CHAPTER IV.*

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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

IN

THE RIFLE BRIGADE.

BY THE LATE

WILLIAM SURTEES,

QUARTERMASTER.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; AND

T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON.

MDCCCXXXIII.

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PAUL'S WORK, CANONGATE.

TO

MAJOR-GEN. SIR ANDREW F. BARNARD,

K.C.B. and K.C.H.

AND THE OFFICERS OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE,

THESE REMAINS OF MY DECEASED BROTHER

ARE MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY THEIR OBLIGED AND MOST

OBEDIENT SERVANT,

JOHN SURTEES.

PREFATORY NOTICE.

The Author of the following Narrative entered the Army in early life. He

commenced his military career in 1795, as a private soldier in the

Northumberland Militia; and in the following year he volunteered into

the Pompadours. In this regiment he first faced the enemy, during the

expedition to Holland under the Duke of York. On getting his discharge

from the Pompadours, in 1802, he again entered the service as a private

in the Rifle Brigade, to which he was attached for a period of

twenty-five years. From his steady conduct, and ardent love for his

profession, he was soon advanced from the ranks, and, after various

intermediate steps, was appointed Quartermaster; a situation which he

held as long as he continued in the corps, enjoying the respect and

esteem of his brother officers of all ranks, as is amply testified by

the letters which form the Appendix to this volume.

Though, as Quartermaster, the Author was not called by duty to join in

battle, yet he lost no opportunity of entering the scene of action, or

of placing himself in a favourable situation for observing what was

passing. It is unnecessary to enumerate the arduous services of the

Rifle Brigade from 1802 to 1815. During the whole of that period the

Author was actively engaged with his corps.

The Narrative is faithfully--indeed literally--printed from the Author's

MS. as he left it at his death. The critical reader may therefore detect

various inaccuracies which, had life been spared to the Author, would

probably have been corrected; but he will find much to approve, and,

hackneyed as Narratives of the Peninsular War have become, he will also

find much that is new. There is no embellishment in the style of the

Author's composition, but there is a quiet Defoe-like sincerity and

simplicity characteristic of his pages, and a strain of unaffected

piety, that is very pleasing; and the scenes and descriptions which he

gives, though sometimes singularly chosen, and reported quite with a

manner of his own, are on the whole portrayed with strong graphic

effect. One word, however, before closing,--our Author is never vulgar.

A severe pulmonary affection compelled him to quit his corps in 1826. He

retired to Corbridge, his native village, where he arrived on the 24th

of October in that year, and continued there, respected and beloved, and

constantly engaged in acts of benevolence, till the period of his death,

28th May, 1830.

_November 23, 1832._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE.

Birth and Parentage--Enters the Militia--Volunteers into the

Line--Joins the army destined for Holland--The troops embark at

Deal--Land at the Helder--Laxity of discipline--March for

Schagen--Detachment under Sir Ralph Abercromby sent to surprise

Hoorne--Hoorne surrenders, 1

CHAPTER II.

The Russian Allies carry Bergen--Allow themselves to be

surprised, and the whole army forced to retire to their former

position--Skirmishing in the vicinity of Old Patten--The

Russians endeavour to force their way back to Bergen--The

Russian and British forces joined--The enemy forced to abandon

Egmont-op-Zee--Alkmaar surrenders--The troops advance to Egmont

Binnen--Skirmishing--General engagement--The Enemy

repulsed--The Forces retire to Zaand Wyck--Armistice

concluded--Return to England, 13

CHAPTER III.

Arrive in England--The Pompadours embark for Ireland--Arrive at

Kinsale--Privations in Ireland in 1800--Peace concluded--Our

Author resolves to return home, but ultimately volunteers into

the Rifle Corps or 95th--Embarks for England, and joins his

Regiment at Sussex--Is promoted, 35

CHAPTER IV.

Made Pay-sergeant--Moral Reflections--Wreck of a Dutch East

Indiaman--Reduced Officers--War with France in 1803--Encampment

at Thorncliffe under the command of General Sir John

Moore--Encampment broke up, November 1804--Embark for Germany,

October 1805--Vicissitudes at Sea--Land at Cuxhaven--March to

Bremen--Outposts established--Retrograde movements, in

consequence of the defeat of the Allied Forces at

Austerlitz--The Allied Forces evacuate Germany--Re-embarkation

of the troops--The Rifle Corps, or 95th, land at Yarmouth, 45

CHAPTER IV.*

Our Author made Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2d battalion,

which he joins at Feversham, Kent--Expedition to

Denmark--Embark at Deal--Land at Vedbeck, Zealand--Partial

Engagements--Siege of Copenhagen--A division under Sir Arthur

Wellesley advance to Kioge--Copenhagen capitulates--Amnesty

between the Danish forces in the Island of Zealand, and the

British--The British evacuate Denmark--Embark at

Copenhagen--Arrive in the Downs--Land at Deal, 59

CHAPTER V.

Our Author marries--The Battalion to which he belongs ordered

to join the Expedition fitting out for Corunna--Movements of

the Army in Spain--Return to England, 73

CHAPTER VI.

Volunteering--Farther Promotion--Embarks for Portugal, with two

Companies of the Second Battalion--Debark at Cadiz--Advance to

the Isla--The French occupy all the adjacent Towns, except

Cadiz and Isla--Cannonading--Spanish Army--Detachment of the

Allied Army sent round by Gibraltar and Chiclana, to take the

Enemy in the rear of his works, and compel him either to fight

or abandon them--Come up with a portion of the Enemy in the

vicinity of Veger--Bravery of the British--The Enemy repulsed

with great loss, but, from the apathy and misconduct of General

La Pena, and the Spaniards under his command, the French are

allowed to retain their Works in the vicinity of Cadiz, 99

CHAPTER VII.

The 2d Battalion of the Pompadours ordered to proceed to

Portugal--Our Author visits England--Returns to Portugal, and

joins his Regiment at Rodrigo--The Army move towards

Badajos--Siege of Badajos--Badajos surrenders--Insubordination

among the Troops--Quelled by the prompt measures of Lord

Wellington, 128

CHAPTER VIII.

The Army leave Badajos on the 11th of April, and move into

quarters near the river Agueda, where they remain, till the

11th of June--Advance towards Salamanca, which, with the

exception of three Forts, the enemy had evacuated--The Forts

invested--The main bodies of both armies bivouack within a mile

and a half of each other, in the vicinity of Monte Rubio and

Morisco--The Forts of Salamanca surrender--The main body of the

Enemy retire to Tordesillas--Movements of the Army, 153

CHAPTER IX.

Preparations for the Field--Amusements in winter

quarters--Grand Review--Advance of the Army in pursuit of the

Enemy--Come up with their rearguard in the vicinity of Hornilla

de Camino--Skirmishing--Encounter with the 1st Brigade of the

Enemy, who are beaten, and forced to retreat--Our Army advance

in pursuit--An affair between the rearguard of the Enemy and

our 4th Brigade--Vittoria--General Engagement--The Enemy

defeated--Remarks, 185

CHAPTER X.

Advance in pursuit of the Enemy--Our Forces retreat, in order

to counteract Soult's movements for the succour of

Pamplona--Total defeat of Soult in the several Actions near

Pamplona--Our Forces again advance--Come up with the retreating

Enemy at the Bridge of Yanzi--The Enemy take up a position,

behind Vera--A considerable body of the Enemy attached at the

Pass of Echallar, and forced to retreat, 214

CHAPTER XI.

The Author, from a mistake, loses his Servants for a few

days--A Feast of Death--A Feast of Life--Fighting near St

Sebastian--Singular instance of Spanish Bravery--St Sebastian

is captured, but no Details given, the Author not having been

present--Attack of the Pass of Vera, 232

CHAPTER XII.

The British Army advance farther into France--Pass the

Nive--Soult's Plans baffled--Two or three battalions of the

Nassau and Frankfort regiments come over from the

French--French Politesse--Threatened Attack by the

French--Battle of the Nive--Account of the Basques, 253

CHAPTER XIII.

The Author's Battalion quartered in Aurantz on 3d January

1814--The cantonments at Aurantz broke up on the 16th February,

and the Campaign of 1814 commenced--Farther Advance into

France--Skirmishing with the Enemy--Military Manoeuvres--Battle

of Orthes--Defeat and Pursuit of the Enemy--Succession of

Attacks on them--They are driven from their Position in and

near Tarbes--Skirmishing at Tournefoile--The Enemy retire

towards Toulouse, 269

CHAPTER XIV.

The British Army cross the Garonne--Advance on

Toulouse--Prepare for the Attack--The Attack--Spaniards driven

back--Battle very hot--French completely defeated--Soult

evacuates Toulouse, and tardily adheres to the Bourbons, 295

CHAPTER XV.

Author's happy state during 1813 and 1814--Character of the

veritable French--British distributed over the

Country--Civility of the Inhabitants of Grissolles--Amusements

in quarters--The British prepare to quit France, 308

CHAPTER XVI.

Author's Battalion embark for England--Land at Plymouth--Expect

to be again ordered on Foreign Service--Order received--Embark,

with other Troops, for America--Land at Pine Island, 322

CHAPTER XVII.

Proceed to attack the Enemy, and capture one of their

picquets--Advance in search of a Bivouack--Alarmed by shots in

front--Fired on by an American schooner--Captain Hallen

severely attacked--Manoeuvres on both sides--Ruse of the

Enemy--Fighting continues--Enemy repulsed at all

points--Courage of the British--Battery brought into

play--Activity of the Enemy, 339

CHAPTER XVIII.

British Army told off into Brigades--Advance, and are hotly

received--Heroism of a young Artillery Officer--We take up a

fresh position--The Enemy work incessantly in raising an

extensive breastwork--Two Batteries erected, from which our

heavy Ship Artillery are brought to bear against it, but

without effect--The Enemy also place their Ship Guns on

Batteries--Colonel Lambert arrives with the 7th and 43d

regiments--Preparations for a grand attack on the Enemy's

lines, which entirely fails, and the British are repulsed with

great loss, 357

CHAPTER XIX.

Bravery and Success of Colonel Thornton--Negotiation for leave

to transport the Wounded across the River--Insult offered to

the British--They retreat--Our Army embark, and determine to

make an Attack upon Mobile--Proceed in the direction of Mobile

Bay--A Brigade detached to reduce Fort Boyer--The Fort

surrenders, the garrison becoming Prisoners of

War--Intelligence of a Treaty of Peace being concluded at

Ghent--Cessation of Hostilities, 378

CHAPTER XX.

Ratification of the Treaty of Peace--Exchange of Prisoners--Our

Troops Embark for England--When off the coast of Ireland,

receive Intelligence of Bonaparte's escape from Elba--The

Author and his Battalion reach the Downs, and proceed to

Thorncliffe--Embark for France--Arrive at Paris, and occupy the

Champs Elysees--Review of the Russian Guards--Russian

Discipline--British Troops reviewed--Accident to Prince

Blucher--Amusements in Paris--The Allied Forces, except the

Army of Occupation, leave Paris--The Author's Battalion embark

for England--Reach Dover, and return to Thorncliffe--He obtains

leave of absence, and visits his Family--His Battalion ordered

to Ireland--Sets out to join it, accompanied by his Wife, who

dies three days after they reach Dublin--His Battalion

reduced--Joins the first Battalion at Gosport, which is ordered

to Scotland--Arrive at Leith, and march to Glasgow--The Author

returns home in ill health--His Father dies--Joins his

Battalion again--Winters at home--His Battalion ordered to

Ireland--Joins it at Belfast--They occupy different stations

during the Whiteboy Insurrection--Six companies of his

Battalion ordered to Nova Scotia, but the Author remains with

the other four companies--He is shortly ordered to proceed to

Nova Scotia--His health declines--Returns home in consequence,

takes advantage of Lord Palmerston's Bill, and retires on full

pay, 401

APPENDIX.--TESTIMONIALS.--No. 1. From Lieutenant-Colonel

Duffy--No. 2. From Major Travers--No. 3. From Officers of the

2d Battalion--No. 4. From Lieut.-Colonel Ross, C.B.--No. 5.

From Lieut.-Col. Smith, C.B.--No. 6. From Officers of the 1st

Battalion Rifle Brigade--No. 7. From Colonel Norcott, C.B.--No.

8. From Lieut.-Col. Fullarton, C.B.--No. 9. From Lieut.-Col.

Balvaird--No. 10. From Major-General Sir A. F. Barnard,

K.C.B.--No. 11. From Major Logan--No. 12. From Lieut.-Col.

Beckwith, C.B.--No. 13. From Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir Wm.

Stewart, G.C.B.--No. 14. From Major Eeles--No. 15. From

Major-General Sir T. S. Beckwith, K.C.B., 425

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE.

CHAPTER I.

Birth and Parentage--Enters the Militia--Volunteers into the

Line--Joins the Army destined for Holland--The Troops embark at

Deal--Land at the Helder--Laxity of discipline--March for

Schagen--Detachment under Sir Ralph Abercromby sent to surprise

Hoorne--Hoorne surrenders.

I was born on the 4th of August, 1781, in the village of Corbridge, in

the county of Northumberland; of parents who may be said to have been

among the middle classes, my father being a tradesman. They gave me such

an education as was customary with people of their station in life; viz.

reading, writing, and arithmetic. My mother having sprung from a pious

race, was the first to implant in my mind any sense of religion; indeed,

it is to the spiritual seed sown in my heart by her during my youth,

that I am indebted, under God, for having been brought, many years

afterwards, to consider my ways, and to turn to Him. Nevertheless, being

naturally of a sensual and wicked disposition, I, as might be expected,

spent a dissolute youth, which often caused great pain and uneasiness to

my good and pious mother. But I did not continue long under the paternal

roof; for, having from my infancy a great predilection for a military

life, I embraced almost the first opportunity that offered, after I

became sufficiently grown, to enter into the militia of my native

county. I enlisted on the 15th of November, 1798, being then little more

than seventeen years of age. I entered this service with the

determination that, should I not like a soldier's life, I would then,

after remaining a few years in it, return home; but, if I did like it,

to volunteer into the line, and make that my occupation for life. It

will readily be believed that this undutiful step affected deeply my

excellent parents; for though my father was not _then_ a religious man,

he had a heart susceptible of the tenderest feelings; and I really

believe that no parents ever felt more deeply the combined emotions of

tender regret at my leaving them so young, and for such a purpose, and

at the disgrace which my wayward conduct had, as they imagined, brought

upon myself. But though evil in itself, God overruled it for good to me,

and, I trust, to them also. I would here remark that the life of a

soldier was by no means considered in my native village, at that time,

as at all creditable; and when I sometimes in my boyhood used to exhibit

symptoms of a military inclination, I was often taunted with the then

opprobrious expression, "Ay, thou likes the smell of poother,"

intimating thereby that I was likely to disgrace myself by going for a

soldier.

