General Murillo having advanced from the frontiers of Portugal, towards
Caceres in Spanish Estremadura, for the double purpose of procuring
recruits, and supplies for the 5th Spanish army under his command;--the
Count D'Erlon, on the first intelligence of these movements reaching
him, instantly detached General Gerard with a division of the 5th
French corps, and a considerable body of cavalry, from Merida, to
arrest his progress. The belligerents came in sight of each other a
short distance from Caceres, but no serious collision took place,
for Morillo's force being far inferior to Gerard's, both in point of
numbers and discipline, the former conceived it prudent to withdraw his
troops towards Malpartida, and subsequently to Arroyo-del-Puerco and
Aleseda.
On these facts being communicated to Lord Wellington, he instantly
transmitted instructions to General Hill to advance and drive the
enemy behind the Guadiana. General Hill accordingly broke up from his
cantonments at Portalegre on the 22d of October, and with a portion of
his troops moved towards the frontier. Two leagues from Portalegre, we
passed Allegrete, the last Portuguese town in this direction, and three
leagues farther we arrived at Codeceira, the first Spanish village,
where, under torrents of rain we bivouacked. The whole of the officers
being in light marching order, many of them were but ill prepared for
such a visitation. A few, who were really very slenderly covered,
formed a circle round a blazing fire, and each with his head resting
on the legs of the friend immediately before him, they endeavoured to
make themselves as comfortable as men whose bodies are two-third parts
frozen, and one-third part roasted, can expect to be.
Next morning we advanced to Albuquerque, an ancient city, built on the
northern slope of the Sierra-de-Montanches. On a rock, a little above
the town, stands a castle, which, from its antiquated appearance, must,
I should imagine, have braved the buffeting of the pitiless storm, from
a period anterior to the introduction of gun-powder. Its situation is
commanding, and could a full supply of good water be introduced within
its walls, it might become a useful military station.
Our brigade, and three pieces of Portuguese artillery, moved forward
to Cantallana on the 24th, and on the following forenoon, a league
farther to Aleseda, where we found the third brigade, other three
pieces of artillery, and some Spanish cavalry, commanded by Colonel
Downie. The road between Cantallana and Aleseda, was so miserably bad,
that the guns had to be removed from their carriages, and carried up a
considerable acclivity by a party of our brigade.
On arriving at Aleseda, we were ordered to cook with all expedition.
This we subsequently found to be rather an ominous order, being
generally the precursor of a long march, or a sharp battle; and not
unfrequently of both. At this time, the bullocks on which we were to
dine, were running and jumping around us, as free as the air of heaven,
but in less than an hour, they were amusing us with more interesting
leaps in our camp-kettles. The soup, just removed from the fire,
having been placed before us, at the same time that the bugle called
us to arms, we were compelled by dire necessity to despatch it into
the regions of the stomach, in a state little colder than boiling
lead. "This is comfortable employment for a cold day," said I to a
friend near me, as we gulped down the boiling liquid. "True, but don't
you think," said he, "that the comfort would be greatly enhanced,
if we could lift up the veil which hides the future from our view."
"Quite the reverse, my friend," replied I, "much wiser and better for
the human race, has it been ordered by an all-wise and over-ruling
Providence--who--
From all creatures hides the book of fate,
All but the page prescribed their present state;
From brutes what men, from men what spirits know;
Or who would suffer being here below?
The lamb, the riot, dooms to bleed to-day,
Had he thy reason, would he skip and play?
Oh, blindness to the future! kindly given,
That each may fill the circle marked by heaven."
