desperate--effort alone could save the allied army from defeat;
at this critical moment Major-General Sir Lowry Cole led the
FUSILIER BRIGADE up the contested heights to stem the torrent
of battle and wrest the palm of victory from Napoleon's veteran
legions. The FUSILIERS--admired for their appearance--applauded
for their order and discipline--moved forward with a resolute
step to confront a host of foes; they felt the importance of the
task which devolved upon them, and knew the high character of the
troops they had to contend with; and national pride,--an _esprit de
corps_,--a noble enthusiasm to rival the regiments which triumphed
at Busaco,--and to exceed their own achievements at Martinique and
Talavera,--animated every breast; they were flanked by a battalion
of the Lusitanian legion; and mounting the hill at the moment
when a regiment of Spanish cavalry was fleeing before a body of
French dragoons, they soon drove the lancers from the contested
height, and recovered five of the captured guns. Encouraged by this
presage of victory, the FUSILIERS marched sternly onward in line,
over heaps of killed and wounded, to encounter three heavy columns
of French infantry, supported by cavalry and artillery, and each
column mustering about twice the numbers of the FUSILIER BRIGADE.
Gallantly issuing from amidst the smoke and broken fragments of
discomfited corps, the FUSILIERS marched with a firm and solemn
step over the carcases of men and horses which obstructed their
way, and their bearing was that of men determined to decide the
fortune of a battle. The French columns were pressing onward to
complete the overthrow of the allied army, when suddenly the
surprising spectacle of a majestic line of FUSILIERS burst upon
their sight; they halted; fired a volley; then endeavoured to
deploy; and their numerous artillery sent a storm of bullets
against the British ranks. The commander of the brigade,
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir WILLIAM MYERS of the ROYAL FUSILIERS, was
killed; the commander of the division, Major-General Sir LOWRY
COLE, Lieutenant-Colonel BLAKENEY, commanding a battalion of the
ROYAL FUSILIERS, and a number of other officers, fell wounded; the
colour staves of the SEVENTH were shattered, and the colours torn;
at the same time chasms were rent in the ranks of the brigade; a
momentary pause ensued: but instantly recovering, the FUSILIERS
braved the tempest of iron and lead, and boldly confronted the
fierce and numerous bands opposed to them. As the smoke cleared,
the French beheld a line of bayonets coming upon them, and the next
moment, the thundering volleys of the FUSILIERS broke the heads
of formations. The French commander urged his veterans forward;
individuals, spurred on by an unavailing intrepidity, sacrificed
their lives to gain time for their companions to deploy;--the
columns responded to the calls of their leader, and, striving to
extricate themselves, fired on friends and foes;--the lancers on
the flanks threatened to charge; but British intrepidity could
not be shaken;--the FUSILIERS knew not how to quail! The brigade
preserved its firm array; the murderous volleys of the FUSILIERS
swept down hundreds of Frenchmen, and suddenly raising a loud
shout, they precipitated themselves upon the opposing multitudes,
and plunging fearlessly into the crowds, they closed with desperate
energy upon their opponents. The fortune of the day was no
longer doubtful; British prowess prevailed, and the French were
overpowered, slaughtered, and forced back in irremediable confusion
upon their reserves. The supporting columns endeavoured to stem
the torrent of British valour; but in vain;--the whole were driven
headlong down the ascent;--the key of the position was thus nobly
recovered, and the FUSILIERS,--breathless,--besmeared with sweat
and mud and gore,--stood triumphant upon the contested height,
surrounded with heaps of dying and dead, and wondering at the
brilliant success which crowned their manly efforts.
While the FUSILIERS were contending on the height, fresh men were
brought forward; the French generals perceived that the day was
irretrievably lost, and withdrew their broken masses beyond the
river.[18] Numerous instances of individual gallantry occurred,
and Serjeant Gough of the first battalion having recovered the
regimental colour of the third foot, or buffs, which corps had
been nearly annihilated by the charge of the lancers, was rewarded
with a commission in the second West India regiment.
To the ROYAL FUSILIERS, the honour of having triumphed over
superior numbers of Napoleon's veteran bands, and the glory of
having added lustre to the British arms, were justly due; but
the splendour of victory was shrouded with grief at the loss of
many brave officers and soldiers. Among others, the fall of their
commander, the brave, the chivalrous Sir WILLIAM MYERS, caused a
sense of deep sorrow. His career, though short, had been brilliant;
his manners were those of a finished gentleman and scholar, and
every action was marked with the enthusiasm of a soldier whose
noblest pride was his profession, and whose solicitude was always
alive to the interests and honour of his corps. At the early age of
twenty-eight he closed a life of honour in a death of glory.