I left my family in much grief in the beginning of 1799, and marched

with several other recruits to join my regiment at Chelmsford in Essex,

where we arrived in about a month, and where I began my military career.

I always liked a soldier's life, consequently I did not suffer from many

of those parts of it which are so unpleasant to those of a contrary

disposition; and, as I took pleasure in it, I of course made more

progress in acquiring a knowledge of my duty than some others who set

out with me. I was early placed in the first squad, an honour which I

considered no trifling one in those days,--but none of us finished our

drill; for, in July of the same year, an order was issued, permitting

such men as chose to extend their services, to volunteer into the line,

in order to recruit the army then destined for Holland. We had

previously marched from Chelmsford to Colchester, a distance of

twenty-one miles, which march was to me, I think, the severest I ever

underwent; for being young, and totally unaccustomed to any thing like

it, the weight of the musket, bayonet, accoutrements, and knapsack,

appeared, towards the latter end of the march, to be almost intolerable;

but I kept up, although excessively tired. This will show how necessary

it is at all times to accustom troops, destined for service, to move in

such order as they will be expected to do when they take the field--for,

if unaccustomed to the carriage of the knapsack, and to frequent marches

with it for exercise, they will be utterly unable to perform any

movement against, or in the face of an enemy, with that celerity

necessary to ensure success. I volunteered, with several of my comrades,

into the 56th regiment, or Pompadours, so called from their facings

being Madame Pompadour's favourite colour, and we set off (carried in

waggons to accelerate our movements) for Canterbury, which we reached in

two days and one night, having travelled without making a halt; and

there we joined the skeleton of our regiment, just then returned from

the West Indies, where twice, during the war, it had been nearly

exterminated by disease.

In a few days after our arrival, a selection was made throughout the

volunteers for fit subjects for the light company, when, fortunately,

both myself and William Sutherland (who had been in the same company

with me in the militia, and who, from our names and size being so nearly

similar, had always stood next me in the ranks) were chosen for this,

in my mind, honourable service. I felt not a little proud at my

advancement, as I considered it, (and as I believe the generality of

soldiers consider it,) to be made a light-bob.

The regiment had not at this time either arms, appointments, or

clothing; but, being in a few days sent off to Barham Downs, where the

army for Holland was assembled and encamped, we soon after were supplied

with the necessary equipment, and commenced without delay to drill and

get the men in readiness for embarkation. At this time the flank

companies of all those regiments destined for Holland were separated

from their battalions, and formed into what are termed flank battalions.

That in which my company was placed consisted of eleven light companies,

the command of which was given to Lieut.-Col. Sharpe, of the 9th

regiment, an experienced and gallant veteran, who had commanded a

similar battalion in the eastern district, under the Earl of Chatham.

The grenadier battalion was composed of an equal number of grenadier

companies, and belonged to the same regiments to which ours belonged.

Before our arrival on Barham Downs, the first division of the

expedition, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, had sailed; and we soon after

were called out to fire a _feu de joie_ for their capture of the Dutch

fleet, and their having effected a landing and gained a victory near the

Helder. Nothing could be more brilliant than our display upon this

occasion appeared to me--we were nearly 20,000 strong, I imagine, and,

being formed in one extensive line, the firing of the _feu de joie_

produced a fine effect. To my non-military readers, perhaps, it will be

necessary to explain what is termed a _feu de joie_. The usual mode is,

when formed in line, for the fire to commence by signal with the right

file of the whole, and each of those on their left take it up rapidly

in succession, so that, to a looker-on, it has the appearance of a

wild-fire running along the line; but on this occasion we heightened the

effect, by beginning with the right of the front rank only, and when it

had passed along by the front, the left-hand man of the rear rank took

it up, and so it passed along by the rear to the right again. It

appeared to me, at that time, certainly the finest sight I had ever

witnessed. Every heart present was elated with joy, and beat high to be

led on to share in those glorious achievements which we were then

celebrating; but, alas! we were then ignorant that we were as unfit at

that time to suffer the toils and privations of a campaign, as if we had

never seen a soldier; we were all young, and inexperienced in the

highest degree, and our discipline, as might be naturally expected, was

far from good; for, being an army hastily collected from every regiment

of militia in the kingdom, the officers of course neither had that

knowledge of the characters of their men, which is so essential, nor had

the latter that confidence in their officers, which only a service

together for some length of time can engender, and which is absolutely

necessary to secure an unreserved and active obedience to their

commands. But the period of our embarkation fast approached; previously

to which, we were reviewed by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, (who

was destined to command us,) accompanied by several others of the Royal

Family, and by General Sir Charles Grey, my countryman. I believe they

all expressed themselves highly satisfied with our appearance and

movements, and hoped that we would shortly add fresh laurels to those

already gained by our forerunners.

As it was expected to be a service of only a short duration, it was

determined that the men should embark in what is called "light marching"

or "service order," that is, with only about half the usual complement

of necessaries, consequently every soldier had to leave a considerable

portion of his things behind him; and, in order to deposit them safely,

empty casks were procured for each company, into which every man was

ordered to stow his extra things, after being properly packed and

labelled with his name, &c. This rather grieved me, for I had brought

with me from home as good a kit (as the soldiers term it) as any in the

army. My dear mother had prepared me shirts fine enough for any officer,

and abundance of them, but of those thus left I never saw one

afterwards. During our stay in this camp, I never enjoyed better health

or greater lightness of spirits, forgetful or heedless of the deep and

lasting anguish which my late rash step must naturally inflict upon the

hearts of my tender and affectionate parents; but I was no doubt

stimulated to this thoughtless forgetfulness of them, by witnessing the

animating scenes around me, where all was bustle and high anticipation

of more glorious doings.

We marched from this camp to Deal, where we embarked in transports

already prepared to receive us. As soon as we arrived we were instantly

put on board, but never shall I forget the effect which the sight of the

sea, and such a number of ships of various sizes and descriptions, had

upon me; for before this I had never been near the sea, although I had

marched from the north to the south of England. But, to add to all the

strange things which then met my view, we were instantly on marching

down put into a large boat that lay high upon the beach; which, when

filled with troops, they run down into the sea with astonishing

rapidity, turning my stomach, as we entered the water, completely

topsy-turvy. The effect of all this can better be conceived than

described; we were immediately rowed off to, and put on board our

transport, which happened to be a brig called the Zephyr of Shields.

Here also every thing was quite new to me; but all was met and performed

with the highest spirits, so far as sea-sickness permitted. We remained

on board two or three days before the fleet was ready for sea; but at

length we sailed with a favourable breeze, and in two or three days more

we made the coast of Holland, and soon afterwards came to anchor within

the Texel. Every thing being ready for landing, and the Helder being in

our possession, we disembarked there on the 15th of September, 1799,

having been just one week on board. We were formed on landing near the

town, and waited till some others had disembarked, before we moved off.

Among those regiments which landed, I remember the 35th was one. This

regiment, after coming on shore, was drawn up close to us; they had not

been long landed before the men began with their knives to cut off each

other's hair, which then was worn in the shape of a club; this was done

without any orders from their officers, and appeared to me, I confess,

such a breach of discipline, as I could not have anticipated; for though

on the whole it was an improvement, as later usage has shown, yet I

apprehend for a body of soldiers, without any permission from higher

authority, to take upon them to break through the long-established

custom of the service, was such an utter renunciation of all obedience

to authority, as directly to threaten with destruction the best

interests of the army to which they belonged; however, at such a time it

would perhaps have been attended with still worse consequences to have

made an example of the offenders, although, had stricter discipline been

enforced from the outset, I feel assured the army in general would have

benefited by it.

Towards evening, we moved forward through the town of Helder, and

proceeded on our route towards Schagen, and halted for the night on the

road, and where such as could find houses, of which there were a few

straggling ones in the neighbourhood, got into them. I awoke in the

night, and still fancied myself on board ship; for the wind and rain

were beating violently against the little hovel into which a few of us

had crept, and I imagined it was the dashing of the sea against the bow

of the vessel. Indeed so strong was this imagination, that when I got

up, I literally could not stand steady, not having been long enough on

board, to acquire what is termed my "sea legs;" that is, I had not

learned the art of standing steady when the vessel heeled; and, strange

as it may appear to a person who has never been at sea, I believe most

landsmen have the same feeling for some short time after being put on

shore. We had each man been supplied with a blanket while in camp on

Barham Downs, but had no proper or uniform mode of carrying them; we had

no great-coats, but made use of the blanket sometimes as a substitute in

the morning, when we turned out to proceed on our march. We certainly

made a strange appearance. Some had their blankets thrown around them,

others had them twisted up like a horse collar, and tied over their

shoulders in the manner of a plaid; while some had them stuffed into,

and others tied on to the top of their knapsack; in short, we appeared

like any thing but _regular_ troops. We moved forward as soon as we were

formed, and early in the day reached Schagen-bruck, where his Royal

Highness stood to inspect us as we marched past. Near this place we fell

in with some of the Russian regiments, they having landed nearly at the

same time, and of which nation there were, I believe, about 20,000

troops expected to join our army. But if we appeared irregular and

grotesque, I know not well how to describe them; their riflemen were

shod with boots very much resembling those of our fishermen, coming up

considerably higher than the knee; thus rendering them, I should

imagine, incapable of celerity of movement, one of the chief requisites

in a rifle corps; they also wore large cocked hats and long green coats.

Their grenadiers were dressed more apropos, having high sugar-loaf

shaped caps, mounted with a great deal of brass, and projecting forward

at the top, with long coats, and gaiters reaching above the knee. Their

regular infantry were nearly similar to the grenadiers, only they wore

cocked hats instead of caps. The regiment which we saw on this occasion

had with it, I should think, full half as many followers as soldiers,

some of whom carried immensely large copper kettles; others the

provisions, and others the officers' baggage; in short, these were the

scullions, the cooks, and, as it were, the beasts of burden of the

regiment; but this was a bad system, for it increased by one half the

number of mouths to fill, and must have been attended with the worst

consequences when provisions were scarce. The officers, I remember,

carried what was formerly used in our service, a long sort of pole, with

a head like a halberd, and called, I believe, a "spontoon." This, on

passing a general at a review, the officer twists and twirls around his

head, precisely as a drum-major in our service does his cane. When we

had passed his Royal Highness at the bridge, we moved forward to the

town of Schagen, and took up our quarters in the church. I thought this

extremely odd, as I had been accustomed to view so sacred an edifice

with more reverence than to suppose they would quarter soldiers in it;

but we were stowed in it as thick as we could well be, and made the best

of our quarters; some taking the chancel, others the vestry, and some

the body of the church; nay, some even took up their lodging in the

reading-desk and pulpit. We could contrive to make out the Lord's prayer

in Dutch, but could not well proceed further, although there is much

similarity between that language and the English of my native county.

Here, for the first time, we learnt that our brigade was what was called

the _reserve_, and commanded by Colonel M'Donald of the 55th regiment;

but on this occasion and in Egypt, the reserve was not what is generally

understood by that term, for in both places it was composed of some of

the best troops in the expedition, and was generally first called into

action. On this occasion, the reserve consisted of the 23d Welsh

fusileers, the 55th regiment, the grenadier battalion before mentioned,

and our light battalion.

We remained here till the 18th, when towards evening we were ordered

under arms, having been previously supplied with provisions; and, after

every preliminary was adjusted, we set forward on our march towards the

city of Hoorne, situated on the Zuyder Zee. Of our destination, the men,

of course, were totally ignorant, but no doubt the officers knew. It

turned out that about 8000 troops had been appointed for this service,

the execution of which was intrusted to that gallant old veteran, and

hitherto successful general, Sir Ralph Abercromby. The intention was to

make a rapid and extensive flank movement during the night, and surprise

and capture the said city, while his Royal Highness was to attack the

enemy in front. We moved off as it became dark, but such was the state

of the roads that it became the most trying and distressing march that I

believe ever troops undertook; the roads were literally knee deep in mud

in most places, while every now and then they were rendered nearly

impassable, both by the enemy having broken down the bridges over the

innumerable canals and dikes which intersect this country, and these

canals in many places having overflowed their banks. None but those who

have experienced this or something similar, can form an idea of the

fatigue attending a night march in such a country, where the column is

large. We marched, I think, in sections of about eight file, that is,

with eight men abreast in the front rank, and the like number in the

rear rank covering them. Conceive, then, your arriving at an obstacle

which the darkness of the night multiplies a hundred-fold. Not more than

one man will attempt to pass this obstacle at the same time, and he has

to grope his way; consequently all the other fifteen men must stand

still, or nearly so, till he is over, before they each move on in turn.

Multiply this by the 300 sections behind, and you will have a halt for

the rear of probably an hour or more; standing all this while nearly up

to the knees in mire; or, what is worse, as each regiment has

accomplished the task of getting over, this of course causes the others

in the rear to be drawing up towards it by degrees, so that probably you

are compelled to stand (or, if you choose, you may lie down in the mud)

for a quarter of an hour, or more perhaps; and then move on again for

the space of a few hundred yards, and then another halt; so that could

you lie down to enjoy a little rest, the constant cry of "forward"

resounding in your ears, just as you begin to close your eyes, renders

it the most tiresome and trying situation that I know of. It is true,

the head of the column does not suffer in an equal proportion with those

in the rear, or a night march in an enemy's country would be a dangerous

operation.

During this march, I remember, when the road was extremely deep, some

one on the right of my section called out that there was an excellent

path a little beyond him; when one poor fellow moved in that direction,

but had not made many steps, till souse he went into a deep canal.

Whether the man who called out had been actually deceived by the smooth

surface of the water, which appeared in the dark like a nice level

road; or whether he did it through mischief, I know not, but the poor

simpleton who followed his advice paid dearly for his curiosity, being

with some difficulty extricated from his uncomfortable situation. I may

observe that these canals or dikes skirt both sides of every road in

this part of Holland, and are even made use of as fences for the fields,

there not being any hedges or walls that I remember to have seen.

