_Journal—4th January-30th July 1812_
The Light Division advances on Ciudad Rodrigo and fords the
Agueda—Storming of Fort San Francisco—Commencement of the siege
of Ciudad Rodrigo—The convents of Santa Cruz and San Francisco
captured—Work in the advanced saps—Storming of Ciudad Rodrigo—Simmons
is told off for one of the ladder parties—Rencontre with General
Craufurd—The Forlorn Hope and storming parties advance and carry
the breaches—The Rifles bivouac on the ramparts—Heavy losses of the
Grenadiers of the 45th and 94th Regiments—Effects of the explosion
of the magazine—Death of Lieutenant Uniacke—General Craufurd dies of
his wounds—The Light Division marches back into Portugal—Advances
again on Badajoz—Ground broken before Fort Picurina—Sortie of
the French—Their cavalry enter the British camp—Storming of Fort
Picurina—Lieutenant Stokes of the Rifles, the first man in—The
British entrench themselves in the work under a heavy fire from the
French—Batteries in Badajoz—Duty in the trenches—Simmons with forty
good shots pick off the French artillerymen and silence the guns—A
French officer endeavours to return the compliment, but is "put out
of that" by a Rifle Man—Accident to Simmons—Storming of Badajoz—Major
O'Hare of the Rifles in command of the storming party—Desperate
fighting at the breaches—The Light Division unable to enter—Carnage
in the ditch—The Light Division ordered to withdraw—The 3rd Division
escalade the castle—Lord Wellington orders the Light Division to
renew their attack—The town occupied—Simmons enters the house of the
French Quartermaster-General and finds a sketch-map of the breaches
showing the expected British lines of advance—At daybreak visits
the breaches—The _chevaux de frise_ and obstacles created by the
French—Finds the body of Major O'Hare—"_A Lieutenant-Colonel, or
cold meat in a few hours_"—Heavy losses of the Rifles and of the
Light Division—Brother Maud comes to see if he is alive—The soldiers
plunder the town—The Light Division marches towards Salamanca—Fighting
near Salamanca—The British enter the town—Simmons' views of the
priests and monks—March towards the Douro—Gets a good quarter at Nava
del Rey—The armies on opposite banks of the Douro—Lord Wellington
reconnoitres the French, and nearly falls into the hands of their
cavalry—The British army retires, closely followed by the French—The
marches previous to the battle—Skirmish on the Guareña—The French
endeavour to turn the British left, but are checked by the 27th and
40th Regiments—An unlucky young Rifle Man—Marmont steals a march on
Wellington—The British army fords the Tormes—Great thunderstorm—Battle
of Salamanca—Simmons catches a partridge during the fight—Pursuit
after Salamanca—Brilliant charge of the German Heavy Cavalry under
General Bock—The Hussar officer and his brother—Visits the grave of
General Férey and finds the Spaniards have exhumed him—The Rifle Men
bury the body again.
_Journal—4th January-30th July 1812_
[Sidenote: 1812 Jan. 4th]
A general movement of the troops took place. 1st Division marched to
Gallegos and Espeja; 4th Division crossed the Agueda and occupied San
Felices; 3rd Division occupied Martiago and Zamarra; Light Division
entered Pastores, La Encina, and El Bodon. The latter place I marched
to. A stormy, cold, incessant rain during the day. The Agueda much
swollen. Forded it nearly up to the shoulders. The men obliged to
put their pouches upon their knapsacks and lay hold of each other to
prevent being forced down with the current. Some time exposed before
there was any possibility of getting lodged. Officers, men, and all
huddled together. Got our men better regulated and had three houses for
the company.
[Sidenote: 8th]
Several regiments had been ordered to prepare gabions and fascines,
which we were aware could only be for the siege. The Light Division
was ordered to move before day, and crossed the Agueda at a ford above
the convent of La Caridad. Our march was conducted out of the range of
shot from the town to the north side, and behind a hill in the vicinity
of San Francisco. A redoubt was established here. We halted. Several
French officers made their appearance, and politely took off their hats
and spoke to us. They of course were very anxious to know what all this
meant.
Colonel Colborne, with 360 men from the 43rd, 52nd, and 95th (Rifle
Men) stormed the fort of San Francisco after dark. Three pieces of
cannon, two captains, and forty-eight men were made prisoners, besides
what fell by the bayonet in the assault.
[Sidenote: 9th]
Began immediately to break ground, and before morning dawned we had
commenced our first parallel and completely covered ourselves. The
enemy kept up a most tremendous fire all night. I became perfectly
familiar with the difference of sound between the two missiles, shot
and shell, long before day. Returned to our quarters, and the 1st
Division relieved us in the trenches.
[Sidenote: 12th]
Marched back and resumed our work in the trenches. The weather was
keen and it froze sharply. Our poor fellows had to cross the river
nearly up to their shoulders, and remain in this wet state until they
returned to their quarters, some working and some covering the working
parties by firing upon the works of this town; others were ordered
to get as close as possible and dig holes sufficiently deep to cover
themselves, and take deliberate aim at the enemy's embrasures, which a
good marksman would easily do by observing the flashes of their cannon,
although it was dark.
