefect is taking
measures for a number of improvements in the different communes.” These
lies and frauds are curious. We also notice, that in publishing Soult’s
proclamations in the Paris papers, in which he calls Lord Wellington
the commander of brigands, the introductory part relating to the battle
of Orthes is omitted altogether. It does not appear that any battle has
taken place at all. We hope the silence as to Schwartzenburg means as
much, and that the truth will be a set-off to any check given to St.
Priest.
Bonaparte’s movements to Rheims and Chalons we cannot here comprehend.
Many of the people here talk such bad French that I am often taken for
a Frenchman, and my patron here told me that I need not be afraid to
own it, for he was a Royalist, and always had been so. His simplicity
yesterday provoked me excessively. I gave him some of my old silver
spoons to take care of. Thinking all soldiers and followers of an army
virtuous and honest, he left the spoons, with a loaf, in his kitchen,
and left his door open, to let every one in who chose. On my return,
his loaf and my spoons were gone. This vexed me excessively, but
redress was in vain.
_Seisses, 28th March._—At daybreak this morning head-quarters moved
to this place, most of us, in my opinion, fully expecting to be in
Toulouse before night. We arrived here, within a league of the Garonne,
by eight o’clock, when, to our great mortification, the part of the
second division which had left this village at ten last night was just
returning here again after daylight, owing to the bridge of boats
having been too short, and the troops therefore unable to pass the
river.
This is most vexatious, for the immediate passage of the Garonne
without a halt, and triumphant entry into Toulouse would have been an
exploit worthy of our General. With five more pontoons the whole would
have been effected, and, most probably, with little loss. In front of
Toulouse the enemy had been left quiet, and pressed but little; the
grand movement was to have been on the right to the banks of the river
near Portet. Just below where the Arrige and the Garonne unite, a
league above Toulouse, the bridge was to have been laid in the night,
and half the army over or ready to pass by daylight. The width of the
river was supposed to be about one hundred and forty yards, or four
hundred and fifty feet, the stream strong; for this we were prepared.
The boats were in the river, the cables, I believe, fixed, and every
precaution taken for secrecy, when the discovery was made that five
more pontoons would be necessary, as the river was twenty yards, or
about eighty feet wider. The boats were all withdrawn, and the troops
all in their way to head-quarters again before daylight; but it was a
_grand coup manqué_. Apparently there must have been great inadvertence
somewhere, though it may have been that no measurement was allowed, or
even close observations, for fear of exciting suspicion.
I think it will be a triumph to E——, though I am sure he will not
feel it as such. He told Lord Wellington at St. Jean de Luz that, in
consequence of some order of his, the pontoon train would be rendered
imperfect, and that if the army met with a wide river it would be
stopped. Thus it has happened, and Lord Wellington, though in general
so much a gainer by his decision and resources in getting rid of
difficulties, has for once suffered for not attending to the counsel of
his more steady and regularly-bred scientific advisers.
As the troops were not yet ordered out of the town, and were in
possession of the houses, we remained for some hours with our baggage
standing loaded, until our billets were settled. Most part of this time
I spent in surveying the immense plain covered with farms, villas,
villages, towns, and chateaux, in the neighbourhood of Toulouse, as
well as the town itself. The number of apparently splendid mansions
was considerable, some belonging to merchants of Toulouse; some to
the old nobles who had not emigrated; some to the _nouveaux riches_
of the Revolution and Bonaparte. The latter were much abused, the
_fournisseurs_ of the army, the intendents or tax-gatherers, &c. I
believe there was much fraud in the management of the collection of
contributions; and of late, particularly, much more was collected under
the pretence of the necessities of the army, and to provision Bayonne,
than ever reached its destination; and being but ill paid regularly,
the managers took the liberty of paying themselves well irregularly.
Murillo’s corps has plundered again of late, and was guilty of some
excesses last night. One man was caught in the fact, stealing wine, and
brought forward. Lord Wellington had him shot in the most impressive
manner this morning, before all the corps, after a solemn admonition,
and much parade. The man, it is said, appeared absolutely dead from
fear before a musquet was fired. He was unluckily one of the least
culpable, for he had only taken away a bottle of wine by force; but he
was caught in the fact, and suffered for the sake of example—as the
least guilty in reality often do, from the most guilty being also the
most knowing.