About break of day we reached the city, which at once surrendered; but

just before daylight, I became so excessively weary that I could not

continue in the ranks any longer; indeed men had been dropping out for

some hours before, so that, I suppose, when the head of the column

reached Hoorne, one half the number had fallen out; for it was beyond

the powers of human nature to sustain such excessive fatigue. I, with

two or three others, got behind a house that stood by the roadside, and

laid ourselves down on a paved footpath which led from the back-door.

Never in my life did I experience a greater luxury than this appeared to

be, where something hard, and that would keep me out of the deep and

filthy mire, could be found to rest upon.

I laid me down and slept as soundly as ever I did in my life for about

an hour, which quite refreshed me. We then got up and set off with all

despatch to overtake the column, which we came up with and joined just

as they halted after reaching the city. None of the troops entered the

place, I believe; but my battalion being towards the rear of the column,

was at a considerable distance from it. All now lay down to rest, and

such as had houses near them occupied them; but those who had not, chose

the driest parts of the canal bank or road, and all were soon buried in

profound sleep, excepting those who were placed on guard.

CHAPTER II.

The Russian Allies carry Bergen--Allow themselves to be

surprised, and the whole Army forced to retire to their former

position--Skirmishing in the vicinity of Old Patten--The

Russians endeavour to force their way back to Bergen--The

Russian and British Forces joined--The Enemy forced to abandon

Egmont-op-Zee--Alkmaar surrenders--The Troops advance to Egmont

Binnen--Skirmishing--General Engagement--The Enemy

repulsed--The Forces retire to Zaand Wyck--Armistice

concluded--Return to England.

From daylight we had heard a heavy and constant cannonade towards our

right and rear. His Royal Highness, with the remainder of the army, as

was before intimated, had moved forward and attacked the main body of

the enemy; but as I did not witness this action, I forbear to relate

what I heard concerning it, further than this, that the Russians who

attacked the enemy posted in the neighbourhood of Bergen, having by some

mismanagement allowed themselves to be surprised after having carried

that village, the whole army had been obliged to retire to their former

position. In consequence of this failure, I believe, we were ordered

towards evening to fall in, and (what appeared annoying in the extreme)

to retrace our weary footsteps by the same dirty road by which we had

advanced. Nearly the same fatigue and misery were endured as in our

advance; but the column did not keep so much together as before, the men

falling out by hundreds, so that the stoppages were not quite so great.

We did not return to Schagen after our retreat, but were cantoned in

some villages in front of that town; and a few days afterwards we were

moved to the right of Schagen, through Schagen-bruck, to a farm hamlet

called Zaand Wyck.

Here we remained till the 1st of October; but I should not omit to

mention, that we had, during the intervening period, several marches,

all of which were made by night, and in which similar sufferings and

fatigue were endured as in the march to Hoorne. This, it may probably be

remembered, was one of the wettest autumns almost upon record; and in

these marches we generally had the full benefit of the torrents which

fell in this naturally wet country. I have actually seen the water

running out at the bottom of the men's trowsers like that from the

gutter which carries the rain from the roof of a house. When we had not

a night march, we invariably had to be at our alarm post an hour before

daybreak,--and that being about four miles distant from our quarter at

this time, we never had what may be called a full night's rest.

Military men will know that the custom of being at the alarm post before

daybreak is almost universal; for, that being the usual time of attack,

it behoves those who are apprehensive of a visit from the enemy to be on

the look-out, and to be prepared to receive them when they come--here

they remain, till, as the vulgar phrase goes, "You can see a white horse

a mile off," that is, till it is clear daylight, and they have

ascertained that no enemy is in the neighbourhood; after which, if all

be quiet, they retire to their quarters. Our accommodations at Zaand

Wyck may be said to have been good, for our officers had a farm-house to

live in, and we had a good dry barn and other outhouses to lie down in;

and in which I enjoyed some comfortable nights' lodgings. But on the 1st

of October, in the afternoon, we were ordered to fall in, it having

been previously intimated to us that we might probably have a brush with

the enemy.

We were, of course, all life and glee on receiving the information, and

the usual quantity of provisions having been issued, and every other

preparation made in the night, we moved off by the same road by which we

had usually advanced to our alarm post. This we passed, and then entered

a most unpleasant country to march through; it being nearer the enemy,

of course all bridges and other communications had been destroyed. As we

moved on, a little after daylight we were overtaken by the 11th light

dragoons, on which we were ordered to open to the right and left to let

them pass us. They seemed in high spirits, and some of them cried out,

as they passed us, "Go on, my lads, lather them well, and we'll come up

and shave them."

Sir Walter Scott mentions this saying as made use of by some of the

cavalry at Waterloo, as if it were at that time new; but I can assure

him it is as old as 1799, if not much older, for I certainly heard it

used on this occasion, and I know not but it may have been said long

before. The cavalry inclined, after passing us, to their left, while we

kept down towards the sea; and soon after, on ascending a small

eminence, we got a view of the village of Old Patten, where we

discovered about 10,000 or 12,000 of our army drawn up near the

sea-beach. We passed them, and moved forward in the direction of a high

range of sand-hills, which commenced about a mile beyond the village,

and which overlooked all the plain below. Here the enemy was posted, and

I was told that they began as soon as we were within reach to cannonade

us; but from the heads of the men in front, I could not perceive any

appearance of such cannonade, nor do I believe that any of their shot

reached us. A little farther on, however, we met a Russian yager, or

rifleman, coming back and holding out his hand, which had been wounded,

and from which the blood was flowing pretty copiously.

This was the first blood that I had ever seen as drawn in hostile

conflict, and it certainly produced a somewhat strange effect upon me;

it showed plainly that we were in the immediate vicinity of that enemy

we had so often talked about, and whom we hoped to conquer; that now the

time had arrived which would infallibly prove what every man, boaster or

not, was made of; and that it might happen that it was my lot to fall.

Having reflected (rather confusedly I own) on the passing scene before

me, and offered up an occasional prayer to Him who alone can cover the

head in the day of battle, we now approached the bottom of this sandy

eminence, when my company was ordered to unfix bayonets, (for we had

previously primed and loaded,) and dash on at double quick time till we

came in contact with the enemy. No time was left for reflection now, the

immediate duty we had to perform occupied all our attention fully; we

soon got into a smart fire from the enemy's riflemen, which we found was

the only description of troops, except a few artillery, that we had to

contend with, their main bodies of heavy infantry being on the right and

left of this sandy range, which in some places was about a mile in

breadth, in others more or less.

After the fight had fairly commenced, we kept but little order, owing

partly to the want of discipline and experience in our people, and

partly to the nature of the ground, which was rugged and uneven in the

extreme, being one continued range of sand-hills, with hollows more or

less deep between them; and partly it may be attributed to the ardour of

our young men, who pressed on perhaps too rapidly. We continued to

advance, and never once made a retrograde movement, the enemy regularly

retiring from height to height on our approach; but they had greatly

the advantage over us in point of shooting, their balls doing much more

execution than ours; indeed it cannot be wondered at, for they were all

riflemen, trained to fire with precision, and armed with a weapon which

seldom fails its object if truly pointed; while we were (what shall I

say) totally ignorant of that most essential part of a soldier's duty.

They consequently suffered little from our fire; but we could not

believe this, and tried to persuade ourselves they had either buried

their dead in the sand before we came up to them, or carried them off as

they retreated; but experience has since taught me to know that we then

must have done them little harm.

About the middle of the day, as I and a young man of the name of Thomas

Bambrough (a countryman of my own, and who had volunteered with me,)

were moving on in company, in passing through one of the valleys to an

opposite height, we were assailed by a little volley from a group of the

enemy which we discovered on a hill in front of us; one of which shots

took effect in poor Bambrough's thigh just about the ham; he instantly

fell, and roared out most piteously; I laid down my musket and

endeavoured to hoist him on my back, in order to take him out of the

fire, which they now poured in without intermission; but in this I

failed, for he was so completely disabled by the wound, as to be

rendered totally helpless, and it was so extremely painful that he could

not bear the least movement.

I felt constrained to leave him, although I did so with reluctance,

telling him that I would push on to the height we had first in view, to

which I then perceived some more of our men had advanced, and would

drive the enemy from their position; of course all this was not

literally told him, but something to that effect was said; and I found

that the moment I left him they ceased to fire on him; and, as I

promised, we did drive off the enemy. Shortly after, some of our own

people came up to where poor Bambrough lay, and carried him off to the

rear; he was sent to an hospital, where he soon after died, they not

being able, I understand, to extract the ball. Soon after this, there

were some tremendous volleys of musketry heard on our left, apparently

down in the plain below us. I, with one or two others, now inclined a

little towards the left, in order to have a peep at the troops there, so

hotly opposed to each other, in doing which, we still kept our line in

front of the enemy's skirmishers.

We found it was the Russian army endeavouring to force their way towards

the village of Bergen, the scene of their former disaster; but they were

most distressingly retarded by the innumerable canals or ditches, by

which the country was so intersected, and which were generally

impassable by fording. On some occasions I could perceive, when they had

found an entrance into an enclosure, and had fought their way to the

farther side of it, they were obliged to retrace their steps, and get

out by the same way by which they had entered, the enemy all this while

pouring into them a close and destructive fire. This appeared to me to

be most trying to their patience, and very disheartening; but they bore

it with great steadiness.

Meantime, our own heavy troops were advancing on the right by the

sea-beach, where was a plain of sand, of perhaps from 100 to 200 yards

in breadth; the sand-hills between the two wings, as I said before,

being swept by us, assisted by a small corps of Russian riflemen. We

moved on till we got a little in advance of the Russian army, (which,

from the obstacles they had to contend with, did not make very rapid

progress,) and immediately over the village of Bergen, which stood on

the plain, close under the sand-hills. Here, the enemy being in

possession of considerable field-works, plied us pretty plenteously

with shells from their howitzers, (their guns they could not elevate

sufficiently to reach us,) but from which we suffered very little; for

our people being much extended, and the sand being deep, the bursting of

the shells was attended with very little mischief. Indeed, for a long

time, I did not know what they were; for, having several times heard a

loud explosion pretty near, I actually looked round to see the gun,

which I imagined had fired, but could perceive nothing but a cloud of

smoke rising from the spot, and the small bushes and herbs about it on

fire. I thought it strange, and it was not till it was several times

repeated, that we discovered what it really was, for my comrades were

equally ignorant with myself.

At length, towards the close of the afternoon, a loud and heavy fire of

musketry broke out on our right, which continued for a considerable

time, and then ceased. This was our heavy infantry, who had advanced by

the sea-shore, and who had now approached the village of Egmont-op-Zee,

where the enemy made a most determined stand, but at last were driven

back with great slaughter, and our people took possession of the town.

From this place the battle derives its name. A little after dark, the

enemy abandoned Bergen also, so that we ceased any longer to be annoyed

by their shells, which they continued to throw while they held

possession of the place. But a short while before they retired, one was

thrown, which pitched just close over my company, (for we had then been

collected, and were formed in close order immediately above the town,)

and where Colonel Sharpe and another officer were walking; it lay for a

second or two hissing and burning, and might be expected every moment to

explode. Their road lay close past it; the veteran however took no

notice of it, but continued his walk and conversation the same as if

nothing had occurred, and without going an inch out of his way. It

burst with a tremendous report, but fortunately without doing either of

them the least injury. I confess I thought it rather _too brave_; for it

appeared to me that he might have walked a little farther from it, or

stopped for a moment or two without any imputation on his courage; but

people do not all see things exactly alike.

Our loss in this action was but trifling, considering the extent of the

operations. We had in my company only about fourteen or fifteen men

killed and wounded; among the latter were my two countrymen, Bambrough,

as before noticed, and Sutherland. One man of our company, I was told,

in charging a fieldpiece, was struck down by the wind of the ball, and

which, although it did not touch him, brought blood from his mouth,

nose, and ears; he never after thoroughly recovered the effects of it. I

do not remember ever to have felt more fatigued than I did after this

day's work. We had marched before commencing the action, I should think,

twelve miles or more. We had been kept upon the run the greater part of

the day, and had fought over nearly as much more ground, through loose

sand, sometimes nearly up to the middle of the leg, and over ground so

extremely uneven, that a few miles of leisurely walking on such, would

be more than I should be able to accomplish now; and we had been nearly

all the day deprived of every sort of liquid, for our canteens were soon

emptied of what little they contained in the morning, and having myself

fired nearly 150 rounds of ammunition, the powder of which, in biting

off the ends of the cartridges, had nearly choked me. What would I not

have given for a good drink? I felt completely exhausted, and laid me

down with the others with great good-will on the top of one of the

sand-hills. But the night proved extremely wet, so that every one of us

was very soon as completely soaked as if he had been dragged through a

river; and, to crown my misfortunes, I was without a blanket. Here I

must confess my folly, that others similarly situated may profit by my

experience. Soon after the commencement of the action a rumour was

spread along the line of skirmishers, that the Duke, seeing the very

arduous duty we had to perform, had said, "Never mind, my lads, if your

knapsacks are any encumbrance to you, and impede your running, throw

them off, and I will take care you shall be furnished with others." No

sooner did this silly report reach my ears, than I, with many others,

equally simple, believed it, without taking time to consider that if

even it were true, a knapsack and a blanket, (for they were together,)

to be useful should be at hand when wanted. But, simpleton like, away

went knapsack and blanket, and I felt greatly relieved in getting rid of

such a burden, and now pushed on after the enemy with increased vigour,

trying at the same time to persuade myself the report was true; although

I own I occasionally had my doubts on the subject. But night came on, as

I have said, and such a one as I have seldom seen for wet, and then I

plainly perceived that I had played the young soldier.

An officer of ours of the name of Lacy, who had formerly been the

captain of the Northumberland light company, and who volunteered with

us, offered any man half a guinea for the use of a blanket for that

night only, but without being able to obtain one: this will give some

idea of the kind of night it was. I had nothing for it, but just to put

the cock of my musket between my knees, to keep it as dry as possible,

and lay myself down as I was. I endeavoured to get as close as I could

to one who had a blanket, and lay down with my head at his feet, which

he had covered up very comfortably with his blanket. The rain pelted so

heavily and so incessantly on my face, that I ventured after a while to

pull a little corner of this man's blanket just to cover my cheek from

the pitiless storm, and in this situation snatched a comfortable nap;

but he awakening in the night, and finding that I had made free with the

corner of his blanket, rudely pulled it from off my face, and rolled it

round his feet again.