[Sidenote: 13th]
Returned to quarters at El Bodon.
[Sidenote: 14th]
Twenty-two pieces of British cannon opened most musically upon the
town. _Johnny_ has hitherto had it all his own way in administering
to the comfort of many, and most suddenly and unexpectedly sent them,
I trust, to another and better world. For on this little spot all the
fiercer passions of the human heart are busy in the breasts of each
individual of both parties, investing and invested. Moralising will
not do now; death or glory, a golden chain or a wooden leg, "England
expects every man will do his duty." These are the only feelings that
can make the scene of death and destruction palatable to a Christian:
King, Church, and Country to fight for.
[Sidenote: 16th]
Marched and again entered the trenches. The enemy had got the range to
such a nicety that their shells were literally dropped into our works.
The convent of Santa Cruz was taken by surprise by General Graham with
the King's German Legion on the night of the 13th; thus on the night of
the 14th the convent of San Francisco and Santa Clara and suburbs were
all in our hands. I had charge of a party to carry earth in gabions,
and plant them upon the advanced saps in places where the ground was
an entire rock and could not be penetrated. The enemy fired grape, and
consequently numbers fell to rise no more from the effects of it. I ran
the gauntlet here several times, and brought gabions of earth, always
leaving some of my poor fellows behind, when I returned for more, and
glad enough I was when the Engineer said "We have now sufficient."
[Sidenote: 17th]
Returned to quarters in a whole skin.
Storming of Ciudad Rodrigo
[Sidenote: 19th]
Marched and passed the ford as before. Halted for one hour near the
convent of La Caridad, then moved forward and halted behind the convent
of San Francisco with the 3rd Division. We were now informed that two
breaches in the wall had been effected, and that when the arrangements
were made, we should storm the town. I must observe here that I
was so anxious to be speedily employed that when Lieutenant Smith,
Brigade-Major, came to a fire near which I was standing and said, "One
of you must come and take charge of some ladders if required," at the
impulse of the moment I took with me the men required, and followed him
to the Engineers' camp, where the ladders were handed to me. I marched
with them to General Craufurd, who was with the advance. He attacked me
in a most ungracious manner. "Why did you bring these short ladders?"
"Because I was ordered by the Engineer to do so, General." "Go back,
sir, and get others; I am astonished at such stupidity." Of course I
went back, but was sadly crestfallen. This is what I deserved for
over-zeal. I returned with the ladders. A Portuguese captain and his
company were waiting for something to do, so I said, "Here, my brave
fellows, take these ladders," and handed them over with every necessary
instruction for the good of the service. I then instantly returned to
the company I belonged to, which was posted at the head of the column
ready to proceed. The 3rd Division moved to attack the right breach,
and the Light Division the left or small breach. The Forlorn Hope and
storming parties moved on at about seven o'clock, and the head of the
column followed close behind. A tremendous fire was opened upon us,
and as our column was entering the ditch an expense magazine on the
ramparts near the large breach blew up and ignited a number of live
shells, which also exploded and paid no sort of difference to friend
or foe. The night was brilliantly illuminated for some moments, and
everything was made visible. Then as suddenly came utter darkness,
except for the flashes from cannon and muskets, which threw a momentary
glare around.
The breaches were made in the curtain, before which a traverse was
fixed in the ditch to protect and strengthen it. In my hurry, after
descending into the ditch, I mistook the traverse for the top of the
breach, and as the ladders were laid against it, I ascended as well as
many others, and soon found our mistake. We crossed it, and slid down
directly opposite the breach, which was soon carried. The town was
entered by armed men at every point, and in the dark there were many
mistakes made by men shooting their friends instead of their enemies.
The prisoners were collected and huddled together upon the ramparts
like so many sheep, and there guarded until daylight. My battalion
formed up upon the ramparts and made fires, as the night was a clear
and frosty one. Some men brought me wine, ham, and eggs. I soon made a
hearty meal, and washed it down with some good French Burgundy, putting
my feet to the fire, and enjoyed as calm a sleep as I ever did in my
life before, for three or four hours.
[Sidenote: 20th]
At daylight I walked round the ramparts and found numbers slaughtered.
The 94th and 45th suffered sadly, particularly their Grenadiers, who
literally had fallen in line with each other upon the large breach. The
explosion I mentioned had killed numbers more of the French than of the
English; they were mangled in a most shocking manner; headless trunks,
and others torn into masses of lacerated parts, which it was hard to
fancy ever belonged to human beings. General M'Kinnon, who commanded a
Brigade in the 3rd Division, was blown up and his body sadly mutilated,
but being a very tall man, it was not difficult to make him out. A
circumstance which probably saved me from being blown up with a friend
of mine, Lieutenant Uniacke, was, when we got into the ditch together
he observed, "This is the way." In the bustle I said, "Impossible. Here
are the ladders. I shall go up them," fancying my Portuguese friend
had placed them right, so that ultimately the ladders served me. Poor
Uniacke got round the corner just in time enough to get scorched from
head to foot in a frightful manner, and died a few hours after in great
agony. General Craufurd, who commanded the Light Division, was mortally
wounded, General Vandeleur, Colonel Colborne, and Major Napier were
badly wounded; also Lieutenants Cox, Hamilton, and Bedell.