Lord Wellington has not yet returned; he must now exert his wits, to
cure this mishap, which will not, in my opinion, put him in the best of
humours.
The Pyrenees were to-day perfectly clear, and very striking. An immense
snowy barrier almost entirely white, with scarcely any bare rock
visible. They are not by any means so picturesque as the Alps. They
form a large mass, without much variety of form and character; and have
not that contrast of pointed, craggy, fancifully-shaped rocks, rounded
lower hills covered with verdure, and fine forest scenery, which is
seen in Switzerland.
Two of the medical officers and one of the 42nd of the sixth division,
taken at Hagenau, have escaped and come into us, but plundered of
everything. The French marched them seven or eight leagues a-day,
nearly thirty miles; and the one I spoke to had been concealed four
days after his escape with scarcely anything to eat, until he had an
opportunity of joining our corps under General Hill.
_Head-Quarters, Seisses, March 31st, 1814._—Our disappointment in
crossing the river on the 28th has kept us here ever since: and the
halt has given me employment, which has prevented my writing to you.
As soon as we become quiet, I am set to work in order to prevent all
arrears, and to let punishment follow the offence as fast as possible.
Our General has spent his mornings in riding all over the country to
reconnoitre; and he dispatches all his other multitude of business
at odd hours and times. The new plan was at last resolved upon, and
last night the execution of it commenced. The divisions on this side
Toulouse are pushed in close to the suburbs of St. Cyprien, near which
the French have been for some days most busily at work, fortifying
themselves to defend the bridge. Finding the river so wide below the
junction with the Arrige at Portet, General Hill (with great difficulty
owing to the rapidity of the Garonne, caused by the last two days’
continual rain) succeeded at last, in pursuance of his orders, in
fixing his pontoons across that river above the junction with the
Arrige; and having been nearly all night at work, began to cross about
four o’clock this morning, and has sent word that he is over. A ridge
of high land forms a sort of tongue between the two rivers. This he
is to take post upon immediately, and march off a corps as rapidly as
possible, about three leagues, to a bridge over the Arrige, which he is
to surprise and preserve if possible, and defend, thus fixing himself
securely between the two rivers, preparatory to further movements of
the rest of the army. The Spaniards under Murillo crossed with General
Hill. General Frere’s Spaniards move into the ground which General Hill
leaves.
I was upon the church-tower early this morning, and saw the Spanish
column moving all along the plain, headed by some of our heavy
dragoons; the fog on the river prevented my seeing more. On descending,
I found Lord Wellington and all his suite, just about to be off, when
the arrival of an English mail to the 16th, stopped him. By this
we have your very bad news from Holland, and many private letters
accounting for the failure. All here are open-mouthed at the reported
consequences; namely, that the reinforcements intended for Lord
Wellington are going to Holland. This is worse than the defeat. Very
little was ever expected here from that army from various causes; it
was always considered as so many men quite thrown away, as regards the
main cause. I thought them, latterly, worse than inefficient, after
they had once given the Dutch an opportunity of arming, by clearing
their country, for they have the effect of preventing exertion on the
part of the Dutch. The moment they had cleared Holland they should,
in my opinion, have been sent to us, and thus by a sense of pressing
danger, ought to have roused the sleepy heavy Dutchmen to do something
for themselves when once well in the scrape, getting only arms and
artillery and stores from England.
By the exchange of prisoners, the officers so much wanted by the
French, whom Lord Wellington has taken here, will get back again by
these losses in Holland, another way in which that army has done more
harm than good. It would have been better to leave our people prisoners
than to release French regular officers at this moment, for their value
in the newly-raised corps is immense, and considerably beyond that of
ours to England. Besides the numbers in the town would have hastened
its surrender, or compelled the governor to send them out without
exchange.
This is, however, reasoning upon general principles, and not upon
personal feelings as to the officers taken: I do think, however, that
this exchange was permitting humanity to have more weight than policy.