I was fain to lie still and let it pelt away, and even in this exposed

situation I got some sleep, so completely were the powers of nature

exhausted by fatigue. At length morning arose and showed us to

ourselves, and such a group of sweeps we had seldom seen. Our clothing

was literally all filth and dirt; our arms the colour of our coats with

rust; and our faces as black as if we had come out of a coal-pit. In

biting off the ends of the cartridges, there are generally a few grains

of powder left sticking on the lips and about the mouth; these,

accumulated as they must have been by the great quantity of ammunition

each of us had fired, and with the profuse perspiration we were in

during the heat of the day, added to the wet which fell upon us during

the night, had caused the powder to run all over our faces; so that in

the morning we cut the most ludicrous figure imaginable. However we

immediately set about getting our arms again in trim, for though the

enemy had left us masters of the field of action, they were not far

distant from us. We soon got our firelocks again in fighting order; that

is, they would go off, though the brightness, on which a clean soldier

piques himself, was gone past recovery at this time. I now felt rather

sore from firing my piece so often; the recoil against my shoulder and

breast had blackened them, and rendered them rather painful, and the

middle finger of my right hand was completely blackened and swoln from

the same cause.

At this time it was reported that a sad accident had occurred in our

battalion; a soldier of one of our companies, in cleaning his musket,

had by some awkwardness allowed it to go off, and an officer being

immediately in front of where he was standing, the ball had taken effect

upon him, and killed him on the spot.

After getting ourselves brushed up a little, the whole battalion was

brought together, and moved to the right into the town of Egmont-op-Zee,

where the guards and some other regiments had been since the evening

before, after beating the enemy out of it, as I before mentioned. We

remained here for that day, during which Alkmaar surrendered, and then

advanced to the village of Egmont Binnen, or Egmont-op-Hoof, I am not

certain which it is called, a few miles in front, and close by the sea.

I omitted to mention, that our fight of the 2d took place over the

ground from which Lord Duncan's victory derived its name, _i. e._

Camperdown. This headland, I fancy, we must have passed during that

day's operations--But to return. We remained in Egmont Binnen till the

morning of the 6th, when my battalion was ordered to fall in and march

towards the outposts, a few miles in front, in order, as we understood,

to relieve our grenadier battalion, which had been out since the day

before. We advanced by the sea-shore, but had not gone far before we saw

and heard unequivocal signs that we should have something more than

outpost duty to perform; the fact is, the enemy was rapidly advancing,

their force in front having been greatly augmented by reinforcements;

but when about two miles from the village, we met a soldier of the 11th

light dragoons bringing in a French officer, whom he had taken prisoner.

He belonged to the chasseurs-a-cheval, a sort of mounted light troops,

who can act either as infantry or cavalry, as occasion may require. When

we met them, and while they stood talking for a moment, I could not help

thinking it would have made a fine subject for a painting; for the

officer was most superbly dressed in dark green, with a richly

embroidered pouch-belt over his shoulder, and with a deep cut across his

cheek, from which the blood was streaming over an extremely handsome

face; indeed he was altogether a most interesting figure, and,

contrasted with the rough features and haughty bearing of the proud

trooper who had taken him, produced a fine effect. The fellow gave his

horse a slap over the flank with the flat of his sword, and set off with

his prisoner, crying out, that there were plenty more of them to take,

and that he would soon return and bring in another.

As we advanced, we could plainly perceive the enemy in front,

skirmishing with our grenadiers, and we also saw that they possessed a

pretty strong body of cavalry--a species of troops we had not

encountered on the 2d. We could distinctly perceive the cavalry wading

into the sea as far as their horses could go, in order, as we imagined,

to see past the point of a projecting sand-hill, which obstructed their

view of the beach beyond it; but when they perceived that the force

which was advancing against them was not great, they attacked our

grenadiers with increased vivacity, and we soon after came in contact

with them, for they were advancing with as great rapidity as if no force

was in front to oppose them.

We soon perceived that they were nearly four times our numbers, and were

obliged to adopt such a _ruse de guerre_ as is frequently practised by

the weaker party, but which had no effect, I am sorry to say, on this

occasion,--that is, while one part of our force was skirmishing, the

remainder got behind sand-hills a little in rear, and letting the men's

heads just show over their tops, as if standing in columns of

battalions, tried to induce the enemy to believe that each separate body

which appeared was of that force; but no, Johnny (as the soldiers

sometimes call the French) was not so easily gulled, for they had

previously ascertained pretty accurately the strength of our force in

front of them, by the operation of the cavalry before mentioned. They

therefore pressed on us with the most desperate fury, and in

overwhelming numbers.

We maintained the action as well as our limited means permitted, and for

a while kept tolerable order; but as the fight became hotter, and the

disparity of force more apparent, I regret to say, our young troops fell

into considerable disorder and confusion. This giving the enemy greater

confidence, of course he availed himself of it, and attacked us with

redoubled impetuosity; and, I lament to say, our dismayed and

disheartened young soldiers fell from one degree of confusion to

another, till at length all order seemed entirely lost amongst us; and

what was at first a rather regular retreat, became at last a disorderly

flight; for wherever an attempt was made to check the ardour of the

enemy, the immense inequality of force they possessed soon completely

overthrew the few that stood; and many were the brave fellows, both

officers and men, who fell in this unequal contest, without their having

the slightest chance of successfully opposing our impetuous foe.

The flight now became more like a race than any thing else, and I

imagine they drove us not less than three or four miles without giving

us time to breathe; but when we had reached within about a mile of the

village we had left in the morning, we perceived some regiments

advancing to our succour; among them was the 23d, which advanced in

line, and showed so good and steady a front as quite delighted us. We

could also perceive to our left, that the Russians had become engaged

with the force in front of them, and were holding it at bay; indeed by

this time the action had extended considerably into the country, and

some others of the British troops, I understand, were soon engaged.

On the coming up of the reinforcement, the 23d in particular, our

straggling and broken troops, which had been so wofully beaten, now

united, and again advanced upon the enemy; and when the 23d had given

them a volley or two, the French gave way and retreated with as great

precipitation as they had advanced. In short the tables were turned upon

them, and the pursuit of them now was equally rapid with our retreat

before them a short while previously; and before the action ceased, we

had driven them considerably beyond where we encountered them in the

morning. Night scarcely put an end to the action, for the firing

continued long after dark, each party being directed by the fire from

the arms of their opponents; the unwillingness to desist on our part, I

attribute to a desire of revenge for the disgrace they had inflicted on

us in the morning. Towards the evening it came on exceedingly wet.

Nothing could surpass the steadiness and fine appearance of the 23d, on

entering into action; but they were all old soldiers, while our two

battalions were composed altogether, I may say, of volunteers from the

militia, who had as little idea of service in the field, as if newly

taken from the plough. I would just remark here, that from what I have

witnessed upon different occasions, I should never be inclined to put

very much confidence in raw troops of whatever nation, or of what stuff

soever they may be composed, for it is certain, that without being at

all deficient in point of courage, they have not that confidence in

their own powers which soldiers who are inured to service possess; and

if hastily or hotly set upon, while without the aid and example of

others more experienced than themselves, it is many chances to one I

think that they will give way. So it was on this occasion. Nothing could

exceed the materials of which these two battalions were composed, had

they had the advantage of a little more experience; and no troops could

fight better than they did, after gaining the support and countenance of

the old regiments which were sent to reinforce them.

But I confess with shame, we showed a great want of nerve in the early

part of the day, although to any troops the occasion must have been one

of severe trial. When the retreat had degenerated into a flight, and

every one seemed intent only on making the best of his way to the rear,

I, with some others who were among the hills, imagined we could get on

faster if we took to the sea-beach, which, although it also was composed

of deep sand, yet was level, and could not be so very fatiguing as

climbing the innumerable hills over which we had to retreat. Away we

accordingly set for the beach; but we had forgotten to calculate that if

the beach would facilitate our retreat, it also would the enemy's

advance. This we soon discovered, for we had scarcely descended from the

hills when we found ourselves almost surrounded by the enemy; and it was

not without the utmost exertion in our power that we were enabled to

effect our escape, the balls flying thicker about us during our short

stay here than they had done all the day before. My haversack was a

great encumbrance to me on this occasion, for, having lost my knapsack

as before related, I was obliged to stuff every thing I possessed into

this inconvenient bag; which, hanging so low as to knock against my

thighs, greatly impeded my progress to the rear, and had nigh got me

lodged in a French prison.

A girl, who had followed a grenadier belonging to my regiment when he

volunteered out of the militia, accompanied her protector during the

whole of this day's operations, and shared equally with him every danger

and fatigue to which he was exposed, and no argument could prevail upon

her to leave him till the whole business was over, and till the

battalion to which her sweetheart belonged was sent to the rear at

night. I am not certain whether it was his Royal Highness's intention to

have fought this day, or whether the action was brought on fortuitously;

but certainly, although we began the fight under very unfavourable

circumstances, and things looked rather awkward at one part of the day,

no army ever got a more complete drubbing than the French did before the

business terminated. I have since learnt that the action became general

along the whole line towards the close of the day. Thus ended the last

affair between the British and French troops during that unfortunate

expedition.

The next day we fell back upon Egmont Binnen, leaving sufficiently

strong outposts to occupy the ground we had taken, and this day I was

fortunate enough to pick up the shell of an artilleryman's knapsack who

had been killed in one of the late fights; but for necessaries I was

totally destitute, and began soon after to feel the effects of my folly

in throwing away my own. A little before midnight of the evening of the

7th, we were again ordered under arms with all dispatch and without

noise, and had no doubt it was for the purpose of advancing as before,

so as to reach the enemy's line by daylight next morning. How great then

was our surprise and disappointment, when we turned our faces towards

the rear, and filed out of the village by the road leading towards our

old quarters! We moved on in silence till we reached Egmont-op-Zee,

where the flashes from a large coal fire erected by way of lighthouse,

shed a melancholy gleam over our columns as we passed beneath the hill

on which it was erected. Here also by the sea lay innumerable dead

bodies, both of men and horses, together with broken tumbrils and other

sad emblems of the devastation which a few days previously had been made

on this very ground; for here it was that the heat and principal part of

the action of the 2d took place, when the heavy columns of the opposing

armies came in contact with each other. It would not be easy to describe

our feelings as we moved sadly and silently along, knowing, as we now

did, that we were for ever abandoning all the advantages that we had

hitherto gained, after so much toil, privations, and loss as we had

suffered; but it was useless to repine. Our leaders must know better

than we could possibly do, what state the army was in, and what

likelihood remained of effecting the object for which we came into the

country; our duty therefore was to obey, without questioning the

propriety of our present movement, however unpleasant it might be to our

feelings.

We passed by Old Patten, near to which the action of the 2d commenced,

and finally returned to our old quarters at Zaand Wyck, which we reached

some time next day, and where I found my comrade Sutherland, who had

been here for some days; his wound, which was through the shoulder, not

having disabled him from making his way thus far. He had some mutton

already cooked, of which I partook with great relish, for I needed

refreshment much; and after taking a swig out of his canteen, I laid me

down and slept most soundly, rejoiced and thankful that I had so

comfortable a home to return to.

We remained in this quarter only a day or two, and then our brigade was

removed towards the left of the line, which, as well as I remember,

rested upon Kolhorn. My battalion occupied the village of Basingohorn,

to which we had retired on a former occasion; I mean on our retreat from

Hoorne. This was one of the villages farthest in advance, consequently

it became an outpost. A night or two passed quietly, but on the second

or third night, a firing commenced from the advanced sentries all along

the line. Whether the enemy had merely been making a reconnoissance, or

whether they had intended to advance in force, and our discovering them

altered their plan, I know not, but think the former the more probable;

but be as it may, it had the effect of turning out our whole line of

outposts, which, as might be expected, prepared to give them the best

reception we were able. I remember on this occasion putting in two balls

when we were ordered to load, as I was determined not to spare them, for

I (with all my comrades I believe) felt sore at having been obliged to

yield up all the advantages we had gained, to an enemy which we

certainly did not consider as having fairly won them from us in action,

but who were more indebted to the severity of the weather, producing

such disastrous consequences on our young army, than to their prowess in

the field. They retired, however, without giving us an opportunity of

welcoming them in the manner we intended. A few days after this, on the

19th October, it came to my turn to be one of the advanced sentries.

About break of day, while musing of many things, of home with all its

comforts, and contrasting it with my then rather uncomfortable

situation, I was suddenly aroused from my reverie by the beating of

drums and sounding of trumpets and music, &c., all along the French

line. I could not conjecture the cause of all this, for although it is

customary to sound and beat the reveille at this hour, yet never having

heard the French do so before, I concluded something more than ordinary

had occurred to cause them to do so on this occasion, and I need hardly

inform my reader that I kept a good look-out, in order that they should

not catch us napping. In a short while, however, the mystery was cleared

up; for an officer of ours came round all the advanced sentries to tell

us, that, as an armistice had been concluded, we were not any longer to

prevent the country-people from passing and repassing, as we had

formerly had orders to do. I imagine the festive noises which I heard

arose from this circumstance having taken place, for I believe the

French were tired enough of the business, although they had now become

in some measure the assailants; or else the cessation of hostilities

allowed them to resume their wonted custom of beating the reveille in

the morning.

