The well picked bones of a Christmas goose had scarcely been removed
from our mess-table, when an orderly entered, and announced the
unwelcome intelligence that our attendance was required at the
alarm-post next morning before day-break,--and worst of all, in light
marching order. Had this personage been the bearer of a warrant for the
execution of the whole party, our countenances could not have presented
a more rueful appearance. We could have wished the evil day put off
for twenty-four hours, but as any memorial to that effect would only
have been productive of further disappointment, we at once resolved to
make a virtue of necessity, and accordingly retired to our respective
quarters, and made the necessary preparations for another excursion
into Spain.
A little before sun-rise on the 26th December, the whole of the troops
quartered in Portalegre bade a temporary adieu to that friendly town,
and in the evening our brigade occupied Codeceira. Next day we moved
to Albuquerque, and on the 28th quitted that city for Merida. Two
leagues from the former we passed to the right of the Castle of Zagala,
beautifully situated on the summit of a hill, from which there is a
delightful view of the surrounding country. Three leagues farther we
passed through the miserable village of La Rocka, and on the western
slope of an eminence, a few hundred yards in front of it, we went into
bivouac. General Dombrousky being in possession of Merida, with a mixed
force of 1500 men, General Hill requested commanding-officers of corps
to have their fires as much under the hill as possible, in order to
favour the design he then meditated of taking the Pole napping. The
object, though not expressed, was so obvious to every one, that the
order was readily and most cheerfully obeyed.
Next morning at day-break we quitted our bivouac, and under cover of
a dense fog, moved towards the point of attraction. General Hill not
being aware that the enemy had, the previous evening, pushed forward
a party of 150 cavalry, and 300 infantry, to the village of La Nava,
about half-way between our bivouac and Merida, the cavalry, under
General Long, were permitted to precede the infantry some miles. This
movement turned out unfortunately; for General Long being also in
ignorance of the proximity of this body to his own, came bump upon
one of the enemy's videttes close to La Nava, and made him prisoner,
but not till by discharging his carabine he had made his friends
aware of the danger that threatened them. The density of the fog at
the time rendering it impossible for either party to ascertain the
other's real numerical strength, the French troops rushed to arms, and
in a few minutes were formed ready for action, on an eminence in rear
of the village; but the British cavalry halted so long, that before
General Long _finally resolved to attack_, the favourable moment had
fled--never to return.
The fog soon after this first collision began to disperse, which
enabled our advanced guard to get a peep of their opponents. Continuing
to clear away, General Long was at length enabled to draw near to
the enemy without any fear of being surprised. Although formed in
square, the General resolved to attack, and if possible compel them
to surrender; but the little band of French infantry received his
charge with firmness, and finally beat him off. This success gave the
enemy some idea of their own strength, for they instantly commenced
a retrograde movement towards Merida, fully convinced, no doubt,
that they could effect their escape, should no other opponents take
part in the deadly feud. Charge succeeded charge,--but from each our
cavalry were forced to retire with loss, and without making the least
impression on the little column. These repeated assaults proving
ruinous to us, the dragoons were ordered to hang on the flanks of the
retiring foe, and take advantage of any opening that might occur,
either from the inequality of the ground over which he had to retire,
or the fire of two pieces of artillery, which latterly joined in the
pursuit. Accordingly, a gap no sooner appeared, than our cavalry
instantly prepared to renew the assault; but before any advantage
could be taken of it, some other brave spirits had stepped forward
and filled it up. Not one of the enemy's infantry ever once appeared
to shrink from the terrible conflict; on the contrary, the whole
party, individually and collectively, exhibited throughout the action
a degree of coolness and firmness which none but the truly brave can
possess in the hour of danger. In the manner now described the parties
traversed several miles, till the French being reinforced from Merida,
our cavalry gave over the pursuit, more than satisfied that a body of
well-disciplined infantry, when under the guidance of an officer of
courage, experience, and prudence, has nothing to fear from a body of
cavalry of double their numerical strength. In the evening our corps
closed up, and bivouacked in front of La Nava, and next morning moved
forward to Merida, which the enemy had precipitately evacuated during
the night, leaving behind them a considerable quantity of corn.
The conduct of the French captain and his little band at La Nava,
affords to all officers and soldiers one of the noblest examples for
imitation on record. It is when placed in situations such as this, that
the prudence of an officer, and the courage of himself and soldiers, is
put to the severest trial. It is on occasions of a similar kind that
the soldier who combats for honour and glory, possesses such decided
advantages over him whose mercenary propensities lead him to look upon
honour and military renown as secondary objects. Bear this then in
remembrance, my brave fellow-countrymen, that it is when duty calls you
to defend a post against great numerical superiority, that your courage
is put to the severest trial; but never forget, that it is also on
those occasions you may expect to reap the richest harvest of military
renown.