There seem to have been much blundering and confusion in the execution
of our attack, and from what I can hear the plan was allowed to fail
just when the difficulties were nearly all over. It is always to be
regretted when our people are ordered to run their heads against stone
walls and heavy guns, and that even here, for I think the French seem
to understand that work best, and we lose more in one of these affairs
than we do in gaining a great battle in the fair field, where the
French cannot be brought now to stand against us. On this ground, I
feel a little anxious, even as to Toulouse, supposing the French to
remain firm, which is doubtful, and still more as to Bayonne.
Mr. C—— and a commissariat officer arrived here yesterday from
Bordeaux: the accounts they bring are bad enough. The National Guard
are disarmed; no arming of any consequence going on; no efficient
English naval force has arrived; and the people, though they shout
for the King at the opera, &c., are all in a terrible fright lest
the French should return, since we have so small a force there; and,
according to report, many repent of what they have done.
The Duke d’Angoulême does not appear to me to be made of stuff to gain
a kingdom, though he would have kept one and been popular, from his
amiable qualities. He has committed many blunders, I am told, and the
white cockade gentry, like the _emigrés_ of old, amuse themselves with
inventing lies concerning Bonaparte and his armies, which the _maire_
of Bordeaux publishes in a bulletin, which Bonaparte’s bulletins, lying
as they are, effectually and satisfactorily contradict the next day.
The _maire_ is becoming daily more unpopular. We have an account
of Augereau having been defeated—which I hope rests upon better
foundations; as well as private accounts from Paris of the great
reduction of Bonaparte’s forces by his various rapid marches, continual
fighting, and desertion. Almost the only town in this country,
excepting Bordeaux, which has been active in the Royal cause is
Bagnières, which has proclaimed the king; no troops of either army have
passed that way.
The rest of the population in our rear are in general quietly waiting
the event, and are now with a very few exceptions only on our side,
because they think they see an end to the war quicker that way. But I
am sure, from personal observation, that let Bonaparte be successful a
little, and Lord Wellington be compelled to retreat, and let them only
see the same prospect of peace by Bonaparte’s means, and three-fourths
of the population would all be against us again.
The sulky _maires_, and other public functionaries, now all submission,
would then become active enemies, and all the _pensionnaires_ and
_douaniers_ and national landholders who are now really frightened to
death, would be roused into activity. This is a picture, however, which
I hope never to see realized; and if Toulouse and Lyons can be induced
to enter into a common cause with Bordeaux, the events will, it is to
be hoped, be far different. Had I the Duke d’Angoulême’s stake to play
for, I should somehow have raised a force before this at Bordeaux, and
should certainly have been over here post to enter Toulouse, and have
paraded through Pau, Tarbes, &c., in the way, and tried to do something.
The only great hit he has hitherto made is to get the new prefect of
the department des Landes to publish and circulate his proclamations,
and sign them: this certainly is a beginning, and it is said that
some have found their way into Toulouse. The _maire_ of Galan, who
was really in my opinion a Royalist, pointing to his head, asked
me, speaking of the Duke d’Angoulême, whether “_il y voit quelque
chose là?_” of which he seemed to have doubts. The lower, and older
population in the villages certainly, though knowing nothing of the
Bourbons, have a sort of vague wish for old times again, and therefore
were friendly. The middling classes are not by any means so favourably
disposed.
You have no conception of my obligation to you for sending the
newspapers so regularly, and getting them forwarded in Lord
Wellington’s bag. On the march in our present state, by this means
I have my letters and papers sometimes almost a week before any one
else; for the public bag has been lately obliged to come up, for want
of transport, in a bullock-car, with one weak soldier of the guides as
a guard. When we are stationary I sometimes suffer by this plan, for
single papers are got a-day or two later than my letter, but now I am a
great gainer, and my newspapers are in the greatest request.
_Head-Quarters, Seisses, April 1st, 1814._—Here we are still in front
of “the great big town where the French are,” as the Irishmen call
Toulouse. The French yesterday moved about four divisions out of
Toulouse after General Hill’s movement, and in the evening went back
again into the town. This I believe made Lord Wellington suspect that
Soult intended to try an attack upon the columns of the British who
remained in front of the town on this side, and he would have wished,
in my opinion, for nothing better, as we had a rising ground commanding
the roads where they must make their debouches, and cannon ready
placed to give them a warm reception instantly. In consequence of this
expectation, Lord Wellington and his staff were off early to the front;
about eleven o’clock, finding all quiet, they returned, and we remained
_in statu quo_ for the day.