About nine o'clock in the morning we marched from that part of the
rampart where we had been resting for so many hours, seated before good
fires. We passed out of the town and then halted. The French prisoners
followed, guarded. We had scarcely left the gate when a tremendous
explosion took place, which blew up numbers of Frenchmen, and also
some Englishmen. Directly under the place we had so recently left were
deposited several barrels of gunpowder, which had taken fire from some
cause or other. That face of the rampart was a pile of ruins in one
instant. I really thought this was a kind act of the Almighty towards
us.
We marched back to our cantonments and met part of the 5th Division
upon the road coming to Ciudad Rodrigo to bury the dead and put the
works in order, as the men who have stormed a town are seldom fit for
anything but vice and irregularity for some time afterwards, if left
within its walls. The soldiers were laden with all sorts of things, and
looked like a moving rag-fair. Some, liking their bellies better, had
their swords fixed, and stuck upon them large junks of corned beef,
ham, pork, etc. I was glad to get back to my peaceable habitation.
The Governor, 78 officers, and 1700 prisoners were taken, besides the
killed and wounded. General Craufurd was buried at the foot of the
little breach with military honours by the Light Division.
The French army under Marshal Marmont had no idea we should be able to
take Rodrigo from them so quickly. The enemy moved forward to ascertain
the fact, and finding the news too true, left us in quiet possession
of it.
[Sidenote: 31st]
Marched to Fuenteguinaldo.
[Sidenote: 1812 Feb. 26th]
The works of Ciudad Rodrigo having been completely put in order, and
a garrison of Spaniards having entered it, the army was ordered to
proceed towards Estremadura. Marched to Alfayates in Portugal.
[Sidenote: 27th]
Val Morisco.
[Sidenote: 28th]
Passed through the town of Sortelho, situated most romantically amongst
stupendous and rugged mountains and surrounded by an old Moorish
wall. It is nearly at the foot of the Sierra da Estrella. Halted at
Castelhera.
[Sidenote: 29th]
Marched to Capena.
[Sidenote: 1812 Mar. 1st]
Marched to Alpedrinha.
[Sidenote: 2nd]
Alcainz.
[Sidenote: 3rd]
Castello Branco, and under very different feelings than when I left it
before. If I had obeyed the orders of the Commandant, I should not have
been at Rodrigo.
[Sidenote: 4th]
Halted.
[Sidenote: 5th]
Marched to Sarnadas.
[Sidenote: 6th]
Marched to Niza, crossing the Tagus at the bridge of boats over it, and
through the pass of Villa Velha.
[Sidenote: 7th]
Castello de Vide and Esuesa.
[Sidenote: 8th]
Visited the town of Marvão, surrounded by a wall in good preservation,
and situated upon a high mountain. It has a few guns mounted upon the
ramparts. It ought to be almost impregnable, if in good hands, when
besieged.
[Sidenote: 14th]
[Sidenote: 15th]
I had been very unwell, and had kept my bed for some days. Suddenly
this morning, the order to march came; my servant brought me the
news. I instantly jumped out of bed and dressed myself. Dr. Burke, our
surgeon, saw me mounting my horse. "What, sir, are you mad? You cannot
go in your present state with the Division. I have got a car to send
you away with the sick." I thanked him, but observed, "I am determined
to try." I was exceedingly ill, but during the march I was violently
attacked with vomiting, and in a very debilitated state got into a
billet with my captain at Portalegre upon a _padre_ (clergyman), who
gave me some chocolate and a comfortable bed, and I was somewhat better
the following morning and went with the Division to Arronches.
[Sidenote: 16th]
Marched to Elvas and found myself getting better.
[Sidenote: 17th]
Marched to the camp before Badajoz. The 3rd and 4th Divisions were upon
the ground. Some time after dark, broke ground before Fort Picurina and
the town.
[Sidenote: 18th]
On piquet with the company near an old ruin some little distance from
the town, and from which we had a good view of the working parties'
operations in the trenches.
[Sidenote: 19th]
Weather for some days back cold and rainy. The enemy collected a body
of horse and foot and made a sortie upon our works. They had a number
of men to take away our tools and fill up the trenches. They drew
back very soon. At the moment of the attack our different parties
were relieving, and the weather being very dull, accompanied with a
drizzling rain, the enemy got very close before they were observed.
The enemy's cavalry dashed through our camp, and at the spot where the
Engineers were engaged in carrying on the work for the siege, captured
an officer, and a Dragoon tried to drag him away with him. Our people
in the camp at the moment fancied they were the Portuguese cavalry,
but soon were undeceived, and a number took up arms and ran forward
to attack them. They made their way back as rapidly as they had moved
forward. The officer, Colonel Seres, who commanded the sortie, died of
his wounds in the town.
[Sidenote: 25th]
About twelve o'clock A.M. our first battery opened and played
handsomely upon Fort Picurina.