Seeing we had failed in our attempt to wrest the country from the

French, and that no hope now remained of our ever being in a condition

to effect it, the prospect of returning home once more became a pleasing

consideration, and I fully gave way to it. My comrades also now began to

turn their thoughts homeward, and cheerfulness once more beamed on

countenances which for some days past had been rather gloomy. But by

this time the dysentery had made sad ravages among our young and

inexperienced soldiery, for on a day soon after this, we could in my

company muster on parade only eighteen men out of one hundred, of which

it was composed at the outset. This inefficiency was caused principally

by disease, although we had certainly lost a fair proportion in the

field. It was therefore well that our removal to a more favourable soil

was about speedily to take place; and wisely had his Royal Highness

acted in agreeing to evacuate a country, the climate of which had been

so extremely prejudicial to his army. About this time also, I began to

have my personal trials and sufferings; for now I began to feel the full

effect of my folly on the 2d inst., in throwing away my knapsack, for I

had not a change of any description, and the consequence may be easily

conjectured. Filth and vermin now began to add poignancy to my other

sufferings, but I bore up against them all as well as I was able; and I

have reason to thank God, that the strength of a good constitution

enabled me to continue my duty without yielding for one day to the

accumulated effects of these disagreeables. Soon after this also, the

good people of England, commiserating our uncomfortable situation, sent

out presents of flannel shirts and shoes, which arrived most

opportunely. I was not fortunate enough to obtain one of the former

necessary articles, but my sergeant kindly put me down for a pair of

shoes, of which I stood in great need, and now beg to return my best

thanks to the kind friends who sent them, although at the time we

expected we should have to pay for them. In a short while after this,

the grenadiers and light battalions were broken up, and each company

returned and joined its own proper regiment. We joined ours (the 56th)

at a weeshaus (or poorhouse), situated on the great canal which connects

this part of Holland with Alkmaer, and not far from Schagen-bruck. Here

we were occupied for a few days in putting things in the best order we

could, previous to our embarkation.

About the 3d November we marched for the Helder, from whence we went on

board. On our way down, one of my comrades, who was not over scrupulous

in expressing his sentiments, was railing bitterly against the

mismanagement (as he imagined) of the expedition, and saying, "he hoped

the next time we came to that country, should we ever come again, that

we would leave it under more favourable circumstances." General Manners

(to whose brigade we now belonged) was riding close behind, unknown to

this complainer, and overheard every word he said. When the soldier had

finished, the General most good-naturedly rode up to him, and began to

argue the matter with him. "Why," says he, "although we are leaving the

country, it is not from the enemy having compelled us to do so from his

superior bravery or success in the field, for we have fought only five

actions since landing, and in four of these we have been the conquerors;

it is owing solely to the great sickness and consequent inefficiency of

the army that we have been compelled to this measure." I could not but

admire the affability and kindness of the General, and was fully

satisfied myself, and so were all who heard him, of, I believe, the

justness of the remarks he made. We reached the Helder the same day,

where we remained doing duty till the 10th November, on which we

embarked on board his Majesty's ship Romney, of fifty guns, commanded by

Captain Lawford, (afterwards by Sir Home Popham.) She was only a small

vessel of her class, and yet our whole regiment was put on board her; we

indeed were not very strong, but she was crowded beyond measure, for

many, nay, most of the troops had not literally lying room, each company

having barely the space between two guns, which, I should think, is not

more than twelve feet at the utmost, and even here the sailors, whether

with or without orders I know not, slung their hammocks over us. I

particularly remember this being the case, for I had the second night,

by way of securing room to stretch myself, lain down between decks early

in the evening, and had had some little repose, when a sailor, whose

hammock was slung right over me, and while standing and making it, put

his foot right on my cheek, and stood there till he had finished. I know

not whether he knew that it was a human head he was treading on, but I

judged it best to be as quiet as possible; preferring the pain of

bearing his weight on my head, rather than, by moving or crying out, to

incur the risk of his foot slipping, and peeling the skin off my face.

The voyage was fortunately short, for in seven days we landed at

Yarmouth, glad and rejoiced that this unpleasant and ill-fated

expedition was terminated. I know not whether my reader is old enough to

remember the autumn of which I have been speaking, but to me it appeared

one of the wettest and most uncomfortable that I ever remember; and it

was here, while exposed to its effects, that were laid, most probably,

the seeds of that severe pulmonic affection from which I have since

suffered so much.

CHAPTER III.

Arrive in England--The Pompadours embark for Ireland--Arrive at

Kinsale--Privations in Ireland in 1800--Peace concluded--Our

Author resolves to return home, but ultimately volunteers into

the Rifle Corps or 95th--Embarks for England, and joins his

Regiment at Sussex--Is promoted.

We landed at Yarmouth on the 17th November, and the next day marched to

Norwich, where we remained a few days, and where we found the people

remarkably kind and attentive to our comforts; and, indeed, we now cut a

most sorry figure, being literally nothing but rags and dirt; it was

certainly a sad tax on the good landlords on whom we were billeted, to

be compelled to find us lodgings, for we never left the beds unoccupied

by some of the uncomfortable companions of our travels when we arose in

the morning. I here began to find myself very unwell, for though I had

borne up against sickness in the field, I could not now receive my food

without feeling the most afflicting nausea, my stomach being completely

out of order; and it was no wonder, for we had been compelled for

several weeks past to drink the brackish water of the ditches of

Holland, no springs (that ever I saw) being there to be found, and the

little water in their wells, when we arrived in the country, being

speedily exhausted. We had also been deprived of salt nearly all the

time of our sojourn in that country, one of the greatest privations that

I know of. Through the nursing of my kind landlady, however, I gradually

regained my appetite, and with it my health, for which I have reason to

be truly thankful to Him who has ever dealt so mercifully with me.

In a few days we left Norwich on our route to Chelmsford, and on our way

passed through Bury St Edmunds, where my late regiment, the

Northumberland militia, was quartered; they vied with each other in

showing us kind attentions, but our miserable appearance put the

soldiers of this regiment sadly out of love with the regular service.

We did not remain at Chelmsford long, but marched again for Horsham in

Sussex, on which occasion I for the first time had a view of the

metropolis, as we passed through it, by way of Whitechapel and London

Bridge, &c. At Horsham we were quartered during the remainder of this

winter. About the 10th or 12th of February 1800, we marched for

Portsmouth, where we embarked for Ireland on the 14th. On this occasion

the regiment was put on board two first-rate frigates; the Endymion was

that on which the left wing went on board, but I do not recollect the

name of the other. An agreement was entered into between the two

captains, I understood, to sail for fifty guineas, they both being

considered fast vessels; our destination was Cork; they were to start

together, and the first there of course to be the winner.

We sailed with a favourable breeze, and got on most delightfully,

having, soon after sailing, parted from our antagonist, and passing, if

I recollect right, inside the Isles of Scilly, we in a few days drew

near our destined port. But on the 19th, as we were pushing on with all

our might, having every stitch of sail set, a squall came on so

suddenly, that, before she could be stripped of her superfluous

clothing, she was actually running bows under water, the sea entering

the bow-ports, and making its way along between decks, like to wash

every thing away before it. At this time the log was hove, and we were

going at the (I believe) unparalleled rate of fifteen knots an hour. But

unfortunately for our captain, the vessel was completely driven out of

her course, and towards evening we entered the harbour of Kinsale, thus

losing the fifty guineas, although we were no doubt the better sailer.

This was the first gale I had experienced, and I did not relish it; but

when we entered the harbour, where the water was quite smooth, the

sensation I felt was most delightful, after having been buffeted most

violently by the sea without. The next day we landed, and were billeted

in Kinsale, and here I had the first view of Irishmen and Irish manners.

I need not attempt to describe them; for could I, so many have done it

before me, that the subject is almost exhausted. In a day or two after

landing, we marched to Cork, where the right wing had been landed, and

with which we of course formed a junction.

We remained in Ireland from this time till the peace of 1802 was

concluded, and were quartered successively in the towns of Cork,

Kilkenny, Clonmel, Fermoy, and Kinsale; but as there was nothing which

could interest a reader that occurred to me during this period, I shall

pass it over in silence, save mentioning the following:--In the year

1800, it is well known the utmost distress was experienced by the poor

of both countries, a scarcity, the effects of the wet harvest of 1799,

having grievously afflicted all the British dominions. But in Ireland,

the sufferings of the poor were great, beyond the conception of an

Englishman who has not witnessed them, and many hundreds of them, I

believe, actually perished of want.

But my tale relates more immediately to my own sufferings and those of

my comrades; for we had then but what was termed a "black shilling a

day," that is twelve pence Irish, an English or white shilling, or Hog,

going in that country for thirteen pence; we had not then any beer money

either, but had solely this black shilling to subsist on. Meat at this

time was no less than 10d. per lb., of which each man received half a

pound; bread was 5d. per lb., of which we also got half a pound. This

half pound of bread, and half pound of meat, and that not of the best,

was all we had to live on, and do our duty, which was not always of the

easiest description. The remainder of our shilling was taken to furnish

necessaries, washing, pipeclay, &c., for I do not remember that we ever

laid in any sort of vegetables for the pot. Potatoes were out of the

question, for they were no less than three shillings a stone of fourteen

pounds.

Although we did not absolutely suffer want, the reader will perceive

that we were but sparely dieted; the consequence was, innumerable

robberies of potato fields, and gardens, &c., in the neighbourhood of

our quarters; and many were the men that got punished for this crime,

but it could not be put a stop to, for hunger is not easily borne.

Indeed, on one occasion, I myself was seduced, by the persuasion of my

comrades and by the cravings of hunger, into the commission of this

crime. I remember well I was on what was termed the Commissariat guard,

a short distance from the town of Fermoy, when my companions, thinking

it a favourable opportunity for procuring something to eat, prevailed

upon me to accompany them to a garden near the bridge, into which we

entered, and each of us returned loaded with a fine cabbage, and which

afforded us an excellent meal after our relief from guard. It is

impossible to justify such an act, but the reader will be convinced, I

trust, that sheer hunger alone urged me to the perpetration of this

crime. Others, I have no doubt, were equally ill off, who did not resort

to such disgraceful means of satisfying their hunger, but bore it with

patient resignation. I believe that such was the case, and take shame to

myself for yielding either to the calls of nature or the solicitations

of my companions, some others of whom were not so scrupulous. During

this distressing season I sold a watch which had formerly been my

father's, and with which I felt extremely loath to part. I also received

a little money from home, all, or nearly all, of which was expended in

procuring food.

The hedges and fields, &c. in the vicinity, were ransacked in all

directions, for the purpose of procuring bramble-berries, nettles, &c.

&c.; in short, for any thing that was eatable. Such was our situation

during several months, while under the command of Lieut.-Col. Skinner,

who, although an excellent officer, had little idea of disposing of a

soldier's pay to the best advantage; but latterly we were commanded by

Major Keating, who, making the comfort of the soldiers under his command

his continual study and delight, soon adopted a system which secured to

us plenty in comparison of our former state. He left off the meat and

bread save occasionally, and procured for us plenty of oatmeal and milk,

by which means our wasted bodies began shortly after to resume quite

another appearance.

We were quartered at Lap's Island, in Cork, when the news arrived of

peace having been concluded; and as the bulk of the regiment had

volunteered from the militia for five years, or during the war, measures

were taken for discharging all those who did not re-enlist either into

their own or other regiments. My mind was fully made up to return home;

for although, as I said before, I never repented of having entered the

regular service, yet I knew that the anxiety of my dear parents for my

return was so great, that I had settled it fully in my own mind to leave

the army.

Another reason operated with me partly in forming this resolution--I had

persuaded myself that I ought to have been promoted--for I judged myself

fully capable of conducting the duties of a non-commissioned officer,

and I flattered myself my conduct had been generally unexceptionable;

but I was disappointed, for the great numbers in my company, who were

judged both more deserving and better qualified, and withal

better-looking soldiers, put it out of the question for me to look

forward to promotion.

I was in this state when an officer and a party of the Rifle corps

arrived at Cork, to receive such of the men of the different regiments

then about to be discharged, as chose to volunteer, for this novel, and,

as some thought, dangerous service. I cannot account for the impulse

with which I was urged on, from the moment I had seen one of the men, to

enter this corps. Something strange seemed to push me on, contrary to

the full determination to return home, which had possessed me an hour

before. I will not attempt to account for it, but such was the fact. I

immediately, with some others of my regiment, gave in my name as a

volunteer for the Rifle corps, and was in consequence in a day or two

sworn into that corps, in which I have ever considered it an honour to

serve, and which I have reason to thank a kind and overruling Providence

I ever entered.

No news of course could be so afflictive to my dear parents, as to hear

of the last rash and irretrievable step which I had taken. It had

wellnigh broken their hearts, for they fully calculated on my returning

home, as I had written to that effect. Judge then of their surprise and

sorrow, when they learnt that I had entered, what was deemed by some, a

condemned corps, and that for life--and that the West Indies would no

doubt soon be my grave.

On my leaving the 56th, the officers of my company expressed their

regret that I should quit the regiment, and told me, that although the

mode hitherto pursued of keeping all the best-looking men in the light

company had kept many from obtaining promotion, who otherwise would have

been made non-commissioned officers, yet that mode was no longer to be

adhered to, and that I might shortly expect to be promoted into another

company, if I would consent to remain. I thanked them, and told them I

had made up my mind, on which they each gave me a certificate as to

character, &c., recommending me to the officers of my new corps, and

which were of service to me afterwards.

The sergeant who had been sent to receive us, at once became my stanch

friend, and employed me, as the party was now become pretty strong, to

act as a non-commissioned officer. Every thing went on quite smoothly,

and I felt happy in my new corps, and in my new employment.

We marched soon after to Waterford, and thence to Passage, and there

embarked for the Isle of Wight, and without encountering any remarkable

event arrived at Cowes on the 27th June, 1802; here we remained a day or

two, and then marched for the regiment in Sussex. We found them at East

Bourne, although Blatchington was their quarter, but they had been sent

out of it on account of the assizes or election, I do not remember

which.

We immediately commenced our light drill, in which I took great delight;

but most of all I liked the shooting at the target. As recruits, we were

first drilled at what is termed the horse, _i. e._ a machine to assist

young riflemen in taking aim. At this I pleased my commanding-officer so

much the first time I tried, that he ordered me to the front, and told

me to load, and fire at the target. I did, and made a pretty good shot,

hitting pretty near the bull's eye; on which he made me load again and

fire, and hitting that also, he made me go on till I had fired ten

rounds, all of which hit the target, and two of which had struck the

bull's eye. The distance indeed was only fifty yards, but for a recruit,

that is, a person unaccustomed to rifle-shooting, he called it a

wonderful exhibition, and in consequence he gave me sixpence out of his

pocket, and ordered me home. I thought the reward quite inadequate, so

natural is it for us to overrate our own deservings.

This officer (Major Wade) was one of the best shots himself that I have

almost ever seen. I have known him, and a soldier of the name of

Smeaton, hold the target for each other at the distance of 150 yards,

while the other fired at it, so steady and so accurate was both their

shooting.