When honour does the soldier call
To some unequal fight,
Resolved to conquer or to fall,
Before his general's sight.
Advanced--the happy hero lives,
Or, if ill-fate denies,
The noble rashness heaven forgives,
And gloriously he dies.
The 31st was a day of rest; but at day-break on the 1st of January
1812, the whole corps crossed the Guadiana, and moved towards
Almendralejo, where we expected our arrival would be announced by a
royal salute from the field artillery of the Count D'Erlon. For a
league and a-half our route led us over a very barren heath, then
across a large, rich, but partially cultivated plain. As the road
between these two places rises with a gentle acclivity for at least
five miles from the banks of the river, the leading battalions enjoyed
a delightful view of the long and party-coloured columns, as they
winded along the heath towards their destination; and I have no doubt
but the spectacle would have appeared still more gratifying, could we
have banished from our recollection the object of our movement--the
destruction of our fellow-creatures. But notwithstanding this, shall
I say, almost only draw-back to a military life, we enjoyed the
interesting scene while it lasted; and when deprived of that, we jogged
along the plain as cheerily and merrily, as the fatiguing nature of
the march would permit us, till our proximity to the enemy told us to
prepare for battle.
It was now one o'clock, and a dense fog so enveloped every surrounding
object, that it was quite impossible to discover any thing beyond
a few paces from where we stood. As this unfavourable state of the
atmosphere prevented General Hill from ascertaining whether the enemy
held possession of Almendralejo, with FIVE _hundred_, or twice as many
thousands; the cavalry, a few pieces of artillery, and the 1st brigade,
moved towards the town in order of battle. We had not proceeded far,
when the cavalry came into contact with the French piquets, which were
instantly attacked and driven in. To be prepared for whatever might
occur, the rear brigades quickly moved up on our left, and occupied
the stations assigned them. When the first collision took place, the
French troops in Almendralejo were busily engaged in preparing their
dinners, and consequently had their thoughts rivetted on something
more palatable than either gun-powder, bullets, or bayonets. Part of
them instantly moved to the support of the piquets, and the remainder
retreated to a rising ground in rear of the town. The former, on
receiving a few shots from our artillery, wheeled also to the right
about, and in a few minutes were alongside of their friends. On the
re-union of the two bodies, the whole retired towards a height a
considerable distance from the town, over which runs the roads to
Villa-Franca, and Fuente-del-Maestre. Our light troops pursued the
fugitives closely, skirmishing with them all the way, and we followed,
in hopes that the Count would make his appearance at the head of his
corps, ready to receive us. In this, however, we were disappointed, for
on the fog clearing away, we were sorry to find that he had withdrawn
to Zafra with the main body, leaving behind him a strong rear-guard
only to cover his retreat.
As the fog died away, the rain which began to fall about one o'clock,
continued to increase in violence, till about three, when one would
actually have supposed that it was falling from buckets. Under these
circumstances, night approaching, and there being no chance of bringing
the enemy to close quarter, General Hill gave orders for strong piquets
to be posted on all the roads around Almendralejo, and the rest of
the troops to march into the town--which were obeyed with the greater
cheerfulness, that not one of them had a dry jacket or shirt on their
backs.
On taking possession of the quarters allotted to another officer and
myself, the poor people instantly pointed to the dinners of seven
Frenchmen, which in their hurry, they had found it necessary to leave
behind in a stew-pan by the fire. Preferring, however, a little tea,
to a mess of beef, pork, beans, garlic, and oil, we desired the family
to make use of it themselves. Permission was no sooner granted, than
the contents of the stew-pan was emptied into a large stone bason,
into which, sixty fingers and thumbs were instantly plunged, and
then, grasping a piece of the delicious morsel, carried to the mouth,
streaming with grease, like as many candles receiving a polishing touch
at the hands of their maker. The scene was a laughable one, but very
short, for in two or three minutes not a vestige of any part of the
dinner was visible.