Storming of Fort Picurina
[Sidenote: 26th]
A storming party was ordered a little after dark, and part of our
working party, under Lieutenant Stokes, was ordered to carry the
ladders to mount the walls. He was, after placing the ladders, the
first in the place. This fort was very strong, and the French officer
had not the least idea we could take it. The enemy fought resolutely,
but were soon made prisoners (those who remained alive when the officer
surrendered). When it fell, we commenced breaking ground in front. I
knew well, as soon as the enemy were aware of the place being in our
possession, that they would commence a fire of grape, so that I made
my men work hard to cover themselves. About midnight a most furious
fire of shot, shell, and grape went over us, and did us no harm. Before
daylight our trench was perfect. Curiosity led me to see the fort and
obstacles the men who stormed it had to encounter. Upon the parapet
were pointed palisades, and live shells all round, ready to be lighted
and thrown into the ditch. There were also numbers of other shells and
powder for the purpose of injuring the assailants, but the determined
and spirited manner in which the men stormed the work prevented the
enemy from doing the mischief they had premeditated.
[Sidenote: 30th]
Regularly upon working or covering parties in the trenches every
twenty-four hours. Our batteries were soon formed, and our artillery
began to play upon the wall with great effect.
[Sidenote: 1812 April 4th]
I was with a party of men behind the advanced sap, and had an
opportunity of doing some mischief. Three or four heavy cannon that
the enemy were working were doing frightful execution amongst our
artillerymen in their advanced batteries. I selected several good
shots and fired into the embrasures. In half an hour I found the guns
did not go off so frequently as before I commenced this practice, and
soon after, gabions were stuffed into each embrasure to prevent our
rifle balls from entering. They then withdrew them to fire, which was
my signal for firing steadily at the embrasures. The gabions were
replaced without firing the shot. I was so delighted with the good
practice I was making against _Johnny_ that I kept it up from daylight
till dark with forty as prime fellows as ever pulled trigger. These
guns were literally silenced. A French officer (I suppose a marksman),
who hid himself in some long grass, first placed his cocked hat some
little distance from him for us to fire at. Several of his men handed
him loaded muskets in order that he might fire more frequently. I was
leaning half over the trench watching his movements. I observed his
head, and being exceedingly anxious that the man who was going to fire
should see him, I directed him to lay his rifle over my left shoulder
as a more elevated rest for him. He fired. Through my eagerness, I had
entirely overlooked his pan, so that it was in close contact with my
left ear; and a pretty example it made of it and the side of my head,
which was singed and the ear cut and burnt. The poor fellow was very
sorry for the accident. We soon put the Frenchman out of that. He
left his cocked hat, which remained until dark, so that we had either
killed or wounded him. My friends in camp joked me a good deal the next
morning, observing, "Pray, what's the matter with your ear? How did the
injury happen?" and so on.
Weather for some days good.
Storming of Badajoz
[Sidenote: 6th]
The Engineers now proclaimed the breaches practicable. Arrangements
were made to storm the town. My old captain, Major O'Hare, was to lead
the storming party. I wanted to go with him, but those senior demanded
it as their right. The two Brigades of the Light Division fell in and
moved on a little after dark, preceded by the Forlorn Hope and storming
parties to the glacis. The 4th Division also were to storm the breaches
with us, the 3rd to escalade the castle, and the 5th Division to attack
Fort Pardeleras and escalade the town on that side. Our storming party
was soon hotly engaged. Our columns moved on under a most dreadful
fire of grape that mowed down our men like grass. We tore down the
palisading and got upon the glacis. The havoc now became dreadful. My
captain (Gray) was shot in the mouth. Eight or ten officers, and men
innumerable, fell to rise no more. Ladders were resting against the
counter-scarp from within the ditch. Down these we hurried, and as fast
as we got down rushed forward to the breaches, where a most frightful
scene of carnage was going on. Fifty times they were stormed, and as
often without effect, the French cannon sweeping the ditches with a
most destructive fire. Lights were thrown amongst us from the town that
burnt most brilliantly, and made us easier to be shot at. In this way
we remained for a considerable time. I was in a sort of frenzy stamping
one of these lights out when an officer laid hold of me, saying, "Leave
it, or when the light goes out your feet will be blown to pieces, as
there is a live shell connected with it." The ditch now, from the place
where we entered to near the top of the breaches, was covered with dead
and dying soldiers. If a man fell wounded, ten to one that he ever rose
again, for the volleys of musketry and grape shot that were incessantly
poured amongst us made our situation too horrid for description. I
had seen some fighting, but nothing like this. We remained passively
here to be slaughtered, as we could do the besieged little injury from
the ditch. We were ordered to leave the ditch and move away from the
works. The Light Division formed up on the plain at some distance from
the town. Here we observed the 3rd Division assailing the castle and
escalading its walls.
In consequence of the breaches being so furiously attacked, the French
Governor, Phillipon, drew nearly the whole of the garrison to defend
them, or the 3rd Division must have suffered infinitely more, as the
walls were very high and the place difficult to enter.