On leaving Aleseda, about four o'clock, P.M. the evening was rather
mild; but as the sun dropped behind the western curtain, the clouds
began to lower, and soon after, the sluices of the heavens were opened,
and with great violence poured their fury on our heads, as we groped
our way towards Malpartida. Marching under the cloud of night, even in
the finest summer weather, is a most unpleasant operation. How much
more unpleasant, therefore, must it be to a poor soldier in a dark
stormy night, on a road covered to the depth of several inches with
mud and water, and a surface so uneven, that every twenty or thirty
yards the foot either sinks deep into a rut, or comes bump upon a
stone, throws the owner completely off his balance, and precipitates
him headlong into the puddle. Such were the pleasures we enjoyed on
our trip from Aleseda to Malpartida, which occupied the whole of the
night. So pale and worn-out were some of the men at dawn, on the 26th,
that had the enemy been at a greater distance, not a few of them would
have laid themselves down, and waited the coming of the morning sun to
guide them on their cheerless course.
The enemy having given us the slip, by retiring from Malpartida before
day-break, the German hussars were sent in pursuit of the fugitives,
who retired to Caceres, and subsequently to Torra-Mocha. There being
no prospect of bringing the French to action, General Hill ordered
us under cover in Malpartida. Early on the 27th, we resumed the
offensive, and finding that the enemy had retired from Torra-Mocha
to Arroyo-del-Molinos, we marched first to Aldea-del-Cano, then to
Casa-de-Don-Antonio, and subsequently a forced march to Alcuesca, three
miles from Arroyo-del-Molinos.
Fully resolved to attack the enemy on the following morning, all the
troops, save the 71st, were placed in bivouac, in rear of the village,
and completely out of the enemy's view. No fires were permitted;
and the 71st regiment which occupied the town of Alcuesca, placed
piquets all around the village, to intercept any spy, or disaffected
person that might attempt to carry to Gerard any intelligence of
our movements. About six in the evening the rain again descended on
our heads in perfect torrents, and continued with unabated violence
throughout the whole of the ensuing night. On being desired to make
themselves as comfortable as they could, without the aid of fires, the
troops, without a murmur, consigned themselves to rest, and bore their
allotted portion of misery like men and soldiers.
At two o'clock in the morning of the 28th, the sergeants went round
their respective companies, and in a whisper bade their men prepare for
action; the utmost silence being indispensably necessary to ensure the
success which our general anticipated. A few minutes were sufficient to
put the column in motion, and a few more to shew us the enemy's fires,
at the appearance of which our poor fellows were quite overjoyed, being
to them a sure indication that the birds had not flown. Although the
distance between the belligerents was little more than three miles, yet
from the broken state of the road, the darkness of the morning, and the
inclemency of the weather, we were fully four hours in traversing that
space. The whole moved in one column, right in front, until we arrived
within half-a-mile of Arroyo-del-Molinos, when the various battalions
closed up, and under cover of a little eminence, were formed into the
following columns of attack:--
The left column, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, 50th
Regiment, was composed of the 1st brigade, 50th, 71st, and 92d
regiments, one company 60th, and three field-pieces; and the right
column, led by Major-General Howard, consisted of the 28th, 34th,
and 39th regiments, one company 60th, 6th regiment of Portuguese
infantry of the line, 6th Portuguese Caçadores, two field-pieces and a
howitzer. The centre was formed of the 9th and 13th light dragoons, 2d
German Hussars, and the Conde-de-Penne Villamur's Spanish cavalry, and
was commanded by Sir William Erskine.
The formation being completed, the columns advanced in the following
order:--The 71st and 92d regiments, and 60th rifle company, moved
direct upon the village, at quarter-distance, and the 50th in close
column, with the artillery a little in rear as a reserve. The right
column, having the 39th regiment as a reserve, moved to the right,
crossed the plain to the right of the town, in order to cut off the
enemy's retreat by any of the roads leading from Arroyo-del-Molinos
to Truxillo, Medellin, or Merida. The centre column moved between the
other two, and was kept in readiness to act wherever its services might
be required. General Morillo, with the Spanish infantry, supported the
left column.