Return of killed and wounded of the ROYAL FUSILIERS at the battle
of ALBUHERA.
Battalion. Officers. Sergeants. Drummers. Rank & File. Total.
1st. { Killed 5 3 .. 59 67
{ Wounded 10 14 .. 263 287
2nd. { Killed 3 1 .. 46 50
{ Wounded 14 16 1 270 301
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
32 34 1 638 705
Names of officers of the ROYAL FUSILIERS present at the battle of
Albuhera.
_First Battalion._
Lieut.-Col. Sir William Myers, killed.
Major J. M. Nooth.
Captains Thos. Woodridge.
" Wm. F. Cholwich, wounded.
" Geo. King.
" Jas. Singer, wounded.
" Jno. Crowder, wounded.
Lieutenant Hy. Prevost, killed.
" A. C. Wylly.
" Thos. Moultrie, killed.
" Jno. Mair.
" Chas. J. Wemyss, wounded.
" Paul St. Paul.
" S. B. Johnstone, killed.
" T. T. A. Mullins, wounded.
" Digby Mackworth.
" T. Moses, wounded.
" Anth. Baldwin.
" Jas. Anderson.
" H. F. Devey.
" G. Henry, wounded.
" John Ormsby.
" H. J. Jones, killed.
" E. Morgan, wounded.
" Pitt Hannam.
" Johnson, wounded.
" F. Gibbons, wounded.
Adjutant Jas. Hay.
Pay-Master Jno. Armstrong.
Quarter-Master Jno. Hogan.
Assistant Surgeon Wm. Armstrong.
" M. Mahony.
_Second Battalion._
Major Edw. Blakeney, Lieut.-Col., wounded.
Captain Wm. Despard.
" G. Erek, killed.
" Jno. Orr, wounded.
" A. Fernie.
" Henry Tarleton, wounded.
" Richard Magines, wounded.
Lieut. Jno. Healy, wounded.
" Holt Archer, killed.
" Edward Penrice, wounded.
" W. A. Pyke.
" Ed. Irwin, killed.
" Tho. F. Wray, wounded.
" Thos. Hartley.
" H. R. Wallace.
" Wm. Green.
" Jos. Hutchison.
" T. Y. Lester, wounded.
" Geo. Seton, wounded.
" Chas. Lorentz, wounded.
" M. Orr, wounded.
" Wm. Dalgairnes.
" J. B. Fraser, wounded.
" Jno. F. Holden, wounded.
Acting Adjutant T. Meagher, wounded.
Pay-Master T. Berkeley.
Quarter-Master Crawford.
Surgeon J. Williamson.
Assistant Surgeon Duigenan.
" Sweney.
The list of killed and wounded, containing about seven hundred
officers and soldiers, proclaims with dreadful eloquence the
sanguinary character of the contest in which the ROYAL FUSILIERS
were engaged. Their heroic conduct was subsequently rewarded with
the privilege of bearing the word "ALBUHERA" inscribed on their
colours. Major Blakeney was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy
vacant by the death of Sir William Myers; Major Nooth was rewarded
with the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the army, and Captain
Despard (who succeeded to the command of the second battalion after
the fall of Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney), with that of major.
A gold clasp was sent to the relatives of Sir William Myers;
Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney was rewarded with a gold clasp, and
Major Nooth and Captain Despard with gold medals.
After the battle, the brigade was attached to the remains of the
second division commanded by Major-General the Honourable William
Stewart, whose estimation of the conduct of the FUSILIERS is
attested by the following letter.
"_Almandrelejo, 26th May, 1811._
"SIR,
"As you have been so kind as to permit me to transmit to you the
names of the officers of my division who commanded corps on the
16th instant, it may not be deemed irregular if, during the absence
of Major-General Cole, I forward to you the names of the officers
of the FUSILIER BRIGADE who were similarly situated.
"The remains of that _gallant corps_ having been attached to the
second division, immediately after the action of _Albuhera_, and
the major-general of the second division having been obliged to
leave the field from a wound, I am induced to lay before you, for
such favourable report on the subject as you may deem expedient
to the Commander of the Forces, the enclosed returns which have
been put in my possession by the officer now in command of the
FUSILIER BRIGADE, and who commanded the same in action, after the
successive incapacity from wounds of his four senior officers.