The castle being taken, the town was commanded. A heavy gun was dragged
to the gate connected with the town and fired through it, which blew
it open. The enemy now finding the castle in our possession, and also
finding the British entering another part of the town by escalade, were
obliged to oppose them with a greater part of their force. I was lying
upon the grass by my comrades, having the most gloomy thoughts of the
termination of this sad affair, when a staff officer rode up and said,
"Lord Wellington orders the Light Division to return immediately and
attack the breaches." We moved back to this bloody work as if nothing
had happened. Never were braver men congregated together for such a
purpose. We entered the ditches, and passed over the bodies of our
brave fellows who had fallen and dashed forward to the breaches. Only
a few random shots were now fired, and we entered without opposition.
Firing was now going on in several parts of the town, and we were not
long in chiming in with the rest of them. The prisoners were secured
and the place was given up to be plundered and pillaged. I am sorry
to say our soldiers were now become nearly as great adepts as any
Continental soldiers in this work of destruction.
I went into a genteel house. The Spaniard told me the French
Quartermaster-General had lived with him. He showed me the officer's
room. I found a bottle of wine and two glasses upon the table. There
was a piece of paper upon which he had made a rough sketch of the
two breaches, and had represented the way our columns would move to
the attack. He also had marked where the ladders would be placed to
avoid some water in the ditch, and which latter was the only place
where their shot could not have effect. I suppose the water had been
turned into the ditch for this purpose. The Spaniard said that the
two officers went out in great alarm. I sat down and drank the bottle
of wine and got some eggs and bacon fried. When the day dawned I went
to see the breaches. I found a breast-work of sand-bags upon them,
constructed for the enemy to fire over a strong _chevaux de frise_.
Placed in front and across the breaches here and there were large
beams studded with long spikes irregularly thrown about to impede our
advance. Behind these breast-works the ground was cut and intersected
with deep trenches and covered with planks, to enable the enemy to get
to the breaches and ramparts. In the bottom of these trenches were
placed swords and bayonets fixed upon pieces of wood to wound those
who fell upon them. Holes were made in the ramparts big enough for a
man to sit in, with a deep groove to lay his musket in and fire. In
short, the Governor had done everything in his power to make the place
as defensible as possible, and displayed a great deal of ability and
judgment in his masterly arrangements. The ramparts were lined with
live shells and barrels of powder, cart wheels, and lumps of wood and
iron, ready to be thrown into the ditch.
I saw my poor friend Major O'Hare lying dead upon the breach. Two or
three musket balls had passed through his breast. A gallant fellow,
Sergeant Flemming, was also dead by his side, a man who had always been
with him. I called to remembrance poor O'Hare's last words just before
he marched off to lead the advance. He shook me by the hand saying, "_A
Lieutenant-Colonel or cold meat in a few hours._" I was now gazing upon
his body lying stretched and naked amongst thousands more. Our loss
was very severe, but principally fell upon the young officers. Capt.
Diggle, Lieuts. Hovenden, Cary, Stokes, Affix, Croudace, killed. Lieut.
Freer (wounded in the trenches upon the day of the sortie), Capts.
Crampton, Balvaird, M'Diarmid, wounded. Lieuts. Manners, Johnstone,
MacDonnel, Macpherson, Stewart, Foster, Gardiner, Fitzmaurice, and
Farmer wounded (two died a few days after). The 43rd and 52nd Light
Infantry lost about the same number as ourselves. I am only astonished
how any one escaped, but I was not touched in any part of me. I went
away from the town to the camp as soon as possible. The 2nd Division
was stationed near Talavera Real, about three leagues from Badajoz, to
watch the movements of Soult, who was collecting an army to attempt to
raise the siege of Badajoz. My two brothers were with that Division,
and they were looking towards Badajoz from their encampment with great
anxiety, as they distinctly heard the continued peals of cannon, and
saw the sky over the town illuminated from time to time, which gave
them a pretty good idea that rough work was going on there. I had only
just got into my tent and thrown myself down upon my blanket when my
brother Maud entered. I sprang upon my legs and seized him by the hand.
He was so affected that he was obliged to sit down. He burst into
tears. I observed, "Why, this is woman's work. My brave fellow, you
ought to laugh. I am sound and untouched." He observed, "I entered
your encampment with an aching heart. I was some time before I durst
ask for you. At last I summoned up resolution to do so, and asked a
man, who told me you were killed, 'but that is his tent,' he added. I
was so agitated that I rushed towards it scarcely knowing what I did,
when you jumped up and shook hands with me." He lay down for some time
to compose himself. In the afternoon I walked over to Talavera Real and
met my brother Joseph. We spent a pleasant day together.
[Sidenote: 8th]
I returned to camp and found the soldiers in possession of all
sorts of things brought from the town, and crowds of country people
bartering with them for clothes and other articles. These two sieges
had demoralised the men very much, and coercion was necessary on many
occasions (with men that had never behaved ill before), and obliged
to be resorted to. The men were made to throw away a quantity of
things, and to prevent them secreting any of the articles, their packs
were examined, and the plunder that had not been made away with was
collected into heaps and burnt. A garrison of Spaniards were put into
Badajoz and the place was put in order. Marched to Campo Mayor.
[Sidenote: 12th]
Marched in front of Arronches. Bivouacked in a wood.