The 71st and 92d regiments entered the village at a quick pace, and,
at the point of the bayonet, soon cleared it of the enemy, who were
quite unprepared for such an unceremonious visit. One brigade of the
French infantry had unfortunately marched from Arroyo to Medellin
previous to our arrival, and the others were filing out of the village
for a similar purpose, when the British huzza fell on their ears, and
arrested their progress. Finding it totally impossible to escape
without giving battle, Gerard faced to the right-about, and made
the best disposition in his power for a determined resistance. The
infantry he formed into two squares, on the roads leading to Merida
and Medellin. The right square was posted not more than one hundred
yards from the village,--the other was at a greater distance, and had
its left flank protected by their cavalry. On arriving at the eastern
extremity of the principal street, the 71st moved to their left--lined
some of the village garden walls, and peppered their antagonists in
very good style. The 92nd regiment following close on the heels of
their companions, filed to the right, formed line, prepared to charge,
but were not permitted to fire a single shot. This was extremely
galling to the soldiers, who saw their officers and comrades falling
around them without daring to retaliate upon the enemy. This was no
doubt an unpleasant situation to be placed in, but knowing that the
success of an enterprise frequently depends on the manner in which
orders of this description are attended to, the Highlanders, with
a praise-worthy forbearance, resisted every temptation to commit a
breach of their orders, and with a patience not very peculiar to their
countrymen, waited the arrival of the decisive moment.
During the time occupied by the 92nd regiment in completing their new
formation, the three pieces of artillery were brought forward, and on
being posted on our right, fired with terrible effect on the enemy's
masses, carrying death into their thickest ranks. In a few minutes
the French troops appeared extremely uncomfortable, and in a few more
something like a wavering in their squares was observable. The moment
so anxiously looked for having now arrived, the Highlanders moved
forward to the charge, but the French declined the honour intended for
them, wheeled to the right-about, and with rather a hasty step retired
towards a steep hill in their rear, over which their general fancied he
should be able to conduct them to more comfortable quarters.
Pending these operations against the enemy's right, General Howard
manœuvred round their left, and after cutting off their retreat upon
Merida and Medellin, endeavoured to interpose his whole force between
the enemy and the mountain in their rear. Our cavalry were also very
actively employed. On perceiving it to be General Gerard's intention to
gain the rock with his mixed force, they advanced, cut off the French
cavalry from their infantry, charged them repeatedly, routed them,
and captured all their artillery. These movements reduced the French
general to the choice of two very bad alternatives--unconditional
surrender, or a hazardous flight across the mountains. Giving a
preference to the latter, he retired upon the most inaccessible point
of the hill, which his troops ascended, and then fired down upon us
from behind the rocks, with which the whole face of it was thickly
covered. To prevent the enemy from reaping all the advantages which
he anticipated from this movement, General Howard pushed them closely
with the 28th and 34th regiments, and detached the 39th, and Colonel
Ashworth's Portuguese, round the eastern corner of the mountain, to
charge the fugitives in flank. The left column also kept close to the
enemy on their retreat; and the Spaniards prepared to ascend the hill
considerably to our left, to assist in the capture of the flying host.
By these various movements, the latter became so sensible of their own
inability to continue the conflict, but at a very unnecessary sacrifice
of human life, that after throwing away their arms, or rendering
them useless, they attempted to escape from our toils; but the great
proportion seeing that to be impossible, a white flag was at length
hoisted on the point of a sword, in token of submission. The remainder
continuing their retrograde movement across the mountain, and the
British troops being much in want of repose, General Hill gave over the
pursuit of the fugitives to General Morillo, who followed them twenty
miles--killed a number, and made many prisoners.