The enemy shewing a reluctance to retire from Villa-Franca and
Fuente-del-Maestre, two detachments were despatched from Almendralejo
on the 3rd of January to dislodge them. The one which moved against
Villa-Franca, consisted of the 9th and 13th light dragoons, two
pieces of artillery, the 50th, 71st, and 92nd regiments, and 60th
rifle company, and was commanded by Major-General Howard. The other
which was under the command of the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel
Abercromby, 28th regiment, was composed of the 2nd hussars, king's
German legion, the 4th and 10th Portuguese cavalry, and 28th British
regiment of infantry. Both detachments moved from Almendralejo, at
twelve o'clock. On a height about half way between the latter place
and Villa-Franca, we first obtained a view of the enemy, drawn up on a
commanding piece of ground, a few hundred yards from the town, on the
road to Los-Santos. Soon after this, the detachment was formed into two
columns, the right composed of the 92nd regiment, 60th rifle company,
and one piece of artillery, was placed under Colonel Cameron; and the
left, which consisted of the remainder of the detachment, was led by
Major-General Howard in person. The left column moved direct upon the
town, in order to attack their right flank and centre, while the right
was to co-operate with the right battalion of the left column, in its
assault on the centre, if it could not throw itself in rear of the left
wing. The enemy not only appeared prepared for a visit from us, but for
some time gave most unequivocal indications that they would pepper us
well before they retired. Indeed so satisfied were we all of this, that
we looked forward to a tight little affair with them. But appearances
on this, as on many former occasions, proved deceitful;--for just as we
had approached that point from which we intended to apply those means,
by which British soldiers are accustomed to remove every obstacle which
attempts to arrest their progress, the French chief considering it
imprudent to stake the fate of his little corps on the issue of a brush
with us, faced about, and walked off towards Los-Santos, pursued by our
cavalry.
Lest the enemy should attempt to pay us home in the coin of
Arroyo-del-Molinos, piquets composed of whole companies were posted
on every road branching from Villa-Franca. The rest were thrown into
the town, with orders to remain accoutred, to be ready to turn out
at a moment's warning, and to be on the alarm-post two hours before
day-break. From nine o'clock in the evening, till seven o'clock on the
following morning, rain and hail fell in such prodigious quantities,
and was forced to the earth with such violence by the wind, which blew
a perfect hurricane, that all those who were on piquet, joined their
battalions in the morning in a most deplorable condition. One of the
officers in particular, was to all appearance a perfect maniac. Two
hours before day-light, we who were in Villa-Franca proceeded to the
alarm-post, where, in ten minutes, we were as thoroughly drenched as if
we had just emerged from a six months ablution in the Bay of Biscay.
Never before did I witness such a tempest. After a four hours exposure
to its utmost fury, we departed from Villa-Franca, and returned to
Almendralejo.
The detachment under Colonel Abercromby was more successful in killing
and maiming than we were. On the road to Fuente-del-Maestre, a French
regiment of cavalry crossed the path of the detachment. On coming
in sight of the enemy, the 2nd German dragoons flew at them like as
many bull-dogs, and being supported by the Portuguese, the enemy was
defeated with the loss of twenty killed and wounded, and thirty-one
taken prisoners. Our loss was trifling. This detachment also rejoined
the main body on the 4th, and the whole retraced their steps to Merida
on the following day.
None but those who were present can have any idea of the fatigue which
the soldiers endured from the 1st to 5th January, from the wretched
state of the roads from Merida to Villa-Franca. On returning to Merida,
they had more the appearance of troops that had been six months under
canvass, than men returning to cantonments after a ten day's campaign.
On the marches of the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th, a great many of the
soldiers sunk deep into clay of such an adhesive quality, that in
extricating themselves from its grasp, many of them tore their gaiters
to pieces, and some of them actually left their shoes behind them, and
trudged along in their stockings. On these occasions I seldom had less
than four pounds of clay at my feet, which fatigued me so much, that
on retiring to rest each night, I dropped asleep without the aid of
any stimulant. Such then being my situation, who had neither musket,
knapsack, canteen, or haversack to carry, what must the soldiers
have suffered who had to march encumbered with all these, weighing
altogether nearly three stone?
To those who are eternally croaking about the half-pay and pensions of
those officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, who served in
the late war, I wish no greater punishment than to be made to serve but
one short campaign in a country where hardships and dangers, similar to
those the British troops encountered in Spain, may stare them in the
face at every step, and where their only comforts, when summed up, may,
as in the Peninsula, consist of a daily allowance of one pound of tough
beef, and a similar quantity of hard biscuit; being well convinced
that on their return to their native land, they will have tasted so
freely of the sweets of a soldier's life, when engaged in the active
operations of the field, that they will be prepared to convert their
hoarse murmurs of disapprobation of the half-pay and pension-list, into
a sweet-sounding and rapturous applause.