_I am afraid lest by further delay the exertions of that brigade
be not sufficiently known._ From the circumstance of the FUSILIER
BRIGADE having been joined with my third brigade in the hard-fought
defence of our centre position for above three hours, and from
the severe loss sustained by the FUSILIERS on the spot, and from
the _testimony of the surrounding allied army_, I feel myself
authorised in stating that _the conduct of the Fusilier Brigade on
the 16th instant was admirable, and such as effectually secured the
victory of that day_.
"It is a duty, moreover, which I owe to the brave soldiers under my
temporary command, to report that the second division is indebted
to the ROYAL FUSILIERS for the recapture of a six pounder, and of
a regimental colour of the third, or buffs, both of which had been
lost in the too successful attack of the enemy's cavalry, on my
first brigade, in the beginning of that day.
"I am, &c.
"WILLIAM STEWART,
"Major-General.
"To Marshal Beresford."
Both battalions having sustained so severe a loss, the second
battalion transferred its men to the first, and the officers and
staff serjeants returned to England to recruit.
After the victory at Albuhera the siege of _Badajoz_ was resumed,
the SEVENTH forming part of the covering army. A concentration of
the enemy's force having taken place, the allies withdrew behind
the Caya, where they awaited the attack of their opponents. The
French generals had drained the provinces of troops to assemble
a powerful army; but the stern character of British soldiers had
been proved, and, having relieved Badajoz, they retired without
hazarding an engagement.
The allied army broke up from the Caya in July, and the ROYAL
FUSILIERS moved towards the northern frontiers of Portugal; they
halted a short period at the village of Aldea de Santa Margaritta,
and afterwards marched to Aldea de Bispo. Meanwhile Lord Wellington
blockaded _Ciudad Rodrigo_.
Marshal Marmont assembled sixty thousand men, and advanced
to relieve Ciudad Rodrigo. Lord Wellington's forces were not
sufficiently numerous to warrant his hazarding a general
engagement, excepting under very advantageous circumstances;
he however held his positions; and on the 25th of September
the FUSILIER BRIGADE, under Major-General the Honourable E.
M. Pakenham, advanced to sustain a small body of troops under
Major-Generals Colville and Alten, which had been attacked at _El
Bodon_ by forty squadrons of French cavalry and fourteen battalions
of infantry with cannon. This portion of the allied army having
retrograded, the French cavalry menaced the FUSILIERS; but were
deterred charging by the steady and determined countenance of the
brigade.
During the night Lord Wellington strengthened his position; but
afterwards withdrew to a post twelve miles behind Guinaldo. The
enemy coming forward with overwhelming numbers, his lordship
withdrew during the night of the 26th of September, covered by the
FUSILIERS and a body of cavalry.
The French, pressing the British rear during the retrograde
movement on the 27th of September, attacked the FUSILIERS, who
were halted on a height behind the village of _Aldea de Pont_.
Lord Wellington directed the SEVENTH to charge in line down the
hill, and supported them with some Portuguese infantry. The ROYAL
FUSILIERS dashed forward in line with the steadiness of old
soldiers at a review, routed the French, and drove them down the
height, to the admiration of all present; Lord Wellington witnessed
the firm conduct of the ROYAL FUSILIERS, and expressed his
approbation of their steady and gallant bearing. The French were
afterwards repulsed in an attempt to turn the flank of the brigade
by a wood: the twenty-third Fusiliers and Portuguese Caçadores
turned the French left, and Aldea de Pont was again occupied by
the allies. It was, however, subsequently abandoned, and the army
went into position on the Coa. The French withdrew, and the ROYAL
FUSILIERS went into quarters at Villa Ciervo. The regiment had
been joined, a short time before, by three hundred and sixty-four
young soldiers from England: its loss at Aldea de Pont was nine men
killed; Captain Wylly, Lieutenants Barrington, Wallace, and Seaton,
one Serjeant, and thirty-six private soldiers wounded.[20]
[Sidenote: 1812]
On the 1st of January, 1812, the first battalion mustered upwards
of thirteen hundred officers and soldiers, and it was immediately
afterwards employed in the siege of _Ciudad Rodrigo_, which was
undertaken in the winter. This fortress was captured by storm
during the night of the 19th of January, 1812, while the French
marshal was assembling an army to advance to its relief. The loss
of the ROYAL FUSILIERS, during the siege, was limited to two men
killed and eight wounded. After the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo the
regiment remained at the village of Cileçes el Chico, where it was
detained several days by the swelling of the Agueda from heavy
rains: it subsequently retired and went into cantonments.
