If General Gerard required evidence to convince him that it is easier
to prevent a surprise, than to banish the effects which are generally
produced by this worst of all military misfortunes, the issue of the
conflict on the 28th of October must have furnished him with proof
of the most ample description. Prolific as the page of history is in
examples of surprises of a similar nature, yet I doubt much whether it
affords one where the officer surprised, reposed in a more criminal
security than General Gerard did on the above occasion. When first
informed that the British troops were in motion, and advancing upon
the town in order of battle, the French chief who was then in bed,
raised himself on his elbow, and said to his informant, "Pooh, pooh,
the English troops will not march in such a morning as this!" and then
threw himself into his former position.
Almost the greatest military blunder which any officer can commit,
is that of allowing himself to be surprised. When a general loses a
battle, his honour and reputation remain unsullied, provided he has
discharged the duties of his office with fidelity and zeal. But the
very reverse befalls that general, who through carelessness, or a
gross dereliction of the duties confided to him, permits himself to be
surprised and beaten. Any general may have the laurel torn from his
brow, however conspicuous his military talents may be; but a shameful
defeat is rarely the reward of that individual, who, as far as his
means will permit, provides against every contingency; who adopts
every precaution in his power to prevent a surprise; and who never
for a moment leaves any thing to chance, lest fortune, if trusted too
far, may prove faithless; and, as in the case of General Gerard at
Arroyo-del-Molinos, entail on himself and followers, defeat, and an
overwhelming load of disgrace.
The military annals of the world exhibits to our view a long list
of commanders, who by forming too high an opinion of their personal
military qualifications, and spurning the advice of generals of
inferior rank, have placed themselves and followers in situations of
imminent peril. In this list, I fear we must insert the name of General
Gerard. At all events, his conduct at Arroyo-del-Molinos should serve
as a beacon to warn all officers of the dangers to be apprehended
from the smallest neglect of duty, from whatever cause it may arise,
and also to convince them of the folly of rejecting the advice of an
experienced or talented friend, simply because he may be junior in rank
to themselves.
The necessity of British troops being instructed in every description
of field and camp duty, previous to quitting their native shore, was
never more clearly developed than in our bivouac at Codeceira on the
22nd of October. Our arms were no sooner piled, than the old stagers
flew like lightning through the woods in search of comforts. But our
poor _Johnny Raws_, as all young soldiers were denominated, instead of
imitating their brethren in their laudable vocation, formed themselves
into little groups, and seated on their knapsacks, sat shivering in
expectation that fire, water, and beef would be provided them without
any personal trouble. The fruits of this gross ignorance of camp duty
were soon obvious. In _two hours_ the experienced soldiers were called
to dinner--the young ones _had not then placed their camp-kettles on
the fire_.
It would be an act of gross injustice, however, to throw the smallest
blame on the shoulders of those young men, for the ignorance exhibited
by them on that occasion. Totally uninstructed in field-cookery, or any
other portion of camp duty, what else could be expected of them? But,
should the British soldiers be longer permitted to embark for a foreign
clime in this state of ignorance? Should they not rather be marched
regularly as the state of the weather will permit, to a convenient
piece of ground in the vicinity of their cantonments, then encamp,
and after being instructed in every description of camp duty which
they can be called upon to perform in the face of an enemy, return to
their quarters in the evening. Some such plan as this is indispensably
necessary, for it is principally owing to their total ignorance in
the mode of cooking in the fields, and sheltering themselves from the
surly attacks of the mid-night hurricane, that so many of our best
and bravest spirits are hurried into hospital in the early stages of
a first campaign. Some individuals would, no doubt, grumble and growl
like bears at the new duty, but these would always be few in number;
for there are but few officers or soldiers who would not willingly
exchange a little inconvenience at home, for health and some little
comfort when roughing it at a distance from their native land.