[Sidenote: 13th]
Marched to Portalegre, 14th to Niza, 15th to Sarnadas, 16th to Castello
Branco, 17th halted, 18th to Escalos de Cima and Louza, 19th halted.
[Sidenote: 20th]
Informed by the peasantry that the enemy was in force at Sabugal and
San Miguel d'Acha.
[Sidenote: 21st]
Marched to Penamacor, 22nd to Quintas de San Bartolomé, 23rd to
Alfayates. Bivouacked in front.
[Sidenote: 24th]
Marched and bivouacked near Castillejo on the Azava.
[Sidenote: 25th]
Halted in bivouac. My horse, which had been for some days ill, died—a
sad loss to a poor soldier in such hard times.
[Sidenote: 1812 May 6th]
Marched to Campillo.
[Sidenote: 27th]
Reviewed by Lord Wellington with the rest of the Division between
Fuenteguinaldo and El Bodon. He told us we _looked well and in good
fighting order_. Our men's clothing was covered with patches of all
colours, and many of the officers' dresses were in little better plight.
[Sidenote: 1812 June 6th]
Marched to El Bodon.
[Sidenote: 11th]
Marched in front of Ciudad Rodrigo and bivouacked in a wood.
[Sidenote: 12th]
Visited the town. The Light Division collected here, and with the rest
of the army on the 13th made a forward movement near Alba de Yeltes.
Bivouacked in a wood upon the river Yeltes, a small stream.
[Sidenote: 14th]
Marched and bivouacked near Sanchobueno.
[Sidenote: 15th]
Marched and bivouacked near Matilla.
[Sidenote: 16th]
Marched a few miles in the direction of Salamanca.
[Sidenote: 17th]
Marched and forded the Rio Tormes above the town, bivouacked in a wood
for the night. General Hill remained with the 2nd Division on the
Alentejo frontier, as a check upon Marshal Soult's army, which was in
Andaluçia. In May, General Hill, with his Division, took two forts near
Almaraz, on the Tagus, by storm, viz. Fort Napoleon and Fort Ragusa,
and some works of minor importance. My two brothers were in these
affairs.
The enemy retired from Salamanca as the British army approached, merely
skirmishing occasionally with our Dragoons as they made a forward
movement. But a fort and two strong redoubts were constructed, which
commanded the bridge and were occupied by a body of the enemy. They
were formed out of two convents, and were placed in the heart of the
town. The 6th Division was ordered to invest them, and it was droll
enough to see numbers of officers belonging to regiments in bivouac
coming into the town for curiosity, to see how the investment went
on. I, with many others, went into a belfry which quite commanded the
works. The enemy fired a shot at the church, and said if people were
allowed to go into the belfry they would blow it down.
[Sidenote: 18th]
Was in bivouac near Rio Seco, the whole army in position, and the
French under Marshal Marmont concentrating his force in front of us.
Very much exposed to the sun's rays and very little shade; for miles
all round scarcely a tree of any consequence to be seen. This was
directly opposite in appearance to the country we had passed through
between Rodrigo and Salamanca, which was a perfect picture of nature as
portrayed in her loveliest attire; woods, with rich and fertile meadows
and rills intersecting them, having water of the clearest kind, and the
most inviting shade on their banks. There is nothing in life half so
pleasant to the tired soldier after marching all day under a moderate
load for a good-sized donkey to find these comforts at the end of his
journey.
[Sidenote: 19th]
Moved to the heights of Monte Rubio near the village of La Lengua.
[Sidenote: 23rd]
The forts and redoubts were stormed, and the parties sent to perform
this business were repulsed. General Bowes killed. The convent
connected with the principal fort was set on fire with red-hot shot
thrown into it and the places soon after surrendered.
[Sidenote: 24th]
The enemy advanced some Dragoons on the left bank of the Tormes, and a
skirmish took place with some of our Dragoons.
[Sidenote: 25th]
The company I belonged to on piquet.
[Sidenote: 27th]
The fort surrendered. I went into the town, and could not help feeling
great pleasure that these poor people had a release from the French
garrison, which the most sanguine of them fancied would never happen.
They expressed their joy in a most frantic manner and praised their
deliverers, as they called the English, and expressed their abhorrence
of the French officers and soldiery. To amuse myself, I visited the
cathedral, which is a handsome building, and possesses a good organ of
large dimensions. This place is filled with churches, monasteries, and
nunneries, that gives it a very priest-ridden appearance, and makes
one sympathise with the unfortunate people of such a country who are,
partly by coercion, but more through the tenets imbibed from their
earliest years, the dupes of superstition and bigotry. They fancy it
necessary towards their eternal salvation to aid in supporting these
fat-sided and sleek-faced rascals, who, under the pretended semblance
of soul-savers, congregate in large bodies, gourmandising the richest
viands and drinking the best wine, and have frequently been known to
live in every species of vice and idleness. Such men are decidedly
drones in the industrious hive. I have often seen the poor peasant
handcuffed and taken from his little field and from the bosom of
his family (probably in him they lost their only support), called a
_volunteer_, and entered upon the book of a regiment. If he deserted
and was taken again, in all probability he would be shot. Meanwhile the
stoutest men in the country, brought up in the service of the Church,
were allowed to live in idleness, although the country was filled with
their enemies, who were abusing the people and oppressing them in the
most flagitious manner, burning their towns for amusement—in fact,
committing every species of atrocity.