After withdrawing from before Ciudad Rodrigo, the regiment was
allowed only a short period of repose before it was called upon to
march to Spanish Estremadura, to take part in wresting the strong
fortress of _Badajoz_ from the enemy. Leaving its cantonments near
Fuentes d'Onor on the 27th of February, it proceeded southwards;
boats were laid over the Guadiana on the 15th of March, and on
the following day Badajoz was invested by the third, fourth, and
light divisions; the ROYAL FUSILIERS, forming part of the fourth
division, were engaged in the siege. The batteries were opened,
and, notwithstanding the sallies of the French garrison under the
resolute General Phillipon, inundations from heavy rains, and other
obstructions, practicable breaches were ready in the early part
of April; and on the evening of the 6th of that month the ROYAL
FUSILIERS were under arms to take part in the storming of that
stupendous fortress. The fourth and light divisions were to march
against the breaches; the light division was to assault the bastion
of Santa Maria, and the fourth, the Trinidad, with the breach in
the curtain connecting the two bastions; one body of the grenadiers
of the fourth division, under Captain John Mair, of the ROYAL
FUSILIERS, led the attack against the bastion of Trinidad; and
another body, under Captain William Francis Cholwick, also of the
SEVENTH, led the assault on the breach in the curtain.
Moving silently from their camp-ground along the left of the river
Rivillas and the inundations, the fourth and light divisions made
a short detour, and arrived at the glacis at the moment the third
division attacked the castle. Ladders were placed, and about five
hundred men of the light division had descended into the ditch with
the most heroic bravery, cheering as they went, when suddenly a
loud report like thunder was heard, and the storming parties were
blown to pieces by the explosion of hundreds of shells and powder
barrels. Undismayed by this terrific destruction, the men of the
light and fourth divisions raised a loud shout and plunged into
the ditch, where many men perished in the inundations; others,
after overcoming numerous difficulties, approached the breach
exposed to a most destructive fire. As they ascended, loose planks
studded with sharp iron points wounded their feet and produced
great mischief, and a range of sword-blades with sharp points
and keen-edges, firmly fixed in beams chained together and set
deep in the ruins, arrested the progress of the soldiers; at the
same time a terrible fire of musketry thinned their ranks. Again
the assailants rushed up the breaches with the most determined
resolution; but the sword-blades stopped their career, and the
thundering powder-barrels and hissing shells exploded continually.
Numerous and astonishing efforts of valour and intrepidity were
made, and the most heroic bravery displayed, yet the obstacles
were such as could not be overcome; and about midnight, when two
thousand brave soldiers had fallen, the survivors received orders
to retire, and re-form for a second attack. In the meantime the
third division had captured the castle, and a brigade had carried
the bastion of San Vincente; the town was thus forced; partial
actions afterwards took place in various places; and the governor
escaped to the fort of St. Christoval, where he surrendered.
Thus, by the union of ability, energy, and valour, two important
fortresses were captured in three months, in the face of two French
armies: the British commander was enabled to enlarge the sphere
of his operations, and these successes appeared as the first rays
of the coming glory which was about to shine resplendently on the
British arms.
The ROYAL FUSILIERS were subsequently honoured with the
royal authority to bear the word "BADAJOZ" on their colours;
Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeney and Captain John Mair received medals;
but the regiment had to regret the loss of many brave men; the
casualties among the officers were so great that the command of
the division devolved on a major, all the general officers and
lieutenant-colonels being wounded. The loss of the SEVENTH may be
seen in the following returns.
List of the Officers of the ROYAL FUSILIERS at the siege of BADAJOZ.
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Blakeney, wounded.
Major James Singer, killed.
Captain Wm. F. Cholwick, killed.
" George King.
" A. C. Wylly.
" John Mair, wounded.
" W. M. Hamerton.
" [21]Robt. Cuthbert, killed.
Lieutenant Paul St. Paul, killed.
" T. Moses, wounded.
" A. Baldwin, wounded.
" James Anderson.
" H. F. Devey, wounded.
" G. Henry, wounded.
" Pitt Hannam.
" W. A. Pyke, killed.
" Charles Barrington, wounded.
" T. F. Wray, killed.