In the suite of General Hill, on the 1st of January, moved the Marquis
of Alemeida, a Spanish nobleman, between fifty and sixty years of
age. Having suffered severely from French rapacity, the Marquis, as
may be supposed, was one of their bitterest enemies. Being a warm
admirer of the British character, he not only accompanied us in all
our wanderings, but laid aside his _native habit_, and assumed the
_scarlet_, in humble imitation of his friend, our worthy General.
In addition to a long scarlet coat, the Marquis generally wore a
cocked-hat, always decorated with one, sometimes with two, and not
unfrequently with _three_ long red and white feathers dangling to his
shoulders, in as many different directions. His appearance altogether
was rather odd, but the singularity of his costume soon ceased to
attract notice, and in a little time he became a considerable favourite
with all classes.
On arriving in front of the enemy's piquets, the Marquis had no idea
that he was so close upon the enemy, until the unexpected intelligence
was announced to him by one--two--three from our artillery, a few yards
in front. Neither the worthy nobleman or his horse being prepared to
accede to this mode of conversing with the plunderers of his estates,
the former stared, and the latter reared and plunged, as if anxious
to get quit of its burden, fancying, no doubt, that the Marquis was
the sole cause of his being in such noisy company. On the third gun
being fired, the Marquis, with a countenance which at once denoted the
fervour of his prayer, exclaimed,--"Oh, Jesus, Maria, Jose!" and then
casting a glance towards those around him, as much as to say, "I am
off," put spurs to his willing nag, which being as anxious to get out
of the scrape as its master, flew like lightning in the direction which
it was supposed the Marquis wished him, and in a twinkling both were
lost to our view in the fog.
A private soldier of the 28th regiment having sipped rather freely of
the juice of the grape, previous to our departure from Almendralejo on
the 5th of January, fell out of the ranks unperceived, laid himself
down to banish all traces of the copious draught, and enjoyed his nap
so comfortably, that night's sable shroud had shut every earthly object
from the view of man before he awoke. Alone, enveloped in darkness, and
in a part of the country totally uninhabited, the poor lad frequently
fancied during the stillness of the night, that he saw his name as a
deserter to the enemy, handed in to the Adjutant-General--the members
of the court-martial assembling to try him--the sentence of death
passed, and the provost-marshal at the head of his party, ready to
carry the sentence into execution. With such thoughts as these darting
across his mind, the victim of dissipation rose from his cold and
cheerless couch at dawn, on the 6th, and bended his steps towards
Merida. Afraid to join his corps, however, the _bragge slasher_
proceeded to a small village about three miles from head-quarters
on the opposite bank of the Guadiana, in hopes that some humane
individual would intercede for him at head-quarters.
Receiving information soon after his arrival that there were two French
soldiers concealed in the village, the worshipper of Bacchus proceeded
with a few of the natives to their residence, and after securing them,
and fastening their hands, he marched them off in triumph for Merida.
Strolling on the bridge with a few friends, when the trio were first
observed, and considering it rather an odd circumstance to see a
British soldier marching two Frenchmen as prisoners from the left bank
of the Guadiana, where there were no British soldiers then quartered,
we inquired at the worthy Hibernian where he became possessed of the
friends in his company? Shewing some disinclination to satisfy our
curiosity, we repeated our query in a more peremptory manner. We had
scarcely done so, however, when we perceived the poor man struggling
hard to give utterance to his inward thoughts, but notwithstanding
his utmost exertions, he could not utter a syllable, till his heart
was relieved by a few pearly drops trickling over his weather-beaten
cheeks. On these drying up, the repentant soldier related to us the
foregoing particulars, and then with a palpitating heart, (the vision
of the previous night being still before his eyes,) he moved into town
with his prisoners. He was of course placed in confinement, and but for
this singular adventure, would have paid dearly for his libations to
Bacchus at Almendralejo.
If the various members of the British army would reflect for a moment
on the consequences which but too generally follow in the train of
dissipation, before seating themselves to taste the pleasing, but
intoxicating beverage, numerous crimes which now stain the pages of the
character-books of every regiment in the service, would never be heard
of. The conduct of the Macedonian conqueror on various occasions, shews
us to what a degrading condition this most detestable vice sometimes
reduces the most celebrated individuals, and his death furnishes a
memorable example, that dissipation hurries all its votaries to the
narrow house, without any regard to age or station in society. On
launching into the world, therefore, all military men should ever be
on their guard against the assaults of dissipation, for by dipping
deep into the cup of intemperance, they will not only destroy their
mental faculties, ruin their pecuniary resources, as well as their
constitutions, but may at length be led to commit crimes, for which,
like Alexander on the death of Clitus, they may be made to suffer
all the horrors which a conscience, burdened with the murder of a
fellow-creature, and that individual a bosom friend, can inflict upon
them.