Our loss in this admirably conducted affair, was extremely trifling,
compared with that of the enemy. We had only seven killed, fifty-seven
wounded, and one officer, Lieutenant Strenuwitz, aid-de-camp to
Sir William Erskine, missing.--That of the French, consisted of one
general (Brun), Colonel the prince D'Aremberg, two lieutenant-colonels,
an aid-de-camp of General Gerard's, thirty other officers, and
from thirteen to fourteen hundred non-commissioned officers and
soldiers prisoners. The whole of their artillery, money, baggage,
and provisions, also fell into our hands. Their loss in killed must
have been severe, for besides those who fell in action, Morillo found
upwards of _six hundred dead_ in the woods and mountains, when in
pursuit of the remains of this little army, which in the action and
pursuit, was reduced from 3100 to 300, who with their wounded chief,
effected their escape.
The 18th regiment of Portuguese infantry, and Brigadier-General
Campbell's brigade of Portuguese infantry, having joined us at the
close of the action, these corps, together with General Long's brigade
of cavalry, and the 50th, 71st, and 92nd regiments of British infantry,
quitted the field of battle, immediately after the prisoners, &c.
were collected, and moved forward to St Pedro, two leagues from
Arroyo-del-Molinos.
We had not been long in camp, before a party of twenty-three French
dragoons were observed scampering across the plain in our front, in the
direction of Medellin. As no time was to be lost, one of our cavalry
piquets, consisting of seventeen men, dashed across the plain to
intercept them. In a few minutes the two parties stood in the presence
of each other, and without much ceremony, proceeded to _business_. The
action, however, was of short duration, for the enemy, after a feebler
resistance than was anticipated, agreed to accompany our dragoons into
camp, where they were received with three hearty cheers. Both parties
being in full view the whole time, the scene was altogether extremely
interesting.
At three o'clock in the morning of the 29th, we quitted our bivouac at
St Pedro, and after a march of fifteen hours, under torrents of rain,
entered Merida, wet, weary, and hungry. The following day being one of
rest, all the horses, mules, and asses, captured on the 28th, were sold
by auction in the square of Merida, the produce of which, together with
the money found in Gerard's military chest, was ordered to be divided
at a subsequent period amongst the troops actually engaged on that day.
Our mission into Estremadura being ended, the whole of the troops in
Merida, retired on the 31st to Montejo, and on the 1st of November, to
Campo Major. The distance being fully seven leagues, we marched two
hours before day-break, and at twelve o'clock, halted to refresh the
soldiers. Having a few minutes before crossed a deep, rapid, narrow
river, which struck some of our men a little under the arm-pits, our
situation at the time was not very comfortable. However, a two hours
rest, before a rousing fire, aided by a glass of grog, and the rays
of a powerful sun, soon banished all traces of our ducking. In high
spirits, therefore, we quitted our temporary bivouac. But we had not
proceeded above four hundred yards, before another river, broader,
deeper, and more rapid than the other, crossed our path, and again
drenched us to the neck. How we came to halt in such a position, none
could form any notion; but all were agreed, that however amusing the
spectacle of a few thousand men standing in water to the neck may be to
members of the Quarter-Master General's department, those individuals
must be told that mistakes such as this cannot be tolerated, for to the
weary, and but too often heated pedestrians, duckings such as those
just mentioned, are the prolific sources of almost every disease, which
on service, hurries the young soldier into a premature grave.
We remained in Campo-Major on the 2nd of November, and on the 3rd moved
to Arronches, an old fortress, the walls of which seemed tottering
to their base. Resuming our retrograde movement next morning, we
re-entered Portalegre about one o'clock, amid the loud acclamations
of a grateful and delighted populace. Satisfied that the spontaneous
and grateful effusions of the multitude on this occasion, flowed
from hearts untainted with hypocrisy, we received them as a people's
thanks--the noblest reward a soldier can receive.
Thus terminated our memorable trip into Spain, the success attending
which very far exceeded the expectations, either of the noble
individual who planned it, or the gallant and truly amiable General
who carried the plan into execution. And it is but justice to the
soldiers to state, that by a praise-worthy exercise of those military
qualities--patience, firmness, and valour, in a manner peculiarly
their own, their General was enabled to surmount every obstacle which
attempted to arrest his progress.