I never expected that anything would be done if it depended on the
French, for their game seems to be merely to endeavour to keep us on
this side of the river, and to leave us to get over the difficulties
as we can, and not to run any hazards by molesting us, or giving us
even a fair chance by an attack on their posts. It is said that after
all it is found that General Hill’s road would lead us so much round,
and that the roads round that way to Toulouse would be so bad, that
the plan mentioned in my letter under date of the 31st is abandoned;
that in consequence General Hill will be ordered to return across the
river to-night, and that the pontoons will be taken up afterwards, and
an attempt made to place them lower down the river at last, and below
Toulouse, which, if it succeeds, will place us at once upon the main
good road to Bordeaux. Time will show whether this information of mine
is correct. If this plan be practicable, it will be far better than
the other. In truth the Garonne is a formidable barrier just now, when
there are no fords.
The disappointment of not having Graham’s army here is very great, much
worse so if the reinforcements intended for us should go that way. So
much did Lord Dalhousie with his weak divisions at Bordeaux expect
General Graham’s army, that I am told he has twice sent to the coast
in expectation of their arrival, together with a naval expedition, on
a report of some distant sails being seen. This last _Gazette_ is a
woeful contrast! The importance of that ten thousand men at Bordeaux
is immense, and all agree that the country northwards would be ready
to come forward and join us if we were stronger and dared advance.
The weak state of our force at Bordeaux alarms them all, and keeps
everything back; a naval force to co-operate and to assist against the
castle of Blaye, was also expected to be ready the moment the news
of our arrival at Bordeaux was received, as it must have been such a
probable event. As it is Lord Dalhousie was about to make some attempt,
I understand, to take a position across the Garonne, between the
Dordogne and the Garonne.
I have just been told another piece of news—unpleasant if it be true.
It is said that the Duke d’Angoulême’s new _Préfet des Landes_ ordered
the _maire_ of St. Sever to proclaim Louis XVIII., and that the old
maire, a prudent sly fellow, who has made much money in the Revolution,
declined to do so unless by Lord Wellington’s orders, and wrote to
Lord Wellington to know if he was obliged to do what he was desired.
It is said that Lord Wellington replied “No,” and suspended the new
préfet for giving the order. This is a most awkward state of things;
each town, each _maire_, is allowed thus to take this strong step if
they please, but there is to be no influence used, so that all prudent
people naturally enough will remain quiet and do nothing, and the
desperately zealous alone will act; yet so long as the conferences
remain in existence, this cannot be otherwise.
Some more Spaniards are ordered up whom we are to feed also; how far
they will come I know not. The siege of Bayonne is, it is understood,
at last determined upon in earnest; as yet only preparation of
fascines, &c., have been made. I am told now, that the horses of the
brigades of artillery of General Hope’s column, are sent down to
Renteria to bring up the heavy battery train and siege stores. The
Guards begin to talk of more “bloody work,” but I sincerely hope not
another Bergen-op-Zoom! That left column once released, would set us
quite at ease here. Just now, our necessarily-divided army cannot be
so efficient as from its numbers compared with the French it might be
presumed to be.
For fear of being too late for the post, I shall now seal up my three
letters in one packet and send it off.
In appearance, the size of Toulouse is very considerable, particularly
its length. It seems much larger than Bristol; whether really so or not
we have not just now conveniently the means of ascertaining.
All who come from Bordeaux are in ecstasies with the place and the life
there. It seems everything a bachelor officer with a little money could
wish for—everything to be had, and everything (except maps now) very
cheap.