I continued to maintain my character as a good shot, which in a rifle

corps is a great recommendation, and proceeded in acquiring a knowledge

of my other duties with such steadiness as obtained the approbation of

my officers. We soon after marched to Chatham--and while there, several

non-commissioned officers being employed on the recruiting service, I

was employed in doing the duty of one, having been appointed what is

termed a "chosen man."

I must record the manner of my appointment. An acting-sergeant was doing

the duty of pay-sergeant of our company, but he took it into his head to

go all wrong, spending the money intrusted to him for the payment of the

men. He of course was deprived of the situation; and on this occasion it

was, that the officer commanding the company came to me one day, and

said to me, "Surtees, I shall be _forced_ to make you a chosen man." I

thanked him, but could not help reflecting on the strange mode of

expressing himself which he had adopted. The fact is, I believe, without

thinking about the opinion I must form of the compliment he was paying

me, he had been indeed forced to it, for he had no one to pay the

company besides; and as I was not yet dismissed from the drill, it was

an unprecedented measure. But he need not have told the _whole_ truth on

this occasion, for I should have been no worse a non-commissioned

officer, had he been more complimentary; but he was a _plain_ man, and

not much given to compliment.

On our march hither, some of the men broke into the plate chest of the

officers' mess, while the baggage stopped in Maidstone; one man was

discovered, and tried for it, and sentenced to receive 800 lashes, all

of which he took at one standing, and that without evincing much

suffering; this was the most I ever saw inflicted at one time.

We marched again from Chatham in September, and on the 2d of October

arrived at Thorncliffe. While here, my parents interested Mr Beaumont,

M.P. for my native county, to solicit my discharge from the Honourable

Colonel Stewart, my then commanding-officer, they paying the regulated

sum to the government. The colonel sent for me, and talked with me on

the subject, and argued most forcibly in favour of my remaining in the

regiment, saying he had intended to promote me the first vacancy; and

that he had no doubt whatever of seeing me one day an officer. I own my

views were not so sanguine; but his reasoning prevailed, and I consented

to remain. Soon after, an opportunity offering, I was appointed corporal

on the 24th of the same month.

Here again I had disappointed my beloved and tender parents, for it was

not without considerable trouble and difficulty they obtained the

interference of Mr Beaumont, and now I had again thrown cold water on

all their endeavours to obtain my discharge. I fear I have much to

answer for, as respects my conduct towards them. May God forgive me!

CHAPTER IV.

Made Pay-sergeant--Moral Reflections--Wreck of a Dutch East

Indiaman--Reduced Officers--War with France in 1803--Encampment

at Thorncliffe under the command of General Sir John

Moore--Encampment broke up, November, 1804--Embark for Germany,

October, 1805--Vicissitudes at Sea--Land at Cuxhaven--March to

Bremen--Outposts established--Retrograde movements, in

consequence of the defeat of the Allied Forces at

Austerlitz--The Allied Forces evacuate Germany--Re-embarkation

of the troops--The Rifle Corps, or 95th, land at Yarmouth.

Having given satisfaction as a corporal, I was shortly after appointed

acting-sergeant; and in that capacity also, having pleased my officers,

I was, on a vacancy occurring on the 19th of February following,

appointed sergeant, and given the payment of a company. My head was

almost turned by such rapid promotion, and I began in earnest to

contemplate the possibility of my colonel's predictions being one day

verified. Kind Providence watched over me, however, and kept me from

being too much elated, and of committing myself as I otherwise might

have done. Indeed I many times did commit things which, if strictly

searched into, would have brought censure upon me, and lowered the high

opinion that both myself and others entertained of me; but nothing that

openly violated the law by which I was then governed (although many of

God's laws I daily transgressed) was done by me.

I was at this time, although careful to secure the good opinion of my

officers, little solicitous to please Him who had alone lavished all

this bounty upon me. Indeed I believe I was as ungodly at this time as

I ever remember to have been, and yet He caused me to prosper. Oh! how I

ought to feel shame and confusion of face at the recollection of such

abused goodness and mercy! May He pardon me for Christ's sake!

A short while before my appointment as sergeant, a most melancholy

occurrence took place in the neighbourhood of our cantonment. A large

Dutch East Indiaman, outward bound to Batavia, and full of troops, in

passing down channel, mistook, I understand, the light at Dungeness for

one on the French coast, and in consequence stood in towards Dymchurch

wall instead of keeping out to sea. As might be expected, she was not

long in striking on the wall, running with her bow quite close under the

road, and in an instant, almost, went to pieces; and although numbers of

people were early at the spot, and some, I believe, at the very moment

she struck, they could render the unfortunate sufferers no effectual

aid, although only a few yards distant from them. Out of about 800

persons on board, only seven men were saved. Many poor fellows, I

understand, attempted to swim on shore, some on planks, and others

without any aid; but such was the tremendous swell, and the general

destruction of the ship so rapid, that only those seven before mentioned

succeeded; and they not without being all more or less injured by pieces

of the wreck. An admiral, I understood, was on board, and perished;

several beautiful females were afterwards cast ashore among the dead,

the wives or daughters, no doubt, of some on board; they were for the

most part nearly naked, so that it is conjectured they had been in bed.

As might be expected, the allurement to plunder so valuable a wreck was

not resisted by the natives of this part of the coast, but Colonel

Stewart humanely placed strong bodies of the regiment at different

points where the wreck had drifted, to secure as much of the property as

he could for the Dutch government, and also to collect and bring in the

numerous dead bodies which floated along the shore; all of which he had

decently interred in the churchyard at Thorncliffe, and had the poor

wounded survivors taken into hospital, where every care was taken of

them. Indeed nothing could exceed the unremitting attention which he

paid both to the dead and living on this most melancholy occasion, and

for which he received, as he well merited, the thanks of the Dutch

government.

About this period we had several individuals serving in the corps as

soldiers, who had been officers in the army during the late war, but

who, from different causes, had been reduced to the necessity of

enlisting as private soldiers. The first that I remember was a person of

the name of Conway Welch, who, I understood, had been an officer, and I

think the Adjutant of the Surrey Rangers. He got on to the rank of

Corporal, but, being excessively wild, I believe he never attained a

higher rank. I do not remember what became of him.

The second was called Hughes; he was, I believe, when he enlisted,

actually in the receipt of half-pay as a lieutenant of the line. He was

a person of good conduct, and was soon promoted to the rank of corporal,

and the colonel took him for his own private clerk, or secretary, as he

was denominated; but he did not remain long in this situation, for he

was shortly after called upon full pay of his rank in the army. I

believe his case was a singular one.

The third unfortunate individual was of the name of Tait. He had been a

captain in the Caithness Legion, but reduced when the regiment was

broken up at the peace. He conducted himself extremely well for some

time after he came into the regiment, and got on so far as to become

pay-sergeant of a company. But in this situation, having considerable

sums at his command, he became involved through his dissipation, and

being unable to extricate himself from his difficulties, he adopted the

fatal resolution of committing suicide, and accordingly, when quartered

at Woodbridge, he one day retired to his room, loaded his rifle, and

blew out his brains.

The story of the fourth individual is a scarcely less melancholy one.

His name was M'Laughlan. I had known him while serving in my late

regiment, as he had been an officer in the light company of the 35th

regiment, and stood next in the light battalion to the company to which

I belonged. He, shortly before our embarkation for Holland, got

involved, through a gambling transaction I heard, and was in consequence

obliged to dispose of his commission, which, it would appear from this,

he had originally purchased. But interest was made in his behalf, and he

was permitted to accompany his regiment to Holland in the capacity of a

volunteer, and he accordingly assumed the firelock and bayonet in place

of his former weapon, the sword. He was fortunate enough to obtain

another commission before the return of the troops to England, but how

he became deprived of that I have been unable to learn. But about the

latter end of 1803, he enlisted as a private in my corps. His conduct

here was far from good, and he consequently never rose higher, for he

was continually in scrapes from his dissipated habits; and becoming

tired of the restraint laid upon him by the strict discipline which our

excellent commanding-officer enforced, he one day made an attempt to

desert and join the French at Boulogne, and was picked up by one of our

cruisers in endeavouring to cross the channel in an open boat. He was

brought back handcuffed, and lodged in the guard-house one day when I

happened to be sergeant commanding the guard.

As I looked on him, I could not help reflecting on the strange

vicissitudes which attend some men in their passage through life. Here

was a person whom I had known only a few years before while encamped on

Barham Downs, a gay and handsome young officer, moving in the circle of

men of gallantry and honour; and now behold him a wretched culprit,

stretched on the wooden guard-bed, manacled like a felon. In contrasting

his miserable situation with my own so much happier lot, what ample

cause had I for gratitude to that kind and indulgent Providence, which

had preserved me from those excesses, which entailed so much misery on

others. He was shortly after tried by a general court-martial, and

transported as a felon for life. I understand a sister of his was at

Thorncliffe at the time of his trial, &c., the wife of a brevet

lieutenant-colonel in the 4th regiment. What must she have felt!

It will be recollected that, in 1803, war again broke out between this

country and France, as my preceding story had intimated. The army was

consequently augmented again, and my corps, till now called the "Rifle

Corps," was made the 95th. This year a camp was formed on Thorncliffe,

under the command of that able general and excellent man Sir John Moore.

This was termed by some the "Vanguard of England," for here it was that

the then threatened invasion of this country by Bonaparte must most

likely have taken place, it being immediately opposite to the grand camp

then forming at Boulogne. Daily rencontres took place between our

cruisers and his far-famed flotilla; and on one occasion, the belief

that he was sending forth his invincible host was so great, that our

camp was struck, the troops turned out, and received each man his sixty

rounds of ammunition; the waggons and carts were all put in immediate

requisition, and the inhabitants were flying in all directions. But to

our disappointment, I will not say whether disagreeable or otherwise, it

all ended in smoke; it happened to have been some of his flotilla making

a movement along the coast, which had been set on by our cruisers and

pretty roughly handled.

We remained in this camp till the 24th of November, I think, having

occasionally before this period had our tents blown from over our heads

by the autumnal gales. The next year a more formidable camp was formed

on the same ground, the force having been augmented by a second line,

composed of regiments of militia. This year also, like the last, passed

over without witnessing the long-threatened invasion of Old England,

although Bonaparte, in the pride of his heart and the vanity of his

mind, had begun to erect a monument near Boulogne, to commemorate that

glorious achievement. My regiment, on the breaking up of the camp,

marched into Hythe Barracks, where we remained till the month of April,

1805.

In the spring of this year another volunteering from the militia into

regiments of the line was ordered, on which occasion I was selected by

my commanding-officer, Lieut.-Colonel Beckwith, to accompany Lieutenant

Evans, of the regiment, down to my native county, to receive such men of

the militia regiments there as chose to enter the 95th. On this occasion

we were very successful, having obtained between seventy and eighty men

from the different regiments in the north. It was on this occasion that

I had the first opportunity, since I became a soldier, of visiting my

native village, and my greatly-distressed parents and family. I need not

describe the meeting that took place between us, on my first seeing

them--it will be better conceived than told;--suffice it to say, joy

and sorrow were strangely mingled together--joy to see me once more safe

and sound--but sorrow that the line of life I had adopted should so

soon, so very soon, call upon me to part from them again. In fact, I

could only remain with them three days, at the end of which, I had

orders to join my party at Morpeth.

With this respectable batch of volunteers we marched, and joined the

regiment at Canterbury, whither it had been removed during our absence,

and, on our arrival, received the thanks of our commanding-officer for

our exertions. Here, and at this time, a second battalion to the 95th

was formed, the sergeant-majorship of which I was in hopes of obtaining;

but in this I was disappointed, for a sergeant, who was both much older

than me, and had much stronger claims than I could pretend to, was

selected for the situation; and although he did not turn out so well

afterwards as was expected, yet these circumstances ought to have

satisfied me at the time that no injustice was done me by bestowing it

upon him. But such was my folly, and the over-high opinion I entertained

of my own merits, that I could not quietly acquiesce in this most just

arrangement; and foolishly imagining myself ill-used, the chagrin of

which drove me to the adoption of one of the worst expedients possible,

I immediately took to drinking and to the neglect of my proper duties,

thinking, like an ass as I was, that I should thus revenge myself for my

supposed ill-usage, forgetting that it was only on myself that this

revenge could ultimately fall. However, the same good Providence which

has mercifully and so continually watched over me, stepped in to my aid

in this my most dangerous situation; for one day my captain, who had

always been my friend, sent for me, and urged upon me the folly and the

baseness of my present conduct, and the unhappy consequences to myself

that were likely to result from persisting in a course so absurd and

blame-worthy. This, with my own reasoning on the subject, brought me at

length to a better disposition of mind, and induced me once more to

resume my duties with cheerfulness and alacrity.

I have mentioned this circumstance, because I believe I was nearer at

this time to falling into my original nothingness, than I ever have

been, either before or since; and I have no doubt that many an excellent

non-commissioned officer and soldier have been involved in the like

error, who have not been so fortunate as I was in escaping its

consequences.

From Canterbury we marched to Brabourn Lees Barracks, in the same

county, where we remained till some time in October, when we were called

upon to embark for Lower Germany. During our stay at Brabourn Lees, a

circumstance occurred which called forth an exhibition of as great

magnanimity, on the part of Colonel Beckwith, as I almost ever remember

to have witnessed: We had received about 200 Irish volunteers, who were

wild and ungovernable in the extreme; a party of these, in strolling

about one day, had fallen in with Mrs Beckwith, with her maid and child,

taking a walk along the Ashford road. Not knowing, I imagine, who the

lady and her maid were, they set on and assaulted them in the most

violent and outrageous manner, proceeding to such lengths as perhaps

delicacy forbids to mention. It was, I believe, discovered who they

were. Accordingly, the next day, the Colonel formed the battalion into a

square, and proceeded to relate the circumstance to the regiment; "But,"

says he, "although I know who the ruffians are, I will not proceed any

farther in the business, because it was _my own wife_ that they

attacked; but, had it been the wife of the meanest soldier in the

regiment, I solemnly declare I would have given you every lash which a

court-martial might have sentenced you." Such a trait of generous

forbearance is not often met with; but by this, and similar instances of

liberal feeling, he completely gained the heart of every soldier in the

battalion, a thing not always attainable by very excellent

commanding-officers.