" T. Hartley, wounded.
" R. F. Fowler, killed.
" H. R. Wallace.
" T. Y. Lester, wounded.
" R. Knowles, wounded.
" Honourable F. Russel, wounded.
" John George, wounded.
Adjutant James Hay.
Quarter-Master John Hogan.
Surgeon Wm. Armstrong.
Assistant-Surgeon Martin Mahony.
" William Williams.
Officers. Serjeants. Drummers. Rank & File. Total.
Killed 7 2 .. 57 66
Wounded 11 12 .. 143 166
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Total 18 14 .. 200 232
From Estremadura the ROYAL FUSILIERS retraced their steps to the
Agueda, and the army, advancing into Spain in June, drove the
French from Salamanca. The inhabitants of this city illuminated
their houses, shouted, sang, and wept for joy as the British troops
took up a position on the mountain of St. Christoval, about five
miles in advance; at the same time the forts (fortified convents)
at Salamanca were besieged.
The French general, Marmont, advanced with a powerful army, and
a series of manœuvres followed; but he was unable to relieve the
forts, and they fell into the hands of the allies towards the
end of June, when he withdrew beyond the Douro, followed by Lord
Wellington.
On the night of the 16th of July the ROYAL FUSILIERS marched to
_Castrejon_, to which place the fourth and light division and a
brigade of cavalry proceeded, preparatory to the assembling of
the army on the Guarena; but the French commander, having been
reinforced, passed the Douro, and attacked the troops at Castrejon
on the morning of the 18th of July. Some sharp skirmishing
occurred, and the ROYAL FUSILIERS had two men killed and fourteen
wounded; but this small body of British, being opposed to the whole
French army, withdrew behind the Guarena. A series of manœuvres
brought the allied army back to the position of St. Christoval, in
front of _Salamanca_, in the vicinity of which city the two armies
confronted each other on the 22nd of July.
In the early part of this day about five hundred French gained
possession of a village in front of the fourth division, and
Captain JOHN CROWDER advanced with two companies of the ROYAL
FUSILIERS to dislodge them, which service was performed with such
distinguished firmness and resolution, that Lord Wellington, who
witnessed the affair, requested to know the name of the officer,
and Captain CROWDER was rewarded with the rank of major in the army.
During the day, as the enemy attempted to gain the road leading to
Ciudad Rodrigo, his left wing was separated, during a complicated
manœuvre, from the remainder of his army; Lord Wellington was
watching the movements of his opponents from the summit of a rock,
and, detecting the fault, ordered his divisions to attack. Thus the
two armies came in contact under circumstances which proved the
superior abilities of the British commander; the ROYAL FUSILIERS,
under Major John Walwin Beatty, were soon hotly engaged, and they
steadily gained ground on the French forces opposed to them,
driving their opponents from one height to another. Eventually a
numerous body of French made a determined stand against the fourth
division; but after a severe contest they were obliged to give way.
An eminence in the centre of the enemy's position, on which he had
planted thirty pieces of artillery, was carried by the FUSILIER
BRIGADE with the most distinguished gallantry. Finally the French
were overthrown and driven from the field with great loss; and
they were indebted to the darkness of the night, the advantage of
a thick wood, and other circumstances, for the safety of those who
escaped the field of battle.
_List of Officers of the_ ROYAL FUSILIERS _at the Battle of_
SALAMANCA.
Major J. W. Beatty.
" Geo. King.
Captain Jno. Crowder.
" Geo. Prescott, killed.
" H. English.
" W. M. Hamerton, wounded.
Lieutenant A. Baldwin.
" Jas. Anderson.
" G. Henry, wounded.
" P. Hannam, wounded.
" Johnson, wounded.
" T. Hartley, wounded.
" R. Nantes, wounded.
" H. R. Wallace, wounded.
" J. Hutchinson, wounded.
" D. Cameron.
" R. Knowles, wounded.
" E. W. Bell.
Adjutant James Hay, wounded.
Surgeon J. Williamson.
Assistant Surgeon M. Mahony.
" W. Williams.
Officers. Serjeants. Drummers. Rank & File. Total.
Killed 1 2 .. 17 20
Wounded 11 6 .. 162 179
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Total 12 8 .. 179 199
The distinguished bravery of the regiment on this occasion was
subsequently rewarded with the royal authority to bear the word
"SALAMANCA" inscribed on its colours; and Major Beatty was
presented with a gold medal.