_Head-Quarters, Grenade, April 5th, 1814._—In pursuance of the change
of plans as to the passage of this formidable river, the Garonne, in
the face of thirty thousand men, under the command of Marshal Soult, we
very suddenly moved on Sunday morning, the 3rd, to Colomiers, a poor
dirty village on the high road from Auch to Toulouse. The pontoons had
been previously moved in the night from the neighbourhood of Carbonne,
where they had been previously fixed, and where General Hill had passed
over to the vicinity of Grenade. On the night of the 4th, about eight
or nine o’clock, the whole army, excepting General Hill’s columns, were
put in motion towards Grenade, the pontoons were launched in the river,
the bridge successfully formed during the night, and about ten thousand
men passed over without resistance by daybreak. It rained furiously
almost all the night, and a failure was in consequence much apprehended
by many, from the increased rapidity and breadth of the current of the
river. Hitherto all has gone on well. General Hill’s corps remained in
front of the suburbs and bridge of St. Cyprien near Toulouse.
Lord Wellington and his staff were all off about two or three o’clock
in the morning, or rather night, for the river side near the bridge,
and passed over early in the morning. Lord Wellington reconnoitred
yesterday on the right bank to within about five or six miles of
Toulouse, and did not return here until after dark. Civil departments
and baggage were ordered to move across the country to Corn Barieu, a
poor dirty place on the cross-road to Grenade, at daylight, and there
to remain loaded till further orders. It was only four miles of bad
road, and we were there about half-past six. I conclude we were kept
at that point so that we might be secure, and away from the high road
out of Toulouse, in case of accidents, and at the same time ready to go
into Toulouse, in case the French should abandon the town and bridge on
hearing of our passage of the river; whilst, on the other hand, if they
remained fast, we were ready to come on here.
The poor mules remained loaded until near two o’clock before they
were ordered on, and afterwards fell in with such columns of baggage,
cavalry, and troops, particularly Spaniards, all converging to the
bridge, that they did not arrive here until about seven or eight
o’clock at night, having had to pass a deep cross country, by a clayey
unformed road, in places sinking up to the middle, for the night’s
rain and quantity of animals passing had quite cut it up. I left the
printing-press and Mr. S——’s carriage fast in the mud, and many a load
upset; at last I believe all arrived safe.
Whilst we were waiting in suspense, as I dare not again go much to the
front, Dr. M’Gregor and several other civilians and I passed our time
pleasantly enough. There was a chateau on a hill close to us, which
commanded all the country, and particularly Toulouse. To that we bent
our steps, and finding a young lad, son of the owner, in the house,
we got our horses into the stable, bought corn for them, and from
the Doctor’s canteen made a good breakfast, and then posted ourselves
with our glasses to see what was going on. Had there been any fight
we should have commanded the whole scene beautifully. As it was, we
only traced our columns of baggage, Spaniards, and cavalry across the
country, in two lines of about six or seven miles’ length, all moving
gradually to the bridge. We also saw some large fires in Toulouse, but
have not yet learnt whether they were anything in particular. About
half-past one we set out again, and fought our way through mud and clay
and baggage and Spaniards for about ten miles; and I am now again in
a civilized home, but with rather a forward tradesman, who gave me a
roast fowl for supper, but took his place and had his full share with
me. It is odd enough that a man of his description, in a large good
house, stables, and three or four horses, should boast, as he does,
that he can talk French, and that his daughter of eight years old has
learnt to talk French, and can speak and understand it a little when
she chooses. Their patois I can scarcely make out, certainly, not so
well as Spanish or Portuguese.
The country is all very rich and populous, and covered with villages
and chateaux. The former are generally in evident decay; the latter are
large and showy on the outside, but for the most part old, dirty, out
of repair, and nearly unfurnished inside, with none of the comforts
even of a cit’s villa, and still less of a great man’s house in
England. At the same time one cannot but feel how much of what we in
England think necessaries are mere superfluity. One cause of their
present appearance in part may be, that the owners generally live
from seven to ten months in the year in the great towns, Toulouse in
particular, and only spend September and October in their chateaux to
see to the harvests, so that they, somewhat like the Portuguese lords,
when they do come, bring nearly all their furniture and comforts with
them. By this means, luckily, we have not done these chateaux much
damage. The young man whom we found in the chateau near Corn Barieu,
had been sent out just before we arrived, to see what was going on, and
to protect the place. He had not been able to hold any communication
with his friends in Toulouse since, and I dare say, as I told him, they
were in a terrible fright, and thought the Spaniards had roasted and
eaten him up.
