CH. III, PENINSULAR WAR. 103 CHAPTER III. THE PENINSULAR WAR. Lord Lynedoch-Passage of the Douro-March of Craufurd's Brigade to Talavera-Retreat to Portugal-Sickness among the TroopsThe Lines of Torres Vedras-Lord Wellington-Gallantry of a French Detachment-The Private Soldier-Combat of the Coa -General Alava-Battle of Busaco-Retreat to the Lines of Torres Vedras-The Medical Department-Lisbon Young Ladies -Captain Packenham, R.N. I NOW Commence the period when I again went on active service under one of the greatest captains that ever existed, whose splendid victories, unwearied perseverance, and firmness in carrying on the war which depended upon his skill and judgment, after seven years of continued hard service, and a series of bloody and glorious victories over the armies of France commanded by her best marshals, finally accomplished their total expulsion from the Peninsula, of which Napoleon had possessed himself in the most perfidious manner, and carried the glory of the British arms to the very walls of Toulouse, the capital of the south of France. I must here mention that at this period General Graham (Lord Lynedoch), being employed on the staff in England, wrote to me, saying, that if I could be aide-de-camp to anyone after Sir John Moore, he trusted be need not say how happy he would be if I would take that situation on his personal staff. This was another proof of approbation and kindness from a man who has highly distinguished himself as a general by his military achievements and by the victory gained over the French army at Barrosa, near Cadiz, one of the most splendid during the war. He was afterwards second in command to Lord Wellington, and then commander-in-chief of the army sent to Holland in 1813-14 to support the Dutch in their revolt from the sway of Napoleon; and at the peace of that year he was rewarded for his long and meritorious services by being created a Peer of the Realm. As my regiment was ordered to Portugal, of course I could not remain behind (although I had leave to do so on General Graham's staff), as that would have looked very like being afraid; besides, as I have already said, wherever an CH. III. PROCEED TO PORTUGAL. 105 officer's regiment is ordered, it is his duty to go. In giving you a narrative of my life during the campaigns I served under the Duke of Wellington, I shall not attempt any detailed account of the occurrences and battles that took place, as you will in time see them all minutely and beautifully described by your uncle as he proceeds in his history of the Peninsular War; but I will amuse you, as far as my memory serves me, with an account of the various anecdotes and circumstances to which I was either a witness or party concerned. After a few months' stay in England my regiment, together with the 43rd and Rifle Corps, were ordered to embark at Deal under the command of Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd, in order to proceed to Portugal to reinforce Sir Arthur Wellesley, who had returned there, had taken the command of the British troops, and marching immediately against Marshal Soult, who was with his corps at Oporto, crossed the river Douro in face of the enemy, attacked and completely overthrew him, killing, wounding, and making prisoners great numbers, and pursuing Soult so fast that he (Soult) was forced to abandon nearly all his artillery, baggage, ammunition, stores, &c.; in short, his army was totally dispersed, and was obliged to make a run of it! Never was there a more decided victory or a more skilful military movement than Sir Arthur's passage of the Douro. The Light Brigade, composed, as I have said, under Brigadier-General Craufurd, were upwards of three thousand men, and a magnificent troop of Horse Artillery under the command of Captain Ross (now Sir H. D. Ross), and we embarked on board transports at Deal in May for Lisbon, where we arrived in about three weeks, having stopped at Portsmouth for some days on our passage down Channel. As soon as we had completed ourselves in baggage, mules, and various other equipments necessary for service, we proceeded to join the army which was marching on Talavera, in Spain, on the road to Madrid. Why we were sent to Lisbon I am at a loss to conceive, as the Government at home was fully aware of the army being on the march to Spain long before we sailed, and had we landed at Oporto, we might have joined the Duke of Wellington at least ten days CH. III. MARCH TO TALAVERA. 107 before we did, and have been in time for the battle of Talavera, instead of too late by some hours. We had, however, a very agreeable march. One day in the month of August, while marching under a burning sun, an officer of the 43rd told me my brother William was taken very ill, and was unable to proceed with the regiment. I immediately went to him, and found he was very ill indeed, and in consequence of the quantity of blood the surgeon had found it necessary to take from him, he could not stand; so I got a bullock car, and placing him in it on some straw, I went to Placentia with him, to the hospital which had been established there. Upon arriving the commandant gave me a good quarter for him, and the doctors having visited him and ordered medicine, &c., I put him into a comfortable warm bed, and in about five or six hours and a good sleep, he being out of all danger, I left him in the care of his servant and the doctor, and started to overtake the regiment, which was no easy matter, as an express had arrived with orders for the brigade to make a forced march and join the army as quick as possible, as it was engaged with the enemy; so upon my arriving at the village where I expected |