[Sidenote: 28th]
The army moved forward towards the Douro. As our movements had been
confined between the northern frontier of Portugal and the banks of the
Guadiana for so long a time, it gave us great delight to be entering
the very heart of Spain to offer battle to the French army; each day
seeing towns and villages we had never entered before. Marched to
Castellanos de Moriscos and bivouacked.
[Sidenote: 29th]
Marched to Parada de Rubiales and bivouacked.
[Sidenote: 30th]
Marched to Castrillo and bivouacked.
[Sidenote: 1812 July 1st]
Marched through Alaejos to Nava del Rey, in the town with the Division
also. This was a very well built town with a handsome church. I had a
good billet and slept upon a comfortable mattress, which was a luxury
I had not had for many a day. My usual bed was two blankets stitched
together and made into the shape of a sack, into which I crawled, and
if I rolled about, the clothes never left me until I took a fancy to
crawl out again; my pillow a good sod and a smooth stone, and if,
before I lay down, I could obtain some wild lavender, which generally
was in plenty, I then had a splendid bed, exhaling the most agreeable
perfumes, with the canopy of heaven over one's head. This, to an
astronomer, would have afforded an hour's amusement before he went to
sleep, but as I am not a character of that description, I generally
fell asleep, and that right soundly too. Often, before daylight,
I have been well soused with rain with many thousands more in the
same predicament, and in spite of the elements, have not been much
disturbed. It is astonishing what habit will produce in a man of strong
and robust health.
[Sidenote: 2nd]
Marched to Rueda, and halted close to it; made a lodgment in a shed
with the officers of the company, horses, mules, servants, etc. The
country round abounds in corn and wine. The latter is kept under ground
in vast excavated cellars, with high chimneys above ground to ventilate
them. The casks containing this wine, which is white, and of a pleasant
and agreeably sharp flavour, are of immense magnitude, and must have
been introduced piece-meal and then afterwards formed; they contain
many thousand gallons. The enemy retired before our advanced guard
entered.
[Sidenote: 3rd]
The Division moved opposite Tordesillas, upon the left bank of the
Douro, the French army being in large force upon its right bank and
in possession of the town. This movement was supposed to be a feint.
Retired back to Rueda in the evening and bivouacked.
[Sidenote: 16th]
Marched from the place about 9 P.M. and halted behind Castrejon.
[Sidenote: 18th]
The enemy advanced at daylight in great force. Lord Wellington
reconnoitred the enemy's movements. Some French Dragoons dashed forward
and, being numerous, rather intimidated the small escort with his
Lordship. Marshal Beresford and some of the staff soon rallied them,
and they charged the advanced men of the enemy and checked their
progress. The enemy had crossed the Douro by a ford so rapidly that
our piquets were obliged to retire after exchanging a few shots. A
partial cannonade commenced upon our encampment. The whole British army
were in full retreat, the country all round was one vast plain, and
the soldiers were moving across it in column of companies at quarter
distance, ready by regiments to form square if the enemy's cavalry
should charge; the march was taken up literally as coolly as if it had
been a field day, taking distant points to march upon, and avoiding
the villages in order not to lose time by passing through them. Upon
our right as we then faced, and frequently not more than five hundred
yards distant from us, was a dense mass of Frenchmen moving in the
same order, horse, foot, and artillery. It was quite ridiculous to
see two hostile armies so close without coming to blows, but the two
chiefs were trying to out-manœuvre each other—the sequel will show who
succeeded.
Our brigade of Horse Artillery fired a few rounds at the enemy. Some
cavalry made a dash at them, and for a moment had possession of their
guns. In passing a small river named the Guareña in order to get
possession of some heights that both armies were moving towards as
the immediate bone of contention, the enemy began to cannonade our
columns, and towards evening, in the pursuit of the French Marshal's
favourite object during this day to turn our left, they pressed too
hard upon that part of our line. Lord Wellington directed the 27th and
40th British Regiments to receive their attack, and then charge them,
which was done handsomely, and their career terminated for the night,
leaving us upon the high ground we wished to occupy. My servant brought
up my baggage, but a fine young mule, with a canteen and a variety of
comforts that could not be replaced in a hurry, was lost to me for
ever. A stallion had broken my mule's thigh on the line of march. There
was no time to lose, so the man was obliged to unloose the halter from
the one that he led and move on. This was a sad grievance.
[Sidenote: 19th]
Lord Wellington reconnoitred the enemy, and found the French in great
force and seemingly upon the move. For annoyance, the enemy threw a few
shot and shell at our columns. One shot knocked off the head of a Rifle
Man who had just joined us for the first time. Things of this kind
seem droll. Why this poor fellow's head should have been singled out
amongst many thousand others and given the preference to, I cannot say.
Remained here for the night.