It unfortunately rained again all last night. This has swelled the
river, and alarmed us a little, for there are at times such floods
here that our bridge would not stand them, and we are now half on each
side. This was also very unlucky for the troops, many of whom must have
bivouacked without their tents and baggage. I have hitherto heard of no
ill consequences, and it is thought that the French must either come
out and fight us immediately, or be off and leave us at our ease for
a short time to try and refit and get shoes for our poor barefooted
soldiers. In the meantime we are here with no other orders than to
be ready packed to march at ten o’clock, but not loaded. It is now
half-past ten, and I have been quietly writing this, and four letters
on business, since breakfast.
When last at Seisses I met at Lord Wellington’s Major M——, of the 53rd,
the _ci-devant_ prisoner and French squire, whom I mentioned before in
my letters. He was at Toulouse when we came by his former house, and he
took the opportunity of our pontoon bridge at Carbonne to come over to
us, for to go out he was compelled.
I do not quite understand his own story, so as to make his conduct
correct. He was always on a sort of parole in Languedoc and Gascony.
On our coming near Toulouse he was told that he must retire towards
Montpelier. He asked delay on the plea of health, got a day, and
was then ordered to move post by Carcassonne. He went two stages,
then turned to the right, came over to us, and now rides about, a
strange figure, in a new handsome 53rd uniform, and a great French
cocked hat, with his English loop and button. He is, moreover, a round
broken-backed country-squire volunteer sort of gentleman, on a high
white tumble-down French nag. He was of course full of information and
conversation, but I rather doubted the accuracy of the former.
He told us that Bonaparte was making for Metz, giving up Paris; and
that he intended to relieve his garrisons in that direction even
as far as Wesel, and then to try and bring the war to the frontier
again. This would be giving up nearly all France, and putting himself
between the Crown Prince at Liege and the Allies near Paris; whereas,
if compelled to leave Paris, his line, in my opinion, must be to fall
back towards Lyons, and to endeavour to unite in that direction with
Augereau, and even with Soult, who will very likely fall back that way
also. If Bonaparte were to go to Metz, Lord Wellington said he thought
then the Allies, on entering Paris, would probably let the King be
proclaimed, and that he should not then despair of seeing Bonaparte
a grand Guerilla chief on a large scale, fighting about for his
existence, which he had never expected to happen in his lifetime. Major
M—— also said that Soult’s plan was, if obliged to give up Toulouse,
to go towards the Black Mountains, and retreat by way of Carcassonne,
making his stand there in a country where our superior cavalry could
not act. If he does this, I think half his men will desert, and the
remainder be in jeopardy, unless Suchet brings him more assistance than
is thought possible. Suchet is said to be withdrawing everything, and
to be mustering all he can. Oh that we had your English reinforcements,
and General Graham’s army! for our own real English army dwindles
away very fast in this active service, and ten thousand men may make
all the difference in regard to the event. The 53rd regiment and the
eighteen-pounders are, I hear, hutted at Tarbes, to try to reduce
a small garrison at Lourdes. The Householders are also arrived, I
believe, as far as Tarbes.
On the 23rd of March, Caffarelli sent his orders to all the communes
round Toulouse, for a considerable distance (about fifty communes),
to send men to work at the fortifications in front of Toulouse. The
numbers to be sent by requisition were very considerable; but we have
rather disturbed the march of the larger half. He also called upon all
the inhabitants to arm, and to make the town a second Saragoza.
Major M—— says he was told that there was not the same motive. I
understand they have been obliged to arm by compulsion, but it is
supposed will do nothing. Some old French officers also came to Soult
to offer to raise Guerillas corps in our rear. Major M—— said that
their offers were to be accepted; but, except a few for plunder, I
do not think, as yet, they will find many followers. Lord Wellington
makes the _maires_ responsible for any disturbances in the rear, and
threatens garrisons, as on the French plan, _garnissaires_, in case of
a breach of order. To execute this duty the _maires_ are allowed to arm
guards in their communes. All the communes around here were to have
_garnissaires_, in case the workmen did not arrive—that is, soldiers to
keep in their houses gratis.