On crossing an extensive plain between Malpartida and Aldea-del-Cano
on the 27th of October, the troops were highly entertained by the
mounted officers of the corps, the latter having accidentally started
a hare, all the greyhounds belonging to the corps, were instantly put
in requisition to run down poor puss. The little, timid, short-legged
elf, ran hard for existence, but notwithstanding all its arts and
stratagems, it at length fell under the snouts of its numerous
pursuers. Perceiving that the soldiers were highly delighted with the
sport, the officers set about coursing in earnest, and continued to
amuse their companions, till they arrived at the extremity of the
plain. Trifling as this little piece of attention may appear, it
produced a much greater effect on the spirits of the men, than the most
sanguine promoter of the sport anticipated. Time was so wonderfully
beguiled, that on the arrival of the column at Alcuesca, many of the
men conceived that they had not marched above half the distance they
had really done. Should not this tend to convince us that much good may
at times be effected by the officers finding harmless amusements for
the soldiers under their command?
The 34th French infantry having preceded their commandant to the field
of honour at Arroyo, the latter who was still in his quarters when we
passed through the town, mounted his charger soon after, and with his
powerful arm raised for mischief, galloped along one of the principal
streets, resolved to rejoin it, or perish in the attempt. Colonel
Cadogan, 71st regiment, happening to be in the same street, attempted
to stop him, but in making a cut at the head of his opponent, Cadogan
completely neglected to guard his own, which the former perceiving,
returned the favour of his antagonist with such effect, that, but for
the tough materials surmounting it, the head of Cadogan would have been
severed in two. The gallant Frenchman, however, was made prisoner,
and having on various occasions shewn a great deal of disinterested
kindness to British officers who had had the misfortune to be made
prisoners, the same marked attention was shewn to him at Portalegre. As
a more memorable reward for his humanity towards our countrymen, he,
soon after his arrival in England, received permission to return to
the bosom of his family in France. Were all officers to act a similar
part to those who fall into their hands, the horrors of war would
be considerably mitigated, and much of that ferocity which but too
frequently characterizes the actions of men in the field of strife,
would be altogether unknown.
The numerous escapes which soldiers have had from instant death in
the field of battle, would, if collected and published, form a most
interesting volume. Buttons, pen-knives, stocks, pencil-cases, keys,
watches, pocket-combs, sword-handles, and pieces of old paper, would
be found recorded as instruments made use of by Divine Providence to
prolong the lives of thousands of them. Amongst those whose lives have
been thus preserved by the kind interposition of the Divine Being,
I may name Colonel Cameron of the 92nd regiment. The captain of the
grenadier company of his regiment having been wounded early in the
action, the senior lieutenant, on assuming the command of it, made a
false movement, on perceiving which, the Colonel greatly irritated,
repeated his former orders in a voice of thunder, and as was his usual
custom when displeased, he struck his left breast with his right hand,
which then grasped the hilt of his sword. The last syllable of his
orders had just been delivered, and his right hand had scarcely touched
his breast, when a bullet, dispatched by one of the enemy's riflemen,
struck the Colonel on the first joint of the middle finger, shattered
the bone, passed through the handle of the sabre, and then struck the
breast so violently, that he relinquished the command of the battalion
to Major Mitchell, in the full conviction that the ball had passed into
his body. On being undeceived, however, the gallant Colonel instantly
rejoined his battalion, and with his middle finger dangling by a small
piece of skin only, and the blood flowing from the wound in copious
streams, he remained at the head of his Highlanders to the close of the
engagement.
A few days previous to the battle of Arroyo-del-Molinos, a private
soldier of very weak intellect, named Brown, lost his firelock, but
where, or in what manner, he could give no proper account. On the
circumstance being reported to the commanding officer, he was so
enraged, that he ordered Brown to be taken into the first action
without arms. The captain of his company, however, feeling for the
situation of the poor fellow, ordered him to fall out when close to the
village of Arroyo. But no: the proud spirit of the half-witted creature
would not permit him to accept of the kind indulgence tendered him.
Brown continued in his proper place in the ranks, during the whole of
the engagement. Seeing some firelocks without owners, Captain D----
desired Brown to arm himself with one of them, but the latter replied,
"Colonel Cameron having been pleased, Sir, to order me into action
without arms, here I will remain unarmed until the action is over,
or poor Jack Brown is sent into another world;" which resolution the
heroic simpleton faithfully kept.