About the latter end of October, 1805, we marched to Ramsgate, and there

embarked, as before noticed, for Germany. It was my lot, on this

occasion, to be put on board a small and ill-shaped collier brig, called

the Jane of Shields, but the master I have forgot. She was a most

miserable sailer, making on a wind almost as much lee as head-way, and

in every respect ill adapted for the transport service. We had not been

many days at sea before we lost the fleet, and in our endeavours to find

it again were at one time on the coast of Jutland. All this time we had

been beating against a contrary wind; but while here, the wind became

favourable, and we appeared to have nothing to do but to bear away for

the mouth of the Elbe, which river it was our destination to enter; but

unfortunately, by some mismanagement, we fell quite away to leeward of

it, and got entangled between the mainland and the Island of Wangeroog,

not far from the mouth of Jade River, instead of the Elbe.

While in this uncomfortable situation, it came on to blow a tremendous

gale, which rendered our position not only most unpleasant, but

extremely perilous, for we were embayed, and the wind blowing on a lee

shore, and the vessel became almost unmanageable, her bad sailing

becoming distressingly more apparent the more she was put on her mettle.

In the midst of the confusion attendant on such circumstances, the

master (with what intention I know not, whether to drown dull care, or

to fortify him against his exposure to the watery element) went down

below, and swallowed the best part of a bottle of brandy. In doing

which, his corner cupboard, with all its contents, came rattling down

about his ears. He would fain have had me to pledge him, but I begged to

be excused. The consequence was, he became quite drunk at the time when

all his abilities as a seaman were likely to be called into operation;

but he probably saw things clearest after having his eye wet.

My commanding-officer now became quite alarmed for the safety of the

troops, seeing the master had incapacitated himself, as he conceived,

for the management of the vessel; and, after a consultation among our

officers, an attempt was made to deprive him of the command, and intrust

it to the mate, who had in this case, in order to save as many of the

troops as possible, determined on running the vessel high and dry, as he

termed it, on the sandy beach, near the Jade River.

At this proposal, however, the master stormed and blasphemed like a

madman, swearing there was neither soldier nor sailor on board the ship

but himself. He went so far, and became so outrageous, that our

commanding-officer talked of hanging him up at the yard-arm; but it

being a ticklish thing to take the command of a ship from the person

legally authorized to exercise it, the major did not enforce the wishes

of the officers. The poor mate sat down on the companion and cried like

a child, partly owing to the abuse the captain gave him, and partly, I

imagine, from the hopelessness of our situation. The captain, in his

refusal to yield up the command, told the major he had been several

times wrecked, and had been, I know not how many times, exposed for a

considerable length of time in the water; and that he was not afraid to

encounter it again. This, however, was but poor consolation to landsmen,

who had not been accustomed to such duckings.

A desperate case requires a desperate remedy--so our captain

thought--for he instantly clapped on the vessel the square mainsail,

which every moment threatened to carry away the mast, and in which case,

nothing could have prevented our destruction; however, Providence so

ordered it, that she bore it through the gale, and he, after putting her

on the outward tack, continued to stand from the land till he imagined

he had completely weathered Wangeroog; but at midnight, when he ordered

to put about the ship, had it not been for the cabin-boy providentially

seeing close to leeward of us the light of Wangeroog, we should

instantly have been upon the rocks. This will show either what a bad

sailer the vessel was, or how far the master had miscalculated the

distance; for he imagined himself by this time to be quite clear of all

the land, and considerably out to sea. He continued, after this

providential escape, to stand on the same tack, and just cleared the

island; and in the morning, the wind having somewhat abated, and shifted

a little in our favour, we were enabled, soon after, to lay our course.

We arrived in the Elbe, and landed at Cuxhaven on the 18th of November,

1805, the day on which our fleet there was celebrating the victory of

Trafalgar--clouded indeed it was by the death of the hero who fell while

achieving it--yet glorious to the nation to which that fleet belonged.

We, immediately after landing, marched for Dorum, a village twelve or

fourteen miles distant, and from thence by Osterholtz and Bremer Lehe to

the city of Bremen. On our arrival there, (my battalion forming the

advanced guard,) we found the gates were shut against us; a Prussian

garrison was in the town, the commandant of which seemingly did not

know how to act, whether to admit us as allies, or not, the policy of

his government at that time being so extremely ambiguous. Colonel

Beckwith, who commanded the advance, was not however easily to be

deterred from executing his orders, and he hesitated not to tell them,

that if they did not choose to admit us peaceably, force should be

resorted to to gain an entrance. This had the desired effect, for the

gate was soon after thrown open, and we were received by the authorities

of the town, and by the inhabitants in general, with the warmest

expressions of friendship and cordial attachment; the Prussian officers,

all the while looking on, apparently not over-well pleased with the

conduct of their hosts; they were soon afterwards, however, withdrawn

from the territory, and we then remained sole occupiers of this part of

the country.

Our army assembled in this city in considerable force, when it becoming

necessary to establish outposts in advance, my battalion was sent out

first to the town of Delmenhorst, and subsequently a part of it to the

city of Oldenburg, and the remainder to the town of Wildishausen; to

this latter place two companies were detached, under the command of

Major Travers, and to which he appointed me to act as sergeant-major. We

did not remain long in this situation, but were again recalled from

Wildishausen to Delmenhorst, and afterwards sent to join the other

companies at Oldenburg.

Here we staid some time, during which we experienced the most unbounded

hospitality and kindness from the whole of the inhabitants, but more

particularly from the Duke. He actually did not know how sufficiently to

express his friendly disposition towards our officers in general,--his

kindness also extended to the soldiers,--for when we afterwards

received an order to retrograde again to Delmenhorst, he sent forward to

the half-way house refreshments of every description, for both officers

and men; and the night before we left this hospitable city, he gave a

splendid ball in honour of the officers of our corps, to which, of

course, every inhabitant of a suitable rank was invited. Nay, I heard,

and have no reason to doubt the correctness of the report, that he wrote

to the burgomaster of Bremen, to which city we again retired, to

endeavour, if possible, to have us quartered in his immediate

neighbourhood, in the best part of the town, for that not only the

officers, but the soldiers of the corps, were perfect gentlemen; indeed,

the conduct of the battalion at this time, under its kind and excellent

commanding-officer, was such as to entitle it to the highest praise. Our

retreat on this occasion, I understood, was rendered necessary, in

consequence of the defeat of the allied forces at Austerlitz, and of the

fatal termination by that sanguinary action of the campaign in that part

of Germany.

Although I am no prophet, I predicted at this period what the result

would be to the King of Prussia, whose hesitating and equivocal conduct

kept him aloof from taking an active part, when his co-operation might

have been of the utmost advantage to the general cause. It required no

second sight to perceive, that when Bonaparte could clear his hands of

his present antagonists, he would not hesitate for a moment to turn his

arms against a monarch on whom he could not cordially rely, and whose

dominions offered such a strong temptation to an ambitious and aspiring

mind like his.

We continued to occupy Bremen till towards the beginning of February

1806, when the whole army gradually drew down towards our place of

embarkation, for the purpose of evacuating the country, our stay now

having been rendered useless by the unsuccessful and unfortunate turn

which the allied affairs had taken. My battalion covered the retreat of

the army; but as great numbers of the German Legion, which formed part

of the British force in this country, were deserting and returning to

their homes, we were sent away into the interior to endeavour to

intercept such of them as might pass by the villages we occupied, and

restore them to the army. We took some, but not many; and soon after we

also retired, and went on board at Cuxhaven, and again returned to

England, landing at Yarmouth on the 19th of the same month.

During the whole of my military career, I never witnessed so cordial an

attachment to the British name and character, as was manifested during

this service, by the good people among whom we had been residing.

Nothing was too good for us--and nothing was left undone by them to

render us comfortable and happy. It is true they have their vices like

other people; but barring one or two peculiar to continental nations, I

believe them to be, generally speaking, as moral as any people among

whom it has been my lot to sojourn. But, oh! with what shame and sorrow

do I look back on the part I acted at this period--how profligate and

abandoned was my conduct at the very time that a kind and gracious

Providence was showering its choicest blessings upon me! but, alas, I

paid no regard to the remonstrances of conscience, which I endeavoured

and succeeded in drowning in debauchery and intemperance.

CHAPTER IV.*

Our Author made Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 2d battalion,

which he joins at Feversham, Kent--Expedition to

Denmark--Embark at Deal--Land at Vedbeck, Zealand--Partial

Engagements--Siege of Copenhagen--A Division under Sir Arthur

Wellesley advance to Kioge--Copenhagen capitulates--Amnesty

between the Danish Forces in the Island of Zealand, and the

British--The British evacuate Denmark--Embark at

Copenhagen--Arrive in the Downs--Land at Deal.

We landed, as I before stated, at Yarmouth, and proceeded by way of

Lowestoft to Woodbridge, in Suffolk, in the barracks of which my

battalion was quartered. Here also was the 23d regiment, that which I

had seen act so nobly in Holland: and as it was determined by its

commanding-officer to give the regiment some idea of light movements, I

was selected for the purpose of instructing their non-commissioned

officers. But I did not long continue to instruct them, for in the May

following, an offer was made me by Colonel Beckwith of the situation of

sergeant-major in the Cornwall Miners, a regiment of militia, with the

prospect, he told me, of shortly becoming adjutant. This, however, after

due consideration, I declined accepting--preferring to remain in a

regiment and service which I liked so well, and in which I hoped one day

to rise to something higher than my present situation. I believe my

conduct on this occasion was approved, for not long after, it was

intimated to me, that the offer I had refused, had been made to the

quartermaster-sergeant of our second battalion, and that he had, after

some hesitation, accepted it, thus leaving his situation open for me.

Accordingly, I departed for the purpose of joining that battalion, and

entering on my new duties.

I joined it at Feversham, in Kent. My means increasing, the sinfulness

of my course of life was increased in proportion. It is true, I

generally performed my various military duties to the satisfaction of my

superiors; but could not at all times please my present

commanding-officer, against whose wish and inclination I had been

appointed to my present situation; he naturally wishing to have a person

of his own selection. Soon after this, an expedition being ordered for

South America, of which three companies of my present battalion were to

form a part, I waited on him, and requested him to permit me to

accompany them in the capacity of acting quartermaster. He said no; but

if I chose to resign my present situation, and go as a sergeant, he

would permit me. This I of course declined, as it would have been paying

a bad compliment indeed to my benefactor, Colonel Beckwith, thus to give

up for nothing what he had been at pains to procure for me.

This, and some other little things which occurred about the same time,

proved to me that I was no favourite with my new lieutenant-colonel, and

that it behoved me to be very guarded in my conduct. We were, after

this, removed to Brabourn Lees again, and remained there, without any

occurrence arising, till we were summoned to take part in the expedition

fitting out for Denmark.

We accordingly repaired to Deal, where we embarked on the 26th of July,

1807, and shortly after sailed for our destination. We arrived in the

Sound about the 10th of August, where the whole fleet was assembled; one

of the largest I had yet seen. On the 16th, every thing having been

previously got ready, we landed at the village of Vedbeck, in the island

of Zealand, about ten or twelve miles below Copenhagen. It was a most

beautiful and glorious sight to witness the debarkation of the first

division, or advanced guard, to which my battalion belonged. The most

perfect arrangements had been made by Sir Home Popham, who superintended

the landing of the troops; and nothing could exceed the beauty and

regularity in which the different divisions of boats approached the

shore, covered by some small brigs and bombs, which had orders to clear

the beach by grape shot, of any enemy that might appear. Some light

artillery also landed with us, prepared for immediate action, for it was

not known but the Danes might attempt to oppose our landing, they having

rejected every overture on the part of our commanders for the delivery

of their fleet.

After landing, mine and the first battalion of my regiment were sent

forward in the direction of Copenhagen; and on this occasion, I for the

first time saw the illustrious General, who has since made the world

resound with his exploits. He commanded us, who formed the advance, and

directed our two battalions during the operations of the day. But we met

with no force of the enemy, save a small patrol of cavalry, which passed

in front of us, and then retired towards the city; this showed that they

were observing our movements. We halted for the night at a village

called, I think, Lingbye, on the great road from Copenhagen towards

Elsineur. We rested on our arms all night, and early in the morning

moved forward on the Copenhagen road, and about mid-day took up

cantonments within a long gun-shot of the city, and began to invest the

place. All was quiet till about three o'clock in the afternoon, when a

general cry of turn out, set the whole of our people in motion. A

considerable body of the enemy were advancing from the town, and by this

time had attacked the advanced picquets on our left, towards the

sea-shore; but instant succour being sent, they maintained their ground.

The force opposed to the enemy was but small, consisting of two

companies of the 4th regiment, four of the 23d, and four of my

battalion, with two light fieldpieces; in all not more than 1000 men,

while the Danes were near 3000. Nevertheless, the moment the armies came

in contact, they instantly gave way, leaving a considerable number of

killed and wounded behind them, and retreated into the town.

On this occasion, I attached myself to my commanding-officer, who, with

the surgeon, and some others of the staff, advanced with one of the guns

on the great road, having some of our companies on each flank. He gave

me his glass to take care of, with which I soon after busied myself in

watching the motions of the enemy. I discovered at a short distance to

our left and front, a considerable body of troops, dressed in long red

coats, which I knew could not be British, for that description of dress

had long been laid aside by us; I accordingly began, pointing them out

as an excellent mark for the artillery, which was then with us; but I

had scarcely spoken, when an officer present, cried out, after looking,

did I wish the artillery to fire on our own people? The colonel also

made some severe and reproachful remarks, telling me, if I would fight,

to go and take a rifle. I said nothing; but he had scarcely finished his

harangue, when a round shot came directly from this body of supposed

British troops, which nigh carried away one of the legs of the first

officer who spoke.

The enemy were soon repulsed, and the troops retired again to their

former cantonments. After their troops retreated, a body of their

gun-boats advanced against some of our small craft which happened to be

rather close in shore, but their attack occasioned little injury, the

distance being considerable.

The next morning the enemy opened a heavy and rather destructive fire of

artillery upon our outposts, by which we lost an officer of artillery

and several men; their fire was chiefly directed against what was called

the windmill battery, which was our farthest advance at this time.