_One o’clock, same day._—Here we are still; and I hope shall not move
to-day, unless to go into Toulouse, for there is a report that the
French are moving off now, and that we have taken two cars of money.
This I will not vouch for. What is more certain is, that our pontoon
bridge is on its legs again by land, and moving towards Toulouse, to be
laid down nearer the town, to make our communications shorter between
the two parts of our army, on the right and left bank. This, it is
to be feared, may draw head-quarters into some little dirty village
near the bridge; and I should like to enjoy the tolerable clean brick
room which I have to myself, and a little stable with some hay for my
horses, for one day, if it suits our plans.
At first I was surprised at Major M——’s boldness, and, as it appeared
to me, folly, in going about in his uniform, in a way to do no good
to anybody, and possible harm to himself. I have now heard that he
has been divorced from his lady, and of course by the French law from
his _château_ and _terre_ also, and that now he has nothing whatever
to lose. He may as well make a merit of his love of England and the
Bourbons. His daughter, about sixteen, is married, and the property
goes with her. A party of five dragoons took yesterday a messenger from
Montauban to Soult. It was known by eleven o’clock at Montauban that we
had cut off the communications on the main road. The messenger was sent
round a bye-road but was caught. His despatches were, it is reported,
principally complaints that the people would not arm for the fight,
and were not very material. I pitied the man. He was a respectable man
of business in Montauban; but being told that unless he became a civic
soldier he must be a regular, he put on his sword “by compulsion,” was
sent to carry these letters, and thus fell into our hands. He says
that it will be his ruin to send him to England as a prisoner; and I
hope, though he is threatened with this, that Lord Wellington will
soon release him. This is to be hoped, for I believe his story to be
true, for the Préfet of Montauban is reported to be a most furious
Bonapartist, and that he compels the people to take up arms in the
cause, and even threatens their lives if they do not. All here profess
great friendship for us, and I believe, at present, are sincere.
_Six o’clock._—About two o’clock I saw Lord Wellington come in, and the
real news was, that all was quiet on both sides the river, but that
the floods had carried away or sunk one pontoon, and that the bridge
was impassable. It was just on the point of being moved higher when
this happened. Just now, it is not safe to place it anywhere. We have
only three divisions and three brigades of artillery across, and two
or three, it is believed, of cavalry. The Spaniards are not over, as
I supposed, but were to have gone over this morning. Unless Soult is
an arrant coward, he must now attack these men, and it is to be feared
that we shall have sharp work. A position, however, may be taken near
the river, so as to enable our artillery on this side to assist. The
river has fallen above a foot since morning, as it has hitherto been
fine to-day, but I am sorry to say it has now begun to rain again, and
it looks very much like another bad night. Rain upon the present river
would be tremendous. A quarter of an hour after Lord Wellington came
home from Toulouse, I met him going off again to cross the river; it is
to be concluded, therefore, that something important had happened.
_6th of April, 9 o’clock at night. Head-Quarters at Grenade._—My
principal occupation to-day, when not engaged by business, has been to
watch the river. It continued to fall many hours after the last rain
had ceased, and began to rise at ten to-day, about fifteen hours after
the last rain commenced, and five after it ceased; at this rate it will
continue to rise until six or eight to-night, and then fall again; and
if the weather relent a little, to-morrow, probably, our bridge will be
restored.
Marshal Soult has left our three divisions quite quiet on the other
side. If he knows their numbers this is playing the game of a coward.
At present he seems to think of nothing but fortifying Toulouse with
ditches and works, and his men are hard at work. This makes the delay
very unfortunate for us. It has, indeed, been so on every account, for
we have to-day received accounts which appear to be believed, that
twelve hundred French cavalry, cuirassiers, from Suchet’s army, joined
yesterday; and that he is endeavouring to gain time; and the elements
seem to favour his obtaining it.