[Sidenote: 20th]
At daylight the enemy was entirely gone. Lord Wellington found that
Marmont had marched to his right with great rapidity. Our army was
immediately upon the march. Halted near a village of which I do not
know the name.
[Sidenote: 21st]
Marched with the dawn and continued till 2 P.M. Halted near
Villamorisco. A little before dark forded the river Tormes above
Salamanca. The river was very much swollen from the rain, which made
it very deep. Everybody got wet up to near their shoulders in crossing.
Luckily we got over before the rain, which immediately afterwards began
to fall in torrents. The night became excessively dark, the whole army
groping their way, up to their knees in mud, to the different bivouacs.
The lightning became very vivid; some of the flashes ran whizzing along
the men's arms in an extraordinary manner and really checked the march
for some time most strangely. The thunder was louder than I ever heard
before, excepting at Almeida. Numbers of horses belonging to the French
and English had broken loose from their pickets from terror, and were
galloping about most furiously, and some of them exchanged masters. The
rain continued until nearly daylight, when it abated.
Battle of Salamanca
[Sidenote: 22nd]
At daylight the enemy's columns were moving rapidly upon our right
flank, and from the orders to send the baggage to the rear as soon as
possible, we made up our minds to abandon Salamanca, although we felt
sorry for such an event. However, before long our gallant Chief found
he had got Marmont into a trap at last, and immediately knew how to
take advantage of it. A brisk cannonade commenced on both sides, and
about 11 o'clock A.M. the columns on our right moved to the attack.
The high ground and tops or elevated points were crowded with
Frenchmen, and in the afternoon these hills, the Arapiles, were lost
and won often, but ultimately the French were completely driven off
them. About five o'clock the Light Division were ordered to move
forward. We had remained idle spectators, only keeping the right of
the French line in check. We soon came in contact with the enemy, and
very shortly drove him from the position. An odd circumstance happened;
I saw a partridge running on the ground between the contending lines.
I ran, at the impulse of the moment, after it, caught it, and put the
bird into my haversack, which afterwards afforded me a savoury supper.
The French were routed at all points, and darkness came on, which
enabled many to escape that would otherwise have fallen into our hands.
Some accidents happened to officers of ours, who were at the heads
of our columns, coming in contact unexpectedly in the dark. Marshal
Marmont was wounded in the action and was very near falling into our
hands. The pursuit was continued through a wooded country until eleven
o'clock at night, when we bivouacked near the village of Huerta.
[Sidenote: 23rd]
Moved forward at daylight after the French. A Brigade of Heavy German
cavalry, commanded by Major-General Bock, that had only recently joined
our army from England, was in advance of the Light Division, and came
up with the French rear-guard. The officer commanding the latter formed
three squares. The Germans made a most brilliant and dashing charge
at two squares, and succeeded in breaking them, slaughtering numbers.
The French had 1500 killed and taken. One of the squares was formed
at an elbow in the road, where it wound upward towards much higher
ground, and this, very likely, saved it. General Foy, who commanded the
rear-guard, was in this square. We were hurried forward as quickly
as possible, but the business was most effectually done just as we
arrived. A great number of Germans and their hoses were dead close to
the squares. I saw a very affecting scene: a Hussar officer came up to
see his brother he had not met for six years. He found him stretched
a lifeless corpse with his sword grasped and fixed in his saddle; his
horse, having been killed at the same moment with its rider, was lying
on its side with the legs stretched out in the attitude of galloping.
The poor fellow threw his arms round his lifeless brother. I could bear
no more, and so moved on, and was again in pursuit of the enemy, which
was the only way to get quit of gloomy reflections. Bivouacked near a
village.
[Sidenote: 24th]
Marched to Flores de Avila. Passed on this day through a large town
named Peñaranda.
[Sidenote: 25th]
Halted.
[Sidenote: 26th]
Marched to Aldea Seca.
[Sidenote: 27th]
To Montijo del Viejo.
[Sidenote: 28th]
To Pedrajo de Portello.
[Sidenote: 29th]
To Olmedo, a curious town with the remains of a Moorish castle. Close
to the place was interred the body of General Férey. He was the
officer who ordered the night attack at Barba del Puerco in 1810. How
extraordinary are the changes produced by war! Only two years before
he had 10,000 veteran soldiers under his command. He was then actively
employed against us, and now humbled to the dust, and I standing by
his grave gazing at his mutilated carcase. The Spaniards had dug him
up directly after the French left the town and just before we entered.
He had been buried with great honour, and a canopy of laurels, which
had been placed over his grave, was torn down, his body exhumed, and
his head severed from it. It was a noble head, with a fine expressive
countenance and a pair of large moustaches. I could not help observing,
"Well, you must have been a brave soldier, although our deadly foe.
You shall be replaced by an enemy where your friends interred you, to
rest in peace." The remains were then in a most decent manner returned
to the grave, and the Spaniards made acquainted with the horror and
disgust we felt at their inhuman conduct towards a dead soldier. The
laurel was replaced, and we begged it might be allowed to remain, which
I have no reason to doubt was complied with.
[Sidenote: 30th]
Forded the Duero. Encamped upon the right bank about six miles from
Valladolid.