On the 19th, my battalion was moved farther to the right, and nearer the

town; there was constant firing between the advanced posts of the two

armies, and this continued for several days, during which the investment

of the city was proceeding with, and batteries, &c. marked out for the

purpose of bombarding it. All kinds of ordnance stores were at the same

time disembarked, and sent off to the army with the utmost dispatch. In

short, nothing could exceed the vigour with which the siege was now

prosecuted, after the final rejection of pacific overtures by the Danish

general.

On the 24th, we were ordered under arms at two o'clock in the morning,

and immediately advanced, driving in the enemy's outposts, with the view

of carrying our works nearer the town. In this movement we experienced

considerable opposition and suffered some loss, from their guns on the

town walls, and from musketry from the windows.

We this day established two strong and well advanced batteries, and at

night set fire to a windmill in their possession, which obstructed our

view of some of their works. During the whole of the 25th, there was a

constant fire both of artillery and fire-arms, by which one of the light

battalions of the German Legion suffered rather severely. My battalion

relieved them at the outposts a little before dark, and was fortunate

enough not to lose a man, where they had lost considerable numbers.

On the 26th, a corps or division of the army was assembled, and placed

under the immediate orders of Sir Arthur Wellesley. It consisted of the

following regiments, viz. 43d, 52d, 92d, 95th, and 6th Battalion King's

German Legion, with six squadrons of German cavalry, and some artillery,

and was destined to advance against a body of the enemy composed

principally of militia, which had been for some time past collecting in

the neighbourhood of Kioge.

At three o'clock P.M., we started from the neighbourhood of Copenhagen,

the troops making their way through the country to the left of the great

road to Roskild. I had charge of the baggage, which was carried on light

German waggons, the bodies of which are formed chiefly of wicker-work,

and are so light and easy of draught that the natives travel in them in

the same manner nearly of our coaches--they going sometimes at a

considerable rate.

I found it impracticable to continue in the same direction the troops

had gone, for they presently left all traces of a road, and struck right

across the country--and as I knew I should be expected to have the

baggage with them that night if possible, I determined to run all

hazards, and proceed along the great high-road in hopes of afterwards

being enabled to find them out--accordingly I moved forward, and

presently passed the outposts of the German cavalry stationed in the

direction of Roskild; the men, I doubt not, wondering at my temerity in

pushing on with a few baggage waggons, where they were all on the alert

with swords drawn, and with carbines and pistols loaded. I own it was a

hazardous undertaking, for a very small party of the enemy would easily

have captured both me and my baggage; but I knew my commanding-officer

to be such a person as to pay little attention to excuses of any kind

when he wished a thing to be done, and withal he loved his comforts, and

would not have been easily pacified had he been deprived of them.

Fortunately, after advancing for some miles beyond the outposts of our

army before mentioned, I fell in with a road branching off towards the

left, apparently in the very direction the troops had taken.

Till I reached this point, I had advanced with considerable caution, and

slowly; determined, if any enemy should appear in front, to endeavour to

effect a retreat. But now, having left the great road, and taken that

which I judged would bring me to the neighbourhood of those I was

seeking, I accordingly ordered all my guards to mount, and set off at a

brisk trot, keeping a good look-out to my right flank, for fear of

surprise, and fortunately fell in with the division at the very moment

it was entering the road by which I had come. I received great credit

for my generalship, and was complimented by the officers of my corps,

they being the only people in the division, I believe, who had the

comfort of their baggage that night. The name of the village where we

halted is Caughstrup.

The next day we continued to advance in the direction of Kioge, and in

the afternoon we reached a village which I forget the name of, and where

evident traces appeared of the enemy having shortly left it; indeed, we

found two or three stragglers in the village, who were of course made

prisoners. We halted outside the village for the night.

A short while before we reached this village, I saw a body of troops

dressed in red, marching on our right flank, at right angles to the road

by which we were advancing, and which I instantly concluded must be a

part of the enemy's force, as we had no troops in that direction. But

remembering the rebuke I received on the 17th for interfering with

concerns that did not belong to me, I shut my mouth in silence, and did

not, I believe, mention the matter. It is evident it was a part of the

enemy's force, for the General's information led him to take that very

same direction the next day; and that being towards Roskild, we set out

and reached that city in the afternoon, but found the enemy had again

given us the slip, and doubled back to nearly the same place from whence

we had started.

The next morning about three o'clock we left Roskild, and took the road

for Kioge, near which it was now ascertained the enemy had come to a

resolution to make a stand. I forgot to mention that previous to this

our force had been divided and formed into two brigades; the 52d, 92d,

our 1st battalion, and some cavalry and artillery, remaining under the

command of Sir Arthur; while the 43d, the 6th German Legion, and our

five companies, with the remainder of the cavalry, were put under the

command of Baron Linsengen, one of the generals of the German Legion.

Sir Arthur's people had not been with us for a day or two back, but

where I do not exactly know. But this morning it was arranged that his

brigade was to march directly upon Kioge and attack it in front, while

we fetched a circuit behind, and came upon a part of their force

stationed in a forest or wood behind the town--and thus cut off their

retreat. But the poor creatures were unable to stand above a round or

two, and almost immediately broke and fled in all directions.

As we approached the wood we were destined to attack, the appearance was

certainly rather formidable; for from the immense cloud of dust they

raised in performing their movements, we calculated on meeting with a

considerable body of troops; and indeed, just as we approached the wood,

our cavalry laid hold of an officer of their horse, dressed partly in

uniform and partly as a civilian. From him we obtained information that

they had in the field 12,000 men; 5000 of which were armed with pikes,

1000 cavalry, and the remainder consisted of artillery and infantry. He

must, I think, have overrated their numbers, or surely they might have

made some sort of a stand against 5500 men, the strength of our

division.

On Sir Arthur attacking them in the town of Kioge, they stood, as before

said, only for a round or two, and fled, many of them coming in contact

afterwards with our brigade; but from the extent of (and intricate roads

through) the wood, very few of them were made prisoners; till towards

evening, when a company of my battalion, with some of the German

cavalry, overtook a considerable body in the village of Herfolge,

apparently the rearguard of the enemy. In this village they made a

stand, getting into the churchyard, which afforded an excellent

position, it being considerably higher than any other part of the

village. Here also they soon began to waver, and after a few shots from

our people, they all laid down their arms and became prisoners of war.

Their numbers were 1550 men, with 56 officers, and Major-General Oxholm,

the second in command of this part of the Danish army. A considerable

quantity of artillery, small arms, baggage, and provisions, &c., with

two stands of colours, fell into the hands of the captors on this

occasion. These poor creatures were instantly sent off as prisoners, and

put on board our ships at Copenhagen; many of them apparently quite glad

that they had done with fighting. Great numbers of them had nothing

better by way of shoeing than wooden clogs--a very inconvenient kind I

should imagine for a rapid retreat.

The loss of the British during this day's operations was, as might be

expected, quite trifling. I had this day followed the ill-natured

advice of my commanding-officer on a former occasion, and had taken a

rifle, but had little opportunity of using it, not having fired more

than eight or ten shots. My battalion halted in the village of Herfolge

for the night, and the next morning moved forward towards the town of

Kingsted, that being the direction in which the broken fragments of the

Danish army had retired.

Our two battalions had been employed all the day of the 29th, after the

first onset, in scouring the woods from Kioge to Herfolge. We continued

this service on the 30th also, and took numbers of poor creatures who

had been engaged in yesterday's operations, but who had not yet been

able totally to divest themselves of their military habiliments,

although apparently anxious to do so. We reached Kingsted on the 31st,

and finding that the only regular part of the late army had retired into

one of the islands in the Great Belt, and that the militia portion had

totally disbanded itself, we halted here till the fall of Copenhagen,

which took place on the 7th of September. But to prevent surprise from

any lurking parties of the enemy, which might still have kept together,

and to deprive them of the means of injuring us, strong detachments were

sent out to scour the country, and to bring in all the military arms

they could discover. A party of this description, consisting of 100

cavalry, and 100 of my battalion mounted on light waggons, traversed the

country for a considerable distance, and returned after having

discovered and taken possession of ten pieces of ordnance of small

calibre, and forty rifles belonging to the Kallundburg rifle company,

with several muskets. They also gained correct information respecting

the regular troops that had been lately opposed to us, and found they

had retired into the islands of Falstar and Meon.

On the capitulation of Copenhagen, terms of amity and peace were

entered into between the Danish forces in the island of Zealand and the

British; but these did not extend to the islands before mentioned, nor

to the other parts of his Danish Majesty's dominions; consequently, we

still remained at war with such of his forces as were not included in

the capitulation; and he might at any time have collected an army, had

he been able, and attacked us without any infringement of those terms.

It behoved our generals, therefore, to watch against any attempt of this

nature; and accordingly strong outposts were established all along the

Belt, composed principally of the men of our two battalions. The 1st

battalion occupied Kallundburg, Slagelse, Korsoer, and Skielskiore;

whilst the following towns and ports were occupied by my battalion, viz.

Mestyed, Lundbye, Wordingburg and Prestoe; thus forming a complete chain

of posts around the west and south coasts of the island. We remained so

posted till the 15th of October, by which time the greater part of the

naval stores taken in the dockyard having been taken on board, and the

period fast approaching for our evacuation of the country, we began to

retire towards Copenhagen, which we reached on the 17th, and immediately

embarked on board the Princess Caroline, a Danish seventy-four which had

been surrendered with the others of that fleet, and which are mentioned

below.[1]

We remained in the roads till the 20th, when the fleet dropped down

towards the Sound; and on the 21st the whole passed the Castle of

Elsineur, with a favourable and pleasant breeze, the British ensign

waving proudly from the lofty masts of their late gallant fleet; it must

have been an extremely galling sight for them (the Danes) to witness,

and I dare say they did not pray for many benedictions on our heads; I

pitied them from the bottom of my heart. On taking leave of this

country, I could not help remarking on the great similarity between its

inhabitants and the Germans about Bremen--kind-hearted, hospitable, and

inoffensive in the highest degree; and although suffering at that time

so severely from the policy of our country, they were high in our

praises as individuals and as a nation. I have great cause to speak well

of those innocent and worthy people, for I have seldom experienced more

kindness and attention than was shown me by them whenever circumstances

rendered such kindness and attention suitable, particularly at Nestyde,

where I met a young man who had formerly been in the West Indies, where

he had learnt to speak a little English, (for of Danish I could not

understand a word.) He introduced me to one worthy man, who had been an

officer, and fought in the famous action of Kioge above narrated. Poor

fellow, he felt heartily ashamed of the sorry attempt they had made to

act the part of an army, and I daresay would gladly have blotted from

his memory for ever the recollection of the ridiculous part they had

acted. I was not aware of this circumstance at first, and when it was

brought upon the tapis in the course of conversation, (my young friend

being interpreter,) I unluckily said, that "any man armed with a

bludgeon only, could easily beat three such soldiers."

I felt quite ashamed of myself afterwards, when I discovered that he,

poor man, had made one in that memorable action; but he took it all in

good part, apparently conscious of the justness of my remark. Indeed, I

was partly led on to use such expressions by the young fellow condemning

so bitterly their conduct, and which I afterwards would have given

something to have unsaid. He, however, bore no resentment, and kindly

took me home and introduced me to his wife, and requested me to salute

her with a kiss. I hesitated, thinking that I could not have understood

him right, and feeling awkward in such a situation; but my young friend

assured me it was the custom there to do so, on which I of course

complied. They are, in my opinion, an extremely moral race of people, no

vices that I know of being practised by them, save occasionally a little

drunkenness by some few individuals. I heartily wish them well.

We sailed, as I said before, on the 21st of October, and had fine

weather till we arrived in Yarmouth Roads. We passed one Sunday on our

voyage home, at a certain hour of which our pious naval commander (Lord

Gambier) made signal for the whole fleet to lay to, and have divine

service, that is, in such ships as there were chaplains on board of.

This caused the irreligious and profligate part of our people on board

the Princess Caroline to blaspheme and storm at a terrible rate, for

being so long detained when the wind was so fair.

It happened, when we arrived in the Roads at Yarmouth, or near there, I

think it was on the Galloper Sand, that a tremendous gale began to blow,

which baffled all exertions to withstand it. We cast out the anchors,

but without effect, for we ran away with them both, and in the endeavour

to vere out cable, or rather by the rapidity with which it was dragged

out of the ship by the force of the wind, our bits caught fire, which

with considerable difficulty were got extinguished after great

exertions. During the gale, I understand a sailor was blown off the

foreyard; and nearly at the same moment a woman, one of our corporals'

wives, fell down the hatches into the hold, and broke her back, of

which, indeed, she afterwards recovered, but never after regained her

upright posture.

Those scoffing gentlemen before mentioned, attributed the whole of our

misfortunes to the delay occasioned by the divine service before

adverted to, and were not sparing of invective against the individual

who caused its performance, forgetful, it would seem, that _He_, whom

that commander invoked on that day, holds the winds in His hand, and can

at pleasure let them loose upon an ungodly fleet, whether for correction

or judgment, at what time, and in what manner, best pleases him. I doubt

not the excellent commander alluded to has been a blessing to many. May

he long continue to ornament the exalted station he fills! We weighed

again after the storm abated, and proceeded round to the Downs, and the

next day, the 16th of November, landed at Deal, and from thence marched

to our old quarters at Hythe Barracks.

FOOTNOTE:

[1] List of Ships and Vessels captured at Copenhagen, 7th September,

1807.

Guns.

Christian the Seventh, 98

Neptune, 84

Waldemer, 84

Princess Sophia Fredrica, 84

Justice, 74

Heir Apparent Frederick, 74

Crown Prince Frederick, 74

Frien, 74

Oden, 74

Three Crowns, 74

Shield, 74

Crown Princess Maria, 74

Denmark, 74

Norway, 74

Princess Caroline, 74

Conqueror, 64

Norge, 74

Dalmakin, 64

Pirle, 44

Wory Wife, 44

Liberty, 44

Iris, 44

Rotar, 44

Denry, 44

Mayed, 36

Triton, 28

Fredrington, 28

Kline Belt, 28

St Thomas, 22

Tylto, 24

Elbe, 20

Eydeman, 20

Gluckstadt, 20

Sarp, 18

Glowman, 18

Nid Elvin, 18

Dolphin, 18

Marcur, 18

Cousier, 14

Flying Fish, 14

Total, 40

Together with eleven gun boats, with two guns each in the bow, and

fourteen do with one gun in the bow and one astern.