The only two events here to-day have been, first, the arrival of the
pontoon which was lost and floated away. Lieutenant Reid, of the
Engineers, galloped to Verdun, two leagues down the river, offered a
reward of _cent francs_, or five pounds, to any inhabitants who would
get boats and stop the pontoon and bring it ashore: the deserter
was thus secured, and to-day brought back in triumph by a party of
soldiers. The other arrival astonished us all. A troop of the Royal
Horse Guards Blue arrived with drawn swords and a Captain’s guard
escorting a carriage. Some said that it was the Duke d’Angoulême, some
one great person, some another. One officer asked the Captain if it
was King Ferdinand? This was a hoax. At last it was discovered to be a
_maire_ of a small commune near Tarbes, and his wife. The _maire_ is
supposed to have been endeavouring to favour a guerilla system, and
exciting the people to arm. He was in consequence ordered to be sent to
head-quarters. The Blues were in high condition; and Lord Wellington,
when he was told of the French cuirassiers, said, “Well, then, we must
have the Householders for these gentlemen, and see what they can make
of them.”
I must tell you two little anecdotes about the pontoon bridge. The
French were very jealous of any attempt of the kind, and had cavalry
videttes, &c., all along their banks of the river. The engineer wished
to measure the breadth of the river at the spot intended; and for this
purpose got into conversation with the French vidette a long time, but
had no opportunity. At last he pretended that the calls of nature
were imperative. The Frenchman, out of decency, withdrew. The engineer
popped out his sextant, took the angle, &c., and was off.
Lord Wellington himself, with two other officers went to the spot also
to reconnoitre with his own eyes. Concealing his General’s hat with an
oil-skin, he got into conversation with the French vidette, dismounted,
got down to the water-side, looked all about him, saw all he wished,
and came away. This was, in my opinion, risking too much; but no French
soldier would have any idea of the commander of the Allied Forces going
about thus with two attendants. Lord Wellington was yesterday over
alone on foot, and went on upon a horse of General Cole’s, as horses
could not pass. Even General P—— was a little uneasy, and sent about
eight o’clock to know if he had come back safe. He returned about seven
o’clock, when it was dusk. To-day he has a great dinner in honour of
Badajoz.
_7th April, Grenade._—We have at last a fine clear day, and warm. The
river is falling rapidly. By this evening probably our bridge may be
re-established, and to-morrow I conclude that we shall pass more troops
and advance against Toulouse and the French marshal, who is digging and
working away as usual. The French made several attempts to destroy our
bridge before the floods did the business for them. They sent us down
all their dead horses, several trees, &c., and a large old boat, which
struck a pontoon, and went down itself instead of the pontoon. They
sent down also a sort of armed log stuck round with swords, and rolling
round and round in the stream as it went along, like a great fish, in
hopes that the swords would strike and cut the cable which holds the
boats.
Major M—— has just told me that he has had news from the interior of
another defeat of Bonaparte at Arcis-sur-Aube, and of his having lost
one hundred guns, &c., and being then manœuvring in the rear of the
Allies. This seems probable. He has also an account of the departments
in the west of France having all sent in to the Duke d’Angoulême at
Bordeaux for orders; this is also probable, and that the Royalists gain
ground fast. His accounts add in the postscript,—“The Allies entered
Paris April 1st.” This ought to be, I think, from former accounts,
and I hope it is so. The last _Moniteur_ we have of the 30th talks
of Bonaparte’s return to Paris to cover the city. How he could then
get there seems the difficulty. Lord Wellington also had yesterday a
private letter from the interior, in which it is said, “_un événement
bien imprévu est arrivé à Paris_,” and no comment. He guesses it to be
the flight of the Empress. You see what confused accounts we get of all
late events!
_7th (6 o’clock.)_—In addition to the above we have now news that the
Bourbons have been proclaimed at Paris, and that in the name of the
Emperor of Austria the house of Napoleon has been declared to cease
to reign. I must now seal up, for Lord Wellington has written his
English letters to-day, Thursday, although Saturday is the usual day.
In addition to this, I think, from many symptoms, that we shall move
to-morrow.
P.S.—The _maire_ brought in with such a magnificent escort, is now
quietly walking about here with his wife and no guard. The bridge is to
be fixed nearly in the same place again to-night.